Chapter 87 Taking the blame?

She didn't react just now and saw He Daqing and Jia Dongxu, both of them were arguing that they were the ones who stole the pocket watch.

Xiao Hutao then realized that they wanted to take the blame for Li Jiandong.

Since even He Daqing and Jia Dongxu were willing to do this, Xiao Hutao felt that she should do it without hesitation.

However, as soon as Xiao Hutao finished speaking, Li Huilan also stood up.

"Sister Hu Tao, you are the only one in your family. If you are taken away, what will happen to your little Tao?"

"Besides me, there is Lao Zhao in my family. Don't fight with me for this pocket watch. I stole it. Come and catch me."

Ma Cuihua, the eldest sister Ma in the backyard, also spoke up.

"Huilan, your child hasn't been weaned yet. If you go in, how will Old Zhao take care of him alone? My three children are all sensible. With the care of an uncle, I believe they can all grow up. I stole this pocket watch, so don't say anything more."

"No, I stole it."

"I stole it."

"Stop arguing. All of us men are still alive. So how can you women speak up?"

"I stole this watch, Chief Hu, please take me away immediately."

He Daqing simply stretched out his hands and put them in front of Hu Haodang. The others also scrambled to have Hu Haodang handcuff them.

This scene almost made Hu Haodang cry.

Damn it, who the hell is Lao Li that so many people are willing to take the blame for him?
He just said that he wanted Li Jiandong to find someone because he wanted him to pay some money.

However, even if someone were to pay, not everyone would be willing to do it. After all, stealing something worth 600 yuan would result in a heavy sentence. Who would be willing to be locked up for five years for a small amount of money?
I didn't expect that so many people would come to help Li Jiandong without him having to spend any money.

Among them, even He Daqing and Jia Dongxu were cadres. It would be fine if they were people with nothing who dared to take the blame for others out of loyalty.

But these two were clearly living a life of luxury and were willing to take the blame, which made Hu Haodang unable to understand.

Xu Kai was also shocked. Don’t these people know how serious a crime it is to steal something worth 600 yuan?
We don't really want to send Li Jiandong in jail, why are you making trouble?
He shouted at Hu Haodang:
"Chief Hu, you are an experienced security guard, you should be able to see that they all want to take the blame for Li Jiandong. We should attach importance to evidence when doing things, and the evidence is to prove that the pocket watch was stolen by Li Jiandong. You should quickly have someone bring Li Jiandong back to the factory, and we will handle the rest of the matter internally."
Xu Kai knew the purpose of his coming here today, and it was meaningless for him to catch other people.

Only when he brings Li Jiandong back will his mission be completed.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Hu Haodang smiled at him contemptuously.

He said with disdain:

"Director Xu, I, Hu Haodang, don't need you to tell me how to handle the case."

After saying that, regardless of Xu Kai's anger, he asked Li Jiandong, "Old Li, choose one, who should I take away?"

He Daqing and others looked at Li Jiandong, and everyone's eyes showed a determination.

Li Jiandong was very moved. When he first arrived at the Siheyuan, he was wary of everyone, but now so many people are willing to step forward and take the blame for him.

This shows that there are still more loyal and righteous people in the hospital.

you get what you sow.

The reason why the courtyard houses in the past made people angry was because the upper beams were not straight and the lower beams were crooked. Now that everyone is so united, it proves that the direction Li Jiandong is taking is correct.

Li Jiandong was very happy that everyone was willing to take the blame for him.

But, he would not really let them do that, and he would not be in trouble anyway. It was just that everyone stood up so enthusiastically just now that he was so moved that he forgot to speak.

Now that his mood has gradually calmed down, Li Jiandong said:

"Chief Hu, don't be anxious. Let me ask the old lady a few questions first."

The deaf old lady was also shocked by the scene of everyone defending Li Jiandong.

She just couldn't understand why so many people were willing to take the blame for Li Jiandong.

She was the one who put the pocket watch into the rice jar of Li Jiandong's house with her own hands. She knew better than anyone that Li Jiandong was framed.

However, the frame-up failed, which made her very angry, and she looked at Li Jiandong with a ferocious expression.

