Chapter 140

Put yourself in his shoes.

Consider things from their perspective.

If they were in Yi Zhonghai's place, they'd also worry about their own lives, fearing they might die.

A body weighing over two hundred catties pressed down on the hypocrite like a mountain, making him suffer terribly. As a fitter, Yi Zhonghai naturally had a strong physique; his large build was second only to that of the blacksmith Liu Haizhong in the siheyuan. Yet even so, Yi Zhonghai still lost in his contest with Liu Yufeng; the hypocrite was no match for her.

Yi Zhonghai, pressed to the ground, kept panting heavily.

Those around sucked in cold breath, worrying that the hypocrite might be crushed to death by Liu Yufeng.

Who knows where he picked up that nasty trick.

After pinning the hypocrite beneath her, Liu Yufeng fully used her over-two-hundred-catty build, pressing her body down on Yi Zhonghai like a stone, freeing her hands and feet, and then used them to further attack Yi Zhonghai.

Her feet became spinning wheels, kicking hard at Yi Zhonghai's buttocks.

Her hands moved like claws toward Yi Zhonghai's head; when her left hand grabbed his ear, drool even came out, as if she were treating his ear like a pig's ear.

Her right index and middle fingers became hooks, digging into Yi Zhonghai's nostrils like picking nose mucus—needless to say, the feeling was awful.

Anyway, Shazhu, watching the show on the side, found it quite satisfying; the more unlucky Yi Zhonghai was, the happier he became.

The happy time lasted three or four minutes.

Yi Zhonghai on the ground seemed unable to breathe, his face deathly pale, his breath intermittent, looking like he could die at any moment.

Liu's father also worried about causing a death; he bent down near Liu Yufeng's ear and whispered a few words.

During that time.

An auntie standing nearby also chimed in, taking every opportunity to agree.

Shazhu guessed the two sides were negotiating terms; he couldn't read lips, so he didn't know what terms the families had reached, but they were likely favorable to the Liu father and daughter; otherwise Liu Yufeng wouldn't have given up on the Yi Zhonghai she had pinned to the ground.

Whether it was because she used too much strength or had none left, Liu Yufeng flopped to the ground with a thud as she tried to get up.

Shazhu, standing not far away, clearly felt the tremor coming from the ground; he saw the bowl on the wooden rack in front of him shake and shatter into pieces on the floor.

He silently gave Liu Yufeng a thumbs-up in his heart.

That woman.

A ruthless person.

It seems they even smashed the ground.

……

With the Liu-Yi sides' conditions settled, there was nothing left to watch.

Everyone went back to their own homes, each to find their own mother.

Shazhu was no exception.

Specific actions depend on tomorrow; if tomorrow Yi Zhonghai posts an apology statement to Shazhu at the courtyard gate, then Shazhu won't care.

Otherwise.

Shazhu really wants to go for a walk around Jiēdào.

These days.

People live for their reputation; if it's ruined, you can't accomplish anything—whether finding a partner nearby or a job far away, everything is affected.

When Shazhu thought about not even having a wife, he took on the reputation of Chen Shimei; instantly his head felt as big as a bucket, he lowered his head, pondered things, and went home.

Xu Daming then became Shazhu's tail, following behind his buttocks.

By the time Shazhu came to his senses, Xu Daming was already sitting sprawled on the stool.

Upon seeing Biesun's expression, Shazhu knew that Xu Daming this bastard was about to let out a nasty fart; better not wait for Biesun to speak first—strike first.

"Xu Daming, why did you come back?"

"Buddy, is it wrong to care about you?"

Xu Daming's tone was especially righteous and bold, even more overbearing than Shazhu's.

Shazhu looked around, confirmed it was his own home, pointed at Xu Daming with his hand, and wore a look of disdain.

"Xu Daming, if you really can't bear to leave this house, I'll just take a loss—I'll acknowledge you as my adopted son, and you call me foster father."

Xu Daming pursed his lips.

He didn't speak.

The two rascals simultaneously had the same idea: Shazhu would become Xu Daming's foster father, and conversely Xu Daming would become Shazhu's master.

One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father.

A master is equivalent to a foster father.

Shazhu, call out 'dad'.

"How can you be my dad?" Xu Daming earnestly lectured Shazhu, painstakingly trying to get him to call him master: "It should be that you, Shazhu, become my disciple, kneel down and kowtow to become my apprentice, and I will teach you all my skills."

Shazhu seriously considered Xu Daming's suggestion, and found that Biesun had no other skills besides picking up women.

These times.

Fooling around outside.

