Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

When Section Chief Ma received the notification, he was completely dumbfounded. He never dreamed that the whistleblower letter he had intended to use to bring down someone else would ultimately become the sentence that would cost him his life.

He really did lift a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

At the same time, the municipal government also officially issued a document to resume the promotion of the "Cheng Shuhai Model" and, in an official written form, reaffirmed the innocence and achievements of Cheng Shuhai and his team in the reform process.

A fierce storm targeting Cheng Shuhai dissipated in such a dramatic way.

When the news reached the factory, the workers erupted in enthusiastic cheers!

"That's great! I knew Consultant Cheng was innocent!"

"That guy surnamed Ma got what he deserved! He thought he could take away our livelihood? No way!"

"Now let's see who dares to gossip behind our backs!"

The workers' anger was simple and direct. They didn't care about grand principles; they only knew that Cheng Shuhai had saved their jobs, allowing them to support their families. Anyone who wanted to harm Cheng Shuhai was trying to harm them.

In the kitchen of Cheng's Restaurant, He Daqing was explaining the dishes to his apprentices, spoon in hand. Upon hearing the news, he simply smiled faintly.

"See? This is what they call 'those whose virtue doesn't match their position will surely suffer disaster.'" He said to Sha Zhu beside him, "That guy surnamed Ma only saw the power and benefits that position could bring. He didn't see how much real money and effort Consultant Cheng has given to the country. His petty thoughts are nothing compared to Consultant Cheng's grand vision."

Sha Zhu seemed to understand but not quite, but he only knew one thing.

"Master, you're right! That bastard deserves to be taught a lesson!" He slammed the spatula into the pan with a loud clang. "From now on, if anyone dares to speak ill of my brother again, I'll be the first to twist their head off and use it as a chamber pot!"

The entire incident did not shake Cheng Shuhai's foundation; on the contrary, it brought his prestige among the workers and the masses to a new peak.

He proved to everyone with irrefutable facts what it means to be "true gold that fears no fire".

It also made those who might have malicious intentions see a fact clearly:

Cheng Shuhai is no longer an ordinary businessman who can be easily brought down with a single anonymous letter.

His innocence, his achievements, and the hundreds of workers who depend on him for their livelihood have built the strongest wall around him.

In the evening, Cheng Shuhai's jeep slowly drove into the alley entrance of No. 95 Courtyard.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, he saw that the entrance to the courtyard was packed with a large number of people.

Yan Bugui, Liu Haizhong, Xu Fugui... almost all the old neighbors in the courtyard were waiting there.

Upon seeing his car, the crowd automatically parted to make way for him.

Cheng Shuhai got out of the car, somewhat surprised.

"What are you all doing?"

"Director Cheng, you're back!"

The first person to greet them was surprisingly Yi Zhonghai.

He walked up to Cheng Shuhai, his face showing an unprecedented, genuine sense of guilt.

"Director Cheng," he looked at Cheng Shuhai, his voice a little hoarse, "a few days ago, there were rumors going around about what you said... I, this old man, have also been foolish, and... have also been thinking along those lines."

"But now, the city's investigation results are out, and they've been published in the newspapers. I... I finally understand everything."

He bowed deeply to Cheng Shuhai.

"You are true gold, impervious to fire. You are a genuine person who does practical things for our compound and for our country. I, Lao Yi, was blind to your greatness before, and I am so sorry!"

"From now on, if anyone dares to say a single bad word about you behind your back, even without Sha Zhu lifting a finger, I'll be the first to object!"

Yi Zhonghai's words stunned everyone in the courtyard.

No one expected that the most stubborn old man in the courtyard, who had fought with Cheng Shuhai the longest, would say such a thing in front of everyone.

Cheng Shuhai looked at him, and a wave of emotion washed over him.

He knew that from this moment on, Yi Zhonghai was completely convinced by him.

"Master Yi, you're too kind." Cheng Shuhai helped him up. "Let's not talk about the past."

"Exactly!" Yan Bugui, who was standing to the side, also came over with a copy of the "49 City Daily" in hand, looking as enthusiastic as if he were Cheng Shuhai's number one supporter.

"Director Cheng, look, the newspaper has cleared your name!" He pointed to the article in the newspaper and read it aloud, "The innocent will remain innocent, the guilty will remain guilty—A few stories about Comrade Cheng Shuhai, an advanced model of industrial and commercial reform in our city!"

"This is so well written! Some people are just jealous and envious! They want to tarnish our compound's 'National Model Family' title! We can't fall for that! Anyone who believes the rumors is going against the entire No. 95 compound!"

Yan Bugui is now more afraid than anyone else that his courtyard will be associated with "bad elements." If this affects his professional title evaluation, he will suffer a huge loss.

Liu Haizhong, his belly protruding, chimed in, "That's right! Teacher Yan is right! We firmly support Director Cheng! Anyone who dares to disrupt our hard-won stability and unity is an enemy of the entire hospital!"

Looking at the faces before him, some sincere, some obsequious, some fearful, Cheng Shuhai felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He knew that everything he had done before had not been in vain.

He used his prestige, his methods, and his genuine efforts to finally obtain what he wanted most.

—The human heart.

This kind of heartfelt, collective support and protection is more solid and reliable than any power or money.

This is his strongest talisman, ensuring his invincibility in this ever-changing era.

"Thank you everyone, thank you." Cheng Shuhai bowed deeply to the crowd once again.

This bow was even more sincere than when he was elected director of the neighborhood committee.

Back at the Central Courtyard, Chen Xueru, Qin Huairu, and Sha Zhu all came out of the house to greet them.

Their faces still bore the marks of lingering anger.

"Bro! That bastard surnamed Ma got fired just like that, too easy on him!" Sha Zhu was still indignant. "If you ask me, he should be arrested and made to rot in jail!"

"Exactly! People like that are rotten to the core!" Chen Xueru was also furious. "Shuhai, you can't let this go this time!"