Chapter 18: Yi Zhonghai Removed

While the third aunt was nonstop recounting Yi Zhonghai's actions in the siheyuan, several more women also gathered, adding embellishments that made what they said about Yi Zhonghai worthless.

"Ladies, you keep chatting; I need to go home and check things. I'll come talk again another day," Officer Wang said, then stood up and left. She truly couldn't bear to listen any longer; if she kept listening, she could shoot Yi Zhonghai dead.

Officer Wang returned to the Military Management Committee with a cold face.

"What's wrong, Little Wang?" Director Li asked, concerned upon seeing Officer Wang's expression.

"Director Li, we've all been deceived by Yi Zhonghai," Officer Wang repeated the information she had gathered to Director Li.

"Alright, there are plenty of people like him; fortunately he didn't cause any serious consequences. Now I have something to tell you: the superiors have decided to abolish the Military Management Committee and establish a Street Office. I've recommended you to the superiors as the Street Office director. We'll withdraw in the next two days; just handle Yi Zhonghai's matter as you see fit," Director Li said sternly.

"Please rest assured, Director Li, I will absolutely not betray the organization's trust," Officer Wang said, giving a military salute.

"Little Wang, whether it's your work ability or your character of hating evil like an enemy, you're very suited to be the Street Office director. Just do a good job from now on; go handle the handover with them."

"Yes."

Two days later in the evening, Officer Wang came to No. 95 Siheyuan with a colleague.

"Officer Wang, why have you come?" Yan Butgui, as the Third Elder, knew Officer Wang.

"Old Yan, please notify the siheyuan neighbors that we'll hold a general meeting; I have two announcements to make," Officer Wang said to Old Yan.

"Alright, I'll notify them right away," Old Yan replied, then went home and had his eldest and second sons notify the neighbors to convene the general meeting.

Not long after, the neighbors who had been notified gathered in the central courtyard.

"Everyone's here, right? I called you together today to announce two matters," Officer Wang said when she saw the crowd had mostly assembled.

"Officer Wang, I just checked. Basically every household has sent someone; if there's anything, just announce it directly," Liu Haizhong said obsequiously.

"Good, now I announce the first matter: starting today, the superiors have already abolished the Military Management Committee and formally established the Street Office; I have been honored to be appointed as the Street Office director." As soon as Officer Wang finished speaking, Liu Haizhong led the applause, and the neighbors followed his clapping.

"The Street Office's duties are basically the same as the Military Management Committee's, even more detailed; I won't go into every detail here—I'll post the Street Office's responsibilities at the gate later for you to read. The second matter is that we received a report that Yi Zhonghai, as the Head Elder of the siheyuan, engaged in graft and favoritism; we've investigated and found the report basically true. The specifics are known to everyone, so I won't spell them out publicly. Therefore the Street Office decides to remove Yi Zhonghai's position as Head Elder." Director Wang said sternly. Upon hearing Director Wang say he had been removed, Yi Zhonghai instantly drooped like a defeated rooster, head lowered, not uttering a word.

"Alright, the general meeting ends here. Go home and rest. If neighbors have any matters that the Household Manager cannot handle, or deem the Household Manager's handling unfair, they can come to the Street Office to find me; I will certainly uphold justice for everyone."

"Good," someone shouted, and then another round of applause followed.

"Alright, everyone go back; I need to visit other siheyuans," Director Wang said with a smile.

"Director Wang," seeing Director Wang about to leave, Liu Haizhong hurriedly called out.

"What's up, Old Liu?" Director Wang asked Liu Haizhong.

"Director Wang, Old Yi's Head Elder position has been removed; who will be the Head Elder now?" Liu Haizhong asked with a smile.

"Your siheyuan won't select a Head Elder for now; we'll discuss it later. You and Yan Butgui must fulfill your duties as Second and Third Elders well; if you fail too, I'll likewise not be lenient and will remove you as well." Director Wang's words carried the meaning of "killing a chicken to scare the monkeys."

"Don't worry, we definitely won't let you down," Liu Haizhong said immediately after hearing Director Wang's words, now he didn't dare ask about becoming Head Elder himself; if he messed up, even his Second Elder position might not be secure, let alone dreaming of being Head Elder.

