Stop it, the country really can't fit any more bans on the domestic entertainment industry.

They finally decided to take on the responsibility that had almost crushed them. Even if it meant prison and iron bars, it was better than enduring that torment in this room.

The three of them stepped out of the door and stood in the stairwell.

A solemn and tragic atmosphere permeated the family of three.

The husband took a deep breath of fresh air and prepared to go downstairs.

Just then.

"Gurgle—"

An extremely untimely and loud rumbling sound came from the husband's belly, echoing in the quiet hallway.

Then, it seemed to spread like wildfire.

The wife's stomach also rumbled.

The somber atmosphere was instantly half-dissipated by the series of stomach growls.

Both of them were stunned.

They then realized that from last night until almost 2 p.m., they hadn't eaten a single grain of rice or even had a sip of water because of extreme fear and anxiety.

I didn't feel it when I was under a lot of mental tension, but now that I've made up my mind and relaxed a little, that burning hunger that feels like it's going to burn through my stomach comes rushing up instantly.

The middle-aged man glanced at his wife, then at his father who was still grinning foolishly beside him.

His weathered face showed a conflicted and strange expression.

At this critical juncture, the condition known as procrastination has stubbornly resurfaced once again.

He pursed his chapped lips and said hesitantly:

"Um... wife."

"The food at the police station probably isn't very good, and if we go there now, we'll probably miss their mealtime."

........................................

The daughter-in-law also subconsciously rubbed her stomach and swallowed.

Even though I'm going to turn myself in and go to jail, I can't just starve to death.

The two exchanged a perfectly synchronized glance.

The husband tentatively suggested:

"How about... we grab something to eat before we go?"

Time passed little by little.

Back at the Mushroom House, Li Mo'an calmly cleared the mines for Peng Peng, then casually tossed the mine that had almost killed Peng Peng into the scrap metal pile.

In the village, apart from those two really timid villagers, most people still had that "whatever" attitude and were determined not to return the money.

........................................

Meanwhile, at the other end of the county town.

At the entrance of that nameless little restaurant.

After finishing what was neither breakfast nor lunch—a final meal—the middle-aged couple, both with severe procrastination issues, finally helped their elderly father to stand by the roadside.

The husband glanced at the live stream on his phone, watching the villagers still going their own way, treating the bombs like treasures. The last glimmer of hope in his eyes vanished.

He had originally thought that if the villagers listened and returned the bomb, there might be a chance for things to turn around, and they wouldn't have to turn themselves in.

But now it seems that these people are on a path of self-destruction with no turning back.

"Ugh."

He sighed and waved despairingly. He thought to himself that if he couldn't flag down a car, he wouldn't go and would delay for a few more days.

Then, a car drove by, and the middle-aged man immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, the taxi that had just passed by returned.

"Master, shall we go?"

"..." The middle-aged man exchanged a glance with his wife. "Let's go, get in the car."

The three of them opened the car door and got in.

As the car door slammed shut, the cramped space instantly fell into a suffocating silence.

Only the septuagenarian remained cheerful, still holding a toothpick given to him by the restaurant owner, playing with it with great enjoyment.

........................................

The taxi driver was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties and had a kind face.

As he started the car, he glanced at the strange family of three behind him through the rearview mirror.

The atmosphere is really off.

The man was deathly pale, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness; the woman's eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying; the old man in the middle was all smiles, but his smile didn't look normal at all.

As a kind-hearted taxi driver, I hate this kind of dull atmosphere the most.

So he took the initiative to start a conversation, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere:

"Where are you three headed?"

"You all look so disoriented. Has something happened at home? Or are you taking this old man in the middle to see a doctor?"

The driver meant well; seeing the old man's condition, he instinctively assumed he was going to the hospital.

........................................

In the back seat.

The middle-aged man's Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

He didn't look at the driver; his gaze was fixed on the constantly swaying amulet pendant in front of him, his eyes empty and vacant.

Several seconds passed.

He said:

"It's alright, Master..."

"Just keep going straight." He had already checked the route; he could get to the police station by just keeping going.

"Keep going straight ahead?"

The driver was taken aback, not expecting this answer.

He glanced at the family again in the rearview mirror with surprise, noticing that their emotions seemed off.

He guessed that she had encountered some difficulties, so he didn't ask any further questions.

"Okay, hold on tight."

