I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

Pushing open the door to the deaf old woman's room, I was met by Qin Huairu, who looked anxious.

"Sir, what should I do? How could Factory Director Liu have fallen from power? It shouldn't have happened!"

Yi Zhonghai's face was gloomy; he couldn't understand it either.

He had finally managed to get in touch with Factory Director Liu and gained his approval through his skills. To get Factory Director Liu's help in rescuing his apprentice Jia Dongxu, he even tricked Qin Huairu into going to Factory Director Liu's office alone. But to his bewilderment, Qin Huairu came out shortly after going in and even became a warehouse manager.

Yi Zhonghai looked at Qin Huairu and said, "Huairu, tell me, what exactly happened in Director Liu's office that day?"

Qin Huairu hurriedly explained, "Uncle, really nothing happened! After I went in, Factory Director Liu asked if I was the wife of Yi Zhonghai's apprentice, and I said yes. He asked if I had any difficulties, and I said it's too tiring for a woman to be a fitter, and I can't take care of my children at home. So Factory Director Liu sent me to the warehouse. Master, I didn't tell a single lie!"

Yi Zhonghai pondered for a long time, still unable to understand, and then asked, "Huai Ru, do you know why Dongxu and Jia Zhangshi's sentences were extended?"

Qin Huairu quickly feigned innocence: "Master, I don't know either! I went to the police station to ask, and they said it's confidential information and can't be spread."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said helplessly, "I also went to the police station to ask, and that's what they told me too. I suspect Zhou Weiguo is behind this."

Qin Huairu immediately chimed in, "I think so too, Master!"

Helpless, Yi Zhonghai turned to look at the bewildered old deaf woman.

He picked up a metal can that was wider at one end than the other, pointed the smaller end at the deaf old woman's left ear, and raised his voice, asking, "Grandma, do you think there's any way to save Dongxu now? And... do you have any way to deal with that Zhou Weiguo?"

This canister is a sound amplifier specially made by Yi Zhonghai in the workshop. Only in this way can the deaf old lady hear normal speech clearly. Otherwise, communication would have to rely on shouting, which is really inconvenient.

The deaf old woman nodded helplessly and said, "Xiao Yi, Jia Dongxu is in jail, his reputation is ruined. Even if he's rescued, do you really expect him to take care of you in your old age?"

Yi Zhonghai sighed and said helplessly, "Grandma, I have no other choice. Now, besides Dongxu, I really have no other hope. Zhuzi has been completely led astray by Zhou Weiguo; he's unreliable. Grandma, could you perhaps use your connections again? You were able to get yourself and Huairu out of trouble before; rescuing Dongxu shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's expression changed drastically. She quickly looked down at the ground, her face filled with fear.

The deaf old woman sighed, "Oh, Xiao Yi, favors are the most fragile thing. Last time, they used their connections in the district to get me and Huai Ru released. It hasn't even been a few days, and if we go to ask them for help again, not to mention whether they'll help us or not, our favors will be completely used up."

Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to say something more, "bang bang bang," the knocking on the door sounded again.

An older woman came in carrying a plate and a bowl, and said in a somewhat indifferent tone, "Grandma, here are your scrambled eggs and steamed buns."

An older woman placed the bowl on the table, lifted the lid, and the aroma of scrambled eggs immediately filled the air.

The deaf old woman closed her eyes, savoring the fragrance.

But something seemed off about the older woman. She seemed to be desperately holding back something. Her chest heaved violently twice, and she couldn't hold it in any longer. She ran outside and started dry heaving.

Yi Zhonghai glanced impatiently at the door, took two steps, and said with a look of disgust, "What's going on now? You throw up every time I ask you to cook. Go ahead and throw up! If you can't, go to the hospital!"

The middle-aged woman outside the door changed her expression, leaned against the wall, and said in a hoarse voice, "Old Yi, I'm fine, I just had an upset stomach recently."

Although the deaf old woman couldn't hear what they were saying, she could see Zhang Cuilan's appearance clearly.

Zhang Cuilan has rarely come to her place lately. When she brings food, she just drops it off and leaves without saying a word.

At first, the deaf old woman thought it was because she was hard of hearing, and Zhang Cuilan didn't want to speak loudly. But seeing the situation today, her eyes widened and she turned to look at Qin Huairu, who was equally shocked.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.

Just then, Xu Damao leisurely rode his bicycle to the backyard.

Just as I was about to push open my own door, I saw an older woman leaning against the wall, taking deep breaths.

Xu Damao asked curiously, "Hey, ma'am, what's wrong? Why are you leaning against the wall? Did you eat too much and can't walk?"

Zhang Cuilan instinctively wanted to retort, but as soon as she opened her mouth, a wave of nausea hit her, followed by a series of dry heaving sounds.

At this point, the deaf old woman and Qin Huairu could no longer sit still and hurriedly went to the door to check on the old woman's situation.

Xu Damao said with a puzzled look, "Auntie, you're just dry heaving without vomiting, it doesn't seem like you have an upset stomach. Your reaction is a bit like Er Ya from next door, I heard she's pregnant and has a terrible reaction, she's vomiting so much..." He was halfway through his sentence when he saw the deaf old woman coming out of her house staring intently at him. He quickly ducked back into the house, slammed the door shut, and then peeked out from the doorway.

When Yi Zhonghai heard the word "pregnant," he was completely stunned.

He looked at Zhang Cuilan, then down at his lower body, and then back at Zhang Cuilan. All the unusual things his wife had been doing lately came to mind.

"Comrade Yi Zhonghai, given your physical condition, the chances of conceiving naturally are relatively low, but you can try more often; who knows, you might succeed?" The doctor's words resurfaced from the depths of his memory.

Thinking back carefully, it seems that more than two months ago, I was drinking every night for a period of time. Could it have been those few days...?

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai trembled with excitement.

He walked shakily to the older woman, his face full of expectation, and asked, "Cui... Cuilan, are you... are you pregnant?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuilan's face turned deathly pale.

Yi Zhonghai was extremely anxious: "Cuilan, don't scare me! Tell me quickly, I'm so worried! Tell me, are you pregnant? Are we going to have a baby? Cuilan, is it?"

Zhang Cuilan's face flushed red and then turned pale. After a long while, she nodded helplessly: "I guess so. I haven't had my period for more than two months, but I'm not sure."

This news came like a bolt from the blue.

Qin Huairu looked shocked, the deaf old woman looked puzzled, and Xu Damao squatted in the house, watching with a gossipy expression.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai trembled uncontrollably, as if all his strength had left him. He stumbled back a few steps and collapsed to the ground with a thud. He buried his face in his trousers and burst into tears, sobbing loudly, "Waaaaah..."

P.S.: Please urge me to update more and give me good reviews. Thank you!