Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 65 A loving mother exerts pressure, a virtuous daughter-in-law awakens and rejects pretense.

June in Beijing was already sweltering. The locust tree leaves in the Red Star Courtyard were so dense they could shade most of the central courtyard. The cicadas' chirping began incessantly from early morning, disturbing everyone's peace of mind. Qin Huairu had just returned from the steel rolling mill. The back of her work clothes was soaked with sweat. She was carrying a cloth bag containing freshly steamed white flour buns from the canteen that day—a perk from her outstanding performance this month, which the research and development team had given her, and she had specially saved two for her children at home.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Aunt Yi standing at her door, clutching a half-finished shoe sole in her hand, staring intently at her. Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat. Lately, she had been focused on the material management work of the research and development team, and apart from necessary neighborly greetings, she had hardly had any contact with Yi Zhonghai's family. Especially after Sha Zhu completely cut off his support to the Jia family, the two families' interactions had become as distant as water.

"Huai Ru, come here for a moment." Aunt Yi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. After speaking, she turned and went into the house, not even closing the door, clearly certain that Qin Huai Ru would follow her in. Qin Huai Ru hesitated for a moment, glanced at her own tightly closed door, knowing there was no way to avoid it, so she handed the steamed bun to her youngest daughter, Jia Xiao Xu, who came out to greet her, and whispered, "Let your little brother eat first, I'll be right back," before following her into the Yi family's house.

The Yi family's furnishings remained unchanged. A chipped enamel teapot sat on the eight-immortal table, and a kettle sat on the coal stove in the corner, steaming gently. Yi Zhonghai was not home. It was said that he had recently been transferred to the scrap material processing group in the workshop, no longer in charge of the core fitter's technical work. His temper had also become increasingly gloomy, and he rarely showed up in the yard, leaving early and returning late every day.

"Sit down." Aunt Yi gestured to the low stool beside the table, then sat in the main seat, slamming the sole of her shoe on the table. She cut to the chase, "I'm asking you, why haven't you been going to see Sha Zhu lately? Do you know how many people are watching over this courtyard? Without Sha Zhu's help, how are you all going to survive?"

Qin Huairu had barely sat down when she heard this and felt a surge of resentment. She picked up the cold tea on the table, took a sip to suppress her anger, and said softly, "Auntie, I'm working in the research and development team now. I earn thirty-eight yuan and fifty cents a month, plus the technical subsidy that Director Lin applied for for me. It's enough for my daughter and me to live on. There's no need to bother Sha Zhu anymore."

"Enough? Who are you trying to fool!" Aunt Yi sneered, picking up the abacus on the table and clicking away. "Your three children are at the age where they need to grow, they need to eat every meal. Plus, that lazy, good-for-nothing Jia Zhangshi, forty yuan a month is barely enough to get by. If any of the children get a headache or fever, what will you use to treat them?" She leaned forward, lowering her voice even further. "Before, Sha Zhu was a cook in the canteen, he could bring you meat and vegetables every day. You lived a better life than anyone else. Now, what are you trying to prove by doing that damn materials management job? Is he as reliable as Sha Zhu?"

Qin Huairu's grip on the teacup tightened, her knuckles turning white. She recalled her past, how she would find different ways to feign pitifulness in front of Sha Zhu every day—one day saying the child was hungry, the next saying there was no coal at home. The food and meat she obtained through these tricks never felt truly secure. Especially after Lin Chen's last revelation that "it's not shameful to earn a living with your skills," she became even more determined to break free from this parasitic existence.

"Auntie, I was foolish before, always thinking of relying on others for help." Qin Huairu raised her head, her eyes filled with unprecedented determination. "Now I'm in charge of material statistics in the R&D team. Director Lin also taught me how to read blueprints and do cost accounting. Last month, I even received a commendation from the factory for discovering a loophole in the procurement. I earned all of this myself. I eat well and sleep soundly."