After Director Wang left, the other neighbors also returned home one after another; Yi Zhonghai, even more dejected, followed the eldest aunt back home. Without his Head Elder status, how could Yi Zhonghai continue to instill respect-for-the-elderly ideas among the siheyuan residents? He had originally volunteered to care for the deaf old lady just to run for Household Manager, and now he has nothing—showing he still values that position greatly.

"Old Yi, what happened? Who reported you?" As soon as Yi Zhonghai got home, Jia Zhangshi and her son followed him inside. When Yi Zhonghai was Head Elder, he could favor their family; now that his Head Elder position has been removed, no one will shield them anymore. One could say the Jia family and Yi Zhonghai share honor and disgrace together.

"I don't know who did it either," Yi Zhonghai truly didn't know who would report him; after all, by favoring the Jia family he had offended many in the siheyuan, and he couldn't immediately recall who might have reported him.

"Master, could it have been Idiot Zhu who did it?" Jia Dongxu asked.

"No, although Idiot Zhu is a bit simple-minded, he does things openly and honestly; if he has any dissatisfaction, he'll confront you face to face with gongs and drums. Such sneaky deeds are beneath him," Yi Zhonghai still understood He Yuzhu's character very well.

"Old Yi, could it possibly have been Liu Haizhong who did it? You forgot that when Director Wang left, he chased after him to ask who would be Head Elder," Jia Zhangshi said.

"There's an eighty to ninety percent chance it was him," Yi Zhonghai said after thinking. "Originally he was a little dissatisfied with my being Head Elder, and his temperament is capable of such an act." Having lived together in this courtyard for so long, everyone knows each other's dispositions roughly; with that reminder from Jia Zhangshi, Yi Zhonghai was certain this matter is inseparable from Liu Haizhong.

"Brother Qiang, who do you think reported Yi Zhonghai?" He Yuzhu followed Li Qiang to Li Qiang's West Wing Courtyard; Li Qiang had already moved in, and Old Strong (Laoqiang) setting up a bunk at Li Bin's home was no issue. Once the small courtyard's rooms were ready, he moved in after just two or three days.

"I really can't think of who would do this right now," Li Bin said from the side. Now Li Bin's two kids are close with Li Qiang; every day after meals Li Bin brings them to Li Qiang's house to play, since Li Qiang's house has a toilet, they no longer need to run to the public toilet outside the gate.

"Think about it—if Yi Zhonghai's Head Elder position is removed, who would most likely become Head Elder?" Li Qiang asked them with a smile.

"Logically, Liu Haizhong is the most likely to naturally become Head Elder," He Yuzhu said.

"Young man Qiang, you mean Liu Haizhong did it?" Li Bin asked.

"Eight or nine out of ten. This old brat has always been dissatisfied with Yi Zhonghai being Head Elder, and he's an office‑obsessed maniac; he has ample motive to do this," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Hearing you say that, it really could be him; otherwise nobody else could pull this off," Li Bin said after thinking.

"I never expected Liu Haizhong to be this kind of person," He Yuzhu said.

"As the saying goes, you may know a person's face but not their heart; be careful when dealing with him from now on—this guy will do anything to become an official," Li Qiang reminded.

"Don't worry, we'll pay attention from now on."

Such scenes were playing out in many households; some could guess it was Liu Haizhong who did it, while most people couldn't imagine it was him.

"Do you mean I've been working for nothing?" Liu Haizhong said to the Second Aunt after returning home.

"It's not entirely for nothing; Yi Zhonghai has been removed, leaving just you and Old Yan West—you're the Second Elder, he's the Third Elder. Although Director Wang didn't let you be Head Elder, you're now hardly different from a Head Elder," the Second Aunt comforted.

"That's how it's put, but it still feels a bit illegitimate; if someday another Head Elder is selected, would I still just be the Second Elder?" Liu Haizhong indeed felt a bit unwilling.

"Then just perform well; when the Household Manager is selected again, you won't be anything but the Head Elder."

"That makes sense."