Chapter 49

The entire courtyard was searched; Li Xuewu pointed to the Zheng and Tian households next to the deaf old woman, as well as Qin Huaiju’s home and the three families in the front courtyard’s entrance hall, and said: “The Zheng and Tian families work during the day, and their children finish two afternoon classes and return home; the same goes for Jia’s child, and the three families in the front courtyard too. Go get the children—they need to be questioned.”

Jia Zhangshi immediately realized she’d been left out—she hadn’t claimed she didn’t steal the chicken, but she couldn’t throw a tantrum either; she couldn’t just sit on the ground and demand why no one asked if she’d stolen it.

But hearing the children were to be called over, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law froze.

Qin Huaiju stammered: “Um, Xuewu, our child’s already asleep—can we ask tomorrow?”

Xu Damao, seeing Li Xuewu about to solve the case, wouldn’t let it go; he snapped: “No. It’s only eight-thirty—normally, your child’s the noisiest at this hour. Why’s he sleeping now? Are you guilty?”

Qin Huaiju screamed like a hen protecting her chicks: “Xu Damao, shut your mouth!”

Lou Xiaoe also sensed something was off: so, when she’d said one word about Banggeng at He Yuzhu’s place, Qin Huaiju had cursed her and immediately fled—so it was guilt after all.

“Jian Lai”

“Everyone else agreed to bring their children—why won’t you?”

Jia Zhangshi unleashed her tantrum tactic: “Oh no! This is unjust! The Security Office is bullying us! We’re being driven to death!”

Big Uncle couldn’t stand this—he exchanged a glance with He Yuzhu and rose to mediate.

Li Xuewu smiled faintly at Big Uncle: “How about… we don’t investigate? You handle it?”

That shut Big Uncle up—he’d been the one demanding the investigation; if he now called it off, no one would listen to him anymore. He hesitated, then sat back down.

Over at He Yuzhu’s side, seeing Qin Huaiju wiping tears, he pleaded with Li Xuewu: “Xuewu, let’s just drop it.”

He was about to speak when Xu Damao cut him off: “No. So your family didn’t lose a chicken?”

Lou Xiaoe jumped up, shouting: “Exactly! We must get to the bottom of this!”

Li Xuewu looked at He Yuzhu—this guy’s a blood slave? Can’t walk past a widow?

“Are you sure? If you keep blocking this, I’ll have to conclude you stole it.”

He Yuzhu blurted: “But just now you said I—”

Li Xuewu interrupted: “Yes, you were temporarily cleared of suspicion.”

He Yuzhu glanced back at Qin Huaiju and the wailing Jia Zhangshi, remembered Big Uncle’s teachings, gritted his teeth, and said: “Fine, I’ll take the blame. I’ll pay.”

He Yuzhu’s voice was quiet, but everyone in the courtyard heard it—they all stared at him.

Qin Huaiju stared at He Yuzhu, stunned and overjoyed—such a kind neighbor, truly generous.

Jia Zhangshi stopped wailing, sprang up from the ground with a slick motion, brushed off the dust—as if she hadn’t been throwing a tantrum, just fallen down.

Li Xuewu smiled, reached behind his waist, pulled out handcuffs, and snapped them onto He Yuzhu’s wrist.

He Yuzhu froze in shock—everyone in the courtyard froze.

We were talking fine—why suddenly handcuffs?

He Yuzhu gripped Li Xuewu’s wrist, still holding the cuffs: “Xuewu, what’s this mean? I said I’d pay!”

Li Xuewu didn’t struggle as He Yuzhu held the cuffs—he stopped smiling, his face turned cold: “He Yuzhu, you’re suspected of stealing worker property, violating the law. I warn you: theft could get you shot; deceiving police or courts could get you shot too. I’ll ask again—did you steal the chicken?”

Are we playing theater at this hour? You say what you want, and it’s law?

Big Uncle, sensing trouble, rushed forward to pull He Yuzhu and Li Xuewu apart: “Xuewu, what are you doing? We all live in the same courtyard—talk calmly, let go!”

Li Xuewu released his grip as Big Uncle let go—but then he snapped the cuffs onto Big Uncle’s wrist.

This stirred a hornet’s nest—everyone shouted at once: “What’s going on? Why?”

Li Xuewu pointed at Big Uncle’s hand, still clutching his coat, and asked: “Yi Zhonghai—are you assaulting an officer?”

Big Uncle’s hand recoiled as if burned.

Li Xuewu unbuttoned his military overcoat, pulled back the fabric to reveal his holster, and scanned the shouting crowd.

One look—and the noise vanished instantly.

Only now did they realize: this wasn’t just Li Xuewu—he was from the Public Security Division.

Big Aunt hurried forward and slapped Big Uncle: “What are you adding to this mess? Xuewu’s helping He Yuzhu—why are you butting in? Apologize right now!”

Big Uncle’s face darkened—he never imagined he’d be cuffed, especially by a child he’d watched grow up.

How could he possibly apologize in front of everyone?

Li Xuewu wasn’t in a hurry—he wanted to crush the corrupt atmosphere in the courtyard. None of the three uncles had pure intentions; now they wanted to mediate? Why didn’t they quietly settle things with He Yuzhu? Why force a public meeting? It was just to suppress He Yuzhu and win back favor.

He still needed shelter here—he couldn’t let this corrupt wind blow onto himself.

Seeing Big Uncle silent, Big Aunt shoved him again, nodding toward Qin Huaiju with her eyes.

Big Uncle’s gaze fell on Jia Zhangshi—she was tiptoeing to watch the spectacle, showing no interest in helping, utterly indifferent to He Yuzhu’s fate.

Qin Huaiju did move forward, tears streaming, but Jia Zhangshi held her back tightly, shoving her and muttering insults.

Big Uncle sighed: “Forget it,” and said to Li Xuewu: “Xuewu, I was too hasty just now—don’t mind me.”

Li Xuewu finally smiled, unlocked Big Uncle’s handcuffs, but kept a firm grip on He Yuzhu’s side: “Big Uncle, you say that? I don’t even know who you are? Just a well-meaning person, but too much good intention can burn you.”

Everyone watched Li Xuewu’s sudden shift—chills ran down their spines. He had the face of a dog—unpredictable.

When he doesn’t care about manners, he cuffs you. When he does, he’s genuinely polite.

Big Uncle awkwardly withdrew his hand and looked at He Yuzhu: “Tell the truth—don’t be foolish.”

He Yuzhu now understood—if he took the blame for Banggeng, Li Xuewu would truly send him to jail, maybe even get him shot.

He couldn’t bear either outcome. He wouldn’t turn back, stammering to Li Xuewu: “I just didn’t want neighborly relations to break down—I thought I’d pay myself.”

Li Xuewu ignored that. He asked sternly: “Did you steal it?”

Seeing Li Xuewu showed no mercy, He Yuzhu replied seriously: “No.”

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes at He Yuzhu: “Since you’re so kind-hearted, from now on, deliver a chicken to every household daily—then neighborly harmony will be restored. Agreed?”

He Yuzhu paused, grasped Li Xuewu’s meaning, blushed, and lowered his head.

Li Xuewu unlocked He Yuzhu’s cuffs, held them in hand, and said to Liu Guangfu: “Guangfu, go to the households I mentioned and bring the children here—be polite.”

Liu Guangfu felt honored to be chosen—he sprinted off.

Jia Zhangshi panicked, ready to wail again; Qin Huaiju also tried to rush home.