Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

"Come quick! Everyone come and see!"

The newcomer is bullying the elderly people in our compound! He slapped Jia Zhangshi and even knocked out her son, Jia Dongxu!

Old Xu, Old Xu, come out and help! Guangqi, quickly call Da Mao and He Jiecheng over! Sha Zhu, quickly go find a rope.

"All you steel mill bosses out here! We'll tie this bad guy up and take him to the street office to hand him over to Director Wang!" Liu Haizhong, always eager to stir up trouble, shouted and called for reinforcements.

A middle-aged man rushed out of the house in the backyard and ran to Liu Haizhong in the front yard. This man was Xu Damao's father, Xu Wude, who was then a servant of the Lou family who was in charge of showing movies.

Later, after the Lou family dismissed their servants, Xu Wude used his skills and the favor he had earned from serving the Lou family for many years to get a job as a projectionist for his son, Xu Damao, at the steel rolling mill. Xu Damao was also working overtime that day showing a movie, so he hadn't come home yet, and Xu Wude was home alone.

"Who's so insolent, daring to start a fight in the yard as soon as they arrive? Old Liu, you're not mistaken, are you?"

"There's no mistake, look. Jia Dongxu is still lying there. Quickly get a few more people to keep an eye on him so he doesn't get away."

Before long, a large group of people gathered at the door of Xu Lin's west wing in the front yard. It was still hot outside, and many of them were shirtless, making for a rather lively scene.

Some women were also standing at the back, pointing and whispering about what was happening inside the house. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong, seeing that almost everyone had arrived, led Xu Wude, a few young men including Liu Guangqi, Yan Jiecheng, Shazhu, and some of the men from the courtyard into Xu Lin's house.

Because it was a large house with three rooms, it didn't feel too crowded when a group of people squeezed inside. The three old men at the front and the Jia family mother and son felt much more confident when they saw this group of people.

Jia Dongxu was then helped up and stood to the side. Jia Zhangshi wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes and fiercely cursed Xu Lin, spitting as she spoke.

"You little beast, you bastard who killed your parents! You dare to hit someone, and you beat our Dongxu like this! This isn't over. You have to pay compensation!"

"These three houses must be compensated to our family, plus our medical expenses and Dongxu's lost wages..." Taking advantage of the large group behind her, Jia Zhangshi kept making endless demands.

Yi Zhonghai, having gathered his thoughts, coughed to signal Jia Zhangshi to stop. He knew that letting her continue her endless tantrum would only lead to a bad situation. So, he pretended to be a peacemaker, putting on a pained and earnest act as if he were giving a passionate lecture.

"Xiao Xu, how could you hit someone without even knowing what happened? Our courtyard was just selected as an outstanding courtyard house, and what you did has ruined our image."

Many young people in our department are approaching working age. If you cause our department to lose this honor, won't that affect their job search and their entire lives...?

Yi Zhonghai's face was full of sorrow, and his tone was concerned, truly resembling that of an elder expressing disappointment and frustration with a younger generation.

He then gave the other three a look.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui, Liu Haizhong, and Xu Wude immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes. Many families in our compound are still struggling financially, just waiting for their children to grow up, find jobs, and live a better life."

If your actions affect all of us, can you bear the responsibility?

"Yes, Xiao Xu, young people are prone to acting impulsively. We've all been young once, so we can understand. Xiao Xu, you should apologize to the Jia family mother and son and make the necessary compensation. If this matter escalates, sigh..."

"Young man, don't be so hot-blooded. Sometimes you need to apologize and back down. Losing a little face is nothing, but don't ruin your future..."

Xu Lin watched Yan Bugui and his two companions' hypocritical performance and sneered inwardly. This courtyard was a den of beasts; every single one of them was treacherous and cunning, none of them simple-minded.

Thinking of this, Xu Lin stood up from his chair, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the group.

"You lot, coming uninvited to rent my house, I agree to provide the house, and let Uncle One and Uncle Two pay for Uncle Three and the Jia family's housing problem..."

"Stop talking nonsense. The point is why you hit someone, and why you hit him so hard. Look how badly the table is broken. How badly must Dongxu be injured...?"

Liu Haizhong, worried that Xu Lin would reveal what happened before and damage their image, interrupted him directly.

"Liu Haizhong! You old fool, you're really confused. Jia Dongxu barged in and tried to hit me, and I couldn't even defend myself? Does that mean I, the newcomer, am just supposed to let you guys bully me, without fighting back or arguing back?"

Liu Haizhong's eyes widened when he heard Xu Lin's insults directed at him.

"I'm fucking..."

This curse instantly enraged Liu Haizhong, the senior manager of the compound who considered himself superior and a leader. He reached out to unbuckle his belt and teach Xu Lin a lesson.

Yan Bugui immediately pulled back Liu Haizhong, who was on the verge of exploding, and chimed in to help.

"Dongxu is a child we watched grow up. He's not the kind of person you're describing. Besides, you beat someone's mother like that. What son would pretend to be a coward and not fight back? Even if Dongxu really struck first, it's understandable."

"You're so young to be a doctor, you must be educated. These days, we advocate reasoning with people. We can sit down and discuss things. Why did you have to resort to such harsh methods..."

"Alright, alright. I know exactly what you old bastards are thinking, and we all know it too. Stop pretending to be so righteous. I hit him, and I've already explained why—it was self-defense."

If you don't understand the law, then call the people from the military control office or Director Wang from the neighborhood committee to judge this matter.

