Siheyuan: Start with a Truck Driver

Director Wang of the Sub-district Office knew very well that Jia Donglai had given the Sub-district Office enough face by not holding it responsible this time.

If you were more stingy, it would be unacceptable.

"Xiao Wang, our members have come all the way here, so we have to prepare some gifts for them. It just so happens that we still have ten kilograms of flour in our street office. You can bring it over."

Just as Xiao Wang was about to get the noodles, Jia Donglai quickly stopped him, waving his hands and saying, "No, no, no, no, you can't do that. I'm not the kind of person who covets these things."

Director Wang smiled and said, "Oh, this is not something valuable, it's just a token of my appreciation. It's not easy for you to come all the way here."

Jia Donglai said seriously, "That won't do. This is a matter of the commune. How can I take things by myself? If I take it, I will be criticized when I go back."

Director Wang advised again: "Just take it. It's not worth much. Just consider it as a thank you from our subdistrict office."

Jia Donglai's face turned serious and he said angrily, "Director Wang, you look down on me. If I accept this, what kind of person will I be?"

When Director Wang saw that Jia Donglai was really angry, he was convinced that Jia Donglai was a simple member. He smiled and patted Jia Donglai on the shoulder and said, "Okay, okay, okay, I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked down on you. Comrade, you are really a real person."

Jia Donglai's expression softened and he said, "Director Wang, don't take it personally. I just think that we shouldn't take things that we shouldn't take."

Director Wang nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. Then I won't force you. Come on, I'll see you off."

Director Wang then escorted Jia Donglai out of the subdistrict office. Jia Donglai said goodbye to Director Wang as he walked away: "Director Wang, please stay. I'm going back now. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

Director Wang smiled and said, "Okay, take care. Come back when you have a chance." Looking at Jia Donglai's departing back, Director Wang couldn't help but sigh in his heart, what a simple and kind-hearted member he is.

Jia Zhang had been hiding nearby, her eyes rolling around, and when she saw Jia Donglai leaving, she began to think about sneaking away. She had just taken a step to leave when Director Wang quickly stopped her.

Director Wang looked at Jia Zhang seriously and said, "Where do you want to run? You can't just get away with stealing grain. I've decided to fine you twenty yuan."

When Jia Zhang heard this, she was terrified. Her face turned pale in an instant and she cried, "Leader, this is such a misunderstanding. I didn't steal the grain. I really didn't. The grain is mine. They are wrongly accusing me."

Director Wang frowned and sternly reprimanded, "You are still trying to quibble? We have brought you all the way here from Jiajiazhuang. The evidence is irrefutable, and you still don't admit it? Do you think we are all fools? Your behavior is too bad, and you must be punished."

While wiping away her tears, Jia Zhang continued to play the devil's advocate: "Leader, I really didn't steal. I'm an old woman, how could I have the guts to steal food? They must have made a mistake. Please be kind and let me go."

Director Wang was unmoved and said, "Don't keep making trouble. Stealing is stealing, and you must be responsible for your actions. Pay the fine quickly, or we will send you to the police station."

When Jia Zhang heard that she was going to be sent to the police station, she panicked even more, but she was still unwilling to be fined, and continued to cry and said: "Leader, my family is very poor, how can I have 20 yuan? Please have pity on me and don't fine me."

Director Wang snorted coldly and said, "Don't act pitiful here. Why didn't you think about the consequences when you stole food? You must pay the fine today. There is no room for negotiation."

Seeing Director Wang's firm attitude, Jia Zhang knew she couldn't escape this time, so she sat down on the ground and started to throw a tantrum: "Oh my, I can't live like this anymore. You bully an old woman like me, I won't live any longer."

Director Wang looked at Jia Zhang's shameless appearance, shook his head helplessly, and said, "It's no use for you to make such a fuss. Hurry up and pay the fine, or you will be in trouble."

Jia Zhang sat on the ground, still crying and making a scene. Her cry was so loud that it shook the sky, as if she had suffered a great injustice. "Oh my, how can I live like this? I didn't steal any food, why are you fining me?" Jia Zhang cried and slapped the ground with her hands, looking like a child throwing a tantrum.

Director Wang of the Street Office looked at Jia Zhang's rogue appearance and became increasingly angry. He frowned and his face was terribly gloomy. "That's enough! Stop making trouble!" Director Wang shouted.

