Chapter 116: with translation of chapter title

Translation

To treat Yi Zhonghai's dizziness, enthusiastic neighbors racked their brains, thinking of remedies they believed they had heard of, which might actually just be the offhand nonsense remedies they blurted out.

Basically, he was thinking of trying a desperate cure, using the opportunity to take revenge on Yi Zhonghai, or possibly it was jealousy acting up—seeing everyone else using folk remedies on Yi Zhonghai while he just stood there watching the show, he felt unbalanced and thought that if he didn't treat Yi Zhonghai with a folk remedy himself, he would suffer a great loss.

Under this mindset, the entire Siheyuan instantly became lively, with everyone vying to help Yi Zhonghai; the folk remedies for treating Yi Zhonghai became all sorts, progressing from cupping to pouring salt water into Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai's tears flowed more and more, and his bodily tremors grew worse.

In the crowd, someone who enjoyed the spectacle and didn't mind making a big deal shouted, "Using chili water to treat fainting is absolutely superb!"

Shazhu stared.

Xu Damu was stunned.

The neighbors were bewildered.

Eldest Aunt and Long Laotaitai cried.

I thought the neighbors were already wicked enough.

Little did I know.

One wickedness surpasses another, and behind wickedness lurks yet more wickedness.

Compared to the neighbor who suggested pouring chili water, Shazhu's suggestion, Xu Damu's suggestion, and Yan Fugui's advice were nothing but petty tricks before a master—people instantly stepped on them.

Don't hold out.

Go ahead.

After being tortured by various folk remedies for over thirty minutes, Yi Zhonghai finally came to, seeing the neighbors surrounding him, still holding hammers, awls, fire sticks, and buckets of chili water; the hypocrite burst into tears, extending his trembling fingers, tears welling up as he thanked the neighbors in the courtyard.

I thank you.

I hope you all die badly.

Time flies.

Years pass like a song.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed.

Within a year.

Too many changes occurred.

Shazhu's title was raised another level; he is now a level-three procurement clerk at the Red Star Scrap Station, equivalent to a senior five-level worker at Yagangchang.

Yi Zhonghai, having been tormented by the folk remedies to the point of feeling near death, felt unwell and took sick leave for over three months. He and Liu Haizhong were a level-four worker and a level-three worker respectively. It was said that in recent days they have been busy preparing for the promotion exams from level four to five and from level three to four.

As for He Yushui, he remained the same old self, still disliking study. Shazhu let Yushui do anything, and Yushui was happy to do it. Whenever study was mentioned, He Yushui would complain and drag his feet. In stark contrast to He Yushui's aversion to learning was his weight: he had become a little chubby girl, a little piglet famous throughout the Siheyuan and even the school.

Xu Damu became an official film projectionist in the propaganda section of Yagangchang, and it was said that in a few days he would go to the countryside to screen films independently. On one hand, Xu Damu is capable, eloquent, and can talk his way into praising you; on the other hand, Shazhu contributed greatly to Xu Damu's transition to an official film projectionist, using his superb cooking skills to help Xu Damu advance his career several times.

For Xu Damu, the real gain this year was not becoming an official film projectionist in Yagangchang's propaganda section. Bisun's proudest thing was that this year he successively became involved with three or four women in improper entanglements, thereby truly embodying the epithet 'lustful hungry ghost'.

Shazhu couldn't help it; he told Xu Damu several times, bluntly saying Xu Damu would surely die at a woman's hand in this lifetime. Faced with Shazhu's doubt, Xu Damu not only didn't take it as shame, he took it as honor, throwing at Shazhu a few harsh words: "To die beneath a peony flower is to be a romantic ghost; you, Brother Xu, just like women, and will like them all your life." Afterwards, he several times insisted on taking Shazhu as his apprentice, wanting to teach Shazhu the art of picking up women.

