Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

The two were completely unprepared for He Yuzhu's stunt and were splashed with water, their faces covered in water and some mud from their feet.

"Ah—" Jia Zhangshi screamed, "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"

Yi Zhonghai was also stunned. He wiped his face, both shocked and angry, and pointed at He Yuzhu, demanding, "What...what are you doing?!"

He Yuzhu threw the foot basin on the ground and cursed, "What are you doing, calling back my soul! Yi Zhonghai, you old bastard, try banging on my door again!"

"Why...why did you report Dongxu to the police?" Yi Zhonghai wiped his face and questioned.

He Yuzhu looked at him as if he were an idiot, uttering two words: "Idiot."

After saying that, he slammed the door shut and bolted it shut.

As he closed the door, he shouted a warning from inside, "Go and find out for yourselves! If I hear another curse at me, I'll slap your mouths shut!"

Jia Zhangshi wanted to curse again, but remembering He Yuzhu's fierce eyes, she swallowed her words back.

At this moment, Aunt Qian, who had been hiding in the back watching the commotion, slowly walked out.

Her face held a hint of schadenfreude, yet she deliberately feigned a well-intentioned explanation:

"Master Yi, Aunt Jia, you've misunderstood Zhu Zi! It really wasn't Zhu Zi who reported this today."

Yi Zhonghai turned to look at Aunt Qian, his face grim: "Who reported that?"

Aunt Qian sighed and began to recount what had happened that evening.

"When we got to the police station, that little rascal confessed that Jia Dongxu had hired him to spread rumors about the pillar and owed him hush money. He said he was going to Jia Dongxu today to ask for the money back."

"As soon as the police officers heard that Jia Dongxu had hired someone to spread rumors, they came to take him back for questioning."

"By the way, Zhu Zi also told the police that he had already punished Jia Dongxu."

She paused, then added, "Speaking of which, if it weren't for Zhuzi, I don't know what would have happened to my Daniu! Zhuzi was just being a hero; you can't wrong an innocent person!"

After Aunt Qian finished speaking, the neighbors who had been watching the commotion started discussing it:

"So that's how it is..."

"Jia Dongxu is really something, hiring people to spread rumors himself..."

"That gang of scoundrels is no good. How did Jia Dongxu end up with them?"

"Zhu Zi did a good deed this time, but he was still wronged. It's really..."

"Exactly, Master Yi and Aunt Jia didn't even ask what happened before they started swearing..."

Listening to the crowd's discussion, Yi Zhonghai's face turned red and then white.

He had seen Aunt Qian watching the show from behind long ago, but this woman only came out to explain after He Yuzhu had splashed her with foot bath water. It was clearly intentional!

But given the current situation, he couldn't afford to lose his temper. He could only suppress his anger and say to Jia Zhangshi, "Sister-in-law Jia, go back and change your clothes first. I'll go to the police station to check on the situation."

Jia Zhangshi returned home in tears.

Yi Zhonghai glared at Aunt Qian and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

Aunt Qian pursed her lips and muttered to herself as he walked away, "What are you glaring at? Your own apprentice isn't learning anything, and you're blaming others?"

After saying that, she turned around and went back to her own house.

-------------

When Yi Zhonghai rushed to the Nanluoguxiang Police Station, it was already past nine o'clock at night.

The police station was brightly lit, and Officer Liu was taking a statement from Jia Dongxu.

"Jia Dongxu, Xiao Laizi said you gave him five thousand yuan to spread rumors about He Yuzhu near the He family's residence. Is that true?" Officer Liu asked seriously.

Jia Dongxu lowered his head, his hands nervously twisting together, and stammered, "I...I did give him money, but...but I didn't ask him to spread rumors...I just asked him to...to say a few bad things about He Yuzhu..."

"What's the difference between speaking ill of someone and spreading rumors?" Officer Liu slammed his hand on the table. "Tell me the whole story in detail!"

Jia Dongxu was startled and stammered out what had happened.

From how he disliked He Yuzhu, to how he found Xiao Laizi, gave him five thousand yuan, and asked him to spread bad things about He Yuzhu near the He family's home...

After saying that, he quickly added, "Officer, I...I know I was wrong, and I've been punished. He Yuzhu made me stand there with a sign on all morning that day..."

"That was the result of your private settlement; it doesn't mean the matter is over," Officer Liu said coldly. "Employing someone to spread rumors and damage their reputation is illegal!"

"Also, Xiao Lai Zi said you promised to give him another five thousand yuan as hush money, is that true?"

Jia Dongxu quickly shook his head and said, "No, I really didn't agree! I only gave him five thousand, and later I realized that what I did was wrong, so I told him not to go anymore. I really didn't agree to give him any more money..."

"Then why did he say that you promised to give him another five thousand?" Officer Liu pressed.

"I...I don't know either..." Jia Dongxu was almost in tears. "Maybe...maybe he just wanted the money..."

After Officer Liu finished taking notes, he had Jia Dongxu sign the document and then said, "You are suspected of hiring someone to spread rumors. Although the circumstances are not particularly serious, you must be dealt with according to the law."

"According to the 'Regulations on Administrative Penalties for Public Security,' you are hereby detained for three days and given a reprimand."

"What? Three days of detention?" Jia Dongxu's face turned pale instantly. "Officer, I...I know I was wrong, can you not detain me? I...I still have to go to work..."

"No," Officer Liu said firmly. "This must be handled according to the law so you'll remember this lesson."

Just then, Yi Zhonghai, who was outside the door, heard this and quickly pushed the door open and came in: "Comrade, comrade, could you please make an exception? Dongxu is a young man who doesn't know any better, but he has already realized his mistake..."

Officer Liu looked at Yi Zhonghai and recognized him as the man who had stopped him in the yard earlier. His tone became even colder: "Sir, everyone is equal before the law. You can't get away with punishment just by admitting your mistake."

"Jia Dongxu's actions are illegal and he must be punished. If you continue to interfere with our investigation, I will have to ask you to leave."

Yi Zhonghai was speechless and could only watch helplessly as Jia Dongxu was taken into the detention room.

"Master... Master, save me..." As Jia Dongxu was being taken away, he looked back at Yi Zhonghai, tears welling up in his eyes.

Yi Zhonghai was both angry and anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

He walked out of the police station and stood in the cold wind, feeling icy cold all over.

Jia Dongxu was detained for three days. If this gets out, the Qin family will be finished if they cancel the engagement.

And at the steel rolling mill... if I want to take three days off, I need to come up with a legitimate reason...

Yi Zhonghai's head ached more and more as he thought about it, and his hatred for He Yuzhu deepened.

If it weren't for this idiot Zhu meddling in other people's business, there wouldn't be so much trouble!

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu was fast asleep, and no one knew what he was dreaming about, but he looked like a lecherous man.