Xushu stood there, staring at the gesticulating Goodwife Jia, his mind a total blank. He thought back to his life in Xu Village, where neighbors lived in harmony and helped one another, the atmosphere as warm as the spring sun. He never imagined that just days after moving into this courtyard, he would encounter such an unreasonable and shrewish woman. For a moment, he felt completely at a loss, his heart filled with anxiety about his future. After all, he had only just arrived and his foundation here was unstable; if he were to fall out completely with his neighbors over this, how would he ever get by? Moreover, his mother was kind-hearted and frail. If she were to move to the courtyard later, wouldn’t she be bullied and wronged by these people given her personality?
While he stood there feeling anxious and helpless, Xushu caught a glimpse of Yi Zhonghai out of the corner of his eye. He took a deep breath, suppressed his indignation, turned to face Yi, and said loudly, "First Uncle, you should know better than anyone what the deal is with this bicycle, shouldn't you?"
Yi Zhonghai was slightly taken aback, a flicker of unease passing over his face. He nodded gently and said with a complex expression, "Yes, you are the new procurement officer hired by the Rolling Mill. Naturally, the factory provides you with a bicycle according to regulations to make it easier for you to purchase supplies."
Chapter 17