Yi Zhonghai's Siheyuan

Jia Zhang knew in her heart that no one in this courtyard could help her family, and she couldn't afford to offend the people in front of her.

So Jia Zhang could only nod in agreement. As Yi Zhonghai and the others left, Jia Zhang immediately changed her face and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu, I know I have been a little harsh on you these years, but how can I not be a bit aggressive after being a widow for so many years? You can take over Dongxu's job and give me 3 yuan a month as pension. In the future, you play the good cop and I play the bad cop. Only in this way can we gain a firm foothold in this courtyard."

When Qin Huairu was about to say something, Jia Zhangshi said, "But if you dare to remarry, I will take back Dongxu's work position and drive you back to the countryside! You are not allowed to take Banggeng with you!"

Qin Huairu said with tears in her eyes, "Mom, I won't remarry! I will raise Banggeng and the others to adulthood!"

Jia Zhang nodded and said, "You are pregnant now, you will get an IUD inserted after you give birth!"

Qin Huairu looked at Jia Zhang in surprise and said, "Mom, what's the matter with this IUD? I'm not going to do anything!"

Jia Zhang: "I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice, so just go if I ask you to!"

Qin Huairu could only nod. Jia Zhang said, "Tomorrow morning, ask Sha Zhu to cook a meal for our family!" Qin Huairu nodded.

On the other side, at the Yan family, after Yan Bugui came back and told his wife about this, Yang Ruihua also expressed that he was very happy to have a feast tomorrow.

This scene was played out in every household in the courtyard, and basically no one in the courtyard felt sad about Jia Dongxu's death.

At the Yi family, after Yi Zhonghai came back, Huang Yulan came over holding Yi Xuanzong.

Yi Zhonghai took his son and kissed him happily, then told Huang Yulan what happened today. Huang Yulan nodded and said, "These two women in the Jia family are not simple people."

Yi Zhonghai: "Who cares about them? As long as they don't plot against us, that's fine!"

Huang Yulan: "Boss, Yang Yuhuan and the old lady came to our house today."

Yi Zhonghai: "Oh, what did you talk about?"

Huang Yulan: "We didn't talk about anything. We were just talking about the news of Jia Dongxu's death! The old lady told us not to go out!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded and began to prepare dinner.

At the He family, after Sha Zhu came back, he first asked about his wife, and then said that Jia Dongxu died not long after he finished talking to him this morning.

Yang Yuhuan said, "Brother Zhuzi, you better be careful! Tomorrow these two widows will definitely ask you to help prepare the banquet! Remember to collect the money when the time comes!"

Sha Zhu nodded. He just listened to his wife now. No one else's words would work.

The next day, in the morning, since Jia Dongxu was going to hold a banquet, Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu came to the steel mill early to collect their pension.

In the office, Director Yang told Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu the results of yesterday's discussion. Jia Zhang didn't dare to make a scene in front of the steel mill and could only nod in agreement. Director Yang saw that Qin Huairu was pregnant and told her to give birth to the baby before going to work.

Qin Huairu also nodded in agreement. Director Yang handed the document to Jia Zhang and asked her to put her fingerprint on it and then go to get the money. By the way, he told Qin Huairu that her future salary would be 27.5.

After Jia Zhang pressed her fingerprints, she followed him to get the money. After getting the money from the finance office, Jia Zhang counted the money and put it in her trouser pocket. Qin Huairu said beside her, "Mom, remember to return the money to Uncle Wang. He has mortgaged our house. In addition, we have to take care of Dongxu's funeral!"

Jia Zhang glared at him with her triangular eyes and said, "It's all because of you, you bastard, that our Dongxu died so early! When the funeral comes, you go door to door and cry for them to pay for it!"

Qin Huairu was speechless for a while. To be honest, she was also devastated inside. If it weren't for the fact that Banggeng and she were pregnant, she would have wanted to remarry a long time ago.

After returning to the courtyard, everyone took leave to help the Jia family with the funeral, but after waiting for a while, no one from the Jia family came back.

An old lady asked Bang Geng, "Where are your grandma and mom?"

Bang Geng: "I don't know. I went out early this morning!"

After waiting for a while, Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu came back slowly.

After Jia Zhang returned to the yard, she took Qin Huairu to cry from house to house, but no one paid any attention to them!

We are not fools. We have already taken time off to help you with your funeral. Why would we need a bicycle?

Jia Zhang came to Wang Xinhua's house and said straight away that she wanted to redeem the house. Wang Xinhua had no choice but to agree when he saw how persistent she was.

Sha Zhu found Yi Zhonghai and said, "Master Yi, will the Jia family hold a funeral banquet or not?"

Yi Zhonghai: "I don't know. No one has informed us yet."

Jia Zhang had also finished her work at the house. She came over and saw Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu. Jia Zhang cried and said, "Uncle Yi, our family doesn't have enough money to hold a funeral. Can you ask the neighbors to help our Jia family and each of them can contribute a little?"

Yi Zhonghai: "Isn't it the factory's pension? Why isn't it enough?"

Jia Zhang continued to complain, but Yi Zhonghai ignored her and went home directly. Sha Zhu, who was standing next to her, watched Yi Zhonghai leave and quietly ran home as well.

Jia Zhang had no choice but to take out 20 yuan and ask Qin Huairu to ask Yan Bugui to buy food for the funeral.

Qin Huairu went to the Yan family after getting the money. When Yan Bugui found out that the Jia family was only willing to pay 20 yuan, he quickly waved his hand to refuse.

Qin Huairu took another 20 yuan and went to find Sha Zhu, but unfortunately Sha Zhu didn't even let Qin Huairu in.

Sha Zhu at the door said, "Qin Huairu, what are you going to do with this 20 yuan? I, the chef, only charged 3 yuan for Dongxu's sake. The other 17 yuan is not enough to buy ingredients!"

Seeing that Sha Zhu refused to agree no matter what, Qin Huairu could only give 20 yuan to Jia Zhang and tell her that the neighbors in the yard refused to agree.

Jia Zhang said, “Bah, a bunch of heartless ungrateful people! They don’t even know how to help our Jia family!” Then she took 20 yuan and went out to buy vegetables.

Jia Zhang went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought some cabbage and radishes, all of which were vegetarian dishes. Then she took the dishes to Sha Zhu's house and pestered him to give her 2 yuan.

Sha Zhu could only set up a pot in the yard and start cooking, while the neighbors in the courtyard began to help with the funeral.

When the neighbors saw that the Jia family had only cabbages and radishes, they all gave 2 cents as a gift. Only a few wealthier families gave 5 cents or 1 yuan.

After sitting down at the table, no one ate much and kept saying that Jia Zhang was not kind. Jia Zhang did not get angry, but found Yan Bugui and Yi Zhonghai and asked them to organize the neighbors in the yard to help carry the coffin.

Yan Bugui said, "Sister-in-law Jia, there are rules for carrying the coffin. You have to pay at least 5 cents per person for your hard work!"

Jia Zhang: "Oh, where can I get the money? Can't you help our Jia family?"

Seeing that Jia Zhang wanted to make a scene, Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui left decisively. Jia Zhang had no choice but to find Yan Bugui and promised to give each of them 5 cents.

Yan Bugui went back to inform his eldest son and other young people in the yard to help.

Jia Dongxu was hastily buried next to Old Jia's grave...