The courtyard house, without the script of Sha Zhu.

Chapter 126 Jia Family Crisis

Indeed, one could certainly try to buy some grain from the black market, but the price would definitely be high.

Under such circumstances, even Jia Dongxu, a mama's boy, couldn't help but mutter to himself.

There's no other way; that would make the already meager salary, barely enough to support a family, even more precarious.

After all, retirement funds also need to be taken out of this salary.

If you choose to buy food on the black market, you'll most likely not be able to afford refined grains and will have to eat cornmeal from then on.

The thought alone filled the three of them with despair, yet they later developed an intense craving for corn noodles.

"If you had urban household registration, that would be great. If only you would listen to Director Wang."

These words were also directed at Jia Zhangshi, implying that the "mama's boy," feeling the pressure, had even chosen to "sell out" his own mother.

Now, Jia Zhangshi was starting to lose her footing. After all, who had suggested she not change her household registration to an urban one? Wasn't it because she wanted to covet that so-called grain?

When the boomerang hit her in the face, Jia Zhangshi didn't back down; to be precise, she knew that if she relaxed now, her food supply and even her retirement savings might be affected.

Even though Qin Huairu's gaze towards her wasn't strange, she only glanced at her.

She immediately started wailing and crying loudly.

"Oh God, Lao Jia, come up and take a look! I raised your son with great difficulty, and now he's married and has a wonderful grandson, but now he doesn't want his mother anymore."

Hearing these cries, Jia Dongxu, who was already feeling somewhat exhausted, felt even more drained.

"Mom, I don't mean to blame you, I just think it would have been better if we had realized it sooner."

Even though Jia Dongxu had already spoken up, Madam Jia Zhang still seemed unwilling to be at a disadvantage.

"Who knows? And the most important thing is, you didn't eat any of that food. Every time we brought back food, you and that fox spirit ate the most."

After being told that, Jia Dongxu didn't even have the energy to complain anymore.

He just lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) quietly.

And what about Qin Huairu? At this moment, she is looking at the still young Banggeng.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of panic.

There's nothing we can do; this grain allocation system is clearly targeting the Jia family.

You have to understand, they only managed to have a few good years thanks to Yi Zhonghai's assistance. Just thinking about going back to the way things were before, or even living a worse life and eating cornmeal again, is unbearable.

This was naturally an unacceptable fact for the Jia family.

However, for most families, the problem of having too little food, or not having enough to eat, is troubling the entire yard, and even the entire city.

So, after gritting her teeth, Qin Huairu looked at Jia Dongxu and couldn't help but make a suggestion.

"Dongxu, by the way, why don't you go and discuss this with your master?"

These words made Jia Dongxu, who had been prepared to give up or had no hope for the future, suddenly stand up.

Yes, he almost forgot about his master, and Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but chime in at that moment.

"That's right, hurry up and talk to that old man who has no descendants, and quickly transfer our household registration to the city."

However, this time, Jia Zhangshi did not visit the Yi family directly. Instead, she brought a stick and went to the Yi family with Jia Dongxu and his wife.

As for the Yi family, there's no need to worry right now, since the food rations for the two of them are more than enough.

Before they could even discuss the matter, Jia Dongxu arrived at the door with Qin Huairu. Li Mei, who opened the door, sensed something was wrong.

Given the current situation, it's clear that neither Jia Zhangshi nor Qin Huairu have a fixed quota.

What else can you do when you visit someone's door at this time besides complaining about being poor?

Despite his reluctance, he eventually welcomed him in, since he had no say in this house.

When Yi Zhonghai saw the couple who had come to visit, he felt a sense of unease, as he could guess that the Jia family was indeed in dire straits.

However, he had already given the Jia family several extra pounds of fine grains every month before this.

This was based on the fact that although Qin Huairu was not very willing to see him again, she had no choice but to do so because of her son.

Upon seeing the other party arrive, he guessed what had happened, but did not speak immediately.

At this moment, Jia Dongxu and his wife also looked a little embarrassed, and after exchanging a few pleasantries.

Finally, at Qin Huairu's prompting glance, Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth and spoke.

"Master, you see, you're also an administrator here. Could you do something to help us? Could you talk to Director Wang? If we don't have this quota, my mother, Huairu, and my son will starve to death."

These words nearly infuriated Yi Zhonghai. He was a manager, that's true, but while he wielded considerable influence within the compound, he held little power within the local street office. He knew perfectly well that the chances of success in this matter were practically zero.

So he shook his head helplessly and said.

"Dongxu, that's the rule. I'm just an administrator in our institute. It's probably unrealistic for me to have any influence over the policy."

At this point, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but add another sentence.

"And with the quota coming in, things won't be easy for us from now on. I'll lend a hand whenever I can."

The implication was clear: they were using this rationing as a pretext to imply that future grain supplies to the Jia family might be reduced, or even stopped altogether.

This immediately alarmed Qin Huairu. Since there was no rationing to begin with, she would have to resort to the black market to buy expensive grain from elsewhere.

If Yi Zhonghai reduces or even stops providing assistance under these circumstances, the Jia family might really not be able to survive.

This was precisely Yi Zhonghai's intention. Qin Huairu had previously relied on Yi Zhonghai's conviction that Banggeng was her son, so she was unwilling to meet with him in secret anymore, even for the sake of her son, Yi Zhonghai.

Even if he couldn't gain any benefit and could only use the excuse of retirement to hypnotize himself, he still provided this kind of assistance. But at this moment, the food ration undoubtedly gave him an opportunity.

As he said this, Yi Zhonghai glanced at Qin Huairu intentionally or unintentionally, which made Qin Huairu feel nauseous, but at the same time, she instantly understood what he meant.

Isn't it just that he wants to meet her in secret again?

But the other party's old-fashioned demeanor, and the fact that he wouldn't be much older than Jia Dongxu, made her unwilling to take the risk.

But right now, it seems the situation is beyond her control. While Qin Huairu is caught in a dilemma, Jia Dongxu is even more panicked.

He also clearly understood the implication in Yi Zhonghai's words, so he quickly pleaded for leniency.

"Master, I know it's not easy for you either, but if that policy is really implemented, my family will really starve to death."

"Nobody wanted this to happen, so you need to study harder in the future and try your best to pass the intermediate-level worker exam. Once you're promoted, everything will be much easier, right?"

Yi Zhonghai's incorruptible demeanor made Jia Dongxu inwardly curse him.

At this moment, Qin Huairu was also caught in a dilemma.

Yi Zhonghai had been stealing glances at her several times just now. If she didn't understand this, then she would be unworthy of her name.

"Or I can think of something later; it's too late now."

Seeing his touching act of refusing, even if Jia Dongxu was foolish, he could only say a few more kind words before leaving.

And after the news was brought back to the Jia family, Jia Zhangshi was furious.

"What is that old widow trying to do? Not giving me food? She's going to starve me to death!"

E

"This widower wants to take the money to the fields? No way, I have to go find him."

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's appearance, Jia Dongxu could only try to persuade her, while Qin Huairu's inner conflict finally turned into a resolute decision when she saw the young Banggeng.

Ultimately, there was no escaping it.