Chapter 209: Shazhu Suspects the Eldest Madam is the Murderer

~21 min read 4,135 words

The eldest madam saw Jia Zhangshi speaking nonsense.

One bite, the Jia Family is not easy.

Yet he didn't mention a word about Yi Zhonghai's assistance.

She, thoughtful and clever.

How could she not know what Jia Zhangshi is planning?

Nothing more than wanting to stir up trouble and muddle this thing over the lake.

As Yi Zhonghai's dog-headed military advisor.

The eldest madam naturally cannot let Jia Zhangshi have her way.

The conversation turned.

"Jia Pozi, has the Jia Family been wronged? If our Lao Yi were gone, would you, Jia Pozi, have a time to cry? Truly, I feel it's not worth it for our Lao Yi, having helped your whole family."

Implying that the Jia Family is an ungrateful white-eyed wolf.

Should be kept at a distance.

Seeing the neighbors all change their faces.

The eldest madam thought to herself, her plan to give the Jia Family eye drops has taken effect.

Having been neighbors with Jia Zhangshi in the same courtyard for many years.

Quite clear what kind of person Jia Zhangshi is.

Once Yi Zhonghai goes in and can't come out, Jia Zhangshi will definitely use Huaihua as an excuse, demanding a huge sum of money from the eldest madam.

Using the excuse that Huaihua is the Yi family's bloodline.

Jia Zhangshi is capable of doing such a thing.

To the eldest madam, this is a face-saving, humiliating ploy.

Not agree.

The reputation is bad.

End up with the hat of not taking care of Yi Zhonghai's bloodline.

Agree.

Equivalent to giving the retirement capital to the Jia Family, which would leave the eldest madam without means of livelihood.

Jia Zhangshi will also treat Huaihua as the Jia Family's money tree, and when out of money, will go to the eldest madam to ask for more.

Such a situation.

This is not the result the eldest madam wants to see.

Put the hat of an ungrateful white-eyed wolf on the Jia Family.

Convenient for the eldest madam's future plans.

Let the neighbors see the Jia Family's white-eyed wolf nature; in the future, when Jia Zhangshi causes trouble, the eldest madam can also learn Lao Yi's tactics, gathering everyone's strength to deal with the Jia Family.

"Seeing our Lao Yi being framed with a shit pot, you Jia Family are cold-blooded and indifferent, what kind of people are you? And you few comrades, you say Long Laotaitai was killed last night, saying our Lao Yi slaughtered Long Laotaitai, wanting to take our Lao Yi away to pay with his life for Long Laotaitai."

Whether our Lao Yi slaughtered Long Laotaitai or not, as his wife, how could I not know?

Last night, after one o'clock, our Lao Yi didn't sleep, the lights were on, and only after past one did he lie down; in between, he didn't get up at night, didn't go out—how could he have slaughtered Long Laotaitai?

I admit Long Laotaitai and our Lao Yi have a grudge; who let her spread rumors outside, saying that the Jia Family's daughter-in-law Qin Huairu is fooling around with our Lao Yi, that Huaihua should bear the Yi surname; I still say the same thing: our Lao Yi helped the Jia Family but also made mistakes in helping.

Shazhu slightly furrowed his brows.

He didn't know how others would understand the eldest madam's words speaking up for Lao Yi.

Anyway, Shazhu felt quite unpleasant.

Not sympathy for Lao Yi.

But felt that the eldest madam was a bit strange; her current actions are comparable to the Jia Zhangshi who used to cause trouble all over the courtyard.

Under the banner of thinking for Lao Yi.

Engaging in the act of throwing Lao Yi into a well and stoning him.

Afraid that Lao Yi would not die.

Repeatedly saying Lao Yi is innocent.

But the meaning in her words repeatedly mentions the matter of Qin Huairu and Lao Yi, again assistance, again Lao Yi's bloodline, and emphasizes the fact that Huaihua does not bear the Jia surname but the Yi surname.

Saying she didn't do it on purpose.

Shazhu doesn't believe it.

If the eldest madam didn't say these words, some people would only know that Lao Yi and Long Laotaitai had a conflict; but now they know the reason for the conflict between Lao Yi and Long Laotaitai, and the truth is still this dog-blood explosive.

The onlookers' eyes gradually gleamed.

This proves that the eldest madam's words produced a very huge effect.

Those who know, understand the inside story even more clearly.

Those who don't know, also came to know the full story.

Good fellow.

Yi Zhonghai is the master.

Qin Huairu is the disciple's wife.

Those two have done something indescribable!!!

