Chapter 6: They say trouble follows a widow's door; haven't you heard that before?
Stepping into the Huang Family courtyard, Yi Zhonghai pushed the door open without any courtesy. Qin Huairu followed closely behind, her gaze falling on bowls filled with rice and a large basin of glistening Fish with Pickled Cabbage, making her swallow involuntarily. Huang Weiguo actually knew how to fish? Why had he never mentioned this to her before?
Huang Weiguo was busily eating with Huahua, Qing Qing, and Huang Liying. Seeing Yi Zhonghai push the door open directly, he slammed his chopsticks down and said, "First Uncle, don't you know to greet someone before entering?"
Yi Zhonghai said, "What greeting? We're all neighbors in the same courtyard. As the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative!"
"You know we're neighbors, yet this is my home, and it's full of female family members. They say trouble follows a widow's door; haven't you heard that? If you ruin my mother's reputation, can you afford to pay for it?"
Yi Zhonghai's expression became somewhat unnatural as he said, "I'll remember to call out first next time!"
Huang Weiguo asked impatiently, "Just say what you have to say! What decent person comes knocking when others are eating!"
Yi Zhonghai felt a bit embarrassed and said, "I heard you caught a lot of fish. The Jia Family in our courtyard is having a hard time, and Huairu is pregnant right now. Dish out a bowl of fish for her and help the Jia Family out!"
After hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, Huang Weiguo's anger cooled slightly as he said, "I say, First Uncle, the Jia Family is having a hard time? At least the Jia Family has Jia Dongxu as a worker with a fixed monthly salary. What about my family? I was seriously ill, and there wasn't a grain of food left in the house. Who helped my family? You should leave now!"
"You... Huang Weiguo, how can you speak like that? A person shouldn't be too selfish, only caring about themselves. You and Huairu at least had the sentiment of an engagement once."
Widow Huang slammed her chopsticks down and said, "Does First Uncle mean that if one day I find some old man to snatch away your wife, and your family has something good to eat, you'll send me a bowl too?"
"You..."
Huang Weiguo was stunned as he looked at Huang Liying. His mother had always been gentle and soft-spoken; now that she was angry, she actually left Yi Zhonghai speechless.
However, he soon understood. Widow Huang lived in the Siheyuan with two young daughters; if she didn't have some spine, she would have been schemed out of everything long ago. How else could she have taken him in?
Widow Huang said, "If First Uncle has nothing else, please go back! We orphans and widows haven't had a full meal in three days, and I haven't seen First Uncle helping us like this!"
Having his true motives exposed, Yi Zhonghai's old face turned beet red, and he slunk away with Qin Huairu.
Huang Weiguo gave Huang Liying a thumbs up and said, "Mom, you're amazing!"
Huang Liying placed the most tender meat from the fish's belly into Huang Weiguo's bowl,
and said, "In the past, your father's health was poor. He and I wanted a child but never succeeded. Many people in this courtyard called me a hen that couldn't lay eggs behind my back, especially Jia Zhangshi, who nagged about it every day. Your father got angry and tried to reason with Jia Zhangshi, but Yi Zhonghai sided with her. That man is just a hypocrite who acts decent on the surface."
Huang Weiguo's Home continued to enjoy their fish merrily.
Yi Zhonghai said with a dark face, "Huairu, you go back first. I'm going to the Old Lady's room for a bit."
Qin Huairu returned home with an empty bowl.
Jia Zhangshi saw there was no fish and immediately became unhappy, asking, "Where's the fish?"
"It wasn't Xu Damao's family making fish, it was Huang Weiguo's!"
Jia Zhangshi gnashed her teeth in hatred and said, "That cursed brat! Eating well himself while ignoring us orphans and widows. He deserves to never find a wife and die without descendants!"
While the cursing continued in the Middle Courtyard, Yi Zhonghai entered Grandma Long's room and said solemnly, "Old Lady, I'm afraid there's no hope for Huang Weiguo's house."
Grandma Long said, "I knew it long ago. When Huang Weiguo first arrived at the Siheyuan, I could see he wasn't an ordinary person. Old Yi, in my view, the best person to provide for your old age in this Siheyuan isn't the Jia Family. With Jia Zhangshi around, Jia Dongxu won't be able to provide for you. The most suitable one is still Huang Weiguo. Look how filial he is to Widow Huang; even biological sons can't compare."
Yi Zhonghai said, "Old Lady, Huang Weiguo and I don't get along. I can't control that kid."
Grandma Long said, "Then choose Zhu Zi. Zhu Zi has a foul mouth, but he's not a bad person, nor is he truly stupid. He values loyalty and sentiment; he's much more suitable than Jia Dongxu!"
Yi Zhonghai fell silent. He had invested so much in the Jia Family that he couldn't just switch on a whim.
"Old Lady, I beg you to let me think about it more carefully!"
Yi Zhonghai cast a meaningful glance toward Huang Weiguo's room before turning to leave.
At this moment, Huang Weiguo was completely unaware that Yi Zhonghai and Grandma Long's plot to seize his house had already failed.
Right now, he was busy removing the tiny bones from the fish meat for Huahua and Qing Qing.
Seeing Huang Weiguo being so thoughtful and meticulous, Huang Liying couldn't help but sigh, "In the future, Weiguo will surely be a good husband and a good father! That Qin Huairu really has no vision; she'll likely regret it sooner or later."
Huang Weiguo responded, "Whether she regrets it or not has nothing to do with me. I only hope our family can live a peaceful life. Mom, the New Year is coming. How about we go to the Department Store tomorrow and buy new clothes for everyone? It's so cold; adults can endure it, but Huahua and Qing Qing can't!"
"Why waste that money? Tomorrow I'll go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, get some fabric and new cotton, and I'll make new clothes for you all."
"That's great!"
Hearing they would have new clothes to wear, Huahua and Qing Qing jumped for joy.
During this meal, the corners of Huahua and Qing Qing's mouths were covered in oil.
Even Huang Liying rareley ate until she was stuffed.
After dinner, Huang Weiguo returned to his room, and Huahua and Qing Qing followed him inside.
"Brother, we want to sleep with you!"
Huang Liying said, "Huahua, Qing Qing, don't disturb your brother. He's just recovered!"
"Mom, it's fine. Let Huahua and Qing Qing sleep with me. It's warmer with more people squeezed together!"
Huang Liying had no choice but to agree. "Alright then. Huahua, Qing Qing, you mustn't kick your brother's blanket!"
"We know!"
Bursts of cheerful laughter immediately came from the room.
Only after Huahua and Qing Qing fell asleep from playing did Huang Weiguo quietly enter his space.
The space was still empty at the moment.
Huang Weiguo calculated in his mind. It was currently 1952, and by November 1953, the supply system would be implemented. By then, without coupons, many things would be impossible to buy.
Therefore, before then, he had to save up enough capital and preferably buy a bicycle for the house.
It seemed he would have to go hunting in the deep mountains.
Fortunately, doing business was legal now. If he could catch enough prey, saving up his first sum of money shouldn't be a problem.
As for the space's rewards—making Qin Huairu regret and counter-attacking in life—there was a prerequisite: his life had to be better than the Jia Family's. Otherwise, why would Qin Huairu regret?
Huang Weiguo began practicing the Spring Return Skill in the space, as the spiritual energy from the surrounding Spirit Spring slowly gathered toward him.