Chapter 129

A gaze akin to that of eyeing a thief fell upon Jia Zhangshi.

If it were someone else.

Looking at me like this, he must be seething with anger.

Jia Zhangshi is no ordinary person, or perhaps her cheek has surpassed the limit of human endurance; facing countless doubtful gazes, her face unexpectedly showed a faint hint of complacency, and she turned to look at everyone with the eyes of one regarding an idiot.

Everyone thought Jia Zhangshi was just making trouble, but in fact people had misunderstood her.

Jia Zhangshi had the thought of stealing, but she dared not act on it—she had been inside before, knows what it's like to live in darkness, and doesn't want to try.

Her echoing Yi Zhonghai's proposal not to lock doors was merely to curry favor—Yi Zhonghai is now a senior elder and must show something to the Jia family; Jia Dongxu is his disciple, and Yi Zhonghai's old-age support still falls on Jia Dongxu; besides, there's a bit of self-serving calculation.

Everyone in the Siheyuan knows Shazhu lives well—earning and spending each month, with stores of white flour, rice and cured meat, plus a sewing machine, a radio, and the like.

Not in the name of theft, but under the guise of borrowing.

Jia Zhangshi harbored such a scheme, thinking that if she returned these items to their rightful owner before Shazhu came back to the Siheyuan, Shazhu couldn't do anything to her.

From this little thought, Jia Zhangshi actively answered Yi Zhonghai's call for neighbors not to lock doors; she had long coveted Shazhu's radio and would get it out to listen to, no matter what.

"Shazhu, Xu Daming, don't spout nonsense—what right does the senior elder have to give you a written pledge? Locking doors is merely to guard against the neighbors in our courtyard, all longtime neighbors; when you Shazhu lock doors and you Xu Daming lock doors, you're just pointing at the mulberry while cursing the locust, claiming there are people with unclean hands and feet among our courtyard's neighbors."

The words are shameless.

The expression is utterly shameless.

Also guarding against the neighbors.

Others are just guarding against you, Jia Zhangshi.

"If you ask me, our Siheyuan has never been rated an advanced civilized courtyard all these years, all because of Shazhu and Xu Daming's locking doors causing trouble."

Like Zhu Bajie turning the rake on himself, Jia Zhangshi turned her own reasons back onto Shazhu and Xu Daming.

Have you ever seen a Jia Zhangshi like this?

Many faces showed an unbelievably strange look.

Today's Jia Zhangshi gave them far too much to be incredulous about.

"According to me, the senior elder is also thinking of the neighbors; if our Siheyuan were rated an advanced civilized courtyard, the neighbors would go out with honor, and the doors wouldn't need to be locked."

Shazhu thought a moment, strongly suspecting that Jia Zhangshi's remarks had been coached; her level couldn't possibly produce such words—at most she'd just be making a fuss.

Who is behind Jia Zhangshi's remarks?

Is it Yi Zhonghai?

When Shazhu's gaze fell on Yi Zhonghai, that speculation was dispelled; Yi Zhonghai's face also showed shock and bewilderment.

Looks like it.

It's someone else.

No matter who it is, not locking doors simply won't do—with so many things at home and knowing Jia Zhangshi inside out, if every household truly stopped locking doors, Shazhu's home wouldn't stay a home; surely Jia Zhangshi would run over several times a day, and we cannot leave the door unlatched.

"Why shouldn't we lock? How can we not lock?" Shazhu firmly questioned Jia Zhangshi, "Give me a reason."

"I just said, locking doors would prevent us from being an advanced civilized courtyard; for the neighbors' honor, we shouldn't lock doors."

Shazhu felt Jia Zhangshi's words were somewhat familiar.

He savored them carefully.

This is none other than Yi Zhonghai's classic moral blackmail.

Holy shit!

Jia Zhangshi also learned to manipulate everyone, under the pretense of thinking for the Siheyuan neighbors, while scheming for the Jia family's benefit.

Inside the Siheyuan lie hidden dragons and crouching tigers; everyone is talented, none can be underestimated.

