All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Qin Huairu, however, saw behind this energetic facade a group of families driven to madness. If the health code malfunctioned, these families, now left with nothing and consumed by fanaticism, would ultimately reach the pinnacle of success or succumb to extremes.

Qin Huairu couldn't believe it. As a mother, she never believed that Bang Geng was cut out to be a general manager. That's why she felt a chill down her spine.

A young man who had only graduated from junior high school went from a bicycle repairman to a company general manager in just six months. The leap was too great, and Qin Huairu simply couldn't believe that her son had such ability.

In fact, many people had thought of the consequences that Qin Huairu had considered. It's just that when people are at their most frenzied, nothing can stop them!

Chapter 123: What does their eating of cornbread have to do with our Health Code?

As a mother, at this moment, she had only one thought in her mind: to pull Banggeng out of this madness!

Although she knew it might not succeed, because Bang Geng was already too caught up in the act and had been blinded by money.

But she still chose to do it because she had to, because she was the mother of the punt.

She stood at the hotel entrance, looking at the luxurious and grand decorations. The hotel sign had also been changed to read "Health Treasure Yanjing Branch of Japan".

Qin Huairu, dressed in an old-fashioned manner, felt uneasy, but finally mustered up her courage and followed the instructions of the receptionist to go inside.

Health Treasure Company is no longer what it used to be. In the beginning, it only rented three floors as an office building. Now, the entire hotel has been booked by Health Treasure Group for a long time. Many of the suites are awarded to fourth-level agents across the country. Even if they do not live there, the rooms are reserved for them.

The upper three floors are office areas, with the general manager's office on the sixth floor. Qin Huairu wanted to go directly to the sixth floor, but was quickly stopped by someone.

Qin Huairu had no choice but to reveal that she was Jia Geng's mother before being led up to the sixth floor by the beautiful secretary.

The secretary led Qin Huairu into the lounge and said that President Jia was in a meeting and asked her to wait patiently. Then, someone was arranged to bring Qin Huairu coffee.

Qin Huairu paced restlessly in the lounge, looking at the luxuriously decorated lounge, which even had a color TV and genuine leather sofas, but Qin Huairu had no mood to enjoy any of these things at the moment.

Standing by the window, watching the flow of people entering and leaving the Health Treasure Group building, Qin Huairu suddenly felt a chill run down her spine as she looked down from the sixth floor. Looking at the crowds below, she suddenly had this inexplicable thought: what if something happened to Health Treasure one day? Would Bang Geng be forced by countless people to jump from here?

Qin Huairu quickly banished the somewhat despairing thought from her mind. At this moment, she wanted even more to pull Banggeng out of this quagmire as soon as possible.

She paced anxiously back and forth by the window, glancing at the door every now and then, hoping that Bang Geng would appear soon.

But by noon, Bang Geng still hadn't appeared. Just as she was about to go out to look for him, she saw Bang Geng, dressed in a suit and tie, rushing towards her from afar with a group of his men.

From afar, Bang Geng saw Qin Huairu looking at him anxiously. He immediately frowned, knowing without guessing that his mother must be asking him about withdrawing from the Health Code app again.

Bang Geng walked to the door, raised his hand, looked at his watch, and said to his subordinates behind him.

"I'm going to the restaurant for lunch in five minutes, and then I'll be in the conference room to meet with the fourth-level agents from Guangdong Province in half an hour. Time is tight, so everyone get moving!"

After saying that, he ignored everyone else and walked towards Qin Huairu with a blank expression.

Qin Huairu looked at her domineering, CEO-like son and felt so unfamiliar with him, but she preferred to trust her own judgment and quickly stepped forward. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Bang Geng's cold voice.

"Mom, I'll give you five minutes. I'm very busy right now. If you want me to quit my job, don't bring it up, so as not to upset anyone!"

Qin Huairu was speechless, but even though she was unhappy, she still had to speak. After organizing her thoughts, Qin Huairu, with a straight face, said to Banggeng.

"Banggeng, Mom came today to talk to you about the Health Kit. I've been investigating the situation in over a dozen streets around our compound for the past two weeks. Currently, 80% of families have someone enrolled in the Health Kit, and they've not only used all their savings but also borrowed money everywhere. Now many families are living on cornbread. If this continues, something bad will happen sooner or later. Banggeng, Mom begs you, please hurry..."

Before Qin Huairu could finish speaking, Bang Geng interrupted her, saying impatiently.

"Mom, I'm begging you, please stop meddling in other people's business. What does their eating cornbread have to do with our Health Code? Did our company force them to buy it? They did it voluntarily. They all want to make a fortune. Even if they're eating cornbread, they're happy. It's all their own choice! Mom, I really don't want to discuss this with you anymore. Let's leave it at that for today! Don't come looking for me again. That's it, I have to go!"

After saying that, Banggeng turned around irritably, pushed open the door, and slammed the glass door shut with a loud bang.

