Chapter 90

Lei Gensheng, our courtyard hasn't given you few chances to earn money, right? This little favor you don't even want to help— is that appropriate?

Yi Zhonghai started playing the emotion card.

Unfortunately, Lei Gensheng knows the ins and outs of this courtyard too well.

He snorted and said.

'The work here is all given by Yang Qing to us— does it have much to do with you?'

'If I'm not mistaken, yesterday you just bullied our host; if I help with this favor, I'm afraid others will stab me in the back.'

'I, Lei Gensheng, may not be a big shot, but I can still tell right from wrong.'

Yi Zhonghai's face turned red.

'You...'

Lei Gensheng let out a hum.

'What do you mean "you"? Chen Hong is now a person from our street office— do you think I'd help someone who bullies my colleague do work?'

'Who do you think you are? Just because you have a big face?'

'What?'

Yi Zhonghai was greatly startled.

'Chen Hong went to work at your street office? How is that possible?'

This news not only startled Yi Zhonghai, but even Liu Hai Zhong was startled.

In his mind, officials are all old-timers who are really impressive.

Now Chen Hong has gone to the street office, so Chen Hong represents justice.

San Da Ye, Yan Fu Gui, was also startled— he is the spokesperson put forward by the street office.

The purpose is to prevent this courtyard from becoming a single-word hall of the steel mill; if Chen Hong becomes a person of the street office, then he also has to change his strategy.

We must keep pace with the street office.

The steel mill may be impressive, but it can't resist the street office managing your food, clothing, housing, transportation, birth, aging, sickness, and death.

He hesitated a moment and asked.

'Master Lei, is this for real?'

Lei Gensheng gave Yan Fu Gui a meaningful glance, then nodded.

'Now Chen Hong is the clerk of the South Luo Drum Alley Street Office, and has been on the job for several days.'

'You guys don't even know this?'

Lei Gensheng's affirmation shattered many of their fantasies.

Liu Hai Zhong first started to beat the retreat drum, not daring to join Yi Zhonghai in pressuring Lei Gensheng again; instead, he advised Yi Zhonghai.

'Old Yi, I'm saying we should personally talk to Liang Jin Bao about this; originally they agreed to build the wall, now they've only done half— what's going on?'

With one sentence he pushed himself out clean and then sold Yi Zhonghai out.

San Da Ye knew he also had to state his position.

'Master Lei, don't get worked up; let's call Liang Jin Bao out and talk first.'

Saying that, he ordered Yan Jie Cheng.

'Jiecheng, go call Liang Jin Bao out.'

Yan Jie Cheng didn't expect his own father to sell him out; given the current relationship between their courtyard and Liang Jin Bao's courtyard, if he goes to call someone, he'll likely get a cold shoulder.

But since his father spoke, he dare not not go.

Watching Yan Jie Cheng go toward the back.

Only then did Yi Zhonghai notice his enforcer He Yuzhu wasn't there, and Xu Damao wasn't there today either.

He turned his head to look and spotted Yang Qing in the distance.

He first felt a surge of anger, then forced himself to show a smile.

'Yang Qing, come over here.'

Yang Qing, who was just watching the commotion, didn't expect to be conscripted by Yi Zhonghai.

He wasn't hiding in the back anymore; he walked over.

He also ignored Yi Zhonghai, instead first greeting Master Lei.

'Master Lei, hello— thank you for building us such a nice toilet.'

'Thanks for your hard work.'

Yang Qing's words were like slapping Yi Zhonghai in the face; everyone knows you just exchange pleasantries after finishing work.

You guys are fine— other people work hard and finish the job, yet you come here to make things difficult for them.

Lei Gensheng was very pleased to hear that.

'Still, Yang Qing, you know how to speak.'

'As the saying goes, harsh words chill you even in June; a warm word in winter warms the heart.'

'Some people— the difference between persons is just so huge.'

The workers behind Master Lei had long been holding in their frustration; hearing Lei Gensheng's words, they immediately switched to mocking mode.

'Doing work for Comrade Yang's household is the most comfortable for us, but being in the same courtyard and not far away, doing work for these people is truly aggravating.'

'Today this family comes to nitpick, tomorrow that family comes to pick a fight, plus they want us to fix this and patch that; we work hard, yet end up with nothing good, and they even try to withhold our wages.'

'If it weren't for Yang Qing's face, who would want to work for you? Those who know us see we're workers; those who don't think we're your courtyard's long-term laborers.'

'Even though we live in the same courtyard, the difference in how people act is just so huge.'

………

………

With a round of mockery from the workers, not only Yi Zhonghai's face turned terribly ugly, even those old women were displeased.

"What are you saying? Who owes you money? The work isn't finished; why should we give you anything?"

"Exactly, isn't it just that we asked you to do a little job? Look how anxious you are; aren't you supposed to serve the public?"

"What, fixing a stool, building a step, and you still want money? And you don't even provide the materials…"

"I think they've got money‑greedy eyes."

Facing this, the workers of course got even angrier.

Both sides started hurling heated insults at each other.

"You have no shame…"

"You have no skin…"

"You mother‑f***…"

"Your grandma's leg…"

……

……

Lei Gensheng watched and didn't intervene.

Yang Qing ignored it and instead started chatting with Master Lei.

"Master Lei, next…"

"Ah… that's good…"

"Actually…"

"I think the way we laid the tiles in the compound this time could be promoted…"

"Yes, I also think it's good…"

……

……

As the two chatted obliviously, Yi Zhonghai finally couldn't hold back.

"Yang Qing, do you think it's not chaotic enough yet?"

"Is our compound making a complete fool of itself beneficial to you?"

He said it as if all this were Yang Qing's fault.

Yang Qing turned his head toward Yi Zhonghai.

"Sir, I have nothing to do with this, right?"

"The money for the restroom, I paid 130, and gave it to you long ago."

"Why don't they pay after the work is finished?"

"The money won't have been misappropriated by you, right?"

Yang Qing directly turned the accusation around.

Yi Zhonghai, being the first to speak, found the money issue very sensitive; he didn't see the two sides still arguing, and when they heard the word "money," did they all stop?

"How could that be? The money is in my hands."

Yang Qing asked, puzzled.

"Since it's in Sir's hands, can't you just give it directly to Master Lei?"

"Why make everyone so unhappy?"

"It was originally a small matter; why make it so complicated?"

"It's just a courtyard wall; even without Master Lei, can't we find someone?"

After being blasted by Yang Qing, Yi Zhonghai was left speechless.

Could he claim he's accustomed to ordering others around? To flaunt his status, to manipulate the construction crew, to let the compound's people see?

Could he say they went a bit overboard, that they're at odds with Liang Jin Bao's compound?

He doesn't want to tempt that bad luck, yet wants to boss around the foolish youngster?

Many things cannot be laid out on the table.

The people of the compound never thought about this issue, and now they're starting to realize it.

It's just a courtyard wall, not a big project; even if Liang Jin Bao refuses to repair it, they could build it themselves.

So the looks they cast at Yi Zhonghai were full of doubt.

Liu Guang Qi, who had indeed studied, asked Liu Hai Zhong.

"Father, how did this matter turn out like this?"

Liu Hai Zhong.

"Hey, didn't we think that once the matter is completely finished we'd settle it together?"