Siheyuan: Start with a Truck Driver

Chapter 1137 Sha Zhu is blackmailed

Because of Yan Jiecheng's incident, the third uncle had long been dissatisfied with Sha Zhu. Now that he had the chance, he naturally took the opportunity to deal with Sha Zhu.

Liu Haizhong narrowed his eyes, put on a smile, walked slowly to the middle of the crowd, cleared his throat and said, "Third Uncle, although what you said makes sense, we can't just rely on speculation. If you want to accuse someone, you must have solid evidence. You can't accuse someone based on a little bit of trouble. Isn't this just framing someone out of thin air? You are an educated person, you should understand this principle better, right?"

The third uncle opened his mouth and wanted to refute, but found that Liu Haizhong's words were impeccable, and he was speechless for a moment. He pushed his glasses, his eyes flickered, and he snorted and said nothing.

Seeing this, Liu Haizhong raised his lips slightly, with a hint of pride in his eyes. He then turned his gaze to Xu Damao, his eyes instantly becoming sharp: "Xu Damao, I think you are the most suspicious. You and Sha Zhu have always had a bad relationship, and everyone in the hospital knows it. Now you insist that Sha Zhu stole things and beat you, but you have no evidence. Who knows if you deliberately framed him? Maybe you have some ulterior motives and want to take the opportunity to drag Sha Zhu into the water."

Xu Damao's eyes widened, his face flushed with anger: "Liu Haizhong, stop spitting blood on me! I was beaten up, and I suspected they had problems, how can this be considered a frame-up? Don't try to throw dirty water on me."

Liu Haizhong sneered, "Humph, Xu Damao, you're still trying to quibble? Just tell me, what evidence do you have to prove that it was Sha Zhu who did it? Just your words? You're so eager to put the blame on Sha Zhu that people have to doubt your motives. Besides, you usually love to gossip. Aren't there enough unhappy things in our compound because of you?"

Xu Damao was speechless. He gritted his teeth and stared at Liu Haizhong viciously: "You...you are confusing me!"

Liu Haizhong spread his hands with an innocent look on his face: "I am confusing people? I am just speaking the truth. Everyone should think calmly and not be taken advantage of by some people with ulterior motives." As he spoke, he glanced at the residents around him.

After listening to Liu Haizhong's speech, the residents looked at each other in bewilderment. Many of them began to nod slightly, and the suspicion in their eyes gradually shifted away from Sha Zhu. The originally tense atmosphere seemed to have loosened a little, and everyone whispered to each other and discussed in a low voice.

At this time, Qin Huairu walked out of the house quickly. She first glanced at Xu Damao with a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes, and then stood next to Sha Zhu. "Don't listen to Xu Damao's nonsense. Everyone in our courtyard knows what kind of person Sha Zhu is. We all have a scale in our hearts to measure how he treats everyone. If he can steal things, then the sun will rise from the west."

Qin Huairu's voice was clear and loud, echoing in the yard.

"That's right, Shazhu often helps our family with work, he's not that kind of person."

"Yes, Xu Damao, you can't just wrongly accuse someone just because you have a conflict with Sha Zhu."

Xu Damao was so angry that his face turned red and white. He was angry and anxious as he saw the situation becoming increasingly unfavorable to him. He knew that it would be useless to continue to argue now. These residents had been influenced by Liu Haizhong and Qin Huairu's words and their trust in him had been shaken.

"Hmph, just wait and see, I will definitely find evidence!" Xu Damao said this viciously, then turned around and hurriedly left the yard. His back looked somewhat embarrassed and unwilling.

Xu Damao felt extremely regretful. He should have listened to Wang Weidong's advice and not taken action against Sha Zhu without any evidence. Now, not only did he fail to capture Sha Zhu, but he was also tricked by Xu.

He was so angry that he turned around and went back to his home, sat down on a chair, and recalled the thrilling scene just now, still with lingering fears.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Sha Zhu frowned, got up and opened the door, only to see Qin Huairu standing at the door. Her eyes flickered a little, and she seemed a little embarrassed.

"Qin Huairu, it's you. What's the matter?" asked Sha Zhu.

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Shazhu, I...I want to borrow some money from you."

Sha Zhu was stunned and looked at Qin Huairu: "Borrow money? What do you want to borrow money for? What happened to your family?"

Qin Huairu sighed, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: "Shazhu, you also know the situation of my family. It is not easy for me to raise several children by myself. Recently, the family expenses are too high. I really have no choice but to come to you."

