Chapter 106

Shazhu looked at the old woman before him, her face full of pleading.

He hardened his heart a little more.

As a wife who had shared a bed with the hypocrite for decades, did Yi Zhonghai's actions truly escape the old woman's notice?

There are no eternal secrets under heaven!

The old woman could not possibly be unaware of some of Yi Zhonghai's schemes; knowing yet pretending ignorance—who let them be husband and wife!

In the old woman's heart, no matter whom Yi Zhonghai schemed against or how, he remained her husband, the head of the household, one family with her.

Those schemed against were all outsiders, including Shazhu.

Having figured this out,

the old woman's pleading, seen by Shazhu, became just another scheme, identical to Yi Zhonghai's, differing only in method. Yi Zhonghai schemed with moral blackmail and the guise of a kindly old man; the old woman schemed with the image of a diligent, uncomplaining daughter-in-law.

Everyone in the Siheyuan knew Yi Zhonghai was cutting off the family line; most blamed the old woman, saying she could not bear children, and she lamented her inability to give Yi Zhonghai descendants—this very lament was the root of the sympathy they feigned.

Not insignificant.

A true couple.

The atmosphere had been built to this point.

How could there be no reason to speak?

They must speak loudly and at length.

"Old woman, in the past I would have given you face no matter what I said, but today I cannot—Yi Zhonghai's words just now were heard by all the neighbors, and I have made the consequences clear to them."

Shazhu gave the old woman no face.

They had already torn faces apart.

What face is left to want?

Given the hypocrite's nature, even if Shazhu laid down his arms and turned home, the hypocrite's resentment would not change; he would still plot revenge afterward, and the old woman might even become Yi Zhonghai's scheming advisor in revenge against Shazhu.

They say Yi Zhonghai hides his depth well.

Does the old woman not hide her depth as well?

People sympathize with the old woman because rumors say she caused the Yi family to die out.

In her previous life, the old woman died suddenly of heart disease in the deep night.

The specifics are unknown to the neighbors; whether there lurks some sordid secret unfit for outsiders, none can say—anyway, she died. Moreover, Yi Zhonghai's covert nighttime aid of noodles to Qin Huairu, and Jia Zhangshi's claims that Yi Zhonghai gave the Jia family unclean noodles, cast her death in a more tragic light.

Cooking, managing household affairs—these livelihoods

have always been the old woman's domain.

The old woman could not possibly be unaware of Yi Zhonghai's covert nighttime aid of noodles to Qin Huairu; perhaps the noodles Yi Zhonghai gave Qin Huairu were prepared by the old woman herself.

In times of scarce resources, a sudden shortage of several jin of grain at home

is a major event!

A matter of life and death—how could it be trivial?

Shazhu's gaze fell upon Qin Huairu's face.

Qin Huairu is the epitome of women of this era, inwardly following the creed: marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog.

After Jia's early death, Qin Huairu perhaps thought of remarrying, but Jia Zhangshi extinguished the idea. Later marrying Shazhu, the main reason was years of aid that had made Shazhu an aging bachelor; not marrying him would leave her unsettled, damaging the Jia family's reputation and affecting the marriages of Bangeng, Xiao Dang, and Huaihua, besides housing constraints—her motive was still to bleed Shazhu dry. Qin Huairu herself felt no love for Shazhu, at most gratitude and a habitually cultivated dependence.

If she truly liked him, could she have dragged Shazhu for eight years just because her son disagreed? She would have simply carried her bedroll and gone to live with Shazhu.

From this, one sees Qin Huairu's love for her son and her regard for the Jia family far exceed her regard for Shazhu; her positioning of Shazhu from beginning to end has been as a dutiful ox to help her raise her children and support the Jia family.

Two words.

Poisonous.

Shazhu's gaze carried a hint of resentment.

The scheming woman noticed Shazhu looking at her and hastily lowered her head.

Or perhaps Shazhu had caught some splendid moments; if he had not mistaken, the scheming woman Qin Huairu's gaze just now should have fallen on Yi Zhonghai!

He then recalled Jia Zhangshi's recent provocation that caused Qin Huairu to miscarry.

Laoqianpo did it deliberately.

People have always thought Bangeng the eldest of the Jia family; actually, Bangeng is second, with an elder brother who died before birth, named Bangchui.

