Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 659 A False Alarm? It's True!
After seeing them off, Liu Haizhong and his second aunt headed home.

Liu Haizhong was unaware that a sensational rumor about him had already caused a stir in the courtyard.

"This is terrible! This is terrible! I heard that the steward in Liu Haizhong is in danger!"

A figure stumbled into Yan Bugui's house, shouting in a thunderous voice.

The person who arrived was Aunt Wang.

"What! Really?"

The three women were so shocked by the sudden news that they almost dropped what they were doing and instinctively lowered their voices to ask more questions.

Although the three aunts were eager to find out the news, they did not forget to quietly take Aunt Wang out of the house.

After all, people come to visit, and they come so fast, so we have to prepare some water for them. Drinking water also requires firewood, so the Yan family doesn't like people coming to their door.

Aunt Wang, completely unaware of the Yan family's thrifty intentions, hurriedly made her promise:
"Auntie, would I lie to you? My cousin's son's childhood friend works at the neighborhood office; his information is extremely valuable!"

"He heard Director Wang mention this with his own ears, how could it be false? Liu Haizhong will be back soon!"

"Really?!" Upon hearing this, the third auntie immediately became happy, and the courtyard became lively again.

If Liu Haizhong's second uncle really falls from grace, his own third uncle might just naturally take his place!

Although the steward wasn't a high-ranking official, he was still a respectable person, at least it was a proper title.

"Oh dear, I can't talk to you anymore, I have to hurry and inform everyone!"

Seeing that the three aunties didn't even bother to offer tea or water, Aunt Wang patted her bottom and prepared to leave.

"Stay a little longer, what are you busy with at home?" the auntie urged, wanting to share such a good thing with someone.

"No, I really have something to do," Aunt Wang declined repeatedly.

"What happened? Is the manager in the fringe really in danger?"

The neighbors, especially the women who love to join in the fun, quickly surrounded Aunt Wang in the courtyard.

"What? Second Uncle is really beyond saving?"

"Aunt Wang, wait a minute, where did you hear that from?"

Is this thing authentic? Don't get it wrong.

"It's absolutely true! I heard it from the people at the neighborhood office myself, how could it be false?" Aunt Wang's voice rose even higher after being praised by everyone.

Someone in the crowd chimed in, adding fuel to the fire:
"Oh my, you guys don't know, I saw Liu Haizhong go home this morning carrying a huge bag of grain, at least twenty pounds! It might be..."

Once this topic was brought up, everyone felt that the matter was a done deal.

"Is this really causing such a commotion? Well, that's going to be quite a show!"

"Tsk tsk, who should take over this vacant second uncle's seat?"

In no time, this bombshell news, full of details and seemingly irrefutable, spread throughout the entire courtyard, stirring up a flurry of activity.

Upon hearing the news, Xu Damao, who had just returned from get off work, happily picked up Sai Fengxian and spun her around twice.

"It's done?! It really is done!"

Xu Damao never expected that his casual remark would actually do his nephew a huge favor and bring down Liu Haizhong.

"Hehe, if Liu Haizhong can't get the official position, then it's my turn, isn't it? No way, I have to try my best."

Sai Fengxian looked at Xu Damao, whose eyes were darting around, and knew that he had made a fool of himself again, so she couldn't be bothered to interfere.

"No, we need to discuss this with Chen Tongjing. If he tries to take it, it will be troublesome."

Thinking of this, Xu Damao went to Chen Tongjing's house.

It's unclear what the two discussed, but Xu Damao emerged with a smug look on his face.

"This time it's all settled! We're just waiting for the meeting!"

At this moment, Xu Damao was in high spirits, feeling like he was riding a swift horse in the spring breeze, enjoying all the sights of Chang'an in a single day, waiting for Liu Haizhong to fall from his horse.

Liu Haizhong and his second aunt also returned to the courtyard.

When everyone saw the two of them return, they all stepped forward to ask if the matter was true or false.

"Old Liu, you're back."

When the three women saw Liu Haizhong and his wife return, they couldn't wait to greet them.

The other women followed suit when they saw that the third aunt addressed her that way.

"Old Liu, how's it going? Have you resolved your nephew's matter yet?"

"Old Liu, are you alright?"

"What do you mean, 'Old Liu'? Can't you speak properly?" Liu Haizhong said unhappily.

These people usually call him "Second Uncle," so why did they all change their address? Did they lose their temper today? How dare they call him that? It's so rude.

Everyone was happy when they saw that Liu Haizhong was unhappy.

Some people even boldly patted him on the shoulder, showing no sense of boundaries.

"Hey, Lao Liu, don't be angry. We're just joking around, don't take it seriously. Oh, by the way, I heard the neighborhood committee took you off your job as the 'manager,' is that true?"

"Really? If you can't be the second uncle anymore, who will take your place? Has the neighborhood committee said anything about it?"

