Chapter 190: The Jia Family's Turmoil Rises Again

This is fate, huh!

Things you don't want to do, heaven insists on dumping them on your head; things you want, you can strive for all you like, yet they have nothing to do with you.

Line extinct!

A hint of a mocking smile appeared at Xu Daming's lips.

All along, he thought Yi Zhonghai was the biggest joke in the siheyuan, scheming all his life for his own retirement, never tiring in his calculations against everyone, not hesitating to do despicable things.

Who would have thought.

He himself would end up with no heirs, and would become a Yi Zhonghai who isn't Yi Zhonghai, scheming for his own retirement just like Yi Zhonghai did.

In the end, he became the very person he despised.

Is there any joke more ridiculous than this?

Perhaps not.

Head.

Slightly raised.

In the azure sky, a few white clouds drifted.

Once upon a time.

I have never seen such a beautiful sky again.

I suppose I will have no time to admire such scenery from now on.

Blessed with both sons and daughters.

Nonsense!

His parents still thought it was Lou Xiaoe's fault, voicing many complaints about her, saying that if they had known Lou Xiaoe couldn't bear children, they wouldn't have agreed to this marriage, causing the Xu family to lose its lineage.

It wasn't Lou Xiaoe's problem.

It was Xu Daming's fault.

A bitter taste welled up in Xu Daming's heart; he suddenly didn't know how to face Lou Xiaoe, nor how to bring this up to his parents.

A heavy burden.

Weighed down on Xu Daming's shoulders.

Making his body and mind feel a wave of fatigue.

Sigh.

He let out a sigh.

He balled up the test report, stuffed it into his mouth, and began to swallow it.

He strode with heavy steps toward the siheyuan.

……

"Hey, who is this? This isn't our siheyuan's famous film projectionist Comrade Xu Daming, right? What's the deal, got caught by some old guy?"

Shazhu, unaware of the situation, seeing Xu Daming so listless, habitually made fun of him.

Those last words.

Shazhu lowered his voice.

Joking is joking.

Some things, some words.

Must be kept away from people.

Otherwise, we can't remain brothers.

"Shazhu, can't you wish me some good luck instead of always hoping I get into trouble?" Xu Daming immediately put away his gloom and joked with Shazhu, "If I got into trouble, would you help me take care of Lou Xiaoe?"

Shazhu was startled.

He was scared.

Xu Daming's last words.

But he didn't, as usual, lower his voice habitually.

If this damn thing were heard by outsiders.

He, Shazhu, would just be Shazhu.

He looked left and right.

Seeing no one.

The heart he had lifted in midair finally fell back down, barely.

"Xu Daming, do you want to die?"

"Scared?" Xu Daming let out a cold snort, "Who let you scare me first? Alright, I'll make some good dishes tonight and bring my wife over to eat."

"Where to get those good dishes?"

"I don't care, you're the cook; if you can't make it, you'll lose face as the idiot chef, tsk tsk tsk tsk, the head chef of the Yagangchang, your food isn't fragrant, sigh!"

"Pathetic!" Shazhu shouted after Xu Daming's retreating figure, "Bring a bottle of wine tonight, don't come empty-handed."

Xu Daming raised his arm, waving without looking back at Shazhu.

His posture was so suave.

He stepped into the rear courtyard.

A strange feeling suddenly came over Xu Daming; standing in the middle of the rear courtyard, lost in thought for a moment, he finally realized where this unease came from.

It was Long Laotaitai.

In the past.

At times like this.

Long Laotaitai sat on the stool as usual, basking in the sun.

Rain or shine, year-round, she never moved.

Because she had ruined Xu Daming's marriage, she was taken away by the Jiēdào this morning; the courtyard now lacked the disliked Long Laotaitai, and naturally a feeling of unease arose.

Not to mention Xu Daming, the neighbors in the courtyard all felt something was off; suddenly, they felt the heavy burden on their shoulders had lifted.

He steadied his mind.

Seeing Lou Xiaoe again competing with those medicines.

A sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

He suddenly felt that Lou Xiaoe was having a hard time; clearly it was his own fault, yet for no reason she ended up carrying the chamber pot for him.

……

Jia Family

Jia Zhangshi was again muttering curses at the street.

Qin Huairu took it in stride.

If Jia Zhangshi weren't cursing the street, that would be truly frightening.

The reason for her street-cursing.

It was because Jia Zhangshi overheard the conversation between Xu Daming and Shazhu that she felt an extreme sense of imbalance from inside out; my old woman lost her husband and became a widow, my daughter-in-law Qin Huairu lost her husband and also became a widow, we few widows and orphans of the Jia family are about to lose Yi Zhonghai's support, you beasts have no compassion at all—one tells Shazhu to cook a few of his signature dishes, another tells Xu Daming not to come empty-handed; this is nothing but blatant flaunting of wealth!

"Every one of them will die childless! May they meet a bad end!"

Qin Huairu said nothing.

She gently patted the quilt on Huaihua's body, lulling the little girl to sleep.