Qin Huairu stood there blankly, somewhat at a loss, and her heart ached. She clutched her chest and found a chair to sit down.

Despite her deep cunning, Qin Huairu still felt a heartbreaking sense of helplessness. She was good at scheming in the compound, but in the face of the current situation, her methods were outdated.

How she wished she could go back to a year ago, when Bang Geng was still working at the repair shop, and although the family wasn't exactly happy, they were quite content. They wouldn't be living in such fear and anxiety now.

At that moment, she suddenly thought of someone.

Xu Damao!

Yes, all of this only became like this after Xu Damao came, but where is Xu Damao?

Yes! Where is Xu Damao?

Qin Huairu suddenly felt a tightness in her heart. She remembered what Bang Geng had told her half a month ago: Xu Damao was going to be transferred back to headquarters and was preparing to leave next month. Did that mean that Xu Damao had already started thinking about his way out?

Qin Huairu sat in the chair, clutching her chest, her mind filled with thoughts. After thinking for a long time, she finally decided that once she found Xu Damao and confronted him in person, she would definitely be able to discover the truth!

But how can we find Xu Damao now?

Qin Huairu had actually been paying attention to Xu Damao for a long time, but since Qin Jingru moved out, given Xu Damao's current status, the two families would hardly have any contact anymore.

After pondering for a minute about how to find Xu Damao, Qin Huairu had some ideas. She stood up with a sullen face and walked outside.

Finding Xu Damao himself is now almost impossible. In the vast city of Yanjing, finding anyone is as difficult as climbing to heaven, let alone an ordinary person like Qin Huairu.

However, Qin Huairu knew who Xu Damao cared about most, and that person was naturally his daughter Xu Xiaonuan. Finding Xu Xiaonuan was much easier!

The only way to find Xu Damao is to start with Xu Xiaonuan!

After figuring it out, Qin Huairu went straight to the gate of a business school in Yanjing. Unfortunately, she was unable to enter the school, but she was certain that Xu Xiaonuan was still studying there.

Moreover, summer vacation is only three days away. As long as she guards the gate, she will definitely run into Xu Xiaonuan. Even if Xu Damao doesn't come, she will find a way to follow Xu Xiaonuan and confront Xu Damao in person.

Although Health Code seems to be thriving now, Qin Huairu sees an impending crisis in the group of people like her second uncle. Perhaps all it takes is a spark to ignite a disaster.

What will happen to the stick-shaped stalks then?

She had already planned it out: once Bang Geng resigned, her whole family would move to the countryside first, and then they would talk about it after the storm had passed.

Unfortunately, Qin Huairu always thought too simply!

Times are different!

Chapter 124: Searching for Xu Damao

Qin Huairu waited from the afternoon until the school closed, but did not see Xu Xiaonuan leave the school, and gained nothing.

But Qin Huairu was not discouraged at all. She turned around and walked towards home. This was only the first day!

Originally, she only needed to come here three days later to wait for Xu Xiaonuan to come home for the holidays, but Qin Huairu was worried and wanted to be on the safe side.

When Qin Huairu got home, she pushed open the door and saw her mother-in-law sitting coldly at the empty table, looking at her.

Qin Huairu glanced at it, then began cooking with a blank expression.

"What time is it? Qin Huairu, let me tell you, don't be so shameless at your age. Our Jia family doesn't need you to eat or wear anything. Bang Geng is such a promising kid, so stop embarrassing him. If you still have the mind to be promiscuous and go around partying, I'll tear your stinking cunt to shreds!"

The old woman's vicious words weighed heavily on Qin Huairu's heart, but she didn't refute them. She had heard these words countless times over the years.

Even if she told the old woman about everything she was doing, she would probably only get the same response as Bang Geng, so it would be better not to say anything at all.

Seeing Qin Huairu busy running around, the squinty-eyed old woman was not moved at all. On the contrary, she found Qin Huairu even more of an eyesore. Her precious grandson had wanted to take her to enjoy a life of luxury several times, but this ungrateful slut had refused each time.

Unfortunately, my legs are getting worse and worse, and I can't walk far. I need that slut to take care of me, otherwise I wouldn't care whether she lives or dies!

The more she looked at her, the more displeased she became. The squinting old woman yelled at Qin Huairu.

"Who are you trying to fool with that dead fish face? I've been starving for hours waiting for you to come back and cook. What can't you buy with money these days? Don't cook for me, I'll eat at the restaurant on the street tonight. From now on, I think you don't need to cook for me anymore. My precious grandson gives you so much money, are you saving it to support your lover or something?"

Qin Huairu was both angry and upset, feeling increasingly suffocated in her chest. She lost her appetite; since the old man had already eaten, she didn't want to eat anymore. Thinking this, Qin Huairu turned and went to the inner room, took off her coat, lay down, closed her eyes, and stopped paying attention to anything else.

