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

The noisy discussions gradually subsided, and everyone's attention focused on Liu Haizhong.

This feeling of being the center of attention made every pore on Liu Haizhong's body feel comfortable.

He paused for a few seconds, savoring the moment, before continuing, his tone carrying an air of "a great responsibility bestowed upon me."

The heaviness:

Comrades! Neighbors!

This morning, I called this emergency meeting!

"It's because a heinous incident of extremely serious nature and extremely bad influence occurred in our hospital!"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over He Yuanchao's flat-tipped bicycle parked in the corner, successfully drawing everyone's attention to it.

"Did everyone see that? Comrade He Yuanchao's bicycle!"

A brand new Forever brand bicycle, representing the hard work and prosperity of the working class!

Just last night, everything was fine!

But just this morning!

The valve cores of the front and rear tires!

It was done maliciously!

It's been pulled out!

Liu Haizhong slammed his hand on the table with a loud "smack," waking up the few people who were dozing off.

Comrades!

Was this just a matter of removing two tiny valve cores? No!

This is blatant destruction of other people's hard work!

This is malicious retaliation against Comrade He Yuanchao personally!

This is a serious provocation against our entire institute's title of "Advanced and Civilized"!

This is a blatant violation of laws and regulations!

He became more and more excited as he spoke, spittle flying everywhere, his belly bulging: "In broad daylight, under the clear sky!"

Such a despicable and vile act occurred right under our noses!

This is a disgrace to our courtyard house!

It is bad elements hiding among the people who are causing sabotage!

This is intolerable!

These weighty accusations made many people below quite uneasy.

Yi Zhonghai, in particular, lowered his head even further.

"As the second uncle in charge of the courtyard!"

I, Liu Haizhong, absolutely cannot tolerate this kind of unhealthy trend spreading in our hospital!

Today, we must find this troublemaker!

Make him admit his mistake in public!

Compensation for losses!

I accept everyone's criticism and guidance!

Give Comrade He Yuanchao an explanation!

This also gives the entire hospital an explanation!

Liu Haizhong spoke with an air of officialdom, thoroughly enjoying himself, his piercing gaze sweeping across the entire room as if inspecting his soldiers:

"Now! I'll ask you just one question!"

Who? Who did this despicable thing? Step forward and do it!

We can still try to get leniency!

If I find out, or if someone else exposes it... Hmph!

Then don't blame me for being ruthless; I'll take you straight to the police station for legal proceedings!

He emphasized the words "bring to justice" and glanced casually in the direction of Yi Zhonghai and the Jia family.

The audience was silent.

No one answered, and no one dared to meet the "majestic" gaze in Liu Haizhong's eyes; they all lowered their heads or looked elsewhere.

Sha Zhu, standing at the edge of the crowd, crossed his arms, pursed his lips, and muttered in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for those around him to hear: "Tch!"

"Is it really necessary? It's just pulling out a couple of valve cores, what's the big deal? Why make a hospital-wide meeting? Maybe some mischievous brat or some random kid passing by did it. A bad element? Nonsense!"

His words carried obvious dissatisfaction and disdain, directly criticizing Liu Haizhong for making a mountain out of a molehill, and also implying an attempt to exonerate the "real culprit" who might be exposed.

He glanced at Qin Huairu subconsciously.

Qin Huairu's body stiffened slightly, and she lowered her head even further.

Standing beside the octagonal table, He Yuanchao coldly observed Liu Haizhong's performance and Sha Zhu's mutterings.

At this moment, he stepped forward and stood beside Liu Haizhong. His gaze, like two cold searchlights, slowly swept across every face in the room, finally settling on Sha Zhu's "carefree" expression.

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out all the whispers, carrying a metallic coldness and an undeniable penetrating power:

"Second Uncle is right, this is indeed no small matter. This is deliberate sabotage and provocation."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, his voice suddenly turning cold, like an ice bead falling to the ground:

"Whoever did this, step forward now and pay me the price of two valve cores, and this matter will be over. I, He Yuanchao, keep my word."

Two pieces?

A low gasp rippled through the room.

A valve core costs at most one cent, and two at most two cents!

He Yuanchao asked for two yuan right off the bat? That's an astronomical price!

Sha Zhu's eyes widened, and he was about to shout "extortion" when He Yuanchao's icy voice rang out again, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's hearts:

"If no one identifies themselves, or if I find out who it is but they stubbornly deny it..."

He Yuanchao's gaze, as cold as solid ice, swept over Yi Zhonghai's ashen face, over Sha Zhu's forced composure, over Qin Huairu's terrified eyes, and finally settled on the window of the Jia family.

