Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

The young couple didn't talk loudly, and Qin Huairu, who was standing guard outside the door, had no idea what the result of their discussion was.

After not seeing any movement from Tang Yanling for two consecutive days, Qin Huairu became restless.

She didn't want to go to Tang Yanling for fear of being exposed, so she secretly went to Banggeng instead.

"Did Yanling tell you about getting an IUD inserted at the hospital?"

Banggeng nodded: "He told me."

"Then why aren't you going yet?"

Bang Geng said, "Yanling hasn't been feeling well these past few days. We'll go once she's better."

Qin Huairu felt much more at ease upon hearing this.

Fearing that Banggeng might overthink it, she explained, "Mom is doing this for your own good."

Now a family is only allowed to have one child.

"It wouldn't be good if we had a child."

Tang Yanling did not tell Bang Geng what she had guessed.

Bang Geng thought that Qin Huairu did all this for his own good, and he was quite grateful to Qin Huairu.

"Mom, I know. Thank you."

Qin Huairu was quite unaccustomed to hearing Bang Geng's sudden thank you.

Over the years, Bang Geng has never said thank you to her.

Looking at her sensible son, Qin Huairu shed tears of emotion.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Banggeng asked, puzzled.

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears: "I'm fine, you go and keep Yanling company."

Bang Geng obediently went home.

Qin Huairu's tears still flowed uncontrollably. This time, it wasn't acting; it was real.

She's not young anymore; she should have been thinking about retirement a long time ago.

Unfortunately, her son was disappointing, so she had no choice but to continue working hard.

Now that her son has proven himself, Qin Huairu feels that everything she has done has been worthwhile.

Yi Zhonghai was used to observing Qin Huairu, and when he saw that Qin Huairu was not in a good state, he came out.

"Huai Ru, what's wrong?"

Qin Huairu snapped out of her daze and wiped away her tears: "It's nothing."

Yi Zhonghai, still uneasy, continued to ask, "Don't lie to me."

Why are you crying?

"Are you having some kind of trouble?"

Qin Huairu didn't want to pay attention to such nonsense.

The Jia family's difficulties have always been there, everyone knows it, and Yi Zhonghai is even more aware of it.

But Yi Zhonghai insisted on pretending not to see it and deliberately asked about it.

However, when it comes to future plans, there's no way to surpass Yi Zhonghai.

Qin Huairu decided to first give Yi Zhonghai a heads-up.

"The family matters are there, what's there to say?"

Yi Zhonghai regretted it as soon as he said those words.

He was indeed aware of the Jia family's predicament and feared that Qin Huairu might take the opportunity to make trouble and interrogate him.

Now, there's no solution for my retirement, and I can't find a reliable person to help me.

The money in his possession must be kept as a backup plan; it must not be touched unless absolutely necessary.

Hearing Qin Huairu's words, he could only pretend to be deaf and dumb, as if he didn't understand.

Qin Huairu was furious when he saw Yi Zhonghai pretending to be an ostrich.

Yi Zhonghai does this whenever he encounters a critical issue.

She sometimes doubted herself, wondering how she could have fallen for Yi Zhonghai in the first place.

As shrewd as she is, how could she possibly believe Yi Zhonghai's nonsense?

Where has Yi Zhonghai gone, the one who once so confidently declared that he would take care of everything?

Qin Huairu quickly put these questions aside.

It wasn't that she didn't care; it was just that she had already regretted it.

There's no point in dwelling on these things anymore.

After all, the world doesn't repeat itself.

"I was just happy because Banggeng thanked me."

"Zhonghai, see? I told you Banggeng was a good kid."

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback, then somewhat pleased. If Bang Geng really said thank you, it would have a very different meaning.

History is full of examples of prodigal sons returning home.

He had always hoped that the stick-shaped pheasant would be one of them.

"Are you telling the truth?"

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes at him: "If it's not real, it can't be fake."

Why would I lie to you about this? Bang Geng is such a sensible kid.

"We have hope for the future."

Yi Zhonghai believed he knew Qin Huairu well. Judging from Qin Huairu's expression, she seemed genuine and not lying.

He was truly relieved.

"Great! A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold, and it's a good thing that Banggeng is becoming sensible."

Qin Huairu retorted, "You can't say that. Bang Geng didn't do anything wrong, so how can you call him a prodigal son who has turned over a new leaf?"

"At most, I just didn't get it before, but now I do."

Yi Zhonghai didn't care whether he was a prodigal son returning home or had finally seen the light. All he wanted was a guarantee for his retirement.

He'd be content as long as Banggeng was willing to support him in his old age and take care of the family.

"I'll talk to him. Now that he's starting to understand, I'll teach him properly."

Having worked in a steel rolling mill his entire life, Yi Zhonghai naturally understood the importance of striking while the iron was hot.

He wanted to get the Koreans to accept and agree with his ideas as soon as possible.

Only in this way can he be completely at ease.

Qin Huairu hasn't discussed it with Banggeng yet, and she definitely won't let Yi Zhonghai contact Banggeng.

"Why are you in such a hurry? The young couple is just whispering to each other."

If we disturb them at this time, wouldn't that just create conflict?

I have something to tell you.

Yi Zhonghai immediately became wary.

He fears neither heaven nor earth, but he fears Qin Huairu pulling him aside to whisper secrets.

Whenever Qin Huairu says he has something to do, it's always about borrowing money.

Yi Zhonghai even suspected that Qin Huai had said those things just now to deceive him.

"What are you going to say?"

Qin Huairu said, "I didn't say anything. I just felt..."

We're not getting along with our neighbors properly.

Yi Zhonghai snorted, expressing his attitude.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with his relationship with his neighbors.

On the contrary, he felt he was worrying too much about his neighbors.

The neighbors in the courtyard are short-sighted and never consider the issue of elderly care.

He had considered the neighbors' perspective on this issue.

Qin Huairu could tell at a glance that Yi Zhonghai was dissatisfied, but she still had to speak up.

"I understand your feelings, but others don't. Society has changed; people no longer value neighborly relations."

Yi Zhonghai said with dissatisfaction, "No matter how society changes, the principles will not change."

The saying "A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative" will always hold true.

As neighbors, helping each other is the most basic moral principle.

Qin Huairu quickly pulled Yi Zhonghai home to avoid the people in the courtyard hearing.

Once inside the house, she continued, "I didn't say you were wrong; it's others who have changed."

Look around our courtyard, besides you three old men who still hold onto outdated ideas, who else remembers the old days?

Yi Zhonghai sighed.

Society has changed so much these days.

The biggest change is that it's easier for people to travel around now.

In the past, let alone going abroad, even getting from Beijing to Baoding was not easy.

But now?

He Yuzhu goes abroad frequently. He travels abroad more often than he returns to the courtyard house.

He's an old man, and he can't even catch He Yuzhu if he wants to.

Yi Zhonghai said dejectedly, "What do you want to say?"

Qin Huairu stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "I think we should get along well with the people in the courtyard."

Don't just see other people's faults, but also their strengths.

Take Xu Damao for example.

His character is indeed flawed.

But he can make money.

"Without him, could Lao Liu have made so much money on his own?"

Fearing Yi Zhonghai's rebuttal, Qin Huairu finished speaking in one breath.

Yi Zhonghai's expression turned somewhat grim: "You want me to bow down to Xu Damao?"

Qin Huairu wouldn't be so naive: "That's not what I meant."

You are an elder in the courtyard, how can you bow down to Xu Damao?

I was thinking of having Bang Geng make contact with Da Mao. (End of Chapter)