Chapter 109: The shadow war between He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu

"Don't go!" Qin Huairu shouted loudly immediately.

Unfortunately, He Yuzhu didn't give her any chance to continue arguing. He took out the gong directly and started beating it frantically, shouting loudly: "A thief! A thief! A thief has entered the Siheyuan!"

The commotion He Yuzhu made not only drowned out Qin Huairu's voice but also let the people in the neighboring Siheyuan hear the commotion.

"Silly Zhu, stop shouting," Qin Huairu shouted loudly with all her might, trying to grab He Yuzhu's arm.

However, He Yuzhu had long seen through everything. While beating the gong, he ran to the front courtyard and shouted loudly: "Everyone, protect the scene! Don't let anyone destroy the scene, otherwise, you will be treated as accomplices."

The beasts of the Siheyuan had long known it was Bang Geng stealing things and had long been itching with hatred for Bang Geng, so they naturally cooperated with He Yuzhu, shouting in response and not giving Qin Huairu any chance to speak.

Even if Qin Huairu spoke, she was drowned out by the shouts of the Siheyuan beasts.

After a while, Director Wang from the Street Office, Station Chief Zhang from the police station, and Captain Wang Shen from the Security Section arrived at the Siheyuan with their men.

"What's going on?" Director Wang asked first.

"A thief entered my house. This thief climbed in through the window and was clamped by an animal trap I placed in my house while stealing things. I told everyone to protect the scene and didn't dare let anyone destroy it," He Yuzhu said while leading everyone into the Siheyuan.

Seeing He Yuzhu and his group enter the Siheyuan, Qin Huairu rushed toward He Yuzhu, wanting to throw herself into He Yuzhu's arms and then beg He Yuzhu to let Bang Geng go.

Qin Huairu had thought it through clearly: as long as she threw herself into He Yuzhu's arms, she would pretend to be very weak, about to faint at any moment, and beg He Yuzhu to let Bang Geng off the hook. Regardless of whether He Yuzhu let Bang Geng off or not, He Yuzhu would be blackmailed by Qin Huairu.

Afterward, Qin Huairu would secretly spread the word using ambiguous and easily misunderstood language, and He Yuzhu's reputation would stink. By then, He Yuzhu would be like mud in the crotch of his pants—if it wasn't shit, it was still shit.

At this time, although it wasn't like the feudal period with its strict moral codes, people were still very conservative about such things. If this matter were spread around, it would be difficult for He Yuzhu to find a wife, at least not easily in the vicinity.

Not to mention that Xu Damao, the Deaf Old Lady, and Qin Huairu would be sabotaging him in the dark.

He Yuzhu had long been guarding against Qin Huairu. With a shift of his feet, he hid behind Director Wang, and Qin Huairu's lunge missed completely.

Just as Qin Huairu was about to fall to the ground, Director Wang took a step to the side and caught Qin Huairu, preventing her from falling to the ground.

This was purely Director Wang's instinctive reaction. It wasn't until Director Wang handed Qin Huairu over to Qin Mu that she reacted belatedly.

"Hiss—" Director Wang couldn't help but gasp. She really hadn't expected Qin Huairu's mind to be so meticulous and vicious.

Director Wang looked at Qin Huairu with very unkind eyes and stood in front of He Yuzhu the whole time, preventing Qin Huairu from pulling any more tricks.

Under the witness of Station Chief Zhang and Captain Wang, He Yuzhu opened the door, but he didn't go in, instead letting Station Chief Zhang and Captain Wang go in.

As soon as the door opened, Bang Geng, while crying heart-rendingly, cursed viciously and loudly: "Dead Silly Zhu, stinking Silly Zhu, you pay for my leg! You pay me money! If you don't pay me, I won't just steal your house clean, I'll also burn your house down."

The faces of Station Chief Zhang, Captain Wang, and Director Wang turned black immediately. This child still hadn't realized his mistake; even at this point, he didn't forget to threaten others.

"The matter is very clear. This child came to Deputy Director He's house to steal eggs and was clamped by a trap in Deputy Director He's house. This child is a thief. Whose child is this?" Captain Wang Shen asked.