Jia Zhangshi constantly longs for a grandchild; Qin Huairu was pregnant with a grandson, but Jia Zhangshi used a tide-pushing maneuver to artificially prevent Bangchui's birth.

It seems Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai share an unknown secret, known to Jia Zhangshi—this is Yi Zhonghai's odious aspect.

"Hehehe."

Shazhu laughed, discovering the gap between blood relations and none was truly great—this is also why Laolaitaitai advised Yi Zhonghai and his wife not to adopt children.

His gaze fell upon Laolaitaitai.

This old lady, in her previous life, constantly called Shazhu her real grandson, though she clearly saw Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu bore him no goodwill, yet she never dared speak plainly, stubbornly preventing them from harming Shazhu.

In the lunchbox struggle, the defeated Laolaitaitai began scheming against Damazhu and Louxiaoe's couple, seeking to alienate them and create opportunity for Shazhu. Her intent was to borrow Louxiaoe's family strength to live better herself and enjoy Shazhu's benefits with a clear conscience.

But Qin Huairu's skill was one step higher; Jia Zhangshi and the hypocrite assisted from the sidelines, and Laolaitaitai failed. If she truly regarded Shazhu as her real grandson, the best course would be to explain the truth to him, letting him see Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu's true faces.

Laolaitaitai did not do so, fearing to offend Yi Zhonghai and thus alienate two willing helpers for her old age and end. Between Yi Zhonghai and Shazhu, Laolaitaitai played a simplified version of imperial heartcraft: using Yi Zhonghai to control Shazhu, then using Shazhu to check Yi Zhonghai. Today, bringing pork for Shazhu to help cook was her seeking balance between them, hinting Yi Zhonghai should feed her meat.

Laolaitaitai's earlier silence and refusal to state her position clearly also stemmed from this consideration.

Shazhu used Laolaitaitai's refusal to state her position to sever ties with her, counting it an unexpected gain.

"Old woman, dare to act, dare to bear—what does Yi Zhonghai gain from this? Nothing but a good reputation. When I and Yushui are starving, he will appear as a savior, giving us food, drink, clothing, making us grateful to him."

Some things, if not exposed, can still be pretended as nothing happened, everyone's face barely passable; now the bottom is leaked, truly becoming two fools.

There are no fools in the Siheyuan.

Shazhu's words instantly set countless minds wandering.

Yi Zhonghai has no children; Shazhu is seventeen, Yushui ten—ideal for supporting Yi Zhonghai in his old age. He deliberately created difficulties, then appeared as a savior of the suffering, first implanting in everyone's mind the illusion that he aids and pulls Shazhu and Yushui along. Once Shazhu refuses to deal with Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai need not lift a finger; the spit of these Siheyuan people could drown Shazhu.

This idea.

Perfect.

"Shazhu." Yi Zhonghai's way of addressing Shazhu changed back to "Shazhu," he sighed deeply, took out a letter, held up the stationery, "Some things I don't want to say, why I didn't say them, is because back then you spoke of breaking with He Daqing, the neighbors can all testify, you were going to take a kitchen knife to Baocheng to fight He Daqing to the death, Head Steward was worried you'd die and didn't want to spend this money, so kindly he didn't tell you the truth, I didn't expect you to misunderstand, this is the letter He Daqing mailed, the letter explains everything."

Yi Zhonghai's face showed an expression of a kind old man thinking of Shazhu, and the look of having done a good deed yet being misunderstood by Shazhu.

He handed the stationery in his hand to Shazhu.

One letter in hand.

The world is mine.

As long as the content of the stationery is revealed, all of Shazhu's various accusations against Yi Zhonghai before will turn into stinking dog feces, Yi Zhonghai's kind old man persona will rise even higher.

Yi Zhonghai, smiling inwardly, watched Shazhu pull the stationery from the envelope, then his smile vanished, replaced by solemnity.

Shazhu didn't follow the expected play, opened the stationery to read its contents carefully, and didn't hand the stationery to the neighbors nearby, he was like a spy in a espionage film, shoved the paper into his mouth, swallowed it in two or three bites.

Dead men tell no tales!

Yi Zhonghai was stunned.

Without the stationery, how can he still prove his innocence?

"Shazhu." The address "Shazhu" changed back to "Shazhu," "How did you eat the letter paper?"

