After Director Wang and the police left, the Deaf Old Lady slowly turned over in bed.
With trembling hands, she opened her bedside cabinet and carefully searched inside.
The wooden box containing her jade jewelry was gone.
Her heart skipped.
For a long moment, she simply sat there.
She had guarded those things her entire life. She was already close to the grave—yet someone had stolen them silently, right under her nose.
That kind of skill…
Even in the capital years ago, very few could manage it.
But those people were either dead or had fled south long ago.
Who could it be?
And how had they found her after so many years?
After a while, she thought of the hidden chamber underground.
But almost immediately, she understood—
If the thief could quietly take the jade from her bedside cabinet without her noticing, then the things underground were likely gone as well.
Even if they weren't…
At her age, she no longer had the strength to open the concealed entrance and check.
She let out a faint sigh.
If Heaven had allowed such a capable thief to appear in the courtyard, then whether the underground space was full or empty no longer mattered.
She had no use for those things anymore.
In fact, she had always intended to take the secret to her grave.
As for Sha Zhu…
If he ever discovered it himself, that would be his fate—perhaps her final compensation to that foolish "grandson."
But most likely, he simply didn't have that fortune.
Perhaps this was destiny.
Her cloudy eyes drifted toward the doorway.
Though she no longer cared about the loss itself, she knew one thing—
Until she died, she must continue deceiving Yi Zhonghai and keep him supporting her.
After tonight's theft, Yi Zhonghai would surely grow suspicious. He might even demand to see the jade jewelry again for reassurance.
She wouldn't be able to produce it.
But that was manageable.
She would simply claim that while the jade had been stolen, the "real treasure" remained safe in its hidden place.
Yi Zhonghai might doubt her.
But he would never dare gamble.
With her nearing the end of her life, he wouldn't abandon years of investment over uncertainty.
As for what happened after she died—
Even if Yi Zhonghai realized he had been deceived, he would grit his teeth and handle her funeral properly.
For the sake of his own future reputation.
And with Sha Zhu watching.
The old lady's lips curled into a faint smile.
Yi Zhonghai always believed himself calculating.
Yet no matter how much he schemed, he remained within her grasp.
—
When He Jin returned to No. 95 Courtyard after finishing overtime, the sight of police officers confirmed it—
The theft had been exposed.
Well prepared, he immediately put on a look of confusion and surprise, casually asking someone what had happened.
Before they could answer, Director Wang and a middle-aged officer approached him with sympathetic expressions and explained the situation.
As soon as they finished, He Jin rushed toward his house in apparent panic.
"Director Wang! Chief Li! This is bad—my savings are gone too!"
The two followed him inside.
Chief Li scanned the room briefly before asking calmly,
"Comrade He Yuzhu, how much did you lose?"
He Jin lowered his head slightly, holding an empty wooden box.
"I kept five hundred and fifty yuan in here. It's all gone."
Chief Li nodded, unsurprised.
But Director Wang frowned slightly.
"You've worked for so many years—only saved this much?"
He Jin gave a restrained, almost embarrassed nod.
"Director Wang, it's not a small amount.
All these years, I've supported myself and my sister. Paid for her schooling. Bought her a bicycle.
And First Uncle often asked me to help the struggling Jia family.
It wasn't easy saving even this much."
He wasn't lying.
When he transmigrated, the original owner had indeed left about five hundred yuan.
And it had been spent exactly as described.
Hearing this, Director Wang felt her suspicion fade, replaced by sympathy.
"That does make sense," she said softly.
"You've had it hard.
At your age, you should start planning for yourself.
It's time you married. Don't delay any longer."
As neighborhood director, she had once cared about Sha Zhu's marriage prospects.
She knew Yi Zhonghai had arranged several introductions.
But each attempt had failed—either Sha Zhu rejected the girl, or the girl rejected him.
Over time, local matchmakers stopped trying.
Rumors about Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu had spread.
With Yi Zhonghai assuring her he would continue handling the matter, Director Wang had eventually stepped back.
After all, where there's smoke, there's fire.
She never imagined the courtyard elders were deliberately sabotaging Sha Zhu's matches—nor that even she had been misled.
In her mind, perhaps Sha Zhu truly had feelings for Qin Huairu.
Now that Qin Huairu was a widow eligible to remarry, the two being together wasn't unreasonable.
She had heard Qin Huairu was diligent and fertile.
If they married, Sha Zhu would gain a warm household.
The Jia family would gain stability.
And the neighborhood committee would avoid future trouble.
Yet looking at Sha Zhu now—still unmarried after all this time—
Her sympathy resurfaced.
"A man needs a family to live well," she added gently.
He Jin caught the meaning behind her words.
And inwardly, he couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed Director Wang was, at heart, a decent person after all.