Sha Zhu scratched his head, looking embarrassed: "Qin Huairu, it's not that I don't want to lend it to you, you also know my recent situation, I don't have much spare money.

Are you kidding? The last time I got the pork from Qin Huairu's house, Shazhu didn't even eat a single bite. How could he lend money to Qin Huairu now?

Qin Huairu's eyes flashed with disappointment, but she still said, "Shazhu, please help me. Even if you can only lend me a little, I really have nowhere to go. Please, for the sake of our long-term neighbors,

Sha Zhu frowned, and although he felt a little reluctant, he still shook his head and said firmly: "Qin Huairu, it's not that I don't want to help you, I'm really short of money recently. The money I got before didn't come from the wind, I have my own difficulties."

The light of hope in Qin Huairu's eyes dimmed instantly. Her lips trembled slightly. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know where to start. After a moment of silence, she could only nod helplessly: "Well... Well, Shazhu, I'm sorry to bother you." After saying that, she turned around and slowly left. Her lonely back looked particularly desolate under the dim light.

Qin Huairu returned home in despair. As soon as she entered the house, Jia Zhang came up to her expectantly: "How is it? Did you borrow the money?" Qin Huairu lowered her head, not daring to look into Jia Zhang's eyes, and said softly: "No... I didn't borrow it. Shazhu himself has no money."

When Jia Zhang heard this, she was immediately furious. She pointed at Qin Huairu's nose and cursed: "You useless thing! You can't even borrow a little money, what's the use of you? I'm in so much pain all over my body, and I was counting on you to lend me money to buy painkillers! But you come back empty-handed, do you want to kill me with pain?"

Qin Huairu's tears welled up in her eyes. She said aggrievedly, "Mom, I really can't do anything. If Shazhu doesn't lend me the money, what can I do? I want to buy medicine for you, too."

Jia Zhang refused to give in. She sat on a chair, beating her legs and cursing, "You only know how to make excuses! You and Sha Zhu seem to have a good relationship at ordinary times, but it's useless at the critical moment. Just watch me die in pain!" Qin Huairu bit her lip, trying hard to hold back her tears. She knew it was useless to argue with Jia Zhang.
Jia Zhang was cursing vigorously when her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had thought of an idea. She said to Qin Huairu mysteriously, "Humph, I think that idiot Zhu must have stolen things to get the money. Think about it, how could he have so much money to eat meat every day? If he didn't feel guilty, would he not lend you the money?"

Qin Huairu waved her hands when she heard this: "Mom, please don't talk nonsense. We can't say that without evidence. Although Sha Zhu looks weird, he is not the kind of person who would steal things."

Jia Zhang glared at Qin Huairu and said, "What do you know? In this situation, regardless of whether he stole the things or not, we will just say that he did. In order to prevent us from spreading the news, he will definitely have to give us money."

Qin Huairu frowned and looked embarrassed: "This won't do, Mom. We can't do this. This is framing a good person. Besides, Sha Zhu gave meat to our family last time. We can't repay kindness with hatred."

Jia Zhang snorted disdainfully: "What do you mean by repaying kindness with enmity? He is just trying to please you! Don't be fooled by his small favors. Now our family can barely make ends meet, and you still care whether he is wronged or not? If you don't do this, I will die of pain from my illness, and then you can just cry in front of the children."

Qin Huairu bit her lip, feeling very conflicted.

"Mom, we can't do this. We can't be so immoral." Qin Huairu grabbed Jia Zhang's arm tightly, trying to stop her.

However, Jia Zhang shook off Qin Huairu's hand, her face full of impatience: "Don't bother me, if you don't go, I will go! I can't die in pain like this, I need money to buy medicine." After saying that, she walked towards the door. Although her steps were a little staggering, they were full of determination.

Qin Huairu hurriedly chased after him and stood in front of Jia Zhang again: "Mom, you are going to ruin our family's reputation! How are we going to live in the compound in the future?"

Jia Zhang's eyes widened, full of anger and greed: "Reputation? Can reputation be eaten or used as medicine? I just want money now, I don't care about anything else." After saying that, she pushed Qin Huairu aside, opened the door and walked out.

Qin Huairu stumbled and almost fell. When she stood up, Jia Zhang had already walked a distance away. She was extremely anxious and chased after him while shouting "Mom, come back". But Jia Zhang was like a possessed person, ignoring Qin Huairu's shouts and walked straight towards Sha Zhu's house.

