Chapter 30: Is This Really Qin Huairu?

After painfully forcing herself to visit the bathhouse, Qin Huairu changed into a black long dress. She swept her hair up slightly, revealing a slender, fair neck, and adorned her raven-black locks with a black bow clip.

After psyching herself up in her room for a long while, she finally stepped outside.

"Sister Qin... hss!"

The moment Shazhu laid eyes on Qin Huairu, he was completely stunned. He swore to himself that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life—without exception. He even found himself unable to control a physical reaction, a sight that was caught by Qin Huairu herself.

Qin Huairu remained calm on the surface, though she felt intense disgust deep down. After giving Shazhu a brief greeting, she hurried away.

"My god, is that really Qin Huairu?"

Regardless of gender, everyone was left stunned the moment they saw her. In the past, Qin Huairu had always dressed dowdily, yet it couldn't mask her natural beauty. Now, having traded her old rags for new, she appeared breathtakingly vibrant.

"Hu... Huairu." Jia Dongxu called out blankly.

Qin Huairu ignored him entirely and walked on toward the backyard.

"You little harlot, where are you going?" Mrs. Jia reflexively shouted.

Qin Huairu paused for a brief moment but did not look back.

"This harlot actually ignores me? She’s really overstepped her bounds..." Mrs. Jia roared.

"Mom, she’s not your daughter-in-law anymore," Jia Dongxu sighed.

Mrs. Jia was taken aback, but still fuming, she muttered, "That harlot must have been doing something unspeakable out there; otherwise, how would she have the money to buy clothes? The foul bitch, she’s bringing shame upon our Jia family..."

"Mom, Qin Huairu is now a full-time employee at the rolling mill," Jia Dongxu said with a complex expression.

"What? A full-time employee? She got a permanent position the moment she joined?" Mrs. Jia could not believe it.

After being beaten by the Qin family, she hadn't stepped outside for two days and had missed the news. But Jia Dongxu had spent six months as an intern just to take over his late father's position—what right did Qin Huairu have to get it so easily?

"She’s not just a full-time employee; her monthly salary is twenty-seven point five yuan," Jia Dongxu said, looking dejected.

"Isn't that the same as you?"

Mrs. Jia shrieked, then felt a sharp pain in her chest. What had she missed? She had missed the chance for her son and daughter-in-law to both be regular, full-time workers. Furthermore, she could no longer humiliate Qin Huairu with her head held high. The girl was a city resident now with a formal position, which meant she had officially settled in the capital. And she, Mrs. Jia, remained a rural household resident.

***

Backyard, west wing room.

Lin Shaowen was sitting in his study looking at the "Deed of Gift" issued by the neighborhood committee. The two small storage rooms at the entrance were now under Qin Huairu’s name. As for having Qin Huairu sign the deed, that was just to keep Director Wang happy.

"What are you looking at?"

Accompanied by a faint fragrance, Qin Huairu reached out and hugged Lin Shaowen.

"You came just in time; I have something to tell you," Lin Shaowen said with a smile.

"I have something to tell you, too," Qin Huairu said, resting her head on his back.

"Mm, you go first."

"I... I don't want to live in Yushui’s room anymore. Shazhu stares at me every day, and today... he even had a physical reaction. It disgusted me to death," Qin Huairu said, her face flushing.

"Is that so?" Lin Shaowen frowned.

Shazhu was truly pathetic; it was no wonder he could never win Qin Huairu over.

"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Qin Huairu kissed him.

"Oh, right." Lin Shaowen composed himself, pointed at the documents, and smiled. "Coincidentally, I secured a place for you from the neighborhood committee. It's just outside the moon gate, two rooms..."

"What?" Qin Huairu was completely dumbfounded. She actually had a place of her own? And right here in the capital?

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Lin Shaowen waved his hand in front of her.

"Shaowen, love me." Qin Huairu embraced him, kissing him frantically.

"Wait, the door isn't locked."

"No, don't take off my pants..."

"Hss, Qin Huairu, where did you learn that?"

...

More than an hour later, a flushed Qin Huairu and Lin Shaowen appeared in front of the storage rooms. After Lin Shaowen handed her the key, Qin Huairu unlocked the door with slightly trembling hands.

The room was empty and bare, but it was bright and airy.

"Shaowen, thank you." Qin Huairu was overjoyed.

Even though several families lived in the backyard, moving into these storage rooms meant she would be practically separated from the rest of the yard. Aside from walking past the Jia family in the middle courtyard to get in, she wouldn't have to deal with anyone else. The west wing was effectively a private chamber from the old days, accessible by only one path.

"You're welcome," Lin Shaowen said, smiling as he ruffled her hair.

Qin Huairu looked at the wall on the right and a thought struck her. "Shaowen, does this wall connect to your bathroom?"

Lin Shaowen took a look, then ran out to the yard to knock on the wall. Discovering that the two rooms indeed shared a partition, he joked, "In the future, I can just tap on the wall to ask if you're awake..."

"No," Qin Huairu shook her head, her face turning red as she whispered, "could you secretly find someone to cut a door here..."

"Wow, a secret passage for a clandestine affair," Lin Shaowen said, staring at her in amazement.

***

That afternoon, Lei Dali returned to the courtyard. Since it was the weekend, many people gathered to watch the spectacle. As soon as they heard Lin Shaowen intended to install a door at the moon gate, Yi Zhonghai and the others immediately jumped out.

"You are not allowed to install it."

"Why not?" Lin Shaowen asked, puzzled.

"Nobody in this courtyard locks their doors. What do you think you're doing installing a gate here? Are you planning to isolate yourself from everyone else?" Yi Zhonghai’s righteous tone earned him applause from many of the onlookers.

"Yes." Lin Shaowen spat out the word.

"What did you say?" Yi Zhonghai doubted his own ears. He knew Lin Shaowen was headstrong, but did he really dare to offend the entire courtyard?

"I said yes. I don't want to associate with any of you, so I intend to isolate myself." Lin Shaowen took out a cigarette, offered one to Yan Bugui, and lit his own. "Well? Are you going to drive me out of the courtyard?"

"You..." Yi Zhonghai was breathless with rage, and the others dared not utter a sound.

Lin Shaowen was a prominent figure now; who didn't know his perks at the factory were ridiculously high? A man like that had the leverage to say he didn't want to associate with them. He didn't need to borrow money or grain—he had plenty. Sickness or pain? Don't be ridiculous, he was a doctor himself. Social connections? He dealt directly with the factory leadership. In the entire courtyard, there wasn't a single person—not even a lowly team leader—who held a position like his.

"That's not right!" Liu Haizhong jumped out, scolding, "Lin Shaowen, did you get permission from old man Zhao to install a door?"

"That's right! Putting a door there will block the light; Old Zhao definitely wouldn't agree to it," Yi Zhonghai added hurriedly.

Ever since Old Zhao had gone south to visit relatives, there had been no news of him for a long time. They had once coveted this property, but every time Director Wang came by, she would inspect the rooms, so no one dared move in—not even the shameless Mrs. Jia. Director Wang was not someone to be trifled with; she was truly the type to call the neighborhood security office to drag people away.