Chapter 198: The Curtain Falls, Yi Zhonghai Seeks to Remove Long Laotaitai

It was also a case of quick thinking under pressure.

Jia Zhangshi did it for the Jia family's benefit.

Just as if Zhuge Liang had possessed her.

She debated Long Laotaitai.

"Long Laotaitai, you're not a good person; you rely on your reputation for not lying, you disturb the neighbors' sightlines—just like me, Jia Zhangshi, I act shamelessly and the neighbors don't believe my words; even if I suddenly stop acting shamelessly, they still won't believe me. You, Long Laotaitai, are the same: you seem to never lie your whole life, but if you suddenly tell a lie, the neighbors will take it as truth. Just like now, you keep saying our Huairu is related to Yi Zhonghai and even gave birth to a child—aren't you doing this because Yi Zhonghai pitied our Jia family's orphaned widow and, being Dong Xu's master, kindly helped us? You made me eat less meat, and yet you act like this?"

Shazhu furrowed his brow.

I never expected that the biggest crisis facing Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu would be resolved by Jia Zhangshi.

These words.

They are very logical.

They leave no room for disbelief.

After all, Long Laotaitai's reputation for gluttony has seeped into everyone present; many have been forced by her to surrender the meat dishes they bought to improve their lives, reluctantly.

A strong sense of resonance ran through them, they stood with Jia Zhangshi against a common enemy, unanimously agreeing that Long Laotaitai was not a decent person.

In times of scarce supplies.

Even cornbread was scarce.

Yet you, Long Laotaitai, constantly crave meat.

Indeed, you are not a decent person.

Who, as a decent person, constantly talks about wanting meat?

"Your greatest reliance is the club; I, the old woman, speak frankly: the club is truly not the blood of our family's Dong Xu, but a child we Jia family adopted from another household."

The conversation shifted.

He sighed.

"Many will ask, given that the Jia family needs assistance, how could you still adopt another's child? This is also Long Laotaitai's evidence that she claims our Huairu and Yi Zhonghai are involved; neighbors, think about it: on the day Dong Xu died, Huairu took in this boy."

On some people's faces.

They indeed had such an expression.

Shazhu was one of them.

Once Jia Zhangshi offered this excuse, even if Qin Huairu had been involved with Yi Zhonghai, she would now seem uninvolved.

It's the same principle as driving piles at a construction site.

Some families.

Based on superstitious belief, they think it's very inauspicious for their own child to die young; in the afterlife the child would continue to suffer and not be reborn; out of a compensatory mindset, on the day the child dies they adopt a same‑sex infant, raise it as their own, considering it a continuation of the dead child's life.

This is also the fundamental reason why Jia Zhangshi brought it up.

On the day Jia Dongxu died, Qin Huairu gave birth to Huaihua in the hospital and also adopted the club; the club is thus also a continuation of Jia Dongxu's life.

Everyone failed to see it, and even Long Laotaitai helplessly closed her eyes.

One misstep.

Step by step, mistakes.

Even with ample preparation, they still failed to eliminate Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu.

Mainly because Long Laotaitai underestimated Jia Zhangshi.

I never expected that Jia Zhangshi, for the Jia family's benefit, could endure such a huge humiliation of making Jia Dongxu wear a green hat, and even stand together with Yi Zhonghai and them to denounce Long Laotaitai.

Ah.

A mournful sigh rose in his heart.

Suffering from lack of evidence.

He gave Yi Zhonghai a dark, gloomy glance.

"Yi Zhonghai, now your heart can settle; my old lady has no proof linking you to Qin Huairu, but I believe that what goes around comes around—when the time comes, you and your disciple's wife will surely face retribution."

His gaze shifted from Yi Zhonghai to Jia Zhangshi.

"And you have Jia Zhangshi; my old lady realizes she underestimated you—for a bite to eat you could discard the Jia family's dignity; my old lady has a saying for you: since ancient times, illicit affairs breed many murders."

The words finished.

Long Laotaitai fainted.

Whether it was a genuine faint or a fake one is unclear.

There's no way to verify.

Anyway, her body went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

From the neighbors' attitude toward Long Laotaitai, one can see she is truly a phoenix that has lost its feathers, worse than an old hen.

Nobody paid any attention to Long Laotaitai at all.

Perhaps in the neighbors' hearts, whether Long Laotaitai is dead or alive is no longer relevant to them.

Or perhaps the two street offices summoned three ward chiefs and handed over Long Laotaitai's matter to them.

The matter of ruining Xu Daming's marriage.

Long Laotaitai admitted it was her doing.

Suffering from lack of relevant laws to restrain such immoral behavior, even if they brought Long Laotaitai back to the street office, it would only be criticism and education—impossible to lock her indoors, let alone impose punishment.

Moreover, there was the incident of Yi Zhonghai violently beating the ancestors of the Long Laotaitai courtyard.

