“What, He Da Qing still sends letters every month? I never heard of that.”
The postman He Yu Cheng had transformed into also spoke up: “I’ve heard about it, but the letters were always signed for by someone surnamed Yi. They said He Da Qing ran off with a widow, his children no longer recognize him, and he’s the First Uncle of the courtyard, so he took the letters and money.”
“Whoa!”
The courtyard exploded again. Yi Zhong Hai never expected his secret, hidden for seven years, to be exposed like this. And what did he just say? He said he had no money, but He Da Qing clearly sent He Yu Cheng and He Yu Shui living expenses. He had embezzled it all.
Yan Fu Gui calculated that the amount He Da Qing had sent back over the years. He sighed, "This cook really makes money, huh? Before he left, He Da Qing had the highest income in the courtyard, even more than Yi Zhong Hai. After all, his earnings were there for everyone to see. But who would have thought, he'd be able to send back twenty yuan every month in Baocheng!"
Seeing Sha Zhu’s dazed expression, he must have never seen any money or letters. He Yu Cheng and He Yu Shui were the same. The post office said the letters were signed for by the First Uncle of the courtyard. Did they need to ask where the things were?
“Hey, Old Yi, what can I say to you? He Da Qing sent the money for Yu Shui and Yu Cheng's living expenses. How could you be so heartless and keep it? And when Yu Shui cried to you about borrowing money to pay tuition, you said you had none?”
Yi Zhong Hai's head was about to explode. How could he explain this? It was impossible to explain. He Da Qing’s letter clearly stated that the money was for Yu Cheng and Yu Shui's living expenses and tuition fees. He had secretly kept it. Almost 1,700 yuan, plus the 300 yuan He Da Qing left when he left, that’s 2,000 yuan!
“Call the police! Yu Shui, go to the street office and find Director Wang. I want to see where this money is!”
“Yu Cheng, Yu Shui, don’t call the police. The money and letters are here, I’m keeping them for you.”
At this moment, He Yu Cheng’s split-self spoke up: “No, this is the First Uncle of the courtyard, right? What kind of person are you? He sent his children living expenses and tuition fees, and you’ve been keeping them all these years? What do you want to do? Cut off their father-child relationship? Make them resent their father? Do you have any morals?”
After the postman’s explanation, everyone understood. It was very likely that’s what happened!
“Comrade, it’s not like that, it really isn’t. The children were too young, and when their father left, they were so angry and resentful, so I planned to wait until they grew up to give them the money. It was for their own good, really!”
“Pfft! You can only fool those who don’t know. You even replied to them on their behalf, and told our colleagues that the children didn’t want to forgive him. Now you’re changing your story?”
How could he explain this? Yi Zhong Hai hated the postman at this moment. Why did he have to meddle? It was only because he was injured today that he didn’t go to the post office and collect the letter!
He Yu Zhu also looked at Yi Zhong Hai in disbelief and said, “First Uncle, did you really do this? Did you keep all the money and letters my dad sent?”
Yi Zhong Hai could hear the dissatisfaction in Sha Zhu’s words, so he explained, “Zhuzi, Yu Cheng, Yu Shui, the money and letters are really kept for you. The First Uncle earns almost a hundred yuan a month, how could he steal your dad’s money? But the money was for Yu Cheng and Yu Shui, I was just thinking, I saw that Zhuzi took good care of them, so I thought I’d wait until Yu Cheng and Yu Shui grew up and then give it to you. Really, I didn’t lie to you.”
Yi Zhong Hai wanted to die right now. The rope always snaps at the weakest point, and misfortune always finds those who are struggling. Why was he so unlucky recently? All the bad things happened at once?
However, the others clearly didn’t believe his words!
“Heh, First Uncle, the money is really all kept with you? Then why didn’t you say so when I went to borrow money from you? My father sends money every month, do you know how important this is for a child who doesn’t have their father by their side? Why did you secretly keep it?”
Now Yi Zhong Hai was completely unable to wash himself clean. He just explained that He Yu Shui borrowed money because he really didn’t have any, but now he’s saying that all the money He Da Qing sent was with him. So when He Yu Cheng and He Yu Shui needed money, why didn’t he give it to them?
“What are you even washing yourself clean for? It’s obvious he wanted to embezzle the money. Yu Cheng, Yu Shui, go report it to the police!”
He Yu Cheng’s split-self directly said what everyone was thinking!
Yi Zhong Hai was sweating profusely. If this matter really went to the police, he was finished. He didn’t need to think about his retirement anymore. He’d spend the rest of his life in prison! This was 2,000 yuan!
“Yu Cheng, Yu Shui, it’s true that the First Uncle did wrong. It’s just that you’re too young, and I was worried you’d spend the money recklessly, so I really planned to give it to you when you grow up. As for Yu Shui borrowing money, it’s because there have been so many things happening lately, I completely forgot. Wait, I’ll go get all the money and letters.”
Ignoring the pain, Yi Zhong Hai returned to his room, then took out an iron box and handed it to He Yu Cheng. “Yu Cheng, look, all the money and letters are here, I’ve kept everything, the First Uncle hasn’t touched a single penny.”
Did he think returning the letters and money would solve everything? Yi Zhong Hai was thinking too simply.
Of course, he couldn’t say those words himself. The postman split-self said, “Old Comrade, opening someone else’s mail is illegal, punishable by up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of 50 yuan. Moreover, you’ve been holding onto these two siblings’ living expenses for seven years, how many letters have you opened in these seven years? Over 80, right? What were you trying to do? Just by opening someone else’s mail, you’ll die in prison. Plus the two thousand yuan! Will you just return the money and be done with it? Little brother, I suggest you go report it to the police. They could fine him a few thousand yuan, that’s the least they can do. He might even get a bullet!”
Hearing the word ‘bullet’, Yi Zhong Hai trembled. He didn’t want to get a bullet. He begged, “Yu Cheng, Yu Shui, please don’t report it to the police. The First Uncle really knows he was wrong. In consideration of the fact that the First Uncle took care of you all these years, please forgive him this once?”
He Yu Cheng sneered, “You took care of us? When?”
Yi Zhong Hai thought back about how he had taken care of He Yu Cheng and He Yu Shui over the years, but he couldn’t think of a single instance!
“This…”
Seeing that Yi Zhong Hai was speechless, Yan Fu Gui sighed, “Old Yi, what can we say about you? Do you know that you almost ruined two children? When He Da Qing just left, how hard was it for Zhuzi? He was on an internship, earning sixteen yuan a month, taking care of his younger brother and sister, and paying for their education. We all felt sorry for the kids, but we couldn’t really help. It turns out it wasn’t He Da Qing who was heartless, it was you who were scheming all along!”
“That’s right! What kind of person does that?”
Everyone in the courtyard was ready to kick Yi Zhong Hai when he was down. He knew it, and was trying to figure out how to smooth things over.
“Zhuzi, you have to trust the First Uncle, please help me persuade Yu Cheng and Yu Shui, okay?”
While speaking, he kept gesturing to First Aunt. He couldn’t suppress this matter. He had to go to the backyard and ask Grandma for help!