Chapter 215: with translation of chapter title

The reason the coworkers didn't believe it was because Yi Zhonghai's disguise was too successful; in their impression, Yi Zhonghai was a kind old man with a faint smile on his face, always wearing a benevolent expression.

You tell me such an old man is the murderer, who killed his own disciple Jia Dongxu.

It is no less than a bolt from the blue.

How could this be possible!

We must have had an auditory hallucination.

Or you, Liu Lan, are lying.

Each one showed disbelief.

This is Yi Zhonghai's cleverness—he played the "dark under the lamp" scheme to perfection; not only were the residents of the siheyuan deceived, but even the tens of thousands of workers at Yagangchang fell for Yi Zhonghai's ways, from the top boss down to the ordinary workers cleaning toilets, all regarded Yi Zhonghai as a good person.

This is truly what "dark under the lamp" means.

He relied on Yi Zhonghai's illusory kind-old-man face.

Yi Zhonghai relied on that illusory kindly face that deceived everyone, becoming the benevolent elder and kind master in people's minds.

This is the root of the coworkers doubting that Liu Lan was talking nonsense.

A kindly-looking Yi Zhonghai killed his own disciple Jia Dongxu.

It is simply absurd beyond belief.

Just three words.

Don't believe it.

As a well-known loudspeaker at Yagangchang, you may not believe Liu Lan's promise to keep your secrets, but you must believe the truth of what Liu Lan relays.

Seeing the coworkers' faces show doubt.

Liu Lan felt her lungs about to explode with anger, thinking to herself, "I've painstakingly gathered information for you all, not taking a penny, and yet you nitpick and suspect."

She turned her face aside.

Her gaze fell upon Shazhu, who wore a deep expression.

"If you don't believe it, ask Master He—Master He lives in Zhong Yuan together with Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu; he surely knows about their affairs."

Thus: Thus: Mahua saw Shazhu lost in thought.

He interjected with a remark.

"What's wrong with living in Zhong Yuan? Master He doesn't really associate with the Jia family or Yi Zhonghai; precisely because of this, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu, in front of the coworkers at Yagangchang, have specifically brought up this matter, saying Master He is unsociable, doesn't regard them, and disrupts the peace and prosperity of the siheyuan."

"That's why we should ask Master He; according to me, it's definitely because Master He saw that Yi Zhonghai wasn't a good person and kept his distance from them."

"It doesn't matter who we ask; I just want to know why Yi Zhonghai exterminated Jia Dongxu—he was his disciple, after all. I heard Yi Zhonghai had no heirs, took Jia Dongxu as a disciple so that Jia Dongxu would support him in his old age; how could he then kill Jia Dongxu?"

"I know this; my uncle lives in their siheyuan, and he just told me that Yi Zhonghai originally had no children, intending for Jia Dongxu to help support him in his old age, but later, somehow, he got involved with Jia Dongxu's wife Qin Huairu, and Qin Huairu bore him a daughter."

The atmosphere inside the house.

Instantly turned into silence.

Following the incident of Yi Zhonghai killing Jia Dongxu, a second event that shocked the coworkers to the point of dropping their teeth occurred.

One by one, they were counted.

They were all dumbfounded.

Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu were carrying on together!

Even a three-year-old knows that Qin Huairu is the wife of Yi Zhonghai's disciple Jia Dongxu.

There is a definite generational gap between them.

Carrying on like this is no longer heading for a pig‑drowning fate; it's heading for infamy for ten thousand years—could it be that Yi Zhonghai wants to be the Yi version of Ximen Qing, and Qin Huairu the Qin version of Pan Jinlian?

What Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian failed to achieve, Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu accomplished—Qin Huairu bore him a child.

The reason Yi Zhonghai killed Jia Dongxu has become a lice on a monk's head—i. e., utterly baseless.

Having his own biological daughter, he naturally no longer needed Jia Dongxu, an outsider disciple.

No matter how good the relationship.

One surnamed Jia, the other surnamed Yi.

Huaihua's advantage lies in her surname Yi.

This is the reason Jia Dongxu was exterminated.

He knew too many secrets!

The affair between Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai is already something shameful; Jia Dongxu happened to be one of the parties involved, and Yi Zhonghai, out of a guilty conscience, decided to kill him—this explanation makes logical sense.

Everyone came up with their own speculation.

When Yi Zhonghai first took Jia Dongxu as a disciple, many people wore expressions of envy, jealousy, and hatred—envying that Jia Dongxu could be Yi Zhonghai's disciple, jealous that Yi Zhonghai gave Jia Dongxu a sewing machine and bought him a bicycle, and muttering inwardly, "How come all the good things fall to Jia Dongxu?"

Looking at it now.

This is clearly Jia Dongxu's "life‑buying money."

