Chapter 45

If the police are called, this matter will blow up completely.

He would have to go to a labor reform camp.

Once sent to labor reform, his job would be as good as lost.

Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao thought the same.

He could not afford to lose this job.

As a projectionist at the Steel Rolling Factory, his monthly wage was over thirty yuan.

He could also go to the countryside to screen movies for the locals, pocketing a little extra profit every Third Third Third Third Time!

The more he thought about it, the more true it seemed.

Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao hurriedly confessed everything: "Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye, brother, I had no choice."

"That day, First Uncle and Sha Zhu dragged me over."

"If I hadn't said you gave me the idea, they would have beaten me to death!"

"Actually, I came up with all this on my own."

Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao truly confessed everything.

Just moments ago, when Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye had grabbed him by the back of his collar, he had been terrified into a stupor.

And now, with the threat of calling the police?

Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao was completely cowed!

He spilled everything, true or not.

In just a few short minutes, the entire situation had reversed.

Just earlier, Sha Zhu had pinned everything on Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye.

Now that Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao had confessed, it was Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai who were in trouble.

Upon hearing Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao's pitiful account, the crowd began pointing fingers at Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu.

"I really didn't see it coming; Yi Zhonghai actually did such a thing. He's inhuman."

"And he still wants to lead us? Teaming up with Sha Zhu to beat Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao."

"This is forcing a confession through torture; to frame Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye, they actually resorted to such tactics."

"This is outrageous; who would dare offend Sha Zhu in the future? We'd be scared to death."

"They are utterly despicable!"

"Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao is also a bad seed, actually framing Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye."

Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai were completely stunned.

Something was wrong; yesterday, Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao hadn't said any of this.

Yi Zhonghai, still somewhat clear-headed, immediately said, "Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao, you're talking nonsense!"

"You must take responsibility for your words."

"When did I ever force a confession from you? I just invited you to my home for tea."

"Do not slander us."

Sha Zhu also came to his senses and said, "Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao, you bastard!"

"You're just afraid of Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye; there's no need to dump this mess on the two of us."

"Don't you know clearly enough what you said yourself?"

Hearing this, Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao immediately objected and retorted, "You fool, Sha Zhu! If you hadn't threatened me with that club, would I have said anything?"

"What I said wasn't even the truth; it was just to protect myself. Yes, just self-preservation."

"Let me tell you, I used to fear you, but now I'm not afraid anymore. If you have the ability, hit me again."

If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll extort you until you're ruined!

Before, he didn't know the truth.

Now that he knew, Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao was truly no longer afraid.

Yi Zhonghai still wanted to hush things up, but that was impossible!

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye: ...

So they've started biting each other like dogs, shedding fur everywhere?

Good, good, good!

Only after the three of them had argued until they were gasping for breath did Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye finally speak: "Enough."

"The three of you should stop arguing."

"I think it's better to call the police and let the Public Security comrades handle it."

"The Public Security comrades will never wrong an innocent person, nor will they let a guilty one go free."

Hearing Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye insist on calling the police, the three who were quarreling immediately panicked.

They shouted in unison, "No, you can't call the police!"

If the police were called, all three of them would be finished.

They knew best in their hearts what they had done.

"Not calling the police?"

"That won't do."

"You can't sort this out; I've been wrongly accused, and I won't rest easy unless the police are called."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye insisted on calling the police.

Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu, and Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao were all in a panic.

Yi Zhonghai especially said right then, "Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye, this whole matter is just a misunderstanding."

"How about this: the two of them will compensate you."

"We're all neighbors in the same courtyard; asking for too much wouldn't be proper."

"Then let's say twenty yuan each."

Though reluctant, both Sha Zhu and Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao agreed.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye, however, did not agree.

"Twenty yuan?"

"I wouldn't even look at that."

"Besides, compensation from just the two of them won't suffice."

"Just now you wanted to drive me out; you need to compensate me too."

"My demand is this: Sha Zhu and you each pay me one hundred yuan, and Xu Xu Xu Xu Damao pays me one hundred fifty yuan."

"Short by even a single fen, and this discussion is over!"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye was doing this on purpose.

Keeping these beasts around to play with slowly, raking in hundreds of yuan at a Third Third Third Third Time, beat working a job by far!

What?

All three were dumbfounded.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye was making outrageous demands again.

But...

But they had no choice.

In the end, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye received three hundred and fifty yuan in compensation.

"Don't do it again."

"I'm a good person; you've forced me into becoming a bad one."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye went home.

Under the strange gazes of everyone, the three slunk back to their own homes.

The middle courtyard.

Inside Yi Zhonghai's home.

"Sha Zhu, why do you only remember the food and forget the beating?"

"Didn't I tell you not to provoke Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Jianye for now?"

"Has your brain been caught in a door, or have you suddenly come into money?"