Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

What does he mean by saying this in broad daylight?

Qin Huairu wasn't some clueless young girl; she naturally picked up on the implication and provocation in his words.

She was both ashamed and angry, but deep in her heart, there was a strange tremor of being watched by a powerful person, and... a strong desire for that piece of meat.

Just then, an impatient roar came from inside the Jia family's house.

"Qin Huairu! Have you been dead out there? Taking so long doing laundry! Who are you talking to?"

Qin Huairu was startled, quickly composed herself, and responded.

"Mom's here!"

She picked up the laundry basin and hurriedly went back into the house.

As soon as she entered the room, Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes scanned her face suspiciously.

"Who were you whispering with at the door just now? It sounded like a man's voice to me?"

Qin Huairu's heart tightened. She put down the basin, lowered her head, put on a wronged look, and whispered.

"It's...it's Section Chief Li from the backyard coming home from get off work. I...I just wanted to apologize to him, and also...and maybe borrow some meat from him, my 'sticky buddy' hasn't had any oily food for months..."

"Borrow flesh?"

Upon hearing those two words, Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up instantly, like a hungry wolf spotting its prey, and she immediately pressed for more information.

"Did you borrow it? Did he agree?"

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, then, recalling Li Zhenhua's meaningful gaze and words, the blush that had just faded from her face returned, and her voice became barely audible.

"He...he said...that I should go to his house to get it myself in a little while..."

"Go to his house to get it?"

Jia Zhangshi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slapped her thigh, her face showing wild joy and impatience.

"Go! Hurry up! What are you standing there for? Do you think meat will fly over here by itself? Quick! Take advantage of the fact that he just got home, hurry up and ask for it! Ask for as much as you can! It would be best to get the rest!"

At that moment, Jia Zhangshi's mind was filled with the aroma of braised pork. She didn't think about whether it was appropriate for her daughter-in-law to go to the home of a single man she had just had a fight with to "get meat." She also didn't notice Qin Huairu's unusually flushed cheeks and her darting eyes.

All she knew was that there was meat to eat!

"But Mom... this..."

Qin Huairu was still somewhat hesitant and embarrassed.

"But what 'but'?!"

Jia Zhangshi glared at her and shoved her.

"Hurry up! Don't dawdle! What's left after he finishes eating? Hurry up! What are you afraid of for my grandson? He'll try not to give it to him!"

Urged on by Jia Zhangshi and thinking of her son Banggeng's craving for meat, Qin Huairu steeled her heart, bit her lip, straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and with a complex and indescribable feeling, turned and walked towards the backyard.

Li Zhenhua had just returned to the backyard hut and propped up his bicycle under the eaves. Before he could even insert the key into the lock, he heard extremely faint, hesitant footsteps behind him.

He turned around in confusion and saw Qin Huairu standing at the entrance to the backyard through the moon gate, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darting around, as if she had made a great decision before coming over.

Li Zhenhua was indeed stunned.

His words to Qin Huairu at the door were seven parts mockery and three parts probing. He wanted to see where this woman, forced by life's hardships, had to go, and also to nip any potential attempts by the Jia family to take advantage of him in the bud.

He never expected that Qin Huairu would actually dare to come!

And they came so quickly!

It seems he underestimated the allure of meat to ordinary people in this era, and also underestimated the courage Qin Huairu could muster for the sake of the family's necessities.

"Section Chief Li..."

Qin Huairu's voice was barely audible, tinged with obvious shyness.

"I...I'm here. Please...please have mercy, just give me a small piece...just let the children have a taste..."

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Li Zhenhua, her ears turning bright red.

Looking at her shy and timid yet driven by desire, Li Zhenhua found it somewhat amusing.

He opened the door and stepped aside.

"Come in."

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and quickly slipped into the house like a thief. She immediately stood far away from Li Zhenhua, her heart pounding.

Li Zhenhua didn't close the door, but left it ajar to avoid gossip.

He went straight to the small room that served as a kitchen and took the remaining half of the pork belly off the hook.

Yesterday he stewed about two pounds of meat, and now there are still seven or eight pounds left. The meat is marbled with fat and lean, and it gleams temptingly in the dim light.

Qin Huairu's gaze was instantly drawn to that piece of meat, and her breathing quickened.

Li Zhenhua picked up the kitchen knife and, with a swift stroke, cut off a small piece.

It's only the size of a candy bean, even smaller than the braised pork he made yesterday; it probably wouldn't even be big enough to get stuck between your teeth.

He pinched the small piece of minced meat and handed it to Qin Huairu.

Here, take it.

Qin Huairu stared at the pitifully small piece of meat for a moment, then a feeling of being mocked and humiliated suddenly surged into her heart.

She took such a big risk and mustered up the courage to come to a strange man's house, only to receive such a tiny bit in return?

That's not even enough to fill a tooth gap!

"Section Chief Li! You...you're bullying me!"

Qin Huairu raised her head, her eyes instantly reddening. It wasn't an act; she was genuinely angry and aggrieved, her voice trembling with tears.

"Is this all... are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? If you don't want to give, just say so! Why treat people like this!"

Seeing her angry and embarrassed expression, Li Zhenhua laughed instead. He casually tossed the piece of minced meat onto the stove next to him and watched her with a leisurely air.

"Qin Huairu, there's no such thing as a free lunch. You have to pay a price for everything. That small piece was a 'courage fee' for daring you to step through this door. Want more?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over her body, which was trembling slightly with excitement, with a knowing and playful look.

"It depends on what kind of 'sincerity' you can show."

Qin Huairu felt uncomfortable under his gaze. She vaguely understood something, but she wasn't sure. Her face turned even redder, and she stammered.

"I... my family doesn't have any money... we'll wait until Dongxu gets his salary..."

"Who talked to you about money?"

Li Zhenhua interrupted her and took a step closer.

Qin Huairu instinctively stepped back, her back hitting the cold wall.

Li Zhenhua leaned down, put his ear close, and whispered a few words in a low, clear voice that only the two of them could hear.

As he spoke, Qin Huairu's eyes widened instantly, the color draining from her face and then returning, turning her face bright red and hot, even her neck turning pink.

Her body trembled slightly, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.

After Li Zhenhua finished speaking, he straightened up, stopped looking at her, turned around and walked back to the only chair in the room. He poured himself a glass of water and slowly drank it, as if nothing had happened.

The room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by Qin Huairu's heavy breathing.

Her mind was in complete chaos.

Li Zhenhua's words were blunt and direct, proposing a "transaction" method that she had never thought of and would never dare to consider.

This was completely beyond her comprehension and bottom line.