Life in siheyuan era

Sure enough, the pitiful Xu Lao Er gained Zhou Zhiyuan's sympathy. He really had it rough. His parents passed away early, and he had to raise his younger brother, even fattening him up. Xu Lao Er was truly remarkable.

Zhou Zhiyuan sympathized with him, saying gently, "You've really had it tough for your brother's sake. You wouldn't even eat a piece of meat yourself, always saving it for him."

"Yes, ah," Xu Lao Er sighed, as if recalling those difficult days.

And Zhou Zhiyuan also sighed, "For your brother's sake, how much effort did you have to put in to fatten him up like that!"

"Isn't that right? These years have been really hard on me!" Xu Lao Er completely agreed with his statement.

Zhou Zhiyuan added, "For your brother's sake, you're so old and still not married. It's really tough on you."

"Yes, ah." Xu Lao Er felt he had finally found a kindred spirit. For Xu Lao San, he was already over thirty and still not married. But Xu Lao San didn't understand him, even thinking it was because he was ugly, short, thin, and unattractive, and that no girl would ever like him.

Zhou Zhiyuan's words reminded him of this matter, and he couldn't help but feel sad. Why didn't this younger brother know who his older brother was doing it for?

At this moment, Xu Lao Er felt a great sense of camaraderie, feeling that Zhou Zhiyuan understood him.

But the others listened to the two men talking in surprise. In such a short time, they had actually found so much in common.

Han Xue and Wang Dagang stood silently on the side watching, while Wan Chunfang became impatient. She had dealt with Xu Lao Er before and knew his tricks: first, pretend to be pitiful, then pretend to be confused. If that didn't work, Xu Lao San would come up and act unreasonably.

Xu Lao Er repeatedly used this routine. Wan Chunfang had experienced it several times, and now seeing Zhou Zhiyuan expressing sympathy, she couldn't help but feel anxious. She took a step forward but saw Han Xue gently waving her hand.

Wan Chunfang hesitated and stepped back, turning to look at Wang Dagang. Seeing him wink, she understood that it was best to observe at this time. Han Xue and Zhou Zhiyuan had only arrived yesterday, and she and Wang Dagang needed to observe them.

Zhou Zhiyuan was now facing Xu Lao Er alone, and they would see how he handled it, while also observing Han Xue's courage.

Wan Chunfang made up her mind and listened quietly as Zhou Zhiyuan said, "For your brother's sake, you stole from the Yanwu Store."

"Yes, ah," Xu Lao Er sighed again, then immediately shouted, "No!"

He had been led into a habitual way of thinking by Zhou Zhiyuan. "For your brother's sake"—Zhou Zhiyuan had said this phrase three times, each time hitting his heart. The fourth sentence also started with "For your brother's sake," and Xu Lao Er, following this line of thought, blurted out "Yes, ah."

The timing was excellent. Last night, Xu Lao Er had taken a whip kick, and although he wasn't as weak as he pretended, his mind wasn't completely clear either. Zhou Zhiyuan seized this opportunity to trap him. Regardless of his subsequent denial, he immediately turned to Han Xue and said, "Section Chief Han, should we contact the police station?"

Han Xue immediately responded, "Wan-jie, call Chief Zhang at the police station and say that Han Xue is asking him to send police to arrest Xu Lao Er."

But Wan Chunfang was still in shock, "Zhou Zhiyuan actually put a criminal label on Xu Lao Er?"

She didn't understand Zhou Zhiyuan's intention. Suddenly hearing Han Xue speak, she replied without thinking, "I'll go make the call."

Wan Chunfang turned to leave, but Zhou Zhiyuan's shout came from behind: "Wan-jie, no need to send police! I can arrest them myself. If they dare to resist, knock them down on the spot!"

Immediately after, Xu Lao Er's shout came: "Injustice! Comrade Wan, please wait! Leader, I'm innocent!"

At this moment, Wan Chunfang suddenly woke up and turned back to Han Xue, saying in a low voice, "Section Chief Han, let's hear what he has to say."

Han Xue nodded slightly. As the person in charge, she should step forward to solve problems when her subordinates' work is hindered. When her subordinates' work is going smoothly, she should adopt a non-interference attitude. She grasped this point very well.

Wan Chunfang was satisfied with her attitude and also very satisfied with her own reaction. To label the other party as a criminal with just one sentence was untenable. If the police station didn't send police because of this, they would be embarrassed.

Han Xue must have thought of this, and her deliberate mention of "Han Xue is asking Chief Zhang" might have been to avoid this situation.

At this moment, Wan Chunfang understood many things and couldn't help but take another look at Han Xue, knowing that she had a close relationship with Chief Zhang.

In this short time, Wan Chunfang understood many things. Then she heard Zhou Zhiyuan say, "Wan-jie, don't pity him. Criminals who are caught will always put on a pitiful act."

At this time, the reasonable youth spoke, "Comrade Zhou, Xu Er-ge just misspoke. He absolutely did not steal from the Yanwu Store. You can't just define him based on a slip of the tongue, can you?"

The reasonable youth had reasoned with him before and still thought he was very reasonable, so he prepared to continue reasoning with him.

And Zhou Zhiyuan, of course, wanted to reason. He pointed to the illegally built house and said, "There's evidence. Why did Xu Lao Er build a house? It's to store stolen goods."

Zhou Zhiyuan's target was directly aimed at the illegally built house, revealing his purpose.

But linking the illegally built house with the theft from the Yanwu Store made Xu Lao Er hurriedly explain, "I built the house because I want to get married. Lao San needs a place to live, right?"

