Volume One, Chapter 13: Starting Price Upon Landing

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai nearly jumped up.

“Su Jianshe! We agreed on five thousand yuan for the letter of forgiveness; how can you back out now?”

Su Jianshe’s expression remained calm as he met Yi Zhonghai’s cold gaze. “Yi Zhonghai, have you forgotten that at yesterday’s full court meeting, you forced me to apologize to those people from the Jia family?”

“I just added a bit to the price; that’s not too much, is it?”

Too much! Why don’t you go rob someone!

Yi Zhonghai’s face flickered with unease. After a moment, he asked again, “How much then?”

“Six thousand.”

“Su Jianshe, why don’t you just go rob someone! Six thousand yuan—who in this court can easily come up with that?”

“Seven thousand.”

“If you keep demanding more, I’ll increase it again! You’re the one breaking our agreement!”

“You…”

After a long pause, Yi Zhonghai sighed in resignation, stood up, and hurried off to fetch the money with a package.

When he returned, the package was noticeably swollen.

Su Jianshe, unhurried, found paper and pen inside the room and began to write.

Soon, the letter of forgiveness was placed before Yi Zhonghai.

Having received a higher education, Su Jianshe knew a little about letters of forgiveness.

He casually picked up a small package beside Yi Zhonghai, opened it, and found seven thousand yuan inside.

After counting it carefully, he walked slowly to the door.

“Sir, it’s almost mealtime. I won’t keep you any longer.”

Yi Zhonghai was stunned, his face darkened further, and he left with the letter of forgiveness.

Su Jianshe paid no attention to this old stubborn man. Stretching lazily, he saw it was still early and wanted to return to sleep.

At that moment, the door was knocked on again.

Su Jianshe was furious.

“Enough noise already! Knocking nonstop this early in the morning—can’t urgent matters wait until daytime?”

Grumbling, he went to the door and flung it open.

A cold wind blew in, revealing the figure of Qin Huairu.

“Qin Huairu, what are you doing here?”

“Jianshe, please let me in. Once inside, I’ll explain everything.”

Qin Huairu tried to squeeze in, but Su Jianshe gently pushed her back with one hand on her head.

“No. Just say what you need to say here. It’s not appropriate to go inside; I don’t want others to misunderstand me.”

Qin Huairu’s face darkened, but she forced a smile.

“Jianshe, I really have nothing to do with Shazhu. I came today to ask you to let Banggeng go. He’s still small, not even ten years old, and already crippled in his hand. If he goes back to the juvenile detention center, his life is over. Please, I beg you!”

She clung tightly to Su Jianshe, trying to get closer.

“Brother, who’s outside?”

Chuyan from the back room seemed to hear the commotion. She quickly wrapped herself and stepped out.

“It’s nothing. Qin Huairu came to discuss Banggeng.”

Chuyan didn’t leave but hurried to stand beside Su Jianshe, leaning against him and staring wide-eyed at Qin Huairu.

Like a protective mother hen guarding her chicks, making Su Jianshe both helpless and amused.

“Auntie, please stay away from my brother. He’s not Shazhu; he doesn’t deserve this.”

Chuyan’s words carried a hint of jealousy.

Su Jianshe wasn’t angry, finding his little sister quite endearing.

Qin Huairu’s expression, however, turned sour.

She was confident in her beauty and figure, unmatched by anyone around.

Chuyan was just a naive girl; what right did she have to compete for Su Jianshe?

But then, her age…

“Jianshe, I beg you. As long as you don’t make things difficult for Banggeng, I’m willing to do anything!”

Qin Huairu said this while deliberately displaying her figure.

Su Jianshe quickly withdrew his hand, as if touching something unclean, feeling disgusted.

After all, Qin Huairu single-handedly supported the entire Jia family—how could that be possible?

Especially with her meager monthly salary, how could she manage?

Setting aside Shazhu’s blind worship, why did even Yi Zhonghai often help out?

It was unimaginable.

Thinking of this, Su Jianshe felt only revulsion.

He shook his head and advised, “Qin Huairu, the root of the problem lies in Banggeng’s own misconduct. You should make him learn self-reflection and stop stealing. Begging me won’t help.”

At this moment, Chuyan imitated her brother’s tone and said to Qin Huairu, “Our family doesn’t welcome you!”

Then she closed the door, refusing to pay any more attention.

Su Jianshe noticed his sister seemed a bit jealous and couldn’t help but smile quietly.

