Kill the beasts in the courtyard, I fled to Hong Kong, surrounded by beauties on both sides.

"Director Wang...please come in." Chen Fei stepped aside.

Director Wang went inside and closed the door.

Yi Zhonghai waited anxiously. What would Chen Fei say? Would he reveal all the shady things that had happened in the courtyard? Like, Yi Zhonghai embezzling the Jia family's compensation money? Like, the three old men working together to drive Chen Jianguo to his death?

Time ticked by. Yi Zhonghai felt his back was soaked with sweat.

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened. Director Wang came out, and Chen Fei saw him to the door, coughing a few times before saying, "Take care, Director Wang."

"Take good rest and take care of yourself." Director Wang nodded and turned to leave.

Yi Zhonghai breathed a sigh of relief, but his doubts deepened. What exactly did Director Wang and Chen Fei discuss?

He didn't dare to ask, and could only continue to notify everyone to attend meetings.

At that moment, Chen Fei closed the door, leaned on his cane, and sat down on the bedside, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

Director Wang's questions were nothing more than Yan Bugui's usury and the recent atmosphere in the nursing home. Chen Fei "truthfully" reported that he had been bedridden for many years and was not very clear about what was going on in the nursing home, but he had indeed heard that some people were lending money privately and charging interest, which had a very bad influence. He also "casually" mentioned that the three old men often held meetings to discuss these matters in order to maintain stability in the nursing home, which was very hard work.

As for anything else? He knows nothing. What can a patient know?

Director Wang clearly had no suspicions. She was just making a routine inquiry, comforting Chen Fei and telling him to take good care of himself, and that the neighborhood committee would take care of his difficulties.

This was exactly the effect Chen Fei wanted—to leave the authorities with the impression of being "honest, law-abiding, and pitiful." That way, no matter what happened in the hospital afterward, no one would suspect him.

Yan Bugui is doomed this time.

Three IOUs, three witnesses—the evidence is irrefutable. Even if Yan Bugui denies it in every way, he cannot escape punishment.

Chen Fei lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. The resentment in his chest slowly swirled, bringing a cool sense of pleasure.

Father, Mother, Sister... Can you see this? The first enemy is about to fall.

But this is not enough.

Yan Bugui was just a minor figure. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Qin Huairu... and those neighbors who stood by indifferently and kicked him when he was down, none of them will escape.

He wants them to pay the price, one by one.

At 5:30 p.m., the steel rolling mill's closing bell rang.

The workers gradually returned to the courtyard house. Xu Damao and Shazhu entered the central courtyard one after the other, both of them looking unwell.

Xu Damao was called in for a talk by his supervisor at the factory today, who asked him about the money he borrowed from Yan Bugui. He stammered for a long time, but finally admitted it—there was no way to deny it now that the IOU had been found.

The supervisor gave him a severe dressing-down, saying he was brainless for daring to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates, and that if word got out, it would damage the steel mill's image. He was ultimately ordered to write a self-criticism and give a written apology at a workshop meeting.

Xu Damao was seething with anger. He had borrowed the twenty yuan because he had his eye on a Shanghai brand watch and wanted to buy it for a blind date. He was short of money at the time and was too embarrassed to ask his parents for it, but Yan Bugui offered to lend him the money with "negotiable" interest. He was greedy and agreed.

Who knew Yan Bugui was so greedy! 3% monthly interest! I borrowed for half a year, and the interest alone was enough to buy two cartons of Daqianmen cigarettes!

What's even more infuriating is that the IOU was lost and ended up in Liu Haizhong's hands! Now the whole factory knows, where will he put his face?

Sha Zhu's situation was similar. He borrowed the fifteen yuan because he had given too much to Qin Huairu last month and had no money to buy food at the end of the month. Yan Bugui had given him a "timely help," and he was so grateful that he didn't even read the fine print on the IOU carefully.

Only now did he realize it was a loan sharking scheme with a monthly interest rate of 2.5%! Sha Zhu was furious. That old bastard Yan Bugui, he always seemed so refined, who knew he was so heartless!

The two returned to the courtyard and saw that tables and chairs had already been set up in the central courtyard—it looked like a meeting for the entire college. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui (who had just been called back from school) were all sitting behind the tables, their expressions varying.

Director Wang of the subdistrict office sat in the middle, his expression serious.

The courtyard gradually filled with people. Men, women, and children were all there, whispering and discussing amongst themselves. The topics all revolved around the keywords "loan sharking," "IOU," and "Teacher Yan."

Qin Huairu sat in the corner with Xiao Dang and Huaihua, heads down, saying nothing.

Chen Fei didn't come out. He was "sick" and needed to rest. Yi Zhonghai wanted him to come out, but Director Wang said that patients shouldn't force themselves and should just rest at home.

This relieved Yi Zhonghai. It was better that Chen Fei didn't come out; one less variable.

By 6:30, almost everyone had arrived. Yi Zhonghai stood up and tapped on the table: "Quiet, quiet!"

The courtyard gradually quieted down.

"We are holding this plenary meeting today because there are important matters to attend to." Yi Zhonghai's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Now, please welcome Director Wang from the Subdistrict Office to speak."

Director Wang stood up and scanned the entire room. Her gaze lingered on Yan Bugui for a few seconds, and Yan Bugui lowered his head, avoiding her eyes.

"Comrades, neighbors," Director Wang began, his voice not loud but firm, "I've gathered you all here today to deal with a very serious matter."

She took out the three IOUs and held them up: "These three IOUs were found in the courtyard today. The borrowers are Comrades Xu Damao, He Yuzhu, and Liu Haizhong. The creditor is Comrade Yan Bugui."

The courtyard erupted in uproar.

Although there had been rumors for some time, hearing Director Wang confirm it with his own ears was still shocking.

Yan Bugui, the third uncle of the courtyard house, is an elementary school teacher. He usually looks like a gentle and thrifty person, but he is actually lending money at high interest rates!

"You may not be clear about the contents of the IOU," Director Wang continued. "Let me read a few lines: 3% monthly interest, compound interest, if you fail to repay on time, we will take your household items as collateral, or report the situation to the borrower's workplace."

"What is this? This is the old-fashioned practice of usury! It's exploitation! It's illegal!"

Director Wang's voice grew stern: "The People's Republic of China has long prohibited usury. Comrade Yan Bugui, as a teacher and the third oldest resident of the compound, not only knowingly broke the law but also exploited his neighbors' difficulties to make exorbitant profits. His actions are extremely egregious!"

Yan Bugui's face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.

"Now, let's hear from the three borrowers about their situations." Director Wang looked at Xu Damao, "Comrade Xu Damao, you go first."

Xu Damao stood up, head bowed, his voice soft: "I...I wanted to buy a watch this March, but I didn't have enough money, so...I borrowed twenty yuan from Uncle San. He said the interest was negotiable, so I didn't read the IOU carefully...I was wrong, I shouldn't have borrowed money from loan sharks..."