Courtyard House: Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) Traded for an Aircraft Carrier, the Whole Count

The central courtyard of the siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) was now in complete chaos.

It was lunchtime, and everyone was cooking. Jia Zhangshi's shout immediately drew everyone out of the courtyard. People, bowls in hand, stood either at their own doorways or gathered around the pond, pointing and whispering at Jia's house, their faces showing expressions of enjoying the spectacle.

Ran Qiuye stood in the middle of the crowd, pushing her bicycle, looking like a little lamb that had wandered into a pack of wolves, her face flushed, caught in a dilemma.

Opposite her, Jia Zhangshi was sitting cross-legged on the ground, patting her thighs with both hands, her posture even more dramatic than that of someone performing in an opera.

"Oh dear! This is unbearable! The school teachers don't teach and nurture, they just come to our house to collect debts! My son Banggeng is still a child, what could he have done wrong? He just took two pieces of chalk, is it really necessary to pay for it?"

As Jia Zhangshi wailed, she secretly glanced at Ran Qiuye with her triangular eyes. She had used this "summoning of the dead" trick in the courtyard for decades, and it had never failed her. As long as she made a big scene and labeled herself as an "orphan and widow," most people would have no choice but to accept defeat for the sake of their reputation.

Qin Huairu stood to the side, holding a tattered rag in her hand, her eyes red-rimmed, looking like a wronged little wife.

"Teacher Ran, please don't be angry. My mother-in-law is just confused from worry." Qin Huairu's voice choked with sobs, but it was just enough for everyone around to hear. "But... but you've seen our family's situation. Dongxu passed away early, and I'm raising three children alone. We're almost starving. And you're going to fine us two yuan... isn't that going to kill us?"

Her words instantly shifted the direction of public opinion.

"Yes, the Jia family has indeed had a tough time."

"Two yuan is a considerable sum; it's enough to buy many kilograms of cornmeal."

"That teacher is really something, enough already, why bother arguing with a widow?"

The whispers of the neighbors buzzed like flies, each word like a needle pricking Ran Qiuye's heart.

"No...it's not like that!" Ran Qiuye's eyes welled up with tears as she tried to explain, "This isn't just about two yuan! Bang Geng cut a female classmate's hair, and her parents came looking for an explanation! Besides, he stole school property; that's a matter of character. If he's not disciplined..."

"Pah! What kind of moral issue is this!" Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately sprang to her feet, her finger nearly poking Ran Qiuye's nose. "I think you're just taking advantage of the fact that we don't have a man in our family! What's wrong with getting a haircut? Hair grows back! I think you, teacher, are just dishonest and trying to extort money!"

"How...how can you talk like that!" Ran Qiuye trembled with anger. Her upbringing prevented her from using foul language to retaliate, leaving her speechless with rage at this shameless logic.

Meanwhile, the culprit, Bang Geng, was hiding behind his own window, grimacing and making faces at the windowsill, his eyes filled with smugness and malice, showing no sign of remorse whatsoever.

Ran Qiuye felt a deep sense of powerlessness. Looking at the indifferent, even scrutinizing, gazes around her, and at the old hag throwing a tantrum in front of her, she suddenly felt so isolated and helpless.

Why is the sky in this courtyard gray?

Just as Jia Zhangshi saw that the other party was not speaking and was preparing to press her advantage and push Ran Qiuye forward, a tall figure suddenly cut between the two without warning.

Like a majestic mountain, it instantly blocked out all malice and noise.

The hand that was trying to push was firmly intercepted in mid-air by a large hand wearing a black leather glove.

"Click."

A slight cracking sound of bones dislocating rang out, followed by Jia Zhangshi's pig-like screams.

"Ah—! Murder! The security department has murdered someone!"

Jiang Chen casually tossed Jia Zhangshi away like trash, sending her staggering back several steps before she fell to the ground with a thud.

He ignored the shrew on the ground, turned around, looked at the still-shaken Ran Qiuye, and took out a clean white handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

Wipe your sweat.

His tone was calm, yet it exuded an irresistible composure.

Ran Qiuye blankly took the handkerchief, staring at the man's back. At that moment, the surrounding noise seemed to disappear, and her world consisted only of that tall, pine-like figure.

Jiang Chen turned around and coldly scanned the entire room.

The neighbors, who had been whispering amongst themselves, instantly fell silent like ducks with their necks grabbed when they met those two sharp, almost tangible gazes. They looked down at their toes, afraid of getting into trouble.

This is the deterrent power Jiang Chen currently wields in the courtyard.

Finally, his gaze fell on Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi.

"Jia Zhangshi, it seems the lesson I taught you last time wasn't profound enough." Jiang Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating force, each word seeming to strike the Jia family's hearts. "Do you want to have tea at the security office, or do you want to spend the night at the police station? The choice is yours."

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.