Seeing that Yi Zhong Hai was hurt in the vital spot, Qin Huai Ru pushed Jia Dong Xu and whispered, "Damn it, hurry and bring Mom back, or we'll have to pay for this later."
Jia Dong Xu, no longer pretending not to hear, went to the battlefield and saw his mother covered in blood on her face and feet. He frowned, thinking that another hospital visit would cost money.
This was different from what they had discussed at home. Didn't they agree that if she went to make a fuss, Yi Zhong Hai would definitely relent and return the money he had taken back yesterday?
Why were they both injured? Yi Zhong Hai was in such pain that he was trembling all over.
He had read online about pain scales, rating it from 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain, 1 being mild pain, 5 being bearable pain, and 10 being excruciating pain. A kick to the vital area would be 8 to 10 on the scale.
Yi Zhong Hai was unable to speak, just groaning. The veins on his neck were bulging.
"Mom, Mom, let go! Yi Da Ye is about to pass out!"
Jia Zhang Shi was furious. If Yi Zhong Hai had just given the money willingly, there wouldn't be so much trouble. It was originally money donated to their family; what was wrong with taking it back?
This morning, they had witnessed a good show. There was a saying, wasn't there? You never truly understand pain until the knife cuts you. You won't understand the suffering and heartache unless you experience it firsthand.
Looking at Yi Zhong Hai's pained expression, she thought he wouldn't dare to morally blackmail anyone ever again!
Hearing Jia Dong Xu say that Yi Zhong Hai had fainted, Jia Zhang Shi disregarded the pain in her face and feet, let go of her grip, and was helped back to the house by Jia Dong Xu.
Yi Zhong Hai, meanwhile, was clutching his vital spot, rolling on the ground in agony, gasping for breath.
After a long while, he finally regained his composure. Yi Da Ma stood beside him, tears streaming down her face, saying, "Old, Old Yi, are you alright? Don't scare me!"
Yi Zhong Hai wished he could die. He cursed the ancestors of the Jia family from generation to generation.
If this was serious, if he couldn't use it anymore, he would make sure the Jia family would be completely childless.
They had planned it all. One would play the good cop, the other the bad cop, and they would get back all the donations from the elders' families. However, they had hit a snag with Yi Zhong Hai.
Not only had Yi Zhong Hai suffered a heavy blow, but Jia Zhang Shi's injured foot had been re-injured twice, as had her face. And they hadn't gotten a single cent.
Back in the house, Jia Zhang Shi looked at Yi Zhong Hai writhing on the ground, and spitefully said, "He stomped on my feet twice, so I returned the favor. Does it really hurt that much?"
Jia Dong Xu instinctively nodded. A blow to the vital area was truly excruciating.
"Mom, don't say things like that. We're the enemies of the entire courtyard now. Just pray that my master is okay. If something happens to him and he has to be hospitalized, the neighborhood committee will definitely come. Don't forget what Director Wang said. If you dare to cause trouble in the courtyard again, you'll be sent back to the countryside."
Qin Huai Ru was both happy and worried. She was happy because if Jia Zhang Shi was quickly sent back to the countryside for making such a fuss with Yi Zhong Hai, her life would be much easier without her around.
But she was worried that Yi Zhong Hai might hold a grudge against the family and neglect them in the future, making life difficult.
Hearing her son's words, Jia Zhang Shi was genuinely scared. Seeing He Yu Zhu carrying Yi Zhong Hai to the hospital, she felt fear and said to Jia Dong Xu, "Son, I did all of this for the sake of this family. The money will eventually go to you and our grandson. You absolutely cannot send your mom back to the countryside!"
Jia Dong Xu frowned and was at a loss. Looking at Yi Zhong Hai's back, he hurriedly said, "Mom, let's go to the hospital!"
Jia Zhang Shi was covered in blood on her feet and face, and her body was wet with sweat and dirt from rolling on the ground. She was a mess.
But as soon as she heard about going to the hospital, knowing that all the family's money was in her possession, and that she would have to pay for medical expenses, she felt a pang of heartache and said, "Dong Xu, Mom can handle it, we don't need to go to the hospital. It's going to cost money."
Jia Dong Xu, exasperated, said, "Mom, come on, it's this serious. You're still worrying about money. My master is in the hospital now. If you don't go, the neighborhood committee will come and you'll have to pay for his medical expenses. If you're in the hospital too, then my master will be too embarrassed to mention money to you."
"Yes, yes, we'll go to the hospital, we'll go to the hospital!"
Not long after Yi Zhong Hai left, Jia Dong Xu went outside and borrowed a cart, then took Jia Zhang Shi out of the courtyard.
The events that unfolded in the courtyard that morning provided plenty of gossip for everyone. They were eager to spread the news throughout the entire steel mill, ensuring everyone knew about Yi Zhong Hai's tragic accident and his hospitalization after being kicked in the vital area by an old widow.
Combined with the courtyard meeting last night, who knows what rumors would be circulating by the time this was all over.
He Yu Cheng went back to his room, grinning, and started to think that now was the perfect time to expose Yi Zhong Hai's corrupt behavior and hold him accountable for withholding his and He Yu Shui's living expenses.
He had money in his own hands, but everyone in the courtyard knew he had no savings. If he were to eat and drink well every day, there would be troublemakers waiting to pounce.
So, he would take back the money from Yi Zhong Hai and let the courtyard's scoundrels see that he had money, making them jealous.
The courtyard had quieted down. As the siblings were cooking, Qin Huai Ru appeared at the door of their house.
He Yu Cheng frowned at the sight of her. Qin Huai Ru was the most annoying character in the entire show. She seemed to be perpetually crying, always wearing a mournful expression. No wonder Jia Zhang Shi called her a harbinger of misfortune!
"Yu Cheng, Yu Shui, you two are cooking? Do you have any food left? Could you lend some to Sister Qin? My mother-in-law and Dong Xu went to the hospital, and there's no food left at home. The kids are hungry and crying!"
Qin Huai Ru always had a reason to borrow something. He Yu Cheng replied, "Sorry, Jia family sister-in-law, we only have enough food for ourselves and Yu Shui. We haven't even decided what to eat for lunch yet. Why don't you go ask someone else?"
Ask someone else? After last night and this morning's drama, who would be willing to lend her any food?
Hearing He Yu Cheng's refusal, Qin Huai Ru turned around, her face turning sour. She muttered something under her breath, not saying anything nice.
There were countless ways to deal with Qin Huai Ru. If she managed to live a good life in the courtyard, it would mean He Yu Cheng had failed!