Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Chapter 280 Qin Huairu borrowed another 2 yuan

Seeing Qin Huairu crying her eyes out, Wang Mazi's heart broke. He gritted his teeth and asked, "How much...how much will it cost to treat your father's leg?"

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and cried, "It costs twenty yuan, but my mother-in-law won't give me the money and even scolded me, saying I'm siding with outsiders. Now I don't know what to do. The hospital is waiting for me to pay the medical bills."

Wang Mazi nodded and said, "Don't cry. I'll lend you the money. I'll go home and get it for you after I get off work at noon."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu was secretly delighted, but she still feigned refusal and waved her hands repeatedly:

"No, no, your mother isn't in good health and needs to take medicine every month. You also have a younger sister with a limp to support. If you lend me the money, what will happen to your mother and sister?"

"It's okay, my mom and sister don't usually spend much money. It's settled then, you wait for me at noon."

Wang Mazi's family has over two hundred yuan in savings; borrowing twenty yuan shouldn't be a problem.

"Brother Ma, thank you so much. I really don't know what I would have done without your help. Don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as I get my salary."

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and gave Wang Mazi a sweet smile, which stunned Wang Mazi.

"Hehe, no rush, no rush. You can pay me back when you're not short of money in the future."

Wang Mazi scratched the back of his head and grinned.

He has had a pockmarked face since he was a child. His father died a few years ago, his mother is in poor health and has to take medicine all the time, and his younger sister became lame after falling when she was a child. For so many years, no matchmaker has dared to introduce him to a potential partner.

There's no way around it; she's ugly and has two children to support. Who would dare marry her?

Fortunately, a few years ago, he got a job at a steel rolling mill, and his salary kept increasing. But he was already 32 when he joined the factory, and after a while, he got the job.

No woman in the factory ever gave him a second glance. Qin Huairu was like a girl next door, not minding his looks at all, and even took the initiative to chat with him. This period of time was the happiest he had ever felt in his life.

"Brother Ma, thank you. I'll treat you to a meal when I get paid. I've been away for so long, so I'll head back now. You should go back to work soon too."

"Okay...okay."

Qin Huairu smiled slightly at Wang Mazi, then turned and walked towards the workshop.

Wang Mazi stared at Qin Huairu's retreating figure and chuckled foolishly.

......

I get off work at noon.

Qin Huairu did not go to eat with Wang Mazi. Wang Mazi went home to get money, and Qin Huairu ate alone in the third canteen.

After waiting in line for five minutes, when it was Qin Huairu's turn, she handed over the money and said to Qin Jingru:

"Jingru, I want two cornbread buns and a serving of cabbage."

Qin Jingru took the money and didn't see the person with the pockmarked face. She didn't ask any questions and served Qin Huairu her food.

Taking the lunchbox, Qin Huairu said, "Jingru, that person from yesterday, who used to be on good terms with Dongxu, treated me to a meal because he saw how pitiful I was as a widow and orphan. Could you please not tell anyone in the compound, so that they don't misunderstand?"

Qin Jingru put the ladle into the plate, looked at Qin Huairu and sneered, "Qin Huairu, what business is it of mine who you're with? Why would I be so bored as to meddle in your affairs? Alright, alright, move aside, there's a whole bunch of people queuing up for food behind you."

"Okay, then I'll be going now."

Hearing that Qin Jingru wouldn't talk nonsense, Qin Huairu finally felt relieved.

Since Wang Mazi wasn't paying today, she went back to her previous diet, as she couldn't bear to buy white flour buns and meat dishes for herself.

......

3 PM.

When Wang Feng returned to courtyard number 95, he saw Li Sumei carrying an old hen and hurrying towards the middle courtyard as soon as he entered the front yard.

Wang Feng quickly called out to her, "Li Sumei, how is Brother Da Mao?"

Li Sumei turned around and saw that it was Wang Feng. She forced a smile and said, "Da Mao is fine, but his injuries are quite serious. He will have to stay in the hospital for a while."

Wang Feng could tell at a glance that Li Sumei wasn't telling the truth, but he didn't take it to heart and asked, "Are you preparing chicken soup for Brother Damao?"

Li Sumei nodded: "Yes, Damao hasn't had much of an appetite these past two days, so I'll make him some chicken soup to help him recover."

Seeing that Li Sumei looked haggard, clearly indicating she hadn't had enough sleep, Wang Feng said:

"Wait for me a moment. I still have a pound of pork at home. You can make some lean porridge for Brother Da Mao to give him more variety so he'll have a better appetite. Now that Brother Da Mao is injured, he can't go hungry."

"No, no, Wang Feng, you should keep this meat for Jingru." Li Sumei quickly waved her hand in refusal.

"It's alright. Brother Da Mao and I are like brothers. Before you married into the family, Brother Da Mao even treated me to drinks. So it's decided."

Wang Feng didn't give Li Sumei a chance to refuse. He arrived at the Intermediate Court and quickly opened the door. When he came out, he was carrying a pound of high-quality pork belly.

Wang Feng handed the meat to Li Sumei and said with a smile, "Go back and make chicken soup."

"Okay, Wang Feng, thank you."

Li Sumei saw that Wang Feng genuinely wanted to give her pork, so she didn't refuse. After all, she usually got along well with Jingru, who was practically her only friend in the compound. Xu Damao also had a pretty good relationship with Wang Feng, and they often chatted and laughed together.

"No need, go back quickly."

"Um."

Watching Li Sumei's retreating figure, Wang Feng sighed inwardly, "What a pity, she's so young and has to live a life of widowhood."

Today I gave Xu Damao a pound of pork, which can be considered as repaying him for the drinks he treated me to before.

The weather was nice in the afternoon, so Wang Feng brought out a deck chair and lay down on it by the door to bask in the sun.

Just as Wang Feng was leisurely basking in the sun, he suddenly saw Sha Zhu carrying cooking utensils and three lunchboxes, walking over from the front yard.

Seeing this, Wang Feng knew that Sha Zhu must have gone out to find work, but that was none of his business. He didn't have time to care. He lay on the recliner, smoking a Zhonghua cigarette and drinking tea, feeling extremely comfortable.

Sha Zhu didn't greet Wang Feng. He glanced at Wang Feng indifferently, picked up his tools and lunchbox, and went back to his room.

Today he took on a job preparing a banquet. The host set up five tables, and he charged one yuan per table, earning five yuan today.

He went out very early this morning and only just got back now. He's so tired that his back aches.

There was nothing he could do; he only had a little over thirty yuan left, and he had lost his job. If he didn't earn more money, he would really starve.

Sha Zhu returned to the house, put down the cooking utensils and lunchbox, and lay down on the bed, not wanting to move at all.

The three lunchboxes were full of meat and vegetables, enough to feed him for two days.

He has a skill, and as long as he is willing to work, he will not starve.