allonlinenovel Chapter 196 Qin Jingru goes to the hospital for a checkup
Chapter 196 Qin Jingru goes to the hospital for a checkup
Ignoring Yan Bugui's entanglement, Lin Zhou followed behind Lou Xiao'e, holding Chen Jiaming's little hand, while Chen Jiaqi clung tightly to her mother's arm, curiously looking around at the old yet lively courtyard.
A year later, the scenery in the courtyard hadn't changed much, except that the passageways had become narrower because of the addition of many earthquake shelters.
"Oh, is that Lou Xiao'e? You really brought the children back? Someone came by last year and said you had two kids, it's true!"
At the entrance of the main room, an older woman was carrying a basin of vegetables out. When she saw Lou Xiao'e and her group, her eyes lit up instantly, and she raised her voice loudly.
"And this young man looks very familiar... Oh! You're the one who came to our hospital last year, right?"
Her voice was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering the tranquility of the courtyard.
The door to the west wing of the central courtyard creaked open, and Qin Huairu came out carrying a rough porcelain bowl filled with freshly made noodles.
Her face held her usual gentle smile, but when her eyes fell on Lin Zhou, they flickered involuntarily, and her smile stiffened slightly.
Last year, Lin Zhou publicly pointed out in the courtyard that she refused to have a child with Sha Zhu, which was like a thorn stuck in her heart, and also in the eyes of everyone in the courtyard.
Over the past year, the way people in the courtyard looked at her always carried a somewhat indescribable meaning. Even Sha Zhu, although he still treated her and the Jia family with utmost sincerity, would occasionally sigh toss and turn at night. That sigh felt like a needle pricking her all over.
"Aunt Zhang, Sister Qin, it's been a long time." Lou Xiao'e greeted them with a smile, her tone natural.
"I just wanted to come back for a visit and also introduce the kids to our old neighbors."
Lin Zhou's gaze swept lightly over Qin Huairu, meeting her evasive eyes. He remembered that when he said those words last year, Sha Zhu's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Although after Lin Zhou left, Yi Zhonghai used the pretext of "neighborly harmony" to lecture Sha Zhu, saying that he was "ignorant" and "instigated by outsiders," he managed to suppress the matter through moral blackmail.
But some words, once spoken, can never be taken back. The knot in Sha Zhu's heart is probably not so easy to untie.
"Comrade, why are you here again? Can't you just leave our family alone? We're already struggling so much, are you really going to break us up before you're satisfied?"
Qin Huairu tightened her grip on the bowl slightly and spoke to Lin Zhou in a questioning tone.
Lin Zhou knew in his heart that Qin Huairu had probably not had an easy year.
Since Jia Dongxu died in a work accident, the entire burden of the family has fallen on her shoulders. If it weren't for Sha Zhu's help, they wouldn't have been able to make ends meet.
But ever since Lin Zhou made his point clear, a thorn has been left in Sha Zhu's heart.
Moreover, since Lin Zhou left last year, Sha Zhu has been keeping his own salary at the restaurant in Yan Jiecheng, except for the steel mill salary which is managed by Qin Huairu.
After Qin Huairu told Jia Zhangshi about this, Jia Zhangshi made a fuss about it several times, but Yi Zhonghai suppressed it each time.
Just then, the door to the east wing opened, and Yi Zhonghai walked out with his hands behind his back.
His face was expressionless, but when his gaze fell on Lin Zhou, it carried a hint of scrutiny and displeasure.
Last year, Lin Zhou publicly exposed his secret, saying that he had lied to his wife his whole life and that he was the one who couldn't have children. These words hit a nerve.
Over the past year, Yi Zhonghai has been desperately trying to explain things to people, while he has been holding back his anger.
He considered himself a highly respected figure in the community, having dedicated his life to caring for his neighbors, but his true intentions were exposed in public by an outsider, causing him to lose face completely.
What upset him even more was that Lin Zhou's words aroused suspicion among many people in the courtyard, and their gazes toward him became more contemptuous.
He tried several times to get Lin Zhou to come over and explain things to everyone, but Lin Zhou disappeared without a trace after leaving, and the matter was gradually put aside. Now that Lin Zhou has reappeared, he couldn't help but feel angry again.
"Look what you've done, comrade." Yi Zhonghai's voice was neither cold nor warm, but carried a hint of the majesty of a moral authority. "The things you said in our compound last year almost broke up some families in our compound."
"Moreover, you made those statements without any evidence, which is a complete slander against us. You must publicly admit your mistake and apologize to us."
Lin Zhou smiled faintly and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I'm not slandering you, sir. I'm just telling the truth. Some things are better left unsaid; it's better to speak them out so everyone can understand."
The moment he said that, the atmosphere in the courtyard became tense. Aunt Zhang stood there with her washing basin, her eyes darting back and forth between Yi Zhonghai and Lin Zhou, looking like she was enjoying the drama.
Yan Bugui and his wife Yang Ruihua also walked over from the front yard, holding the small shovel in their hands, with a half-smile on their faces, clearly not wanting to miss this good show.
Seeing this, Lou Xiao'e quickly stepped in to smooth things over:
"Uncle, my friend is just being straightforward, please don't take it to heart. We came back today just to see our old neighbors, nothing more."
As she spoke, she tugged at Lin Zhou's arm, signaling him to stop talking.
Lou Xiao'e knew very well that this courtyard house at No. 95 was a place of trouble, and it was better to avoid getting involved.
She brought the children back simply to let them recognize their homeland and then to humiliate Xu Damao in front of her; she didn't want to get involved in these controversies anymore.
But some things can't be avoided just because you want to.
Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to speak again, a quarrel suddenly broke out in the backyard. Then the door was kicked open with a bang, and Qin Jingru ran out crying, followed by an angry Xu Damao.
"Xu Damao! You liar! You promised me you'd go to the hospital for treatment and give me a child, but what happened?"
"It's been a year, and you still can't have a child!"
Qin Jingru, her hair disheveled and tears streaming down her face, pointed at Xu Damao's nose and sobbed.
"Last year, everyone was saying you couldn't have children! You said you were fine and that you would go to the hospital for a checkup!"
"I can't believe you showed me a fake report. What's the point of me staying with you? I want a divorce!"
Xu Damao chased after her, grabbed Qin Jingru's arm, his face ashen:
"Have you made enough of a scene? That kid was just talking nonsense last year! Why can't I have children?"
"You were the one who cried and begged to marry me, and now you want a divorce? No way!"
The argument between the two was like a bomb, instantly igniting the atmosphere in the courtyard.
Last year, Lin Zhou publicly pointed out that Xu Damao was infertile, and Qin Jingru immediately demanded a divorce. Xu Damao pleaded with her, swearing and vowing that he had no problem at all, and that he would even go to the hospital to get a medical report to show her.
After that, he had someone make a fake medical report. He would never go to the hospital. Isn't childbirth always a woman's problem? Besides, his Xu Xiaomao is incredibly vigorous every night. How could he possibly have a problem?
That's how they managed to appease Qin Jingru, but over the past year, Qin Jingru's belly remained flat, and her resentment grew deeper and deeper.
Today, Qin Jingru finally went to the hospital for a check-up, and only then did she come back to settle accounts with Xu Damao, bringing up old grievances again.