Chapter 58 Severing Ties

Seeing that her teammate failed to provide backup, Mrs. Jia shrank her neck and retreated.

This move wasn't a surrender; it was a strategic withdrawal to preserve her strength.

Yi Zhonghai had originally hoped that Mrs. Jia's disruption would successfully divert everyone's attention.

Who could have guessed that Mrs. Jia was completely useless.

Left with no choice, he could only shoot a glance at Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui had no desire to meddle in Silly Pillar's family affairs.

However, as the Third Head of the courtyard, it wouldn't look right if he didn't step forward.

Shaking his head and swaying slightly, Yan Bugui stepped forward holding his enamel teacup: "As the old saying goes, harmony in the family brings prosperity to all, a flourishing nation brings peace to the realm, brotherhood is worth more than gold, sister-in-law harmony keeps the family together, a puppy will bite when it grows up, a daughter will naturally become clever..."

"Are you reciting couplets here?" Li Aiguo interrupted him.

"Couplets are the crowning jewel of our national culture. Oh, by the way, did you know how many names a couplet has?

Parallel couplets, door couplets, spring scrolls, spring couplets, antithetical pairs, pillar inscriptions... Isn't it fascinating?

Let me write the couplets for your household this year, and I guarantee the writing fee will be the lowest in the entire city."

Yan Bugui blinked his small eyes.

Seeing that Yan Bugui had started doing business on the spot, Yi Zhonghai could only give a light cough to remind him: "Old Yan, let's talk about the main point."

Yan Bugui nodded and said:

"Right, right, we were just talking about family harmony bringing prosperity.

Do you all know the origin of this proverb?"

You don't know?

Come, let me tell you.

It originates from The Dog-Killing Record by an anonymous author of the Yuan dynasty.

Highlight this, it's going to be on the final exam..."

Xu Damao, well-versed in acting as the comedic foil, grinned and said, "Teacher Yan, your learning is truly profound. If certain people read a bit more and had some conscience, they wouldn't do things like bullying widows and orphans."

Yi Zhonghai rolled his eyes in frustration at the back-and-forth between the two.

He could finally see that Yan Bugui had no intention of getting involved.

This old fox was genuinely scared out of his wits by Li Aiguo!

Muttering inwardly, Yi Zhonghai looked at He Yushui with a smiling face: "Yushui, I'll say it again. No matter how many mistakes Silly Pillar has made, he is still your brother, and you cannot sever ties with him."

He Yushui's expression dimmed slightly, and she instinctively looked toward Li Aiguo.

"What business is it of yours? Are you the director of the neighborhood committee, or a public security officer?"

"I... I am the First Head of this courtyard."

Li Aiguo's merciless words made Yi Zhonghai lose all face. Wanting to retort but finding no justification, he could only emphasize his status.

Li Aiguo glanced at Yi Zhonghai and turned to Xu Damao: "Did you see that, Brother Damao? The First Head can now manage other people's household affairs. In the future, after you marry Lou Zhenghua's daughter, remember to bring your new bride to greet the First Head morning and night."

Xu Damao picked up the cue: "Do I have to kowtow to him as well? Doesn't that make him a local tyrannical landlord?"

Seeing the topic circle back to a 'local tyrannical landlord,' Yi Zhonghai annoyedly pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Let's drop the beating around the bush. I'll put my words right here today: as long as I am standing here, He Yushui will not even think about severing ties with Silly Pillar."

He strode right up to He Yushui, pointed at the bridge of her nose, and said harshly, "Your brother goes to the police station one moment, and the next you want to sever ties with him. You are simply a conscience-lacking ingrate!"

Things had reached a deadlock, and the only remaining tactic was moral kidnapping.

Once He Yushui was pinned with the reputation of an ingrate, even Li Aiguo wouldn't dare to help her.

*Click.*

Before his voice even faded, a silvery, gleaming pistol barrel was pressed right against the center of Yi Zhonghai's forehead.

