Chapter 221

, 【3】, 【4】, 【5】, 【6】, 【7】, 【8】, 【11】, 【20】, 【21】, 【22】, 【23】, 【24】, 【25】, 【26】, 【27】, 【29】, 【31】, 【33】, 【37】, 【38】, 【39】, 【40】, 【41】, 【42】, 【43】, 【44】, 【45】, 【46】, 【47】, 【48】, 【49】, 【50】, 【51】, 【52】, 【53】, 【54】, 【55】, 【56】, 【57】, 【58】, 【59】, 【60】, 【61】, 【62】, 【63】, 【64】, 【65】, 【66】, 【67】, 【68】, 【69】, 【70】, 【71】, 【72】, 【73】, 【74】, 【75】, 【76】, 【77】, 【78】, 【79】, 【80】, 【82】, 【83】, 【84】, 【86】, 【87】, 【88】, 【90】, 【91】, 【93】, 【95】, 【97】, 【99】, 【101】, 【103】, 【105】, 【107】, 【109】, 【111】, 【113】, 【115】, 【117】, 【119】, 【121】, 【123】, 【125】, 【128】, 【130】, 【132】, 【134】, 【136】, 【138】, 【140】, 【143】, 【145】, 【147】, 【149】, 【151】, 【153】, 【155】, 【157】, 【159】, 【161】, 【163】, 【165】, 【167】, 【169】, 【171】, 【173】, 【175】, 【177】, 【179】, 【181】, 【183】, 【185】, 【187】, 【189】, 【191】, 【193】

, 【4】, 【5】, 【6】, 【7】, 【8】, 【11】, 【20】, 【21】, 【22】, 【23】, 【24】, 【25】, 【26】, 【27】, 【29】, 【31】, 【33】, 【37】, 【38】, 【39】, 【40】, 【41】, 【42】, 【43】, 【44】, 【45】, 【46】, 【47】, 【48】, 【49】, 【50】, 【51】, 【52】, 【53】, 【54】, 【55】, 【56】, 【57】, 【58】, 【59】, 【60】, 【61】, 【62】, 【63】, 【64】, 【65】, 【66】, 【67】, 【68】, 【69】, 【70】, 【71】, 【72】, 【73】, 【74】, 【75】, 【76】, 【77】, 【78】, 【79】, 【80】, 【82】, 【83】, 【84】, 【86】, 【87】, 【88】, 【90】, 【91】, 【92】, 【93】, 【95】, 【97】, 【98】, 【99】, 【101】, 【103】, 【105】, 【107】, 【109】, 【111】, 【113】, 【115】, 【117】, 【119】, 【121】, 【123】, 【125】, 【128】, 【130】, 【132】, 【134】, 【136】, 【138】, 【140】, 【143】, 【162】, 【163】, 【164】, 【165】, 【166】, 【167】, 【168】, 【169】, 【170】, 【171】, 【172】, 【173】, 【174】, 【175】, 【176】, 【177】, 【178】, 【179】, 【180】, 【181】, 【182】, 【183】, 【184】, 【185】, 【186】, 【189】, 【190】, 【191】, 【192】, 【193】.

【5】

【7】

【20】

Long sentence. Need to translate faithfully.

Original: long Chinese. Need to translate fully.

Interpretation: "Without anyone needing to ask, the old widow Jia Zhangshi hurriedly spilled the beans like emptying a bamboo tube, clearly explaining her affairs: why she was lazy and gluttonous, why she wouldn't let Qin Huairu remarry, why she snatched meat from Long Laotaitai, why she wildly caused trouble all over the courtyard, etc."

We need to keep meaning. Use given names: Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, Long Laotaitai, Siheyuan.

Thus: "Without anyone needing to ask, the old widow Jia Zhangshi hurriedly spilled the beans like emptying a bamboo tube, clearly explaining her affairs: why she was lazy and gluttonous, why she wouldn't let Qin Huairu remarry, why she snatched meat from Long Laotaitai, why she wildly caused trouble all over the courtyard, etc."

Make sure it's one line.

【22】

【24】

【26】

【29】

Need to find line 【29】 in the prompt: I see after 【27】 there is a blank line then 【29】? Actually they gave 【29】? Let's scroll: after 【27】 they had a line break then 【29】? I see:

【33】

Now line 16 translation: "Bangeng confessed that, acting on Jia Zhangshi's orders, he went to Shazhu's home to steal something, but due to Yu Li's sudden return, the theft came to nothing."

【38】

【40】

【42】

【44】

【46】

【48】

【50】

【52】

【54】

【56】

【58】

【60】

【62】

【64】

【66】

【68】

【70】

【72】

【74】

【76】

【78】

【80】

It turned out not that Yi Zhonghai, on his deathbed, wanted to drag Shazhu along with him; it was that Bangeng's scandal had come to light, comrades had come into the courtyard to investigate and gather evidence, and after they finished questioning Shazhu, they were thinking whether they should proactively report to the comrades about Bangeng's glorious deeds in the courtyard—if they could really get Bangeng sent away, the neighbors would raise both hands in approval.

