Siheyuan: I have a multi-dimensional chat group!

The call was from the general manager of Shiweitian Fast Food Chain.

He called Xiaoshan not only to report the situation to Xiaoshan as usual, but also to ask Xiaoshan for instructions on whether Shiweitian should continue to expand to other inland cities.

After a moment's thought, Xiao Shan suggested that they could first try their luck in major cities in the central and western regions.

If the results are satisfactory, it can be expanded.

Otherwise, I'll stay in the coastal city for now.

After ending the call, Xiao Shan went straight home.

After returning home, Xiao Shan first took his children for a walk outside before returning to his study to sit down and rest.

During breaks, I naturally chat with the people in the group and talk to them about cultivation.

Although Xiaoshan has had many things to do over the years, he has not neglected his cultivation.

Chapter 720: The Third Uncle Gets Scammed, the Second Uncle Suffers a Stroke! (Please Subscribe!)

Time flew by and by the end of 1980, Sony finally couldn't hold on any longer.

Left with no other option, Sony had to sell its shares.

However, Akio Morita did not sell his shares to Xiaoshan, but to Matsushita, who was also his enemy.

Xiao Shan didn't seem to care too much about this.

For Xiao Shan, it would be better to acquire Sony, but if he can't, destroying it is also an option!

After settling matters at Taishan Group, Xiao Shan returned to Beijing with his family to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Back in Beijing, Xiao Shan settled his family in, visited his parents-in-law and his master and mistress, and then prepared to visit his old courtyard alone.

After all, he still has two rooms there!

Returning to the courtyard house, Xiaoshan felt a sense of loss and change.

As soon as he entered the gate, an old man as thin as a monkey came out, looked at Xiao Shan carefully, and exclaimed excitedly, "Are you Xiao Shan?"

"Third Uncle, are you still in good health?" Xiao Shan recognized Yan Bugui at a glance.

However, although Yan Bugui was thin before, he was not this thin.

It's unclear what Yan Bugui went through during that time.

"Sigh, let's just make do. You probably don't know because you don't live in the courtyard anymore, but we were scammed a while ago and now we're all penniless!" Yan Bugui sighed. "Second Aunt couldn't think straight and left, and Second Uncle also had a stroke. Now he walks with a limp. Guangtian and Guangfu have both moved away, and we haven't seen them anywhere. It was our old neighbors in the courtyard who helped raise the medical expenses, otherwise Second Uncle would have gone with Second Aunt too."

"After hoarding money for so many years, I've come to terms with it. Money is just an external thing. You can't take it with you when you die."

Xiao Shan asked with some curiosity, "I remember Second Uncle was trading rebar with Xu Damao, wasn't he? Did he quit?"

Yan Bugui explained, "That happened so many years ago. How could they always have such good fortune? Later, someone reported that Liu Haizhong's apprentice was abusing his power for personal gain, and he was dismissed. They knew the former director of the steel rolling mill, Director Li, who said he could get them television sets, but it turned out to be smuggling, and all the televisions they brought were confiscated. I've invested all my savings in this, Xiaoshan, tell me, why has Uncle San's life been so miserable!"

After listening to Yan Bugui's complaints, Xiao Shan pondered for a moment and then said, "Third Uncle, your location is quite good. You can make a hole in the wall and open a small shop. You can also wholesale some vegetables. Even if you don't get rich, at least you won't have to worry about food and drink in the future. Think about it carefully, isn't that right?"

Yan Bugui and Xiao Shan walked out of the courtyard and looked around. Yan Bugui said, "Xiao Shan, you really have good taste! The courtyards around here are full of people, but there are hardly any shops. We have to go to the market to buy vegetables. Thank you, Uncle San."

"You're too kind. What kind of relationship do we have? There's no need for thanks." Xiao Shan said with a smile. "By the way, Third Uncle, you stay here for a while. I need to go out and buy something to visit Second Uncle. After all, Second Aunt is gone, and Second Uncle is lame. We've been neighbors for many years, so it's only right and proper for me to go and see him."

Yan Bugui said with some emotion, "Xiaoshan, it has to be you, so loyal and righteous! Okay, go ahead, I'll think about opening a window in the wall some more."

Xiao Shan went to the street and bought two cans of malted milk powder and a few pounds of fruit before returning to the courtyard house and going directly to the backyard.

Inside the room, Yan Bugui was chatting with Liu Haizhong.

After entering the house, Xiao Shan said to Liu Haizhong, "Second Uncle, I've come to see you!"

Liu Haizhong was sitting in a chair at this moment. Compared to when he used to beat up fat men, he had lost a lot of weight. His belly was gone, and his face was much thinner.

He gestured six with one hand and seven with the other, and his mouth was a little crooked.

One of his feet was tied by a cerebral thrombosis, so he had to swing his leg while walking.

"Xiaoshan, come in quickly. Uncle San just said Xiaoshan is here. Please sit down, it's been a long time."

Xiao Shan put down his things and said to Liu Haizhong, "Second Uncle, if it weren't for Third Uncle mentioning it, I wouldn't have known you had encountered such a misfortune. How do you know Li Huaide? Logically speaking, you shouldn't have any connection!"

