Chapter 159: Thief Sage

Arrived at the place.

Shazhu only then realized he had overestimated himself and underestimated the people of this era; what he could think of, they had actually also thought of and put into practice.

The scene that came into view.

It truly shocked Shazhu.

Looking out as far as the eye could see.

All were people, people fishing.

Although not packed shoulder to shoulder, they still surrounded the entire lake watertight. There were men and women, old and young. Without exception, everyone held a fishing rod in hand; the difference was that some rods were more professional, while others were crudely made. The person nearest to Shazhu simply found a stick, tied on line, hook, float, and bait, and came here with a bucket to fish.

Ah.

A sigh rose in Shazhu's heart.

Complexion.

Everyone's face bore that complexion which made Shazhu feel uneasy.

This is also why they appeared here to fish.

Speaking of fishing, Shazhu had seen Yan Fugui fish; the spots where he baited always yielded a good catch, and he never came back empty-handed.

Shazhu glanced at Yan Fugui, Yan Fugui glanced at Shazhu, and each gave a wry smile.

Fine.

Don't bother choosing a spot.

As long as there's an open spot where we can fit, just squeeze in.

"San Daye, do you want to come together?" Shazhu asked with a grin, "Or should we go separate ways?"

"Why bother separating? As long as there's a spot where we can cast our lines, that's lucky enough." Yan Fugui pointed to an open space over two meters wide ahead, "We'll fish right here."

"Okay, I'll follow your lead."

Shazhu followed Yan Fugui's instructions and walked toward that open stretch.

To be honest.

He didn't know how to fish, how to bait the hook, or any of that fishing knowledge; if it weren't to fill his own stomach, Shazhu wouldn't have come at all.

Mainly, he couldn't bear the loneliness.

Now it's a case of being forced to do something; unable to endure the boredom of fishing, he still had to come fish, because there are two mouths at home waiting to be fed.

If he won't catch, he won't catch.

Yet this didn't faze Shazhu.

Beside him was Yan Fugui, who had never eaten pork nor seen a pig run; just following Yan Fugui's example, baiting the hook was enough—mere imitation.

No sooner had he sat down than a few old men nearby couldn't help but turn their heads; they knew Yan Fugui but didn't know who Shazhu was.

"Old Yan, aren't you someone who doesn't come fish? Why are you here again?"

"I come to fish, there's a fifty percent chance I'll catch a fish." Yan Fugui's logic was strange, "If I don't come fish, I have a hundred percent chance of catching nothing, so I might as well try."

"Is this young man your son?"

Shazhu nearly fainted on the spot.

"I, Yan Fugui's son."

"We two don't look alike at all."

"I don't have that blessing; he's my neighbor in the courtyard, named He Yuzhu." To outsiders, Yan Fugui uncommonly addressed Shazhu by his formal name He Yuzhu, saying, "He just got married yesterday, and today he brought me here to fish, saying he wants to make fish soup for his wife."

Five years of support service.

Shazhu learned one thing.

That is, never underestimate anyone.

After Yan Fugui announced his identity, Shazhu stood up, took out the cigarettes from his pocket, went over and lit them for the several old men; Yan Fugui praised him, so he also had to earn Yan Fugui some face.

"Daqianmen, good cigarettes."

The several old men smoked Shazhu's cigarettes and thought more highly of him.

It contains tobacco.

But the biggest component is Shazhu's courtesy toward them.

Feeling pleased inside, yet they couldn't help muttering a few words about Shazhu.

"Just got married, need to save money and buy some household things."

Shazhu showed a simple, honest smile and said nothing.

Yan Fugui, however, became energized, recounted Shazhu's story in full; the several old men, upon hearing that Shazhu had started earning a living for himself at seventeen, and in just a few years had secured the three transfers and one response (i. e., a full set of household appliances), were left speechless, looking at Shazhu before them, then thinking of their own useless children, they truly wished to swap identities, hoping this lad could be their grandson; they admired his ability.

"Zhuzi, do you have any brothers?"

One old man's eyes showed a calculating look.

"This honest lad, why didn't he appear earlier? If he had shown up a few years sooner, his precious granddaughter Ran Qiuye wouldn't have been delayed until now still unmarried."

The other several old men, upon hearing this, immediately became dissatisfied.

Stealing the show.

No no no.

Snatching people.

"Old Ran, put away your little schemes—haven't you heard Old Yan say that this lad Zhuzi also has a sister?" The little old man who undercut Old Ran's turn turned to Shazhu and said, "Zhuzi, how old is your sister? I have a young son about your age; let's arrange a meeting when we have time."