"Reliable? I think you've been blinded by greed!" Aunt Yi slammed her hand on the table, making the kettle lid clang. "Have you forgotten who brought you into the fitter's workshop? It was my husband, Lao Yi! If he hadn't taken you on as an apprentice, would you have been able to establish yourself in the factory? Now that Lao Yi is in trouble, you've gotten all high and mighty, and you don't even listen to us anymore?"

Mentioning Yi Zhonghai stirred a complex mix of emotions in Qin Huairu's heart. Undeniably, Yi Zhonghai had indeed helped her a great deal back then, not only taking her on as an apprentice but also protecting her in the workshop. However, she gradually realized that her master's "kindness" was never unconditional. He had taken her on as an apprentice merely to cultivate a pawn to help him win over Sha Zhu, since Sha Zhu's "care" for her was largely due to Yi Zhonghai's influence.

"I will remember my master's kindness." Qin Huairu's voice was calm but firm. "A while ago, my master was transferred to the scrap material processing group. I asked my colleagues in the purchasing department to inquire and found out that they were lacking a precise material registration process. I stayed up all night to make a plan and sent it over. Now the material loss rate under my master's management has dropped by five percentage points, and the workshop director even praised him. I've done everything I can, but I will never again resort to playing the victim and begging Sha Zhu for help."

Aunt Yi was taken aback when Qin Huairu actually helped Yi Zhonghai. She paused for a moment, then resumed her tough stance: "How can that be the same? How much is a lousy plan worth? Sha Zhu's benefits are real! Let me tell you, Qin Huairu, don't push your luck! Old Yi is still around. With just one word from him, you won't be able to hold your position in the R&D team!"

These words completely ignited Qin Huairu's anger. She stood up abruptly, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a harsh sound: "Auntie, if that's how you put it, then I'll be blunt. Back when my master took me on as an apprentice, he never taught me any core technology. I spent five years in the fitter's workshop and I was still an apprentice, just because he was afraid that once I mastered the skills, I wouldn't listen to him anymore, and wouldn't help him win over Sha Zhu! Now I've established myself in the R&D team through my own efforts, based on real skills, not on anyone's charity!"

Aunt Yi was speechless, her face flushed red. Pointing at Qin Huairu's nose, she cursed, "You ungrateful wretch! Hasn't my husband been good enough to you? If it weren't for him, would you have escaped punishment when Jia Zhangshi was caught stealing chickens? If it weren't for him, would Sha Zhu be bringing your family food every day? And now you turn around and bite us!"

"I paid Grandma Li five yuan back for stealing the chicken, and I also did chores for her for half a month. I've already paid it all back," Qin Huai said firmly. "I didn't take the food that Sha Zhu brought to my house for nothing. I sewed his clothes when they were torn, and I took care of him by his bedside when he was sick. We're even!"

The argument between the two grew louder and louder, disturbing the neighbors in the Intermediate People's Court. Yan Bugui, carrying an account book, went to the door, peered through the door frame, and muttered under his breath, "What's going on here now?" Liu Haizhong, who had just returned from get off work, heard the commotion and came over, frowning as he looked in the direction of the Yi family's house. Lin Chen, who had just returned from working overtime with the research and development team, happened to witness the scene and stood quietly watching from a distance without approaching.

"Fine! Fine! You've really grown wings!" Aunt Yi trembled with rage, grabbing the teapot from the table to smash it on the ground, but was stopped by Yi Zhonghai, who suddenly entered the room. Yi Zhonghai's face was grim; he had clearly been eavesdropping at the door for a while. He snatched the teapot back, placed it on the table, and yelled at Aunt Yi, "Have you made enough of a scene?! You're a disgrace!"

When Aunt Yi saw her husband return, she felt as if she had found her pillar of support and cried out, "Old Yi, look at this ungrateful wretch! We kindly advised her, and she turned around and cursed us! If you don't stand up for me, I won't live today!"

Yi Zhonghai ignored her, his gaze falling on Qin Huairu, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Huairu, are you really sure? Without me and Shazhu, your Jia family won't have a good life."

