Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

In fact, Yi Zhonghai knew exactly what was going on; he understood Sha Zhu all too well.

He and Xu Damao didn't get along and would fight every few days.

But even though this kid is a scoundrel, he still has some bottom line; he wouldn't stole someone's old hen.

Looking at the exchange of glances between Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu, he knew perfectly well that Sha Zhu had once again done something foolish by taking the blame for someone else!

But that stubborn mule, Sha Zhu, was determined to put the blame on himself. What could he do?

Yi Zhonghai could only glare at Sha Zhu with exasperation, trying to cut the Gordian knot and put the matter aside.

Qin Huairu was still secretly planning to speak up for Sha Zhu and try to lower the compensation amount.

After all, they were the ones who took the blame for their family's troubles, so the five yuan debt of gratitude would ultimately fall on Qin Huairu's shoulders.

But just as she was about to speak, she felt a tight grip on her wrist; a strong hand was gripping her tightly.

Turning her head, she saw Madam Jia Zhang shaking her head slightly with a stern face.

Now that the police have already intervened, if they show their faces again, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Although Zhou Feng was also somewhat surprised by Bai Ling's identity, he understood what was going on from the side.

Although Bai Ling was upright and righteous, she was still a bit outmatched when facing these old hands in the alley who were good at smoothing things over, especially a naive old man like Yi Zhonghai.

They were directly put on hold by the other party's "reputation as a member of the compound".

Impartial law enforcement means standing against everyone in the compound. If she doesn't enforce the law impartially, then her identity as a police officer will be meaningless and completely disregarded in the compound!

"Cough cough cough..."

Zhou Feng cleared his throat and slowly stood up from his seat.

"If you ask me, Comrade Bai Ling is right. We must understand the law! The old man is also right. Neighbors should resolve things behind closed doors instead of making a scene."

Yi Zhonghai frowned immediately upon seeing Zhou Feng's actions.

His intuition told him that this kid's opening remarks were bound to be bad news!

"Zhou Feng, what do you want to say? If you don't have any new insights, then sit down."

He really didn't want Zhou Feng to bring up anything else.

Unfortunately, the good news didn't come true, but the bad news did. Zhou Feng shrugged at him: "Grandpa, this is the New Dragon Kingdom now. We ordinary people have the right to speak. Besides, I have new evidence!"

After silencing Yi Zhonghai, Zhou Feng shrugged and pretended to be nonchalant: "This afternoon, I passed by the steel rolling mill and saw three kids squatting there eating beggar's chicken!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, kids these days are really something. So young, yet so picky eaters and quick hands. A little boy of just a few years old can already make beggar's chicken with his two younger sisters. Right, Sister Qin?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Huairu felt as if her brain was about to explode. In an instant, her vision went black, and she swayed, almost losing her balance.

Jia Zhangshi, as if her tail had been stepped on, jumped up from the stool with a "howl" and pointed at Zhou Feng's nose, yelling, "Zhou Feng! What nonsense are you spouting? Our Banggeng has been obediently doing his homework at home since school, he hasn't even left the house!"

Sha Zhu also suddenly turned his head to look at Zhou Feng. He had seen Bang Geng and the other two eating beggar's chicken near the steel mill, but he hadn't seen Zhou Feng there at the time!

"You little bastard! Come at me if you dare! Why are you wasting your energy on a child?!"

Having already decided to take responsibility for this matter, Sha Zhu was determined to fight to the end, glaring fiercely at Zhou Feng.

Seeing the drastic change in their expressions, Zhou Feng suddenly chuckled, "Oh ho? What's the rush? What did I say that was a joke? I just said I saw three kids playing PUBG, and your reactions... are you all stressed? Could there really be something going on here?"

Xu Damao immediately turned his gaze over. In this courtyard, his mind was one of the best, and he figured out the key point in an instant.

"I remember now! This afternoon I caught your hamster stealing soy sauce in the factory kitchen! Did your hamster steal my chicken and then eat it dipped in soy sauce?!"

That's right, that's it!

Zhou Feng only asked a few questions, and he guided Xu Damao to reveal the truth on his own!

"Bullshit!"

Sha Zhu was so anxious that the veins on his forehead were bulging as he watched the truth being laid bare.

He glanced again at Qin Huairu, whose face was deathly pale, and then, in a fit of rage, he slammed his fist into the stool next to him.

"Xu Damao, you're bullying a kid, have you no shame? It's just five yuan, I'll pay you back, and that'll be the end of it!"

