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

"He Yuanchao! It was you! You stole it! The evidence is irrefutable! What else do you have to say?!"

Every word Xu Damao shouted in his hoarse voice was like a poisoned nail, crashing heavily into the deathly silent courtyard.

Those few reddish-brown feathers and white downy feathers, stained with black ash yet still glaringly bright, were lifted high by him with fire tongs and, under the dim beams of several flashlights, became "evidence" hanging over He Yuanchao's head.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

Immediately, an even greater uproar erupted like a flood bursting its banks!

"Chicken feathers! Really chicken feathers!"

"Oh my god! He really stole it!"

"Found it in the stove! Ironclad evidence!"

"You can know a person's face but not their heart! They may look respectable, but behind your back they might be committing petty theft!"

"Pah! The scum of the working class!"

……

The sounds of discussion, accusations, and disdainful spitting instantly filled the small side room entrance.

Jia Zhangshi's old face, as if a withered tree had come back to life, instantly erupted with a twisted, wild joy. She abruptly broke free from Qin Huairu's embrace.

Like a victorious hen, she slaps her thigh, spitting out saliva that flies three feet away, her voice so shrill it could pierce eardrums:

"Oh my god! Heaven has opened its eyes! The evidence is irrefutable! The evidence is irrefutable! He Yuanchao! You heartless, childless bastard!"

You rotten-guts thief! What nonsense do you have now?! Everyone, look! See the true face of this thief!

As she cursed, she pushed through the crowd and rushed to He Yuanchao, almost pressing her spittle-splattered, greasy, and foul-smelling face against his nose.

"Hide it! Keep hiding!"

Aren't you so eloquent? Aren't you so aloof? Four hundred yuan? A professor from Tsinghua or Peking University? Pshaw!

You son of a bitch!

"You've been bragging to the point of absurdity! A leopard can't change its spots! You're a despicable thief at heart! A chicken thief! A thief who wipes out his family's fortune!"

Sha Zhu was so excited his face turned bright red, as if the humiliation of falling into the latrine had been completely washed away by this "victory." He took a step to He Yuanchao's side and in front of him.

Pointing at He Yuanchao's nose, spittle splattered, mingling with the smell of chives from dinner:

"He Yuanchao! You grandson! You've been exposed, haven't you? Keep pretending! Keep acting like a big bad wolf!"

And you dare bring up reputation with me? You think you're worthy?!

You sleazy bastard, you deserve to be childless and your family line will never end! You'll never be able to hold your head up high again! Xu Damao, he needs to pay you back!

"Ten hens! No! Twenty laying hens! Not a single feather can be missing!"

Yi Zhonghai stood at the front of the crowd, his chest heaving violently, his old face displaying a mixture of "heartache" and a secret sense of "just as I thought."

He sighed heavily, with profound disappointment, his voice carrying a heavy, authoritative weight, as if bearing a responsibility for the entire world, echoing throughout the hall:

"Sigh... Yuanchao! Yuanchao! You...you've disappointed me so much! You've disappointed everyone in the hospital, young and old!"

He shook his head in anguish, his gaze sweeping over the few glaring chicken feathers before turning to He Yuanchao with a condescending, judgmental air:

"The evidence is irrefutable! It's hidden deep inside your stove! What excuse do you have left?!"

What you just said—about reputational damage, compensation, and apologies—now sounds like…a thief crying “stop thief!” It’s the biggest irony of all!

He straightened up abruptly, his voice rising in a tone of unwavering resolve:

"Now, what else do you have to say? The facts are right in front of you! You must give Comrade Xu Damao an explanation!"

Give an explanation to all your neighbors who trusted you! Provide compensation! Make a deep self-criticism!

I accept everyone's criticism and guidance!

Otherwise, for the sake of our courtyard's "Advanced and Civilized" plaque, and for the honor of our community, I have no choice but to report this to the neighborhood committee! Let Director Wang deal with you, this rotten apple that's corrupting influence!

He deliberately emphasized the sign "Advanced Civilization," which was once the hallmark of the courtyard house and a symbol of his authority, Yi Zhonghai.

His bringing this up now is both a way to exert pressure and an attempt to awaken everyone's sense of responsibility for upholding "collective honor."

"Yes! Report it to the neighborhood committee! Arrest him and send him to a labor camp!"

Jia Zhangshi immediately echoed in a shrill voice.

"Pay back! Write a self-criticism!"

Sha Zhu waved his fist.

"They must be severely punished!"

Several residents who had long been jealous of He Yuanchao also took the opportunity to shout.

"Grandpa! You can't do this! This...this is too arbitrary!"

Yan Bugui was sweating profusely, desperately trying to squeeze to the front, his voice trembling, "What can a few chicken feathers prove? Maybe someone framed me..."

"frame?"

