Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

"Looking for a job?!"

Qin Huairu's eyes widened instantly, and she felt a surge of jealousy welling up inside her.

Zhou Feng actually offered to help this girl find a job?

This is no ordinary relationship!

It seems my guess was right; Zhou Feng is indeed interested in Jingru!

This time, it wasn't just her and her mother-in-law making decisions on their own; the person involved directly spoke out!

As long as Qin Jingru can follow Zhou Feng and become his person, then as Qin Jingru's only relative in the city, she can at least benefit a little, right?

When the time comes, we can borrow some grain, ask for some industrial vouchers, or ask Zhou Feng to keep an eye on Bang Geng at the factory so that he can be arranged as a temporary worker in the future. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?

It's much better to have Qin Jingru whisper sweet nothings in Zhou Feng's ear than forcing herself on him and seeing his cold face!

"This is wonderful news! Absolutely wonderful news!" Qin Huairu grabbed Qin Jingru's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Jingru, you have to seize this opportunity! A family as good as Zhou Feng's is hard to find even with a lantern! You're not young anymore; if you can really settle down in the city, your parents will be so happy! And with me in the city, you'll have someone to look after you!"

Just then, Qin's father returned from the public restroom, clutching his stomach and looking relieved.

He was taken aback when he saw Qin Huairu, but then recognized her: "Huairu? What are you doing here?"

"Second Uncle!" Qin Huairu immediately put on a smiling face. "I just got back from get off work and happened to see Jingru. I heard you went to see Zhou Feng? And you exchanged so many nice things? Zhou Feng is really a good guy!"

Qin's father smiled憨厚ly: "Yes, Comrade Zhou Feng is a good man, very considerate."

"Second Uncle, Jingru told me that Zhou Feng might be able to help her find a job in the city?" Qin Huairu asked tentatively.

Qin's father glanced at his daughter and nodded: "Comrade Zhou Feng mentioned it briefly, but whether it will work out is still unknown."

"If they can mention it, then there's a chance!" Qin Huairu said decisively. "Second Uncle, don't worry! I think this matter has a chance! Zhou Feng is a man of his word! When you go back, help Zhou Feng find the kind of wood he needs. That's a good excuse to keep in touch! Leave Jingru's matter to Zhou Feng!"

Looking at her patting her chest, anyone who didn't know better would think she was going to find a job for Qin Jingru.

Seeing that Qin Huairu was about to say something, the driver, Wang, coughed lightly.

They still need to leave the city, and it's not safe to travel if it gets too late.

Qin's father immediately understood his meaning, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then got into his car and left.

Turning around, Qin Huairu's smile vanished instantly, replaced by envy.

She walked quickly toward the courtyard house, already making plans in her mind.

Upon entering the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) sewing shoe soles, while Banggeng was playing with Xiaodang and Huaihua inside.

Seeing Qin Huairu return, Jia Zhangshi raised an eyebrow and asked, "You're back quite early today. Was there no queue at the grain store?"

"Mom, I have something to tell you." Qin Huairu put down the cloth bag, moved closer to Jia Zhangshi, and lowered her voice to tell her about her encounter with Qin Jingru and her father, how they traded wood for grain and meat from Zhou Feng, and how Zhou Feng might help Qin Jingru find a job.

Jia Zhangshi stopped sewing shoe soles, her eyes gleaming: "Trading broken wood for grain and meat? And promising to find you a job? Humph, that Zhou Feng kid, I think he's a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken, he's got no good intentions! He's definitely got his eye on your cousin!"

"Mom, I think so too." Qin Huairu sighed, her tone tinged with a bitterness she herself didn't realize. "Tell me, when I went to set Jingru up with Zhou Feng last time, he said such awful things. Who would have thought he'd act like this behind her back!"

"Heh, he doesn't look down on Qin Jingru, he looks down on you, or our Jia family!"

Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips. Zhou Feng's attitude was all too clear; how could she not see it?

"Mom, what should we do? I tried to set them up before but got rejected. Now that they've hit it off, what does it have to do with our family?"

Qin Huairu was getting anxious. Without a reason to act as a middleman, how could she go to their door to ask for things?

"Are you stupid? If you can't convince Zhou Feng, can't you convince Qin Jingru? Just tell their families more about Zhou Feng, make them appreciate your help, and Zhou Feng's side needs to sound him out too..."

Hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, Qin Huairu's face showed a hint of bitterness.

"Mom, I can't go. It's one thing that he always scolds me, but he treats me like some old man or a fool. What if he sends me to jail? Why don't you go and check it out yourself?"

Jia Zhangshi looked at Qin Huairu as if she were a fool.

You don't dare to go and explore, but this old woman does, right?

That little bastard is impervious to both soft and hard approaches. Even if I brought out Old Jia's memorial tablet, he would still dare to chop it up and use it as firewood!

"Are you stupid? Why does it have to be a family member who probes? Isn't Old Man Yan on good terms with him? You take some things to Old Man Yan's house, don't even mention playing matchmaker!"

"Tell me that your cousin from the countryside came to visit, and Zhou Feng took good care of her, bringing her food and meat, and even offered to help her find a job. You feel bad about it, but you don't know how to thank him. Ask this 'third uncle' for advice, or... ask him to try and find out Zhou Feng's attitude towards Jingru."

"Don't worry, that old Yan is very shrewd; he's much better at talking than you are."

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up: "Mom, you're so clever! I'll go find Uncle San right now!"

As she spoke, she took out half a bag of cornmeal from the cupboard and walked outside.

"Hey, wait a minute! You use that thing to ask someone for help?"

Before he had taken two steps, he heard Jia Zhangshi's voice behind him.

Seeing Qin Huairu's slightly confused look, Jia Zhangshi rolled her eyes helplessly and got up from the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Ever since that stingy old man Yan started befriending Zhou Feng, his life has completely changed. If you offer him that stuff, do you think he'll actually do anything for you?"

As she spoke, Jia Zhangshi rummaged around in the kitchen for a long time before finally managing to pry out two eggs.

"This was originally intended for my eldest grandson. You can take it and deliver it to Old Man Yan's house!"

"Be smart! Don't spell it out!"

Jia Zhangshi looked at the eggs with a hint of reluctance in her eyes, but she still gritted her teeth and handed them over.