Shazhu was exasperated.

Forget it.

Can't afford to provoke them, really can't afford to provoke them.

I'm just here to fish; how did I end up muddled and selling off my sister He Yushui?

Must not.

My younger sister Yushui just started her first year of high school this year.

Still in high school? That's fine; we can let them get engaged first, and after your sister graduates from high school, we can let them marry.

Old Liu, what nonsense are you spouting? Shazhu is dead set on getting his sister into college. Yan Fugui's eyes suddenly widened; he pointed at the spot where Shazhu had just dropped his hook and muttered, "He's hooked."

Shazhu also noticed that something was different about the fishing rod in his hand.

It had become somewhat heavier.

He silently thought, "This fish biting the hook is truly timely—a perfect social fish to smooth things over; otherwise Shazhu really wouldn't know how to face these old guys."

Following Yan Fugui's directions, he exerted force with both hands and jerked the rod upward.

As expected.

On the hook hung a carp weighing about seven or eight catties, plump, its scales shimmering with a faint golden hue in the sunlight.

The scene was calm.

It became restless.

No one knows how long it's been since anyone here caught a fish as big as seven or eight catties.

People's gazes quickly fell upon the fish.

Some saw the trick, others were still dazed, including Shazhu; his mind was muddled too—after all, from dropping the hook to catching the fish, it had taken at most thirteen or fourteen minutes.

The speed was the reason.

A bigger reason was that the fish was too fat.

Being a cook,

Shazhu instantly saw its nature.

This is a fish about to give birth.

In other words,

With one hook, Shazhu hauled up a fish that was about to spawn in a day or two—a soon‑to‑be mother fish.

Cooks have their own rules.

Shazhu also had his own principles; he took the fish off the hook, a faint bitter smile crossed his face, he lightly tapped the fish's head, and shouted a reprimand.

Remember, you must not be greedy, or this will be the fate of your greed; I'll tell you one more thing: you're about to become a mother, so take good care of yourself and don't get caught.

He released his grip; the fish's tail flicked the lake and vanished in an instant into the blue waves—what happened to the promised reluctance? Myths and novels are all lies.

Shazhu, you really made San Daye look at you with new respect.

Shazhu gave a hehe laugh.

He gave his reason for releasing it.

San Daye, you saw it too—that fish is about to spawn; if I ate it, I wouldn't go hungry for a meal, but if I release it, the offspring it produces will solve the food problems of many people.

Saying all this was both an explanation and not an explanation—just idle chatter; Shazhu, following the fishing technique Yan Fugui had just taught him, cast the hook out again.

One hour later.

Another fish bit the hook.

This was a carp weighing three or four catties.

Shazhu was stunned.

Yan Fugui and the others couldn't figure it out either.

Everyone was using the same bait, some even arrived earlier than Shazhu, so why was it only Shazhu who caught a fish among them?

Including the large carp Shazhu had released earlier, within an hour and a half he had caught two fish.

Shazhu, you've completely outfished San Daye, and yet you claim you can't fish.

Shazhu lifted the three‑or‑four‑catty carp and said with a smile, "I'd rather believe that good deeds are rewarded."

Exactly, exactly, I'm sure of it—I guess this fish is the offspring of the one you released earlier; it's come to repay your kindness.

Yan Fugui's imagination.

It's truly huge.

Shazhu didn't care; he wasn't planning to fish anymore. This three‑or‑four‑catty carp would feed his family of three for two days—chopped‑chili fish head tonight, steamed carp tomorrow noon, and fish soup with steamed buns in the evening.

Their quality of life was solid.

Things can't be settled once and for all.

After greeting a few elders, he glanced at Yan Fugui, who understood Shazhu's intent, quickly stepped over, and took over Shazhu's fishing spot.

Shazhu, San Daye isn't going back with you.

Then I'll head back first.

Shazhu carried the caught fish, rode his bicycle back to the Siheyuan.

……

At that moment, the residents of the Siheyuan were all half‑full.

Shazhu came in carrying a fish.

Instantly it drew the residents' attention; everyone, one and all, focused their gazes on the fish in Shazhu's hand.

As for Shazhu holding the fish, they deliberately ignored him.

Some people, unable to contain themselves, began to swallow their saliva.

Their eyes were full of envy.

Shazhu took his fishing rod out to fish, but Jia Zhangshi insisted on telling everyone in the Siheyuan it was a joke, her words full of contempt, declaring outright that Shazhu would lose face—he couldn't even catch a fish.

Reality was like a slap in the face.