Looking at Chuyan’s sulky face, he gently stroked her head to comfort her, “Don’t be upset. She came for Banggeng. I’m not Shazhu; I won’t be fooled so easily.”

“A simp?” Chuyan wondered, then blushed and pretended to be angry. “Brother!”

Stomping her foot, Chuyan shyly ran to the backyard to freshen up, muttering in her heart, “Why did Brother touch my head like that… but it feels kind of nice. Next time… next time I definitely won’t let him do it again!”

As she washed by the well, her cheeks remained flushed.

Su Jianshe smiled lightly, not bothered by his sister’s little mood, and began to wash himself.

Leaning against the doorframe of Su Jianshe’s home, Qin Huairu sobbed uncontrollably.

Her mind drifted back to the past, recalling her son’s once gentle nature, now cruelly maimed with a severed finger and wailing as he was taken away. Her heart twisted in pain.

“Banggeng, Mom will definitely save you!” Qin Huairu wiped her tears, composed herself, and slowly walked toward home.

Before reaching the door, she encountered two women carrying basins.

“Auntie, I heard the crackdown is severe lately. Our courtyard has such troubles again. The red-flag unit might be lost. What a disaster!”

“Who says not? These days keep bringing trouble: first the old lady’s scandal, then Jia Zhangshi stealing with her grandson.”

“I heard the crackdown is strict. Banggeng is still young, but if things go wrong, he might spend ten years in juvenile detention. How could he steal from others?”

…

Though their voices were low, Qin Huairu happened to overhear as she passed by.

Ten years! Her heart jolted; panic overwhelmed her. Without caring about appearances, she rushed to Yi Zhonghai’s house.

“Sir! Sir!”

Yi Zhonghai and his wife had long been awake. Being elderly, their sleep was light, and the winter cold spurred early activity to warm themselves, so they breakfasted very early.

Hearing Qin Huairu’s voice, Yi Zhonghai frowned, secretly thinking: Qin Huairu still doesn’t understand that one should avoid close contact in this court.

Though reluctant, Yi Zhonghai opened the door. Beside him, the aunt silently sat, eating cornbread with pickles as if the outside world meant nothing to her.

Yi Zhonghai’s face darkened. As soon as he opened the door, Qin Huairu fell to her knees.

“Sir, please save Banggeng! He’s young, not even ten, and already crippled. If he goes back to jail for ten years, his whole life is ruined!” Qin Huairu wept uncontrollably, drawing the gaze of neighbors who looked on with various thoughts, some even peeking at Yi Zhongtian.

“Qin Huairu, stand up! Dongxu is my disciple, and Banggeng is like my grandson. If something happens to him, how could I stand idly by?” Yi Zhonghai’s words silenced the crowd.

He then led Qin Huairu inside. The aunt silently added a bowl and chopsticks in front of Qin Huairu and ate quietly, as if already aware of everything.

Qin Huairu had no time to care about anything else. She grabbed Yi Zhonghai’s sleeve tightly and pleaded, “Sir, the police are cracking down hard. Banggeng might be sentenced to ten years. What can we do?” After speaking, she covered her face and wept.

Yi Zhonghai’s expression grew serious. This matter was partly related to the old lady and Shazhu. The courtyard had always been a red-flag unit year after year, but because of their troublemaking, the neighborhood committee was displeased. Whether the red-flag status could be maintained was uncertain, but the negative impact had spread. Added to Su Jianshe’s report, the courtyard had become a focus of police attention. The broader environment was unfavorable; it wasn’t impossible for Banggeng and Jia Zhangshi to be sentenced to ten years. Banggeng was young; after ten years, he’d only be twenty, but Jia Zhangshi might never get out.

“Don’t worry. I’ve heard about the crackdown but am not sure of the details,” Yi Zhonghai sighed, seemingly moved. “Right now, the key is to get Su Jianshe’s letter of forgiveness!”

A letter of forgiveness? Qin Huairu looked bewildered; she didn’t even know what that was.

However, thinking it could save Banggeng, she hurriedly said, “Su Jianshe is so heartless. He just won’t forgive Banggeng!”

“Banggeng made mistakes, but it shouldn’t be this bad. Doesn’t Su Jianshe have problems too?”

“If he could show some mercy, Banggeng wouldn’t have to steal.”

“Everyone in the courtyard knows our family’s hardships. Everyone helps, so why can’t he?”

