Chapter 155: Mr. Guo, one cannot be too selfish in life!

Guo Hongtu sat there, feeling uncomfortable all over.

He still hadn't quite processed what was happening.

The original plan was excellent: renovating an old Small Residential District and installing an Elevator was a good thing, supported by the state, and actively called for by the Community Office and the streets.

Moreover, this matter was also a good thing for them; with elderly people at home, this was an act of filial piety. Just look, spending money to install an Elevator—if that isn't filial piety, what is?

Even though theirs was an old Small Residential District, the location was truly good, and the property prices for them on the top floor were indeed not high.

And as long as there was an Elevator, it went without saying—anyone who had ever bought a second-hand home knew that a house with an Elevator and one without were two completely different concepts.

Therefore, it was a win-win situation: it allowed the elderly at home to go downstairs whenever they wanted, and it could also boost property values; it was a beautiful thing.

As for what those downstairs were saying, Lao Guo's previous words represented his thoughts: wasn't it just a bit of noise, and wasn't it just blocking a bit of light?

What was the big deal about that, right?

As for the claim that the houses downstairs would depreciate, what did that have to do with him? If you have proof, bring it out.

In any case, his own son had once said that as long as they on the upper floors agreed, those downstairs would have to agree whether they wanted to or not.

What was this called? This was called a legal provision!

So, from that moment on, Lao Guo hadn't worried at all. Let them make a scene; the law was written that way. If you have the ability, go change the law!

The reason it hadn't been decided to build yet was still because those on the upper floors hadn't resolved their own internal conflicts.

Still the same point: the only ones truly eager to build were probably the two households on the sixth floor and one household on the fifth floor.

Everyone else had their own thoughts in mind.

Their little schemes were running loud and clear, so he found Lao Qiu's attitude a bit hard to watch. What was there to fear? As long as we on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors all agree, they have no way to stop us.

Probably... that was what his son had said.

As it turned out, he didn't expect that today, while coming to a meeting perfectly fine, the kid from the first floor would directly pull a move to draw the firewood from under the cauldron!

Swapping houses—if someone said that out of the blue, he would definitely refuse to agree even if it killed him.

But who told him to have just finished talking about his own elderly parents?

Look, your elderly parents are so miserable that everyone feels uncomfortable listening to it; if someone else swaps houses with you, that is a great thing!

As for them installing an Elevator after swapping houses, that is their business; you were the one who said installing an Elevator has no impact at all.

And there is no need for any compensation.

"Mr. Guo, say something, state your position. You said it yourself before: installing an Elevator has no impact on the first floor, and there is no such thing as compensation."

"Right, Mr. Guo? We are all civilized people, law-abiding, and we must be reasonable. By doing this, I am truly achieving three things at once!"

"Your elderly parents can go out for a walk whenever they want without worrying about climbing stairs, and the other residents upstairs can use the Elevator to go down without spending money. Isn't that great, right?"

"Mr. Guo, a person really shouldn't be too selfish."

"Mr. Guo, will you say something?"

Lao Guo sat there in silence. Say what? How could he say anything? He was damn well speechless now.

After his son spoke before, he felt that this Elevator installation matter had the law on its side, but now, even if this wasn't about the law, it seemed the other party wasn't breaking the law either.

No, it seemed he was getting a bit old. Should he call his son back and have him help say a few words?

Didn't his son love Debate the most? Only young people can deal with young people!

Over here, seeing Lao Guo not speaking, Zhou Yi immediately turned his head to look at Director Yin.

"Director Yin, why don't you say something? Tell me how this suggestion of mine is. Have I taken care of everyone? Killing several birds with one stone!"

Director Yin had also reacted by this point, and the look in her eyes as she watched Zhou Yi was very strange; clearly, this Director Yin was also tempted.

As the director of the Community Office, no one knew better than her just how many of these messy, trivial matters existed at the grassroots level.

They say that when people are united, they can move Mount Tai, but the key lies right here: the people, they are not united.

Not to mention the calculations between the upper and lower floors, the upper floors themselves were full of internal conflicts. Some people said, "You are in a hurry to build, but I am not. Why should I have to pay so much money?"

Problems were one after another, all requiring them to coordinate.

This really wasn't something that could be resolved by simply talking about legal provisions. When a group of them stood at the entrance later, would you build the Elevator or not?

Or would you call the police to arrest people over such a small matter?

Are you joking? How would work be done in the future? It's not like the work ends once the Elevator is built.

And this suggestion from Zhou Yi truly took care of everything!

Never mind Director Yin; look at the eyes of the neighbors around, especially those on the upper floors—each one of them was burning with excitement.

Is installing an Elevator good? For those on the upper floors, of course it is!

Now, there is someone donating money to build an Elevator for everyone for free, without needing everyone to pay. You tell me, who could refuse such a temptation now!

Of course, Director Yin also realized that this Zhou Yi was completely targeting that Guo Hongtu.

