The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

Upon hearing this, Li Kaixin's face instantly darkened. The things he had given away back then had truly been fed to an ungrateful wretch.

Director Wang roughly understood that Li Kaixin usually brought back a lot of things every time he went out, which made people from other departments envious and caused trouble.

She couldn't help but feel a little worried, but she still stepped forward and asked with a stern face:

"Comrade Li Kaixin, please explain what Comrade Zhu's report is about."

In fact, in this situation, if the people don't complain and the officials don't investigate, it's not a big problem.

But now that things have escalated to the point where even the police have been called in, she can't openly show favoritism.

"Okay, Director Wang."

Seeing that it was Director Wang who asked the question, Li Kaixin responded first, and then began to explain: "Every time I bring something back, I do share some with the neighbors, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, Aunt Zhu excitedly interrupted him: "Everyone heard that, right? He admitted it himself!"

Then, turning to the police officers, he shouted, "Police officers, quickly arrest this speculator!"

"Aunt Zhu, could you let me finish what I have to say?" Li Kaixin was speechless.

He wasn't even his enemy, yet he was so eager to send himself to jail.

Director Wang, who was standing to the side, also got angry and reprimanded him sternly:

"Comrade Zhu! Can't you let him finish his sentence? If you continue to slander your comrade like this, he can sue you!"

She was already quite annoyed by these kinds of baseless accusations, let alone the fact that the person being accused was her own nephew.

When Aunt Zhu saw that Director Wang was really angry, she immediately shrank back and shut her mouth.

Director Wang then turned back, his tone softening somewhat: "Comrade Li Kaixin, please continue."

Li Kaixin nodded, looked around at the neighbors, and then explained:

"I shared some with my neighbors, but that was all arranged beforehand, and I was just helping them carry it."

"I didn't earn a single penny; it was purely to help my neighbors."

She paused, then said with a hint of grievance, "Director Wang, if you don't believe me, you can ask the uncles and aunties in our compound."

Director Wang's lips twitched almost imperceptibly as he looked at Li Kaixin's pitiful expression that had suddenly appeared.

"Yes! Director Wang, the things Kaixin brings back are always things we asked him to bring beforehand!" Aunt Zhao from the front yard was the first to speak up in support.

Other neighbors in the courtyard followed suit, echoing his sentiments:

"Yes! We asked Kaixin to bring them for us!"

"Exactly, that child meant well!"

Seeing that everyone was siding with Li Kaixin, Aunt Zhu immediately became anxious. Ignoring whether Director Wang was angry or not, she raised her voice and said:

"I don't believe he's that kind! If he's making money off you, that's just speculation!"

"Don't let your petty suspicions lead you to doubt others! Take the dried seafood you brought us this time, for example. It only cost a little over two cents a pound. How much profit could he possibly make if he was happy? We're even worried he'd have to pay for it himself on the way!"

Uncle Wang, the person in charge, immediately stood up to refute this, then turned to Director Wang and the police officers:

"Director Wang, officers of the Public Security Bureau, please be the judge. What kind of speculation and profiteering is this?"

Some of the neighbors from the outer courtyard who were watching gasped in shock; the price was truly astonishing.

They had seen the dried fish counters in department stores before; not only did they require coupons, but the price was also seven or eight cents!

Immediately, envious glances were cast upon the neighbors of No. 93 Courtyard.

Director Wang and several police officers nodded in unison.

At this price, Li Kaixin would be lucky to break even; there's really no way he'd make a profit.

Although the line between speculation and profiteering is somewhat blurred at present, helping others without making money, or even losing money, certainly cannot be included in this category.

At this moment, Director Wang also looked at Li Kaixin with a gratified expression.

She had just been secretly thinking of ways to deal with the police should Li Kaixin be investigated for speculation and profiteering.

Unexpectedly, the child didn't earn a single penny from the neighbor.

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that her judgment back then was indeed correct.

Seeing that her neighbors had said enough, Li Kaixin, still looking somewhat aggrieved, said:

"Aunt Zhu, I don't know why you have such a big problem with me and insist on slandering me."

"However, I won't bother the police officers, and I don't want to hold it against you. This matter... is best left alone."

Whether they were neighbors from the outer courtyard or several police officers, the onlookers felt a pang of pity seeing Li Kaixin's willing concession despite being wronged.

What a fine comrade he was, to be wronged like this for no reason.

"You surnamed Zhu, have you no shame?"

Aunt Lu, who was in the crowd, couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up with a look of disdain:

"When Kaixin's family was building their house, didn't they give you beef jerky and walnuts? How can you turn around and do something so ungrateful!"

She wanted to speak up from the beginning, but seeing that the police and Director Wang were present, she didn't dare to utter a sound.

The onlookers were somewhat skeptical and began to whisper among themselves.

Feeling uncomfortable under the strange looks from everyone, Aunt Zhu blurted out in a moment of impulsiveness, "Just one or two ounces of beef jerky and a few walnuts? Who's going to eat that?"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the courtyard.

Just now everyone was wondering if what Aunt Lu said was true, but now it's confirmed.

The crowd looked at Aunt Zhu with even more disgust, and unconsciously moved to the side, keeping their distance from her.

Li Kaixin never expected that Aunt Zhu would give him such a wonderful help, and he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Finally, unable to bear the disdainful looks from those around her, Aunt Zhu used her last trump card, pointing at Li Kaixin and shrilly:

"What about the things he brought back? They might have been bought at the pigeon market or the black market!"

"And his bicycle, the origin of which is also unclear."

"Aunt Zhu, you can't say things like that. The things I brought back were all obtained by exchanging them with the local villagers for goods from here."

"As for the bicycle, it was a reward from the transport station for my work."

Li Kaixin looked calm and composed, then pulled out the brand-new bicycle ticket from his pocket, his tone sincere:

"Look, this is another ticket that the station just awarded. If you don't believe me, you can go to our station and ask the leaders."

As for the origin of the items, this was the explanation he had just come up with in a flash of inspiration; anyway, they were scattered all over the country, so there was no way to investigate in detail.

Li Mingde, the father behind him, also stepped forward half a step, his voice heavy:

"My son has received awards for bravery and being recognized as an outstanding worker. I don't understand why you insist on slandering him like this?"

Now, the onlookers felt more than just disgust towards Aunt Zhu; they even felt a bit angry.

This is not only slandering a model comrade who has received an award, but also cutting off everyone's livelihood.

With the current supply limited, which of these neighbors hasn't secretly gone to the pigeon market to buy grain and other food items?