Zheng Ya drove back to the street in front of No. 95 Tongluo Lane and encountered a situation where neighbors were blocking the gate. He pulled over and said, "Something might have happened in the courtyard?"
"Hmm, these people seem to be residents from the neighborhood. Why are they causing trouble in our courtyard?" Xu Qi was bewildered when she got out of the car with Bao'er, who had just finished eating and drinking and was now sleeping, blocked by the crowd on the street.
The old hunter, no, it should be Old Zheng, followed closely behind, saying, "Judging from the noise in the courtyard, it seems like they're insulting an old man?"
"Haha, Old Zheng, don't be so sympathetic. My courtyard is full of lurking turtles, and the temple is small but the wind blows strong."
Needless to say, this matter was caused by Old Lady Long spreading the word about my leasing of the back mountain forest among the neighbors. Zheng Ya picked up on the bits and pieces of the crowd's discussion and understood the whole story.
It has to be said, Old Lady Long is still up to her old tricks!
She can't stand seeing others do well; she fantasizes about the whole hospital bringing her delicious food and drinks, taking care of her in her old age and seeing her off in death—she's like Empress Dowager Cixi!
But it's obvious that as long as Zheng Ya lives in the courtyard, Old Lady Long won't have a good time. It would be strange if Old Lady Long didn't take the opportunity to retaliate against Zheng Ya.
"Crack, boom, crash!" The women and old folks gathered to cause trouble, but they were lawless and directly threw stones at Old Lady Long's house.
In an instant, the chaotic rain fell on the roof of the Empress Dowager's room, creating a series of crackling sounds.
Grandma Long pretended to be deaf and dumb throughout the whole thing, trying to fool people.
That's it, this old woman who's a bully at home, hopeless.
Upon hearing the news, Director Wang led his team to the rescue. He nodded slightly to Zheng Ya and her family, and Zheng Ya and Xu Qi responded with faint smiles.
The two clerks who came with Director Wang parted the crowd and went into the hospital to handle the matter.
Director Wang stopped to show goodwill: "Xiao Zheng, someone from the Ministry of Agriculture has come to arrange the back mountain forest for you."
Could you take some time to go to the subdistrict office and complete the transfer procedures for the back hill forest?
"Alright, it just so happens that Sister Wang is here. I brought back an old craftsman. Could you arrange for him to stay in the courtyard?"
"I think that separate back room on the left side of the courtyard is nice!" Zheng Ya didn't hold back with her.
I have absolutely no sympathy for someone who was an accomplice in the murder of the former director of the neighborhood committee.
Asking for the house is a way to give her a chance to mend the relationship.
Even if you don't get along, you can't just bare your teeth and start fighting every time you meet, right?
Besides, Zheng Ya will need to use the subdistrict office in the future, and will inevitably have to deal with Director Wang, so it's necessary to ease the tension appropriately.
Director Wang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take care of this for you!"
Experienced craftsmen are exactly the kind of talent our neighborhood office desperately needs!
"Comrade, on behalf of everyone in Tongluo Lane, I welcome you!"
"Haha, great! Thank you so much!" Old Zheng didn't object to Director Wang's enthusiasm, and the two chatted happily.
When the crowd that had been besieging Granny Long saw that the head of the teaching department had arrived, they all turned around and left as if nothing had happened.
The people at the neighborhood committee were very frustrated. What was this all about?
The key point is that after the people who were besieging Grandma Long dispersed, Grandma Long grabbed the sleeve of the street office worker and refused to let go, demanding that the street office resolve the matter and seek compensation.
This infuriated Director Wang. He apologized to Old Zheng and went to scold Old Lady Long: "Look at the mess you've made, and you still have the nerve to ask for compensation?"
There were so many people there just now, why didn't you ask them for compensation?
Let me tell you, the neighborhood committee hasn't held you accountable for the trouble you caused, only because you're so old.
"You're still going at it, aren't you?"
