Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

"They're fine now. We've already performed gastric lavage and induced vomiting on them. They'll be transferred to a ward for IV fluids soon."

"However, your mother and that boy are in serious condition and need to stay in the hospital for two days. Go downstairs and pay the medical bills in a bit."

Yi Zhonghai chimed in.

"Doctor, what exactly happened?"

Not only Yi Zhonghai was waiting for an answer, but Qin Huairu, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui were also waiting for an answer.

The statements made by Cao Xu, He Daqing, and others are merely inferences; the doctor's answer is the only one that is based on sound reasoning and evidence.

the doctor explained.

“We examined the patients and also tested their vomit.”

"It is now confirmed that they suffered food poisoning from eating the contaminated pork."

Although there had been suspicions, everyone still sighed when the doctor confirmed it.

At this moment, all four members of the Jia family were wheeled out of the operating room, and the doctor gave instructions to the nurse standing nearby.

"Get the IV drips on for them first, and remember to give these two girls some vitamin C."

The nurse left as instructed, and the doctor then gave Qin Huairu some further instructions.

"Your elderly lady and little boy are incontinent because they are unconscious."

"Take your family's clothes back to wash later, and then bring them clean clothes."

After speaking, the doctor left the payment slip and went into the ward. Qin Huairu looked at the payment slip which said 35.7 yuan and her mind went blank.

Good heavens, a single meal of dumplings cost me a month's salary! What a huge loss!

Seeing Qin Huairu's appearance, Liu Haizhong knew that she must not have brought any money, or rather, she didn't want to pay for it herself.

He turned around, ready to find an excuse to leave, but he was too late. Qin Huairu's tears were already hanging on her somewhat pale face.

"Gentlemen, could you please lend me some money? I was in a hurry and didn't bring any cash with me."

Yan Bugui is a man who doesn't mince words; he speaks his mind directly.

"Qin Huairu, did you not bring any money, or is your family short of money?"

Qin Huairu looked at the three of them with teary eyes and cupped her hands in greeting.

"Gentlemen, this is a matter of life and death, please help us!"

"I will pay you back as soon as possible, please."

The Jia family was a bottomless pit, especially after He Daqing gave them a breakdown of their finances in front of the whole courtyard that morning, they were even more hesitant to lend them money.

They act like a grandson when borrowing money, but when it's time to ask for it back, they act like a king, and whether or not they pay it back depends entirely on their mood.

They wouldn't do something like throwing meat buns at a dog—it's a one-way street, and they'd never get them back.

Liu Haizhong was the first to step forward and speak.

"Cao Xu is still waiting for my news. I have to go back and report first. This food poisoning is no small matter."

After saying that, Liu Haizhong fled the scene before anyone could react, not wanting to be taken advantage of.

Seeing that his second brother had rebelled and left the scene, Yan Bugui, as the third brother, naturally felt he should follow him.

Seeing that Liu Haizhong had escaped, Qin Huairu blocked Yan Bugui's path.

"Uncle, you are the kindest of all. Please help our family. We will never forget your great kindness."

Yan Bugui thought to himself, "What does it have to do with me whether you forget me or not? I don't need you to remember my kindness. Even if you do remember, it won't put food on the table."

"Ah, Qin Huairu, it's not that Third Uncle is unwilling to help you, it's just that I'm willing but unable to."

“Our family’s money is all planned out, and every penny has a source. We really can’t spare any extra money.”

“If I lend it to you, my whole family will go hungry.”

"Oh, right, there's an old man here. Last time you donated, he was willing to lend you two hundred. Why don't you borrow from him?"

After saying that, Yan Bugui left without even saying goodbye, leaving only Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai behind.

“You don’t need to look at me. After what happened last time, your aunt has already taken over the family’s finances. I have to ask her for money every time I want to spend it.”

"You should still have the money I gave you last time, don't be stingy, saving lives is the priority."

After saying this, Yi Zhonghai left the hospital.

In just a short while, all three of them left, leaving Qin Huairu alone in the corridor.

Thinking of Jia Zhangshi, who had just woken up from a coma in the ward, and then thinking of her children lying on the hospital bed.

After cleaning up the clothes stained with yellow and white substances, Qin Huairu returned to the courtyard house and went straight to the Jia family home.

She found the box where Jia Zhangshi kept her money, opened it, took out fifty yuan, and put the box back.

Thinking about the amount of money she had just received, Qin Huairu sighed, realizing that her mother-in-law had really saved quite a bit.

Now, the money box still holds at least five hundred yuan, including all the bills, making her mother-in-law quite wealthy in this compound.

..................................................................

Upon receiving the news, Cao Xu immediately led the security personnel to surround the East Street Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

After Cao Xu entered the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhao Dong asked the sales clerk directly.

Is your director here?

The sales clerk behind the counter said indifferently.

"What's the matter with you?"

Cao Xu said.

"Are you selling the discounted pork?"

The salesperson nodded.

"Don't even mention the special price, the regular price items are all sold out. If you want to buy, come earlier next time."

Cao Xu frowned slightly. Since the discounted meat was gone, they couldn't catch the person red-handed, so they could only take the person back for questioning.

"Bring your director out."

The salesperson looked up and said.

"Comrade, just say what you need to say. Our director is busy."

Zhao Dong stepped forward and said coldly.

"Can a supply and marketing cooperative director be busier than our section chief?"

As he spoke, Zhao Dong showed his work ID.

“We are from the security department of the steel rolling mill. This is our section chief, Cao. Call your director out. We need to ask him some questions.”

This salesperson was a long-time employee of the supply and marketing cooperative, so he naturally knew that the East Street Supply and Marketing Cooperative had been transferred to the management of the steel rolling mill.

The security department of the steel rolling mill is half a rank higher than other departments, and the head of the security department is at the same level as the deputy factory director.

The director of the supply and marketing cooperative is at the same level as the section chief of the logistics department, but is indeed half a level lower than the section chief of the security department.

Therefore, it doesn't matter whether the Section Chief Cao in front of us is the head or the deputy.

Those are all at the same level as their director; he, a mere salesperson, can't afford to offend them.

The salesperson, aware of this, immediately put on a smiling face.

"Section Chief Cao, please wait a moment, I'll call our director out right now."

Cao Xu said.

"No need to shout, just lead us there."

Upon hearing this, the sales clerk hesitated for a moment, and Cao Xu asked when he saw this.

"What, is there a problem?"

The salesperson shook his head.

"No problem, I'll take you there right now."

With the sales clerk leading the way, Cao Xu, Zhao Dong, and the two team members who followed them in entered the office of the director of the East Street Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

"Director, someone is looking for you."

The man sitting in the office with his back to the door spoke.

"Remember to knock next time."

"Tell me, who's looking for me?"

Cao Xu looked calmly at the man sitting in the chair with his back to him, who was sitting with his back turned.

"Director Liu, you really have a bad memory. We just met at noon, have you forgotten so quickly?"

As soon as Cao Xu finished speaking, the man turned around and was so startled to see Cao Xu appear in his office that he dropped the egg he was using to apply to his face.

"What...what are you doing here!"

Cao Xu looked at the guy he had beaten up at noon and laughed.