Chapter 202: Someone said Jia Zhangshi killed the deaf old lady

Liu Haizhong was also exterminating the line.

He relied on the deaf old lady having no children.

And there was no one to oppose the death.

He spouted a few nonsense lines.

Why didn't he mention his two sons? It was only because he worried the two sons couldn't endure others' pressure; speaking the truth left him no choice, so Liu Haizhong could only bear the blame himself.

It must be because he's told too many lies.

Liu Haizhong himself even believed his nonsense.

His tone carried a faint eagerness.

Comrade, I reflect, I self-criticize; regarding the deaf old lady's matter, I also missed many things; she said she was fine, I thought she really was fine, so I didn't worry much; if I had really realized she would die today, I would smash pots and sell iron, I'd also have to scrape together money to send her to the hospital, sigh.

A final sigh.

Full of self-blame.

Not sending the deaf old lady to the hospital led to her death.

I may bear some responsibility.

But my responsibility is not great.

At most it's dereliction of duty.

After all, I didn't lay a hand on the deaf old lady.

Whoever beat the deaf old lady is responsible for her death.

Don't look for me, Liu Haizhong.

Look for Yi Zhonghai.

Liu Haizhong also hopes it's Yi Zhonghai.

Without the public security comrade even asking, he himself put a chamber pot on Yi Zhonghai's head.

Yesterday, something shocking happened in our siheyuan; you definitely didn't know—no, you did know—I remember you came from the front; our siheyuan's head steward, who is also a level 8 technician at the steel plant, beat the deaf old lady severely; the beating was so vicious we couldn't bear to watch.

The intention was to dump the blame on Yi Zhonghai.

But it backfired.

It drew new suspicions.

The remark, "You clearly know Yi Zhonghai beat the deaf old lady; as the second steward, why didn't you stop him in time?" made Liu Haizhong's smug look freeze instantly.

Facing the questioning.

He was lost for words.

Why didn't you stop him in time?

It wasn't that he wanted to watch a show—watching the deaf old lady tear Yi Zhonghai apart, watching Yi Zhonghai violently beat the deaf old lady; these two are Liu Haizhong's enemies; regardless of whether Yi Zhonghai killed the deaf old lady or the deaf old lady killed Yi Zhonghai with spit, Liu Haizhong would secretly feel a bit of satisfaction.

The two enemies fought.

Why should I stop them?

I'd love for them to have bad luck.

The problem is.

I didn't expect the public security to ask like this.

I can't just say I'm cold-blooded, wanting to see the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai both lose, can I?

Can I understand it this way—that everyone in your siheyuan is very happy to see the deaf old lady dead?

Liu Haizhong's heart.

It gave a jolt.

He's not an idiot.

The public security's words carried a tone of doubt.

Comrade, the neighbors in our siheyuan all suspect Yi Zhonghai; yesterday he beat the deaf old lady, this morning she died; in front of the neighbors, Yi Zhonghai himself doesn't dare go alone to the deaf old lady's room—what else is that if not guilt?

……

The Jia family.

Jia Zhangshi was cursing again.

While spitting vulgarities, her face was overcast with gloom, as if everyone in the courtyard had offended her; even Qin Huairu didn't get a pleasant look.

Regarding this.

Qin Huairu didn't know what to say either.

She felt weary.

Regardless, she is also a member of the Jia family, hard-pressed to earn money to support the family; just to put food on the table, she has to deal with those smelly men from the steel plant; for the Jia family, she has truly given everything.

There is hardship and also merit.

Having lunch at the Jia family at noon is completely normal.

Jia Zhangshi, however, blamed Qin Huairu for eating at home at noon, implying the household's food was running low and needed to be saved as much as possible.

Qin Huairu felt a bellyful of grievance, not knowing whom to tell.

I hold the post, I do the work, I earn money.

Thus I have no right to spend my own earnings, nor the qualification to eat what I've earned.

Since you know the Jia family's food isn't enough, why don't you go find work?

The street office can have subsidized odd jobs—lake matchboxes, binding brooms, cleaning toilets—earning a few dollars each month.

Jia Zhangshi, however, stubbornly refused to work, using her old arms and legs as an excuse.

Known far and wide for loving food and loathing work.

A pair of cloth shoes.

From summer to autumn.

Qin Huairu was numb all over, and resentment rose in her heart toward Yi Zhonghai, who had introduced her to Jia Dongxu; without Yi Zhonghai's matchmaking, there would be no current dire life.

Think it over.

Unless Jia Zhangshi dies.

Looking at Laoqianpo's white, plump body and red‑glowing face, Qin Huairu could only cast aside the hope that Jia Zhangshi would die.

Jia Zhangshi really isn't that easy to die.

Unless she dies an unnatural death.