"Director Wang, I'm hard of hearing, I couldn't hear anything just now..." Old Mrs. Long tried to get compensation by being unreasonable.
Director Wang laughed in exasperation: "Fine, once our neighborhood committee finds the person who damaged your roof tiles and windowpanes, they'll make them compensate you. Just wait!"
"Ah, you can't do this! It's getting colder and colder, and the house is so dilapidated. There's no difference between living inside and outside. I'll freeze to death! Your neighborhood committee is supposed to serve the people, you can't just ignore my life or death!" Old Lady Long played the victim and acted like a rogue.
This broadened Old Zheng's horizons and dispelled his sympathy for her being surrounded by a crowd. Director Wang only felt ashamed: "Haha, how do you expect us to manage this?"
If you hadn't caused trouble behind the scenes, would things have turned out this way?
This is called reaping what you sow!
Even if the people in our neighborhood office wanted to help you, it's impossible for them to pay out of their own pockets to settle things for bad elements or take care of her daily needs. Don't even think about it.
If you set a bad example, your neighbors will follow suit, creating a vicious cycle that will harm the entire neighborhood.
That's tantamount to us helping you commit a crime, so wake up!
"Clap clap clap!" The neighbors who hadn't dared to do it applauded in celebration, almost to the point of cheering and celebrating.
This is how you should deal with wicked old women.
Little did they know that Director Wang was also forcing himself to enforce the law forcefully, fearing that if he didn't deal with Old Lady Long, Zheng Ya would look down on him and he would lose the opportunity to ease tensions.
After all, it was right to handle the matter of Old Lady Long so forcefully, but it couldn't withstand the spread of rumors that she was abusing the elderly, which would ruin her reputation.
In fact, the neighbors' act of vandalizing Grandma Long's house was illegal, and they should indeed compensate Grandma Long.
A crime is a crime. Just because Old Lady Long started trouble and ruined the neighbors' livelihoods doesn't mean the neighbors can retaliate against her on their own. That's unacceptable.
The normal procedure would be to report it to the local street office, have the elderly woman arrested for "education and re-education," or even parade her through the streets in public.
Things didn't go in that direction, and both sides were at fault.
This put Director Wang in a difficult position. Since he needed to curry favor with Zheng Ya, he decided to target Old Lady Long instead.
Grandma Long was on the verge of tears, and finally gave in and let go, pretending to be deaf and dumb again, ignoring everyone, and cursing them in her heart.
After dismissing Old Lady Long, Director Wang started arranging a house for Old Master Zheng.
Zheng Ya told Old Zheng that they would have dinner at his home in the backyard later. After Old Zheng agreed, Zheng Ya's wife and children went home after they got their marriage certificate.
With Director Wang's dedicated help, Mr. Zheng's house was successfully acquired.
On his way back to the compound from the neighborhood office, Old Zheng noticed Wu Wei returning home, which alerted Wu Wei. She turned around and demanded, "You've been following me. Tell me, who are you?"
"Wow, such high spirituality, not bad, not bad at all!" Old Zheng was more and more pleasantly surprised as he looked at the craft, and he had no idea that his skills were passed down only to men.
In fact, this idea had long been worn away by time as the search for a disciple proved fruitless.
Besides, we live in a new society that emphasizes gender equality.
This is why, when Mr. Zheng initially favored Xu Qi as the successor of Lu Ban, he realized that it was hopeless once he discovered that Xu Qi was Zheng Ya's wife.
Just as Zheng Lao was struggling with whether or not to try to persuade Xu Qi, he met Wu Wei and immediately changed his mind!
Wu Wei was so nervous that she almost drew her gun to arrest him, but she rationally suppressed the urge and said, "What spirituality? What exactly are you planning to do with me? Tell me honestly."
"Haha, what else could I possibly do to you besides taking you as my apprentice?"
"Girl, will you become my apprentice?" Old Zheng couldn't wait.
Wu Wei drew her gun: "Stop right there, or I'll shoot..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com