Chapter 399: He Daqing's Remittance Slip

Xu Damao lay on the bed, eyes open, staring at the pitch‑black ceiling.

Outside, the wind moaned, like countless hands scratching the window paper.

He turned over, and the wooden bed let out a strained creak.

"Still not sleeping?" Wang Cuihua asked groggily.

"Sleep yours," Xu Damao snapped.

In the darkness, his eyes shone frighteningly.

Like two clusters of ghostly fire burning.

Yi Zhonghai's old face flickered before his eyes.

The bureaucratic expression when he was promoted, and the weary yet smug look when the meeting ended.

The old fool was playing him.

In front of everyone in the courtyard, he was openly promoted but secretly belittled, turning Xu Damao into a joke throughout the Siheyuan.

Sha Zhu's mocking laugh still echoed in his ears.

"Xu Damao wants to be a First Elder? Can't even take a look at himself!"

Pah!

Xu Damao spat fiercely.

Wang Cuihua was startled awake.

"Damao, you…"

"Shut up!" Xu Damao growled low.

Wang Cuihua dared not speak, curled into the blanket, even her breathing softened.

Xu Damao sat up, fumbling to light a cigarette.

The match's flash flickered in the dark, reflecting his twisted face.

The ember's red tip sputtered, like his mood at that moment.

He was unwilling.

On what grounds?

Now Xu Damao was a model of public security, and the factory leaders looked up to him.

How could a First Elder of a Siheyuan not become one?

Yi Zhonghai, that old deadbeat, on what basis blocks his way?

Just because of those old broken affairs?

Xu Damao took a deep drag, the smoke churning in his lungs.

Those matters... enough?

Eight Great Alley, no births allowed, driving He Daqing away, colluding with Deaf Old Lady...

It's enough, but not ruthless enough.

If these were exposed, Yi Zhonghai would at most be a disgrace, his old face utterly ruined.

Yet he could still live in the courtyard and keep breathing.

That's not what he wants.

He wants Yi Zhonghai to collapse completely, to have that old fool kneel and beg him.

He wants that old fool to personally hand the First Elder's position to Xu Damao.

The smoke burned his finger.

Xu Damao flung it away violently, and the spark traced an arc in the darkness.

A flash of inspiration sparked in his mind.

He Daqing...

Yes, He Daqing!

Yi Zhonghai drove He Daqing away using rumor and intimidation.

But He Daqing has been gone for years with no word at all?

His son Sha Zhu and daughter He Yushui are still in the courtyard.

How could He Daqing not think of his son and daughter?

Xu Damao's heartbeat quickened.

He groped his way out of bed, rummaging in the cabinet.

Clatter—

Things scattered across the floor.

Wang Cuihua sat up in fright.

"Damao, what are you looking for?"

"Mind your own business!" Xu Damao's voice carried suppressed excitement.

Finally, he felt the notebook.

It was the one seized from the street office last time, containing the time He Daqing left and the words Yi Zhonghai said when he reported the case years ago.

Xu Damao took the notebook and returned to the bed.

By the faint light filtering in from outside, he turned the pages one by one.

March 1953, He Daqing left.

The reason given was "seeking livelihood abroad".

But that year He Daqing was only just over forty, working well at the Steel Rolling Mill; why would he leave?

Just left, and it's been over ten years with no word?

That's not normal.

Xu Damao licked his dry lips.

He needs a breakthrough.

A breakthrough that can nail Yi Zhonghai.

Early the next morning, Xu Damao got up.

He faced the mirror, carefully straightened his clothes, and polished the "Security Model" badge on his chest over and over.

"That early today?" Wang Cuihua asked cautiously.

"Got business," Xu Damao said to the mirror, pulling a grin he thought intimidating.

But the person in the mirror had a waxy yellow face, puffy eye bags, and a smile uglier than a cry.

He furrowed his brows and stopped smiling.

When he pushed the cart out, the sky was just dimly bright.

The Alley was silent, save for the rustle of someone early morning emptying a chamber pot.

Xu Damao rode his bike straight to the post office.

He wanted to check He Daqing's remittance records over the years.

If He Daqing still kept Sha Zhu in mind, he would have sent money.

If he sent money, where did it go?

The thought made Xu Damao's palms sweat with excitement.

The post office had just opened, and at the counter sat a drowsy young girl.

Xu Damao pulled out his work badge and slapped it onto the counter—Snap!

"Comrade, I'm from the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department, I need to check something."

The girl jumped in fright, then glanced at the badge.

"What do you want to check?"

"I'm looking for a person: He Daqing, originally from South Luo Drum Lane No. 95 Courtyard, who left Four Nine City in March 1953. Check whether he has received any remittances from elsewhere to that address over the years."

The girl hesitated.

"That… requires a leader's approval."

Xu Damao produced the Security Model badge.

"See? I'm a Security Model; cooperating with me is your duty. Get on it quickly—if you delay the proper business, you'll be held responsible?"

The girl was intimidated.

"Then… please wait a moment."

She turned and went into the back room.

Xu Damao waited outside, tapping his fingers on the counter.

Thump, thump, thump.

Like a funeral bell being struck.

A funeral bell for Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai didn't go to work today.

He took sick leave.

He lay on the bed, watching the spiderweb on the ceiling.

A spider was diligently weaving its web, circle after circle, tireless.

Just like his whole life.

He wove a net that trapped himself inside.

Now, Xu Damao, that fly, has crashed into it.

No, not a fly.

It's a poisonous wasp.

It can sting people, it can be fatal.

Yi Zhonghai closed his eyes.

In his mind were the faces of those people from the courtyard last night.

Liu Haizhong gloating, Yan Bu Gui's eyes flickering, Sha Zhu's unabashed sneer.