However, Jia Zhang didn't listen at all and continued to cry. Director Wang could no longer bear it, and he gritted his teeth and said, "If you do this again, I will call the police station to come! Let's see if you dare to make trouble again!"

When Jia Zhang heard that the police were going to be called, she was immediately frightened. She knew that if the police came, the situation would be serious. Her crying stopped abruptly, and a look of fear appeared on her face.

"Don't, don't call the police station. I...I agree to pay the fine." Jia Zhang said quickly, her voice trembling. She got up from the ground trembling, not daring to cry or make a scene anymore.

Director Wang looked at Jia Zhang and said seriously, "It would have been better if you had done this earlier. Go and pay the fine quickly, and don't do such sneaky things again." Jia Zhang lowered her head, not daring to look Director Wang in the eye, and just nodded gently.

...

Jia Zhang returned home dejectedly, and as soon as she entered the door, she saw Qin Huairu waiting for her food with great anticipation. When Qin Huairu saw that Jia Zhang had nothing in her hands, the expectation on her face instantly turned into doubt.

"Mom, where is the food?" Qin Huairu asked anxiously.

When Jia Zhang heard this, she was immediately overwhelmed with grief and burst into tears. "Huai Ru, I didn't get the food, but I was fined 20 yuan!" Jia Zhang cried and told her story.

Qin Huairu was furious when she heard this. She widened her eyes and complained angrily, "Mom, how could you do this? Didn't we agree to go get food? Now, not only did we not get the food, we were also fined. How can our family survive?"

Qin Huairu became more and more angry as she spoke, and her voice became louder. "Can't you be more careful? Now our family is already in financial difficulty, and now we have to pay another fine. What do you want us to do?"

Jia Zhang was even more saddened by Qin Huairu's complaints. She sobbed and said, "I didn't want to do that either. Who knew I would be discovered? I did this for the sake of this family."

Qin Huairu sighed helplessly and said, "I can't steal for the sake of this family. Now things have become worse. We have to think of a way to pay the fine quickly, otherwise we don't know what troubles will come."

When Jia Zhang thought about being arrested by the police, she was terrified. She said quickly, "Huairu, let's pay the fine quickly. I don't want to be arrested by the police." After saying that, she looked at Qin Huairu eagerly, hoping that she could pay the money.

However, Qin Huairu shook her head helplessly and said, "Mom, I don't have any money either. You know our family's situation, where can I get 20 yuan to pay the fine?"

When Jia Zhang heard that Qin Huairu had no money, she became anxious. "You are my daughter-in-law, you have to find a way. You can't just watch me being sent to jail, right?" Jia Zhang's tone was filled with accusation.

Qin Huairu said with a worried look on her face: "Mom, I really can't help it. Where can I get so much money?"

Jia Zhang was not willing to give in. She felt that Qin Huairu just didn't want to care about her. "You are such a heartless person. I have always been very kind to you. Now that I am in trouble, you don't try to find a solution. Are you just hoping that I will be sent to jail?" Jia Zhang became more and more angry and started to scold Qin Huairu.

"You unfilial daughter-in-law, I really love you in vain. Are you so cruel to watch me being arrested? If you don't give me the money, I will never forgive you." Jia Zhang's scolding became louder and louder, as if all the faults were on Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu wiped the tears from her eyes and said with a hint of anger in her tone: "Mom, you were sent to the street office because Liu Haizhong showed you the way. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have been caught. The fine should be paid by Liu Haizhong."

When Jia Zhang heard this, her eyes lit up immediately. She seemed to see a glimmer of hope and said excitedly, "Yes, why didn't I think of it? It's that Liu Haizhong. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been caught. Let's go and ask him for money."

Jia Zhang said as she stood up and prepared to look for Liu Haizhong. A fierce expression appeared on her face, as if she had already determined that Liu Haizhong must pay for her mistakes.

At this time, Liu Haizhong was drinking at home and told the second aunt about Jia Zhang being taken to the street office. The second aunt thought that Liu Haizhong had gone too far. They were all neighbors in the same compound and should not betray Jia Zhang. However, Liu Haizhong said that he just wanted to see the old hag Jia Zhang arrested.

At this time, Liu Haizhong was sitting at home leisurely, drinking wine happily. With a hint of pride on his face, he told the second aunt vividly about how Jia Zhang was taken to the street office.