"Old Liu, don't be sad. It's not a big deal to be the manager anymore. It's good to have more time to rest."

Everyone was talking at once, and Liu Haizhong was still a bit confused, but he finally understood what was going on.

He was instantly enraged. These people weren't content with just watching the show; they actually wanted to take over! How dare they be so audacious! So lawless!
"Bah bah bah!"

"Don't talk nonsense! I'm doing a good job as the second uncle. The neighborhood committee hasn't said they're going to remove me from my position. Who would remove me? Who said that? Step forward!"

Seeing Liu Haizhong's furious expression, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, though some of his former authority still remained.

"Old Liu, oh no, Second Uncle, hasn't the neighborhood committee taken down your 'in charge' title yet?" someone asked cautiously.

"Picked? Who said you picked them? Where did you get that information? I don't even know how you know!" Liu Haizhong shouted.

Everyone turned to look at Aunt Wang; it was she who had spread the rumor.

Liu Haizhong and his second aunt stared at her with eyes that seemed capable of killing, waiting for her to give an explanation.

Aunt Wang was trembling with fear. Could it be that his cousin's son's childhood friend had lied to him?

No way, no way. I heard about it from the neighborhood office.

Aunt Wang trembled under the murderous glare, but still stubbornly argued, "Director Wang himself said he wanted to remove you from your post, how could that be false?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong knew where the news came from and immediately gritted his teeth.

"Yes, Director Wang did say that, but he was just trying to scare me. You actually believed him!"

Liu Haizhong was so angry that his vision blurred. His nephew's cheating of grain was already bad enough; if he really lost his job, wouldn't that be adding insult to injury?

"Oh, well... I was just joking, don't take it seriously." Aunt Wang chuckled, trying to cover it up.

"Are you kidding me? Do you find it funny to take this as a joke?!"

Upon hearing that his grain had been taken away, Liu Hai was startled. Not only had his nephew cheated him out of his grain, but now he was also going to have it taken away. It was truly a double whammy.

"Hehe~" Aunt Wang chuckled foolishly without answering.

"Hmph! He's always idling around, I think he's just asking for trouble."

Liu Haizhong lectured, dragging his second aunt home while cursing, "If you're so bored, go clean the latrines!"

What happened today was really scary; it terrified him so much his heart couldn't take it.

"Hmph!" Auntie Er snorted coldly, her face close to hers.

As soon as the two left, the crowd began to complain to Aunt Wang: "Oh, Aunt Wang, really, why did you spread such unfounded rumors!" "Yes, you should say less of these kinds of unfounded things in the future, otherwise we would have thought..."

After saying a few words to Aunt Wang, everyone left.

"Alas, what a pity." The third aunt sighed inwardly, regretting that Yan Bugui could not go any further.

"Alas! What a pity!" Those who had been hoping for Liu Haizhong's downfall couldn't help but sigh inwardly as their plans were dashed.

"Since we couldn't bring him down, it seems the position of Second Uncle won't be available to anyone else anytime soon."

The rumors that had been circulating for so long eventually disappeared without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea.

Of all those, the one who was the angrier was Xu Damao.

"Damn it, they dare to spout nonsense about things they can't believe! Luckily, I didn't suffer any consequences!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth, wishing he could devour Aunt Wang alive. Everything was ready except for the final push, but it turned out to be just a rumor.

He drank some herbal tea to calm his nerves and finally managed to stop his wildly beating heart, thinking the storm had passed.

Unbeknownst to him, someone was stepping through the twilight on the stone path outside the courtyard gate.
At this moment, as everyone was criticizing Aunt Wang, the once noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent—Director Wang strode in through the hanging flower gate with a stern face, his gaze falling directly on everyone.

"Director Wang, what brings you here?"

The women who had just been complaining about Aunt Wang for "spreading rumors" fell silent instantly, exchanging glances: Could the rumor... actually be true?
Seeing that everyone was here, Director Wang smiled slightly: "You're all here? Are you discussing something?"

Yan Bugui quickly stepped forward: "No, it's nothing. We're just chatting since we have some free time. Director Wang, what can I do for you? Do you need my help?"

Director Wang nodded, not caring what everyone had done: "I happen to have something to do. Could you please ask Teacher Yan to call Liu Haizhong over? The street office has something to announce."

"Okay! I'll go right now." Yan Bugui went to find Liu Haizhong himself.

The crowd's necks were frozen in mid-air, could the rumor be about to come true?

Liu Haizhong, who was slumped in the house, had just drunk some herbal tea to calm his nerves when Yan Bugui came to his door and got straight to the point: "Old Liu, Director Wang is looking for you. He's in the front yard. Hurry up and go over there. Don't keep Director Wang waiting."

"What?!" Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong was so shocked that his hand trembled, and the teacup crashed to the ground with a "bang," almost causing him to lose his balance.

The second aunt also forgot to pick it up at that moment.

Liu Haizhong hurriedly asked, "Did Director Wang say what it was about?"