The aunt nearby frowned.

She still remembered the registration fee she had fronted at the hospital. Judging by Qin Huairu’s tone, it seemed she had no intention of repaying.

“Enough talk. The key now is to get Su Jianshe to write the letter of forgiveness so Banggeng can avoid juvenile detention!”

“Moreover, during this crackdown, every day we delay getting the letter adds risk. You should think of ways to get the letter quickly!”

When Qin Huairu left Yi Zhonghai’s house, she had only five yuan.

It was all she had managed to borrow after much pleading.

The aunt, who had been silent, became angry when Qin Huairu asked to borrow a hundred yuan to get Su Jianshe to write the letter.

“How can we live like this? We just spent over five thousand yuan; the family is almost broke, and now you want more money? This life is over!”

“Auntie, please help me. Consider this money a debt I owe you and I promise to repay it!”

Qin Huairu almost knelt again.

But the aunt remained unmoved.

Usually, borrowing three or five yuan was written off.

But now, after all the money already spent, Qin Huairu asking for a hundred yuan was unacceptable.

“Fine, pay back what you owe us from these years first!”

In the end, Yi Zhonghai settled the matter with five yuan.

“Enough arguing. Dongxu is my disciple. How could his master stand by and do nothing? Qin Huairu, take these five yuan for now. I’ll handle the rest. You also need to find ways to raise more money.”

After leaving Yi Zhonghai’s home, Qin Huairu felt utterly dejected.

Her monthly income was always insufficient, and she had to borrow money from Shazhu.

Even the registration fee for Banggeng’s medical treatment was borrowed from the neighbor aunt.

“Where am I going to get money now?”

At that moment, Xu Damao, having just finished breakfast, stepped out with chicken feed.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck…”

In the coop, an old hen paced and just laid an egg, which fell into the nest below.

Seeing the egg, Xu Damao’s face lit up with joy.

“Tonight we can have a treat!”

Coincidentally, Qin Huairu passed by with reddened eyes and a downcast expression.

“Qin Huairu!”

Seeing her, Xu Damao’s eyes glinted with a sly thought.

He had admired this acknowledged beauty of the courtyard for a long time.

Seeing her so dejected today, he sensed an opportunity and called out anxiously, afraid to miss it.

Qin Huairu stopped and looked at Xu Damao.

Her gaze fell on the old hen in his yard, and she felt envious.

Nowadays, few could afford eggs.

Most still ate pickles and cornbread.

Eggs were undoubtedly a luxury.

Yet Qin Huairu could only envy.

She knew Xu Damao was not generous like Shazhu and would not easily give away eggs or the hen.

“What’s wrong?”

Qin Huairu sniffled, trying to keep composed.

“Nothing, just asking about Banggeng. This child is still young, injured, and now in the police station. As his uncle, I’m really worried but don’t know how to bring it up. If there’s any difficulty, speak up. If I can help, I will!”

Xu Damao spoke while his eyes kept drifting to Qin Huairu.

Despite the cold weather, the courtyard’s residents wore thin clothes due to poverty. Cloth and cotton were rationed, so new clothes were hard to come by. Xu Damao thought Qin Huairu’s attire accentuated her figure, far more alluring than the girls he had coaxed in the countryside, and such clothing highlighted her curves.

Compared to the countryside, the Jia family, though poor, at least did not let Qin Huairu go hungry.

From Qin Huairu’s words and Xu Damao’s hints, he roughly understood the situation.

“That kid Su Jianshe is ruthless—demanding five thousand yuan from Yi Zhonghai before agreeing to write the letter.”

“Qin Huairu will likely be disappointed this time; she only offered a hundred. I don’t think that kid will budge.”

Xu Damao secretly rejoiced but feigned closeness, leaning toward Qin Huairu and whispering, “Meet me at the usual place at noon. If you satisfy me, that hundred yuan is negotiable.”

After speaking, Xu Damao ignored Qin Huairu’s reaction and continued feeding the chickens. Qin Huairu pretended not to hear and walked on, her heart turbulent.

She kept pondering her future livelihood and Xu Damao’s...

“Old Yi Zhonghai used to give ten yuan, but now with Banggeng in juvenile detention, only five. He must really be out of money.”

“Shazhu is even less reliable. Who knows when he’ll get out.”

Qin Huairu thought again of Xu Damao, who was a projectionist with a good salary and a hen.

“If I can win him over, what worry is there about eggs?”