Chapter 163: Master, does the child in Huairu's womb have the surname Yi?

Has a dog's face.

Before stepping into the workshop, Jia Dongxu's face showed hatred for Yi Zhonghai so intense he gritted his teeth; his gaze was vicious, wishing he could swallow Yi Zhonghai alive, tear him apart, crush his bones and scatter his ashes.

When Jia Dongxu stepped over the workshop gate and entered, the bone‑deep hatred for Yi Zhonghai that had permeated his face vanished instantly, replaced by a smiling expression.

He wore a smile but said nothing.

His tone also became eager.

He shouted at Yi Zhonghai, who sat dazed on a stool.

"Master, I brought back your meal."

Jia Dongxu pretended to be a person who respected teachers and valued the Dao, showing great deference to Yi Zhonghai; while handing over the lunchbox, he cursed Yi Zhonghai's ancestors eight generations deep in his heart, yet his face showed not a trace of hatred for Yi Zhonghai.

He knew Yi Zhonghai was very suspicious; if he showed even a hint of panic or acted differently than usual, Yi Zhonghai would refuse to eat the meal.

In order to make Yi Zhonghai eat his saliva‑tainted food.

Jia Dongxu indeed spent considerable effort.

He took the opportunity to curse Shazhu.

"The people in the second canteen are really many—I estimate over three thousand; those getting meals pack the canteen interior, not to mention the line outside the canteen door. When I came out, I heard someone say that Shazhu's cooking is decent; those who previously got meals could eat Shazhu's food, but because of that these people have gone without for years, suffering greatly. Now that Shazhu has become head chef in the second canteen, they can eat his food every day—truly enviable. They haven't even eaten yet, just smelling the aroma, they boldly claim the food they used to eat was pig slop."

In Jia Dongxu's tone.

Carrying a hint of disdain for Shazhu.

Seemingly mocking Shazhu with sarcasm.

Actually the target is Yi Zhonghai before him.

"Isn't he just a cook? What's the big deal? In recent years our steel plant got along fine without Shazhu; it's not like without Shazhu the plant couldn't function. Shazhu entered the steel plant, became head chef, heard he was directly made canteen team leader, earning forty‑five yuan five a month—truly outrageous."

Jia Dongxu saw that Yi Zhonghai wasn't eating the vegetables in the lunchbox, but instead was picking up the steamed buns with his hand and putting them bit by bit into his mouth to chew.

He inwardly groaned in misery.

One oversight amidst many precautions.

He only thought about using saliva to wash Yi Zhonghai's lunchbox, adding saliva as seasoning to his lunchbox, but forgot about those two steamed buns of Yi Zhonghai's misfortune.

In order to make Yi Zhonghai eat the saliva‑tainted vegetables.

Jia Dongxu picked up some vegetables with his chopsticks, blew on them in front of Yi Zhonghai, put them into his own mouth, and while eating, he made pointed complaints.

"Everyone says Shazhu's food is so fragrant, people rush to eat it; I took a bite and it was just average. In my opinion, Shazhu's cooking skills are just hype, not nearly as miraculous as rumored; our steel plant fell for Shazhu's act—he's just a fraud."

He shifted his tone.

He began to coax Yi Zhonghai, urging him to eat the vegetables quickly.

Yi Zhonghai just gnaws on steamed buns and doesn't eat the vegetables, which wastes Jia Dongxu's saliva and leaves his desire for revenge with no outlet.

"Master, why aren't you eating? Do you also dislike Shazhu's food as not tasty? Try it, see if Shazhu's food is good or not."

Yi Zhonghai continued to chew the steamed buns at a leisurely pace.

His facial expression was plain and unremarkable.

But beneath the calm surface.

turmoil was already surging.

Jia Dongxu probably didn't realize that the falsehoods he performed toward Yi Zhonghai would ultimately become the key point exposing himself.

Usually, Jia Dongxu would also help Yi Zhonghai get meals, but he had never shown a smile while handing over the meal.

Excessive performance.

Causing this act to fall flat.

Some things became like lice on a monk's head, turning into facts laid before people's eyes.

