The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

Someone else shouted, "Qin Huairu also brought her child to our house around mealtime."

Some people said, "My family went there too, and it made us go hungry for a meal."

It seems she did it on purpose.

Some people said, "If that's the case, it's not unjust to be beaten, since no family has a surplus of grain."

Making your child act pitiful will cause others to go hungry.

This is killing for food.

Seeing that his wife had completely lost face, Jia Dongxu quickly bowed and apologized to everyone.

Qin Huairu's face also looked very unpleasant.

But the hatred in her heart sustained her.

She knew that even if she cheated out some food, the worst that could happen was that her character would be damaged.

Although no serious consequences resulted, it was wrong of Yang Dalin to hit someone.

Yang Dalin pulled back Qi Xiaoning, who was about to engage in a full-blown fight with Qin Huairu.

He said, "That time, when you were beaten, I hadn't even gotten home yet; I was still on my way home. I even bought some eggs on the way."

My family can't testify about this, but Teacher Yan should remember, right?

Old Yan adjusted his glasses: "I remember that. You even bought their basket back then."

Deputy Director Zhang asked, "Comrade Dalin, do you remember where you bought the eggs? Do you recall the person who sold them to you?"

Yang Dalin said, "I remember where I bought them. The woman who sold the eggs was an old lady, probably from a rural area outside the city. She said she often came to sell eggs. I don't remember what she looked like very clearly, but I could recognize her when we met."

Deputy Director Zhang said, "Okay, we will investigate afterwards and compare the times."

Comrade Qin Huairu, please continue. There are two more times remaining.

Qin Huairu then recounted the remaining two incidents, and for the last time, she even wanted to get the woman in the backyard to testify for her.

But the woman said, "Yes, Qin Huairu did speak to me that night."

She said that Qi Jia was wasting food, and that it was a waste to let the two girls eat more food to practice martial arts.

She also said how wonderful it would be if the Qi family donated their surplus grain to the families in the courtyard who had less grain.

She thought I hadn't understood what she meant; the implication was that it was for her family.

They thought I was really stupid.

I couldn't understand her voice.

Later, when I got home, I thought, what's wrong with people giving their own children more of their own food?

What business is it of hers? Anyway, I never spoke to her again after that.

This woman not only told the truth, but also turned the tables, exposing Qin Huairu's dark thoughts to the public.

She definitely wouldn't drag herself into this.

The man next to her also told her, "Don't talk to Qin Huairu anymore."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd once again began to condemn Qin Huairu.

There were still some people in the courtyard who were quite capable, managing to beg for some good food to nourish the children and the elderly.

Are we going to take it all out and distribute it to everyone?

That's nonsense.

Most of the rural communal meals were stopped at the beginning of this year, and the rest are practically defunct. Do you still want to bring back the communal meals in the city?

What a pipe dream!

Yang Dalin also recounted the two times he went out of his house and the people in the courtyard he encountered. In short, there were witnesses when Qin Huairu was beaten and when he went out.

Yang Dalin did not ask Aunt Qi to testify, and several witnesses also testified that they saw Yang Dalin coming out of his house when they went out.

They didn't come back from outside.

Qin Huairu was completely flustered. She was just guessing, while Yang Dalin had witnesses several times. Qin Huairu swayed and almost collapsed, and Jia Dongxu quickly supported her.

Deputy Director Zhang also said: "The matter is basically clear. Qin Huairu was beaten by someone else, and it has nothing to do with Comrade Yang Dalin."

According to Comrade Qin Huairu, there may be others retaliating against you over the food issue.

I will not comment on your character, but we will continue to investigate the matter of you being beaten.

However, I warn you, Qin Huairu, without any other solid evidence or witnesses, I hope you will stop slandering Comrade Yang Dalin.

Otherwise, we have every right to arrest you for false accusation.

Qin Huairu completely collapsed; she was faking it.

I have no choice but to pretend to be unconscious, or everyone will be against me.