The driver didn't say anything more, stepped on the gas, and the car merged into the traffic on the main road.

........................................

At this moment, outside the window, the streets of the county town were bustling with activity.

The cries of vendors selling candied hawthorns, the loudspeakers at the mall entrance, the honking of cars—all sorts of lively sounds were shut out of the car windows.

Inside the car window, however, lay another oppressive world.

Looking at the scenery rushing past the window and the pedestrians walking freely, the wife in the back seat finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Ugh..."

She buried her head deeply in her husband's shoulder, her shoulders heaving violently as she let out suppressed, painful sobs.

This is a final yearning for freedom, and also a fear of the impending life behind bars.

The husband did not speak.

He simply reached out his rough, large hands and gripped his wife's hand tightly, with such force that it seemed he could crush her bones.

Then, he reached out his other hand and grasped the hand of his elderly father, which was covered with age spots.

Seemingly sensing the force of his son's touch, the old man, who had been grinning foolishly, turned his head.

He looked at his son's tear-streaked face, blinked his cloudy eyes in confusion, then grinned, revealing a childlike, innocent smile.

"hey-hey."

Looking at his father's carefree smile, the middle-aged man felt as if a dull knife was repeatedly stabbing at his heart, causing him so much pain that he wanted to scream and go crazy.

"Dad, do you even know what you've done...?"

He cried out silently in his heart.

He abruptly turned his head away, unable to look at his father's face any longer, staring blankly out the window.

A tear silently slid down his weathered cheek, dripping onto his trousers and spreading into a dark stain.

Just when this sorrow was flowing like a river.

The car radio had probably switched tracks right on the hour.

A poignant, sorrowful, and even slightly regretful erhu prelude suddenly rang out in the carriage.

Then, that classic male voice rang out:

"Iron gates, iron windows... iron chains..."

"Holding onto the iron bars of the window... looking outside..."

"Life outside... is so wonderful..."

This song, "Tears Behind Bars," is practically tailor-made for the atmosphere inside the car right now.

Every word, every note, was precisely pierced into the lungs of this family.

........................................

The driver's face turned green instantly.

awkward.

It's so embarrassing.

The person is crying right now, clearly going through a tough time. Playing this kind of song at this moment is like rubbing salt into their wounds.

At this time, we should play some songs like "Good Luck" or "Today is a Good Day" to bring good luck.

"Ahem, sorry, this radio station was just playing random stuff."

The driver frantically reached out to press the song changer button, saying, "I'll change the channel for you, something more festive."

however.

Just as his finger was about to touch the button.

"Don't change it."

The middle-aged man in the back seat, who had been silently weeping, suddenly spoke up.

The driver froze and looked back.

The middle-aged man sniffed and spoke in a voice heavy with sobs, yet strangely earnest:

"Master, don't change it."

"That's good."

"In the future... in the future, we'll probably have to sing this too."

He paused, then even nodded, as if confirming his own idea:

"Listen to them more now, learn the tunes, it's quite fitting for the occasion."

"I heard... I heard they hold variety shows during holidays. If my family could sing a song together, that would be... that would be considered having some talent, wouldn't it?" he thought.

"..."

The driver was completely dumbfounded.

what?

What the heck?

"Hey bro, if I may ask, where are we going?" the driver asked.

"Go to the police station." The middle-aged man said expressionlessly, "Go to the police station to turn yourself in. Many people have been killed." Of course, his fellow villagers were still alive, but at this moment, he was completely disoriented, to the point that his speech was somewhat slurred.

Upon hearing this...

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and then swallowed hard.

So many people? What the hell?!

At that moment, he felt his scalp tingle. After all, in this peaceful era, how many people have actually witnessed human death, especially since the other party claimed to have killed many people?

........................................

in the afternoon.

taxi.

The road leading to the police station.

Shortly after, the family of three arrived at the police station.

Then, he pushed open the door and entered.

At this moment, police officers had already approached from the lobby. After all, these three men looked like honest, unassuming people, and judging from their condition, they were clearly in trouble. The officers wanted to ask what had happened: "Fellow villagers, you..."

Before the policeman could finish speaking, the middle-aged man trembled upon seeing the police approaching, and then said:

"Officer, we...we want to turn ourselves in."

"Come and arrest us!"

He had already reached out his hand, as if he wanted to put on the silver bracelet.

The entire hall fell silent.