Chapter 7: Caught Red-Handed, Public Trial Throughout the Institute

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In his heightened state of alertness, He Yuzhu’s senses sharpened extraordinarily. In the darkness, the deliberately muffled footsteps and the faint “click” of a wooden box being pried open in the backyard were as clear as if whispered right next to his ear.

He Yuzhu silently slid open the door, slipped out, and melted into the shadows along the courtyard wall.

The backyard was dimly lit by a pale moonlight that barely outlined the piles of clutter.

A small, thin figure was crouched by the coal shed door of the Liu family, his back facing He Yuzhu. In his hand was a slender piece of wire, nervously fiddling with the old brass lock on the shed.

It was none other than Bang Geng!

He Yuzhu’s eyes turned ice-cold. This kid really couldn’t change his ways. Faking illness during the day to scam money failed, so now he was sneaking into Second Uncle’s coal shed at night to steal. Judging by his practiced lock-picking, this was far from his first attempt.

Bang Geng focused intently on the old lock, sweat beading on his forehead, muttering anxiously under his breath, completely unaware of the shadowy figure standing behind him.

Finally, with a soft “click,” the brass lock popped open! Ecstatic, Bang Geng grinned wildly and eagerly pulled open the coal shed door, about to slip inside.

The moment half his body was inside, a sharp beam of flashlight suddenly pierced the darkness, shining directly on him!

“Who’s there?!” Bang Geng screamed in terror, his soul nearly leaving his body as he instinctively tried to flee.

“Stop right there!” He Yuzhu’s voice, though not loud, cut through the silent backyard with a chilling sharpness.

Blinded by the harsh light, Bang Geng struggled to open his eyes and, upon seeing He Yuzhu, his face drained of color, leaving only pure panic: “S-Sha Zhu?! Why… why are you here?!”

“Why am I here?” He Yuzhu sneered, the flashlight steady on Bang Geng’s ashen face. “I should be asking you. Bang Geng, breaking into Second Uncle’s coal shed in the dead of night—what’s your game? Stealing coal? Or something else?”

“I… I’m not! I’m just… looking for something!” Bang Geng stammered incoherently, eyes darting wildly.

“Looking for something? Using wire to pick a lock?” He Yuzhu’s voice suddenly rose sharply. “Bang Geng! You’ve got some nerve! Stealing right in the backyard! Come on! You’re coming with me to the security office to explain yourself!”

“I won’t go!” Bang Geng trembled violently, spinning around to bolt.

But He Yuzhu wasn’t about to let him escape. With a swift trip and a joint lock, Bang Geng was pinned firmly to the ground like a helpless chick, unable to move.

“Let me go! Sha Zhu! You bastard! Let me go!” Bang Geng struggled fiercely, cursing and yelling.

By now, the commotion had roused the entire courtyard. Lights flickered on in every household, accompanied by footsteps, doors opening, and startled cries.

“What’s going on? What happened in the backyard?”

“Sounds like Sha Zhu caught someone?”

“Sounds like that kid Bang Geng!”

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The first to rush over were Liu Haizhong and his wife, Er Dama. Liu Haizhong, wrapped in his coat, wore a furious and shocked expression. “He Yuzhu! What’s going on? Who have you got there?” When he saw Bang Geng restrained on the ground, struggling and cursing, his eyes nearly popped out. “Bang Geng?! You little bastard! What are you doing in my coal shed?!”

Then, from afar came the piercing wail of Jia Zhangshi, like a butcher’s cry: “Bang Geng! My good grandson! Sha Zhu! You bastard! Let my grandson go!” She charged forward, reaching out to scratch He Yuzhu’s face.

He Yuzhu, prepared for this, pulled Bang Geng aside and dodged. Jia Zhangshi missed and nearly fell flat on her face.

Qin Huairu stumbled up as well, and upon seeing the scene, nearly fainted. “Bang Geng! Brother Zhu! Let him go! He’s still just a kid!”

Neighbors like Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui also gathered, crowding the backyard until it was packed tight.

Everyone looked at the restrained and cursing Bang Geng, then at the pried-open coal shed door, and their thoughts crystallized instantly.

“A kid?” He Yuzhu sneered coldly, the flashlight sweeping over the wire in Bang Geng’s hand and the opened lock. “A kid picking locks to steal? Sister Qin, Aunt Jia, you’ve done a fine job raising him!”

“You’re lying! Bang Geng didn’t steal anything! He was… he was…” Jia Zhangshi’s face flushed red as she tried to defend him but found no words.

“Didn’t steal?” He Yuzhu tightened his grip, causing Bang Geng to howl in pain. “Then what’s this?”

He Yuzhu kicked a small canvas pouch lying at the coal shed entrance. It jingled, revealing a few coins and some crumpled ration coupons—obviously dropped by Bang Geng in his panic.

Liu Haizhong’s face turned deathly pale! That was the secret stash of money he kept in the coal shed’s toolbox!