In the hypocrite's mind, several questions arose.

Why does Jia Dongxu say all this nonsense to himself?

Why does Jia Dongxu put on a random performance in front of himself?

Why does Jia Dongxu urgently urge himself to eat the vegetables quickly?

He already felt guilty in his heart.

And he did another shameful thing that let people down.

Day after day, he lived in fear.

Night after night, he was panicked.

He feared being discovered, which would leave him ruined and disgraced.

Yi Zhonghai doesn't care about himself; his thoughts are all on the child in Qin Huairu's womb, wondering how the child can grow up healthy, how to honor his ancestors, how to take over Yi Zhonghai's position, becoming a new‑generation worker at the steel plant.

We keep asking ourselves in our hearts.

Then the incident happened.

Yi Zhonghai cannot live, Qin Huairu cannot live; the old lady resents Yi Zhonghai's betrayal, Jia Zhangshi is furious that Yi Zhonghai pried open a corner of the Jia family's wall, and the moment Qin Huairu gives birth to the child, the child is already set on a path of no return.

This is not the situation Yi Zhonghai wanted to see.

Anything that could possibly affect the child in Qin Huairu's womb, even if it's a person, will be cleared away by Yi Zhonghai—it's merely a matter of sooner or later.

"Dong Xu."

"Hmm?"

"How many years have you been promoted to second‑level worker?"

Yi Zhonghai asked in a desultory manner.

He, feeling wary.

He was testing.

Although he didn't know where the problem lay.

But Yi Zhonghai knew that Jia Dongxu in front of him was too abnormal; he worried that Jia Dongxu had learned about his and Qin Huairu's affair.

"He was promoted to Level 2 worker in 1954, and six years have passed."

"You have time to study the technology more; after a while you can be promoted to Level 3 worker. Qin Huairu's child in her belly will be born in a month or two. Once born, your family will be five people. Now it's like this, and the master means nothing else—you must support your wife and children. Shazhu is a few years younger than you; look at others, their households are fully equipped, then look at you."

"But I have a son, a daughter, and my wife is about to give birth. Shazhu is married; being married, what can he do? Families that can't have children are everywhere; give him a lifetime, he still can't compare to me, Jia Dongxu."

Yi Zhonghai raised his head and looked at Jia Dongxu.

He sighed.

He lowered his head and competed with the steamed bun.

No children.

In the past.

It is a taboo for Yi Zhonghai; whoever it is, whether intentional or not, as soon as the topic of cutting off the lineage is brought up, Yi Zhonghai will feel resentful, thinking the other person looks down on him, and he will become furious inside.

Since Qin Huairu became pregnant.

Yi Zhonghai's heart ailment seemed to have been cured.

If someone brings up cutting off the lineage in front of him, Yi Zhonghai will no longer, as before, think that the person is implying in various ways that he has no children.

His mindset calmed down.

Deep inside, a voice comforted Yi Zhonghai: "We Yi Zhonghai now have a son."

"Dong Xu, they say that, but the child needs to eat, the wife needs to drink, Bangeng is still small; in a few years, when he's growing, a half-grown lad will eat his father poor."

Yi Zhonghai put the lunchbox in his hand onto the table.

His tone carried a hint of resentment that iron wouldn't become steel.

"You, I don't expect you to be promoted to Level 4 or 5 worker; reaching Level 3 is enough. Your current wage is twenty-seven point five, and the school fees for Bangeng and Xiao Dang, plus the living expenses of Qin Huairu and your mother, are truly not enough. Your mother kept muttering last night, saying that the child in Qin Huairu's belly needs nutrition, asking the elder to help think of a solution. That day I gave the old lady's white flour to your Jia Family, which even gave the old lady an opinion, but out of consideration for the child in Qin Huairu's belly, I said nothing."

It might be that the mood has arrived.

Or perhaps Jia Dongxu got confused.

After Yi Zhonghai blabbered on and on, Jia Dongxu actually followed Yi Zhonghai's line and asked him a question.

"The child in Qin Huairu's belly."

After saying that.

He paused for more than ten seconds.

"It shouldn't have anything to do with you, right?"

