Courtyard House: After disbanding the Elderly Care Gang, I went to the countryside to cultivate immo

The night passed quickly, and Lin Shengli spent another night cultivating in his cave. He felt that he was about to reach the threshold of the second level of Qi Refining.

Lin Shengli wasn't planning to go out today; he would wait in the courtyard to watch the Jia family's antics.

Around 5 p.m., commotion was heard from the Intermediate People's Court.

Lin Shengli scanned the area with his divine sense and "saw" Qin Huairu returning from outside. Her complexion was not good, and her steps were somewhat unsteady. She pushed open the door of the Jia family's house, and Jia Zhangshi's voice immediately came from inside:

"Huai Ru, why are you back so early today? Oh, you look terrible."

"Mom," Qin Huairu's voice trembled with tears, "Bang Geng, Bang Geng has been arrested..."

"What?!" Jia Zhangshi's voice suddenly rose. "What happened? Explain yourself!"

Qin Huairu slumped into a chair, tears streaming down her face: "This afternoon, the security guards came to the factory to find me. They said that Bang Geng was caught red-handed stealing from the steel mill last night... He was sentenced to a labor camp in Xinjiang for five years."

"Five years?!" Jia Zhangshi's voice trembled. "My eldest grandson... This can't be! There must be a mistake! Banggeng wouldn't steal anything!"

"Caught red-handed, the security guards all said so..." Qin Huairu cried even harder, "Mom, what are we going to do? Banggeng is only seventeen years old, going to such a far place, and he'll be gone for five years..."

Jia Zhangshi also cried, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law embraced and wept bitterly.

The crying alerted the other residents of the courtyard. An older woman came out of her house and walked to the Jia family's door: "Huai Ru, what's wrong?"

"Auntie," Qin Huairu sobbed, "banggeng, banggeng has been arrested and is going to be sent to a labor camp."

The middle-aged woman's expression changed: "What happened? Tell me slowly."

Qin Huairu recounted the story haltingly. After listening, the older woman sighed, "This child, how could she be so insensible... Stealing public property is a serious crime!"

"Auntie, what should we do?" Qin Huairu grabbed the auntie's hand. "Could you ask Uncle to think of something and plead for them? Banggeng is still young and doesn't understand."

"This..." The older woman hesitated. "Huai Ru, it's not that I don't want to help you, but this is a huge deal. Stealing state property, caught red-handed, no one's word can change that."

Suddenly, Jia Zhangshi stood up: "Find Sha Zhu! Sha Zhu knows the factory leaders, let him plead with him!"

"Yes, yes!" Qin Huairu exclaimed as if grasping at a straw. "Find Zhuzi, he'll definitely have a way!"

As she spoke, Qin Huairu was about to leave. An older woman stopped her, saying, "Huairu, don't rush. Shazhu will be back from get off work soon. Let's talk about it when he gets back."

"I can't wait any longer," Qin Huairu said, crying. "I'm going to find him right now!"

"Going to the factory now won't do you any good. Sha Zhu will be back soon. If you go out now, you might miss him on the way," an older woman advised. "Listen to me, just stay home and wait until Sha Zhu gets off work."

After much persuasion, they finally managed to convince Qin Huairu to stop.

The Jia family's crying gradually subsided, but a suffocating atmosphere enveloped the entire courtyard.

Lin Shengli listened to all of this from inside the house, his heart completely unmoved.

Bang Gang is reaping what he sowed; he has no one to blame but himself.

"You reap what you sow." Lin Shengli shook his head and continued preparing dinner.

Sha Zhu was in a bad mood today. The news he received after having dinner with Lin Shengli yesterday shattered his worldview. If he had gone to find Yi Zhonghai this morning and Yi Zhonghai confirmed that he had not withheld any of his and his sister's living expenses, then it might have been Lin Shengli lying. But the result this morning made his heart sink.

Lin Shengli was right about Yi Zhonghai's situation, but what about Qin Huairu's?

As soon as he arrived at the gate, he ran into Qin Huairu, who was anxiously waiting to pick him up.

As soon as she saw Sha Zhu, Qin Huairu grabbed his arm: "Zhu Zi! You're finally back!"

