Chapter 2209
Discussing Tracking Yan Bugui
Xu Damao left, but the matter of the courtyard house remained unresolved.
A group of people sat there, all silent, pondering what Xu Damao had said.
Liu Haizhong couldn't help but break the silence: "Is what Xu Damao said true, or is he just making it up?"
The three women, having not witnessed it with their own eyes, were unwilling to believe Xu Damao's words.
"He must have made it up. My husband, Yan, is a scholar; he would never go and collect scraps."
"Then what is he doing every day when he goes out?" Liu Haizhong asked.
The three women couldn't answer that question.
For several months now, Yan Bugui has been nowhere to be found after breakfast. He only returns around dinner time.
Yan Bugui used the excuse of asking the children for money, and he would give the third aunt some money every now and then.
As the biological mother, the third aunt knew very well that it was extremely difficult to get money from her children.
The three aunts had no doubts about Yan Bugui.
Looking at it now, Yan Bugui's behavior does indeed seem a bit illogical.
Even if you go every day, you might not be able to get money from the child.
Seeing that the three old women didn't say anything, Liu Haizhong assumed that what he said was right.
"That old Yan is outrageous. How could he do something so shameful?"
When he gets back, we're going to give him a good talking-to.
Lao Yi and I just went to the neighborhood office to apply for a commendation for Qin Huairu for her good deeds.
If the people in the neighborhood office find out about this, wouldn't that be embarrassing for Qin Huairu?
What if Qinhuai fails to get the award?
Qin Huai asked in confusion, "What good deeds?"
Liu Haizhong explained, "The neighborhood office wants to hold a selection for good people and good deeds, so Lao Yi and I signed you up."
"No, I won't agree." Qin Huairu refused without even thinking.
Is it so easy to be selected for the title of "Good Person and Good Deed"?
Others might not know, but she knew it all too well.
When someone is accused of doing good deeds, others will be watching them closely. You can't afford to make even the slightest mistake, because if you do, people will use that reputation to criticize you.
Liu Haizhong said, "Why not? My and Lao Yan's children are all unfilial. It's all thanks to you taking care of us."
I have no other way to repay you, but I can still recommend you as a model of good deeds.
"If I could find Lao Yan, I would have taken him with me."
Yi Zhonghai chimed in, "Yes, Huai Ru, we meant well."
Qin Huairu simply refused: "I said no, and that's final."
You took such good care of our family and helped me so much in the past.
I am taking care of you now to repay a debt of gratitude; it has nothing to do with doing good deeds.
I won't do this good deed. If you don't withdraw, I won't take care of you anymore.
Seeing Qin Huairu's resolute words, Liu Haizhong was at a loss: "Old Yi, what do you think?"
Yi Zhonghai said, "Huai Ru, listen to me..."
Qin Huai interrupted him, "Don't say that. You want me to be a good Samaritan? Fine, let's get a divorce."
After the divorce, I will take care of you; that would be doing a good deed.
Perhaps that will give them an advantage during the selection process.
This shut Yi Zhonghai up.
For him, marriage was a guarantee for old age.
The thing he was most grateful for in his life was marrying Qin Huairu.
Otherwise, without this connection, his retirement would be insecure.
Having no other choice, Yi Zhonghai had to agree: "I'll go to the neighborhood office with Lao Liu and tell them not to be angry."
Qin Huairu was finally satisfied.
Liu Haizhong was still reluctant to give up: "Old Yi and I went to the neighborhood committee several times before they finally agreed. Look at you..."
Qin Huai said, "Old Liu, are you trying to force me to turn against you?"
The second aunt quickly nudged Liu Haizhong, signaling him to stop talking.
Liu Haizhong then agreed: "Alright, I won't say anymore. Let's talk about Lao Yan now."
What do you think we should do about Lao Yan's situation?
"If you ask me, we should wait in the courtyard and give Old Yan a three-way interrogation." Yi Zhonghai said, "No way. What kind of person is Xu Damao? He's never told the truth since he was a child."
His words cannot be trusted.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Liu Haizhong asked Yi Zhonghai.
Yi Zhonghai pondered for a moment: "How about this, we'll secretly follow Lao Yan tomorrow and catch him red-handed."
Liu Haizhong thought to himself, "This is even better. With both witnesses and physical evidence, Yan Bugui won't be able to deny it."
"This is a good idea. Old Yan's wife, let me make this clear first, you can't tip Old Yan off."
If he finds out, we won't be able to find anything against him.
The three women also resented Yan Bugui for losing face, so they never thought of informing him.
"Don't worry, I definitely won't tell him."
Yan Bugui had no idea that the people in the courtyard had prepared a trap, waiting for him to jump into it.
He spent the day collecting recyclables and earned thirty yuan. He walked happily toward the courtyard house.
Upon arriving at the courtyard house, Yan Bugui suddenly noticed car tire tracks.
He hadn't expected Xu Damao to come over; he was worried that something might happen to the elderly people in the courtyard.
He grabbed a passerby and asked, "What happened in our courtyard?"
"Is nothing going on in your courtyard?" the man asked Yan Bugui, puzzled.
Yan Bugui said, "That's not right. Nothing happened in the yard, so where did the car tire tracks at the gate come from?"
The man glanced down and said with a smile, "You mean this? Xu Damao came back today."
He was sitting in a brand new car.
Uncle, why did you offend Xu Damao back then?
If you don't offend Xu Damao, you can at least ride in his car.
Yan Bugui glared at him with displeasure, then turned and went back to the courtyard house.
He felt much more at ease if it wasn't one of his old colleagues in the compound who got into trouble.
As for offending Xu Damao, that's just bringing up old grievances, it's pointless.
The man chuckled, muttered "Serves you right" behind Yan Bugui's back, and left.
The conflict between the three old men in the courtyard and He Yuzhu and Xu Damao was common knowledge among the locals.
In the past, the three old men were very powerful, and everyone sided with them.
Now that He Yuzhu and Xu Damao have become successful, these people's stance has changed, and they've all started criticizing Yi Zhonghai and the other two.
This also led to Yi Zhonghai and his two companions being reluctant to go out.
Yan Bugui entered the courtyard and did not notice the strange looks he was getting from the other people.
"I heard Xu Damao is back. What's that kid back for?"
Liu Haizhong said, "What can he do when he comes back? Just laugh at us."
Fearing that Liu Haizhong might let something slip, Yi Zhonghai quickly gave him a wink and then changed the subject.
"Old Yan, what did you do during the day?"
Worried that he would be exposed, Yan Bugui quickly explained, "I went to Yan Jiefang's place today. That unfilial son of his is always hiding from me."
I'll go see him again tomorrow.
"I'll stop contacting him only when he gives me money for retirement."
Yi Zhonghai kept staring at Yan Bugui and noticed that his eyes flickered when he spoke.
As an old friend, he was certain that Yan Bugui was not telling the truth.
Fearing that Yan Bugui would suspect something, Yi Zhonghai stopped talking about the issue.
"You're really patient. That bastard Xu Damao is back to laugh at us."
Old Liu and I were discussing how to avoid making a fool of ourselves in front of him.
Yan Bugui said somewhat helplessly, "Don't waste your time. I just asked the people outside."
Xu Damao returned this time in a brand new car.
It's said to be an Audi.
That car of his is worth more than we could earn in a lifetime.
No matter how much we discuss it, it's no match for him.
Liu Haizhong retorted, "He just has a lot of money to burn." (End of Chapter)