I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

"Make way, make way! The police are here!"

"You dare block the way? Arrest you and that guy right now!"

Amidst shouts and angry rebukes, the man who had gone out to report the crime led three police officers back in. He pointed and exclaimed, "Chief Wang, he's inside! It's him, the one who hit our Section Chief Lu!" He then quickly ran to lead the police officers to the station.

Director Wang walked into the courtyard, followed the path parted by the crowd, and immediately saw the person in question, and was stunned on the spot.

Isn't this Li Jing'an? He had seen this man at Director Meng's dinner party and even toasted him; he knew his background. Director Wang's eyes lit up, and he raised his hand to greet him.

"plum……"

Li Jing'an also saw the newcomer. He had been feigning a heroic sacrifice, but seeing that Chief Wang was about to speak, he quickly interrupted, shouting, "Yes! I was the one who hit him! Officer, I'll take full responsibility; it has nothing to do with anyone else!"

"No, Li—" Director Wang, still confused, was about to speak again.

Li Jing'an gave him no chance: "Officer, I'll take responsibility for whatever punishment you give me! You can decide how to handle it!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd assumed that the police were coming to arrest Li Jing'an, and immediately erupted in chaos.

"Don't arrest him! This comrade is a good person!"

"Yes! We can't let him take him away! We must protect him!"

People rushed forward to protect Li Jing'an, who then reassured them, "Everyone, don't get agitated, we must trust the police officers—"

"Chief! He's the one who hit my son and me! Arrest him!" Old Lu covered his face and pointed hysterically at Li Jing'an.

"Waaah...yes, yes, yes!" The eldest son of the Lu family also covered his mouth and mumbled in agreement.

"Chief, and these people who are causing trouble, they must be connected to him! I want you to take them all back for questioning!" Old Lu looked around with ill intent.

The anger of those around him intensified, and they began to criticize him.

Chief Wang had almost come to his senses by now, and he wanted nothing more than to tear the mouths of the father and son apart. He raised his voice: "Everyone, quiet down! I am the chief of the police station in this area. Don't worry, we will definitely investigate thoroughly and will not wrong an innocent person, nor will we let any bad person go free!" After saying that, he glared fiercely at the Lu father and son.

"Alright, there are too many people here, it's inconvenient. I'd like to ask the person involved to come back to the station with me, and we will conduct a thorough investigation."

The crowd stirred again, shouting, "Don't go with them, they're in cahoots!"

Li Jing'an didn't seem to care and gestured for everyone to quiet down: "Don't be nervous, everyone. I believe the police officers at our station have nothing to do with them. We should trust our officers—most of them are demobilized soldiers, they're all from ordinary backgrounds, and they fought for the people back then. Can't you all trust them?"

Director Wang quickly chimed in, "This comrade is right! I myself am a demobilized soldier from a poor background. Please believe me, we will definitely stand on the same side as the masses!"

The crowd gradually quieted down.

Chief Wang gestured to the two police officers behind him: "Go, bring the Lu family father and son with you."

Two police officers grabbed him by the arms. The eldest Lu family member realized something was wrong—why wasn't Li Jing'an arrested? Passing by Chief Wang, he mumbled through his swollen lips, "Chief Wang, what are you doing? We've drunk together before! Why are you only arresting us? Arrest him too! And take the Lin family with you!"

"Bullshit!" Director Wang cursed under his breath, his face turning green. "Who knows you? Who has drunk with you? Don't talk nonsense!" If there weren't so many people around, he would have loved to punch the father and son hard.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the Lu family father and son, they were led out of the courtyard. Li Jing'an and Chief Wang followed side by side behind. The people in the courtyard, unwilling to leave, also spontaneously followed behind, wanting to go to the police station to check things out.

Along the way, neighbors kept asking what had happened. After hearing what had happened, they all spontaneously followed. The police station wasn't far away, and they arrived in no time, but the line behind them had already grown to several hundred people.

Li Jing'an walked ahead with his head held high, looking like he was about to die a heroic death. Director Wang walked beside him, feeling incredibly frustrated: Why do I look so much like a villain? Like a Japanese soldier? Like a Kuomintang member?

As Li Jing'an entered the police station, two officers escorted the Lu family father and son inside. He slowed his pace, walked up the steps, and suddenly stopped at the entrance, slowly turning around.

A vast crowd came into view. He glanced at the Lin sisters, especially Lin Wan's red, tear-filled eyes—her worried expression made him want to smile, but he quickly suppressed it. His expression turned serious as he slowly surveyed the entire room.

The people at the back were still noisily asking about the situation, while those at the front were chanting slogans in support of Li Jing'an. Under his gaze, the entire scene gradually quieted down.

Li Jing'an thought to himself: Wow, this is the effect I wanted.

Just as Director Wang was about to ask something—

Li Jing'an suddenly straightened up, raised his right arm high, gathered his strength, and roared:

"Long live the people!"

"Long live justice!"

He then turned and walked into the police station without looking back.

Behind him, Director Wang stood there, completely bewildered. The crowd, which had been silent for a moment, suddenly erupted into a thunderous roar.

Some uninformed people asked around, while those who knew the story excitedly described it to them, some even choking up at the climax.

Those who hear others' explanations immediately become on-the-spot heroes, embellishing the story for the newcomers and gradually changing the narrative.

Director Wang then realized what was happening and quickly took two steps to catch up with the officer inside the station, inwardly lamenting: "It's over, I've completely become the villain now."