Shazhu not only caught a fish, he caught a big one—looking like it weighed over four catties; a family of three, eating sparingly, could make it last several days.

: "Some adults, fearing their own children would cause a disturbance, waited until the children hadn't reacted yet, then lured their own children into the house and shut the doors."

Translation: Some adults, fearing their own children would cause a commotion, took advantage of the children not having reacted yet and coaxed them into the house, then shut the doors.

: We need to translate the four phrases. Combine: "Fearing their own children would cause a disturbance, they took advantage of the children not yet reacting, coaxed their own children into the house, and shut the doors."

Ok.

line: "Only the Jia family didn't do that. When Shazhu returned from fishing, Bangeng had originally been facing away from him, but Jia Zhangshi deliberately turned him to face Shazhu." No Chinese.

Translation: Only the Jia family did not do that; upon seeing Shazhu return from fishing, Bangeng, who had originally been facing away from Shazhu, was deliberately turned to face him by Jia Zhangshi.

: "We must keep the term 'Jia Zhangshi' as is." No Chinese.

: Chinese story. Let's translate.

: Same as 134, so same translation.

: "We must translate faithfully, not adding extra meaning. 'Thief Saint' is a nickname; 'white-eyed wolf' means an ungrateful person. The phrase describing someone with both traits should be kept as 'the one who possesses both the Thief Saint and white-eyed wolf traits'." No Chinese.

: "The phrase meaning 'who in later generations influenced countless people' leads to the description 'the one who, in later generations, influenced countless people and possesses both the Thief Saint and white-eyed wolf traits'." No Chinese.

We'll translate: "「Fish! 」 Bangeng did not disappoint Jia Zhangshi; the Bangeng whose head Jia Zhangshi forcibly turned, truly lives up to being the one who, in later generations, influenced countless people and possesses both the Thief Saint and white-eyed wolf traits; in an instant he started causing a commotion with Jia Zhangshi, the Thief Saint pointed with his finger at the fish Shazhu was holding, repeatedly reminding Jia Zhangshi, "Fish! Grandma, fish!""

Instruction -> restate.

: "Jia Zhangshi gently rubbed Bangeng's head, her eyes full of kindness." No Chinese.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi stroked Bangeng's little head with her hand, her eyes full of kindness.

: "Seeing this tenderness, Shazhu sighed in his heart." No Chinese.

Translation: Seeing this hint of kindness, Shazhu sighed in his heart.

: "The crocodile's compassion." No Chinese.

Translation: "The kindness of a crocodile."

: "Bangeng became a good-for-nothing, turning into the infamous Thief Saint of the courtyard and a white-eyed wolf despised by the neighbors—all because of Jia Zhangshi." No Chinese.

Translation: Bangeng grew up to become the Thief Saint renowned throughout the Siheyuan and the white-eyed wolf despised by countless neighbors; Jia Zhangshi is largely responsible.

We need to use Siheyuan from glossary.

: "No wonder in his past life Shazhu was kicked out by Bangeng." No Chinese.

Translation: No wonder in his previous life Shazhu was kicked out by Bangeng.

: "Even blood-related relatives couldn't believe it." No Chinese.

Translation: Even blood-related relatives cannot be trusted.

: "And what about outsiders with no blood ties?" No Chinese.

Translation: What more for outsiders without blood ties.

: "Human nature has no bottom line." No Chinese.

Translation: Human nature has no bottom line.

: "Shazhu casually handed the fish to Yu Li, parked his bike, and nervously locked it." No Chinese.

Translation: Shazhu casually handed the fish to Yu Li, then parked his bicycle and, uneasy, locked the bike lock.

Instruction -> restate.

: "At eight years old, Bangeng has already thrown the courtyard into chaos, disturbing the chickens and dogs." No Chinese.

Translation: Eight-year-old Bangeng has already caused the Siheyuan to be in chaos, with chickens and dogs unsettled.

: "If this damn thing ruins Shazhu's bicycle, Jia Zhangshi will surely seize the chance to cause trouble." No Chinese.

Translation: If this damn thing ruins Shazhu's bicycle, Jia Zhangshi will surely seize the opportunity to cause trouble.

Instruction -> restate.

: "Right now, Yi Zhonghai, smoking at the Yi family's gate, will surely side with the Jia family, getting Shazhu to spend money and turning major problems into minor ones and minor problems into nothing." No Chinese.

Translation: At this moment, Yi Zhonghai, squatting at the Yi family gate smoking, will surely stand on the Jia family's side, getting Shazhu to pay some money, turning big issues into small ones and small ones into nothing.

