Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 69 Legal Education in the Compound: A Subtle and Effective Method

The turbulent waters of Hong Kong were temporarily diverted to the channel of power struggle between the Governor's Office and London. Through his divine sense, Lin Yan gave Lin Er his final instructions:

"The newspaper and those citizens who spoke out, you must protect them. Now that the evidence has been presented, our role should be to remain behind the scenes. But if anyone dares to seek revenge later, to lay their claws on these innocent people..." Lin Yan's voice, transcending endless time and space, still carried a trace of cold killing intent, "You know what to do. Don't hold back; swift and decisive action is the only way to show compassion."

"Yes, Master. I will have the 'Shadows' keep a close eye on every step," Lin Er replied calmly, then severed the connection.

Inside the space, Lin Yan stood tall before the alchemy furnace. The fire had died down, but the warmth remained. In his palm were nine perfectly round pills, each the size of a longan. The surface of the pills was no longer lustrous; instead, it was extremely restrained, with a faint, imperceptible layer of purple energy circulating within. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if naturally formed, mysterious patterns were hidden deep within the pills, exuding an inherent Daoist charm.

Top-grade Lesser Qi-Nourishing Pill.

After several sleepless days of refining, failing, reviewing, and trying again, his spiritual energy was exhausted to the extreme, and his understanding of the medicinal properties, the timing of the process, and the fusion of spiritual essence reached an unprecedented peak. At this moment, success was in his grasp, yet he strangely felt a sense of emptiness and exhaustion, not from his body, but from the sudden relaxation after a long period of intense concentration.

"It's finally done." He murmured to himself, carefully placing the nine exquisite pills into a warm jade bottle and sealing it with a talisman.

After the immense sense of accomplishment came a wave of weariness. Now was not the best time to push for a higher level of cultivation. The mind and spirit were exhausted and needed to be nurtured and restored; forcing it would only lead to a lower outcome.

With a thought, he appeared beside a clear spring within the space. The spring water gurgled, spiritual energy swirled, and lush green grass grew nearby. He lay down on his back, closed his eyes, and let the gentle spiritual energy in the space, like a mother's hand, softly soothe his overexhausted soul. He didn't circulate any cultivation techniques, didn't think or calculate, but simply emptied his mind, feeling the long-lost tranquility and peace.

He slept soundly for a long time. Although there was no sun or moon in the space, time still flowed by. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were bright and clear. The previous fatigue had been swept away, and his mental state had returned to its peak, even more refined due to the extreme training he had undergone.

"Seventh level of Qi Refining..." He looked inward at his dantian, where the vortex of Qi was stable and full. "The cultivation method records thirteen levels. There's still a long way to go before reaching Foundation Establishment."

A strong urge suddenly arose in his heart—to break through, to break through as soon as possible!

It's not for mere power, but for... freedom.

Thinking of this, an indescribable sense of suffocation arose spontaneously. Pretending to be sick and hiding in the courtyard was certainly safe and secluded, and at first it was also interesting. But as time went on, being confined to this small space all day, listening to the petty scheming of the neighbors, and playing the role of a frail and sickly body, this feeling was like a hidden dragon trapped in shallow waters, or a fierce tiger imprisoned in a cage.

"The domestic situation, the official channels and the black market, and the distribution channels for goods in the next few years have all been initially streamlined. The framework has been established, and we can proceed step by step." He thought to himself, "I no longer need to do everything myself and be stuck here for so long, like before."

How vast is the outside world? Vast deserts, boundless oceans, tropical rainforests, majestic snow-capped mountains... and hidden wonders, faint spiritual veins, or clues to ancient ruins all over the world. These are far more attractive than the small world within this courtyard.

Not to mention, the carefree life of riding a sword through the skies, traveling to the North Sea in the morning and Cangwu in the evening, has always been his deepest desire.

"In a couple of days, I'll try to challenge two levels consecutively," he set his goal. "Once I reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, my spiritual sense and power should increase further, and I'll be able to control my flying magical artifact much more freely. At that time..."

His gaze seemed to pierce through the barriers of space, landing on the long-forgotten suitcase in the corner of the room.

"Perhaps it's time for my condition to 'improve,' and then I can find an excuse to go out for a 'trip,' or perhaps my condition has 'worsened'? And I need to go to Hong Kong for treatment?"

Thinking of this, my long-suppressed heart stirred, filled with anticipation for the unknown future. The tedium of secluded cultivation was instantly washed away by the exciting journey that was about to begin.

