Siheyuan: Being a fisherman in 1962

"Yes, Lao Yi, you have to give us an explanation." An old lady stood up, her tone a little stern and a little concerned.

Qin Huairu's accusation instantly caused an uproar in the small community.

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

"I...I really didn't do anything." There was determination in his words, but there was a hint of panic in his eyes.

I began to sort through the chaotic memories, trying to find the source of everything.

At this moment, a young voice penetrated the noise of the crowd and poured into the chaotic scene like a clear stream.

"I believe Uncle Yi, he is not that kind of person." Chen Fei, a young man who usually did not have much interaction with Yi Zhonghai, stood up without hesitation at this moment, his eyes clear and firm.

"Chen Fei, what makes you say that?" someone questioned, while more people cast curious glances at him.

Chen Fei smiled slightly and turned his gaze to Yi Zhonghai, as if he was telling a secret that only the two of them knew.

"Because I often see Uncle Yi quietly helping Qin Huairu's family at night. Whether it's moving heavy objects or repairing things, Uncle Yi always silently gives without asking for anything in return."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's face instantly became extremely embarrassed.

I didn't expect that my good deed would be revealed in this way, and I was even more worried that such an explanation would backfire and lead to more misunderstandings and suspicions.

"Old Yi, what are you doing..." Liu Haizhong looked at Yi Zhonghai with a complicated expression, both surprised and seeming to understand something.

The atmosphere in the crowd became more subtle, and everyone began to re-examine this usually taciturn neighbor.

The contradiction between Yi Zhonghai's good deeds and Qin Huairu's accusations makes it difficult to grasp the truth.

"No matter what, we should listen to what Qin Huairu says." An old man stood up and offered some pertinent suggestions.

Everyone nodded in agreement and looked in the direction where Qin Huairu might appear, expecting her to come and solve the mystery herself.

Yi Zhonghai, on the other hand, stood where he was, letting the cold wind continue to blow.

Chen Fei stood on the outskirts of the crowd, his eyes passed through the gaps in the crowd and fell on Yi Zhonghai who was surrounded by everyone.

Yi Zhonghai, the usually amiable community guy, was pale at this moment, his eyes full of helplessness and anger.

"Yi Zhonghai, what else do you have to say? Where is the note? That is the ironclad evidence that you accepted bribes!" Liu Haizhong's voice was loud and every word was like a needle, piercing Yi Zhonghai's heart.

A blank piece of paper in his hand shook gently, as if mocking Yi Zhonghai's speechless response.

Yi Zhonghai clenched his fists, veins popping out, he tried to calm the turbulent waves in his heart, and slowly spoke:

"A note? I've already said it, it's just a useless piece of waste paper, I destroyed it long ago. I, Yi Zhonghai, am an upright person, I have never done anything wrong!"

However, his defense did not seem to calm the public anger, but instead aroused more doubts.

"Hmph, that sounds nice, but you're destroying the note? You're just guilty!" An old lady interrupted shrilly, her voice as sharp as a blade cutting through the air.

Liu Haizhong sneered, with a cunning look in his eyes:

"Yi Zhonghai, your method of destroying evidence is clever, but do you think you can escape responsibility? The public has sharp eyes, and your actions have aroused everyone's suspicion!"

Yi Zhonghai's heart sank to the bottom. He looked around and found that those once friendly faces were now filled with indifference and suspicion.

He felt unprecedentedly lonely and helpless, as if the whole world was standing against him.

"I...I really didn't do it!" Yi Zhonghai's voice trembled, and he tried to explain again, but his words seemed so pale and powerless.

At this moment, Liu Haizhong changed the subject, his tone full of hints: "Yi Zhonghai, don't blame me for not reminding you, the truth will come out sooner or later. I heard that you are short of money recently, is it for the money that you did such a dirty thing?"

This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, and Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale in an instant.

He widened his eyes and looked at his bangs in disbelief, as if he was looking at a stranger.

I never thought that I, who has lived an upright life, would be slandered like this.

"You...you are slandering me!" Yi Zhonghai roared angrily, with a hint of despair in his voice.

The atmosphere in the crowd became more tense. Some people began to whisper to each other, and accusations against Yi Zhonghai continued one after another.

Yi Zhonghai felt as if he was pushed into an endless abyss, surrounded by endless darkness and indifference.

At this moment, Fade Chen walked out from the crowd, his eyes firm and deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

"Everyone, please listen to me." His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.

Everyone turned to look at Fade Chen, who seemed to be the only ray of hope at this moment.

Chen Fei walked slowly to Yi Zhonghai, patted him on the shoulder gently, and gave him silent support.

"Without solid evidence, we cannot convict others at will. Yi Zhonghai is our neighbor and our friend. We should believe him and give him a chance to prove himself." Chen Fei's words were powerful and instantly ignited a ray of rationality in the crowd.

However, not everyone is willing to believe it easily.

Liu Haizhong sneered and was about to refute, but was stopped by Chen Fei's sharp eyes.

This storm has just begun, and he is ready to face the challenge.

"Yi Zhonghai, I believe you are innocent. But now, we need you to stand up, speak with facts, and prove yourself with evidence." Chen Fei's words were full of strength and encouragement. He believed that as long as Yi Zhonghai could persist, the truth would eventually come to light.

Yi Zhonghai looked up at Chen Fei, a hint of gratitude and determination flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, as if he wanted to turn all his grievances and anger into motivation to move forward.

"Okay! I will find evidence to prove my innocence!" His voice was soft but extremely firm.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the center, his face ashen and his eyes full of anxiety and helplessness.

His eyes kept turning to Qin Huairu, who was standing aside with her head down and silent.

Yi Zhonghai knew very well how much trouble his momentary confusion last night had caused Qin Huairu, and how it had plunged the entire courtyard into a whirlpool of rumors.

Qin Huairu raised three children alone. Her tenacity and difficulty were seen by everyone in the courtyard.

However, last night's sudden misunderstanding caused Yi Zhonghai to mistake her for his deceased wife. That scene not only made Qin Huairu extremely embarrassed, but also put her positive image in jeopardy.

Qin Huairu's brows were furrowed, her heart was in turmoil.

She knew very well that if she clarified this misunderstanding publicly, her image in the compound might be damaged, and the respect and help she received on a daily basis might also become complicated.

But she was even more unwilling to let Yi Zhonghai bear such a stigma. After all, he was a respected elder in the courtyard and someone she had always respected.

After some struggle, Qin Huairu finally made up her mind.

She sighed softly and looked up at Yi Zhonghai. Her eyes, which were usually full of tenderness and tenacity, now contained a hint of determination.

"Uncle Yi, let's talk about this in private." Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.