"You just said again and again that you were doing it for me and Yushui, not minding taking on this blame, I return the courtesy, I give you a great gift, even if this letter is fake, I treat it as real."

The hypocrite's heart felt a pang.

Treat it as true.

Then it is true!

Seeing Yi Zhonghai suffer a setback, the elder aunt stepped in.

Truly a long-time couple.

This coordination.

The beating was really not bad.

"Shazhu, Old Yi told me before, not giving you this money, mainly because you're still young, just started working, you have too much money on hand, easy to develop a habit of spending lavishly, not knowing how to save, Head Steward just wants to help you save it, keep it for you to marry a wife."

The elder aunt shifted her tone.

"Really not the elder aunt saying this, Shazhu, since you started working, your monthly salary is over forty thousand, you spend it all each month, can't save a penny, Head Steward really means well for you, at home we really need to keep some emergency money."

"Shazhu, whether you accept it or not, it's ultimately this Head Steward's fault in this matter for not thinking things through, not making things clear in advance, that's why you misunderstood Head Steward, blame me!"

The words "blame me" were deliberately emphasized by the hypocrite, full of self-reproachful performance, giving a sense of profound impact, as if Yi Zhonghai had suffered a great injustice!

"Yi Zhonghai, although I'm called Shazhu by people, I'm not brainless, old saying goes well, if you want no one to know, unless you don't do it yourself."

Yi Zhonghai hearing this, his heart tightened.

Could it be that Shazhu still has a killer move in hand!

Today's Dayuan assembly, proceeding to now, everywhere puts Yi Zhonghai in a difficult position, the meeting content also goes against what Yi Zhonghai had in mind, clearly it was a great opportunity to grasp and suppress Shazhu, but it became Yi Zhonghai being turned around and grasped by Shazhu, the persona collapsed.

"Neighbors probably don't know!" Shazhu raised his voice, "For my sake, afraid I'd spend money lavishly, today Yi Zhonghai and the elder aunt said this to me for the second time, I don't know if the neighbors remember or not, on February second, I and Yushui didn't appear in the Siheyuan all day, I remember San Daye still asked me that night, I made up an excuse about taking Yushui out, actually, I took Yushui to Baocheng."

Yi Zhonghai's complexion suddenly changed, he finally knows what he will face now.

"I went to Baocheng to find the old man, this matter Yi Zhonghai knows. In front of the neighbors, I ask our Siheyuan's respected Head Steward, why on the day I took Yushui to Baocheng, did the white widow force the old man to go to the countryside to do a wedding feast?"

"Could it be he took a wrong turn?"

"This is a reason, but I still want to ask Yi Zhonghai, you sent a telegram to the white widow, telling her that on February second she must by any means get the old man away, what does that mean?"

Yi Zhonghai was at a loss for words.

Didn't know how to explain.

"If you don't say the reason, I also know the cause, nothing more than worrying that I'd meet the old man face to face, you calculated the old man's and my and Yushui's schemes would be exposed, you deliberately sent a telegram to make the white widow take the old man away, you Yi Zhonghai calculated everything, just didn't calculate that I took time off last week to go to Baocheng, I met the old man, and found the telegram you Yi Zhonghai sent to the white widow, do you want me to read the telegram's content in front of the neighbors?"

Ah!

The elder aunt sighed inwardly.

This matter, she had advised Yi Zhonghai multiple times before, but Yi Zhonghai wouldn't listen, now it's fine, paper can't contain fire, Shazhu went to Baocheng, the two old men talked, Yi Zhonghai's years of painstaking effort was destroyed in an instant, He Daqing didn't die, how could this be hidden!

Yi Zhonghai seemed to think of something after, his complexion gradually improved, he looked with his eyes at the deaf old lady.

Feeling the glance Yi Zhonghai gave her, the deaf old lady also had unspeakable suffering, ultimately chose to bow to reality, her old-age support still relies on Yi Zhonghai.

"Shazhu, we're all neighbors in the same Dayuan, your Head Steward also explained clearly, this matter is your Head Steward's fault, looking at the old lady's face, let's just let this matter go."

"The old lady's meaning, big matters made small, small matters settled?" Shazhu shifted his tone, "Then how about this drugging matter, how to say? Just now Yi Zhonghai kept saying I gave you medicine, do I need to go to the police station to turn myself in?"

"Has nothing to do with you."

