[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-51":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314101,4526,"Chapter 51: Chapter Fifty-Two: Human Nature","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pressed the barrel of his gun against Jia Dongxu’s forehead and said: “What are you trying to do? Huh? Do you think ignorance of the law is a license to act like a brat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu scanned the courtyard and said, “It’s just a trivial matter—why make it so complicated? Xu Damao lost his chicken, He Yuzhu knew perfectly well but pretended not to, and is this the kind of moral conduct you learned from Old Man Yi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuzhu froze as if struck by lightning—how did he know this...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned to Qin Guafu: “You knew your son did something wrong. If you’d gone to apologize and pay compensation yourself, then disciplined him at home, would there have been all this trouble? Is this the example you set for your son? Always grabbing petty gains—you’ll one day send him to the execution ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Guafu, hearing Li Xuewu’s rebuke, collapsed sobbing into her chair, staring at Banggeng as tears streamed down her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said to Xu Damao: “Why the hell do you strut around for no reason? You couldn’t even figure out where to put two chickens—next time, just tuck them in your pants and save yourself the trouble of getting reported for accepting bribes from fellow villagers and losing your job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu’s words were harsh, but the last one struck Xu Damao’s weak spot—it was a warning. He didn’t dare say another word, lowering his head immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at He Yuzhu standing aside, Li Xuewu said: “If you don’t have the heart to be a father, don’t spoil the kid. Spoiling a child is harming him. What, do you have a grudge against the Jia family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuzhu had thought he was safe while others were being scolded, only to realize his sin was the greatest—apparently, Banggeng dared steal because of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, He Yuzhu was only thinking of finding a good match—he had no intention of marrying a widow—and quickly nodded: “I know, I know, I’m wrong, I’m wrong—put the gun away, Auntie Jia was just panicked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu asked him: “So you really want to find a mother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuzhu’s face flushed crimson; he said nothing and returned to his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pressed the gun again against Jia Dongxu’s head: “I’ll tell you this—you don’t understand the law? Fine. Attacking a police officer gets you shot. Not understanding the law and attacking a police officer still gets you shot. Got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Dongxu kept nodding frantically, terrified the gun might fire—she’d seen Japanese beasts use this thing to torment people before; just thinking of it made her shiver uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked at the old woman and said: “If you’d committed any real crime—even stolen a needle—I’d shoot you on the spot. But you? You don’t steal yourself—you teach your grandson to steal. What a wonderful grandmother you are—a grandmother who sends her grandson to the execution ground. Let me tell you another law: inciting a child to commit violence or theft is punishable by imprisonment. Keep acting out in the courtyard, keep showing off your claws to me—I’ll keep a running tally and settle it all at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t dare anymore, I won’t dare again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, Li Xuewu lowered the Type 54, disengaged the safety, and returned it to its holster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Dongxu collapsed onto the ground with a thud, too afraid to cry; Qin Guafu and He Yuzhu rushed forward to help her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu sat in his chair and stared at Banggeng, standing stiffly: “I’m going to ask you one question. If you lie even once, I won’t ask a second—I’ll send you straight to jail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng was already terrified of Li Erbala; just now, the gun had been pointed at his grandmother. Now his protector was gone—he didn’t dare cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu wanted to shatter Banggeng’s sense of security—otherwise, the kid would always think someone else would clean up his mess, growing ever more lawless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you steal the chicken?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng glanced at his mother—she only wept, unable to help him. Then he looked at his grandmother, trembling in her chair. Then he looked at Uncle He... why was he sitting beside his mother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu saw the boy still searching for someone to take the blame: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no one to turn to, Banggeng trembled and whispered: “It was me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu barked: “Louder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng cried out: “I stole it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu asked: “Did your mother teach you, or your grandmother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this question, everyone in the courtyard leaned forward—this was critical. A child’s mistake was one thing; an adult inciting it was another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng’s eyes filled with tears, but he dared not sob. His voice hoarse, he said: “I was just hungry. My grandmother and mother only found out after dinner. Grandma said not to tell anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This old woman’s clearly no good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who teaches kids like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s asking to get shot someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve got to watch her closely from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard residents began pointing and whispering, their murmurs rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu had no legal way