RNP Chapter 1082 Aunt Tan Pretends Not to Know
Chapter 1082 Aunt Tan Pretends Not to Know
Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat when she saw his drunken state. She had wanted to discuss the matter of sending corn to the countryside with him, but with Deputy Factory Director Li incapacitated, that avenue was blocked, and she was at her wit's end. She could only turn to this "manager" in the compound for help. But seeing how he could barely speak, she knew it would be pointless to talk to him. However, she had no other choice but to steel herself and step forward, her voice pleading and trembling: "Uncle Yi, please sober up… You see, now that Deputy Factory Director Li has been arrested, the corn-sending-to-the-countryside project is completely hopeless. If that child really goes to that poor mountain village, won't he be ruined? You have to help me think of a solution! You're an old man in the compound, you've seen it all…"
Normally, even if Yi Zhonghai had his own agenda, he would maintain a respectable air, speaking tactfully to make people feel he was helpful without getting himself into trouble. But today, he was drunk, having been plied with drinks by the old guys at the distillery. In a moment of impulsiveness, he lost all restraint. He shook his head, trying to shake off the dizziness, and squinted at Qin Huairu, his eyes clouded by alcohol. His words were unreliable: "I... I told you before, didn't I? About Banggeng... I couldn't help it! You, you just can't see things clearly..." He staggered, almost falling, and steadied himself against the wall. His voice suddenly rose, "What you... what you need to do now is give me a child, understand? Once you have a child, everything will be fine! I... I'll guarantee you and your two children won't suffer..."
These words struck Qin Huairu like a thunderbolt, leaving her frozen in shock. Her face flushed crimson, burning from her cheeks to her ears, a mixture of shame and anger over her. She didn't know what to do with her hands—she never imagined that the usually dignified Master Yi would utter such shameless words in public! She quickly glanced around, relieved to find no one in the courtyard, only the rustling of leaves in the wind. Forcing a smile, she tried to smooth things over: "Master Yi, you've had too much to drink and are just talking nonsense. Let me help you back to your room to rest. We can talk about this tomorrow..."
Yi Zhonghai wanted to mutter something more, but the smell of alcohol in his throat made him cough twice. Just then, the door to the east wing creaked open, and Aunt Tan came out carrying an empty wooden basin, water droplets still clinging to the rim, clearly having just finished washing clothes. She looked up and saw the scene at the courtyard gate, and paused in her tracks.
Qin Huairu's heart tightened, knowing that this matter could not be brought up again today. If she stayed any longer, who knew what other trouble might arise? She quickly spoke first, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Aunt Tan, you're out? Look at this old man, he's completely drunk and can't even walk. I was just about to help him home."
Aunt Tan had actually overheard a few words inside the house. She clearly heard Yi Zhonghai say "have a child," and already knew what was going on, but she didn't say anything. She glanced at Yi Zhonghai, who was swaying and still muttering something, and frowned as she scolded, "How much has Old Yi drunk? His face is as red as a monkey's bottom! Who was he drinking with? He has no sense of restraint! How old is he, still so greedy for alcohol!" As she spoke, she stepped forward and, together with Qin Huairu, supported Yi Zhonghai's arm. "Alright, you can go back now. There are children waiting at home. I'll help him back."
Qin Huairu felt as if she had been granted a pardon and hurriedly replied "Yes," walking quickly towards her house, her back damp with a thin layer of sweat—this whole thing was really strange; how could Uncle Yi have become like this after drinking? The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, and her legs even felt a little weak. She just hoped to get rid of this troubling matter as soon as possible.
Yi Zhonghai wanted to shout something at Qin Huairu's retreating figure, such as "Let me explain" or "It's not what you think," but before he could finish speaking, he saw Qin Huairu quicken her pace without turning her head. The hem of her blue cotton jacket swept across the half-withered weeds in the corner of the wall, making a soft rustling sound. She quickly turned the corner of the courtyard and disappeared from sight.
He opened his mouth, but it felt like there was a wad of cotton stuck in his throat, and he ultimately didn't utter a sound. Aunt Tan, who had been unable to contain herself any longer, grabbed his arm and dragged him towards her house with surprising force, almost making him stumble: "Come on! Come home with me! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough here? Everyone in the yard heard you. You can't even hide your feelings, aren't you ashamed!"
Dragged forcefully back into her room, Aunt Tan slammed the door shut with a loud bang, rattling the paper windows. She then shoved Yi Zhonghai onto the bed, causing him to stumble and fall, his lower back slamming against the wooden edge of the bed. He hissed in pain, wincing for a long time before recovering. Aunt Tan stood by the bed, hands on her hips, her chest heaving, spitting almost onto his face: "You useless bastard! At your age, you still dream of having Qin Huairu bear your child? I think you've got your brain caught in a door! You can't even have one yourself, so you blame others? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? Your face is so wrinkled it could trap a mosquito, and you're still dreaming such pipe dreams!"
As she spoke, she grabbed the feather duster from the foot of the bed and began whipping Yi Zhonghai across the face. The feathers flew everywhere; the blows didn't hurt much, but they were undeniably humiliating. After two blows, Yi Zhonghai seemed stunned, his eyes glazed over, sitting stiffly, neither flinching nor uttering a sound, as if he weren't being hit. Seeing his pathetic state, Aunt Tan was furious. She slammed the duster to the ground, plopped down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), covered her mouth, and began to sob, her cries filled with grievance and despair.
On the other side, Qin Huairu walked quickly down the alley, her heart still pounding like a rabbit's. Yi Zhonghai's words just now were utter nonsense—"I'll make you leave me an heir"—it sent chills down her spine. If Aunt Tan hadn't come out in time, who knows how many nasty rumors would have spread, saying she was seducing Uncle Yi, and she would never be able to hold her head up in this courtyard again. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white, and for a moment she didn't know where to go.
Go back to her own house? Just thinking of Banggeng's sullen face when he came home from school, and Jia Zhangshi's constant sighing and veiled complaints, made her chest tighten, and she couldn't utter a single word of comfort. She had intended to go to Gu Nan's house to talk to Ran Qiuye and clear her head, but the thought of his black dog, which bared its teeth at strangers, made her feet feel like they were nailed to the ground—the last time she went to borrow soy sauce, that dog barked and pounced at the door, almost making her drop the empty bowl in her hand; she still felt a lingering fear. After hesitating for a long time, she lowered her head and slowly made her way back to her own house.