"Has nothing to do with you, then why does Yi Zhonghai insist I gave you medicine?" Shazhu continued to prick Yi Zhonghai's lungs with words, "I understand, Yi Zhonghai hasn't given the old lady meat for several months, the old lady craving meat couldn't take it, bought half a jin of pork and entrusted me to help make meat dishes, this is equivalent to slapping the face of our Head Steward, Yagangchang fourth-level worker Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai wasn't happy."

Yi Zhonghai hearing this, his heart gave a sudden jolt.

Oh no!

Actually forgot this!

This is the eastern window affair exposed!

What to do?

For a moment, Yi Zhonghai's heart was in turmoil, he no longer dared to play tricks, Shazhu hit his heart, using the Dayuan assembly to grasp Shazhu, also had the meaning of warning the deaf old lady, everyone knows the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai live as a couple, the deaf old lady bringing pork to let Shazhu cook dishes, implies the deaf old lady suffered abuse in Yi Zhonghai's home, pressing Yi Zhonghai and his wife's faces into the mud.

"Cough cough!" The deaf old lady hastily changed her tone, she still relies on Yi Zhonghai for her end, but can't offend Yi Zhonghai, some things achieving the expected effect is enough, "Shazhu, you misunderstood your Head Steward, this pork was bought by your elder aunt, also it was your Head Steward who instructed me, to have you make meat dishes, saying you're a good child, won't refuse my request to the old lady."

The deaf old lady again tried to please both sides.

Both covered today's face-slapping of Yi Zhonghai by her, and drew a bit closer to Shazhu.

I already said you're a good child.

Can you still continue to see things with me generally?

Yi Zhonghai is the hope for old-age support, Shazhu is the tool to satisfy her mouth and tongue.

That was said, words of breaking ties.

What can be done.

The person hasn't died yet.

My old lady, thick-skinned, came to the door — you can't possibly kick my old lady out of the house, can you?

"This matter is my old lady's rashness; I didn't think for Zhonghai, which caused this mess — it's all my old lady's fault."

"Old lady, don't blame yourself." Xu Daming, who had been desperately seeking an opportunity but kept finding no opening to interject, finally seized the chance: "Head Steward and his wife are truly role models for the neighbors. To keep the neighbors from knowing Head Steward bought meat for the old lady, at past ten at night, they secretly stewed meat in the room using the stove. This spirit of selfless good deeds done without seeking fame is worthy of being learned by the Siheyuan neighbors."

Shazhu is Xu Daming's brother.

As a brother, being falsely accused by Yi Zhonghai.

Xu Daming not speaking up makes him seem lacking in loyalty.

This remark.

Instantly made some people unable to accept it, such as Yi Zhonghai, and also the Deaf Old Lady.

Saying it was to stew meat for the old lady to eat — if they truly had the Deaf Old Lady in their hearts, they wouldn't secretly stew meat on the stove deep into the night.

"Xu Daming, don't talk nonsense."

That said.

But Liu Haizhong's words clearly showed no intention to reprimand Xu Daming.

"Dad, Xu Daming really isn't talking nonsense — that day I went to the toilet, passed through Zhong Yuan, and smelled a faint meat aroma. I initially thought Shazhu was stewing meat, followed the scent, and found it was actually Head Steward's wife stewing meat. The doors and windows were tightly shut; I peered through a crack and saw on Head Steward's stove half a pot of pork stew, Head Steward and his wife eating it with mantou, and they said they couldn't let the old lady know."

Among the Liu brothers, the youngest, Liu Guangfu, confirmed the rumor that Head Steward and his wife secretly ate meat at night behind the Deaf Old Lady's back.

"Dad, I told you this when I came back — I said Head Steward and his wife were eating meat, you didn't believe me, whipped me with a chicken-feather duster, later you went to check yourself, came back and told Mom, saying I hadn't lied."

On the neighbors' faces, mockery spread.

One person said, it might be fake.

Two people said, it might be true.

Three people make a tiger.

Even the false became true.

Looking at Head Steward and his wife's expressions, this matter is surely true beyond doubt.

No wonder the Deaf Old Lady's face looks so grim.

By this point.

Shazhu said whatever he had to add firewood, letting the fire burn brightly, just wanting to know one thing: when Yi Zhonghai's hypocritical mask is torn off by himself, how will Yi Zhonghai still manipulate everyone?

