Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

The small notebook wrapped in red silk stopped in mid-air.

The pale morning sunlight shone on the gold-embossed official seal of the Ministry of National Defense, reflecting a cold halo.

Yi Zhonghai's outstretched hand seemed to be burned by the light, and he shuddered violently.

His knuckles were stiff, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged out like they were crawling with writhing green worms.

catch?

Even if Yi Zhonghai had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to touch that blood-stained red booklet!

If he accepts this, the accusation of "forcing donations of martyrs' pensions" will be firmly pinned on his head.

Director Wang's words, "Go to the Northwest for labor reform," were still echoing in his ears.

Cold sweat splattered down his forehead and down his collar, making his entire body tremble.

"Huai, Huaimin...you child, that's not what your old man meant."

Yi Zhonghai's throat was dry, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down with difficulty.

He abruptly withdrew his hand, gave a dry laugh, and his face contorted in a grimace that looked more like he was crying.

"The old man was just... just making a suggestion, it's all voluntary!"

He was eager to get rid of this hot potato, so he turned to look at Yan Bugui standing to the side.

"Old Yan! What are you standing there for?"

Yi Zhonghai snatched the tattered notebook from the table and shoved it into Yan Bugui's arms, speaking urgently.

"You're the accountant for our facility, so you'll be in charge of keeping the books for everyone!"

"We've kept a clear record of who donated how much; the Jia family will remember this kindness!"

Yan Bugui held the notebook, his beady green eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses darting around twice.

He is not stupid.

The situation is now clear: Zhang Huaimin, that little devil, has brought up the greater good of the nation.

Who would dare to walk into the line of fire?

Besides, it's only ten yuan!

That could buy so many kilograms of cornmeal! Enough for the Yan family to eat for more than half a month!

"Ahem... Old Yi, there's no problem with the bookkeeping."

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, took out half a pencil stub from his pocket, and licked it on the tip of his tongue.

He slowly opened the notebook, looked up at Yi Zhonghai, and looked troubled.

"But...you know my family's situation. If I turn them into those teenagers, they'll eat me out of house and home!"

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together, sighed, and forced out two bitter tears.

"We just paid the tuition a couple of days ago, and now we're starving."

"My third uncle will take the lead and donate... donate five cents! It's just a token of my appreciation, as long as the sentiment is there."

As he spoke, Yan Bugui took out a coin from his inner pocket and threw it onto the octagonal table with a clatter.

Five cents!

This proposal of ten yuan is simply a blatant slap in the face to Yi Zhonghai.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors erupted in uproar, arguing like a hornet's nest that had been blown apart.

"Uncle is right! We don't have that much money!"

"Exactly! My family can't even afford to buy coal briquettes, so donating two cents is the most we can do!"

"I'll donate one cent! And that's money I scraped together from between my teeth!"

Everyone echoed, and the dissatisfaction that had been suppressed by moral blackmail earlier erupted all at once, using Yan Bugui as an excuse.

The law does not punish the masses.

Qin Huairu stood behind Yi Zhonghai, watching as the large sum of money she was about to get turned into a pile of small bills and coins.

She stamped her feet in distress, her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"Please, everyone, have some mercy! Dongxu is still in the hospital, and Banggeng is injured too..."

She wept bitterly, trying to evoke everyone's sympathy once again.

pity.

That trick doesn't work anymore.

Zhang Huaimin watched the dog-eat-dog scene and a mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

He slowly stuffed the red booklet back into his pocket.

She reached out her small hand and grabbed Chen Bing's rough, large hand beside her.

"Brother Chen."

Zhang Huaimin raised his head, his voice clear and crisp, each word like a knife.

"Since everyone is donating money to save lives, this money cannot be left in private hands."

He extended his chubby index finger and pointed directly at Yi Zhonghai, whose face was ashen.

"Didn't that old man just say he had no ulterior motives?"

"To avoid any appearance of impropriety, how about we deliver this donation directly to the police station and ask Chief Zhou to keep it for us?"

"When it's time to settle the bill at the hospital, have the hospital take the receipts directly to the police station for reimbursement."

Zhang Huaimin blinked his innocent big eyes, his tone naive and innocent.

"This way, we can ensure that all the money is spent on Uncle Dongxu, and Grandpa won't have to worry about keeping so much money safe!"

"What do you all think, is it a good idea?"

