Siheyuan: Cooking journey

Exciting music sounded, announcing the arrival of the time to get off work.

He Yuzhu, with longing for Ran Qiuye in his heart, set out on the journey home with full of anticipation.

"Brother! Brother! You're back just in time. Come and help me. I want to learn how to ride a bicycle."

He Yushui came forward happily.

Today she tinkered with it several times at home, trying to learn how to ride a bicycle, but failed several times. She was also afraid of breaking her brother's new bicycle, so she finally had to push the bicycle around in the yard a few times, attracting envious looks from the neighbors.

"Let's talk about it when I come back. I have something to go out for."

He Yuzhu rubbed her hair, gently pushed her away, went into the house to change clothes. In order to save time, he didn't even tie the cushion, and rode away directly.

"Really."

He Yushui was muttering in dissatisfaction and was about to go back to the house, but she saw Qin Huairu coming back with a frown on her face and a dazed look on her face.

Thinking of the quarrel in the morning, He Yushui couldn't help feeling a little hesitant.

……

Qin Huairu felt extremely bitter and was absent-minded the whole afternoon, unable to concentrate on her work at all.

She even got a few parts wrong, and the workshop director, who usually seldom criticized others, couldn't help but say a few words to her.

Qin Huairu had no time to care about this.

Her mind was full of Deputy Director Li's words.

She knew that if she agreed, her children would be well fed and well clothed, and they would no longer have to worry about money or go hungry.

But when it came to this, she found that she neither wanted to nor desired to do so.

Compared to having poor food but dignity,

What she didn't want even more was that her children had to be treated inferiorly even though they ate well.

No child wants to have a mother who is pointed at and despised by others.

But what can I do if I don’t want to?

Thinking of the worrying mother-in-law and the little Sophora japonica still in its infancy,

She felt more tired than ever before, exhausted both physically and mentally, and longed for a shoulder to lean on.

After hesitating for an afternoon, she made a decision, laughing at herself at the same time.

I have long understood that one day I may have to put aside my dignity to live.

But when the moment really came, I was hesitant.

Is it because there is still a glimmer of hope?

But even if there is hope, what can we do? Is there any other way out?

Qin Huairu felt mixed emotions.

Thinking of the scene where He Yuzhu rode past with an indifferent look on his face, she felt both regret and resentment in her heart, and her emotions were extremely complicated.

Why did they suddenly stop providing assistance?

Why give hope and then extinguish it with your own hands?

Why have you become so indifferent?

Only when you lose something do you know how to cherish it.

She regretted not treating He Yuzhu better. If she had cared for him more attentively instead of just treating him as a meal ticket, perhaps things would not have turned out this way.

She hated it too. Why did he suddenly stop helping? Why?

If the aid continued and her life was worry-free, she would not have considered Deputy Director Li's suggestion at all. She could continue to be an innocent wife, a good mother to her children, and maintain a good reputation. How could she fall to the point of giving up her dignity and enduring humiliation?

Life became dull and it was all He Yuzhu's fault.

That's right, it's all his fault.

Qin Huairu felt an unprecedented hatred in her heart. Why did they stop the aid? They were obviously so rich, but they would rather buy a bicycle than lend a helping hand. Was it just our little rations that they lacked?

Hate, hate,

Qin Huairu wanted to cry again for no reason. What exactly do you want? Why don’t you just say it? Why are you suddenly becoming so distant?

"Qin, Sister Qin, this is for you."

In a trance, Qin Huairu turned around and saw He Yushui with a stern face and a proud look, handing her a bag of flour.

She couldn't help feeling annoyed.

In the past, she would have accepted it happily.

But now, no, she just felt disgusted.

I'm going to work in the kitchen soon, so I won't need this bag of flour.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not giving it to you out of respect, I'm giving it to you because I'm afraid that little Sophora japonica will go hungry."

Seeing that Qin Huairu remained silent, He Yushui thought that she was being stubborn like last time and was too embarrassed to take it, so he quickly stuffed the flour into her hand and snorted unhappily.

"Don't think that just because you have a place in my brother's heart, you can squeeze me out as his sister. Don't even think about it."

After saying that, He Yushui turned around proudly and went back to the house.

Living in the same yard, how could I not hear someone quarreling?

She listened to the general discussion of the argument between Qin Huairu and her mother-in-law in the morning.

Although I don't like Qin Huairu very much, children are always innocent.

He Yushui believed that since her brother was so good to Sister Qin, he would definitely praise her for being sensible after knowing about the flour delivery, and would no longer say that she had no conscience and was an ungrateful person.

Qin Huairu's hands were shaking as she held the flour.

My heart is trembling.

The body is also shaking.

She didn't care or pay attention to just a few pounds of flour, but she was extremely concerned about He Yushui's words "You have a place in my brother's heart."

Yes, I have a place in his heart.

Otherwise, why would I have given so much without expecting anything in return?

How could one persist for so long relying solely on kindness?

He has me in his heart, it must be like this.

Qin Huairu's heart beat faster, as if she saw a ray of light in the endless darkness. A wonderful feeling surged in her heart, like joy and happiness, even more than joy and happiness, as if she had found a support in her life and she no longer had to be afraid of anything.

What Deputy Director Li? Let him be.

But why did you suddenly ignore me?

Thinking about the source of all the problems, Qin Huairu's heart sank again. If He Yuzhu hadn't ignored her and cut off her aid, and her life was normal, how could these things have happened?

I like it, why are you ignoring it?

Could it be that

Was it because of my reserve, the fact that I never expressed anything for such a long time, not even a word of concern or intimacy, that hurt his feelings, so he gave up?

Yes, yes, that's definitely the case.

Figured this out,

Qin Huairu completely let go of her worries, her heart was filled with strength, and there was only one thought lingering in her mind, which was how to approach him.