"Jia Zhangshi, you think everyone in the Siheyuan is like you, doing nothing all day, either gossiping about the landlord or spreading rumors from the west; your Jia family not locking doors is no matter, you Jia Zhangshi stay at home all day, while our family is just me and Yushui—I go to work, Yushui goes to school; if we don't lock doors, what will we do if things are stolen?"

Many people do not approve of not locking doors.

The root is poverty.

The poorer the family, the fewer things at home; these things become all the more precious, and if lost, there's no spare money to replace them.

They are not like Shazhu or Xu Daming, who could just go to the supply cooperative to buy a new bowl, chopsticks, or knife if lost; they can't afford such things, so the lock has become their last means of protecting their home.

Yi Zhonghai proposed not locking doors; one cannot afford to offend him, inwardly unwilling but dare not speak against it; if it were Jia Zhangshi, the neighbors would still mutter a few complaints.

"I think Shazhu is right; the door should be locked."

"If every household doesn't lock doors, who will the lock factory sell its locks to?"

"We cannot not lock doors."

Seeing the crowd's voices grow louder, Jia Zhangshi became anxious; she still hoped to curry favor with Yi Zhonghai through this occasion and reap his benefits.

"Shazhu, you lock doors, you're just guarding against the neighbors; my old lady asks you, who are you guarding against by locking doors?"

Guard against whom?

Does this question even need an answer?

Naturally it's to guard against you, Jia Zhangshi, who eats people's food but does no proper work.

A mocking smile appeared on Shazhu's face; he dazedly looked at the anxious Jia Zhangshi who didn't want to lock her door, and in his heart he vaguely guessed some of Jia Zhangshi's thoughts.

"Guard against whom? Of course it's you."

Jia Zhangshi was stunned as if struck by lightning.

The people in the Siheyuan were also dumbfounded.

Hit someone but not the face.

Expose someone but not their shortcomings.

Even if Jia Zhangshi and Shazhu are on bad terms, Shazhu shouldn't so bluntly say the six words 'guard against you, Jia Zhangshi'; with those six words, the Jia family and Shazhu could completely break ties.

"What did you say?" Jia Zhangshi's expression was extremely ferocious, looking somewhat terrifying, "You're saying that to my old lady again."

"I lock doors just to guard against you, Jia Zhangshi." Shazhu, murderous at heart, didn't take Jia Zhangshi's threat to heart, "You still have the nerve to mention a civilized Siheyuan? Our Siheyuan hasn't even achieved civilized advancement—is that because we don't lock doors? Go ask around; it's not because of anything else but you, Jia Zhangshi. If I had to say, you Jia Zhangshi are a piece of rotten meat spoiling the pot of our Siheyuan."

"Shazhu, you little scoundrel, how dare you speak to your elders like that? I'm your elder."

Translation: "Shazhu, you little scoundrel, do you really talk to your elders like that? I am your elder."

We need to keep quotes? The Chinese line includes 「」 which are quotation marks. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, keep punctuation. So we should keep the Chinese quotation marks? Usually we replace with English quotes? The instruction says render onomatopoeia as English sound words, but not about quotation marks. Probably we keep the Chinese quotes as they are? But we are translating to English, so we should convert to English quotes. However, the instruction says "Render EXACTLY what the source says — same meaning, same information, nothing added." The source includes 「」 which are Chinese quotation marks. If we replace them with English quotes, we are changing the characters. But we are translating to English, so we need to convey the meaning; using English quotes is natural. The instruction didn't explicitly say to keep Chinese punctuation marks; it said keep numbers, dates, onomatopoeia as English sound words. For punctuation, we can adapt to English. Usually we would use English quotes. I'll use English double quotes.

Thus: "Shazhu, you little scoundrel, do you really talk to your elders like that? I am your elder."

you little scoundrel

Jia Zhangshi, realizing she was in the wrong and unable to cause a scene, could only put on the airs of an elder, scolding Shazhu for not respecting his elders—this was also Yi Zhonghai's usual tactic in his previous life.