Not only did he lose his life, but his wife also bore a child surnamed Yi, making Jia Dongxu become Jia "Green‑Hat" Dongxu.

"No wonder Qin Huairu dares to loaf around in their workshop—having that connection with Yi Zhonghai, even a Level 8 Technician and workshop supervisor at Yagangchang has to give her face."

Some also sensed something was off.

Since Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai have that kind of relationship, why does Qin Huairu still wander among a bunch of men, having this one help buy steamed buns and that one help buy vegetables?

Whose money blows in like a gust of wind?

None of them are fools.

With their wives and children still hungry at home, I'm damned if I buy Qin Huairu rice and vegetables.

Many people have specially imagined that Qin Huairu shares some secret with these people that they don't know.

What exactly is that secret.

Even guessing with your toes, you can roughly figure it out—like shaking hands, or other such bodily contact.

……

Factory Director's office.

Shazhu looked around with a puzzled expression at the people around him.

Just now.

He was summoned from Ershitang to here.

This is also the root of his confusion.

Whether Qin Huairu was forced by Yi Zhonghai or willing, and whether Jia Dongxu was killed by Yi Zhonghai, in Shazhu's mind these matters have nothing to do with him.

Within Yagangchang, with leaders above and the Security Section below, it's not his place as a lowly cook to make decisions.

In the Siheyuan, incidents involve the street office, the police station, and there's a head steward; still, Shazhu doesn't need to worry or exert himself.

He doesn't understand why he was summoned here.

Because everyone knows that Shazhu has a long-standing estrangement from the Jia Family and the Yi Family.

Look at the other side's posture.

They attach great importance to this matter.

The top three officials of Yagangchang are present; the police station sent a deputy chief, the street office sent a deputy director, each bringing an aide.

A big show.

Upon second thought.

He felt relieved.

Regarding Jia Dongxu's death, the Security Section, based on on-site investigation results and testimonies of workers who witnessed the whole event, concluded that Jia Dongxu died in an accident.

The factory also accepted this conclusion, gave compensation, arranged for Qin Huairu to take his post, and several leaders wrote self-criticisms and received demerits.

Today the police station and the street office came to the factory, saying Jia Dongxu did not die accidentally but was murdered, with Yi Zhonghai as the killer.

The former has already been settled; those who should be dealt with have been dealt with, and those who should receive a major demerit have received one.

The latter would make those previous events happen all over again; badly, the top three officials of Yagangchang might suffer another misfortune.

No wonder Shazhu saw on the faces of the top three officials an ugly, constipated expression.

On the contrary, Deputy Factory Director Li's face occasionally flashed a faint hint of delight.

The fisherman's gain!

Besides this reason, there is simply no other explanation.

Shazhu never expected that, a year after Jia Dongxu's death, Yagangchang would again, because of his death, experience some unforeseen changes.

Deputy Factory Director Li became the biggest winner.

Regardless of whether Jia Dongxu died accidentally or was killed, it has little to do with Deputy Factory Director Li; a year ago he was the deputy director in charge of logistics, and a year later he still is.

The truly unlucky ones are the top two officials of Yagangchang, one a part-time Security Section chief, the other a part-time Security Section deputy chief.

"Several leaders, you're looking for me?"

"Comrade He Yuzhu, don't be nervous; we're looking for you to verify the situation."

The deputy chief seemed to be overshadowing the host.

The deputy director also spoke up.

"Just say what you have to say."

"You ask."

"You surely know about the matter between Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu, right?"

"Not really clear; I don't associate with those two families, and there are people inside the factory and the Siheyuan who can testify for me."

The deputy chief furrowed his brow.

Shazhu's answer.

It made him feel a bit displeased.

According to Shazhu's statement, the Jia Family and the Yi Family have long been estranged from him, so why did Jia Dongxu specially write a letter before his incident, and also urge Jia Zhangshi to give it to Shazhu, asking Shazhu to help deliver it to the police station and the street office?

"Our people asked Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, who said that Jia Dongxu felt something might happen to him, so he wrote a letter and had Jia Zhangshi give it to you, telling you to take the letter to the street office and the police station after his incident."

Shazhu truly didn't know how to face this problem.

His mind was muddled.

He had considered myriad possibilities, but never imagined it would be like this.

Jia Dongxu left him a clue note, and afterwards took the note to go to the street office and the police station.

Even a fool knows what they're after.

"Comrades, what did Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu tell you? I don't want to know, I can't be bothered, I understand why you're here, I can tell you clearly: I've never seen that letter, never received it; anything else? If not, I'm going back to cook—it's almost ten, and I have a pile of work waiting."

"We know the letter isn't in your hands; Jia Zhangshi said she threw it away...."

……

On the way back.

Shazhu was still pondering.

Jia Dongxu really overestimated his mother.

The important note concerning Jia Dongxu's death, Jia Zhangshi said she'd just throw it away.