"Li Jiandong, what else do you want to ask? I'm telling you, no matter what others say, I saw with my own eyes that you stole my pocket watch and put it in the rice jar. I won't change my story no matter what you say."

Li Jiandong looked at the deaf old lady with some pity. When she is old, it is really easy for her to be taken advantage of.

He shook his head and asked the deaf old woman:

"Old lady, do you remember why you were imprisoned last time? At that time, you fully met the conditions for applying for the five-guarantee household. However, because you deliberately lied when providing information, you were sentenced to two years."

"He was sentenced to two years just for lying. If you didn't lie but concealed the necessary information to apply for the five-guarantee household, how many years do you think you should be sentenced to?"

The deaf old lady felt something was wrong, but she hadn't figured out what was wrong yet.

She said to Li Jiandong warily: "Li Jiandong, what on earth do you want to say? I don't understand what you mean."

"You don't understand? Then I'll explain it to you."

Li Jiandong smiled slightly and said slowly,
"Listen, Xiaohua. One of the conditions for applying for the five-guarantee status is that the applicant must not own a house or any other property worth more than 100 yuan, otherwise the application will not be approved. If you subsequently have a job income, you should immediately apply to give up the five-guarantee status."

"I remember that after you came out of prison, you reapplied for five-guarantee status and are still getting money from the street every month. Now you suddenly say you have a watch worth 600 yuan. You concealed such important information and defrauded the state's subsidies for five-guarantee households. How many years do you think you should be sentenced to?"

Hu Haodang also reacted at this time.

He laughed and said, "How many more years? I think directly shooting her is already a light sentence. Even if she is not shot, she should be sentenced to at least ten or twenty years. Old lady, can you live more than ten years?"

Xu Kai now understood what Li Jiandong meant.

He didn't expect that the old lady was actually a five-guarantee household. How could a five-guarantee household have such a valuable gold pocket watch?

The old lady's expression began to change.

Xu Kai quickly shouted, "Li Jiandong, now we are talking about your theft. The five-guarantee households are not under the jurisdiction of our steel mill, but your work style is under my jurisdiction."

Li Jiandong glanced at him and said, "Director Xu, I'm talking about the problem of theft."

He then looked at the deaf old lady and said with a smile: "The old lady is old, her eyesight is not good, and her brain is not good. She even forgot her own name before, and maybe she also forgot whether she really has a gold pocket watch. Do you think I am right, old lady?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I don't have a gold pocket watch. That watch belongs to Li Jiandong. I am a five-guarantee household, how could I have a gold pocket watch? I remembered it wrongly."

The deaf old lady suddenly spoke loudly.

Anyway, the gold pocket watch was not hers, so there was no need to put herself in jail for that thing.

If he follows the steps given by Li Jiandong now, the most he will lose is the hundred yuan that the man promised to give him.

However, if she continued to hold on to Li Jiandong, even if Li Jiandong would be arrested for theft, she would still have to go to jail for defrauding the five-guarantee household.

At that time, even if that person gave me a hundred dollars, I would have nowhere to spend it.

The deaf old lady is not a fool.

She was just blinded at first by the hundred yuan and the possibility of knocking down Li Jiandong.

Now that Li Jiandong had reminded him of this, he betrayed Li Huaide on the spot.

Xu Kai's mouth was twisted with anger.

This old lady was too unreliable, but he knew in his heart that today's task was impossible to complete.

So, I could only hum angrily:
"Old lady, next time something happens, think it over carefully before you speak. Because of what you said, there was almost a misunderstanding between Director Li and me."

"Yes, yes, I will think it over carefully next time. I will definitely think about it."

The deaf old lady was now very timid and did not mention anything about the rice jar and the gold pocket watch in Li Jiandong's house.

Hu Haodang also said cheerfully: "It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Old lady, you are so old now. Don't make the same misunderstanding again in the future. Otherwise, misunderstandings can also kill people."

The deaf old lady nodded repeatedly. She just wanted to get over this matter as soon as possible. Xu Kai was too embarrassed to stay here any longer.
He bowed to Li Jiandong and said, "Director Li, I'm really sorry this time. I didn't know that the old lady was so stupid. Anyway, I was wrong this time. I'll treat you to a meal another day to make amends."

