Siheyuan (courtyard house): My name is Shazhu!

When Qin Huairu and her father met, they looked at each other speechlessly, tears streaming down their faces. They then bid farewell to the villagers and went home.

There were four soldiers on the truck who helped carry the gifts into Qin Huairu's father's yard, filling the yard to the brim, before driving the truck back.

Two cadres and two soldiers are still alive!

Their task was to accompany and protect Qin Huairu, and to resolve any issues she might encounter. If they couldn't resolve them, they would report the matter to the authorities.

We must make sure the guests are satisfied; her husband has done a great job for us!

"Huai Ru, you're finally back! How were you doing out there?" Qin Huai Ru's mother, who was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), sat up when she saw her daughter return.

"Mom, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why don't you go to the hospital to get it checked out!"

I am doing very well in Gangcheng, so you don't need to worry about me. This is your grandson He Mingli and granddaughter He Mingyue.

You have three granddaughters in the port city, but they're at school and couldn't come. I'll bring them back next time. Mingli and Mingyue call her Grandma.

Hello, Grandma!

"They're all good kids, so obedient. The eldest daughter-in-law took out some candy from the house for the guests and children to eat."

Huai Ru, I'm fine. I've just had an upset stomach these past few days, probably from something I ate. It'll be fine in a few days.

"Mother, sister-in-law, you don't need to go. I brought back a lot of candy and chocolate. Come and have a taste."

Mother, your health is no small matter. My eyelids have been twitching these past few days in the port city, and I've been restless all day, so I rushed back.

I'll take you to a big hospital for a check-up tomorrow. If we're sick, we can get treatment; if we're not, it'll put our minds at ease.

"Forget it, how much would it cost to go to the hospital? Postpartum recovery is tough, we should be frugal."

"Mother, now that your daughter has money, you don't need to worry about it. Money is the last thing I lack; anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem."

"That's what Daddy said," He Mingyue added.

"Even if you earn some money, you have to be careful with it. I've heard that it's expensive where you are. I asked the cadres who came here before, and you can't fool me." The old man was still reluctant to spend money.

"Mom, those are ordinary people. Your daughter owns twenty-eight jewelry stores, and her annual net income exceeds HK$800 million."

With my stock market investments and rental income, I can earn a billion a year. That's less than a million for medical treatment. Trust me.

"What's a billion? I don't know. How did you get the money to open a jewelry store? I heard it used to be a place that sold goods to wealthy women."

"Don't worry, my jewelry store was funded by Zhu Zi. After I went to Hong Kong, I got pregnant and gave birth to Hui'er. She started working after weaning in 58."

In thirteen years, I've opened twenty-eight jewelry stores. I plan to stop at thirty-six and open a few more in a different location, perhaps here if the opportunity arises.

"Just follow the right path. Is Zhu Zi that rich? He even helped you open a shop!"

"He's very rich; his annual net income is..."

"I never expected you to be so rich. With your money, we can go to the hospital for treatment." The old man finally agreed.

"Comrade, may we go over tonight? I'm still a little uneasy."

"No problem, the hospital is open anytime, and they have doctors on duty. We'll arrange for you to go see a doctor."

"Dad, how about this: you distribute the gifts in the yard, and I'll take Mom to see the doctor. I'll have someone notify you if anything happens, okay?"

"Alright, you guys go first. Let your sister-in-law go too; your nephews are all grown up now, they don't need anyone looking after them. I'll distribute the gifts."

"Is it okay, sister-in-law?"

"No problem, the youngest, Xiaolin, is already eleven. They're all big kids, we don't need to worry about them."

Qin Huairu took her mother and child away from Qin Family Village to see a doctor. She was very anxious and kept thinking that something serious had happened and that her mother was seriously ill.

The feeling from thousands of miles away doesn't lie!

Qin's father, her eldest brother, and her second brother were stunned when they saw the mountain of gifts piled up in the yard. After looking at each other, they prepared to distribute the gifts.

