Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 186

Xu Damao's mother asked anxiously, "Is what Zhuzi said true? Did your father really commit robbery?"

Xu Damao nodded and said, "It doesn't say what crime my father committed, but he will be detained and await trial."

Although Xu Damao's mother was illiterate, the bright red stamp on the notice was so glaring that she believed it to some extent when she heard her son say that. Overwhelmed with anger, she pointed at Yi Zhonghai, about to start cursing, when she fainted.

Fortunately, both Xu sisters were there and managed to grab their mother's arm in time, preventing her from sitting on the ground.

Several women stepped forward to help, pinching his philtrum to rouse him, but Xu Damao's mother had already lost her mind and was somewhat delirious, only shouting that Xu Wude was wronged and that it was all the fault of that scoundrel surnamed Yi.

Helpless, the crowd carried her home. Xu Damao, not bothering to scold Yi Zhonghai, went back to take care of his mother.

The remaining crowd, seeing that the event had ended, also left in twos and threes. Only Jia Dongxu went up to Yi Zhonghai to comfort him and express his loyalty.

Since the implementation of the First Five-Year Plan, the steel rolling mill has entered a phase of expansion and has recruited many apprentices.

Jia Dongxu had lost his job at the steel rolling mill because of his imprisonment and could only do odd jobs, unable to work in the factory.

However, Jia Dongxu still had some lathe skills, and with the help of Yi Zhonghai, he was able to re-enter the steel rolling mill as a formal employee.

The Jia family recovered and regained a stable income.

He Yuzhu ignored them, exchanged a few words with He Daqing, and then left the courtyard.

The next day, Xu Damao and his family continued to pester Yi Zhonghai. Helpless, Yi Zhonghai went to the police station with them.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to withdraw the police report, but robbery is a criminal case, not a civil dispute, and therefore cannot be withdrawn, much to the disappointment of the Xu family.

Yi Zhonghai produced a letter of understanding, and after everyone pleaded for leniency, explaining that Xu Wude had not caused much harm, they requested that he be punished lightly.

Ye Dapeng said, "We have also considered this matter and will inform the procuratorate to consider leniency."

Then he explained, "Our police station is only responsible for the investigation of the case; we still have to wait for the court to deliver its verdict."

The Xu family had been crying for days, worried about how they would survive if Xu Wude went to jail!

Even after leaving the police station, the Xu family continued to pester Yi Zhonghai, causing him immense headaches.

Summer days are unbearable, especially without electric fans. Even if you have an electric fan, it's useless at this time because the voltage is extremely unstable. Light bulbs flicker on and off due to the voltage, and there are frequent power outages for various reasons.

Fortunately, He Yuzhu had prepared a lot of ice, which helped to cool down a bit.

These days, He Yuzhu has confirmed that Xu Huizhen is pregnant, so of course he can no longer live a happy life and can only miserably become a monk.

Only occasionally during the day would he go to the front gate to use Chen Xueru to ease his longing.

He Yuzhu lived a happy life, but Yi Zhonghai lived in dire straits.

On the day Xu Wude was sentenced, He Yuzhu, the most successful businessman in the courtyard, went to the hearing along with several other elders, including He Daqing.

He Yuzhu was still surprised to hear that Xu Wude was ultimately sentenced to four and a half years in prison in the solemn People's Court.

I thought it would only take two or three years, but it turned out to be four and a half years. During this time, we won't see Xu Wude anymore.

He Yuzhu felt a secret sense of satisfaction. This family had conspired to plot against him; they were completely finished this time.

Xu Damao helped his mother walk slowly. He had already inquired through various channels and had a good idea of ​​what was going on. He was relatively calm in the face of the four-and-a-half-year sentence.

Xu Zhaodi suddenly turned around, biting her lip, and gave He Yuzhu a resentful look before turning back and walking forward.

"Are you crazy? Do you think you can count yourself as a criminal?"

He Yuzhu muttered to himself, slowed down, and fell behind the crowd, making up his mind.

Although Xu Zhaodi has the charm of a young girl, it's best to avoid associating with her in the future; that girl is not a good person.

Attending the sentencing of Hürwood today is just one thing; there is something more important to do next.

Everyone returned to the courtyard house and held a meeting in front of Yi Zhonghai's house.

Those present were the three old men from the management office: He Daqing and his son He Yuzhu, and of course, the Xu family.

Xu Xiaomei poured tea for everyone, and then no one spoke. They silently drank the plain water in their hands, as if it were the most delicious nectar.

After a moment, Liu Haizhong spoke first: "Everyone, don't stay silent! Sister-in-law Xu, Da Mao, do you have any opinions?"

With Xu Wude no longer working, Xu Damao's mother no longer working as a maid in the Lou family, and Xu Zhaodi also having no job, Xu Damao only earns an apprentice's wage, making it difficult for him to support his family.

The purpose of today's meeting is to solve this problem.

Xu Damao coughed and then said, "Gentlemen and Zhuzi, as you all know, my father was sent to jail by someone surnamed Yi. So, from now on, we'll have to rely on someone surnamed Yi to support us. That's not an unreasonable request, is it?"

"Who told your father to ambush you and rob you on the road?" Yi Zhonghai immediately retorted.

"Who told you to be so malicious as to write a complaint letter?"

The Xu family kept pestering them until they had no choice but to go to Cheng Dayuan. Previously, Yi Zhonghai had taken Xu Damao to see Cheng Dayuan.