Everyone's interest greatly increased.

The eldest madam's words, in Shazhu's heart, are nothing but fear that Lao Yi would not die.

With this hat violating human ethics, even if Lao Yi didn't slaughter Long Laotaitai, he wouldn't have a good ending; people's spit could drown Lao Yi.

Yu Li touched Shazhu's hand.

Shazhu gave a slight nod.

The couple.

Some things don't need verbal communication; a glance, a gesture, and you know what the other means.

What Shazhu understood.

Yu Li also saw it clearly.

The inner shock.

One can imagine.

You should know that before Yu Li married Shazhu, the thing she heard most about was how Yi Zhonghai and his wife treated each other with mutual respect as guests.

Someone said that even if the eldest madam couldn't bear children for Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai still loved her, and for the sake of his wife, he would rather the Yi line die out.

The eldest madam also played the role of a wife who follows her husband's lead; in the family, big and small matters were always decided by Yi Zhonghai, and she silently acted as his strategist behind his back, offering advice and plans, and when necessary, creating a stepping stone for him.

Yu Li once had a fleeting unrealistic fantasy.

If after marrying Shazhu their marriage were as harmonious as Yi Zhonghai and his wife, Yu Li would not feel wronged her whole life.

Who could have imagined.

The person Yu Li admires.

but is a master of male theft and female prostitution.

The couple schemed against each other; Yi Zhonghai, behind the eldest madam's back, fooled around with Qin Huairu and gave birth to Jia Huahua, who should have borne the Yi surname.

The eldest madam knew about this but didn't make a fuss; however, after the deaf old lady's death incident, she silently dug a trap for Yi Zhonghai in front of many neighbors.

The hypocrite and the strategist's manner.

Yu Li was completely bewildered.

Really, a person.

This scheme, you can't not accept it.

Deep in her heart rose a hint of admiration for Shazhu; no wonder Shazhu never associated with Yi Zhonghai and his wife—if it were her, she'd also cut ties forever.

Her hand lightly touched Shazhu.

Shazhu shuddered violently.

When he was lost in thought, Yu Li broke his wandering imagination.

He turned his head and smiled at Yu Li.

He then turned his gaze to the eldest madam.

He always felt the eldest madam was a bit strange.

Just then, a terrifying speculation arose in Shazhu's mind that even he found frightening.

The deaf old lady couldn't have been killed by the eldest madam, could she?

Killing the deaf old lady, then framing Yi Zhonghai.

The more he pondered.

The more he felt this possibility was great.

Motive!

According to the eldest madam's instructions, the deaf old lady schemed against her, preventing her from ever becoming a mother.

Woman.

Cannot bear children.

It really is a huge matter, looked down upon by the in-laws in various ways.

Moreover, the deaf old lady, due to her gluttony, often gave the eldest madam dirty looks, bluntly saying she was unfilial and wouldn't get her meat.

The eldest madam also complained about the deaf old lady.

Don't think that just because she's married to Yi Zhonghai, she doesn't bear him a grudge.

The eldest madam would love to kill Yi Zhonghai; perhaps she didn't think that before, but as the Huahua affair came to light, it twisted her mind.

The eldest madam couldn't become a mother because Yi Zhonghai infected her with a disease.

Afterwards.

Yi Zhonghai knelt before the eldest madam, begging for her forgiveness, and wrote a so-called pledge.

Upon learning that Huahua was Yi Zhonghai's child, the eldest madam must have felt betrayed, as if stabbed in the back by him.

I can't become a mother because of you.

We agreed.

I won't be a mother, you won't be a father; I trusted you, but you pulled a "clear road, secret warehouse" trick on me—apparently toying with me, acting out a "no heir" play, while secretly hooking up with Jia Dongxu's wife Qin Huairu, who then gave birth to Huahua.

All the bad things are my doing as the eldest madam, all the good things are yours, Yi Zhonghai.

On what grounds?

Her heart became unbalanced.

Her spirit also became twisted.

This is why she killed the deaf old lady and then put the blame on Yi Zhonghai's head.

Quite a two-birds-one-stone scheme.

A person with a twisted mind full of vengeful thoughts, under extreme irrationality, can do anything, including murder and framing.

The eldest madam is the murderer!

Shazhu was startled by his own thought; he tried to calm himself, then secretly glanced at the eldest madam who was still bringing up Huahua.

The more he looked.

The more he felt his speculation was correct.

First kill someone, then frame them.

This sort of self-incriminating framing that airs dirty laundry isn't something the big ma, whom Shazhu imagines as a dog-headed military advisor, should be doing.

