Qin Huairu had originally intended to meet Yu Haitang later, but feeling too restless to wait, she decided to follow her impulses. The matter concerning Yu Haitang could not be resolved in the short term, so there was no need to rush. With no doubts about this, Qin Huairu finished her meal in low spirits.
Jia Zhangshi took Qin Jingru, Xiaodang, and Huaihua out to buy snacks. Xiaodang and Huaihua were wild with excitement; ever since their brother Banggeng had been arrested, their lives had become monotonous. They often had to settle for thin porridge, cornmeal buns, and pickled vegetables, rarely seeing meat, let alone flour buns. Hearing they could buy snacks felt like the Lunar New Year to them.
After they left, Qin Huairu began to clear the table. Suddenly, however, she felt unwell. A wave of heat flushed through her, and her temperature began to climb. She touched her burning cheeks, feeling bewildered. Since her husband’s death, this had rarely happened, usually only late at night when thoughts of Shazhu would creep in. Today, she hadn't been thinking of him, yet here she was. She could no longer control herself; the tall figure of Shazhu surfaced in her mind. Dizzy, Qin Huairu felt that something was truly wrong with her. She looked toward He Yuzhu’s house through the window, wondering if she should go borrow some medicine. Everyone in the courtyard knew He Yuzhu was skilled at medicine and kept plenty of good supplies on hand. Last time, when Qin Huairu had been beat…
Chapter 60