"Old Yi, you don't need to worry about that. After all, it's a belt, not a whip. As long as it's used properly, it won't hurt you."
Wang Dabao gently comforted Yi Zhonghai, saying, "Moreover, Lao Yi, this will also help to resolve your guilt towards the children in a timely manner, and let everyone see that this is a win-win situation."
Yi Zhonghai hesitated, knowing full well that Wang Dabao wanted to embarrass him in front of everyone, but he just couldn't refute it.
In fact, there was no room for negotiation when he said he would voluntarily add more points, and Wang Dabao was just playing along.
"Okay, then I'll set an example. It's only right that you should be punished for doing something wrong."
With a forced smile, Yi Zhonghai said to Wang Dabao, "Since Brother Dabao suggested that Jie Kuang do the beating, then let the child do the beating with these ten belts. That way, I'll feel a little better."
Wang Dabao didn't care about Yi Zhonghai's attitude. What a joke! If he cared about Yi Zhonghai's attitude, he might as well find a block of tofu and kill himself.
They want to blatantly scam you, and they'll even lay the trap right in front of you so you'll willingly jump in.
"Hearing Lao Yi call me Brother Da Bao again put my mind at ease. It means that Lao Yi still agrees with my opinion," Wang Da Bao chuckled.
"Then let's go."
Yi Zhonghai snorted and turned to lean on the bench, but when he looked at the bench, he remembered that he had broken it.
Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and walked over: "Yi Zhonghai, you're the one who broke this bench. Why don't you reconsider and just buy the punishment you're being punished for? It's not worth getting a beating for something like this."
“We’ve worked together for so many years, and it’s embarrassing for me to see you get beaten up.”
As he spoke, Liu Haizhong's eyelids drooped, and he sighed heavily, as if he felt sorry for Yi Zhonghai.
In reality, Liu Haizhong was thinking about his eggs.
Eggs currently cost four or five cents each, that's the market price. Now Xu Damao has increased the reward to six yuan—how many eggs could he possibly eat then!
Although he really wanted to see Yi Zhonghai make a fool of himself, eating eggs was really delicious!
Whether stir-fried, boiled, or steamed, these dishes are all delicious. Why give up your appetite just to spite Yi Zhonghai? It's not worth it!
"That's right. Although we have conflicts and even got into a fight yesterday, Yi Zhonghai, you still had some authority in the compound before. I really can't bring myself to spank you."
Xu Damao also came over. Seeing that Yi Zhonghai was willing to accept punishment, his expectations began to drop sharply. Now, he only needed the other party to take out fifty yuan. He didn't care about a hundred or not. Fifty was not enough, but forty was negotiable.
Yan Bugui suddenly felt that the cracks on his glasses were getting bigger and bigger.
He hurriedly approached the group and said, "Old Yi, the bond we've built over so many years of working together can't be broken by a fight last night. Everyone has moments when they lose their temper. Let bygones be bygones, Old Yi, calm down!"
Seeing that Yi Zhonghai remained unmoved, Yan Bugui pressed on again: "It's not a good look to have my third son spank you. How will you put your face if word gets out? I think you should just buy it."
Yan Bugui's expression clearly said, "I'm doing this for your own good, Yi Zhonghai!"
Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, and Yan Bugui took turns trying to persuade Yi Zhonghai to hand over the money.
It seemed that the persuasion of the group had worked, and Yi Zhonghai did hesitate for a moment.
"I refuse to accept this, clang clang clang..."
A hoarse shout came from in front of Sha Zhu's house, accompanied by several knocking sounds.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Sha Zhu looking up at them, tapping the ground repeatedly with a broken piece of wood in his hand.
"If mistakes can be settled with money, then what's the point of rules? We can just put a price tag on everything." Don't let Sha Zhu's hoarse voice fool you; his voice carries a lot, and those two shouts are enough for everyone in the compound to recognize him.
Then came a few more clanging sounds.
"Does that mean that as long as I have money, I can do whatever I want in this compound, kick or slap anyone who dares to disobey me, and I can't report them to the police? So, if I have money, I can do whatever I want?"
"Silly Zhu, don't talk nonsense."
Yan Bugui was the first to jump out and reprimand, "If Lao Yi wants to buy the punishment, he needs Xu Damao's consent, otherwise he will still have to accept the punishment."
Liu Haizhong sneered: "Shazhu, what kind of thinking do you have? You still want to run rampant in the yard? Keep dreaming. No amount of money can change someone like you."
"Exactly, what a piece of trash. Even if you give me five hundred yuan, you're still going to get a beating."
Xu Damao chimed in, sticking his neck out.
Sha Zhu tried to sit up, but the movement aggravated the wound on his buttocks, and he cried out in pain as he fell back down.
"I'm not having it. What you're doing is breaking the rules. I'm going to report you to the neighborhood committee."
"Everyone, there's no need to say anything more. I've decided to accept the punishment, and I won't change my mind." Yi Zhonghai spoke with a strong voice and righteous indignation. "Although I'm no longer the manager of the compound, as a resident, I still have to uphold the rules of the compound. No one needs to persuade me anymore. Let Xu Damao and Yan Jiekuang do the beating."
Seeing this, Liu Haizhong and the others could only shake their heads and sigh; their six yuan had just flown away.
"Guangtian, bring me the stool I was sitting on."
Then Liu Haizhong looked at Yi Zhonghai again and said, "The stool you broke earlier, your compensation afterwards isn't unreasonable, is it?"
Yi Zhonghai nodded, "Don't worry, I broke it, I won't renege on my debt."
Soon, Yi Zhonghai lay down on the stool.
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