Shazhu and Xu Damu coincidentally had the same idea: each wanted to take the other as his disciple, differing only in content. Xu Damu wanted to be Shazhu's master, teaching him how to navigate a thicket of dry flowers; Shazhu's thought was to take Xu Damu as his adopted son, to repay Xu Damu's kindness from a previous life for collecting corpses and handling Shazhu's aftermath.

Xu Damu didn't agree, "Good grief, I treat you as a brother, yet you want to be my father—this is unacceptable."

Shazhu refused Xu Damu's good intention, saying, "I want to take you as my son, yet you want to be my teacher and still fool around with women—I don't have enough lives to waste like that."

At this time.

Mess around.

You bastard, you really despise your own long life.

As for why Xu Damu dares to mess around?

Shazhu also couldn't figure out the trick; he could only explain it with the two idioms 'exceptional talent' and 'fortunate circumstances', muttering to himself, "Damn, are film projectionists really this in demand?" Several times Shazhu saw Xu Damu fiddling with the projection equipment, only to be hit on by several young girls who said they wanted to form a revolutionary friendship with Xu Damu and make progress together, but Xu Damu ignored them; Bisun's attention was on some married young women and widowed young ladies.

So, has Xu Damu changed?

His face grew longer, he looked more like a man, and his beard became denser.

They're all men.

Take a look at Xu Damu.

And take a look at yourself.

Shazhu felt a bit jealous.

They're all people.

Why is Xu Damu popular while Shazhu is looked down upon by those people?

When they went out together, the mature‑looking Shazhu always played the role of a green leaf, shading Xu Damu, who had a big donkey‑like face. At first nobody was interested in Xu Damu, but as soon as Xu Damu revealed his identity—saying he was a film projectionist at Yagangchang—the young wives and widows who had previously ignored him instantly turned into bees drawn to honey, fluttering their little wings and swarming toward Xu Damu.

Is there still any heavenly justice?

Is there still any royal law?

Within this year.

The changes in the Siheyuan were still quite significant.

Long Laotaitai is no longer the same Long Laotaitai as before; inexplicably, a rumor has surfaced that she once made shoes for the team. Whenever Yi Zhonghai and his wife are asked about it, they insist firmly that such a thing never happened, saying they don't know either, and that the details should be checked with Long Laotaitai herself, who gave a clear answer: she never made shoes for the team, and people are just spreading rumors.

Person

Habitually overthinking.

He thought he had mastered the truth.

The deaf old lady kept saying she had never made shoes for the team, but the rumor that she had made shoes for the team continued to spread widely in the courtyard, and many neighbors swore they had seen her making shoes back then.

Shazhu could only say "MMP"; he had also seen the deaf old lady making shoes, but it wasn't certain who those shoes were for.

All his life, he had frightened countless people, making countless people believe the rumor that the deaf old lady made shoes; actually, it was the courtyard neighbors who made it up themselves, even patting their chests to guarantee they had seen her making shoes, just short of kneeling to swear an oath.

It's none of his concern; he just lets it hang high.

Too lazy to bother.

Over the past year, Shazhu's relationship with the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai's couple was merely the ordinary neighborly exchange of a nod when they met; sometimes they were too lazy to even respond, taking a cold attitude.

This was the fundamental reason that led Shazhu to remain a bystander.

Secondly.

The deaf old lady was very sharp; because of this matter, people specially convened a big courtyard meeting. At the meeting, she clearly stated that she had not made shoes for the team, telling the neighbors not to spread false rumors.

If the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai, and the eldest aunt tried to use the shoe‑making rumor to manipulate Shazhu, he had plenty of ways to deal with them.

Truth cannot be faked.

Falsehood cannot become true.

Once the matter is blown up, known to every woman and child, and reaches the ears of the street office, the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai's couple who fabricated the shoe‑making rumor will not have a good outcome.

This is Shazhu's trump card.

It's the ace.

He won't use it lightly.

