Chapter 199

The Dayuan meeting ended.

Xu Daming and his wife then fell into a strange state of dullness.

The previous melodramatic events involving Yi Zhonghai, Long Laotaitai, and Qin Huairu were impacting the couple's cognition to the greatest extent, especially with Lou Xiaoe showing the most shock.

Born into a wealthy family and accustomed to a life of fine clothes and food since childhood, she never imagined such melodramatic ethical affairs would occur in real society.

The childless master and his disciple's wife had an indescribable affair, and even continued the bloodline.

An even more astonishing matter.

The widow's mother-in-law insisted outright that such a thing did not exist.

Such a self-cuckolding manner.

Lou Xiaoe could not understand.

In her heart also rose a faint lingering fear; she regretted having gotten too involved with Long Laotaitai, and the just‑concluded scandal let the naïve Lou Xiaoe dimly grasp some facts.

Just like Yi Zhonghai's character.

Likewise, Long Laotaitai's character.

One, for the sake of incense, began scheming against the disciple's wife.

One, to satisfy his own private gluttony, laid hands on Yi Zhonghai, who had cared for her for many years, without a shred of past affection.

Ungrateful and treacherous like a white-eyed wolf.

Lou Xiaoe was frightened, her whole body breaking out in gooseflesh.

Yi Zhonghai had cared for Long Laotaitai for decades, yet never managed to satisfy her; with his frail build, he estimated he wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap for her.

Suddenly he understood why Long Laotaitai had been in contact with him—her goal was Lou Xiaoe's status as the Lou family's young lady.

A faint self‑mockery rose on his face.

While everyone despised and looked down on Lou Xiaoe's status as the Lou family's young lady, Long Laotaitai was scheming for food and drink based on that identity.

Regarding this.

She could only feel helpless.

Her gaze turned to Xu Daming opposite her, and a bitter feeling welled up in her heart—her union with Xu Daming was not for love but for a tangle of interests.

The Lou family valued Xu Daming's ordinary urban commoner status, hoping through marriage to dilute the influence of Lou Xiaoe's and the Lou family's status.

Xu Daming married Lou Xiaoe because he was after the Lou family's son‑in‑law's hollow reputation and the Lou family's vast property.

One seeks fame.

One seeks profit.

This is also why Lou Xiaoe sometimes feels envy toward Li.

Shazhu is not Xu Daming.

Xu Daming is also not Shazhu.

She very much wanted to know why Xu Daming had become dazed, whether he had thought of something.

Little did she know.

At this moment, Xu Daming was thinking about the club.

Strictly speaking.

The club matter gave Xu Daming a slight hint.

Unable to bear children and not wanting to end up like Yi Zhonghai, he also put preparing for old age on the agenda ahead of time.

The Siheyuan is crowded and full of gossip.

This is a fact.

But who stipulated that Lou Xiaoe must live inside the Siheyuan?

Go live at the Lou family's for a year, then return with a child, claiming outwardly that it is Xu Daming's descendant; those inside the Siheyuan can only believe it.

She made up her mind.

He turned his gaze toward Lou Xiaoe.

Seeing Xu Daming gazing at her so intently, deep inside Lou Xiaoe felt a slight panic, mistakenly thinking he had seen through her thoughts.

Her face flushed.

「Dam ing。」

「Little moth, don't take so much medicine. 」

Lou Xiaoe shuddered.

She quickly came to her senses.

She realized what the medicine Xu Daming referred to actually was.

Having married into the Siheyuan for over a year.

She was pointed at by countless people, especially Jia Zhangshi, who blamed her by pointing at mulberry trees while cursing locust trees, saying Lou Xiaoe was an old hen that lays no eggs.

As a woman.

Unable to bear children.

It can be called the greatest sorrow in the world.

She began seeking various doctors and medicines, even trying every folk remedy, making her life miserable, spending all day with medicine.

Suddenly hearing Xu Daming tell her not to take medicine, she instinctively felt doubtful; Xu Daming's parents, because Lou Xiaoe had failed to give them a plump grandson after marriage, looked down on her in many ways.

She had seen the miserable plight of women divorced for being unable to bear children.

