Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"You're finished! Call the police, you have to call the police!" Yi Zhonghai sat on the ground, clutching his stomach, his teeth itching with anger. All he did was curse at you and your father a couple of times.

No matter what, Jia Zhangshi is your elder!

What's wrong with me scolding you a few times?!

You fucking hit people, you even hit me?

You're going against the natural order!

We must call the police and have you arrested!

Liu Haizhong quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, saying, "Da Biao, you really went a bit too far. No matter how despicable Jia Zhangshi is, no matter how much she deserves to be beaten—"

"You...you should go easy on me. I know you're furious. If someone insulted my father like that, I'd have to hit them too."

"I understand, but please be more careful next time."

"Jia Zhangshi, who told you to summon the spirit as soon as you came back? You even cursed Da Biao's father. As his son, of course he had to teach you a lesson. You asked for a beating, you deserve it."

"Old Yi, you know Da Biao's temper and personality. Aren't you just asking for trouble?"

"Why call the police? The two families are relatives. They can handle it themselves. It was Jia Zhangshi's fault to begin with!"

Liu Haizhong attributed the matter to the Zhang family's internal affairs. He believed that even if the police came, it was just a case of a nephew hitting his aunt, and that Zhang Dabiao had some moral issues.

The root of the problem lies with Jia Zhangshi; she was the one who started it by being sarcastic. At most, the police station will just give her a reprimand, and both sides will be punished equally.

Should we call the police?

no need.

"Report to the police! You must report to the police! I want Zhang Dabiao to rot in jail! I want him executed! Execute him!" Jia Zhangshi was thrashing about on the ground like a madwoman, refusing to give up!

Zhang Xiaohua had never suffered such injustice in her life.

Upon hearing this, everyone tensed up, especially the three women, because no matter what Zhang Dabiao said, it was a fact that he had assaulted someone, and he couldn't deny that.

If I really get arrested, then...

Liu Guangqi stepped forward, holding his daughter Liu Xiaoqing, and explained casually.

"Reporting to the police is no problem, but Zhang Dabiao only attacked someone after being provoked and insulted. At most, he'll be detained in the police station for 7 days and have to pay 10 yuan in compensation. Jia Zhangshi, you'll only suffer minor injuries at most."

"Want him to go to jail or be executed? Hah, your little bit of damage isn't enough."

"But once the police arrive, you won't be able to escape charges for engaging in feudal superstition and provoking trouble."

"You just got out of the labor camp and you've already pulled this stunt. If you get caught again, you'll be severely punished."

"At the very least, we'll send you back to your hometown in the countryside."

"Are you really going to call the police?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao's eyes lit up: "Report it!"

"Who's afraid of who? Let's hurt each other!"

He didn't know how the police station judged people in this era, but he understood one thing: the police station kept an eye on newly released prisoners.

She was under observation, and she caused trouble as soon as she came out. Naturally, it was Jia Zhangshi who suffered. What was he afraid of?

He only hit someone, just slapped them, didn't kill them, and he doesn't believe the police station can sentence him to a severe punishment.

As long as you don't get a labor camp sentence or imprisonment, it's just a few days in the police station. What's there to be afraid of? It won't even be on your record.

Besides, everyone at the police station is an acquaintance, so what's there to be afraid of!

When Yi Zhonghai heard what they said, his eyes lit up, but then quickly dimmed again. He wanted Jia Zhangshi to disappear, but he couldn't be the one to initiate these words and actions.

Madam Jia wasn't stupid; she understood what was being said so clearly.

If the police are called, Zhang Dabiao can afford to pay compensation even if he spends a few days in jail, but she will have to serve a longer sentence or go back to her hometown. You, Jia Zhangshi, can decide which is more important.

She wouldn't want to be beaten for nothing!

Why should I?!

"Pay up! Zhang Dabiao, you owe me money!"

"This beating... it's not over until I've paid at least two hundred yuan!"

With her swollen face, Jia Zhangshi lay down on the ground, her attitude very clear—she was trying to extort money!