Yi Zhonghai

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi knew she was in the wrong, couldn't resort to a tantrum, so she put on the airs of an elder, scolding Shazhu for not knowing how to respect the elderly—this was also Yi Zhonghai's usual tactic in his previous life."

this was also Yi Zhonghai's usual tactic in his previous life

Jia Damu, nowadays it's not the old society; if elders say something wrong, juniors should point it out, can't indulge them. If you think I'm wrong, you can go find someone to judge. Shazhu pointed at the neighbors watching the opera, retorted at Jia Zhangshi: "Look at what the neighbors are saying; they're also mothers-in-law, you're also a mother-in-law, how do you act as a mother-in-law, how do they act as mothers-in-law? They go to the street to find work, subsidize household expenses, while you just stay at home all day, just looking at the shoe soles in your hands—I've been watching you make them for almost a month, you only make a pair of cloth shoes every six months, and still you have the nerve to—"

Jia Damu

Now translate line:

"Jia Damu, nowadays it's not the old society; if an elder is wrong, the junior should point it out, can't indulge them. If you think I'm wrong, feel free to find someone to judge." Shazhu pointed at the onlookers, retorting at Jia Zhangshi, "See what the neighbors say—they're also mothers-in-law, you're also a mother-in-law, how do you act as a mother-in-law, how do they act as a mother-in-law? They go to the street office to find work, subsidize the household, while you just sit at home all day. I've been staring at those shoe soles in your hand for almost a month; you make a pair of cloth shoes every six months, and still you have the nerve to—"

tsk tsk tsk

Thus: "You only make a pair of cloth shoes every six months, and still you have the nerve to—"

still you have the nerve to—

the neighbors' gazes

Translation: "The neighbors' gazes."

Jia Zhangshi knew she was in the wrong, couldn't shrew, so she could only put on the airs of an elder, scolding Shazhu for not knowing how to respect the elderly; this was also Yi Zhonghai's usual tactic in his previous life.

"Aunt Jia, this isn't the old society; if an elder is wrong, the younger generation should point it out, not indulge them. If you think I'm wrong, you can go find someone to judge." Shazhu pointed at the onlookers, retorting at Jia Zhangshi, "See what the neighbors say—they're also mothers-in-law, you're also a mother-in-law, how do you act as a mother-in-law, how do they act as mothers-in-law? They go to the street office to find work, subsidize the household, while you just laze at home all day. Looking at the shoe soles in your hand, I've seen you work on them for almost a month, you make a pair of cloth shoes every six months, and you still have the nerve."

The neighbors' gazes.

They landed on the shoe in Jia Zhangshi's hand.

Translation: "They fell on the shoe in Jia Zhangshi's hand."

He wasn't wrong.

Translation: "He wasn't wrong."

That shoe of Jia Zhangshi's looks like a prop—I have no idea how many days she's spent making it.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi's shoe looks like a prop; I don't know how many days it's been made."

Before Jia Dongxu married Qin Huiru, Jia Zhangshi wasn't as unreasonable and domineering as she is now; she generally cared about saving face and got along reasonably well with the neighbors in the courtyard.

Translation: "Before Jia Dongxu married Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi wasn't as unreasonably domineering as she is now; she basically still cared about face and got along okay with the neighbors in the courtyard."

Since the ill-fated Jia married Qin Huairu, and the mix-up where Bangeng was once thought to be Yi Zhonghai's son happened, Jia Zhangshi suddenly became unreasonable, shrewing throughout the siheyuan.

She also stopped going to the street office to look for work, instead staring at Qin Huairu all day like watching a grandson. Sometimes when Qin Huairu went to Yi Zhonghai's house to borrow something or help, Jia Zhangshi, with her big face pressed against the glass, kept watch on Yi Zhonghai's home; Yi Zhonghai's family couldn't even close the door, for as soon as they did, Jia Zhangshi would cause a huge commotion.

It really is a piece of rotten meat spoiling a pot of fresh soup.

"He's the elder, you decide for me, old lady." Realizing she wasn't a match for Shazhu, Jia Zhangshi sought outside help, having Yi Zhonghai speak up: "Your proposal of not locking the door, Shazhu insists on locking it."

"Master He." Qin Huairu unexpectedly stepped forward, apologizing to Shazhu on behalf of Jia Zhangshi: "My mother-in-law didn't mean that; you're a worldly person, you shouldn't stoop to her level."

