Although Grandpa Su was highly respected in the village.

However, the old Party Secretary has been a leader for so many years, so he shouldn't be underestimated.

But if we abuse our power and bend the law, how will we manage things in the future?

Just then, Li Qiang suddenly broke free from the police officer and knelt down in front of Su Jianguo with a thud.

"Brother Jianguo, I was wrong! I was blinded by greed and jealous of Brother Jianjun becoming manager... I'm willing to compensate for all the losses, please give me another chance!"

Su Jianguo looked at Li Qiang and sighed deeply.

"If only you had known then what you know now, you wouldn't have done it in the first place."

He turned to the police officer.

"Let's take the person back to the police station first, and then we'll discuss a solution. If the victim agrees to mediation, we can treat them leniently."

Upon hearing this, the old Party Secretary was about to kneel down again, but Su Jianguo stopped him.

"Old Party Secretary, please don't do this. I promise you, as long as they sincerely repent and compensate for the losses, I can consider not prosecuting them. But they must guarantee that they will never do it again!"

The old Party Secretary nodded repeatedly.

"Absolutely! I guarantee it!"

...

Inside the police station's mediation room.

Old Zhao sat hunched over in a plastic chair, his rough hands nervously rubbing his knees, his lame leg trembling involuntarily.

Li Qiang's face was deathly pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He would steal glances at Su Jianguo sitting opposite him from time to time.

"Mr. Su, this is the mediation agreement."

Police officer Xiao Zhang pushed a document to the center of the table.

"As per your request, you agree not to pursue criminal charges if they can fully compensate for your losses."

Su Jianguo took the pen, signed his name on the document in a flamboyant manner, and then handed the pen to Zhao Laosi.

The old man took the pen with trembling hands, but hesitated to put it down.

"Uncle Zhao."

Su Jianguo's voice was calm.

"Sign it; this is the best outcome."

A flicker of struggle flashed in Zhao Laosi's cloudy eyes.

"Jianguo, it's not that your uncle doesn't want to compensate, but even if we sell everything we own, we still can't raise that much money..."

"Yes, Brother Jianguo."

Li Qiang quickly interjected.

"My family relies on those few acres of land to make a living, where would we get so much money to pay in compensation?"

Su Jianguo leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the group.

He had expected this outcome.

These families were not well-off; even the old Party Secretary's family didn't have much money left.

The compensation of over ten thousand yuan was an astronomical figure for them.

"How about this?"

Su Jianguo pondered for a moment.

"Whatever amount you can contribute, that's all. As for the rest..."

He paused.

"Let's settle the debt with labor."

"Paying off debts with labor?"

Zhao Laosi and Li Qiang asked in unison, their faces full of doubt.

"right."

Su Jianguo nodded.

"Come work at my vegetable farm, and you'll be paid market wages until the debt is paid off."

Police officer Xiao Zhang's eyes lit up.

"This is a good idea! It gives them a chance to reform and also makes up for Mr. Su's losses—a win-win situation."

Zhao Laosi and Li Qiang exchanged a glance, hesitating.

Su Jianguo noticed their concerns and added.

"Don't worry, the wages are calculated at market rate, four yuan a day, including two meals. Your families have pooled together five thousand, so you're still short seven thousand three hundred. It works out to about six months per person, and you can pay it off."

Upon hearing this plan, Zhao Laosi's tense shoulders visibly relaxed.

He gritted his teeth and finally signed his name crookedly on the mediation agreement.

Seeing this, Li Qiang quickly signed the document, fearing that Su Jianguo might change his mind.

When I left the police station, the sun had already set.

Su Jianguo stood on the steps, watching Zhao Laosi's limping figure disappear around the street corner, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The descendant of this old farmer who once distributed grain to save people during famine has now become a sinner who destroys production. The changes of the times are truly lamentable.

"Brother, are we just going to let them go like that?"

Su Jianjun appeared behind him at some point, his tone filled with dissatisfaction.

Su Jianguo turned around and patted his younger brother on the shoulder.

"Let bygones be bygones. Are we really going to send an old man to jail? Aren't you afraid the villagers will gossip about you?"

Su Jianjun pursed his lips.

"I'm just so angry. Our greenhouse, which we worked so hard to build, was almost destroyed by a handful of insect eggs..."

"Alright."

Su Jianguo interrupted him.

"Have them come to work tomorrow. Also, keep an eye on them; make sure the other workers don't give them any trouble."