"Old lady, you don't need to cover for Yi Zhonghai — you probably don't know, in Yi Zhonghai's heart, you're just a burdensome image. Recently, Yi Zhonghai told me several times, using work as an excuse, saying Head Steward's wife wanted to return to her hometown, asking me to cook for you — the truth is merely cooking, that simple?"

Shazhu's counter-question struck like a hammer on everyone's heart present.

Our hearts silently questioned ourselves.

Really just helping cook?

Some things — either don't get involved, but once involved, trying to shake them off becomes hard.

"I'll tell you the truth: Yi Zhonghai and his wife taking care of you, living together with you, is never without profit — they wanted to gain a good reputation for caring for the lonely elderly. Once that reputation was achieved, you kept shouting for meat every day, and Yi Zhonghai and his wife felt caring for you was a losing effort. They openly said they wouldn't care for you, but feared the neighbors would blame them, so they hinted verbally for me to take over their duty of caring for you. Seeing I ignored this, they directly told me."

"Old lady, Shazhu is right — this person, one knows the face but not the heart."

Xu Daming again immediately echoed Shazhu.

Siheyuan's two fools joined forces to angrily tear apart Yi Zhonghai.

"Why not buy meat for you to eat? Clearly knowing you don't like meals without meat, yet they insist on giving you steamed cornbread and vegetable soup. Life is hard, but even so, the Siheyuan neighbors would improve the elderly's living conditions every two months. Yi Zhonghai and his wife didn't do this — they merely wanted to force the old lady to proactively say she no longer wishes to live with them, so they could rid themselves of this burden while keeping their good reputation."

Shazhu backhandedly made Liu Haizhong retreat.

Let Liu Haizhong come to resist Yi Zhonghai's anger.

"Just now, Second Steward also said he discovered Yi Zhonghai and his wife secretly eating meat at night. Old lady, think carefully, think it through — Second Steward is our Siheyuan's Head Steward; when has he ever lied?"

After Shazhu spoke these words, Yi Zhonghai and Head Steward's wife's faces instantly changed color.

The problem grew big.

A trip to Baocheng made Shazhu unreservedly choose to turn against the Yi family.

What does this indicate?

It indicates Shazhu has changed his heart, no longer the Shazhu controlled by them.

What makes Yi Zhonghai and his wife even less able to accept is that their persona shattered so inexplicably.

All along, Yi Zhonghai lived in the Siheyuan under the guise of a kind old man, making himself the Siheyuan's decisive Head Steward, while Head Steward's wife, under the guise of Yi Zhonghai's virtuous inner helper, aided Yi Zhonghai in manipulating the Siheyuan residents.

Caring for the Deaf Old Lady, who has no blood relation.

This is why the Siheyuan residents think Yi Zhonghai and his wife are not bad.

The truth is this terrifying.

Yi Zhonghai and his wife treated the Deaf Old Lady as a burden, yet secretly stewed and ate meat deep into the night, then sent her steamed cornbread and vegetable soup — truly, is this the Head Steward who constantly mentions the Deaf Old Lady?

And Head Steward's wife — wasn't it said she treated the Deaf Old Lady as her own mother-in-law?

Just this act of secretly eating meat.

Truly not like.

In some aspects.

Even less than Jia Zhangshi — at least Jia Zhangshi's shrewishness is shown openly, unlike Yi Zhonghai and his wife, who hide everything behind the illusion of a kind old man persona.

The atmosphere grew tense.

The gaze toward Yi Zhonghai and his wife also carried strong disdain.

Who knows who.

Whispered privately a sentence.

I said sometimes in the dead of night, I suddenly smelled meat and thought I was dreaming, but it wasn't a dream—it was Head Steward and his wife secretly eating meat they'd stewed on the stove.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for countless people to hear.

It was like a signal.

Countless people joined in.

It was also Yi Zhonghai who had angered the crowd.

According to Shazhu's impression, starting from the year before last, Yi Zhonghai miraculously organized everyone to conduct two or three unsuccessful fundraising activities for Long Laotaitai.

Now thinking about it.

They clearly had been deceived.

The anger in their hearts naturally needed to be vented through this opportunity.

"Stealing meat in the dead of night, afraid the neighbors would find out, deliberately sealing the doors and windows—what cunning, truly impressive."