That scheming woman's words just seemed to pluck a string in Jia Zhangshi's heart, and she exploded completely—does this old lady need you, her daughter-in-law, to speak up for her?

"Qin Huairu, what do you mean? You're my Jia family's daughter-in-law, I'm your mother-in-law—how could I not know I'm wrong? Do I need to apologize to Shazhu?"

Jia Zhangshi will never let you down.

Lots of insider scoop.

All of it was leaked by Jia Zhangshi herself.

In his previous life, Yi Zhonghai secretly helped Qin Huairu with millet noodles in the middle of the night; in this life, Qin Huairu and Xu Daming have those shameful dealings.

Originally, the neighbors didn't know.

After Jia Zhangshi said that.

Now everyone knows.

"Qin Huairu, I warn you, stay away from Xu Daming—you're our Jia family's daughter-in-law." After scolding Qin Huairu a few words, Jia Zhangshi turned her face to Xu Daming and said: "Xu Daming, you also stay away from our Huairu; don't think this old lady doesn't know what you're after—Qin Huairu is our Jia family's daughter-in-law, and our Dong Xu is still here."

It almost openly pointed out that Xu Daming and Qin Huairu have a problem, equivalent to trampling the Jia family's face into the ground.

Shazhu really couldn't figure out why Jia Zhangshi was saying that.

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi was practically a clueless fool, utterly unlike the shrewd impression she had just given—almost like two different people.

Regarding Xu Daming and Qin Huairu's affair, Shazhu had vaguely heard some rumors, some of which Xu Daming had boastfully told him.

There was a slight air of taking advantage of the situation.

After giving birth to a daughter as her second child, she was despised by Jia Zhangshi and also by Jia Dongxu; Qin Huairu's days in the Jia family can be summed up in one word.

Bitter beyond endurance.

Xu Daming, however, under the pretense of helping neighbors, whispered to Qin Huairu several times.

Could it be that just because of those few whispered words, Qin Huairu was ruined by Xu Daming?

Otherwise, how could Jia Zhangshi's warnings to Qin Huairu and Xu Daming be expressed?

Xu Daming can, though.

Shazhu turned his gaze toward Xu Daming, deliberately blinking.

A hint of pride appeared on Xu Daming's face.

Damn it.

He showed off again.

Twenty-person slaughter.

The bastard Xu Daming had told Shazhu that number.

True protagonist halo.

In those days, having relations beyond friendship with twenty female comrades, with no real consequences, Shazhu's attitude toward Xu Daming amounted to mere resignation.

Can't refuse.

Jia Dongxu's attitude in this matter was also quite strange.

When a man is cuckolded by a woman, he should really fight it out, but Jia Dongxu acted as if it were irrelevant, a detached bystander, far less intense than Jia Zhangshi's reaction.

Shazhu recalled a meme: a few days ago, while working at the Red Star scrap yard, someone shouted at him, saying Jia Dongxu had hooked up with a widow in their compound.

He originally thought it was just gossip.

Looking at Jia Dongxu's current attitude, it seems they weren't lying.

Qin Huairu and Xu Daming, Jia Dongxu and that little widow.

The relationships are truly chaotic.

Seeing the situation getting somewhat out of hand, Yi Zhonghai spoke up to stop Jia Zhangshi, lest she continue and say something awful.

"Say a few less words, especially you, Jia Zhangshi—don't just blurt out anything."

The hypocrite frowned; as the compound meetings went on, his heart grew colder—the shoe‑sole plan wasn't implemented, the no‑lock‑door proposal was again overturned by Shazhu and Xu Daming, and Jia Zhangshi exposed Qin Huairu and Xu Daming's affair once more.

Fortunately.

Only Qin Huairu and Xu Daming were exposed; Yi Zhonghai wasn't dragged down.

Looks like.

From now on, we must act carefully and cautiously, avoiding Jia Zhangshi.

