Chapter 32: Qin Huairu Radiates an Unstoppable Aura

Jia Family.

"Dongxu, you did well to divorce her," Mrs. Jia said, looking visibly shaken. "Didn't I tell you that woman was trouble? With a salary of only twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents, she actually dared to borrow a thousand from someone. She’d have to gamble her life to pay that back."

"You're right, she was incredibly reckless," Jia Dongxu agreed. "It’s a good thing we divorced her, or there’s no telling what kind of ruin she would have brought upon our family."

"Don't talk about that jinx anymore." Mrs. Jia felt that even mentioning Qin Huairu brought bad luck, so she changed the subject. "By the way, didn't that old geezer Yi Zhonghai say he’d give you a hundred yuan to help you find someone new?"

"Yes."

Jia Dongxu nodded and took out ten ten-yuan banknotes, handing them to Mrs. Jia. Yi Zhonghai was indeed very fond of him, especially since his father had passed away.

"Tomorrow... no, I'll go speak to the matchmaker today. I’ll find you someone even better, someone from the city," Mrs. Jia said happily.

Qin Huairu had only cost ten yuan; finding someone from the city would cost no more than twenty. By the time they held the wedding banquet and collected the gifts, she would effectively be clearing a hundred-yuan profit.

But just as they were rejoicing, a commotion erupted outside. Mrs. Jia and Jia Dongxu ran out excitedly to see what was happening, only to be struck dumb.

Qin Huairu was directing workers as they hauled in a brand-new sewing machine, and parked beside her was a Flying Pigeon ladies' bicycle. Other items, such as bedding and furniture, were piled high on several flatbed carts.

"Qin Huairu, even if you have money, you shouldn't squander it like this," Yi Zhonghai said, his teeth aching at the sight.

"I’m just trying to settle in comfortably; I would have had to buy these things sooner or later." Qin Huairu reached up to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, inadvertently revealing a wristwatch.

"Hiss, you even bought a watch?" Liu Haizhong’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Qin Huairu, why don't you just buy a radio and complete the 'three rounds and one sound'?" someone shouted sourly.

The "three rounds and one sound"—the four major prestige items—consisted of a radio, a bicycle, a wristwatch, and a sewing machine. Qin Huairu just smiled and said nothing.

"My god, she really has one!" Yan Jiefang, having sharp eyes, spotted the Diamond brand radio immediately.

"Hiss!"

The courtyard was filled with the sound of collective gasps. A divorced woman actually possessed the "three rounds and one sound"—would a young, unmarried woman from a formal workplace even have such a lavish dowry?

"Wait, where did you get the ration coupons?" Jia Dongxu asked, his eyes bloodshot with jealousy.

"That's right, where did you get them?" Mrs. Jia chimed in.

Qin Huairu ignored them entirely, continuing to direct the workers.

"Qin Huairu, you’ve grown some backbone, haven't you?" Mrs. Jia roared and prepared to lunge at her, but Qin Huairu stepped back slightly and dodged.

"Mrs. Jia, try laying a hand on me again, and see if I don't call the police to have you arrested." The coldness in Qin Huairu’s eyes made Mrs. Jia shudder.

"Call the police? Fine, go ahead! Otherwise, I’ll beat you to death!" Mrs. Jia, not easily intimidated, shrieked.

Qin Huairu said nothing and walked straight out of the courtyard.

Mrs. Jia panicked instantly. "Where... where did she go?"

"Could she have really gone to call the police?" Jia Dongxu was also frantic.

"Look at you two cowards. If the police come, you can just hit them, what are you afraid of?" Lin Shaowen, who had been watching the spectacle, laughed.

"What business is it of yours?" Jia Dongxu glared at him.

Lin Shaowen shrugged and lit a cigarette. He had finally realized that whenever he lit a cigarette in the courtyard, Yan Bugui would appear by his side within seconds. The distance between them was always just right—close enough to receive a smoke, but not so close as to make Lin Shaowen uncomfortable.

