Chapter 167

Shazhu and Yu Li are newlyweds, blissfully happy.

Xu Daming and Lou Xiaoe today obtained their marriage certificate.

The four of them gathered together.

They really have endless things to talk about.

Shazhu and Xu Daming have male experiences to exchange.

Lou Xiaoe and Yu Li also have female secrets to share.

They paired up, each whispering something, occasionally glancing at him or her not far away.

Shazhu wonders whether Lou Xiaoe and Xu Daming, as a couple, will end up like in his previous life—childless and still ending in tragedy, damn it.

Xu Daming, conversely, wonders how Shazhu feels after they spoiled the intimate atmosphere, and the earlier topic of arranging a baby engagement was brought up again.

Lou Xiaoe and Yu Li chatted about their own men and those secret amusements; when the conversation got lively, Yu Li laughed, and Lou Xiaoe laughed.

Shazhu and Xu Daming, however, each stared at each other speechless, truly not knowing what made the two women so happy, one giggling 'gegege', the other chuckling 'hehehe'.

The clear laughter pierced the night sky and flew into the neighboring Yi Zhonghai's house.

The families of Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, sitting together eating dumplings, at once thought their thoughts had gone astray.

Inside Shazhu's house.

How could there be a stranger woman's voice?

Could it be that Shazhu has gone bad!

Yi Zhonghai, harboring ulterior motives, immediately made up his mind, notifying the neighbors house by house, saying they would hold a big courtyard meeting; when the neighbors had mostly arrived, the hypocrite deliberately notified Shazhu last.

There is only one door.

The neighbors also all gathered in the central courtyard.

If there really is something.

It's definitely a scene of public humiliation on the spot.

"Zhuzi, the big courtyard meeting is starting."

Yi Zhonghai's voice doused the enthusiasm of Shazhu and them for their hot chat; the four each stared at each other speechless, truly not understanding what mischief Yi Zhonghai was up to again—could he be planning to mess with the big courtyard canteen?

Meet force with force, meet water with earth.

Nothing more than countering moves.

With doubts, the two newlywed couples came out of the house one after another.

The Lou Xiaoe who came out first looked unfamiliar to the neighbors; they realized they didn't know this woman, yet she happened to come out of Shazhu's house, and still at night from inside the house, their minds ran wild with speculation, thinking Shazhu, newly married, had already been fooling around, messing around with this woman inside the house late at night.

They blamed Xu Daming for being too wary of the neighbors, fearing the neighbors would learn he had specially gone to the Lou family to speak ill of him, ruining his marriage prospects.

From beginning to end, they never told the neighbors in detail; it's understandable the neighbors didn't know, not knowing Lou Xiaoe was Xu Daming's wife, mistakenly thinking she was Shazhu's lover.

The hypocrite also thought the same, looking at Lou Xiaoe, feeling a strong sneer in his heart.

As long as the person following behind is Shazhu, the hypocrite will accuse Shazhu of messing around with male-female relations inside the house and will be the first to find fault with him.

At this time, this era.

This reputation!

They're really out to get Shazhu's life.

Tonight, Shazhu and Jia Dongxu entered the courtyard one after another, seen by Yi Zhonghai; the hypocrite mistakenly thought Jia Dongxu and Shazhu had joined forces, feeling a strong sense of crisis, which is why he eagerly awaited Shazhu's appearance from behind.

Too bad.

Behind Lou Xiaoe came Xu Daming, behind Xu Daming came Shazhu, and behind Shazhu came Yu Li.

Everyone's hearts.

Suddenly felt lost.

It wasn't the scene they imagined; even if they didn't know Xu Daming had married Lou Xiaoe, the sight before them proved the relationship between Lou Xiaoe and Xu Daming.

"Daming, this young lady looks unfamiliar."

"Head Steward, of course she looks unfamiliar—she's my wife; we just got our marriage certificate today. Do you want me to pull it out and show you?" Xu Daming said, then began rummaging through his messenger bag. Under everyone's attentive gaze, his two hands grasped at nothing—empty, not even the marriage certificate. Xu Daming also had a retort: "What right do you have to look at our marriage certificate? What right do we have to let you look at it? If you're dissatisfied, go to the Street Office, go to the Security Section."

"Daming, you've taken the wrong medicine, just as you said—today you got your certificate, a happy day, why are you still being petty with people? In a courtyard, neighbors see each other whether they lower or raise their heads." Yi Zhonghai turned his head toward Lou Xiaoe and said: "I am the Head Steward of the courtyard, my name is Yi Zhonghai."

"Master Yi, I've heard of you—you're a grade-eight worker at the steel mill."

"I am the Second Steward, Liu Haizhong." Liu Haizhong, who had been suppressed by Yi Zhonghai for a long time, gave his name: "I am a grade-six forger at the steel mill."

