Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Back in the house, Lu Banxia quickly poured tea for Wang Feng and Qin Jingru.

"Brother Feng, how's it going? Did you find a good joke?"

Wang Feng took a sip of tea and shook his head: "Didn't find it. Bang Geng might not even be in Beijing anymore."

"These child abductors are despicable. Last night, I heard from the police that in this section of Nanluoguxiang alone, more than a dozen children have gone missing in the past two months. These people deserve to die," Lu Banxia said through gritted teeth.

Qin Jingru nodded emphatically: "These people really deserve to die. Whose child isn't precious? To have them kidnapped like that, how heartbroken must those children's parents be?"

Wang Feng waved his hand and said, "Alright, Jingru, Banxia, ​​these swindlers will be dealt with by someone later. It's getting late, so we won't take a bath tonight. Banxia, ​​have you boiled some water? Wash your feet and go to sleep quickly, you have to go to work tomorrow."

"Yes, I knew you would be back at this time. I already boiled hot water. Brother Feng, Sister Jingru, wait a moment, I'll go get the water for washing your feet."

Lu Banxia agreed and went to the kitchen to fetch water for washing her feet.

......

The Intermediate People's Court, the Jia family.

When Qin Huairu returned to the room, Madam Jia asked, "Qin Huairu, you seem a bit off tonight?"

Qin Huairu glanced at Jia Zhangshi indifferently and calmly asked in return:

"If I can't find the hamster, will crying and making a scene bring it back?"

After saying that, she took two leftover cornbread buns from the previous night and started eating them.

"Why."

"Qin Huairu, what are we going to do now? Banggeng is the lifeblood of our family. If we can't find Banggeng, the Jia family line will end!" Jia Zhangshi sighed.

Qin Huairu continued eating her cornbread without answering Jia Zhangshi's question. She was both hungry and tired. She hadn't eaten anything since last night, hadn't slept all night, and had spent the whole day searching outside. All she had to eat for dinner was a cornbread.

"Qin Huairu, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?" Jia Zhangshi shouted.

No matter how much Jia Zhangshi called out to Qin Huairu, she remained silent. After finishing two cornbread buns, she went to sleep, which made Jia Zhangshi extremely anxious.

The calmer Qin Huairu was, the more frightened Jia Zhangshi became, which was clearly different from her usual personality.

Lying in bed, Qin Huairu said calmly, "Mom, if we can't find a good match within a month, you'd better watch yourself from now on. I'm tired, this family really can't go on like this."

"No, no, Qin Huairu, let me tell you, unless I die, you'll never remarry!" Jia Zhangshi shouted.

"Qin Huairu, don't worry. Banggeng might have gone off to play somewhere and gotten lost. He might be back in a couple of days."

"Qin Huairu? Qin Huairu? I'm talking to you!"

After calling her name a few times, seeing that Qin Huairu didn't say a word, Jia Zhangshi assumed she was asleep, angrily lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over herself, and went to sleep as well.

Not long after Jia Zhangshi fell asleep, Qin Huairu, who was lying on the bed, silently shed tears, which soon soaked her pillowcase. She curled up on the bed, her whole body trembling slightly.

She covered her mouth tightly to stop herself from crying out loud, but the tears flowed like water, unstoppable no matter what she did.

......

The next day, early in the morning.

Qin Huairu got up just as dawn was breaking. She ate a cornbread and opened the door, intending to go to Erdan's house to ask him to help her ask for another day off so she could continue searching for corn stalks.

But as soon as she opened the door, a note fell through the crack. She picked it up, opened it, and exclaimed in surprise:

"A great joke!"

Qin Huairu only had a primary school education and didn't know many characters, but she did recognize the characters "Jia Geng".

Upon hearing Qin Huairu's loud cry, Jia Zhangshi quickly got out of bed and hurriedly asked:

"Qin Huairu, have you found a great story?"

Qin Huairu nodded vigorously: "Mom, when I opened the door just now, a piece of paper fell out from under the door. The paper had the words 'Jia Geng' written on it, and it also said 'one thousand yuan'. I'll go find Uncle San and have him read it to me."

"Come on, I'll go with you."

Madam Jia quickly dressed and ran with Qin Huairu towards the front yard. As soon as they arrived, Qin Huairu shouted towards the Yan family:

"Uncle, Uncle, come out here for a moment, I need to talk to you urgently."

Yan Fugui, who was eating sweet potatoes inside the house, heard Qin Huairu's shout, put down the sweet potatoes, and quickly came out.

"Qin Huairu, what do you want?"

Qin Huairu handed the note to Yan Fugui, excitedly saying, "Third Uncle, can you help me see what's written on this note? I see the words 'Jia Geng' written on it. Someone must have written it for me on purpose. Maybe there's news about Bang Geng."

Upon hearing this, Yan Fugui quickly took the note and read it. But when he saw the contents of the note, he was so shocked that his mouth twitched.

"Uncle, what does it say? Tell me quickly, is there any news about the 'banggeng'?" Qin Huairu asked hurriedly.

Yan Fugui nodded: "There is indeed news about the 'banggeng' (a type of Chinese comedic element). I'll read it to you word for word."

"Yes, Third Uncle, please read it quickly," Qin Huairu said excitedly.

"Cough cough."

Yan Fugui coughed lightly and read aloud:

[If you want to find your son Jia Geng, prepare 1,000 yuan. Don't report it to the police, and don't try anything funny, or your son will definitely die. After you have the money ready, wait for my notification.]

"Thump."

After hearing Yan Fugui finish reading the note, Qin Huairu felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She stood there motionless, completely stunned.

But Madam Jia Zhang was no longer calm. She shouted at the top of her lungs:

"This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous! These damned beasts have tied up my dog, Banggeng!"

Qin Huairu came to her senses and quickly covered Jia Zhangshi's mouth, tears silently streaming down her face.

She solemnly said to Yan Fugui, "Third Uncle, please don't tell anyone about this, and don't report it to the police. I can't let Banggeng take such a big risk."

Yan Fugui nodded emphatically, sighed, and said, "I know, but are you really planning to prepare a thousand yuan to send to this kidnapper?"

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears, covered her mouth, and sobbed, "Waaah, I don't know, I don't know what to do! I don't have that much money, Third Uncle, please help me!"

Yan Fugui thought for a moment and said, "Qin Huairu, according to the contents of this paper, Bang Geng should be out of danger for now. This person's goal is to get money. Here's what we'll do: think of a way to prepare the money first, and then wait for this person's notification. If he asks you to go somewhere in the next couple of days, give him the money, and then we'll decide whether to report it to the police."