Chapter 41: Mrs. Jia Threatens to Report Them

Inside the Jia family residence, Qin Huairu was busy changing Bang Geng’s diaper. Hearing a commotion outside, she picked up the baby and walked to the doorway. Her eyes fell upon the two-wheeled bicycle parked outside, and she found herself unable to look away. The bicycle’s pitch-black iron frame and gleaming silver rims sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight.

Moreover... it was so...

"Li Aiguo’s... is really big!" Qin Huairu’s mouth parted slightly, and she couldn't help but exclaim.

Jia Dongxu was lying on the bed, slacking off. He hadn't paid much attention to his mother, Mrs. Jia, who was busy cursing outside; after all, his mother cursed all day long, and it would only be strange if she didn't. However, upon hearing Qin Huairu’s words, he, already feeling insecure, could no longer contain himself.

Jia Dongxu scrambled into his shoes and ran over, his face twisted in anger. "Qin Huairu, what do you mean Li Aiguo’s is really big? Are you saying mine is small? What are you trying to say!"

Qin Huairu looked at him, bewildered. "Brother Dongxu, why are you so furious? I was talking about Li Aiguo’s bicycle."

"Ah..."

Jia Dongxu realized he had misinterpreted her. Unwilling to admit his mistake, he stubbornly retorted, "Regardless, you are not allowed to say Li Aiguo’s is big—not even the bicycle! Absolutely not!"

Qin Huairu was amused by his pettiness. She pointed at the bicycle outside and said, "Fine then, you go find me a bicycle bigger than Li Aiguo’s."

"I'll find one, what's the big deal... *hiccup*..."

Jia Dongxu stepped out of the house, caught sight of the bicycle, and the rest of his words choked in his throat.

"That beast! This brat Li Aiguo is truly a beast, to have managed to get his hands on such a huge bicycle."

"Wait, the supply and marketing cooperative doesn't even sell bicycles. He must have built this from scavenged parts!"

Mrs. Jia, having realized the same, said with a sinister expression, "Building one without paying taxes—that brat Li Aiguo has broken the law!"

Jia Dongxu raised his hand. "Mom, you keep him here; I’m going to report him to the neighborhood committee."

"Smack!"

Before he could finish, a blow landed on Jia Dongxu’s forehead.

"Mom, why did you hit me?" Jia Dongxu asked, aggrieved.

Mrs. Jia glared at him. "Are you stupid? For a matter like this, we must have Yi Zhonghai step in. He is the First Uncle of this courtyard, and it’s only proper that he handles such matters." She added, "Besides, do you really think you’re a match for Li Aiguo?"

"Right, right, right! Mom, you’re still the smart one." Jia Dongxu realized his mistake and gave her a thumbs-up.

Mrs. Jia crossed her arms, looking smug. "Of course. I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice."

***

Jia Dongxu scurried off to report to Yi Zhonghai, while Mrs. Jia took Qin Huairu out of their home and stood by the moon gate, waiting to watch the show.

...

"Aiguo, when I get married, I’m definitely going to ask you to be my groomsman."

"Don't worry, I’ll certainly bring you a generous gift when the time comes."

In the original story, Lou Xiao'e was a beautiful, wealthy woman with a curvaceous figure and long, firm legs—a prize catch. It felt like a waste to let her go to Xu Damao.

Li Aiguo chatted with Xu Damao as they walked toward the backyard. Just as they reached the moon gate, they saw Mrs. Jia standing there with a dark expression on her face. The moon gate was narrow to begin with, and Mrs. Jia, being stout and sturdy, blocked the path completely.

Li Aiguo had no patience for Mrs. Jia. "Good dogs don't block the road."

"Who are you calling a dog, you brat!" Mrs. Jia’s eyes widened.

"Whoever is blocking the road, that’s who."

"You bold brat, you dare insult me!"

"If you insist on thinking you're a dog, there's nothing I can do about it."

"You... you..."

Mrs. Jia was so furious her face turned red and her neck swelled; her body seemed to inflate visibly, much like a balloon.

Xu Damao chimed in with a sarcastic tone, "Old Mrs. Jia, tell me, why must you block the way when there’s a perfectly good path? Are you just asking to be insulted?"

Mrs. Jia regained her composure and sneered, "I won't argue with you now. When the First Uncle arrives, you’ll see what’s coming to you!"

As she spoke, Jia Dongxu arrived with Yi Zhonghai in tow. The Third Aunt was nearby at the water basin mending clothes with a group of other women; seeing the commotion, they all gathered around.

Before Yi Zhonghai could speak, Mrs. Jia pointed at Li Aiguo impatiently. "First Uncle, I want to report Li Aiguo for privately assembling a bicycle."

"Is that so?" Yi Zhonghai frowned, putting on an act while feeling ecstatic inside. *You brat, weren't you acting all high and mighty two days ago? Now that I’ve caught you in the act, I’ll force you to make a public confession!*

He failed to notice that the Third Aunt’s expression had turned peculiar.

Yi Zhonghai walked up to the bicycle with his hands behind his back, circled it once, and frowned. "Aiguo, tell us, what is going on here? The neighborhood committee has explicitly forbidden the private assembly of bicycles."

Li Aiguo replied coldly, "What if this bicycle wasn't privately assembled?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jia Dongxu burst into mocking laughter. Clutching his stomach and pointing at the bike, he said, "Li Aiguo, I know you have a sharp tongue, but you can't treat everyone like a fool. A bicycle this large isn't even sold at the supply and marketing cooperative. If it wasn't privately assembled, what is it?"

"How truly stupid!"

Li Aiguo reached into his pocket, pulled out the official approval document from the locomotive depot, and shook it. "See this? This is a bicycle awarded to me by the locomotive depot. If any of you think it was privately assembled, feel free to go to the locomotive depot and look for Section Chief Xing."

As soon as these words were out, Yi Zhonghai’s brow furrowed. Although he couldn't understand why the locomotive depot would reward Li Aiguo with a bicycle—let alone one so strange—the red seal on the approval document could not be faked.

"You're lying! The bicycles from the locomotive depot don't look like this..." Jia Dongxu started to protest, but Yi Zhonghai cut him off. With the official document in hand, what was the point of continuing to argue?

Yi Zhonghai offered an awkward smile. "Aiguo, this is all a misunderstanding. Mrs. Jia was just acting for the public good. Since it’s a misunderstanding and it’s been cleared up, let’s just leave it at that." He turned to the onlookers. "Alright, everyone, move along."

"Wait!" Li Aiguo called out.

The residents who were about to leave stopped in their tracks. Yi Zhonghai frowned. "Aiguo, what do you mean?"

"You wrong someone, and then you just want to let it go? Your position as First Uncle really is biased, isn't it?" Li Aiguo said coldly. "If I were to say right now that you’re having an affair with Qin Huairu of the Jia family, would that also be something we can just 'let go'?"

The courtyard erupted in laughter at his words.

Xu Damao seized the opportunity. "Exactly! As the First Uncle, you need to be fair. If you don't handle Mrs. Jia today, I won't be convinced."

The Third Aunt stepped forward, raising her hand. "Old Yi, Mrs. Jia has recklessly slandered a resident; this is harming the unity of our neighborhood. Our Yan family supports taking action against Mrs. Jia."

The Third Aunt’s words carried significant weight. Yan Fugui was the Third Uncle, and the five-member Yan family was considered a prominent household in the courtyard with considerable influence.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the Third Aunt in surprise, then immediately understood. The Yan family’s own bicycle was also privately assembled. If Li Aiguo were dragged down, it would certainly implicate the Yan family as well. He had been so misled by Mrs. Jia that he had completely forgotten that fact.