Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

The crowd surrounding He Yuanchao's door parted like a tide to create a passage.

Director Wang from the subdistrict office, a middle-aged woman in her forties with short, shoulder-length hair, a serious expression, and wearing a gray Lenin suit, walked in quickly, accompanied by two other uniformed and businesslike staff members, guided by Xu Damao.

Director Wang frowned, his eyes sharp, clearly having already heard Xu Damao's embellished report on the way.

She saw the scene at a glance: the broken door panel, Yi Zhonghai sitting on the ground covering his face and groaning, his face bruised and swollen, Sha Zhu leaning against the wall groaning, his forehead swollen with a big bump, and Jia Zhangshi slapping her thigh and crying loudly.

"What happened?!" Director Wang's voice carried the authority formed from years of handling grassroots affairs, along with a hint of impatience. "Who started the fight? Why did they fight? How badly are they injured?" Her gaze swept across the room, finally landing on He Yuanchao, the only one standing and looking composed.

She recognized He Yuanchao, a newly promoted fourth-level fitter at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. He was young and promising, and in her memory, he was a down-to-earth and hardworking young man.

But the scene before my eyes…

"Director Wang! You've finally arrived! You have to stand up for us!"

As if she had seen a savior, Jia Zhangshi scrambled to Director Wang's feet and began to accuse him, tears streaming down her face: "It was him! He Yuanchao! That heartless scoundrel! He bought the meat and then ate it all by himself behind closed doors!"

Our son, Banggeng, was crying from hunger, begging for a bowl of soup, but he wouldn't give him any! He even deliberately invited that old bastard Yan Bugui in to eat meat and drink alcohol to spite us! An old man kindly tried to persuade him to share some with the children, but he not only refused to listen but also insulted the old man!

Sha Zhu couldn't stand it and argued with him, so he attacked him viciously! Look at what he did to Sha Zhu and Lao Yi!

This could be a fatality, Director Wang! You must arrest him immediately! This kind of criminal should be shot! Paraded through the streets!

Uncle Liu Haizhong quickly stepped forward, his belly protruding, and added with a sorrowful expression, "Yes, Director Wang! That's exactly what Aunt Zhang said! Comrade He Yuanchao's ideological awareness is too low! He's selfish and disrespectful to his elders! He even committed violence! His actions are extremely heinous! He has seriously damaged the unity and harmony of our courtyard! He must be severely punished!"

Yi Zhonghai covered his face and struggled to stand up. Enduring the excruciating pain, he testified in a hoarse voice: "Director Wang... cough cough... I... I really wanted to mediate the neighborhood dispute... I didn't expect... Comrade He Yuanchao... he... he was too emotional... and even instigated Sha Zhu... cough cough..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: he also attributed the punch Sha Zhu gave him to He Yuanchao.

Sha Zhu struggled to lift his head, pointing at He Yuanchao with eyes full of resentment, but due to the pain all over his body, he couldn't utter a complete sentence: "He...he..."

Qin Huairu stood silently by, tears streaming down her face. Her expression of utter injustice was more powerful than any accusation.

As Director Wang listened to this one-sided accusation and looked at the scene, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

If what they say is true, then He Yuanchao's behavior is indeed too much! Her stern gaze turned to He Yuanchao standing in the room, and to the obviously excessively lavish food and wine on the table behind him, her eyes growing even colder.

"Comrade He Yuanchao! Please come out and explain yourself!" Director Wang's voice carried an unquestionable tone of command.

All eyes were once again focused on He Yuanchao.

Jia Zhangshi, Liu Haizhong, Yi Zhonghai and others were filled with smugness and pleasure, waiting to see him get dealt with by Director Wang.

He Yuanchao put down his chopsticks, slowly stood up, walked to the door, his expression calm, even with a hint of mockery.

"Director Wang,"

He Yuanchao's voice was calm, showing no sign of panic from being attacked and criticized by the crowd. "They've finished speaking? Now it's my turn to speak, isn't it?"

