The entire courtyard is full of villains

"Liu Haizhong, I remember that!" Liu Guangtian said stubbornly. "Even if I starve or die of thirst, I will never climb to your door to eat a bite of meat or drink a drop of soup!" After saying that, he turned and left.

Enraged, Liu Haizhong turned around and slapped Liu Guangfu hard across the face. Liu Guangfu was stunned by the slap and was about to speak when he was met with more and harder slaps from Liu Haizhong, and he immediately cried out in pain.

Liu Guangqi and his second aunt just stared intently. The people in the courtyard looked at each other and then dispersed—after all, it was Liu Haizhong's family matter, and it was not appropriate to interfere.

Finally, Liu Haizhong got tired of hitting her, and the second aunt came over and said, "Old Liu, stop hitting her. If you keep hitting her, she'll have to go to the hospital, and that will cost money."

Liu Haizhong finally stopped, panting heavily as he went back into the house. Sitting down at the table, he grew angrier and angrier, and said to his second aunt, "Old woman, go fry me a few eggs. I want to drink some wine tonight."

"Okay," the second aunt replied, picking up her clothes to leave. Then, she touched her pocket and hesitated, saying, "Old Liu, I'm out of money? Can you give me some?"

"Go get it from the cabinet yourself!"

Chapter 203 A Wave Not Yet Subsided

"Ah!" A scream suddenly came from inside the house, startling Liu Haizhong. Liu Guangqi outside also heard it and quickly ran into the house. As soon as the father and son entered, they saw Aunt Er standing there, pointing at the cabinet and trembling all over.

"Old Liu! Old Liu!" Aunt Er's voice trembled.

"What's wrong?" Liu Haizhong asked hurriedly.

"Our money is all gone!" Auntie Er said, slapping her thighs with both hands, then sitting down on the ground and crying out, "Oh God! What are we going to do!"

Liu Haizhong rushed over, opened the hidden compartment of the cabinet, and saw that the money inside was indeed empty. "Are they bandits? They took all this money!" He stormed out.

"Dad, where are you going?" Liu Guangqi tried to pull him, but couldn't.

Liu Haizhong rushed all the way to the subdistrict office, his earlier courage now considerably diminished. Just then, Officer Li came out and, seeing him, asked, "Liu Haizhong, what are you doing here?"

“Officer Li…” Liu Haizhong gritted his teeth, “Before my house was sealed off, who else besides the police had been inside?”

"He was only taken in by the police." Officer Li was a little puzzled. "What happened to you? Stop keeping me in suspense."

Liu Haizhong decided to go all out: "Officer Li, all the money in my family is gone!"

"How much?" Officer Li asked cautiously.

"There's over 2000 yuan!"

"What? More than 2000?" Upon hearing this amount, Officer Li was also taken aback and hurriedly went inside to find Wang Qiuju.

Upon hearing that the amount was over 2000 yuan, Wang Qiuju glared at Liu Haizhong: "I told you liaison officers to persuade the people in the compound to deposit their money in the bank, but you all led the way by not depositing it!" Despite her complaints, she still picked up the phone and called the Municipal Public Security Bureau. After all, over 2000 yuan was no small sum at the time.

Soon, the police responded, saying they hadn't touched the money and told Liu Haizhong to ask Liu Guangtian.

The matter became clear immediately, and Liu Haizhong stormed off to courtyard house number 95. Wang Qiuju, fearing further trouble, went with Officer Li.

In the front yard, Liu Guangtian was looking at the back room that had been assigned to him. The neighborhood committee had rented this house out before; it had tables, chairs, benches, beds, and so on, but it was a bit old. However, he didn't care—at least this was a place of his own to live, and compared to the precarious home in the back yard, this felt more like a home.

With a loud crash, the door was kicked open, and Liu Haizhong stormed in, pulling out his belt. Liu Guangtian initially flinched, then remembered that he had already severed ties with Liu Haizhong. What right did he have to barge into his yard? Seeing Liu Haizhong approaching with the belt, he quickly grabbed a nearby stool and shouted, his voice trembling with fear, "Liu Haizhong, what are you doing?"

"What am I supposed to do?" Liu Haizhong snapped his belt. "Spit out the money you took from me!"

