The prison authorities were genuinely afraid that if Mrs. Jia stayed, she might actually be beaten to death, so they ended up granting her one reduction in sentence after another, officially citing her cooperation in reporting others as the reason.
Consequently, she was released more than half a year ahead of schedule. Having gone without meat for over six months, she had withered away to skin and bones. Her return to the Courtyard caused quite a stir, and it seemed peace in the compound was about to come to an end.
When Mrs. Jia arrived at the middle courtyard and pushed open her door, the Jia family, who were gathered together for a meal, were momentarily stunned.
Chapter 94