Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

Page 182

"What's wrong with Qin Huairu? She lost her husband and her job, it's not like we caused her this, so why does she always act like we owe her something!"

"Who says otherwise? I see her cleaning outside every day like she's painting, she doesn't put any effort into it at all."

The two veteran staff members of the neighborhood office discussed helplessly, but in order to avoid causing too much trouble, they could only turn a blind eye.

"Excuse me, comrade, do you know if there are any restrooms around here?"

Just as Qin Huairu picked up the broom to start working, a middle-aged man with a fairly handsome appearance came over and asked.

"Yes, there is one right at the end of the alley ahead, turn right. It's very close."

Qin Huairu, who had just been looking impatient, turned around and saw this man, and her face immediately lit up with a smile.

"You shameless slut! I knew you were up to no good every day, coming out early and coming back late. You really are here to seduce men!"

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi, who had been observing from behind a tree not far away, finally couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed up and slapped Qin Huairu across the face. Her agile figure didn't look like that of an old lady at all.

"Mom... what are you doing?"

Qin Huairu covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes, truly at a loss for what to do.

"What am I doing? Look what you're doing!"

"I'm asking you, why aren't you working properly at the factory? What are you doing here in the neighborhood? Have you hooked up with another guy from the neighborhood?"

"Look at how you were flirting with other men just now. Why were you never so enthusiastic towards my Xudong when he was alive?"

Jia Zhangshi disregarded the crowds coming and going on the street and began to curse loudly.

"I...I was fired from the steel rolling mill a long time ago..."

"I arrive at the street early every day because my job is to clean the streets. My work hours are 6:30 in the morning."

Qin Huai replied somewhat aggrievedly that she had never dared to tell her mother-in-law about being fired, since it wasn't for anything honorable. But since things had come to this, to prevent Jia Zhangshi from causing a scene in the street, she had no choice but to tell the truth.

"What? You've been fired?"

"Yes, ever since Xudong left, I've been bullied everywhere I go, and those people at the factory are especially against me..."

"Qin Huairu, stop using my son as an excuse! How much can you earn cleaning? How are five people supposed to live?"

Qin Huairu originally intended to play the victim to gain Jia Zhangshi's forgiveness, but she didn't expect that Jia Zhangshi only cared about money.

"I...I have to support my two children every day, and I'm also heavily pregnant. Where am I supposed to find a suitable job?"

"I don't care, neither my grandson nor I can suffer. You should find a suitable job quickly!"

After saying that, Jia Zhangshi left in a huff, leaving Qin Huairu standing there looking humiliated.

"Hey sir, long time no see! I heard you were released, but I haven't seen you since. I thought it was just a rumor!"

After getting up, Yi Zhonghai tidied up at home for a while before going out. This was the first time he had come out to breathe fresh air since he returned. He happened to run into Xu Damao, who was being pushed out by Lou Xiao'e to sunbathe.

Xu Damao's tone was slightly sarcastic. In any case, Yi Zhonghai's prestige in this courtyard had long been exhausted by Li Xiangdong, and Xu Damao, who always took advantage of others' misfortunes, naturally had to say a few sarcastic remarks to vent his anger.

"Who are you?"

Yi Zhonghai looked displeased, but still managed a smile and leaned closer to ask.

"Oh no? Sir, you don't not recognize me, do you? I'm Xu Damao!"

Yi Zhonghai's unusual reaction really startled Xu Damao, who straightened up and stared wide-eyed.

"Oh, it's Xu Damao! It's been a while! (Li Lihao) You've aged so much! If I hadn't looked closely, I would have thought it was your third uncle sunbathing here!"

"Your face is so dark and red, have you been abused by your wife? I remember you used to be quite imposing in front of Lou Xiao'e!"

"By the way, is it because your wife Lou Xiao'e found out you were messing around outside? If you ask me, your life from now on is going to be tough!"

Yi Zhonghai unleashed a barrage of attacks, leaving Xu Damao's face ashen.

"Where are you going? You didn't even say anything before leaving."

An older woman rushed over upon hearing the noise and whispered in Yi Zhonghai's ear.

"Zhang Feng got expelled, right? I'll go see him and discuss something with him."

Chapter 239 Yi Zhonghai is reprimanded by Wang Yan

Yi Zhonghai narrowed his eyes and said mysteriously.

"Go early and come back early. Don't worry about those useless things. You've only been out for two days. I want to have a peaceful New Year."

An older woman sighed and gave him some instructions, while Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and walked away.

"You lazy good-for-nothing, if I were your factory manager I would have fired you long ago!"