【83】

【85】

Meaning: "They imagined what wrongdoing Bangeng had committed." So: "They imagined what wrongdoing Bangeng had done." Or "They speculated about what crime Bangeng had committed." Keep: "They imagined what wrongdoing Bangeng had committed."

【87】

【89】

Meaning: "Petty theft definitely exists." Or "There's definitely petty theft." Keep: "There's definitely petty theft."

【91】

This is

【93】

Meaning: "Someone widened their eyes." Or "Someone's eyes widened." Keep: "Someone's eyes widened."

Meaning: "They thought of something." Or "What came to mind." Keep: "They thought of something."

【99】

Meaning: "Mom!" or "Oh mother!" Keep: "Mom!"

Meaning: "Something big has happened." Keep: "Something big has happened."

Meaning: "If Bangeng really stole that reply letter, he's surely headed for a dead end." Keep: "If Bangeng really stole that reply letter, he's surely headed for a dead end."

Meaning: "If things go badly, Shazhu and his wife will also suffer misfortune." Keep: "If things go badly, Shazhu and his wife will also suffer misfortune."

Meaning: "Failed to protect that letter well." Keep: "Failed to protect that letter well."

Meaning: "This is the root cause." Or "This is the origin." Keep: "This is the root cause."

Meaning: "In an instant." Or "Just a moment's time." Keep: "In an instant."

Meaning: "Yan Jiecheng also felt revived; the idea of marrying Yu Li, under his own self‑imagining, made him believe he had full confidence." Keep: "Yan Jiecheng also felt revived; the idea of marrying Yu Li, under his own self‑imagining, made him believe he had full confidence."

Meaning: "Provocative gaze." Keep: "Provocative gaze."

Meaning: "Once again, it fell on Shazhu." Keep: "Once again, it fell on Shazhu."

Meaning: "This time Shazhu doesn't need to answer." Keep: "This time Shazhu doesn't need to answer."

Meaning: "He came." Keep: "He came."

We need to keep the line as a single output line with 【81】 prefix.

【129】

Meaning: "After Yan Jiecheng's reminder." Keep: "After Yan Jiecheng's reminder."

【131】

Meaning: "The neighbors all recalled this matter." Keep: "The neighbors all recalled this matter."

【133】

Meaning: "Who let Jia Zhangshi make such a fuss back then, insisting that Bangeng had been frightened by Yu Li, so scared he only ate four steamed buns at night, and demanding Shazhu pay her ten yuan no matter what." Keep: "Who let Jia Zhangshi kick up such a fuss back then, insisting that Bangeng had been frightened by Yu Li, so scared he only ate four steamed buns at night, and demanding Shazhu pay her ten yuan no matter what."

【135】

Meaning: "Yi Zhonghai took Jia Family's side, morally blackmailing Shazhu into paying Jia Zhangshi ten yuan." Keep: "Yi Zhonghai took Jia Family's side, morally blackmailing Shazhu into paying Jia Zhangshi ten yuan."

【137】

Meaning: "Shazhu ignored Yi Zhonghai and didn't give Jia Zhangshi the ten yuan; the matter finally fizzled out in a lackluster way." Keep: "Shazhu ignored Yi Zhonghai and didn't give Jia Zhangshi the ten yuan; the matter finally fizzled out in a lackluster way."

【139】

Meaning: "The neighbors can all testify." Keep: "The neighbors can all testify."

【141】

Thus: "Comrade, that's how it is; I was at home that day, I remember it was after three in the afternoon. Yu Li went to the back yard to chat with Xu Daming's wife. As soon as Yu Li left, I saw Bangeng sneaking out from his house, darting over to Shazhu's place opposite. I wondered why, given the bad relations between Shazhu's and Jia's families, Bangeng would go to Shazhu's home. Later I learned Bangeng had sneaked into someone's house to steal things. This kid, you took him back, and you should educate him well. The whole Siheyuan has been ruined by this mischief."

Given the difficulty, we should translate as literally as possible: "My backyard Ma family, usually Yu Li would stay about thirty minutes at Lou Xiaoe's house..." But that seems odd.

Let's treat it as "My family's horse in the back yard" and translate accordingly. The rest about Yu Li staying at Lou Xiaoe's house maybe is separate: "Usually Yu Li would stay about thirty minutes at Lou Xiaoe's house". So the speaker is saying: "In my backyard, my family's horse... Usually Yu Li would stay about thirty minutes at Lou Xiaoe's house". That still seems odd.

Given the instruction to translate faithfully, we should produce a literal translation: "My backyard Ma family, usually Yu Li would stay about thirty minutes at Lou Xiaoe's house..." Let's do that.

Thus: "My backyard Ma family, usually Yu Li would stay about thirty minutes at Lou Xiaoe's house; that day she left after less than ten minutes. Later I heard Jia Zhangshi and Yu Li arguing: Yu Li said Bangeng had entered their home, while Jia Zhangshi said Bangeng saw that Yu Li's door was unlocked and went to lock it for her."

