Liu Haizhong and his son Liu Guangtian quickened their pace to catch up with Wang Dabao and Xu Damao ahead of them.
"Brother Da Bao, what do you think of what happened today?"
"How can you tell? Sha Zhu must have offended someone, and they're just trying to annoy him!" Wang Dabao said as they walked.
Liu Guangtian stood to the side like a well-behaved child, nodding his head like a chick pecking at rice: "Uncle Dabao is absolutely right, he hit the nail on the head. Speaking of which, Shazhu has been arrogant and domineering in the compound, and he has offended quite a few people."
"I've only been living here for a few days, so I don't know much about the previous situation in the compound."
Wang Dabao pulled out a Da Zhong Jiu cigarette from his pocket and swiped it around. "But it was just smashing a window and throwing a pair of underwear. The person who did this kind of petty thing probably doesn't have much of a grudge against Sha Zhu. According to Guang Tian, it will be very difficult to find this person unless there is a witness."
Xu Damao, who was listening nearby, sighed: "We should have made a fuss about what the deaf old lady said. Then Jia Dongxu would probably have to whip Sha Zhu with a stove hook, hehe!"
"Xu Damao, I think you think the compound isn't chaotic enough."
Liu Haizhong snorted coldly, turned around and slapped Liu Guangtian on the back of the head, "If you talk nonsense again next time, I'll beat you when we get home."
"Alright, Lao Liu, Guangtian didn't mean it. He was just joking. But the old woman took it seriously. Doesn't that just show that she has something to hide?"
Wang Dabao tried to smooth things over for Liu Guangtian.
After pausing for a moment, he patted Xu Damao on the shoulder: "Even if the deaf old lady said that, the Jia family wouldn't believe it. After all, Qin Huairu has been under Jia Zhangshi's nose the whole time. She couldn't possibly have time to have an affair with Shazhu. At least for now, she doesn't have time."
"Besides, this kind of thing can't be investigated too deeply. If we really take it seriously, we'll end up dragging Guangtian into it. It's not worth it. It's better to just let it go while we're ahead."
Liu Haizhong and his son listened in stunned silence.
If Xu Damao hadn't been there, Liu Haizhong would have immediately showered him with flattery. A leader is a leader; his sense of the big picture is something ordinary citizens can't match.
But in reality, Wang Dabao just didn't want to linger there any longer and wanted to hurry back to take a nap.
"Brother Da Bao, you have a deeper understanding of issues, which is something we should all learn from."
Liu Haizhong solemnly addressed Wang Dabao, “Moreover, you have done my Guangtian a great favor today. I also thought that if the deaf old woman insists that it was Guangtian who said it, Yi Zhonghai will definitely believe it, and then my Guangtian will be in trouble.”
Wang Dabao waved his hand: "They all live in the backyard, and Guangtian even calls me uncle. Do you think I'd just watch him get bitten by Yi Zhonghai?!"
"That's definitely not possible."
Liu Haizhong's eyes were already small, and now, with his fawning smile, they were narrowed into slits. "Brother Dabao, tomorrow, just tomorrow, you must come to my house for a drink."
Wang Dabao was taken aback. "You little rascal, Liu Haizhong! So that's what you were waiting for all along. All of this was just a setup."
"Old Liu, I've been a bit busy lately, so I'm not sure about the timing."
Wang Dabao chuckled.
"It's alright, we'll have a good drink when you're resting." Liu Haizhong chuckled.
Xu Damao, who was listening to the conversation between the two, was a little confused. When did these two become so close? He didn't even know. Besides, how come Liu Haizhong, that old man with such a big official air, has suddenly become so approachable and speaks to Wang Dabao with such politeness?
Xu Damao's intuition told him that something was amiss, but after thinking it over and over, he still couldn't figure out the reason.
When Wang Dabao got home, he checked the time. It was 5:10. He could still nap for another two hours.
When Wang Dabao woke up in the morning, he took a basin to the Intermediate People's Court, queued up to get a basin of cool well water, and then went back to brush his teeth and wash his face. After that, he pushed his bicycle and went to work.
I had only taken a few steps when I felt a venomous gaze fixed on me from behind.
He turned his head to look behind him and saw that there was no one there. Then he looked to the side and saw that the old woman's window was open a crack. He guessed that the old woman had been peeking at him through the crack in the window.
Those who speak ill of others behind their backs and curse them behind their backs will eventually have no descendants!
After saying that, Wang Dabao hummed a 21st-century tune and walked out of the backyard.
I heard a window slam shut behind me.
Sometimes Wang Dabao was quite puzzled. What was so good about Sha Zhu that made him so pleasing to the old deaf man?
There were quite a few young men in the compound who were about the same age as Sha Zhu, including Jia Dongxu, Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, Yan Jiecheng, and the son of Old Zhou from the front yard, whose name I think was Zhou Shengli. So many people couldn't compete with Sha Zhu.
Is Sha Zhu beautiful, kind-hearted, and has a pleasant voice?
What exactly is it about him that makes him look so mature? He's in his twenties but looks like he's in his forties. To say he looks naturally old would be a compliment. What's so appealing about his orange-peel-like face?!
Is it because he is kind-hearted?
Come on, he's only kind to the deaf old lady and Qin Huairu. But his kindness is relative; if he doesn't like you, he'll relentlessly harass you. The biggest victim is Xu Damao; he got kicked so badly his balls were broken, effectively ending the Xu family line.
With that mouth of Sha Zhu, not only does he offend people the moment he opens his mouth, but he also has a really bad tongue, and he's so annoying that you just want to punch him.
However, when facing a deaf old lady, perhaps Sha Zhu's words can make her happy.
When Wang Dabao walked to the middle courtyard, he saw Jia Zhangshi sitting at the door sewing shoe soles. She would look up at the well after sewing two stitches, probably because the shoe soles were already worn smooth from her hands.
Many women were queuing up to draw water by the well, chatting and laughing, making it quite lively.
Looking further north, Wang Dabao understood Jia Zhangshi's actions.
It turned out that Sha Zhu was standing at his own door, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, happily watching Qin Huairu, one of the women among a group of women by the well.
Wang Dabao sighed, "This problem has no solution!"
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