"Qin Huairu married into your Jia family; over these years she's worked hard to keep the household, been honest and diligent, handling chores, caring for elders and children—neighbors have seen it all. You say this—where do you put Qin Huairu? What Shazhu said earlier is correct: all mothers‑in‑law are like that. Look at others, then look at yourself—do you really act like a mother‑in‑law? Can't you show a little consideration for your daughter‑in‑law? In the freezing winter, she washes clothes outside, and you can't even be bothered to heat water for her."

Qin Huairu felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, her whole body unable to resist.

Just a few words from Yi Zhonghai.

It was spoken into her heart.

Whether sweet or bitter, only Qin Huairu knows; she is swallowing the knocked-out teeth into her own stomach.

Jia Zhangshi was furious that Qin Huairu's second pregnancy did not give her a grandson, she found fault with Qin Huairu in every way, and Jia Dongxu also treated Qin Huairu badly.

Each month's salary, only a small portion is handed over.

Qin Huairu must plan as much as possible to use these limited funds to maintain the basic livelihood of several members of the Jia family; even a clever woman cannot cook without rice, yet Jia Zhangshi still despises Qin Huairu for not buying meat, saying Qin Huairu will starve his great-grandson Bangeng.

Jia Dongxu also does not help out; he is lazy to do even what he should do, coming home he just lies on the bed like a dead pig, completely ignoring Qin Huairu.

"His Head Steward, aren't you talking about Shazhu? How did you drag it onto my old lady?" Jia Zhangshi shifted the topic to the door lock, "What you just said, saying the neighbors should live in harmony and care for each other, listen to what Shazhu says—he locks the door to guard against my old lady, isn't that just saying my old lady has dirty hands and feet?"

"That's right, I'm just saying your hands and feet are unclean—what do you think you are, some kind of fine bird? And you're an elder; if I had an elder like you, I'd have suffered terrible luck." Shazhu, without leaving a trace, dug a small pit for Jia Zhangshi, turning the tactics for dealing with Yi Zhonghai against her, "If it really won't work, Jia madam, write me an IOU; if our things are lost, you Jia madam will compensate, then I won't lock the door."

"On what grounds should my old lady write you an IOU? If my old lady writes you an IOU, then you sell the things yourself and come to my old lady for compensation—my old lady won't fall for Shazhu's trick."

Yi Zhonghai refused to write an IOU, also considering this point, worrying that Shazhu and Xu Daming would scheme against him. He was being played off by Shazhu and Xu Daming's back-and-forth, left disoriented and lacking his initial confidence. He realized the neighbors really wouldn't lock their doors; if something happened, besides bearing the responsibility himself, there was no other way, after all, the no-locking proposal was his own, and there is still Jia Zhangshi in the courtyard who specializes in sabotaging her own teammates.

They are all thousand-year-old foxes.

Playing what kind of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio routine.

Yi Zhonghai, who saw through Jia Zhangshi's nature at a glance, suddenly recalled a truth he had long overlooked: the reason the Liu family siheyuan was selected as a model civilized courtyard was not that the neighbors didn't lock their doors, but that their courtyard lacked a shrew like Jia Zhangshi who curses and shouts in the street.

These years as Head Steward, Liu Haizhong has constantly mouthed the slogan of the advanced civilized siheyuan; not being selected is not due to his lack of leadership ability, but because Jia Zhangshi seriously holds back the neighbors—today she curses at the eastern household, tomorrow she quarrels with the western household, or else she curses Qin Huairu for bad luck; her second child gave birth to a money-losing girl for the Jia family.

The reputation of Jia Zhangshi in the siheyuan is truly infamous; not only does the Jiēdào have a record, but even Jia Dongxu is left eating the fallout. If it weren't for Jia Dongxu having Yi Zhonghai, a level-six technician, as his mentor in front, let alone aiming for a level-two technician, even a level-one technician would be out of reach.

Yi Zhonghai guessed that becoming a level-two technician would be Jia Dongxu's limit; going higher would surely fail. This time, when he registered Jia Dongxu for the exam, some people inside the Yagangchang factory harbored resentment.

Suffer a setback.

Gain wisdom.

But we must not let Jia Zhangshi ruin Yi Zhonghai's plan.