"Qin Huairu's child, full name Jia Geng, nickname Bang Geng," He Yuzhu interjected.

"Where's his father?" Captain Wang Shen asked.

"His father's name was Jia Dongxu, who passed away due to a work injury at the Rolling Mill over a month ago," He Yuzhu said.

"Over a month ago? Oh, so it's Jia Dongxu's child," Captain Wang muttered.

Captain Wang knew of Jia Dongxu. Captain Wang had only been transferred to the Rolling Mill because of the explosion in the Security Section, so he naturally had to investigate the events of the last few months at the Rolling Mill in detail, and thus had an impression of Jia Dongxu's death.

"This is troublesome. The person is still a child, his father just died, and his mother is in confinement. It's not appropriate to punish him heavily," Captain Wang thought to himself.

Captain Wang was considering more the attitude of the fellow workers in the factory. If he punished him harshly by force, he didn't know how the workers would react.

If it were a normal situation, as long as it complied with the regulations, he would punish as he should. The key was that this wasn't a normal situation. If handled improperly, and if someone with ulterior motives stirred things up in the dark, the newly built Security Section might follow in the footsteps of the old one.

Captain Wang couldn't help but look at Station Chief Zhang and Director Wang.

Station Chief Zhang and Director Wang also had a headache. Besides what Captain Wang was considering, Bang Geng himself was also a problem. After all, Bang Geng was still a child, and the crime he committed wasn't big enough to meet the conditions for entering the Juvenile Detention Center.

However, leaving him alone wouldn't work either. At the very least, criticism and education were useless. Director Wang also had a headache.

He Yuzhu whispered a few words in Director Wang's ear. Director Wang's eyes lit up, and she nodded, exchanged a look with Station Chief Zhang, and let Station Chief Zhang cooperate with her.

"Old Zhang, you first have someone remove the trap on Bang Geng's foot," Director Wang said.

Station Chief Zhang immediately had someone remove the trap.

Station Chief Zhang winced at the sight and then hurriedly had someone send him to the hospital.

"Qin Huairu, yesterday Bang Geng snatched eggs to eat, and today Bang Geng stole eggs to eat. It seems you didn't listen to my words at all. This time, no matter what, Bang Geng must be sent to the Juvenile Detention Center to receive education," Director Wang said in a deep voice.

"I will make a call to the Juvenile Detention Center and have someone educate Bang Geng well, let him turn over a new leaf and be a good person," Station Chief Zhang said with a serious face.

As soon as Captain Wang heard this, he knew the two were putting on a double act and understood their purpose. In this kind of situation, you couldn't punish heavily, and if you punished lightly, people wouldn't listen, so you could only focus on scaring them.

If they really wanted to send Bang Geng to the Juvenile Detention Center, Director Wang shouldn't have been the one to say it; Station Chief Zhang should have opened his mouth, and he should have discussed it with him beforehand. After all, whether it was Qin Huairu or He Yuzhu, both were people from the Rolling Mill, and this kind of matter was generally handled by the Security Section.

This was also the suggestion He Yuzhu had given Director Wang: attack the heart first.

Qin Huairu and the others didn't understand this and were directly scared limp.

"Don't! Director Wang, I beg you to show mercy and let Bang Geng off the hook. Bang Geng is still a child," Qin Huairu cried sorrowfully.

Director Wang signaled Qin Mu to support Qin Huairu back home, then said, "It is precisely because of this that we must have strict requirements for Bang Geng. You should understand the principle that 'stealing a needle when young leads to stealing gold when old'."

"Director Wang, I beg you, for the sake of us orphans and widows, please let Bang Geng off this once. I guarantee that Bang Geng will absolutely not go to other people's houses randomly again," Qin Huairu said, crying.

Director Wang couldn't help but shake her head. Even at this point, Qin Huairu still didn't admit that Bang Geng was stealing, only thinking it was "going to other people's houses randomly." With such a doting mother, it would be strange if Bang Geng could learn to be good.

However, Director Wang still had to take the slope to get off the donkey.

