Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Qin Huairu's eyes widened in disbelief when she heard Erleng's mother's words.

She never expected that Banggeng would brag about his family eating white flour buns and meat dishes everywhere, and now she was speechless when asked.

Seeing that Qin Huairu remained silent, Er Leng's mother sneered, "Qin Huairu, what's wrong? You have nothing to say now? Your family has been eating white flour buns and meat every day lately, and you still have the nerve to say that your family is having financial difficulties? That you can't make ends meet? Even if Wang Feng and Jingru's combined salaries are 166 yuan, it probably wouldn't be as good as what your family eats, right?"

Seeing Qin Huairu's expression, everyone knew that Erleng's mother was telling the truth, and they all started angrily cursing at Qin Huairu.

"Qin Huairu, I was just about to speak up for you, but it turns out your family eats white flour buns and meat every day, and you're still pretending to be poor? You're utterly shameless!"

"That's right. We can't even get enough cornmeal to eat right now, but they can eat white flour buns and meat. They're still trying to pretend to be poor and take advantage of us. I've never seen such a shameless person."

"I disagree with classifying the Jia family as a household in need."

I disagree.

"disagree."

When Jia Zhangshi saw everyone in the courtyard cursing Qin Huairu and refusing to classify their family as a poor household, her triangular eyes glared, and she angrily shouted back:

"You heartless, childless wretches, how could you believe a child's words? Qin Huairu is the only one in our family who earns money, and I don't have a ration quota, so how can we not be considered a poor household?"

"Dead fish eyes! Our family is already struggling so much, and you're still accusing us! You just wait, if you make my life difficult, your family won't have an easy time either!"

Erleng's family wasn't classified as a low-income household, and Erleng's mother was also furious. She retorted without backing down, "Jia Zhangshi, this is what your grandson said himself. When did I ever wrong you? If you want to argue, then argue. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

"Quiet."

Yan Fugui shouted, and the scene instantly fell silent.

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Huairu and said in a deep voice, "Qin Huairu, your family is not in dire straits right now. The per capita living expenses have reached seven yuan, and you have a job with a stable income every month. In addition, with the compensation your family received before, you can live a comfortable life. Now, most people in the courtyard do not agree with your family being classified as a poor household."

"Qin Huairu, you should persuade your mother-in-law to stop making a scene. This is something Director Wang instructed us to do. If she dares to act unreasonably again and Director Wang finds out, she might be sent back to the countryside."

Seeing that the benefits she had in mind were gone, Jia Zhangshi was very unwilling. She was about to sit on the ground and make a scene when Qin Huairu pulled her back.

Qin Huairu didn't feel embarrassed at all. She whispered in Jia Zhangshi's ear, "Mom, stop making a fuss. It's no use making a fuss now. If the people in the courtyard tell Director Wang that you are promoting feudal superstition and undermining unity, it will be troublesome if they send you back to the countryside."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's face darkened, and she didn't say a word. However, her triangular eyes were fixed on Erleng's mother, as if she wanted to devour her alive.

She and Qin Huairu had been working together very well, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop. They were about to get the benefits when Er Leng's mother came out and caused trouble, making them lose the benefits they were about to get. How could she not hate her?

Seeing that Jia Zhangshi had calmed down, Yan Fugui continued, "Now let's continue this discussion. Anyone whose family is on the verge of financial ruin can speak up. Of course, we must be truthful. After we all confirm which families are truly in difficulty, we will discuss how to help them."

After a heated discussion lasting twenty minutes, two more families in dire need were finally selected. Including Old Chen and Old Liu from before, there were now four families struggling to make ends meet.

The next two families are the Yuan family and the Ma family. Both families have employees, but their wages are relatively low and they have a large number of people.

Yuan Hong from the Yuan family has only been working at the factory for less than a year, earning a salary of 22 yuan a month. However, the Yuan family had another child a month ago, making it a family of five. The average living expenses per person are less than 5 yuan. The subsidy from the neighborhood committee has not yet been received, and the family is indeed facing considerable difficulties.

The Ma family was in a much worse situation than the Yuan family. Their family consisted of six people, with a monthly salary of 33 yuan, and an average living expense of 5 yuan per person. However, the Ma family had a sickly aunt who needed to take medication regularly. With a sickly person in the family, the whole family was basically dragged down.

"Alright, now we've selected the families in need in our compound. There are only three wealthy families in our compound."

"Wang Feng contributes ten catties of cornmeal each month, Uncle Yi contributes five yuan plus ten catties of cornmeal, and Uncle Er also contributes five yuan plus ten catties of cornmeal. So our courtyard will have thirty catties of cornmeal plus ten yuan each month. As for how to help these four households, let's go over it further."

"First, there's Old Chen. He has two grandsons and no stable income. I suggest we give him ten jin of cornmeal and five yuan every month. Does anyone have any objections?"

Seeing that everyone was silent, Yan Fugui continued, "As for Old Liu, he has no children now and makes a living by collecting garbage. He only receives five catties of cornmeal every month."

"The Yuan family has five members, and the average living expenses per person are less than five yuan. We help him with five jin of cornmeal every month."

"The last Ma family, because there is an aunt who takes medicine regularly, and three children, will be given ten catties of cornmeal and five yuan every month. Does anyone have any objections to this arrangement? If so, please speak up."

Needless to say, many people have objections to this issue of profit distribution, but these four families are indeed the most disadvantaged in the compound, so they can't say much.

Jia Zhangshi had the biggest objection, but Qin Huairu held her back tightly, preventing her from going out and making a scene. Otherwise, Jia Zhangshi would have already started arguing with Yan Fugui.

Qin Huairu knew very well that this matter was no longer their family's business, and arguing would be useless. In fact, it would only offend the people in the courtyard. She would not do something that would bring her no benefit and would only offend others.

Yan Fugui nodded in satisfaction when he saw that everyone was silent.

"Since no one objects, this matter is settled."

As soon as Yan Fugui finished speaking, Old Chen, Old Liu, Yuan Hong, and Ma Xiaohu stepped forward and bowed to everyone in the courtyard: "Thank you all for your help, Wang Feng, Uncle Yi, Uncle Er, thank you."

Liu Haizhong waved his hand heartily: "As the second oldest in the compound and a level seven forging worker in the factory, it's only right that we help you when you're in trouble."

Wang Feng smiled and said, "Don't be so polite. Although Jingru and I earn a combined monthly salary of 166 yuan, we've only been working for a short time and don't have much savings. This is all we can do to help."

"Thank you, thank you all."