Chapter 29: Shazhu and Xu Damao Return to the Detention Center

"Shazhu, stop this at once!" Yi Zhonghai barked.

Under the influence of the aphrodisiac, Shazhu could not hear a word Yi Zhonghai said. He continued to clutch Xu Damao tightly, raining kisses upon him.

"Clear the way! The police are here!"

Two officers arrived at the 95 Courtyard once again. They were deeply perplexed.

"Tell me, how did this courtyard even earn the title of 'Model Courtyard'? There’s so much trouble here every single day," the younger officer whispered, his curiosity piqued.

The veteran officer lowered his voice to explain, though he chose his words carefully: "You’re still too young. You’ve been here a few times now; haven’t you noticed? For things to reach this point, there must have been constant trouble long before we arrived. And who else could be suppressing all these incidents?"

The younger officer suddenly understood, and his gaze shifted as he looked at Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui. At first, he had thought Yi Zhonghai was a decent man who respected his elders and cared for the young. The only flaw he had perceived was a tendency toward favoritism, but he had dismissed it as a minor human failing.

When the residents of the courtyard saw the police, they quickly parted to make way. Despite their usual lawlessness within the compound, they knew how to keep their heads down in front of the authorities.

"Go, restrain Shazhu."

"Understood." The two junior officers used every ounce of their strength to finally pry Shazhu off Xu Damao.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. "Blood! He’s bleeding!"

"It’s true, he’s actually bleeding!"

The three police officers were stunned, and Yi Zhonghai and his cohorts were equally aghast.

"Well, that’s quite an intense display," Wang Lin remarked to Yan Bugui, his tone thick with mockery.

Yan Bugui shifted his eyes, not daring to respond. To answer would be to offend Yi Zhonghai. Liu Haizhong, oblivious as ever, shuffled over.

"Deputy Factory Director Wang, you’re absolutely right. What on earth is wrong with Shazhu?"

Wang Lin smirked. "I suspect it’s a side effect of his recent... transformation into a eunuch."

As he spoke, Wang Lin gestured for Liu Haizhong to look at Yi Zhonghai. Following his cue, Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong both stole glances at Yi. What they saw made their skin crawl: Yi Zhonghai was holding his hand in a delicate, orchid-like gesture, and his gaze toward Shazhu held a strange, indescribable emotion.

"It... it really is possible," Liu Haizhong muttered to himself.

Thinking of this, Liu Haizhong sidled up to the veteran officer, eager to seize the opportunity to shine. "Officer, I suspect Shazhu’s behavior might be related to the loss of his masculine dignity." He cast a nervous glance at Yi Zhonghai as he spoke.

The veteran officer looked at Yi Zhonghai as well. He felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver run down his spine, and he instinctively pulled his posture tight. "Hmm, that’s possible."

He turned to examine Xu Damao’s injuries, and in the process, discovered a paper packet containing a white powder. "Why does Xu Damao have aphrodisiacs?" The officer’s expression hardened. A suspicion took root in his mind.

"Officer, save me!" Xu Damao wailed, clinging to the officer’s leg. He was filled with profound regret; he had never imagined the drug would be so potent.

"Did you slip this aphrodisiac to Shazhu?"

Xu Damao panicked. He hadn't expected the police to identify the substance so quickly.

"W-well..."

The veteran officer realized his hunch was almost certainly correct. "Young people today really know how to make a mess of things." He turned to his subordinates. "Take both of these men involved in this illicit affair into custody."

The junior officer looked shocked. "We’re taking Xu Damao too?"

"He dosed Shazhu with an aphrodisiac. Do you think we should leave him here?"

"Ah!"

The declaration left the young officers, and the crowd of onlookers, utterly stunned.

"Could it be that those two really have an abnormal relationship?"

"Doesn't that go without saying? They’ve been fighting each other since they were kids."

"You know, you’re right."

"Exactly—fighting is just their way of showing affection. They’ve been at it for years; their relationship is definitely special."

The three police officers took the courtyard’s gossip at face value. "Take them both away."

The veteran officer couldn't help but feel a grudging respect for Yi Zhonghai. His influence was immense, and his audacity even greater. To have managed to get this courtyard labeled as a "Civilized Courtyard" was a feat no ordinary person could accomplish.

Once the police had left, Yi Zhonghai’s face turned grim. "Who called the police? Do you not know the rules of this courtyard? Matters here are to be resolved within the courtyard! If outsiders find out, how can we keep our status as a Civilized Courtyard? Do you want to lose the year-end rewards from the neighborhood committee?"

The residents began to whisper among themselves, but no one knew who had made the call. Wang Lin chuckled with disdain. Seeing Wang Lin laughing, Yi Zhonghai’s fury flared. Ignoring who was right or wrong, he lashed out at Wang Lin.

"Wang Lin, what are you laughing at? Tell me, was it you who brought the police?"

Wang Lin looked at him with contempt. "What? Do you think you’re some kind of local emperor? You won’t even let me laugh? I’ll ask you this: when you saw Shazhu and Xu Damao doing something so shameful, didn't you want to laugh?"

Prompted by Wang Lin, even those who hadn't wanted to laugh began to giggle, thinking of Xu Damao’s pathetic state.

"You..." Yi Zhonghai pointed a finger at Wang Lin, unable to find a retort. Truth be told, if one of the protagonists hadn't been Shazhu, he would have been laughing too.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai struggling to save face, Yan Bugui quickly intervened to protect the dignity of the courtyard’s leaders. "It likely wasn't Wang Lin. Everyone, look around—see who is missing. That’s probably the person who reported it."

They scanned the crowd and quickly realized who was absent.

"Jia Zhangshi isn't here."

"It must be Jia Zhangshi."

"Definitely. Her son is an enemy spy, so it’s only natural she’d be trying to undermine the unity of this courtyard."

"Let’s go find her! She must pay for this!"

"Right, let’s go!"

Liu Haizhong led the charge toward Jia Zhangshi’s home. Yi Zhonghai wanted to stop them but didn't know how; if he intervened now, he would lose all authority over the residents.

"That damned Jia Zhangshi," Yi Zhonghai thought, convinced himself that she was the culprit.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

"Jia Zhangshi! You saboteur of our courtyard’s unity, come out here!" Liu Haizhong hammered on the door.

There was no response from inside. The silence only confirmed their suspicions.

"Jia Zhangshi, open the door now, or we’re going to kick it down!"