It has a somewhat resigned, 'give up' feel.

The big ma in front of him gave Shazhu a feeling of insanity.

Translation: "The big ma before him gave Shazhu a feeling akin to madness." We'll keep: "The big ma before him gave Shazhu a feeling akin to madness."

She's totally a crazy old woman.

Shazhu swallowed hard, then grabbed Yu Li's hand and moved his body back a bit.

Translation: "Shazhu swallowed dryly, then immediately took Yu Li's hand and shifted his body backward." We'll keep: "Shazhu swallowed dryly, then immediately took Yu Li's hand and shifted his body backward."

Yu Li might not know what Shazhu is thinking, but she obediently followed his lead, walking behind him and moving from the front of the crowd to the back.

Translation: "Yu Li might not know what Shazhu was thinking, but she obediently followed his lead, staying behind him and moving her body from the front of the crowd to the back." We'll keep: "Yu Li might not know what Shazhu was thinking, but she obediently followed his lead, staying behind him and moving her body from the front of the crowd to the back."

She trusts Shazhu without reservation.

Translation: "She trusted Shazhu unconditionally." We'll keep: "She trusted Shazhu unconditionally."

Clever Yu Li pursed her lips at the big ma.

Shazhu let out a soft hum.

Translation: "Shazhu let out a soft snort." We'll keep: "Shazhu let out a soft snort."

Yu Li was frightened, her face turned pale, and she instinctively covered her mouth.

Translation: "Yu Li was frightened, her pretty face turned deathly pale, and she instinctively covered her mouth." We'll keep: "Yu Li was frightened, her pretty face turned deathly pale, and she instinctively covered her mouth."

The big ma killed the deaf old lady, then framed Yi Zhonghai for the murder.

Translation: "The big ma killed the deaf old lady, then put the blame for the murder on Yi Zhonghai's head." We'll keep: "The big ma killed the deaf old lady, then put the blame for the murder on Yi Zhonghai's head."

He originally didn't believe it.

Translation: "Originally, he didn't believe it." Actually context: maybe Shazhu? We'll keep: "Originally, he didn't believe it."

He simply thought about it.

Translation: "He simply thought about it." We'll keep: "He simply thought about it."

It was confirmed.

The big ma's current behavior is exactly the sort that wishes Yi Zhonghai dead.

Translation: "The big ma's current behavior is exactly the kind that wishes Yi Zhonghai dead." We'll keep: "The big ma's current behavior is exactly the kind that wishes Yi Zhonghai dead."

It's a strange thing.

Translation: "A strange matter." We'll keep: "A strange matter."

Yi Zhonghai offered no rebuttal; handcuffed, he was led by two comrades, face down, unsure what he was thinking—has he resigned himself?

Translation: "Yi Zhonghai did not refute; handcuffed, he was escorted by two comrades, face down, not knowing what he was thinking—had he resigned himself to fate?" We'll keep: "Yi Zhonghai did not refute; handcuffed, he was escorted by two comrades, face down, not knowing what he was thinking—had he resigned himself to fate?"

He opened his mouth.

He quietly said to Shazhu, "Boss, what do you think that person is thinking?"

That person naturally refers to Yi Zhonghai.

Translation: "That person naturally refers to Yi Zhonghai." We'll keep: "That person naturally refers to Yi Zhonghai."

Not to mention Yu Li, who was curious.

Shazhu is no exception.

Translation: "Shazhu was no exception." We'll keep: "Shazhu was no exception."

Yi Zhonghai before them looked downcast and resigned, and this behavior really doesn't resemble his usual style.

Translation: "Seeing Yi Zhonghai before him, head bowed, spiritless, resigned, his behavior truly didn't resemble Yi Zhonghai's usual behavior." We'll keep: "Seeing Yi Zhonghai before him, head bowed, spiritless, resigned, his behavior truly didn't resemble Yi Zhonghai's usual behavior."

He shook his head.

Translation: "He shook his head." We'll keep: "He shook his head."

He also didn't know what Yi Zhonghai was thinking.

Translation: "He also didn't know what Yi Zhonghai was thinking." We'll keep: "He also didn't know what Yi Zhonghai was thinking."

Shazhu guessed that perhaps Yi Zhonghai sensed a hint of conspiracy in the big ma's words, due to some concerns, and chose to resign himself.

