Returning to the county opera troupe in 77

In the police station's interrogation room, an old-fashioned long-tube fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling cast a pale, eerie glow over the entire room.

The middle-aged police officer in charge of the interrogation, surnamed Li, glanced at Sun Zhan Dou, who was squatting facing the corner.

The guy held his head in his hands, keeping it low, and only said a few words during the statement taking, then remained silent the entire time.

Officer Li turned his gaze to Jia Dafang and Zhu Zhengwei, who were sitting on the bench opposite him, and patted the thin sheets of paper on the desk: "I already know what happened. Sun Zhan Dou doesn't deny that he started the fight."

He paused, then said, "Now, it depends on how your theater troupe plans to handle this—whether you want to settle it officially or privately?"

Jia Dafang sat up straight, his face full of anger, and pointed at Sun Zhanzhu in the corner, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Police officer, this man, in broad daylight, in front of the entire troupe, violently assaulted our band's drummer, Comrade Liu Dezhu, without provocation! This is a very serious matter and has already caused a great negative impact on the public!"

Zhu Zhengkuo followed up, saying, "Just now, some staff members from the troupe came back from the hospital and said that Liu Dezhu's eyes are so swollen he can't open them! In two days, we're going to participate in the Qinqiang Opera Grand Performance in the entire Hongzhou area. The drummer can't see; how can he play the drum? Can the play still be performed? Who can bear the responsibility for such a major performance accident?"

It's clear that Jia Dafang and Zhu Zheng are truly furious with Sun Zhan Dou. Why did this guy have to do this now, right when they were about to go to Hongzhou for a performance, and he blindfolded Liu Dezhu?

This isn't just hitting someone; it's clearly an attempt to ruin the Dongping County Theater Troupe's performance.

Police officer Li glanced at Sun Zhan Dou, who was squatting in the corner, and saw that Sun Zhan Dou's shoulders were shaking and his face and neck were red, as if he was trying very hard to suppress his laughter.

Officer Li glared at his retreating figure with annoyance: "That guy, he still has the nerve to smile!"

Then, looking at Jia Dafang and Zhu Zhengkuo, he said, "For assaulting others, minor offenses generally result in administrative penalties. Serious offenses, causing significant bodily harm, including disability, can lead to detention or even criminal charges."

He picked up the pen on the table, removed the cap, and said, "However, my colleague just went to the hospital to check on the injured person. The doctor said it was a soft tissue contusion and laceration around the eye. The eyes look swollen and bruised, but the vision is not impaired. He should rest for seven or eight days, and once the swelling goes down, he should recover almost completely."

Police Chief Li's meaning was crystal clear: Liu Dezhu's injuries were only minor, and Sun's actions did not constitute a criminal offense. At most, he would be fined and detained in the station for a couple of days before being released.

Sun Zhan Dou seemed to have gained confidence at this moment, and turned his head to raise his eyebrows at Jia Dafang and Zhu Zhengwei in a provocative manner.

.........

Dongping County People's Hospital, Surgical Outpatient Department.

Chen Xiangdong and Lu Meiyin supported Liu Dezhu on either side as they slowly walked out of the outpatient building. Liu Dezhu's eyes were swollen like walnuts, his eyelids bulging and shiny like inflated toads, reddish with a hint of purple. Even with two people supporting him, he still dared not take big steps, and could only grope his way forward step by step.

Lu Meiyin's eyes and nose were still red. All along the way, she kept reminding Liu Dezhu to "watch his step" and "there are steps ahead." She would also look up at the bruises on his face and the corners of his mouth with concern from time to time.

Outside the outpatient building, Lin Datou, riding his tricycle, saw Chen Xiangdong and the others coming out and quickly got off to greet them. He raised a hand and waved it in front of Liu Dezhu's eyes: "Hey, you really can't see him? Liu the Fortune Teller?"

Liu Dezhu, annoyed, cursed, "Get out! I get annoyed just hearing you talk!"

Lu Meiyin was so angry she wanted to kick Lin Datou too, and said irritably, "Dezhu has been beaten up like this, and you're still laughing?"

Lin Datou grinned, gloating, "I didn't do it, so what? Can't I laugh?"

Liu Dezhu is the kind of person who never backs down, even though his eyes are so swollen he can barely open them, he still stubbornly boasts: "He beat me up? He attacked me from behind, that's called a sneak attack! Otherwise, how could I not beat him?"

Looking at Liu Dezhu's two large, bulging eyes, which resembled those of Ultraman when viewed from the side, Chen Xiangdong couldn't help but purse his lips: "Master, let's not talk about that now. The doctor said your eyes will be even more swollen in the next day or two. We're going to perform in Hongzhou soon, what will you do if you can't play the drums?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Dezhu immediately fell silent; he did indeed share this concern.

Lu Meiyin pouted and remained silent, her heart filled with hatred for Sun Zhanzhu, who deserved to be stabbed.

When the topic of drumming for the performance came up, Lin Datou's eyes suddenly lit up, and he leaned in front of Liu Dezhu with a fawning smile: "Dezhu, look, our troupe is going to Hongzhou for a performance, such an important show. If it gets ruined because you're blind—no, I mean, temporarily unable to see—wouldn't that be a disaster?"

Liu Dezhu sighed: "Then what do you suggest we do? We're stuck at this critical juncture, sigh..."

Lin Datou hurriedly pointed to himself, but then realized that the guy couldn't see at all, so pointing was pointless. He quickly whispered in the guy's ear, "Me! Me! You can't see, but I'm here! You're the band leader, you can tell Commander Jia and Secretary Zhu that if things don't work out, I can step in!"

Liu Dezhu paused, turned to Lin Datou, and smirked: "You?"

Lin Datou said matter-of-factly, "That's right, there are only two drummers in the band. If you can't go on stage and I don't step in to save the day, then our troupe is doomed!"

To everyone's surprise, Liu Dezhu just chuckled coldly twice and ignored him, saying to Chen Xiangdong and Lu Meiyin, who were supporting him, "Let's go back to the theater troupe first."

As they spoke, the two men helped Liu Dezhu, who looked like a blind man, onto a chair in the back of the tricycle.

Lin Datou quickly climbed onto the seat, pedaling the tricycle while turning back to look at the composed Liu Dezhu: "Hey, it's come to this point, why don't you give me a straight answer! I don't even care about all the years of your bullying and suppression of me, why are you still acting so high and mighty! Hurry up and report the drumming situation for the performance, so that everyone in our troupe can have some peace of mind."

Lin Datou pedaled the tricycle in front, while Lu Meiyin and Chen Xiangdong pushed it from behind. Lu Meiyin frowned as well: "We're going to Hongzhou the day after tomorrow, so we need to hurry up and rehearse a few more times to make sure the band and actors can coordinate well."

Lin Datou quickly chimed in, "That's right, that's right. Lu Meiyin is much more sensible and considerate of the bigger picture than you, Liu Dezhu."

Liu Dezhu sat upright, merely sneering, without responding, as if he hadn't heard Lin Datou's complaints at all. Just as Chen Xiangdong was pushing his bike uphill for a while, he suddenly felt a warmth on the back of his hand, and saw his master's rough, large hand gripping the back of his hand.

Chen Xiangdong was taken aback and looked up in surprise, only to see Liu Dezhu nodding slightly at him.