Xu Damao grabbed Shazhu by the collar, insisting that Shazhu had stolen his chickens.

Sha Zhu pushed Xu Damao's hand away, put his hands on his hips, pointed at Xu Damao's nose, and cursed.

"Xu Damao, you bastard, how dare you frame me."

The two started fighting in the yard.

An old man and others in the courtyard came over and separated the two. After things calmed down, they finally found out what had happened. It turned out that Xu Damao believed that Sha Zhu had stolen his chickens, and he had solid evidence, but Sha Zhu denied it.

"You can't deny it, these chicken feathers are the evidence. There's still that chicken in your basin."

"What's going on here?" Uncle Yi Zhonghai stood between Sha Zhu and Xu Damao. Uncle Liu Haizhong was bedridden. Uncle Yan Bugui had just been scolded by himself.

Now, you have to manage everything in the courtyard house yourself.

"Shazhu, Xu Damao, what are you two arguing about so late at night?"

"What happened? Tell me, and let this old man uphold justice!"

Xu Damao immediately pointed at Shazhu and said, "Uncle, Shazhu, this guy stole my old hen. Look at the chicken feathers on the ground, and the ones in their basin. I confronted him, but he wouldn't admit it."

At this moment, Wang Qiang rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing this scene, he recalled how, in the drama, Sha Zhu had paid 5 yuan to protect Bang Geng.

However, Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu's relationship isn't that good yet, so it's uncertain whether he'll reveal Bang Geng's involvement this time.

Qin Huairu, who rushed over, saw this scene and immediately confronted Xu Damao. She knew that Xu Damao's chickens had actually been eaten by her son, Banggeng. Therefore, she preemptively accused Xu Damao to intimidate him.

"Xu Damao, do you have any evidence? How could there be a thief in our courtyard? It must be your hen that ran away on its own."

Yi Zhonghai also righteously rebuked Xu Damao. "Xu Damao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. There has never been a thief in our compound."

He certainly didn't really want to protect Sha Zhu. After all, if there really was a thief in the courtyard, and the neighborhood committee found out, his job as the courtyard manager would be over.

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu criticize him, Xu Damao immediately retorted.

"What business is it of yours, Qin Huairu? Grandpa, my hen is in the cage, it can fly out. You, as an old man, should uphold justice and not just listen to one side. If you can't do it, I'll go to the neighborhood committee and I'll definitely get justice."

Yi Zhonghai was speechless after being rebuked by Xu Damao, and turned to look at Sha Zhu. "Sha Zhu, where did you get this chicken?"

Before Sha Zhu could answer, Uncle Yan Bugui, seeing Sha Zhu being reprimanded, was pleased. Remembering that Yu Li had been dragged home by Sha Zhu's sister, he knew that He Yushui wanted to introduce Yu Li to Sha Zhu.

Therefore, without waiting for Sha Zhu's reply, he immediately jumped out and accused Sha Zhu:

"These days, even eating cornmeal is a struggle. Who would be willing to eat an old hen? It must be Sha Zhu who stole Xu Damao's old hen."

Now Yu Li definitely wouldn't like Sha Zhu anymore. Yan Bugui was happy, and Yan Jiecheng was happy too, constantly looking in Yu Li's direction.

Sha Zhu glanced sideways at Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng, noticing that Yan Jiecheng kept glancing at Yu Li, and knew that he was unconvinced.

"Third Uncle, how could you accuse me of stealing Snow Hat's hen?"

“I’m slandering you? Sha Zhu, your salary isn’t low, you could easily buy one at the market. Instead of buying one, you stole Xu Damao’s old hen and even tried to hit him. That’s too much.”

Yan Bugui firmly pinned the blame for stealing the old hen on Sha Zhu. Not only did he confirm that Sha Zhu had stolen the chicken, but he also conveniently framed Sha Zhu for assault.

Upon hearing what the Third Uncle said, Xu Damao immediately spoke up in support of himself.

"Silly Zhu, what else do you have to say? I don't believe there's such a coincidence in the world—my chicken just went missing and you've already got to eat it."

The third uncle, Yan Bugui, fanned the flames from the side, saying, "Xu Damao, I think we should call the police to resolve this issue."

He's trying to kill two birds with one stone; if he alarms the police, Uncle Yi's position as the head of the neighborhood committee will be in jeopardy. Then the neighborhood committee will remove Yi Zhonghai from his post. And with Uncle Liu Haizhong bedridden, Uncle Yi's position will definitely be his.

Thinking of this, Yan Bugui became even more excited. He instructed his son to find the police. "Jiecheng, go find the police!"

An old man, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly stopped him.

“Shazhu, Xu Damao, we’re all from the same compound. It’s not good to call the police. Let’s resolve this internally.”

Yi Zhonghai knew this was his third uncle, Yan Bugui, who wanted revenge. After all, he hadn't sided with him regarding Yu Li's matter.

"I'll give this old man some face."

"Shazhu, you decide what to do. You stole my hen and hit me, this is no small matter. If this goes to the police station, you'll definitely go to jail."

Xu Damao stared intently at Sha Zhu with an arrogant expression.

Sha Zhu glanced furtively at Qin Huairu. He knew that the chickens at Xu Damao's house had definitely been stolen by Bang Geng.

Qin Huairu noticed that Sha Zhu was looking at her. She quickly put on a pleading look, begging Sha Zhu not to reveal the stick.

Seeing Sha Zhu remain silent, Xu Damao assumed he had found a weakness and continued to press, "Alright, I won't ask for more. Just give me thirty yuan, and this matter will be over!"

Third Uncle Yan Bugui chimed in, "Alright, this price is reasonable. Sha Zhu, hurry up and pay up the money, then let's just let this matter rest."

Sha Zhu finally couldn't resist Qin Huairu's seductive gaze, "Thirty yuan is impossible, I'll give you five yuan at most!"

"Brother, how could you do this?" He Yushui's face turned ugly when she saw her brother, Shazhu, about to admit to stealing chickens.

"Silly Zhu, at least twenty yuan, or this isn't over!"

Xu Damao persisted, and although he made concessions, he remained intimidating.

Seeing this, an old man nearby quickly tried to smooth things over: "Shazhu, Xu Damao, give this old man some face, both of you compromise, how about 10 yuan?"

Sha Zhu nodded, "Okay, sir, I'll do as you say, ten yuan it is!"

"Uncle, it's only because of you that I would agree to this. If it were anyone else, I definitely wouldn't agree!" Xu Damao said, indicating that he was reluctantly accepting.

"How can this end like this? Xu Damao, do you know what the punishment is for falsely accusing someone?"

Wang Qiang parted the crowd and walked over.

"Wang Qiang, this is none of your business."

When Yan Bugui saw that it was Wang Qiang, he remembered Yu Li's matter and quickly came over to interrupt.

"How can this not be my business? I, Wang Qiang, must take care of what happens in this courtyard!"

"You dare say I'm wronging Sha Zhu? Produce the evidence!"

Xu Damao stared intently at Wang Qiang. He had also heard some rumors that Lou Xiao'e and Wang Qiang had been close back then, and his hat might have turned into an environmentally friendly color long ago!