Liu Haizhong sighed and said, "It's all because of greed! Xu Damao was the one who started this. Later, we found out that Li Huaide was also involved, so we wanted to get rid of Xu Damao and cooperate directly with Li Huaide. In the end, everything was confiscated by customs. It's all because of insatiable greed!"

Xiao Shan hadn't expected Xu Damao's involvement, but it was similar to what was described in the original drama: "Second Uncle, what are your plans for the future?"

Liu Haizhong waved his hand and said, "You've seen what I look like now. Those two unfilial sons packed their things and ran away overnight after they found out I looked like this. We can't find them anywhere."

"Second Uncle, did you inform Guangqi after your accident? You were so good to Guangqi back then, he should have taken care of you!" Xiao Shan's words were like a direct hit to Liu Haizhong's throat.

Chapter 721, The Stick Dies After Falling into the Water! (Please Subscribe!)

Liu Haizhong sighed and said, "Guangqi is a bit better than those two unfilial sons. He took care of me at home for two days, but he's settled down in Shicheng. There's an emergency there, so he has to go back. He left me a thousand yuan before he left, telling me to call him if I run out of money!"

After a slight pause, Liu Haizhong said to Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, you can't tell that rebellious son Guang Tian about this."

"Don't worry, Second Uncle, I won't say anything. Guangtian's actions were really underhanded." Xiao Shan hadn't expected Liu Guangtian to be so short-sighted.

Calling them ungrateful wretches wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Xiao Shan took out a hundred yuan from his pocket and handed it to Liu Haizhong, saying, "Second Uncle, here's a hundred yuan. Buy whatever you want to eat. Take it easy; there's no hurdle you can't overcome."

Given Liu Haizhong's condition, Xiao Shan probably won't live for more than a few years!

Unexpectedly, not only is Jia Zhangshi dead, but Yi Zhonghai and his second aunt have also died one after another.

Yan Bugui, on the other hand, is still in good health.

Liu Haizhong took the money from Xiao Shan and said to him, "Xiao Shan, your second uncle won't stand on ceremony with you. You can see my current state. If I keep putting on a show of wealth, I won't survive."

"Second Uncle, why are you being so polite with me? We've been neighbors for so many years," Xiao Shan said with a smile.

Yan Bugui, standing to the side, sighed, "Our generation is passing by one by one. Time really flies! I still remember the scene of the first general meeting of the entire college..."

Just then, a voice came from outside the courtyard: "Excuse me, does the Jia family live in this courtyard?"

Xiao Shan asked with some curiosity, "I didn't expect anyone to still be looking for the Jia family! Should we go out and check the situation?"

“Okay!” Yan Bugui nodded.

Xiao Shan got up and walked out of Liu Haizhong's house, and Yan Bugui helped Liu Haizhong out as well.

At the Intermediate People's Court, two police officers are questioning the Jia family.

"The Jia family is long gone. Qin Huairu remarried, taking Jia Zhangshi with her. Both of her daughters work outside and don't come back even once a year. That's all I know," a resident told the police.

Xiao Shan walked over and asked, "Officer, what happened?"

“Jia Geng escaped from prison. During the chase, he fell into the river and drowned. The prison has notified us, and we have come to the Jia family to deliver the news.” The police officer said to Xiao Shan, “If you know where the Jia family is, please help to notify them to come to the district public security bureau to collect the body.”

Xiaoshan never expected such a turn of events to occur.

Jia Dongxu has no male heirs left, only two daughters.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui never expected to receive such news.

Xiao Shan hesitated for a moment and said, "Qin Huairu isn't doing too well right now. Her remarried husband passed away, and her child has just been weaned. She's also supporting her current mother-in-law. This news is like a bolt from the blue. If she can't handle it, it will completely ruin a family."

The two police officers hadn't expected there to be so much going on: "We should indeed consider Qin Huairu's level of acceptance, but a body can't be kept for a long time. If it weren't for wanting Jia Geng's family to see his body, we would have cremated him directly."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Shan said, "Then I'll go see Qin Huairu tomorrow and tell her. I hope she can handle it!"

Xiao Shan had met Qin Huairu once before, so finding her home wouldn't be difficult.

Besides, Xiao Shan's divine sense can now cover the entire city of Beijing, so finding someone wouldn't be an easy task.

After seeing the two policemen off, Xiao Shan said to Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong, "I never imagined that so many neighbors in the courtyard would die in just a few years. The Jia family line is practically over. Gentlemen, I won't stay any longer. I need to think about how to talk to Qin Huairu about this tomorrow!"

Yan Bugui nodded and said, "You should think about it carefully. Xiaoshan, come visit your old neighbors more often when you have time. We don't have much time left to live; we might be gone any day now."

"Uncle, please don't say that. I hope you all live to be a hundred years old and healthy. I don't want to hear that someone has passed away after not seeing you for a while."

After leaving the courtyard house, Xiao Shan went straight home.

Ding Qiunan, who was playing with the child, walked over and asked, "Looking at you, what happened?"