It's tantamount to hanging one's life on one's belt.

Shazhu doesn't have Xu Daming's luck; unlike Xu Daming, who can mess around without consequence, if Shazhu messes around he's likely to lose his life and cultivation.

I want to be your father.

But you want my life.

Shazhu fiercely looked down on Xu Daming.

Seeing Shazhu's contemptuous gaze, Xu Daming became unhappy and lectured Shazhu.

"You despise an eggplant—what do you have to despise? It's not me saying this, but when it comes to finding a partner, you really should learn from me; look, I went to the countryside to show movies for two days, didn't come back for two days, and that caused Yi Zhonghai to introduce you to such a person."

Xu Daming's tone suddenly drew out.

A divine twist explosively appeared.

If you marry Liu Yufeng, that's fine; brothers will give you a big gift of five hundred dollars.

Don't let her mother spout nonsense; let's get down to serious business.

Shazhu impatiently interrupted Xu Daming's complaining.

Talking about damn women.

Talk about serious matters.

Different people have different understandings of things.

Shazhu and Xu Daming, the two of them, are essentially two contradictory entities.

Xu Daming is lustful to the point of life; for women, he can do anything, and does it recklessly, almost using his life to chase women.

In this day and age, they dare to stage nonsense, chaos, and mess outside.

Truly hard-headed.

But Shazhu doesn't have such guts.

He doesn't dare.

The 'serious matter' Shazhu spoke of refers to Yi Zhonghai's revenge against him; regardless of how the apology statement continues, tonight this matter has already disgusted Yi Zhonghai.

A hypocrite lacking virtue, holding grudges, will surely find ways to retaliate against Shazhu.

Shazhu certainly doesn't want to be passively schemed against by Yi Zhonghai.

When it's time to act, act.

Strike first to be strong.

Rather than let Yi Zhonghai scheme against him from all sides, it's better for Shazhu to strike first and scheme against Yi Zhonghai; ideally, he could transfer Yi Zhonghai elsewhere, remove him from the Siheyuan, so as not to have to see him disgustingly loitering in front of Shazhu every day.

Why ask Xu Daming for ideas.

Because Xu Daming is the most unscrupulous petty person in the entire Siheyuan and even the Yagangchang; in terms of lack of virtue, Xu Daming ranks second, with no one daring to rank first; for the matter of scheming against Yi Zhonghai, asking Xu Daming for ideas is definitely correct.

Xu Daming misunderstood Shazhu's 'serious matter'; in Xu Daming's mind, Shazhu's 'serious matter' likely refers to the Jia family, i. e., Qin Huairu.

As a lecher.

Xu Daming has always been longing to have something with Qin Huairu; upon hearing Shazhu say they need to discuss serious matters, he instantly became energized, his mind full of lecherous thoughts as he looked at Shazhu.

"Exactly, exactly, we can't waste time like this anymore; we must discuss something serious. Tell me, how should we do this?"

"If I knew how to do it, would I still be asking you? My meaning is, you give me an idea; you haven't missed seeing the situation."

"Finding me for ideas is right, Shazhu; I've already thought it all out for you—this matter requires us several people to join forces."

Shazhu looked at Xu Daming.

Several people joining forces.

Is Yi Zhonghai that formidable?

It takes several people joining forces to deal with him.

In Shazhu's mind, the two fools of the Siheyuan joining forces could exterminate Yi Zhonghai.

But Xu Daming wants to seek external aid.

Is it Liu Haizhong?

After all, Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai have been constantly fighting, in the Yagangchang and also in the Siheyuan.

Shazhu tried mentioning Liu Haizhong's name, but got a big white-eye from Xu Daming.

"What does Liu Haizhong have to do with anything? I said the external aid is Qin Huairu."

Use Qin Huairu to deal with Yi Zhonghai?

The method is actually feasible.

The problem is whether Qin Huairu is willing to deal with Yi Zhonghai.

"Tell me your plan."

"Shazhu, my dear brother, you're also involved; how could you not notice Qin Huairu's reaction tonight? Jia Pozi and Jia Dongxu teamed up to violently strike Qin Huairu—one slapped her left cheek, the other her right cheek; I saw it clearly, fire seemed to blaze in Qin Huairu's eyes. What does this mean? It means Qin Huairu has developed hatred toward the Jia family—this is the perfect moment for us brothers to strike against the Jia family!"

Shazhu's head buzzed, he stared wide-eyed, unable to believe as he looked at Xu Daming.

At last he realized something was wrong.

I'm talking about Yi Zhonghai.

