Chapter 15

Zhuzi, if Yi Zhonghai comes looking for trouble again, just have Yushui come find me," Li Qiang said before leaving.

Got it, Brother Qiang," He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

Alright, you guys tidy up and get ready to eat, I'm heading back too.

Okay, Brother Qiang, take your time.

Although not many people gathered to watch, the matter of Yi Zhonghai helping the Jia family ask He Yuzhu to borrow a room spread quickly through the small Siheyuan, and soon everyone knew.

The neighbors were deeply dissatisfied with Yi Zhonghai's unprincipled favoritism toward the Jia family; once highly respected, his image plummeted in their eyes after these two incidents.

This Old Yi, for the Jia family he's completely shameless," Yan Butgui also complained upon hearing the news.

He's counting on Jia Dongxu to support him in his old age; for that he'd do anything, so he doesn't care about face anymore," the Third Aunt's eyes filled with contempt.

How could someone like Old Yi be a head elder? A head elder needs someone virtuous and talented, without selfish motives; by doing this he's lost the qualification to be a head elder," Liu Haizhong also began criticizing Yi Zhonghai at home.

Exactly, even the Military Control Committee—how could they let Yi Zhonghai be a head elder? They don't understand his character at all and haven't investigated properly," the Second Aunt chimed in.

That makes sense; you think I should struggle against this sort of person to the end?" Liu Haizhong asked the Second Aunt.

What do you mean by that?" the Second Aunt asked Liu Haizhong.

My meaning is that the Military Control Committee doesn't know what Yi Zhonghai has done; we can report his behavior, and they'll definitely send someone to investigate. Then his position as head elder surely won't hold, so wouldn't I naturally become the head elder?" Liu Haizhong asked the Second Aunt with a smile.

You're right," the Second Aunt said, proving the saying that outsiders don't enter a family's door—the Third Aunt and Yan Butgui have learned to scheme, while the Second Aunt, following Liu Haizhong, has developed a strong obsession with officialdom.

Guangqi, write a complaint letter for me, detailing how Yi Zhonghai recently favored his own disciple's family and forced neighbors to lend rooms to his disciple; I'll send it to the Military Control Committee tomorrow," Liu Haizhong whispered to his eldest son Liu Guangqi. He had intended to write it himself, but his limited education left him unable to recognize many characters, so he had to rely on his son.

Dad, I'll handle it," Liu Guangqi replied cheerfully.

Zhuzi, you're home?" Yan Butgui arrived at He Yuzhu's house and saw the siblings eating.

Third Elder, do you have something?" He Yuzhu didn't stop eating.

Zhuzi, I heard Old Yi asked you to borrow a room for the Jia family; frankly, that's rather improper—how can a house be lent out for free? I came to discuss it with you; how about you rent that room to me?" Yan Butgui said with a smile.

No way," He Yuzhu said without looking up, knowing well the neighbors' morals—lending or renting that room is like throwing a meat-filled bun at a dog: gone forever.

How can you be like this, kid? I'm not asking to stay for free—I'll pay rent. You know our family of six is cramped in two rooms; I want to rent your place so Jie Cheng and Jie Fang can come live here.

How much were you planning to pay per month?" He Yuzhu asked with a smile.

How about fifty cents? That's six yuan a year—you'd be leaving it empty anyway; isn't that like picking up six yuan for free?" Yan Butgui said with a laugh.

Old Yan the miser, Old Yan the miser—I've finally seen your ironclad calculations. The Military Control Committee charges two yuan per month for a room, yet you offer me only fifty cents." He Yuzhu really laughed out of anger at Yan Butgui.

Zhuzi, we've been neighbors for years, don't you know the Third Elder's situation? Just help me out," Yan Butgui began appealing to emotion.

Now you remember we've been longtime neighbors? When my father died, Yushui wailed from hunger, and your Jie Cheng secretly took a steamed bun to give her, but you chased him halfway down the alley to get it back—how could you forget we've been neighbors all along?" He Yuzhu glared, eyes red, and asked Yan Butgui.

Isn't all that in the past? Why do you still remember it?" Yan Butgui said, a little embarrassed.

To you it's past, but in my heart I can never get over it," He Yuzhu shouted, pointing at his chest.

You're afraid we'll bring trouble to your family, so you won't let your kids play with us—if it weren't for Brother Bin secretly helping us, we siblings might have starved. Where were you back then? Now that I'm capable, you all come with shameless faces to take advantage of me, Granny!" He Yuzhu exploded completely.

If you won't rent, you won't rent—why get so furious?" Seeing He Yuzhu like that, Yan Butgui kept backing away in fright.

He Yuzhu's shouting also drew a crowd of onlookers.

See? This is what they call 'ten years east, ten years west.' Who would have thought He Yuzhu would end up like this? Now everyone's rushing to take advantage.

Exactly, if only we'd known then what we know now—you believe me? If Li Bin came to He Yuzhu asking to borrow a room, not only would he lend it, even if he just demanded it, I guarantee He Yuzhu wouldn't frown at all.

Yes, what you sow you reap." The neighbors now also knew Yan Butgui was there to borrow a room from He Yuzhu, and they began to gossip.

Hearing the neighbors' gossip, Yan Butgui blushed and ran home without looking back.

Head of the household, why would you think to ask the idiot Zhuzi for a room? Even Yi Zhonghai couldn't get his consent—how could he agree to lend it to you?" The Third Aunt truly couldn't fathom what Yan Butgui was thinking.

You don't understand—Old Yi was trying to get something for nothing, whereas this is a rental, totally different," Yan Butgui said.

But how long would you rent it for? Do you have that much money to pay him?

Who said I have to pay him? As long as he agrees to rent it to me and lets Jie Cheng and them move in, I'll pay two months' rent up front, then owe the rest, paying whenever I have the money.

Would the idiot Zhuzi be willing?

If he's unwilling, what can I do? I just won't move—what else could he do? Over time, who the house belongs to will be unclear." Yan Butgui, no saint himself, also planned to take He Yuzhu's room for free, but He Yuzhu simply wouldn't fall for their tricks.

So what now? The idiot Zhuzi has no intention of renting to us," the Third Aunt also understood Yan Butgui's meaning.

No rush—this matter needs long-term planning.