Chapter 132

"Qin Huairu had entrusted this to an unreliable person; she asked Xu Damao to secretly investigate where the little widow Jia Dongxu is seeing lives, how many people are in her household, her surname and given name, etc." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Qin Huairu, Xu Damao, Jia Dongxu. Also possibly "little widow" is not a name." No Chinese.

"Xu Damao readily agreed, even patting his chest to give Qin Huairu a firm assurance, then turned around and passed the responsibility to Shazhu." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Xu Damao, Qin Huairu, Shazhu." No Chinese.

"Where there is a substantial reward, brave individuals will appear." No Chinese.

No names.

"To ensure Shazhu helps him wholeheartedly." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Shazhu." No Chinese.

"Early that morning, he bought breakfast for Shazhu—a donkey meat fire‑baked bun from Dingxianglou." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Shazhu, Dingxianglou (Fragrant Cauldron Building)." No Chinese.

"Why Dingxianglou sells breakfast, and even donkey meat fire‑baked buns, is not Shazhu's concern." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Dingxianglou (Fragrant Cauldron Building), Shazhu." No Chinese.

"If it doesn't concern them, they simply turn a blind eye." No Chinese.

No names.

"A free meal." No Chinese.

No.

"Why not eat it?" No Chinese.

No.

"Unless you're out of your mind." No Chinese.

No.

"Shazhu didn't stand on ceremony either; he first took a serving of donkey meat fire‑baked buns over to the little fatty pig He Yushui next door, didn't even bother to wash his face, just wiped his hands casually on a towel, then grabbed the donkey meat fire‑baked bun Xu Damao had brought and started gobbling it up noisily." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Shazhu, He Yushui, Xu Damao." No Chinese.

"The Old Qi family's secret-recipe donkey meat fire‑baked bun from Dingxianglou is indeed one of the top snacks among Beijing's 108 famous treats, and instantly the whole courtyard filled with the aroma of donkey meat." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Dingxianglou (Fragrant Cauldron Building), Old Qi Family, Beijing, Siheyuan." No Chinese.

"This aroused the appetites of everyone, whether they were already up or still in bed." No Chinese.

No names.

"They thus worked up their appetites, swallowing as much saliva as they could." No Chinese.

No.

……

No.

"The Jia family." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Jia Family." No Chinese.

"He smelled the donkey meat aroma wafting from across the way." No Chinese.

No.

"Jia Zhangshi looked at the steamed corn bun in her hand; she had no appetite whatsoever, chewing it felt like gnawing on dry firewood, making her cheeks sore." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Jia Zhangshi." No Chinese.

"They are all residents of the courtyard." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Siheyuan (courtyard residence)." No Chinese.

"Why does Xu Damao buy donkey meat fire‑baked buns for Shazhu but not for the Jia family? Giving it to Shazhu and not to the Jia family— isn't that looking down on the Jia family?" No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Xu Damao, Shazhu, Jia Family." No Chinese.

"Jia Zhangshi wore a grim face, quietly cursing Xu Damao and Shazhu." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Jia Zhangshi, Xu Damao, Shazhu." No Chinese.

"Qin Huairu pretended not to hear Jia Zhangshi's nagging, saying nothing as she stared at Jia Dongxu." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi, Jia Dongxu." No Chinese.

"The short‑lived ghost ate a sticky bun while slipping a pair of women's underwear—belonging to neither Qin Huairu nor Jia Zhangshi—into his pocket." No Chinese.

"Named: short‑lived ghost? We'll translate meaning, not list. Also Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi." No Chinese.

"The scheming woman recalled the remark Xu Damao had made to her the previous night." No Chinese.

"Named: scheming woman? (meaning to be translated, not listed). Xu Damao." No Chinese.

"Jia Dongxu can betray your marriage, but you, Qin Huairu, can also get revenge on him." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Jia Dongxu, Qin Huairu." No Chinese.

"Xu Damao plainly laid out the matter to Qin Huairu, saying that if she wanted to revenge on Jia Dongxu's extramarital affair, he could help her with it, guaranteeing that nobody would know— the kind of secret known only to heaven, earth, you, and me." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Xu Damao, Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu." No Chinese.

"If Qin Huairu hadn't seriously considered Xu Damao's suggestion last night, seeing Jia Dongxu pocket the underwear now has her seriously considering his advice." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu, Xu Damao." No Chinese.

"She is Qin Huairu, wife of Jia Dongxu. As Jia Dongxu, husband of Qin Huairu, in front of his wife Qin Huairu and his mother Jia Zhangshi, he openly brought home his lover's underwear and even deliberately took advantage of a careless moment to flash it before Qin Huairu, utterly failing to treat Qin Huairu as a Jia family member— rubbing her nose in it." No Chinese.