Yi Zhonghai warned Jia Zhangshi with a glance, meaning don't spout nonsense to me; then, shifting the tone, he diverted the topic elsewhere. I don't know if it's because Long Laotaitai's shoe-making attempt failed, but afterward Yi Zhonghai, at the grand courtyard meeting, said some irrelevant nonsense—things like neighborly assistance, harmonious friendship, unity, etc. —and then announced the end of the grand courtyard meeting.

Shazhu saw it clearly.

The conflict between Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong deepened further.

The hypocrite, whether intending to intimidate Liu Haizhong or to vent the frustration he had suffered from Liu Haizhong's suppression over the years in the courtyard, turned the siheyuan into his own one-man forum, giving Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui, the two Head Stewards, no chance to speak, and simply announced the end of the grand courtyard meeting.

Yan Fugui has always focused on profit; for things that are troublesome and bring no benefit, he has never paid much attention; his attitude toward the grand courtyard meeting is that having it is fine, not having it is also fine.

Liu Haizhong, however, is different.

He is obsessed with officialdom.

He has always wanted to realize his dream of an official career.

In the Yagangchang factory he is no match for Yi Zhonghai, having been soundly left behind by him; he can only, in the siheyuan, use the grand courtyard meeting to compete with Yi Zhonghai. The grand courtyard meeting is the place Liu Haizhong constantly longs to realize his dream, so he cannot simply give it up; he must strive for it.

Although he became Second Steward, Liu Haizhong still cares about face and wants to show off before the neighbors; he has rehearsed his lines in his mind, thinking after Yi Zhonghai finishes speaking, how he will speak, how he will display his magnanimity.

Just as Liu Haizhong thought it was his turn to speak, his butt unconsciously left the stool, wanting to stand up and have an open-hearted talk with the neighbors.

The harsh reality was like a slap, fiercely striking Liu Haizhong's face.

Having been demoted from Head Steward to Second Steward, Liu Haizhong's butt had already left the stool, and he was on the verge of standing up to speak with the neighbors.

Yi Zhonghai announced the end of the grand courtyard meeting.

Liu Haizhong stood there stunned, his eyes staring at Yi Zhonghai and the crowd of neighbors as if he had seen a ghost.

It was quite obvious.

No one took his position as Second Steward to heart; they all left.

As Yi Zhonghai shouted the words ending the grand courtyard meeting, the neighbors scattered in all directions, leaving Liu Haizhong, who wanted to seize the moment to assert his presence, instantly like a rootless petal, not knowing how to conclude—whether to call the neighbors back or let them go, neither option seemed right.

Liu Haizhong stared with a helpless gaze at Yi Zhonghai, then at the receding neighbors, finally letting out a sigh, his butt heavily dropping back onto the stool, unwilling to leave for a long time.

No one knew how long had passed.

The central courtyard was without Yi Zhonghai's presence.

Following that, the rear courtyard echoed with the wailing cries of Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu like ghosts and wolves.

Ah.

Liu Haizhong was beating his son again.

Having Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu as their father is hopeless.

Shazhu's home.

To the accompaniment of Liu Haizhong beating his son.

Shazhu gave Xu Daming, who came in trailing behind him, a strange look.

He said nothing.

Just kept looking at the turtle grandson.

He looked for about two or three minutes.

Xu Daming was the first to lose patience, speaking up to break the indoor silence.

"Shazhu, what are you looking at me for?"

"Xu Daming, I've discovered you're really talented."

"Shazhu, which aspect are you talking about?"

"Of course it's about finding women."

A hint of joy flashed across Xu Daming's face.

This bastard.

They really took this as a glory to show off.

"That's right, speaking of this, us buddies claim second place, no one dares claim first." Xu Daming shows off, saying: "Us buddies go to the countryside to show movies, just tinker with the machine, and those young widows and young wives come flocking on their own."

Movie projectionist.

Arrived in the countryside.

Really a dimensional reduction strike.

Can't refuse.

"Shamao, did you hear what Granny Jia just said?"

"The part about locking the door?"

"Playing dumb with me?" Shazhu retorted to Xu Daming, "Jia Zhangshi warned Qin Huairu not to associate with you, and also warned you not to have designs on Qin Huairu. Tell me, how far have you and Qin Huairu progressed?"