“Well, well! Little bastard! Stealing right over my head!” Liu Haizhong trembled with rage and lunged to slap Bang Geng.

“Second Uncle!” Yi Zhonghai quickly stopped him, his face stern as he looked at He Yuzhu. “He Yuzhu, let Bang Geng go first. Let’s talk this out calmly—don’t hurt the kid.”

“Hurt him?” He Yuzhu’s grip didn’t weaken. His eyes scanned Yi Zhonghai and the wailing Jia family. “First Uncle, the evidence is clear—picking locks, stealing money! If we don’t handle this, who in the courtyard will dare to lock their doors? Will every stolen item be shrugged off with ‘the kid didn’t know better’? Are there no rules left in this courtyard?!”

The watching neighbors nodded in agreement, casting looks of contempt and caution toward the Jia family.

Bang Geng’s thievery wasn’t new. Before, people had tolerated it because Sha Zhu had been lenient and Jia Zhangshi had thrown tantrums. But now Sha Zhu was done with it, and with the thief caught red-handed, no one wanted to be the sucker anymore.

“Sha Zhu’s right! This must be made clear!”

“Bang Geng needs proper discipline!”

“Send him to the security office! Let the factory deal with it!”

The crowd’s anger swelled. Jia Zhangshi’s cries and Qin Huairu’s pleas seemed pale and powerless against their voices.

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“Send him to the security office?!” Jia Zhangshi’s scream turned desperate. She collapsed onto the ground, banging her thighs as she wailed, “You can’t send him! Bang Geng is still a child! If he goes to the security office, he’s finished! Sha Zhu! I beg you! Spare Bang Geng this once! I’ll kowtow to you!” She made as if to bow down.

“Kowtowing won’t help!” He Yuzhu’s voice was icy. “This isn’t the first time! Before it was peanuts and pickles—everyone let it slide out of neighborly kindness. Now he’s bold enough to pick locks and steal money! If we don’t stop him now, what next—murder and arson?!” He shoved Bang Geng toward Liu Haizhong. “Second Uncle, the evidence is in your hands. It’s up to you whether to report this to the neighborhood committee or send him to the factory security!”

Liu Haizhong glared at Bang Geng, then at his money pouch on the ground, his whiskers twitching with fury. “Send him! Absolutely send him! Enough of this lawlessness!” He grabbed Bang Geng’s collar as the boy struggled and cursed.

“No! Second Uncle! Brother Zhu! I beg you!” Qin Huairu lunged forward to snatch him, but Er Dama held her back tightly.

Jia Zhangshi threw a tantrum, rolling on the ground. “You’re killing us orphans and widows! Sha Zhu and Liu Haizhong want to destroy us! Old Jia, open your eyes…”

Chaos reigned.

“Enough!” A hoarse but unmistakably authoritative voice rang out, leaving no room for argument.

All heads turned to see the old deaf woman from the backyard, leaning on her cane and supported by neighbors, stepping forward.

Her clouded eyes swept the scene, finally resting on the crying, struggling Bang Geng, held by Liu Haizhong, and the tear-streaked Qin Huairu, restrained by Er Dama.

“It’s late at night—what’s all this noise about?” The old woman slammed her cane down heavily. “Bang Geng stole and was caught; punishment is deserved. But sending him to the security office, to juvenile detention—that would ruin the child’s life.”

Her gaze shifted to the ashen-faced Liu Haizhong. “Second Uncle, did you find the money?”

Liu Haizhong was momentarily stunned. He picked up the canvas pouch and weighed it. “The money… the money shouldn’t be missing…”

“Good, as long as it’s all there!” The old woman cut him off. “Bang Geng stole and should be punished, but considering it’s his first offense…and his age, and that he’s a neighbor—sending him to the security office is too harsh.” She turned to Yi Zhonghai. “Little Yi, you’re the senior uncle here. Call a full courtyard meeting. In front of all the elders and men, give the Liu family an explanation, and give Bang Geng a lesson. He must apologize, and write a guarantee. If there’s a next time…” Her eyes narrowed sternly, “No need to send him to the security office. This old woman will personally break his legs with her cane. Then I’ll kick him out of this courtyard!”

The old woman’s word was law in the neighborhood. Though reluctant, Liu Haizhong had no choice but to nod grudgingly. Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu clung to the ruling like a lifeline, nodding repeatedly.

Yi Zhonghai exhaled in relief. “The old lady is right! We’ll hold a full courtyard meeting—right here in the backyard, immediately! Every household must send someone! We have to give Second Uncle a proper explanation!”

Soon, several lanterns and flashlights illuminated the backyard.

Heads of every family were summoned, forming a large circle. Bang Geng was pushed to the center, head bowed, tear-streaked but still defiant. Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu stood behind him, while Liu Haizhong and his wife faced them, their expressions dark.

He Yuzhu folded his arms, standing on the outskirts of the crowd, watching coldly. A full courtyard meeting? He was curious to see what tricks these people would try. That little thief Bang Geng had to be nailed for good.