With Bang Geng's words,
everyone understood.
The chicken thief was actually Bang Geng.
It really was him!
In other words,
everything Ye Jianguo had said was correct.
Sha Zhu really had deliberately protected Bang Geng and tried to take the blame for him.
For a moment,
everyone began discussing it heatedly.
“I really didn't expect it. I really didn't expect the actual chicken thief to be Bang Geng.”
“I never imagined the result would be like this. He's so young, yet he actually stole something.”
“Exactly. Sha Zhu even tried to protect Bang Geng. That's truly despicable.”
“If Ye Jianguo hadn't insisted, then just as he said, the real chicken thief would still be at large.”
“Ye Jianguo was truly impressive this time.”
“......”
Jia Zhangshi embraced Bang Geng while sobbing and wailed, “No, my Bang Geng didn't steal the chicken.”
“My Bang Geng is such a good boy. How could he possibly do something like this?”
“It's all Xu Damao's fault. Why did that bastard leave the chicken by the door?”
“Wasn't that basically telling people they could just take the chicken? It's all that bastard Xu Damao's fault!!!”
Hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, Ye Jianguo shook his head.
How could a child raised by elders like that possibly turn out well?
Especially after hearing what Bang Geng had said earlier, he understood even more clearly that this little ingrate's values had already gone astray.
He was beyond saving.
Then,
he looked at Yi Zhonghai and said, “Yi Zhonghai, what do you have to say now?”
“Weren't you insisting just now that I was slandering you?”
“Weren't you saying that I was damaging the relationship between neighbors?”
“And what happened?”
“I'm now even more certain that you knew who stole Xu Damao's chicken long ago.”
“Yet you knew and refused to report it. You even joined forces with Sha Zhu to protect Bang Geng.”
“Having a First Grandpa like you is truly a disgrace to the courtyard compound.”
At this moment,
Ye Jianguo showed Yi Zhonghai no consideration whatsoever.
He pressed him into the dirt, exposing his hypocritical mask.
Second Uncle Liu Haizhong's face lit up with delight.
He was truly ecstatic.
He had never expected the situation to take such a favorable turn.
At the final moment, Ye Jianguo had actually dealt First Grandpa Yi Zhonghai another fatal blow.
This interrogation was truly powerful.
He certainly wasn't going to miss this opportunity.
He immediately shouted, “First Grandpa, your handling of this matter has truly gone too far.”
“Ye Jianguo was determined to catch the chicken thief, yet you repeatedly targeted him.”
“Now I even suspect that you really did know the chicken thief was Bang Geng, but you joined forces with Sha Zhu to cover it up.”
“As fellow elders of the courtyard compound, I truly feel ashamed for you.”
Liu Haizhong launched straight into the attack.
Third Uncle Yan Bugui was just about to speak when Sha Zhu spoke first.
He shouted, “Second Uncle, what are you doing?”
“What does this have to do with First Uncle?”
“I couldn't bear to see a child like Bang Geng carry the label of a thief at such a young age, so I wanted to step forward.”
“This has nothing to do with First Uncle.”
“First Uncle has always handled matters impartially.”
Liu Haizhong snorted, looked at Yi Zhonghai, and asked, “First Uncle, what do you have to say now?”
Yi Zhonghai's face flushed red, then turned pale.
When he saw that Lou Xiaoe was determined to report the matter,
he knew that things would definitely not go as he wished.
At this moment,
faced with Ye Jianguo's relentless pressure,
he was utterly furious.
Then, hearing Second Uncle Liu Haizhong's attack, he became even more enraged.
Who was he?
He was the courtyard compound's First Grandpa.
When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
This was the first time.
However,
he knew
that anger would accomplish nothing now.
He had no choice but to grit his teeth and admit his mistake.
Because
if he continued arguing, it would bring him no benefit whatsoever.
Therefore,
he ignored Liu Haizhong and instead looked toward Ye Jianguo, who had been directing this entire matter.
Ye Jianguo was the truly troublesome one.
He said, “Ye Jianguo, the complexity of this matter has truly exceeded my expectations.”
“I didn't expect Sha Zhu to carry out such an excessive act of protection and Job Succession.”
“I never saw that coming.”
“Therefore, I apologize for the harsh words I said to you earlier.”
“I'm sorry.”
With that,
he swept his gaze over everyone and announced, “Furthermore, as the courtyard compound's First Grandpa, I failed to handle this matter properly. That was my dereliction of duty.”
“To give everyone an explanation, I will punish myself by sweeping the courtyard for one month.”
As soon as Yi Zhonghai said this, everyone was dumbfounded and stunned.
They had never expected Yi Zhonghai, the courtyard compound's First Grandpa, to apologize.
He had actually apologized to Ye Jianguo.
Moreover,
he had even punished himself by sweeping the courtyard for one month.
This was absolutely beyond their expectations.
For a moment,
everyone was won over by Yi Zhonghai's actions.
They all began saying,
“First Grandpa, we all believe in you.”
“First Grandpa, who could have expected Sha Zhu to do something so outrageous, causing you to mishandle this matter? It's all Sha Zhu's fault and has nothing to do with you.”
“Exactly. If anyone should be punished, Sha Zhu should receive a severe punishment.”
“Sha Zhu really went too far. If he hadn't done something so outrageous, you wouldn't have made the wrong judgment, First Grandpa. So you don't need to blame yourself.”
Second Uncle Liu Haizhong was dumbfounded.
He hadn't expected his rise to last only a moment before disappearing.
Yi Zhonghai had won everyone over in just a few words.
How was he supposed to bring Yi Zhonghai down now?
What frustration!
This was truly frustrating!
He couldn't help looking at Ye Jianguo again.
