The door of the courtyard house has been welded dead

The old locust tree in the middle courtyard of the quadrangle is like a silent but loyal old friend, standing quietly in time.

At this time of year in previous years, its branches were full of flower buds, like a string of little bells hiding secrets, rustling in the breeze.

But this year, Qin Huairu stood under the tree, looking at the flower buds that had slightly opened near the branches, as if they couldn't wait to say something, but her mood was as cold as falling into an ice cellar.

“It’s time to bloom again…!”

Qin Huairu murmured to herself, her voice so soft that it seemed as if it would be blown away by the wind in an instant.

The blooming of the old locust tree is a very common sight in spring, but to her, every time the flower blooms, it is like a blunt knife gently scratching her heart.

Because this means that another year has passed since her husband passed away, and the days have passed quietly, but the pain has never really faded away.

Looking up at the courtyard that is so familiar, the past years come flooding back like a tide.

When she first married into this family, she was still a young and timid bride, following behind her husband and timidly greeting the neighbors.

The courtyard at that time was full of the atmosphere of life, with children running and laughing in the yard, and adults gathered together to chat about family matters.

Although her husband was not rich, the newlyweds were very happy. Although their life was not rich, it was warm and stable. She, who had come from the countryside, began to live the life of a city person.

The misfortune came unexpectedly, and her husband's unexpected death was like a heavy hammer that shattered her life.

Since then, the courtyard seemed to have changed its appearance. The once lively scene became a pain in her eyes.

A young widow with three young children was worried about how she would live in the future. She was so worried that she couldn't sleep or eat well during those days. She was filled with helplessness and confusion, as if the sky was falling.

Because she was uncertain, she loved money and tried every possible way to make money. Without her husband, only money could bring her the greatest sense of security.

In the early days, the hardships of life were like an airtight net that wrapped her tightly.

The children were still young and didn’t understand what their father’s departure meant, and they still clamored for food, drink and their dad.

Qin Huairu could only hold back her tears and try different ways to coax the child, but when it was late at night and she was lying alone in bed, she couldn't stop crying.

Without the family's breadwinner, the source of income was cut off all of a sudden, and relying on the family's past assets was simply not enough to make ends meet.

In order to save food, she often went hungry and left all the food for her three children and the wicked mother-in-law. She could only secretly drink some rice soup to fill her stomach when the children were not paying attention.

During that period, life was much more difficult than it is now.

Fortunately~!

His eyes turned to the main house in the central courtyard, where lived a responsible man, He Yuzhu. It was also him who extended a helping hand to the Jia family when they were in the most difficult times.

When it comes to borrowing money, He Yuzhu often doesn't ask what the money is for. He just turns around and takes out five or ten yuan and lets the borrowers use it. He never mentions paying it back, as if he really forgot about it.

This was something that had never happened in other families in the yard. At that time, although the people in the yard sympathized with the Jia family, they could not help but hate them. When they saw them, they subconsciously avoided their gazes, for fear of asking them to lend them money or food.

Only He Yuzhu is the light in her life, giving her hope for life and illuminating the way forward, so that she can persevere and come this far.

"Shazhu is a good man with a kind heart. Any girl who follows him is blessed after eight lifetimes of hard work~!"

The deaf old lady's toothless and shriveled mouth, tapping her walking stick, and her evaluation of her darling grandson seemed to be replayed yesterday.

Five years is a long time, but it is also a short time. In just these few years, things and people have changed. Some people have left, some have died, and some have been closed. The original bustling atmosphere has completely changed.

The days when families lived in harmony and helped each other suddenly disappeared as if overnight. It might be the death of Yi Zhonghai that completely tore off this fig leaf.

During this period, Qin Huairu had considered living with Sha Zhu. After all, she was a human being, not an emotionless animal. How could she not feel Sha Zhu's affection for her?

Even the people in the yard could feel that the window paper was only a finger away from being pierced, but that finger was tightly grasped by the evil mother-in-law because Sha Zhu was young and could have a child.

Qin Huairu has already had an IUD inserted. Her purpose is not to have another child, even if she remarries. If she has a child with another man, what will happen to Dongxu's three children in the future?

Then Xu Damao appeared, as if he was tailor-made for the Jia family. The hospital confirmed that he could not have children and could not have them. The evil mother-in-law's opposition became much smaller, and she reluctantly allowed herself to break the window paper.

Similarly, Sha Zhu drew a clear line between himself and the Jia family. On the surface, it was because of the conflicts that had accumulated over the years between him and Xu Damao.

In fact, Qin Huairu knew very well that it was because Sha Zhu's feelings for her were betrayed.

The relationship at that time could be said to have reached its coldest point. It was only after Xu Damao was taken away that the two families gradually returned to normal. To be precise, the relationship between himself and Sha Zhu began to reconcile.

Like the ups and downs of the waves, finally, today, Qin Huairu had to come here again.

