When Su Jianguo opened the door, the yard was quiet.

He stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, wiped the seriousness from his face, and put on a calm expression.

"Honey, you're back?"

Wang Xiulan walked out of the house with some worry, clearly she had been anxious.

"It's nothing serious."

Su Jianguo walked into the courtyard and casually hung his coat on a nail by the door.

"The eldest son's wife still wants money, but there's no need to worry."

Su Jianguo chose to conceal the fact that Su Mingde had been arrested.

Wang Xiulan's hands trembled slightly.

Hearing that it wasn't about Su Mingde, he was slightly relieved.

In the following days, Su Jianguo remained unusually calm.

Whenever Wang Xiulan asked Su Mingde about his affairs with great concern, he would always downplay it.

"The police will handle it."

But he knew clearly in his heart that this was an era of severe crackdown.

For criminals like Su Mingde who escape from prison and take hostages at knifepoint, there is only one fate awaiting them.

On the morning of the seventh day, Su Jianguo had just gotten up when he heard footsteps coming from outside the courtyard gate.

Then came the knocking on the door.

Who is it?

Wang Xiulan walked out of the kitchen and headed straight for the courtyard gate.

Upon opening the door, two uniformed police officers stood outside, their faces serious.

Su Jianguo arrived at the door at that moment.

"Comrade Su Jianguo."

The older policeman spoke, his voice low and deep.

"There's a result regarding your son Su Mingde's case."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiulan was immediately taken aback, and then asked with some concern.

"Officer, my son...how is he?"

The young policeman took a document with a red stamp from his briefcase.

"After trial, the court found Su Mingde guilty of prison break, kidnapping, and intentional injury, and sentenced him to death, to be carried out immediately."

"What?"

Wang Xiulan's voice was filled with extreme terror.

"death penalty?"

Su Jianguo supported his swaying wife, feeling that her legs were about to give way.

When will it be implemented?

His voice was unusually calm, clearly indicating that he had been prepared for this.

This afternoon.

The older police officer said.

"According to regulations, family members need to pay five yuan for the bullets. Also..."

He hesitated for a moment.

"If you want to see each other one last time, we can arrange it."

Wang Xiulan suddenly let out a shrill cry and fell backward.

Su Jianguo caught her with lightning speed, only to find that she had already fainted.

"mom!"

Su Yufen and Su Yuzhen rushed out of the house and, upon seeing this scene, burst into tears.

Su Mingfu followed closely behind, his face ashen.

"Help your mother inside."

Su Jianguo gave the order in a deep voice, then turned to the police.

"I'll pay for the bullets right now."

He counted out five yuan from his pocket.

The young policeman took the money and issued a receipt.

"Comrade Su, do you want to see him one last time? We can arrange it for 3 PM."

Su Jianguo was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I'll go."

After the police left, the courtyard was deathly silent.

Wang Xiulan was helped to bed, but remained unconscious.

Su Yufen and Su Yuzhen sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing, while Su Mingfu stood silently at the door.

"dad..."

Su Mingfu spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Is my second brother... really beyond saving?"

Su Jianguo looked at his third son's red eyes and slowly shook his head.

"He committed a capital offense. Escaping from prison, kidnapping, and assault with a knife—any one of these is a serious crime in this day and age."

"But...but he's your son!"

Su Yufen cried out.

"Everyone is equal before the law."

Su Jianguo's voice was flat.

"He got to where he is today because of his own actions."

Wang Xiulan woke up after being unconscious for about half an hour.

She started crying as soon as she opened her eyes, her heart-wrenching sobs echoing throughout the entire courtyard.

"My son... my Mingde..."

Su Jianguo walked into the bedroom and stood by the kang (a heated brick bed) looking at her.

"I'm going to see him one last time. Is there anything you want me to tell him?"

Wang Xiulan struggled to sit up and grabbed her husband's hand.

"Jianguo, please, please think of another way... He's our son..."

Su Jianguo gently withdrew his hand and shook his head.

"The law is impartial. He committed a crime and must pay the price."

"The head of the household..."

After crying for a while, Wang Xiulan slumped on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her tears all dried up, leaving only swollen red eyes and a hoarse voice.

"When...when you went to see Mingde..."

Su Jianguo stood at the door waiting for his wife to finish speaking, but all he heard was a suppressed sob.

"Is there anything else you need to explain?"

Su Jianguo asked in a low voice.

Wang Xiulan suddenly raised her head.

"Dumplings! Mingde loves my pork and cabbage dumplings the most!"

She staggered to her feet.

"I'll go knead the dough right now... I'll go right now..."

Su Jianguo reached out to support his wife's swaying body.

"Is there enough time?"

"There's still time! There's definitely still time!"

Wang Xiulan broke free from her husband's hand and stumbled towards the kitchen.

It was one o'clock in the afternoon.

Inside the kitchen.

The dumplings were neatly arranged on the bamboo mat.

Wang Xiulan counted three times with trembling hands.

Twenty-six, which is exactly Su Mingde's age.

"While it's hot..."

She carefully packed the dumplings into the aluminum lunchbox.

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