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

"You've gone too far! You little beasts! How dare you insult me?! I'll tear your mouths apart!" Jia Zhangshi went completely mad, baring her teeth and claws as she lunged forward to fight.

"Enough! Shut up, all of you!" Yi Zhonghai was furious, his face turning ashen. He hadn't expected things to get out of control like this.

The defection of the Yan brothers completely disrupted his plan to take sides.

He must turn the tide and regain control of the "moral" high ground.

"Shut up! All you do is make noise! ​​Does Banggeng still want his leg?! Dr. Wang, look at this..." He looked at the doctor.

Dr. Wang's face was extremely grim. He was anxious to save the person, but the noise from this group of people was giving him a headache: "Will arguing solve the problem? The injured person must be taken to the hospital immediately! Money! Medical expenses! Who will pay? If this drags on any longer, you will bear the consequences!" His tone was already tinged with anger.

Yan Bugui looked at his wife, who was trembling with anger, then at his two sons who stood up for him, and then at He Yuanchao, who was calm and composed with a cold smile on his lips, as well as He Yuanchao's bucket full of fish and the promised benefits of smoked fish... The scales in his heart completely tipped!

What kind of authority does an old man have?

What about neighborly affection?

Compared to tangible benefits and the humiliation of having one's whole family insulted, it's all bullshit!

More importantly, Yan Bugui knew the truth perfectly well!

What is the stick-like creature doing under He Yuanchao's window?

It's obvious even to a fool! It's theft! It's perfectly reasonable for He Yuanchao to put mousetraps in his own house to keep out thieves!

Even if this matter escalates to the ends of the earth, the Jia family will still be in the wrong! Yi Zhonghai wants to take sides? Not a chance!

This is an excellent opportunity to undermine Yi Zhonghai's absolute authority in the courtyard!

Yan Bugui took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

He adjusted his worn-out glasses, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with calculation and a hint of resolute determination. His voice suddenly rose, carrying an unprecedented air of righteous indignation:

"Dr. Wang is right! It's a matter of life and death! Bang Geng's leg is the most important thing! But—"

He abruptly changed the subject, his sharp gaze sweeping over Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi, "How should this money be paid? Who should pay? We need to be reasonable! We can't just try to smooth things over! And we certainly can't bully people just because we have more people!"

I, Yan Bugui, am putting my words out there today! Why did the stick appear under Yuan Chao's window?

Huh? Yuan Chao's door was locked, and the window latch was on the inside! How did he manage to put his hand in there?

What was he trying to do? Everyone knows perfectly well! It was theft! It was attempted burglary!

His words were powerful and resounding, like a thunderclap! They directly tore away that veil of pretense!

The courtyard fell silent instantly.

Those neighbors who had been led astray by Yi Zhonghai and had joined in criticizing He Yuanchao now realized what was happening and their gazes toward Banggeng and Jia Zhangshi became complicated.

"Yan Bugui! You're talking nonsense! You're spouting lies!"

Jia Zhangshi screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Am I making baseless accusations?"

Yan Bugui sneered, meeting Jia Zhangshi's resentful gaze without fear. "Fine! Since both sides have their own reasons, I think we should stop arguing here! We won't get any results even if we argue until tomorrow, and it will only delay the child's leg treatment!"

Let's go to the neighborhood committee office! Let Director Wang be the judge! Let the leaders of the neighborhood committee decide whose child is misbehaving and stealing! Let's see if putting a mousetrap in one's own house to keep out thieves is illegal! And whether or not compensation should be paid!

He deliberately emphasized the words "hands and feet are not clean" and "Director Wang of the Subdistrict Office".

The words "go to the subdistrict office" were like ice water poured over her head, instantly jolting the furious Jia Zhangshi to her senses!

For the first time, a clear look of panic and fear appeared on her usually harsh, old face! She knew all too well!

If this matter reaches Director Wang of the neighborhood office, Banggeng's theft will definitely not be concealed! And she will definitely not be able to escape responsibility for instigating her grandson to steal!

Not only will she not get compensation, but she and Banggeng might also be arrested by the neighborhood committee for criticism and education, or even sent to a labor camp!

Then she would have completely lost face!

The Jia family will never be able to hold their heads high again in this courtyard!

"No... we can't go to the neighborhood committee!"

Jia Zhangshi's voice trembled as she shouted, her tone fierce but her voice weak, "This is...this is a family matter within our compound! There's no need to involve the neighborhood committee! Old Yi...Old Yi is the head of the household, he...he can handle it!"

She looked at Yi Zhonghai as if grasping at a straw.

Yi Zhonghai's face was extremely grim at that moment.

Yan Bugui, that old miser, is usually quiet and unassuming, but after eating He Yuanchao's fish today, he's gotten quite bold!

They actually dared to directly challenge his authority and even brought out Director Wang from the neighborhood office as their trump card!

He knew even better that Director Wang had come yesterday because of Sha Zhu's matter, and was clearly biased towards He Yuanchao!

If this matter really gets to Director Wang, not only will he be accused of taking sides, but he himself might also be labeled as "unfair in handling matters"!

"Old Yan! What are you saying!"

Yi Zhonghai suppressed his anger and tried to maintain his authority, "Neighborhood harmony is the most important thing! What kind of image does it make to constantly alarm the neighborhood committee? It makes our compound look so disunited?"

Director Wang is extremely busy; we can handle this small matter ourselves! The most urgent task is saving the children! Yuan Chao, you need to make a statement!

He once again turned the pressure on He Yuanchao, hoping that He Yuanchao could "consider the overall situation" and back down.

He Yuanchao had been observing this farce with a cold eye, watching Yi Zhonghai's hypocrisy, Jia Zhangshi's bluster and cowardice, and Yan Bugui's last-minute defection, feeling only icy mockery in his heart.

Hearing Yi Zhonghai call his name again, the mocking smile on his lips deepened.

He pushed his bicycle forward, took two steps, and stood in front of Yi Zhonghai. His gaze, like a cold knife, pierced directly into Yi Zhonghai's eyes, which were trying to feign impartiality. His voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating power, clearly echoing throughout the deathly silent backyard:

"Sir, you want me to make a statement? Sure."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the still-wailing Bang Geng on the ground and the panicked Jia Zhangshi, before finally settling on Yi Zhonghai's ashen face. His tone suddenly turned stern, like a thunderclap:

My attitude is—bullshit!

"My house has been invaded by rats. They're shifty-eyed and always trying to steal my rice, my oil, and the meat from my bowl! It's only natural, reasonable, and legal for me to put out a mousetrap to keep them away!"

"What? You caught a thief, and now it's my fault? I have to pay for the thief's medical treatment? Is there any logic to this?!"

"According to your logic, grandpa, if a thief breaks into a house and gets injured by the homeowner's kitchen knife or trips over a stool, does that mean the homeowner has to pay for the thief's medical expenses and throw a feast to calm their nerves?!"

"Sir, you're so kind to thieves, so 'benevolent'! Well then!"

He Yuanchao suddenly pointed at Yi Zhonghai's house, "Your rice and flour bins are quite full, aren't they? Why don't you just move them all out, open the gate, and put them in the yard, inviting all the rats and thieves in Beijing to come and eat! Come and take! There's plenty for everyone!"

You're so kind-hearted, so 'collective-minded,' and so concerned about 'neighborly relations,' why don't you show us what you're capable of?!

"All talk and no action, spouting nonsense and showing favoritism while standing on moral high ground—"

He Yuanchao's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap, carrying a thunderous roar that slammed into Yi Zhonghai's face:

"Who do you think you are?! What kind of character do you have?! You dare to act all high and mighty and claim to be upholding justice?!"