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

"You can punish me however you want, I'll accept the punishment."

"But I also demand that this old hag be sent back to the countryside! With her around, our courtyard can never have peace."

Zhang Dabiao's attitude is like this: I made a mistake, and I should stand up straight when I get punished, but I'll still do it again next time!

And we'll die together!

I, Zhang Dabiao, am a tiger, I'm hot-blooded, so what?

Being young and impetuous is perfectly reasonable, isn't it?

Director Wang was also speechless; Zhang Dabiao was showing no respect whatsoever…

However, she could understand that most people were like that. "You've already insulted my ancestors, so I should take action when the time is right. What are you hesitating for?"

Especially for young people of this age, adults have some concerns after starting a family and career, but Zhang Dabiao has no concerns at all.

But before she could even reprimand Zhang Dabiao, Jia Zhangshi began to wail—

"Director Wang, please don't listen to him! Sending me to the countryside these days is practically a death sentence!"

"I don't want compensation anymore! I don't want it! I'm not going to the countryside!"

"Zhang Dabiao, are you trying to get me killed?!"

Jia Dongxu nodded and smiled apologetically, "Director Wang, my mother was just confused for a moment. Our family doesn't want any compensation, we don't want it."

These days, people are going to the countryside even though they can't get enough to eat in the city. Even if Zhangjiatun has land, Jia Zhangshi is the kind of person who would never farm it to earn work points.

Yi Zhonghai – [Damn, what a great opportunity…]

Seeing that the Jia family had given up on compensation, meaning they would stop making trouble, Director Wang cleared his throat and announced the decision to the public:

"This incident today is egregious! It must be dealt with seriously!"

"Jia Zhangshi—After your return, you showed no remorse, instead provoking trouble, openly engaging in feudal superstitious activities, and using malicious language to slander others, severely damaging social morality and neighborhood harmony. Furthermore, you failed to report to the subdistrict office immediately. The subdistrict office has decided to severely criticize and educate you! Starting tomorrow, you will report to the subdistrict office every morning for a month of study! At the same time, you are ordered to publicly apologize to Comrade Zhang Dabiao and guarantee that you will not repeat this offense! Any further offenses will be dealt with severely!"

When Jia Zhangshi heard that she would have to study for another month and a half, her face fell. But seeing Director Wang's stern eyes, she didn't dare to say a word. In the end, she could only stammer and apologize to Zhang Dabiao.

Losing face always means being sent back to the countryside.

"Zhang Dabiao—You assaulted someone, causing injury, which was wrong. Considering the circumstances, the seriousness of the other party's fault, and your good attitude in admitting your mistake, you will be treated leniently. You will pay Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai two yuan each for medical expenses, and Jia Zhangshi… pay her five yuan. You must also submit a written apology to the neighborhood committee! You must deeply understand that violence should never be used to solve problems! Be mindful of the impact!"

Being held responsible for medical expenses and forced to submit a written self-criticism—this punishment was clearly a case of raising a bar high but landing it lightly. Zhang Dabiao didn't care at all about the few dollars involved.

Director Wang offered a way downhill, and Zhang Dabiao naturally had to accept it, so he nodded and said, "Yes, Director Wang, I accept the punishment."

"Comrade Liu Haizhong," Director Wang said, looking at the elderly man, Liu Pangpang, "although you, as an elderly man, did try to dissuade him, your reaction was not quick enough and your handling of the situation was not decisive enough. You must learn from this lesson! If similar incidents occur again in the hospital, you must resolutely stop them immediately and report them!"

Liu Haizhong nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, Director Wang's criticism is correct, I will definitely improve!"

After finishing the proceedings, Director Wang surveyed everyone, lingering for a few seconds on the Jia family and Yi Zhonghai, before speaking slowly, "The neighborhood committee is well aware of the situation in our compound. I hope that from today onward, everyone will focus on living their lives properly and stop scheming and plotting against others! A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, but this 'relative' and 'neighbor' relationship must be built on a foundation of integrity and mutual respect! Anyone who disregards the consequences and undermines unity will not be tolerated by the neighborhood committee! Dismissed!"

The incident was temporarily quelled thanks to Director Wang's swift and decisive handling of the situation.