"...Then I'm sorry."

I'll have to trouble Officer Zhang and the others at the police station again.

The same approach we used to investigate the chicken theft case yesterday will be applied to this valve stem removal case today.

I believe that the professional capabilities of the people's police will definitely be able to bring this "bad element" to justice.

At that point, it won't be as simple as just losing two dollars.

As for how many days he should be detained, that depends on the law's judgment.

"Call the police"

The two words, like two invisible thunderbolts, instantly struck several figures in the crowd!

Yi Zhonghai shuddered violently, his already ashen face drained of all color, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant. He leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

Yesterday's humiliation, fear, and the immense pain of losing two hundred dollars overwhelmed him once again like a tidal wave!

Call the police again? He, Yi Zhonghai, would completely lose face!

Sha Zhu was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his hair standing on end!

Yesterday, the fear of almost getting himself caught up in the mess he made by taking the blame for Bang Geng instantly gripped him!

He subconsciously looked at Qin Huairu, his eyes filled with panic and questioning: Damn it, could it really be that little bastard Bang Geng who did it?

Qin Huairu's face turned deathly pale in an instant!

The moment He Yuanchao's icy gaze swept across the Jia family's window, her heart sank to the bottom!

Upon hearing the words "call the police" again, and recalling the horrific scene of Bang Geng being so frightened by the police yesterday that he soiled himself and Jia Zhangshi's desperate cries as she was handcuffed and taken away, a tremendous fear sent chills down her spine!

She no longer cared about the conference or her reputation. Taking advantage of the crowd's attention being on He Yuanchao and Liu Haizhong, she turned around abruptly like a startled rabbit and stumbled back home!

The Jia family's house was dimly lit and filled with a faint, foul odor—the residue of the previous night's incontinence and the smell of cheap grease.

Banggeng was huddled in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), his head covered by a quilt, his body still trembling slightly.

Clearly, the shock and fear from last night have not yet dissipated.

Qin Huairu abruptly pulled back the blanket covering the man, her face showing unprecedented sternness and panic. Her voice was extremely low and trembling:

"Bang Geng! Look at Mom! Tell Mom the truth!"

"Did you pull out the valve core from He Yuanchao's bicycle?!"

Banggeng was terrified by her mother's ferocious expression. Her little face turned pale, her eyes darted around, and her lips trembled as she stammered, "I...I...it wasn't me..."

"to be honest!"

Qin Huairu suddenly grabbed his arm, her nails almost digging into his flesh.

"There's a big meeting going on outside! He Yuanchao said he'd call the police if no one recognized him!"

Let the police investigate!

Great!

Have you forgotten what the police looked like yesterday? Have you forgotten how your grandmother was taken away? Do you want to go to juvenile detention?!

"Tell me! Was it really you?!"

"Wow--!"

The overwhelming fear completely shattered Banggeng's mental defenses. He could no longer hold back and burst into tears, nodding as he cried, his face covered in snot and tears.

"It was me... Waaah... I pulled it out... Waaah... I saw his car parked there... I... I was so angry... He hurt my grandma... Waaah... So I... I pulled it out... and threw it into the latrine... Waaah... Mom... I was wrong... Don't let the police arrest me... I'm scared..."

Sure enough it was him!

Qin Huairu felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and a surge of desperate anger rushed to her head!

That troublesome brat!

Yesterday's trouble almost ruined a family, and the wound hasn't even healed yet, and today he's already provoking that scoundrel again!

Isn't that just asking for death?!

"You...you little devil! Are you trying to drive me crazy?!"

Qin Huairu was trembling with anger. She raised her hand to slap him, but seeing her son crying so hard and looking so terrified, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Police call…juvenile detention center…Qin Huairu felt a chill run down her spine whenever she thought of these words.

If Bang Geng really goes to jail, his life is over!

The Jia family's only hope was gone!

What to do? What to do?!

Qin Huairu was in a state of turmoil, and her gaze unconsciously drifted to the window.

In the courtyard, the meeting continued, with Liu Haizhong still passionately "digging deep into the bad elements," while Sha Zhu's tall figure stood out conspicuously at the edge of the crowd.

A thought, like a venomous snake, burrowed into Qin Huairu's mind and instantly seized all her reason—Sha Zhu!

Only Shaju can save Bunny!

He could do it once yesterday, and he can do it twice today!

She grasped at the last straw, ignoring Banggeng's continued wailing, and abruptly turned and rushed out of the house.