"you say!"

Director Wang had a stern face.

"First,"

He Yuanchao raised a finger and pointed at Jia Zhangshi, "It's true that she said I didn't give her meat soup."

But I bought that meat myself from the pigeon market.

I have the right to decide who to give it to and who not to give it to.

Is there a neighborhood rule that you have to share meat with your neighbors after buying it?

"second,"

He raised his second finger, pointing at Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, "My first and second uncles said I was selfish and disrespectful to my elders."

Excuse me, I spend my own money and eat my own food, how am I being selfish?

Comrade Yi Zhonghai used mediation as a pretext to morally blackmail me, forcing me to hand over my personal belongings. When I refused, he was accused of disrespecting his elders.

What kind of logic is this? As for insults? I was merely stating the facts and exposing the hypocritical masks of certain people.

"third,"

He Yuanchao raised his third finger, pointing at Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai, a cold smile curving his lips. "You say I instigated Sha Zhu to beat up Yi Zhonghai? Director Wang, take a look at the scene."

The door was broken by Sha Zhu.

He kicked the door open and, without saying a word, raised his fist to hit me.

I was only acting in self-defense, lightly parrying the attack. He lost his balance, his fist missed its mark, and he accidentally injured Comrade Yi Zhonghai, who rushed up to "take sides." Then he crashed into the wall.

Throughout the entire process, aside from necessary defensive blocking, did I ever intentionally touch them with a single finger? How could I have "instigated" them? How could I have "committed the crime"?

"fart!"

Sha Zhu struggled to stand up, furious. "You...you..."

"What do you mean, 'you'?"

He Yuanchao coldly interrupted him, "Shazhu, do you dare swear in front of Director Wang that you didn't barge into my house and hit me first? Yi Zhonghai, do you dare swear that you weren't trying to take sides and ended up being accidentally injured by Shazhu? And you all..."

His gaze swept over Jia Zhangshi, Liu Haizhong, and the others. "Who among you dares to say with a clear conscience that not a single word I just said was a lie?"

His words were clear, logical, and every sentence hit the nail on the head!

In particular, the descriptions of "self-defense" and "accidental injury" are subtle yet cleverly utilize the evidence of the door that Sha Zhu kicked, making it difficult to refute.

As Director Wang listened, his brows furrowed even more.

Having handled countless neighborhood disputes, she could tell from this situation that things were far more complicated than Jia Zhangshi and the others claimed.

He Yuanchao's words are clearly more logical.

But the meat and wine on the table were indeed too conspicuous, especially during this difficult time.

Even if what you say is true,

Director Wang's tone softened slightly, but remained stern. "Comrade He Yuanchao, you also need to be mindful of your personal life! The country is facing difficulties right now, and everyone is struggling. You're consuming so much meat and drinking such fine wine by yourself. Isn't that a bit too... too ostentatious?"

This could easily incite public discontent! This is one of the root causes of the conflict! "Was your purchase through legal channels? Did you have receipts?" She finally got to the crucial point! This was exactly what Jia Zhangshi and her associates wanted to see! A pigeon market? Black market trading! This was a huge weakness!

A look of wild joy instantly flashed in the eyes of Jia Zhangshi, Liu Haizhong, Yi Zhonghai, and the others! That's it! Coupons! Where did He Yuanchao get the coupons to buy so much meat? He must have bought it on the black market! He's doomed now!

Yan Bugui's heart was in his throat as he nervously watched He Yuanchao.

Under the expectant, tense, or malicious gazes of everyone, He Yuanchao smiled.

That smile was full of composure and a hint of pre-prepared mockery.

"That's a good question, Director Wang," he said slowly, reaching into the pocket of his faded dark blue work jacket.

Everyone's heart was in their throats.

~~~~~~~~~~

New author, new book, requesting some free gifts.

Thank you everyone!

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