"Get married?" Zhou Zhiyuan asked doubtfully, then looked at Xu Lao Er and said decisively, "Impossible. Looking like you do, and being so unproductive, what girl would like you?"

Zhou Zhiyuan denied Xu Lao Er's words, then suddenly said, "No, that's not right," and then said firmly, "There's one possibility: trafficking in women."

The labels he put on Xu Lao Er were getting bigger and bigger. Xu Lao Er screamed, "Absolutely not! I didn't traffic in women!"

This crime could lead to a firing squad. The terrified Xu Lao Er defended himself loudly.

But Zhou Zhiyuan still suspected, "Your denial is useless. Where's the bride? We need to verify."

He pressed closer and closer, but Xu Lao Er really didn't dare to act shamelessly. Even Xu Lao San, that tough guy, didn't dare to speak, fearing that he would find an opportunity to attack.

Zhou Zhiyuan had grasped one point: government workers assaulting the masses would be a big deal, but attacking and arresting criminals was within their duties, so he desperately tried to put a criminal label on Xu Lao Er.

And Xu Lao Er desperately explained, because he absolutely didn't want him to attack.

At this time, Xu Lao Er was very passive, being caught by the affirmative word "Yes, ah" and being labeled with the high hat of a criminal.

Xu Lao Er was the leader of the local thugs. Wearing this hat, he often became the focus of police attention. Before the Spring Festival, when the Yanwu Store was stolen, the public security organs first investigated these thugs.

At that time, Xu Lao Er also went to the police station and made a thorough explanation.

He didn't steal from the Yanwu Store, but Zhou Zhiyuan said he did and even wanted to add more crimes, announcing loudly, "Xu Lao Er has three crimes: first, occupying public property; second, stealing from the Yanwu Store; and third, trafficking in women, possibly even children. Adding these three crimes together, he deserves to be punished. He can be arrested and brought to justice."

His attitude was firm, he wanted to convict Xu Lao Er. Han Xue was silent, Wan Chunfang opened her mouth and closed it again, feeling that it was inappropriate for her to speak. She gently nudged Wang Dagang's arm.

So Wang Dagang spoke, "Demolishing illegal buildings and recovering the wing rooms are our duties. Whether or not there's a crime is for the police station to decide."

Wang Dagang's words gave Xu Lao Er a lifeline, and he hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes! I will definitely cooperate with the police station's investigation."

He expressed his active cooperation, but Zhou Zhiyuan ignored him and said to Wang Dagang, "Brother Wang, my view is different from yours. Look..."

He pointed to the wing rooms and said, "This row of wing rooms is public property and is being occupied by Xu Lao Er, which is embezzlement of public property; look again..."

He pointed to the illegally built house again and said, "This illegally built house occupies state land, which is public property, so..."

Zhou Zhiyuan withdrew his arm and said solemnly, "Xu Lao Er is guilty of embezzling public property and should be handed over to the public security organs to be held criminally responsible."

This crime was still big enough. Embezzling public property could lead to execution.

Zhou Zhiyuan was determined to "shoot" Xu Lao Er. Xu Lao Er understood that this was called taking revenge for personal grievances.

But he didn't dare to stand up to Zhou Zhiyuan, and turned to Wan Chunfang, saying in a low voice, "Comrade Wan, you know my situation, please say something."

Then he looked at Han Xue and asked respectfully, "You look like a leader, may I ask..."

Wan Chunfang said, "This is our Section Chief Han."

Xu Lao Er immediately showed a smiling face and said in a low voice, "Hello, Section Chief Han. I'm uneducated and didn't know I made a mistake. I will correct it immediately. Please give me two days to correct my mistake, okay?"

He spoke sincerely. Han Xue looked at him, then at Zhou Zhiyuan.

Zhou Zhiyuan immediately said, "Section Chief Han, other evidence needs to be investigated, but this illegally built house and that row of wing rooms are real evidence of crime. We can't give him a chance to correct it. We should take them down and send them to the police station."

Zhou Zhiyuan was impatiently wanting to take action. Xu Lao Er and his brother and the four youths trembled together.

And Han Xue was about to speak at this time, "Whether to send them to the police station or give them a chance to correct their mistakes, we will hold a small meeting on the spot to unify our opinions."

She knew how to be a leader, not engaging in one-man rule. She gathered Zhou Zhiyuan, Wan Chunfang, and Wang Dagang and walked to the side of the wing rooms, whispering.

Zhou Zhiyuan said in a low voice, "Xu Lao Er definitely wants to delay time. If Li Huaiyi is found to speak for him, we will be very passive."

This statement was supported by Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang, but Han Xue pondered for a moment and said, "They look like this now. If we let him demolish it at this time, it will seem that we are unreasonable and may cause resentment from the masses."

What Han Xue said also made sense. The men and women, old and young, in the yard were watching, and the impression score of the masses was very important.

So Zhou Zhiyuan decisively said, "First, let him vacate the wing rooms and hand them over to the residents of the courtyard for temporary use, and then give Xu Lao Er half a day. He must demolish it this afternoon."

This method had a bit of the flavor of overthrowing the local tyrants and distributing the land. Returning the wing rooms to the residents of the courtyard would definitely win their praise, and then implementing strong demolition measures against Xu Lao Er would not cause resentment from the residents.

He had his own ideas. Using the language pulse-opening artifact was very tiring. Now that he had taken the initiative, he had to press forward victoriously. This psychological warfare was suitable for a quick resolution.