Being the Lou family's young lady is itself not a good reputation; otherwise she wouldn't have married the donkey‑faced Xu Daming—if she couldn't bear children, she'd be wearing the hat of being driven away.

The fate awaiting Lou Xiaoe could only be a dead end.

「Dam ing, are you going to divorce me? I'm taking medicine; I will surely cure my illness and surely bear you a plump son. 」

Xu Daming felt a pang in his heart.

Translation: Xu Daming felt a pang in his heart. Or "Xu Daming's heart ached." Keep concise: "Xu Daming felt a pang in his heart."

His reason.

Translation: His reason. Could be "The reason." But "His reason" literally means "His reason." So translation: "His reason."

He didn't dare tell Lou Xiaoe the truth for fear of losing face.

Translation: "Out of concern for a man's face, he dared not tell Lou Xiaoe the truth." Or "Because of a man's pride, he didn't dare tell Lou Xiaoe the truth." Keep: "Out of concern for a man's face, he dared not tell Lou Xiaoe the truth."

He chuckled.

He chuckled.

He reached out and touched Lou Xiaoe's cheek, which still had a bit of baby fat.

Translation: "He reached out and touched Lou Xiaoe's cheek, still slightly baby-fat." Or "He reached out and rubbed Lou Xiaoe's cheek, which still retained a bit of baby fat." Keep: "He reached out and touched Lou Xiaoe's cheek, still slightly baby-fat."

"Ezi, look at what you're saying—I have no intention of divorcing you. If I did, that fool Sazu's big mouth would surely say who knows what about me. My point is, stop taking the medicine; it's making you suffer every day. As your husband, I can't help but feel sorry for you."

But note that 'Ezi' is a nickname for Lou Xiaoe—perhaps a term of endearment meaning 'little moth'. We'll keep it as 'Ezi'. The glossary doesn't provide it, but since it's used as a term of address for Lou Xiaoe, if it's a habitual nickname we should use pinyin; otherwise we could translate the meaning. The line reads 'Ezi, look at what you're saying'—like 'Hey, look at what you're saying'—so we'll translate it as 'Hey'.

In Lou Xiaoe's heart.

Translation: "In Lou Xiaoe's heart," or "Lou Xiaoe's heart." Since it's a fragment: "Lou Xiaoe's heart." We'll output: "Lou Xiaoe's heart."

A warm feeling passed through.

Translation: "A warm feeling flashed through." Or "A warm sensation passed through." Keep: "A warm feeling flashed through."

They had been married for over a year.

Translation: "They had been married for over a year." Or "Married for more than a year." We'll output: "They had been married for over a year."

For the first time, she felt the responsibility of being a husband from Xu Daming.

Translation: "For the first time, she felt the responsibility of being a husband from Xu Daming." Actually subject is Lou Xiaoe feeling from Xu Daming. So: "For the first time, she felt the responsibility of a husband from Xu Daming." Better: "For the first time, she felt the responsibility of being a husband from Xu Daming." We'll output: "For the first time, she felt the responsibility of a husband from Xu Daming."

Thus.

Translation: "Thus." or "In that case." We'll output: "Thus."

She couldn't stop taking the medicine anymore.

Translation: "She could not stop taking the medicine anymore." Or "She could no longer stop the medicine." We'll output: "She could no longer stop taking the medicine."

"Dameng, hearing you say this, I am content. As your wife, I must bear you a son."

"Dameng, hearing you say this, I am content. As your wife, I must bear you a son."

"As for the child, I've decided: if you can give birth, do so; if not, we'll adopt one."

Translation: ""As for the child, I've decided: if you can give birth, do so; if not, we'll adopt one."" We'll output: ""As for the child, I've decided: if you can give birth, do so; if not, we'll adopt one.""

Lou Xiaoe was shocked.

Translation: "Lou Xiaoe was startled." Or "Lou Xiaoe was shocked." We'll output: "Lou Xiaoe was startled."

Adopt a child.

Translation: "Adopt a child." We'll output: "Adopt a child."

Just like Jia Zhangshi adopted the club, right?

Just like Jia Zhangshi adopted the club, right.

How could Xu Daming have such an idea?

