Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

"Waaah... Old Jia, I can't live anymore! Come and take me away! There's not a single good person in this yard. They all bully me while you're not here, damn it!"

With half of her face swollen like a steamed bun, Jia Zhangshi dared not glare or curse anymore. She could only lie on the ground, pounding her fists and wailing, putting on a show with snot and tears streaming down her face.

He Yuzhu sneered, his gaze fixed on Liu Haizhong: "Liu Haizhong, the neighborhood committee just issued a strict order a couple of days ago, prohibiting all feudal superstitions. Look at her, summoning spirits in broad daylight, making a scene like a market in the underworld. You're the second uncle, tell me, are you going to do anything about this? Are you going to turn a blind eye and cover it up, or are you going to follow the rules?"

As soon as he said that, Liu Haizhong felt a chill run down his spine.

Although a major ideological liberation movement hasn't yet swept through Beijing, a new trend has already emerged—feudal superstition is being cracked down on as soon as it emerges. Anyone who dares to defy this trend will be immediately reported to the local street office, and will be punished ranging from a public reprimand to a written self-criticism and public apology.

"Well... we're all neighbors, it's just a misunderstanding, and it wouldn't look good if it escalated..."

Liu Haizhong is doing Tai Chi, trying to smooth things over.

Logically, he should have reported it, but being publicly pressured by He Yuzhu left him humiliated. Besides, in his eyes, the Jia family was the one who had been wronged. If he sided with He Yuzhu and kicked them while they were down, how could he continue to act as the "second-in-command"?

Qin Huairu, her face streaked with tears, sobbed as she spoke, "Second Uncle... my mother knows she was wrong... please have mercy..."

Seeing her pitiful state, Liu Hai's heart softened even more. He put his hands behind his back and adopted a leader's posture: "Shazhu, the Jia family was in the wrong first, but you also hit someone, and you hit them hard. I think we should leave it at that."

"Heh." He Yuzhu scoffed, his eyes sharp as knives. "If it were just about stealing meat, your pressure would be understandable. But the neighborhood committee just issued a notice banning superstitious activities, and she immediately started performing a ritual under the blatant sun, openly defying the rules. And you? You turned a blind eye, protecting and condoning her—what is that? Leading the resistance against the organization?"

One sentence hit the nail on the head.

Liu Haizhong's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

If word gets out that he condones feudal superstition, not only will his position as the second uncle be in jeopardy, but he might also end up like Lao Yi and Lao Yan, squatting on the platform reading a self-criticism, losing all face!

His mind raced, and he immediately changed his tune, shouting in a deep voice, "Guangtian! Go there—"

The words had barely left her mouth when Qin Huairu immediately sensed something was wrong. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she rushed forward, pleading, "Second Uncle! My mother really won't do it again! Please forgive her this time, sob... We've been neighbors for decades..."

Her crying moved many neighbors, who whispered their advice: "Let it go, let it go, why be so ruthless?"

A glimpse of bangs softened her heart, but a quick glance out of the corner of her eye—

He Yuzhu remained standing there, his gaze fixed and unwavering.

His heart skipped a beat.

If he doesn't hand the man over today, He Yuzhu will submit a report, and Liu Haizhong will be implicated.

Sympathy is one thing, but making a living is another.

He gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and said, word by word, "Guangtian! Go! Call the neighborhood committee!"

The onlookers were all stunned, thinking to themselves: Good heavens, this time they're serious!

Even Qin Huairu was stunned—things were out of control.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi, who was sprawled on the ground, immediately erupted in fury: "Liu Haizhong! It's one thing if you don't help the Jia family, but you've also conspired with Sha Zhu to try and kill me? You'll die a horrible death! Old Jia—look at this family, there's no one left—"

Liu Haizhong's face was ashen as he roared at Liu Guangtian, "What are you all standing there for? Don't you want to eat? Get out! Go now!"

Liu Guangtian took off running, disappearing from the courtyard like a puff of smoke.

The neighbors knew what was going on—this time, Uncle Er was really going to flip the table.

Qin Huairu's face turned pale. She picked up Xiaodang and ran home. She needed to find Jia Dongxu quickly to discuss a solution.

Jia Zhangshi tried to get up and hide inside, but as soon as she sat up, He Yuzhu stepped forward and slapped her across the face.

"Snapped!"

He was slapped hard back, and fell back to the ground, his head buzzing and stars flashing before his eyes.

At that moment, she was filled with deep regret—if she had known that bowl of meat belonged to the He family, she wouldn't have dared to touch it even if she had ten times the courage!

Not long after, Liu Guangtian arrived in a hurry with three people.

It wasn't Director Wang, nor was it Xiao Li, but rather two middle-aged women from the neighborhood office, plus a member of the security team.

As soon as the others arrived, Jia Dongxu staggered out of the house, reeking of alcohol and walking unsteadily. But upon seeing the scene, he immediately straightened his back and, with a stiff neck, began to complain: "Boss! Sha Zhu hit my own mother! This is assault! He must be severely punished!"

The neighborhood office worker didn't even lift her eyelids, waving her hand dismissively: "Shut up, we'll investigate ourselves."

In short, he was left standing there, completely ignored.

On the way, Aunt Wang from the neighborhood office had already learned the general situation from Liu Guangtian. Now she was mainly keeping an eye on Jia Zhangshi, asking her if she had said any of those feudal superstitious nonsense.

