Chapter 47: You Foolish Zhu, Get Inside Right Now!

The deaf old lady had now regained her composure. With Jia Dongxu’s support, she staggered over to Zhou Ke and said, “Comrade, I am the deaf old lady. Years ago, I made straw sandals for the soldiers. I have good relations with the leaders Zhang and Wang at the neighborhood committee and the public security bureau. For my sake, please…”

“What deaf old lady? What public security bureau leaders? I don’t know any of them. All I know is that anyone who fights with our railway workers won’t get away,” Zhou Ke interrupted firmly.

Zhou Ke was unfazed by the mention of those leaders. The railway police and the public security bureau were two separate systems. No matter how powerful those leaders were, they couldn’t interfere with the railway police station.

The deaf old lady was always domineering, but she hadn’t expected Zhou Ke to give her no face at all. She felt a wave of dizziness and near fainting.

But she knew she must not fall now. If she did, her grandson would be lost.

She gritted her teeth against the discomfort, turned to Li Aiguo, and forced a faint smile: “Li’s boy, your methods this time are ruthless. I admit defeat. Tell me, what do you want to spare Shazhu?”

“Money? I can give you… a thousand yuan!”

“An apology? I’ll make Shazhu kowtow and apologize right now!”

“What else do you want? Just say it.”

A thousand yuan—at this statement, not only the residents and the police officers but even Zhou Ke gasped inwardly. Cornmeal cost a tenth of a yuan per jin; a thousand yuan could buy ten thousand jin of cornmeal—enough to feed a family of three well for years. The deaf old lady was truly generous.

Jia Dongxu was green with envy. If only he had let Shazhu beat him up back then. A beating in exchange for a thousand yuan was worth it!

What? The beaten had to be a railway worker? Never mind then.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Li Aiguo clasped his hands and smiled faintly: “Old lady, keep that money for your retirement. I don’t want it. Today, Shazhu must go in. I, Li Aiguo, say so.”

“Fine, fine! You really give no face at all!” The deaf old lady’s vision darkened, and she swayed. If not for Jia Dongxu holding her up, she would have collapsed.

Li Aiguo was too lazy to waste words on the deaf old lady. He turned to Zhou Ke: “Officer, can you take Shazhu away now?”

“Of course!” Zhou Ke said, preparing to take Shazhu away.

Realizing the dire situation, Shazhu panicked and said, “Comrade, I’m innocent—I was framed. The real mastermind is…”

Yi Zhonghai’s face turned pale as he hurriedly interrupted, “Shazhu, have you forgotten what I told you? You can’t just think of yourself; you have to consider the bigger picture. Everyone doing well is what truly matters.”

Shazhu’s face fell. “I know that, but I’m the one going inside now.”

He had only been inside for a few days before he couldn’t bear it; if he were to serve years, it would be the death of him.

Seeing Shazhu’s pitiful state, Yi Zhonghai’s moral appeal failed. He could only exchange a glance with Qin Huairu. Now, the only one who could tame Shazhu was Jia’s young daughter-in-law.

Qin Huairu did not immediately step forward but stood awkwardly aside, not moving.

She was no disposable tissue to be used and discarded at will. If they wanted her help, they had to plead.

Noticing Qin Huairu’s reluctance, Yi Zhonghai arched his brow and cursed inwardly: “This girl is so unreasonable—things are urgent, yet she’s still putting on airs.”

But now, without Qin Huairu, it truly wouldn’t work.

Helpless, Yi Zhonghai looked at Jia Zhangshi. “Old sister-in-law, please go persuade her.”

“Qin Huairu, are you planning to rebel?” Jia Zhangshi was not one to tolerate disobedience and was ready to scold.

Qin Huairu clutched her chest and frowned, feigning discomfort. “Mother, I’m not well. I helped clean the toilets this morning and must have overexerted myself. I need to go home and rest.”

Seeing Qin Huairu try to leave, Jia Zhangshi was dumbfounded.

If Shazhu quit, the first to be arrested would be Jia Dongxu, since he was one of the masterminds.

Jia Zhangshi hastily put on a smile. “Daughter-in-law, I sometimes speak harshly. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Mother, you are the elder. How could I argue with you?” Qin Huairu smiled triumphantly. “But I really don’t feel well.”

“You’re an old fox. Stop pretending. What do you really want?”

“Starting tomorrow, I won’t clean the toilets for you anymore.”

“Fine!” Jia Zhangshi agreed immediately.

As long as Qin Huairu helped Jia’s family avoid this disaster, she could agree to anything. There were a thousand ways to deal with Qin Huairu later.