If you're too cowardly to even shout, don't even think about trying to take advantage of me. You bunch of old bastards, you think you can outsmart me? You're too naive. Get the hell out of here and go back to your own wives to show off your power.

"Don't embarrass yourself in front of me..." Xu Lin shook his head, his gaze sweeping playfully over the people in front of him. His mocking expression was clearly visible to the authority figures in the courtyard, their faces saying, "Go ahead and hit me."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard blushed and clenched their fists. Even Yi Zhonghai, whose composure was already superb, couldn't hold back after hearing Xu Lin's undisguised insults.

"Damn it, get him! Arrest this kid and send him to the local authorities. We all saw him hit someone and keep provoking them. I want to see if the authorities believe a newcomer or us big shots!" Liu Haizhong, his belly protruding, spoke with an air of official authority.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yan Bugui slipped to Xu Lin's side to prepare for a sneak attack. Yi Zhonghai and Xu Wude also moved forward, ready to simultaneously strike Xu Lin's shoulder.

Seeing their actions, Jia Dongxu's face lit up with excitement and ruthlessness. He immediately pushed Jia Zhangshi behind him, gave Sha Zhu and Liu Guangqi a look, and joined in the encirclement. Yan Jiecheng stood at the back, holding a rope, ready to step forward and tie Xu Lin up at any moment.

Xu Lin slowly raised his eyes. There was no longer any contempt in his eyes, only a cold indifference, which made Liu Haizhong's words catch in his throat.

"Are you done talking?" Xu Lin's voice was very soft, but it made the air freeze.

"Why waste your breath on him!" Sha Zhu, the most hot-tempered of them all, charged up from behind, swinging his thick fist, aiming for Xu Lin's face.

Xu Lin made a move.

He rose, stepped to the side, and reached out, his movements so fast they left only a blur. His right hand, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, precisely seized Sha Zhu's wrist—no longer a gentle "grasping the sparrow's tail," but a ruthless "golden thread binding the wrist"! A twist, a bend!

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of bones breaking was particularly jarring in the quiet room.

"Ah—!" Sha Zhu's scream had barely left his lips when Xu Lin's left palm struck him in the chest like a thunderbolt. With a muffled thud, Sha Zhu's nearly 200-pound body flew backward and crashed into the door, collapsing to the ground, his right arm hanging limply, his whole body twitching. The door, which had been hit, was also on the verge of collapse.

Jia Dongxu tried to take advantage of the opportunity to attack Xu Lin from the side, but Xu Lin didn't turn his head. He listened to the wind and determined the location, and with a "reverse monkey" kick, his heel kicked hard on the side of Jia Dongxu's knee joint.

Another teeth-grinding "crack" sound rang out. Jia Dongxu clutched his twisted and deformed leg, collapsed to the ground, writhing and letting out a pig-like scream, instantly losing his fighting ability.

In the blink of an eye, both of them were crippled!

Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai, who followed behind, turned pale with fright, but unable to stop in time, they still charged forward defiantly. Xu Lin moved like a ghost between the two, spreading his arms and striking with both hands—double-peaked ear-piercing!

Two palms struck the two men's temples simultaneously; the sound was soft, yet deadly. Their eyes bulged, their heads lolled to the side, and without a sound, they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Yan Bugui, standing to the side, was terrified and retreated repeatedly, shouting, "I'm not fighting anymore! I'm quitting..."

Xu Lin didn't even look at him. In a flash, he was in front of him, his fingers like halberds, lightly touching Yan Bugui's Adam's apple. Yan Bugui's eyes widened instantly, his hands covered his neck, he gasped for breath, and slowly knelt down, his face full of pain but unable to utter a sound.

Xu Wude was very ruthless. Seeing that things were not going well, he grabbed the broken table leg from the ground and chopped it down at Xu Lin with all his might! Xu Lin seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He dodged with a "Jade Maiden Shuttle" and thrust his elbow backward with all his might, smashing it hard into Xu Wude's heart.

"Pfft!" Xu Wood spat out a mouthful of acidic water, his eyes were bloodshot, and he curled up like a shrimp and fell to the ground, only exhaling and not inhaling.

Seeing that things were going badly, Yan Jiecheng dropped the rope and turned to run. Xu Lin kicked up a table leg on the ground with his toe, like kicking a meteor, and the rim of the bowl whistled through the air, hitting Yan Jiecheng's knee with precision.

"Ah!" Yan Jiecheng knelt on one knee, as if his bones were shattered.

At this moment, only Liu Guangqi remained. He stood frozen in place, his body trembling violently with fear, his crotch soaked, and a strong stench of urine wafting through the air.

Xu Lin walked step by step to him, his clothes spotless and his breathing steady as usual.

"You're a resident too, right?" Xu Lin's voice remained calm, yet it was like a chilling winter breeze scraping across ice. "Could you please go and call Director Wang from the neighborhood committee?"

Looking at his neighbor groaning on the ground, and at Xu Lin's emotionless eyes, Liu Guangqi collapsed to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "No... I won't do it again! Xu Lin... Grandpa Xu! I was wrong! I'll never dare to do it again! I'll go and call Director Wang to come and uphold justice for you."

Xu Lin looked down at him as if he were an ant.

"Yes, thank you for your trouble. I'll wait here." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "You know better than I how to put it..."

Liu Guangqi scrambled and stumbled, fleeing the hellish room in a disheveled state, and rushed out the door to find Director Wang...