Chapter 114: Early

San Da Ma sat on the bed with a worried face, sighing, when Yan Bu Gui walked in.

She quickly stood up and asked:

"Father of the child, what did the police station say?"

Yan Bu Gui: "Oh, they said they would take this matter very seriously."

"Chief Zhang has resolved to catch the whole car‑thief gang."

"He also asked me which people I've offended lately."

San Da Ma thought for a moment and said, "It can't really be Shazhu, can it?"

"You really are something, taking someone's gift but not doing them a favor."

Yan Bu Gui: "Someone like Shazhu, is he worthy of Teacher Ren?"

San Da Ma: "You don't have to worry about whether he's worthy or not."

"Since you accepted Shazhu's gift, you should handle the matter."

"How come you don't even understand this basic principle?"

"I'm guessing, it could really be Shazhu who did it."

Yan Bu Gui: "Actually, I just can't get over it."

"Shazhu's gift to me was far less than Teacher Ren's."

"Otherwise, could I have refused to act?"

"Besides, I don't want Teacher Ren to blame me, and Master Yan, what kind of people did you introduce to me?"

"Shazhu looks prematurely old, is ugly, and sloppy."

"He really doesn't deserve Teacher Ren."

At that moment, Yan Jiecheng walked in and asked:

"What's really going on, Dad?"

Yan Bu Gui: "Oh, uh, today let your wife ride a bike to work."

Yan Jiecheng frowned and said:

"Dad, the front wheel is gone."

"How can we ride?"

Yan Bu Gui: "You should go to the bike shop and buy an old wheel to install."

Yan Jiecheng, looking depressed, said: "Oh, so you lost the bike wheel and want us to compensate? I don't care."

Yan Bu Gui: "From now on, don't use that family bike."

Yan Jiecheng: "If I don't use it, I won't."

Having said that.

Yan Bu Gui, still sulky, walked out.

Yan Bu Gui stared at Yan Jiecheng's back until it vanished from his sight, then gave a cold snort and said:

"You raised a white‑eyed wolf!"

Meanwhile.

Yi Zhonghai was drinking water at home.

Yi Dama walked in.

"Shengli?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

"Shengli went back; he said he's waiting for you at home."

"By the way, chief, Shengli just told me this could very well be Shazhu's doing."

Hearing that, Yi Zhonghai frowned and asked:

"Did Shengli really say that?"

Yi Dama nodded and said:

"When Shazhu left for work earlier, I told him that San Da Ye's family lost a bicycle."

"Guess what Shazhu said?"

"Shazhu said it couldn't be, at most maybe just a wheel was lost."

"Shengli analyzed that this was likely Shazhu's doing."

"Otherwise, how would he know so clearly?"

"He never even left the house."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said:

"Exactly, Shengli's analysis is correct."

"It really could be Shazhu's doing."

"Old Yan told me, if we have to blame someone, it's only Shazhu."

"So it turns out he took Shazhu's stuff but didn't do a favor for Shazhu."

Yi Dama asked, "What should we do then?"

Yi Zhonghai: "What else can we do?"

"Let the police station investigate first."

"If that fails, we'll convene a full‑institute meeting."

"We must root out this thief."

Yi Dama: "You're not helping Shazhu anymore?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head and said, "Not helping any more."

From now on I'll be an upright person, not favoring anyone.

I don't want people stabbing me in the back.

In the past, I favored Shazhu even less; is he grateful?

No.

Alright, I'm off to work.

So Shengli won't be waiting anxiously.

Yi Dama: "Hmm, boss, I support you."

Near noon.

Ya gang chang back kitchen.

Shazhu sat on a long bench with a worried expression, pondering how to deal with the dilemma before him.

It would be said that in the past, Yi Zhonghai should have appeared at this time.

He would have offered him plans and strategies.

As long as Yi Zhonghai appears, he feels reassured.

"Alas, it's all that Lin Shengli's fault."

"Since he arrived, nothing has gone smoothly for me."

"Misfortunes keep coming, and Eldest Uncle no longer helps me."

"Hmph, he's even more hateful than Xu Damao."

"But I just can't beat him; otherwise I'd have beaten him already."

While Shazhu was sighing inside, Liu Lan walked in.

"Shazhu, someone is looking for you."

Upon hearing this, Shazhu sprang up excitedly and asked:

"Who? Is it Master Yi?"

Liu Lan: "No, it's Qin Huairu."

Shazhu angrily said, "Liu Lan, could you have said from the start that Qin Huairu was looking for me?"

After saying that, he walked out while Liu Lan stared in astonishment.

Soon, an angry voice from behind Liu Lan came:

"Shazhu, from now on if I pass messages for you, I'll share your surname."

Shazhu was in a bad mood, but upon seeing Qin Huairu, he immediately grinned and approached:

"Anything?"

"I think you might have that feeling toward me right now."

"Is it that feeling of being unseen as if separated by three autumns?"

"Comrade Qin Huairu, tell me, do you have any thoughts about me?"

Qin Huairu snorted coldly and said:

"Just you like that?"

Shazhu, feeling depressed, asked, "What's wrong with my appearance?"

"Isn't it rather good-looking?"

Qin Huairu couldn't help but laugh:

"Shazhu, who gave you that confidence? I'm truly impressed."

"Fine, I have no mood for idle talk with you."

"Just tell me, did you steal Third Uncle's wheel?"

Shazhu was stunned at the words.

However.

Soon he shouted:

"Comrade Qin Huairu, you wronged me, I'm very displeased."

"I'm a cook; who says a cook steals a vehicle?"

"Are you still ignoring reason?"

Qin Huairu: "Speak louder."

"Let them hear."

"If you make another big mistake, get lost."

Hearing this, Shazhu quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth.

Qin Huairu looked and understood inside.

Yan Bu Gui's bicycle wheel was indeed stolen by Shazhu.

She said with a resentful expression:

"Shazhu, why don't you... sigh... how am I supposed to describe you?"

"You haven't any memory at all."

"I tell you, never offend Eldest Uncle, never offend Lin Shengli."

"You just don't listen."

"Now it's fine, the incident happened, no one will cover for you."

"I'll see what you do; you might even be sentenced, and don't even think about keeping this job."

Shazhu: "Can't it be?"

I also just want to teach San Da Ye a lesson.

I'm not of bad character.

San Da Ye accepted my gift but won't help me.

You think I shouldn't be angry?

Qin Huairu asked: "About introducing you to Teacher Ran?"

Shazhu: "Yeah, this old brat took a sack of my local specialties."

I asked him to introduce me to Teacher Ran, but he stubbornly wouldn't say anything to them.

You think I shouldn't be angry?

Qin Huairu: "That's what you deserve!"

You don't even look at yourself, do you think you're worthy of Teacher Ran?