Chapter 23: Sweet Words to Fool the Deaf Old Lady

It's not that Shazhu is heartless and refuses to acknowledge He Daqing.

He must do this.

I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me.

The larger environment has an impact.

That's all.

Quoting the buddy who said Shazhu's identity is flawed: Since He Daqing clearly knows the Japanese devils and the traitorous lackeys are our enemies, why not slip poison into the food to kill those damned traitors!

If everyone acted like He Daqing, could we still drive off the Japanese devils?

In the guerrilla area, even seven- or eight-year-old children know to pick up the red-tasseled rifle to help the anti-Japanese cause; why don't Shazhu and Yushui dare to resist?

It's exactly because there are too many people like He Daqing with flawed identities that enemy spies can run rampant today.

The recycling depot is an important unit; they would rather let useful supplies rot and decay than allow someone like Shazhu with a flawed identity to enter, for fear of sabotage.

It's easy for them to talk.

Shazhu also has no recourse.

The anti‑bandit and spy‑suppression campaign will reach its climax next year.

First, look after yourself.

After finishing the application, they also had the little girl write her own name, He Yushui, after the applicant He Yuzhu's name, counting it as the two siblings doing this together.

This is also why they gave the deaf old couple and Yi Zhonghai stir‑fried pork with potato slices.

They need those two people.

He patted the little girl's head.

He went to the deaf old lady's room.

The siheyuan seems to have everyone shouting equality slogans, but in fact it's not like that; there are grades, the deaf old lady is at the top, then Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui, and below them are Shazhu and his ilk.

First win over the deaf old lady; as long as she signs and stamps, the others like Yi Zhonghai will basically agree to sign.

"Granny, are you in the room?"

Didn't call her grandma.

It's a bit awkward to shout, not satisfying.

Then they joined Yi Zhonghai in addressing this old lady.

How old is the old lady this year? Shazhu doesn't know, but according to He Daqing, since he moved into the siheyuan the deaf old lady has always lived in that back‑courtyard room, and Shazhu guesses she's about seventy.

"Shazhu, grandma is there."

The deaf old lady, unusually, didn't pretend to be deaf and greeted Shazhu.

"Then I'm coming in."

Shazhu pushed open the door and stepped into the deaf old lady's room; at the moment of entering, not knowing if it was an illusion, Shazhu always felt the deaf old lady's spirit inexplicably a bit excited, perhaps because he saw Shazhu arrive.

His gaze was calm as he looked at the deaf old lady.

His heart was a mix of five flavors.

In his previous life, the deaf old lady treated Shazhu well; at least before she died she gave the house to Shazhu, but Shazhu failed to keep the house, and Qin Huairu took it away.

He wasn't very good to He Yushui either.

In the TV drama.

Because Bangeng stole what Shazhu had left for He Yushui, leaving He Yushui with no food, he went to the back courtyard to find the deaf old lady; she was clearly eating noodles, but before He Yushui entered she hid the noodles and then pretended to be deaf and mute.

Perhaps the deaf old lady couldn't bear to see He Yushui turning a bit dark; she clearly knows what Qin Huairu is, yet she insists on pushing Shazhu into Qin Huairu's fire pit.

Ah.

It's all Shazhu's fault.

If he had shown a little consideration for his younger sister He Yushui, she wouldn't have turned dark and wanted to harm Shazhu.

"Granny, there's something I need to trouble you with."

Yi Zhonghai's moral‑coercion big stick was copied by Shazhu, who waved it and smashed it toward the deaf old lady.

"I went to the street office today; Director Wang said that my and Yushui's identities are flawed."

Shazhu let out a fitting sigh and squeezed out a pitiful, miserable expression on his face.

Acting, acting.

Must be done with feeling and emotion.

"Saying my father He Daqing, during the puppet regime, was designated by the puppet to work as a cook for several years in someone's restaurant; you know this, if he doesn't cook, I and Yushui will starve; I estimate that in a few days I and Yushui will have to leave the capital and wait wherever the street office notifies."

The deaf old lady's heart rose to her throat; she vaguely knew a little about what Shazhu said.

Among these people in the courtyard, who hasn't worked in a puppet‑era factory?

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Fugui, etc., dare say they haven't eaten puppet‑era food!

The deaf old lady is a bit doubtful.

The identity verification was over a year ago; why is Shazhu bringing it up again? Could there be another change coming?

"Shazhu, speak slowly, what exactly is going on?"

The deaf old lady is anxious inside, but her tone is especially slow.

This also fits the deaf old lady's character setting.

Oh, the ancestors of the big courtyard!

"The elder uncle told me that I can't become an apprentice worker this year, I have to wait until next year. My father went to Baocheng, leaving me and Yushui; I have to support Yushui! I'm thinking of going to the street office to ask, in our situation, will the street office have this subsidy?"

Shazhu's explanation, the deaf old lady can't find any fault.

"Just arrived at the street office, the street office recognized me, saying my father followed a widow to Baocheng, and also said my father went to Baocheng because of his identity. I came to find you, old lady, not for anything else, just wanting you to help me write a character and press a handprint on this."

Just arrived at Jiēdào, the people of Jiēdào recognized me, saying my father followed a widow to Baocheng, and also said my father ran to Baocheng because of this identity. I came to see you, old lady, with no other intention; I just want you to help me write a character here and press a handprint.

Shazhu's tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"Having such an unreliable dad, even I am resigned; I may not consider myself, but I must think of Yushui—Yushui is still young, I cannot let those kids say she has a father who cooks for the Japanese puppet regime; that would make Yushui unable to hold her head up before them, so we must sever ties. Starting today, He Daqing is He Daqing, I He Yuzhu am He Yuzhu, we have no relation."

His resolute words earned Long Laotaitai's renewed regard, and she glanced at Shazhu several times.

Shazhu, Shazhu—he's not stupid either; he knows they need to sever ties.

Cutting ties is the only way to resolve the issue.

Many households around are enacting this drama of severing ties; if Long Laotaitai weren't a solitary widow, she too would have to cut ties.

Shazhu placed the application he had written, along with the request to sever ties with He Daqing, before Long Laotaitai.

Along with it came a steel pen.

It was a steel pen borrowed specifically from Yan Fugui.

"It's just such a matter!"

Long Laotaitai's gaze settled firmly on the application.

It gave Shazhu the impression that she was reading it seriously.

Shazhu remained silent, awaiting Long Laotaitai's decision.

He and Long Laotaitai are mutually dependent.

Long Laotaitai will serve as a guarantor for Shazhu; Shazhu will also look after Long Laotaitai in passing from now on; if he does not sign this, they will remain ordinary neighbors, limited to casual encounters.