She looked at Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi also looked at Qin Huairu, her expression very gloomy, especially her eyes, as if Qin Huairu were not her daughter‑in‑law but a hostile stranger.

Laoqianpo just meant one thing.

No matter how many mistakes, they're all Qin Huairu's fault.

Feeling Jia Zhangshi's depression.

Qin Huairu also felt a bellyful of grievance.

Am I still considered a member of the Jia Family or not?

As a mother‑in‑law, why do you treat me like this?

Think about it.

Also understand why Jia Zhangshi is so angry.

At the root, it's nothing but the two words 'interest'.

Long Laotaitai died, and Yi Zhonghai again had the greatest suspicion. At yesterday's Dayuan meeting, Jia Zhangshi, after countless schemes, finally managed to bind the Jia Family's leaky boat to the Yi Family's big ship, sitting back and waiting to suck the Yi Family dry for a good life.

As a result, Long Laotaitai died the next day.

If it were an ordinary death, Jia Zhangshi wouldn't be so anxious.

The problem is, before Long Laotaitai died, she had been beaten up by Yi Zhonghai; even if Jia Zhangshi were an ignorant country woman, she would still know that Yi Zhonghai couldn't escape responsibility, and might even be locked up.

Thus.

The Jia Family's blood‑tonic storehouse is now gone.

Having grown used to Yi Zhonghai's benefits, accustomed to white flour steamed buns and meat dishes, Jia Zhangshi could no longer bear sorghum rice and steamed corn buns; she could hardly imagine how bitter the Jia Family's forthcoming days would be.

Just one word.

Greedy.

The infrequently seen steamed corn buns and coarse grain mush will become regulars at the Jia Family's table.

The good days of changing into two new outfits a year have also vanished forever.

Think deeply about it.

Bangeng's work, the house for his marriage, and so on.

And where would it come from?

The more one looks at Qin Huairu, the more displeasing she seems, simply a daughter‑in‑law who has lost all face for the Jia Family.

A hundred feelings churned in her heart.

If Jia Zhangshi had known Long Laotaitai would die, at yesterday's meeting where Long Laotaitai tore into Yi Zhonghai, she would not have opposed Long Laotaitai and would have used Jia Dongxu's green hat to seek blessings for the Jia Family.

Now it's settled.

Nothing left.

Only endless shame.

When the Long Laotaitai's Dayuan meeting ended, she said that sentence.

"The Jia Family's face has all been stepped on by you, Jia Zhangshi."

Regretting not having done it earlier.

Her gaze fell on Bangeng beside her.

Already depressed, her mood instantly underwent a qualitative transformation.

The house was bare, with only four walls.

In a household of two adults and three children, they had also adopted another family's child.

Go to hell.

"Qin Huairu, I, the old lady, don't care about anything else, this thing." Jia Zhangshi's hand pointed at Bangeng: "Where did you get this? Put it back where it belongs. Someone else's child also wants to be surnamed Jia—does he deserve the Jia name?"

A mouthful of spit.

Wiping the edge of Bangeng.

It fell to the ground.

Bangeng, completely unaware of what was happening, mistakenly thought Jia Zhangshi was teasing him, waving his two chubby little hands, staring with his two chubby little feet, a smile spreading on his face, using his mute mouth to babble the infantile talk only children understand.

"Yie yie yie ya ya ya!"

"Besides this, it's best to send it to Yi Zhonghai's home."

This time it was Huaihua's turn.

Just as Qin Huairu hadn't yet come to her senses.

Jia Zhangshi changed her tone again.

"Wait, we can't send her to Yi Zhonghai's home; Yi Zhonghai is done for, about to take a bullet, and with her, Yi Zhonghai's belongings will be ours."

"Ah!"

Jia Zhangshi glanced at the startled Qin Huairu.

They snorted coldly: "You shameless daughter-in-law, did a donkey kick your brain? This is Yi Zhonghai's child; we Jia Family help support his child, Yi Zhonghai ought to show some gratitude—if not, I have plenty of ways to deal with her."

After all, it's flesh that fell from Qin Huairu's body.

It's not the same as a club.

Qin Huairu still felt a bit heartbroken.

"Mom."

"I don't have a daughter-in-law like you, Qin Huairu. Remember the vow you made last night in front of Dong Xu: you will never remarry and will devote your life to Dong Xu."

Qin Huairu lowered her head.

She knew her fate, and it was no longer her own.

Nothing came of the Long Laotaitai affair.

Yi Zhonghai is Qin Huairu's backing; Jia Zhangshi, out of respect for Yi Zhonghai's face, cannot constantly manipulate Qin Huairu or constantly make her suffer.

The hypocrite is dead.

Qin Huairu's backing has also collapsed.

They have done shameful deeds.

Naturally, Jia Zhangshi would not notice it.

They completely treated Qin Huairu like a ball, kicking her when they used her and still kicking her when they didn't.

