Chapter 184: with translation of chapter title

Good words can't persuade a damned ghost.

I want to die.

You can't stop it.

In the end, the deaf old lady's own self drove her down an irreversible, dead-end path.

It's also her subjective consciousness causing trouble.

He thought he had Yi Zhonghai under control.

Little did he know.

The final straw that breaks the camel's back often comes so suddenly and unexpectedly.

The deaf old lady's threatening words revived Yi Zhonghai's long-dormant idea of silencing her.

Yi Zhonghai suddenly realized that the deaf old lady had become his problem, and it was time to deal with her.

Today you can threaten Yi Zhonghai once, tomorrow a second time, then third, fourth, and countless times after that.

If this continues.

Is Yi Zhonghai still himself?

He's become the deaf old lady's loyal lackey!

The matter of the club and Huaihua.

We cannot be careless at all!

He glanced at the deaf old lady, and a kind smile appeared on his face.

Old lady, look at what you're saying—why are you being so distant? Given our families' relationship, I can't just stand by and ignore you.

The deaf old lady didn't let her guard down just because of Yi Zhonghai's smile.

The turtle encountered a large tortoise.

The deaf old lady knows Yi Zhonghai's character well, just as Yi Zhonghai is familiar with her nature; each knows what kind of person the other is.

His innate vigilance heightened a bit.

Zhonghai, don't have any thoughts. This old lady of mine means no harm; I just want to take the opportunity to eat and drink well while I can still move.

The deaf old lady still hopes to repair her relationship with Yi Zhonghai as much as possible.

Just a moment ago.

He realized he had done something wrong.

He shouldn't have openly threatened Yi Zhonghai like that.

We need to approach this indirectly.

My old lady doesn't have many days left.

"Old lady, don't explain yourself; the more you explain, the more ashamed I, Yi Zhonghai, feel. By rights, we as a couple should let you enjoy your twilight years in peace, but you know the current situation—I, Yi Zhonghai, am willing but unable. I'll go see Xu Daming shortly; even if I lose face, I'll settle this for you."

The tone suddenly changed.

"To put it bluntly, you know what kind of person Xu Daming is—deep down he's not a good person; I'm worried he won't give me, Yi Zhonghai, any face."

After saying that.

Yi Zhonghai strode out of the Yi household.

He headed toward Hou Yuan.

Long Laotaitai watched Yi Zhonghai's receding figure through the glass, a boundless regret welling up in her heart—regretting that she had chosen Yi Zhonghai instead of Shazhu.

If Shazhu were in Yi Zhonghai's current position.

Then none of this would be happening now.

Yu Li's character, as seen by Long Laotaitai, is truly a good match for Shazhu; however, due to some circumstances, they heeded Shazhu's words and ceased contact with Long Laotaitai, which also extinguished her hope of relying on Shazhu for her old age.

Looking over the entire Siheyuan, the only person who catches Long Laotaitai's eye is Shazhu.

What a pity.

From the day after He Daqing left, Shazhu kept his distance from Long Laotaitai.

Long Laotaitai still hasn't figured out what she did wrong; she doesn't know where she offended Shazhu— the day before he was still calling her 'grandma' in every sentence, but the next day he gave her a cold, stern stare.

What did I do wrong!

……

What exactly Yi Zhonghai said to Xu Daming, what agreement they reached, Long Laotaitai knew nothing; she found a hint of an answer from the strained look on Yi Zhonghai's face.

In that instant, boundless regret welled up in her heart.

She bore a grudge against Xu Daming: "I, the old lady, merely said a few harsh words to your face in front of Lou Xiaoe—why are you still holding onto it?"

The Siheyuan head steward and the Yagangchang Level 8 Technician—this face has already been given to you, Xu Daming; you should accept it and let it be as if nothing happened.

You're good, I'm good, everybody's good.

Out of sight, out of mind.

The simpler the matter, the more it tends to be fraught with complexity.

Xu Daming gave Yi Zhonghai no face whatsoever, leaving Long Laotaitai in an awkward position; if word got out that she had the reputation of breaking up someone's marriage...

Not to mention the ancestors of the Dayuan.

Even becoming a grandparent would be too late.

Regret overtook Long Laotaitai; she instinctively felt things were going badly, and in a sudden, inexplicable moment, a doubtful gaze fell upon Yi Zhonghai's face.

A possibility occurred to her.

Her relationship with Yi Zhonghai had already broken; in this situation, Yi Zhonghai would not only refuse to side with her, but would also exploit this matter to make a big fuss.

None of them are fools.

They naturally know how to make trade-offs.

While inwardly bitterly complaining, he also tried as much as possible to think of a solution.

Sitting and waiting for death is not Long Laotaitai's style.

