The Beginning of a Courtyard House: Sixty Years of Internal Strength

"Officer, I'm just an ordinary disabled person, and I really don't understand what you're saying."

"I'm practically buried to the ground, you're not going to arrest me, are you?"

The deaf old woman looked at the police officers in horror.

"Alright, madam, after discussions with the judge, it has been decided that you can no longer see any outsiders, nor can you send any messages out."

This room is your prison, can you really do that?

"Yes, officer, don't worry, I will absolutely not see any outsiders."

The old lady breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"I will let the liaison officer in this department know, and I hope you will remember it."

If you try to secretly contact anyone again, then there's nothing more to say; you'll be arrested immediately, do you understand?

"Comrade, I understand. I will behave myself from now on and will not see or contact anyone."

The police then brought in the second and third uncles and told them what had happened.

Liu Haizhong immediately straightened his head and puffed out his chest.

"Officer, don't worry, I will definitely complete the task assigned to me by the government."

Yan Bugui quickly assured him that there was no problem.

The police had no choice but to do this, since they hadn't found any evidence and the old woman was so paralyzed that she wouldn't live much longer.

She did donate a large sum of money, but you can't just drag her out and shoot her right after she donated the money, especially without any evidence.

The old lady never expected Yi Zhonghai to be so ruthless. She gritted her teeth and persevered, but this kid managed to escape a calamity.

Thirteen years... I reckon I won't live to see Yi Zhonghai come out.

Li Jianguo and Yao Yao also started discussing it.

"With four families in trouble all at once, the people in the courtyard will probably be quiet for a while now."

"What a pity, Brother Jianguo, Li Cuilan ran away, and we didn't even have a chance to make a move on her."

It was only then that Yao Yao remembered her plan to take revenge on Li Cuilan; she had been so happy living in the big house these past few days.

"Who said that? A few nights ago, when she secretly ran away, I secretly left a hidden force in his body from a distance."

Within two years, she'll look like an old lady.

"Really, Brother Jianguo, I didn't even know when you went out."

"Don't you know my martial arts skills? I can hear the moment there's any commotion in the central courtyard."

I quietly followed her out and saw that she was carrying large and small bags, so I knew she was going to run away.

"By the way, it didn't say where Yi Zhonghai and the others are going to serve their sentences."

"I don't know. Yi Zhonghai might have been sent to the Northwest, while He Daqing and Xu Fugui might have been sent to a nearby quarry."

The two chatted briefly before going to sleep.

The next day, Qin Huairu told Jia Zhangshi that she wanted to go back to her hometown.

"Mom, I'm going back to my hometown. It's been a long time since I've been back. I'll bring back some food for the family."

"Okay, go ahead. Remember to take more. A little bit each year isn't enough to feed anyone. The grain rations are getting smaller and smaller these days."

Madam Jia grumbled in dissatisfaction.

"Okay, I understand."

Qin Huairu went straight to the detention center after leaving the house. She was afraid that if she arrived late, Yi Zhonghai might be transferred to another prison, making it difficult to find him.

Upon arriving at the detention center, Yi Zhonghai heard that Qin Huairu wanted to see him, so he hurriedly went to the reception room.

"Huai Ru, what brings you here?"

Qin Huairu looked at Yi Zhonghai with tears in her eyes and began to act.

"You've been sentenced to 13 years; you're going to suffer a lot now."

Yi Zhonghai accepted it.

"It was alright. It took almost 40 years at the beginning, but luckily I made a contribution."

Otherwise, you'd never get out of here in this lifetime. What brings you here?

"Master Dongxu, Li Cuilan has run away."

After hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's mind went blank.

He stammered and asked again.

"Li Cuilan ran away?"

"That's right, she ran away secretly a few days ago, and nobody knows where she went. Now your house has been occupied by Li Jianguo."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's eyes turned red with anger.

Although he hated Li Jianguo, he was now even angrier at Li Cuilan's escape.

I gave her so much money, but I never expected that she would actually abandon me and run away.

That wretched woman, my money!

After much deliberation, I finally sighed. I was going to be sent to the far northwest to reclaim wasteland.

Getting angry won't change anything.

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai's mood had turned somber, Qin Huairu finally got to the point.

"Master, don't be angry. But don't forget you still have your staff. You must cheer up."

Upon hearing the name "Bang Geng," Yi Zhonghai immediately perked up.

Yes, and there's also a son, so there's still hope for the future.

"Huai Ru, you've really had a tough time these past few years. Once I get out, I'll definitely take good care of you and the baby."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's performance became even more emotional.

"Brother Hai, I'm counting on you. You should know what kind of life I've been living in the Jia family."

"Bang Geng is your son. Can you leave him some money so he can eat something better? He's lost weight."

Upon hearing the word "money," Yi Zhonghai immediately became wary. He had already been swindled out of money by his fellow inmates and then by Li Cuilan.

He doesn't have much money left to hide outside, and it will be difficult for him to find a job after his release from prison.

He comforted Qin Huairu with a kind expression.

"Huai Ru, I've hidden a lot of money outside. After I go out..."

Let's get our marriage certificate, and then I'll definitely give you and our child a good life.

Qin Huairu felt so nauseous upon hearing this that she almost vomited.

"You old bastard who wouldn't even spare a dog, won't give me a penny, and yet you still want to marry me."

"Brother Hai, can't you give my mother and me some money now?"

You were imprisoned for thirteen years, and no one helped me anymore.

My child and I were living in dire poverty; I often went hungry.

Qin Huairu lowered her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Suppressing her nausea, she reached out and grabbed Yi Zhonghai's hands.

Seeing Qin Huairu crying and her soft little hand on the back of his hand, Yi Zhonghai grabbed it in his own.

Yi Zhonghai still softened his heart and told her the location where the least amount of money was hidden.

"Huai Ru, there are three small yellow croakers here. You must hide them secretly."

If the Jia family finds out, they will definitely take it all.

After gaining something, Qin Huairu stopped crying and smiled, looking at Yi Zhonghai with deep affection.

"Brother Hai, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of the child."

My daughter and I are waiting for you to get out of prison.

Although Qin Huairu said that, what she was really thinking was how to shut Yi Zhonghai up after he came out.

If he says something inappropriate, Jia Dongxu doesn't know how he'll deal with himself.

Yi Zhonghai patted Qin Huairu's hand reluctantly, and the two parted ways, each with their own thoughts.

After leaving the detention center, Qin Huairu hurried to catch the bus; any later and she might miss her stop.

The gold bars are buried underground and won't disappear; we can dig them up again when the opportunity arises.