I had no choice but to pretend to be dizzy.

Yi Zhonghai's wife, Wen Xiumei, also came to lend a hand.

Deputy Director Zhang also asked, "Do you need help getting him to the hospital?"

Jia Dongxu felt Qin Huairu tickle his palm, but he hadn't reacted yet.

Wen Xiumei, holding Qin Huairu's other hand, felt it and quickly said, "No need, Leader Zhang, Huairu probably fainted from hunger because she didn't eat dinner last night."

I'll take her back and feed her.

Please don't be too angry, everyone. Huai Ru's family is facing great difficulties, and she's doing it all for the sake of the children. Let's all be more understanding.

After saying that, Wen Xiumei asked Jia Dongxu to carry Qin Huairu on his back, and she supported her from behind as she took Qin Huairu home.

Although Wen Xiumei said a few kind words to Qin Huairu at the end, it was clear that no one gave the Jia family much face.

I fainted from hunger. Who hasn't fainted from hunger in this day and age?

Maybe Qin Huairu was just faking it.

Her family was on a ration, and they weren't registered as rural residents, so it was true that they weren't getting enough to eat, but they weren't starving to death.

They just want to avoid giving anything in return, always hoping to get better food from other people.

Now everyone can see Qin Huairu completely.

Furthermore, Qin Huairu had used this tactic quite a few times in the courtyard before, but no one had expected it before. Today, everyone has finally seen it clearly.

In other words, Qin Huairu's image has completely collapsed this time, and it will be difficult for her to get free meals and drinks again.

Seeing that things had come to this point, Yi Zhonghai also wanted to save face for his apprentice.

However, since Zhang Zhiwu hadn't left yet, he didn't rush to step forward.

Deputy Director Zhang had a vague feeling that this might really be something Yang Dalin had done.

However, Qin Huairu's scheming for other people's grain meant that, to be honest, she deserved to be beaten.

He even arrested a criminal who had died over a small amount of food.

However, without evidence, Lao Zhang would neither arrest people arbitrarily nor make unfounded accusations.

Before leaving, he quietly said, "Brother, I'm going now. Contact me if you need anything."

Yang Dalin politely saw Zhang Zhiwu to the door.

When Yang Dalin returned and saw that the crowd had not yet dispersed, he was just about to go home.

Yi Zhonghai said, "Dalinzi and so on."

Everyone wait a minute. Let's clarify this. Since it wasn't Da Linzi who did it.

I hope everyone will refrain from spreading rumors outside.

Huai Ru is only trying to feed her child, so please be understanding.

Don't take it too hard on her.

I guess he grew up in the countryside and was terrified of hunger.

I hope everyone can understand, and please don't say anything carelessly after you leave the house.

However, hitting someone is never right.

I don't know who this thug who assaulted me is. I hope you stop soon. If you get caught next time, you might be sent to the far northwest to dig sand.

I hope you won't make a mistake.

Okay, that's all I have to say. Everyone, you can all go now.

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai's words were pointed, Yang Dalin quickly said, "Everyone, please wait a moment."

Let me say this: our compound is a great community, and everyone is a good neighbor.

If any family is truly in trouble and can't even afford to eat, they can ask Grandpa Yi and Grandpa Liu for help. If that doesn't work, they can ask the younger generation, like Brother Zhu, Brother Da Mao, or even me.

One person may not be able to help much, but we can all work together to think of solutions and help you get through this difficult time.

Don't be like some people who only learn unorthodox methods and try to scheme for other people's meager food supplies.

It harms others and oneself, and also corrupts the children in the yard.

If you're really in trouble, just say so openly. We're all good neighbors in the same courtyard; we're not going to let you starve.

But if your family isn't struggling financially, yet you're trying to get better food and scheme against others, then don't blame others for taking advantage of you.

Yang Dalin's words made a lot of sense, and everyone agreed with them. This made Yi Zhonghai feel a little uncomfortable, but he couldn't say anything. He was extremely upset.