Within the courtyard, only the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai, the Jia family, and such people influenced the concrete direction of the courtyard. Because of last year's incident, Yi Zhonghai and his wife ended up disgraced and ruined. Over the past year, they have done everything they could to whitewash themselves. The eldest aunt labored to care for the deaf old lady, thus fabricating a reputation for actively looking after elderly widows. Yi Zhonghai acted as if he were not the head steward but actually was, using his position as a fourth‑grade worker at the steel plant to control everyone; at the big courtyard meetings he genuinely did several good deeds for the neighbors, greatly improving their impression of him.

Time is the best way to erase traces.

A year's hard work, plus the neighbors' trivial petty matters.

No one kept harping on Yi Zhonghai's broken persona.

Even if someone occasionally recalled Yi Zhonghai's past misdeeds, they would invent an excuse that he had unspeakable suffering.

A single sentence.

After a year's time, Yi Zhonghai and his wife obtained what they wanted, and the deaf old lady in the rear courtyard achieved her goal.

The only one who was unhappy.

None other than Liu Haizhong.

Recently, some neighbors in the courtyard proposed that Yi Zhonghai be restored to his former position as head steward.

Liu Haizhong was somewhat like mud that can't support a wall; although he became the head of the courtyard's affairs, his handling of things was conspicuously flustered, and on several occasions he nearly caused a joke.

Thus.

This gave Yi Zhonghai an opportunity to show off his abilities.

This made Liu Haizhong, who was used to holding great power in the courtyard, feel deeply stifled; he could only vent his frustration on his two sons, leading to the long‑dormant disciplinary incident involving Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu being revived in the courtyard, where after the feather duster was used up, they switched to a belt.

The sound of beating the children.

It clearly reached the ears of the households in the courtyard.

Many people laughed helplessly.

Liu Haizhong was also a lunatic who believed that strict discipline produces filial sons, taking this saying as his life philosophy and putting it into practice. Although it should have been a matter of treating everyone equally, he deliberately showed favoritism. He doted on his eldest son Liu Guangqi while being harsh with the second and third sons; whenever the eldest erred, he redirected his anger onto the younger ones. The Liu family's "kill a chicken to scare the monkeys" drama was staged from time to time; in the end, Liu Guangqi fled with his wife, leaving the second and third sons deeply resentful of Liu Haizhong, and later they became unfilial.

Yi Family.

Yi Zhonghai listened calmly to the sounds coming from the rear courtyard.

He placed the cup of noodles in his hand unsteadily on the table.

The harder Liu Haizhong beat his sons, the greater his inner anger.

"Liu Haizhong's heart is in turmoil."

"Zhonghai, stay calm."

"Old lady, I understand."

"In a few days we'll hold a Dayuan general meeting; at the meeting, my old lady will mention the shoemaking matter again—you should know what to do, right?"

Yi Zhonghai and his wife exchanged a glance; what seemed like a year of hard work and sacrifice was not without reward. Yi Zhonghai and his wife learned many skills from Long Laotaitai, for example, from a moral standpoint, how to mobilize the neighbors to handle those who disrespect Yi Zhonghai; another example, how to wield the tactic of moral blackmail to profit for themselves, and so on—Yi Zhonghai and his wife showed significant improvement.

The hypocrite couple's current schemes, compared to their previous ones, are like heaven and earth apart. The methods Yi Zhonghai used a year ago, now seen by the present Yi Zhonghai, are full of loopholes everywhere, and the hypocrite couple have also learned how to control their emotions.

The most noticeable thing is Yi Zhonghai's kindly-old-man expression.

What originally seemed like an ordinary face, under Long Laotaitai's education, gives an impression of honesty and sturdiness; at first glance one thinks you are a good person.

Within this year, being able to whitewash one's persona, Yi Zhonghai's false cheek has achieved much.

Many who have heard the facts, upon seeing Yi Zhonghai's honest-and-simple cheek, first think they misheard initially, and subconsciously feel indignant for Yi Zhonghai, believing that someone with such an honest face would not do those despicable things; many insistently say that Yi Zhonghai must have been schemed against, and some, with wild imaginations, fill in the answers, saying Yi Zhonghai admits it only for that person's sake.

