Comfortable life in Siheyuan

After dinner, Qin Huairu sat alone at the table, frowning. She seemed to be lost in thought, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

At this time, Jia Zhang came over, looked at Qin Huairu and asked with concern: "Huairu, what are you thinking about? I see that you are always worried these two days. Is it because you feel bad when you see me back, and feel that there is one more mouth to feed at home?"

Qin Huairu quickly shook her head and replied softly, "Mom, don't get me wrong, I don't think you're superfluous. It's just that you came back so suddenly that I was a little unprepared. I'm worried that before the New Year, our family will run out of food."

After hearing this, Jia Zhang couldn't help but laugh at herself: "How could this happen? We only lost one dollar today. Has our family become so poor? Do we have to go hungry just because we lost one dollar?"

Qin Huairu sighed quietly and explained in a low voice: "I still have some money, but I don't have that much food. You know, prices will go up during the New Year, and things will be more expensive than usual. I originally only prepared food for my mother and me, and I really didn't expect you to come back suddenly. Now I don't know if I can buy enough food at the market tomorrow!"

Jia Zhang was still unwilling to give up, and continued to ask: "Then what about the vegetables stored for the winter at home? Have they all been eaten?" Qin Huairu replied helplessly: "I just went to the cellar to check, and all our cabbage hearts are gone. Fortunately, there are still some cabbages survived around them." Hearing this, Jia Zhang was immediately furious and turned around and walked into the house.

On this day, Banggeng finally had a complete childhood memory. After a while, Jia Zhang, rubbing her sore wrist, looked at Qin Huairu and said helplessly: "Huairu, if this continues, our family must borrow some food, otherwise the days ahead will be really hard!" Since Jia Zhang came back from the countryside, the whole person seems to have changed a little, no longer as domineering as before.

"But who can we borrow from? Who will be willing to lend it to us?" Qin Huairu responded with a worried look on her face. Jia Zhang thought for a moment and suggested: "Why don't we go find the old man and give it a try? This time you go over and talk to him properly. If it doesn't work, we can think of other ways."

"Okay, hey! I'll go to the old man's house and try it later!" Qin Huairu sighed helplessly. Outside the window, the white snow made the night look less dark. Qin Huairu wrapped herself in a cotton coat and hurried to the old man's house in the middle courtyard.

"Boom! Boom!"

"Who is it! Who is outside?" An old lady stood up with a puzzled look on her face.

"Go and take a look!" An old man put on his coat and walked out of the room.

With a creaky sound, the door opened and the aunt saw Qin Huairu standing at the door.

"Huai Ru, why are you here so late?" Before the aunt had time to let anyone in, the uncle's voice came over: "Who's outside?"

The lady turned around and answered, "It's Qin Huairu." Yi Zhonghai frowned slightly, then smiled and said, "Huairu, come in! It's so cold standing outside!"

Qin Huairu walked into the house timidly. She looked around. She hadn't been in this house for more than a year, and everything seemed strange to her. "Uncle, aunt, I came here today to borrow some corn flour from your family. We didn't have much food for the New Year, and Banggeng wasted some of the cabbage at home. Now my mother-in-law is back, and I really have no choice. After thinking about it, I can only shamelessly come to you for help." Qin Huairu said awkwardly with a troubled look on her face.

The uncle and aunt looked at each other, and there was a hint of helplessness in their eyes. "I know your family is having a hard time now, with one more mouth to feed, and your pressure is even greater. I'll ask aunt to bring you some cornmeal later. Since your mother-in-law is back, you can also ask her to help you share the burden. She can make some matchboxes when she's free, which can also help supplement the family income." Uncle Yi Zhonghai suggested.

"Thank you, uncle and aunt, I will definitely return it to you in the future. My mother-in-law has changed a lot after coming back this time. I must have a good talk with her when I go back and try to live our own life well." Qin Huairu said with gratitude, her voice full of sincerity and determination.

"Okay, don't be polite with us, wait here for a while, your aunt will go get you some corn flour." Yi Zhonghai nodded to the aunt, and the aunt turned and went into the house. After a while, the aunt came out carrying a bag.

"Huai Ru, take this back and think of it as a gift from your aunt. Also, remember, you must educate Bang Geng well when you go back, otherwise you will really have no hope." Yi Zhonghai said earnestly.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" Qin Huairu exchanged a few more pleasantries with them, and then left Yi Zhonghai's house. Back in the house, Jia Zhang looked at the kilograms of corn flour, and her face did not show a very happy expression.

"Huai Ru, this is just the amount. Will it be enough for our family to eat during the New Year?" Jia Zhang asked worriedly.

"That's about right. It should be enough if we eat sparingly." Qin Huairu replied.

"Why don't you go borrow some from someone else's house? It's New Year's Day." Jia Zhang asked Qin Huairu for her opinion.

"I'll go return the bag to the old man's house first. We'll talk about other things later." Qin Huairu said and walked out the door with the empty bag.

After a while, Qin Huairu returned to the house.

"Huai Ru, do you think we can borrow some more?" Jia Zhang asked expectantly.

"I want to, but who can I borrow from? We have borrowed things from every family in this courtyard before! Who is willing to lend now?" Qin Huairu replied helplessly.

"What do you think? We can go find the Liu family in the backyard. They are well off. Why don't we borrow some money and celebrate the New Year first?" Jia Zhang suddenly suggested.

"Qingshan is now the leader of the factory. If we don't pay him back after borrowing, what should we do if he makes things difficult for us in the factory?" Qin Huairu asked. "It should be okay if we borrow less, right?" Jia Zhang muttered.

"Let's not talk about borrowing grain for now, Mom. You know the situation in our family. Now that you're back, you can't just think about enjoying a leisurely life, otherwise our family will definitely not be able to survive!" Qin Huairu said seriously.

"Mom has been in poor health this year and she really can't do any heavy work!" Jia Zhang looked embarrassed.

"Don't worry, you don't have to do the heavy work. We will take some work on the street in the future. When you have nothing to do at home, you can paste matchboxes and take care of the children." Qin Huairu said firmly.

"Okay, Mom will try her best." Jia Zhang sighed.

"Mom, don't blame me. I'm doing this for the good of our family!" Qin Huairu comforted her.

"Mom believes in you."