Chapter 41: Jia Zhangshi pays the money and breaks down in tears

"Wait, you can't call the police. The First Elder said that courtyard matters should be resolved within the courtyard and that we shouldn't add trouble to the subdistrict office and the police."

Jia Zhangshi smiled, grabbing onto a straw of hope.

Wan Ping'an sneered.

The idea that courtyard matters should be resolved within the courtyard, that we shouldn't call the police or report to the subdistrict office, was something Yi Zhonghai proposed to control the Sihe Academy.

As long as everyone didn't report to the subdistrict office or call the police, and let him resolve everything, his control over the courtyard would become stronger and stronger!

Unfortunately.

This slogan had only just been proposed by Yi Zhonghai.

It wouldn't be until the 1960s that Yi Zhonghai's control over the Sihe Academy would reach its peak.

Now.

His control over the Sihe Academy wasn't strong yet.

"I'm going to call the police, what can you do about it?"

Wan Ping'an looked at Jia Zhangshi provocatively.

Jia Zhangshi's face changed; this card of Yi Zhonghai's wasn't working.

"Wait a little longer. I can't make the decision. Let's wait for our Old Jia to come back from work and let him decide."

Jia Zhangshi thought of another excuse.

Hahaha!

Wan Ping'an laughed.

The neighbors also laughed.

Only Jia Zhangshi couldn't laugh.

"Jia Zhangshi, are you being funny?"

"Who in our courtyard doesn't know that you're the one who makes the decisions in the Jia family?"

"Did Old Jia rebel against you?"

Wan Ping'an mocked her.

Jia Zhangshi wanted to drag it out until the evening, but she wasn't waiting for Old Jia; she was waiting for Yi Zhonghai to return.

The neighbors nodded one after another, whispering and discussing.

Since they got married, Jia Zhangshi had kept Old Jia under her thumb. If Old Jia wanted an extra bite of food, he had to get Jia Zhangshi's permission first.

Her saying she would wait for Old Jia to return—wasn't that a joke?

"Jia Zhangshi, my patience is limited."

"Give me an accurate answer immediately: pay the money, or let your son Jia Dongxu go to jail."

Wan Ping'an's smile faded as he stared at Jia Zhangshi.

"Ping'an, we're all neighbors living in the same courtyard. Isn't it bad to make a scene at the police station?"

First Aunt squeezed to the front of the crowd.

When Yi Zhonghai wasn't around, she was responsible for handling courtyard matters.

"Right, courtyard matters don't need to trouble the police station."

Second Aunt also stood out.

The two of them tried to persuade Wan Ping'an together.

Third Aunt looked at the situation, remembering Yan Fugui's instructions: before deciding on a strategy for dealing with Wan Ping'an, she couldn't offend him.

She had to observe!

She didn't stand out like First Aunt and Second Aunt.

"You won't let me call the police?"

"No problem. You help the Jia family pay the money, and I'll release him immediately. How about that?"

Wan Ping'an looked at the two aunts.

"It wasn't my son who stole things, why should I pay the money?"

Second Aunt wouldn't have it.

Wan Ping'an looked at First Aunt again.

First Aunt hesitated and stepped back; she didn't want to pay either.

"Dongxu, it looks like you're going to jail."

"Let's go, we're going to the police station."

Wan Ping'an turned around and kicked Jia Dongxu in the butt, knocking him to the ground on the spot, then struck him with the stick to make him stand up.

The neighbors' mouths twitched.

Why hadn't they noticed Wan Ping'an was so fierce before?

Kicking.

And striking with a stick.

Jia Dongxu was really suffering!

"Come back, I'll pay the money, okay?"

Jia Zhangshi finally gave in, looking at Jia Dongxu with heartache.

"I'll give you five mao—no, I'll give you one yuan. Aren't you going to release Dongxu yet?"

Jia Zhangshi gritted her teeth, her face full of heartache.

"One yuan?"

"Are you trying to dismiss a beggar?"

"Fifty. Not a cent less."

Wan Ping'an shook his head.

"How much?"

"Fifty?"

"You're blackmailing me! You little beast, how can your heart be so black?"

Jia Zhangshi was stunned.

After she reacted, she cursed Wan Ping'an loudly.

"Jia Zhangshi is right, Wan Ping'an's heart is too black. Old Jia is a fourth-grade fitter, his monthly salary is only fifty-one yuan."

"He deserves it; when dealing with the Jia family, you have to be ruthless."

"Haha, Jia Zhangshi has always been stingy, almost comparable to Third Elder Yan Fugui. Do you think she'll pay the money or let Jia Dongxu go to jail?"