Courtyard House: In times of famine, my hamster became a spirit.

Yi Zhonghai stood at the front of the crowd, his face grim.

He glanced at Director Wang, who was still furious, and then at the pitiful state of the Jia family, and his heart sank.

If this matter isn't suppressed, this old man won't be able to get re-elected; he might even be stripped of his title tonight.

Yi Zhonghai adjusted his expression, quickly walked to Director Wang's side, bowed slightly, and adopted a solemn and earnest posture.

"Director Wang, please calm down. Let's talk in private." Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice, trying to lead Director Wang to a safer place. "This matter is actually just a misunderstanding. We've watched Banggeng grow up; he's mischievous and loves to play pranks. It was just a prank, but we didn't expect it to cause such a commotion..."

As he spoke, he gestured to Liu Haizhong beside him to cooperate, "The Jia family, with its orphans and widows, isn't having an easy time either. Jia Zhangshi was just confused for a moment, missing the deceased old Jia too much. Do you think we could criticize and educate her internally within the courtyard? If it blows up, it won't sound good if word gets out, after all, our courtyard is an advanced collective..."

"Misunderstand?"

Director Wang stopped in her tracks, completely ignoring Yi Zhonghai's attempts to pull her away. She turned around, pointing upwards with a cold smile.

Under the moonlight, the remaining pulley system on the roof, the broken special steel wire, and the jagged half of the chimney stood out starkly.

"Comrade Yi Zhonghai, when did your awareness become so low?" Director Wang's voice rose eight octaves, making sure everyone present could hear him clearly. "You call this childish play? What child knows how to use a pulley system when playing? What prank could pull down a chimney weighing hundreds of pounds?"

"This is clearly a premeditated and organized act of sabotage!"

Director Wang's gaze swept across the room like lightning: "At a time when the country is cracking down on feudal superstition, there are still people who dare to openly pretend to be gods and ghosts! They even went so far as to damage the structure of public housing for this! What is this? This is a crime!"

"Committed...a crime?"

A shrill female voice suddenly rang out from the periphery of the crowd.

Qin Huairu had just returned from the hospital after changing her dressing when she entered the room and was greeted by this chaotic scene.

Upon hearing the word "crime," she felt dizzy, and the half-bag of cornmeal she was carrying fell to the ground with a "thud."

She rushed in like a madwoman, and when she saw Banggeng lying in the dirty water and her mother-in-law covered in excrement, her tears instantly flowed like a broken string of pearls.

"Thump!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Huairu's knees buckled, and she knelt directly in front of Director Wang.

"Director Wang! Please have mercy! Please don't arrest him!" Qin Huairu cried, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed Director Wang's trouser leg with both hands, looking up at him with her pale but still pitiful face. "Bang Geng is still young, he doesn't understand! My mother-in-law... my mother-in-law is just obsessed with missing her deceased husband, she's not a bad person!"

"Our Dongxu passed away early, leaving behind this family of elderly and young people. We were already struggling to make ends meet... If you arrest someone else, you're forcing us to die!"

Qin Huairu's kneeling and weeping, her pitiful appearance touched the hearts of many.

The neighbors, who had initially been somewhat indignant, began to shift their gaze.

After all, they're neighbors who see each other all the time.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai quickly pressed his advantage: "Yes, Director, the Jia family is indeed in a very difficult situation. Law and reason are ultimately based on human compassion..."

Just as public opinion was about to be swayed by these few tears, a clear, cold voice suddenly broke in.

"Director Wang, when that chimney fell down just now, I did a quick calculation of the angle."

The crowd parted automatically, and Zhou Jianguo walked out slowly with his hands in his pockets.

He stopped three meters away from Jia Zhangshi and tapped the broken bricks on the ground with his toe: "That chimney is a straight up-and-down structure. If someone had happened to be passing by at the time, even if they were wearing a helmet, their brains would be splattered. This is not just simple vandalism; it's endangering public safety, and even attempted manslaughter."

Before anyone could react, Zhou Jianguo pointed to the black hole that was still bubbling.

"Furthermore, this sewer is the main sewage outlet for our entire No. 95 courtyard. Now that the stone slab has collapsed, the pipes must be cracked too. Tomorrow morning, where will the sewage from dozens of households in the back and middle courtyards go? If it gets blocked, will everyone in the courtyard have to line up at the public toilet at the alley entrance to empty their chamber pots?"

The neighbors, who had initially felt sympathy for Qin Huairu, changed their expressions.

If feudal superstition is too far removed from them, then "emptying chamber pots" and "clogging sewers" are troublesome pains in everyone's life.

"Yes! In the dead of winter, how can we live if the drains are clogged?"

"My house is right next to the central courtyard; wouldn't all that stench drift into my house?"

"Zhou Jianguo is right! This isn't a prank, it's a matter of life and death!"

Director Wang gave Zhou Jianguo an approving look.

This young man has clear logic and gets to the heart of the matter; he's a talented person.

She looked away, her expression becoming even more stern.

She kicked away Qin Huairu's hand that was grabbing her trouser leg and disgustedly dusted herself off.

"Listen to this! Listen to the voices of the people!" Director Wang pointed at Qin Huairu. "Don't use the vulnerable as a shield. Being vulnerable is not a reason for you to break the law, much less an excuse to endanger your neighbors' safety!"

"Given the extremely egregious behavior of Jia Zhangshi and Jia Geng, which has caused serious safety hazards and adverse social impact, the Subdistrict Office has made the following decision."

Everyone held their breath, awaiting the judgment.

Director Wang held up one finger: "First, Jia Zhangshi promoted feudal superstition and damaged public facilities. Her subsistence allowance is suspended immediately! She is to be taken back to the subdistrict office for three months of ideological reform and labor education!"

Qin Huairu swayed and almost fainted.

They've lost their minimum living allowance and now they have to go to labor reform?

Who takes care of the children at home?

Director Wang raised his second finger: "Secondly, the Jia family will bear all the costs of repairing the sewers, rebuilding the chimney, and cleaning up the site! The street office's construction team will be on site first thing tomorrow morning, and all fees must be paid in advance tonight!"

"third!"

Director Wang's gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong. "No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard has long suffered from inadequate supervision and a stagnant atmosphere. After deliberation by the Subdistrict Office, it has been decided that, effective immediately, the honorary title of 'Advanced Courtyard' for No. 95 Courtyard is revoked!"

If the first two points were only aimed at the Jia family, then this one is a slap in the face to Yi Zhonghai.

But it's not over yet.