Kill the beasts in the courtyard, I fled to Hong Kong, surrounded by beauties on both sides.

Qin Huairu stole grain coupons? Possibly. The Jia family is desperate for money right now; stealing grain coupons to exchange for cash makes sense.

Moreover, if he exposes Qin Huairu at the conference, he can not only get back the "stolen" grain coupons, but also establish a "righteous" image, and might even get some benefits from Yi Zhonghai.

As for who wrote the note... that's not important.

The important thing is that the food coupons were real, and the opportunity was real.

Yan Bugui carefully put away the grain coupons and the note, a calculating smile on his face.

There's going to be a show tonight.

At the same time, Qin Huairu found the note in the sewing basket.

"Yan Bugui is going to expose you for stealing grain coupons, be careful."

Her hand trembled, the needle pricked her finger, and a drop of blood appeared.

Stealing grain coupons?

When did she steal grain coupons?

But Yan Bugui wanted to expose her...

Qin Huairu recalled Yan Bugui's visit to collect debts a few days ago, and remembered his scheming face.

If Yan Bugui really said at the meeting that she stole grain coupons, would the people in the compound believe her?

meeting.

Will.

She's already a "speculator" and a bad element, so it wouldn't be surprising if she were charged with "theft" as well.

Qin Huairu slumped onto the kang (a heated brick bed), feeling dizzy and disoriented.

It’s over.

It's all over.

Evening: College-wide meeting

At 7 p.m., a plenary meeting was held at the Intermediate Court.

Three long benches were set up, with Yi Zhonghai in the middle, Liu Haizhong on the left, and Yan Bugui on the right. The three old men had serious expressions, and in front of them was the old, worn-out square table.

There were more than thirty people in the courtyard, some sitting and some standing, forming a semicircle. The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The white banners at the Jia family's gate were still up, fluttering in the night wind like flags summoning souls. Qin Huairu stood by the mourning tent, head bowed, clutching the medical report in her hand, her knuckles white from gripping it so tightly.

Xiao Dang and Huaihua were led by Ma's wife and stood at the back of the crowd. The two little girls didn't know what was happening and just looked at their mother timidly.

Chen Fei sat "weakly" on a stool in the corner, head down, as if afraid to see anyone.

Yi Zhonghai tapped the table and cleared his throat:

"The main purpose of today's meeting is to discuss Comrade Qin Huairu's issue."

The entire room fell silent, and everyone looked at Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu trembled and lowered her head even further.

"After investigation," Yi Zhonghai continued, "Comrade Qin Huairu, due to financial difficulties and a moment of confusion, attempted to exchange grain and meat coupons for money privately. This behavior constitutes serious speculation and profiteering, and is illegal!"

He paused, then scanned the crowd:

"Fortunately, we discovered it early and stopped it in time. Comrade Qin Huairu also realized her mistake and wrote a self-criticism. Now, let her make a public apology."

All eyes were on Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu slowly walked forward and stood in front of the square table, her hands trembling violently. She unfolded the medical report and began to read:

"I, Qin Huairu... due to financial difficulties, in a moment of confusion... attempted to exchange grain coupons and meat coupons for money through private transactions... deeply realize my mistake... and promise not to repeat it..."

She read slowly, in a soft voice, her tone choked with sobs. With each sentence, a tear fell onto the paper.

The courtyard was silent except for her sobs and the sound of the doctor reading the examination report.

Some people showed sympathy, some shook their heads and sighed, and some looked on with disdain.

Sha Zhu stood in the crowd, looking at Qin Huairu, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart. He wanted to stand up and say something, but his feet felt like they were nailed to the ground, unable to move.

After Qin Huairu finished reading, she stood there, head down, shoulders trembling.

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "To err is human, to forgive divine. I hope Comrade Qin Huairu will remember this lesson and behave well in the future."

He looked at everyone: "Does anyone have anything to say?"

No one spoke.

Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to adjourn the meeting, Yan Bugui suddenly stood up.

"Sir, I have something to say."

Everyone looked at Yan Bugui.

Yi Zhonghai frowned: "Old Yan, you speak."