Fortunately, I still have a gift list left by Qin Huairu, which I can use to distribute the gifts.

Five sets of household appliances were given, one set to each of the four elders, and one extra set to the younger brother. Qin Huairu was a little biased, as Qin Huaiyong was someone she had raised in her arms for ten years.

You could say she's half a mother.

He received every gift; he had what his older brother didn't, and he also had what his older brother had.

The gifts that made Qin's father and uncles happiest were canned meat, canned fruit, instant noodles, cloth, and two hundred kilograms of cotton!

Despite the support from above, people who were afraid of hunger still craved food. Eating meat and fruit was a luxury, while cloth and cotton were too practical and needed by many families.

On the contrary, they think household appliances and jewelry are just so-so. They can't be eaten. They have wives and children at home. Why use a washing machine? They don't even have enough food at home. What's the use of a refrigerator?

They've given them some to take back first; the third brother's yard is almost overflowing. Later, they'll distribute some to the villagers.

Qin's father was distributing gifts. Qin Huairu and the others arrived at the hospital, where they were accompanied and everything was convenient. It was Xiehe Hospital, which was basically not open to the public. They heard that the patient was the parents of the person who had donated medical equipment to them.

Their attitude changed immediately. The on-duty doctor started calling for more people to come and have a full check-up tonight. They couldn't delay because their big spender's relative was sick.

Qin Huairu has lived in the port city for more than ten years and has heard a lot about diseases, such as stomach cancer!

The doctors had anticipated that a diagnosis would take time, several days, and after all that work, Qin Huairu and her sister-in-law returned to the state guesthouse to rest at 1 a.m.

There are dedicated nurses to take care of patients here, and Qin Huairu's mother can move around on her own without needing anyone to stay with her in bed.

The next day, around 5 p.m., He Yushui and Qin Huairu had a simple meal and then took some gifts to the courtyard house, where Qin Huairu's younger brother was also staying.

He Yushui wanted to visit Aunt Tan. It had been fifteen years since she last saw her. Her two adopted children, Junjun and Jingjing, had grown up and should be twenty-two years old now.

They arrived at the courtyard at 5:50. The steel mill workers were returning to the courtyard, having timed their arrival precisely.

"It's He Yushui and Qin Huairu. I didn't expect them to be back. Nothing went wrong, and they seem to be living very well. Are they here to see Jia Zhangshi?"

"It couldn't be that she came to see Jia Zhangshi; she should have come to see Qin Huaixin, who is her own brother. It's even less likely that Yu Shui came to see Jia Zhangshi; it's good enough that she wasn't beaten to death."

They might come to see Aunt Tan again; they brought quite a few gifts!

"Rainwater is so tall!"

"Zhu Zi took good care of his sister back then, and he was willing to spend money on her!"

"really."

He Yushui and Qin Huairu greeted the people in the compound with whom they had a good relationship, and gave the children some candy and chocolate!

There were a few households they didn't recognize, so they just nodded and walked past. But when Qin Huairu saw Liang Ladi standing with a man she didn't recognize, she was still a little surprised!

Liang Ladi remarried after her divorce.

"Huai Ru is back. I knew you were alright back then. You left Yanjing and are now living there. You must be doing very well. You don't look old at all."

This is the man I just met named Nan Yi. Da Mao's father died in the line of duty in early 63, and I have a hard time raising four children.

These are Sanmao and Xiuer; they weren't even born before you left. Liang Ladi is still as outspoken as ever.

"..."

"Fifteen years have passed since I last had the chance to return. I don't know what happened here. We left to live in the port city, and we're doing quite well."

"Are you returning it? I just came to take a look!"

"I have to go back. My home is there, Zhu Zi is there, and the children are all there. I can't not go back."

"Kids, you really did leave with Zhu and his sister back then. Go see your younger siblings first, we'll talk later. He's already home."

"Goodbye, Ladi, Nanyi, Sanmao, and Xiuer."

Goodbye, Aunt Qin.