Chapter 49

Second Elder is now completely dazed; San Daye, as soon as he came up, accused me of being a thief, and indeed he found oil stains in the corner of the wall, and now I can't explain myself clearly.

"I, the upright Second Elder of the Courtyard House, how could I steal your bicycle." Second Elder did not admit it, "You better look again; maybe you didn't ride it back yesterday or let your family's child ride it away."

"What Second Elder, don't put on airs! You're just a morally corrupt scoundrel, doing this kind of petty theft isn't enough for you." San Daye shouted angrily, "We all know each other, cut the nonsense—what do you plan to do about it?"

Yi Daye inside was speaking mediatory words, finally getting the two to stop arguing. San Daye's demand was simple: just hand over the bicycle, or compensate him two hundred yuan.

Second Elder naturally disagreed.

The onlooking neighbors pointed and gossiped, some also gave advice, urging San Daye to go straight to the police station and stop arguing here with Second Elder.

San Daye was somewhat tempted.

"Let's look again; I think Old Liu wouldn't do such a thing." Yi Daye continued to advise, "If we can settle it within the Courtyard House, let's do so; everyone also say if they've seen any suspicious person."

The neighbors chattered incessantly, and the suspicion against Second Elder actually increased.

Someone saw him, when He Yuzhu grabbed Jia Zhangshi, he panicked and ran back home, his face filled with a terrified expression, as if he were afraid of something.

"Maybe he's in league with Jia Zhangshi."

That explanation makes sense.

He and Jia Zhangshi originally targeted He Yuzhu's bicycle; he was responsible for stealing it, while Jia Zhangshi kept watch, but Jia Zhangshi ended up getting caught.

He got a beating.

He luckily managed to run back.

In the middle of the night, he didn't dare steal He Yuzhu's bike, so he stretched his black hand toward Third Elder's bike, dismantling it overnight—maybe he's already made money by now.

These people's imaginations are impressive; this explanation has no flaws at all.

Second Elder also refused to sit and wait for disaster; he raised a few points: first, he is a seventh‑level worker, although he isn't one right now, but he doesn't lack money, so why would he steal a bicycle?

Second, his relationship with Jia Zhangshi is actually quite ordinary; why would she help him keep watch?

"You used to not lack money; who knows how you are now? As a seventh‑level worker you used to eat a fried egg every day, and you still do—life is so good, how could you possibly be short of money?"

"As for your relationship with Jia Zhangshi, only you would know."

"Indeed, I even saw you sneaking into the Jia household and even sending Qin Huiru away."

First Elder let out a sigh of relief, glad he hadn't sent Jia Zhangshi away.

"If you want no one to know, don't do it; you'd better admit it." He Yuzhu said with a smile, "Otherwise Third Elder won't let you off."

They were all gathered here arguing loudly when Third Aunt suddenly brought the police in.

"Master Liu, you better come clean, or we'll really take you away."

The police, naturally more professional than the elders, quickly found the steel beads scattered on the ground; a young officer picked one up and confirmed it was from a bicycle.

"And there's also Jia Zhangshi, right? Bring her along too."

Jia Zhangshi was indeed beaten badly yesterday; the bruise on her eye hasn't faded, and when she saw the police about to make her cry, she was loudly told to stop.

They directly asked her whether she was in cahoots with Second Elder.

"I don't know what Liu Haizhong is up to; he just asked me to keep an eye on He Yuzhu." Jia Zhangshi said without fear, "He gave me twenty yuan."

What a teammate—Jia Zhangshi betrayed her ally cleanly and swiftly.

"You heartless monster, even a rabbit wouldn't eat the grass near its burrow—are you even human?" Third Elder pointed at Second Elder's nose and shouted, "Hurry up and pay for my bike!"

Hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, Second Elder's face flushed red with anger; he had invited Jia Zhangshi to find leverage on He Yuzhu, not to have her keep watch for him.

The crucial point is that he can't say this now, otherwise He Yuzhu would beat him to death.

"I really didn't steal the bicycle." Second Elder firmly said, "Any talk of giving Jia Zhangshi money is just nonsense; maybe she stole the bike and is trying to drag me down."

Seeing Second Elder refuse to pay, Third Elder snorted, indicating he wouldn't intervene anymore, and told the police to take him away; even in there he could still be stubborn—Second Elder still has some backbone.

Second Elder's wife cried hysterically; she knew a little secret, watching Second Elder being led away step by step, she was frantic.

If she spoke up, at worst she'd get a beating from Wen XiuXiu.

They've been taken away; it's probably not that simple.

She lunged at Second Elder, urging him to tell the truth so the police wouldn't intervene; in the courtyard, He Yuzhu and Wen XiuXiu wouldn't dare kill him.

But Second Elder can't speak now; if he did, he'd drag Deputy Factory Chief Li into it, and even if he returned to the steel mill he'd still be punished.

They're just petty bicycle thieves—why would they smear oil on the corner of their own wall?

"Comrade, why don't I do some more work and you just go back first?" First Elder stepped forward to assert his presence.

"It's none of your business; Liu Haizhong, if you don't confess, just come back with us."

Liu Haizhong felt he was truly on the brink of a cliff; seeing the neighbors' indifferent expressions, he could only admit that the bike was indeed his theft.

Last night he drank a little alcohol, got hot‑headed thinking Third Elder had taken advantage of him, so he dismantled Third Elder's bike and threw it away; this morning he casually found a scrap collector and sold it.

"I was indeed drunk then; I'm willing to compensate for the loss."

Third Elder's eyes blazed, as if he wanted to open his mouth wide like a lion (i. e., demand a lot).

First Elder stared at the police, wanting to step out and mediate.

"Alright, since you've confessed, come with us for a trip, and Jia Zhangshi too." The police pointed at the two individuals, "Hurry up, don't dawdle."

Second Elder stood there like he'd been struck by lightning, motionless; he had already promised to pay compensation, so why are they still taking him away?

This isn't quite what he had expected.

"Comrade, comrade, I think we don't need to take him; Old Liu has already promised compensation—let's follow the principle of rewarding past good and punishing future wrongs, healing and saving, and let him off this time."

"No."

"Brother, First Elder is just more formidable than you—look, he dares to stop anyone." Yu Shui sighed in the crowd, "Could it be that they're afraid Second Elder will bite and reveal others?"

Everyone noticed First Elder's gaze was different; his relationship with Jia Zhangshi is quite good, so this matter might involve him too. No wonder he's putting in so much effort.

"What nonsense are you talking? I just think Old Liu wouldn't do something like this."

After he finished explaining, they realized he had already been taken away.