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, took out the paper package from his pocket, opened it, and took out the grain coupons inside:

"I'm going to expose her! Qin Huairu is not only engaging in speculation and profiteering, but also stealing grain coupons!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Qin Huairu suddenly looked up, her face deathly pale: "Third Uncle, you...you're talking nonsense!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Yan Bugui held up the grain coupons. "These grain coupons were found at your house! They're all new coupons from this year, a total of ten jin! Qin Huairu, tell me, where did these grain coupons come from?"

"I...I don't know..." Qin Huairu panicked, "These food coupons aren't mine..."

"If it's not yours, how come it's in your house?" Yan Bugui pressed closer. "Qin Huairu, you stole the grain coupons, caught red-handed, still trying to deny it?"

"I didn't! I really didn't!" Qin Huairu cried out, "Third Uncle, why did you frame me?"

"Frame you?" Yan Bugui sneered. "Why would I frame you? You clearly stole these grain coupons! And you still want to deny it?"

The two started arguing.

The courtyard was even more chaotic.

Yi Zhonghai's face was grim. He hadn't expected Yan Bugui to intervene and disrupt his plans.

Liu Haizhong, on the other hand, had a look on his face as if he were watching a good show.

Sha Zhu looked at the grain coupons in Yan Bugui's hand, then at Qin Huairu who was crying her eyes out, and his heart was in turmoil.

Could it be... that Qin Huairu really stole the grain coupons?

Chen Fei sat in the corner, head down, a cold smile playing on his lips.

The dogs are fighting, and it's started.

Late at night: Qin Huairu's breakdown

The meeting ended in discord.

Although the matter of Qin Huairu stealing grain coupons was not yet confirmed, it had already spread throughout the courtyard. Most people believed Yan Bugui—after all, the grain coupons were real, while Qin Huairu's reputation was now ruined.

Qin Huairu returned to the house, closed the door, and slumped to the ground.

Xiao Dang and Huaihua were brought back by Ma's wife. When they saw their mother sitting on the ground crying, they were so frightened that they started to cry too.

"Mommy...don't cry..." Xiao Dang hugged Qin Huairu's neck, tears streaming down her face.

Qin Huairu hugged her two daughters and cried even harder.

She knew she was finished.

Speculation, stealing grain coupons, stealing public property... these charges were pinned on her, and she could no longer hold her head up in the courtyard.

No one will help her, no one will believe her.

Even Sha Zhu... didn't stand up for her today.

Qin Huairu recalled the image of Sha Zhu turning away last night, and his cold gaze at the meeting today…

Her last glimmer of hope was extinguished.

The night grew deeper.

Qin Huairu put her two daughters to sleep, then sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked at the moon outside the window.

The pale moonlight shone on the ground, making it look like a layer of frost.

She recalled many things: the kindness Jia Dongxu showed her when she first married into the Jia family; the joy the whole family felt when Banggeng was born; and how, although her mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi, was harsh, at least they were family…

Now, there's nothing left.

Husband dead, son dead, mother-in-law dead, her reputation ruined, and she still has to support two daughters...

How can we live like this?

Qin Huairu walked to the mirror and looked at the haggard woman in it: her eyes were red and swollen, her face was pale, and her hair was disheveled, making her look like a ghost.

She suddenly laughed, a very sad laugh.

Then, she picked up the scissors and aimed them at her wrist.

Late at night: Chen Fei's eavesdropping

Chen Fei lay on the bed, listening to the sounds coming from the courtyard.

He "heard" Qin Huairu crying.

He also "heard" the sound of the scissors being picked up.

But he didn't move.

If Qin Huairu really wants to die, he won't stop her.

But he knew that Qin Huairu would not die.

This woman is resilient; she will live on for her child.

Sure enough, after a while, the sound of scissors being put down could be heard.

Then came suppressed sobs.

Chen Fei closed his eyes.

The resentment in my chest dissipated somewhat.

He seemed to hear his mother Li Xiulan's voice: "Enough...she's a pitiful person too..."

Chen Fei thought to himself, "Mom, she's not pitiful. When she was scheming against our family, she never thought we'd be pitiful."

Outside the window, the wind howled.

The courtyard was immersed in a deathly silence.

But Chen Fei knew that beneath this silence, undercurrents were surging.

Tomorrow, there will be an even bigger storm.