I have never done anything guilty in my life.

At midnight I fear no ghost knocking on the door.

But Yi Zhonghai is exactly the opposite—he has done something guilty, and still feels sorry for his guilt toward Jia Dongxu, being publicly questioned by Jia Dongxu.

His heart leapt to his throat instantly.

His mind also went blank.

From beginning to end, there was only one thought.

Jia Dongxu learned of the affair between Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai, and their sordid matter would soon be known to countless Yagangchang workers, thereafter infamous for eternity, cursed by all women, children, and elders across the land.

How could this happen?

How could Jia Dongxu know about their affair?

"Every meeting was extremely careful and deliberate; they deliberately chose the time when Jia Dongxu was on night shift, meeting in places where they were unknown, so as not to be disturbed by Jia Zhangshi. Qin Huairu would also, following Yi Zhonghai's instructions, put sleeping pills in Jia Zhangshi's tea and personally serve her the tea laced with sleeping pills."

Jia Dongxu was not present.

Jia Zhangshi slept like a dead pig.

How did their affair end up known to Jia Dongxu?

How to settle this?

Yi Zhonghai panicked.

On his usually calm face, flustered expressions flashed one after another.

Jia Dongxu's heart.

Was stabbed with pain.

He had already gotten the answer he wanted from Yi Zhonghai's expression; gripping his chopsticks, he involuntarily clenched them.

He suddenly felt a ruthless surge in his heart for no reason.

In his mind, a voice seemed to keep urging Jia Dongxu.

He wanted to stab Yi Zhonghai, that bastard son of a bitch, hard with his chopsticks.

Make him eat human food but do nothing human.

Finally, reason took over his mind.

Jia Dongxu realized now was not the time to fall out with Yi Zhonghai.

He was isolated and weak.

He was a Level 2 worker who couldn't even get promoted to Level 3, while Yi Zhonghai was a top technician at Yagangchang, an Level 8 Technician whom even the workshop chief had to give some face to.

The two sides were not players of the same level.

If he really made a fuss with Yi Zhonghai, relying on Yi Zhonghai's connections and the seniority of the Level 8 Technician at Yagangchang, in the end it would likely be Jia Dongxu who suffers—he couldn't get revenge, and in his anxiety he'd also have to go clean the toilets at Yagangchang.

Evidence.

That is Jia Dongxu's biggest flaw.

He had no proof to show that Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu were involved; given Qin Huairu's attitude toward Yi Zhonghai, even if Jia Dongxu laid out the facts, Qin Huairu would likely, in front of countless people, say she had nothing to do with Yi Zhonghai, and even twist the blame like Zhu Bajie, accusing Jia Dongxu of all sorts of faults, suspecting him and Qin Huairu, etc. —a huge blame would be pinned on the Jia Family's heads, in the Siheyuan they'd be pointed at, and in Yagangchang they'd be cursed as ungrateful.

They are all smart people.

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

Jia Dongxu knew the seriousness of the matter.

Qin Huairu doesn't know either?

To turn against Yi Zhonghai, one must have evidence; Jia Dongxu heard that a blood test now exists that can determine whether a child is related to a father—if Qin Huairu gives birth and we trick Yi Zhonghai into donating blood, we can confirm his relationship with Qin Huairu via that test.

With both human and material evidence present, even if Yi Zhonghai is a level-eight worker, he cannot escape.

The same.

Qin Huairu also cannot then turn around and frame the Jia family people.

A method that yields multiple benefits.

Naturally, it should be adopted.

Master, did I scare you? Jia Dongxu's face showed a smile; he found a way out for himself under the pretext of playing tricks, saying, "I knew I would definitely scare you, Master. You are my master, Qin Huairu is the Jia family daughter-in-law—how could there be any problem between you two? It's definitely those people who see you treating me so well, and you're fair-skinned, and other things; they envy you, they slander you—I would never fall for their tricks. When I get the chance, I will definitely give them a good lesson, stop them from spreading rumors."

Yi Zhonghai did not calm down because of Jia Dongxu's self-justifying words; instead, his mood became even more tense.