"Hey, don't rush!"

Zhou Feng leisurely stopped him, feeling the energy flowing into his body from the double penetration gates due to the intense emotional fluctuations of the group, and he was overjoyed.

"This matter hasn't been investigated yet, and you're in such a hurry to pay compensation? Doesn't that just make people more suspicious?"

"In my opinion, we should go to the kitchen of the steel rolling mill and ask, and then check with the security department to see if anyone has seen any child loitering around the canteen recently."

"That way, Bang Geng's innocence will be cleared, and Sister Qin and Aunt Jia will be at ease. Don't you think that makes sense, sir?"

He deliberately dragged out the tone, dragging Yi Zhonghai into it as well.

Yi Zhonghai was speechless after being asked that question, and his chest was heaving violently.

He knew it; Zhou Feng was up to no good!

The way they called him "Grandpa" wasn't a request for his opinion; the tone was full of sarcasm!

Just like the expression on Zhou Feng's face when he confronted him at the last college-wide meeting, his words were incredibly harsh!

Based on this point, what good can come out of Zhou Feng's mouth if he tries to talk to him now?

Seeing Zhou Feng pointing the finger at Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu really panicked. He stiffened his neck and looked at Xu Damao: "You're the aggrieved party here. I stole the chicken, and I'll pay you five yuan! Xu Damao, are you trying to take this all the way to the police station and make our No. 95 courtyard a laughing stock in the whole Nanluoguxiang!"

Lou Xiao'e quickly tugged at Xu Damao's sleeve from below.

It's better to avoid trouble between neighbors. If things really escalate to the police station, then we'll truly have a falling out and never speak to each other again!

Sending Sha Zhu to jail is easy, but how will his wife and son live in the yard and work at the steel mill after that?

Besides, it's obvious that Bang-geng did this, and Sha-zhu is taking the blame.

If the police really find out about Bang Geng, wouldn't that be the death of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu?

When that happens, those two widows will definitely fight them to the death!

Xu Damao weighed the pros and cons in his mind. In fact, seeing Sha Zhu admit defeat and pay compensation, he felt he had vented his anger. So he simply took the opportunity to back down and waved to Sha Zhu.

"Alright, alright! For the sake of the neighbors, this matter is settled! Five yuan, and we're done with the chicken!"

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, Yi Zhonghai finally breathed a long sigh of relief and looked up at Bai Ling.

"Comrade Bai Ling, you see, they've resolved this matter themselves. Let's handle it internally within our compound, so let's not trouble the police. Meeting adjourned! Everyone, please leave!"

He dared not let Zhou Feng continue to manage things here, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble he might cause!

At Yi Zhonghai's call, the neighbors who had watched the commotion for a while got up and headed home.

Upon closer examination, it turns out that no one actually suffered a loss in this matter.

Xu Damao exchanged a chicken for five yuan, the three children of the Jia family ate a chicken for free, and Sha Zhu spent five yuan, but no one cared where his half chicken came from.

Don't forget, if it's really investigated, Bang Geng stealing chickens is at most petty theft, but Sha Zhu stealing public property from the steel mill's kitchen is a much more serious offense!

The three old men also established their authority through this incident. Although Bai Ling's appearance diminished this authority, it still had some effect.

Even Zhou Feng increased the progress of his dual-door evolution to 27%.

You have to understand that even though Sha Zhu and Xu Damao were born in the 1930s, how many of them are easy to deal with, having survived such a great upheaval and lived to this age?

Not to mention these three old men. Although they each have their own weaknesses, it would be hilarious to treat them as idiots.

The only one who wasn't satisfied was Bai Ling.

She could see clearly that the Jia family was the problem, yet they just muddied things over like this?

"Comrade Bai Ling, are you still adjusting after just arriving? You don't understand this place! It's small, but the atmosphere is quite turbulent; the waters are shallow, but there are plenty of scoundrels. As time goes on, you'll gradually see the difference!"

As the group was about to leave, Zhou Feng didn't forget to reap some emotional benefits one last time, loudly mocking them a few times.

In an instant, the energy of the double-penetrating door surged to thirty percent.

Zhou Feng's smiling gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai, whose face was ashen; Qin Huairu, who remained silent with her head down; Jia Zhangshi, who was gritting her teeth; He Yuzhu, who was indignant; and Xu Damao, who was smug...

That's the real fun of living in a courtyard house!