Chapter 196

"What kind of person am I, you all know, I am gluttonous and greedy, but I have never lied, nor do I deign to lie."

Yi Zhonghai changed his expression.

Qin Huairu also lost her former composure.

The two suddenly realized they had thought the matter too simple.

Something was leaked.

Character design.

Long Laotaitai is despised by countless people in the compound; this is Long Laotaitai's character setting, not lying, and it is likewise Long Laotaitai's character setting.

Not daring to openly observe the crowd's reaction, the two stole glances from the corners of their eyes, furtively scrutinizing the neighbors' facial expressions.

When the neighbors' expressions showed utter belief in Long Laotaitai's words, the moment it entered Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu's sight, both panicked.

The principle of three men making a tiger.

Yi Zhonghai understood.

Qin Huairu understood.

If over a hundred people all claimed Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai had an affair, even if they had no relation, in people's eyes they would appear to have one, let alone they actually do.

There is also factual evidence.

Huaihua!

This damn thing, when it reaches some people's ears, out of a desire to get to the bottom of things, they take Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, and Huaihua for a blood test, and their relationship will be exposed to the world.

Truth cannot be faked.

Falsehood cannot become truth.

At that time.

Yi Zhonghai will be called Yi. Ximen Qing. Zhonghai.

It is a notoriety even more infamous than Ximen Qing's, lasting for ten thousand years.

Who made them have a master-disciple relationship.

Violates human ethics.

The hypocrite's body trembled slightly.

He is already like this.

Qin Huairu was even worse; the scheming woman's mind went blank, she lost herself, her head filled with just one thought: she might really die of shame on the spot.

Think of that notoriety.

Headache.

Qin. Pan Jinlian. Huairu.

This is certainly not a good reputation.

By then, there will be no place for Qin Huairu to stay in the Yagangchang, no foothold for her in the Siheyuan, the people from Qin Village will also keep their distance from Qin Huairu, her parents will not acknowledge her, and Bangeng and Xiao Dang will break ties with Qin Huairu.

Such consequences.

Not the kind of consequence Qin Huairu wanted.

Damn it.

The matter blew up.

It is completely not as simple as they imagined; Long Laotaitai has no evidence to prove their wrongdoing, but her trait of not lying makes all this become true.

The neighbors' expressions already explained the problem.

The shit pot is no longer a shit pot.

It has become a big black pot.

"Why did Yi Zhonghai introduce Qin Huairu to Jia Dongxu? Because when Yi Zhonghai went to Qin Village to lend support, Qin Huairu and he got together. Don't think Yi Zhonghai couldn't do such a thing—he can!" Long Laotaitai emphasized her tone, "Why can't Old Yi's wife bear children? Isn't it because Yi Zhonghai wandered the alleys, caught a venereal disease, and made Old Yi's wife unable to bear children?"

Long Laotaitai directed her accusation at Qin Huairu.

The hemp rope snapped at its weak point.

Compared to Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, being younger and less experienced, is undoubtedly easier to deal with.

"Qin Huairu, in order to move to the city, Yi Zhonghai happened to be a man who liked women, and the two got together. Afterwards, Yi Zhonghai had to return to the city, Qin Huairu feared Yi Zhonghai would never come back, and with a reckless attitude she forced Yi Zhonghai to write a pledge. Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to take Jia Dongxu as a sucker. You think, why did Yi Zhonghai give Jia Dongxu a sewing machine and a radio? Really for his disciple? Nonsense, it was to shut Qin Huairu up."

The scene filled with the sound of people sucking in cold air.

Combined with Qin Huairu's various behaviors at the Yagangchang.

The neighbors increasingly believed Long Laotaitai's words.

The Yagangchang also wasn't without widows.

There are widows.

Qin Huairu, the widow, compared to other widows.

Who is higher, who is lower.

Immediately the distinction became clear.

Those other widows have left Qin Huairu, the widow, far behind by many streets.

Not mentioning the far, just speaking of the near: Liang Laodi and Qin Huairu entered the factory together, belonging to different workshops. Both are widows, yet their attitudes toward certain people are completely opposite. Others help Qin Huairu buy steamed buns and meals; Qin Huairu happily agrees, even in front of a bunch of coworkers, deliberately lining up with people, calling them either brother or brother—what kind of good person could she be?

One month after entering the factory.

Earned the reputation of the Yagangchang's charming widow.

Now look at Liang Laodi.

She often carries a hammer at her back; if anyone dares to joke with Liang Laodi, she swings the hammer without a word to reason with them.

This provokes the coworkers to burst into laughter.

This isn't even the end.

After work.

Liang Laodi specifically went to the house of the male coworker who had been making lewd jokes with her, in front of his wife and parents, publicly slapped him, and afterwards declared that if he ever made such jokes with her again, she would either go to Jiēdào or the police station.