The atmosphere in the courtyard was heavy.

Liu Haizhong was still giving a pep talk, He Yuanchao stood by with his arms crossed and watched coldly, while Sha Zhu looked irritable and impatient, feeling uneasy and vaguely sensing that something was wrong.

Just then, Qin Huairu lowered her head and hurried through the crowd, heading straight for Sha Zhu with a clear goal in mind.

She walked up to Sha Zhu and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying particular attention, quickly and discreetly reached out and grabbed Sha Zhu's clothes tightly!

Sha Zhu froze and looked down.

Qin Huairu looked up, her large, swollen eyes brimming with tears, filled with endless fear, pleading, and helplessness. Her lips moved silently, and she spoke urgently in a sobbing, breathy voice that only Shazhu could hear:

"Zhu Zi... Brother Zhu Zi... please... save Bang Geng... it was him... he was ignorant... he pulled it out... he... he's still young... he can't go to juvenile detention... Brother Zhu Zi... please... help me this one more time... I... I'll be your slave in my next life to repay you..."

Qin Huairu's voice, like the finest silk thread, trembled with despair, tightly binding Sha Zhu's heart.

Her tearful, pitiful appearance, her trembling "Brother Zhu," and the complete dependence and pleading in her eyes instantly ignited the burning, sycophantic heart in Sha Zhu's chest!

A complex mix of pity and the heroic spirit of "saving a damsel in distress" rushed to my head!

Oh shit!

It really was that little bastard Bang Geng!

I really don't know how to live or die!

Sha Zhu cursed inwardly.

But looking at Qin Huairu's desperate eyes, which seemed to be on the verge of collapse, Sha Zhu felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head. He threw all thoughts of consequences, laws, and whether it was worth it to the winds!

Sister Qin is begging him!

Sister Qin needs him!

He, Sha Zhu, is Sister Qin's everything!

Sister Qin's land!

For Sister Qin, he would dare to jump over mountains of knives and seas of fire, let alone put a cylinder with a valve core pulled out on his head!

"Sister Qin...you..." Sha Zhu was about to whisper a few words of comfort, "Leave it to me."

"Brother! What are you doing now?!"

A clear, suppressed female voice rang out not far behind Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu were both startled and turned their heads sharply to look.

He Yushui had arrived at the Central Courtyard at some point and was standing a little behind the crowd.

She had clearly heard Qin Huairu's last whispered plea and seen her brother's expression of "heroic spirit" instantly ignited.

He Yushui's face turned pale with anger, her chest heaving violently, and her eyes were filled with disappointment and rage as she looked at Sha Zhu.

She knows her brother too well!

The moment I saw Qin Huairu's appearance, my mind went completely blank!

Wasn't losing 100 yuan yesterday enough? Today I have to take the blame for that petty thief again?

Sha Zhu was embarrassed by his sister's public questioning, especially when he saw He Yushui's undisguised contemptuous gaze, which made him even more furious.

He stiffened his neck and lowered his voice to scold:

"Rain! What are you yelling about? This is none of your business! Get out of here!"

He Yushui's eyes reddened with anger. She bit her lip, glared hatefully at Sha Zhu, and then glared fiercely at Qin Huairu. In the end, considering the occasion, she held back her anger and simply crossed her arms, turned her head away angrily, but the anger in her chest burned brighter and brighter.

Seeing that his sister was not speaking for the time being, Sha Zhu immediately transformed his anger towards his sister into a determination to show in front of Qin Huairu.

He took a deep breath, abruptly pushed aside the two people blocking his way, strode to the center of the courtyard, stood next to Liu Haizhong, and, addressing the entire room and He Yuanchao, roared in his signature loud voice:

"Stop arguing! What are you guessing? Bad elements? Outsiders? Nonsense!"

He slapped his chest hard, making a dull thud, his face bearing the expression of a tough guy who would take responsibility for his actions, his voice booming:

"I pulled out those two valve stems from He Yuanchao!"

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence!

Everyone stared in disbelief at Sha Zhu!

Even Liu Haizhong, who was immersed in his official prestige, was stunned.

He Yuanchao narrowed his eyes slightly, and a cold, unsurprising smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

It really was that idiot!

For Qin Huairu, he'd dare to throw any kind of blame at himself.

"Pillar! What...what nonsense are you spouting?!"

Yi Zhonghai, standing at the back of the crowd, was so angry he almost fainted again. He struggled to stand up and reprimand them, but he was too weak to do so.

Sha Zhu didn't even look at Yi Zhonghai; he was going all out!