"I've also heard your name."

Yan Fugui, however, didn't join in the fun, but Xu Daming still introduced him briefly; Lou Xiaoe gave Yan Fugui a smiling greeting, her tone noticeably more enthusiastic than the two previous stewards, then she stated her name.

"Third Steward, hello, I am Xu Daming's wife, my name is Lou Xiaoe, my father is Lou Moumou."

Having heard that Xu Daming married the sensible daughter of the Lou family.

The neighbors all felt boundless envy.

Shareholders of the steel mill.

Wealthy people.

I heard they eat white-flour pancakes every day and drink white-flour dumpling soup every day.

Xu Daming marrying Lou Xiaoe makes him the Lou family's son-in-law; it's estimated he'll soon be living the life of eating white-flour pancakes every day and drinking white-flour dumpling soup every day.

This is the life of immortals.

Envy, jealousy, hatred.

All kinds of emotions welled up in the neighbors' hearts.

Some people see through but do not expose.

They care about face.

Jia Zhangshi both sees through and exposes.

Shameless.

Upon hearing that Xu Daming had married the daughter of a Yagangchang shareholder, Jia Zhangshi thought only that Xu Daming had the means to hold a wedding feast and let her eat.

"Xu Daming, when will you hold the wedding banquet? Now that you're married, you ought to have a wedding feast."

Xu Daming frowned slightly.

I never expected that Shazhu would actually be right.

Just now Shazhu and Xu Daming made a bet inside the house: if Xu Daming, in front of the neighbors, said he had married Lou Xiaoe, the Siheyuan residents led by Jia Zhangshi would surely demand that he hold a wedding feast.

"Lou Xiaoe is a daughter of a wealthy family; marriage is a lifelong matter, not to be taken lightly. I think it's best to invite the neighbors to feast for three days, so that under their watch you, Xu Daming, and Lou Xiaoe become a couple, letting us neighbors also enjoy ourselves fully. Don't be like Shazhu, stingy, not even holding a wedding feast, just handing out a few candies to the neighbors."

Jia Zhangshi didn't even think about it.

Who is Xu Daming?

The Siheyuan's true petty person, at heart just a selfish individual—my Xu Daming getting married, what right do you have to let you neighbors join in the fun?

I owe you!

Pah!

"We won't hold a wedding feast; we're responding to the street's call for thrift. Today is a perfect chance, using the Dayuan meeting, to tell the neighbors." Xu Daming pointed at Lou Xiaoe: "This is my wife, Lou Xiaoe. From now on, we'll live together with the neighbors in the Dayuan."

Using thrift as an excuse, not holding a wedding feast, nobody can say it's wrong.

Jia Zhangshi felt helpless, cursing Xu Daming's ancestors in her heart, and fell back on the idea of handing out candy.

No wedding feast.

There's always some wedding candy, right?

"Not holding a wedding feast is fine; handing out some candy to the neighbors is also okay."

Xu Daming is really ruthless—he won't even hand out wedding candy to the neighbors; if he does give any, it's only to Shazhu and his spouse. As for Jia Zhangshi and the other neighbors, sorry, you're not worthy of eating Xu Daming's wedding candy.

"I discussed it with my wife; since we're practicing thrift, we should do it once and for all—no wedding candy, just give our goodwill to the neighbors."

Jia Zhangshi was numb.

No feast provided.

No wedding candy yet.

Frankly, Xu Daming, you're worse than Shazhu—Shazhu's wedding, for better or worse, still gave our Jia Family five fruit candies.

"Xu Daming, you."

"Jia dama, do you think I shouldn't practice thrift?"

This hat.

Jia Zhangshi wouldn't dare accept it.

Even Yi Zhonghai nearby wouldn't let Jia Zhangshi take the hat.

The hypocrite, seeing the situation tense, hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Xu Daming has married; the Yagangchang has successors; thriftiness reflects our fine tradition. I think it's fine that Xu Daming holds no wedding feast and hands out no candy. Seeing everyone here, let's start the meeting." The hypocrite changed tone: "Just now Jia Zhangshi told me that today afternoon, On Li scared Bangeng and his group so badly they fell down—all are neighbors of this courtyard."

Shazhu interrupted the hypocrite with a calm face.

Everyone could tell that Yi Zhonghai was speaking up for the Jia Family.

Say I can.

Say my wife just won't do.

"Elder, the old folks said, 'No investigation, no right to speak.' You haven't investigated at all, you don't know the facts, yet you listen to Jia Zhangshi's one-sided words and put the blame on my wife's head. What does that mean? My wife just moved into the Siheyuan, and you bring the neighbors to intimidate her—is it just because we didn't hold a wedding feast?"

Shazhu's gaze flicked toward Jia Zhangshi nearby.