And Li Ping'an.

The young man sat in the back row, watching quietly.

His gaze was calm, as if watching a play.

Indeed, it's a play.

Yi Zhonghai has spent his whole life playing the good man, the respected elder.

Now the stage is about to collapse.

Will Xu Damao stop?

No.

Those petty people, once wronged, will definitely seek revenge.

And they'll be even harsher.

Yi Zhonghai's heart sank.

He recalled Xu Damao's gaze at him last night.

Vile and ruthless, like a blade tempered with poison.

That blade is already poised on his throat.

It's just not been cut down yet.

When will it be cut?

How will it be cut?

Yi Zhonghai doesn't know.

He only knows that he's grown old and lacks the strength to struggle.

Like a worm caught in a net.

In the post office, Xu Damao obtained what he needed.

A thick stack of remittance slip stubs.

From April 1953 up to the end of last year.

There was one every month.

Remitter: He Daqing.

Payee: South Luo Drum Lane No. 95 Courtyard Yi Zhonghai to He Yuzhu.

The amount started at five yuan, then rose to ten, then fifteen yuan.

Over more than a decade, it amounted to at least a thousand yuan.

Xu Damao's hand trembled.

It wasn't fear, but excitement.

Like a hunting dog that has caught a scent of blood.

"Have all these remittances... been taken?" he asked, his voice trembling.

The girl nodded.

"Taken. Each time Yi Zhonghai came to collect them, carrying a household register and a street certificate."

"He Yuzhu... that's Sha Zhu, has he been here?"

"No."

Xu Damao smiled.

His smile was ferocious.

Yi Zhonghai, oh Yi Zhonghai.

You really are courting death.

Withholding remittances, embezzling funds.

This isn't a moral issue; it's a crime!

Corruption crime!

The sum is huge, enough for a ten‑year sentence!

Xu Damao carefully gathered those stubs, as if cradling treasures.

"Comrade, may I take these away?"

"That... requires leadership approval."

"I'll go handle the paperwork right away," Xu Damao turned and left, his steps light enough to seem as if he might take off.

He knew Yi Zhonghai's fate was now in his hands.

At dusk, the door of Yi Zhonghai's house was knocked.

It was knocked heavily and urgently.

Like a summons to death.

Yi Zhonghai struggled to rise and opened the door.

Xu Damao stood outside, a smile on his face.

That smile sent a chill down Yi Zhonghai's spine.

"First Elder, you haven't eaten yet, have you?" Xu Damao held a bottle of wine and a bag of peanuts, "I came to share a couple of drinks with you."

Yi Zhonghai wanted to refuse.

But Xu Damao had already squeezed in.

In the hall, the two sat opposite each other.

Xu Damao poured the wine, moving deliberately.

"First Elder, don't dwell on last night's incident. Those people in the courtyard are immature."

Yi Zhonghai said nothing.

He only stared at him.

"I went to the post office today to handle something," Xu Damao took a sip of wine, "Guess who I ran into?"

"... Who?"

"I ran into He Daqing," Xu Damao stared into Yi Zhonghai's eyes, "No, I saw He Daqing's remittance slip."

Yi Zhonghai's hand trembled.

The wine spilled.

"From 1953 up to now, there was one every month," Xu Damao pulled the stack of stubs from his chest and spread them on the table, "They were all sent to Sha Zhu, and you collected them all."

He paused.

"Where's the money?"

Yi Zhonghai's complexion turned ashen.

His lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.

Let me figure it out. Xu Damao counted on his fingers, "Ten yuan a month, one hundred twenty yuan a year, thirteen years... one thousand five hundred sixty yuan. My goodness, that's a huge sum."

He pushed the receipt toward Yi Zhonghai.

First Elder, what would happen if Sha Zhu found out about this? And what if the Police Substation found out?

Yi Zhonghai closed his eyes.

It's over.

It's completely over.

Don't worry too much. Xu Damao took another sip of wine, "I'm not the type to carry things to extremes. As long as you help me become First Elder, I'll keep these matters to myself."

He leaned close to Yi Zhonghai and lowered his voice.

Otherwise, I'll go to the police. Intercepting remittances, embezzling funds—a huge amount. How many years in prison would that earn you? By then, forget about retirement; whether you can even walk out alive is questionable.

Yi Zhonghai opened his eyes.

There were bloodshots in his eyes.

You... what do you want?

Simple. Xu Damao smiled, "Tonight we'll hold another general meeting for the whole courtyard. You'll announce publicly that you're truly unable to continue, strongly recommending me as First Elder. Moreover, you'll state it unequivocally: no one but me can do it."

The people in the courtyard won't agree...

That's your problem. Xu Damao interrupted him, "You've been First Elder for so many years—don't you have any prestige? If worse comes to worst, just say that if I don't become First Elder, your health won't hold up either, and you'll wash your hands of this courtyard from now on. Let's see if they get anxious."

Yi Zhonghai remained silent.

After a long while, he slowly nodded.

Okay.

That's more like it. Xu Damao raised his wine cup, "Come, First Elder, let me toast you. May our courtyard grow better and better."

Yi Zhonghai didn't move.

He just stared at him.

His gaze was empty, like a dead person's.

Xu Damao didn't mind either, and drained his cup in one gulp.

He set down the cup and stood up.

Then I'll be waiting for your good news tonight.

He walked to the door, then turned back.

By the way, I'll hold onto these receipts for now. Once you get me appointed First Elder, I'll return them to you.

The door closed.

Only Yi Zhonghai remained in the room.

He stared at the wine cup on the table for a long time.

Then he reached out and swept the wine cup onto the floor.

Smack—

It shattered to pieces.

Just like his life.