"I've made up my mind." Qin Huairu's attitude was very firm. "Master, I used to always think about relying on others, which made a mess of my life. Now I understand that relying on anyone else is not as good as relying on myself. Even if life is tough, I'm willing to earn a living with my own hands."

Yi Zhonghai was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, since you've made up your mind, I won't force you. But remember, today's decision is your own, and even if you regret it later, don't come looking for us again."

Qin Huai didn't speak, but bowed slightly to Yi Zhonghai, then turned and walked out of the Yi family home. As she passed Lin Chen, she stopped and softly said, "Thank you." Lin Chen smiled: "No need to thank me, you relied on yourself."

When Qin Huairu returned home, Jia Zhangshi was sitting on the doorstep crying. Seeing her, she rushed over, crying, "Where have you been? I'm telling you, Aunt Yi just came and scolded me, saying we're ungrateful and that she'll never help us again! What are we going to do? What will we eat now?!"

Qin Huairu felt a surge of annoyance watching her mother-in-law's wailing and lamenting. She used to patiently comfort her, but now she only felt exhausted. She placed the steamed buns from the cloth bag on the table: "Mother, this is my welfare allowance. Give it to the children first. I earn over forty yuan a month in the research team now, enough for us to live on. Don't think about relying on others anymore."

"What can you do with forty-odd yuan!" Jia Zhangshi grabbed a steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "What about the meat and vegetables that Sha Zhu used to bring us? What about the troubles that Master Yi used to help us resolve? If you had listened to Aunt Yi and apologized to Sha Zhu, wouldn't our lives have been better again?"

"I won't go." Qin Huairu's tone was firm. "Mother, if you continue like this, you'll have to find your own way to make a living from now on. I'll set aside enough living expenses for you and the children every month, but I won't take care of anything else." After saying that, she picked up the blueprints on the table and went into the inner room, leaving Jia Zhangshi standing there stunned.

In the following days, the Yi family indeed stopped associating with the Jia family. Every time Aunt Yi saw Qin Huairu, she would turn her head away, muttering under her breath, "Ungrateful." The neighbors in the courtyard also noticed the conflict between the two families and gossiped about it privately. Some said that Qin Huairu was ungrateful, turning down a good backer; others said that Qin Huairu was now earning her own money, which was much better than her previous act of playing the victim.

Qin Huairu, however, remained completely unaffected, going to get off work and leaving on time every day and working diligently in the R&D team. She handled the material management tasks assigned to her by Lin Chen with great efficiency, and even proactively proposed a "hierarchical and classified management method," which improved the efficiency of material inflow and outflow by 30%. Director Zhou specifically praised her at the workshop meeting and promoted her method throughout the factory.

That afternoon, Qin Huairu was organizing material reports when she suddenly received a notification from the workshop office that Yi Zhonghai had made a mistake while handling scrap materials, treating a batch of usable alloy materials as waste, causing considerable losses to the factory. The factory leaders asked her to go over and assist in the investigation.

Qin Huairu's heart tightened, and she immediately put down her work and rushed over. In the workshop office, Yi Zhonghai stood to one side with his head down, his face pale; Director Zhou sat behind his desk with a gloomy expression; Lin Chen was also there, flipping through a materials list.

"Comrade Qin, you've arrived." Director Zhou pointed to a pile of scrap materials on the table. "This batch of materials was processed by Master Yi today. There are quite a few usable alloy scraps in it. According to regulations, these materials should be handed over to the research and development team for recycling. See what you think we should do with them."

Qin Huairu picked up a piece of scrap material and examined it carefully using the method Lin Chen had taught her. She found that there were indeed quite a few usable materials. She looked up at Yi Zhonghai: "Master, according to the procedure, this batch of materials should first go through material registration, and then be evaluated by the R&D team before being processed. Why did you just treat it as scrap?"

Yi Zhonghai lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse: "I...I didn't pay attention to the flowchart."

Lin Chen put down the list in his hand and said, "Director Zhou, although this batch of materials was treated as waste, most of it can still be recycled. I think we should have Comrade Qin take the lead in selecting the usable materials and remelting them. This should recover more than 80% of the losses."

