Actually, this matter was a bit strange. In such a developed society, why were there still conflicts between people?
Wasn't peaceful development better?
But if a person were very modest, unassuming, and good at enduring, and wanted to accomplish something great under current social conditions, he was bound to face conflicts. Some people would regard the endurance of others as their own success and then want to 'magnify' this success by demanding others to concede even more.
So, the person would eventually come to a moment when he could endure no more, and he needed to defend his own career and family. Consequently, some people would be punished.
Ma Lin didn't want to punish anyone, but some people kept incessantly demanding concessions from him. Thus, he knew that sometimes he had to stand firm, and the time had come when he could retreat no further.
He had to move forward.