A short while later, the police arrived—the very same officer who had been to the courtyard earlier.

"Who is Mrs. Jia?"

"I... I am." Mrs. Jia’s legs went weak with fear.

"Qin Huairu has accused you of threatening her and claiming you would beat her to death. Is this true?" the officer demanded sternly.

"I... I didn't," Mrs. Jia stammered in denial.

"You didn't? Tell the truth, did you or did you not?" The officer’s booming voice made Mrs. Jia collapse to the ground, where she instinctively activated her "summoning the spirits" skill. "Old Jia, come and see! We’re being bullied right in our own home, come back and help us..."

Jia Dongxu’s face drained of color, and Yi Zhonghai and the others watched Mrs. Jia with looks of horror.

"You dare to propagate feudal superstitions?" The officer didn't hesitate, stepping forward to grab Mrs. Jia. "You're coming to the station with me."

"I'm not going! Dongxu, save me..." Mrs. Jia struggled violently.

The officer didn't indulge her; with a sharp twist, he subdued her arms. Jia Dongxu kept his head bowed, not daring to utter a single word. Yi Zhonghai also turned his head away, unable to look at Mrs. Jia.

After the police left, Qin Huairu, looking perfectly composed, continued to direct the workers.

"Qin Huairu, you’d better get my mother back," Jia Dongxu hissed through gritted teeth.

"And if I don't, what can you do? Try hitting me and see what happens." Qin Huairu radiated confidence. "Do you believe I’ll go straight to the factory's Women's Federation and report you?"

At the mention of the "Women's Federation," the expressions of Yi Zhonghai and the others shifted instantly. If there was any group in the factory to fear, it wasn't the security department—it was those women from the "Women's Federation." They were fearless and would challenge anyone; there had been several factory meetings where even Director Yang had been rendered speechless by them.

Jia Dongxu immediately backed down. If the Women's Federation truly intervened, his job would be lost for certain.

"Bad woman, you got my grandma arrested, I hate you!" Bangeng shouted and charged toward Qin Huairu.

*Smack!*

A loud, crisp slap knocked Bangeng to the ground. Lin Shaowen raised an eyebrow; he truly hadn't expected Qin Huairu to hit Bangeng. After all, in the original story, she did many wicked things just to protect the boy.

"Qin Huairu..." Jia Dongxu roared, ready to charge, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Qin Huairu produce a badge representing the Women's Federation.

"If you're rude one more time, I'll beat you to death." Qin Huairu glared at Bangeng, who immediately curled up on the ground in terror.

"Jia Dongxu, let me tell you, I am now a member of the Women's Federation Committee. I am in charge of women's affairs for this entire courtyard. If you dare raise a hand against a woman again, you can go beg on the streets." After leaving these words, she turned and walked toward the side room.

Jia Dongxu stood frozen, his hands and feet icy. For the first time, he felt that this woman was a complete stranger.

"Clap, clap, clap!" Lin Shaowen applauded, sighing, "A heroine among women, indeed."

"Get lost." Jia Dongxu glared at him fiercely before picking up Bangeng and heading home.

Yi Zhonghai and the others remained in shock. Qin Huairu had only been in the factory for a few days—how had she become part of the Women's Federation Committee? This woman was not to be trifled with from now on; otherwise, that group of hags from the factory would come knocking and tear him to shreds.

Back in the side room, Qin Huairu pressed a hand to her pounding heart, taking a long moment to steady herself. She looked at the sewing machine, the bicycle, and the radio in the room, then glanced at the watch on her wrist and smiled silently.

Qin Huairu knew this was Lin Shaowen’s compensation to her. Even though they couldn't marry, he hadn't skimped on a single thing he’d promised her—in fact, it far exceeded her expectations. Forget about Qin Village; even in the capital, few ordinary people could gather the "three rounds and one sound" when they married.

Back when she married, it was only because the Jia family had a sewing machine. Now... she had everything.

"How wonderful." Qin Huairu gently touched the watch on her slender wrist.