Courtyard House: In times of famine, my hamster became a spirit.

Just as Yan Bugui was about to shout a second time, the door was kicked open.

"Sister Qin! Something terrible has happened!"

Sha Zhu rushed in, his cotton-padded coat soaked with sweat.

Without even glancing at Yan Bugui on the ground, he nearly stomped the wrecked car frame flat and headed straight for the central courtyard.

Qin Huairu had just come out of an old man's house after borrowing noodles, and was still holding half a bowl of cold water in her hand.

Hearing the noise, my hand trembled, and the water spilled completely.

"Pillar? Is it a stick-shaped...?" Her voice trembled as an ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

Sha Zhu gasped for breath before finally managing to squeeze out a sentence:

"Doctor... she's in critical condition! Grandma Zhang has inhaled fecal matter into her lungs; she has a severe infection and is delirious with fever!"

Those around gasped in shock; just imagining it was enough to make them gasp.

"And there's also the stick..." Sha Zhu's eyes darted away, and his voice lowered.

"My leg can't be saved; it's a comminuted fracture, with bone fragments embedded in the flesh. The doctor said that if we don't operate immediately to remove the bone fragments, I'll have to... have it amputated!"

Amputation?

These two words exploded in Qin Huairu's mind.

If Banggeng becomes a cripple, then the Jia family's life will truly be over.

The neighbors couldn't help but whisper among themselves:

"This is karma in this life. Who told him to pretend to be a shaman and cause the chimney to collapse?"

"The Jia family is completely finished this time."

Qin Huairu grabbed Sha Zhu's arm, her nails almost digging into his flesh:

"How much will the surgery cost?"

Sha Zhu, with a bitter face, held up one finger: "The payment counter said that the deposit plus the surgery fee... I need to pay one hundred yuan first."

"One hundred dollars?!"

The crowd immediately erupted in uproar.

In those days, one hundred yuan was an astronomical figure; many families couldn't save that much even after working for half a year.

Yan Bugui stopped crying, adjusted his glasses, and quickly began to calculate:

"One hundred yuan, how much meat can you buy? The Jia family just lost forty-five yuan yesterday, this one hundred yuan... even if you sell her, you can't raise that much."

Qin Huairu felt dizzy; she didn't even have 50 cents in her pocket.

In her despair, a name flashed through her mind: Yi Zhonghai.

That's a level eight worker, earning 99.5 yuan a month. He has no children and has saved at least several thousand yuan!

Moreover, he had always wanted Bang Geng to take care of him in his old age, so he couldn't just stand by and watch him die!

"Grandpa! Help!"

Qin Huairu rushed towards Yi Zhonghai's house like a madwoman and knelt down on the stone steps with a thud.

The sound of knees hitting the ground was terrifying.

"Please open the door! Banggeng is going to be crippled! You're the only one in this yard who can save us!"

She cried and banged her head against the door with all her might, until her forehead was bruised.

This is the ultimate tactic of moral blackmail: putting Yi Zhonghai on the hot seat in front of the entire hospital.

Sha Zhu was so anxious he kept stamping his feet: "Grandpa, why don't you say something at home! This is a matter of life and death!"

Everyone was staring at that vermilion door.

One minute, two minutes passed, and there was no response.

Finally, the door opened.

Yi Zhonghai stood at the door, wearing an old overcoat, his face frighteningly pale.

Overnight, he looked ten years older, and his eye bags drooped even more deeply.

In the past, he would have helped the person immediately and called on everyone to donate money.

But today, when Yi Zhonghai looked at Qin Huairu on the ground, he not only didn't reach out, but instead took a half step back.

"Grandpa..." Qin Huairu tried to grab his trouser leg with hopeful eyes.

"I understand." Yi Zhonghai's voice was hoarse. "I heard Zhu Zi shouting so loudly."

"Then... could you lend me some money? Just a hundred yuan, I'll pay you back even if I have to work like a slave!"

Yi Zhonghai's eyelids twitched violently. One hundred yuan?

He was dismissed from his post yesterday and was slapped in the face by Director Wang in public. Now he is being pointed at and talked about in the factory.

In his eyes, the Jia family now is a bottomless pit that can never be filled.

Investing in retirement?

This is a losing proposition that won't even cover the cost of generating buzz!

