Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Yan Bugui stood at the bottom of the steps outside the door, still making a last-ditch effort: "Third Master, please, we really have nowhere else to turn."

That's your business.

Third Master retorted with a barrage of insults, "Your dead sons and grandsons, why should I, an old man, be dragged down with you?"

Was it easy for me to live for over sixty years?

That thing killed eight people in one night, and you want me to go and get it? Do you think I have too much life or what?

Liu Haizhong rushed to the door, pounding on it with both hands and crying, "Third Master! Please have mercy! My two sons are dead, Guangfu and Guangtian are both dead..."

"So what if he's dead? You can have two more."

Third Master roared mercilessly through the door.

Liu Haizhong was speechless for a long time after hearing this, when he suddenly remembered that his eldest son was still alive.

Then everything is fine.

The Liu family line has not been severed.

Third Master's cursing continued: "Let me tell you, this is a new society now, stop trying to fool people with these superstitious things."

So the destruction of the Four Olds didn't reach you, huh?

They're even catching evil spirits?

"I'm an old man, I don't know anything about exorcising evil spirits. I'm just an old bachelor collecting night-blooming jasmine. Don't try to smear me."

"Third Master..."

Yan Bugui still wanted to struggle a bit more.

"If you have any problems, go to the police. Didn't the city bureau send a special task force? Go find the police."

After finishing his last curse, Third Master slammed the manure bucket behind the door and stormed back into the house.

You all said the deaf old lady saw evil spirits with her own eyes, and you still want me to go? Isn't that just trying to get me killed?

Don't you know your own level?

Pretending to be a ghost is fine, but if you actually encounter evil spirits, you'll be looking for trouble in the latrine.

"You deaf old man, how dare you try to frame me? No way!"

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong stood outside the door, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Yan Bugui turned around slowly, looking dejected, and started walking back. His back was hunched, as if he had suddenly aged ten years.

Liu Haizhong followed behind him, his steps dragging. "What do we do now?"

Yan Bugui did not turn around, nor did he stop walking.

"Third Master is right. If there's trouble, call the police. Let's go back and explain what happened to the task force."

...

Siheyuan.

Wang Cuilan ran back.

Police officers could be seen searching for clues both inside and outside the compound.

We went inside.

Wang Cuilan pulled a dusty box off the top of the cabinet, threw it on the kang (a heated brick bed), and then turned to lift the kang mat.

There was a loose blue brick under the kang mat, and she had to pry it off with her fingernail several times before she could get it off.

Underneath the brick was a tin box with a rusty lid. Inside, neatly arranged were bankbooks, large black coins, a bundle of yellow croaker wrapped in red cloth, and several pieces of silver jewelry.

Wang Cuilan turned the tin box upside down on the kang (a heated brick bed), and banknotes, coins, goldfish, and silver bracelets clattered all over the quilt.

Hearing someone outside, they immediately covered all the money, and the door creaked open.

Jia Zhangshi stood at the door, holding Xiao Dang in her arms, her eyes wide open.

"Wang Cuilan, where are you going?"

"go home."

Wang Cuilan didn't even look up, continuing to stuff clothes into the box.

"go home?"

Madam Jia asked in confusion, "Didn't you come to Beijing during the war? Where did you get a home?"

Wang Cuilan paused for a moment, then looked up and glanced at Jia Zhangshi.

But Jia Zhangshi understood.

She was cursing herself, saying, "It's none of your business."

"If I say it's there, then it's there."

After Wang Cuilan finished speaking, she continued tidying up.

Jia Zhangshi switched Xiao Dang's arms and took two steps forward, blocking the doorway with her body.

Suddenly, she remembered something, and her expression changed: "Wang Cuilan, you're leaving. What are you going to do about the 1,500 yuan you owe my family?"

"Go find Yi Zhonghai, this has nothing to do with me."

Jia Zhangshi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly considered cheating, her mind racing with calculations.

Yi Zhonghai is still detained in the police station, and it's uncertain whether he will be released.

If Wang Cuilan runs away, who will we ask for the 1,500 yuan?

Yi Zhonghai earns 99 yuan a month. If Wang Cuilan takes all of that money, he won't even get a penny, let alone 1,500 yuan.

"Are you trying to run away?"

Madam Jia threw a tantrum, saying, "No! You have to give me the money, or I won't let you leave!"

She put Xiaodang down in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), rushed to the edge of the kang, and grabbed Wang Cuilan's arm as she was folding clothes.

Wang Cuilan was pulled so hard that she swayed and the gray cotton-padded jacket in her hand fell onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"What are you doing?"

Wang Cuilan tried to shake her arm, but couldn't.

"What are you calling me?"

Jia Zhangshi gripped the bag even tighter. "Give me the money and I'll let you go. If you don't, you're not leaving this house today."

Wang Cuilan turned her head and glared at Jia Zhangshi.

The two women stared at each other in this awkward position, Wang Cuilan's arm was being held, and neither of them would let go.

Wang Cuilan's chest heaved violently with anger, her mind racing.

Time is running out; the task force is still investigating in the front yard, and someone could come in at any moment.

If I continue to entangle with this old hag, and if I attract the attention of evil spirits, I really won't be able to leave.

Money is important, but living is more important.

Why should she be responsible for repaying the debts owed by Yi Zhonghai?

But in the end, she also got a share of everything she ate and used in the Yi family over the years.

Fine, I'll give it to him. I'll just consider it as a final act of kindness on his behalf, since we were husband and wife.

Anyway, it's all money that Yi Zhonghai worked hard to earn.

"I'll give it to you."

Jia Zhangshi loosened her grip slightly, but not completely, clearly still uneasy.

"You go out first, I'll get you the money."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Instead, Jia Zhangshi held on even tighter, saying, "What if you lock the door and run away through the window after I go out? There's an alley right outside the back window."

"If you're just standing here, how am I supposed to get the money?"

Wang Cuilan's voice turned cold. "The money is at the bottom of the box. I have to search it."

After hesitating for a moment, Jia Zhangshi let go of her hand, took two steps back, and retreated to the doorway, but stuck one foot in the door frame to prevent the door from closing.

"I'm watching you right here, so don't try anything funny."

Wang Cuilan didn't close the door; instead, she stood with her back to it, blocking Jia Zhangshi's view, and counted rapidly on her fingers.

One thousand five hundred and fifty large black tens.

Just as Jia Zhangshi was about to peek inside, Wang Cuilan, carrying a box, suddenly pulled the door open, and she almost fell headfirst into the room.

Wang Cuilan shoved the money into her arms: "Fifteen thousand, right here. Don't stop me, I'm leaving now."

This time, Jia Zhangshi didn't stop anyone. She looked happily at the huge pile of black ten in her arms, her mind filled with thoughts of: I'm rich, I'm rich, my life is secure now.

Wang Cuilan rushed out of the courtyard house.

"You're smart to know what's good for you!"

Jia Zhangshi shouted at her, then looked down at the stack of money in her hand, her mouth stretching to her ears.

He carried the money back into the house, happily counting it. After counting it twice to make sure it was correct, he complained:

"Even a barren old hen like Wang Cuilan wouldn't dare cheat her mother out of her money; she's honest enough."

After calming down, Madam Jia Zhang felt something was wrong. Where were the people in the courtyard?

……