Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Zheng Qiang couldn't help but quicken his pace. Passing the vegetable market, he deliberately turned inside. He carefully selected some freshly bloodied pork ribs from the butcher's stall, and a few bright red tomatoes from the fruit and vegetable stall, filling a basket to the brim. Carrying the heavy basket home, he felt a pang of pain. Lately, he'd been constantly preoccupied with shady matters, leaving him with fewer and fewer opportunities to enjoy a peaceful meal with his wife and children. This little bit of food wasn't much compensation, but it was one of the few things he could do right now.

Elsewhere, He Feng walked Ma Xin to the courtyard gate, watched her push it open and walk in, and only turned and left once her figure completely disappeared behind the door. He walked slowly along the alley, his mind still pondering the details of the day's case—the deceased's interpersonal relationships, the half fingerprint left at the scene. He kept turning them over in his mind, paying no attention to the movements around him. This courtyard seemed peaceful, with neighbors gossiping among themselves. Who could have imagined that so many undercurrents were surging beneath the surface?

At this time, He Yuzhu's life was going smoothly. Since his promotion to deputy director of the steel mill's cafeteria, he had gained some real power and was speaking with a lot more authority. The cafeteria chefs smiled politely when they saw him, and were willing to listen to his instructions on everything, from arranging purchases to allocating staff. Even more comforting, the cafeteria director was approaching retirement age, and many people were privately discussing that the position would eventually belong to He Yuzhu.

He had just finished his finishing work in the cafeteria and was wiping his hands with a cloth as he walked out when he saw He Feng coming in. He smiled and greeted him, "Uncle, you've been getting off work quite lately. Have you eaten yet? There's still something warm on the stove at home. I made a pot of pork rib soup. It's cooked to perfection. How about I bring it over to you?"

He Feng waved his hand with a gentle smile on his face: "No, I've already eaten outside. You should rest early too, and take good care of Qin Jingru. She's pregnant and heavy, and she works very hard every day. You're going to be a father soon, so you have to be more careful and don't be so clumsy and let her suffer."

He Yuzhu felt warm inside after hearing this, as if a little sun had risen in his arms. He nodded repeatedly, "Oh, I understand, uncle. Don't worry! Jingru is now the key protected person in our family. I cook for her in different ways every day, switching between fish and meat. Every now and then I stew an old hen. I'm sure she and the baby in her belly will be plump and white!"

He Feng was amused by him, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out. After a pause, he asked, "Zhu Zi, has anything happened in the courtyard recently? For example, someone quarreled or there were some unfamiliar faces?"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "Uncle, it's nothing, everything is fine. Everyone should go to work and take care of the kids. If there is anything, I will definitely tell you as soon as possible."

He Feng nodded, didn't ask any more questions, and turned back to his room - he had been running cases all day and his calves were cramping. He was really tired and needed to rest and recuperate.

At night, the lights were still on in Jia Dongxu's house. Inside, Jia Dongxu was chatting with Qin Huairu about things at the factory. Jia Dongxu's aunt sat nearby, listening. Suddenly, she stood up and said, "Okay, you two can chat here. I'm going out for a walk. It's a bit boring to stay in the house."

Qin Huairu glanced at her aunt and didn't say much, just nodded - she did the laundry, cooked, and took care of the children at home during the day, thanks to her aunt's help. If she wanted to go out for some fresh air, it was up to her.

Jia Dongxu's aunt was rushing out because she had just caught a glimpse of Yi Zhonghai leaving the courtyard. She had to hurry and catch up, thinking to herself, or else she'd miss him and never get another chance to talk to him again. Yi Zhonghai was either busy working at the factory or mediating disputes in the courtyard during the day, so he rarely had time to spare. This was the only time he could spare a bit of time. If she couldn't even seize this opportunity, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to get the favor she wanted from him, and might even have to pack up and return home early.

She walked quickly to the gate of the yard and saw Yi Zhonghai heading towards the toilet. She had no choice but to find an inconspicuous corner at the door and wait. She leaned against the wall, staring at the toilet door without blinking, not even daring to breathe, for fear that he would be gone in the blink of an eye.

Yi Zhonghai had just walked out of the bathroom and was stretching his arms when a figure suddenly approached him, startling him. He looked up and saw it was Jia Dongxu's aunt, with an inexplicable smile on her face.

"Lao Yi, did you just come out of the bathroom?" Her voice was shrill, with a hint of deliberate intimacy.

Yi Zhonghai frowned and took a half step back to keep some distance: "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the house taking care of Dongxu at this time?" There was a hint of alienation in his tone, and he really didn't want to bother with this person any more.

Jia Dongxu's aunt's smile faltered, and she began to wonder: Old Yi hadn't treated her this way before. Could it be that he thought she was too old and no longer useful? But then she realized she had the leverage, so she wasn't afraid he wouldn't give in. She forced a smile again and leaned closer to Yi Zhonghai, "Old Yi, that's really a strange thing to say. Have you forgotten? Our relationship back then was more than just a relationship between neighbors."

Yi Zhonghai frowned even tighter, and his tone became graver: "Alright, the past is the past. At our age, half of our bodies are buried in the ground, so let's not talk about those trivial things anymore."

Seeing that he was unmoved, Jia Dongxu's aunt simply stopped laughing and said in a threatening tone, "Alright, if you want to turn the page, then I'll tell everyone about what happened back then. I'll let everyone in the courtyard hear about it and see how a respected uncle like you can survive in this courtyard from now on!"

Yi Zhonghai's heart sank, knowing that this person was trying to scam him. He took a deep breath to suppress his anger: "Just say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush. What do you want from me?"

Seeing that he had relaxed, Jia Dongxu's aunt's eyes flashed with pride. She deliberately lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Old Yi, did you know that when I left the courtyard and returned to my hometown, I actually... beat a child." As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Yi Zhonghai's face, "I only heard later that you and your wife have been childless for so many years..."

This was pure fabrication on her part—it had never happened when she left. But she knew Yi Zhonghai's weakness, knowing that his greatest regret in life was not having children, and this was the most painful thorn in his heart.