Now that Jia Dongxu had suddenly passed away and Mrs. Jia had been sentenced to life imprisonment, Qin Huairu’s life suddenly became incredibly difficult. Not only did she have to raise Banggen and Huaihua on her own, but she was also unemployed, meaning she had no source of income. It was easy to imagine how miserable her future days would be. Faced with this situation, some of the men in the courtyard began to harbor ulterior motives. Qin Huairu was one of the greatest beauties in the Red Star Courtyard; now that her husband was dead and she was in dire straits, her status as a widow led many men to set their sights on her.
Jia Dongxu’s body did not remain in the courtyard for long; his memorial service was held the very next day. Xushu attended as well—with his death, all grudges were settled, and since they lived in the same courtyard, it would have been improper not to show up. On the morning of the third day, Jia Dongxu’s body was laid to rest, bidding a final farewell to this world.
For several days thereafter, Qin Huairu stayed at home, never stepping outside. Even when she went out to fetch water, she wore an expression of such overwhelming grief that it was hard not to feel pity for her. As for Shazhu, his enthusiasm for the Jia Family grew more fervent by the day. Whenever he had a moment, he would run over to their home, either to help with chores or to keep Qin Huairu company and console her in her loss.
Chapter 212