Chapter 1459: Jia Zhangshi's Retirement Money

Winter Solstice arrives, eat dumplings.

Cao Weiguo carried a strip of pork belly, preparing to make pork and scallion dumplings. Humming a little tune, he returned to Nanluoguxiang and saw a crowd of people squeezed at the entrance of the Red Star Courtyard, and from inside came a somewhat familiar wailing sound.

"Jiefang, what happened? What's going on in the courtyard?"

The curious Cao Weiguo called out to Yan Jiekuang. Yan Jiekuang, who was watching the excitement, said with a face full of excitement, "Brother Weiguo, Banggeng's grandmother is back. As soon as she got home, she started shouting that her retirement money was lost. She grabbed Qin Huairu and started beating and scolding her, saying Qin Huairu stole her retirement money and demanding that Qin Huairu spit the money out. Qin Huairu said she didn't take it, but Jia Zhangshi didn't believe her and insisted it was Qin Huairu who took it. Then the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law started making a scene in the courtyard."

"Oh, I have to see this excitement!"

Cao Weiguo immediately became interested. Carrying the pork belly, he squeezed into the courtyard and happened to see Jia Zhangshi pulling Qin Huairu's hair and slapping her. "You black-hearted beast, that was my retirement money! You even stole your mother-in-law's coffin money; aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? You cheap woman, are you worthy of my Dongxu? I'll beat you to death..."

"Mom! I didn't take it! I swear to heaven I really didn't take your money!"

Qin Huairu dodged while crying and explaining. She felt truly wronged in her heart.

After Jia Zhangshi went inside, she admitted she had considered Jia Zhangshi's retirement money, but after weighing it repeatedly, she didn't take action because Jia Zhangshi had only gone inside, not eaten peanuts (been executed), and would return sooner or later. Besides, she had a salary and extra income, so she didn't have to worry about food and clothing, and it wasn't worth provoking that evil old hag Jia Zhangshi.

But as soon as Jia Zhangshi returned, she rummaged through boxes and cabinets, then shouted that her retirement money was gone. She was also very surprised, but after the surprise came anger and sadness, because she had already guessed who took the money. Except for her good eldest son Banggeng, she couldn't think of a second person.

Jia Zhangshi, who had lost a lot of weight, was covered in a sour stench, wearing a tattered cotton-padded jacket, pulling Qin Huairu's hair and refusing to let go, cursing and beating her frantically like a madwoman, scaring Liu Haizhong, Yan Fugui, and others so much that they didn't dare to step forward to break up the fight.

Seeing his goddess being abused and beaten, Shazhu felt as if his heart were being twisted and rushed up to pull at Jia Zhangshi. "Zhang Dama, stop beating her. If Qin Jie said she didn't take your retirement money, she didn't take it. Why don't you believe her? Qin Jie takes care of your food and drink and is more filial to you than to her own mother. Why don't you trust Qin Jie? Do you have any conscience left!"

"Smack!"

Jia Zhangshi backhanded Shazhu with a loud slap. "You shameless thing, this is my Jia family's business. What does it have to do with you? Is it your place to interrupt? You shameless, childless wretch, get lost!"

"Zhang Dama, how can you hit people?"

Shazhu shouted while covering his face, looking aggrieved, with tears faintly welling up in his large ox-like eyes.

Qin Huairu struggled hard to break free from Jia Zhangshi's demonic claws, crying with teary eyes, "Mom! Have you made enough of a scene! I swear to heaven I didn't take your money. If I have said one lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

Seeing Qin Huairu take such a poisonous oath, Jia Zhangshi was also left speechless.

Could it be that the retirement money really wasn't stolen by Qin Huairu?

Then who could it be?

A thief from outside?

Impossible!

She had hidden it so secretly, and it was divided into several parts. Even if a thief from outside entered the house, it would be impossible to find it in a short time, and even if they could find it, it would be impossible to find all the money.

But if it wasn't the house thief Qin Huairu, who else could it be?

Could it be!

No!

It must be Qin Huairu who stole it, it can only be Qin Huairu who stole it, and not a single cent of her coffin money can be missing!

Jia Zhangshi was so cunning; even if she had a suspect in her heart, she still insisted that Qin Huairu stole the retirement money, because no one else would indulge her except Qin Huairu. Only by insisting that Qin Huairu stole it could her missing retirement money return.