The room instantly froze, just like a snapshot captured by a camera.

Yi Zhonghai's mouth hung open, his hands raised, not daring to move an inch. His expression looked utterly comical.

Liu Haizhong was so frightened that the fat on his face quivered violently.

Qin Huairu stared at Li Aiguo, her eyes glowing; this gun looked so large and real.

Yan Bugui wanted to step forward and mediate, but he was terrified that Li Aiguo might actually pull the trigger.

No one had expected Li Aiguo to have a gun.

And even less did they expect that Li Aiguo would actually dare to pull it out. The residents were too scared to make a sound.

Yi Zhonghai's whole body began to tremble, feeling a sudden wave of warmth in his lower abdomen, yet he still didn't dare to move a single muscle.

Li Aiguo nudged Yi Zhonghai's forehead with the gun barrel: "Driving a young girl to the point of hanging herself was bad enough, and yet you still dare to spout such nonsense here, truly treating yourself like a local tyrant? Today, I represent the masses and execute you on the spot!"

Yi Zhonghai instinctively raised his hands higher, his body swaying as he nearly fainted from fright.

At that exact moment.

Director Wang from the neighborhood committee, who had witnessed the entire process, walked in from outside with a dark expression.

"Comrade Aiguo, I already know the truth of the matter. Please put the gun away first."

Li Aiguo pressed the gun against Yi Zhonghai's head once more: "The residents elected you as the First Head to serve everyone and guard against enemy infiltration, not for you to throw your weight around. If you ever dare to bully the residents again, I will deal with you like a local tyrant!"

"I won't dare anymore, I won't ever dare again!"

Li Aiguo slowly pulled back the pistol, slid it into his pocket, and sat down on the chair Xu Damao had brought over.

Yi Zhonghai's legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

It was the first time Director Wang had ever seen Yi Zhonghai scared to this extent.

She thought to herself: Only someone like Li Aiguo, who plays by his own rules, could ever handle an old slippery fish like Yi Zhonghai.

Director Wang cast an approving look at Li Aiguo, walked up to Yi Zhonghai, and said with a cold face:

"Well, well, Comrade Yi Zhonghai, you are something else. A regular old feudal patriarch, aren't you?"

"Director... you've misunderstood. I was only doing this for He Yushui's own good."

Having regained some composure, Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth against the lingering panic and explained (or rather, defended himself): "He Yushui is just a young girl. If she leaves the He family, how is she supposed to live in the future?"

"I only had her best interests at heart..."

"Who says He Yushui is leaving the He family?"

Li Aiguo pushed away the paper fan Xu Damao was using to fan him, stood up, walked forward, and turned to look around at the surrounding residents: "The He family's house is private property, not Rolling Mill property. He Yushui is a member of the He family, and logically she has a rightful share of it too. Even if she severs ties, He Yushui does not need to leave the He family."

"A little girl, once she gets married, is like poured-out water; how could she possibly claim a share of the property? It's utterly ridiculous..."

Mrs. Jia instinctively wanted to hurl an insult, but upon catching Li Aiguo's glare, a cold sweat broke out across her spine, and she instantly clamped her mouth shut, not daring to make another sound.

Director Wang nodded in agreement: "Nowadays, the state advocates for gender equality. He Yushui stands on equal footing with Silly Pillar."

Hearing Director Wang's words, Yi Zhonghai panicked: "Director, you surely don't agree with letting He Yushui sever ties with Silly Pillar, do you? This concerns the reputation of our entire neighborhood."

Director Wang glared at him: "Old Yi, compared to a mere reputation, I care far more about the well-being of the residents in my jurisdiction."

"I saw everything that happened just now. The neighborhood committee asked you all to mediate and help He Yushui.

Instead, you people pushed a young girl to the brink of hanging herself."

"Do you really want to act like a local tyrant now?"

"Do you want Li Aiguo to execute you?"