Named: Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu, Jia Zhangshi, Jia Family.

"Qin Huairu, what are you daydreaming about? Dongxu is going to work— hand him the tool bag; I'll show you how." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Qin Huairu, Dongxu (a nickname for Jia Dongxu)." No Chinese.

"Jia Zhangshi's dissatisfaction." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Jia Zhangshi." No Chinese.

"It restored Qin Huairu's spirit, which had flown to the heavens." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Qin Huairu." No Chinese.

"Once Qin Huairu came to her senses, she hurriedly handed over the green satchel marked 'steel mill' to Jia Dongxu." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Qin Huairu, steel mill (Yagangchang), Jia Dongxu." No Chinese.

"Jia Dongxu took the satchel without even glancing at Qin Huairu, and as he stepped toward the front door, he suddenly said to Jia Zhangshi..." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Jia Dongxu, Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi." No Chinese.

"Mom, I won't be coming home tonight; the factory has overtime work." No Chinese.

"No names? "mom" is a generic term for mother. "factory" is generic." Wait we have quotes inside; we need to ensure no Chinese characters. The line contains English words inside quotes: "mom" and "factory". That's fine. However we have double quotes inside the line; we need to output exactly as we wrote. The line currently: No names? "mom" is a generic term for mother. "factory" is generic. That's okay.

"Qin Huairu's heart." No Chinese.

"Named individual: Qin Huairu." No Chinese.

"Her heart gave a sudden jolt." No Chinese.

No.

"Overtime!" No Chinese.

No.

"She knew this was Jia Dongxu's excuse for staying out late; perhaps it really was overtime, but not at the steel mill— instead, he was working at that little widow's house." No Chinese.

Named: Jia Dongxu, Yagang Steel Plant.

……

No.

"Every family has its own difficulties." No Chinese.

No.

"While the Jia family was scheming against each other, the deaf old lady in the backyard was also scheming with the couple known as 'the big aunt', each harboring hidden motives." No Chinese.

"Named individuals: Jia Family, backyard (Hou Yuan), deaf old lady (Long Laotaitai)." No Chinese.

"The deaf old lady's ailment." No Chinese.

"Named individual: deaf old lady (Long Laotaitai)." No Chinese.

"Greedy for tasty food." No Chinese.

No.

"The aroma of Dingxianglou's donkey meat fire

Named individuals: Dingxianglou (Fragrant Cauldron Building), Shazhu, Siheyuan (courtyard residence), deaf old lady (Long Laotaitai).

Like Jia Zhangshi, the deaf old lady looked at the steamed corn bun in her hand and found it no longer fragrant.

Named individuals: Jia Zhangshi, deaf old lady (Long Laotaitai).

Feigning ignorance, she asked the big aunt a question.

No.

"Old Yi's wife, who eats meat first thing in the morning?"

Named: Old Yi's wife? (possibly a nickname for the wife of Yi Zhonghai).

Not present.

"Old lady, it's Shazhu."

Named: old lady? (generic term).

"Shazhu, why is he eating meat again?"

Named individual: Shazhu.

Her tone carried a hint of bitterness.

No.

She put on a bitter drama with the big aunt.

No.

The deaf old lady was beginning to miss the days when He Daqing was around. He Daqing hadn't gone with the widow to Baocheng; Shazhu got along well with the deaf old lady. He Daqing had been driven out of the courtyard by a scheme of the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai's couple; they had hoped to make Shazhu a free professional cook for the deaf old lady, feeding her for life.

Named individuals: deaf old lady (Long Laotaitai), He Daqing, Baocheng, Shazhu, Yi Zhonghai, Siheyuan (courtyard residence).

Man's plans cannot match heaven's.

No.

After He Daqing left for Baocheng, Shazhu quickly distanced himself from the deaf old lady.

Named individuals: Shazhu, He Daqing, Baocheng, deaf old lady (Long Laotaitai).

"It's the donkey meat fire‑baked bun that Xu Damao bought for Shazhu."

Named individuals: Xu Damao, Shazhu.

"Xu Damao!"

Named individual: Xu Damao.

The deaf old lady's tone showed contempt; she looked down on Xu Damao, considering him less honest than Shazhu, mainly because she realized she couldn't exploit him.

Named: Deaf Old Lady, Xu Damao, Shazhu.

The standard for judging people.

No.

It's very simple.

No.

The person who can let Long Laotaitai get a bargain is the good person in Long Laotaitai's eyes.

Conversely, they are bad people.

"Old Yi's wife, Shazhu and Xu Daming are together, they've all turned bad, showing no respect for elders or love for the young. He had donkey meat fire‑baked buns from Dingxianglou early this morning, and giving my old lady a set of those buns—what's the harm? My old lady isn't eating his donkey meat fire‑baked buns for nothing; at the very least he could earn a good reputation for looking after the elderly."

