Chen Lishu returned to her room and began to read. Time trickled by. She was so engrossed that when she finally remembered to check her watch, it was already past eleven o'clock at night.
Thinking she had to return to town tomorrow, Chen Lishu decided to go to the toilet and then go to bed.
The toilet was by the outer courtyard wall. Chen Lishu walked to the door and pushed, but it wouldn't open. She tried a couple more times, still no luck. Suddenly, she remembered something and raised the flashlight in her hand, sweeping it around the yard. She caught sight of two dark figures flashing past the courtyard wall.
"Dad, Big Brother, we've got a thief!" Chen Lishu shouted without a second thought.
In the countryside, the most common way for thieves to enter was by propping the door with a shovel or a hoe handle. This way, even if someone inside discovered them, they couldn't get out in time. Some were even bolder, working in groups, with one person specifically assigned to guard the window. If you dared to jump out the window, they'd knock you down. That's why many families, even knowing there was a thief, wouldn't dare to go out.
With her shout, everyone in the house was instantly alerted.
There was no time to light lamps. The men, shuffling in their slippers, rushed out.
"Dad, the thief used something to prop the door shut."
Gu Shoufou's face darkened upon hearing this. It seemed the thief was a habitual offender.
"Dad, I'll jump out the window," Gu Xingguo said, moving towards the window.
"Xingguo, be careful. Don't fall for their trick," Li Xiulan said, coming out later. Seeing her eldest son about to go out, she anxiously warned him.
Gu Xingguo nodded and climbed out the window. After landing, he quickly scanned his surroundings, finding no danger. He then walked quickly to the front door and saw that a shovel had indeed been propped against it.
By the time Chen Lishu and the others came out, the courtyard had returned to its usual quiet, without a sound.
"Let's check if anything's missing," Gu Shoufou said, now holding a flashlight. Soon, everyone discovered that the storehouse door was open, its lock pried open, and the bicycle inside was gone.
"Third child's wife, did you see anyone?" Gu Shoufou's face was grim. The thief hadn't stolen anything else, but had gone straight for the bicycle in the storehouse. Judging by the situation, it was definitely someone they knew.
Chen Lishu replied, "When I swept the flashlight, I saw two dark figures jump towards the Liu family's courtyard wall. When I shouted, they vanished."
"Eldest and second, go check the Liu family's side."
After hearing Chen Lishu's account, Gu Shoufou turned and instructed his two sons.
Gu Xingguo and Gu Xingmin nodded and immediately headed in the direction Chen Lishu had indicated. Sure enough, they saw marks on the courtyard wall where the bicycle had been carried away.
As the two arrived in the Liu family's yard, the light in the house turned on. Liu Dabao came out yawning, "What are you guys doing in my yard in the middle of the night?"
Gu Xingguo and Gu Xingmin exchanged glances. Seeing his demeanor, they knew the theft of the bicycle was definitely related to him.
"Our things are missing. I saw you brothers steal them. Hand over the items immediately," Gu Xingguo said with a frown.
Liu Dabao, who had been pretending, became agitated upon hearing Gu Xingguo's words, "It's pitch black at night, and you say you saw it? Who are you trying to fool? I was clearly at home sleeping. I didn't steal your bicycle."
Gu Xingmin was amused. "Liu Dabao, you eat but you don't grow any brains. When did my elder brother say anything about a stolen bicycle?"
Liu Dabao then realized he had been tricked, but he still stuck his neck out, "If I say I didn't steal it, I didn't. What evidence do you have? If you don't have any, leave quickly." DaFeng Novel Network
"What's going on?" The commotion outside was loud, so Widow Liu also came out, wrapped in a coat, followed by Liu Xiaobao, who was already dressed.
"Mom, the Gu family is saying that Xiao Bao and I stole their bicycle and they're coming to our house in the middle of the night to demand it. Damn it, no one bullies people like them." Liu Dabao spat on the ground and even took a couple of steps towards Gu Weiguo.
"Oh, Liu Dabao, have you grown capable? Do you want to fight? Look at you, all skin and bones like a sick chick. What are you pretending for," Gu Weimin sneered disdainfully, rolling up his sleeves.
"Do you really think we're afraid of you? Relying on having many men in the family to bully us poor orphans and widows. You're making a scene in the middle of the night, do you think no one will manage you? Believe it or not, I'll go find the village secretary and the team leader right now!" Widow Liu saw Gu Weimin's attitude and started to make a scene.
"No need for Auntie to look, I've already invited them for you."
Chen Lishu pushed open the courtyard gate, followed by Village Secretary Zhang Changhe, Team Leader Sun Yuzhu, and even the Public Security Director Zhao Shucheng.
After Gu Xingguo and Gu Xingmin went to the Liu family's, Gu Shoufou had asked Chen Lishu and Zhang Qin to invite them.
Widow Liu, who was only tough-mouthed, was stunned when so many people suddenly entered.
"Dabao, Xiaobao, did you two take the Gu family's bicycle or not? If you did, return it quickly. Considering we've all lived as neighbors in the same village for many years, an apology will suffice," Village Secretary Zhang Changhe said, with his hands behind his back, looking sternly at the Liu brothers.
"Uncle, what you're saying is clearly biased towards the Gu family. My two sons were clearly sleeping soundly at home. They jumped over the wall to cause trouble. They couldn't keep track of their own things and then they want to blame Dabao and Xiaobao. I, as their mother, am incapable, allowing them to be bullied like this."
Gu Shoufou's face turned dark upon hearing Widow Liu's words.
"I've invited you elders here today to take a look. We don't have the authority to search their place. If nothing is found, then I've wronged these two children, and I, as their uncle, will personally apologize to them," Gu Shoufou said, turning his head towards Zhang Changhe and the others.
"Dad, what's the point of you apologizing? After all this trouble, you should at least give some compensation, shouldn't you?" Liu Xiaobao said with a smirk, dangling his legs carelessly.
Everyone present frowned instinctively at his attitude.
"Liu Xiaobao, don't be disrespectful. Compensation for what? If you didn't steal it, prove it openly for everyone to see. Don't just spout useless words," Zhang Changhe reprimanded with a stern face.
"What kind of compensation do you want?" Gu Shoufou asked, sweeping a sharp glance at him, his voice calm.
"Naturally, money. Twenty yuan, or this matter won't be over," Liu Xiaobao said casually, shaking his legs.
"That's right, if you can't find the items, then you're causing what we call harm and should be compensated with twenty yuan," Widow Liu immediately chimed in.
Li Xiulan was furious. "I'll compensate your grandma's leg! Your whole family is crooked, your mother is shameless, and she gave birth to two even more shameless ones. Today, I..."