Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 111 Widow Qin Takes Over

Lou Xiao'e went into labor in the early morning three days later. He Yuzhu stayed up all night, and the baby was born naturally the next morning. It was another son, weighing six pounds and seven ounces, with a loud cry.

He Yuzhu held the little guy in his arms and looked down at him for a long time. The little guy's forehead was wrinkled, and his eyebrows and eyes were just like Xiao'e's.

Xiao'e leaned against the hospital bed, her face still a little pale. She smiled as she looked at Brother He holding his son.

"Have you decided on a name yet?"

"He Chen. The character 'Chen' with a roof radical and stars underneath." He Yuzhu placed the swaddled baby by the bed and held Xiao'e's hand.

After the baby was born, He Yuzhu borrowed the hospital phone to call the Lou family mansion. His mother-in-law answered the phone and, upon hearing that Xiao'e had given birth to another grandson, weighing 6.7 pounds and both mother and child were safe, said she would be there soon and urged He Yuzhu to call his master as well.

Lou Bancheng asked something from behind, and Tan Yali replied, "Another boy. Our Xiao'e has given birth to two sons for the He family now," her tone smug.

He Yuzhu dialed the post office switchboard again and told his master that Xiao'e had given birth to He Chen.

Tan Yali and Lou Bancheng arrived at the hospital in the morning. Tan Yali carried a thermos containing stewed chicken soup. She sat by the bed, holding Xiao'e's hand, her eyes a little red, but she smiled and said, "Last time, He Xiao was born in this hospital, and Dean Lin delivered her. This time, it will definitely be smooth sailing too."

Lou Bancheng stood by the hospital bed, glanced at his daughter, then at his grandson, and nodded, saying that the child's eyebrows and eyes resembled Xiao'e's.

Tan Yali wiped her eyes and reminded He Yuzhu to remember to send a message to their master. He Yuzhu said he had already done so.

In the evening, Master Luo and his wife arrived. Master Luo was carrying a thermos lunchbox, which he shoved into He Yuzhu's arms, saying it was pig's trotter soup.

He Yuzhu stayed in the hospital for five days, accompanying him every day. He brought his own ingredients to the hospital cafeteria to borrow a stove to cook. The head chef of the maternity hospital cafeteria, surnamed Jiang, was overjoyed when he saw him produce his Level 2 chef certificate; they usually couldn't hire him even if they wanted to.

As soon as He Yuzhu put on his apron and stood there, Chef Jiang quickly made way for him at the stove and stood by to watch. He Yuzhu cooked two dishes and stewed a pot of soup for Xiao'e. The aroma wafted out, and several kitchen helpers crowded at the door, craning their necks to watch.

He Yuzhu brought the dishes back to the ward. Xiao'e leaned against the headboard and drank the soup. "Brother He, it tastes even better than the soup we make at home."

"Silly girl, the stoves are different. The workplace has large stoves with plenty of heat. I even taught Chef Jiang a few dishes so I could use the kitchen's stoves."

It was already October when they were discharged from the hospital, and it was a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings. Lou Bancheng sent Lou Yi to pick them up in his car. In the evening, Lou Xiao'e was coaxing He Chen to sleep in the inner room. Shen Zhixia was sitting on the edge of the bed holding He Xiao, and He Xiao gently poked her younger brother's cheek with her finger.

Yu Shui ran in to see his nephew before even putting down his schoolbag after school. He Yuzhu brewed a pot of tea and lit a cigarette under the pomegranate tree.

The pomegranate tree was laden with bright red fruit, some of which had already split open, revealing their juicy seeds.

Old Li entered through the moon gate carrying an enamel mug, sat down on the stool next to He Yuzhu, and took a sip of tea. "Yuzhu, while you were away from the courtyard these past few days, everything concerning the Jia family has been taken care of."

Tell me about it.