The matriarch snorted coldly in her heart, but on the surface she did not agree with the deaf old lady.

"Old Yi's wife, Shazhu is twenty this year, He Daqing is again in Baocheng, and he has reached the age to marry. When you go back later, discuss with Old Yi; as Shazhu's close relatives, we ought to help him arrange a marriage."

The matriarch's heart.

moved.

Shazhu's relationship with their family, although they have had no contact until death.

How was that saying again?

Grievances should be resolved, not entrenched.

Don't strike a smiling face.

Yi Zhonghai is a sixth‑level worker at Yagangchang and also the Head Steward of the Siheyuan; helping Shazhu arrange a marriage is only natural.

By helping Shazhu arrange a marriage, they might even grow closer to him.

Jia Dongxu really isn't a good choice for elder care.

Between the short‑lived ghost and Shazhu, the matriarch still leans toward Shazhu.

"Old lady, I'll go back soon and discuss with Old Yi; this time I must find a good match for Shazhu."

If Shazhu really gets a wife, I, the old lady, will have to set him up no matter what.

The matriarch snorted coldly in her heart; Shazhu has everything—a sewing machine, a bicycle, a radio, a camera—all the things he ought to have.

……

Shazhu's home.

Watching Shazhu eat two servings of donkey meat fire‑baked buns, the pitiful Xu Daming, in a coaxing tone, said: "Shazhu, how does it taste?"

"The donkey meat fire‑baked buns from Dingxianglou." Shazhu gave a thumbs‑up: "Really not bad."

"Finished eating?"

"If we had another bowl of Dingxianglou's donkey offal soup, it would be even more delightful."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll definitely get you some donkey offal soup."

Again donkey meat fire‑baked buns, and promising tomorrow's donkey offal soup.

Xu Daming is wrong.

Shazhu recalled last night's incident, his gaze a little scrutinizing as it fell on Xu Daming—could that bastard have ruined Qin Huairu right outside the women's toilet?

On this matter.

Does Xu Daming have a prior record?

In his previous life, Qin Huairu introduced Qin Jingru to Shazhu, but Xu Daming, despite already having a wife, desperately snatched Qin Jingru away, secured her in a day, and let Qin Jingru complete her transformation from girl to woman.

Could it be that you came to shut my mouth?

Are you afraid I'll speak out?

Two big question marks appeared before Shazhu's eyes.

Feeling Shazhu's hostile gaze, Xu Daming realized Shazhu had misjudged him and hurried to prove his innocence.

"Shazhu, don't think wildly—I'm a good person."

Can a good person ruin twenty female comrades outside?

Still his damn good person.

Is this something a good person could do?

Shazhu gave a cold smile, his face full of dismissive mockery.

"Shazhu, it's boring."

"You're interesting."

"Of course it's interesting—the donkey meat fire‑baked buns from Dingxianglou."

"Alright, alright, go on—what's up?"

"It's owed to my sworn brother Shazhu." Xu Daming first gave Shazhu a high hat, also worried Shazhu might refuse his request: "I told Qin Huairu that if she takes revenge on Jia Dongxu, I, Xu Daming, can help her."

Shazhu seemed to have seen the most terrifying thing in the world, staring at Xu Daming with a weird expression.

He still underestimated Xu Daming's shamelessness.

Even more despicable than a petty person.

"If Qin Huairu takes revenge on Jia Dongxu, I, Xu Daming, can help."

Even with your toes you could tell what kind of favor this is.

Shazhu couldn't understand how Xu Daming could say that so casually—had Shazhu misjudged humanity's moral bottom line, or had Xu Daming transcended human shame?

"Did Qin Huairu not whip you?"

"Why would she whip me? I'm in cahoots with her." Xu Daming lowered his voice and whispered to Shazhu: "Do you know why Qin Huairu was crying alone in the toilet last night? Jia Dongxu took back his lover's underwear and let Qin Huairu see it, which made her furious."

Shazhu felt a headache.

All talents.

This amounts to provocation.

In his previous life.

Not long after Qin Huairu became pregnant with Huaihua, Jia Dongxu died.

Given these current melodramatic affairs.

Jia Dongxu's death—there are still hidden circumstances they don't know about.

Moreover, whose child is the one Qin Huairu carries in her belly?

Not having heard Xu Daming say that Jia Dongxu couldn't be bothered with Qin Huairu, under such circumstances Qin Huairu couldn't possibly be pregnant with Jia Dongxu's child.

Huaihua's biological father is also a mystery!

It could be Yi Zhonghai.

"Shazhu, Qin Huairu asked me to find out who Jia Dongxu is messing around with, saying she wants to go see that woman who's messing around with Jia Dongxu; I thought you could help me with this."