"What money?" Liu Guangtian still wanted to play dumb.

"Why are you asking about money? I have over 2000 yuan in my drawer! Liu Guangtian, you have quite the appetite, aren't you afraid of overeating?"

Seeing that he couldn't hide it any longer, Liu Guangtian simply said, "Liu Haizhong, that money was a reward the government gave me for reporting you. What does it have to do with you?"

"Report me? Report me for what? Report me for being a traitor? What traitor nonsense!" Liu Haizhong was furious. "I raised you with my own hands and feet, and you not only don't respect me, but you also dare to report me. You think you're right?" He swung his belt to whip him.

In a moment of desperation, Liu Guangtian grabbed a stool and rushed towards Liu Haizhong.

"Stop!" Wang Qiuju rushed over. Luckily, she managed to stop them; otherwise, judging from their furious expressions, one of them might have ended up on the ground.

"What are you two doing?" Wang Qiuju asked sternly.

Liu Guangtian preemptively complained: "Director Wang, this bastard surnamed Liu Haizhong kicked down my door and broke it. I'm going to the police station to report him!"

Upon hearing "police station," Liu Haizhong instinctively shrank back, explaining, "I broke it by pushing it too hard..."

"No matter what, you can't force your way into my house!" Liu Guangtian said stubbornly.

"Who told you to steal my money!" Liu Haizhong retorted.

Hearing the commotion, the people in the courtyard gathered around, eager to see what was going on. Wang Qiuju felt utterly exasperated—couldn't this courtyard just have one more day of peace and quiet?

"Enough!" she snapped. "Put down what you're holding! You're not behaving like fathers or sons, what kind of talk is this?"

Liu Guangtian glanced at her: "Officer Wang, I have severed my father-son relationship with Liu Haizhong. He is not my father."

“Even if you sever ties, he was still your father before, and he raised you!” Wang Qiuju said.

"I don't care. Anyway, Director Lü said that I have absolutely no relationship with Liu Haizhong anymore." Liu Guangtian brought up Director Lü.

When Wang Qiuju heard him mention Director Lü, she suddenly didn't know how to respond.

Liu Haizhong got anxious: "Liu Guangtian, if you're a man, give me back the money you stole from me!"

"I won't pay it back! That money was a reward from the police for reporting you!" Liu Guangtian retorted stubbornly.

"I do not believe!"

"If you don't believe me, go ask Director Lü!" Liu Guangtian was actually uneasy, so he could only use Director Lü as a shield.

Wang Qiuju had no choice but to stop the two men and have Officer Li call the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Half an hour later, Director Lü arrived on her bicycle. She glared at Liu Guangtian as soon as she entered, making him feel guilty.

Director Lü looked at Wang Qiuju: "Are you Wang Qiuju, the acting director of Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office?"

"Yes, Director Lü," Wang Qiuju quickly replied. "I'm from the Municipal Public Security Bureau's office, my surname is Lü."

"Hello, Director Lü." Wang Qiuju quickly stepped forward and explained the situation in detail.

Director Lü frowned after hearing this. Logically speaking, since Liu Haizhong had been released, Liu Guangtian's report was not entirely successful. However, she knew that Liu Haizhong was only temporarily released, and if new evidence emerged, he might have to go back to jail. Therefore, she couldn't completely side with Liu Haizhong. But Liu Guangtian dared to use her influence as a shield, so she had to teach him a lesson.

“How about this,” Director Lü pondered, “since Liu Haizhong earned this money, let’s give him the lion’s share…”

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangtian panicked. This was money he had risked his life to earn; if he had to return it all… Seeing that Director Lü couldn't be relied on, he quickly turned to Zhang Erhe, who was watching the commotion, and said, “Uncle Erhe, you are a cadre from the steel rolling mill, please speak up for me!”

Zhang Erhe was feeling rather bored when he heard Liu Guangtian was looking for him. He immediately cleared his throat and said, "I don't think the majority of this money should go to Liu Haizhong. After all, Liu Haizhong is notoriously violent, and he beat his two sons from a young age. Now that the family has separated, even if they've severed their father-son relationship, Liu Haizhong should still compensate Liu Guangtian. In my opinion, we should just leave some living expenses for Liu Haizhong's family. Anyway, he's a senior worker at the factory, and he earns quite a bit each month, right?"