Qin Huairu knelt down and kowtowed to Li Feng for mercy. Her knees were stiff. She really couldn't kneel down. Li Feng would not help her, but would ridicule and mock her, or even abuse her. But Qin Huairu could kneel down to He Yuzhu because she knew what kind of person He Yuzhu was. Sharp tongue, but soft heart, that's what Shazhu was.

In case something happens to her, Qin Huairu would feel more at ease leaving the three children to him than to anyone else, provided that he agrees.

She felt somewhat fortunate that she did not let him marry Liu Lan. If they had been married, Qin Huairu could hardly imagine who she could ask to take care of her three children.

"Zhu Zi, I'm sorry, I'm doing this for my children, they are the apple of my eye~!"

For the sake of her beloved, Qin Huairu walked to the main house of the He family with a forced smile and knocked on the door of the old He family. No matter what, no matter the cost, as long as Sha Zhu agreed, she was willing to pay the corresponding price.

In fact, this price has been accumulated a long time ago, but today, the time has come to pay it back.

"Who is it? It's so early in the morning. Don't call me even if you have a meeting. I'm so sleepy. Ah~!"

He Yuzhu, who was in the house, did not get up at this time. After returning to Fengzeyuan to work, his working hours were somewhat different from those of normal people, and he got off work later.

"I, your sister Qin~!"

The slightly relaxed voice made it impossible for others to hear the pressure he was carrying. The next second, the door of the He family was opened. He Yuzhu opened the door and looked at Sister Qin outside with an exaggerated expression.

"Why, you're not going to work today?"

He Yuzhu was putting on his pants without any formality towards Qin Huairu. If it was someone else, he would have gone back to bed, but if it was Sister Qin, he would have had to get up.

Zhuzi was not shy, so Sister Qin certainly would be even less so. She walked into the room leisurely and closed the door directly. With dimples on her cheeks, she just watched He Yuzhu pull up his pants in front of her.

"No, don't close the door. It's broad daylight. People might see us and gossip about us!"

He Yuzhu, who was tying his belt, pointed his mouth towards the door in a serious manner and said to Sister Qin with a wink, "The brother and sister used to play this kind of joke a lot in the past."

"I'm not afraid, so why are you afraid? Could it be that you really have some thoughts about your sister Qin?"

Grabbing He Yuzhu's hand that was tying his belt, Qin Huairu looked at him with a smile as he held up his pants in a hurry.

Sha Zhu is like this, he has ideas and can only talk nonsense, but he doesn't dare to do it seriously.

"I'm warning you, let go now. Every day, I'll come back and press you down on the bed. It's no use shouting at the top of your lungs, you~!"

Sure enough, He Yuzhu, whose belt was grabbed, felt like his vital part was caught. He immediately became anxious and bared his teeth at Qin Huairu. But he could only bar his teeth because it was just like he said, in broad daylight.

"Come on, come on, if you have the guts, push me onto the bed. If you don't dare, you're not a man~!"

It seemed as if Qin Huairu was waiting for He Yuzhu to say this. She slapped his hand that was tying his belt away, walked to the bed with her eyes closed, and just stood there with her neck stiffened. Her long eyelashes kept trembling along with her eyelids.

Perhaps feeling that what she had done was not enough, Qin Huairu even raised her right hand and began to unbutton her collar.

But this action undoubtedly scared He Yuzhu. He dared to make all kinds of jokes to the widow, but if it went too far, He Yuzhu would not dare to do it even if he had two more courage.

It's just like a big orange cat jumping onto the stove, wanting to eat the fish just out of the pot, but it's too hot and there's nothing it can do.

In the past, when one of them advanced, the other retreated. It had always been like this. But when he saw that Sister Qin was serious, He Yuzhu just got scared.

Seeing that she had already unbuttoned the second button, He Yuzhu felt as if a fire had been set on fire and hurriedly grabbed Sister Qin's hand, but he couldn't let her unbutton any further.

It was not until this time that Qin Huairu opened her eyes, but at this time her eyes were already filled with tears.

"What are you doing?"

Seeing that Sister Qin finally stopped, He Yuzhu was so ashamed and angry that he bent his waist slightly, hid beside the table, turned his back to Sister Qin, and said complainingly.

Qin Huairu, who was standing on the edge of the bed, lowered her head, then sat down on the bed and fell silent.

"No, today, what's wrong with you? If you need money, just tell me and I'll get it for you. If not, I'll go out and borrow it. I'll lend it to you. Don't torment me like this, my sister Qin~!"

He poured a few mouthfuls of cold water from the teapot on the table to calm down his anger. Then, He Yuzhu turned his head slightly to the side and spoke in a sarcastic tone, not daring to look directly at Sister Qin who was sitting beside his bed.

"Zhu Zi, can you promise me one thing? I can also promise you one thing. Anything is fine~!"

Qin Huairu did not button up her clothes. She looked at He Yuzhu with a sad look and a pleading tone in her voice.

The three words "what" are emphasized! (End of this chapter)