Director Zhou nodded: "Okay, we'll do as Director Lin says. Master Yi, although the loss this time can be recovered, you can't shirk your responsibility. You'll have three months' performance bonus deducted, and you'll have to write a profound self-criticism to give at the workshop meeting."

Yi Zhonghai nodded hurriedly: "Thank you, Director Zhou, thank you, Director Lin. I will definitely reflect on my actions."

After finishing their business, Qin Huairu and Lin Chen walked out of the office together. On the way, Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Director Lin, did you already know that Master would make this mistake?"

Lin Chen smiled and said, "I gave him a material registration process sheet before, and I specifically emphasized the handling process for alloy materials. He was upset and didn't read it carefully, so it was only a matter of time before he made a mistake."

Qin Huairu fell silent; she knew the grievances in Yi Zhonghai's heart. Ever since Sha Zhu broke free from his control and Liu Guangtian began to shine under Lin Chen's tutelage, Yi Zhonghai's status in the factory had plummeted, from a former technical backbone to a marginal figure, inevitably causing him some disappointment.

"Director Lin, I want to help my mentor out," Qin Huairu suddenly said. "Although he used me before, he did help me. I want to teach him the material management methods I've summarized so he can establish himself in the scrap handling group."

Lin Chen was somewhat surprised, then nodded: "Okay, it's kind of you to do this. But remember, helping him is a favor, not an obligation. Don't let yourself fall into the same predicament as before."

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "I know, I'll be careful this time."

That evening, Qin Huairu arrived at the Yi family home with a materials management manual she had compiled. When Aunt Yi opened the door and saw her, her face immediately darkened. She was about to close the door when Yi Zhonghai stopped her. Yi Zhonghai looked at the manual in Qin Huairu's hand, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "What is this…?"

"Master, this is a material management method I've summarized. It includes detailed registration procedures and evaluation standards, which should be helpful for your current work." Qin Huai handed over the manual. "I know you're upset, but life goes on. Earning a foothold through technical skills is better than anything else."

Yi Zhonghai took the booklet, his fingers gently tracing the cover, his eyes slightly moist. He looked up at Qin Huairu, wanting to say something, but unable to utter a word. Aunt Yi, standing to the side, had softened her expression considerably, muttering, "At least you still have some conscience."

Leaving the Yi family home, Qin Huairu felt a sudden sense of clarity. She finally understood that true reconciliation wasn't about groveling and fawning, but about mutual support and equality. Before, she always thought she could live under someone else's protection, resulting in a life of constant caution and a loss of self; now, she relied on her own abilities to establish herself, and in return, she earned the respect of others.

Back home, Jia Geng was sitting at the table doing his homework. When he saw Qin Huairu return, he quickly stood up and said, "Mom, I've finished all my homework today, and I even helped my sister wash the dishes." Jia Xiaoxu also ran over and hugged Qin Huairu's leg, saying, "Mom, brother didn't steal anything today. He even collected a lot of recyclables and sold them for two cents."

Qin Huairu knelt down, patted the two children's heads, her eyes filled with relief. She took out the candy she had bought and gave it to the children: "Mom knows you've grown up. From now on, our family will rely on our own hands to make a good living, okay?"

"Okay!" the two children answered in unison, their faces beaming with bright smiles. Madam Jia sat to the side, watching the scene unfold. Though she didn't speak, her expression softened considerably.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen was revising the cooperation plan with Southern Machinery Factory in his room. Suddenly, a notification popped up on the system panel: "Detected that the host has guided Qin Huairu to complete self-awakening, triggering the side quest 'Assisting Yi Zhonghai in Self-Redemption'. Quest objective: Help Yi Zhonghai realize his mistakes and rediscover his original passion for technology. Reward: 15000 points, unlocking the 'Technical Review' function."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, surprised that helping Qin Huairu would trigger a new mission. He looked out the window; moonlight streamed onto the roof of the courtyard house, a scene of tranquility. He knew that Yi Zhonghai's transformation wouldn't be easy, but as long as he was willing to rediscover his passion for technology, there was still a chance.

