饿死不讨米，屈死不告状 Starve to death rather than beg for rice. Die wronged rather than file a lawsuit.
衙门口，朝南开，有理没钱莫进来 The yamen gate faces south. With reason but no money, do not come in.
A columnist cited both old sayings in 2024 to explain a long fear of the cost and the unfairness of going to court.