"I say, in this scorching summer, the neighbors have all moved their stoves outside, yet Head Steward's household still keeps theirs—turns out it's not that they have nowhere to put it, but that their stove is secretly used at night."

"What use?"

"Stewing meat."

"Whose household stews meat?"

"Head Steward's household, the Head Steward of the Siheyuan, Yi Zhonghai, a Level Four technician at Yagangchang."

"How do they stew meat at night?"

"Secretly eating while Long Laotaitai's back is turned."

Two people.

Real talent.

After delivering this crosstalk routine.

One speaking, one responding.

It sent the scene into a climax.

"Isn't Long Laotaitai the mother of Head Steward and his wife? How can they still secretly eat meat behind her back?"

"The mother is just for show; secretly eating means not putting on a show for us."

"That's just despicable."

"Not despicable—just childless."

"Why no children?"

"Too scheming, always calculating—you said Shazhu and Long Laotaitai were reported recently—wasn't that Yi Zhonghai's doing?"

Sometimes, the thing that breaks the camel's back is just an ordinary straw that couldn't be more ordinary.

The neighbors' teasing voices.

Not a word missed, flying straight into the ears of Head Steward and his wife; thinking their reputation was ruined, that they'd become street rats everyone shouted at, Head Steward and his wife were seized with terror.

This isn't the script I wanted.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

One Dame fainted.

The hypocrite Yi Zhonghai seized the moment to help One Dame into the house.

The Dayuan assembly inexplicably fell into a pause.

"I announce, the Dayuan assembly is adjourned."

Liu Haizhong took over the authority to preside over the Dayuan assembly and announced its adjournment.

The crowd erupted in a clamor, each scattering away.

Long Laotaitai originally wanted to call for help to be supported.

The words reached her lips.

But she swallowed them back into her own belly.

Everyone in the Siheyuan avoids Long Laotaitai in fear.

Leaning on her cane, trembling as she walked toward the Hou Yuan, on the way Long Laotaitai kept reflecting, reflecting on whether her choice had been wrong.

She stopped her steps.

She glanced back once at the Yi household, then looked at Shazhu, seeing Shazhu heading toward his own home, followed by Daming and Yan Fugui, she sighed inwardly, then continued walking toward her own home.

……

Yan Fugui, who had entered Shazhu's home, sized up Shazhu with a strange gaze.

It made Shazhu feel a bit creeped out.

"San Daye, what do you mean?"

"Shazhu, San Daye speaks from the heart—right or wrong, we won't mention it, just don't hold a grudge; now you make San Daye feel especially unfamiliar."

Daming nodded, "Shazhu, I agree with San Daye—you're not yourself anymore; I feel like you've become a different person."

It's not just Yan Fugui and Daming who think this way.

Tonight's Shazhu.

Gave the Siheyuan neighbors a shocking sensory experience.

Overwhelming presence leaking out.

Formerly, Shazhu respected Yi Zhonghai, honored One Dame, and even if he felt angry inside, he would still restrain himself out of respect for Yi Zhonghai and his wife, speaking privately.

The last time they broke ties—if Shazhu hadn't spoken the truth, the Siheyuan neighbors wouldn't have known about this; everyone just thought Shazhu and Yi Zhonghai's wife had suddenly grown distant.

Actually, it was the month before last.

The two families have broken off relations.

At today's Dayuan meeting, Shazhu successively tore off the hypocritical masks of Yi Zhonghai and his wife, exposing the false personas of the hypocritical couple, which truly made people look at him in a new light.

No wonder Yan Fugui would scrutinize Shazhu like that.

"People can change!" Shazhu tried to give a reason, "It's also because Yi Zhonghai disgusted me to the point of nausea; he didn't feed Long Laotaitai for two months, forcing her to buy meat herself, which you all saw—Yi Zhonghai's face was more foul than dog feces. I helped with that, Yi Zhonghai felt humiliated and took his anger out on me, calling Long Laotaitai a diarrhea-ridden old woman, even drugging her. Since he was unkind, I naturally had to be unrighteous in return. After turning against him, what could I do? I also don't rely on Yi Zhonghai and his wife to survive."

"Shazhu, the fact that you can understand all this truly comforts me."

"I am also comforted."

"Xu Daming, how is it that I keep finding you involved in all this? What's your connection to it?"

