1952: Walking through Nantongluo Alley

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Zhang the Mute led a group of men in a menacing manner to Blind Li's house. He pushed hard on the slightly worn gate, causing the hinges to creak. However, before anyone even set foot inside, a faint, delicate fragrance filled their nostrils.

The aroma seemed to possess a magical power, causing Zhang Yaba and his companions to stop in their tracks and twitch their nostrils, trying to discern what it was. With just a quick sniff, their faces lit up with realization, instantly understanding the distinct aroma of stewed chicken.

Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke. The atmosphere became a little solemn. At this moment, everyone knew clearly that it was Blind Li who stole the old hen that Zhang Yanba had raised for a long time.

Among this group of people, there were some fence-sitters who had originally held an attitude of not helping either side and were just there to watch the fun. But now that the matter was clear, they quickly changed their stance and stood on Zhang Yaba's side without hesitation.

"Oh, Zhang the Mute, I'm so sorry! It was all our fault before. We shouldn't have blamed you for wrongly accusing Blind Li." One of the fence-sitters said with a flattering look on his face.

Another fence-sitter quickly chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, we should have trusted your judgment a long time ago. How could we have doubted you and Blind Li from the start?"

Seeing this, the others followed suit, apologizing and expressing their loyalty, as if they were afraid that if they fell behind, they would anger Zhang the Mute. The whole scene suddenly became noisy and chaotic.

After hearing everyone apologize to him, Zhang Yaba didn't show any concern on his face. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he shook his head gently, expressing his disapproval. You know, he has never been the kind of narrow-minded or stingy person. He just waved his hand casually, his movement seeming so free and natural.

Then, he slowly spoke, "Don't be so suspicious, everyone. This isn't a big deal at all. Actually, there wasn't any conclusive evidence to prove that Blind Li was the one who stole the hen! So, it's only natural for everyone to have some suspicions and speculations. It's completely understandable!"

As soon as Zhang Yaba said this, everyone present was stunned. They had originally expected Zhang Yaba to take advantage of the situation and attack them, but they didn't expect him to be so magnanimous and forgiving. Not only did he not blame them for their previous misunderstandings and accusations, but he even went so far as to excuse them. As a result, everyone turned their eyes to Zhang Yaba with admiration and praise. At this moment, Zhang Yaba's image in their minds instantly became tall and majestic, like an insurmountable mountain, commanding admiration.

However, Zhang Yaba had no idea at that moment that this seemingly insignificant incident would later bring him unexpected and enormous rewards. He had lost only an ordinary old hen, but soon, he would be compensated with the coveted position of village chief. Of course, this was all in the future. At this moment, Zhang Yaba continued to live a peaceful and simple life as usual, unaware of the glory and opportunities that would soon befall him...