Chapter 5: A Good Person

“It really was Shazhu and the others who acted foolishly.”

“In consideration of their youth and ignorance, could you please grant them a lighter punishment?”

“In addition to paying for Li Aiguo’s medical expenses, each family will provide an additional fifty yuan in compensation to Li Aiguo.”

“We only have one request: handle this according to the organization’s policies.”

After hearing Yi Zhonghai’s words, Director Wang’s brow furrowed, and her expression turned stern.

“The organization’s policies?”

Feeling that piercing gaze, Yi Zhonghai felt cold sweat slowly seeping down his back.

He carefully weighed his words: “‘The principal culprits must be punished, those coerced are not to be questioned, those deceived are innocent, and those who turn against the enemy are rewarded.’

You are well aware that their backgrounds are impeccable.

They are class brothers, and they can withstand any investigation.

When dealing with class brothers, our attitude should be as warm as spring; we must give them a chance to turn over a new leaf.

Furthermore, arresting so many people at once would have a negative impact on our courtyard.

It would even reflect poorly on the sub-district office.”

It must be said that Yi Zhonghai was indeed a wily old fox; he instantly grasped Director Wang’s weak point.

The Nanluoguxiang Sub-district Office received a mobile red banner every year precisely because of the harmony in the neighborhood.

If five people were arrested at once, this year’s red banner would certainly be lost.

However, Director Wang could not make the final decision on today’s matter alone.

Director Wang turned her head to look at Zhou Tiehu: “Captain Zhou, what do you think about this…”

“The one who was wronged is Aiguo. As long as Aiguo agrees, I have nothing to say.”

Zhou Tiehu frowned slightly, looking somewhat displeased.

He had already made up his mind: if Li Aiguo was unwilling and the sub-district office refused to step in, he would have the railway police station intervene.

“Aiguo, what do you think?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Li Aiguo.

In their eyes, Li Aiguo, who had wanted to put those few to death just moments ago, surely wouldn’t agree.

Who would have thought that Li Aiguo would smile faintly: “Director, it’s no big deal for me to suffer a little grievance personally. I cannot let it affect the reputation of our Nanluoguxiang or the unity of the courtyard.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the way everyone looked at Li Aiguo changed instantly.

“Good, good, good! This child has a sense of the big picture and high ideological awareness!” Director Wang couldn’t help but praise him several times.

Li Aiguo didn’t act overly modest and gave a slight nod.

If he had insisted on sending them all in today, with Zhou Tiehu standing by, Director Wang would have had to bite the bullet and accept it.

However, they would only be sent to the Nanluoguxiang Police Station.

Yi Zhonghai had many acquaintances in both the sub-district office and the police station.

Coupled with the backing of the Deaf Old Lady, a woman with a mysterious background, it would be difficult to nail them down for good.

It was better to endure for a while longer.

Once he obtained his train driver’s license, he would become a railway employee and fall under the jurisdiction of the railway department.

Then, the railway police station could intervene.

At that time… hehe.

Besides, Li Aiguo still needed to live in the Nanluoguxiang neighborhood.

The sub-district offices of this era were far more powerful than those of later generations.

From job assignments to household registration transfers, the distribution of resident subsidies, and even the issuance of various ration coupons, everything was managed by the sub-district office.

Most importantly, the sub-district office was also responsible for investigating the social relations of the masses.

This was a necessary step for the promotion of leading cadres.

It wasn’t worth ruining his relationship with the sub-district office for the sake of a few animals.

Also, Li Aiguo wanted to see who exactly was willing to take the fall for this crime.

A fine show of dogs biting dogs was about to unfold.

It was something to look forward to.

Seeing that Li Aiguo had agreed, Yi Zhonghai breathed a sigh of relief and invited the people involved in the incident into the back room of the Jia household.

He closed the door.

“Click,” he turned on the light.

The dim, yellow light cast shadows over everyone’s faces.

“I’ve sacrificed my old face to secure these terms. Tell me, who is going to confess?”

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

No one wanted to go to the police station to confess.

If things went wrong, they might end up behind bars.

Silence became the main theme of the moment.

Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to call them out one by one.