Sha Zhu was startled: "Sister Qin, what's wrong?"

"Zhu Zi, Bang Geng is in trouble!" Qin Huairu's tears flowed again. "He's been arrested and is going to be sent to Xinjiang for five years of labor reform! Zhu Zi, you have to help me! You watched Bang Geng grow up, you can't just stand by and watch him die!"

Shazhu was stunned: "Bang Geng got arrested? What happened?"

Qin Huairu recounted the story again. Sha Zhu frowned upon hearing it: "Stealing from the factory? What era are we living in? This kid's got some nerve!"

"Zhu Zi, this isn't the time to talk about this," Qin Huairu said, crying. "You know some leaders, could you put in a good word for him? Bang Geng is still young and doesn't understand things. Let's give him a chance to change..."

Sha Zhu fell silent. He and Bang Geng had never gotten along well. Ever since the incident where Bang Geng's pants were pulled down, the boy treated him like an enemy. But Qin Huairu was crying and begging him so earnestly, and he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Sister Qin, let's talk about this at my place first," Sha Zhu said. "I have something to ask you."

"As long as you're willing to help, Zhu Zi, thank you so much!" Qin Huairu thanked her repeatedly.

Sha Zhu glanced at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Sister Qin, let's go inside and talk."

The two entered Sha Zhu's house and closed the door.

"Pillar, I'm begging you, please help Bang Geng! You watched him grow up, you can't just stand by and watch him die!"

"Sister Qin, it's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't. Stealing state property, caught red-handed, who dares to plead for them? Who dares to cover it up?"

"You can talk to the big boss! Hasn't he always appreciated you?" Qin Huairu said, crying. "Zhuzi, as long as you're willing to help, I... I'll agree to anything!"

Looking at her tear-streaked face, Sha Zhu felt no pity as he had before. He remembered Lin Shengli's words and Qin Huairu's IUD insertion, and his heart turned cold.

"Sister Qin, there's something I want to ask you," Sha Zhu slowly began, "Did you... get an IUD?"

Qin Huairu's crying stopped abruptly, and her face instantly turned pale.

"Pillar, Pillar, who told you that nonsense? I didn't!"

"Whether you have a child or not, a check-up at the hospital will tell you." Sha Zhu stared into her eyes. "Sister Qin, we've known each other for so many years, tell me the truth: have you never intended to have a child with me?"

Qin Huairu opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

"Even if you don't say it, I already know the answer." Sha Zhu smiled bitterly. "All these years, I always thought you wouldn't register our marriage because of the children and your mother-in-law. Now it seems I was too naive. You never intended to live with me. You just treated me as a long-term meal ticket, a tool to support your family."

"No, Zhu Zi, it's not like that," Qin Huairu hurriedly explained, "I really..."

"Really what?" Sha Zhu interrupted her. "Really like me? Then why did you get an IUD? If you really want to spend your life with me, why won't you have children? Sister Qin, we're not children anymore. Some things are better left unsaid."

Qin Huairu collapsed to the ground, knowing that everything was over.

"Zhu Zi, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong," she cried. "Please forgive me this time. I'll go get the IUD removed right away. Let's get married, have children, and live a good life. Please help me save Bang Geng!"

"It's too late." Sha Zhu shook his head. "Sister Qin, from now on, we'll go our separate ways. I'll just consider the money I lent you before as a sign of my blindness. But from today onwards, I'll collect my own salary. We're even."

"Zhu Zi! You can't be so heartless!" Qin Huairu hugged Sha Zhu's leg. "Bang Geng is still waiting for you to save his life!"

Sha Zhu pried her hands off: "Sister Qin, I'm saying this for the last time, I can't help with Bang Geng's matter. You'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, he opened the door: "Please go back."

Qin Huairu knew there was no point in saying anything more, so she ran out crying.

Lin Shengli heard everything clearly from inside the house. He knew that Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu had truly broken up this time.

"That's good too," Lin Shengli thought. "Although Sha Zhu seems reckless, he's not a bad person at heart. As long as we get rid of Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai's schemes, life should be much better from now on."