Chapter 492: Bang Geng Steals Secrets, Gets Sentenced

Night.

South Luogu Lane No. 95 Siheyuan lay in silence.

Bang Geng, clutching a gleaming pry bar, crouched and slipped into the front courtyard.

He stared at Lin Shengli's wooden door, greed filling his eyes.

Seeing that black satchel pressed against Lin Shengli's shoulder during the day, he imagined cash or valuables inside.

The debt he owed was due tomorrow, but he hadn't expected the creditor to be Lin Shengli's disciple Zhao Lei.

Back then he had followed Xu Damao's reckless ways, secretly mortgaging his family's house for a loan; the business collapsed, and now if he couldn't repay, the house would belong to Zhao Lei.

This was the Jia Family's last foothold, so he could only take a reckless risk.

He slipped the pry bar into the door crack, gave a gentle lever, and with a light "Kak!" the latch snapped.

Bang Geng held his breath and slipped inside, using the moonlight leaking through the window to see Lin Shengli lying on the table "asleep", the satchel at his side, and several line‑filled blueprints spread nearby.

"Got rich!" he shouted inwardly, seized the satchel, and turned to run.

But after only two steps his foot caught a stool and he crashed heavily to the ground.

The satchel flew out, and the blueprints scattered across the floor.

"Running so fast, hurrying to go to prison?" Lin Shengli's voice rang out suddenly, coldly mocking.

He hadn't slept at all; he had already seen through Bang Geng's thoughts with his Heaven's Eye and was waiting here for him to walk into the net.

Bang Geng was terrified, his soul fled, and he scrambled to the door.

Just as he burst into the Zhongyuan, two black shadows sprang out, pinning him to the ground—it was the guard stationed outside the courtyard.

"Let me go! Lin Shengli, on what grounds do you seize me?" Bang Geng struggled and roared.

Lin Shengli picked up the aircraft carrier design blueprint from the floor, strolled slowly to him, his gaze as cold as ice:

"Stealing state defense secrets is enough to sentence you to ten or eight years."

The commotion alarmed all the courtyard neighbors; Yi Zhonghai, Yan Bu Gui, and Qin Huairu all opened their doors to look.

Jia Zhangshi, upon seeing his great‑grandson pinned to the ground, immediately flailed and rolled, slapping the earth with both hands while shouting:

"Lin Shengli, you damned scoundrel! Bullying our orphaned widows, I'll fight you!"

Yi Zhonghai stood aside, watching the scene with an unruffled gaze, even letting out a faint sigh.

He had lived most of his life, spent decades in this Siheyuan, and had long seen through people's hearts.

He used to think Qin Huairu's care for the child was difficult; although Jia Zhangshi was harsh, he was also protective of his descendants, but over time he had come to see this family's selfishness and greed.

Qin Huairu seemed frail but was actually shrewd, and over the years, relying on Shazhu's support and the neighbors' sympathy, she lived more comfortably than anyone.

Whenever the family faced trouble, the first thought wasn't to solve it themselves but to find others to take advantage of.

And Shazhu, even more clueless, was tightly controlled by Qin Huairu, spending years supporting her, cleaning up Bang Geng's mess, and living a chaotic life.

Yi Zhonghai had once advised him not to indulge the Jia Family too much, but Shazhu always said "Qin Jie isn't easy", and now he reaps the consequences, lacking even the courage to plead.

"Fight?" Lin Shengli sneered, flashing the blueprint to the crowd, "This is the aircraft carrier core design blueprint; he stole it to sell to foreigners for cash—that's treason!"

The words silenced everyone instantly.

Yan Bu Gui hunches his neck, secretly grateful he never offended Lin Shengli.

Qin Huairu's face turned ghastly, clutching Jia Zhangshi tightly as she stepped back:

"Mother, stop the fuss, Bang Geng really caused a huge disaster this time!"

At that moment, Shazhu staggered over, having just been woken by the commotion outside; upon seeing Bang Geng pinned to the ground and Qin Huairu's desperate face, he frantically clawed at his ears and scratched his cheek:

"Shengli, Shengli! Let's talk calmly, Bang Geng is young, doesn't understand, please let him off!"

Yi Zhonghai, seeing Shazhu's state, felt even more uneasy.

That foolish kid still can't see Qin Huairu's true nature and still wants to plead for the Jia Family. Has he ever helped the Jia Family less? What did it finally bring? Not even a sincere thank you.

Lin Shengli glanced at Shazhu, laughing, "Young? When you stole defense secrets, didn't you think about being young?"

"Moreover, do you have the right to plead?" Lin Shengli paused, his voice suddenly cold, "Is the debt you owe me due? Is your house still in your name?"

Shazhu's face flushed bright red, then turned ashen.

He recalled borrowing Lin Shengli's money a year ago, unable to repay when due, having mortgaged his house; his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word for a long moment.

"I… I'll repay as soon as possible!" Shazhu's voice was hoarse, pleading, "Shengli, considering our many years as neighbors, and that I've always helped you look after your uncle and aunt, give Bang Geng a chance to reform!"

"Look after?" Lin Shengli scoffed, "You call that looking after?"

Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with fatigue and disappointment: "Zhuzi, stop pleading. Bang Geng's path to today is his own choice; no one else is to blame."

He moved to Shazhu's side, patting his shoulder: "You should wake up too; you've done enough for the Jia Family over the years, but when have they ever truly considered you? Qin Huairu's words were syrupy when she asked for help, yet when you needed something, what has she ever done for you?"

Shazhu was stunned, looked at Yi Zhonghai, and saw the elder's clear eyes, devoid of any sympathy, only a serene understanding of everything.

Yi Zhonghai continued, "I once advised you not to indulge them too much, but you didn't listen. Now you can't even protect yourself, yet you still think of helping others—do you think it's worth it?"

The words struck Shazhu's heart like a heavy hammer.

He opened his mouth to retort, but realized Yi Zhonghai's words were all truth.

All these years he gave so much to Qin Huairu and the Jia Family, only to end up with a mortgaged house, debt‑laden, without even the ability to help Qin Huairu.

"Shazhu, put away that false kindness." Lin Shengli, too lazy to waste words, ordered the guard, "Send him to the police station, charge him with stealing state defense secrets, and show no mercy."

The bodyguard carried Bang Geng outward, Jia Zhangshi wailed and chased for two steps before being tightly held back by Qin Huairu.

Yi Zhonghai, watching Jia Zhangshi's retreating back, shook his head: "Had we known it would end like this, why start at all? I used to think your family had it hard, but your greed and scheming led to this self‑inflicted fate."

Qin Huairu's face grew even paler, her head bowing lower.

She knew Yi Zhonghai had seen through her completely; no one would ever pity her again.

The next day, the police station reported: Bang Geng, for stealing important state secrets, with solid evidence, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

The creditor Zhao Lei, upon learning the Jia Family's actions, took the mortgage contract and directly processed the title transfer.

He knew Lin Shengli didn't care for that dilapidated house, yet still sent the property deed over.