After asking around, from the middle-aged woman who was present from the beginning to the neighbors who were watching the commotion, everyone said they hadn't heard Jia Zhangshi mutter anything about "summoning the soul" or "cursing people"—except for her tantrums, such as snatching meat, throwing a tantrum, and rolling on the ground.

Finally, it was the turn of He Yuzhu and Jia Zhangshi to confront each other.

He Yuzhu explained the whole story clearly and logically. But as soon as he finished speaking, Jia Zhangshi immediately started having another seizure, rolling on the ground, crying and screaming in pain, saying that all her bones were broken, that she was in pain everywhere, and that she couldn't live anymore!

But Aunt Wang had a sharp eye and could tell at a glance that the old woman wasn't sick at all—she was full of energy and rolled around nimbly, not at all like someone who had been beaten. She was clearly faking madness!

Unfortunately, the two neighborhood committee ladies that Director Wang sent this time were notorious "iron ladies," the least afraid of those who throw tantrums and act unreasonably. If you speak politely, they'll be courteous; but if you act like this, don't blame them for being even tougher.

"Xiao Wang, let's go! Tie her up and see if she can still run away!"

Seeing the situation was turning bad, Qin Huairu quickly rushed forward to plead, "Aunt Wang, Aunt Wang, my mother was wrong, she really knows she was wrong!"

Upon hearing that things were about to get serious, Jia Zhangshi immediately fell silent, shrank back, trembling, and repeatedly admitted her mistakes.

Aunt Wang then gave her a way out, albeit with a cold face.

With neighbors as witnesses and an older woman present, the sequence of events quickly became clear. Ms. Wang announced the outcome on the spot:

He Yuzhu assaulted someone, though he was forced into it, but his actions of trespassing and dragging someone out of a private residence were excessive. He was fined two yuan, which will be used for the Jia family's medical expenses.

Two yuan isn't much—a bottle of anti-swelling medicine only costs a few cents—but this is a matter of characterization. Breaking into someone's home and assaulting them is a serious offense and must be punished.

As for Jia Zhangshi—

She snatched the meat first, and then defied the rules to commit the crime! The neighborhood committee had just repeatedly issued orders prohibiting feudal superstitious activities, and she turned around and started yelling "soul-summoning curses" in the yard in front of so many neighbors. Wasn't this a slap in the face to the organization?

This has had an extremely negative impact and is the first case of its kind; only severe punishment can establish its authority!

The verdict is in: one month of labor reform, after which he will be sent back to his place of origin!

The people in the courtyard were in an uproar. No one had expected that a piece of cured meat would result in such a severe punishment.

But the logic is simple—to improve the social atmosphere, you have to make an example of someone. If you let her off the hook today, the whole alley will be filled with shamanistic rituals tomorrow!

Upon hearing that she was to be sent to a labor camp, Jia Zhangshi broke down on the spot, screaming, "Aunt Wang! I won't accept this! Don't send me back to the countryside! I'll never do it again! This is like taking my life—Oh God!!"

Aunt Wang's face darkened, and she sneered, "You dare to act like a tantrum in front of me? Let's see if you're tougher, or if the neighborhood committee's rules are tougher! Little Wang, tie him up!"

The accompanying security guards stepped forward and swiftly tied Jia Zhangshi's hands behind her back with a rope, securing them tightly.

Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu tried to plead for them, but Aunt Wang didn't even lift her eyelids and ignored them both.

She was determined to make an example of Jia Zhangshi!

After He Yuzhu took out two yuan to pay for the medical expenses, Jia Zhangshi was already being led away, still wailing, her face covered in tears and snot.

Nowadays, there are many labor reform sites around Beijing. Once a person is sent in with their bedding rolled up, they are detained for a month and their household registration is immediately transferred without any hindrance.

As soon as the others left, Jia Dongxu stood in the courtyard, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu, however, showed no weakness, turning around to glare at him and yelling, "What are you looking at? Want a beating? Believe me, I'll give you another ten dollars! Get lost!"

The last word "get lost" exploded in his ears, and Jia Dongxu trembled all over, his momentum vanished, his face turned ashen, and he scurried back into the house with his head down.

"snort!"

He Yuzhu sneered as he bent down to pick up the shards of porcelain scattered on the floor near the door.

Qin Huairu originally wanted to gain sympathy by bringing Xiaodang along, but Aunt Wang wasn't buying it at all and told her to take the child back home long ago. She refused to leave, so her plan was ruined.

As for Liu Haizhong, that nosy and clueless old man, he became a complete background figure from the moment the street office staff entered the door. No one paid him any attention, and he huddled in a corner looking dejected.

An older woman returned to the deaf old lady's house in the backyard, where the latter slowly asked, "Is the matter settled?"

The storm has passed.

Because of a piece of cured meat, Jia Zhangshi was sentenced to a month of labor reform and repatriation to her hometown, becoming the first "typical" case in Nanluoguxiang.

The courtyard fell silent again, and everyone understood one thing—

Don't mess with the He family lightly.

Especially He Yuzhu.

After the incident, the sound of children crying came from Uncle Er's house again. Liu Guangtian felt incredibly unlucky—he hadn't done anything wrong, yet he had been beaten for no reason.

Even Liu Guangfu couldn't escape it; he got slapped twice across the face.

Everyone in the courtyard was gossiping about the Jia family. Anyone with a brain understood that the neighborhood committee was serious this time, specifically targeting Jia Zhangshi for promoting feudal superstition. From now on, the Jia family was infamous. For the next month, every meeting held by the neighborhood committee, every notice issued, and every example cited would inevitably involve them.