Chapter 58: Severing Ties

Seeing her teammate's support, Jia Zhangshi failed to follow up.

She could only shrink her neck and retreat.

This wasn't a surrender; it was a strategic retreat to preserve her strength.

Yi Zhonghai had originally thought that with Jia Zhangshi causing a scene, he could divert everyone's attention.

Who would have thought.

Jia Zhangshi was completely useless.

He could only give Yan Bugui a meaningful look.

Yan Bugui was originally unwilling to get involved in Shazhu's family affairs.

However, as the Third Uncle of the courtyard, it wouldn't be appropriate not to show his face.

Yan Bugui swayed his head and walked out, holding an enamel mug: "As the old saying goes, 'Harmony in the family brings prosperity to all; a prosperous nation brings peace to the world. Brotherly harmony is more precious than gold, sister-in-law harmony keeps the family together. When a dog grows up, it will bite on its own; when a daughter grows up, she will naturally be clever...' "

"Are you reciting couplets here?" Li Aiguo interrupted him.

"Couplets are a treasure of our national culture. Oh, right, do you know how many names couplets have?

Antithesis, door couplets, spring stickers, spring couplets, couplet pairs, poetic couplets... isn't that interesting?

Leave your family's couplets to me this year; I guarantee the writing fee will be the lowest in the city."

Yan Bugui's small eyes blinked rapidly.

Seeing Yan Bugui conducting business on the spot, Yi Zhonghai could only cough lightly to remind him: "Old Yan, let's talk business."

Yan Bugui nodded and said

"Right, right, we were just talking about family harmony bringing prosperity.

Do you know the origin of this proverb?"

Don't know?

Come, let me tell you.

It comes from the Yuan Dynasty work *The Record of Killing a Dog* by an Anonymous author.

Pay attention, this will be on the final exam."

Xu Damao was also quite good at playing the sidekick, saying with a grin: "Teacher Yan, your scholarship is truly profound. If some people read a bit more and had a bit of a conscience, they wouldn't do such things as bullying the lonely and the elderly."

Yi Zhonghai rolled his eyes in anger at the way these two were playing off each other.

He could see clearly now that Yan Bugui simply didn't want to get involved.

This old fox was truly terrified by Li Aiguo!

While complaining inwardly, Yi Zhonghai turned to He Yushui with a face full of smiles: "Yushui, I'll say the same thing again. Even if Shazhu is wrong in a thousand ways, he is still your brother. You cannot sever your relationship with him."

He Yushui's expression dimmed, and she instinctively looked toward Li Aiguo.

"What business is it of yours? Are you a Street Office Director or a police officer?"

"I... I am the First Uncle of this courtyard."

Li Aiguo's merciless words made Yi Zhonghai lose face. Wanting to argue back but finding no reason, he could only emphasize his status.

Li Aiguo looked at Yi Zhonghai, then turned to Xu Damao: "Did you see that, Brother Damao? The First Uncle can now manage other people's family affairs. In the future, when you marry Lou Zhenhua's daughter, remember to bring your new wife to pay respects to the First Uncle every morning and evening."

Xu Damao chimed in: "Do I also need to kowtow to him? Is he turning into a landlord bully now?"

Seeing the topic circle back to "landlord bully," Yi Zhonghai pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Let's not beat around the bush. I'll lay it out here today: as long as I am standing here, He Yushui shall not be allowed to sever her relationship with Shazhu."

He strode up to He Yushui, pointed at her nose, and said sternly: "Your brother just entered the station, and you want to sever ties immediately? You are an ungrateful white-eyed wolf!"

Now that a stalemate had been reached, the only way left was moral kidnapping.

As long as he could brand He Yushui as an ungrateful white-eyed wolf, even Li Aiguo wouldn't dare step in to help her.

*Click.*

Before his words could even fade, a silver, gleaming gun barrel was pressed against Yi Zhonghai's forehead.

The room froze instantly, like a photograph being taken.

Yi Zhonghai stood there with his mouth agape and hands raised, not daring to move, looking quite ridiculous.

Liu Haizhong's facial fat trembled in terror.

Qin Huairu stared at Li Aiguo, her eyes shining; that gun looked truly large and silver.

Yan Bugui wanted to step forward to mediate, but he was afraid Li Aiguo would actually pull the trigger.

No one expected Li Aiguo to have a gun.

Even more unexpected was that Li Aiguo would dare to use it; the residents were all too terrified to move.

Yi Zhonghai began to shiver all over, feeling a warmth in his lower abdomen, yet he still didn't dare to move an inch.

Li Aiguo nudged Yi Zhonghai's forehead with the gun: "It's one thing to drive a young girl to the point of attempted suicide, but you still dare to spout nonsense here? Do you really think you're some landlord bully? Today, I represent the masses and force you to submit!"

Yi Zhonghai instinctively raised his hands, his body swaying as he nearly fainted from fright.

At that moment.

Director Wang from the Street Office, who had witnessed the whole process, walked in from outside with a dark expression.

"Comrade Aiguo, I already know the truth of the matter. Please put the gun away first."

Li Aiguo nudged Yi Zhonghai with the gun again: "The residents chose you as the First Uncle to serve everyone and prevent infiltration, not to let you act like a tyrant. If you ever dare to oppress the residents again, I will treat you like a landlord bully and force you down!"

"I won't do it again, I won't do it again... I'll never dare again..."

Li Aiguo slowly withdrew the pistol, tucked it into his pocket, and sat down on the chair Xu Damao had brought over.

Yi Zhonghai's body swayed, and he nearly collapsed; Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui rushed forward to support him.

It was the first time Director Wang had seen Yi Zhonghai so terrified.

He thought to himself: *Only someone who doesn't play by the rules like Li Aiguo can deal with an old fox like Yi Zhonghai.*

Director Wang gave Li Aiguo an appreciative look, walked up to Yi Zhonghai, and said coldly

"Fine, Comrade Yi Zhonghai, you're quite something. A textbook example of a feudal patriarch."

"Director... you misunderstand. I was only doing what was best for He Yushui."

Yi Zhonghai had recovered somewhat by now. Suppressing his panic, he explained (defended): "He Yushui is just a young girl. If she leaves the He family, how will she live in the future?"

"I was only acting out of kind intentions..."

"Who said He Yushui is leaving the He family?"

Li Aiguo pushed aside the fan Xu Damao was using to fan him, stood up, and walked forward, looking around at the residents: "The He family's house is private property, not the property of the Rolling Mill. He Yushui is a member of the He family, so logically, she has a share. Even if she severs ties, she doesn't need to leave the He family."

"A little girl... once she marries, she's like water spilled out. To think she could still claim property, how ridiculous..."

Jia Zhangshi instinctively wanted to curse, but one glare from Li Aiguo sent a cold sweat down her spine, forcing her to shut her mouth.

Director Wang nodded: "The authorities are now promoting gender equality. He Yushui stands as tall as Shazhu."

Hearing Director Wang's words, Yi Zhonghai panicked: "Director, you don't actually agree with He Yushui severing ties with Shazhu, do you? This concerns the reputation of our neighborhood."

Director Wang glared: "Old Yi, compared to reputation, I care more about the happiness of the residents in my jurisdiction."

"I saw what happened just now. The Street Office asked you to mediate with He Yushui.

And instead, you drove a young girl to the point of wanting to hang herself."

"Do you really want to be a landlord bully now?

Do you want Li Aiguo to shoot you?"

(End of Chapter)