Liu Haizhong, with his protruding belly, interrupted him in a high-sounding official tone, glancing at He Yuanchao with disdain in his small eyes, "Old Yan, are you confused? It was hidden so well deep inside the stove!"

Who could have planted the evidence in his stove? Did the chicken feathers grow legs and run in there? What a joke!

"That's right! Yan Bugui! Stop protecting criminals here!"

Jia Zhangshi pointed at Yan Bugui's nose and cursed, "I bet you're in cahoots with this thief! Did you share his loot?"

"You...you're spouting nonsense!"

The three women were so angry they were trembling.

Yan Jiecheng was so angry that his eyes turned red. He rushed to He Yuanchao's side like a loyal little wolfhound, and roared at everyone:

"Bullshit! All of you are fucking bullshit!"

Why would Brother He need to steal his worthless chicken? Four hundred yuan! Professor Shen Molin from Tsinghua and Peking Universities! Offering four hundred yuan to Brother He for his calligraphy!

Brother He didn't even want it! He only took one yuan! Would he even consider Xu Damao, that rotten hen that can't lay golden eggs? Have you all been kicked in the head by donkeys?!

"Four hundred yuan? Hahaha! Four hundred yuan, you bastard! Yan Jiecheng, are you possessed?"

Xu Damao laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight, pointing at Yan Jiecheng as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Him? Sell a few lousy characters for four hundred? Do you think that money comes from thin air? Where's the evidence? Show it to me!"

If you can't produce it, you're just bragging! You're obviously hiding something! You think you can get away with this kind of nonsense after stealing a chicken? No way!

Sha Zhu chimed in sarcastically, "Exactly! Anyone can brag! I could say I know the Jade Emperor!"

He Yuanchao, if your calligraphy could really sell for four hundred yuan, would you still need to live in this shabby little room? Would you still need to wear these faded work clothes? You'd have moved into the cadre building and be living the high life long ago!

What a big clove of garlic! "

Madam Jia unleashed her full power, her triangular eyes glaring viciously at He Yuanchao, her words sharp and sarcastic to the extreme:

"Listen to this! Listen to this! Even when you're about to die, you're still being stubborn!"

They even dragged that brat Yan Jiecheng into making up lies together!

What kind of Tsinghua/Peking University professor is he? I think he's just an old blind man!

Or maybe you guys conspired together to put on a show and deceive people!

He Yuanchao, you have a truly vicious mind!

What a pity! Heaven has eyes!

"You've been exposed for your true colors, you thief! The evidence is irrefutable! You can't deny it!"

She became more and more excited as she spoke, as if she could already see He Yuanchao's disgrace and financial ruin, spitting far as she spoke:

"Pay back! Give Xu Damao ten chickens! No!"

Twenty! And I also have to pay for my emotional distress!

That scared this old woman!

You must pay compensation! And you've also slandered my grandson Banggeng's innocence!

You have to pay! If I don't make you suffer today, I'll change my surname to yours!

Public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones!

Yi Zhonghai's "heartfelt indignation," Liu Haizhong's "official pronouncements," Sha Zhu's opportunistic kicking, Xu Damao's clamor, and Jia Zhangshi's vicious curses...

Add to that the disdainful looks and whispers from the surrounding residents,

It was like a huge, malicious quagmire, trying to completely swallow and smear He Yuanchao.

The voices of Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng were completely drowned out, like two leaves in a stormy sea, powerless and desperate.

The three women were so anxious that they burst into tears.

Qin Huairu held Xiao Huaihua and stood far away in the shadows at the Jia family's gate. Her face was pale, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her eyes looked at He Yuanchao, who was being condemned by everyone and isolated in the eye of the storm, with a complicated expression.

But seeing his profile, which remained calm to the point of being indifferent, a strange unease quietly arose.

Just as the overwhelming outcry was about to completely engulf He Yuanchao, and Yi Zhonghai was about to once again forcefully pressure him to confess and pay compensation—

[Ding! The host is being severely framed and slandered by a group. The environment meets the hidden trigger conditions for "Public-spiritedness"!]

The system will grant you an extra chance for "Consciousness Fishing"!

This fishing trip will take place automatically within the host's consciousness space, requiring no physical fishing rod. Would you like to use it immediately?

The cold, ethereal system notification sound rang clearly in He Yuanchao's mind, like heavenly music!

He Yuanchao's heart skipped a beat!

Public-spiritedness? Or is it a form of espionage?

Just in time for a nap!

This system... came at the perfect time!

Without the slightest hesitation, He Yuanchao responded decisively from the depths of his mind: "Use!"

In an instant, He Yuanchao felt as if a part of his spirit had been drawn away and he was immersed in a quiet virtual space that only he could perceive.

At the center of the space is a shimmering lake of consciousness.