That's a brilliant idea!

This not only completely cut off any possibility that Yi Zhonghai and the Jia family might embezzle the donations.

They even brought out the large statue of the police station.

"Great idea! That's a good idea!"

"Yes! Let's leave it at the police station! We'll feel more at ease about our donation!"

The neighbors all cheered, their eyes full of admiration as they looked at Zhang Huaimin.

This child is so clever!

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt a buzzing in his head, as if he had been hit by a sledgehammer.

Put him in the police station?!

Then why did he go through all that trouble to raise funds?!

He wanted to keep the money in his own hands and gradually help the Jia family so that they would be grateful to him and support him in his old age!

If the money goes into the police station's account, then it has nothing to do with Yi Zhonghai!

He not only didn't get any credit, but he also got the stigma of being forced to donate!

"No...no!"

Yi Zhonghai blurted it out, his voice sharp and somewhat distorted.

"How could we trouble Director Zhou with such a small matter! The neighborhood office and the police station are so busy!"

He waved his hands frantically, his eyes darting away, not daring to meet Chen Bing's cold gaze.

"I...I'm an old man, it's most appropriate for me to manage this money..."

"Old Yi!"

Liu Haizhong, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally seized the opportunity to kick someone when they were down.

He stepped forward, his belly protruding, his face full of righteous indignation.

"I have to say something about this. Huaimin's suggestion is very insightful!"

"You've been preventing us from being taken to the police station. What, are you actually having ulterior motives?"

Liu Haizhong's words were like a sharp knife, directly piercing through Yi Zhonghai's last fig leaf.

"You... you're spouting nonsense!"

Yi Zhonghai was so angry that he was trembling all over, and his finger pointing at Liu Haizhong was twitching.

He felt dizzy and his vision blurred, and it felt like a heavy stone was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

The questioning, mocking, and even contemptuous gazes of his neighbors were like countless sharp arrows, piercing him relentlessly.

The face he valued most in his life was the image of a "moral saint" that he had painstakingly cultivated for decades.

At this moment, it was torn to shreds by a five-year-old child!

They've completely broken through!

"You...you people..."

Yi Zhonghai stared wide-eyed at Zhang Huaimin's small face, which was covered in a cold smile.

A strange "gurgling" sound came from his throat.

"Wow--!"

A heart-wrenching scream.

Yi Zhonghai suddenly clutched his chest, bent over, and opened his mouth.

"puff!"

A large mouthful of thick, scarlet blood gushed out like a fountain, directly onto the octagonal table where the accounts were kept.

Blood splattered on Yan Bugui's notebook, staining the five-cent coin red.

"Old Yi! Boss!"

An older woman screamed and scrambled over to catch Yi Zhonghai as he collapsed.

Yi Zhonghai's eyes rolled back, his body twitched twice, and he collapsed into the chair.

More air intake, less air exhaust.

"Murder! Zhang Huaimin drove an old man to his death!"

Jia Zhangshi, hiding behind the crack in the door, shouted gleefully before quickly pulling her head back in.

The courtyard instantly descended into chaos.

"Quick! Pinch his philtrum! Get him to the hospital!"

Yan Bugui wiped the bloodstains from his face, and jumped up in fright.

An elderly woman, crying and shouting, along with several young men, hurriedly carried Yi Zhonghai out.

The front yard instantly became deserted, leaving only a shocking pool of blood on the ground.

Zhang Huaimin stood still, watching the scene with cold eyes, without even raising an eyebrow.

Do not live by committing sins.

He turned around, took Chen Bing's hand, and prepared to go back into the house.

Suddenly, a crisp electronic sound came from deep within my mind.

"Ding!"

[Host detected successfully thwarting moral blackmail by utilizing intelligence and policy!]

[Detected: The core villain of the compound, 'Yi Zhonghai,' has suffered a mental breakdown, vomiting blood and fainting!]

[Congratulations, host, on completing the "Medium-Scale Shocking Achievement"!]

[Rewards being distributed... You've received one 'Future Special Antibiotic'!]

Zhang Huaimin paused in his steps.

A future miracle antibiotic?

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Using this stuff on Jia Dongxu, who is about to become disabled, seems a bit wasteful.

He hummed an unknown tune and pushed open the wooden door of the east wing.

"Brother Chen, come inside and have some hot water. It's terribly cold outside."