B5SB -Chapter 274 Bringing the Unfilial Child to Justice

Large Courtyard

Hu Shan pulled her handcart back to the residential compound and first returned it to the aunt next door.

“Xiao Shan, what did the doctor say?”

The aunt in the courtyard looked at Hu Shan anxiously and asked.

Hu Shan sighed and didn’t hide anything, recounting everything the doctor had told Gu Yihan—word for word.

When the aunt heard that Grandma Gu’s recovery would be slower than a younger person’s because of her age, she nodded in understanding:

“Getting older… even catching a cold takes longer than for young people. Not to mention a serious blow to the back of the head.”

Hu Shan lightly nodded and glanced at her wrist. Suddenly remembering her own child at home, she quickly thanked the aunt and left.

When she returned home, she saw Cheng Weihong feeding her child rice porridge.

Hu Shan walked over and pinched the child’s cheeks gently.

“Did Jingjing cry today?” she asked.

Cheng Weihong looked up and smiled at Hu Shan: “Sister-in-law, Jingjing’s been so good! No crying, no fuss!”

Hearing this, Hu Shan smiled faintly at Cheng Weihong and patted her arm.

“Thank you, Weihong, for coming over to help!”

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law won’t shortchange you. I give your aunt fifteen yuan every month to send to your parents.”

She genuinely appreciated Cheng Bo’s cousin, Cheng Weihong. If it weren’t for her help with the child, Hu Shan probably wouldn’t have been able to return to work so soon.

Cheng Weihong, however, was momentarily surprised, looking at Hu Shan—this was different from what her aunt had told her. Her aunt had said Hu Shan would give her parents five yuan each month. Thinking of this, she calmly said, “Sister-in-law, you’re too kind.”

Hu Shan didn’t think much of it and shook her head with a smile: “It’s nothing, I should!”

…

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The rough, resonant sound of a gong rang throughout the courtyard.

Hearing it, Hu Shan, like all the other residents returning from work, stepped outside.

They saw Director Wang from the neighborhood committee standing on a makeshift platform in the center of the courtyard.

“Director Wang? Why have you set up a stage in our courtyard?” someone asked, puzzled.

Director Wang didn’t answer, simply standing on the platform, looking down at the eight or nine households gathered below. Nearly forty people were present.

He explained: “Comrade Gu Meng’s actions of disrespecting elders and maliciously harming her grandmother must be subject to self-criticism.”

Most of the onlookers were workers just returning from their jobs; the non-working family members hadn’t had a chance to inform them yet.

Hearing Director Wang’s words, their eyes widened in disbelief:

“What? Qin Shou’s family hit Grandma Gu?”

“Impossible… this morning I even heard—”

The aunt who knew the whole story interrupted:

“Hmph, it’s true! Grandma Gu wasn’t even conscious. It was her other granddaughter who took her to the hospital!”

“Shameless! Such people must be severely punished, otherwise others will follow suit, and the world will fall into chaos!”

The aunt’s words struck a chord with the older residents. After all, everyone grows old eventually—they were at the age of marrying off children or already had married children.

If Gu Meng’s actions weren’t punished, what would happen when they themselves grew old and their sons and daughters-in-law imitated such disrespect?

“Yes, that kind of person should be arrested by the police!” the slightly older residents of the courtyard exclaimed, filled with righteous indignation.

At that moment, Gu Meng, following Xiao Yuan, saw the residents who looked ready to tear her apart, and froze, too frightened to speak.

Xiao Yuan glanced at the timid Gu Meng with a trace of pity. Then she looked at the expressionless Director Wang, steeled herself, and grabbed Gu Meng’s arm, dragging her up onto the platform.

Once Gu Meng was on the platform, Xiao Yuan pointed to the self-criticism paper tightly clenched in her hand:

“Comrade Gu, read your self-criticism.”

Startled, Gu Meng shivered and tremblingly opened the paper. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t muster the courage to read aloud.

“Stop pretending! You have the courage to hit an elder but not to admit your mistake?”

“Exactly! Grandma Gu always treated them so well—cooking and washing for them—and Gu Meng could still raise her hand!”

Director Wang, hearing the loud questioning from the crowd, coldly glanced at Gu Meng and sternly commanded:

“Comrade Gu, why are you standing there? Read your self-criticism immediately!”

Gu Meng’s eyes instantly reddened as she stared at the paper.

Stammering, she began: “I… Gu Meng am deeply remorseful and make a profound self-criticism to the organization and the revolutionary masses.”

“I should not have accidentally harmed my family. My actions have seriously undermined family morals, and I feel unworthy—”

From the crowd, some shouted: “Down with the unfilial child!”

“Shameless! Her grandmother works day and night for this family, yet gets hurt by the younger generation!”

Hu Shan, standing among the crowd, tiptoed and shouted: “Protect socialist family morals!” while waving her arms, even managing to direct people to throw stones at Gu Meng.

“Thud!” A stone thrown by a woman near Hu Shan hit Gu Meng on the forehead.

“Ahhh…”

Gu Meng clutched her forehead, screaming as she watched the stone fall to the ground with a “plink.”

Her face went pale, finally realizing fear. She looked at the usually gentle residents below, now showing grim, vicious expressions.

Tears streamed down as she cried and shouted: “I was really wrong! I won’t dare do it again!”

“I have failed the Party and the people’s education!”

“Please give me a chance to correct myself!”

Dozens of residents didn’t care what Gu Meng said. The environment made them act as if on adrenaline—whenever it came to political criticism, they were like possessed.

Unconsciously, they shouted: “Down with the unfilial child! Protect socialist family morals!”

Officer Kang, along with his young apprentice, witnessed everything.

“Master! Can we really arrest Comrade Gu Meng?”

He doubted it. Cases of younger generations hitting elders usually ended unresolved in the police records.

Officer Kang glanced at his apprentice and explained: “Comrade Gu Meng’s case will ultimately be transferred to the Kun City People’s Court.”

“Ah!” The apprentice widened his eyes in disbelief: “Really?”

This time, Officer Kang didn’t answer. Director Fu had already said that Comrade Gu Meng would be sentenced.

Since the People’s Court involved a military representative in the decision, the soldier-protecting-system wouldn’t let Gu Meng get off so easily!

Thinking of this, he stepped toward Director Wang.

Looking at the chanting residents and the cowering Gu Meng dodging stones, he remarked: “Director Wang, we from the police will take Comrade Gu Meng away!”

Director Wang was momentarily stunned—but she had already known this would be the outcome.