Jia Zhangshi misunderstood Qin Huairu's intention. She thought Qin Huairu was asking her to keep Yi Zhonghai from escaping.
Don't be fooled by Jia Zhangshi's pig-like figure; her skills were quite remarkable. With a roll, she sprang up and leaped a few steps to reach Yi Zhonghai, wrapping her arms around his right leg.
"Yi Zhonghai, you sneaked out to meet my daughter-in-law in the dead of night, and you think you can leave without explaining yourself?" Jia Zhangshi exerted all her strength, preventing Yi Zhonghai from moving.
Yi Zhonghai wished he could slap Jia Zhangshi's pig face. He had already managed to escape, but all his efforts were in vain because of this foolish pig.
The onlookers in the courtyard initially thought the show was about to end, but who would have expected Jia Zhangshi to single-handedly prolong the drama.
"Jia Zhangshi, I really regret getting involved in your family's affairs. Haven't I helped your family enough over the years? Without my help, your family would have starved long ago!" Yi Zhonghai shouted angrily.
Jia Zhangshi snorted coldly, "Yi Zhonghai, don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're after my daughter-in-law! You had your eyes on Dongxu when he got married!"
"Don't spout nonsense!" Yi Zhonghai was genuinely anxious and quickly glanced at Qin Huairu, signaling her to come over and stop Jia Zhangshi.
Qin Huairu was also a bit flustered: "Mom! Are you trying to drive me to my death? My reputation is ruined; what good does that do for the Lao Jia family?"
Jia Zhangshi raised her hand and slapped Qin Huairu, causing sparks to fly before her eyes.
Qin Huairu overestimated her influence over Jia Zhangshi. Although Jia Zhangshi often listened to Qin Huairu, she was not very self-aware of her own foolishness! She felt she had to maintain her authority as a mother-in-law in front of Qin Huairu at all times.
"How can you still talk about reputation! What good deeds have you done with Yi Zhonghai? Why did he sneak around delivering millet flour to our family in the dead of night?" Jia Zhangshi asked angrily.
Qin Huairu put on a very aggrieved expression: "Mom, didn't I tell you? Uncle Yi is the head of the courtyard; he helps our family and not others. The other struggling families in the courtyard would have opinions. We have many children, and I'm the only one working, and I'm just an apprentice. It's a bit harder for us than for others. Not all of our children have food rations; we have to buy expensive grain every month. Other struggling families can manage, but we can't."
Jia Zhangshi slapped her again: "Do you think I'm stupid and easy to fool? If Yi Zhonghai wanted to help us, he could have sent the millet flour with his wife, Cui Lan. Why did he have to bring it himself? And you even hid in the cellar with him! Does delivering millet flour require hiding in the cellar?"
When others questioned like this, Qin Huairu could respond confidently, but when Jia Zhangshi questioned, both Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu found it hard to answer. If they hadn't hidden in the cellar, they could have explained the delivery, but hiding in the cellar made it inappropriate.
"Mom, someone really pushed us into this. Shazhu! Do you dare to admit it?" Qin Huairu could only gamble that He Yuzhu would take the blame.
He Yuzhu was confused; how was this his business?
Yang Xuan chuckled and nudged He Yuzhu: "Qin Huairu is calling you."
He Yuzhu helplessly stepped forward: "Qin Huairu, your mess has nothing to do with me. I was just getting up to go to the bathroom when I noticed someone in the yard and thought it was a thief, so I didn't dare to come out. Then, after a while, Xu Damao came to call me to catch the thief."
Xu Damao laughed proudly: "Qin Huairu, don't play the victim. That day, you not only tricked me out of my steamed buns in the cafeteria, but you also had that group of women from the flower shop come after me. I saw you and Yi Zhonghai go into the cellar; that lid was pressed down by my stone mill! It's truly an eye for an eye!"
Qin Huairu was also quite clever; she immediately played the victim: "That day, our family ran out of food, and I really couldn't take it anymore, so I asked you for a few buns. I didn't expect you to take advantage of me. I had no choice but to hide. You being seen by the flower shop ladies is none of my business! I only heard later that not only were you seen, but your clothes were also torn to shreds."
Lou Xiao'e was furious upon hearing this and rushed up to slap Xu Damao: "Xu Damao! How shameless! How could you do such a shameless thing behind my back? I want a divorce!"
Xu Damao was instantly enraged and, without thinking, slapped Lou Xiao'e back.
Thus, Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e started fighting right there, quickly stealing the spotlight from Qin Huairu.
After watching the couple's domestic battle for a while, the onlookers finally stepped in to pull the two fighting spouses apart.
Yi Zhonghai initially wanted to take this opportunity to slip away, but Jia Zhangshi, who had gained nothing, was unwilling to let go. He remained trapped in the courtyard.
"Yi Zhonghai, don't think you can leave! You won't get away until we clear this up today, or I'll crash into your front door!" Jia Zhangshi, relying on her own strength, maintained her position at the center of the courtyard drama.
Yang Xuan found it quite enjoyable. He had played a significant role in this drama, which gave him a sense of accomplishment, almost instantly changing the dynamics of the courtyard!
He Yuzhu also felt a sense of exhilaration today; he had always been the one watching the drama, but today he could stand in the audience and enjoy a grand performance.
Everyone in this scene was a drama queen. If he were on stage, he really wouldn't be able to handle it. So, he was even more determined never to meddle in the courtyard's affairs again.
Seeing Yang Xuan turn to leave, He Yuzhu hurriedly followed him.
"Not watching anymore?" He Yuzhu asked.
Yang Xuan smiled: "There's nothing more to see. Let's go back and sleep."
He Yuzhu agreed: "Yeah, let's go back and sleep. We have to work tomorrow. Rather than waste sleep, it's better to rest well and find a chance to look for Teacher Ran."
At this moment, Auntie Da came out and said softly, "Old Yi, I asked you to deliver a bag of millet flour to Qin Huairu. Why have you been gone for so long? I woke up from a nap and found you still weren't back, which is when I noticed how lively it is in the yard."
With that one sentence, Yi Zhonghai was freed from his predicament.
Auntie Da's instruction to deliver millet flour to Qin Huairu made everything alright.
"Sigh, I don't know what these people are thinking. I just saw that Qin Huairu's family was struggling, so I brought a bag of millet flour from home. Who knew I would be pushed into the cellar? This is a setup against us!" Yi Zhonghai exclaimed angrily.
"Alright, alright, the matter is clear now. Everyone disperse!" Cui Lan waved her hand.
Jia Zhangshi still refused to let go, clinging to Yi Zhonghai's leg: "No! Yi Zhonghai, you must pay up today!"
Slap!
Cui Lan stepped forward and slapped Jia Zhangshi: "After helping your family so much, I ended up helping this ungrateful wolf!"
At last, Jia Zhangshi finally let go and rolled on the ground.
"Old Jia! They're bullying us orphans and widows!"
Qin Huairu walked over and pulled Jia Zhangshi towards home. Jia Zhangshi didn't even have a chance to break free from Qin Huairu's grip.