"Jia dama, for a bite to eat you'd do anything. Before I got married, did I ever say in front of the neighbors that I wouldn't hold a wedding feast? As long as the elder gets me the supplies, even if I go two months without eating, I'll still satisfy the neighbors' desire for a feast."

"Shazhu, stinginess is stinginess—don't make excuses. If you truly wanted to treat the neighbors to a feast, you wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for the elder. Making things difficult for the elder just shows you don't want to treat the neighbors. Xu Daming doesn't treat them to a feast because he's practicing thrift. What about you? I remember clearly: you never said such a thing."

"Shazhu, you're just a Yagangchang Ershitang shift leader—how can you not even measure up to Jia dama?" Xu Daming, an old hypocrite, seemingly using Shazhu as an example but actually digging a pit for the Jia Family: "Look at how Jia dama speaks—forthright; I'm truly impressed by Jia dama for the first time."

Confused, Jia Zhangshi.

Head held high.

Like a victorious rooster.

"That's right! The old lady has laid down her words: from today on, whether big or small, the Jia Family will definitely treat the neighbors to a feast."

Shazhu's heart.

Moved.

Others don't know the truth.

Having been reborn, he nevertheless knows what will happen.

Jia Dongxu is going to die.

Jia Zhangshi is going to set out the feast.

Scanning the surroundings, Shazhu couldn't help but wonder: since it's a Dayuan meeting with all Siheyuan residents participating, why isn't Jia Dongxu present!

Shazhu probably wouldn't think that Yi Zhonghai's holding of the Dayuan meeting inadvertently created a slim chance for Jia Dongxu.

……

Jia Family.

At this moment, Jia Dongxu, inside the house, was racing against time to write a letter.

The contents concern him personally.

If Jia Dongxu meets any mishap, the letter calling for the public security to arrest Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu will detail everything in it—including Qin Huairu's relationship with Yi Zhonghai, the possibility of his being discovered and silenced by Yi Zhonghai—everything recorded without omission.

This letter will be given to Jia Zhangshi when time permits.

This is Jia Dongxu's makeshift solution.

Just before eating dumplings, Jia Dongxu had already seen the situation clearly; his warning to Jia Zhangshi went in one ear and out the other.

Had no choice.

Could only leave a letter.

He would instruct Jia Zhangshi to, if he met with an accident, give the letter to Shazhu; presumably upon seeing this letter, Shazhu would understand everything.

Always butting heads with Shazhu.

Disliking Shazhu, always trying to outdo him in everything, yet when he himself met with an accident, he still had to rely on this rival, Shazhu, to help clear his name!

This is probably the biggest satire aimed at Jia Dongxu.

……

Inside the courtyard.

The venue of the grand courtyard meeting.

Shazhu didn't think much and simply spoke the truth of what had happened this afternoon.

Since the Jia family is so shameless.

No need to hide it any longer.

"Head Steward, you just said my wife Yu Li frightened the Jia family's Bangeng and Xiao Dang—do you know the full story?" Shazhu raised his voice, addressing the surrounding neighbors: "My wife went to the toilet, which at most took five or six minutes. When she returned, she saw Bangeng standing outside our gate, craning his neck to size up our home, while Xiao Dang stood in the central courtyard. Seeing my wife come back, Xiao Dang shouted, "Someone's back!" Bangeng grabbed Xiao Dang and ran, tripping and falling to the ground."

Amounts to admitting that Bangeng intended to steal something.

Xiao Dang, as Bangeng's accomplice, kept watch outside.

Jia Zhangshi's face.

Instantly fell.

Yi Zhonghai's face.

Instantly turned grim.

One felt the Jia family had lost face.

One felt he himself had lost face, but Jia Zhangshi hadn't told him these things.

"Shazhu, you're talking nonsense; our Bangeng just went to find Yu Li to play."

Jia Zhangshi, aware of the importance of reputation, casually made up an excuse.

She certainly knew what Bangeng was up to; this was Jia Zhangshi stirring things from behind, saying that Shazhu had brought back lots of sausage from out of town and, being unscrupulous, refused to share it with the neighbors.

Bangeng volunteered to go snoop around Shazhu's home.

Jia Zhangshi praised Bangeng, saying he was just like the heroic thief Yanzi Li Three who robbed the rich to help the poor!

Put simply.

This afternoon's incident was Bangeng's failed attempt to be Yanzi Li Three.

"Our Bangeng is a good child."

Only Jia Zhangshi believed that.

The neighbors all took it as a joke.

"Hehe." Shazhu laughed, "Good child, Jia Zhangshi, don't gild the lilies for your Jia family's Bangeng—can a good child steal the east family's cabbage? the west family's carrots? Petty thief steals needles, grand thief steals gold—I understand that logic, but I really can't fathom whether you, Jia Zhangshi, are Bangeng's biological grandmother. Who has a grandmother who daily teaches Bangeng to steal and cause trouble for the neighbors? To speak bluntly, your behavior is hardly what a grandmother should do."

