Chapter 152: Yi Zhonghai, why are you rushing to screw me over?

The neighbors might still be gossiping about the amusing news of Jia Zhangshi being weighed like a piglet.

After all, it's a rare oddity in the siheyuan.

But Shazhu had lost interest in it; he went back to the backyard and sat alone on a stool, dazed.

In his mind.

From beginning to end, he was pondering Jia Dongxu.

You have to answer my three questions!

Three questions!

What exactly are these questions that could make Jia Dongxu set aside the grudge between the He and Jia families and openly ask him, the Jia family's arch-enemy?

Does he really have that much confidence in himself?

This is the root of Shazhu's worries.

In the siheyuan there are over twenty households and more than a hundred people; aside from Shazhu, He Yushui, and Xu Daming, the rest at least get along superficially with the Jia family.

According to Shazhu's understanding, even if Jia Dongxu had a problem, he would have to turn to those people.

The short-lived ghost does the opposite.

Yet he went to ask for help from Shazhu, the Jia family's enemy.

Did his brain get kicked by a donkey?

Or is there some other scheme behind this?

Isn't Jia Dongxu afraid that his own lies will deceive him?

Shazhu really didn't know what medicine Jia Dongxu was selling from his gourd, but still, according to their agreement, he sat on the stool waiting for Jia Dongxu to come.

Thirty minutes passed.

A knocking sounded outside the door.

Shazhu guessed it was Jia Dongxu arriving.

He cursed inwardly, 'Damn Jia Dongxu, you're really putting on airs, and still you want me, your old man, to personally open the door and welcome you in.'

Cursing aside.

But he still had to act.

He took two or three steps to the door, and just as he pulled it open, the vulgar curses he was about to shout were swallowed hard down his throat.

Turns out he had made a mistake.

The person who came was not Jia Dongxu.

But rather Yi Zhonghai, whom Shazhu didn't want to deal with at all.

Looking at Yi Zhonghai standing at the door with a kindly old-man appearance.

Shazhu silently cursed him for being shameless; although the two families had nothing to do with each other, Yi Zhonghai pretended to be clueless, his cheek probably thicker than the city wall.

He placed his body sideways inside the door.

He just stared at Yi Zhonghai.

The meaning was clear.

If you have a fart, let it out; if you have something to say, say it straight; if you want to come in, there's no way—better not come in.

Feeling Shazhu's intense hostility, the hypocrite also secretly groaned; thinking of his own plans, he forced a hint of kindness onto his face.

"Shazhu, you won't even let Elder Uncle into the house now."

His tone gave no indication of goodwill.

Nor did it show any ill intent.

"Tired, want to sleep, you okay?" Shazhu didn't wait for Yi Zhonghai's answer, but answered for him himself: "You're fine, then, see you."

While saying that.

He was about to close the door.

However, Yi Zhonghai moved a bit faster, beating Shazhu by a step and pushing the door with his hand, regardless of whether Shazhu liked it, thus indicating his purpose to Shazhu.

"Shazhu, Elder Uncle has something to discuss; it won't take more than a few minutes of your time."

Now it was Shazhu's turn to be stuck.

The melon-eating crowd in the siheyuan is really damn many.

Just in that brief moment.

Many people poked their heads out, especially the Jia family across the way, who behaved the worst; Laoqianpo Jia Zhangshi even pressed her persimmon-cake face against the glass.

"You say?"

Just now your aunt and uncle said that you, upon returning this time, would definitely marry Yu Li; the Qing dynasty is now in Baocheng, and at home there are only you and Yushui; some things you can do yourselves, but some things still need an elder to arrange, just like your marriage—you can't just run to Yu Li's house and discuss the wedding with your father- and mother-in-law; you need an elderly person to step forward, and that's the custom in our capital city.

Yi Zhonghai gazed at Shazhu with bright, spirited eyes.

He wasn't wrong.

Really, it was the aunt's idea.

Using Shazhu's marriage to defuse the feud between the two families, as long as Yi Zhonghai helps arrange the wedding in the role of Shazhu's elder, he can leave outsiders with the impression that his relationship with Shazhu is good.

If Shazhu ever falls out with Yi Zhonghai in the future,

the spit from those people could drown Shazhu.

This is called a yang scheme.

Having figured out that you have no elders at home, they openly put on the airs of an elder for you.

Too bad.

Having encountered Shazhu, who doesn't play by the rules, Shazhu tonight, while escorting Yu Li home and carrying a big package, settled those marriage matters with Yu Li's parents.

Tomorrow morning he'll go get the marriage certificate.

