Zhang Yu pulled He Yushui along towards the street, saying, "Your brother was pretty decent before. It’s all because he was duped by Yi Zhonghai. That guy wants the Jia Family to provide for his old age without contributing much, so he set his sights on your brother, the fool."
"As for your dad, there are some things I can’t say too clearly. My dad also spoke ambiguously. He mentioned that He Daqing said once he got settled over there, he’d provide living expenses for you."
"Not at all." Upon hearing this, He Yushui was quite surprised that He Daqing had mentioned providing living expenses.
"My dad had a bit to drink back then; it was your dad who invited him out. My dad drank quite a lot, and he doesn’t remember clearly. Later, when we asked Yi Zhonghai, he said he also couldn’t remember."
"After that, Yi Zhonghai never mentioned it again, so we just assumed he didn’t send anything."
"Later, my dad saw a postman delivering remittance slips to Yi Zhonghai several times, and he casually asked whom they were from."
"Yi Zhonghai said a relative." Zhang Hao had mentioned this to his family before.
He hadn’t thought much of it; relatives send things to each other, and the people of the Zhang Family didn’t think much of it either. How would they suspect that Yi Zhonghai could be so excessive?
"A relative of his family?" He Yushui found this very strange. "I’ve never heard them mention having relatives from out of town."
"Right, that’s what I suspect. But we don’t have any proof."
"I happen to be going to Baocheng. Are you interested?" It would be good if He Yushui stepped forward on her own.
He Yushui hesitated. "I went there with my brother before, and the White Widow wouldn’t even let my brother and me inside."
She worried that she might be turned away at the door again this time.
"We won’t go to their house; we’ll go to his workplace." If they went to the house, they couldn’t be sure if He Daqing would be there.
"Do you know where my dad works?" He Yushui was truly surprised that Zhang Yu knew something even she and her brother were clueless about.
Ah, ah, ah, she, she’s really a fool, blurting out things she shouldn’t have said, truly foolish.
Luckily, it was He Yushui who heard it. The girl wouldn’t think too much of it. If it were someone else, it would have created an explosive situation in minutes.
"My dad mentioned once that your dad might go work at a textile factory. Exactly where, I don’t know. But if your dad continues being a chef..."
"Given your dad’s culinary skills, I think he must be famous. We can’t give up."
"And you know your brother’s current situation. As long as Qin Huairu says a few sweet words and bats her eyelashes, your brother turns to mush."
"Even if Lady Jia Zhang gets arrested now, Qin Huairu would still coax your brother into writing a letter of forgiveness."
"By then, your brother..." Zhang Yu knew what would follow, and so did He Yushui.
"He’s a eunuch without offspring, owns two properties – what a great catch for pulling strings! And he can’t have kids, which is perfect for helping the Jia Family raise their three children."
"And once he gets old and becomes useless, he’ll be kicked to the curb."
In the original drama, Sha Zhu ended up as Qin Huairu’s lapdog his entire life, and in the end, he was left with nothing.
"They have no monetary relationship with Sha Zhu. People can divorce after getting married, but you, you’re Sha Zhu’s biological sister. If your brother becomes homeless, who’s the unlucky one? Of course, it’s you."
"You’d be better off securing the house for yourself. Your brother can stay there. If rent needs to be paid, you keep the money."
"This way, if your brother falls on hard times, at least he won’t starve, at least he will have a place to stay. What do you think?"
Even if she doesn’t remain at the siheyuan, she wouldn’t allow Qin Huairu to take over the entire courtyard.
He Yushui knew Zhang Yu was looking out for her. "Sis, you’re too good to me."
Rubbing against her, that sisterly feeling is so good. Why didn’t she have a sister, only a brother, and a confused one at that?
"That’s because the Zhang Family, your brother, the Jia Family, and Yi Zhonghai, we don’t get along well."
Rather than having Yi Zhonghai and the others poison He Yushui’s mind against her later, Zhang Yu chose to reveal their bad relationship now.
Over the years, He Yushui had also realized that Yi Zhonghai was not as good as he always seemed to be, but she hadn’t expected them to be this overbearing.
"That’s your family’s house, Zhang Jie, how could they rob it ?"
"They’re used to it. Because they have Yi Zhonghai backing up the Jia Family and Sha Zhu as Yi Zhonghai’s enforcer."
"Everyone is somewhat fearful."
"When my dad was around, he would exert some restraint." Even though he was still biased, especially towards Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, and the matter of donating to the Jia Family.
The rest wasn’t too bad, but ever since the death of Zhang Hao and his wife, Yi Zhonghai has increasingly moved towards dictatorship.
With him backing up the Jia Family and wanting to take the Zhang’s house, Zhang Yu felt Yi Zhonghai was also venting his anger, as Zhang Hao’s existence prevented him, the First Elder, from throwing his weight around.
"I do this also because I don’t want them to have it easy."
"You can also choose not to go." Zhang Yu gave He Yushui the choice.
After a moment’s thought, He Yushui said, "I’ll go, but I’ll need proof."
Traveling to another place requires documentation; otherwise, one can’t buy train tickets or find lodging.
"I’m just heading to the street office." Thus, Zhang Yu took He Yushui to the street office to get the necessary proofs and by the way, asked Director Wang to take care of Zhang Li for a bit.
Then they went to Hongxing Primary School to inform Zhang Li, before heading straight to the train station to buy train tickets to Baocheng.
After all the hassle, by the time the two of them arrived in Baocheng, it was already past six in the evening.
"Let’s go to the guest house first." The financial section chief had informed Zhang Yu about the guest house they had arranged for their stay, and now her goal was to find this guest house and rest.
As for when to find He Daqing, that would wait until she finished her business tomorrow morning, and then she would take He Yushui with her.
On the way to the guest house, Zhang Yu told her about their arrangements. No matter that He Yushui was already in high school, she was just as unfamiliar with this city as the little girl who had followed her brother here to Baocheng in the past.
After some inquiries, they found their lodgings smoothly. Just as they were about to enter, He Yushui stared for a long time at an alleyway across the street.
"What’s wrong?" Was there something wrong with that alley? Zhang Yu noticed it was just an ordinary alley.
"I remember that alley; he used to live there." Because the name was so peculiar, He Yushui still remembered it to this day.
What? Zhang Yu hadn’t expected that in searching for a place to stay, they would have already directly encircled He Daqing’s den here.
Zhang Yu didn’t know what to say. "Let’s handle check-in first, then wash up, and get something to eat."
Although it wasn’t very far, Zhang Yu felt a bit uncomfortable, and after sitting on the train for so long, she was famished.
He Yushui, eager to confront He Daqing and question him, wasn’t in a rush. Now that she had arrived in Baocheng, they could take their time talking.