Her fiery personality doused the thoughts of many old-timers at Yagangchang.

Even if you are a workshop leader, it won't work; you directly push the oxygen and acetylene, light the cutting torch, and want to reason with the leader who gave Liang Laodi small shoes.

After three months in the factory, Liang Laodi studied technology diligently and had already become a first-class welder, hearing that she would soon apply for second-class welder.

Let's take a look at Qin Huairu.

A typical case of mud that won't stick to the wall.

It is due to a lack of cultural education, but mostly because of her unwillingness to make progress.

Entering the workshop, relying on Yi Zhonghai being the workshop's sole Level 8 Technician, and being the mother of Yi Zhonghai's daughter Huaihua, she goofs off every day.

To this day, she remains merely an apprentice.

The reason she takes home twenty-seven point five yuan a month is because inside there are Yagangchang's consolation subsidy for Jia Dongxu and Jia Dongxu's seniority subsidy.

People just fear comparison.

Compared to Liang Laodi, Qin Huairu isn't even worth a fart.

Qin Huairu also became a piece of stinking dog shit.

The people around watching the spectacle.

Most of them are Yagangchang coworkers.

Some people have never seen Qin Huairu being lovey-dovey with others, but some people who work in the same workshop as her have personally witnessed her fooling around with other men.

Speaking frankly.

Some things or words are truly not what a widow should do or say; Qin Huairu has debased herself at the root. If she were like Liang Laodi, Long Laotaitai's blame toward her would naturally have coworkers step forward to help.

Past cause.

Present result.

For the sake of immediate gain, the despicable act committed became a big stick beating Qin Huairu.

They all began to whisper.

"Ai! Although Long Laotaitai is not a good person, I still believe she doesn't lie; Qin Huairu, Yi Zhonghai, they are actually carrying on an affair, poor Jia Dongxu, a lifelong cuckold king, even in death he cannot rest."

"Who says it isn't?"

"Come on, speak."

"What to say, say whether Long Laotaitai is right? I don't know if Long Laotaitai is right, but I know Qin Huairu's conduct in the workshop really isn't good."

"When getting meals, either this man helps buy vegetables or that man helps buy steamed buns, saving meal money and meal tickets."

"Holy shit, Qin Huairu plays quite flamboyantly."

"Whether it's flamboyant or not, we have to ask Xu Damao."

Shazhu's heart.

A move.

Some memories from his past life automatically surfaced deep in his mind; he vaguely recalled Xu Damao queuing, and after Qin Huairu entered the door, she directly walked up behind Xu Damao.

An Xu younger brother.

A Qin older sister.

Xu Damao paid the meal fee, sat waiting to fool around with Qin Huairu; as a result, Qin Huairu played the fox borrowing the tiger's might, found Shazhu, tearfully claimed that Xu Damao had improper designs on her, causing Xu Damao to receive a beating from Shazhu.

As for this lifetime.

Shazhu does not know.

Just like the neighbors, he also turned his gaze toward Xu Damao.

A hint of a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Whether Xu Damao brought misfortune upon Qin Huairu is unknown, but Xu Damao was disciplined by Lou Xiaoe.

Having heard that Xu Damao had helped Qin Huairu with meal expenses, Lou Xiaoe grabbed his ear with her hand, insisting that Xu Damao give her an explanation.

Along with the earlier bunch of neighbors who loved to watch the spectacle and didn't mind making a big deal out of things.

They all shouted in unison.

"Lou Xiaoe, I didn't expect you to be this formidable."

"Lou Xiaoe, I'm telling you, if this man harbors ill intentions, you'd better give him a good lesson; if you don't hit him for three days, you'll hit him so hard you lift the roof tiles."

Having stirred up Lou Xiaoe.

Having stirred up Xu Damao.

"Xu Damao, this won't do; we are elders, ask everyone—aren't decisions made by the elders? If you get beaten by your wife and it gets out, it'll be embarrassing."

"San Daye, why are you also joining the clamor? Xu Damao, San Daye can't stand to watch anymore; your counterattack—if you don't strike back, Lou Xiaoe will twist your ear off."

"If you don't beat your wife, the family won't be harmonious; if you want to get by, you must discipline your wife."

Someone also stirred up Shazhu's fire.

Nothing more than the idea of getting Shazhu to also take the field.

"Shazhu, what do you think about Xu Damao buying meals for Qin Huairu?"

People's gazes.

Shifted onto Shazhu.

Pairs of eyes filled with gossip.

Made Shazhu's head swell.

These people.

They don't wish anyone else well.

Kicking someone when they're down and stirring up trouble, every single one of them is an expert at it.

The Xu Daming–Qin Huairu affair is none of my business, Shazhu; just because I didn't see it, a single question from the neighbors made Yu Li a little jealous.