"Shazhu, you repay kindness with betrayal—biting the hand that feeds you, failing to recognize good intentions. If it weren't for my brother-in-arms selflessly exposing Yi Zhonghai and his wife secretly stewing meat late at night, you wouldn't have so easily pierced their hypocritical facade. For this favor, you owe me a meal."

"Shazhu, Xu Daming is right—Yi Zhonghai is not someone who easily admits defeat. You made him suffer such a great loss tonight; be extra careful, don't let Yi Zhonghai seize an opportunity to scheme against you."

Shazhu nodded.

Yan Fugui's reminder.

Reasonable.

Even without Yan Fugui's warning, Shazhu would still be on guard against Yi Zhonghai.

Why does the deputy head of the Red Star Scrap Station give Shazhu a tough welcome as soon as he arrives at the scrap yard?

The reason is related to Yi Zhonghai.

The deputy's cousin-in-law is the unlucky man Yi Zhonghai found—former canteen manager at Yagangchang. Because he conspired with Yi Zhonghai to suppress Shazhu's apprentice workers, the plan failed, and he has since been cleaning toilets at Yagangchang.

This cousin-in-law directed his anger at Shazhu, which is why the newly appointed deputy gave Shazhu a tough welcome upon taking office, leading Shazhu to consider killing him, and after discussing with Xu Daming, they planned to use Comrade Xiangyang Hong to set up a flawless honey trap for the deputy.

"I know."

"Knowing jack shit—hurry up and prepare!"

"Want a drink?"

"To celebrate." Xu Daming counted off reasons on his fingers, listing them to Shazhu: "First, you've broken with Long Laotaitai, so you no longer need to worry about her thoughts. Second, you've exposed the false deceit of Yi Zhonghai and his wife. Third, I, Xu Daming, helped you. Fourth, San Daye helped you."

"Then let's have a drink."

Shazhu got busy preparing.

"Wait a moment."

"What's wrong?"

"There's movement outside."

Xu Daming, Shazhu, and Yan Fugui focused their minds, stilled their qi, held their breath, and listened intently.

Faintly from the Hou Yuan came the sound of a belt whipping someone and the cries of a person being beaten.

The truth is now fully revealed.

The expert in beating sons, who believes in the maxim 'under the rod, filial sons are made,' Liu Haizhong, is again educating his two unfilial sons—unknown whether it's single or double teaming.

"San Daye, I've noticed you've never hit any of your several children."

"Education should not rely on beating."

"Never mind that, let's have one." Xu Daming raised his wine cup, pointing to the peanuts on the table as a snack: "Peanuts with liquor—delicious."

One cup of baijiu drunk in one go.

Everyone's chatterbox immediately opened up.

"Life nowadays is not bad, and we even have peanuts. A few years ago when drinking, did you know what to eat with alcohol?" Yan Fugui began lecturing: "Some people dip small stones in vinegar to drink with alcohol; others dip welding rods in soy sauce."

"San Daye, you truly are learned—let's have one."

Shazhu, after finishing his drink.

Suddenly froze in place.

Tonight's Dayuan meeting seemed not to everyone's satisfaction.

The mastermind behind the poisoning has not yet been caught.

Jia Zhangshi!

Hesitating a moment after finishing his drink, whether to assign Comrade Xu Daming to go to the police station to file a report, since this afternoon he found evidence that Jia Zhangshi bought croton powder.

Originally intending to use the Dayuan meeting to expose Jia Zhangshi's act of poisoning Xu Daming with croton powder, using that as grounds to pin the cause of Long Laotaitai's diarrhea on Jia Zhangshi.

Xu Daming had diarrhea in the morning.

Long Laotaitai had diarrhea in the afternoon.

Quite obvious.

Someone had poisoned them.

The poisoner could only be Jia Zhangshi.

Not a bad idea.

But the unexpected turn of events affected things.

Shazhu hadn't yet had the chance to throw this lethal weapon.

……

Next door.

Yi Zhonghai's home.

Yi Zhonghai, having just brought the eldest aunt back into the house and about to pinch her philtrum, saw the eldest aunt slowly wake up.

A warm feeling in the heart.

After so many years as husband and wife.

He knew the reason the eldest aunt did this.

To save him.

In that situation of public humiliation, the only path left was to feign fainting.

Sigh.

One mistake.

Mistakes everywhere.