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, his gaze turning incredibly cold and hard:

"Huai Ru, it's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't afford to."

"Yesterday, in order to appease my neighbors, I took the lead in paying the fine, which emptied my savings."

"Besides, the neighborhood committee stopped my management allowance, and I'm really strapped for cash right now."

Qin Huairu was stunned; she hadn't expected Yi Zhonghai to refuse so decisively.

"How could you not have money?" Qin Huairu's voice shrilly. "You're a level eight worker! Are you just going to stand by and watch someone die?"

Yi Zhonghai frowned, his heart filled with disgust.

It's true what they say: a little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment; giving less than once can turn someone into an enemy.

"How much money I have is my business!" Yi Zhonghai's tone turned cold. "That's my retirement savings! I'm a Jia, not Yi! What kind of logic is it to cling to me when you can't afford medical treatment?"

With her veil of modesty torn away in public, Qin Huairu no longer cared about saving face.

She grabbed Yi Zhonghai's leg and whispered a threat:

"Grandpa, have you forgotten what you promised Dongxu? You said Banggeng would be your grandson."

"You also said that there are some things our two families have to keep to ourselves! If I can't go on living, then those words won't be kept!"

Yi Zhonghai's mind went blank. This Qin Huairu was no innocent flower; she was clearly a venomous snake!

He knew very well that if he gave them this hundred today, the Jia family would drain him dry.

Since you're determined to fight to the death, don't blame me for cutting off my own arm to save myself!

"Let go!"

Yi Zhonghai roared and swung his leg.

Qin Huairu was already weak, and she was thrown out and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Qin Huairu! Stop arguing with me!"

Yi Zhonghai pointed at the woman on the ground, his voice resounding throughout the courtyard, radiating righteous indignation:

"I only helped you out of respect for Dongxu, but that doesn't mean I owe your family anything!"

He glanced around at his neighbors, his words ringing with conviction:

"Director Wang was right yesterday. Jia Zhangshi's practice of feudal superstition and her sabotage are illegal and demonstrate a problem with her ideology!"

"As a veteran member of the Communist Party, I, Yi Zhonghai, must draw a clear line between myself and these bad elements!"

"The mother-in-law got what she deserved by falling into the cesspool, and the son broke his leg because of his many misdeeds! Why should everyone else suffer along with her?"

"Everyone must be responsible for their own actions! I won't pay a single cent of this money, and you can forget about getting another penny out of me!"

Everyone was stunned. No one expected that this old man, who usually talked about benevolence and morality, could be so heartless.

Liu Haizhong forgot to pick up his teacup, and Yan Bugui even stopped using his abacus.

On the backyard steps, Zhou Jianguo clapped softly.

Yi Zhonghai slammed the door shut and locked it with a bolt.

This loud noise completely shattered Qin Huairu's last hope.

She collapsed to the ground, staring at the tightly closed door, and gave a bitter laugh.

When it comes to personal gain, promises and sentiments are all worthless.

The way her neighbors looked at her changed; they all avoided her gaze.

Qin Huairu wiped away her tears, a ruthless glint appearing deep in her eyes.

Since none of you are human, then I have no reason to be a ghost either.

Her gaze finally landed on Sha Zhu, who was rubbing the corner of his clothes.

This is the only blood bag left in the entire hospital.

We must completely shut him down, even if it means draining his blood dry, we must still support the Jia family!

Qin Huairu put on a heartbreakingly fragile yet strong demeanor.

She struggled to her feet, and instead of begging Yi Zhonghai again, she walked towards Sha Zhu.

"Pillar." The voice was hoarse, with a captivating charm.

"I need your help. Carry me to the hospital. Even if it means selling my blood, I have to save Banggeng."

In an instant, Sha Zhu's blood boiled with rage: "Sister Qin! What nonsense are you talking about! As long as I, He Yuzhu, have something to eat, I can't just watch you starve to death! Come on, I'll go with you! I'll figure out how to get the money!"

Looking at Sha Zhu's heroic and spirited demeanor, Qin Huairu lowered her head, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her lips.

Zhou Jianguo, standing some distance away, shook his head, pushed open the door, and went back inside. The system's crisp notification sound rang out:

[Ding! Detected that Yi Zhonghai's public image has completely collapsed, and his relationships with his associates have broken down.]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a critical hit reward...]