"Hey, you didn't see how Jia Zhang looked at that time. She was being escorted by Jia Donglai. She was in such an embarrassed state." Liu Haizhong said as he took a sip of wine.

Second Aunt frowned and looked at Liu Haizhong, thinking that he had gone too far. "We are all neighbors in the same compound, you shouldn't betray Jia Zhang. How can neighbors get along with each other in the future?" Second Aunt's tone was full of blame.

Liu Haizhong disagreed. He put down his wine glass and raised his voice, saying, "Humph, Jia Zhang is just an old hag. She has done a lot of bad things. I am trying to get rid of this evil for the people. I just want to see her arrested and let her have a taste of punishment."

Liu Haizhong became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had done something great. "She stole food, which is illegal. I'm just upholding justice, what's wrong with that?"

The second aunt shook her head helplessly and said, "Even if she is wrong, you can persuade her privately. There is no need to do it so drastically."

Liu Haizhong stiffened his neck and said, "I won't persuade her. People like her need to suffer a little so that they will learn their lesson." After saying that, he picked up the wine glass again and took a sip of wine, still with that smug expression on his face.

At this moment, Jia Zhang's sharp scolding suddenly came from outside. "Liu Haizhong, you wicked thing, come out here!" The voice seemed to blow the roof off the house.

Liu Haizhong was still immersed in his pride, but when he heard the scolding, he was shocked. The wine glass in his hand almost fell to the ground, and the pride on his face disappeared without a trace, replaced by panic.

"Why... why is this old hag here?" Liu Haizhong muttered to himself. He put down his wine glass in a panic, stood up in a hurry, and walked out in a hurry.

Second Auntie looked at Liu Haizhong's panic and sighed helplessly. She knew that this was going to be a scene.

Jia Zhang was still yelling and cursing outside, her voice getting louder and louder, full of anger and resentment. "Liu Haizhong, you have no conscience. If you don't give me an explanation today, I will never let you go."

Liu Haizhong listened to Jia Zhang's scolding, and the anger in his heart was also ignited. He gritted his teeth, rolled up his sleeves, and decided to teach Jia Zhang a lesson. "This old hag dares to come to my house. I will teach her a lesson."

When the second aunt saw Liu Haizhong's appearance, she immediately became worried. She knew that if she let Liu Haizhong go out, the two would definitely fight. She quickly stepped forward to stop Liu Haizhong and said, "Don't be impulsive. If a fight breaks out, it will be terrible."

Liu Haizhong was not willing to listen. He struggled to get rid of Second Aunt's hand and said, "Today I will let her know how powerful I am."

The second aunt held Liu Haizhong tightly and said anxiously, "No, we can't fight. We are all neighbors, so we should talk it out."

Seeing that Liu Haizhong was still not giving in, the second aunt had no choice but to leave the house. She came to the yard, looked at Jia Zhang who was still cursing, and said, "Jia Zhang, stop cursing. If you have anything to say, talk to her nicely."

When Jia Zhang saw the second aunt come out, she was still as aggressive as ever. She pointed at the second aunt and said, "Let Liu Haizhong come out. If he doesn't give me an explanation today, I will keep scolding him."

The second aunt frowned and said, "Don't get excited. What happened?" Jia Zhang told her what happened and said, "It was Liu Haizhong who caused me to be fined. He must pay the money."

After hearing this, the second aunt secretly groaned in her heart. She knew that Liu Haizhong would definitely not agree to pay the money, so what should she do?

When Jia Zhang saw that Second Aunt was still not calling Liu Haizhong out, her anger burned even more fiercely. Her face flushed red, and her eyes seemed to be spewing fire.

"You old thing, are you in cahoots with Liu Haizhong? Call him out. If he doesn't solve the problem today, I will never forgive you." As Jia Zhang said this, she pointed at the second aunt's nose and cursed.

Her fingers almost poked the second aunt's face, spit flying everywhere. "No one in your family is a good person. Liu Haizhong is a villain who always stabs people in the back. You are not a good person either, and you are protecting him."

The more Jia Zhang scolded, the more ruthless it became, as if she wanted to vent all her anger on Second Aunt. Second Aunt's face turned red from Jia Zhang's scolding, and she felt wronged and helpless.

"Jia Zhang, don't go too far. You can't blame our Lao Liu for this. You stole the food first, and who can you blame when you were caught?" Second Auntie couldn't help but retort. (End of this chapter)