Yu Li's thoughts are the same as the neighbors'.

Everyone thinks Shazhu must give an explanation.

Inside the Siheyuan.

Xu Daming's family and Shazhu's family have no dealings with the Jia Family, as if they'd rather die than interact.

In the factory, Xu Daming nevertheless bought food for Qin Huairu.

Following the vine to the melon.

Wildly guessing.

Xu Daming could buy food for Qin Huairu.

Shazhu can't buy food for Qin Huairu, can he?

In some aspects.

Shazhu has a far greater advantage over Xu Daming; he's a cook, and shaking the ladle is his specialty—giving Qin Huairu more or less is just a matter of a scoop.

Among the crowd.

The person who truly wants Shazhu and Xu Daming to get into trouble.

Only Long Laotaitai.

To Long Laotaitai, Shazhu and Xu Daming are the key witnesses she needs to expose the relationship between Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu; as long as those two speak up, Qin Huairu will be a stinking pile of dog shit.

"Shazhu, at this point, do you still want to protect Qin Huairu?"

One sentence.

Pushed the situation to a climax.

Protecting Qin Huairu.

There's meaning behind the words.

People's gazes grew ever more filled with anticipation; even Lou Xiaoe, who was competing with Xu Daming beside him, unnaturally loosened her grip on his ear.

Feeling the gazes of the crowd.

Shazhu chuckled.

"There are two questions in total; I'll answer them one by one. The first question: how do I view Xu Daming buying food for Qin Huairu? I tell the neighbor who asked, I saw it with my own eyes."

The scene erupted in an uproar.

No one expected Shazhu to answer like that.

"The second question is from Long Laotaitai; she told me not to protect Qin Huairu. I don't know how the neighbors will view this remark."

In the crowd.

A teasing remark came through.

"Look with your eyes."

"This time we can't just go by what we see; we need to reason. Whether I have any relation with Qin Huairu, I don't know what you think, but as far as I'm concerned, there is none. Long Laotaitai's remark is suggestive, making the neighbors mistakenly think I'm not clear with Qin Huairu. I swear to the elder, I have not a penny's worth of relation with Qin Huairu."

He caught his breath.

Using Yu Li as an example.

Shazhu knows he must come up with a one-two-three today, otherwise, according to the nosy nature of the Siheyuan neighbors, tomorrow rumors will spread that he has something going on with Qin Huairu.

I've been back from support for eight months now; during this time I either go to work or stay home tidying the house; even if I have time, I only spend it with San Daye thinking about how to scrounge up food—I have no time, no energy, to do anything else. I have a wife; my wife is Yu Li, who manages the household, looks after her husband and sister-in-law; my wife in our Siheyuan could easily rank among the top five. I have such a good wife, yet I'm out there fooling around—I must be crazy.

Shazhu intensified his tone.

I'll say one last thing: regarding these baseless rumors, I hope the neighbors stop gossiping; I don't want to lose my life over such idle talk.

Everyone felt relieved.

These times.

Fooling around can get people killed.

Do they really think anyone can be like Deputy Factory Director Li, having an ambiguous relationship with Liu Lan and still be unscathed?

Long Laotaitai, if you have evidence, produce it and I'll admit it; if you don't, then mind your own business—your revenge against Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it.

Not far away.

Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, who had been desperately thinking of countermeasures, were actually inspired by Shazhu's words, and one after another they lashed out at Long Laotaitai.

Old lady, if you have proof that Qin Huairu and Master Yi were together, produce it; as long as you produce it, even if I didn't do it, I, Qin Huairu, will admit it.

The scheming woman still found an advantage.

I share this attitude: if you have evidence, produce it; don't just baselessly pin the blame on me here. I don't care—I'm half-buried in the loess—but Qin Huairu is still young. Long Laotaitai, can't you stop using those past things to muddy the waters? Without evidence, it's just hearsay; I, Yi Zhonghai, don't accept it—I only accept evidence.

They are bullying Long Laotaitai for lacking substantive evidence.

Jia Zhangshi also hurriedly echoed.

Laoqianpo realized that keeping Yi Zhonghai safe was the only way to safeguard the Jia Family's interests. Perhaps she had previously blamed Qin Huairu for not upholding wifely virtue, but after Jia Dongxu's death, the Jia Family's interests were paramount, and she actually wanted Qin Huairu to have some connection with Yi Zhonghai.

With these connections.

The Jia Family is nothing but a bunch of parasites clinging to Yi Zhonghai!

Not long ago.

In order to bleed Yi Zhonghai dry and make the Jia Family profitable, Jia Zhangshi also helped Qin Huairu devise plans, telling her how to win over Yi Zhonghai.

Long Laotaitai, I, the old woman, think the same way: produce the evidence.