Cultivation is no longer just about becoming stronger, but also about finding the key to a wider world.

Life in the courtyard house seemed to have been infused with new life, becoming somewhat different. Especially on Saturday evenings, after each family finished dinner, adults and children no longer looked gloomy and sighed as they had in the past few days. Instead, they carried small stools and long benches, their faces showing some relief, and gathered under the old locust tree in the middle courtyard.

Under Director Wang's decisive and efficient leadership, the legal education campaign organized by the neighborhood committee has truly been carried out in full swing. Strangely enough, since this legal education campaign started, there seems to be less bickering and quarreling in the neighborhood.

It was Saturday again, and just as dusk fell, the bright light bulbs were turned on in the courtyard, illuminating the surroundings. A square table was set up in the middle of the courtyard, behind which sat two young staff members from the street office, Xiao Liu and Xiao Chen. In front of them were thick drafts and a stack of printed papers. Several neatly wrapped packets of sunflower seeds and peanuts, wrapped in old newspapers, were also on the table, a sight that pleased the eye.

Director Wang stood to the side with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the men, young and old, in the courtyard. He noticed that everyone's spirits were indeed much better than when food was most scarce. Although the rations had been reduced, rumors had spread that it was occasionally possible to find some cheap grain without coupons at the Pigeon Market. Although it still had to be done secretly, it was still a way to survive. Many of the bolder and more shrewd men in the courtyard had probably tried it. With a little grain in hand, their brows naturally relaxed, and their voices became clear again.

"Neighbors, quiet down, quiet down!" Director Wang began, his voice laced with amusement. "This is the fourth session of our neighborhood's legal education program! Last week we talked about the Marriage Law's opposition to arranged marriages and its advocacy of gender equality, and everyone responded very well. Today, Comrades Liu and Chen will talk about something even more relevant to our daily lives—neighborhood disputes and inheritance! As usual, whoever understands, can answer the questions, or whose neighborhood as a whole does well and makes the most progress, will receive these sunflower seeds and peanuts as a reward!"

A burst of relaxed laughter and loud cheers immediately followed. These days, snacks are a rarity, but what makes everyone even happier is this rare sense of relaxation. With a little food in their stomach and a bit of energy, they're more likely to be interested in learning this and competing for this little bit of luck.

Xiao Liu, the cadre, stood up and said in a loud voice, "Dear elders, uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters! Let's talk about something practical today! For example, Old Zhang's chicken flew over the wall and dug up Old Li's cornmeal that had just been drying, ruining a lot of it. What should we do about this? Should we argue and fight, or is there some kind of solution?"

A buzz of discussion immediately broke out below, but it was no longer the anxious complaining of the past; instead, it was filled with a serious, thoughtful air.

"Pay! We absolutely have to pay!" Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and spoke first, now even more confident in his calculations. "Pay at market price; we can't let them suffer a loss!"

"Teacher Yan is right!" someone echoed. "Food is precious to every family these days, we can't just let it go like this if it's wasted."

"Hey! That makes sense, but we're neighbors, let's talk it out and not hurt our feelings." Liu Haizhong, with his protruding belly, adopted a bit of a managerial air. He was now more confident in mediating, since his family wasn't so strapped for cash, and he spoke with more authority.

Xiao Liu smiled and waved his hand: "Everyone is right! According to our current policies and principles, this is called 'harm caused to others by animals'... Old Zhang has to compensate Old Li for the cornbread. The specific amount can be negotiated between the two families... In short, we can't let such a small matter damage neighborly relations, and we certainly can't resort to violence. Once we do, even if we're in the right, we'll lose our right, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Comrade Xiao Liu is right!" Everyone nodded in agreement. With food in hand, they felt less anxious and were more inclined to reason with each other when dealing with conflicts, rather than resorting to fighting with bloodshot eyes and angry gestures.

Then, Officer Chen brought up the example of inheritance, which sparked an even more lively discussion. Because they were no longer completely worried about their next meal, they felt more concerned and confident about the "big things" of the future, such as planning their family fortune.

Finally, regarding the situation in our courtyard, let me specifically talk about the rights and obligations of our "courtyard liaison officers"!

A murmur of whispers immediately arose from below. Uncle Liu Haizhong straightened his back and unconsciously cleared his throat, thinking to himself, "Now that Yi Zhonghai has stepped down, the vacant position should be mine, Liu Haizhong's, according to seniority, right? If I'm elected as the liaison officer, I'll be someone in charge, and everyone in the courtyard will look up to me." He could almost see himself standing with his hands behind his back, giving orders in the courtyard.