"All you do is lie at home all day, eating and waiting to die. Do you expect me to go out and work to support you?"

"You've been saying you wanted a son every day since you got married. Now that you have one, can you afford to raise him?"

"Zhang Feng, let me tell you, if you can't find a job within three days, I'll marry another man and take your son with me. I'll change his name and identity, and you'll regret it!"

As soon as Yi Zhonghai entered Zhang Feng's yard, he heard shouts and curses coming from inside the house.

"What are you two doing? It's so lively so early in the morning."

Yi Zhonghai deliberately raised his voice and forced a smile as he spoke.

"Master... what brings you here 557?"

"You see, I've been dealing with some things lately and haven't had a chance to visit you!"

Zhang Feng quickly sat up in bed and winked at his wife.

"Tch, don't try to wink at me. Even if Master came, I'd still say the same thing!"

"Master, you don't know, Zhang Feng has been fired from the factory, and now our family of three is on the verge of starving to death. You've come at the perfect time, please help us think of a solution!"

Zhang Feng's wife sat irritably in her chair, arms crossed, showing no intention of getting up to greet Yi Zhonghai.

"I've already heard about this, and that's why I'm here today."

"Yan'er, I was the one who brought you and Zhang Feng together. If you don't trust others, don't you trust me?"

"Life is bound to have its ups and downs. If you start complaining about remarrying with your children over every little thing, how are you supposed to live your life?"

"Besides, look at other families, aren't they all couples working together to support the family? You insist on saying you stay home to take care of your husband and children, but aren't you cutting off your own escape route?"

As soon as Yi Zhonghai sat down, he put on his lecturing tone again and gave Zhang Feng's wife, Wang Yan, a long lecture.

"If it weren't for your constant matchmaking, I would never have married a good-for-nothing like Zhang Feng."

"A person just released from jail, already a stinking mess in his own yard, is now coming to meddle in other people's business..."

Wang Yan rolled her eyes, picked up the child, got up, and slammed the door shut as she left.

"You...you spendthrift woman!"

"Master, please don't take it to heart; she's coming for me..."

Zhang Feng scratched his head somewhat awkwardly and came over to make Yi Zhonghai a cup of tea.

“I only heard Sha Zhu mention it yesterday. Tell me why Li Xiangdong fired you.”

"I...I bet them that Yu Bin definitely couldn't make ten perfect parts, but I didn't expect that kid Yu Bin would actually be quite capable...Our bet was that whoever lost would leave the steel rolling mill, so..."

Zhang Feng (cgcb) said guiltily.

"Wait, ten parts? What, ten parts?"

Yi Zhonghai was completely confused and interrupted.

"Li Xiangdong is currently leading the steel rolling mill to develop new equipment, and these ten parts are, according to him, the ten main parts that the equipment will use."

"I tried it, it's extremely complicated, and it's impossible to achieve zero errors. Plus, he needed it urgently, so I figured Yu Bin definitely couldn't do it either..."

As Zhang Feng spoke, he rummaged through drawers and cabinets looking for something to feed Yi Zhonghai.

"Alright, alright, stop looking. Let's get down to business. Yu Bin made these ten parts, and then what?"

"As far as I know, they should be working overtime every day to process parts in batches. According to Li Xiangdong's plan, it should be completed this week."

"Alright, then let's find a way to prevent him from completing his plan!"

Yi Zhonghai said thoughtfully.

“Master, if this were before, when we were both in the factory, it would have been easy for us to cause him some trouble. But... now we've basically left the factory, so any underhanded tactics we try would be too obvious…”

"What are you afraid of? Your senior brother is still in the factory. Although he's a cleaner, it's not difficult for him to go in and out of the workshop."

"He Yuzhu? That man is no good!"

“Fengzi, that’s not right of you. Shazhu is still your senior brother. Although he can be a bit slow on the uptake sometimes, I believe we’re still on the same side. He’s the one who told me you were expelled, and he apologized to me. Isn’t it that kid Li Xiangdong who caused him to end up like this?”

"My dear master, there are some things I don't want to tell you, because I'm afraid that you're not able to handle it physically or mentally after you've just come out!"

Zhang Feng sighed and shook his head helplessly.

"what do you mean?"

"To tell you the truth, I wandered into the factory last night out of boredom, and guess what I saw!"

"Speak your mind quickly, why are you being so mysterious at a time like this!"

"Hey, I saw Li Xiangdong's brother-in-law, Yu Bin, hanging out with my senior classmate He Yuzhu's sister, He Yushui!"

Chapter 240 A Covert Strategy