My reputation, Zhang Xiaohua's reputation, is worth that much!

Zhang Dabiao was speechless. "Don't you look like you're worth 200 yuan?"

Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to help Jia Zhangshi bargain, a sound came from the front yard.

"What 200 yuan? Jia Zhangshi, are you extorting me? Do you want to go back to your labor camp again?"

Director Wang of the neighborhood office, accompanied by two staff members, had just entered the main hall, her face ashen. Her sharp gaze swept across the entire room—Jia Zhangshi, groaning like a pig's head; Jia Dongxu, curled up on the ground; Yi Zhonghai, leaning against the door frame, clutching his stomach and panting; and Zhang Dabiao, who stood ramrod straight, his body still radiating anger.

Liu Haizhong quickly stepped forward, his chubby face displaying a respectful yet helpless expression: "Director Wang, you've come at the right time! I was just about to stop them when a fight broke out. It's mainly because Jia Zhangshi started spouting nonsense as soon as she got back, even engaging in feudal superstition and 'summoning the spirit,' dragging Zhang Dabiao's deceased father into the mess to slander him, hurling incredibly vile insults! That's what provoked Zhang Dabiao to take action."

Director Wang didn't respond. He walked up to Jia Zhangshi, looked down at her pitiful state, and frowned deeply: "Jia Zhangshi, eight months of reform and education, and this is what you've become? You come back and immediately start causing trouble, spreading feudal superstition, and maliciously slandering other people's ancestors?"

Having calmed down a bit, Jia Zhangshi saw Director Wang and remembered her grievances. She tried to cry, but the pain made her gasp for breath, and she could only groan incoherently, "Director Wang... he hit me... he knocked out all my teeth..."

"It was wrong of me to hit you," Director Wang said sternly. "But first, tell me, did you say those things you just said—'summoning the soul,' 'Zhang the fortune teller,' 'short-lived ghost,' 'little beast'? Was that feudal superstition? Was that malicious slander?"

When Jia Zhangshi first appeared in Nanluoguxiang, someone went to the street office to report it. How could a released prisoner not report back to the street office?

So she came over to check on the situation. As soon as she entered the courtyard, Yan Jiecheng told her everything, so Director Wang naturally knew about it and was quite annoyed.

Anyone would get angry if their ancestors were insulted like that; this person is clearly asking for trouble.

Moreover, you, Jia Zhangshi, have just been released and you're already causing trouble. Do you really want to be sent back again?

Jia Zhangshi was rendered speechless by Director Wang's questioning and could only hum and whine.

Director Wang then looked at Yi Zhonghai, his gaze meaningful: "Yi Zhonghai, what did you do this time? How come you got beaten up too?"

Yi Zhonghai was speechless. What did he mean by "again"? His face was pale as he forced a defense: "Director Wang, I... I really was just trying to break up the fight. I saw Zhang Dabiao was beating too hard..."

He was truly innocent!

"Breaking up a fight?" Director Wang turned to ask Zhang Dabiao, who nodded in agreement. He admitted that he was indeed trying to break up a fight; when he got carried away, he would kick anyone who came at him.

After confirming the matter, Director Wang solemnly addressed the crowd: "Zhang Dabiao, Yan Jiecheng has already told me what happened. Jia Zhangshi provoked, slandered, and promoted feudal superstition first, and her words were extremely malicious, crossing the line of human ethics. It's understandable that you are young and impetuous and emotional."

She then changed the subject: "However, resorting to violence, especially public assault causing injury, is absolutely wrong! No matter how offensive the other person's words are, fists won't solve anything; they will only escalate the conflict and turn you from being in the right to being in the wrong! Do you even have any concept of the rule of law?"

Zhang Dabiao, seemingly unfazed, said, "Director Wang, hitting someone was wrong. I lost control today, and I admit my mistake. But I don't regret it."

"He insulted my father. If I don't teach him a lesson, I'll have wasted my life as a son."

"If that old hag dares to curse again next time, I'll beat her up without hesitation."