"Easy to say."

Li Jiandong nodded, not even bothering to be polite to him.

After this incident, he had completely broken off relations with Li Huaide and his gang.

It would be a bit too hypocritical to say polite words at this time.

Xu Kai also knew that they had lost miserably today, so he said, "Then I'll leave first."

Then, without waiting for Hu Haodang and the others, he left alone.

He Daqing and others watched this dramatic scene and it took them a long time to come back to their senses. They had already prepared themselves to be tortured.

In the blink of an eye, everything was gone and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Old Li, you're in trouble. I almost thought I was doomed just now."

He Daqing suddenly punched Li Jiandong in the chest. If Li Jiandong's physique had not been strengthened, an ordinary person might have been knocked breathless by this punch.

Hu Haodang also laughed: "Yes, Lao Li is worthy of being a man who has done so many great things. His brain reacts quickly. Just now, even I, an old security guard, thought that you could only find someone to take the blame. I didn't expect you to turn the tide with just one sentence."

"And your popularity really makes me envious. So many neighbors are willing to protect you. How many benefits do you usually give them?"

Hu Haodang looked at He Daqing and others. These people could not all be tamed by just spending money.

There must be feelings between them, he was just joking.

He Daqing laughed and said, "I don't know about others, but Lao Li and I developed a relationship through drinking."

When Hu Haodang heard this, his eyes lit up: "Really? What a coincidence, me too, how about we get together some other day?"

"Why do we do it another day? Let's do it today. I'll go buy some groceries later and we can have a good time together. Dongxu and Hejiecheng can come over for a drink later."

Yan Jiecheng was the last to arrive. After Li Huilan stood up, he was intercepted by Yan Bugui and rushed out to help Li Jiandong.

Of course, Yan Bugui didn't want to help Li Jiandong, but he felt that the price was too high. So when he heard that He Daqing only invited others this time and not himself,

He also knew that he was in the wrong and was too embarrassed to step forward. He even thought about finding an opportunity another day to ask Li Jiandong to make amends.

In fact, Li Jiandong didn't blame him at all.

After all, not everyone has the courage to take the blame, so Li Jiandong would definitely be grateful if others were willing to take the blame for him.

If he didn't want to, Li Jiandong wouldn't hold a grudge against him.

To be honest, Li Jiandong did not expect He Daqing and others to take the initiative to stand up.

Hu Haodang, like He Daqing, is a man of strong character. Since the other party invited him, he would just stay.

He asked a few team members to go back first, and Li Jiandong rode his scooter with He Daqing and Hu Haodang. The three of them went to the vegetable market to buy meat and vegetables. On the way back, they bought some wine from the department store.

Li Jiandong spent 20 yuan just on buying wine, and neither He Daqing nor Hu Haodang rushed to pay.

After returning to the courtyard, He Daqing began to prepare cooking.

The security department where Hu Haodang works is quite far from Canteen 4, so they usually get their meals in Canteen or eat out directly.

It is rare to get to eat He Daqing's cooking, not to mention that the cafeteria only serves big pot dishes, which do not reflect He Daqing's level.

Today was his first time to taste He Daqing’s cooking. He was astounded after taking just one bite.

"Hey, Lao He, your cooking skills are pretty good. It tastes better than the Liuquanju restaurant I often eat at."

Hu Haodang has a high income and also works as a delivery boy, so he often eats out at restaurants. The one that suits his taste best is Liuquanju, but the food isn't as delicious as He Daqing's.

He Daqing said without any modesty: "Of course, the chef of Liuquanju is my senior brother. Although he is my senior brother, he is not as talented as me. I often cook big pot meals after entering the steel rolling mill, and my skills have been wasted. Otherwise, this dish is delicious."

He Daqing might brag about other things, but when it comes to cooking, he has reason to be proud.

Hu Haodang ate He Daqing's dishes and praised them highly.