Yi Zhonghai was full of thoughts, staring at the eldest aunt, motionless, in a daze, as if his mind wandered far away.

The eldest aunt noticed Yi Zhonghai's odd behavior, waved her hand in front of his face, and shouted several times, "Old Yi, old man, Yi Zhonghai."

Seeing Yi Zhonghai had no reaction, still sitting stiffly on the stool in a daze.

The eldest aunt slapped the hypocrite's cheek.

"Pa!"

The sharp pain from the slap on his cheek gradually brought Yi Zhonghai back to his senses, but his vacant, lifeless eyes revealed his extremely terrible mood.

Understood.

He had pondered it for most of his life.

For no reason, he had soaked in hot water.

Anyone would do the same.

Only Yi Zhonghai was a bit more depressed.

"What should I do?" Yi Zhonghai, whose schemes had failed and whose persona was gone, broke down, "What should I do?"

"From now on, you also shouldn't put on airs as Head Steward in the Siheyuan. Liu Haizhong wants to rise to become Head Steward, so let him take the lead."

Yi Zhonghai nodded.

The situation of the Yi family.

It's somewhat special.

On certain matters, such as managing the household, Yi Zhonghai has always had the final say, but sometimes he also has to listen to the eldest aunt's advice.

As Shazhu predicted, the eldest aunt is actually Yi Zhonghai's military advisor.

"Working honestly at the Yagangchang, living with one's tail between the legs in the Siheyuan, after a while the neighbors will forget. During this time, we should act as discreetly as possible, do good deeds, and as long as someone speaks well of us, the situation can be salvaged."

"You say I should apologize to Shazhu now—will he forgive me? Will he continue to respect me as before?"

The eldest aunt looked at Yi Zhonghai as if he were an idiot.

She laughed.

Toward Shazhu.

The eldest aunt sees Shazhu more clearly than Yi Zhonghai does.

"Shazhu is stubborn; once he makes up his mind, not even you, nor even if He Daqing returned, could change it. Do you remember when Dahua Mao told Shazhu that He Daqing ran off with a widow? Shazhu immediately beat up Dahua Mao, rushed back to the Siheyuan, found Dahua Mao hadn't lied, grabbed a kitchen knife, and went to Baocheng to settle scores with He Daqing. But the next day, Shazhu did a complete turnaround, saying he understood He Daqing's action of going to Baocheng with the widow, saying He Daqing should also have his own life, and even became friends with Dahua Mao. Isn't that strange?"

The eldest aunt analyzed Shazhu's character and conduct.

"Really, Shazhu seems to have changed overnight into another person."

"This is also what I can't fathom about Shazhu—how could a person undergo such a huge change? His written statement of separating from He Daqing was signed by all the neighbors in the Siheyuan, and he even went to work at the scrap yard. Now his life is truly puzzling."

Yi Zhonghai fell silent.

The eldest aunt was absolutely right.

Shazhu's every move leaves Yi Zhonghai with no way to respond.

Take tonight's letter and telegram, for example.

Who would have thought Shazhu would swallow the letter whole without even looking at it?

Another person secretly went to Baocheng, met He Daqing, and learned the truth of certain matters.

If Shazhu learned the truth, he would immediately find Yi Zhonghai and curse Yi Zhonghai and his wife as despicable scoundrels; the eldest aunt might not even worry much.

But Shazhu didn't speak of this matter at all, instead acting normally, going to and from work as if nothing happened.

The calmer his demeanor, the more the eldest aunt fears.

A barking dog doesn't bite; a biting dog doesn't bark.

The quieter Shazhu is, the more serious the consequences.

As a matter of fact.

The eldest aunt's speculation is correct.

The telegram became Shazhu's trump card to check Yi Zhonghai and his wife, causing them to lose reputation and status. It is estimated that tomorrow the whole alley will spread the rumor that Yi Zhonghai and his wife stole meat behind the deaf old lady's back?

? Yet they gave the deaf old lady steamed buns and cabbage soup—these gossips.

Countless people will stab Yi Zhonghai and his wife in the back.

Moreover, tonight Shazhu is drinking again!

Yi Zhonghai is indeed the direct victim of Shazhu's drunken violence.

Shazhu, after drinking too much.

Possesses immense strength.

Even two Yi Zhonghais bound together would not be a match for him!

It vexed the hypocrite to death.