Translation: "Shazhu guessed that perhaps Yi Zhonghai had caught a whiff of conspiracy from the big ma's words, out of some misgivings, and chose to resign himself." We'll keep: "Shazhu guessed that perhaps Yi Zhonghai had caught a whiff of conspiracy from the big ma's words, out of some misgivings, and chose to resign himself."

It's also possible he's hiding another idea in his heart.

Translation: "Or perhaps he was hiding another idea in his heart." We'll keep: "Or perhaps he was hiding another idea in his heart."

The top-tier courtyard expert Yi Zhonghai just logged off like that.

Translation: "The Siheyuan's platinum-ranked expert Yi Zhonghai just went offline like that." We'll keep: "The Siheyuan's platinum-ranked expert Yi Zhonghai just went offline like that."

Even Shazhu himself doesn't believe it.

Translation: "Even Shazhu himself didn't believe it." We'll keep: "Even Shazhu himself didn't believe it."

But how should the deaf old lady's death be explained?

Translation: "But how should the deaf old lady's death be explained?" We'll keep: "But how should the deaf old lady's death be explained?"

This is the great courtyard's ancestor.

He's dead!

Translation: "He's dead!" We'll keep: "He's dead!"

Think about it.

Translation: "Think about it." We'll keep: "Think about it."

The deaf old lady's death is a good thing.

Translation: "The deaf old lady's death is a good thing." We'll keep: "The deaf old lady's death is a good thing."

Without the great courtyard's ancestor, the neighbors don't have to put on the so-called filial piety show.

Translation: "Within the courtyard, without the Dayuan's ancestor, the neighbors need not perform the so-called filial piety drama." We'll keep: "Within the courtyard, without the Dayuan's ancestor, the neighbors need not perform the so-called filial piety drama."

Yi Zhonghai was arrested.

Translation: "Yi Zhonghai was arrested." We'll keep: "Yi Zhonghai was arrested."

The neighbors' lives will be much better.

Translation: "The neighbors' lives will be much better." We'll keep: "The neighbors' lives will be much better."

As for Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui.

Translation: "As for Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui," We'll keep: "As for Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui,"

Yan Fugui is good at scheming; for things that offer no benefit and are troublesome, he's never been very enthusiastic.

Translation: "Yan Fugui is skilled at scheming; for things that are no benefit and require effort without gratitude, he has never been enthusiastic." We'll keep: "Yan Fugui is skilled at scheming; for things that are no benefit and require effort without gratitude, he has never been enthusiastic."

Liu Haizhong, on the other hand, used the courtyard as a venue to indulge his official addiction.

Translation: "Liu Haizhong, on the other hand, used the Siheyuan as a venue to indulge his official addiction." We'll keep: "Liu Haizhong, on the other hand, used the Siheyuan as a venue to indulge his official addiction."

However, with something like this happening to Yi Zhonghai, the foreman's credibility has taken a huge hit, and the neighbors won't readily believe the foreman.

Translation: "But after such an incident involving Yi Zhonghai, the steward's credibility suffered a huge blow, and the neighbors will not readily trust the steward." We'll keep: "But after such an incident involving Yi Zhonghai, the steward's credibility suffered a huge blow, and the neighbors will not readily trust the steward."

The idea of using the courtyard to indulge one's official addiction.

Translation: "The idea of using the Siheyuan to indulge an official addiction." We'll keep: "The idea of using the Siheyuan to indulge an official addiction."

If things go badly, it could backfire.

Translation: "It might backfire." We'll keep: "It might backfire."

A single sentence.

Translation: "In a word." We'll keep: "In a word."

The courtyard's drama is becoming more and more worth watching.

Translation: "The drama in the Siheyuan is becoming more and more worth watching." We'll keep: "The drama in the Siheyuan is becoming more and more worth watching."

Shazhu and Yu Li both watched from the sidelines, eagerly playing the role of gossipers; as they whispered, a big ma in the crowd denounced the Jia family, ultimately putting on a show where her arguments fell flat—her words had no sway with the comrades, instead letting the watching neighbors enjoy the spectacle.

Meaning: Shazhu and Yu Li both had the mindset of watching from the wall, enthusiastically acting as the melon-eating crowd; while they, as a couple, whispered and muttered, in the crowd a big ma who denounced Jia Zhangshi was vocal, ultimately performing the play where the arm couldn't twist over the thigh; her remarks, in the comrades' eyes, had no credibility at all, and instead let the watching neighbors exclaim in delight.

