Chapter 31: How the World Changed Overnight

Lin Shaowen remained silent, while Yi Zhonghai and the others were smugly triumphant. Had they not been concerned about their reputations, they would have been celebrating openly. A flash of malicious delight crossed Mrs. Jia’s heart; she thought to herself, "So much for your arrogance—you’ve finally botched it this time, haven't you?"

"First Uncle, I am the one who authorized the installation of this door," Qin Huairu stepped forward, looking poised and elegant.

"You slut! You authorized it? With what authority? Old Man Zhao has vanished, so what right do you—" Mrs. Jia, mid-insult, suddenly fell silent as if someone had grabbed her by the throat.

Qin Huairu was holding a document: the property deed for the two side rooms. Even though Mrs. Jia was illiterate, she recognized the bright red official seal.

"Qin Huairu, this house belongs to you?" Yi Zhonghai asked, unable to believe his ears.

"Yes, the house is mine now." Qin Huairu smiled radiantly. "Little Lin’s installation of the moon gate was done with my full permission."

"How is that possible? How could this house possibly belong to you?" Jia Dongxu’s voice trembled. He found it hard to believe that this impeccably dressed, stunningly beautiful woman was the wife who had shared his bed for seven years.

"Qin Huairu, how did you get your hands on this place?" Liu Haizhong asked with a dark expression.

"Second Uncle, is that any of your business?" Qin Huairu’s smile remained, but her words were stinging. "I know you want to report me, but it doesn't matter. Here is the certificate issued by the neighborhood office and the deed of gift from Zhao Xian."

She spread out the documents. Yan Bugui stepped forward, examined them carefully for a long time, and finally nodded toward Liu Haizhong and the others.

"Qin Huairu, have you been hoarding money behind my back and Dongxu’s?" Mrs. Jia shrieked.

"Hoarding money? You old hag, have you no shame?" Qin Huairu sneered. "You give me ten yuan a month, and I’m expected to feed your entire family? When the rice runs out, I have to go to my parents' home to borrow more. You tell me, where would I have found the money to hoard?"

Mrs. Jia was instantly silenced, and many onlookers began pointing at her.

"Mrs. Jia really has the nerve to say that."
"Who doesn't know she constantly mistreats Qin Huairu?"
"Exactly. Hoarding money? Jia Dongxu only makes twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents a month. This house must be worth hundreds. Even if he didn't eat or drink for two years, he couldn't afford it. Where would the money come from?"

Jia Dongxu turned red with embarrassment, but he still shouted, "Qin Huairu, for the sake of our marriage, you better explain—where did you get the money? Otherwise, we’re calling the police to investigate you."

Qin Huairu, not bothering to acknowledge him, looked at Lin Shaowen and said, "Little Lin, you may proceed with the construction."

Lei Dali, receiving the order, immediately began taking measurements. As for the small door, he had no suspicions. Wang, the director, had told him that the house was merely registered in Qin Huairu’s name but actually belonged to Lin Shaowen. He assumed Lin just wanted a discreet door near the restroom for convenience.

"Qin Huairu, do you think I won't call the police?" Jia Dongxu looked ferocious. He would have felt better if she had argued with him, but her complete indifference felt like punching air, which left him deeply frustrated.

Still ignoring him, Qin Huairu walked straight into the side room and slammed the door shut.

"Fine, Qin Huairu, just you wait." After leaving this threat, Jia Dongxu ran off.

Yi Zhonghai and the others didn't stop him; they were also curious about where she got the money. Buying a house, buying clothes—with a salary of only twenty-seven fifty, was she not planning to live anymore?

Before long, the police arrived. Jia Dongxu and his group tried to follow them inside, but Qin Huairu blocked them.

"Officer, I don't want them coming in," she said firmly.

"Qin Huairu, you need someone to prove your innocence, don't you?" Yi Zhonghai protested.

Qin Huairu thought for a moment before saying, "Fine, the three Uncles may enter..."

Just as they were about to step inside, Lin Shaowen’s voice drifted over lazily. "Qin Huairu, the officer is already here. He can prove your innocence; why do you need others to do it?"

"Right, I can certainly vouch for your innocence," the officer said with a smile.

Yi Zhonghai and the others froze, casting resentful glares at Lin Shaowen. "You, kid, do you have nothing better to do?" "Exactly, stop meddling." "We are only doing this for Qin Huairu’s sake."

Lin Shaowen shrugged dismissively, turned, and went back to his reclining chair in the courtyard.

"The three Uncles should come in after all," Qin Huairu said with a smile. "Otherwise, who knows what kind of rumors will be spreading in the courtyard later."

"Huairu is the only one who understands common sense, unlike some people," Yi Zhonghai remarked, pointing at the wall to revile the acacia.

Once inside, Qin Huairu explained: she had borrowed a total of one thousand yuan from Lin Shaowen, Wang Kuirong, and Li Chunhua, using her salary as collateral. She was to pay it back over five years at twenty yuan a month. She didn't mention interest.

"Hiss! Huairu, have you lost your mind?" Yi Zhonghai gasped. One thousand yuan, paid off over five years—that meant Qin Huairu would only have seven yuan and fifty cents a month left for living expenses. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were equally stunned.

"I used to support a whole family on ten yuan, so isn't seven fifty enough to support just myself?" Qin Huairu smiled radiantly. "Now that I have a house and a job, my life is much better than before."

"That makes sense," Yan Bugui mused.

"It makes no sense at all!" Yi Zhonghai retorted, his face stern. "Qin Huairu is still young and will want to remarry eventually. With a thousand-yuan debt, who would dare play matchmaker for her?"

"I’m not remarrying," Qin Huairu laughed. "Marrying Jia Dongxu was disgusting enough. From now on, I’ll focus on my work, pay off the debt, and save a little money for my old age."

"What about Bang Geng?" Liu Haizhong asked.

"His surname is Jia, not Qin." Remembering how Bang Geng had called her a "slut," her heart hardened. "Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me. Besides, his household registration is already under Jia Dongxu’s name; I don't need him to support me in my old age."

Bang Geng’s actions had truly chilled her heart.

"Huairu, don't act on impulse," Yi Zhonghai warned. "Bang Geng is your child, after all. He’s young and doesn't understand, but he’ll be better when he grows up."

"First Uncle, this is my own business. I won't trouble you with it." Tired of arguing, she turned to the officer. "Officer, has my situation been clarified?"

"Everything is in order, Comrade Qin Huairu." The officer nodded and walked out.

Half an hour later, the news that Qin Huairu was one thousand yuan in debt spread throughout the courtyard. Those who had been eyeing her after her divorce immediately lost interest. Even the gossiping matchmakers stopped coming, much to her relief.

Lei Dali worked quickly. Within two days, he had installed a double-leaf gate in the moon gate, made of solid wood reinforced with copper. It was so heavy that people with little strength struggled to push it open. Many came to admire the gate, praising its grandeur. However, they failed to notice that right next to the moon gate, a small, discreet door had been installed, connecting to the side room. It was so narrow and well-hidden that, unless one looked closely, it was impossible to spot.