Is the truth really as Jia Dongxu said?

Yi Zhonghai wanted to draw a big question mark.

He is a smart person, so he naturally wouldn't get overly entangled with Jia Dongxu on this issue; after all, this matter is shameful, so he also took the opportunity to back down.

"You brat, you've gone against heaven, actually joking like this with your master! Fortunately there's no outsider here, otherwise I wouldn't know how to face your master's wife. Alright, let's eat. After eating, I'll properly point out your technique. I am the apprentice of a level-eight worker, have worked in the factory for ten years, yet I'm still only a level-two worker—I have no face."

"Eat, eat."

Jia Dongxu, with his back to Yi Zhonghai.

Once again, hatred for Yi Zhonghai rose on his face.

Old bastard.

Not human.

I've tolerated you for two months.

Two months later.

I'll make you regret it.

Those who collude in wickedness are no good.

While Jia Dongxu was scheming against Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai, with his back to Jia Dongxu, was also scheming against Jia Dongxu in his heart.

Through the previous conversation.

Yi Zhonghai was convinced that Jia Dongxu had begun to suspect their affair.

He said it was just a joke.

Really just a joke?

Today, questioning Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu face to face about their relationship, tomorrow we can openly doubt, before countless people, whether the child in Qin Huairu's belly bears the Yi surname.

A strong sense of crisis surged onto Yi Zhonghai's heart.

The hypocrite now can't understand how Jia Dongxu, who was fine, suddenly changed his tone, giving himself—a person who is his enemy—a way out.

Why!

Could it be because of the evidence?

As the old saying goes.

Baseless talk becomes rumor.

Regarding the matter between Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai, nobody has evidence to prove they truly have a problem, unless the parties involved leak it themselves.

Yi Zhonghai isn't crazy; he won't do something that drives himself to a dead end, nor will he put the Yi family's incense, which he has long hoped for, in danger.

Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu's various ill-treatment and coldness toward Qin Huairu exhausted her last bit of goodwill toward the Jia family; Qin Huairu would not speak well of the Jia family, otherwise the child in her belly would not have taken another surname.

Qin Huairu does not speak.

Yi Zhonghai does not speak.

How Jia Dongxu managed to find evidence!

Hiss.

The sound of drawing in a cold breath rang out.

Yi Zhonghai was frightened by his own imagined answer.

Blood-drop kinship recognition!

Good fellow.

Jia Dongxu, this bastard, has turned bad—he learned to act with me, learned to endure temporarily; no wonder he just now pulled back, found a joking excuse, because he wants to compete with me on this spot.

The child's blood, my blood—our relationship will be made clear to the world.

Properly done, this is a good plan.

Fear not ignorance of all things.

But fear revealing too early.

Now that Yi Zhonghai knows Jia Dongxu's countermove, the stone in his heart can finally settle; he knows the danger is temporarily lifted, but if no solution is found, Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, and the three of the Yi family line of succession will have no way to survive.

In the hypocrite's eyes,

flashing with a mysterious light.

His eyes suddenly widened, then narrowed into slits.

Just now, taking advantage of a moment of sunlight, Yi Zhonghai noticed a bit of white foam in his food, not like seasoning, not like anything else, somewhat resembling nasal mucus.

Recalling Jia Dongxu's earlier urging him to eat quickly, combined with the damaged evidence in the lunchbox, Yi Zhonghai vaguely understood Jia Dongxu's intention.

Jia Dongxu, this bastard, was scheming against him behind his back.

Yi Zhonghai's innards churned up; he suddenly realized that lately, Jia Dongxu has been bringing him meals every day.

The truth is this terrifying.

Let the hypocrite have no appetite.

He, a magnificent eighth-level worker at Yagangchang, unexpectedly had his food mixed with Jia Dongxu's saliva and spittle every day.

"Wah!"

Yi Zhonghai rushed out of the workshop and dashed toward the nearest green belt.

Looking at the hypocrite's back, a flash of ruthlessness passed through Jia Dongxu's eyes.

Yi Zhonghai.

I will definitely kill you.

To not avenge this grudge is ungentlemanly.

I will definitely kill you.