Chapter 17: Jia Dongxu Gets Married

Page 1 of 3

Chapter 17: Jia Dongxu Gets Married

After the residents’ meeting ended, the next day Madam Jia brought Jia Dongxu to Yi Zhonghai once again.

“Uncle Yi, the Jia family is down to just us two widows and orphans. Dongxu is getting married, and as his master, you can’t simply stand by and do nothing,” Madam Jia said.

“When have I ever refused to help? Yesterday, at the whole-compound meeting, I was practically humiliated,” Yi Zhonghai said irritably.

“As for the housing, please think of something else. Once Dongxu gets married, he’ll certainly remember your kindness.” As she spoke, Madam Jia glanced meaningfully at Jia Dongxu.

“Master, please help me. My wife and I will take good care of you in your old age,” Jia Dongxu hurriedly added.

“How about this? I’ll take the day off work and go to the subdistrict office to ask around. I’ll see whether they can allocate another room to you,” Yi Zhonghai said.

“Old Yi, can we really rely on Jia Dongxu to support us in our old age? Why don’t we adopt a child instead?” First Madam said.

“Let’s wait and see,” Yi Zhonghai replied helplessly.

After eating, Yi Zhonghai waited until the subdistrict office opened before leaving home and making his way there.

When he arrived, he said politely to the old gatekeeper, “I’m the compound administrator from one of the courtyard residences in this subdistrict. I need to speak with Director Wang about something. Is she here?”

The old gatekeeper gave him a quick look and said, “Director Wang is in her office. Go on in.”

Yi Zhonghai reached Director Wang’s office, knocked, and entered.

“Oh, it’s you, Old Yi. What brings you here?” Director Wang asked when she looked up and saw him.

“Director Wang, it’s like this. The Old Jia family in our compound is about to take a bride. They only have one room, which isn’t enough for everyone. There are still some vacant rooms in the compound, so could we apply for one for them?” Yi Zhonghai asked.

“Old Yi, you know very well that every part of the capital is short of housing. There simply aren’t enough rooms to go around. The vacant rooms in your compound have already been assigned. Besides, there are only two people in the Jia family, and Madam Jia’s household registration is not even in the city. According to regulations, the Jia family already occupies a room under Jia Dongxu’s name alone. They can forget about being allocated another one. Many families of seven or eight are living in homes no larger than theirs,” Director Wang explained.

“Director Wang, is there truly no other way?” Yi Zhonghai asked, unwilling to give up.

“The only option now is to buy a privately owned home. There is no other solution,” Director Wang said.

“All right, then. Please carry on with your work, Director Wang. I’ll head back,” Yi Zhonghai said, having no choice but to leave.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

After leaving the subdistrict office, Yi Zhonghai went to the steel mill and continued working.

“Master, how did it go?” Jia Dongxu hurried over as soon as he saw Yi Zhonghai arrive.

“I asked Director Wang. She said all the housing has already been assigned. There’s a shortage everywhere, so the only option is to buy a private home. When you go home tonight, discuss it with your mother and decide whether you want to buy one. If you do, I’ll ask around and see where there’s a house for sale,” Yi Zhonghai said.

“How could my family afford to buy a house? And even if we had the money, no one in our compound is selling. If we bought one somewhere else, we’d have to live apart, and my mother would never agree to that,” Jia Dongxu said helplessly.

Yi Zhonghai had no intention of giving up his own home. Not even for his apprentice, Jia Dongxu. That house was his guarantee for a secure old age.

“Then there’s nothing I can do either. Why don’t you renovate the room you have and make do with it?” Yi Zhonghai suggested.

That evening, Jia Dongxu went home and discussed the matter with Madam Jia. In the end, they could only reorganize their existing home. They partitioned off two bedrooms, leaving the kitchen and living room combined. They even pasted new newspaper over the walls.

After all that tidying, they bought a sewing machine as well—the first sewing machine in the entire courtyard compound. Everyone crowded around to marvel at it, but Madam Jia drove them all out.

Everything was finally ready. There was only one week left before Jia Dongxu’s wedding, yet they still had not hired a chef for the banquet.

Jia Dongxu went to Yi Zhonghai and asked him to speak with He Yuzhu, hoping that He Yuzhu would prepare the wedding feast.

That evening, after He Yuzhu returned with Yushui, Yi Zhonghai brought Jia Dongxu to their home and explained why they had come.

“Zhuzi, although things were unpleasant between us before, we all live in the same compound. When someone needs help, we should still lend a hand,” Yi Zhonghai said.

He Yuzhu had no desire to get involved with the Jia family. Accepting this job would only bring trouble, so he decided to make them abandon the idea.

“All right. But tell me—are you providing the ingredients, or am I? And how will the payment be calculated?” He Yuzhu asked deliberately after a moment’s thought.

“Why are you asking for money? We all live in the same compound,” Jia Dongxu protested.

“Exactly, Zhuzi. We’re neighbors. We should help one another. How can you charge money?” Yi Zhonghai added.

“Uncle Yi, Fengze Garden has its own rules and its own fee schedule. I can’t break those rules. Besides, the money wouldn’t go to me; it would go to Fengze Garden,” He Yuzhu explained.

“Zhuzi, can’t you just take a day off?” Yi Zhonghai asked.

“If I take leave, my pay will be docked. I’m only an apprentice and don’t earn much to begin with. I also have to save money for Yushui’s schooling. Besides, I haven’t completed my apprenticeship, so I’m not allowed to take private jobs,” He Yuzhu said, brushing him off.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“Then why did you ask who would provide the ingredients?” Jia Dongxu demanded.

“I had to clarify everything first. Otherwise, how could I explain it to Fengze Garden’s manager? I’m only passing along the message. Fengze Garden will certainly send a chef,” He Yuzhu replied.

“If I could afford to hire Fengze Garden’s head chef, why would I come looking for you?” Jia Dongxu stormed away.

“Since they have their rules, forget it. But on the day Dongxu gets married, you can at least lend us your bicycle, can’t you?” Yi Zhonghai asked.

“No problem,” He Yuzhu readily agreed.

Even if He Yuzhu had refused, Yi Zhonghai could have gone to the subdistrict office and borrowed one anyway. During that period, whenever anyone in the neighborhood got married, they would go to the subdistrict office, and Director Wang would come over personally to borrow a bicycle. He might as well agree straightforwardly.

On the day Jia Dongxu got married, he rode his bicycle to Qin Family Village to bring Qin Huairu home. He Yuzhu saw that the Jia family had hired the chef who regularly handled wedding and funeral banquets in the neighborhood. He did not bother joining the spectacle. He gave Third Uncle a one-qian wedding gift, exchanged greetings with First Uncle, and then took Yushui to work.

That evening, after He Yuzhu finished work, Xu Damao came looking for him.

“傻柱, how come I didn’t see you today?”

“I went to work. While you people were resting, that was when we were busiest,” He Yuzhu replied.

“You should have seen Jia Dongxu’s wife. She’s absolutely beautiful,” Xu Damao said. “Come on, let’s go eavesdrop outside their room.”

“Forget it. I’ve been busy all day and I’m exhausted. I’m not going to join you,” He Yuzhu refused. Eavesdropping? Madam Jia was not someone to provoke lightly.

Seeing that He Yuzhu would not go, Xu Damao left.

“Which damned rascal dares come listen in?”

In the dead of night, a basin of water was dumped over someone’s head. A furious voice rang out, and several dark figures fled in disgrace.