This situation had completely reversed in an instant.

Before, there were internal conflicts, but generally speaking, everyone wanted to build the Elevator.

But now, don't say anything else—Lao Guo, are you going to swap or not!

If you don't swap, then all the neighbors will be thinking about helping you swap.

Actually, to put it bluntly, this is also moral kidnapping!

Yes, and it is a very simple moral kidnapping. Director Yin had seen many similar methods before during demolition.

If one household doesn't sign, the whole building doesn't get the money for the time being.

To say nothing else, those neighbors would have to urge you to sign quickly.

It's just that, such a donation—this kid is just doing it to vent his anger. What should one say about him?

Killing a thousand enemies while losing ten thousand of your own?

*Cough cough*, Director Yin spoke up: "Little Zhou's suggestion... what does everyone think?"

"I think there's no problem!" A neighbor from the fifth floor next to them stood up and said: "We on the upper floors can split the corresponding compensation for the first floor."

His home is the one on the fifth floor that also has elderly people; for his family, as long as the Elevator is repaired, that is all that matters.

Previously, they were definitely going to pay and had no objections, and now that they don't even have to pay themselves, they naturally have even fewer objections.

The couple on the other side of the fifth floor stood up and stated: "We also think there is no problem, it's just... just that asking Little Zhou to donate the money, this is a bit too extravagant."

Everyone expressed their stance one after another, and it was much more enthusiastic than before.

Although the things they said were different—some were straightforward, others were still being coy, saying it wasn't very good, but they just wouldn't say words of refusal.

The expression on Lao Guo's face became increasingly ugly, and the way he looked at Zhou Yi also became increasingly wrong.

Nothing had even really happened yet, and everyone had already sold him out directly.

The key was that he himself had nothing to say; he felt stifled, extremely stifled!

Beside him, Lao Qiu was restless; his support for repairing the Elevator was naturally also out of practical considerations, as the elderly in his own home were getting on in years.

Now that they could avoid paying money, it was certainly better not to pay.

But after all, he had just been on good terms with Lao Guo, and now kicking him while he was down, that really didn't seem right...

So, after hesitating for three seconds, Lao Qiu also stood up and said: "Director Yin, Little Zhou's suggestion is indeed good, it's just that I didn't expect Little Zhou to donate money to the building to repair the Elevator."

"This... I need to apologize to Little Zhou here; it was indeed my fault before, I shouldn't have spoken like that..."

What the hell?

Lao Guo looked at Lao Qiu with a blank expression, thinking, how could even you...

Damn it, what is wrong with this world, what is wrong with people's hearts? It's just a little money, just for this little bit of money, you all act like this?

Facing Qiu Mingjun's apology, Zhou Yi also nodded and said: "Uncle Qiu, there is no need to take it to heart."

"I am donating the money because I don't want my parents to be talked about, saying they only want money. My parents have lived in this Small Residential District for so many years, and they have never once had a falling out with anyone."

"So it doesn't matter, I also have my own considerations."

Only Qiu Mingjun knew the inside story here.

It was just that even he didn't expect that this Little Zhou's counterattack would come so sharply, without the slightest bit of hesitation.

The resident downstairs, Wang Daye, stood up to state his position.

It was also very simple; he felt Zhou Yi's suggestion was very good.

"Since Little Zhou is willing to donate an Elevator, we can't drag our feet, can we? Not to mention that there is compensation."

That's right, there is compensation; before, when Guo Hongtu and the others were doing this, they hadn't even thought about giving compensation to the residents downstairs.

It's not about comparing goods, it's about comparing people; for the same matter, one side kept saying the Elevator had little impact and didn't need to provide money.

The other side, before even being asked, had already proactively said they would provide compensation; the key is that this happened one right after the other!

The contrast was particularly stark.

If Zhou Yi had simply said he would provide compensation from the start, it's not certain that some people wouldn't have wanted more.

In the current situation, there is naturally nothing to say.

Watching everyone expressing their stance, and very sincerely at that, Director Yin nodded with great relief.

She was thinking, if only there were people like Little Zhou in her previous grassroots work, how good that would be.

"It seems everyone thinks Little Zhou's suggestion is quite good. Lao Guo, what about you? Say something."

Guo Hongtu looked at Director Yin, then looked at the neighbors around him, and said with a sneer: "What should I say? What else can I say? I was decided to move houses for no reason at all, what do you want me to say!"

"Lao Guo, speak properly, don't bring emotions into it. We are currently discussing it, how could it be decided!"

Pfft! Zhou Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud, because it seemed like Director Yin had said the same thing to him earlier...

"That's right, Mr. Guo, don't bring emotions into it, is there anything that can't be discussed?" Zhou Yi said, seeing everyone looking at him.

"You yourself said the first floor wasn't affected, that the Elevator could be installed at will, and that no compensation was needed."

"How come, since the first floor is so good, now that I've swapped it for you, you're saying we're doing this and that? Isn't this all what you said?"