Old Li put down the jar and explained in detail that he had gotten into the habit of reporting to Zhu Zi over the years. He had a lot to say these past few days, and he poured it all out like beans.

"The day you left, the steel mill union sent people over. The union chairman, surnamed Liu, led the team himself, carrying some grain and an envelope."

Jia Zhangshi was sitting at the doorway, wailing. Seeing people from the factory arrive, she wailed even louder, rushing forward to grab Chairman Liu's hand and pleading, "The factory must stand up for us!" Chairman Liu helped Jia Zhangshi up and immediately announced the factory's decision.

He Yuzhu flicked his cigarette ash and waited for Lao Li to continue.

"Jia Dongxu died on duty, and the factory is paying a survivor's pension according to regulations. His salary was 37 yuan, and he supported two immediate family members, Banggeng and Xiaodang. The survivor's pension is 40% of that amount, which is 14.8 yuan per month, until the child turns 16. Qin Huairu's baby hasn't been born yet, so we'll apply for the pension after the baby is born."

Old Li took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "In addition, the funeral expenses are calculated based on three months' average wage in the factory, plus the union's condolence money and the steel mill's subsidy, totaling four hundred and eighty yuan." The envelope containing the money was placed on the table. Jia Zhangshi grabbed the envelope and cried even harder, sobbing and saying, "Dongxu, how could you leave like this?"

He Yuzhu took a drag on his cigarette. This amount of money could have supported a family in the 1960s. Jia Dongxu's life saved his entire family, but unfortunately, none of them were his biological children.

Old Li put down the jar and continued, "The main event is coming up next. According to factory regulations, family members are required to fill in for employees. Qin Huairu is pregnant and can't start working right now, but her position has been finalized. Chairman Liu asked Qin Huairu what position she wanted to fill in, and said that the factory had taken her pregnancy into consideration, and there were vacancies in logistics and the canteen, so it would be easier for her."

"Jia Zhangshi immediately refused. She said she had to be a fitter. Chairman Liu said Qin Huairu was pregnant and couldn't do fitter work, and the work in the workshop was too heavy. Jia Zhangshi wouldn't budge, saying that Dongxu was a fitter, and his wife had to take over the fitter position. She could do it now, but she could do it after giving birth."

Old Li mimicked Jia Zhangshi's tone, gently slamming the enamel mug onto the stone table. "You didn't see her attitude; Chairman Liu was driven to desperation by her."

He Yuzhu's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this. Jia Zhangshi was indeed shrewd; she knew that the fitter was a skilled worker, and Banggeng would be able to take over the job in the future. This position, which her son had risked his life for, absolutely could not be wasted in logistics and the canteen.

"Chairman Liu didn't agree on the spot, saying he'd discuss it back home. The next day, Qin Huairu went to the steel rolling mill," Old Li continued in a low voice. "This is all from the Liu family. They said she went alone. When she saw Master Wang, she knelt down, saying the Jia family would always remember Master Wang's kindness, that she knew nothing but was willing to learn, and that she would come to the workshop after giving birth, promising not to embarrass Dongxu. Master Wang quickly pulled her up, and he cried too, saying Dongxu was his apprentice, and he couldn't bear to see his apprentice's family suffer. He went to find the workshop director right then and there."

"The workshop director, worn down by her persistence and with Master Wang's strong support, finally agreed to let Qin Huairu take over the fitter position. Her official position would be temporarily suspended in the workshop until she finished her postpartum confinement. Everyone in the workshop chipped in, giving her a few cents here and there, and together they collected more than twenty yuan to give to Qin Huairu."

After finishing his sentence, Old Li drank several sips of tea.

He Yuzhu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, then slowly took a sip from the enamel mug.

Old Li put down the enamel mug and added one last sentence: "With the grain rations and survivor's pension, the Jia family is doing better than before."

He Yuzhu placed the enamel mug on the stone table, stood up, and stretched. "Uncle Li, after Widow Qin gives birth, I'll treat you to a good show."