"Sigh, something happened at the courtyard house, which was beyond my expectations," Xiao Shan sighed.

He then recounted how the Third Uncle and his family were scammed, how the Second Aunt couldn't bear the shock and died, how the Second Uncle suffered a stroke and cerebral thrombosis, and how Bang Geng passed away.

Finally, Xiao Shan looked at Ding Qiunan and said, "I'm currently thinking about how to tell Qin Huairu this news. I hope she can handle it!"

Xiao Shan wasn't particularly saddened by the plight of the people in the courtyard, but he felt a mix of emotions.

For example, if someone you see every day and talk to frequently suddenly dies, that's pretty much how things feel in Xiaoshan right now.

Chapter 722, The Unfortunate Qin Huairu! (Please Subscribe!)

The next morning, Xiao Shan rode his bicycle directly to the place where he had met Qin Huairu before.

Sure enough, I spotted Qin Huairu's pancake stall at a glance.

There were still several people queuing up to buy pancakes at the stall, so business was obviously good.

Xiao Shan did not disturb Qin Huairu.

However, Qin Huairu quickly spotted Xiao Shan: "Xiao Shan's here, are you here to eat your sister-in-law's pancakes?"

Seeing the relaxed smile on Qin Huairu's face, Xiao Shan couldn't bear to say anything.

But we'll find out about this sooner or later; who knows, Xiaoshan might even get blamed later.

So Xiao Shan said to Qin Huairu, "Sister-in-law, you're busy! We'll talk when you're done. I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay, then wait a moment."

Qin Huairu worked quickly and finished making several pancakes in no time.

After tidying up the stall, Qin Huairu said to Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, what's the matter? Tell me!"

Xiao Shan hesitated for a moment, then walked up to Qin Huairu's stall and said to her, "Sister-in-law, you need to be mentally prepared!"

Qin Huairu immediately had a bad feeling, and the smile on her face disappeared: "Tell me, I can handle it."

Xiao Shan organized his thoughts and slowly said, "Yesterday when I returned to the courtyard, I met two policemen. They came to the courtyard to deliver a notice. They said that Bang Geng has passed away and his body is now at the police station. You need to go and claim it."

Qin Huairu felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

The five words Xiao Shan said kept echoing in my mind: "Bang Geng is dead."

Tears streamed down Qin Huairu's face: "Xiaoshan, you're lying to your sister-in-law, aren't you? You came here on purpose to joke with me."

Looking at Qin Huairu, who was gazing at him expectantly, Xiao Shan finally shook his head.

Qin Huairu immediately squatted down and burst into tears, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances she had suffered over the years.

Xiao Shan watched quietly without offering any comfort.

Qin Huairu didn't need comforting at the moment; she just wanted to vent her grievances and resentment by crying.

After crying for more than ten minutes, Qin Huairu finally looked at Xiao Shan and asked, "Xiao Shan, why has your life been so hard? Just when things were starting to look up and we were living a better life, Dongxu passed away. For so many years, I've had to work, take care of three children, and constantly endure Jia Zhangshi's sarcastic remarks. In the end, Jia Zhangshi was so easygoing and died young. Now even the children I raised with so much effort are gone. How am I supposed to live?"

"Sister-in-law, think about your youngest son. He's still so young and needs your care," Xiao Shan comforted her.

Qin Huairu said with lingering fear, "Xiaoshan, I know my youngest son can't live without me, but I'm even more afraid. I'm afraid I'll bring death to my youngest son! Dongxu is dead, my remarried husband is dead, and now even my eldest son is dead. What sins did I commit in my past life that God is punishing me like this? Xiaoshan, what I fear most now is that one day I'll suddenly hear the news that my youngest son is also dead. Then there'll be no point in me living."

Xiao Shan had nothing to say.

Qin Huairu's current situation is remarkably similar to her situation back in the Jia family, except that she doesn't have two daughters; they are essentially the same.

Both mother-in-law and son are supported by their daughters-in-law; perhaps it is this similar situation that makes Qin Huairu so desperate.

"Sister-in-law, look forward and think more positively." However, Xiao Shan had no other choice but to continue comforting Qin Huairu.

"Xiaoshan, thank you for telling your sister-in-law this news. I will bring Banggeng's body back and bury him with his father, and also put Jia Zhangshi's ashes together. The Jia family line has ended, so burying them together will be a way for them to be reunited in the afterlife." Qin Huairu said to Xiaoshan, "Xiaoshan, your sister-in-law is leaving now."

After saying that, Qin Huairu, with her body hunched over, pushed the pancake cart and gradually disappeared from Xiaoshan's sight.

Watching Qin Huairu leave, a customer who had come to buy pancakes looked at Xiao Shan and asked, "Comrade, where's the lady who usually sells pancakes here?"

"Something came up at home, I have to go back now!" Xiao Shan replied before riding his bicycle straight home.

He never expected that Qin Huairu would end up in such a tragic state.

Upon returning home, Xiao Shan found He Yuzhu and his wife visiting him.

After Xiao Shan bought this courtyard, he brought He Yuzhu here, so the couple knew about Xiao Shan's family.