Chapter 14: Courtyard Meeting

Hearing Yang Qing's words, Yi Zhonghai's face looked grim; seeing the growing public outcry, he knew he had to suppress it now, otherwise it would really be exposed, and as the First Elder, he might as well not continue.

San Da Ye also felt a lingering fear; if Yang Qing hadn't spoken, he still wouldn't have sensed it, but once Yang Qing spoke, he also realized the matter was serious.

First Elder spoke first, suppressing the crowd.

"Alright, we can't manage other people's affairs; today we're talking about the fish."

"Moreover, everyone knows how serious this fish matter is, so everyone should keep their mouths shut; otherwise, don't blame me for not showing favor."

First Elder emphasized his tone on this fish, his hint was very obvious.

Everyone also understood his meaning: don't sell out Jia Zhangshi, or ruin the courtyard's reputation.

Seeing that everyone understood his meaning, First Elder looked at Liu Hai Zhong and continued.

"Er Da Ye, you say something about the fishing arrangements."

Liu Hai Zhong sat in front of the hall, straightened his back, and said leisurely.

"Regarding this fishing matter, we three elders think as follows."

"First, in the first half of the night, the whole courtyard will go out to fish."

"In the second half of the night, those who have to work tomorrow will return to rest, while others continue fishing."

"If the catch is good, it can greatly improve everyone's situation, letting us get through this time of shortage."

"The reason we must act together is that this news isn't known only to us; others know it too, and if we don't unite, we'll be bullied by people from other courtyards."

"Nobody wants the fish they painstakingly caught to be snatched away, right?"

Hearing the word 'snatch', everyone looked at Jia Zhangshi; Jia Dongxu almost blushed enough to crawl into his pants, Qin Huairu never imagined things would come to this, and had she known, she wouldn't have let Bang Geng go out.

Jia Zhangshi still wanted to go crazy to intimidate everyone, but Yi Zhonghai gave her a fierce glare, and she also calmed down.

"At a time when everyone is starving, anything could happen, so we must act in unison."

The people of the courtyard can imagine how crazy people are for a bite to eat now.

Acting together is correct.

"Regarding the catch, San Da Ye, what do you say?"

Hearing 'catch', San Da Ye immediately said.

"Naturally, whoever catches it keeps it."

He is a fishing expert, and he doesn't want to cheapen it for others.

At this moment, First Elder looked at San Da Ye and said.

"Old Yan, you see everyone's fishing skill varies; if each looks out for themselves, I'm afraid someone might not catch a single fish."

"I think this way: you, as an experienced veteran, come to guide others; those who are guided should give you ten percent of their harvest. How about that?"

San Da Ye lowered his head, thought for a moment, and reluctantly agreed.

"Alright, since First Elder said that, let's do it this way."

Upon hearing this, First Elder exclaimed appreciatively.

"Good, San Da Ye truly lives up to being a teacher; his awareness is high."

Afterward, he looked at the others.

"Do you have any opinions?"

Xu Damao raised his hand.

"What if we don't need San Da Ye's help?"

First Elder glanced at San Da Ye with a smiling, narrowed eyes.

"Then we don't need to give anything."

San Da Ye glared at Xu Damao, and I didn't say much.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Yi Zhonghai said.

"Alright, then it's set; we'll depart in half an hour, go back to eat and prepare."

Afterward, he called Yang Qing and his wife.

"Yang Qing, Chen Hong, you two come over a moment; I have something to tell you."

Yang Qing nodded, said nothing more, and followed the crowd toward the backyard.

Seeing Yang Qing and his wife, Yi Zhonghai felt his teeth itch, said nothing, simply not treating this First Elder as anything.

Back home, Yang Qing and Chen Hong immediately took out the fish they had in their bosoms, then processed them.

They lit the pot, boiled water, and began to cook fish soup.

The leftover fish intestines and such were made into bait.

Chen Hong tended the fire beside them and asked in a low voice.

"Shall we go or not?"

Yang Qing shook his head.

"Looking at the situation in our courtyard, the first half of the night will probably be crowded."

"We won't go join the bustle; we'll stick to the original plan and go in the second half of the night."

"With the commotion in the first half of the night, the second half may be much quieter; we'll set up flashlights, add bait, and maybe catch some fish."

Chen Hong nodded.

"Then a moment later, shall we go find First Elder?"

Yang Qing, while tossing sweet potato bricks into the pot, said.

"What would we go there for? Surely just to keep us silent about the Jia Zhangshi matter."

"He's the one seeking us; should we still rush over to him?"

"How lowly would that be?"

Soon, he will come over by himself.

As Yang Qing had expected, after Yi Zhonghai had gone from house to house and still not seen Yang Qing come over, he went to the Houzhaofang.

Upon arriving at Yang Qing's courtyard, Yi Zhonghai smelled a whiff of fish fragrance.

He immediately asked.

"Yang Qing, where did you get the fish?"

As if eating fish were a crime.

Chen Hong glared at him.

"You think you can manage this?"

"How come the elder stole the fish, yet eating it is considered a crime?"

After Chen Hong's mockery, Yi Zhonghai also remembered why he had come.

He coughed once to cover his embarrassment.

Then he spoke softly.

"Yang Qing, we've been old neighbors all along; although there have been some misunderstandings, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor."

"About……"

Yang Qing didn't let him finish, directly interrupting him.

"Alright, Elder One, don't you find this embarrassing?"

"These years, I've lived like this; isn't it thanks to everyone's blessings?"

"Stop talking nonsense; let's talk about something practical."

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.

"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll speak plainly as well: regarding Jia Zhangshi..."

Yang Qing raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Elder One, you should understand that most of the people in the compound have a grudge against me."

"Moreover, I have married and am still an orphan of a martyr."

"I don't care about the compound's reputation."

"The reason I didn't spell it out just now is because I thought you, Elder One, are a smart person."

"Since you're smart, we don't need to beat around the bush."

"Better to speak directly about practical matters."

Yi Zhonghai almost couldn't catch his breath, his face turning red from holding it in.

He hadn't expected that a pushover, who used to be pushed around by them at will, would change so much after getting a wife.

He really wanted to lead the compound's people to beat him up, to let Yang Qing know who's in charge of the compound, but now he doesn't dare.

The charge of oppressing the martyr's family is too serious.

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth and pulled out a stack of money from his clothes.

"Here are 96 yuan, the gift money you've given out over the years."

"Is this enough now?"

Yang Qing took the money, nodded, and replied unhappily.

"Wouldn't it have been better if you'd done this earlier?"

"Going around in circles, you don't even find it troublesome."

"Besides, this money was originally mine; you have no right to be angry about it."

"From now on, you take your sunny path, we'll take our narrow bridge; I just want to live a peaceful life."

"You'd better not provoke me again, lest I recall those unpleasant past events."

"Otherwise, I can still afford a brick hitting a pot."

"Also tell Elder Three, be careful I'll go to the school to promote him."

"Also tell Jia Zhangshi, Bang Geng can be sent to juvenile detention."