The difference between biological and non-biological kin.

It became apparent at once.

She was affectionate toward Huaihua.

She was not affectionate toward Bangeng.

If it weren't for her wariness of Yi Zhonghai, she wouldn't even glance at Bangeng.

"Huairu, wait until Shazhu finishes cooking tonight, then take your bowl and go borrow."

The sound of drawing in a cold breath.

It was gasped out of Qin Huairu's mouth.

Everyone in the neighborhood knows the connection between the Jia and He families, and Qin Huairu knows it best.

They hardly ever interact.

In this situation, you want me to take my bowl and go beg Shazhu for food—this is just asking for trouble.

They call it borrowing.

Actually it's just taking.

Begging for food!

This is the livelihood of beggars.

Qin Huairu instinctively felt a surge of resistance.

"Mom, you pat your chest and say I take the bowl to ask, will they just give it?"

"Borrow."

"Is it borrowing or taking? You know it, I know it—by having me, Qin Huairu, carry a bowl to beg, you'd be satisfied? You don't think of me; you should also think of Dong Xu and Bangeng and the others—you can't just watch Bangeng and them end up with the reputation of having a mother who begs for food, can you?"

"Who says I don't consider Bangeng?" Jia Zhangshi's voice rose, "Bangeng is nine years old, exactly the age to grow; it's hard enough for our widows and orphans—I let you take your bowl to beg Shazhu for some food, what's wrong with that? If you don't go beg, am I supposed to go beg? I've never seen a daughter-in-law like you, so unfilial toward your mother-in-law; Dong Xu is dead, yet you don't even see me as your mother-in-law, Qin Huairu—are you thinking of remarrying?"

"Who wants to remarry? When did I ever say I would?"

"Not saying it doesn't mean you don't want to, Qin Huairu; I, the old woman, have laid down my words—while I'm around, you'd better drop any thought of remarrying; you know what kind of person I am."

"You're threatening me?"

"I really am threatening you."

Jia Zhangshi flung her hand, and an enamel bowl was smashed hard onto the ground.

The clear sound of the porcelain bowl shattering on the floor.

It split the void.

It flew into the ears of the Siheyuan neighbors.

While he was in the Yi residence, pondering matters, Yi Zhonghai was startled.

The Jia family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were arguing.

This must not be allowed.

His bloodline still lay on the Jia family's bed—don't hurt my son and daughter.

Yi Zhonghai shot up straight, without anyone urging him, put on his shoes, left the house, and walked toward the Jia family.

He arrived at the Jia family.

He pushed the door open and walked straight in.

"It's a perfectly fine Sunday, the neighbors are resting, yet I hear ping-ping-pang-pang from your house—what's going on? Why did things suddenly kick up?"

Yi Zhonghai seemed to be lecturing the Jia mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but his gaze first fell on Huaihua and Bangeng lying on the bed.

Seeing the two children sleeping soundly.

The heart that had been suspended in midair.

Only then could it settle.

Damn it.

Thank goodness my son and daughter are unharmed; otherwise I'd beat you two bastards to death.

Yi Zhonghai hardened his heart.

It also made the Jia family's mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law, who were present, shudder.

Jia Zhangshi secretly wondered whether Yi Zhonghai's fierce anger meant he had figured out her plot against him.

She furtively glanced at Yi Zhonghai.

She also felt that Yi Zhonghai hadn't realized it was a trap.

Her heart steadied a little.

From the moment Jia Zhangshi smashed the enamel basin, Yi Zhonghai fell into her scheme.

If he doesn't come, that's fine.

If he comes, entering the Jia household is tantamount to stepping into Jia Zhangshi's trap.

Why must you force Qin Huairu to go beg food from Shazhu?

Are you really lacking even a bit of food and drink?

Nonsense.

It's an act put on for Yi Zhonghai and the neighbors to see.

Although Jia Dongxu is dead, the master‑disciple bond between him and Yi Zhonghai hasn't faded with his death; instead, because Qin Huairu took over his position, this relationship has become even more evident.

You've cut off the family line, you're a level‑8 technician with extremely high pay and benefits; your apprentice died and his wife took his place in the factory, yet with you, a level‑8 technician master, holding your rice bowl and begging food from neighbors who have nothing to do with you, the disgrace is not the Jia family's nor Qin Huairu's.

It's the Jia family that has completely torn away Yi Zhonghai's face, letting the neighbors know that Yi Zhonghai is a cold‑hearted, ungrateful person who abandons others once they're no longer useful.

Moreover, there is also the matter of the deaf old lady as further evidence.

This amounts to a fatal blow to Yi Zhonghai.

Jia Zhangshi, being shrewd, didn't inform Qin Huairu and acted freely.

Seeing the neighbors also flocking to outside the Jia household's gate.

Jia Zhangshi followed the script and began her performance.

"Bangeng's foster father, it's not that I, the old woman, ruined the neighbors' peaceful Sunday; they all blame my daughter‑in‑law Qin Huairu, saying she is unfilial, after Dongxu left she doesn't listen to me."