"You guarantee? What do you guarantee with? What if Bang Geng steals things again next time?" Director Wang asked in a deep voice.

"If Bang Geng steals things again, you don't need to take action; I will take action myself and discipline him severely," Qin Huairu said. Director Wang was almost laughed to anger by Qin Huairu's words, but Director Wang had her own ways of dealing with Qin Huairu.

Director Wang called over Captain Wang Shen and Station Chief Zhang and had Qin Huairu write a guarantee letter in front of them, in quadruplicate.

After Qin Huairu finished writing, Director Wang wrote on the guarantee letter that if Bang Geng stole things again, there would be a tenfold compensation, to be deducted from her wages by the Rolling Mill.

Director Wang couldn't do anything to Qin Huairu for now, but couldn't she do something to Qin Huairu for a lifetime? Qin Huairu cared most about money, so she would take action on money.

Qin Huairu's face collapsed immediately. Looking at the pen Director Wang handed over, and then seeing Director Wang's half-smiling expression, she knew that her little schemes were clear to them.

However, if she didn't sign this, she couldn't get past this hurdle; if she signed it, Qin Huairu couldn't guarantee that Bang Geng wouldn't steal things again.

In the end, Qin Huairu gritted her teeth and decided to sign, getting past this hurdle first.

After Qin Huairu signed, Director Wang, Station Chief Zhang, and Captain Wang each took a copy.

"Captain Wang, I'll trouble you to hand Qin Huairu's guarantee letter to the factory. In the future, if the children of Qin Huairu's family steal things again, punish them according to what is written in the guarantee letter," Director Wang said.

"No problem," Captain Wang said unceremoniously. This was originally one of the Security Section's work contents.

"Now, Qin Huairu, you first compensate He Yuzhu for two eggs. If you don't have eggs, compensate with money; just pay two mao," Director Wang said.

Director Wang was soft-hearted in the end. At this time, eggs were priceless; even with two mao, you might not be able to buy two eggs on the Black Market.

He Yuzhu didn't care either. The two mao weren't important; what was important was the warning significance represented by the two mao. He Yuzhu immediately collected the money, then took two mao out of another pocket and gave it to Yan Jiekuaung.

After Director Wang and her group criticized and educated Qin Huairu again, they left with Qin Huairu's guarantee letter.

After Director Wang and her group left, Qin Huairu shouted loudly in the house: "Silly Zhu, can I trouble you to go to the hospital and see Bang Geng? Bang Geng is still a child; don't let him become a cripple because of this matter."

He Yuzhu had long been guarding against Qin Huairu.

While Director Wang was criticizing and educating Qin Huairu, He Yuzhu had returned home and pretended to take forty jin of grain from his house—in reality, he took it from his Consciousness Space—and gave it to Pangzi and Ma Hua.

"I'll give you forty jin first. After you get home, divide it yourselves, twenty jin each. If it's not enough, come find me again," He Yuzhu said, waving his hand.

"Master, how can this be? How can we take Master's things? We should be the ones showing filial piety to you," Ma Hua said, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Stop talking nonsense. If I give it to you, take it. Take advantage of the chaos and leave quickly," He Yuzhu said, waving his hand hurriedly.

Ma Hua wanted to say more, but Pangzi hurriedly thanked He Yuzhu and pulled Ma Hua away. He Yuzhu also took the opportunity to lock the door and left following them.

After Director Wang saw He Yuzhu's departing figure, she couldn't help but smile slightly, criticized Qin Huairu for two sentences pretentiously, and then left with Station Chief Zhang and Captain Wang's group.

It was too late for Qin Huairu to call out now. Qin Huairu called for a long time, but didn't hear any response, so she had Qin Mu go knock on He Yuzhu's door.

At this time, Yan Bugui shouted in the courtyard: "Qin Huairu, no need to call anymore. Silly Zhu has gone out to drink; I don't know when he'll be back."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu was so angry she almost vomited blood. Bang Geng had been sent to the hospital, and she didn't know if he could be cured, yet you still have the mood to drink?

Qin Huairu didn't realize her own mistakes at all and thought all of this was caused by He Yuzhu.

