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

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi recalled the horrific experience of her six months of forced labor in 60, and trembled with fear. She waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no! I didn't instigate him! He went there because he was tempted! Officer, please don't listen to people's nonsense!"

Old Mo scoffed, "Nonsense? Several people in the courtyard heard you muttering. You think you can deny it?"

Qin Huairu's heart sank to the bottom. She knew that the Jia family was in the wrong today. If things were handled strictly according to the law, both Banggeng and her mother-in-law would have to go to jail.

"Officer, what... what should we do now?" Qin Huairu looked at Lao Mo with teary eyes, her voice trembling.

Old Mo closed the notebook and placed his hands crossed on the table.

"In this case, both sides have suffered losses. Xu Damao assaulted and injured someone, while the Jia family committed burglary and instigated it. Now, I will give you two solutions."

"First, handle this officially." Old Mo's voice was cold and ruthless. "Xu Damao acted in excessive self-defense, causing serious injury. According to regulations, he shall compensate the Jia family for medical expenses of fifty yuan, be detained for five days, and the steel rolling mill's security department shall be notified for disciplinary action."

Xu Damao frowned slightly when he heard that he was to be detained, but he didn't say anything.

Old Mo continued, "As for the Jia family. Jia Geng committed burglary and intentionally harmed a pregnant woman; his actions were egregious, and he was sent to a juvenile detention center for a year of labor reform. Jia Zhangshi instigated minors to commit crimes and was sent to a farm for a year of labor reform!"

"Buzz—"

A thunderbolt seemed to explode in Qin Huairu's mind. Juvenile detention center! Labor camp! These two words were like a bolt from the blue for her.

Jia Zhangshi was so frightened that she slid off the chair and onto the floor, trembling like a leaf.

"I won't go to the labor camp! I'm so old, I'll die if I go! God, help me!" Jia Zhangshi lay on the ground, crying with snot and tears streaming down her face.

Sha Zhu panicked: "Officer, this punishment is too harsh! Bang Geng is still a child, while Aunt Jia is so old."

"Comrade He Yuzhu, are you really stupid or just pretending? Before the law, there is no age limit!" Xiao Li coldly interrupted the foolish He Yuzhu.

Looking at the terrified Jia family, Lao Mo continued, "The second option is to mediate privately."

"Both parties are at fault, each will bear their own medical expenses, and neither will be held criminally liable. The choice is yours."

Qin Huairu seemed to have grasped at a lifeline and scrambled to Xu Damao's side.

"Brother Da Mao! I'll settle this privately! We'll settle this privately! We'll pay for Bang Geng's medical expenses ourselves, and we won't cause you any trouble! Please, don't send Bang Geng to a juvenile detention center; his life will be ruined!"

Qin Huairu cried her heart out, her head banging against the ground repeatedly.

Xu Damao remained silent, his face cold and his teeth clenched. He secretly wished that both of the Jia family's cancerous growths would be imprisoned.

Zhang Dabiao kicked Xu Damao under the table, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Damao, know when to stop. You're a father now, and you have to hold a celebration for your baby's one-month birthday. If you go to jail for five days and the factory gives you a disciplinary action, will you still be able to keep your job as a projectionist?"

"It's not worth ruining your future for those two scumbags."

In fact, Zhang Dabiao is thinking the same way now. Before, he was all alone, without a job or a house. At worst, he could just kill someone and run away.

But now he has a fiancée, friends, mentor, relatives in Zhangjiatun, a job, a house, and a reputation...

As relationships become increasingly complex, it's impossible to act without considering the consequences, just to have a moment of pleasure, only to die after that moment of pleasure?

There's no need for that.

Xu Damao took a deep breath; Zhang Dabiao's words had been a wake-up call. Yes, he had a son now, he had hope. The Jia family was a bunch of losers, and he, the one with shoes on, wasn't going to risk his life to take them all down with him.

"Fine! I agree to settle this privately!" Xu Damao glared fiercely at Qin Huairu. "But remember this: if anyone from your Jia family dares to mess with me again, I will show no mercy!"

Both parties signed and affixed their fingerprints to the mediation agreement.

As Xu Damao walked out of the police station, he turned to look at Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi, who were supporting each other and looking disheveled, as well as Sha Zhu, the sycophant who was protecting Qin Huairu. A cold smile appeared on Xu Damao's lips.

"This matter is considered closed at the police station," Xu Damao thought fiercely to himself, "but we're not done settling things at the courtyard house yet. Jia Zhangshi, you just wait!"

------------

The next morning, before I even went to work.

After visiting Lou Xiao'e and her child at the hospital, Xu Damao stayed with them overnight before returning to the courtyard house alone. In his hand, he carried a small bronze gong that he usually used to attract moviegoers.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Xu Damao stood in the open space of the courtyard, swung his mallet, and struck the gong forcefully. The crisp sound of the gong was particularly abrupt in the quiet morning, instantly attracting people from every household to come out.

"Meeting time! A hospital-wide meeting! Everyone must be present!" Xu Damao shouted in his hoarse voice.

Yi Zhonghai came out carrying a bowl of rice, his brows furrowed deeply: "Da Mao, what are you up to now? Wasn't this already resolved at the police station?"

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui also came over. The three of them looked at each other and all felt that Xu Damao was up to something.

Zhang Dabiao, holding a bowl of noodles with soybean paste, squatted on his doorstep, slurping the noodles while watching the show.

This is early in the morning, before everyone goes to work, so everyone is at their peak.

Soon, everyone in the courtyard gathered around. Qin Huairu, having just settled Bang Geng at the hospital, had rushed back and stood at the edge of the crowd, her face haggard. Jia Zhangshi, fearing Xu Damao would make another move, hid inside her house and didn't dare come out. Sha Zhu stood beside Qin Huairu like a loyal bodyguard.

Xu Damao tucked the gong behind his shoulder and strode to the center of the courtyard. He looked around at everyone, his gaze finally settling on Yi Zhonghai.

"Uncle, the police station mediated, but that's because I, Xu Damao, considered the bigger picture and didn't want to push things too far!" Xu Damao's voice was loud and clear, full of energy. "But that doesn't mean our courtyard can tolerate this kind of petty thief, murderer, and cancerous scourge remaining here!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat. She knew what Xu Damao was about to do, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes again.

"Brother Da Mao, what do you mean by that? Our family has already been punished. The stick has gone deaf, and my mother-in-law is terrified. What more do you want?" Qin Huairu cried weakly, trying to evoke everyone's sympathy again.

Sha Zhu immediately jumped out: "Xu Damao! Don't push your luck! The police station has already closed the case, and you're still here meddling in other people's business! Are you asking for trouble again?"

Xu Damao completely ignored Sha Zhu. He suddenly turned around and pointed at Qin Huairu's nose.

"Meddling? Qin Huairu, put your hand on your heart and ask yourself! How many despicable things has your Jia family done in this courtyard these past few years? Today Banggeng can steal malted milk powder from my house, tomorrow he can steal flour from Uncle Yi's house, and the day after tomorrow he can steal money from Uncle San's house!"

"The most hateful one is that old hag Jia Zhangshi! She's the one who instigated Banggeng to steal! The police officers at the station have investigated thoroughly! Keeping an instigator like that in our compound is like keeping a ticking time bomb!"

"A thief, a habitual thief, and an instigator—let them live in the yard—"

"I, Xu Damao, am the first to disagree!"