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

"Hey, when you go to school tomorrow, find a chance to ask Teacher Ran if Uncle San has told her about your idiot uncle!"

In the Jia family compound, just before going to bed, Qin Huairu held Banggeng's hand and gave him a serious instruction.

Why are you asking that?

Banggeng turned over impatiently, and Jia Zhangshi also turned her head back.

"What does your kid know?"

Qin Huairu tucked the blanket around her son, her hand pausing on the patched-up quilt. "Just watch her attitude and reaction, and remember to come and tell Mom when the time comes!"

After the children had all fallen asleep, Jia Zhangshi approached and whispered, "Teacher Ran, what's going on?"

"Shazhu has taken a liking to her and is trying to get Uncle San to act as a matchmaker for him. I think it's unlikely. I'll have Banggeng sound out the situation for him."

"Yes, we should ask, but we still can't let them get together, understand?"

Jia Zhangshi nodded, but what she said made Qin Huairu frown instantly.

"Mom, I was just asking around for Sha Zhu, why can't we let them get together?"

Faced with her daughter-in-law's questioning, Jia Zhangshi smiled faintly, her eyelids drooping as she looked at Qin Huairu.

"If they succeed, will Sha Zhu still be able to bring lunch to our house? Won't he have to bring it all home to support his wife? Or... do you have other ideas?"

They're all old foxes, who can truly understand the intricacies of Liaozhai in front of whom?

Jia Zhangshi was widowed for much longer than Qin Huairu!

With her limited skills and cunning, she couldn't escape Jia Zhangshi's eyes at all.

The occasional steamed buns she brought back, the leftovers from the cafeteria, and so on...

The old lady didn't expose it because she was saving face for Qin Huairu in front of the children!

The most important thing is that the government rations are really too small these days, and their family really doesn't have enough to eat.

If it weren't for this famine, she would have given Qin Huairu a proper lesson in manners.

"Mom! How could I possibly think anything of what you're saying!"

Qin Huairu's eyes immediately reddened, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Alright, what's the point of showing me this farce? Go put it on for Sha Zhu and the others; at least you'll get something in return, right?"

As she spoke, Madam Jia's expression suddenly turned serious, and she silently took a few steps closer to Qin Huairu: "But Huairu, I have to remind you, it's fine to ask for things or give small favors. But if you really end up getting yourself into trouble..."

"That person is worthless then."

Under the dim light, Qin Huairu suddenly felt that the old lady she had lived with for many years was a little scary.

But this was the most straightforward advice an old woman, who had been widowed for many years, gave her!

"Alright, Mom! You're going off on a tangent!"

Perhaps feeling that Jia Zhangshi's words were too blunt, Qin Huairu, who was sewing clothes, retorted and then threw down the clothes she was mending, turned her back, and said nothing more.

"Oh…"

Madam Jia sneered, rustling as she took off her outer garment. "You know perfectly well why I'm saying all this. Think it over carefully, lest you cause some shame and embarrass your whole family!"

The old lady crawled into bed, her back to Qin Huairu.

The room fell silent. Qin Huairu sat there blankly for a long time, then raised her hand to wipe her face. But the tears she had just wiped away quickly welled up in her eyes again.