Consequently, Jia Dongxu's days also became not so easy.

Many have heard of Jia Dongxu's falling out with Yi Zhonghai back then, and also heard that Yi Zhonghai introduced a match for Jia Dongxu, gave him a sewing machine and a radio, etc.

As a result, Jia Dongxu became synonymous with ingratitude.

Yi Zhonghai took the opportunity to take Jia Dongxu under his wing again; in front of the coworkers, he taught Jia Dongxu various knowledge, and while Jia Dongxu was doing his work, Yi Zhonghai looked at him with a kind face, pointing out Jia Jia Dongxu's shortcomings.

Whenever this happens, Yi Zhonghai's face always bears a smile, his brows exuding boundless affection and concern; those unaware of the circumstances, seeing this, will inevitably think Yi Zhonghai truly has Jia Dongxu's best interests at heart.

In Yi Zhonghai's mind, Jia Dongxu no longer poses a threat to him.

The gaze looked out through the glass.

Inside the courtyard, Shazhu stood talking with Xu Daming.

The hypocrite wants nothing less than perfection, not wanting any flaw in his own retirement; the knife‑peddler could be said to have prophesied that Qin Huairu would become a widow.

Even if Shazhu had broken off with Yi Zhonghai for a year, in Yi Zhonghai's heart Shazhu remained his backup plan for retirement.

How to draw closer to Shazhu.

It had become the hypocrite's top priority.

"Old lady."

They're all thousand‑year‑old turtles.

What are you playing at, Strange Tales?

The deaf old lady knew what Yi Zhonghai was thinking; she just wanted to have double insurance.

"Shazhu's matter should be delayed a bit; that kid's life is getting more prosperous by the day—he's certainly not Jia Dongxu."

Yi Zhonghai sighed in his heart.

Over the past year, Jia Dongxu has basically not changed; he remains a regular worker at the Yagangchang steel plant. Those who were made permanent together with him back then, except for Jia Dongxu himself, have all become first‑grade workers, earning a monthly salary plus subsidies of 215,000—only Jia Dongxu failed to pass the exam.

Some say Jia Dongxu is hopeless mud that can't be helped onto a wall.

Only Yi Zhonghai knows the truth.

On one hand, Yi Zhonghai is deliberately keeping Jia Dongxu in check, truly believing Yi Zhonghai is that sort of utterly selfless person—you, Jia Dongxu, have left me hanging for half a year, and I really don't mind?

Nonsense.

On the other hand, Jia Dongxu's hands sometimes lack strength, making errors likely when operating machinery.

"I'm not out of ideas; I was thinking of asking you, old lady, for a suggestion. This kid Shazhu looks fine to me—I regret not having listened to your advice back then."

Yi Zhonghai was referring to the matter of choosing a retirement caretaker.

The deaf old lady advised Yi Zhonghai to list Shazhu as the first choice for his retirement caretaker; since his father He Daqing is absent and he brings along a burdensome little sister, a bit of ideological work would suffice to brainwash Shazhu into a obedient blockhead who follows Yi Zhonghai's every word.

At that time, Yi Zhonghai regarded the deaf old lady as a burden and wanted to shake her off; thus he ignored her advice and instead listed Jia Dongxu as his first choice for a retirement caretaker.

After more than a year of comparison, aside from having a wife named Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu had nothing that surpassed Shazhu.

"Shazhu is eighteen this year; in two more years he'll reach the age to start a family and establish a career, but with his father He Daqing gone, the household can't lack a person in charge."

Smart people often grasp things instantly.

Yi Zhonghai understood the deaf old lady's meaning.

To make an issue out of Shazhu's marriage.

There are things Yi Zhonghai didn't say; under the deaf old lady's tutelage he learned to conceal them.

Shazhu gets married.

This matter surely won't go too smoothly.

