In the autumn of 1965, scout Lu Shiba was discharged from the military due to injury and moved into a seemingly peaceful Siheyuan.
On his first day, Yan Bugui blocked the doorway, rubbing his fingers together. “New guy, show a little appreciation.”
Qin Huairu stood at the door holding a bowl of thin porridge, tears welling in her eyes.
Yi Zhonghai patted him on the shoulder. “Distant relatives are no match for good neighbors.”
Xu Damao leaned against the old locust tree, a mocking smirk on his face.
Everyone in the courtyard thought the newly arrived veteran was an easy target.
They didn't know that a scout's rule was to observe first, then act. They also didn't know that Lu Shiba kept a record of every debt in his notebook. Who schemed against whom, who took how much, who cheated whom: it was all recorded in meticulous detail.
He didn't use his fists.
He used the law, evidence, and a scout's methods.
Yan Bugui tried to extort him, so he slapped the public security regulations down on the table. “One yuan is enough to file a case.”
Qin Huairu complained about being poor, so he opened his ledger. “Five years, 386 yuan. Paid back yet?”
Xu Damao tried to sabotage him, so he stared into the man's eyes. “Your left leg is shaking. You're feeling guilty.”
At last, everyone in the courtyard realized the newcomer wasn't an easy target. He was a brick wall.
On the day of the courtyard meeting, Lu Shiba stood in the middle of the yard and closed his notebook. “I didn't come here to cause trouble. I came to talk things through. If you want to reason, I'll reason with you. If you won't, I'll use the law. A scout's rule: whoever breaks the law gets investigated. The law doesn't care who you are. It only cares about the evidence.”
From that day on, the Siheyuan had new rules. He didn't make them; the rules simply established themselves. It was enough for everyone to know that some things were off-limits.
He didn't go looking for trouble, but if trouble came looking for him, he'd teach you a lesson in the way you knew best.
I have nothing to say, what a good man.