"Mom, hurry to the hospital and see Bang Geng. Bang Geng must not have anything happen to him," Qin Huairu pleaded.

Qin Mu couldn't help but sigh. Qin Mu knew Qin Huairu's plan; having her go to the hospital clearly meant having her pay the money. However, Qin Mu had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.

Suddenly, Qin Mu's eyes rolled, and she had an idea. She tucked two corn buns and walked out. Qin Huairu didn't care, thinking Qin Mu was thoughtful—in case she had to stay up all night at the hospital, she would have something to eat.

"Brother Old Yan, can I ask you something?" Qin Mu came to the front courtyard, found Yan Bugui, and asked with a smile, then broke off a piece of corn bun and handed it to Yan Bugui.

Qin Mu hadn't stayed in this Siheyuan in vain; she knew the character of everyone in the Siheyuan. Just like Yan Bugui, if you didn't give him some benefits, don't even think about getting any useful information from his mouth.

"Big Sister, you're being too formal. If you have anything to ask, just ask. I'll definitely tell you what I know," Yan Bugui naturally didn't refuse anyone, took the small piece of corn bun, and said.

"I just want to ask, my Huairu is a worker in the city. I heard that workers in the city have their medical expenses reimbursed by the factory. Is that true?" Qin Mu asked.

It had to be said that Qin Mu was very smart. Qin Huairu only thought about squeezing oil and water from her own mother, but Qin Mu thought about squeezing oil and water from the public.

This was also related to Qin Huairu praising the factory workers too much in the past, saying everything was reimbursed by the factory.

"As long as it's a hospital that cooperates with the Rolling Mill, the hospitalization of family members of workers should be reimbursable. As for the reimbursement ratio, I'm not too sure, but you can ask the doctor after you get to the hospital."

"If Qin Huairu has a work ID, take the work ID. If Qin Huairu doesn't have a work ID, let the doctor verify it. You just let the doctor find the Security Section to verify it. After all, this matter just happened, the people in the Security Section definitely know, and it can also indirectly prove Qin Huairu's identity," Yan Bugui said.

Yan Bugui saw at a glance that Qin Mu didn't want to pay for Bang Geng's treatment, so he gave Qin Mu an idea, which could be considered worthy of this half a corn bun.

If it weren't for this piece of corn bun, even if Qin Mu said all the nice words, Yan Bugui wouldn't have given her an idea.

"Many thanks, Brother Old Yan," Qin Mu said with a smile.

"Neighbors, what's there to thank? Hurry to the hospital; don't delay Bang Geng's treatment," Yan Bugui said, then took the corn bun and went home.

Qin Mu hurried to the hospital.

Because Bang Geng was sent to the hospital by the police, the doctor at the hospital didn't ask for the reason and directly treated Bang Geng. Fortunately, Bang Geng was a little chubby and his body was tough. The animal trap hadn't hurt his bones, only making Bang Geng suffer superficial pain.

After Qin Mu arrived at the hospital, Bang Geng had already been sent to the ward. When the nurse asked Qin Mu to pay, Qin Mu said Qin Huairu was a worker at the Rolling Mill and the money would be paid by the Rolling Mill, and she also actively cooperated with the nurse to call the Security Section to verify.

After verification, the nurse confirmed Qin Huairu's identity and didn't ask Qin Mu to pay again. Qin Mu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Qin Mu thought the Rolling Mill would pay this money. Little did she know, the Rolling Mill would indeed pay this money, but the money would be deducted from Qin Huairu's wages.

If Bang Geng had fallen and been injured by accident, the factory would still reimburse him according to a certain ratio. However, Bang Geng was injured by a trap while stealing things. The Rolling Mill wouldn't care about this kind of matter; Qin Huairu would have to pay the money herself.

Qin Huairu didn't know about this yet. She hadn't even started working, and she already owed the factory money.

He Yuzhu swayed out of the Siheyuan and headed straight for the Small Tavern under Zhengyang Gate to see if Xu Huizhen was there. He Yuzhu didn't notice a pair of eyes staring at him intently.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 110 =====