"Qin Huairu, I too have been young; I know what you're thinking—want to remarry? Not a chance!"

Qin Huairu, not knowing where the courage came from, rarely rebutted Jia Zhangshi.

"You wanted to remarry yourself back then, so why won't you let me remarry?"

Jia Zhangshi, whose gloom had turned into a smile, seemed to have already guessed Qin Huairu would say that; a hint of mockery flashed across her face.

"I am me, you are you—can you compare to me? Though I'm an old woman, I still have a decent reputation. Qin Huairu, go listen, listen to your reputation. You and Dong Xu's master—if this were before, you'd definitely be put in a pig cage and played with in the water for days. People marry those who manage the household, not a slut. Do you really think anyone wants you? Unless you go somewhere where no one knows your background, would you give up everything you have now? Don't look at suffering in the city; at least in the countryside, you are the object of envy."

Qin Huairu lowered her head.

She admitted that what Jia Zhangshi said made sense.

Her reputation was already foul.

She no longer had the right to remarry.

No one wanted her.

Even if someone who doesn't know the bottom line married Qin Huairu, given Jia Zhangshi's shrewish nature, she would surely show up at their door to cause a scene.

On the other hand.

Although Qin Huairu's life in the city was shitty, she was being manipulated in various ways by Jia Zhangshi.

But in the countryside, she always puts on a false front, pretending she is happy and enjoying blessings in the city.

This made the girls from miles around very envious; some even secretly resolved to take Qin Huairu as a role model and also marry into the city.

Like those later women who marry ghost husbands—clearly not good, clearly become mistresses outside, yet still put on airs before the public, deceiving those unaware of the truth—some go to great lengths.

They are all knocking out their own teeth and swallowing them.

Jia Zhangshi had figured this out about Qin Huairu, knowing she dared not turn against her, and worried she might really go to Qin Huairu's parents to talk.

"Qin Huairu, you must listen to what I, the old woman, say—understand? The first thing you must do is guard Dong Xu well; only then can you think of other things."

Qin Huairu let out a long sigh.

She silently turned her face to the side.

By now.

She could only do this.

Take a step.

Look ahead.

Several minutes later.

They saw the police arrive at the door.

Qin Huairu forced a smile onto her face and stepped forward to meet the police.

The door opened.

They let the police inside.

Jia Zhangshi also immediately put on a smiling face, extending a hand to hand a large tea jar to the police.

"Comrade, you've been busy all morning; you must be tired—have a cup of tea."

"Thanks."

"Comrade, I want to ask when this matter will be settled; my family's Huairu still needs to go to the Yagangchang to work. We have two widows in the family, and only Huairu earns money to support the household; I, the old woman, am frail and sickly."

Jia Zhangshi habitually put on a pitiful act.

But her words.

In the police's eyes.

but became a laughingstock.

Frail and sickly.

Her white, plump physique and red, full face truly did not look frail and sickly.

After investigation.

They gained a certain understanding of Jia Zhangshi.

Fond of eating, lazy to work.

She had a conflict with the deaf old lady across from her.

Many neighbors reported that Jia Zhangshi had repeatedly clashed with the deaf old lady over meat, each time leaving the deaf old lady trembling with rage; during this period another conflict arose: the deaf old lady, relying on her status as the Dayuan's ancestor and backed by Yi Zhonghai, brandished her cane and lashed Jia Zhangshi several times.

Jia Zhangshi, who had been struck several times with crutches by Long Laotaitai, snapped a vicious remark, saying she would one day take Long Laotaitai's life.

More than ten neighbors.

They all testified that Jia Zhangshi had said those words.

Combined with the fact that the public security officers had just prevented the neighbors from leaving, a habitual flash of uncooperative emotion crossed Jia Zhangshi's face.

The two factors combined.

Jia Zhangshi might bear some responsibility for Long Laotaitai's death.

The likelihood of her being suspected exceeds that of Yi Zhonghai.

No normal person would beat someone up one moment and then, taking advantage of the darkness, kill them the next.

This is an unreasonable kind of behavior.

Moreover, there were over a hundred witnesses nearby.

A shrewd person would not do such a thing.

Based on the neighbors' reports, Jia Zhangshi does not lack a motive; her motive even surpasses that of Yi Zhonghai.

The public security officers did not show any favoritism toward Jia Zhangshi, treating her as a suspect.

"Look at you, you don't look sick."

Jia Zhangshi was stunned on the spot.

She didn't know how to respond.

Qin Huairu beside her chimed in to help Jia Zhangshi.

"Comrade, my mother-in-law didn't mean that."

Jia Zhangshi quickly took the opportunity to back down.

"My old woman doesn't mean that; I mean our family is rather difficult, it's hard for widows and orphans, and if we don't go to work, it's like losing half a day's income."