We need to use Yi Zhonghai from glossary, Jia Family.

: "Xu Daming had secretly talked to Shazhu about figuring out how to defeat Yi Zhonghai once and for all, but Shazhu refused." No Chinese.

Translation: Xu Daming privately discussed with Shazhu whether to come up with a way to knock down Yi Zhonghai once and for all; Shazhu did not agree.

Instruction -> restate.

: "There are two reasons." No Chinese.

Translation: There are two reasons.

: "First, Yi Zhonghai is as tough as a cockroach; five years ago, Shazhu's antics left him embarrassed and disheveled, forcing him to leave the courtyard to seek shelter." No Chinese.

Translation: The first reason: Yi Zhonghai is truly indestructible like a cockroach; five years ago, after being embarrassed by Shazhu, he had no choice but to leave the Siheyuan to seek refuge.

Instruction -> restate.

: "Who would have thought." No Chinese.

Translation: Who could have imagined.

: "During the relief efforts, Yi Zhonghai managed to stir up a situation where thousands signed a petition praising him." No Chinese.

Translation: Yi Zhonghai, in the process of providing support, caused the incident of a thousand-person joint petition praising Yi Zhonghai.

: "Shazhu also heard about that incident." No Chinese.

Translation: Shazhu also heard about that incident.

: "It is said that Yi Zhonghai ran through the rain for over ten li to fetch a doctor, thus saving those people's lives." No Chinese.

Translation: It said that Yi Zhonghai braved the rain, traveling over ten li of mountain road to summon a doctor, thereby saving those people's lives.

Instruction -> restate.

: "Returning to the steel mill." No Chinese.

Translation: Returning to the Yagangchang.

We need to use Yagangchang from glossary.

: "By diligently honing his skills, he became one of the rare eighth-grade technicians at the steel mill." No Chinese.

Translation: He studied assiduously and became one of the few Level 8 Technicians at the Yagangchang.

We need to use "Level 8 Technician" from glossary.

: "Liu Haizhong remains a sixth-level technician to this day." No Chinese.

Translation: Liu Haizhong remains a Level 6 to this day.

We need to use Liu Haizhong from glossary.

: "The second reason." No Chinese.

Translation: The second reason.

: "The timing is wrong." No Chinese.

Translation: The timing is not right.

: "It is currently year 60; in a few years, even without Xu Daming's prompting, Shazhu will move against Yi Zhonghai and denounce him as his own accomplishment." No Chinese.

Translation: Now it's 1960; in a few years, without Xu Daming's urging, Shazhu himself will move against Yi Zhonghai, reporting him as his own achievement.

Instruction -> restate.

Chinese line translation: "To put it bluntly."

Translation: Put bluntly.

Chinese line translation: "Shazhu used Yi Zhonghai as a stepping stone."

Translation: Shazhu used Yi Zhonghai as a stepping stone.

Chinese line translation: "Well then."

Translation: Now then.

Chinese line translation: "Slowly."

Translation: Slowly.

Chinese line translation: "Just consider it as raising fish."

Translation: Just consider it as raising fish.

"……"

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). We need to output exactly the ellipsis? Probably keep as "……". We'll output "……".

Chinese line translation: "Jia Zhangshi has arrived."

Translation: Jia Zhangshi arrived.

Chinese line translation: "The old woman led Bangeng up to Shazhu, her eyes fixed on the fish in Yu Li's hand, and she involuntarily licked her chapped lips."

Translation: Laoqianpo led Bangeng, walking up to Shazhu, her eyes fixed on the fish in Yu Li's hand, and she involuntarily licked her chapped lips.

We need to use Laoqianpo from glossary.

Chinese line translation: "Shazhu caught a glimpse of saliva trickling from the old woman's mouth corner."

Translation: Shazhu faintly saw saliva dripping from the corner of Laoqianpo's mouth.

Chinese line translation: "She looked utterly famished."

Translation: She looked utterly famished.

Chinese line translation: "\"Shazhu. \""

Translation: "\"Shazhu. \"" (quotes). We'll output: ""Shazhu."" but need to keep Chinese quotes? We'll just output English quotes: ""Shazhu."" but we can use straight quotes. Probably fine.

: Same: "\"Shazhu. \""

Same.

Chinese line translation: "Shazhu's calm face instantly turned uneasy, with anger flashing in his eyes."

Translation: On Shazhu's formerly calm face, he instantly became unsettled, with more anger flashing in his eyes.

Chinese line translation: "The Shazhu in front was called by Jia Zhangshi, the Shazhu behind was called by Bangeng."