Translation: "How could Xu Daming have such an idea?" We'll output: "How could Xu Daming have such an idea?"

He reached out.

Translation: "He reached out his hand." Or "He stretched out his hand." We'll output: "He reached out his hand."

He touched Xu Daming's forehead.

Translation: "He touched Xu Daming's forehead." We'll output: "He touched Xu Daming's forehead."

He didn't have a fever.

Translation: "No fever." Or "He didn't have a fever." We'll output: "No fever."

"I was thinking that…."

Translation: ""That's what I think…."" We'll output: ""That's what I think….""

Xu Daming told Lou Xiaoe his plan; after a while, Lou Xiaoe returned to her parents' home, during which he would spread the rumor that she was pregnant; ten months later, Lou Xiaoe came back to the courtyard with a child, and thus no one knew that Xu Daming had adopted the child.

Translation: "Xu Daming told Lou Xiaoe his plan; after a while, Lou Xiaoe would return to her parents' home to live, and in the meantime he would spread the rumor that she was pregnant; ten months later, Lou Xiaoe would return to the siheyuan with the child, so that no one would know Xu Daming had adopted the child." We'll output: "Xu Daming told Lou Xiaoe his plan; after a while, Lou Xiaoe would return to her parents' home to live, and in the meantime he would spread the rumor that she was pregnant; ten months later, Lou Xiaoe would return to the siheyuan with the child, so that no one would know Xu Daming had adopted the child."

It could be said that no god or ghost knew about it.

Translation: "It could be described as unknown to gods and unseen by ghosts." Or "It could be said to be unbeknownst to gods and ghosts." We'll output: "It could be said to be unbeknownst to gods and ghosts."

Xu's parents were also kept in the dark.

Translation: "Xu's father and mother were also kept in the dark." We'll output: "Xu's father and mother were also kept in the dark."

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). We'll output: "……"

"Ah!"

Translation: ""Ah!"" We'll output: ""Ah!""

A piercing wail echoed through the courtyard at just after six the next morning, like a broken gong ringing from the central courtyard and rapidly spreading outward.

Translation: "A shrill wail echoed through the siheyuan at a little past six the next morning, like a broken gong's roar originating from the central courtyard and rapidly spreading outward." We'll output: "A shrill wail echoed through the siheyuan at a little past six the next morning, like a broken gong's roar originating from the central courtyard and rapidly spreading outward."

The neighbors who were already up rushed out of their doors and ran toward the backyard where the sound came from.

Translation: "The neighbors who were already up rushed out of their doors and ran toward the rear courtyard where the sound came from." We'll output: "The neighbors who were already up rushed out of their doors and ran toward the rear courtyard where the sound came from."

Those still chatting with Mr. Zhou (i. e., still in bed) hurriedly rubbed their sleepy eyes, threw on a few clothes, and followed the others out.

Translation: "Those neighbors still in bed with the Prince of Sleep hurriedly rubbed their sleepy eyes, threw on a few clothes, and followed the others out." We'll output: "Those neighbors still in bed with the Prince of Sleep hurriedly rubbed their sleepy eyes, threw on a few clothes, and followed the others out."

Such a mournful sound.

Translation: "Such a mournful sound." We'll output: "Such a mournful sound."

Something major must have happened.

Translation: "Surely something major had happened." We'll output: "Surely something major had happened."

Moreover, the day before, Yi Zhonghai had violently beaten the courtyard's patriarch.

Translation: "Moreover, the day before, Yi Zhonghai had beaten the ancestors of the great courtyard." We'll output: "Moreover, the day before, Yi Zhonghai had beaten the ancestors of the great courtyard."

The miserable state of the courtyard's patriarch from yesterday was vividly etched in the neighbors' minds.

Translation: "The miserable state of the great courtyard's ancestors from yesterday was vividly etched in the neighbors' minds." We'll output: "The miserable state of the great courtyard's ancestors from yesterday was vividly etched in the neighbors' minds."

The night before, some people were still discussing the courtyard's patriarch; they were fine when they went to sleep, but the next day they couldn't get up.