The third uncle, Yan Fugui, adjusted his glasses, his small eyes gleaming with shrewdness as he mentally calculated: "The liaison officer... although there's not much of a kickback, he's always in charge of relaying information, so he can always get some news first. He might get an award, a subsidy, or something. He can slip a little money through his fingers or do someone a favor, and he can always gain an advantage, right? What do these people in the compound know?" He felt that with his high level of education, he could easily outmaneuver these "uneducated" neighbors.

Xiao Liu first gave examples of chicken-scraped corn noodles and inheritance, and everyone discussed it enthusiastically.

Then, with a serious expression, Officer Chen introduced a new example: "There's another matter I need to explain the law to everyone! We live in a new society now, where everyone is equal, and we oppose feudal patriarchal practices. Beating your wife or children isn't education; it's domestic violence, and it's illegal!"

The courtyard fell silent immediately after these words. Many people glanced at Liu Haizhong instinctively. Liu Haizhong's face stiffened, looking somewhat awkward. He was notorious in the courtyard for beating his sons, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu. He used to think it was perfectly normal; a father beating his sons was nobody's business.

Xiao Chen continued, "For example, some people think it's okay to give a child a couple of slaps if they misbehave. But if you frequently and indiscriminately beat them, injuring them or scaring them, then that's unacceptable! Neighbors have the right to intervene, the neighborhood committee has the right to intervene, and in serious cases, the police will get involved! Children are not their parents' private property; they are also citizens of the country, and their rights are protected!"

Liu Haizhong's face flushed red and then paled, feeling like everyone's gazes were pricking him like needles. His initial desire to act like a "big shot" and show off his power seemed to have been doused with cold water. He cursed inwardly, "This...this is too much interference! Is it illegal for a father to discipline his son?" But he dared not say it aloud, and could only awkwardly lower his head, wondering if he should be more careful about who he disciplined in the future.

Yan Fugui breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he had only been calculating small gains and hadn't actually taken any action.

Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Xiao Chen returned to the topic of "liaison officers," elaborating on their duties and the boundaries of their authority, especially emphasizing that they had no power to impose fines, issue orders, or use their position for personal gain.

Hearing this, Yan Fugui's heart skipped a beat, and his idea of ​​taking advantage of his status to gain some small benefits was completely shattered. "It has to be open and fair? This... how can we continue like this..." He seemed to see the beads of his abacus scattered all over the ground, and suddenly felt that the title of "Third Uncle" was somewhat tasteless, and even became a constraint.

Liu Haizhong was even more deflated. He couldn't show off his power, couldn't give orders, and had to be supervised and reported by everyone? This was far from the "official authority" he had imagined. He suddenly felt that being a liaison officer was not very meaningful and that he would have to worry and work hard.

Director Wang then chimed in, "Neighbors, Comrade Chen is right! When selecting liaison officers, we should choose those who are fair, warm-hearted, and willing to serve everyone... At the same time, we must supervise them and help them build our compound into a better place!"

These words made everyone nod frequently, and they understood a lot more clearly.

"Oh, so that's how it is! It means the liaison officer is there to run errands, not to give orders!"

"That's right! That's how it should be! Everything needs to be out in the open, and we should discuss it together. No one person can make all the decisions."

"Now I understand. I'll have to be more careful when choosing people in the future!"

Through this legal education program, which incorporated real-life examples and specifically addressed the prominent issues that had previously existed in the neighborhood, people not only understood how to resolve disputes between neighbors and within families, but also gained a clearer understanding of the boundaries of the "managers" within the neighborhood. The concepts of rights and obligations were no longer cold, impersonal words on paper, but rather became a tangible shield that reassured everyone and prevented situations like Yi Zhonghai's from recurring. It also served as a subtle warning to those like Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui who harbored ulterior motives.

After the legal education session, everyone not only received snacks, but more importantly, felt more at ease and reassured. After the meeting, they discussed the legal provisions and the liaison officer in small groups, and also exchanged information in hushed tones about where they could buy some coarse grains without ration coupons. Their faces shone with a glimmer of hope for life that had been rekindled after overcoming difficulties together.

Looking at the bustling yet peaceful scene before him, and noticing Liu Haizhong's slightly embarrassed expression and Yan Fugui's somewhat disappointed look, Director Wang's smile deepened. This legal education, like spring rain, was quietly nourishing this courtyard, not only popularizing the law but also subtly transforming some old ideas and habits. Life was finally slowly moving in a positive direction.