The Alley Residents 2: The Hard Road

Zhuang Tunan worked overtime during the New Year and injured his leg. He accompanied his parents back to the alley. Although Li Jia wanted to walk with him, his family always opposed it. Lin Dongzh...

Chapter 11 Applying Bonds

Xiang Pengfei selected an expensive wheelchair at a shop across from the hospital. Just as he stepped out of the shop with the wheelchair, a policeman stood in front of him, showed him his police ID, and said, "Hello, I'm a policeman. Can I ask you a question?"

At this moment, Xiang Pengfei felt guilty. Of course, he knew what he had done, but he couldn't run away because he had to take his cousin's wheelchair to him. So he said, "Okay! Ask away!"

What were you doing the night before last?

The night before last?

"Yes, it's New Year's Eve!"

"I'm with my girlfriend, and we went to her house for the Chinese New Year!"

"And then what?"

"later?"

"Yes, have you been to the construction site?"

"Yes, I just helped my sister-in-law with something, I repaired a wall!"

"We've already inspected that wall, and there's no problem with it. My question is, did you see anything on the construction site that you shouldn't have seen?"

"Something we shouldn't have seen? Nothing! We're law-abiding citizens!"

"Is that so?"

"Of course! I'm in the transportation business. Business people should be honest and law-abiding. Why would I lie to you?"

"But when we went to survey the area the next night, we found the cover of a pornographic videotape in a corner. So I suspect that your worker has this kind of thing. If we catch him, we will deal with him according to the law for the crime of disseminating obscene images!"

"Found in a corner?"

"Yes, it was found in a corner!"

"Oh, I was there late at night. You know, construction sites are usually pitch black, so I was looking carefully. As for the cover you mentioned, I really haven't seen it!"

"Okay, I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to ask. If we have any other questions, we'll contact you again!"

"Okay, you can bother us anytime. Cooperating with the police is also part of our job."

After they finished talking, the two returned to the ward together.

Zhuang Tunan had only been hospitalized for two days. It took a lot of effort to move him from the hospital bed to the wheelchair. Fortunately, a policeman in the next bed helped. The three of them carefully placed Zhuang Tunan in the wheelchair.

After Xiang Pengfei escorted Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Chaoying to the entrance of the alley, he said to Zhuang Chaoying, "Uncle, I won't go in. You push Brother Tunan inside! I have to go now!"

Zhuang Chaoying didn't say anything else, just nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead and get busy! Everyone's busy during the New Year!"

After speaking, Zhuang Chaoying pushed Tu Nan into the alley. Just as they passed Zhang Yiming's shop, they heard a loud crashing sound of things being smashed.

Then Huang Ling's cries were heard: "What's the point of renovating? It just means I can't open a small restaurant anymore. I haven't offended anyone, have I? Why are you stopping me?"

Zhuang Chaoying pushed Zhuang Tunan into the courtyard and said, "Huang Ling!"

Huang Ling came out of the house on the left, about to scold Zhuang Chaoying for coming back. But when she saw Zhuang Chaoying pushing Zhuang Tu Nan in a wheelchair, she was instantly dumbfounded and hurriedly said, "Zhuang Chaoying, are you crazy? You, why did you bring Tu Nan back?"

Zhuang Chaoying hurriedly said, "I didn't want to turn it back either! Wasn't this your choice? It cost 100,000 yuan upfront, and the design institute processed the discharge papers anyway. I had no choice."

"How could their design firm do things like this? Tu Nan was only in the hospital for two days before they discharged him. This is just too inhumane!"

"Shut up! Didn't they promise to give you 100,000 yuan? What can you say?"

At this moment, Zhang Min came out of the house and came into the yard. As soon as she saw Zhuang Tunan, she said, "Brother Tunan, why are you discharged from the hospital?"

Tu Nan smiled and said, "The hospital said I'm fine, so they're letting me be discharged!"

"Really? At the very least, you'd have to stay in the hospital for ten days to two weeks, right? It's not like you're paying for it yourself. Doesn't your design firm consider this a work-related injury?"

At this moment, Huang Ling said, "Tu Nan, let's talk inside! It's cold outside!"

So, with the combined efforts of the three people, it took a lot of hard work to carry Zhuang Tunan into the house.

As soon as she entered the house, Huang Ling started wiping away her tears again, saying, "We finally got through these tough times, but why is the situation even worse now? I don't understand, I just don't get it. Why is this happening? Does God only pick on the unfortunate?"

At this moment, Zhang Min secretly glanced outside and said to Huang Ling, "Auntie, there are some things I shouldn't say, but there are some things I can't stand to see, so I'll tell you today! Actually, this whole 'small dining table' thing was orchestrated by my sister!"

"What? Is this true, Xiaomin?!"

"Yes! Auntie, my sister has been resentful ever since you kicked her out. When she saw that you started a small after-school care program, she became even more envious. So she instigated the deputy factory director to have the factory committee cause trouble. The two of them want to open a kindergarten across the alley so they can accommodate more children!"

"Oh, I see!"

"As you know, Auntie, my sister used to be a teacher, so of course she has a way of educating children. Plus, my nephew is of kindergarten age now, so it's a win-win situation. Of course she won't lose out!"

"That Wu Shanshan is too wicked!"

Huang Ling didn't say the word "poison," since Zhang Min was there, and it would be inappropriate for her to speak ill of Wu Shanshan in front of her. So she quickly changed the subject and asked Zhuang Tunan, "Tunan, are you thirsty? Would you like me to pour you a glass of water?"

Zhuang Tunan smiled and said, "No need, Mom! I'm perfectly fine sitting like this!"

Meanwhile, Xiang Pengfei drove from the alleyway entrance, speeding all the way back to his transportation company. He then closed the office door, looked out the window, and finally picked up the phone to call Zhou Chengzhi.

Perhaps Zhou Chengzhi was in his office; he answered the phone quite quickly.

Xiang Pengfei asked, "Zhou Chengzhi?"

"Just say what you need, no need to beat around the bush!"

"I'm asking you, what's wrong with your workers?"

"What do you mean, what's wrong with my workers? Every single one of my workers is perfectly fine. Why are you asking them?"

"What are you doing? Last night, the police went to survey that wall, and they found the cover of a videotape at the construction site. What are you doing? Are you betraying me?"

"No, brother, why would I betray you? I even introduced you to my own sister, and you still doubt me?"

"Fine, then you'd better clean up this videotape thing for me, or nobody will get away with it!"

"Don't worry, buddy, there won't be any more problems. I have connections in the police station!"

"Okay, also tell me, what's the deal with that wall?"

"Hehe, don't laugh at me, brother. I actually cut corners on that wall, but that woman Li Jia messed up the design. I was afraid the higher-ups would find out, so I replaced it with the best materials and patched it up!"

"So, Li Jia helped you?"

"What help or not? It's all about mutual exploitation. She asked me to help her fix the wall, and I happen to have a weakness in that wall. How could I not do her a favor?"

"But Li Jia is my sister-in-law!"

"Forget it! Let Zhuang Tunan find someone else! Li Jia is dishonest, she doesn't deserve Zhuang Tunan!"

Whether you're good enough or not isn't up to you!

"The wall issue is over now, the main problem is your pirated videotapes, we need to figure out how to sell them!"

"I initially thought that there were many men on your construction site, making it easier to sell, but I never expected this kind of mess!"

"Alright! Let's think of another way! That's all, bye!"

As Xiang Pengfei listened to the busy tone of the phone, he fell into deep thought, wondering how he could sell the videotape.