Yi Zhonghai won't let Shazhu have such an easy marriage; even if he marries, the arrangements must be Yi Zhonghai's say‑so—who he takes as wife needs Yi Zhonghai's approval.

"I know what to do now."

"Zhonghai, help me back."

Yi Zhonghai realized the deaf old lady was creating an opportunity for him to meet Shazhu, and he cheerfully helped her along as they walked toward the courtyard.

He stepped into the courtyard.

He glanced around, and a feeling of loss welled up in Yi Zhonghai's heart.

Shazhu was nowhere to be found.

He cocked his ear and listened.

Inside the house, he and Xu Damiao were eating.

He glanced at the deaf old lady, then supported her as they walked toward the rear courtyard.

Shazhu's home.

He and Xu Damiao whispered to each other, muttering something.

Xu Damiao was the one speaking mainly.

From start to finish, Shazhu played the role of a faithful listener, eating the roasted chicken Xu Damiao had brought along with steamed buns; his face gradually grew more solemn, and his eyes held a hint of shock.

You damn well just tell me this.

Saying that the child in Qin Huairu's belly isn't Jia Dongxu's but Yi Zhonghai's—how could that be possible?

Impossible.

Nothing you say could be possible.

Shazhu kept shaking his head.

Xu Damiao grew anxious.

Why won't you, Shazhu, believe it anymore?

"Don't disbelieve—I have evidence."

"What evidence?"

"About what happened a year ago, you know, right?"

As for what happened before, Shazhu, being the party involved, naturally knows.

He was about to answer when he saw He Yushui beside him with an expectant look, and thought to himself, this matter must not let He Yushui hear it, little brat.

Shazhu tore off a third of the roasted chicken in front of him, put it on a plate, made two more steamed buns, and took He Yushui to the side room.

The romantic entanglement among Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, and Jia Dongxu must not be let He Yushui hear.

Little girl.

He can't keep his mouth shut.

In case he lets something slip.

Troublesome.

"Last year Yi Zhonghai felt unwell and rested at home for three months." Xu Daming turned to the returning Shazhu and expounded his speculative theory: "June, July, August—three months; now it's March of the 53rd year, isn't that exactly ten months?"

Shazhu sucked in a breath of cold air.

A fly won't bite an uncracked egg.

Xu Daming's speculation, when pondered carefully, actually does make some sense.

The folk remedy incident.

Because of this, Yi Zhonghai developed a psychological shadow; the hypocrite rested for three months; in July, the deaf old lady fell ill, and the eldest aunt also felt a bit unwell; the duty of caring for Yi Zhonghai inexplicably fell on Qin Huairu.

As a disciple's wife, it's only natural to look after her husband's master.

The problem lies in this caregiving.

In Jia Dongxu's jealousy of Shazhu, the idea of hitting Shazhu with a blunt stick arose; ultimately he failed to hit Shazhu, and instead was caught by the Security Section, being educated by others for three or four days, creating a possibility for Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai to be alone together.

"Jia Dongxu was arrested on the evening of July 20th, around nine o'clock; the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th—four days total; you calculate, isn't it exactly ten months up to today?"

The Jia family.

Qin Huairu looked at Jia Dongxu's angry face, as if she had eaten coptis, her heart filled only with bitterness.

Just now.

Qin Huairu felt the fetus in her womb stir, so she reminded Jia Dongxu, asking him to call a midwife, saying she might be about to give birth.

That's exactly the sentence calling for a midwife.

It provoked Jia Dongxu.

On some matter.

Jia Dongxu and Xu Daming simultaneously thought the same thing, believing the fetus in Qin Huairu's womb was not their own!

Today is March 22nd; counting back ten months from this date exactly matches the period when Jia Dongxu was detained in the Security Section.

Jia Dongxu's face.

It is green.

I'm locked up in the Security Section, yet you're pregnant—could it be that I'm meeting you, Qin Huairu, only in dreams?

