My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 60: Openly Repairing the Plank Road While Secretly Crossing the Chencang Pass

At this moment, Director Wang of the Subdistrict Office arrived at the entrance of Courtyard No. 95 with two other Subdistrict Office officials.

As the group walked into the front yard, they ran into Yan Fugui.

Upon seeing Director Wang, Yan Fugui quickly greeted him with a beaming smile, "Director Wang, what brings you here? Is there some instruction from above?"

Director Wang didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Comrade Yan Fugui, I received a report that Yi Zhonghai from your institute is hoarding silver ingots."

Upon hearing this, Yan Fugui blurted out instinctively, his face filled with disbelief, "You already knew about this?"

Hearing Yan Fugui's words, Director Wang raised an eyebrow, showing interest, and said, "Oh, it seems there really is such a thing. I didn't quite believe it at first, I just came to check, but I didn't expect it to be true."

Upon hearing this, Yan Fugui wished he could slap himself a few times on the spot, cursing himself for speaking too quickly.

Seeing Yan Fugui's frustrated look, Director Wang said directly, "Yan Fugui, quickly lead the way to Yi Zhonghai's house."

Yan Fugui didn't dare to delay and quickly responded, leading the way ahead.

Soon, the group arrived at Yi Zhonghai's door. Yan Fugui stepped forward and banged on the door, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Old Yi, Old Yi, Director Wang is here! Come out quickly!"

Hearing the shout, Yi Zhonghai quickly ran to open the door, a smile plastered on his face: "Director Wang, what brings you here? What are your instructions?"

Director Wang crossed his arms and looked at him intently. "I don't have any instructions, but shouldn't you have something to say to me?"

Yi Zhonghai was completely bewildered by the question, scratching his head and saying, "Director Wang, what do you want me to say?"

Director Wang raised an eyebrow and asked again, "You really have nothing to say to me?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head firmly: "Director Wang, really not."

Hearing Yi Zhonghai still being so stubborn, Yan Fugui, who was standing to the side, became extremely anxious and kept giving Yi Zhonghai meaningful glances.

Yi Zhonghai was bewildered by his shaking and frowned, saying, "Third Uncle, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong with your eyes?"

Yan Fugui nearly fainted from anger. He quickly leaned close to his ear and whispered urgently, "Old Yi, the money thing has been exposed. Admit it now!"

Hearing Yan Fugui's words, Yi Zhonghai suddenly realized why Director Wang had been asking so many questions; it turned out it was about the silver ingots.

He quickly apologized to Director Wang with a forced smile, "Director Wang, Director Wang, you see, I'm getting old and my mind isn't what it used to be. I have something to report to you."

Director Wang raised an eyebrow and looked at him unhurriedly, saying, "Now you remember?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded repeatedly and hurriedly replied, "I remember now, I remember now! We found a silver ingot in the yard, and I was just discussing handing it over. I didn't expect you to find out so quickly."

Director Wang looked at him with a half-smile and said, "What? Did I find out at the wrong time?"

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly waved his hand, saying cautiously, "No, it's not that you came at the wrong time, it's that I handed it in at the wrong time!"

Just then, a frail voice suddenly rang out: "Oh, it's Xiao Wang! You've come to see this old woman!"

Everyone turned around at the sound and saw the deaf old lady slowly walking over from the backyard, leaning on her cane.

It turned out that an older woman noticed something was wrong and, when no one was paying attention, secretly ran to the backyard and invited the deaf old lady over.

When Director Wang saw the deaf old lady, the seriousness on his face instantly faded, and he quickly stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Grandma, it's me. What brings you here?"

The deaf old woman looked up and sized up Director Wang, then glanced at Yi Zhonghai, whose face was pale, and slowly said, "Alas, this old woman is getting old and her legs are not strong enough. She still needs to be taken care of."

"Zhonghai and his wife are always so caring and attentive to me, taking such good care of me every day."

"I didn't want to cause trouble for the neighborhood office, but I heard you were here, so I came to take a look."

"I may be old, but I'm still very clear-headed. Zhonghai is an honest young man. If he really does something foolish, Director Wang, please be lenient and understanding."

Director Wang understood perfectly what the deaf old lady was saying.

He was well aware that the deaf old lady was indeed a recipient of the "Five Guarantees" (a government-provided social welfare program for the elderly and disabled). Although this status was granted by the previous director, having one more elderly person meant an extra burden for the neighborhood committee.

It's something the neighborhood committee is happy to see now that someone is taking the initiative to care for the elderly.

Director Wang's serious expression softened, and he smiled, saying, "Grandma, don't worry, it's nothing serious."

The deaf old woman nodded repeatedly, and murmured with relief, "Okay, okay, it's alright, it's alright."

She turned to look at Yi Zhonghai and added, "Zhonghai, you must cooperate well with Director Wang's work."

Yi Zhonghai quickly responded, a respectful smile plastered on his face: "Grandma, don't worry, I am the most supportive of Director Wang's work."

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai quickly turned around and ran home, retrieved the silver ingot, and presented it to Director Wang with both hands.

Director Wang glanced at the silver ingot in Yi Zhonghai's hand, then gestured to the street office cadres following behind him: "Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, you two put this away and register it."

The two men immediately stepped forward to take the silver ingots and replied in unison, "Yes, Director Wang."

Seeing that things were settled, Yi Zhonghai quietly breathed a sigh of relief, his heart finally at ease.

At this moment, Director Wang looked at Yi Zhonghai and Yan Fugui and said seriously, "As the two managers of the courtyard, your ideological awareness is not high enough. Each of you should write a 2000-word self-criticism and submit it to the street office before tomorrow afternoon."

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Fugui dared not object and quickly nodded and bowed, replying, "Okay, we will definitely deliver on time."

Director Wang nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something, patted Yan Fugui on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Old Yan, you've raised a good son. Yan Jiecheng is much more enlightened in this regard than you are. You should learn more from your son."

Yan Fugui was completely confused and asked with a puzzled look, "Director Wang, what did you mean? I don't understand."

Director Wang smiled mysteriously, waved his hand, and said, "Hey, I understand, I understand."

After saying that, Director Wang left with the street office officials, leaving everyone in the courtyard looking at each other in bewilderment.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai looked at Yan Fugui with a stern face, his tone full of accusation: "Old Yan, don't you owe me an explanation for this?"

Yan Fugui asked innocently, "Old Yi, what did I tell you?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, his voice rising several decibels as he suppressed his anger. "Do you think I didn't hear what Director Wang said before he left? I'm not deaf!"

Yan Fugui pretended to be confused, scratching his head and saying, "What are you saying? I don't understand."

"You don't understand?" Yi Zhonghai sneered, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes. "Then call your son, Yan Jiecheng, over here! I need to learn a thing or two from him. My awareness isn't as high as your son's! He actually managed to leak this silver ingot matter!"