to punish her—concealment wasn’t incitement, not even enough for detention, and it’d only stir up trouble. But stripping her dignity? That was different. People still cared about face—she’d have to walk with her tail between her legs from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know what punishment awaits for stealing?” Adults today didn’t know the law—how could you expect a child to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng shook his head, then nodded: “I know I’m wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good enough. At least he knew he was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped Banggeng with the handcuffs: “Even children must be punished for wrongdoing. Since it’s your first offense, I’ll give you two options: one, I send you to reform; two, you’re placed under the supervision of everyone in the courtyard and do labor here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng wasn’t stupid—he was no longer reckless. His mind was clear: “I choose the second.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pointed at the courtyard residents: “See? Because of your mistake, everyone here is freezing. From now on, you’re responsible for cleaning the outer, front, middle, and back courtyards. Only when everyone agrees can you stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng hesitated, then nodded: “Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This punishment would keep the kid scrubbing until Old Man San died—Old Man San would never let such a deal slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said to Xu Damao, his wife, and Qin Guafu: “Tomorrow, all three of you go to the vegetable market. Xu Damao, pick the chicken you want—Qin Guafu, buy it for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Guafu nodded quickly: “Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said to Jia Dongxu: “I’ll file a report on your assault of a police officer at the factory security office tomorrow. I won’t act on it yet—but if another theft happens in this courtyard, I’ll arrest you and Banggeng directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Dongxu and Qin Guafu wanted to say something, but lacked the courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned to Banggeng: “You take responsibility for your own crime. You’re also in charge of feeding those two chickens. Xu Damao said they’re for his wife’s postpartum milk, right? You feed them until she gives birth and finishes her month-long recovery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banggeng didn’t think it was hard—his mother had given birth to Huaihua less than a year ago; he wouldn’t be worn out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Lou Xiaoe blush furiously; Xu Damao’s face turned awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu was just humiliating this bunch of idle troublemakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to the three old men by the table: “Is this resolution acceptable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Man Yi nodded: “Good. Someone needs to take charge. If you can’t control your own kids, just send them straight to reform.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Man Er also nodded in agreement. Only Old Man San, having been scolded twice, said nothing—neither approving nor opposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu ignored him, stood up, and smiled: “Now that official business is done, let’s talk private matters. Since I returned and split my household registration, the factory and street office coordinated to assign me housing—they gave me the area inside the outer courtyard screen gate and the four back rooms. I noticed some residents’ belongings still in the back rooms. Move them out within three days. After that, I’ll treat them as trash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Man San’s belongings were the most numerous in those back rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Man San hurriedly said: “Xuewu, we never got any notice! Besides, you can’t possibly use all four rooms—lend us one as a storage space.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Old Man San speak up, other residents chimed in: “Yeah, you won’t even use them...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu grinned coldly at Old Man San: “I have the deed. If you want to see it, come to my place later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu addressed everyone: “We’re neighbors—I don’t want conflict. My family’s large and cramped for space; I need to move out urgently. I’ll start clearing the rooms in three days. Whether you take your things or not is your choice—don’t come whining to me later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke. The three old men stayed silent—they dared not argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu lit a cigarette: “Of course, you can use your usual tricks on me—I’ll take it all. But when the time comes, I’ll clear the place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned to leave, then paused and looked back: “Take what’s yours. Don’t touch what isn’t. If you’re missing even one brick, I’ll come to your house and tear it down.” Then he walked inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd stood staring at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow and the day after were workdays—no time during the day. Now was the only chance to move belongings from the back rooms—everyone feared someone else would steal their things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, households began hauling out water jars, kang mats, stoves, coal briquettes, broken furniture...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Liu Yin had heard Li Xuewu’s words. When he entered, she asked: “Was it really necessary to say it like that? We’ll still be living in the same courtyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu shrugged: “I tried talking nicely. Did they listen? Yesterday they ate pork, today they bared their teeth the moment their interests were touched. They’re all ungrateful dogs.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1668,"2026-06-20T13:46:54.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f7d7b1b1f3355a68b3e0c9b06b7c76503583eb35eb20087eefb871bc1902dd0c","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-52","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-50",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]