He glanced around the yard, and Xu Damao was the first to chime in, "Yes, I think Section Chief Zhang is right!" The others followed suit in unison.

Director Lü glanced at Zhang Erhe, who was also one of their suspects. He hadn't expected Zhang to be so influential in the courtyard, able to command such a large following.

P.S.: This platform really doesn't treat veteran authors like human beings. The traffic they give them is appalling. Tonight I read a new book by a veteran author, "The Second Stage of Cursed Seal," and wow, it's a pretty good book with dismal traffic. The worst part is that the review section is full of clueless bastards whose comments are completely nonsensical! If you like stories about transmigrating into a silly pillar, go support it and boost your traffic!

Chapter 204 I Must Become an Official

"Why should we?" Liu Haizhong asked anxiously. Ever since Zhang Erhe spoke up, everyone in the courtyard echoed his sentiments, and even Director Lü began to hesitate. He couldn't stay any longer.

Liu Guangqi, standing beside him, also looked gloomy. He knew his family's financial situation well. He had planned to use the opportunity presented by the deputy head of the fertilizer factory's technical department appreciating him and wanting to marry his daughter to him as a stepping stone, but before he could put it into action, trouble struck his family. Now, he had just been released, and he couldn't even keep his money. The news of him being taken away in front of everyone had spread. He really didn't know if the deputy head would still be willing to marry his daughter to him—this money was his lifeline, why should he share it with Liu Guangtian?

“Director Lü, Uncle Erhe,” Liu Guangqi said, “Since my father has three sons, the money he earns should logically be divided among the three sons. It’s reasonable for Guangtian to give him a share since he wants to break ties with his family, but the remaining two shares should be returned.”

Liu Haizhong wanted to say something, but Liu Guangqi pulled his arm, so he had no choice but to lower his head dejectedly.

After listening to Liu Guangqi's words, Director Lü glanced at him—this guy was quite shrewd. "You, Liu Guangtian, didn't you want to split the family business and break up? Then what's rightfully yours is yours, and what's not rightfully yours must be returned."

"Uncle Erhe!" Liu Guangtian panicked as soon as he heard this. More than 2000 yuan was divided into three parts, and he could only get more than 800 yuan. How could this be allowed?

Zhang Erhe glanced at Liu Guangqi and said, "Guangqi is right. However, we also need to ask you two, are you with Liu Haizhong or Liu Guangtian?"

“I’ll naturally go with my dad,” Liu Guangqi said first. “Guangfu is still young, so he definitely…”

"Wait!" Liu Guangfu limped out from behind. "Brother, Uncle Erhe asked for my opinion. What makes you think you can speak for me?"

Liu Guangqi's heart skipped a beat when he saw the hatred in Liu Guangfu's eyes, but he still advised, "Guangfu, you're still young. You should stay with your parents."

"Who says I'm too young? I'm thirteen!" Liu Guangfu wiped away his tears, turned to look at Liu Guangtian, and said, "Second brother, if I choose to be with you, would you want me?"

Looking at the wounds on Liu Guangfu's body, Liu Guangtian recalled his own past—he had been beaten and injured at home recently, and if it weren't for Liu Guangfu secretly giving him a cornbread every day, he might have starved to death. He nodded heavily: "Guangfu, as long as you are willing to follow your second brother, even if I have to beg for food, I will never shortchange you from a single bowl of food."

“Then I choose Second Brother.” Ignoring the angry look in Liu Haizhong’s eyes, Liu Guangfu walked directly to Liu Guangtian’s side.

Liu Haizhong could no longer hold back and roared, "Liu Guangfu, I'll beat you to death, you little brat! You son of a bitch!"

Unexpectedly, Liu Guangfu retorted directly: "I'm a little beast, what are you? An old beast? You call me a son of a bitch, doesn't that mean you're an old dog yourself? Keep cursing, Liu Haizhong!" He had been suppressing his anger for too long, and he didn't even call him "Dad" anymore, but directly called him by his name.

Wang Qiuju's face turned somewhat ugly. Courtyard No. 95 was the best courtyard she had ever chosen, but now that this had happened, especially with Liu Guangfu calling her father an "old beast" to her face, she couldn't hold back any longer. She said in a deep voice, "Liu Guangfu, Liu Haizhong is still your father, no matter what. How can you talk like that? You have no manners at all!"