Ah!

He let out a helpless sigh, leaned on his cane, and left the Yi household.

Watching the dispirited Long Laotaitai leave, Yi Zhonghai's face involuntarily flashed a smug, sly smile.

……

Next day.

Sunday.

The neighbors, taking advantage of the rare rest time, did as much as they could of what they wanted to do: those who wanted to sleep in slept in, those who wanted to tidy up tidied up, and those who liked to beat their children seized every moment to educate their own kids.

Just as everyone was busy.

Jiēdào Old Wang, accompanied by two staff members, quietly came to the door.

The matter from yesterday.

It was vividly before their eyes.

Those with quick minds immediately linked Old Wang's visit with the incident of Long Laotaitai sabotaging Xu Daming's marriage, wondering whether Xu Daming had reported to the Jiēdào.

Otherwise, why would Old Wang have come, and with such a hostile demeanor?

In his heart, he held Xu Daming in higher regard; others believe revenge can wait ten years, but a soft-shelled turtle grandson seeks revenge overnight; the incident yesterday afternoon was reported to the Jiēdào that very night; otherwise, why would the Jiēdào appear so early at the Siheyuan? Next, let's see how Long Laotaitai will settle this.

Everyone says Jia Zhangshi is annoying to everyone.

Long Laotaitai is pretty much the same.

Out of respect for Yi Zhonghai's face, the neighbors refrained from speaking, but in their hearts they sincerely gave Long Laotaitai's eight generations of ancestors a warm greeting.

If they really used this matter to beat to death the so-called Dayuan ancestor with a single stick, the neighbors might buy strings of thousands of firecrackers to celebrate properly.

No need to remind; the people who liked to sleep in and the busy folks, with a mind to watch the excitement, gathered in the Zhong Yuan.

Long Laotaitai's liveliness.

We ought to take a look.

Someone also started asking Shazhu about something.

Nothing more than probing.

Probing, probing whether there is any matter concerning Shazhu here.

After all, the neighbors all know that Shazhu and Xu Daming are together called the 'Two Fools of the Siheyuan'; Shazhu never leaves Xu Daming, Xu Daming never leaves Shazhu, and neither associates with Long Laotaitai.

Shazhu, who understood the situation, gave a few perfunctory laughs, then turned his gaze to the nervously looking Yi Zhonghai beside him.

This is like bringing up the pot that shouldn't be mentioned.

He deliberately brought it up to Yi Zhonghai.

"Elder, do you really think the old lady was reported by Xu Daming? I'm not trying to excuse Xu Daming, but based on my understanding of him, he wouldn't do such a thing as reporting the old lady; it's more likely someone else reported Long Laotaitai and made Xu Daming take the blame. If that's the case, it's really despicable—daring to act but not to own up. Elder, do you think that's reasonable?"

Yi Zhonghai's face froze.

Shazhu's question.

It made him feel as if he had been publicly slapped hard by Shazhu.

He ignored Shazhu.

Taking advantage of the opportunity when Long Laotaitai was brought to the Zhong Yuan by Jiēdào Old Wang, Yi Zhonghai, who already knew the inside story, nevertheless pretended to be confused.

"Director Wang, what's wrong with the old lady? Could there be some misunderstanding? We're all residents of the same courtyard; we know the old lady's character. She's already this old—if word gets out, her reputation won't be good. Don't you think we should handle this within the courtyard?"

Long Laotaitai's gaze precisely fell on Yi Zhonghai, seeking a concrete clue from him; at the moment Old Wang arrived, the wily Long Laotaitai guessed that this was extremely likely Yi Zhonghai's doing.

They're all thousand-year-old foxes.

What kind of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio trick are they playing?

Using Xu Daming's name to push the matter to the Jiēdào, the one who takes the blame can only be Xu Daming.

It must be said.

This method is especially characteristic of Yi Zhonghai.

What a fine move of borrowing a knife to kill.

I really want to give Yi Zhonghai a thumbs-up.

Even if there is Long Laotaitai's calculation in this, the starting point is to let oneself live better, rather than the so-called ignorance that Yi Zhonghai speaks of.

There is a question of nature here.

The former would land one in jail.

The latter should be handled lightly.

Yi Zhonghai pressed his lips together, defined the incident as ignorance, and even in front of the neighbors elaborated his so-called innocence.

"Zhonghai, someone reported my old lady, saying she ruined Xu Daming and his wife's marriage—better to tear down ten temples than destroy a family bond. My old lady is just being immoral; I wouldn't do something so despicable as to be stabbed in the back."

"Xu Daming, the old lady is confused and said some thoughtless words; I already apologized to you on her behalf last night and promised she won't do such things again. Why won't you let it go? The old lady is this old—if something were to happen to her, could you, Xu Daming, rest easy?"