Qin Huairu didn't want to help Sha Zhu, but she felt that Jia Zhang was a little anxious. You know, Sha Zhu now has a way to make money and can help their family often in the future.

Jia Zhang, this stupid old woman, didn't understand this at all.

Jia Zhang walked with a staggering but hurried pace and came to the door of Sha Zhu's house in a menacing manner. She raised her dry hand and knocked hard on the door. The "bang bang bang" knocking sounded particularly harsh in the silent yard.

Sha Zhu was counting his money in the house. He couldn't help but frown when he heard the rapid and rough knock on the door. He muttered, "Who is this? Knocking so loudly, it's like he's trying to kill me!" Then he got up and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened and he saw that it was Jia Zhang, Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat and he thought to himself that something was wrong. He knew that Jia Zhang was not someone to be trifled with. She would not come to see him for no reason. Today she looked so aggressive, it must be something bad.

Sha Zhu forced a smile: "Hey, Aunt Jia, what are you doing..."

Jia Zhang didn't waste any words. She pushed Sha Zhu aside and walked straight into the house. She stared at Sha Zhu viciously like an eagle staring at its prey and said in a sarcastic tone, "Sha Zhu, you've become really rich recently. You must have made a lot of money, right?"

Sha Zhu was a little nervous, but he still pretended to be calm: "Aunt Jia, what do you mean? I just earned a little more hard-earned money."

Jia Zhang sneered, "Hard-earned money? Humph, I don't think it's that simple. If you don't hand over the money obediently, don't blame me for being rude."

When Sha Zhu heard this, he immediately got angry: "Aunt Jia, please don't slander me! I am Sha Zhu and I am upright. You have no basis for your claims, so please don't make trouble here."

Jia Zhang narrowed her eyes, revealing a smug and sinister smile on her face. She said slowly, "Silly Zhu, you're still asking me for evidence? Humph, I've lived in this compound for so many years, and I've never needed any evidence. I just need to shout about your affairs in the compound, and then go to the street office and tell the leaders about it. Who do you think they will believe? Just wait to be arrested and investigated!"

Sha Zhu stared at Jia Zhang with his eyes wide open in disbelief. He never expected that this old woman, who was usually cunning, would be so shameless and unscrupulous for money. His lips trembled slightly, and he wanted to refute, but was speechless for a moment: "You...you can't do this, I haven't done anything bad, you are slandering me!"

Jia Zhang sneered, stood up from the chair, and approached Sha Zhu step by step, with a frightening light in her eyes: "Slander? In this compound, what I say is evidence. You suddenly have money recently. If it is not stolen, where did it come from? Everyone is watching, can you explain it clearly?"

Sha Zhu's face turned pale, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He knew that in this special era, once someone accused him of something like this, even if he could prove his innocence in the end, it would bring him endless trouble. Moreover, if Jia Zhang really talked nonsense in the compound and then went to the street office, he would not be able to explain himself even if he had a mouth full of mouths. His body trembled slightly, and a fear he had never felt before surged in his heart: "Aunt Jia, let's talk it out, you can't do this!"

Seeing that Sha Zhu was scared, Jia Zhang was even more proud: "Humph, if you want me to keep silent, you have to give me money. I need to buy medicine for my illness. If you know what's good for you, take out the money quickly, otherwise you will be in trouble."

Sha Zhu frowned, his eyes full of helplessness and anxiety. He paced back and forth in the room, and after thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said to Jia Zhang: "Aunt Jia, I know you need money to buy medicine now. I have a dollar here. You can use it first." As he said that, he took out a crumpled one-yuan bill from his pocket and handed it to Jia Zhang.

Seeing this, Jia Zhang showed a trace of disdain on her face. She did not reach out to take the money, but raised her voice and said, "Silly Zhu, are you sending away a beggar? What can you do with one dollar? I need to buy good medicine to relieve my illness. One dollar can't even buy a bottle of painkillers. Don't think I don't know how much money you have. You've been eating meat and drinking wine recently, and you only took out one dollar. You are too stingy!"

When Sha Zhu heard this, his face turned red with anxiety: "Aunt Jia, I really don't have much money. This dollar is also what I saved with great difficulty. Please don't think it's too little. Use it for emergency purposes first."

Jia Zhang refused to give in. She sat down on a chair and started to rant, "No! One dollar is absolutely not enough. If you don't give me enough money, I will go out and shout so that everyone in the hospital will know that you are a thief and let the people from the street office come and arrest you."