"He didn't say, you should go now."

After saying that, Yan Bugui quickly left.

Liu Haizhong and the second aunt exchanged a glance, wondering if it was really true. A chill ran down their spines.

They can't hide forever. Director Wang is coming. If he really wants to talk about that matter, there's no point in hiding.

With this in mind, Liu Haizhong mustered up his courage and went out.

But his legs were trembling.

Liu Haizhong forced himself to remain calm and pushed open the door, but cold sweat beaded on the back of his neck.

Finally, amidst everyone's expectant gazes, Liu Haizhong arrived at the front yard.

"Director Wang, what's going on?" Liu Haizhong rubbed his hands together awkwardly and approached with a forced smile.

Director Wang ignored Liu Haizhong's awkward situation and his cold, hard voice boomed throughout the courtyard: "After deliberation by the Subdistrict Office, it has been decided that, effective immediately, Liu Haizhong will be temporarily relieved of his duties as the steward!"

hum-

A single stone shattered the stagnant water of the entire courtyard!
Xu Damao suddenly clenched his loosened hand, and his eyes widened slightly.

Aunt Wang hunched her shoulders and squeezed into the crowd, indicating that she hadn't been fooled.

People had varying feelings about it.

"On what...on what grounds?" Liu Haizhong's vision blurred, and his throat tasted metallic. "My nephew's grain fraud case has been settled. You were clearly just bluffing..."

"Scare them?" Director Wang's gaze swept over Yan Bugui and Yi Zhonghai, whose ears were perked up.

"Who told you I was trying to scare you?"

"What?!" Liu Haizhong's hands trembled, unsure of who to point at.

"Besides that, how do you three old men manage the yard? How come the yard is in such chaos every month? Today's incident is to remind you."

“If you don’t take good care of the courtyard, the neighborhood committee is considering removing the three of you in charge. We hope you’ll behave yourselves.”

After Director Wang returned home, he really didn't think about cutting off his bangs.

However, some people in the neighborhood committee were very dissatisfied with the constant disturbances at No. 95 courtyard and felt they had to issue a warning.

As luck would have it, Liu Haizhong happened to be right in the middle of the gunshot, which provided the perfect opportunity to give a warning.

This was a warning to Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, as well as to everyone in the courtyard, to keep quiet.

Seeing that things had gotten a bit out of hand, Director Wang comforted him, saying, "Liu Haizhong, you are temporarily relieved of your position as the head of the department. Of course, if you do well, you may have a chance to be reinstated."

In an instant, these words gave Liu Haizhong hope.

After all, maintaining stability is what the neighborhood committee wants to see.

"Alright, I'll be leaving now that I've announced everything."

Everyone watched Director Wang leave, and then all turned to look at Liu Haizhong.

"What are you looking at! I'm just temporarily relieved of my duties as the manager, not dismissed. I can be reinstated later. Don't overthink it. Don't think I don't know what you're up to."

Liu Haizhong made a show of threatening, as if he was afraid that everyone would steal his manager's mantle.

Then, bracing himself, he walked steadily home.

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with sternness.

However, compared to the somewhat composed Yi Zhonghai, Yan Bugui had more to consider; he needed the identity of the Third Uncle even more.

"Tsk tsk tsk," Li Kailang said, noticing the sudden silence in the courtyard. "What's there to argue about with a mere steward?"

"Let's go, let's go, the yard won't be quiet from now on."

There's a vacancy for the position of the supervisor, and Director Wang didn't say they couldn't fill in, so they might actually have a chance.

Of course, Xu Damao was the most excited. "I was right to tell Chen Tongjing. I'm determined to get this manager position!"

Everyone, harboring their own secrets, returned home.

"Hey, Li Kailang!" Xu Damao immediately went to find Li Kailang when he saw him.

The two of them entered the house.

Xu Damao couldn't wait: "Li Kailang, did you see that? I'm still the best. I just told Liu Haizhong's nephew, and he was out of a job. Isn't that amazing?"

"Amazing, amazing!" Li Kailang calmly clapped his hands and cheered.

Xu Damao raised his head arrogantly: "Do you think I have a chance of becoming the president? We agreed yesterday that you had to support me, you haven't forgotten that, have you?"

"Don't worry, I won't forget you. If you're elected as the head of the department, I'll vote for you."

"Thanks," Xu Damao said with a smile, but looking at Li Kailang's calm demeanor, he asked worriedly, "You wouldn't be thinking of vying for the position of manager, would you?"

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in this manager. I'm too busy with my own things to have the energy for this."

"That's true." Xu Damao thought about how Li Kailang had to study and other things, so he really didn't have time.

"Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going back to think about it."

After saying that, Xu Damao went back to think about how to win over the steward.

"These are all trivial matters, I don't know what's so great about them." Li Kailang shrugged, tidied up, grabbed a quick bite, and headed to his night school class.

(End of this chapter)