Courtyard House: Jia Zhangshi! How dare you hit my sister?

Bang Geng finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still feeling uneasy.

After finishing his meal, Qin Huai'an put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and then said:

"Alright, stop standing there. Come here."

Banggeng walked over slowly and stood in front of Qin Huai'an, not daring to raise his head.

"Where are the things?" Qin Huai'an asked.

Banggeng quickly picked up the cloth bag from the table:

"Here...here..."

"Go return it now," Qin Huai'an said. "Sha Zhu should be off work by now."

Remember, when you get there, tell the truth and admit your mistake to Sha Zhu. Tell him you stole his things, that you know you were wrong, return the things, and promise you'll never steal again.

When Banggeng heard that he was going again, his legs went weak with fear.

"Uncle... Uncle, I'm scared... What if Uncle Shazhu hits me...?"

"If he hits you, just take it!" Qin Huai'an glared at him.

"Who told you to be so dishonest?"

"Admit your mistakes! Stand up straight when you're going to be punished!"

Banggeng looked at his uncle, then at his mother, and seeing that no one was helping him, he could only walk out with a long face, clutching the cloth bag and looking back every few steps.

After he left, Qin Huai'an stood up and said to Qin Huairu:

"Sis, I'm going out to take a look."

Qin Huairu was taken aback: "What are you looking at?"

"Let's see if this kid really went to return it," Qin Huai'an said. "I need to make sure he truly realizes his mistake."

Qin Huairu then understood and nodded: "Then...you mustn't let Sha Zhu really hit him..."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Qin Huai'an said, then pushed open the door and went out.

The backyard wasn't far from the middle courtyard. Qin Huai'an had just reached the moon gate when he saw Bang Geng lingering at Sha Zhu's door, clutching a cloth bag.

The boy would take a couple of steps forward, then retreat, looking left and right, but he wouldn't dare knock on the door.

Qin Huai'an hid behind the moon gate, watching quietly.

After a long while, Banggeng finally mustered up his courage and raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Who is it?" came Sha Zhu's voice from inside the house.

Banggeng was so frightened that his hand trembled, and his voice was almost crying:

"Silly...Silly Uncle Zhu, it's...it's me, Bang Geng..."

The door opened, and Sha Zhu stood in the doorway. He saw Bang Geng, and then noticed the cloth bag he was carrying. He paused for a moment.

"Hey, Bang Geng? What are you doing here again? This...this is..."

Banggeng handed the cloth bag forward, and tears began to fall again:

"Uncle Shazhu... I... I've returned your cornmeal... I was wrong... I shouldn't have stolen your things..."

He spoke between sobs, his voice broken and fragmented:

"I...I was just so hungry, and there was nothing to eat at home, so I...I took your cornmeal, thinking...I wanted to have something else to eat..."

"My uncle found out...beat me...and made me return the things...and apologize to you..."

Sha Zhu listened, looked at Bang Geng who was crying his eyes out, and then looked at the cloth bag. He was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He took the bag, weighed it in his hand, and sighed.

"Alright, alright, stop crying. As long as you get your things back, Uncle won't blame you."

Upon hearing this, Bang Geng cried even harder: "Silly Uncle Zhu...you...you really don't blame me?"

"No, no, it's not my fault." Sha Zhu waved his hand.

"But hey, Uncle has to say something to you. If you're hungry, just tell Uncle, and I'll get you something to eat, but you can't steal, understand?"

"Stealing is a bad habit that needs to be changed."

"I understand... I... I'll never do it again..." Bang Geng nodded vigorously.

"Alright, go back now," Sha Zhu said. "If you're hungry in the future, just tell your uncle. Don't just take things randomly."

"Um... thank you, Uncle Shazhu..." Bang Geng wiped away his tears and turned to walk back.

Qin Huai'an watched from behind the moon gate, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

This kid may be a coward and scared, but at least he knows how to admit his mistakes and correct them. That's enough.

He turned around and went back to the backyard first. By the time Banggeng dawdled back, he was already sitting inside.

"Did you return it?" Qin Huai'an asked.

Banggeng nodded: "I...I've returned it..."

"What did Shazhu say?"

"Uncle Shazhu said... said he doesn't blame me... and said I can tell him if I'm hungry in the future..." Banggeng said softly.

Qin Huai'an nodded: "Alright, I'll let it go this time. But remember this: if you dare to steal again, I'll break your hands!"

Banggeng trembled in fright: "No... I won't... I really won't..."

"Alright, sit down." Qin Huai'an pointed to the stool next to him.

Bang Geng finally dared to sit down, but as soon as his buttocks touched the stool, he winced in pain. However, he dared not make a sound and could only endure it.

Seeing her son like this, Qin Huairu felt both heartache and relief.

What pains me is that my son was beaten and went hungry, but what comforts me is that he finally realized his mistake and is willing to correct it.

She looked at her younger brother, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Qin Huai'an waved his hand and said nothing.

Qin Huai'an and Qin Huairu sat in the room for a while, waiting for Bang Geng to recover.

Qin Huai'an glanced at the sky, estimating that it was about time, before speaking:

"Sister, pack your things, we're going to the Jia family now."

Qin Huairu was wiping her son's face when she heard this and paused, looking up:

"Now?"

"Yes, now." Qin Huai'an stood up:

"Strike while the iron is hot. Make things clear today, and you'll be free tomorrow."

Qin Huairu bit her lip, looked at Banggeng sitting on the stool, then at her younger brother, and finally nodded vigorously:

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

She stood up, patted the wrinkles on her clothes, and touched the injury on her face—it still hurt, but the spirit in her heart had been rekindled.

Banggeng panicked a little when he saw his mother and uncle about to leave.

"Mom, Uncle, where are you going?"

Qin Huai'an glanced at him: "Adults are handling things, children shouldn't ask questions. You wait here, don't run around."

"Oh..." Banggeng didn't dare to ask any more questions and obediently sat there without moving.

Qin Huairu took one last look at her son, took a deep breath, and followed Qin Huai'an out the door.

The siblings passed through the moon gate and arrived at the central courtyard.

It was already getting dark, and lights were on in every household in the courtyard.

Seeing Qin Huai'an and Qin Huairu walking towards the Jia family's house, several middle-aged women who were enjoying the cool air at the door cast curious glances at them, but no one dared to go up and ask.

When Qin Huai'an arrived at the Jia family's door, he raised his hand and knocked.

"Who is it?" Jia Dongxu's voice came from inside, sounding a bit weak.

Qin Huai'an didn't say anything, but knocked twice more.

The door opened, and Jia Dongxu stood in the doorway. Seeing Qin Huai'an and Qin Huairu, his face paled in shock, and he instinctively took two steps back.

"What...what are you doing here?"

Qin Huai'an ignored him, pushed him aside and went inside, with Qin Huairu following behind.

Inside the room, Jia Zhangshi was lying on the bed groaning—she had been beaten badly today, her whole body ached, and she grimaced at the slightest movement.

Upon seeing Qin Huai'an enter, Madam Jia Zhang was so frightened that she trembled all over and almost rolled off the bed.

"What...what are you doing here?" Her voice was trembling.