What a mother.

Simply absolute.

His steps suddenly stopped.

A small figure flashed in his mind.

Bangeng.

Nickname: Thief Saint, also known as the strongest white-eyed wolf.

Thanks to Jia Zhangshi's teachings by example, and because Qin Huairu let him run wild, Bangeng's behavior became increasingly hateful, and he almost stole from everywhere in the Siheyuan.

Even the household of Yan Fugui, who holds the position of San Daye, has been visited by Bangeng.

According to Yu Li's words, Bangeng seems to have set his sights on their household recently.

The Jia Family's letter.

Lost.

Could it be that Bangeng took this letter?

That said.

Bangeng stole the letter; probably it's gone from this world, and the stationery, in Bangeng's eyes, is merely toilet paper.

Damn it!

Which father?

Of course it's Jia Dongxu.

Shazhu never imagined that Jia Dongxu would not rest in peace after death, nor that Jia Dongxu's death was not an accident but murder.

Given Yi Zhonghai's truthful confession.

There is only a dead end.

Killing Jia Dongxu, going against Qin Huairu's wishes, and killing Long Laotaitai—these are the three major crimes Yi Zhonghai admitted to.

As for the latter two charges, Shazhu remains skeptical.

Facing Yi Zhonghai's enthusiasm, Qin Huairu truly does not seem to have been forced by him.

Shazhu does not believe it.

He suspects that Yi Zhonghai took the blame for Qin Huairu, heaping all the charges onto himself.

In the situation where Huaihua needs someone to raise her.

It is better for Yi Zhonghai to die alone than to die together with Qin Huairu.

The death of Long Laotaitai.

It does not look like Yi Zhonghai's doing.

Yet Yi Zhonghai admitted that it was his doing.

For some unknown reason, the image of Bangeng in Shazhu's mind suddenly turned into that of a motherly figure.

……

Everyone says there are no secrets in the world.

Indeed, that is true.

In an extremely short time.

The Yagangchang factory spread the news that Yi Zhonghai killed Jia Dongxu and forced Qin Huairu, ultimately leading to Qin Huairu hitting her head against a pillar—all the gossip and judgment.

Exactly the same as what Shazhu thought in his heart.

Upon hearing that Yi Zhonghai had killed Jia Dongxu.

The coworkers' first impression.

Was disbelief.

But in the face of strong evidence, they could not help but believe it; afterward came the rhythm of everyone cursing, loudly greeting Yi Zhonghai's eight generations of ancestors.

They also lifted Qin Huairu up, stating plainly that she was a good daughter-in-law of the Jia Family, who, for the family and for Jia Dongxu, sacrificed herself and submitted to Yi Zhonghai.

Driven by curiosity.

Those people in the Siheyuan.

First to bear the brunt.

Countless people questioned them for verification, and Shazhu was never let off the hook, except that their questions were somewhat off-topic.

Clearly only Huaihua is Yi Zhonghai's child, yet among these people, Bangeng and Xiao Dang also became regarded as Yi Zhonghai's children.

This is not even the most melodramatic thing.

What truly makes Shazhu click his tongue in amazement.

I don't know which immortal spread this rumor.

It says that besides his relation with Qin Huairu, Yi Zhonghai also has a story with Jia Zhangshi, claiming that Jia Dongxu is not the old Jia's wife, and he should call Yi Zhonghai "dad".

It all boils down to one meaning.

Yi Zhonghai takes everything, big and small.

Jia Dongxu's coffin lid can barely stay on.

……

Siheyuan.

Jia Zhangshi, who had performed a tragic drama in front of everyone in the hospital, returned to the courtyard weary, without going back to the Jia Family.

First she went to Yan Fugui's room.

Seeing that Yan Fugui was not there.

She went to the rear courtyard to look for Liu Haizhong.

As she passed by Long Laotaitai's room, Jia Zhangshi involuntarily shivered, having heard that Long Laotaitai's corpse was still placed inside the room.

She silently cursed her bad luck.

What a fine Siheyuan—why would you put a dead person in it?

She completely forgot that a year ago she had placed Jia Dongxu's corpse in the Siheyuan.

A gust of cold wind blew.

Jia Zhangshi's disheveled hair was blown up, her scalp felt chilly, her body turned cold.

They mistakenly thought the deaf old lady, who died with unresolved grievances, had come back to look for her.

They clasped their hands together.

They muttered pleadingly: "Old lady, it has nothing to do with my old woman; my old woman is just greedy, wanting to eat meat. I admit I shouldn't have snatched meat from you, I was wrong. Don't come looking for me. If you must look for someone, go find Yi Zhonghai—he's the one who killed you. Grievances have a source, debts have a debtor. If you can't find Yi Zhonghai, go find Yi dama; they are a couple, and it has nothing to do with my old woman."