As for the reason.

Jia Zhangshi didn't say.

That was left for Qin Huairu.

Based on her understanding of Qin Huairu, Qin Huairu will surely use this opportunity to establish her persona.

"Head Steward, neighbors, it's not that I, Qin Huairu, am unfilial; it's my mother‑in‑law." Qin Huairu cried tears streaming down, "Just now, my mother‑in‑law told me, she said, 'Huairu, take a big bowl tonight and go to Master He's house across the way to beg for food.'"

Exactly as Jia Zhangshi had anticipated.

Upon hearing the true reason, Yi Zhonghai's face turned green instantly.

This is a slap in the face, striking the face of the Siheyuan steward, the Head Steward, clearly saying he failed to care for the widow of his apprentice Jia Dongxu.

"Master He's relationship with our family is known to the neighbors; we hardly interact. I take a bowl to beg for food—will I even get any? Even if they agree out of pity for our orphaned, widowed mother, how much could they give? We're not well‑off! Saying it's a loan is really just a demand; because I don't want to go, my mother‑in‑law gets upset and scolds me for being unfilial."

"You are unfilial; Bangeng's half‑grown child is eating us poor old folks out of house and home—we have no rice or vegetables, we can barely keep the pot boiling. As a mother you can relax, but as a grandmother I must step in. Qin Huairu, I ask you: is your face more important, or Bangeng's children's health?"

"Waaah!" Qin Huairu didn't respond to Jia Zhangshi's questioning, just kept wiping her tears.

Yi Zhonghai's heart.

No decline.

After all, she is his child's mother.

Since the neighbors are all here, let's hold a big courtyard meeting to discuss what to do. Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, who were watching the spectacle, and said: "Guangtian, Guangfu, one of you go to the front courtyard to inform the Third Elder, the other go to the rear courtyard to inform your father; the Jia family matter has reached the point where it must be resolved."

Among the onlooking crowd.

The First Aunt silently took in Yi Zhonghai's reaction.

A boundless sense of desolation welled up in her heart.

She was certain that Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu shared some secret unknown to outsiders!

The reason they made a big fuss about Xu Damao's affair is likely because the deaf old lady learned Yi Zhonghai's secret and was silenced by him.

Heart.

A chill.

Yi Zhonghai is no longer Yi Zhonghai.

…… -> none.

Three or four minutes.

The central courtyard was packed with neighbors.

Hold a big courtyard meeting.

Only two people hosted the meeting.

The Head Steward Yi Zhonghai, the Second Elder Liu Haizhong.

As for the Third Elder Yan Fugui, Liu Guang ran into the Third Aunt, who said she wasn't there, saying she had gone to find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for Yan Jiecheng.

Don't know if it's an excuse.

Or maybe she really isn't there.

Yi Zhonghai also couldn't be bothered to discern truth from falsehood.

The Jia family's farce.

This gave Yi Zhonghai an excuse to hold the big courtyard meeting; taking advantage of the situation, it clarified the Yi family's stance toward the deaf old lady.

"Everyone quiet down; taking advantage of this moment, let's hold a brief little meeting about the Jia family."

"Old Yi, wait, the people aren't all here."

Liu Haizhong suddenly interrupted Yi Zhonghai's opening remarks.

Besides the arrested Long Laotaitai and Yan Fugui who was looking for a matchmaker, there are still four people missing.

Shazhu and his spouse.

Xu Daming and his spouse.

Holding the Dayuan grand meeting is such an important matter.

They actually didn't come.

"Guangtian, go to Hou Yuan to find Xu Daming; how can you not attend the Dayuan grand meeting?" Liu Haizhong, having reminded Liu Guangtian, turned his head toward Shazhu's home, sank his qi to his dantian and let out a loud shout: "Shazhu, Yu Li, how can you not attend the Dayuan grand meeting? It's just in Zhong Yuan, only a few steps away—hurry up."

I thought Shazhu would not give face.

I didn't expect they would be so disrespectful.

I didn't see them.

But the voice clearly drilled into the ears of everyone present from inside the house.

"Second Elder, it's not that I'm not giving you face; you know our family's relations with the Jia Family—we hardly interact. This Dayuan grand meeting related to the Jia Family, sorry, our family refuses to participate. We also heard the voice just now. You really have a big face, making Qin Huairu come with a bowl to ask for food. When the Jia Family improved their livelihood, why didn't they share with the neighbors?"

Liu Haizhong was turned away at Shazhu's door and said nothing.

Furthermore, Xu Daming gave him a loss of face.

Liu Guangtian, who went to summon Xu Daming for the Dayuan grand meeting, brought back Xu Daming's message.

About the same as Shazhu.

It's also a Jia Family matter, unrelated to the Xu family.

Moreover.

Xu Daming also said they are responding to the nation's call, currently working hard to add bricks and tiles for the country's future.

Don't bother us if it's nothing.