Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Chapter 621 Yi Zhonghai is Threatened

Yi Zhonghai snorted inwardly. Sure enough, there were conditions! He should have known better; Qin Huairu was as cunning as a monkey, how could she let this opportunity slip by? He composed himself, looked into Qin Huairu's seemingly earnest eyes, and softened his tone: "Alright, I know your difficulties. As long as you keep your mouth shut and don't say a word, I'll remember it. I'll pull some strings in the workshop and mention it to the foreman to help you get a level-two fitter position; that would raise your salary considerably. Besides, I have some savings; I'll give you twenty yuan to help with household expenses, how about that?"

Qin Huairu nodded hurriedly, her smile growing even sweeter, wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes: "Thank you so much, Uncle Yi! You're truly a living Buddha in our family!" But she knew very well that Yi Zhonghai, that old fox, was all talk and no action; he might just go back on his word later. She didn't believe his empty promises.

Sure enough, Yi Zhonghai was already having other ideas in mind—once this storm passes, he can deny everything. What can Qin Huairu, a mere woman, do to cause trouble at the factory? At most, she'll be told that "Old Yi doesn't keep his word," which is better than having her reputation ruined.

Qin Huairu seemed to see through his thoughts. Her smile faded slightly, but her tone remained as gentle as a spring breeze: "Uncle Yi, of course I trust you. However... we're from the same courtyard, we'll see each other all the time, so it's better to clarify some things to avoid estrangement later. How about you write me a letter of guarantee? Just say you're promising to help me get promoted to level two fitter, that would put my mind at ease, what do you think?"

Yi Zhonghai hadn't expected this girl to be so shrewd, actually holding back such a trick! He paused for a moment, then forced a smile, his tone tinged with displeasure at being offended: "Qin Huairu, what are you doing? We're neighbors living in the same courtyard, we see each other all the time. Don't you trust me for such a small matter? I, Yi Zhonghai, have been in the factory for over twenty years, rising from apprentice to eighth-grade fitter. My word is my bond, I always keep my promises!"

Qin Huairu didn't budge, but smiled and leaned forward, lowering her voice even further: "Uncle Yi, it's because I've stayed here for so long that I know how thorough you are. Please take pity on my family, our three children are waiting for food, and give me a written agreement, so I can feel at ease, right? It will save me from not being able to sleep at night and thinking about this all the time."

Seeing her determined look, Yi Zhonghai knew that if he didn't write it, who knew what this girl might do—if she really exposed his affair with Jia Dongxu's aunt, he would lose all face. He gritted his teeth, thinking that he should keep her calm for now, and then find an excuse to get the written agreement back later.

"Fine, I'll write you a guarantee!" he replied irritably, pulling out paper and pen from the drawer and spreading them out on the table. The pen glided across the paper, writing a few sentences, essentially promising to help Qin Huairu be promoted to a second-level fitter within three months. He even signed his name and wrote the date. After finishing, he slammed the paper on the table, saying irritably, "Is that alright? Are you relieved now?"

Qin Huairu picked up the guarantee and examined it closely, even noticing the exact strokes of Yi Zhonghai's signature. She then carefully folded it three times and tucked it into a cloth pocket close to her body, as if hiding a treasure. She then put on her sweet smile again and curtsied to Yi Zhonghai: "Thank you so much, Uncle Yi. You are such a kind person. Our family will never forget your kindness."

He sneered inwardly: "Old fox, with this written agreement, let's see how you try to renege on it! If you dare to deny it later, don't blame me for exposing your dirty secrets and letting the whole hospital see your true colors!"

Yi Zhonghai's face instantly darkened, as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water. He was both shocked and furious—he never expected Qin Huairu to suddenly appear at this moment, and to stumble upon this most secret matter. Now, she had caught him red-handed, and from now on, this shrewd woman would likely have him at her mercy.

Qin Huairu opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but her gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai's tense profile, and she caught a glimpse of a figure moving vaguely in the inner room. Her thoughts raced, and she suddenly understood the situation. Looking at Yi Zhonghai's expression of wanting to lash out but not daring to, a faint smile appeared on her lips. She quickly clutched her stomach and bent over, her voice hurried: "Uncle Yi, look at my memory! I was so focused on talking to you. My stomach is suddenly hurting terribly, I need to go back and lie down for a while, so I won't disturb you any longer."

Without waiting for Yi Zhonghai's response, she turned and hurried towards her own courtyard, her steps light as if she didn't have a stomachache. Walking down the quiet alley, Qin Huairu was secretly overjoyed—she hadn't expected such an unexpected gain from simply dumping dirty water. With Yi Zhonghai in her grasp, she could go to him for food or money whenever the family was short. If he dared to make excuses, she would simply expose him and see how he, the "highly respected" elder in the courtyard and a level-eight fitter, could ever face anyone again.

As for Yi Zhonghai's reputation? She didn't care. In this day and age, being able to survive and live a better life for herself and her three children was more important than anything else. Qin Huairu became more and more smug, and even her steps became lighter, as if she could already see Yi Zhonghai obediently delivering food and money.

Inside the house, Jia Dongxu's aunt peeked through the crack in the door, watching Qin Huairu's figure disappear around the corner. Her face was as white as a sheet. She suddenly turned around and looked at Yi Zhonghai, her voice trembling with tears: "Old Yi, what exactly happened? How did Qin Huairu manage to see this? If word gets out, where will I put my old face..."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand irritably, his brows furrowed into a deep knot, his tone urgent and heavy: "How was I supposed to know she'd come at this time? Who would have thought this woman was so sharp-nosed? She probably already saw through something and deliberately came to catch us in the act!"

Jia Dongxu's aunt was so anxious that her eyes were red and swollen with tears. Her voice trembled as she said, "If she really exposes this, how am I supposed to live? I'm already this old. If the neighbors point fingers at me and talk behind my back, how can I face anyone? I might as well be dead!"

"Alright, stop crying!" Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice to stop her, his eyes flashing with ruthlessness. "What's the use of crying now? The most important thing right now is for you to get pregnant! Once you're pregnant, it'll be a fait accompli. Then, even if Qin Huairu wants to say something, she'll have to think twice—her husband, Jia Dongxu, still wants to climb the social ladder by relying on me. If she dares to ruin my plans, I'll make sure her whole family can't stay in this courtyard!"