Zhao Jianjun looked at the crowd, unable to tell who had spoken. He couldn’t argue with these women and could only stare in frustration.
Hearing the commotion, Zhao Shizhong finally broke free from Ge Hongxia and lunged toward his wife.
This was too much—outrageous!
Ignoring his own pride, he clutched Du Hong and howled: “I’ve served as the captain of Dongshan Village for years, working diligently without a moment’s slack.
If you truly dislike me, then go ahead—let’s take this to the village secretary and settle it properly!”
Seizing the opportunity, Du Hong opened her eyes: “Five-level… what’s going on?”
Seeing his wife “awake,” Zhao Shizhong started crying again, holding her tightly. Du Hong, playing along, also shed tears—she really hurt!
The couple’s genuine display of emotion moved a female comrade in the crowd, who dabbed at her own tears: “I didn’t expect Captain Zhao to be so close with his wife!”
“Truly a model for us all!”
Zhao Shizhong ignored everyone else. No matter what was said, no one would step foot in his backyard today!
The standoff continued.
“Captain Zhao is so determined to guard his backyard… could he really be hiding something?” Lin Qiao murmured quietly.
“Who knows! Maybe the missing chickens are all stashed in the backyard and haven’t been dealt with yet!” a disguised Lin Qiao (No. 2) added, changing her voice.
Originally, Lin Qiao had nothing to do today—she just wanted to enjoy the show. But… her damn desire to perform!
Most of the crowd was already pointing fingers at the Zhao family. Zhao Shizhong, thick-skinned as ever, didn’t budge. Today, no one would enter his house.
Faced with such shamelessness, Ge Hongxia could only stand and scold him. Zhao Shizhong remained unmoved—anyone who managed to enter his house today would count as having bested him.
Lin Qiao’s eyes flicked. She pulled over a child from the crowd and whispered in his ear.
The obedient child nodded and ran off.
Now, only Ge Hongxia’s shouts and Iron Pillar’s wife’s crying filled the air.
Yes, Iron Pillar’s wife was still crying—longer than Du Hong, who had been struck and couldn’t cry for long without hurting her face. Zhao Shizhong, the old rascal, remained indifferent.
A short while later, the child returned, shouting toward Lin Qiao:
“Sister! I saw it! There are thirteen chickens in Captain Zhao’s backyard coop!”
Hidden in the crowd, Lin Qiao quietly claimed the credit. Who said you had to enter through the front gate? Climbing the wall was much better!
The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into discussion again.
“Hasn’t the village always had a rule—no more than five chickens per household? Is the captain knowingly breaking the law?”
“What lawbreaking? I know Captain Zhao only has four chickens. The two pigs are tended by Chunxing.”
Then… the rest?
The crowd went silent, but everyone understood.
The thief had been found…
All eyes turned to Zhao Jianjun.
Zhao Jianjun was stunned. How could this be? He was the thief?
He turned and dashed into the backyard. From a distance, he saw his once-small chicken coop overflowing, noisy chickens flapping everywhere.
Hands trembling, he muttered in disbelief: “This is impossible! I didn’t steal any chickens! Who’s framing me? Someone’s trying to harm me!”
Zhao Jianjun’s prolonged absence clarified the situation for everyone.
“I knew Zhao Jianjun was no good!”
“Exactly! Always pinning things on others and reforming people.”
“He himself isn’t innocent, stealing chickens, yet lectures others!”
“Shaming the captain!”
“Who’s behind this? Remember, a crooked beam corrupts what’s below it!”
People glanced at Zhao Shizhong but said nothing.
For the first time, Zhao Shizhong didn’t smile. His face was dark.
He saw Zhao Jianjun slowly returning, head lowered.
“Traitor! Kneel!” he shouted.
Zhao Jianjun’s body obeyed faster than his mind. Thud—he dropped to his knees, eyes red, voice full of grievance: “Dad! I really didn’t steal anything!”
Zhao Shizhong closed his eyes. When he reopened them, his gaze was complex as he looked at Zhao Jianjun.
This son was raised by him. A little foolish, yes—but he knew better than anyone whether Zhao Jianjun was guilty. Today, the Zhao family had to take the fall. He couldn’t be implicated himself—he had to push his son forward. Today’s grudge would be remembered and settled later.
“Jianjun, if you’ve done wrong, you must make amends. Apologize to the aunts,” Zhao Shizhong said, taking a deep breath, smiling again as if he had never changed expression.
Zhao Jianjun, angry, frustrated, pleading—finally, under his father’s threatening gaze, became resigned. He hesitated, then ground his teeth: “…I’m sorry.”
The crowd’s gaze was full of disdain.
Some complained: “That’s it?”
“A village thief—how can we go out safely now?”
“A thief running around, yet in charge of village safety?”
“Isn’t this guarding the henhouse while stealing from it?”
A single “sorry” floated lightly, trying to brush the matter aside. Wasn’t that too hasty?
Zhao Shizhong addressed the crowd: “This is my fault for not thinking ahead. Zhao Jianjun, from today, you step down as militia captain and reflect at home.”
He turned away from his son, smiling at the three victims.
“I’ll have the chickens returned to you, or you can fetch them yourselves from my coop. Is that acceptable?”
“Additionally, I’ll compensate each family five yuan. Satisfied? I failed in guiding him. Zhao Jianjun will reflect at home, and I guarantee—he won’t make mistakes again. Only when he’s corrected will he be allowed out. Everyone happy?”
Ge Hongxia snorted, tugging at the reluctant son. Why not just let them into the coop from the start? Look at all the trouble caused!
The crowd looked around and stayed silent.
After all, it was just a matter of a few chickens. The captain hadn’t stolen them. Although everyone suspected Zhao Shizhong’s involvement, they couldn’t remove the captain for this.
The families who lost chickens nodded.
Iron Pillar’s wife insisted on personally catching her chickens—she had raised the red-combed black-foot rooster herself, shiny and crowing on time every day. She cherished it!
Xiaofang’s mother also wanted to catch her chickens herself; she knew her two old hens, which laid eggs daily—couldn’t mix them up.
Ge Hongxia stayed out of it. After the others took what was left, she could claim the rest as hers.
Iron Pillar’s wife and Xiaofang’s mother each carried two chickens home, triumphant, happily reunited with their lost fowl.
Ge Hongxia, though chicken-free, held her head high, chest out—like a victorious rooster, tail feathers raised to the sky!
In contrast, the Zhao family looked like frostbitten eggplants—deflated.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
But it wasn’t long before a few more people came, grinning mischievously.
They claimed their chickens had gone missing too!