In theory.

Long Laotaitai has already received heavy education.

Keeping her in the courtyard and having everyone there help her is the best choice.

After the street office left.

Looking at the clueless Dayuan ancestors, Yi Zhonghai turned his head and left, Yan Fugui also quickly beat the retreat drum, only Liu Haizhong, who solely wanted to become an official, failed to grasp the situation, instead treating this matter as an opportunity to show off his ability, he lectured the Dayuan ancestors on the ground with a few sentences, instructed his two children, and helped the Dayuan ancestors back to the house.

……

Jia Family.

Just entered the door.

Jia Zhangshi waved a big slap and viciously slapped Qin Huairu across the face.

The force filled with resentment.

Made the scheming bitch's cheeks swell.

As if anticipating this move, Qin Huairu, who had been struck by Jia Zhangshi, did not make a fuss but instead knelt properly at Jia Zhangshi's feet.

Jia Zhangshi's teeth were itchy.

Long Laotaitai's words just now.

It was just a needle.

It was stuck in Jia Zhangshi's heart.

For a bite to eat, you discarded the Jia Family's honor, you could even endure the great humiliation of Jia Dongxu wearing a green hat!

Looking at the portrait on the wall.

Muttered a sentence.

"Son, mother is sorry to you, mother failed to keep an eye on Qin Huairu for you, causing her to put a green hat on you, and Huaihua is actually the bloodline of your master Yi Zhonghai."

When did those two hook up?

Why didn't I notice any movement at all!

The more I think, the angrier I get.

Again seeing Qin Huairu kneeling before me, feigning pitiful.

Anger rushes from all sides.

A kick struck Qin Huairu's waist, sending her to the side.

Just now outside.

Again a critical juncture concerning the Jia Family's interests.

Jia Zhangshi didn't feel like making a fuss with Qin Huairu.

She clearly distinguishes what is more important.

First present a united front outward.

Preserve their Jia Family's interests.

Now there are no outsiders.

Again inside the house.

Just Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu two, when the plot is exhausted and the dagger appears, naturally they would not give Qin Huairu any face, they directly acted and struck Qin Huairu.

"Qin Huairu, what you've done, can you face my son? The Jia Family's reputation has been completely ruined by you, Qin Huairu. No wonder you earlier told me that Yi Zhonghai wouldn't help, you were actually setting a trap for my old woman. Don't think today's matter will just pass like that; my old woman tells you frankly, this matter will by no means pass."

Qin Huairu was startled.

The reason she endures the beating without making a sound, still putting on an honest appearance.

She knows she did such a shameful thing; outsiders might be fooled, but Jia Zhangshi surely knows the truth.

Replace with whoever.

Everyone has anger in their heart.

Everyone needs to vent.

Rather than being constantly held in grudge by the other party, it's better to let them scold and beat you a bit, letting this inner anger vent out, then there's no need for resentment.

I didn't expect Jia Zhangshi to utter such harsh words.

This matter isn't over.

Not over, what then?

He looked up at Jia Zhangshi.

"Do you think the neighbors are all fools? My old woman's words they half believe, half doubt; mouths grow on other people's heads, your affair with Yi Zhonghai, I reckon tomorrow it will spread far and wide, that is, right now; if this were before, you Qin Huairu doing such a shameful act would surely end up drowned in a pig basket."

Hand.

Pointed at the portrait.

"Qin Huairu, I demand you swear, swear that for this lifetime you will not remarry, that you will remain a widow for Dong Xu." Jia Zhangshi, her face ferocious, looked at Qin Huairu, "You also wouldn't want this matter to reach your parents' ears, would you?"

……

Yi Family.

Yi Zhonghai is again acting foolish.

Seems to be wandering in the heavens.

Actually he is scheming in his mind how to kill Long Laotaitai.

Today this move tears apart the big drama.

It pierced Yi Zhonghai's unrealistic fantasy about Long Laotaitai, and also made him sense a faint hint of crisis.

Some matters.

Better early than late.

Delay brings change.

Just like a matter of a club.

Speaking of which.

Yi Zhonghai still thanks Long Laotaitai; if not for Long Laotaitai's exposure, he wouldn't have realized he would be schemed against by Qin Huairu, whom he always looked down upon.

Borrow a chicken to lay eggs.

It's a proper good plan.

He adopted a child but treated him as his own son, and even told Yi Zhonghai outright that this was Yi Zhonghai's son, privately giving him the name Yichuan Zong.

Just thinking about it is ridiculously terrible.

The Siheyuan Head Steward and Yagangchang Level 8 Technician actually believed Qin Huairu's nonsense, thinking Bangchui was really his son.

A feeling of loss.

It goes without saying.

Zhao Hongxia's affair was unknown even to Yi Zhonghai, yet Long Laotaitai found out—how could a woman who rarely leaves the Dayuan know Zhao Hongxia and realize Bangchui was an adopted son?

