Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Chapter 1628 Compromise Between the Two Sides
The village chief returned from Banggeng's cave dwelling in a huff.

"I'm furious."

Brother Wei smiled and said, "Village Chief, don't be angry. I have a way to solve this."

He whispered his plan in the village chief's ear.

The village chief originally wanted to resolve the matter peacefully to avoid escalating the situation. Since Qin Huairu didn't want to reconcile, then he shouldn't be blamed.

"Go and call over the families who stole the chickens from the barn, and make arrangements with them."

I'll go talk to Banggeng's parents one last time. If they don't agree, Banggeng can stay in our village as an old bachelor for the rest of his life.

Brother Wei excitedly ran out to look for the person.

The Northwest is a poor place, and it's not close to towns or county seats.

It's particularly difficult to buy things in this place, especially meat.

Even if you have the money, you can't buy it.

Banggeng eats chickens in the village. Some are sold to him by the villagers, and some he steals. He kills the chickens first and then pays them extra at the end.

The villagers, seeing that the amount of rice stalks they received was generous, didn't complain. They even used this method to make money off the rice stalks.

If Qin Huai hadn't acted so recklessly, it wouldn't have counted as stealing a chicken.

But if Qin Huai doesn't know what's good for her, then they shouldn't blame them. A whole village can't be bullied by just one woman.

As long as Banggeng has a stigma, their village has a reason not to issue a letter of introduction for Banggeng.

Without a letter of introduction, Banggeng will never be able to return to the city in his lifetime.

"Bang Geng's mother. We've discussed it. The Wei family has agreed to your demands."

However, I still have something to settle with you.

"The 'banggeng' has been coming to our village for several years, stealing hundreds of chickens, as well as rabbits and goats."

Qin Huairu's eyes reddened: "You're talking nonsense. Our Banggeng is a good boy."

The village chief sneered, "Good kid? You should ask him yourself."

Banggeng got anxious and said, "I bought it. I already paid for it. It was one yuan a chicken, so I'll give you two yuan."

The village chief said, "I admit that you did give two yuan."

But that's your punishment.

No matter how much money you offer, it won't change the fact that you stole chickens.

Our village discussed it and decided to report it.

Qin Huairu still wants to argue her case based on reason.

Yi Zhonghai knew that this wouldn't work. The village was clearly pushed to the limit by her attitude; this was retaliation against them.

"Brother Village Chief, how about this, let's discuss it and find a proper solution. What do you think?"

The village chief didn't want to escalate the situation, so he went out of the house to give them space to discuss it.

Upon seeing Brother Wei, I asked, "How's it going? Is everything arranged?"

Brother Wei smiled and said, "Your word is law in our village."

"You've given your orders; who dares disobey?"

The village chief snorted: "Look at the mess you've made."

I'm warning you, from now on, make sure your wife stays away from sticks.

That guy Banggeng isn't a good person. What if he really has bad intentions towards your wife...?

Brother Wei didn't seem to mind and said with a smile, "Village Chief, Banggeng's parents came here this time to take Banggeng home."

Your worries are unnecessary.

The village chief asked, "They have the ability to bring Banggeng back to the city? Did they find Banggeng a job?"

Brother Wei thought of Qin Huairu's letter and said, "Don't worry about it. If it weren't for bringing Banggeng back to the city, why would they have come together?"

By the way, why is Banggeng's dad so old?

The village chief said, "That's Banggeng's stepfather."

Brother Wei was taken aback: "Bang Geng's mother isn't bad-looking either, how could she have fallen for such a useless old man?"

Qin Huairu also asked herself this question.

Seeing how successful Yi Zhonghai was in Beijing, no one would have imagined that he would become a useless person outside of Beijing.

Despite all that commotion, Yi Zhonghai didn't contribute anything.

"Zhonghai, why are you stopping me?"

Yi Zhonghai said, "Huai Ru, don't worry, let's ask Bang Geng first what happened." Qin Huai Ru had no choice but to ask Bang Geng.

Unable to hide the truth any longer, Banggeng said, "I didn't steal, I took."

Look at this place, there's nowhere to buy anything.

I went to them to buy some, but they said chickens are for laying eggs. I couldn't buy anything even with the money.

I have no choice but to act first and inform them later.

Besides, I did pay in the end.

This kind of fallacy only works within the courtyard house. Outside the courtyard house, nobody believes it.

Qin Huairu was dumbfounded: "Zhonghai, what should we do?"

Yi Zhonghai looked at Banggeng with a sense of disappointment, feeling that this child had really gone astray.

He had a habit of stealing chickens and dogs since he was a child, and Yi Zhonghai did countless things to smooth things over to cover for him.

I thought things would get better once I grew up and became more sensible.

But to my surprise, it grew crooked the longer it grew.

He's in Beijing, and he can't even afford one chicken a month. Bang Geng, on the other hand, lives in this godforsaken place in Northwest China, and he eats two or three chickens a month.

Qin Huairu knew something was wrong the moment he saw Yi Zhonghai's expression.

She said with a wronged expression, "Zhonghai, Banggeng is still a child. I will teach him properly when he gets back."

Yi Zhonghai looked at Qin Huairu and couldn't help but soften. Even if Bang Geng had a thousand faults, he was still Qin Huairu's son, and her only son.

Based on this alone, he can't ignore the joke.

Yi Zhonghai sighed helplessly, worrying about his retirement.

Qin Huairu is indeed filial, and now that she's his daughter-in-law, he won't have to worry about who will take care of him in his old age.

Filial piety cannot be converted into money. Without money, one will have to live a hard life in old age.

His current hope is that Bang Geng can live up to his potential, go back and find a good job, and earn money to support him in his old age.

"Huai Ru, they are trying to use the future of Bang Geng to force us to make concessions."

If we don't back down, Bang Geng will be a chicken thief. Whether he'll be arrested is another matter.

Once he's branded with this crime, Bang Geng won't be able to return to town.

They want to leave the skewer here as revenge.

Qin Huai panicked upon hearing this. She didn't want to lose the money, but she also didn't want Bang Geng to suffer here.

"Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head bitterly: "We are unfamiliar with this place and its people."

I can't find anyone.

Huairu, give up.

Putting everything else aside, getting the stick dog back to town is the most important thing.

Banggeng needs a letter of introduction from his village to return to the city.

If you offend them, you won't get a letter of introduction.

"If Bang Geng comes back with us like this, there won't be any quotas. He won't be able to find work either."

Banggeng understood and cried, "Mom, take me back. I don't want to stay here anymore. Life here is too hard."

Qin Huairu glanced at the dark and thin Banggeng, a helpless expression on her face.

She angrily slapped Banggeng's back and complained, "Why can't you just give me a break? Do you know how hard it is for me to earn money in the city?"
Four hundred yuan! I couldn't earn that much even if I didn't eat or drink for a whole year.

Bang Geng didn't dare to resist or dodge, letting Qin Huairu's hand slap him on the back.

"Mom, when I get back to Beijing and make a lot of money, I will definitely take good care of you."

Qin Huairu's hand remained raised in mid-air, never falling.

After a long while, she could only accept her fate.

"I've had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to have a son like you."

After letting the matter drop, Qin Huairu discussed with Yi Zhonghai how to gain more benefits.

There's really nothing to fight for. They want to do something, but they don't dare ask the villagers for help.

Finally, they made one request: that the village issue them a letter of introduction.

The village chief was eager for Banggeng to leave, so he readily agreed.

(End of this chapter)