"What are you talking about rules?" Zhang Erhe, who had long disliked Wang Qiuju, retorted, "You're a cadre from the new society, yet you treat the dogmas of the old society as rules? Confucius said, 'If you're given a light beating, you'll be beaten to death.' Does that mean Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu have to be beaten by Liu Haizhong without uttering a sound? You seem to have a head full of feudal ideas. How did someone like you even get into the street office?"

Zhang Erhe spoke without any politeness, which even surprised Director Lü. She recalled the information she had gathered: before Zhang Erhe became a section chief, he had embarrassed Wang Qiuju, and now that he was an official, he showed even more ruthlessness. She secretly labeled Zhang Erhe as "vindictive."

Wang Qiuju was so embarrassed by her rebuttal that she couldn't find the words to retort, so she simply turned and left. Once she was gone, Officer Li could only steel himself and pack up the mess, stepping forward to say, "Section Chief Zhang, Director Lü, how about we discuss this?"

"What's there to discuss?" Zhang Erhe said directly. "Since Liu Guangqi said the money will be split equally among the three of us, then Liu Guangtian, take out the money."

Knowing he couldn't keep all the money today, Liu Guangtian went inside and rummaged through his bundle, finding a total of 2742 yuan.

“If you three brothers divide it, each of you should get 913 yuan,” Zhang Erhe said. “But Liu Guangqi, you’re not a child anymore, you’re an adult, while your two younger brothers are still minors. How about this, I’ll make the decision: you take 500 yuan, and the rest can be given to your two younger brothers as a subsidy of 200 yuan each. After all, Liu Haizhong has spent a lot of money supporting your schooling over the years, and everyone in the neighborhood has seen it.”

"That's right!" Xu Damao was the first to stand up in support, secretly pleased with himself—Liu Haizhong used to always use Liu Guangqi to put him down, but Liu Guangqi only got a vocational school diploma, while Xu Damao was a high-ranking official.

Seeing everyone agreeing, Liu Guangqi had no choice but to silently accept the 500 yuan. Liu Haizhong, standing to the side, was seething with anger. The money was clearly his, yet no one had asked his opinion. "You bastards! So what if you're officials and I'm just an ordinary citizen? When I become an official, I'll make you pay for this humiliation tenfold!" This incident completely swayed Liu Haizhong; becoming an official became his sole obsession.

"Uncle Erhe," Liu Guangfu approached.

"What's wrong, Guangfu?"

"Could you do me a favor and help me get my things out of the house?"

Zhang Erhe, who was looking forward to making things difficult for Liu Haizhong and his wife, immediately agreed: "Okay. Damao, come with me to the backyard and keep an eye on things for Guangfu. Don't let those two Liu bully him again."

"Yes!" Xu Damao readily agreed.

In the east wing of the backyard, Liu Haizhong's eyes blazed with fury as he watched Liu Guangfu pack his things, rolling up his bedding. Liu Guangtian also ran over to help, carrying Liu Guangfu's belongings on his back.

Seeing Liu Guangfu about to leave, Liu Haizhong roared with a livid face, "Liu Guangfu, have you thought this through? If you step out of this door today and never come back, I will never acknowledge you as my own!"

Liu Guangfu spat, "Who cares to come back!"

“Our hospital is strange,” Zhang Erhe joked from the side. “Some people don’t have sons, so they go to great lengths to have one; some people have three children, but they don’t know how to cherish them. Now they only have one left. Let’s see what they do in the future.”

"Pfft—" Liu Haizhong could no longer hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Hey, Lao Liu, I didn't realize you were spraying so much," Zhang Erhe joked. "That's enough for your wife's three months' worth of food, right? Lao Liu, you should be more careful. These days, supplies are scarce, and you don't know how to cherish them."

"Uncle Erhe!" Liu Guangqi quickly helped Liu Haizhong up. When he turned around, Liu Guangfu had already left. "Are you going back to the front yard now?"

"Alright, alright," Zhang Erhe waved his hand impatiently. "Fine, go then. Honestly, I'm trying to help my neighbor but I'm not appreciated. Why is my good intention always misunderstood?"