Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

"Mom, give me some money, I'll go out and buy some clothes."

The next morning after breakfast, when Banggeng was about to go out, he asked Qin Huairu for some money. Since he had been released from the juvenile detention center, he wanted to change his clothes. He didn't know how many hands the clothes he was wearing had been worn when he came back.

"Why don't you buy clothes? I'll make you one someday."

Nowadays, when it comes to wearing clothes, most families buy cloth and make them themselves, or ask others to make them, which saves money.

As long as the clothes they have are wearable, ordinary families usually don't buy new clothes. Even during the Chinese New Year, they just mend their clothes and refurbish them.

When Qin Huairu heard that Banggeng wanted money to buy clothes, she refused without thinking.

"No, I'm an adult now, and adults should dress nicely."

Children aged fourteen or fifteen are at the age when they are particular about their clothes. How can homemade clothes be as neat as ready-made ones?

"Be obedient. It's not peaceful outside right now. Stay at home and get to know Xiaodang and Huaihua better."

"And don't forget to bring food for your grandma."

Regardless of whether Banggeng was willing or not, Qin Huairu kept talking to herself. She wanted to go to the factory early. Although she didn't have to clean the toilet anymore, she was still doing the job of sweeping the floor. If she went earlier, she could finish the job earlier and have more rest.

She also wanted to use her rest time to talk to Sha Zhu more. She believed that as long as she appeared in front of Sha Zhu more often, she would win Sha Zhu's heart back sooner or later.

"Qin Huairu, you are not my mother. I hate you."

Bang Geng slammed the door and walked out. Since Qin Huairu refused to give him money, there was nothing he could do.

"Alas! This child."

Qin Huairu sighed. Bang Geng was still the same Bang Geng. It seemed that he had learned nothing in the three years in the juvenile detention center.

Bang Geng hasn't changed, but Qin Huairu has changed.

In the past, Qin Huairu thought that Banggeng would be her support when she got old, so she would basically satisfy most of his requests. If there was anything delicious or drinkable, she would always go to Banggeng.

Ever since Bang Geng cruelly suffocated his younger brother to death three years ago, Qin Huairu wondered when she couldn't sleep whether Bang Geng would be reliable when she got old.

The answer is unreliable.

A cruel person is usually unreliable.

What's more, he is a cruel person since childhood?

However, she didn't want to give up Banggeng. After all, he was her biological son and she still had to raise him. Maybe Banggeng could change one day.

However, Qin Huairu also made two preparations. One was to save money. In addition to necessary expenses, she tried to save as much money as possible. In the past three years, she got a lot of money from Li Huaide, and she also found the money hidden by Jia Zhang. Not to mention that Jia Zhang hid the money very well, there were only so many places in the house, as long as she looked carefully, she would always find it.

Also, her heart began to lean towards Xiaodang and Huaihua. If Banggeng was really useless, she could then recruit two live-in sons-in-law to provide for her in her old age.

"Xiaodang, it's a mess outside now, take your sister and don't run too far, just stay at the doorstep, okay?"

"Got it, Mom. Huaihua and I are going to the office to play."

Qin Huairu went to work with peace of mind. She knew that if there was a safe place outside, it would be the office. She also knew that most of the children in the alley would play there.

She also knew that there were people who were willing to play with the Xiaodang sisters. Just because Liu Guozheng said he wanted to eat candy, they could not exclude each other. It was an adult matter and had nothing to do with the children.

She was naturally relieved when Xiaodang and Huaihua went to play in front of the office.

...........

Bang Geng slammed the door and walked out of the courtyard, looking around in a daze. He didn't know where to go, and most importantly, he had no money.

I can only think while walking.

When he smelled a faint stench, he knew that there was a public toilet ahead.

There is a shack next to the public toilet, which is where his grandmother lives now.

Banggeng stopped in his tracks. He didn't know how to face Jia Zhang, the person who loved him the most.

He wanted to turn back, but he was afraid of meeting Qin Huairu, which would make him, the eldest son of the Jia family, look incompetent.

Thinking that he would eventually have to face it, Banggeng stomped his feet and continued to move forward.

Sure enough, Jia Zhang had already leaned out and was looking towards the direction of Courtyard 95. She was waiting, waiting for her beloved grandson.

"Grandma..."

It was very difficult for Banggeng to call out "Grandma". He looked around and saw that there was no one else around before he managed to say it out.

"Bang Geng, Bang Geng, grandma's dear grandson, are you here to take grandma home?"

It was this call of "Grandma" that gave Jia Zhang hope, and a glimmer of light appeared in her dim eyes. At this moment, she had a reason to persevere.

"I.."

Banggeng lowered his head, not daring to look at Jia Zhang's aging face, let alone say that he was just passing by.

"Ugh!"

Seeing Banggeng like this, the light in Jia Zhang's eyes disappeared again. Jia Zhang knew what kind of person her grandson was. Hoping that Banggeng could take her back was just wishful thinking.

Bang Geng whispered, "Grandma, I'm...I'm sorry."

"My dear grandson, grandma doesn't blame you. If she wants to blame someone, blame that cruel slut Qin Huairu."

"If you go back to your grandma like this, it will only cause trouble for you and make the neighbors look down on you. As long as you remember grandma in your heart, that's all that matters."

"I'm afraid that grandma won't live to see the day when you get married and start a family. Banggeng, my dear grandson, in the future, you must work hard to support the Jia family. When you are capable, drive that bitch Qin Huairu out of our Jia family. When you burn paper at the grave in the future, tell grandma so that she can give an explanation to your father in the afterlife."

"My dear grandson, remember what grandma said. Okay, you can go now. Don't say I'm your grandma in the future. I won't recognize you. Grandma will embarrass you."

Jia Zhang slowly crawled back to the shack. Her life had come to an end.

She also knew that children aged fourteen or fifteen were most concerned about their reputation. She didn't want Banggeng to live in the ridicule of others in the future. All she could do now was to distance herself from Banggeng.

The question is, can you get away with it by denying it?

Who in Nanluoguxiang doesn’t know about the Jia family?

Who doesn’t know that Jia Zhang was driven out by her daughter-in-law?

People always have to deceive themselves. Perhaps only in this way can they make themselves and others feel better.

"Grandma, I will bring you some delicious food, just wait."

Bang Geng ran away choking with sobs. Whether he was trying to escape, feel guilty, or save his own face, he himself couldn't tell.