"Well, you've gotten quite capable, haven't you?" Li Guodong squinted and exhaled smoke rings.

"Don't push your luck. Sign the confession now, and this matter will be over. You'll still have food to eat in the family from now on."

"I won't argue with you about your attitude."

Du Jianshan chuckled and couldn't help but roll his eyes, saying, "Hey Uncle Li, are you alright? Instead of wasting time talking nonsense here, why don't you go back and check on your precious son?"

"What do you mean?" Li Guodong frowned.

"The police don't wait for mealtimes to arrest people." Du Jianshan patted his trouser leg: "Hooliganism carries a minimum sentence of three years. If you don't go back to see him now, he won't have time for your father-son camaraderie when they come to arrest him!"

Li Guodong's face changed instantly, and he threw his cigarette butt on the ground: "Bullshit! What do you mean by arresting people? Weren't you supposed to take the blame?"

Du Jianshan chuckled and said, word by word, "Go to hell!"

"I've already signed up to go to the countryside as an educated youth! I'm leaving tomorrow! Your hooligan son can go die wherever he wants!"

Upon hearing the words "going to the countryside," Li Guodong's forehead veins throbbed, and he grabbed Du Jianshan by the collar, yelling, "You little bastard, how dare you! If anything happens to Fuqiang, I'll kill you!"

"Who gave you the guts to go to the countryside? Huh?"

If Du Jianshan goes to the countryside, who will take the blame for his son?

"Let go!" Du Jianshan elbowed him away and sneered, "The neighborhood committee has it all in black and white. I'm a formally employed educated youth now! Try touching me!"

Li Guodong, panting heavily, glared at Du Jianshan, then suddenly turned and rushed towards the street office.

"Wang Jianjun! Wang Jianjun, you come out here right now!"

Several clerks in the neighborhood office were eating sunflower seeds when they were startled by the loud voice.

Wang Jianjun pushed open the door and came out: "Old Li, what are you yelling about? In the middle of the day..."

"Revoke that brat's registration to go to the countryside!" Li Guodong slammed his fist on the table, making a loud bang. "His family didn't agree, he can't make that decision on his own!"

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! Without our parents' consent, what right do you have to decide to go to the countryside on your own!"

"This is outrageous! Who gave you permission to go to the countryside! Get it canceled! Get it canceled!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Jianjun's face immediately fell: "Li Guodong, what's wrong with you? Going to the countryside is an honorable mission! It's all registered in black and white, how can you just withdraw like that?"

Are you treating laws and policies like a joke?

Li Guodong slapped his thigh in frustration: "Bullshit! I'm his father! Without my approval, would he dare to sign up?"

"Who do you think you are, your father?" Du Jianshan scoffed. "My own father's grave is overgrown with weeds!"

Several clerks in the neighborhood office perked up their ears, cracking sunflower seeds loudly.

"You little beast!" Li Guodong's forehead veins throbbed. "Who has fed and clothed you all these years? Now you think you're all grown up?"

Du Jianshan burst out laughing: "I started making money by pasting cardboard boxes when I was ten, and I picked up coal cinders when I was thirteen. I haven't eaten a single grain of rice from your Li family for nothing!"

"You ingrate!" Li Guodong swung a stool, ready to smash it: "Today I'm going to..."

"stop!"

A plump woman stormed out of the office, her chest trembling with anger: "Li Guodong! This is the neighborhood committee office! Not your private quarters!"

Li Guodong, his neck stiff, roared, "Zhao Hongmei, mind your own business! It's only right for a father to discipline his son!"

"Bullshit!" Zhao Hongmei slammed her hand on the table. "Now we advocate freedom of marriage, and even stepfather-son relationships must be voluntary! Do you think this is some kind of old-fashioned indenture?"

"They don't even acknowledge you as their father, yet you're still eager to take charge of them?"

Li Guodong's face turned a deep purplish-red, and he pointed at Du Jianshan's nose, cursing, "You beast! Your mother raised you with such hardship, and this is how you repay her? Now that you're in trouble, you want to run away?"

"Stop dragging my mother into this!" Du Jianshan roared back, "You just want me to go to jail for your hooligan son, don't you? Dream on!"

Director Zhao's eyes widened in surprise: "What? Take the blame?"

Li Guodong panicked and grabbed a teacup, smashing it against Du Jianshan's face: "What nonsense are you spouting, you little bastard!"

Du Jianshan dodged to the side, and the teacup slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

"Getting impatient?" Du Jianshan sneered, "Your son was caught red-handed peeping at Widow Liu while she was bathing, and now you want me to take the blame for indecent assault? Do you think everyone doesn't know that?"

The neighborhood committee was instantly in an uproar:

"Good heavens! That kid Li Fuqiang looks so dejected..."

"No wonder they were so determined to stop us from going to the countryside!"

"That's really despicable..."

Director Zhao trembled with rage: "Li Guodong! You're instigating a crime!"

"You call yourself a permanent employee? Is this how you treat your stepson? You have questionable character; no wonder your family is having problems!"

"Stop labeling me like that!" Li Guodong completely lost his temper, spitting as he spoke: "I'm a level six steelworker! Who do you think you are?"

He turned and yelled towards the door, "Security! Give this little bastard to me..."

"Arrest me?" Du Jianshan chuckled. "Director Zhao, you be the judge. Doesn't this constitute sabotage of the 'Down to the Countryside Movement'?"