"How come, does it mean that when you lived on the sixth floor you could say I was unreasonable at will, and now that you're asked to live on the first floor, those words are all treated as if they were never said?"

"People shouldn't be like this!"

After finishing, Zhou Yi took a bank card out from his pocket and said: "Director Yin, I have this money ready at any time; as soon as we start, the money can be transferred at any time!"

And don't ask if there is money in the card; in any case, the attitude has already been shown.

Lao Guo couldn't sit still; he stood up and roared: "What's wrong, you have money, so you're amazing, right? I'm telling you, I won't move!"

"I don't believe it, this is a society ruled by law, can you force people?"

After roaring, Lao Guo turned and left directly, and when he left, he slammed the door of the conference room with a huge bang!

Zhou Yi smiled; to deal with someone who constantly uses moral kidnapping, one must use moral kidnapping to deal with him.

Let him experience for himself what that feels like.

"Little Zhou, you actually didn't need to..."

"Director Yin, please don't try to persuade me on this. He was at my house, to my face, saying that my parents only wanted money, and even asking if my parents were afraid to show their faces, making a little kid like me come out."

"Just for these words, Director Yin, the ancients said that scolding a father in front of his child is impolite. My family has been in this Small Residential District for how many years, my parents have never had a falling out with anyone, how could he talk like that!"

"So I'll just pay the money!"

Looking at Zhou Yi's expression, Director Yin hesitated for a moment, but still didn't say the phrase "it is better to forgive when one can."

The other neighbors looked at Zhou Yi and were also speechless; what could they say? Persuade him not to lower himself to Lao Guo's level?

Who among the neighbors in the building didn't know Lao Guo's unreasonable personality?

He had quarreled with other neighbors before, and basically, no one wanted to do anything about it; everyone was just an ordinary person, who would want to argue every day?

It was just that this time, they really didn't expect that someone would rather spend the money of an entire Elevator just to make the other party uncomfortable.

The meeting ended, and Director Yin notified everyone, saying that the Community Office, the Property Management, and everyone could work on Lao Guo.

Director Yin understood very clearly: from the moment Zhou Yi said that he would donate the money if the house was swapped, there was no other path for Building No. 5.

Either swap the house and repair the Elevator, or this Elevator would never be repaired.

Zhou Mouren whistled as he headed home; he was very much looking forward to seeing how Lao Guo would handle being besieged by a group of neighbors at the Property Management and Community Office.

Guo Hongtu went straight back home; it was his own Elevator Housing.

His temper was flaring, and he really started smashing things the moment he got home.

"Are you crazy? What are you doing!" Guo Hongtu's wife said with a look of astonishment.

"What am I doing? I'm just installing an elevator for my mother's house, and you've been giving me a long face every day—what's the matter, can't it be installed?"

"What's wrong with you again? You only know how to come back and take it out on me after getting upset outside, don't you!"

After a big argument, Guo Hongtu sat on the sofa sulking, while his wife sat in the bedroom crying and complaining.

Just then, the door opened, and a young man who looked somewhat like Guo Hongtu walked in.

Seeing the debris all over the floor, he was immediately startled, and after looking at his parents' state, he immediately knew they had been arguing again.

"Mom, Dad, what's wrong this time?"

Guo Xiaowei asked.

"Who knows what kind of madness your father is having today? He started smashing things as soon as he got back; he's trying to smash me!"

"Dad, this, what exactly is going on?" Guo Xiaowei asked with some caution.

Don't look at the fact that he is a university student now; the consequence of having a domineering father since childhood is that even after growing up, he is still a bit timid.

"What's wrong? The elevator installation matter has run into trouble now. Isn't that Zhou family brat you mentioned sick in the head!"

Slowly, Guo Hongtu's temper subsided a bit, and Guo Xiaowei finally learned what had happened earlier.

"So, that Zhou Yi, just because you wouldn't give him compensation, he used a method like donations to morally blackmail you?"

It was obvious that Guo Hongtu certainly hadn't told the truth in front of his son.

Could he possibly say that he had used the elderly to morally blackmail others at the meeting, or that he had previously gone to someone's house and had an argument with them? He certainly couldn't say that.

The relationship between father and son is very subtle, especially after the son slowly grows up.

"What kind of person is that? Isn't this just relying on having money to engage in moral blackmail? Their interests are interests, but ours aren't!"

"Then is there any way to deal with this?" Guo Hongtu thought for a moment and asked.

Guo Xiaowei was also a bit troubled; he was only a university student, and while he was very eloquent on ordinary days, he was a bit at a loss when it came to actually solving problems.

"Right, Dad, we can find someone to expose him!"

The morning throat-moistening chapter has arrived; Zhou Yi is making his routine request for recommendation votes. Thanks to book friends 2021. Buyu, Baiye Chaolan, Emeng Qu, Luoge Aotali, Feimao Wuyu, and thanks to the brothers for the tips.

(End of this chapter)