Xu Daming was talking about Qin Huairu.

Together they've staged a play of going south while aiming north.

"What are you looking at me for? This is fact; at the time, you weren't unaware either!"

Speak the truth.

Shazhu truly didn't notice.

He has been constantly pondering how to settle scores with Yi Zhonghai.

"Shazhu, the last time I was scared into fainting, you definitely still remember— that day I openly challenged Qin Huairu; the enemy's enemy is a friend. As Xu Daming, an enemy of the Jia family, I can help in Qin Huairu's effort against the Jia family. We two are brothers, and since you're also not on good terms with the Jia family— they're also your enemies—I think dealing with the Jia family must involve you. I'll step forward to talk with Qin Huairu, and the three of us will join forces to deal with the Jia family."

Three people join forces to take revenge on the Jia family.

Shazhu is just being stupid.

He also understood what Xu Daming's words about revenge implied.

He realized he had underestimated Xu Daming.

Xu Daming is lecherous, yet he possesses an ancient spirit of 'if I have it, you must have it too'—a grand, fearless dedication—that gives Shazhu a headache.

Just two words.

Can't afford to enjoy it.

They don't click; not even half a sentence matches.

Shazhu, who didn't want to listen to Xu Damu's nagging, shoved him out the door in a few quick moves.

Interpretation: Shazhu, who didn't want to listen to Xu Damu's nagging, in a few quick moves pushed Xu Damu out of the gate.

Not wanting to listen to Xu Damu's nagging, Shazhu, in a few quick moves, pushed Xu Damu out the gate.

Shazhu, who didn't want to listen to Xu Damu's nagging, in a few quick moves pushed Xu Damu out the door.

…… (ellipsis). Keep as "……". Should we translate? It's just ellipsis, keep as is.

Outside.

Xu Damu gazed at the stars, then glanced at the lit Jia family house across the way, and his eyes landed on Shazhu inside the house behind him.

Translate: Xu Damu looked at the stars in the sky, then glanced at the Jia family's house across the way, still lit, and his gaze fell on Shazhu inside the house behind him.

Xu Damu, Jia Family, Shazhu

He thought, Shazhu is still thin‑skinned; there are some things he just can't bring himself to do.

Translate: He thought: Shazhu is still thin-skinned; there are some things he can't bring himself to do.

Alright.

I'll handle this, Brother Xu.

I'll take care of this, Brother Xu.

Take revenge on the Jia Family.

I, Shazhu's brother, must also have a part.

No matter what, I have to add something to Jia Dongxu's head.

…… -> ellipsis.

Inside.

Shazhu lay down on the bed fully clothed.

What he was thinking about wasn't how to deal with Yi Zhonghai.

He inexplicably thought of Qin Huairu.

If Xu Damu wasn't lying, then Qin Huairu truly harbored hatred toward the Jia Family.

If that's the case.

How did Huaihua come about?

Or is Huaihua's father not Jia Dongxu?

It's even possible that Jia Dongxu's death is also full of unsolved mysteries.

From a conspiracy theory perspective, it all suddenly clicked: Huaihua was the offspring of Qin Huairu's revenge against Jia Dongxu and the Jia family; if Jia Dongxu or Jia Zhangshi found out, Qin Huairu feared exposure and told the truth to Huaihua's father, who then decided to silence him and staged a machinery accident to send Jia Dongxu to his fate.

This is long. Need to translate faithfully.

From a conspiracy theory perspective, it all suddenly clicked: Huaihua was the offspring of Qin Huairu's revenge against Jia Dongxu and the Jia family; if Jia Dongxu or Jia Zhangshi found out, Qin Huairu feared exposure and told the truth to Huaihua's father, who then decided to silence him and staged a machinery accident to send Jia Dongxu to his fate.

Translate: "Looking at the problem from the angle of conspiracy theory, everything suddenly makes sense: Huaihua is the product of Qin Huairu's revenge against Jia Dongxu and the Jia Family; if Jia Dongxu or Jia Zhangshi learned of this, Qin Huairu feared exposure and confessed the truth to Huaihua's father; Huaihua's father then thought of silencing him and, using a machinery accident, let Jia Dongxu go where he was destined to go."

Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu, Jia Zhangshi, and Huaihua were involved in a machinery accident.

Yi Zhonghai!

Thinking of that name.

Shazhu jerked upright, breaking out in a cold sweat; he wasn't paying attention to Qin Huairu but noticed Yi Zhonghai.

Translate: "Shazhu jumped up, sitting straight, and broke out in a cold sweat; he wasn't paying attention to Qin Huairu, but noticed Yi Zhonghai."