Translation: "The night before, some people were still discussing the great courtyard's ancestors; they were fine before sleep, but the next day when they got up something had happened and they couldn't get up." We'll output: "The night before, some people were still discussing the great courtyard's ancestors; they were fine before sleep, but the next day when they got up something had happened and they couldn't get up."

Thinking about it, if the courtyard's patriarch died, would Yi Zhonghai be held responsible? After all, he had violently beaten him the day before, which certainly relates to his death.

Translation: "Thinking about it, if the great courtyard's ancestors had died, would Yi Zhonghai be held responsible? After all, he had beaten them the day before, which bears some relation to their death." We'll output: "Thinking about it, if the great courtyard's ancestors had died, would Yi Zhonghai be held responsible? After all, he had beaten them the day before, which bears some relation to their death."

The neighbors were full of anticipation.

Translation: "The neighbors were full of anticipation." We'll output: "The neighbors were full of anticipation."

Given that the deaf old lady's misfortune was already a certainty, everyone wanted to see Yi Zhonghai suffer misfortune too.

Translation: "Given that Long Laotaitai's misfortune was already a foregone conclusion, everyone wanted to see Yi Zhonghai suffer misfortune too." We'll output: "Given that Long Laotaitai's misfortune was already a foregone conclusion, everyone wanted to see Yi Zhonghai suffer misfortune too."

One deaf, one fraud collapsed.

One deaf, one fraud collapsed.

The courtyard would then return to complete tranquility; the Jia family wouldn't even be noticed by the neighbors, and without Yi Zhonghai's backing, the Jia family would be nothing.

Translation: "The siheyuan would also return to complete tranquility; the Jia family wouldn't even be noticed by the neighbors, and without Yi Zhonghai's backing, the Jia family would be nothing." We'll output: "The siheyuan would also return to complete tranquility; the Jia family wouldn't even be noticed by the neighbors, and without Yi Zhonghai's backing, the Jia family would be nothing."

After a night of thought.

Translation: "After a night's thought." We'll output: "After a night's thought."

Even the things they couldn't figure out became clear.

Translation: "Even the things they couldn't figure out became clear." We'll output: "Even the things they couldn't figure out became clear."

The deaf old lady's revelation is undoubtedly true.

Translation: "Long Laotaitai's revelation must be true." We'll output: "Long Laotaitai's revelation must be true."

Jia Zhangshi's willingness to wear that green hat was also guessed to be completely.

Jia Zhangshi's willingness to wear that green hat was also guessed to be completely.

It's about profit.

Translation: "Interests, ah." Or "It's about interests." We'll output: "Interests, ah."

Jia Zhangshi, for profit, made Jia Dongxu wear a green hat.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi, for the sake of interests, made Jia Dongxu wear a green hat." We'll output: "Jia Zhangshi, for the sake of interests, made Jia Dongxu wear a green hat."

Yi Zhonghai could also, for profit, take risky actions.

Translation: "Yi Zhonghai could also, for the sake of interests, do something risky." We'll output: "Yi Zhonghai could also, for the sake of interests, do something risky."

The neighbors swarmed toward the backyard.

Translation: "The neighbors swarmed toward the rear courtyard." We'll output: "The neighbors swarmed toward the rear courtyard."

Second Aunt's cry for help became increasingly clear.

Translation: "Er Da Ma's cries of "Come quick!" also grew clearer." We'll output: "Er Da Ma's cries of "Come quick!" also grew clearer."

The mournful sound seemed to confirm the neighbors' suspicions.

Translation: "The mournful sound seemed to confirm the neighbors' suspicions." We'll output: "The mournful sound seemed to confirm the neighbors' suspicions."

Everyone, big and small, had the same thought.

Translation: "Everyone, young and old, had the same thought." We'll output: "Everyone, young and old, had the same thought."

Could it be that something happened to the deaf old lady?

Translation: "Could it be that something happened to Long Laotaitai!" We'll output: "Could it be that something happened to Long Laotaitai!"

When the neighbors reached the backyard, they were shocked to see Second Aunt sitting frozen in terror at the deaf old lady's door, her face pale as if she'd seen the most horrifying thing in the world, speechless, flushed, trembling slightly, and some sharp-eyed observers noticed a wet patch beneath her—had she been scared into incontinence?

