Chapter 2246
Continuing the Struggle
A long time has passed in the blink of an eye.
After He Yuzhu and his group sold their house, Zhang Yuping and Hu Yaohua also sold their house.
Similarly, they all sold their houses to He Guoqiang.
Yi Zhonghai was unwilling to give up and was still trying to salvage the situation.
"We can't let it go like this."
After buying the house, He Guoqiang did not move into the courtyard house, nor did he arrange for anyone to move in.
But he often sent his underlings to inspect the house.
Every time he comes, he's accompanied by several of his underlings.
The fierce young man terrified everyone in the courtyard.
Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were much less enthusiastic about opposing the sale of the house.
"What else do you want to do? Those guys are just thugs, not those spineless cowards in the compound."
Seeing that Yi Zhonghai was going to continue causing trouble, Liu Haizhong voiced his opposition.
They take advantage of their age to bully ordinary people in the compound, which isn't a big problem.
They know better than anyone what those people are like.
But He Guoqiang's underlings are different.
Liu Haizhong asked Liu Guangtian about He Guoqiang. He Guoqiang was in charge of demolition and relocation, but he wouldn't calmly reason with you.
They'll use any trick in the world to get people to relocate.
They can't afford to mess with He Guoqiang.
He's now tied to Yi Zhonghai; if Yi Zhonghai offends He Guoqiang, he'll suffer the consequences too.
Yan Bugui also understood this principle and helped persuade Yi Zhonghai.
"Old Yi, let it go. Sha Zhu specifically sold the house to He Guoqiang to deal with us."
He'd love for us to offend He Guoqiang, so that He Guoqiang could have us killed.
Yi Zhonghai was certainly afraid, but fear wouldn't solve anything.
The other people in the courtyard were already interested and were preparing to sell their houses to He Guoqiang.
Once they all sell their houses to He Guoqiang, the courtyard house will become He Guoqiang's domain.
They were like fish on a chopping board, at risk of being slaughtered by He Guoqiang at any moment.
Yi Zhonghai absolutely would not allow this to happen.
I know everything you're saying.
But have you considered that if we don't stop them, everyone else will sell the house to He Guoqiang?
When that time comes, He Guoqiang will move in with his men, close the door, and bully us at will.
What should we do?
The courtyard was full of his men; we were completely helpless back then.
Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui's expressions changed; the thought of that outcome made their legs go weak.
“If he dares to mess with us, we’ll call the police,” Liu Haizhong said, trembling.
Yi Zhonghai looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Even if you wanted to call the police, you could still run away.
Have they forgotten how they used to prevent others from calling the police?
"Why don't you reinstall the home phone?"
Liu Haizhong blushed. He had no money to make a phone call right now.
After losing money in his smuggling business, he couldn't afford the phone bills and had to disconnect the phone line.
Fearing the two would start arguing, Yan Bugui stepped in to mediate.
"If you have any ideas, just tell us. Lao Liu and I will listen to you."
Thinking of the scene described by Yi Zhonghai, Yan Bugui had no choice but to muster up his courage and listen to Yi Zhonghai's opinion.
Seeing that the two no longer objected, Yi Zhonghai said, "I don't have any good ideas either."
Now the only way to stop people from selling their houses is by offering high prices.
"How do we stop them?" Liu Haizhong asked, puzzled.
Yi Zhonghai glanced outside and whispered, "Let's spread the word that He Guoqiang wants to buy all the houses in the courtyard."
The further back in time, the higher the house price will be.
Yan Bugui thought about it for a while and didn't quite agree with this method.
This method has some feasibility. It can work if you have someone who is bold and can withstand the pressure.
But the people in courtyard number 95 are not an option.
If those people really had that kind of ability, they wouldn't have been able to be controlled by those three old men.
People who can be easily toyed with by others are no match for He Guoqiang.
"They don't have the guts."
Yi Zhonghai nodded and said firmly, "I know they don't have the guts. Only you can handle this."
"Me?" Yan Bugui pointed to his nose, looking surprised.
He really wanted to ask Yi Zhonghai what grudge or resentment he had against him to do this to him.
"I can not."
Yi Zhonghai held Yan Bugui's hand and said affectionately, "Among all of us, you are the most suitable."
"Why?" Yan Bugui didn't understand.
He's not very brave, and he can't fight, so how come he's the most suitable person?
Yi Zhonghai explained, "Because you're greedy. Everyone in our compound knows you love to scheme."
If you act like you're the best at selling, they'll definitely believe you.
Yan Bugui quickly shook his head: "I can't. Lao Yi, don't get me into trouble."
Those people are all thugs, they're all unreasonable.
"With my skinny arms and legs, what if they beat me up?"
Normally, at this point, Yi Zhonghai should offer benefits to Yan Bugui.
He simply can't afford it now, and he doesn't want to anymore.
"Old Yan, it's not like you're the only one charging forward. Old Liu and I will go with you."
We'll pretend we've been convinced and agree to sell the house with you one last time.
Yan Bugui still refused.
You won't get poor from eating or dressing, but you will get poor if you don't plan ahead.
If there's no benefit to it, and you want him to do something so dangerous, you're dreaming.
Yi Zhonghai said angrily, "If you don't agree, are we just going to watch He Guoqiang move in and come here?"
Look at the men he sent; they're clearly not good people.
One of the thugs stared at Tang Yanling.
If they move in, they'll bully Tang Yanling.
Do you think Huairu can still take care of us in our old age?
Do you really expect your sons to support you in your old age?
This stumped Yan Bugui.
He did hope that Yan Jiecheng and a few others would take care of him in his old age, but it was no use at all.
Once they heard that the house would not be demolished, Yan Jiecheng and the others never came back.
The only time I came back was to ask him if he was selling the house.
Unable to rely on his own son, he could only hope for Qin Huairu.
But as Yi Zhonghai said...
If those thugs bully Banggeng's wife, Banggeng will either fight them to the death or move out with his family.
When we move, will we be able to take him with us?
It's already good enough that they can bring Yi Zhonghai along.
What if I'm scared?
Yi Zhonghai encouraged him: "What are you afraid of? At worst, we'll just go to the subdistrict office every day and let everyone there know about us."
With the neighborhood committee watching over us, they wouldn't dare do anything to us.
Even after hearing Yi Zhonghai's suggestion, Yan Bugui was still uneasy: "You and Lao Liu can't deliberately trick me."
"What kind of person do you take me for?" Yi Zhonghai said, somewhat annoyed.
Despite their decades-long friendship, Yan Bugui still didn't believe him.
He could cheat everyone in the courtyard, but he wouldn't cheat Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui.
These two are his retirement partners.
Without the help of these two, how could he possibly entrust the matter of his retirement to Qin Huairu?
One should always be wary of others.
Although Qin Huairu passed his test of old age, people's hearts are fickle. Who can guarantee that Qin Huairu won't turn against him after receiving his family property?
Liu Haizhong gradually understood what it meant and then expressed his opinion.
"Old Yan, don't worry. The three of us are in this together, none of us can escape."
Lao Yi and I will definitely stand with you.
Liu Haizhong's statement reassured Yan Bugui.
He was more inclined to believe Liu Haizhong than Yi Zhonghai.
"Alright. I'll take the gamble with you." (End of Chapter)