After discussion, it was agreed that Sha Zhu would pay a total of one hundred yuan for the furniture and compensation, while the Jia family would bear the rest.
If Sha Zhu hadn't been injured and unable to move around easily at the police station, he would never have had to pay that extra fifty yuan.
Of course, Yi Zhonghai will need to help pay this money upfront, and Sha Zhu will have to pay it back slowly after he gets out.
After leaving the police station, Yi Zhonghai and his apprentice Jia Dongxu calculated on their way back to the compound that they would need to give Xu Damao about 300 yuan. After deducting the 100 yuan from Sha Zhu, the Jia family would have to pay 200 yuan.
Jia Dongxu's vision went black; he almost met his maker.
He just got demoted and fined three months' salary, and now this happens. How is his family supposed to make ends meet?
Yi Zhonghai supported Jia Dongxu's arm and said, "Dongxu, go back and talk to your mother properly. He should have money. This matter concerns Banggeng's future. We have to take care of the child. Money spent is money spent, we can earn it back later."
“Master, I’m afraid my mother can’t come up with that much either. Xu Damao is too ruthless. How can he just ask for two hundred yuan like that?”
Jia Dongxu's heart was bleeding. Now that his salary had been reduced, how long would it take him to earn back those two hundred yuan?
"Let's see how much your mother has first. I don't have much on hand either. Zhu Zi just asked me to lend him some money, and he can pay me back slowly after the paycheck is paid."
Yi Zhonghai let out a long sigh of relief. "When I offered twenty as compensation before, Xu Damao only said he would consider it and did not refuse outright. It seems that someone gave him some advice during this period, which is why he is sticking to two hundred."
After Yi Zhonghai's reminder, Jia Dongxu realized what was going on and asked, "Master, who do you think this person is?"
"Who else could it be? Can't you tell who Xu Damao has been hanging out with lately?"
"I knew it was that bastard Wang Dabao."
Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth, "That kid is no good. He's everywhere. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been demoted, and we wouldn't have caught Bang Geng so quickly this time."
"Your foot injury hasn't healed yet, sit down and rest for a while."
Yi Zhonghai helped Jia Dongxu sit on a large rock by the roadside, then took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to his apprentice.
Jia Dongxu took the cigarette and then realized that he hadn't seen his master smoke in years: "Master, this...didn't you quit smoking?"
"I've had too many worries lately, so I just bought a pack on a whim."
After lighting the match, Yi Zhonghai handed it to Jia Dongxu. "Speaking of Wang Dabao, Lao Yan and Lao Liu have been getting quite close to this kid lately. They seem to be following his lead. I thought about it all night, but I couldn't figure it out."
“Recently, my prestige in the courtyard has been declining. Although I haven’t seen or heard it, I can guess that many neighbors are talking about me behind my back, and they might even be cursing me.”
Jia Dongxu smoked silently, sensing what Yi Zhonghai was saying.
Previously, none of the neighbors openly opposed Yi Zhonghai; even Liu Haizhong could only resort to underhanded tactics.
But ever since Wang Dabao moved into the compound, things have become more complicated there. Moreover, Yan Bugui, Xu Damao, and Liu Haizhong seem to be getting closer to Wang Dabao, which is not a good sign.
"Master, we have to think of something."
"Wang Dabao is no pushover; we'll have to think long and hard to deal with him!"
After a while, the master and apprentice got up and continued their journey to the compound.
Yi Zhonghai helped Jia Dongxu into the courtyard, where they saw Wang Dabao, Yan Bugui, and Xu Damao sitting happily chatting at the door of Yan Bugui's house.
"Hey Lao Yi, what brings you and Dongxu back at this hour?"
Upon seeing the two, Yan Bugui stood up and stepped forward to speak, "Dongxu, your foot isn't fully healed yet. Why don't you use a crutch? It's nothing to be ashamed of."
Yi Zhonghai first glanced at Wang Dabao and Xu Damao, who were sitting still, before answering Yan Bugui: "Dongxu and I took leave this afternoon and just went to the police station to see Zhuzi and Banggeng. It was a long walk, and Dongxu's feet can't take it anymore."
Then Yi Zhonghai looked at Xu Damao and said, "Are you busy this afternoon? If not, issue the letter of understanding. Dongxu and I agree to your compensation terms."
"OK."
Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's long face broke into a wide grin.
Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Dongxu and I will come to your house to find you in a while."
After saying that, Yi Zhonghai helped Jia Dongxu to the Intermediate People's Court.
"Brother Da Bao, you were absolutely right."
Xu Damao rubbed his hands vigorously, "I, Xu Damao, always keep my word. You get eighty of the two hundred yuan compensation. I'll cook some good dishes and have some drinks tonight."
"Hey, wait a minute, why is Brother Da Bao eighty here?" Yan Bugui said, a little confused. "And hey, bring me along tonight too, I'll bring the drinks."
"Hey, Uncle San, you're the only one who dares to drink that wine. You probably don't even know how much water you added."
Xu Damao felt a little smug thinking about the compensation he was about to receive. "Why don't you ask Auntie San to fry some peanuts and bring them over?"
Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, hesitated for two seconds, and then nodded resolutely: "Okay, it's settled then. By the way, you haven't mentioned the eighty yuan yet."
"Ah, that's how it is..."
Xu Damao tilted his head and rattled off a string of words, and Yan Bugui finally understood.
So Wang Dabao earned eighty yuan just by talking, which was much easier than the last time he worked with me.
"Alright, I'll stop here for now. I need to go home and wait for these two."
Xu Damao said goodbye to the two men, pushed his bicycle, and returned to the backyard.
"That bicycle is really something!" Yan Bugui looked enviously at Xu Damao's disappearing figure, then turned to look at Wang Dabao's bicycle parked to the side.
"Hmph."
Wang Dabao got up and prepared to leave, saying, "If you live like this, Lao Yan, you'll be able to buy a bicycle next year."
"Even if you have the money to buy a car, you still don't have the ticket."
"Then let's buy a second-hand one. It's cheaper, and we can just clean it up and use it."
As Yan Bugui watched Wang Dabao push the cart away, the last sentence still echoed in his mind: "Buy it, wipe it down, and it'll still work!"
Yan Bugui slapped his forehead. "That's why Da Bao is so clever. If all else fails, just buy a second-hand one, tidy it up properly, and it'll be as good as new."
Most importantly, it's cheap and doesn't require a ticket.
Yan Bugui is like he's possessed; now all he can think about is bicycles.
The Jia family of the Intermediate People's Court.
Not long after Jia Dongxu returned home, the sounds of Jia Zhangshi cursing and Qin Huairu sobbing came from inside the house.
Ten minutes later, Jia Dongxu went straight to Yi Zhonghai's house.
“Master, my mother only has a little over 130 yuan, and she needs to borrow some from you.”
This outcome was exactly what Yi Zhonghai had anticipated. What was remarkable was that Jia Zhangshi was still willing to contribute over a hundred yuan, which speaks volumes about the importance of the stick.
Yi Zhonghai nodded: "I've also prepared some. Let's go check on Xu Damao."
"Master, thank you so much. I will definitely pay you back as soon as possible."
Jia Dongxu thanked Yi Zhonghai repeatedly, but whether his gratitude was genuine or not was unknown.
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