"My grandmother is my grandmother." Bangeng burst in mid-way and said to Shazhu, "My grandmother said Yanzi Li Three robbed the rich to help the poor; you have things, we don't, so you should help us; if you don't give, I'll take it myself—I am Yanzi Li Three."

Shazhu was troubled.

Damn Bangeng.

Instead of being a proper thief saint, he wants to be Yanzi Li Three.

With your character.

And still wants to be Yanzi Li Three!

"Yanzi Li Three robbed the rich to help the poor, but the key is your Jia family isn't poor." Old yin-yang person Xu Daming, speaking with a strange tone, said: "I've heard that your Jia family eats white flour every meal, while the neighbors only get to eat white-flour dumplings during the New Year; you must be robbing the poor to help the rich!"

"Our Huairu is pregnant."

"Don't bother explaining; it's not like we don't know—we all saw Qin Huairu eat a bowl of noodles, and the leftovers were eaten by you, Jia Zhangshi, and Bangeng, plus Yanzi Li Three—isn't that just theft?"

The Siheyuan's two fools.

Jointly launching an attack.

"Head Steward, you are the Siheyuan's Head Steward and also Jia Dongxu's master; I'll just say this: I don't care if Bangeng causes trouble for the neighbors' belongings, but if he messes with our family, I'll go straight to the street office—don't tell me then about neighbors, since Jia Zhangshi won't care; I'll find someone in charge."

Yi Zhonghai's complexion turned somewhat unsightly.

Shazhu's words amounted to issuing him an ultimatum.

Xu Daming kept echoing Shazhu's words.

"Head Steward, Shazhu is right—surely we can't lock the door when neighbors go to the toilet!"

Others also jumped in to complain.

What should have been a proper grand courtyard meeting turned into a venue for criticizing the Jia family, and Yi Zhonghai finally ended the meeting with a weak finish.

……

The next day.

Early morning.

Jia Dongxu took the chance when no one was inside, solemnly slipping the letter he'd written yesterday into Jia Zhangshi's hand, fearing she'd forget, he urged her word by word.

"Mom, keep this letter safe; if I meet with an accident, remember my words—take this letter to find Shazhu, have him bring it to the street office and the public security bureau, then read its contents in front of the street office and public security; remember, remember, this matter can only be known by you and me—you must not utter a word of the truth to Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, or anyone else."

Jia Zhangshi reached out and touched Jia Dongxu's head.

Cool.

No fever.

How could he be talking nonsense?

"Okay, okay, Mom gets it—if you have an accident, Mom will find Shazhu and have him hand the letter to the street office and public security; this still mustn't be told to outsiders, including your master Yi Zhonghai and your wife Qin Huairu; Mom will remember."

Mom, you must remember my words.

Before Jia Dongxu set off.

Feeling uneasy, he once again reminded Jia Zhangshi.

He didn't know why.

His intense feeling of unease grew even stronger.

Last night, as he slept, he dreamed that he lay inside a coffin, with Jia Zhangshi slumped on top of it weeping, and Qin Huairu, wearing white on the outside and red underneath, feigned crying.

Jia Dongxu glanced at the sky, then looked lingeringly at Jia Zhangshi, and finally stepped away from the siheyuan.

Behind him was Jia Zhangshi, watching his departing back.

Jia Zhangshi did not know that this parting would be eternal; Jia Dongxu went away walking and returned lying down, and casually placed his letter under the mattress.

He turned to look for Qin Huairu.

He hoped nothing unexpected would happen.

Just as Jia Zhangshi had left, the sturdy, tiger-headed Bangeng, like a monkey, leapt into the house and began rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

At yesterday's Dayuan assembly, after being mocked and ridiculed by Xu Daming, Bangeng's self-esteem suffered greatly, casting a shadow over the future of Daosheng.

Daosheng decided to become a true Yanzi Lisan, and took the Jia family as his training ground; while rummaging through boxes and cabinets, a letter fell into Bangeng's hands.

It turned out to be the letter Jia Dongxu had left concerning his final affairs.

Looking at the handwriting on it.

Bangeng felt wild joy, as Jia Zhangshi had said the Jia family possessed a hereditary secret manual.

Could this be the secret manual? Hearing footsteps inside the courtyard, Daosheng slipped the letter into his bosom and hurried into the courtyard.

"Bangeng, be careful, it's already this late—why aren't you going to school? I warn you, hurry up and go to school, or I'll whip you with the feather duster."

"Grandma, I understand."

Bangeng slipped away in a puff of smoke and ran off to work.