The reason Xu Daming asked Shazhu for help is that Shazhu is a scrap collector at the recycling station, needing to go street to street to collect scrap, which gives him an innate advantage in investigating Jia Dongxu's affair with a widow.

Eat someone's food and you go soft.

Take someone's hand and you go soft.

No more ideas.

Shazhu could only agree to Xu Daming's request.

Whether there are dates or not, still strike three times.

If you find it, you find it; if you don't find it, you don't find it.

Leaving home and locking the door, Jia Zhangshi opposite spat in Shazhu's direction from afar, her face full of disdain.

It must be because of Yi Zhonghai's suggestion last night not to lock the door and this morning's donkey meat fire cake causing the trouble.

Shazhu smiled at Jia Zhangshi.

Above there are policies.

Below there are countermeasures.

Facing Jia Zhangshi's provocation, one must adopt this cold treatment; the more Shazhu ignores Jia Zhangshi's provocation, the more upset Jia Zhangshi feels inside.

Accompanied by Shazhu's playful laughter.

Jia Zhangshi was about to burst a lung from anger, yet Shazhu actually ignored her.

What Shazhu minds is not Jia Zhangshi, but the Thief Saint Bangeng clinging to Jia Zhangshi's calf—a four-year-old Bangeng, sturdy and thick-headed, not yet as hateful as he appears later.

Not knowing what came to mind, Shazhu shouted out the slogan he used when collecting scrap on the streets.

"Scrap copper and iron, broken tea jars, old books and rotten bones, discarded furniture—trade toothpaste tubes for candy!"

Bangeng is small in size but big in spirit.

Upon hearing Shazhu's last words, countless little stars sparkled in his eyes.

No wonder he's a thief saint.

He gets it at once.

Doing wicked things just gets him fired up, truly a damn family tradition.

After finishing the deed, he leaves, brushing off his clothes.

He hides his merit and fame.

"Scrap copper and iron, broken tea jars, old books and rotten bones, discarded furniture—trade toothpaste tubes for candy!"

Shazhu, shouting that slogan, had just ridden his cart to Liu Family Hutong when a gang of kids surrounded him completely.

It's not Shazhu who is popular.

It's the candy in Shazhu's hand.

Trade toothpaste tubes for candy!

"My toothpaste tube, Uncle."

Shazhu froze.

He reached out and touched his cheek.

Looking at the kid who called him uncle, he really felt uneasy; the kid looked only five or six, yet he called this twenty‑something young man 'brother'—did he really seem that old?

It's all because of his mature‑looking young face.

He Yushui wasn't wrong—with that face, if he went out with He Yushui and He Yushui called him dad, people would believe it.

"One whole toothpaste tube gets two candies, but we agreed beforehand—the tube must be from a finished toothpaste at your home before I can trade you candy."

"Uncle, the toothpaste is used up, and my dad only let me bring it out to trade with you."

Shazhu glanced at the toothpaste tube in the kid's hand.

It's been used to the fullest.

I guess they even rolled it with a rolling pin.

He took the toothpaste tube from the kid's hand and pulled an aluminum lunch box from his green satchel.

Inside were candies.

Not the kind of candy wrapped in paper, but naked chunks of sugar without any wrapper.

He opened the lunch box and used chopsticks to pick out a piece of candy for the kid.

The kid happily ran off with seven or eight other children, the candy earned from the toothpaste tube not kept to himself but shared with his playmates.

That's childhood fun.

Watching the receding kids, Shazhu felt a faint envy; looking at them and then at himself, he realized it was because he'd run into rebel soldiers and earned the nickname 'Shazhu'.

"Collecting scrap—old newspapers, bones, scrap copper and iron for money."

"Scrap collector," said an elderly woman standing at the gate of the siheyuan, waving at Shazhu, "Here."

"Do you have scrap at home?" As he spoke, Shazhu rode his cart to the courtyard gate, "Our station has a rule: we cannot collect anything with unclear origins."

"I said I'm a scrap collector—why do you say its origins are unclear? Are we the kind who steal chickens and dogs?"

The woman also had a violent temper; Shazhu's usual spiel with countless scrap sellers provoked her to give him a good scolding.

It seems that since Shazhu started collecting scrap, this is the first time he's run into such a shrewish woman; he smiled at her and apologized, saying, "Comrade, sorry, my bad."

"Mom, why are you arguing with the scrap collector? What they said is also right. Who knows where your scrap came from? You forgot about what happened with Liu Ermao in our Dayuan: you took scrap iron from the factory and sold it to the scrap collector, getting the collector criticized by the leadership."

A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old pretty girl walked out of the courtyard, talking about her mother as she brought out a woven bag.

"I say, Lili, how can you talk about your mom like that? How can you old-family people be so biased against your own?"