Siheyuan: Struggle in the Red Era

After dinner, Liu Guangqi notified the compound to hold a meeting.

Chen Zhaodi silently moved the small stool and went to the front yard with Hu Meihua and her family of three.

When almost everyone was present and the three old men were in place, everyone realized something was wrong.

Usually, the meeting is initiated by the eldest uncle, and is held after the three uncles have communicated with each other. The second uncle opens the meeting, and the first uncle talks about the theme. If a document issued by the street office is to be read, the third uncle will do it. If conflicts within the courtyard are to be resolved, the first uncle will preside over it.

In short, the first uncle makes most of the decisions, the third uncle occasionally takes the spotlight, and the second uncle, who can't do anything else, acts as a host and presides over the opening ceremony...

But today is different.

It was obvious that the first uncle had a stern face, the third uncle had a smiling face, and the second uncle was particularly energetic.

Also, wasn't tonight the time to settle the matter between the Jia and Xu families? Why were the Jia and Xu families, the parties involved, sitting in the crowd instead of sitting in the front?

Before everyone could figure out what was going on, the second uncle stood up and spoke.

"Hello everyone, today's meeting is mainly for Xiao Li, who thinks I am highly respected and can uphold justice."

“Hahaha~~” Someone in the audience burst into laughter: “Second Master is highly respected~~”

"Second Master is right. I do think so."

Xiao Li stood up, interrupting the laughter, and said loudly: "Today's meeting was specially held by me, Uncle Er. Uncle Er, please continue."

Liu Haizhong was unhappy at first, but after Xiao Li said this, he became proud again. He glanced at Yi Zhonghai and laughed, "See, I am better than you. Everyone, Xiao Li, knows that I am highly respected."

He puffed out his belly and said, "I didn't expect that Xiao Li was so insightful. He saw that I was upright and fair and could make the decision for him. So, I won't refuse. I will make the decision for him. Well, Xiao Li, what's wronged you? Come on, tell me."

There was another burst of muffled laughter from below.

Xiao Li came out and stood to the side of the table, facing everyone.

"I'm sorry for wasting everyone's time tonight. Let me apologize to you all here first." Xiao Li bowed to everyone.

Without waiting for everyone's reaction, he continued, "I asked Second Master to convene this meeting mainly because I heard some inexplicable rumors. Since I have never spread, proved, or said such rumors or similar words, I came here tonight to explain them to you all."

He looked around and said seriously, "I'm a technical secondary school student. I believe everyone knows this."

Everyone nodded. "That's right, Xiao Li, you are a technical secondary school student, so when you came to the factory, you joined the technical department, earning more than 30 yuan a month. There will be a salary increase next year, so you can earn more than 40 yuan."

Xiao Li smiled and said, "Yes, the salary of technical secondary school students is good, but this is also because I studied hard. I studied for ten years from elementary school to junior high school."

Some people calculated the tuition fees and said, "Ten years. Your family was willing to support your education. Before liberation, you could have bought several acres of land with this money. Aren't you from the countryside? You said your family was a poor peasant. How did you have the money to study so much?"

Xiao Li nodded and said, "Yes, my family was a poor peasant, but there was a private school in our village. The teacher was my uncle. He was kind-hearted and saw that I was smart and eager to learn, so he confiscated my tuition and allowed me to learn elementary school knowledge. Later, after liberation, thanks to the leadership of the Party, we were given land, and my family allowed me to continue my studies. I was quite talented, so I was able to be admitted to a technical secondary school. After graduation, I contributed to the construction of the country."

"Oh, this uncle is quite kind."

"Well, he has come at a good time. If he still supports the Democratic Party, he would be dreaming of studying."

Some people also felt sorry that they couldn't catch any evidence against Xiao Li. However, they still had to go to the countryside to investigate. Maybe Xiao Li was lying?

After Xiao Li finished introducing these, he continued: "I say these, not to show off, but mainly to say that in the ten years I studied, in order to pass the exam and save money, I was either studying or on the way to study. Especially after liberation, I have not been anywhere except school and the village."

The smart ones already understood what he was going to say.

"So, although my family is in Xinghua Village, Changping, I am really not familiar with the surrounding villages. If someone hadn't told me today that Jia Dongxu's wife is from Changping like me, I would have no idea that there is a big sister from the neighboring village in this courtyard."

Some aunties and grandmas looked at Qin Huairu and laughed softly.

"Similarly, if I hadn't been assigned to this yard and worked in the factory, I would have never known or recognized the old man."

Yi Zhonghai's face looked very dark.

"So, today I heard some rumors involving me, especially those that are sure that I said it, saw it, etc., all of which are not true. I solemnly declare here: these words have nothing to do with me at all. I deny that these words have anything to do with me. If anyone has a dispute because of these words in the future, don't come to me."

After finishing such a long speech, Xiao Li felt relieved and said to everyone again: "That's all I want to say. If you want to pass on messages in the future, don't drag me into it. I've already said it in advance. Don't cause trouble in the future and drag me into it again."

He smiled and said, "Although I don't know how much you will listen to my statement, I am responsible for what I said today. If someone wants to use me to spread rumors, then I will ask the public security comrades to talk to him."

After that, he specifically pointed at Uncle Jin and Fang Daming and said, "You, yes, you, asked me where my home was yesterday. I didn't say anything else except that my home was in Xinghua Village, Changping."

Uncle Jin Fang Daming nodded reluctantly.

Xiao Li was satisfied, and then said to everyone: "Okay, that's all I want to say. Thank you, Second Uncle, for your warm-heartedness and love of justice. You held this meeting for me to clear my name. I have said everything I want to say. Second Uncle, what do you think?"

Liu Haizhong had been coaxed into attending the meeting by Xiao Li, who brought him a bottle of Erguotou. However, he had never expected that Xiao Li would say these things at the meeting.

If we talk about the processing and spreading of the rumor, he also contributed a lot. Now that Xiao Li cannot be brought out to testify, how can people believe the rumor?

Xiao Li even said that he would go to the police. I am so annoyed by this Xiao Li. Why does he always go to the police? Where does he put his uncle?

Being called out by Xiao Li, Liu Haizhong had no choice but to stand up and say, "Well, Xiao Li said it very well, and that's what I want to say. Everyone, be careful when you speak in the future and don't make up stories."

After saying a few random words, he looked at Yi Zhonghai again: "Old Yi, do you have anything to say? If not, let's end this conference."