We'll translate: "Shazhu and Yu Li both had the mindset of watching from the wall, enthusiastically acting as the melon-eating crowd; while they, as a couple, whispered and muttered, in the crowd a big ma who denounced Jia Zhangshi spoke up, ultimately performing the farce where the arm couldn't twist over the thigh; her remarks, in the comrades' eyes, had no credibility at all, and instead let the watching neighbors exclaim in delight."

We'll keep as one line.

The couple.

Translation: "The couple." We'll keep: "The couple."

This is the crux.

If Yi Zhonghai goes out, you, as his wife, deliberately help him by testifying that the comrades claim he stayed home all night.

Interpretation: "If Yi Zhonghai were to go out, you, as his wife, deliberately helping him as proof, the Lake Lane comrades would insist that Yi Zhonghai stayed at home all night." We'll translate: "If Yi Zhonghai were to go out, you, as his wife, deliberately helping him as proof, the Lake Lane comrades would insist that Yi Zhonghai stayed at home all night."

That's the reason given by those comrades.

Translation: "This is the reason given by those comrades." We'll keep: "This is the reason given by those comrades."

It's also made very clear.

Translation: "It's also stated very clearly." We'll keep: "It's also stated very clearly."

They won't casually frame an innocent person, nor will they easily let a guilty person go; if Yi Zhonghai truly has no issue, the big ma shouldn't stop them from taking him away; they should act with a clear conscience, go to the station, uncover the truth, and clear Yi Zhonghai's name.

We need to keep the quotes? The source includes Chinese quotation marks 【】. We should translate the content, preserving the meaning, but we can drop the quotation marks? The instruction: translate faithfully, never skip, summarise, or merge paragraphs. The quotation marks are part of the text; we should render them as English quotation marks? Probably we can use English double quotes. We'll translate the sentence inside.

Translation: "They won't casually frame an innocent person, nor will they easily let a guilty person go; if Yi Zhonghai truly has no problem, the big ma shouldn't stop them from taking him away; to be clear‑conscience, upon arriving at the station, they should investigate the truth and clear Yi Zhonghai's name."

We'll keep as one line, maybe with double quotes.

Yi Zhonghai was taken away.

Translation: "Yi Zhonghai was taken away." We'll keep: "Yi Zhonghai was taken away."

The big ma also fainted on the spot from anger.

Translation: "The big ma also fainted on the spot from anger." We'll keep: "The big ma also fainted on the spot from anger."

Jia Zhangshi perhaps wanted to shake off the impression of being the Jia family's white-eyed wolf; seeing the big ma faint, she rushed to her immediately.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi, perhaps trying to shake off the impression of being the Jia family's white‑eyed wolf, seeing the big ma faint, rushed to her at once." We'll keep: "Jia Zhangshi, perhaps trying to shake off the impression of being the Jia family's white‑eyed wolf, seeing the big ma faint, rushed to her at once."

She kept shouting words.

Hey big ma, you can't have something happen; your family's Old Yi killed the deaf old lady, the comrades found evidence and took him away—he surely won't survive; the Yi family would be left with just you; if something happens to you, the Yi family would collapse—wake up quickly.

Translation: "\"Hey, big ma, you can't have something happen now; your family's Old Yi killed the deaf old lady, the comrades found evidence and took him away—he surely won't survive, the Yi family would then have only you left; if you have any mishap, the Yi family will collapse—wake up quickly. \"" We'll keep.

He spoke without thinking.

The listener is interested.

Many people began to reckon.

Yi Zhonghai, a Level 8 Technician at Yagangchang, is well-off; if he were to die, the Yi family's possessions...

Shazhu and his wife are the only ones who haven't reckoned.

It's clear to see.

The eldest aunt is just pretending to faint.

Her eyelids gave away the eldest aunt's innermost true thoughts.

The eyelids give a wriggling sensation.

This is being held.

This also intensified Shazhu's earlier suspicion of the eldest aunt; if there were no problem, why deliberately expose Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu's scandal, then afterwards stage a public act of feigned faint, using this act to show the eldest aunt's deep concern for Yi Zhonghai.

Truly a beastly siheyuan.

The eldest aunt feigned faint.

Jia Zhangshi was just taking revenge on a pretext.

Jia Zhangshi, holding the eldest aunt in her arms, shouted while slapping her face with her hand.

Shazhu counted.

The eldest aunt's left cheek got two slaps from Jia Zhangshi, and her right cheek was slapped twice.

In the crowd.

Perhaps someone couldn't stand to see and gave a reminder.

"Jia dama, the eldest aunt has fainted; you can't just slap her, you need to press her philtrum."

Jia Zhangshi exerted all her strength, fiercely pinching the eldest aunt's philtrum.

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