After that, Chen Xueru "looked at Cao Weiguo with new eyes" and had a new understanding.

"Qin Huairu, do you think I'm a fool! Do you think I'll believe you just because you swear?"

"Qin Huairu, oh Qin Huairu, I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. Your little tricks don't work in front of me!"

"Put away your hypocritical face. My retirement money was hidden so secretly that no one but you could have had enough time to dig it out. You stole the money, don't try to argue!"

Jia Zhangshi grabbed Qin Huairu's arm, insisting that Qin Huairu stole the money. Anyway, her retirement money must come back, and it could only be more, not less.

Her son was gone, her grandson was still young, and her daughter-in-law was fickle and unreliable. All she could rely on was the retirement money she had painstakingly saved. That retirement money was her lifeline.

Being pestering and unreasonable was her specialty. For many years, she had used it on Qin Huairu, and it had always been successful. Regardless of whether Qin Huairu admitted it or not, she had to make up for the retirement money.

Qin Huairu cried with tears streaming down her face, "Mom! Why don't you believe me! I really didn't steal your money. If you don't believe me, go home and continue searching now. I'll let you search as you please. If you can find your retirement money on me, I'll admit it. I'll even be a beast of burden to pay you back. Mom, I beg you, just believe me. How could I possibly steal your money!"

Both Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi guessed who stole the money, but neither of them thought of saying that name.

Jia Zhangshi narrowed her triangular eyes and grabbed Qin Huairu's arm hard, her nails wishing they could pierce through the clothes and into Qin Huairu's flesh. "Qin Huairu, I know exactly what kind of person you are. Don't think that just because you refuse to admit it, I have no way to deal with you. The food you eat, the place you live, and your current job are all from the Jia family. But you have no conscience, you are ungrateful. While I was suffering in prison, you were running wild at home and actually dared to take my retirement money. What? Do you think I, this old woman, am dead? I tell you, my retirement money was lost from home. Except for you, I can't think of anyone else who could steal my money. If you don't return the money in full, don't blame me for being heartless. That retirement money is my lifeline. If you don't return the money, I'd rather die with you. When the time comes, I'll throw away my old face and go to the police station to report it!"

Qin Huairu wailed with tears falling, "Mom! You're forcing me to death! I don't want to live anymore! There's no justice! I'll just smash my head and die! I don't want to live anymore!"

Shazhu stomped his feet in anxiety. "Qin Jie, I know you're wronged, you can't be impulsive. Second Uncle! Team Leader Liu! You are the managing uncle of our courtyard and also a leader in the factory. Say something! You can't let Jia Zhangshi act recklessly. If a life is lost, you won't be able to escape the responsibility!"

This suddenly put Liu Haizhong on the spot, forcing him to step forward. "What are you doing! What are you doing! Jia Zhangshi, you just came back and you're already causing trouble. Can't you be a little more peaceful? Tell me, why don't you learn your lesson? Because of your messy business, how many people in our courtyard have been disgraced!"

Jia Zhangshi glared at Liu Haizhong with her triangular eyes. "Liu Haizhong, what are you shouting about! I haven't even settled the score with you yet! How are you acting as a managing uncle! My money is lost! It was lost in this courtyard! You, this managing uncle, also have responsibility! If you don't find the money for me, I'll go to the neighborhood office to report you. If the neighborhood office isn't enough, I'll go to the factory. I'll report you eight hundred times a day. You eat human food but don't do human work. I'll have the leaders fire you!" ===== CHAPTER 1461 =====

"You come here and cause trouble; can't you just behave yourself? Tell me, why can't you ever learn your lesson? Because of your nonsense, how much face has our courtyard lost!"

Jia Zhangshi glared at Liu Haizhong with her triangular eyes: "Liu Haizhong, what are you shouting about! I haven't even settled accounts with you yet! How are you acting as the managing uncle? My money is gone! It was lost in this courtyard! You, as the managing uncle, also have a responsibility! If you don't find the money for me, I'll go to the neighborhood office to report you. If the neighborhood office isn't enough, I'll go to the factory. I'll report you eight hundred times a day. You eat human food but don't do human work; I'll have the leaders strip you of your position!"