Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

After seeing the gaunt young man off, Guo Da Piezi closed the gate to the courtyard and went to the storeroom again.

At this moment, Bang Geng had fainted because he could not bear the intense pain. However, his brows were deeply furrowed and his lips were trembling, which was a clear sign of extreme shock.

Guo Da Piezi sneered, picked up the whip from the ground, and tied the stick tightly. He then found a piece of rag and gagged the stick.

Then he found some weeds to cover the stem, and after confirming that there was no problem, he left the dilapidated and remote courtyard.

......

10 PM.

No. 28, Nanluoguxiang.

Wang Feng finished his last cup of tea, checked the time, and saw that it was already 10 p.m. He then said to Qin Jingru:

"Jingru, it's almost time. I'll head back now. Wait five minutes before you leave."

"OK."

Wang Feng put down his teacup and said to Lou Xiao'e, "Son, I'll come over for lunch tomorrow."

"Um."

Pushing his bicycle out of courtyard number 28, Wang Feng got on and rode towards courtyard number 95.

In less than three minutes, Wang Feng returned to courtyard number 95. As soon as he entered the front yard, he saw that Yan Fugui and Qin Huairu had already returned, with Jia Zhangshi and seven or eight other residents beside them.

As soon as Wang Feng stepped into the front yard, Qin Huairu saw him and hurriedly ran over to ask:

"Wang Feng, how's it going? Did you find a good story?"

"Sigh, I searched all the way from No. 95 Courtyard to Hongxing Elementary School, and then from Hongxing Elementary School to Dongzhimen, but I just couldn't find a trace of Banggeng."

Wang Feng sighed, lying without batting an eye.

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu plopped down on the ground, tears streaming down her face as if they were free.

"My dear Bang Geng, waaaah! Where did you go? What if something happened to you? How could I live with myself then?!"

Madam Jia Zhang also plopped down on the ground, pounding her thighs with both hands, crying and shouting:

"Old Jia, Dongxu! Our stalks are missing! Come quickly and find them, and take those damned beggars away!"

"Old Jia, Dongxu! Banggeng is our family's lifeline! You must protect us and help us find Banggeng! Nothing can happen to him!"

Just as Jia Zhangshi was performing the soul-summoning ritual, Qin Jingru also returned.

As if grasping at a last straw, Qin Huairu quickly stood up, grabbed Qin Jingru's arm, and hurriedly asked:

"Jingru, have you found a good story yet?"

Seeing Qin Huairu's tear-streaked face, haggard appearance, and on the verge of emotional collapse, Qin Jingru sighed deeply and slowly shook her head, saying:

"Not found."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu completely broke down, plopped down on the ground, and burst into tears.

"Waaaaah, waaaaah, Bang Geng, where are you! Mom can't live without you! Please come back soon, Mom will definitely buy you meat this time!"

Qin Jingru came to Wang Feng's side and sighed inwardly. If Qin Huairu hadn't tried to frame Wang Feng a few days ago, she would have definitely asked him to help her find the sticks. Unfortunately, Qin Huairu was too reckless, and there was nothing she could do.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground and wailed. The people in the courtyard felt sorry for them. After all, a child is a precious treasure to a family. Even if Jia Zhangshi had many faults, the child was innocent.

However, they searched diligently, even running themselves ragged, but they still couldn't find it, and there was nothing they could do.

Yan Fugui sighed and comforted her, "Qin Huairu, don't cry yet. There are still three teams that haven't returned. Maybe they've found the 'sticky rice' (a type of glutinous rice)?"

"Yes, Qin Huairu, there's no use in being anxious now. There are still three teams and the police who haven't returned yet. If you ruin your health, it will be even harder to find Banggeng."

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi were not listening to any advice. They sat on the ground and cried incessantly, especially Qin Huairu, who now harbored intense hatred for Jia Zhangshi.

She worked hard at the factory to earn money to support her family, leaving her child with Jia Zhangshi. But Jia Zhangshi did nothing but eat and sleep all day. Now, she has even lost her child. How could she not hate her?

Some minor things are one thing, but Bang Geng is her life. Without Bang Geng, what's the point of her living?

If her mother-in-law had been more diligent and picked her up and dropped her off at school every day, this wouldn't have happened.

Every few minutes thereafter, a group of people returned to the courtyard. Before 10:30, all three groups of people and the police had returned, but the news they brought back left Qin Huairu in utter despair.

She knelt down step by step before Captain Zhang, the police officer, clutching his sleeve tightly, and broke down in tears, sobbing:

"Waaaaah, waaaaah, officers, please, I beg you, you have to help me find my dog, Bang Geng! If anything happens to him, I don't want to live anymore!"

Captain Zhang helped Qin Huairu up with great effort and said solemnly:

"Comrade Qin Huairu, don't worry, we will do our best to find Jia Geng. You should go back and rest and take care of yourselves. We will go back to the police station and ask the chief to send more people to search. Tomorrow morning, we will go to the road from Hongxing Elementary School to No. 95 Courtyard and ask the shopkeepers on the street. This time we will definitely catch this gang of child predators and find your son Jia Geng."

With that, Captain Zhang looked at the other five police officers: "Xiao Zhang, Lao Chen, let's go."

Soon, six police officers walked out of courtyard number 95.

Seeing this, Yan Fugui sighed and said, "Alright, everyone has to go to work tomorrow, so go back to sleep first and don't let it interfere with tomorrow's work."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard dispersed. They couldn't find it, and there was nothing they could do but rely on the police.

They all have to go to work tomorrow, and they can't let Qin Huairu's family interfere with their important work. Otherwise, their family will be starving, and no one will give them a bite to eat.

Wang Feng, pushing two bicycles—one his own and one belonging to Lu Banxia—also returned to the Intermediate People's Court with Qin Jingru.

After everyone returned to their rooms, Qin Huairu walked back to the Jia family home like a walking corpse, her eyes glazed over. She didn't say a word to Jia Zhangshi the whole way.

If Bang Geng really can't be found this time, she's not sure what crazy things she might do.

Madam Jia lowered her head, seemingly aware that she bore some responsibility, and at this moment, she dared not provoke Qin Huairu.

She was extremely anxious, because Bang Geng was responsible for continuing the Jia family line.

If she couldn't find Banggeng, she was certain that Qin Huairu would remarry, and her life of being waited on hand and foot would be over!