I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

The Jia family has been quite peaceful these past few days. Without Jia Zhangshi's nagging, Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu are able to eat their fill at every meal, and even Banggeng, who usually clamors for meat, has become much more well-behaved. These pleasant days have made Jia Dongxu unconsciously forget about his mother.

However, a peaceful life is always short-lived.

This morning, Yi Zhonghai, for some unknown reason, stormed into the Jia family home and immediately asked Jia Dongxu how he planned to get Jia Zhangshi out of jail. His words implied that Jia Dongxu should plead with Zhou Weiguo to find a way to get Jia Zhangshi out of the police station. Jia Dongxu panicked upon hearing this and stammered an agreement, his heart filled with worry.

Under Yi Zhonghai's "supervision," Jia Dongxu reluctantly went to Zhou Weiguo's door. Just as he was about to push the door open, he heard a loud shout: "Jia Dongxu, what are you doing? My uncle is still sleeping!"

Looking up, Jia Dongxu saw He Yuzhu coming out of the house next door. He immediately put on a smile and said ingratiatingly, "Um... Silly Zhu, it's about my mother. I was thinking of asking your uncle to be lenient and get my mother released from the police station."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu flew into a rage: "Why? Do you know who your mother is cursing? My uncles are all martyrs! How dare Jia Zhangshi curse martyrs!"

Just as the two were arguing, Zhou Weiguo pushed open the door and came out.

Jia Dongxu quickly stepped forward, his face plastered with a fawning smile, rubbing his hands together as he said, "Brother Zhou, you're so magnanimous. You know how talkative my mother is; she was just confused for a moment. Just ignore her nonsense and let her out. I promise I'll keep an eye on her from now on and make sure she doesn't say anything out of line again!"

Zhou Weiguo glanced at him coldly, his tone icy: "Release her? When she insulted the martyrs, didn't she think about the consequences? Jia Dongxu, don't try to play the sympathy card with me. You have to pay the price for your mistakes!"

At that moment, the door to the Jia family's house suddenly opened.

Qin Huairu, her eyes red and swollen, carrying Banggeng in her arms, walked straight to Zhou Weiguo and knelt down with a thud. Her voice was mournful: "Comrade Zhou, we're neighbors, after all. I know the fault lies with my mother-in-law, but Banggeng keeps crying for his grandma, and I can't control him. The child is so pitiful. I beg you, please, for the sake of the child, show leniency!"

As she spoke, she pinched Banggeng's buttocks, and Banggeng cried out in pain. Qin Huairu was not satisfied and forced Banggeng to kowtow to Zhou Weiguo.

This scene quickly attracted a crowd of neighbors to watch.

Everyone watched as Qin Huairu and her son knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, and began to discuss among themselves.

Some people looked reluctant and whispered, "That's enough. Let's be lenient when we can."

Others complained, "Yeah, it's just a few words of abuse, what's the big deal? Why arrest and lock him up? This is just bullying people by abusing their power."

Upon hearing these words, Qin Huairu's lips curled up imperceptibly, and then she kowtowed heavily again: "Comrade Zhou, I beg you, please release my mother-in-law. The child is innocent. Please, for the sake of the child, spare my mother-in-law, okay?"

The weather in July was sweltering, and everyone was dressed in thin clothing. Watching Qin Huairu kowtow repeatedly, Zhou Weiguo's lips twitched, and he thought to himself: Is she here to plead for mercy, or to throw a tantrum? However, he remembered what Director Wang had said: in Jia Zhangshi's case, she would at most be detained in the police station for a few days, and the main thing would be criticism, education, and ideological reform by the street office.

After much thought, Zhou Weiguo concluded that there was only one way to truly upset Jia Zhangshi—to take her retirement savings. He just didn't know if Jia Dongxu knew where his mother hid the money.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Weiguo said, "It's not impossible for me to go to the police station to plead for your mother, but in order to teach her a lesson and prevent her from making the same mistake again, how about this, you take out 50 yuan."

I'm going to the neighborhood office in a bit. Consider this money a donation to your Jia family, and also a fine. I'll have the neighborhood office use this money to buy some supplies for the families of martyrs in need within our neighborhood. Then I'll plead with your mother, or perhaps write a letter of understanding. Whether you agree or not is up to you.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors reacted in various ways, some with envy and jealousy, others with disdain and contempt. But when they heard that the money was donated to the families of martyrs, their attitudes softened slightly.

Jia Dongxu's eyes darted around, searching for Yi Zhonghai, but to no avail. He had just gambled away his wages a couple of days ago; where would he get 50 yuan? He mumbled, trying to bargain.

Seeing this, Zhou Weiguo's tone became stern: "Don't try to bargain with me! If you say another word, and I still want to write a letter of understanding, I'm not Zhou!"

Qin Huairu quickly grabbed Jia Dongxu and said helplessly, "Dongxu, if it really doesn't work, just take Mom's money. Didn't you say Mom told you where she hid the money?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu's eyes lit up. He rushed home, opened Old Jia's photo, and sure enough, found a wad of cash on the back. He counted it; it totaled 89 yuan.

He pulled out 50 yuan, stuffed the rest into his pocket, grabbed a pen and paper, ran out, and arrogantly handed the money to Zhou Weiguo: "Since you said you'd help our Jia family donate to the families of martyrs, I agree. Hurry up and write me the letter of understanding; I need to pick up my mom from the police station!"

Zhou Weiguo looked at the man in front of him, speechless. He shook his head, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote a letter of understanding. Jia Dongxu took the letter and ran out of the yard in a flash.

Zhou Weiguo watched his retreating figure and called out to the Jia family, "Comrade Yi, stop hiding and come out! Anyone can guess that it was you who came up with the idea for the Jia family. Hurry up and call the deaf old lady; we need to get to the neighborhood committee early today."

Yi Zhonghai walked out of the Jia family home with a grim face. He had been exposed in public, and his old face turned red, but he dared not retaliate. He could only curse Zhou Weiguo in his heart.

Just then, the deaf old woman from the backyard came out leaning on her cane. Coincidentally, He Yuzhu, upon hearing that they were going to the neighborhood committee office, immediately pulled out his heavy bicycle.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, Yi Zhonghai immediately said, "Oh, silly Zhu, that's good! Finally, we have a good young man in our compound who knows how to respect the elderly and care for the young, and knows that the old lady has difficulty walking. Well then, today I'll give you a chance to be filial, so that the old lady's gift of the house to you won't be in vain."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors were shocked and began to discuss among themselves: "What? The deaf old lady is going to give the house to Sha Zhu? He and his sister occupy three large main rooms and an additional side room, living so spaciously. Why should they?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Weiguo's face turned ugly. In his heart, Zhou Weiguo cursed Yi Zhonghai for being cunning and treacherous, deliberately trying to smear Zhu Zi.

He couldn't let He Yuzhu take the blame for nothing, so he said directly, "Comrade Yi, was the deaf old lady's house a gift, or was it compensation for my son Zhuzi because of some incident? You're forcing me to clarify this in the courtyard. What's wrong? You've become quite articulate overnight? You're really good at stirring up trouble, aren't you?"

P.S.: Please urge me to update more and give me good reviews. Thank you!