Chapter 2: and translation of chapter title

The hypocrite Yi Zhonghai's moral blackmail big stick and the notion of mutual aid he instilled in the neighbors toward Shazhu constitute Shazhu's miserable life.

If you want to live well.

You must stay away from that scoundrel in the Siheyuan!

Like Yi Zhonghai!

After Long Laotaitai, sharp as ever, pointed out Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai realized that Shazhu was the best choice for his own old-age care; when Jia Dongxu met with an accident and kicked the bucket, Shazhu, as the second-choice backup in Yi Zhonghai's old-age plan, naturally took the position.

To control Shazhu.

Also to make sure his old-age plan encounters no mishap.

On the day Jia Dongxu died and after his funeral was arranged, Yi Zhonghai had the idea of binding Qin Huairu and Shazhu together.

In this day and age, not letting a widow remarry is just turning history backwards.

Qin Huairu is not bad-looking; otherwise she couldn't have married from the village to the city as a city daughter-in-law. The key is that Qin Huairu has three burdens and a big burden, Jia Zhangshi.

Besides Shazhu, no one else wanted her.

Not everyone can tolerate Jia Zhangshi.

Of course.

Qin Huairu hasn't moved in yet.

Jia Dongxu hasn't yet reached the age to start a family and career.

In Shazhu's memory.

Jia Dongxu married Qin Huairu on October 1, 1953.

He hesitated whether to ruthlessly cut in.

After thinking, he decided to let it go.

Having experienced the previous life, he truly has no feelings for Qin Huairu; if anything, only hatred.

If Shazhu's memory is correct, the hypocrite should come calling soon.

To morally blackmail Shazhu.

Can't just lie there like a corpse.

Need to repay the debts owed to He Yushui from the previous life.

Shazhu rummaged through boxes and cabinets; He Daqing still had a bit of conscience, not taking everything, and in a small tin box Shazhu found a stack of unusually high-denomination bills, plus over ten jin of flour and a dozen eggs.

Knead the dough.

Start the fire.

Also made a poached egg.

A bowl of fragrant egg noodles, fresh out of the pot.

Carrying the noodles out the door, he came to He Yushui's little hut.

He knocked on the door.

Seeing no one respond.

He also didn't bother with the rule that men and women shouldn't be intimate; he just pushed the door open and went in—his own sister, what's there to fear, especially since she's just a nine-year-old girl.

He Yushui didn't know if she was crying or had just stayed up all night; her eyes were red, her little mouth pouted so much it could hang an oil bottle.

"Brother." Her voice tinged with a hint of fear of being abandoned, "Dad doesn't want us anymore?"

"Dad didn't abandon us; he went to pursue his own happiness. He thinks you're grown up now, Brother, and can look after you, little sis, which is why he left."

"You don't despise me for being a girl?"

"You're my sister; why would I despise you? I'm sixteen now, I can work, so stop holding your breath—look what Brother brought you."

Shazhu presented the noodles like an offering before He Yushui.

Yesterday, because He Daqing ran off with a widow, Shazhu angrily drank half a bottle of baijiu by himself, then fell into a deep sleep, and didn't even make food for He Yushui.

The little girl knew Shazhu was suffering, so she stubbornly stayed up all night.

"Noodles? Really for me? Brother, you eat the noodles; I'll just have steamed cornbread."

No wonder He Yushui screwed over Brother in the previous life, disappearing after marriage and never showing up in the Siheyuan; this little girl must be the one lacking the most sense of security.

His birth father ran off with a widow.

Add to that the preferential treatment of sons over daughters causing trouble.

He Yushui thought He Daqing didn't want her because she's a girl.

Fortunately, there's still Brother Shazhu.

Later Shazhu became infatuated with the widow; from that moment on, He Yushui felt the whole world had abandoned her, and whether for revenge, turning dark, or survival, her relationship with Qin Huairu progressed rapidly.

This poor little girl suffered.

"Yushui, Dad gave me the nickname Shazhu; you wouldn't want another nickname like Shayu, would you? There are noodles, don't eat them—what are you eating steamed cornbread for?"

He Yushui, after glancing at Shazhu, ate the noodles with tears in her eyes.

She must have been really hungry.

It gave Shazhu a feeling of wolfing down his food.

Her little mouth stuffed the noodles full, looking like a hamster storing food for winter, cheeks bulging.

Shazhu reached out his hand.

He gave He Yushui a head‑pat.

"Yushui, Dad's gone, I'm here; from now on I'll support our He family. I'll raise you white and plump until you marry; once you marry, it'll mean I, as your brother, have completed the task Dad gave me."

He Yushui's little face turned red.

A nine‑year‑old little girl.

And this isn't the later era.

The little kids in the kindergarten all know how to find a sweetheart.

Shyness made He Yushui's noodle-eating movements a bit slower.

"You eat, I talk, He Yushui—remember this: in this lifetime, whatever you say, you must not screw over me, your brother. Got it?"

"Egg."

Shazhu's face fell.

He felt helpless.

He said all that.

He Yushui didn't remember a single word.

He only kept thinking about the poached egg in the bowl.

The small bowl was pushed toward Shazhu.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm full, you eat the egg."

He Yushui's cautious gaze broke through Shazhu's defenses again.

This girl, because He Daqing ran off with a widow, was truly scared silly, constantly worrying that Shazhu wouldn't want her as his sister.

"I made this for you—what do you mean you're full? Keep eating."

"You really won't eat?"

"He Yushui, remember—no matter when, you are your brother's good sister; eat this egg quickly, or it won't look good if others see."

He Yushui used chopsticks to pick up the egg, blew on it, and ate it in small bites.

Shazhu originally thought He Yushui hadn't had egg in a long time and wanted to savor its flavor slowly, but when he discovered she was eating while secretly glancing at her schoolbag...

In an instant he understood the truth.

Unlucky kid.

Didn't want to go to school.

Was making excuses to delay time.

"He Yushui, I give you one minute: hurry up and finish the egg, drink up the noodle soup, sling your schoolbag and go to school—understood?"

"Brother, did we go to Baocheng yesterday to look for Dad?"

Reborn in another life.

Understood many principles.

Who said He Daqing can't run off with a widow?

In these times.

A 16-year-old is an adult, can support the family; He Daqing taught Shazhu cooking skills and arranged a job for him at the steel mill.

Except for the matter of a wife not being settled.

Everything's been settled.

Shazhu truly has no reason to resent He Daqing.