He wanted to see whether Ye Jianguo would continue attacking Yi Zhonghai.
As for Ye Jianguo,
when he saw how quickly Yi Zhonghai had apologized and punished himself by sweeping the courtyard for one month,
he knew
that Yi Zhonghai truly was an old fox.
He knew when to cut off a limb to save himself.
If he continued pursuing the matter now, it would be largely meaningless.
Therefore,
he said, “Since that's the case, those who should pay compensation will pay compensation, and those who should apologize will apologize.”
“No one gets to shirk responsibility!”
With that,
Ye Jianguo looked at Yi Zhonghai and mocked, “As the courtyard compound's First Grandpa, you won't protect Sha Zhu, Bang Geng, and the others again, will you?”
“Everyone is watching how they should be punished and how this should be handled.”
Yi Zhonghai's face was expressionless, and his anger was no longer visible.
Even when faced with Ye Jianguo's mockery, he calmly replied, “This matter will definitely be handled seriously.”
“Bang Geng is only a child, yet he committed theft. The circumstances are extremely serious. In addition to paying Xu Damao five yuan in compensation, he must also apologize to Xu Damao.”
“Furthermore, as his guardians, Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi must recognize the seriousness of this matter.”
“They must educate Bang Geng properly.”
“If it happens again, it will be handled severely.”
As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, Qin Huairu hurriedly sobbed, “First Grandpa, I will definitely educate Bang Geng properly. I absolutely won't let him do something like this again.”
“I guarantee that this will never happen again.”
“I'm truly sorry, everyone.”
After Qin Huairu finished speaking, she apologized through her tears, looking Pitiful and delicate.
Yi Zhonghai looked at Sha Zhu and continued, “As for Sha Zhu, he maliciously protected Bang Geng after the chicken theft. The circumstances are extremely serious.”
“Furthermore, he verbally attacked Lou Xiaoe during the process.”
“Sha Zhu is to apologize to Lou Xiaoe and pay five yuan in compensation.”
“Finally, Sha Zhu is to be punished by sweeping the courtyard for two months.”
Although Sha Zhu was deeply frustrated and furious,
he did not object.
However,
Yi Zhonghai looked at Ye Jianguo and asked, “Ye Jianguo, are you willing to accept this punishment?”
Ye Jianguo said indifferently, “Since that's the case, those who should pay compensation will pay compensation, and those who should apologize will apologize.”
Xu Damao immediately looked at Qin Huairu and said, “Qin Huairu, pay up.”
“And Sha Zhu, hurry up and pay.”
After Xu Damao finished speaking, he proactively handed one yuan to Ye Jianguo.
This was the payment he had promised Ye Jianguo.
Xu Damao was extremely happy.
He had never expected that after Ye Jianguo stirred things up, he would actually receive ten yuan in compensation.
This felt incredible.
All he had lost was an old hen that barely laid eggs,
yet he had received ten yuan in compensation.
This was simply fantastic.
Qin Huairu sobbed, “Xu Damao, I will definitely compensate you, but I truly don't have any money right now.”
“I can't even afford food at the moment.”
“Could you wait until I receive my wages before I compensate you?”
“Wuwuwu.....”
Qin Huairu's tears seemed endless.
Seeing Qin Huairu looking so pitiful,
Sha Zhu felt a strange ache in his heart.
In a fit of passion, he said, “I'll pay Sister Qin's share. Isn't it only five yuan?”
After saying this, Sha Zhu took out ten yuan and tried to hand it to Xu Damao.
Ye Jianguo suddenly said, “The compensation for emotional distress owed to Lou Xiaoe must be given to Lou Xiaoe herself, not Xu Damao.”
Lou Xiaoe also spoke up, “That's right, Sha Zhu. Hurry up and pay and apologize.”
It could be said that
after this incident, Lou Xiaoe truly came to admire Ye Jianguo immensely.
She had never imagined
that Ye Jianguo could be this formidable.
Was this really that street loafer?
Especially tonight, Ye Jianguo had actually spoken up for her and stood up for her.
This was something she had never experienced before.
Xu Damao, on the other hand, was frustrated.
What was with Ye Jianguo?
Why was he distinguishing between Lou Xiaoe's money and his?
Wasn't it all his money anyway?
He had even so readily given Ye Jianguo one yuan just now.
How hateful!
However,
he said nothing.
In his view, once the money reached Lou Xiaoe's hands, it would eventually end up in his own hands anyway.
Although Sha Zhu was extremely unwilling,
under everyone's gaze,
he still apologized to Lou Xiaoe and compensated her five yuan.
Mm.
He also paid Ye Jianguo five yuan on Yi Zhonghai's behalf.
In other words,
during this whole-compound assembly,
a matter that originally had nothing to do with Sha Zhu had been turned by him into the greatest loss of all.
He had paid fifteen yuan in compensation,
had to apologize,
and had been punished with two months of sweeping the courtyard.
He had suffered a truly devastating loss.
He had completely lost face.
Seeing Sha Zhu pay the compensation and apologize, Yi Zhonghai said to everyone, “All right. Since this matter has been settled, the assembly is dismissed.”
After saying this, Yi Zhonghai gave Ye Jianguo a deep look, then left first.
As for that,
Ye Jianguo was completely unafraid.
In fact,
he even smiled at Yi Zhonghai.
This whole-compound assembly had gone quite well.
Not only had he fiercely rebuked this group of beasts, he had nearly exposed the hypocrisy of Yi Zhonghai, that sanctimonious hypocrite, and had also obtained six yuan in compensation.
This was an enormous profit.
Therefore,
under everyone's gaze, he left with Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, and his wife.
Without a doubt,
after this incident, everyone had gained a new impression of Ye Jianguo.
He
was not someone to provoke.
......