At the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, Jia Dongxu was hiding in a corner smoking a cigarette, while his coworkers looked at him with envy.
Xiao Zhao, a fellow worker, said, "Look at Brother Jia, he can hide there and smoke without anyone saying anything. When will we be able to do that?"
Qian, a fellow worker, dismissed the comment and replied sarcastically.
"Do you think Jia Dongxu is capable? It's because he has a good master. Without Yi Zhonghai protecting him, he's nothing. He's been working for several years and is only a junior fitter. I can't even bear the shame of that."
"Alright, alright, stop talking. He's finished smoking and is coming over. Don't let him hear us and then run to Master to complain. If that happens, Yi Zhonghai will definitely give us a hard time."
As Jia Dongxu's footsteps drew closer, the two voices abruptly stopped. Only after Jia Dongxu left did Brother Qian spit in the direction Jia Dongxu had gone before the two resumed their conversation.
Jia Dongxu arrived at his workstation, picked up a file, and was just about to start working when Yi Zhonghai hurriedly walked over. Seeing his mentor approaching, Jia Dongxu put down the file and went to greet him.
"Master, what brings you here? Just let me know if there's anything you need."
Yi Zhonghai didn't waste any words when he saw Jia Dongxu and spoke directly.
"Pack your things and come back with me. I've already asked for leave."
After hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, Jia Dongxu was completely baffled and didn't know what was going on, so he asked again.
"Master, I'm on duty right now. Is there anything I need to do when I go back? Otherwise, my wages will be docked again."
After hearing Jia Dongxu's words, Yi Zhonghai really wanted to crack open Jia Dongxu's head to see what was inside. With the situation so dire, he was still thinking about such trivial matters.
"Your mother was beaten up, and the house is surrounded by people."
As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, Jia Dongxu jumped three feet high in excitement and shouted.
"What?! Who dares to hit my mom and even surround our house? Quick, quick, Master, let's get out of here! I want to see who's got the guts to do this!"
After Jia Dongxu finished speaking, he quickly tidied up and the two hurriedly left the workshop.
When the two arrived at the factory gate, they encountered Qin Huairu, who was anxiously waiting.
After meeting, the two sides chatted briefly. Since Qin Huairu didn't know the specifics, they could only go back to the courtyard to discuss it further. So the three of them hurriedly headed back to the courtyard.
…………
Inside the courtyard house, in front of the Jia family's gate.
At this time, more than a dozen women had gathered in front of the Jia family's gate, and the gate was being pounded on loudly, with people shouting at the entrance.
"Jia Zhangshi, come out here! Aren't you always so sharp-tongued? Why are you hiding like a coward now?"
“Jia Zhangshi, open the door! Didn’t you get your grain through your own abilities? Come, let me see what abilities you have to get it.”
Hearing the noise outside, Madam Jia Zhang, who had been so assertive in her debate with the scholars, was now filled with worry. She hoped her son would come back soon, or she would get another beating.
Just as Jia Zhangshi was at her wit's end, she suddenly heard a sound coming from outside the door.
"Sisters, stop! Her son is coming back. Let's find him first. Anyway, this old shrew can't escape."
Outside the house, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu had just returned and were still trying to figure out what was going on when they were surrounded by a group of women who were determined to get an explanation. Suddenly, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu were caught in a "happy" dilemma.
When Qin Huairu saw the two of them surrounded, she was too frightened to approach them, fearing that she might be caught in the crossfire.
After Yi Zhonghai and his companion broke through the encirclement, they were found with disheveled hair and tattered clothes. Yi Zhonghai even had several bloody marks on his face, and it was unclear which old woman had done it.
Yi Zhonghai was furious. In his entire life, when had he ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?
The key issue is that he didn't even understand the situation before he was left in this terrible state. Is there no justice? Is there no law?
Yi Zhonghai regained his composure, opened his tiger-like eyes, and roared.
"Stop it, all of you! Anyone who lays a hand on her will be publicly criticized and denounced."
Sure enough, Yi Zhonghai's shout really stunned everyone, and the scene instantly fell silent.
Yi Zhonghai glanced at everyone, then pointed to one of them and said.
"You, you tell me, what's going on today?"
The woman who was accused did not back down; she stepped forward and recounted the whole story in detail.
Yi Zhonghai then understood the whole story; originally, this matter was not a big deal.
But Jia Zhangshi, through her extraordinary abilities, managed to turn this matter into the mess it is today.
Only now did Yi Zhonghai realize what it meant to be more trouble than good at.
This Jia Zhangshi is quite something. She got the advantage, but then she turned around and provoked them. She deserved to be beaten.
But now that things have already escalated, how should we handle this?
Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment, then suddenly realized that so many people had been making a fuss for so long, but the main character hadn't even appeared yet. He then turned to Jia Dongxu and said.
"Why aren't you calling your mother out? What are you doing hiding in the house? Isn't that embarrassing enough?"
"I'll go right away."
Jia Dongxu realized that his master was very dissatisfied with his mother, so he quickly went to call for help.
Soon after, Jia Dongxu brought his mother to the scene.
When Yi Zhonghai saw that Jia Zhangshi had arrived, he addressed the crowd.
"I've looked into what happened today, and both sides are at fault. I think it would be better if they both apologized and let the matter drop."
"no."
As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, both sides expressed their disagreement.
Yi Zhonghai was at his wit's end. If this matter wasn't handled properly, it would cause trouble if it reached the neighborhood committee.
Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai asked Jia Zhangshi.
"Mrs. Jia, tell me first, why do you disagree?"
"Of course I disagree. I was just hit, and they have to compensate me."
Even at this point, Jia Zhangshi still demanded compensation, leaving Yi Zhonghai speechless.
Then Yi Zhonghai asked the people on the three aunts' side.
"Tell me, why don't you agree?"
After a brief discussion, the dozen or so people here elected the three aunties as their representatives.
"Uncle, our demands are very simple. The Jia family must return the grain we donated. If they don't, we will fight this case to the end, even if it goes all the way to the central government."
The three women said firmly.
Hearing the resolute tone of the three women, Yi Zhonghai knew that this matter was unlikely to end well.
Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment. These dozen or so old women were huddled together, and it would be difficult to persuade them. It seemed that he would have to start with his apprentice's family.
Finally, Yi Zhonghai called Jia Dongxu and his mother aside, appealing to their emotions and reasoning with them, explaining the various pros and cons.
But Jia Zhangshi was completely unyielding, refusing to return the grain and insisting on paying compensation.
Having suffered setbacks everywhere today, Yi Zhonghai had no energy left to waste here. All he could do was issue a threat: if the Jia family didn't listen to him today, he would no longer concern himself with their affairs.
Jia Dongxu was so scared he wet himself. Without his master, he was nothing. But Jia Zhangshi was a shrewd old fox; she knew what Yi Zhonghai wanted.
Jia Zhangshi concluded by saying that the beating could be forgiven, but the grain would not be returned, and she didn't care what happened.
Jia Zhangshi acted shamelessly, which infuriated Yi Zhonghai to the point of losing his temper on the spot. However, he eventually compromised and paid the difference out of his own pocket, because the issue of donating grain was not in accordance with the regulations.
However, this incident left a thorn in Yi Zhonghai's side.
Can we still count on the Jia family?
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