Chapter 86: Character Collapse

Sure enough, after dinner, around seven o'clock, Liu Guangfu came to inform us that a meeting of the entire institute would be held in a while. Today happened to be a holiday and almost everyone was there.

Soon after Zhang Xingwang arrived, the central courtyard was surrounded by people. Two old men had come early and were waiting. Only then did Yi Zhonghai sit down at the table with the help of an old lady.

Originally, Liu Haizhong came to him and told him that there were some matters to be resolved in the courtyard and there would be a meeting in the evening. He was still wondering about it, but then Jia Zhang happened to come over with a bowl of meat soup, saying that the meat was bought with great effort, but the price was a little high, so the old man should drink it quickly while it was hot.

As for the meat, Jia Zhang said that she let her son Bang Geng eat it without paying attention. Yi Zhonghai felt annoyed when he heard this, thinking that he could not give Jia Zhang money anymore, as he had only spent more than twenty yuan in the past few days.

I drink soup every day, and the Jia family has obviously gained weight. How much money will it cost to wait for the leg to heal if this continues?

I didn't think about what Liu Haizhong said, thinking that his IQ was not enough to cause any trouble, so I agreed without thinking.

Xu Damao hadn't seen anyone for two or three days, and this incident had little to do with him. Seeing that most people had arrived, Liu Haizhong coughed, then stood up and gave his opening remarks with his big belly sticking out.

According to the previous style, after a few words, it should be Yi Zhonghai's turn, but this time Liu Haizhong was obviously prepared, and he didn't stop talking and got straight to business:

Everyone is having a hard time these days. Zhang Xingwang told me at noon that two families in the front yard of our compound only have one meal a day, and another family in the middle yard is expected to run out of food the day after tomorrow. There are still seven or eight days before the start of the month before salaries are paid.

Zhang Xingwang said that he had reported this to the old man for several days but there was no action, and he suspected that the old man in our compound was not doing anything. I didn't know about this before, I have to reflect on it, but as an old man in the compound."

Then he turned his head and glanced at Yi Zhonghai with contempt, and continued passionately:

The first uncle is injured and can't take care of it, so I, the second uncle, will take care of it. As the uncle in charge of the courtyard, I am here to set an example for everyone. No matter what the result is today, I will definitely help these families and take care of them to the end. "

After he finished speaking, the crowd started chattering. It seemed that the second uncle must have secretly memorized these few sentences for a long time.

Yi Zhonghai was stunned at this moment. Was he stabbed in the back by the second brother? This was to ruin my reputation and poke my lungs!

He had originally intended to help, and at most he could just hold a meeting in the courtyard to talk about it and go through the motions. But the main reason was that he was getting very anxious because the Jia family had been spending money like water recently and the deaf old lady was eating meat.

Besides, he himself lived a frugal life and saved all his money for retirement. He also wanted to wait until his legs and feet were better and stop the Jia family from buying meat before discussing this matter.

Unexpectedly, Liu Haizhong took advantage of the opportunity. However, considering his ability, he was not so smart. I guess someone gave him advice. Zhang Xingwang must be one of them. I just don't know if Yan Bugui next to him was involved.

After thinking it over for a while, he slowly stood up with the help of his cane, bowed to everyone in the questioning eyes, and said with a guilty look:

"I did not do well in this matter. Zhang Xingwang did tell me a few days ago that he would help the families in need in the hospital." After a pause, he continued under everyone's complicated gazes:

“I had planned to discuss this matter in a meeting yesterday, but my leg didn’t recover well, so it was delayed.

I would also like to express my opinion. As a senior official in the hospital, no matter who brings it up, as long as there is someone in the hospital who needs help, I will definitely help them without hesitation.”

After all, Yi Zhonghai still had some mass support in the hospital. What he said was both to gain sympathy and unambiguous. Everyone also understood in principle. After all, only three families were harmed, and they did not fall on the stick.

Seeing this situation, Zhang Xingwang knew it was time to fan the flames, and he started:

"Everyone, listen to me and say something fair. This old man was indeed injured recently and is recuperating at home.

But there are three uncles in this courtyard. It’s not possible that if something happens to one of the uncles, the courtyard will be without a backbone, right?

The support cannot stop just because of one person."

Seeing everyone's indifferent looks, Zhang Xingwang knew he had to do something ruthless, so he continued:

"Although the first uncle was injured, I still have to say a few words about his faults today. I heard that after I told you about my help, you had meat at home every day, and you didn't even think of asking the second and third uncles to solve the problem.

I was so busy replenishing my own nutrition that I forgot about helping others. If I hadn't been unable to bear it and found the second uncle, he wouldn't have known about this.

So an uncle should not be too selfish, and as an uncle in the courtyard, he should not only think about himself."

After Zhang Xingwang finished speaking, Liu Haizhong immediately stood up and went on stage. Yan Bugui also shook his head with a smile, listening with great interest.

These words made Yi Zhonghai feel embarrassed. His calm face began to turn pale, and Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, unable to utter a word for a long time.

The way people in the courtyard looked at Yi Zhonghai changed from indifference to shock and envy. They were shocked because they felt that the image of an old man had completely collapsed and was totally inconsistent with what he usually said. They were envious because they felt that the old man was still rich and ate meat every day.

Seeing this, Zhang Xingwang started to perform again and said to the second uncle:

"Since Second Uncle is in charge of this matter now and has set an example, I would like to express my opinion. My family has been doing relatively well recently. Our Zhang family has helped Uncle Liugen's family, which can be regarded as relieving Second Uncle's pressure."

Liu Haizhong originally felt that all his efforts were in vain after listening to what Yi Zhonghai said, but he did not expect that there would be a sudden turn of events.

Thinking that Lao Yi couldn't hold his head up this time, when he heard Zhang Xingwang support him so much, he immediately smiled and said "good". His expression was like a big rocket thanking his old friend.

Then he took out a stack of banknotes and said with great emotion:

"Here's thirty yuan. The remaining two families are indeed in difficulty. This is a small token of my gratitude to you and Uncle Three. We are all from the same courtyard. Those who have money can contribute money, and those who have strength can contribute strength. If the remaining amount is not enough, I will make up for it."

Yan Bugui had been silent today. He stood up and nodded to everyone with Liu Haizhong and smiled. It seemed that he had been corrupted by the second uncle with money.

After listening to this, Yi Zhonghai was thinking about what to say, but Jia Zhangshi was not happy. She had watched the play for a long time, and it didn't matter if she donated money for relief, as she wasn't going to donate anyway. But if his family didn't get any relief, her uncle and aunt would not be able to tolerate it.

He immediately stood up and said to Liu Haizhong in a sarcastic tone:

"Second Uncle, if you are talking about relief, why is our Jia family not included? My Dongxu has a leg injury and can't go to work, and my daughter-in-law is pregnant."

As he said this, he looked at Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu also cooperated with tears in her eyes. She lowered her head slightly and posed like a loving mother. She slowly stroked her bulging belly with her hands. She looked so pitiful.

At least Sha Zhu was already addicted to watching it, and today Sha Zhu didn't say a word the whole time.

It's not that he had nothing to say, but he was just here, and in his heart he was still thinking about what the old lady said about finding a matchmaker to introduce him to a date, so he didn't really listen at all.

Only at this moment did he have some reaction when he looked at Qin Huairu. As for Jia Dongxu, Jia Zhang said that holding a meeting was nothing, so she just let her precious son rest at home, and she didn't go out at all.