He also thought of Qin Huairu taking care of the unwell Yi Zhonghai.

His inner depression is easy to imagine.

Inside the Siheyuan, the neighbors didn't notice him; inside the Yagangchang factory, the coworkers mocked him in various ways.

In short, one sentence.

The good person Yi Zhonghai takes the role, good deeds are also done by Yi Zhonghai; the bad person Jia Dongxu takes the role, bad deeds are also done by Jia Dongxu.

Being manipulated by Yi Zhonghai made him angry.

Yet he dared not vent it.

Basically no one believed Jia Dongxu; the only one who believed him, Jia Zhangshi, is still squatting in a cell, not knowing when she'll return.

She still has the nerve to say she's going into labor and ask me to call a midwife.

Pah!

A mouthful of thick phlegm, spat onto the ground at Qin Huairu's feet.

Qin Huairu's heart.

Chilly, chilly.

She didn't know how she had offended Jia Dongxu.

Are you still my husband?

His wife is about to give birth, yet he looks unhappy, as if Qin Huairu had committed some great wrong against him.

A faint regret welled up in her heart; when she first met Jia Dongxu, she thought he was a fine person, so she regarded him as someone worthy of entrusting her life to; facing Xu Daming's interference, to show her feelings, Qin Huairu even teamed up with Jia Dongxu to strike a heavy blow at Xu Daming.

Only she knows the bitterness.

Married for over a year.

Jia Dongxu's greatest progress was going from apprentice to formal worker at the Yagangchang factory.

As for Xu Daming, it's heard he became a formal film projectionist in the Propaganda Section.

One is a member of the eight senior staff; the other is just an ordinary formal worker, not even having advanced to first-grade worker.

Now he's targeting me like this again.

His palm rose up.

Qin Huairu felt she couldn't rely on Jia Dongxu; she gritted her teeth and slowly moved her steps; since Jia Dongxu ignored her, she had to find someone to manage her.

After over a year of rehabilitation, the Yi Zhonghai couple thoroughly became good old folks in the neighbors' eyes; when many people encounter problems or matters, the first choice that comes to mind is the Yi Zhonghai couple.

Qin Huairu, like those neighbors, walked toward the Zhong Yuan Yi Zhonghai residence, gritting her teeth step by step.

Pa!

Jia Dongxu's fist.

He slammed it hard onto the table.

The scene of Qin Huairu, belly protruding, going to the opposite Yi Zhonghai house to seek aid, maximally stimulated Jia Dongxu; in his eyes, her action clearly meant she was going to find the child's biological father, Yi Zhonghai.

What can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated.

Too much bullying of people.

Yi Zhonghai, I damn your eight generations of ancestors.

Surely the bark of an incompetent dog.

This harsh curse against Yi Zhonghai's eight generations of ancestors was something Jia Dongxu only muttered in his heart; he didn't dare to speak back to Yi Zhonghai. In this regard, Jia Dongxu felt endless envy toward Shazhu, who simply doesn't even bother to piss on Yi Zhonghai.

He, separated by the glass, watched Qin Huairu inch step by step toward Yi Zhonghai's home, then plopped down heavily on a stool, letting out a miserable, grim laugh.

Hehehe!

The voice sounded somewhat eerie.

Together with the silent, pitch‑black night, it gave people endless terror.

Yi Family.

Yi Zhonghai, discussing with Eldest Aunt how to scheme against Shazhu and Jia Dongxu.

Hearing someone knock on the door.

He then gave Eldest Aunt a glance.

Eldest Aunt stepped to the door, pulled it open, and saw Qin Huairu; she was startled, not knowing why Qin Huairu had come to her. In Eldest Aunt's understanding, Qin Huairu, with her big belly, should be resting in bed at this time; if there were matters, Jia Dongxu should handle them.

"This Jia Dongxu is going too far; there's nothing that can't be made clear, yet in the middle of the night he insists that you, a pregnant daughter‑in‑law, personally run an errand."

