Chapter 383

Liu Haizhong was certain that being hit with a blunt instrument was related to Shazhu.

Those people put a sack over his head and gave him a severe beating.

After the beating, they also threw out a few harsh words.

"You damn traitor, falsely accusing Master He, causing us to never again enjoy his delicious meals. You inhuman bastard, from now on, every time I see you I'll beat you. Liu Haizhong, you're worse than a treacherous minister and villain, a beast. When you go to the toilet, be as careful as possible, or one day you might fall into the latrine and be choked to death by excrement and urine."

Those who beat Liu Haizhong literally put an equal sign between him and the words "national traitor".

If these rumors aren't dispelled, Liu Haizhong might truly become the treacherous minister who harms the loyal, deserving punishment from everyone.

This reputation.

Cannot be allowed.

Also cannot be wanted.

Like an ant on a hot pan, Liu Haizhong felt the urge to solve the problem at its source.

He went straight to Shazhu to tell him that the accusation letter wasn't written by him, that he wasn't so lacking in virtue as to write a denunciation against Shazhu.

Even the dullest person knows to shift the blame for accusing Shazhu onto someone else.

Even if he really did it, he could never admit it.

But he was anxious as if on fire.

Moreover, Liu Haizhong was inarticulate.

Though clearly meant to clear his own responsibility.

But coming from his mouth, it turned into incoherent nonsense.

"Shazhu, you are my second uncle, I've always called you second uncle. Wrong, wrong, wrong—I am your elder, older than you. The accusation letter was written by me, no, it wasn't written by me. We've lived in the same compound for so many years; you should know what kind of person the second uncle is, his character—deep down he's not the type to sue over trifles. Shazhu, you must trust your second uncle; rest assured, the person who wrote the accusation letter against you, I, as your second uncle, will turn the steel plant upside down to find him and clear your name."

Shazhu shook his head, laughing and crying at once.

Liu Haizhong's words.

He believed it completely.

Given his obsession with officialdom, that level of intelligence.

He truly could not have written an accusation letter against himself.

He guessed that the person who wrote the accusation letter must be someone else.

Specifically, who.

He already had a rough idea in mind.

The first.

Namely, the former cafeteria director who once colluded with Yi Zhonghai to scheme against Shazhu; because Shazhu simply quit his post, that former director was demoted all the way to a factory sanitation worker, and recently retired with honor.

Following the principle that every grievance has a source and every debt a debtor.

The other party should have sought Yi Zhonghai.

But because Yi Zhonghai died and vanished, this grudge could only be blamed on Shazhu.

The second person.

He could be considered an acquaintance of Shazhu.

And one of the residents of the Siheyuan.

Yan Fugui's eldest son, Yan Jiecheng.

The reason Shazhu and Yan Jiecheng became enemies carries a hint of melodrama.

It could be said to stem from love turning to hate.

Yan Jiecheng had taken a liking to Yu Li, but because Shazhu had known her earlier and had already engaged a matchmaker, when Yan Fugui finally found the matchmaker to propose, Shazhu had already brought Yu Li back home.

This left Yan Jiecheng feeling depressed for several years.

Even stemming from thoughts of revenge, he also wanted to marry Qin Huairu as his wife.

In the end, due to various uncontrollable factors, Yan Jiecheng married Ran Qiuye, a teacher at Yan Fugui's school, and last year gave Yan Fugui a plump grandson.

As the saying goes, hatred for killing one's father and stealing one's wife.

Shazhu guessed that Yan Jiecheng's likelihood was a bit higher.

This was something he had just thought of in a sudden flash.

So Liu Haizhong was essentially taking the blame for Yan Jiecheng or that former cafeteria director.

A smile appeared on Shazhu's face.

One reason was that Liu Haizhong's stammering looked funny; another was that the white bandage on his head gave him a bit of the festive air of the third brother.

Seeing Shazhu laugh.

Liu Haizhong's heart.

Rose to his throat.

This afternoon.

It really frightened him.

A hero can't fight four hands; if those people really were wholeheartedly venting anger for Shazhu, Liu Haizhong would end up just like his son—constantly getting beaten whether he had cause or not.

The key is that he can't find anyone.

This isn't what Liu Haizhong is worried about.

He worries that if he finds the person, he won't be able to afford to offend them—like Guo Xiaosi, an upstanding young man with a clean background, who has repeatedly opposed Liu Haizhong.

If this matter gets out.

Liu Haizhong estimates it won't end well.

For a person of pure lineage to come looking for trouble, there must be something wrong with you!

This result.

It's not the result Liu Haizhong wanted to see.

"Shazhu, you have to believe Second Uncle; it really wasn't Second Uncle who did it. Second Uncle swore to the old folks: if I wrote a complaint letter, may I meet a bad end."

"Second Uncle, I believe you."

"Shazhu, you really believe Second Uncle?"

"Second Uncle, I didn't say I don't believe you either; I believe you didn't write the report—rest easy, okay?"

Rest my ass!

Before Liu Haizhong arrived.

Actually, the idea was to have Shazhu prove his innocence over the loudspeaker.

Upon further thought.

You can't just use the loudspeaker whenever you want.

We had to think of another way.

He planned to go back that evening, organize a Dayuan meeting, and publicly apologize to Shazhu at the Dayuan meeting; as long as Shazhu said he forgave Liu Haizhong at the Dayuan meeting, word would likely spread throughout Yagangchang by the next day.

That way.

Those people wouldn't bother Liu Haizhong anymore.

It felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders.

They sought out Liu Haizhong.

He genuinely felt a sense of lighthearted pleasure.

"Shazhu, you're a good person, Second Uncle—well, never mind that. Regarding the report, Second Uncle, in his capacity as captain of the Elderly Assault Team, assures you: he will investigate to the end and clear your name."

"Then I'll be waiting for your good news, Second Uncle."

……

Siheyuan.

Yan Family.

Upon hearing from the neighbors that Shazhu had been demoted from canteen chief to keeper of Sihuocangku, Yan Jiecheng's face instantly lit up with the joy of vengeance fulfilled.

If it weren't for the fact that there were still so many people at home.

There were also neighbors in the courtyard.

He really wanted to let out a loud cry to the heavens.

His romantic rival, Shazhu.

He had finally fallen on hard times.

Yan Jiecheng finally avenged the grudge from when Shazhu had taken away Yu Li.

Shazhu's guess was not off the mark.

Deputy Factory Director Li had received two reports in succession, both coming from Yan Jiecheng's hand.

After Yi Zhonghai's death, the relevant authorities came to investigate, and Yan Jiecheng inadvertently witnessed Yu Li mixing up the stationery.

Back then, perhaps he hadn't yet had those thoughts.

But as Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu dealt with matters involving Liu Haizhong…

Yan Jiecheng suddenly realized that some trivial little things from back then had now become the biggest obstacle that could ruin one's future.

He used the letters as a breakthrough, fabricating two pieces of evidence.

He had originally just been trying it out as an experiment.

He never expected to finally get what he wished for.

Shazhu was no longer the chief responsible for feeding tens of thousands; he had become the keeper of the scrap yard.

Such a result was undoubtedly what Yan Jiecheng most wanted to see; he felt he had vented the spite of Shazhu stealing his girlfriend.