Chapter 45: Bang Geng Turns Over a New Leaf

"Oh, damn it, you scared the hell out of me." He Yuzhu patted his chest and scratched his head in embarrassment as he looked at the accusatory gazes of Zhang Hao and the others.

He couldn't be entirely blamed for this; the main thing was that the incident happened suddenly, and everyone was screaming and running outside, so he naturally followed them out.

"Check it," Zhang Hao said to the two police officers once everyone had calmed down, though he himself stood where he was without moving.

The window was opened, and the two police officers began a careful inspection.

"Chief Zhang, judging by the livor mortis, they have been dead for quite a while. It's fortunate the weather is cold, otherwise they would have started to rot," one of the police officers said after a careful check, looking up.

Bang Geng stood outside the door, hugging his two crying younger sisters, also sobbing uncontrollably; they still didn't know about what happened to Qin Huairu.

The inspection naturally could not be hidden from the people in the courtyard, who leaned in from a distance and whispered among themselves.

Xu Damao, having changed his clothes, also quietly walked over and poked his head in to look, but before he could see clearly, he was kicked inside by He Yuzhu.

Xu Damao tumbled onto the floor inside, coming face-to-face with Jia Zhangshi...

"Awoo!"

"Pfft." A thin layer of yellow liquid sprayed out from behind Xu Damao. Xu Damao opened his mouth wide, eyes bulging, and ran out howling while clutching his buttocks, tears of fright streaming down his face.

He Yuzhu grinned; serve you right for being so nosy. Haven't you heard the old saying?

Curiosity killed the Mao, and this "Mao" refers to Xu Damao.

"One of you stand guard, the other go back and call for people. And you, He Yuzhu, take those three little ones to your room," Zhang Hao said to He Yuzhu after looking at the three crying children.

"Should we call the First Elder and Third Elder of our courtyard? They are the ones who call the shots here," He Yuzhu thought for a moment and asked.

"That works too. Let's go."

"First Elder, Third Elder, I'm sorry to trouble you," He Yuzhu called out loudly to the two elders standing in the distance.

"Oh, alright, alright." The Third Elder adjusted his glasses and nodded hurriedly.

The First Elder, the Third Elder, Bang Geng, Xiao Dang, Huai Hua, and He Yuzhu arrived at He Yuzhu's room together and sat down one by one. He Yuzhu served everyone tea, and only after receiving Zhang Hao's consent did he begin to slowly recount what had happened to Qin Huairu.

No embellishment, no processing; he just stated it straight out.

The three children were family and naturally had the right to know, but they were too young. Xiao Dang and Huai Hua couldn't understand, but Bang Geng was old enough, and having experienced the Juvenile Detention Center, he could naturally understand.

The First Elder and Third Elder were also shocked speechless, their minds in a state of chaos.

He Yuzhu touched the trembling, tear-streaked Bang Geng and said, "Everything your mother did was for you! She endured so much; you cannot hate her, and even less can you resent her. You are grown up now; you must act like a man and take good care of your sisters. This is your house deed; your mother gave it to me, and I am returning it to you."

He Yuzhu was somewhat worried that this little White-eyed Wolf, Bang Geng, wouldn't be able to process it and would resent Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu had done enough for Bang Geng.

Who would have thought that Bang Geng would wipe away his tears, nod, and respectfully kneel down to kowtow to He Yuzhu, saying, "Zhuzi Shu, I understand. I understand everything. It was my fault, I was wrong, boo-hoo."

Seeing Bang Geng, who was filled with remorse and had suddenly turned over a new leaf—something that left He Yuzhu a bit confused—He Yuzhu nodded.

"Good. A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold. From now on, be good, act like a man, and like your hair, start over from the beginning. Be a good person and take care of your sisters. I wasn't much older than you when my dad passed away, and didn't I manage to get by with my sister?"

Zhang Hao checked the time, said goodbye to the group, and left the room.

"First Elder, Third Elder, I'll have to rely on you to look after Jia Geng from now on. As for the matter of Qin Huairu, let's keep it a secret. Don't let it spread; it won't be good for the children."

The First Elder nodded and said, "Rest assured. I have no children of my own, so they will be my own children from now on. No one else needs to help."

The Third Elder was stunned. He stopped calculating and, patting Bang Geng's head, said, "That won't do. We're all in the same courtyard; I can't just watch and do nothing. I have to help out somehow."

"Alright, First Elder, you keep the house deed safe for Jia Geng." He Yuzhu hurriedly handed over the deed. He no longer wanted to deal with the affairs of this Siheyuan. Regardless of how much it would be worth in the future, for the next ten years, survival was the priority; he could already feel the serious atmosphere of the cold wind that was about to arrive.

How could money not be earned?

"No, Zhuzi Shu." To his surprise, Jia Geng raised his head, shook it, and said seriously, "My mother said if the deed was given to you, then it's yours. I don't want it. I only ask that you let me and my sisters stay with Aunt Yushui for the time being."

Before He Yuzhu could speak, the First Elder nodded, very satisfied, and made the final decision for Bang Geng: "That settles it. No need to stay with Yushui; stay with me. It just so happens that I haven't enjoyed the happiness of a house full of children in my half-life. Haha."

Saying this, the First Elder pulled Bang Geng up, then picked up Xiao Dang and Huai Hua, and walked out.

The Third Elder scratched his head and said to He Yuzhu, "Heh, good fellow, you've taken all the good deeds. Let me calculate..."

"Enough, enough, enough! You calculate everything; go home and calculate there." He Yuzhu waved his hand irritably; he couldn't listen to this.

The Third Elder stood up speechlessly. Fine, all that effort for nothing.

The following days were much more peaceful. He Yuzhu took advantage of the time before the storm arrived to visit the Big Leader's home.

Looking at the smiling Big Leader, He Yuzhu suppressed the urge to warn him and cooked him a sumptuous lunch.

"Zhuzi, you kid have something on your mind," the Big Leader said, looking up while they played Go after the meal.

"Hehe, you have a sharp eye. It's my turn, right? I'll play here."

"Are you sure? Once a piece is placed, there's no taking it back. Your dragon is gone." The Big Leader laughed and placed his piece down.

"Mm, you win." He Yuzhu threw his piece onto the board and conceded.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"Alright."

He Yuzhu told the story of Qin Huairu exactly as it was, including Jia Geng, Xu Damao, Li Huaide, and so on, without the slightest embellishment.

The Big Leader slammed the table in anger, cursed "bastard," and then gave He Yuzhu a warning.

"You must look after those three children of hers well, especially that Bang Geng. Don't let him go astray again. Some people aren't bad; it's just that before they can distinguish right from wrong, the paths available to them are limited. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Big Leader."

"Alright, if you need help, tell me. If there's nothing else, don't come here often in the future."

"You..."

"I've weathered bigger storms than this. It's fine. Go."

As it turned out, the Big Leader knew everything.