Chen Dayuan had long since thrown away that note. Although he couldn't find it, he remembered the general contents of the letter.

Especially when Cheng Dayuan mentioned the old fitter, Yi Zhonghai was so frustrated he felt like vomiting blood.

Originally, I thought I could clear my name, but now it's completely confirmed that Yi Zhonghai wrote the whistleblower letter.

After all, there weren't many experienced fitters in the steel rolling mill, and the only one with whom Xu Wude had a conflict was Yi Zhonghai, who lived in the same courtyard.

So Xu Damao insisted that it was Yi Zhonghai who was behind it, otherwise why would Cheng Dayuan have invited Yi Zhonghai to dinner and give him gifts?

The Xu family couldn't make ends meet, so they had no choice but to ask Yi Zhonghai for help. If he didn't support them, they would eat and live at the Yi family's house every day.

That's why we have today's meeting, with everyone from the courtyard here, to discuss a solution.

Yan Bugui said, "Old Yi, this is what you promised before. Just tell us how much money you'll give them each month."

He Daqing also said, "Old Yi, you should give them this money. Less is not enough, otherwise they won't be able to make a living."

He Daqing was happy as long as he could see Yi Zhonghai suffer. Although he had been involved with Aunt Yi a few times, he was still unhappy. He would definitely give Yi Zhonghai a push if he had the chance to kick him while he was down.

Yi Zhonghai shouted, "I meant to offer compensation, but 30 yuan is too much."

"Is it a lot? Not really?" Liu Haizhong said.

Among the three senior members of the management team, Yi Zhonghai was the oldest and had the highest prestige, which made him the de facto leader of the three, much to Liu Haizhong's displeasure.

Xu Damao shouted, "Where is the extra? My dad earns more than 30 yuan a month. Asking you for only 30 yuan is already a bargain for you."

He Yuzhu asked, "Any other conditions?"

Xu Damao said, "They also want to give us a thousand yuan at once to pay off the previous debts."

"What? Another thousand yuan? Your bill is only a little over 300 yuan!" Yi Zhonghai shouted.

Xu Damao said, "Because of your report, our family was charged 1000 yuan by Cheng Dayuan. Of course, you should pay for it."

Yi Zhonghai almost vomited blood. So, Xu Wude was seducing the young widow, and he had to pay for the money he was swindled out of.

"No way, I won't pay for this. If that's what you're saying, then let's go to the police station and talk things over. Shouldn't your father be sentenced for his affair with that widow?"

As the saying goes, "If the people don't report it, the officials won't investigate," so Xu Wude certainly wouldn't take the initiative to confess to the police officers, after all, that matter was a very serious crime.

Xu Damao certainly couldn't cause trouble at the police station and expose his father's shameful deeds.

There was an awkward silence, and He Yuzhu said, "I think asking for 1000 yuan is indeed a bit too much."

"Yeah yeah."

"That's definitely too much."

“But if we don’t give it to the Xu family, we still owe them money, so that won’t work either.”

He Yuzhu said, "I think we should give Xu Damao four hundred yuan to pay off his debts. Then we won't have any more debts and can live a peaceful life."

"400 yuan is not a small amount, is it? He can earn money to pay off his debts himself."

Yi Zhonghai retorted.

He Daqing said, "Zhuzi is right. You should help him pay off his debts. Xu Zhaodi, the eldest daughter, is not young anymore. She needs to find a husband and a job. You should help her more. Also, you should provide a dowry for her wedding so that she can have a grand wedding."

He Daqing not only affirmed He Yuzhu's proposal to return the 400 yuan, but also mentioned Xu Zhaodi's wedding.

After all, Xu Zhaodi is not young anymore; she needs to find a job and get engaged.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to bargain, but everyone tried to dissuade him. After all, Yi Zhonghai had previously earned the highest salary in the courtyard, and everyone had this tacit understanding. This time, they would let him bleed money again.

Everyone agreed, and Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to accept it. After all, this offer was half of what he was supposed to get for 1000 yuan, and he only needed to pay an extra 400 yuan.

But something still felt wrong. He earned 60 yuan a month, and the Xu family was going to take half of that and 400 yuan from his savings.

Wouldn't that mean my standard of living would drop significantly?

In particular, Xiaobai from Baocheng kept urging him to send money over so that he could prepare a family fortune for his eldest son and help him find a partner.

These are all places that cost money. Giving them to the Xu family would mean mistreating his own son. Yi Zhonghai felt that his life was bleak and he had no hope for the future.

Xu Wude was sentenced to four and a half years. During his imprisonment, he had to give the Xu family living expenses every month, which amounted to more than 1000 yuan over those four years.

Yi Zhonghai was reluctant to give it, but the people in the courtyard were pressuring him. He sighed, gritted his teeth, and said, "I'll give it."

The Xu family members all showed long-lost smiles. Although Xu Wude was imprisoned, it was still a happy thing to have gotten a piece of flesh from Yi Zhonghai.

Otherwise, wouldn't this whole family be starving if they relied on Xu Damao's apprentice wages?

Xu Damao said:

“That’s good. Here’s 400 yuan for me to pay off my debts, and I’ll give you 30 yuan at the beginning of each month thereafter.”

Yi Zhonghai snorted and ignored him, then turned and went into the house. He talked to Aunt Yi for a while, which made Aunt Yi very angry.

Last time, Yi Zhonghai lost 1500 yuan for talking too much. Now that Xu Wude has gone to jail, he will need to pay close to 2000 yuan himself.