After Liu Haizhong exposed Zheng Daotong and Lao Jia's secret plot to carry out enemy activities in the middle of the night, revealing the codebook in the package, people in the compound rushed to report others.
Although no one in the compound produced any concrete evidence to prove that Zheng Daotong and Lao Jia were enemy agents or engaged in criminal activities, the people in the compound used the accusation that Zheng Daotong was an enemy agent to take sides.
They expressed their stance, siding with Granny Long and others in order to protect themselves.
At this moment, everyone in the courtyard knew that the compensation money that Granny Long and others sent to Zheng Ya was actually evidence that they had killed Zheng Ya—evidence of their crimes as enemy agents. Anyone who dared to help Zheng Ya clarify the facts would be a fool, so they basically all chose to report Zheng Daotong as an enemy agent.
Whether Zheng Daotong was an enemy agent or not is not important.
The important thing is that the attitude of those in the compound who chose sides in order to survive has become clear.
As a result, everyone in the courtyard, except for Yan Fugui's family and Old Shen's family in the backyard, had someone report them.
This made Zheng Ya want to burst into laughter; this was reality!
There are many who kick someone when they're down, but very few who remain steadfast in upholding justice.
Even Yan Fugui's family wavered at this crucial moment, constantly questioning in their hearts which side to take.
The third aunt stood beside Yan Fugui, sweating profusely with anxiety. Yan Jiefang, who was not yet fifteen, worried about being bullied by the others in the courtyard, whispered, "Dad, let's report everyone in the courtyard..."
"Shut up, it's not your place to make decisions for the Yan family." Yan Fugui angrily waved his hand and pushed him away, then suddenly understood.
Ultimately, it was Zheng Ya who gave too much.
Furthermore, to kick Zheng Ya when he's down at this time would be utterly inhumane.
Moreover, Zheng Ya gave the Yan family 1,300 yuan in one go, which was enough for the Yan family's food expenses for four years, so they would not have to worry about not having money to eat for the time being.
Therefore, Yan Fugui was willing to go all out. Even if he ended up being accused of protecting Zheng Ya's crimes and was implicated, he would not let himself go hungry.
At worst, we can find a job teaching in a remote mountainous area. With 1,300 yuan, it's enough to help the family get back on their feet. What's there to be afraid of?
Let's take a gamble, since Zheng Ya has such a nonchalant attitude.
Seeing hope in Zheng Ya's calm demeanor, Yan Fugui raised his hand and reported, "Officer, I believe Zheng Ya has been falsely accused."
One sentence is enough to state your position.
No need for further explanation.
Old Shen tapped the ash from his pipe on the sole of his shoe, shook off the tugging of the old women in his house, and stepped into the courtyard, saying, "We live in the backyard, across from Liu Haizhong's house."
Diagonally opposite the door is Zheng Ya's main house. It can be said that as long as I'm home, any noise from Zheng Ya's house can't escape my eyes and ears.
I am 67 years old this year. As people get older, they need less sleep and have developed the old problem of frequent urination. I usually sleep in the first half of the night and then get up in the second half to sleep poorly.
Therefore, I can confirm one thing: the people in the compound framed Zheng Daotong for having secret enemy activities with Lao Jia in the middle of the night; it was a complete fabrication.
"Pah! You have malicious intentions; you'll get your comeuppance."
"Old Shen, no matter how clever you are, you can't possibly be a match for the whole hospital!"
"With eyes and ears like these, you're still not as good as a senile old man like me!" Yi Zhonghai retorted angrily. "This old Shen family member can't be allowed to live!"
Old Shen is an honest and simple man who never argues with anyone.
Because his family of nine lived in dire poverty, he was still working as a boiler operator at the steel mill at the age of sixty-seven to earn an extra wage to support his family. He worked as a boiler operator with his eldest and second eldest sons, so he rarely had contact with the people in the compound.
Unexpectedly, the Shen family's habit of not causing trouble was broken today.
Many people in the courtyard began to hate Old Shen's family.
This made the entire Shen family of nine feel like they had thorns in their backs.
Fortunately, the police were present, and no one dared to denounce the Shen family; otherwise, it would have turned into a mass denunciation and struggle session.
This situation surprised Zheng Ya. He didn't expect that someone in the courtyard would help him. It was truly rare.
You should know that Yan Fugui gave him too much.
Yan Fugui has taken so many advantage of him; if he were to kick him while he's down, Yan Fugui would never have the face to live with himself again.
That's support bought with money.
Unlike Lao Shen, who relied solely on a sense of justice to support Zheng Ya at a crucial moment, it was quite unexpected!
This favor is truly precious!
The old director was also surprised, and a knowing smile appeared on his face as he praised, "Good, very good, everyone speaks freely."
"Our police welcome everyone to report situations?"
"Let me tell you," said Old Lady Long, who arrived uninvited.
Supported by an older woman, Old Lady Long walked into the backyard with her cane. Facing the crowd, she revealed a compassionate expression, cleared her throat, and continued, "My family originally lived next door to Zheng Ya, in this very house."
As you can all see, I'm an old man in my sixties.
I don't get much sleep at night. My house is separated from Zheng Ya's by only a wooden wall, so I can hear anything that happens there..."
"That's not right, aren't you deaf?" Old Shen retorted angrily when he saw her coming to cause trouble. "You old hag, you're everywhere!"
Those who plot and harm others are not afraid of retribution, even if it means dying a gruesome death.
Grandma Long glanced at him and laughed, "My deafness is only occasional; many people in the courtyard know about it."
It's normal that you don't know.
"After all, you have a large family, and you're all busy working to earn money to support your families. How could you possibly have time to care about an old woman like me?"
"Pah, stop spouting nonsense and threatening me. I'm not buying it. Remember this: good and evil will eventually be rewarded."
"You got your comeuppance yesterday with a perforated eardrum. Be careful, the last perforated eardrum could make you completely deaf..." Old Shen, who was older than her, scolded her without any politeness.
To be honest, Old Shen hates Granny Long and Yi Zhonghai the most.
The family of three was able to operate the boiler, all thanks to Grandma Long and Yi Zhonghai.
When I moved into the compound back then, I never expected that the people there would band together for mutual support, with Old Lady Long leading the way, and secretly take action against Zheng Daotong. I couldn't stand it and said a few words that offended them, so Old Lady Long went to the factory and persuaded Lou Bancheng. With the help of Yi Zhonghai and his disciples, they created momentum and sent him to the boiler room to work as a boiler operator.
The eldest and second sons of the Shen family were originally apprentice fitters, but they were both sent down to the boiler room by Yi Zhonghai to work as boiler operators and suffer hardships.
Yi Zhonghai and Granny Long fantasized about using this method to force the Shen family into submission, hoping to save them so that the Shen family would take care of them in their old age and see them off in death.
After all, the Shen family has five sons and two daughters, with many sons, so they don't have to worry about their parents taking care of them in their old age.
Back then, Old Lady Long initially set her sights on the Shen family's sons to support her in her old age. She conspired with Yi Zhonghai to take care of the Shen family's third and sixth sons as mistresses, but Old Shen sternly refused.
It should be noted that at that time, Old Lady Long and Yi Zhonghai's original intention was good. By keeping the son of a family in the same courtyard as their mistress, they could unite this family to expand their influence, consolidate their dominant position in the courtyard, and act tyrannically.
Although the starting point wasn't noble, the intention to help the Shen family live a better life was genuine.
Unfortunately, Old Shen was stubborn and would rather starve than abandon his child, which made people gossip about him.
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