Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Upon arriving at courtyard number 28, Lou Xiao'e poured Wang Feng a cup of tea and asked, "Brother Feng, Uncle Lou rushed over looking for you this morning but couldn't find you. I told him to look for you at courtyard number 95. Did something happen? Is there any news from my parents?"

Wang Feng took a sip of tea and explained with a smile, "It's nothing. My parents are doing well. I just heard from Chairman Chen. He asked me to discuss how to deal with him."

"oh."

Lou Xiao'e was finally relieved to hear that her parents were alright.

"Son, cook more rice for lunch, I'll eat here."

"OK."

At noon, Lou Xiao'e made a dish of stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with pork and a dish of stir-fried cabbage.

After the two finished their meal, Wang Feng accompanied Lou Xiao'e for a nap, but this time it was a vegetarian nap, as Lou Xiao'e's relatives had also arrived.

......

at the same time.

Steel rolling mill, fitter's workshop 1.

Qin Huairu went to the rest area to get a drink of water when Wang Mazi stormed over and asked angrily, "Qin Huairu, when are you going to pay me back the hundred yuan you borrowed from me?"

Qin Huairu turned around and saw that it was Wang Mazi who had come to collect the debt again. She immediately showed a wronged expression and choked up as she said:

"Waaaaah, Brother Ma, you've changed. You're not the caring Brother Ma you used to be. You know my family is struggling financially, yet you still pressure me? Are you trying to kill me?"

Wang Mazi sneered, "Qin Huairu, put away your smug face. Don't think I don't know you. You've been hanging out with Tieguai Li all this time, chatting and laughing. Did you not get any advantage over me, so you've moved on to another target?"

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and said in a wronged tone, "Brother Ma, you really misunderstood me. There's really nothing between Comrade Li Lei and me. We just happened to run into each other after get off work, and he treated me to a meal."

"Brother Ma, as you know, I have two children and a mother-in-law at home. I'm the only one supporting them by working. Actually, I really didn't want to accept Comrade Li Lei's invitation to dinner, but when I think of my hungry children at home, I... I just..."

At this point, Qin Huairu grabbed Wang Mazi's rough, calloused hand and burst into tears, sobbing, "Waaah, Brother Mazi, do you think it's easy for me?"

Feeling the softness in his hand, Wang Mazi's heart was instantly stirred. Looking at Qin Huairu's pretty face with tears streaming down her face, Wang Mazi's heart softened immediately.

He gently patted Qin Huairu's hand with his other large hand, his tone instantly becoming gentler.

"Comrade Qin Huairu, well... then you can pay me back when you have the money later."

Qin Huairu quickly pulled her hand away, revealing a shy expression. She lowered her head and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Ma. Don't worry, I will definitely pay you back when I have money in the future."

Wang Mazi felt the soft, boneless little hand leave his palm, and he felt a little lost.

He sighed. He knew that Qin Huairu's family was indeed struggling. After all, it was not easy for a woman to work and support such a large family.

The reason he was so eager to urge Qin Huairu to repay the money was mainly because he was very unhappy to see Qin Huairu chatting and laughing with Tieguai Li. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, he is not in such a hurry anymore.

He was about to speak when he saw Qin Huairu's tears fall, her nose twitching, making her look very pitiful.

Wang Mazi hurriedly asked, "Comrade Qin Huairu, what's wrong? Didn't I stop pressuring you to pay back the money? Why are you crying again?"

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears, looking very forlorn, but she didn't say a word, which made Wang Mazi a little anxious.

"Just tell me! What happened? Why are you staying silent? Tell me what's wrong, and we'll figure something out together."

Qin Huairu shook her head, her tone somewhat sorrowful.

"Brother Ma, you should just forget about it. My family is a bottomless pit. You'd better not get involved, lest you drag them down."

As she spoke, Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and smiled, "It's nothing, Brother Ma, don't worry about it."

Hearing Qin Huairu say this, Wang Mazi was very gratified, but seeing Qin Huairu's dejected expression, he became even more anxious.

He grabbed Qin Huairu's hand and asked in a deep voice, "Qin Huairu, what exactly happened? Tell me quickly."

Qin Huairu pulled her hand away, tears welling up in her eyes, and said, "Brother Ma, since you want to hear it, I'll tell you, but don't regret it later."

Wang Mazi patted his chest loudly and waved his hand generously: "Go ahead and say it, I promise I won't regret it."

Qin Huairu pursed her lips, looking aggrieved: "My...my mother's birthday is this Sunday. Ever since I married and moved to the city, I haven't celebrated her birthday at all. This Sunday is her fiftieth birthday, but...but I can't even afford the fare to go back to the countryside. I...I'm so unfilial!"

Qin Huairu's tears flowed freely, which made Wang Mazi feel heartbroken.

Wang Mazi sighed, feeling conflicted. He touched his pocket; he had ten yuan in it, which he planned to use to buy cornmeal at the pigeon market after get off work.

Seeing Qin Huairu's pitiful appearance, he couldn't bear it. After hesitating for a while, he finally took out a crumpled black ten and placed it in Qin Huairu's hand.

"I only have ten yuan on me. Go home and see your mother, and buy them some things to take back with you."

Seeing this, Qin Huairu directly stuffed the money back into Wang Mazi's hand, her tone very firm:

"Brother Ma, you've already lent me so much money, and I haven't paid you back a single penny yet. I can't lend you any more money. Take it back and I'll think of something else. If all else fails, I'll just wait until next year for my mom's birthday to go back and celebrate with her."

Wang Mazi shoved the money into Qin Huairu's hand again, saying in an unquestionable tone, "Take it. You say you'll find a way? What other way do you think you can come up with? Are you planning to borrow money from Tieguai Li?"

"Qin Huairu, if you need anything in the future, just tell me. I will definitely help you if I can. Don't go looking for Tieguai Li again."

With that, Wang Mazi walked back to the workshop without looking back. He had given the money for cornmeal to Qin Huairu today, and he still needed to borrow some money from his coworkers to buy cornmeal.

Watching Wang Mazi's retreating figure, and then looking at the crumpled ten yuan in her hand, Qin Huairu revealed a bright smile.

She put the money in her pocket, drank a glass of water, and then went into the workshop.

Wang Mazi had been pressuring her to repay the money, which was driving her crazy. Unexpectedly, this Wang Mazi was just as easy to fool as the previous Sha Zhu, and she managed to win him over with just a few words.

Now not only do she not have to repay the money, but she has also borrowed another ten yuan from Wang Mazi, which makes her very happy.

It seems I need to spend more time with Wang Mazi in the future. He's an old bachelor with a monthly salary of 42.5 yuan. I'll have to give him at least half of it, since he can't possibly spend it all anyway.