Yi Zhonghai's proposal.

It's only a little late.

Even if it's not late.

Shazhu wouldn't agree to Yi Zhonghai helping arrange his marriage either—it's not disgusting enough.

"Yi Zhonghai, you came so late just for this?"

A calm tone.

Far beyond the hypocrite's expectations.

He still spoke according to the prepared script, telling the truth.

"This matter has kept Yi Zhonghai and the eldest madam awake; the eldest madam said that Shazhu's affairs are our affairs. Earlier, Yi Zhonghai didn't consider things thoroughly, didn't consult with you, Shazhu, and arbitrarily did some things that hurt your feelings. Here, Yi Zhonghai apologizes to you."

Shazhu narrowed his eyes.

The hypocrite's acting skills are superb.

This apology act will likely be exploited by Yi Zhonghai in various ways tomorrow.

"Sorry, I've already discussed it with my parents; I'll go get the marriage license tomorrow. As for your suggestion just now..."

Shazhu is also lacking in virtue.

You have Yan Fugui help you arrange it, then you tell Yi Zhonghai straight.

I'll stubbornly refuse.

At such a critical juncture.

Need to take a deep breath.

The hypocrite's heart blossomed with joy, thinking the situation had turned, even his eyes showed a faint smile.

Just at the moment his smile appeared on his face.

The truth Shazhu revealed slapped Yi Zhonghai's face like a big slap.

"I already discussed it with San Daye; the marriage will be entirely handled by San Daye. You know, San Daye is a school teacher, cultured. My greatest wish is for Yushui to get into college; there's no other meaning—I want to marry into his cultural aura."

Yi Zhonghai's heart.

Like being scratched by a cat.

Really not satisfying.

Shazhu's excuse left Yi Zhonghai unable to find any fault.

"Shazhu, since you've arranged it, Yi Zhonghai needn't worry." The hypocrite also had a sudden idea, shifting the topic to Shazhu's work—this is 'if one plan fails, make another': "Have you arranged your work? I don't know if Xu Daming told you—your previous scrap yard merged with the neighboring one, now about ten li from our Dayuan. You have a bicycle; Yi Zhonghai's meaning is, if you want work closer by, I can help."

Damn it.

Insist on making Shazhu owe him a favor.

They're so enthusiastic.

With so many neighbors present.

Shazhu also couldn't bring himself to spoil Yi Zhonghai's face.

"Yi Zhonghai, regarding work, don't worry; since you said that, I actually have something I need to trouble you with."

The two parties' roles instantly swapped.

Originally, Yi Zhonghai was the schemer, but now he's become the one schemed against; Shazhu, whom he schemed against, has turned into the schemer.

"Yi Zhonghai, here's the situation: I'm marrying Yu Li tomorrow. I haven't been in our Siheyuan for five years; the neighbors have been kind to my wife Yu Li and my sister Yushui. Now that I'm married, not holding a banquet wouldn't be right—after all, one only gets married once in a lifetime. I owe it to Yu Li, so I want to treat the neighbors to a meal."

Yi Zhonghai was like a mute who had eaten coptis.

He just knew it was definitely this matter.

"Given our circumstances, we know things are tight; big feasts are out of the question. My idea is to make a pot of stewed pork with vegetables, steam a big basket of mantou—our Siheyuan has over twenty households; each household gets a bowl of stewed pork with vegetables plus two large white-flour mantou, as a token of my goodwill."

Heard they were going to hold a banquet.

The neighbors all looked hopefully at Yi Zhonghai.

When Shazhu said these words, they were all gulping their own saliva.

Stewed pork with vegetables, white-flour mantou.

To put it bluntly, even during New Year, their living standards weren't as lavish as Shazhu described, which whetted their appetites.

"I calculated: at three liang of pork per person, we need at least ten jin of pork; plus other items, I'd like to ask Yi Zhonghai to help get ten-some jin of pork, twenty jin of white flour, some cabbage, sesame oil, etc."

The rest of the words.

Yi Zhonghai didn't hear a single word.

With so many neighbors present.

He felt like he'd lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Yi Zhonghai used to boast about being an eighth-level worker at Yagangchang, saying how much face he had there, that even the workshop chief and factory director had to be pleasant toward him.

This damn thing can't even get ten jin of pork.

Will make Yi Zhonghai's face.

Can't hold up.

The problem is Yi Zhonghai really can't get these things Shazhu wants.

It's pitiful to see.

Have no solution at all.

The hypocrite, anxious, became like ants on a hot pan, not even knowing how to go home.