I couldn't help but ask Li Jiandong, "Lao Li, do you have any extra rooms in your courtyard? How about I move in and live with you? The food Lao He makes is really delicious, and the human touch in our courtyard is really strong, which is many times stronger than our courtyard."

Although Hu Haodang's courtyard is not as crowded as the others, everyone does their own thing and no one schemes against others and no one is willing to help others.

The scene of He Daqing and the others standing up just now made Hu Haodang envious from the bottom of his heart. He also hoped that one day when he gets into trouble, someone would be willing to stand up and help him at all costs.

Of course, if someone else gets into trouble, he will definitely try his best to help.

Li Jiandong said, "It would have been better if you had mentioned this a few months earlier. At that time, we had just driven the old lady out of the backyard. Now that house is occupied, how about I reserve a room for you in the tavern dormitory building?"

Houses in Nanluoguxiang are very scarce. Once a vacant room becomes available, it is immediately snatched up and you can’t even stay there for three days.

However, the tavern dormitory building belongs to Courtyard No. 40. It is only listed on the street, but the rent and income belong to the entire courtyard.
Li Jiandong has always kept a few rooms for relatives of the compound residents to stay in when they come to visit. It is not impossible for him to use one of them.

"Forget it, I'll wait until someone in your courtyard moves out before coming back. You'd better remind me then."

Hu Haodang still wanted to live near Li Jiandong and He Daqing. Although the tavern was not far away, it always felt like something was missing.

The atmosphere on Li Jiandong's side was harmonious and everyone was eating enthusiastically.

On the other side, Li Huaide listened to Xu Kai's report with a grim face.

"Huaide, this Li Jiandong is extraordinary. I have never seen anyone as popular as him. When people in the hospital knew he was in trouble, they all stood up to protect him. Five or six people took the blame for him. We couldn't do anything to him."

Although Xu Kai is Li Huaide's man, he can't help but admire him when he thinks of the scene just now.

Yi Zhonghai was also at Li Huaide's house.

Today's event is so important that he definitely wants to get the news as soon as possible. Li Huaide also promised to help him return to the steel mill and even promote him to a cadre.

So, he didn't go down to collect the "junk" today.

After hearing Xu Kai's words, Yi Zhonghai frowned.

"Director Xu is right. Li Jiandong is very good at winning people's hearts. He has the money to invest in a tavern, but he wants to make money with the whole hospital. He killed a wild boar during the Chinese New Year and didn't have enough for himself, so he had to share it with others. It's my fault for ignoring this point. At that time, we shouldn't have held the scene in our hospital."

Yi Zhonghai knew that Li Jiandong was very popular in the compound.

But he really didn't expect that the people in the hospital would protect Li Jiandong so much.

However, for Yi Zhonghai, it doesn’t matter. No matter who wins, he will not lose anything. The only ones who will lose are Li Huaide and the deaf old lady.

Li Huaide failed to frame someone this time, but instead lost a gold pocket watch worth 600 yuan. Even he would feel the pain of losing such a valuable item.

But compared to being elected as the director of the Political Affairs Office, a gold pocket watch is nothing.
After seeing off Yi Zhonghai and Xu Kai, Li Huaide closed the door and returned to the house.

At this time, his wife Ye Xiaoning came out from the inner room. She had heard what Li Huaide and the others had said outside just now.

At this moment, seeing Li Huaide's worried face, Ye Xiaoning said to him:

"Huide, it seems that what Li Jiandong told you is a little different. Someone like him who is so good at winning people's hearts will definitely not easily yield to others. I'm afraid it's impossible for you to win him over."

Ye Xiaoning lives in a family with a big leader, so he has his own way of looking at people and things.

However, she is still young and has a narrow vision, and she cannot understand what it means to exchange true love for true love.

In her opinion, Li Jiandong's good popularity means he can win people's hearts, and only ambitious people would want to win people's hearts.

For example, her husband, Li Huaide.

Li Huaide had a similar idea to Ye Xiaoning. Before, he thought that Li Jiandong was just a technician who had reached his current position step by step with the help of his skills.

But what happened in Yard 40 today made him change his mind. It is not something that ordinary people can do to let so many people take the blame for him.

(End of this chapter)