The next day, Qin Huairu got up at five o'clock, thinking of getting up to cook, but then thought better of it. Anyway, the old man had money and knew to eat out.

Before leaving, Qin Huairu called out to the inner room.

"Mom, I've got some things to do these next few days. Please eat out by yourself. Take care of things at home!"

After saying that, she turned and walked outside. Sure enough, she heard extremely foul cursing behind her. Qin Huairu closed her eyes and walked outside in pain, her pace gradually quickening.

Another day passed without any results. Qin Huairu stood on a bench at the exit of a park near the school gate and sat there blankly all day.

On the third day, Qin Huairu sat there early in the morning, motionless, quietly watching the school gate. The school would be closed tomorrow afternoon, and there was only one day left. Qin Huairu originally thought that today would be another disappointing day. Even if Xu Xiaonuan went home, she would probably go home tomorrow afternoon.

She looked up at the sky; the sun was high in the sky, and she estimated it was already 10 a.m.

She thought for a moment, then stood up and walked towards a jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) stall on the side of the street that was preparing to close up shop.

Just after Qin Huairu left, a black sedan slowly pulled up beside the school on the other side of the road. Xu Damao and Qin Jingru were sitting inside.

Xu Damao wasn't wearing a suit today, but rather a very ordinary black casual outfit, cloth shoes, and even a pair of flat-lens glasses. With this slight dressing up, he looked somewhat old-fashioned, like a fifty-year-old scholar.

Qin Jingru dressed more and more elegantly, looking somewhat like Xu Damao's mistress. She carried a small handbag, opened the car door, and spoke to Xu Damao inside.

"Da Mao, is it really in such a hurry? I was planning to take Xiao Nuan back to the countryside to see my parents."

Xu Damao replied somewhat impatiently.

“I’ve told you several times, it’s a company arrangement, what can I do? You’re living the life of a rich lady every day, and all of that requires money. Making money is the priority. Jingru, stop dawdling. Didn’t Xiaonuan say she finished her last exam at nine o’clock today? It’s already ten-thirty, go pick her up!”

Qin Jingru gave an "oh" and walked towards the school with her small shoulder bag. It's unclear what she said to the gatekeeper, but she was quickly allowed to pass, and her figure slowly disappeared at the school gate.

Qin Huairu returned to the public bench with the freshly heated jianbing guozi in her hand. Looking at the jianbing guozi in her hand, she felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach. Over the years, she had been eating irregularly, sometimes having a full meal and sometimes not. Especially now that she hadn't eaten for two meals, the sudden sight of steaming hot food made her stomach feel uncomfortable.

She took a bite of the jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe), but perhaps she ate it too quickly and felt a little uncomfortable. Holding the jianbing guozi in one hand and clutching her stomach with the other, she looked pained. She casually glanced up at the school gate.

At that one glance, she was completely captivated. A black sedan was parked by the roadside near the school gate, its dark surface gleaming in the sunlight. Although she couldn't see the person inside clearly, Qin Huairu suddenly had a very strong feeling that the person inside was Xu Damao!

Qin Huairu slowly stood up, wanting to put down the jianbing guozi, but was reluctant to part with it. In the end, she took the jianbing guozi and walked towards the bridge.

Qin Huairu walked very slowly. Her originally excited heart suddenly calmed down at this moment. However, she held the jianbing guozi in her hand tightly, not even noticing the scalding hot packaging.

Xu Damao half-closed his eyes and half-reclined on the seat to rest, completely unaware that Qin Huairu was staring intently at him from outside the car.

Perhaps it was a bit stuffy in the car, Xu Damao slowly rolled down the window. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide and almost jumped up from his seat. Outside the window, Qin Huairu was looking at him coldly with an expressionless face.

When Xu Damao saw Qin Huairu, the panic on his face instantly disappeared, and a smile reappeared. He casually called out to the outside.

"Oh, what a coincidence, Sister Qin! Why didn't you say hello when we met?"

Qin Huairu's eyes never left Xu Damao. She had seen the panic on Xu Damao's face earlier, and now her heart sank even further.

There's something wrong with Xu Damao!

Seeing that Qin Huairu did not answer his question, Xu Damao continued to smile, as if talking to himself.

"Sister Qin, you didn't come to this school just to wait for me, did you?"

Qin Huairu leaned closer to the car window, her face gradually revealing a mixture of pain and determination. She stared at Xu Damao's face and spoke, word by word.

"Xu Damao, if you dare to hurt Banggeng, I will take you down with me!"

After hearing Qin Huairu's words, Xu Damao's smile gradually faded, and he began to carefully examine the woman in front of him.

She looked old, with sallow skin and a few gray hairs at the ends. Combined with her increasingly gaunt face, she looked somewhat out of place. Xu Damao sighed, wondering why he had never been able to forget such a woman back then.