Qin Huairu said nothing.

A short distance.

It exhausted the little strength Qin Huairu had left; she felt her belly hurting even more, as if the baby Bangeng inside were doing somersaults, about to come out.

Bangeng!

This is a name that has existed in the Siheyuan for a year and a half.

From the day Qin Huairu married into the Siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi had already placed the name Bangeng on the Jia family's first child; it had to be Bangeng, and nothing else.

Bangeng treated Qin Huairu's belly as his battlefield, charging and somersaulting, causing Qin Huairu unbearable distress; sweat the size of soybeans poured continuously down her cheeks.

Eldest Aunt finally realized something was wrong.

She shouted.

"Hey, Qin Huairu, you're about to give birth!"

Yi Zhonghai leapt from the bed barefoot, took a few steps to Qin Huairu's side, and, together with Eldest Aunt, helped her into his home.

He hadn't heard Eldest Aunt say that Qin Huairu was about to give birth.

"Jia Dongxu too—you're about to give birth, yet he still orders you around; just say it straight."

"Old Yi, stop talking; go call Shazhu—he has a bicycle, have him hurry to fetch the midwife."

Yi Zhonghai found Shazhu.

A human life is at stake.

Shazhu let go of his prejudices.

Pushing his bicycle, he left the Siheyuan.

As he left the Siheyuan, the whole compound echoed with Eldest Aunt's shouts.

"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, hurry—Qin Huairu is about to give birth!"

Along the way.

Shazhu made his bicycle fly as fast as he could.

The Thief Saint Bangeng has arrived.

This concerns the future of the Siheyuan.

No room for carelessness.

Nor can we be careless in the slightest.

Ten minutes to go.

Ten minutes back.

Although the journey originally took forty minutes, Shazhu cut it in half; when he arrived at the Siheyuan with the midwife, the front gate of the Yi family in the central courtyard was already packed with idle neighbors.

An era lacking televisions and even radios.

Every big and small matter in the Siheyuan was fully utilized by the neighbors, turning into tools they used to pass time and alleviate boredom.

The men smoked dry tobacco, sitting in a circle; the women either helped indoors with care or boiled water.

Everyone showed concern for Qin Huairu.

Giving birth.

Women really walk a circuit before the King of Hell.

On the contrary, Jia Dongxu sat unconcerned inside the Jia household, neither coming out nor speaking, appearing as an aloof outsider to whom the matter was none of his business.

Shazhu furrowed his brows.

Jia Dongxu's attitude is not right.

He jerked his chin toward Xu Daming in the direction of the Jia household.

Xu Daming gave Shazhu a look that said, 'You should know the truth.'

Shazhu's mind stirred.

Could Xu Daming's speculation be correct?

Inside the Siheyuan, the restless neighbors, driven to desperation, gave Bangeng the nickname 'Thief Saint'; he also possesses the trait of a white‑eyed wolf, and he is not the Jia family's offspring but Yi Zhonghai's bloodline.

Jia Dongxu was arrested on July 20 last year; the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th—these four days—he was detained in the Security Section; today is March 22.

Pregnant for ten months.

Three hundred days!

Shazhu, who had been silently counting the numbers in his heart, was frightened silly by the result.

Counting back three hundred days from today happens to be the day Jia Dongxu was arrested and Yi Zhonghai was being cared for alone by Qin Huairu.

He felt a headache.

His blood pressure was a bit high.

The matter of the Siheyuan.

Is it really that melodramatic?

Shazhu unconsciously rubbed his temples.

"Shazhu, you believe my words now, right? I tell you, in other matters I'm not as good as you, but when it comes to male‑female affairs, without me Xu Daming boasting, even a hundred of you tied together wouldn't be my match."

Xu Daming, boasting quietly to Shazhu.

A look of smug satisfaction.

Regarding Xu Daming's remarks.

Shazhu believed seventy percent of it; in his mind he recalled some things from his previous life, all of which were related to Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi, and Qin Huairu.