Translation: The Shazhu in front was called by Jia Zhangshi; the Shazhu behind was called by Bangeng.

Chinese line translation: "Truly a white-eyed wolf."

Translation: Truly a white-eyed wolf.

Chinese line translation: "No wonder in his past life, Bangeng kept calling Shazhu; truly, what kind of adult produces what kind of child."

Translation: No wonder in his previous life, Bangeng kept calling Shazhu; truly, what kind of adult one is, such a child one will have.

Chinese line translation: "Yu Li made a move as if to flare up."

Translation: Yu Li made a move as if to flare up.

Chinese line translation: "Scolding her is allowed."

Translation: Scolding her is permissible.

Chinese line translation: "Bullying Shazhu is not allowed."

Translation: Bullying Shazhu is not allowed.

Chinese line translation: "She was stopped by Shazhu."

Translation: She was stopped by Shazhu.

Chinese line translation: "\"Wife, don't get angry; they have no upbringing, that's their problem. If they're scolded, they're beasts, and we don't lose any meat. \""

Translation: "\"Wife, don't get angry; they lack family education, that's their affair; if they're scolded, they're beasts, and we don't lose a piece of meat. \""

Instruction -> restate.

Chinese line translation: "Jia Zhangshi's face."

Translation: Jia Zhangshi's face.

Chinese line translation: "It turned green."

Translation: Turned green.

Chinese line translation: "Shall we get angry with Shazhu?"

Translation: Get angry with Shazhu?

Chinese line translation: "We dare not."

Translation: Dare not.

Chinese line translation: "It's not reasonable."

Translation: Not in the right.

Chinese line translation: "After all, Bangeng called Shazhu, there are many people around, and they have designs on Shazhu's fish; if this damn thing blows up, Shazhu definitely won't give the fish to the Jia family."

Translation: After all, Bangeng called Shazhu, there are still many people around, and they also have the idea of coveting Shazhu's fish; if this damn thing blows up, Shazhu definitely won't give the fish to their Jia family.

Instruction -> restate.

Chinese line translation: "\"Bangeng, what do they call Shazhu outside? Call him Shuzhu. \""

Instruction restatement: "The translation is: \"Bangeng, outside they call Shazhu something; call him Shuzhu. \"" (We can keep as is.)

Chinese line translation: "\"Don't call him that; just leave it as is, otherwise even the dogs will find it annoying. \" Shazhu taught Bangeng word by word: \"Bangeng, from now on, when you see elders, call them old fogeys. \""

Translation: "\"Don't call him that; just leave it as is, or even the dogs will find it annoying. \" Shazhu taught Bangeng word by word: \"Bangeng, when you see elders in the future, call them 'old immortals' (i. e., old fogeys). \""

Instruction -> restate.

Chinese line translation: "This Bangeng kid."

Translation: "This Bangeng kid."

Chinese line translation: "He's really clever."

Translation: "Truly clever."

Learns at once when taught, and even used the knowledge Shazhu taught on Jia Zhangshi.

"Grandma, I won't call you grandma anymore, I'll call you old undead, you are old undead, he is also old undead."

Bangeng's small hand.

Pointed at Yi Zhonghai.

Very obvious.

"Old undead" refers to Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai, who was innocently implicated, the cigarette in his hand fell to the ground.

"Bangeng, good child, just call him that." Shazhu took out a fruit candy left from yesterday from his pocket, stuffed it into Bangeng's hand, "I reward you with a candy."

Xiao Dang, squatting on the ground playing with mud, though small in stature, big in spirit, seeing Bangeng call Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai "old undead" and receiving a candy, also imitated and shouted "old undead."

Shazhu truly treats everyone equally, rewarding Xiao Dang with a fruit candy as well.

"Zhuzi, what are you doing? How can you teach a child like that?" The hypocrite angrily said: "What does a child know? You're such a big person, you're arguing with a child."

"Elder, your words are not right, even Jia's mother isn't angry, as an outsider not surnamed Jia, why are you getting angry for no reason? What does it have to do with you?"

Shazhu discovered his wife really has a trick up her sleeve.

This soft knife.

The commotion left Yi Zhonghai looking disheveled.

It's tantamount to openly saying that Yi Zhonghai is related to Bangeng and Xiao Dang.

This counts as bringing up old matters again.

The right and wrong from five years ago flashed again in the neighbors' minds.

The Jia family's children, why Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu aren't really related, even going so far as to join a deviant sect, while Yi Zhonghai is anxious like ants on a hot pan.

Could it be!