We'll keep quotes.

【163】

【165】

【167】

【169】

【171】

【173】

【175】

【177】

【179】

【181】

【183】

【185】

Note: 【30】 missing, 【32】 missing, 【34-36】 missing, 【40】 present, 【41】 present, etc. Also 【81】 missing. Also 【90】 present, 【91】 present, etc.

We need to keep quotes.

Who knows what trouble will arise tomorrow.

Everything is guided by one's own safety.

When trying to keep distance from Qin Huairu as much as possible, he also tried to persuade Qin Huairu.

"Qin Huairu, get up—everyone's here. What are you doing? The comrades asked me just one thing: whether Bangeng had moved into our house a year ago. I didn't say a word, and the neighbors said it; you also know that matter, and your mother-in-law even had Yi Zhonghai help her seek justice."

Yu Li added a sentence.

"This remark was brought up by Yan Jiecheng; he's the one who said it. If it weren't for him, we heads of household would have forgotten this matter."

Yan Jiecheng truly became Yu Li's loyal sycophant.

Obviously, he was being blamed.

Yet his heart felt a hint of excitement.

He thought to himself: Yu Li mentioned my name; she mentioned my name.

"Yu Li, please save our Bangeng."

"Qin Huairu, do you think Yi Zhonghai is still in power, and that everything is justified for your Jia family?"

"Comrade Qin Huairu, our current matter is not about Bangeng, but about Bangeng having a letter from Jia Dongxu in his pocket before entering Comrade He Yuzhu's house; after leaving He Yuzhu's house, the letter was no longer in his pocket. We suspect the letter was lost in Comrade He's household, and we came to the courtyard not because of Bangeng, but because of this letter."

It would be better not to mention the letter.

But as soon as the letter is mentioned.

Qin Huairu froze on the spot immediately.

She knows exactly what the letter the comrades refer to is.

In the eyes of outsiders.

This is just an ordinary letter.

But in Qin Huairu's eyes, it is a butcher's knife that would take her life and ruin her reputation.

No wonder the letter couldn't be found inside the house.

As it turns out, the letter was taken by Bangeng.

Resentment toward Bangeng welled up in her heart; he's my good son, yet he's forcing me to death alive.

Qin Huairu worries that Jia Dongxu has laid out everything in the letter—for example, the rights and wrongs between her and Yi Zhonghai, how the two got together, and how they kept it hidden from the Jia family.

If the letter were really exposed before everyone, Qin Huairu's pillar‑crashing act would be for nothing.

The clues and evidence left by the deceased are a bit more convincing than her, who is involved with Yi Zhonghai.

She greeted Bangeng with harsh words.

She also resented herself.

Back when she suspected Bangeng had taken the letter, why didn't she persist, why didn't she press him—maybe then the letter would have ended up in her hands.

It wouldn't have come to this passive state.

Unlike Qin Huairu.

When Yu Li heard the comrades mention the letter,

her mind instantly recalled that day's incident; she really had picked up a letter, hadn't examined it closely, and put it inside the house.

"Comrade, I recall now: there was such a letter; I have put it away, and I will go get it for you right now."

Yu Li went into the house.

Less than a minute.

Yu Li came out of the house holding the letter and handed it to the comrade.

Looking at the letter before him.

Qin Huairu's eyelids drooped; she really wanted to faint right there, but the harsh facts wouldn't allow it, and she had no time to faint.

Fate is urgent.

It must be because she's anxious.

Qin Huairu shouted hoarsely at the comrade gripping the letter.

"This isn't that letter; that letter shouldn't be in Shazhu's house—no, it shouldn't be like this. How could this happen? Why?"

An abnormal scene.

It left the onlookers dumbfounded.

Many people didn't understand.

Qin Huairu, to prove her innocence, would not hesitate to crash into a pillar; yet facing this letter, she shows such terror.

Only Shazhu understood the situation; even though he didn't know exactly what the letter contained, he inferred a rough idea from Qin Huairu and the other person's contrasting reactions and expressions.

The letter surely contains evidence of Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai's illicit relationship.

Even if Yi Zhonghai bears everything.

But as the letter's content is exposed, Yi Zhonghai's explanation will become a laughingstock; Qin Huairu, who previously thought nothing was wrong while being a bystander, will also, because of this letter said to be left by Jia Dongxu, end up imprisoned, and Qin Huairu's parents will, due to her scandal, be unable to hold their heads up in Qin Family Village, and Qin Huairu will be disowned by her children.

This is Qin Huairu's greatest revenge.

Such consequences.

Even this big man Shazhu feels fearful.

Let alone mention Qin Huairu.

Suddenly.

Shazhu felt an inexplicable chill on the back of his neck.

He thought it was due to the weather.

He involuntarily tightened his clothes.

What he didn't expect was that, in a dark corner, Yan Jiecheng was staring at him with a fierce gaze, silently watching Shazhu.

During the process when Yu Li fetched the letter just now, Yan Jiecheng secretly took a clear look, and Bangeng's letter happened to be placed together with that person's reply letter.