A semi-transparent phantom of "He Yuanchao," formed from his own thoughts, is quietly fishing by the lake, holding an equally illusory fishing rod.

The fishing line silently sank into the calm lake surface.

Less than two seconds passed—a moment that is almost negligible in the real world!

The illusory fishing rod suddenly sank!

With a flick of his wrist, the illusory figure instantly tightened the fishing line!

Whoosh!

A barely perceptible golden light broke through the calm lake surface and was steadily "fished" up by the illusory figure!

As the golden light faded, the phantom held a yellow talisman that was neither gold nor jade, had a warm touch, and exuded a faint, mysterious aura.

On the talisman, several complex and profound seal characters, seemingly containing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, were outlined with cinnabar, faintly exuding an aura of majesty that brought peace to the mind yet dared not be looked at directly.

[Ding! Fishing successful! Obtained special item: Truth-Revealing Talisman (One-time Use)!]

[Item Description: After activation, it can force one person to reveal the hidden truth in their heart for ten minutes.]

The effects are irresistible and unavoidable.

How to use: Lock onto the target with your mind to activate the talisman.

Spit out the truth talisman!

He Yuanchao was overjoyed!

It's true what they say, what you wish for comes true!

This luck is incredible!

Great!

Jia Zhangshi!

Yi Zhonghai!

Silly column!

Xu Damao!

You bunch of demons and monsters, don't you like to play the game of framing and spreading rumors?

Today, I'll make you spill all your dirty thoughts in front of everyone!

With this trump card, the last trace of gloom in He Yuanchao's heart completely dissipated, replaced by absolute confidence in controlling the overall situation and a cold, gratifying sense of impending reckoning.

He slowly raised his eyelids, his deep eyes sweeping over the faces before him, some contorted, some smug, some disdainful, and some "heartbroken."

The cold, mocking smile on his lips reappeared clearly once more.

This sudden, calm smile formed an extremely eerie contrast with the surrounding clamor and accusations.

Just as Jia Zhangshi was spewing spittle and cursing most vehemently, she suddenly froze, like a duck whose neck had been choked.

Yi Zhonghai's "heartbroken" expression froze on his face, and the unease in his heart instantly intensified.

Sha Zhu's shouts were stuck in his throat.

Xu Damao's hand, which was holding chicken feathers, also stopped.

The noise throughout the courtyard involuntarily subsided because of this eerie, calm smile.

"An old man,"

He Yuanchao's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the remaining noise, carrying a chilling coldness like shards of ice: "The ironclad evidence you keep talking about, is it just these few... chicken feathers?"

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback by his frighteningly calm demeanor. Forcing himself to remain composed, he said sternly:

"Nonsense! It was just chicken feathers found deep inside the stove!"

If it wasn't left behind when you stole the chicken and disposed of it, what else could it be? Did the chicken fly in, pluck its feathers, and stuff them into your stove?!

He Yuanchao, the evidence is irrefutable; you can forget about denying it now!

"Oh? The evidence is irrefutable?"

He Yuanchao shook his head slightly, as if he had heard an extremely absurd joke, his gaze like a cold probe.

His gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Xu Damao, finally settling on Jia Zhangshi's face, which was filled with malicious expectation.

"Since the old man is convinced that there are chicken feathers in my stove, it is equivalent to me stealing Xu Damao's chicken, and it is irrefutable evidence."

His tone abruptly shifted, becoming sharp and questioning:

"So, where's the chicken?"

"what?"

Xu Damao was taken aback.

"Where are the bones? The innards? The chicken blood? The aroma of the soup?"

He Yuanchao's voice suddenly rose, carrying a penetrating power, "A living, breathing egg-laying hen!"

Plucking the hairs is only the first step in dealing with it!

Gutting open, cleaning the internal organs, chopping into pieces and cooking... which step isn't bloody and smelly? Which step doesn't leave behind a lot of traces?

He suddenly took a step forward, and the invisible pressure made Yi Zhonghai unconsciously take a half step back.

"So many of you have searched my house thoroughly, and besides these few chicken feathers stuffed deep in the stove, what else did you find? A chicken bone?"

A drop of chicken blood? Or just a speck of oil from stewed chicken? Hmm?

His gaze, like a solid icicle, pierced directly at Yi Zhonghai:

"Grandpa, tell me!"

A person who steals a chicken, prepares it at home, and eats it will leave only a few chicken feathers behind, erasing all other traces.

Is he a god? Or do you all think I, He Yuanchao, am a stupid fool who only knows how to hide chicken feathers?!

A series of questions struck everyone's hearts like heavy hammer blows!

Yup!

A chicken!

It would be quite a commotion to deal with it, how could it possibly leave only a few hairs?

Some residents who were initially overwhelmed by the "ironclad evidence" now showed expressions of doubt and contemplation.