Jia Zhangshi Was Kicked While Down

"I... I-I didn't! Lin, you're talking nonsense!"

Jia Zhangshi was genuinely a little afraid. Once that label was pinned on her, life would only get harder from then on.

She had not expected Lin Zhen to not only dare lay hands on people, but also be able to slap labels on them with a few words.

He could be called both scholarly and martial.

While she only knew how to throw tantrums and make a scene.

Only now did Jia Zhangshi realize that she was no match for Lin Zhen.

Jia Zhangshi hurriedly looked to Yi Zhonghai for help.

Yi Zhonghai immediately put on a stern, impartial expression. "Lin Zhen, don't talk nonsense! You can't just pin labels on people!"

Jia Zhangshi hurriedly added, "No matter what, Bang Geng's hand was broken by your family's mousetrap. You have to pay the medical bills!"

Lin Zhen said calmly, "Grandma Jia, if I sneaked into your house while you weren't home, took out a kitchen knife, and chopped off my own hand, would you have to pay my medical bills?"

"Pah! Why should I pay you? You'd deserve it!"

"Then there you have it. Besides, the ones who really broke Bang Geng's finger were you and First Aunt, through the second injury. I heard Bang Geng's hand could have been bandaged at the time, but you pried open the mousetrap and injured it again, which was what broke it."

"You... who did you hear that from? Which blabbermouth said that?"

Third Mistress snorted coldly from the side but said nothing.

Lin Zhen continued, "Your Bang Geng stole something and you didn't discipline him, yet you're blaming someone else for setting a mousetrap? Get this straight: today's meeting isn't about taking Bang Geng's side. It's about condemning theft before the whole courtyard!"

"You... you... Bang Geng is just a child. So what if he gets a little sticky-fingered? Why won't you let it go when you have the upper hand?"

Jia Zhangshi had gone from making an unreasonable accusation to offering a feeble excuse.

"It's precisely because children don't know better that adults like you need to educate them. If the adults fail to educate them properly, they have to take responsibility. And you still have the nerve to demand medical expenses from me? I ought to make you compensate me for a new trap!"

"Lin Zhen! Today's meeting is to mediate the conflict between your two families, not to interrogate anyone. Stop clinging to the child's mistake."

First Elder Yi Zhonghai was clearly trying to smooth things over.

Lin Zhen turned back and said evenly, "First Elder, if you're going to muddle things up like this without distinguishing right from wrong, then there's no need to hold this meeting. You can step down from your position as First Elder from now on!"

"You..."

Third Elder Yan Bugui hurriedly chimed in, "Old Yi, this matter has to be laid out clearly. We can't favor either side, right, Old Liu?"

Liu Haizhong nodded. "As for Bang Geng stealing something and getting caught in the mousetrap, Lin Zhen really can't be blamed. The trap was in his own house, after all. And the broken finger was caused by a second, man-made injury."

Yan Bugui said, "This is actually easy to mediate. As long as Lin Zhen doesn't pursue the matter, the storm clouds will clear."

Liu Haizhong said, "Lin Zhen, set an example. Don't make Grandma Jia pay for the mousetrap, and don't pursue Bang Geng's theft either. After all, he only stole a mousetrap."

Lin Zhen smiled faintly. "Second Elder and Third Elder are indeed handling this fairly. I forgive Bang Geng. He just needs to behave himself next time."

The three of them played off one another, leaving Yi Zhonghai completely out in the cold.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned livid. His favoritism just now had indeed been far too obvious.

And now both Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui resented Jia Zhangshi, while no one in the courtyard stood with the Jia family.

Even if there were a vote, he could not win.

Yi Zhonghai's thoughts turned, and a smile immediately appeared on his square, stubbled face.

"This solution is good. Neighbors should understand one another. Old Sister-in-Law, let's leave it at that!"

"Huh? I... you!"

Jia Zhangshi had completely lost her nerve.

Qin Huairu stood up and said, "Thank you, three Elders, for mediating. I'll keep Bang Geng under control."

Silly Zhu sighed angrily from the side. There was nothing he could do; Bang Geng really was in the wrong.

Xu Damao kept laughing smugly.

Qin Huairu sat back down with tears in her eyes. Jia Zhangshi puffed out her cheeks in anger, and Bang Geng lowered his head and behaved himself.