“Brother Shazhu.”

Hearing Qin Huairu’s sweet call, Jia Dongxu turned his face aside, feeling a chill on his head.

Qin Huairu walked up to Shazhu, biting her lip. “Brother Shazhu, I know you’re a good person. If you choose to be a good person, you must see it through, or people will look down on you.”

“But if I go in this time, I might never come out,” Shazhu hesitated, torn between not wanting to disappoint Qin Huairu and fearing the hardship inside.

Qin Huairu’s eyes flickered. She leaned close and whispered in Shazhu’s ear.

“Even if you drag us down, you’ll have to go in anyway. It’s better you bear it first; we can still get you out from the outside.”

...

Today Qin Huairu wore a floral blouse with the top button undone.

As she approached, the mature woman’s scent mixed with sweat and milk fragrance filled Shazhu’s nostrils.

Looking down at her pale skin, he felt drunk, his face flushed and head dizzy.

“All right, I agree. It’s just that I…”

Just as Shazhu was about to agree, Qin Huairu’s lips curled into a triumphant smile.

From a distance, He Yushui shouted angrily: “Brother, you can’t agree!”

Li Aiguo noticed Wang Zhenshan had just told He Yushui something, and her sudden change in attitude delighted him.

He Yushui was joining the drama. Interesting.

She ran to Shazhu and pulled Qin Huairu aside. “Get away, bad woman!”

“You little brat…” Qin Huairu was about to retort but suddenly smiled. “The little girl’s temper is fierce.”

Since Shazhu often brought things to Jia’s family, He Yushui and Qin Huairu were not on good terms.

He Yushui stared wide-eyed at Shazhu. “Brother, if you admit it, you might have to go to prison.”

“Then so be it. I’ll come out in a few years, still a good man,” Shazhu said proudly.

“But have you thought about me?” He Yushui’s eyes reddened, almost crying.

“You?” Shazhu was puzzled. “You mean living conditions? Don’t worry. Uncle Yi and the others will take care of that.”

He looked at Yi Zhonghai. “Uncle Yi, right?”

Yi Zhonghai nodded. “Yushui, don’t worry. Our courtyard values unity. Your living needs will be taken care of by us elders.”

As long as Shazhu took the blame, having one more mouth to feed was nothing.

Besides, how much could a young girl eat?

“It’s not that. If you go to jail and get a criminal record, it will cause trouble for my schooling, work, and future marriage.”

Seeing Shazhu stubborn, He Yushui stomped her foot in frustration.

She had already been disappointed in him. Even if he went to jail, she wouldn’t pity him.

But Uncle Wang had told her some things...

Shazhu was stunned. He had never thought about that.

If it were just him, it wouldn’t matter.

But now He Yushui was involved.

No matter how difficult their relationship, they were siblings.

They had endured hard times together.

Shazhu couldn’t bear to see He Yushui hurt.

But on Qin Huairu’s side...

Seeing Shazhu hesitate, Qin Huairu flicked her hair and smiled: “Shazhu, Yushui is just one person, but we are several!”

“Besides, Yushui will only have some troubles with work and life, while those people will be locked up for years.”

Yi Zhonghai chimed in: “Shazhu, one must consider the bigger picture.”

The deaf old lady wanted to step forward to persuade Shazhu but was held back by Jia Dongxu. Angered, she raised her cane and struck Jia Dongxu’s behind.

Zhou Ke watched dumbfounded, leaning to Li Aiguo and whispering, “Shazhu can’t be that foolish, can he?”

“Hard to say,” Li Aiguo replied, arms crossed, voice calm, “There’s no mistaken names, only mistaken nicknames.”

Zhou Ke: “So Shazhu really is a fool?”

“He’s not foolish, just manipulated,” Li Aiguo said, watching Shazhu’s hesitant struggle with a smile. “Shazhu grew up lacking fatherly love, has a paternal complex, and deeply respects Yi Zhonghai. To gain others’ praise, he is willing to make any sacrifice—and he even sees this sacrifice as a joy.”

“You mean Shazhu will really take the blame for these people? This affects his sister’s entire future,” Zhou Ke exclaimed.

At that moment, Shazhu had made his decision.

He lifted his face toward the brilliant morning sun, his expression one of noble sacrifice: “Sister, don’t say anything more. Uncle Yi taught us from childhood to give up our small family for the greater good. Sacrificing me, He Yuzhu, to save thousands of families—that’s something I long for!”

He Yushui trembled, staggering back two steps, looking at Shazhu in disbelief.

She felt as if the sky had fallen dark.