The next morning, Yi Zhonghai took the manual Qin Huairu had given him and went to the scrap material processing group. Following the procedures in the manual, he carefully registered and identified each batch of materials. When he encountered something he didn't understand, he would proactively consult Qin Huairu in the R&D team. Although he occasionally received ridicule from other workers, he didn't care and focused all his attention on his work.

Lin Chen saw this and felt very gratified. He knew that although Yi Zhonghai had done many foolish things in the past, he was indeed exceptionally skilled in technology. As long as he could humble himself and rediscover his original aspirations, he would definitely be able to regain his footing in the factory.

That noon, Lin Chen was eating in the cafeteria when Yi Zhonghai suddenly walked over, holding a set of blueprints. He said somewhat embarrassedly, "Director Lin, I've looked at the blueprints for the precision gears you've developed, and I found that one parameter could be optimized. Do you think it's feasible?"

Lin Chen took the blueprints and examined them carefully. Sure enough, there was room for improvement in the areas Yi Zhonghai pointed out. Following his suggestions, the gear's precision could be improved by another percentage point. Lin Chen looked up and gave Yi Zhonghai a sincere smile: "Master Yi, your suggestions are excellent, thank you so much."

Yi Zhonghai smiled, a smile he hadn't shown in a long time, and scratched his head: "Don't mention it, it's what I should do. I was foolish before, always thinking about making a living by scheming, but now I understand that making a living with skills is the only reliable thing to do."

As the two were talking, Qin Huairu walked over with a tray of food. Seeing how happily the two were chatting, a smile appeared on her face. Sha Zhu also came over, holding two meat buns: "Director Lin, Chef Yi, Sister Qin, I just bought these meat buns, let's eat together."

Lin Chen took the meat bun and said with a smile, "Okay, let's eat together."

Four people sat around a table, eating and chatting happily. Sunlight streamed in through the cafeteria windows, warming them and making them feel comfortable. Lin Chen knew that the disputes in the courtyard were not completely over, and Yi Zhonghai's transformation was only the beginning, but he believed that as long as everyone could put aside their scheming and live a down-to-earth life with their own hands, the future would definitely get better and better.

In the afternoon, Lin Chen incorporated Yi Zhonghai's optimization suggestions into the gear production process, and the precision of the trial-produced gears indeed improved by one percentage point. Upon learning this, Director Zhou specifically praised Yi Zhonghai at the workshop meeting and transferred him back to the technical advisory group to guide the younger workers' technical skills.

Standing on the stage, Yi Zhonghai was too moved to speak. Looking at Lin Chen and Qin Huairu below, he bowed deeply. He knew that his success today was inseparable from Lin Chen's understanding and Qin Huairu's help. He secretly resolved to work hard in the future and repay the factory's trust with his skills.

Back at the courtyard house that evening, Aunt Yi had prepared a feast and specially invited Qin Huairu's family and Lin Chen. At the dinner table, Aunt Yi took the initiative to apologize to Qin Huairu: "Huairu, I was wrong before. I shouldn't have forced you to do things you didn't want to do. Please don't take it to heart."

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Auntie, let's not talk about the past. We'll be neighbors from now on, so let's look out for each other."

Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the harmonious scene before him. He opened the system panel, which displayed: "Side quest 'Helping Yi Zhonghai Redeem Himself' has been completed, reward 15000 points, current points: 237500, unlocking the 'Technical Review' function."

The "Technical Review" function allows him to conduct professional reviews of various technical solutions and offer optimization suggestions, which will greatly help his subsequent technical research and development work. Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction; he knew he was one step closer to realizing his dream.

The cicadas outside the window were still chirping loudly, but to Lin Chen, they no longer sounded like annoying noise, but rather a vibrant melody. Watching the children laughing and playing in the yard, and the neighbors chatting, he suddenly understood that the best life wasn't about striving for fame and fortune, but about working together with those around you, creating your own happiness with your own hands.