Yi Zhonghai did not, as usual, try to conceal certain truths; he directly pointed his spear at Xu Daming.

His words were fierce.

The expression on his face also became serious.

An appearance as if Xu Daming had reported Long Laotaitai.

Shazhu, who was present at the scene.

He gave a cold snort in his heart.

Outsiders might not understand, but he knows this affair is almost certainly Yi Zhonghai's doing.

Put oneself in another's shoes.

Put yourself in his shoes and think a bit.

If Shazhu were in Yi Zhonghai's position, he would also do what Yi Zhonghai did—using Xu Daming's name to kill the deaf old lady.

It would both solve the trouble of the deaf old lady and clear his own suspicion.

What a fine move to shift blame onto others.

If it were him, he would naturally deny it.

What you, Yi Zhonghai, have done—why should I, Xu Daming, take the blame! Why should I, Xu Daming, take the fall for you, Yi Zhonghai!

Too bad.

Shazhu is Shazhu.

Xu Daming is Xu Daming.

No matter how close their relationship, they are still two different people.

The distance was too great, and there wasn't time to warn Xu Daming.

He could only watch helplessly as Xu Daming walked into Yi Zhonghai's trap.

Accompanied by Lou Xiaoe, Xu Daming went before Old Wang of the street office and publicly recounted how the deaf old lady had sabotaged his marriage.

"Elder One, in front of the street office comrades, you still spout nonsense, calling the old lady innocent each time—is it that you lack brains, or do you treat the street office comrades as three-year-olds?"

Xu Daming, facing the street office, counter-questioned Yi Zhonghai.

"In front of my wife, he constantly speaks ill of me, Xu Daming—either saying I'm not good enough for my wife, or saying that my wife marrying me is like jumping into a fire pit. Once or twice I could tolerate, but I really thought the deaf old lady was just an old muddlehead. Yet she has repeatedly, since my wife moved into the siheyuan, over half a year, the deaf old lady has spoken ill of me over a hundred times—is that unintentional? Neighbors, tell me, is there such a neighbor? And still, the ancestors of the great courtyard—bah, what nonsense."

It must be said.

Xu Daming is also ruthless.

In order to get the deaf old lady inside.

He didn't hesitate to use himself as an example.

This effect is rather stiff.

The deaf old lady's conduct in this matter was already improper; Lou Xiaoe further proved that the deaf old lady had slandered and sabotaged their marriage, while Yi Zhonghai kept adding fuel to the fire.

Under their common interests.

The deaf old lady became someone everyone wanted to beat.

Xu Daming completely seized the initiative, pointing at the deaf old lady with a look of utter despair, and once again recounted the full story.

You deaf old lady, you weren't trying to ruin my marriage, were you?

Fine.

I let you destroy.

The street office has come.

In front of the street office, let's see how you destroy.

He also saw the situation clearly.

He realized he was taking the blame for others.

However, this blame, whether he wants to bear it or not, he must bear it, because in Xu Daming's plan, he intends to personally go to the street office to report the deaf old lady.

That saves a step.

"My wife comes from a noble family; originally seeing the deaf old lady alone, with no children, although there is an aunt and uncle taking care of her, ultimately she lacked a close confidante to talk to. She meant well, thinking she could keep the deaf old lady company and ease her worries. After chatting, the result was that, in front of my wife, she said my wife shouldn't marry me, Xu Daming, saying the notion 'marry a dog, follow the dog' is outdated, urging her to bravely pursue her own happiness, saying if my wife divorces me, the deaf old lady will help introduce a good match. Director, listen—this is the deed of our deaf old lady."

His tone rose accordingly.

He shouted a sentence in a yelling manner.

"Neighbors, I know you look down on me, Xu Daming, and avoid me, but I still want to remind you of one thing: harmonious families, stay away from the deaf old lady; otherwise, my today will be your tomorrow."

The first person to echo Xu Daming.

It was Jia Zhangshi.

Because they had become sworn siblings with the Yi family, the Jia family's life had been quite good lately, but it had dampened the deaf old lady's spirits.

Several times.

The deaf old lady and Jia Zhangshi had a tragic scramble over pork.

Both wanted to eat something better.

One put on airs of the great courtyard's ancestors.

One put on airs of Yi Zhonghai's sworn sibling relationship.

If the deaf old lady could be knocked down with a single pole, then no one would be competing with Jia Zhangshi for this meat to eat.

Interests at stake.

Jia Zhangshi naturally eagerly echoed Xu Daming.

"Director Wang, Xu Daming is right—the deaf old lady is truly inhuman; I, the old woman, have heard for days that she has been telling Lou Xiaoe all kinds of bad things about Xu Daming."