Translation: "When the neighbors ran to the rear courtyard, the sight before them shocked them: they saw Er Da Ma, panic-stricken, slumped at Long Laotaitai's door, her terrified face as if she had witnessed the most horrifying thing in the world, speechless, face flushed, her body trembling slightly; those with keen eyes saw a puddle beneath her—had she been frightened into incontinence?" We'll output: "When the neighbors ran to the rear courtyard, the sight before them shocked them: they saw Er Da Ma, panic-stricken, slumped at Long Laotaitai's door, her terrified face as if she had witnessed the most horrifying thing in the world, speechless, face flushed, her body trembling slightly; those with keen eyes saw a puddle beneath her—had she been frightened into incontinence?"

Probably.

Translation: "Probably." We'll output: "Probably."

Otherwise, why would she be pointing tremblingly into the house, looking frightened?

Translation: "Otherwise, why would she point trembling at the house, looking frightened?" We'll output: "Otherwise, why would she point trembling at the house, looking frightened?"

When the neighbors appeared.

Translation: "Seeing the neighbors appear." We'll output: "Seeing the neighbors appear."

Second Aunt's frightened heart began to calm a little; her mouth, which could only say 'come here', started to utter other words haltingly.

Translation: "Er Da Ma's frightened heart seemed to ease a little; her mouth, which could only say "Come!" earlier, now haltingly uttered other words." We'll output: "Er Da Ma's frightened heart seemed to ease a little; her mouth, which could only say "Come!" earlier, now haltingly uttered other words."

"Something… happened… something big… happened… died… the deaf old lady… died… died… she died…."

Translation: ""Something… happened… something big… happened… died… Long Laotai… died… died… she died…."" We'll output: ""Something… happened… something big… happened… died… Long Laotai… died… died… she died….""

What?

Translation: "What?" We'll output: "What?"

Long Laotaitai died?

The frightened crowd.

In an instant they crowded at the doorway of Long Laotaitai's house, stretching their necks to look inside; those who couldn't squeeze in simply pressed their faces against the glass, watching the scene inside through the window.

They needed to obtain evidence of Long Laotaitai's death.

A scene came into view.

It made everyone's blood run cold.

Er Da Ma didn't lie.

Long Laotaitai really died.

None of them are blind.

They clearly saw Long Laotaitai's stiff body lying on the bed, and moreover Long Laotaitai's unwilling-to-rest face appeared before the neighbors' eyes.

Yesterday Yi Zhonghai hit Long Laotaitai.

Today Long Laotaitai died.

Something big is going to happen in the Siheyuan!

Shazhu, mixed in the crowd, thought the same.

Long Laotaitai's death will make it impossible for Yi Zhonghai to get away scot-free.

Who made it so that yesterday Yi Zhonghai hit Long Laotaitai?

This is the crux of Yi Zhonghai bearing responsibility.

All these neighbors around are witnesses proving that Yi Zhonghai hit Long Laotaitai.

The hypocrite has run into big trouble.

Seeing at Li oddly stretching her neck to size up the interior scene, Shazhu silently cursed, "This is like adding a leg even when burning a corpse to death; Long Laotaitai is dead, yet you insist on seeing it yourself—what's there to see?"

Worried that at Li would be frightened by Long Laotaitai's miserable death scene, Shazhu reached out and grabbed at Li; when at Li turned her head to look back at him, he gave her a slight shake of the head.

Afterward, facing the just-heard commotion, Yi Zhonghai, who had rushed to the Hou Yuan in a hurry, gave a meaningful glance.

He let out a cold snort in his heart.

He was scheming, damn it.

Now his scheming has reached the extreme.

Long Laotaitai died.

Let's see how you, Yi Zhonghai, will respond.

This is like getting mud in your trousers—if it's not shit, it's still shit.

The reason Yi Zhonghai was the last to arrive at the scene was because he heard the sound of Long Laotaitai kicking the bucket; at first he thought it was just a rumor spread by the neighbors, and he silently cursed them for being the type who never wish others well—Long Laotaitai's death, what does it have to do with you? But when he heard the sound growing more urgent, the urgency mixed with a hint of gloating.