Yi Zhonghai broke out in a cold sweat.

The words Long Laotaitai spoke before fainting.

It still faintly echoed in the depths of Yi Zhonghai's mind.

Illicit affairs have always bred revenge killings!

Did Long Laotaitai know the result, or was she just analyzing the situation?

He pondered for a moment.

Yi Zhonghai thought the latter possibility was more likely; given Long Laotaitai's grudge against him, if she truly knew Jia Dongxu had been killed by a hypocrite, she would surely have called him out as the one wielding the assassin's dagger at the recent Dayuan meeting.

No.

This shows Long Laotaitai didn't know Jia Dongxu died at Yi Zhonghai's hands!

Now we don't know.

That doesn't mean we won't know in the future.

The Zhao Hongxia and Bangchui affair gave Yi Zhonghai an endless warning.

Just one idea.

If Long Laotaitai stays alive, Yi Zhonghai will surely not meet a good end.

Strike first to gain the advantage.

Strike later and you'll meet misfortune.

Long Laotaitai cannot be kept.

The current dilemma.

How to send Long Laotaitai away.

Yi Zhonghai actually came up with a fire attack, a faint unnatural smile curling his lips; anciently there was Tian Dan's fire oxen formation, now there is Yi Zhonghai's fire-extinguishing method.

A single fire.

Sent off the Dayuan's ancestors.

Also burned all evidence that could threaten Yi Zhonghai.

Of course.

We can't do this now.

Long Laotaitai clashed with Yi Zhonghai, then mysteriously died; even if it wasn't Yi Zhonghai who did it, people would still blame him.

The loss outweighs the gain.

It does not serve Yi Zhonghai's interests.

Delay a few days.

Whether to delay one day, two days, or a month.

Depending on the surrounding circumstances!

Huh!

A heavy sigh.

It relieved Yi Zhonghai's mind.

It also drew the attention of the elder lady.

Returned to the room.

The dazed elder lady said to Yi Zhonghai, "Yi Zhonghai, shouldn't you give me a reasonable explanation for today's matter?"

Yi Zhonghai froze.

He had initially infected the elder lady with a chronic illness, leaving her unable to be a mother, and later wrote her a pledge.

Understand the elder lady's feelings at this moment.

I can't become a mother.

Yet you used the ploy of "repairing the gallery while secretly crossing through Chen Cang" to borrow someone else to fulfill your dream of being a father.

"Let's get divorced!"

Yi Zhonghai's scalp went numb.

He panicked.

Although Jia Zhangshi stubbornly relied on longing to barely cover up Bangchui's tale, dispelling the rumors between Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, given the nature of the Siheyuan neighbors, this will surely spread to Yagangchang and become known to countless people.

Under such circumstances.

If the elder lady divorces Yi Zhonghai.

It's completely adding fuel to the fire.

Anyone can see that if Yi Zhonghai divorces the elder lady, the next step is marrying Qin Huairu.

"I disagree."

Continue using me as an excuse? My divorce would also be doing you a favor—you both have kids, I can't possibly end up with the bad reputation of 'sitting on the toilet and not defecating.' After divorcing, I'll be free, and you can rightly let Huaihua call you father. Whether it's moral or not, we won't talk about that; let's just talk about the Yi family incense—you say, isn't that the reasoning? Yi Zhonghai, you really can bring yourself to do it—after all, that's your disciple, you're so shameless, you're already shameless, what's there to fear about divorce?

……

Shazhu's home.

Yu Li's inner terror.

It still hasn't faded away.

I originally thought I had a clear understanding of the Siheyuan.

I waited until today for these things to happen.

Only then did Yu Li realize she was still young, underestimating the bestial nature of these people in the Siheyuan.

One is the master.

One is the disciple's wife.

They differ in generation.

Yet they ended up hanging out together.

And Jia Zhangshi, who clearly knows the truth yet insists on lying with eyes open, saying that Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai are fine and that it's virtuous to help them every day—how could that be okay?

No wonder Shazhu kept urging her to marry into the Siheyuan and absolutely avoid associating with these neighbors.

Truly bestial!

"Head of the household, why don't we move out of the Siheyuan?"

"I'd like to, but the key is we have no house."

"Last time I went home, our Dayuan seemed to have an empty room; if I have time that day, I'll go check it out, and if it's suitable, we'll rent it first."

Shazhu thought for a moment.

He agreed with Yu Li's suggestion.

This beastly Siheyuan.

The longer one lives there,

the more trouble there is.

"What time is your sister coming?"

"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten; I'm going to the gate now to wait for her. It's best that few people come to this Siheyuan, so don't bring trouble to my sister."

"Take care of your health; okay, I'll go with you."

Shazhu supported Yu Li.

He walked forward cautiously.