Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

After finishing her breakfast, Qin Jingru staggered to the pool in the middle courtyard with her bowl and chopsticks, washed the bowl clean, went back inside, carefully put a white handkerchief stained with red roses into the cabinet, took the bed sheet, and went to the pool in the middle courtyard.

Qin Huairu came over shortly after he finished washing.

"Jingru, washing the sheets so early? Has Wang Feng gone out?"

Upon seeing Qin Huairu, Qin Jingru immediately became wary and smiled slightly, saying, "Yes, Brother Wang Feng said he was going out on business."

Qin Huairu smiled and nodded, then asked, "Jingru, I'm your older sister. We've been very close since we were little. Tell me, how did Wang Feng meet you?"

Qin Jingru raised her head, her delicate brows furrowing: "Sister, didn't Brother Wang Feng say yesterday that we met through Matchmaker Li? Would Brother Wang Feng have any reason to lie to you about something like that?"

Qin Huairu was completely incredulous. She couldn't believe it was such a coincidence, and besides, Matchmaker Li shouldn't even know Qin Jingru.

When she married Jia Dongxu, Qin Jingru was only 11 years old, still a little girl. It was impossible for Matchmaker Li to remember this little girl.

But apart from this explanation, she simply couldn't believe how these three people were connected.

Since things have come to this point, Jingru's marriage to Wang Feng is a done deal, and she can't change it. Hopefully, Jingru can help her out more in the future.

Thinking of this, Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Jingru, that's not what I meant. I just feel it's too much of a coincidence. I'm so happy to see you marry into the city."

"Jingru, let me tell you, Wang Feng earns 38.5 yuan a month, which is more than my Dongxu's salary. You'll be enjoying a life of luxury from now on."

At this point, Qin Huairu wiped away imaginary tears and said with a wronged expression, "Jingru, your sister is suffering!"

"Sister, what's wrong?" Qin Jingru asked, feigning curiosity.

"Jingru, all these years..."

Qin Huairu rattled on and on, complaining that she couldn't go on living like this, that her child was crying for food every day, and that she was being beaten and scolded by her wicked mother-in-law every day. She said she simply couldn't live like this anymore.

As she spoke, Qin Huairu actually shed tears, her face streaked with tears.

This was also a genuine expression of Qin Huairu's feelings. Over the years, she had truly suffered since marrying into the Jia family. Now that she had met Qin Jingru, her family member, she couldn't help but tell all the hardships she had endured over the years.

"Sis, don't cry! If you cry like this, people will think I'm bullying you."

Upon seeing Qin Huairu cry, Qin Jingru immediately became anxious.

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and looked at Qin Jingru, saying, "Jingru, can you help your sister?"

Upon hearing that she was asked to help, Qin Jingru was immediately displeased, but she still asked:

"Sis, what's wrong? Tell me, but I just married Brother Wang Feng, so I probably can't help you much."

"Jingru, can you lend me 20 yuan? You know, only Dongxu in our family has a ration, and we have to buy expensive grain every month. The factory won't close for another ten days, and we've already run out of food."

"I still haven't paid Bang Geng's tuition. I really can't do anything about it. Jingru, don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as my Dongxu Guanxiang is paid."

Qin Huairu looked at Qin Jingru with tears streaming down her face, appearing utterly pitiful. If Qin Jingru were a man, he might have already taken out his money and hugged Qin Huairu to comfort her. Unfortunately, she had met Qin Jingru instead.

"Sister, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I really can't. I don't have a single penny on me. Even if I wanted to borrow some, I couldn't."

Qin Huairu looked incredulous: "Jingru, how could you not have a single penny on you? Didn't Wang Feng give you any money?"

"Sis, it's true. Brother Wang Feng was going to give me money this morning, but I didn't take it. He's already bought everything, what would I need money for?"

Qin Huairu looked at Qin Jingru with exasperation and said, "Jingru, are you stupid? The money in the house should be managed by the woman. Let me tell you, men become bad when they have money, but as long as you manage the family finances well, the man can't cause any trouble."

"Alright, go home and get me ten pounds of flour to tide me over. I'll talk to Wang Feng when he gets back."

Qin Jingru shook her head: "Sister, this... I can't lend it to you."

"What did you say?" Qin Huairu's eyes widened in disbelief.

Qin Jingru said seriously while washing the bed sheets:

"Sister, you're my own cousin, you have to think about me too! If I lend you the flour now, how am I supposed to explain it to Brother Wang Feng when he gets back?"

"On my very first day as your new wife, I've lent you so many things. What if Brother Wang Feng doesn't want me anymore? What if Brother Wang Feng hits me?"

"Sis, how about this? When Brother Wang Feng comes back, you can talk to him yourself. If he agrees, I promise I'll lend it to you."

"You...you!"

Qin Huairu pointed at Qin Jingru, her face extremely pale.

"Jingru, I... I really misjudged you."

After saying that, Qin Huairu ran back to the Jia family with a wronged look on her face.

Seeing Qin Huairu run back into the house, Jia Zhangshi lowered the curtains and sat on the bed waiting for Qin Huairu's good news.

Qin Jingru wrung out the bed sheet, watched Qin Huairu's retreating figure, and scoffed:

"Tch, you've misjudged me. I've misjudged you too! All you ever ask for is money or heroin. Do you really think I owe you anything?"

As soon as Qin Huairu returned to the room, Jia Zhangshi eagerly asked, "How did it go? How much money did you borrow?"

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and said with a wronged expression, "Mom, Jingru said she has no money. I asked her to lend me ten catties of flour, and she told me to go to Wang Feng to borrow it myself."

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia became furious.

"What? She dares not lend it to us? She's gone too far! A lowly country bumpkin like her, are we doing her a favor by asking her for money? You wait, I'm going to teach her a lesson right now."

As she spoke, Jia Zhangshi opened the door, and Qin Huairu grabbed her arm, quickly saying:

"Mom, if you really dare to lay a hand on Jingru, Wang Feng will definitely come knocking on our door when he gets back."

Upon hearing the name Wang Feng, Jia Zhangshi was immediately frightened. Wang Feng had knocked out three of her teeth, making it difficult for her to eat meat now.

"Ugh, Qin Jingru, that ungrateful wretch! You're her cousin, and she won't even lend you a little money or food. Qin Huairu, you jinx! Tell me, what good are you now?"

"Waaaah... Jingru won't lend it to me, what can I do?"

Qin Huairu cried in grievance. She never expected Jingru to become so heartless.

When they were little, she often played with Jingru. She thought that if Jingru married Wang Feng, she could keep getting benefits from their family. She never expected it to turn out like this.