Watching this, Lin Zhen shook his head slightly.

"Ah, we're all neighbors in the courtyard. Honestly, I don't want to see this either. Let Bang Geng's matter pass, but Grandma Jia has to apologize to my wife, Lou Xiao'e!"

"Huh? Lin Zhen, are you not done yet?" Silly Zhu was the first to indignantly speak up for her.

"Lin Zhen, don't push it when you have the upper hand. Do you still want us to mediate the conflict between your two families?" Yi Zhonghai frowned deeply.

Lin Zhen ignored them and said calmly to Jia Zhangshi, "Because your grandson got his hand caught while stealing, you blocked my door all day without caring about right or wrong, keeping my wife and children from getting home. I can compromise over Bang Geng's theft, but I will never compromise when it comes to anyone bullying my wife and children. Apologize!"

Jia Zhangshi shuddered in fright at Lin Zhen's words.

Yi Zhonghai fell silent. If he spoke again, he would be openly taking her side.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui smiled faintly as they stared at Jia Zhangshi.

The people in the courtyard were also watching with amusement, all feeling that Jia Zhangshi was simply too hateful.

Silly Zhu smiled and said, "Come on! That's enough, Lin Zhen. Why lower yourself to her level?"

"Silly Zhu, get the hell out of here! I haven't settled things with you yet. You taught Bang Geng how to pry open windows, didn't you? No one can stop me today. No one gets to bully my wife and children!"

"Fine, I said too much." Silly Zhu stopped talking and lowered his head to stare at his toes.

Jia Zhangshi could not bring herself to apologize before the entire courtyard.

With reddened eyes, Qin Huairu said, "Lin Zhen, stop it. I'll apologize to you on Mom's behalf."

"No! Even First Elder can't apologize in her place. It has to be her, Jia Zhangshi! Don't force me to use my fists!"

"Old Sister-in-Law, wrong is wrong. There's no shame in admitting your mistake to the children."

Yi Zhonghai had recognized the situation. If Jia Zhangshi did not apologize tonight, Lin Zhen truly would not let this go, so he hurriedly gave Jia Zhangshi a way out.

Jia Zhangshi stood up and stammered, "Lou Xiao'e, I-I'm sorry!"

Lou Xiao'e was deeply moved by her husband's domineering defense of her.

Her husband was the pillar holding up her sky. With him around, even in this chaotic Siheyuan, she would never be in danger.

Her eyes reddened, and she hurriedly stood up. "It's fine, Grandma Jia. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up."

Jia Zhangshi froze. She thought Lou Xiao'e had been moved by her, and a trace of guilt instantly rose within her, but that tiny bit of guilt vanished in the blink of an eye.

She had just sat down with pursed lips when Lin Zhen spoke again.

"Grandma Jia spat all over Third Mistress for no reason, so she should apologize for that too. Of course, I'm not one of the three managing Elders, so I can only make the suggestion. The rest is for the three Elders to decide."

Lin Zhen was someone who repaid kindness.

Although Third Mistress had only tipped off Lou Xiao'e because she was angry with Jia Zhangshi.

Still, if she had not waited outside the courtyard in advance, Lou Xiao'e would definitely have been bullied by Jia Zhangshi the moment she entered.

His wife was a refined lady from a good family, no match for a shrew like Jia Zhangshi.

Of his four sons, the eldest, Lin Guo, was only five years old. He could handle Bang Geng, but taking on Jia Zhangshi would be a bit much.

By then, regardless of whether the three Mistresses in the courtyard stepped in to break up the fight and pull Jia Zhangshi away, his wife and children would definitely have been frightened.

Therefore, in return, Lin Zhen threw his support behind Third Mistress.

Third Mistress was overjoyed when she heard this and hurriedly said, "That's right. I kindly warned her, and she spat right in my face. I'm already an old woman—I have my dignity!"

Third Elder Yan Bugui hurriedly said, "Neighbors, to avoid any suspicion of bias, I won't say anything about this matter. But please judge who is right."

The people in the courtyard immediately began pointing and whispering.

Yi Zhonghai sighed. "Old Sister-in-Law, apologizing one more time won't hurt you. You... go on..."