The group dispersed, each with their own thoughts. Yi Zhonghai, hunched over, slunk back into the house. Supported by Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi returned to the Jia family home, groaning and seething. She harbored deep resentment towards Zhang Dabiao and Yi Zhonghai as well. Jia Dongxu, clutching his stomach, was helped back home with mixed feelings. His mother's return had caused chaos; he'd rather have stayed on the farm for a few more months.

Liu Haizhong directed a few neighbors to symbolically tidy up the courtyard, then returned home with his hands behind his back, quite pleased with himself—although he had been criticized, he was still pleased to see his old rival Yi Zhonghai suffer a setback.

Zhang Dabiao silently walked back to the small courtyard. The three girls immediately surrounded him.

"Da Biao, is your hand alright?" Mu Wanqing took his hand and was relieved to see that his palm was perfectly fine.

"It's nothing." Zhang Dabiao shook his head and smiled wearily. "It's just that my birthday was completely ruined. What bad luck."

"So what if it's ruined?" He Yushui pouted, her face still showing lingering fear and disgust. "Getting involved with that kind of person really turns everything good into bad. She'll definitely cause trouble again in the future."

Qin Jingru whispered, "Brother Biaozi, what you just said... was really scary. But what Jia Zhangshi said was too awful. If my dad were talked about like that, I couldn't stand it either."

Zhang Dabiao didn't say anything more. He looked out the window at the deepening night and knew He Yushui was right. Given Jia Zhangshi's temperament, although she had been disciplined today, it would only drive her even more crazy.

Repent and start anew?

nonexistent.

His peaceful days of "eating and waiting to die" were truly gone forever from the moment Jia Zhangshi stepped back into the courtyard.

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

After Jia Zhangshi returned home, she first urged Qin Huairu to go out and cook, and also to buy meat! Qin Huairu had no choice but to go find Sha Zhu.

Then Jia Zhangshi asked Jia Dongxu to explain to her what had happened in the past six months.

Why didn't you tell her when you visited? Wasn't it because you were afraid she'd go crazy inside?

1. Yan Bugui was dismissed from his position as the head of the management office and almost expelled from school because he hit Zhang Dabiao and got a cut on his palm. Now he is farming on the school's farm.

2. Yi Zhonghai was exposed for embezzling He Yushui's living expenses and had to pay a lot of money back. He Daqing even rushed back and broke his leg. Sha Zhu and He Yushui separated.

3. The donation issue has also been exposed. All the donations the Jia family received have been lost. Our Jia family is now truly destitute. Mom, you have to take out the money you've been saving for your retirement, otherwise our family really won't be able to survive.

4. Zhang Dabiao's house was given to Liu Guangqi, right next to our house. Liu Guangqi got married and had a daughter named Liu Xiaoqing. Also, Yan Jiecheng got married and lives in the outer courtyard.

5. Zhang Dabiao now lives in the side room next to Shazhu, and has also bought a small courtyard there;

6. The uncles from Zhangjiatun have come. Zhang Dabiao gave money to his two cousins ​​to buy them work positions and moved Zhang Banxian's grave back to his hometown. Another cousin from that place was adopted by Zhang Banxian.

7. Zhang Dabiao has received many awards in the past six months. The street office, the factory, the municipal bureau, and the foreign trade department all attach great importance to him.

8. A Youth Mutual Aid Association was established in the courtyard, but the Jia family was excluded. Zhang Dabiao's courtyard was full of grain, so he had no worries about food and drink.

9. Because of the neighbor's usury and the robbery at the Youth Mutual Aid Association fishing spot, Zhang Dabiao's actions resulted in the execution of 9 people and life imprisonment of 5 others. So our family is best off not messing with him; we really can't afford to offend him...

10. Liu Gen got into university, Zhang Dabiao went to junior high school, and most importantly, Zhang Dabiao's invention sold for 200,000 yuan! He now earns more than 1,000 yuan in interest every month!

Jia Zhangshi screamed immediately—

"Steal... steal young master?!"

20.

Jia Zhangshi was so frightened that she tumbled off the kang (a heated brick bed), but then she rushed out the door—

"Zhang Dabiao! My dear nephew! Your third aunt is here!"