MM Racing Chapter 1185 Qin Huairu ran back
Chapter 1185 Qin Huairu ran back
"It's Lu Jia! Come in quickly!" Ran Qiuye opened the door and smiled as she ushered her into the house. "Why are you being so polite with me? Why are you knocking? Just come in." As she spoke, she reached out and helped Lu Jia up, her fingertips touching Lu Jia's slightly cool hand. "The weather has turned cold so quickly. You're pregnant, so don't get cold. Come in and warm up. I just boiled some water."
Lu Jia stood at the entrance of Gu Nan's courtyard, her hand on the door frame, a gentle smile on her face, her voice soft: "Sister Qiuye, I've been standing at the door for a while now. I heard no sound from inside, and I thought Shiwan was asleep. It wouldn't be good if I rushed in and disturbed the child."
Ran Qiuye smiled upon hearing this, stepping aside to let the baby, whose diaper had just been changed, into the house. "It's alright, Shiwan just finished eating and is looking around with her eyes wide open, full of energy. You're carrying such a big belly, it's not easy for you to move around, come in and sit down, I'll get you a glass of water." As she greeted her, she was actually a little suspicious—knowing that He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu had been getting close lately, there were quite a few rumors circulating in the courtyard. Could it be that Lu Jia came to see her at this time because she had some pent-up grievances and wanted to talk to someone about them?
Lu Jia walked into the house, her gaze first falling on the child sleeping peacefully on the kang (a heated brick bed). The child's face was rosy and his breathing was even. She smiled and waved her hand, "No need to rush, I'll just sit for a while and then leave. Sister Qiuye, I was thinking that Gu Nan is away out of town, and you're all alone at home with the child, feeding and changing diapers, you must be so busy. If you don't mind, why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight? You know Zhu Zi's cooking skills, although they can't compare to Gu Nan's, his home-style stir-fries are still quite decent, so I'll give you a change of pace."
That was genuine. He Yuzhu was now a capable chef in the factory canteen, skilled in both cooking and baking. In any other restaurant, Lu Jia would have praised him with confidence; but it was different at Gu Nan's house—Gu Nan's cooking skills were truly exceptional. He was proficient in all kinds of cooking, especially his sweet and sour fish. The sweet and sour sauce was evenly applied, the fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and all the bones were removed cleanly. It was far superior to He Yuzhu's. Lu Jia's words inevitably carried a hint of unconscious modesty.
Ran Qiuye knew perfectly well that Lu Jia meant well, but Gu Nan had specifically instructed her before leaving to avoid contact with He Yuzhu's family—after all, the two had never gotten along at the factory, and getting too close would inevitably lead to gossip, which could reach the ears of the leaders and have a bad impact. She gently rocked the child while holding her, her smile undiminished: "Thank you, Jiajia, but really, it's not necessary. Shiwan is very well-behaved; she eats and then sleeps, she doesn't fuss. I simply made some noodles for dinner, she already ate them, they're still warm."
Lu Jia didn't insist. She knew that Gu Nan and He Yuzhu's relationship had always been tense, and it was normal for Ran Qiuye to have concerns. So she followed up with a smile and said, "Alright, if we don't want to eat, then we don't have to. Anyway, we live close by, so it's good for us sisters to chat. You see, there aren't many people in this courtyard with whom we can have a close conversation."
Ran Qiuye nodded, picked up the child, and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Lu Jia pulled up a stool next to her, and the two chatted back and forth—from how to soothe a crying baby at night, to which family in the yard grew the best vegetables, and then to the new floral fabrics that had recently arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative. Lu Jia wanted to get along well with Ran Qiuye, so she was particularly warm and chatted with her for a long time until she saw that it was getting dark outside the window, at which point she got up to say goodbye.
Meanwhile, Qin Huairu was hanging clothes in the yard when she caught a glimpse of Lu Jia entering Gu Nan's house. Her eyes darted around, and she casually draped a bamboo pole over the line before sneaking off to He Yuzhu's house. Finding the yard quiet except for the clanging sounds of chopping vegetables coming from the kitchen, she gently knocked on the door, her voice soft and ethereal: "Yuzhu, are you home? I came to talk to you about something."
He Yuzhu had just put the sliced pork belly into a basin to marinate when he heard the sound and quickly came out to greet her. He wiped his hands on his apron, grabbed Qin Huairu's hand, and said with a fawning smile, "Sister Qin, you've finally come! I was just thinking about you. Just tell me what you need, and I'll do whatever I can to help."
He knew exactly what was going on—the moment Lu Jia left, Qin Huairu arrived. The timing was perfect; she was probably here to ask for vegetables again. He used to be completely charmed by her calling him "Sister Qin," sending her all sorts of nice things. But after a while, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He wanted to get something tangible in return; he couldn't let her keep taking advantage of him and end up with a reputation for being "henpecked."
Qin Huairu felt her hand being held by him, the back of her hand pressed against his rough palm, and two blushes appeared on her face, but she didn't pull away. She just gave him a reproachful look and lightly tapped his arm with her fingertips: "Zhuzi, what kind of relationship do you think we have? Are you still pretending to be confused with your sister? You know our family's situation. Banggeng is gone, and the two girls are at the age of growing up. How can they stand eating thin porridge every day? You have to help your sister."
He Yuzhu chuckled, patted his chest, and said with a touch of pride, "Sister Qin, how could I not help you after you said that? Don't worry, I've already prepared everything for you, knowing you'd be coming." He turned and went into the kitchen, pulling out a paper package from the cupboard containing half a glistening roast chicken and a bunch of bright green vegetables. "Here, take this. I just brought it back from the cafeteria. The roast chicken is still warm. Let the girls have a taste."
Qin Huairu took the cloth bag, weighing its heavy weight. The aroma of meat filled her nostrils, and her face lit up with a smile. She leaned forward and said in a voice as soft as cotton, "Zhuzi, I have to say, in this courtyard, you're the one who treats me the best. You're even more considerate than my own man."
He Yuzhu felt a tickle in his heart from her words, like tiny insects crawling on him. He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of anticipation, "Sister Qin, don't forget what I told you this weekend. I specially asked the factory manager for leave to take you and the girls to the Summer Palace."
Qin Huairu was a little unhappy—she was afraid that people in the courtyard would gossip if they always went out alone with him. But holding the meat in her hand, and thinking of how her two daughters at home craved the roast chicken, she nodded and mumbled, "Alright, I know. I'll come find you later." After saying that, afraid of being seen, she hurried home with her cloth bag, her steps light as if she had found a treasure. Chicken oil from the bag seeped out through the paper seams, leaving a small oil stain on her clothes, but she didn't care.
Qin Huairu understood perfectly well—her close relationship with He Yuzhu was merely a ploy to make Yi Zhonghai notice and remember her. The old man held considerable prestige in the courtyard and always remembered her hardships as a widow and her child. He would likely lend a helping hand, and her life in the courtyard would be easier; at least no one would dare bully her. As for the ambiguous relationship with He Yuzhu—the light touch of fingertips when handing her a hot bun, the "chance encounter" at the courtyard gate when she returned home late—these were just convenient tactics. She knew perfectly well what would happen if anything did. Afterwards, she would simply dust herself off, continue sewing clothes for her child, and continue managing her ration coupons. It wasn't worth risking her life.