Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

Li Jianguo looked at him.

Suddenly he laughed.

That smile made Yi Zhonghai's heart skip a beat.

"Old man," Li Jianguo said, "still the same old tricks. Moral blackmail, flattery, and using rules to intimidate people—it's ingrained in your bones, you can't change it."

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed.

Li Jianguo took a step forward.

Just one step.

Yi Zhonghai subconsciously took a half step back.

"Where's the evidence?" Li Jianguo asked. "You say she stole something, where's the evidence?"

No one answered.

"Without evidence, it's a frame-up."

He looked at the third uncle. The third uncle avoided his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Do you know how you'll bear the consequences of false accusations?" Li Jianguo said calmly.

Yi Zhonghai shuddered in fright, but the resentment in his heart rose up like bubbles at the bottom of the water.

"We have no evidence, but..."

He wanted to say that Jiang Min also had no evidence to prove that she wasn't the one who did it, but when he saw Li Jianguo's eyes—not fierce at all, just staring at you like you were a corpse.

The words stuck in my throat, and I swallowed them back.

Li Jianguo was too lazy to argue with them. He'd rather go back and chat with Jiang Min. The young lady had been wronged today; he needed to comfort her.

"Since there's no evidence, call the police."

He glanced at Xu Damao.

Xu Damao, quick-witted as ever, shuffled off like a greased horse: "I'll go call the police right now!"

He knows this stuff very well. He knows it all too well.

"Why are we calling the police again?!"

Someone shouted, and the gazes in the crowd changed, all falling on Li Jianguo before shifting to Uncle Er's face.

Second Uncle is now in charge of things in the courtyard.

He coughed, his face twitching slightly. "If something is stolen, you should call the police. When the police arrive, it will be clear who stole it, and no one will be able to escape."

"Second Uncle's words are fair."

Li Jianguo smiled. After dealing with these people for so long, he felt he had gained some skill.

"When the police arrive, they'll not only find the thief, but also seek justice for Xiaomin. This will prevent some people from thinking they can bully my people just because I'm not around."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jia Zhangshi's legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground. Someone next to her helped her up, and she regained her balance.

Li Jianguo's gaze swept over.

Jia Zhangshi lowered her head, wishing she could shrink into the ground.

the other side.

The police officers at the local station smiled when they saw Xu Damao: "Director Li, is something up again?"

Xu Damao nodded: "Someone is blind and said that Director Li's girlfriend stole something. It's been a lot of trouble for you all to make this trip."

Without saying a word, Director Zhang personally led the team.

Five or six people entered the courtyard in a large group.

When the people in the compound saw it was Director Zhang again, they quickly made way for him. This guy was not someone to mess with.

"Director Li, it's nice to see you again!"

Director Zhang smiled warmly. That spy case last time was enough to get him promoted two ranks. The reward hadn't been announced yet, but the word had already spread—his position in the municipal bureau was practically guaranteed.

If you can maintain a good relationship with Li Jianguo before leaving, you're guaranteed to make a profit.

Li Jianguo smiled and said, "Director Zhang, thank you for your trouble."

"No problem."

"Xu Damao said something was stolen from your place?"

The old man squeezed through the crowd: "Director Zhang, you have to do me justice! That scroll isn't worth much, but it's a keepsake my father left me. It's always been on the shelf, and who knows which scoundrel stole it! And a lot of other odds and ends are gone too!"

The three older women also came out: "I lost a whole bag of brown sugar, half a bag of cornmeal, and the water tank and stuff..."

It may not seem like much, but for Uncle San, it would be a huge financial burden for half a year.

After hearing this, Director Zhang laughed: "Hearing you say that, I can guarantee it wasn't Director Li and his girlfriend who did it. They have plenty of food and drink, and Comrade Jiang Min is a college student, would she even consider such things?"

Upon hearing this, those who had been misled by Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai suddenly realized what was happening and turned to glare at the two men.

Xu Damao seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire: "In my opinion, the Jia family is the most suspicious in the whole courtyard. They're short-sighted, the kind of people who wouldn't even let a rag go."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Jia Dongxu jumped up, his face flushed red: "Xu Damao, you damn lackey, what did our Jia family ever do to you?"

"Alright!"

Director Zhang's shout silenced both sides.

"Quiet down. A quick search will tell you. Let's start with the Jia family—focus on those with prior convictions."

Jia Zhangshi's face turned pale.

"Why! Why did you search our house first!"

She plopped down on the ground and started wailing at the top of her lungs: "They only know how to bully us orphans and widows—it's outrageous—"

The two policemen were blocked at the door by her and were in a bit of a predicament.

"What are you standing there for?" Director Zhang didn't even lift his eyelids. "Take him away. If he keeps howling, it's obstructing official business. He'll be locked up for a few days."

Two policemen, one on each side, carried Jia Zhangshi to the side.

Jia Zhangshi tried to rush forward, but was pulled back.

"Aunt Zhang, why are you in such a hurry? Are you feeling guilty because you've done something wrong?"

"Who said that! I'll tear your mouth apart!"

He's all talk and no action, but his legs are weak.

A short while later, a policeman came out of the house, carrying a filthy, stained scroll.

The old man's eyes widened, and he rushed over with a speed far beyond what one would expect from an old man: "This is it! My father left it to me!"

Looking at the stains again, tears welled up in his eyes: "Father... I'm so sorry... The things you left behind have been ruined like this..."

The way he looked at the Jia family members was as if he wanted to kill them.

Jia Zhangshi shrank back, not daring to meet his gaze.

Xu Damao laughed: "Jia Dongxu, weren't you just shouting that you wanted to search Director Yang's house? Turns out you were the thief crying 'stop thief!'"

"It wasn't me who did it."

Jia Dongxu lacked confidence and stole a glance at his mother, cursing inwardly: "You old hag, you're always causing trouble!"

The three women seized the opportunity to raise their hands: "Chief Zhang, we still haven't found those missing items from our house! You have to help us!"

Director Zhang waved his hand, ordering a policeman to accompany her inside for another search.

Once the third aunt entered the Jia family, she was like a rat falling into an oil vat, her hands never stopping.

"This baby formula is mine! This brown sugar is mine too! This set of celadon bowls is mine! The kettle is mine too!"

She talked about each one individually, and the police didn't stop her even though they were standing nearby.

A short while later, he brought out a large bag.

Madam Jia's eyes turned red: "You heartless bastard! Most of this stuff doesn't belong to you! I'll fight you to the death!"

She rushed forward, but the policeman grabbed her and pulled her back: "Behave yourself!"

The three women sneered, "You mean yours? Call it, will it answer?"

Everyone present could see that the three aunties were taking advantage of the situation to make a quick buck.

But no one spoke up for the Jia family.

Director Zhang also turned a blind eye.

Jia Zhangshi could only watch helplessly as the third aunt carried the things away, her heart aching with heartache.

"Director Zhang, my painting!"

The old man wiped away his tears, pointing to the filthy scroll: "They have to pay for it! This is my father's treasure, and it's ruined like this!"

"Pay fifty."

Director Zhang set the price directly without asking how much the painting was worth.

The Jia family is too arrogant; they need to be taught a lesson.

"My God—just kill us—we don't have fifty dollars!"

Jia Zhangshi howled like a pig being slaughtered.

No matter how much I cried, it was no use; I still had to pay the money in the end.

She threw the money on the ground and turned to leave angrily.

"stop!"

"stop!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously.

Li Jianguo and Director Zhang exchanged a glance and both smiled.