When Jia Zhangshi exposed those scandals about Yi Zhonghai, Shazhu clearly sensed a grudge emanating from him.

Translate: "When Jia Zhangshi exposed those scandals of Yi Zhonghai, Shazhu clearly felt a grudge emanating from Yi Zhonghai."

Yi Zhonghai had reason to hold a grudge.

He took Jia Dongxu on as an apprentice, helped him get promoted, gave him a sewing machine and a radio when he married, and also gave him quite a bit of money.

Translate: "He took Jia Dongxu as an apprentice, helped him advance in rank, when Jia Dongxu married he gave him a sewing machine, then a radio, and also gave him quite a bit of money."

That was the investment.

Even if you fed a dog, it would wag its tail for Yi Zhonghai.

Yet the Jia family acted like ungrateful wolves, repeatedly spreading rumors unknown to the neighbors in public, trampling Yi Zhonghai's face into the mud.

Translate: "But the Jia Family acted like ungrateful wolves; in public, before countless neighbors, they repeatedly revealed many scandalous things the neighbors didn't know, trampling Yi Zhonghai's face into the mud."

Yi Zhonghai hated himself for losing face, which gave him even more reason to resent the Jia family, who falsely accused him of things he hadn't done.

Yi Zhonghai hates himself for losing face; thus he has even more reason to resent the Jia Family, who falsely accused him of things he didn't do.

Bangeng, Xiao Dang.

When Jia Zhangshi said the two children should take the surname Yi, a flicker of shock crossed Yi Zhonghai's face.

Translate: "When Jia Zhangshi said the two children should take the surname Yi, Yi Zhonghai's face flashed with a hint of shock."

It wasn't the shock of having the truth uncovered, but the shock of being falsely blamed for something out of the blue.

Translate: "It wasn't the shock of having the truth exposed, but the shock of being falsely accused for no reason."

Yi Zhonghai resented the Jia family and conceived a revenge plan.

Qin Huairu also grew disaffected toward the Jia family and harbored thoughts of revenge.

Everything now seemed possible.

Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai already knew each other, and both had been falsely blamed by Jia Zhangshi; united in their desire for revenge against the Jia family, they had many reasons to join forces.

Translate: "Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai already knew each other, and both had been falsely accused by Jia Zhangshi; sharing the desire for revenge against the Jia Family, they had many reasons to join forces."

Huaihua's father.

It's Yi Zhonghai!

If Jia Dongxu knew this and even hinted at going to the steel mill to report Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai would make sure he didn't live to see the next day.

Translate: "If Jia Dongxu knew this, the slightest hint of him intending to go to the steel plant to report Yi Zhonghai would cause Yi Zhonghai to make sure he didn't live to see the next day."

Shazhu recalled something he had overlooked in his previous life.

Before the incident, Jia Dongxu had a big argument with Qin Huairu in the courtyard and a major confrontation with Yi Zhonghai at the steel mill; two days later he was dead, and the official explanation was that he had violated operating procedures while using the machinery.

Translate: "Before Jia Dongxu's accident, he had a big argument with Qin Huairu in the courtyard, then a major clash with Yi Zhonghai at the steel plant; two days later Jia Dongxu was dead, and the official explanation was that he had violated operating procedures while operating machinery."

After the unfortunate death, Yi Zhonghai ran around, using his position as a seventh‑level worker at the steel mill to get Qin Huairu a job there; arranging for Shazhu to support Qin Huairu was his way of making sure his daughter Huaihua wouldn't go hungry.

Translate: "After the short-lived ghost died, Yi Zhonghai ran around, using his position as a seventh‑level worker at the steel plant to get Qin Huairu a job there; as for arranging Shazhu to support Qin Huairu, it was so he wouldn't let his daughter Huaihua starve."

Taking the clue that Huaihua is Yi Zhonghai's daughter, all the inconsistencies suddenly fell into place.

Translate: "Taking the clue that Huaihua is Yi Zhonghai's daughter, all the inconsistencies suddenly fell into place."

Support the truth.

At the assembly, they favored the truth.

Jia Zhangshi angrily denounced Yi Zhonghai, saying he wasn't a good person and that the things he gave were dirty, and all those accusations were now fully explained.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi angrily denounced Yi Zhonghai, saying he wasn't a good person, that the things he gave were dirty, etc.; all these truths were now fully explained."

Yi Zhonghai.

Qin Huairu.

Shazhu turned his gaze toward the Jia Family across the way; it seemed the Jia Family was still very lively.