Yi Zhonghai had always been quite resistant to the idea of calling the police.
Firstly, once the Comrade Police arrived at the Courtyard after being called, everyone would naturally have to listen to the Comrade Police.
This would greatly diminish his authority as the First Master of the Courtyard.
Secondly, calling the Comrade Police once or twice was fine, but if it happened too often, the Comrade Police would get annoyed, and the feedback to the street would be why the South Gong and Drum Lane No. 95 Courtyard was always calling the Comrade Police.
The street office would then send people to the Courtyard to question the Three Great Masters.
Therefore, not only Yi Zhonghai, but Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui also preferred to resolve matters within the Courtyard, resorting to calling the Comrade Police only if they couldn't be resolved internally.
Yi Zhonghai didn't like the Comrade Police coming to the Courtyard, but of course, he couldn't tell everyone that directly.
His reason was that calling the Comrade Police would affect the Courtyard's evaluation for being an 'Advanced Courtyard'.
This reason was unassailable.
It firmly bound the interests of all Courtyard residents together.
After all, if they were recognized as an 'Advanced Courtyard', the street office would issue rewards to the Courtyard.
These usually consisted of a combination of one catty of meat coupons, a thermos, a towel, an enamel basin, and so on.
Though not much, who wouldn't like free stuff?
“We are here to inform all areas that a dangerous criminal has been on the loose recently, repeatedly evading our pursuit.”
“The Courtyard must raise its vigilance. Do not go out wandering at night. Once you discover a stranger, you must thoroughly check their information.”
“If you encounter a dangerous situation, call for help immediately. Do not rush in blindly on your own.”
The Comrade Police explained with a serious expression.
“I understand. I will tell the Courtyard residents.”
Yi Zhonghai nodded repeatedly.
“Alright, we still need to go to the next place.”
The Comrade Police were about to leave but suddenly stopped: “What’s going on with you all? Is there something happening in the Courtyard?”
“Nothing much, just a small matter. We can resolve it internally.”
Yi Zhonghai said with a smile.
“Alright then, we’re leaving.”
The Comrade Police waved their hands, rushing to the next location to remind the public.
The criminal had been on the loose, and the Comrade Police had not been able to catch him in two days.
To avoid causing a greater impact and to prevent the criminal from harming the public, the Public Security went door-to-door to notify everyone, while also patrolling to deter the criminal.
After the Public Security left.
“Everyone heard it, right? Comrade Police told us for the second time, everyone must keep it in mind.”
“Old Yan, you are responsible for guarding our Courtyard's main gate. Make sure to watch it closely.”
Yi Zhonghai shouted loudly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll close the gate on time at night, ensuring no one gets in.”
Yan Fugui replied.
“Alright, everyone can disperse now.”
Yi Zhonghai started walking back.
Before he could reach home, Jia Zhangshi rushed over, grabbing Yi Zhonghai: “First Master, my family’s matter cannot just be left like this.”
“Then what else do you want?”
Yi Zhonghai looked helpless.
“Chen Jianye has to compensate my family! He ruined all the preferential treatment my family had from the Security Section.”
Jia Zhangshi said as if it were a matter of course.
“Chen Jianye says he has no money. I can’t just hold him down and let you cut out his kidney to sell.”
“What can I do?”
Yi Zhonghai spread his hands.
“Then I’ll go report it to the Public Security!”
Jia Zhangshi said indignantly.
“Go ahead, they haven’t gone far yet, hurry and catch up.”
Yi Zhonghai pointed towards the main gate of the Siheyuan (Courtyard).
Jia Zhangshi didn't move.
She knew in her heart that if this matter went to the Public Security, she wouldn't get their support.
After Yi Zhonghai went home, Jia Zhangshi stomped her foot heavily.
After standing at the Chen Family's door for a while, Jia Zhangshi returned home with a reluctant expression.
It was truly impossible to get anything from Chen Jianye.
If she could have even squeezed out five or ten yuan, Jia Zhangshi would have haggled for a while longer.
Jia.
“That beast Chen Jianye, he completely ruined our Jia Family.”
“Bang梗, when you grow up, you must not let him off.”
Jia Zhangshi's heart was erupting like a volcano, and she could only pin her hopes on the Jia Family's only male descendant.
“Mm, I definitely will.”
Bang梗 raised his small fist.
“And me, and me too! I won’t let him off when I grow up either.”
Xiao Dang chimed in.
“Alright, alright, you go over there. When you grow up, you’ll become someone else’s wife anyway.”
Jia Zhangshi waved her hand in disgust.
In Jia Zhangshi's eyes, having daughters was a complete burden.
Their only use was to bring back some bride price when they got married.
Could that small amount of bride price compare to the investment of raising a daughter?
“Hmph, Grandma looks down on people.”
Xiao Dang was very indignant.
“Mom, why are you saying these things to the children?”
Qin Huairu was a little displeased.
“If I don’t tell Bang梗, should I tell you? Can you do anything to Chen Jianye?”
Jia Zhangshi glared.
Qin Huairu had nothing to say.
How could she, a pregnant woman with a big belly, do anything to Chen Jianye?
“That beast, I must make him childless.”
“From now on, whenever he goes on a blind date, I’ll go and ruin it for him.”
“Let him rub his own bed board.”
Jia Zhangshi gritted her teeth.
“Grandma, why would Chen Shu rub his bed board?”
Bang梗 asked, puzzled.
“Nothing, you’re a child, don’t ask.”
Qin Huairu quickly ruffled Bang梗’s little head, telling him and Xiao Dang to go aside.
Once they had gone a little further, Qin Huairu looked at Jia Zhangshi and chided: “Mom, when the children are present, can you please watch your language?”
“This is how I talk! You manage everything under the sun, and now you’re managing me, is that it?”
“There’s no such thing as a daughter-in-law managing her mother-in-law in this world. You’re truly rebelling against heaven.”
Jia Zhangshi was furious.
Qin Huairu turned and left.
In the blink of an eye, Jia Dongxu had been gone for nearly a month, and heaven knows, Qin Huairu had not received any comfort during this time.
She was a normal woman; how could she not have needs?
When Jia Zhangshi spoke vulgarities, Qin Huairu heard them, and her heart grew flustered; she truly couldn't bear to listen.
Jia Zhangshi cursed in the room for a long while.
Only when she was tired did she finally collapse onto the bed and sleep.
The night was long.
Time flowed quietly.
Two o'clock in the morning.
Chen Jianye opened his eyes.
He got up and skillfully put on his clothes, checking the bamboo baskets, the old-fashioned scale, and the four overflowing baskets of crops in his Lingquan Space.
A satisfied smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The second batch of mature crops from the Lingquan Space had already been harvested.
Tonight, he planned to sell them at the Black Market.
Chen Jianye couldn't eat all these high-quality grains produced from the Lingquan Space by himself.
And they weren't like old hens that could lay eggs and be raised long-term.
Storing them in the Lingquan Space wasn't very useful.
Rather than that, it was better to sell them on the market.
Perhaps a few families might survive during the famine years because of the grain he sold.
It could be considered doing a good deed.
He walked out of the room and closed the main door.
Chen Jianye was about to head out.
Bang!
Bang!
Faint landing sounds echoed.
Chen Jianye narrowed his eyes.
His gaze fell towards the front Courtyard.
His five senses were extremely sharp, especially on a quiet night; any significant movements within the Siheyuan (Courtyard) couldn't escape his ears.
And at this moment, Chen Jianye could confirm that the two consecutive sounds were definitely caused by someone climbing over the wall to enter the Courtyard, the sound of their feet landing.