Instantly he felt uneasy.

He silently thought, "Long Laotaitai probably isn't really dead, is she?"

Alive.

If that were the case, it would be okay.

We need to send Long Laotaitai to the hospital.

Yi Zhonghai certainly doesn't want to invite trouble for no reason; killing is killing, clearing suspicion is clearing suspicion.

Dead.

But then a major disaster really looms.

He actually hit Long Laotaitai!

What kind of virtue do the neighbors have?

Yi Zhonghai is even more clearly aware.

Even if it wasn't Yi Zhonghai who did it, the neighbors would find a way to put the blame on him, making him take the fall.

Yi Zhonghai, anxious as fire, when rushing to the Hou Yuan, his steps suddenly halted, as if his feet had taken root in the ground, his legs feeling as if filled with lead, heavy beyond measure.

His scalp also went numb.

His heart was filled with awe and fear.

His gaze swept over the neighbors' faces—some showed doubt, some were purely gloating, and there were those who thought Yi Zhonghai deserved his misfortune and were adding insult to injury.

He suddenly stopped his gaze.

It was Shazhu.

When his gaze swept over Shazhu and his wife, Yi Zhonghai didn't know what was happening, or perhaps Shazhu possessed some mysterious attraction that firmly fixed Yi Zhonghai's gaze on him.

Among the neighbors, Shazhu was the only one who did not throw Yi Zhonghai under the bus.

As for the others.

Really unimaginable.

Only devoid of virtue.

And indeed devoid of virtue.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai come to check whether Long Laotaitai was dead, the neighbors, with a semblance of conscience, made way, creating a small path leading straight into Long Laotaitai's house.

I thank you.

This is Yi Zhonghai's inner greeting to the neighbors.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, calmed his emotions, and steeled himself to stride toward Long Laotaitai's house.

His figure looked somewhat forlorn.

His steps were somewhat slow.

When he reached the doorway, presumably out of fear, Yi Zhonghai suddenly stopped, turned his head, and asked the still-seated Er Da Ma a question.

"Er Da Ma, you said the old lady died?"

Dead, dead.

Are you sure the old lady is dead?

The body is stiff, also cold, and there's that big pool of blood on the chest—if that's not dead, what is?

Yi Zhonghai inwardly lamented.

He still harbored a faint hope.

He especially hoped that Er Da Ma had mistaken, that Long Laotaitai wasn't actually dead, but Er Da Ma's words extinguished the last hope in Yi Zhonghai's heart.

Liu Haizhong's wife, though somewhat unreliable, apparently didn't joke with the courtyard neighbors about whether Long Laotaitai was dead or not.

How did he just die?

When I struck yesterday, I directed my force at the Dayuan ancestor's mouth, not bothering with other parts; aside from losing the right to speak, the Dayuan ancestor shouldn't have died.

But Er Da Ma said Long Laotaitai is dead.

What should we do about this?

"Have you been the only one to go in?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I got up, went to the old lady's room, to see what she wanted to eat; as a result, I pushed the door open and found the old lady's body stiff. At first I didn't think of death, I even exchanged a remark with her, saying how her body was, whether she wanted something good to eat. Seeing the old lady not answer, I turned on the light, moved closer, and discovered the old lady's body was ice-cold, and there was that big pool of blood on her chest."

Er Da Ma also gestured with her hand, drawing a circle the size of a watermelon, to describe Long Laotaitai's death state.

"Her eyes were wide open like a goat's, her mouth gaping; I wasn't at ease and still stuck my finger into the old lady's nostrils, found no breath, her body went limp at once, I shouted, and then the neighbors came—it truly scared me to death; I never expected the old lady to die, it frightened me so much I didn't know what to do."

"Er Da Ma, you don't know what to do, you were scared into peeing."

"All quiet, what are you arguing about? There's a dead person inside, you still have the face to make noise, what are you doing, kicking someone when they're down?"

Yi Zhonghai, who had shouted,

his face was especially solemn.

It wasn't for these people.

but because Long Laotaitai died.

No one was clearer than Yi Zhonghai about what consequences Long Laotaitai's death would bring upon himself.