“Old Liu, you have many sons; losing one for a while is no big deal. Why don’t you let Liu Guangtian go and confess?”

“Old Yi, I’ve seen through you for a long time. You can’t have children, so you’re jealous of me!”

Liu Haizhong smacked his lips and glared: “My two boys were just accomplices. If someone has to confess, it should be the principal culprits!”

The principal culprits were Jia Dongxu and Shazhu.

One provided the idea, the other provided the muscle.

At this time, Jia Dongxu was still alive.

He was Yi Zhonghai’s chosen provider for his old age.

Shazhu had to come second.

Naturally, Yi Zhonghai hoped to let Shazhu take the fall.

Seeing everyone staring at him, Shazhu suddenly got angry, stiffened his neck, and shouted: “So I stick my neck out for Jia Dongxu and end up in trouble, and you people have no conscience left!”

“Zhuzi, don’t get angry. There’s really no other way.”

Yi Zhonghai deployed his signature moral kidnapping technique: “Look, Jia Dongxu has elderly parents above and young children below. If he gets locked up, who will support Qin Huairu and Bang Geng?”

*I will…* Shazhu wanted to say, but he didn’t dare to speak it out loud.

He was afraid that Jia Zhang would scratch him.

“You only have your sister Yushui at home, and she doesn’t need you to take care of her right now. You are the most suitable person to take the fall.”

Seeing that Shazhu remained unmoved, Yi Zhonghai continued

“How many times has your First Uncle taught you? You can’t just think of yourself; you must consider the big picture. A single flower does not make a spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden. Don’t you understand this principle?”

Shazhu had been lectured countless times, so of course, he understood.

But going to the police station to confess was no small matter; if things went south, he might never come back.

There was a “Sha” (fool) in Shazhu’s name, but he wasn’t truly a fool.

On the contrary, he was quite shrewd.

In the courtyard, apart from Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai, who had taken advantage of him, the other residents only ever got bullied by him.

Even the calculating Yan Bugui hadn’t managed to get the better of Shazhu.

Seeing that Shazhu was determined not to do it, Jia Zhang secretly gave Qin Huairu a look.

The corners of Qin Huairu’s eyes instantly turned red, and two lines of tears slid down her fair, smooth cheeks, landing right in Shazhu’s heart.

“Waaah—”

A crisp cry of sorrow echoed through the room.

Qin Huairu’s eyes were red, and she sobbed incessantly, bean-sized tears falling from her eyes.

“He Yuzhu, you are a good person. I can’t let you suffer this grievance. This whole thing started because of me; I’ll go and confess.”

It must be said that as a first-class national actress, Qin Huairu had profound acting skills and superb technique.

That expression, that tone, that crying—it all made Shazhu feel a surge of pity.

Especially that word “good person”—it went straight to Shazhu’s heart.

A numbness spread through Shazhu’s bones, and his expression turned dazed.

When Jia Dongxu saw his infatuated look, he wanted to punch him right then and there.

But thinking that he still needed Shazhu to take the fall, he held back.

Seeing that the time was right, Yi Zhonghai played his ultimate trump card.

“Shazhu, the Deaf Old Lady treats you like her own son.”

“If you run into trouble, she will definitely help.”

“The Deaf Old Lady has a good relationship with our rolling mill and the sub-district office.”

“You will definitely be fine.”

He would be fine, and he could still be a “good person” for Sister Qin.

Shazhu no longer hesitated or wavered.

He stood up and patted his chest: “Don’t worry, I’ll take the blame for this all by myself.”

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Huairu with deep affection.

Qin Huairu’s figure was full yet slender; even the ill-fitting work uniform couldn’t hide her soft curves, and her skin was as fair as if it had been rubbed with cold cream.

Especially the spring water overflowing from those peach-blossom eyes—it instantly drowned Shazhu.

Shazhu felt that everything was worth it.

Seeing Shazhu exchanging glances with Qin Huairu right in front of him, Jia Dongxu could no longer stand it.

He stood up, wanting to teach Shazhu a lesson, but was stopped by Yi Zhonghai.

“Since Shazhu has decided to take the fall, we should prepare the compensation money.”