Chapter 240

Yi Zhonghai has money.

Translation: Yi Zhonghai has money.

This is a fact acknowledged by the neighbors.

Translation: This is a fact recognized by the neighbors.

The Jia family can also make things work by invoking Yi Zhonghai.

Interpretation: The Jia family, using Yi Zhonghai, can forcefully explain and it still makes sense. More natural: The Jia family can also make sense by invoking Yi Zhonghai's authority. Let's translate: The Jia family can also make sense by invoking Yi Zhonghai's authority.

The Jia family can also make things work by invoking Yi Zhonghai.

We'll output: The Jia family can also make things work by invoking Yi Zhonghai.

Apart from envy, the neighbors feel only jealousy.

Translation: Besides envy, the neighbors are left with jealousy.

Better: Apart from envy, the neighbors only feel jealousy.

They've figured out the situation; the Yi Zhonghai–Qin Huairu affair has hidden details they don't know, but Yi Zhonghai is dead and Qin Huairu staged a dramatic pillar‑crashing scene, so they can't be bothered to pursue it; at worst they'll just keep their distance from the Jia family.

Having figured out the ins and outs of the matter, the affair between Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu has some inside story they don't know; but Yi Zhonghai is dead and gone, and Qin Huairu then staged a pillar‑crashing drama for them, so they can't be bothered to pursue it; at worst they'll just distance themselves from the Jia family.

Thus translation: Having figured out the situation, they knew there was more to Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu's affair than they knew, but Yi Zhonghai was dead and Qin Huairu had already staged a pillar‑crashing act for them, so they couldn't be bothered to investigate further; at most they'd just keep their distance from the Jia family.

We'll output that.

Now we have this big spectacle of a raid on the Jia family.

Translation: With today's grand spectacle of confiscating the Jia family's property.

Better: Now there is this grand spectacle of raiding the Jia home.

We'll output: Now there is this grand spectacle of raiding the Jia home.

The Jia family has solidified its status as the wealthiest family in the siheyuan.

Translation: The Jia family has firmly established its reputation as the richest household in the siheyuan.

The Jia family can no longer claim they can't cook as an excuse to exploit others.

Interpretation: It cut off the Jia family's excuse of "not being able to open the pot" to bleed others dry. Means: It eliminated the Jia family's pretext of poverty to exploit others.

Thus: It eliminated the Jia family's pretext of being unable to afford a pot, which they used to bleed everyone dry.

We'll output: It eliminated the Jia family's pretext of being unable to afford a pot, which they used to bleed everyone dry.

Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu's faces fell into a deathly gloom as they thought of these things.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, thinking of these things, felt a deathly gloom spread across their faces.

How did things come to this?

Translation: How did things come to this?

Qin Huairu suddenly felt helpless.

Translation: Qin Huairu suddenly felt a sense of helplessness.

Resources are limited; the more we consume, the less there is. The Jia family has gotten used to improving their lifestyle every few days. How will Bargain grow up and find a wife? How will Little Pot and Huahua get married?

Interpretation: Resources are limited; the more you eat, the less remains. The Jia family has grown accustomed to improving their lifestyle every few days. How will Bangeng find a wife when he grows up? And how will Xiao Dang and Huaihua get married?

Thus: There's only so much to go around—eat a little and there's a little less. The Jia family has gotten used to improving their lifestyle every few days. How will Bangeng ever find a wife when he grows up? And how will Xiao Dang and Huaihua ever get married?

We'll output that.

Parents love their own children.

Translation: One's own children are cherished by one's own family.

Better: Parents love their own children.

We'll output: Parents love their own children.

Qin Huairu grew anxious.

Translation: Qin Huairu grew worried.

Tears streamed from her eyes.

Translation: Tears welled up and streamed from her eye sockets.

She's out of options.

Translation: No more tricks.

She needs to pull out all the stops.

Translation: Time to pull out the big move.

Qin Huairu wept bitterly, tears pouring down like rain, as she tried to appear as helpless as possible.

Translation: Qin Huairu cried and sobbed, tears pouring down like rain, doing her best to portray the image of a helpless woman.

Tears.

Translation: Tears.

A woman's greatest weapon.

Translation: A woman's greatest weapon.

A beautiful woman's tears are even more powerful, able to fully arouse a man's instinct to protect women.

Translation: A beautiful woman's tears are even more powerful, able to maximally arouse a man's instinct to protect women.

Why are the steel mill men completely under Qin Huairu's thumb?

Translation: Why are the men at the steel mill so completely under Qin Huairu's control?

The answer is here.

Translation: The answer is here.

Qin Huairu knows exactly when to cry, when not to, how to cry, and how to display her helplessness.

Translation: Qin Huairu, this woman, knows when she should cry, when she should not, how to cry, and how to display her helplessness.

Besides being attractive, otherwise the steel mill wouldn't have so many men helping Qin Huairu pay for meals.

Translation: Moreover, she is decent‑looking; otherwise the steel mill wouldn't have so many men helping Qin Huairu pay for meals.

They all lust after Qin Huairu's body, wanting to be a great Cao Cao, and it's not without reason.

Translation: They all lust after Qin Huairu's body, wanting to be the great Cao Cao, and there is a reason for that.

Qin Huairu.

Translation: Qin Huairu.

She's poisonous.

Translation: She is poisonous.

The attractive Qin Huairu exudes an alluring mature charm.

Translation: The decent‑looking Qin Huairu exudes an alluring mature charm.

No wonder those men made the mistake that all men are prone to.

Translation: No wonder those men made the mistake that all men in the world are prone to make.

Homegrown flowers can't compare to wild ones in fragrance.

Translation: Domestic flowers are not as fragrant as wild ones.

They neglect their own wives while coveting another's, thinking she's superior.

Translation: Ignoring their own wives, they obsess over other men's wives, thinking those wives are better.

Purely just bored and annoyed.

Translation: It's pure boredom, a pointless annoyance.

"Come, a few people, help move the Jia Family's belongings to Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan."

We need to keep quotes? The line includes Chinese quotes. We'll translate the content inside quotes, but keep the quotation marks? Probably we should translate the quoted speech, preserving the quotes as English quotes. So: "Come, a few people, help move the Jia family's belongings to Long Laotaitai's room in the rear courtyard."

Come, a few people, help move the Jia Family's belongings to Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan.

We'll output that.

Jia Zhangshi with a foul sock stuffed in her mouth.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi, with a smelly sock stuffed in her mouth.

She was stunned.

Translation: She was dumbfounded.

The smelly sock blocked her mouth but not her ears, so she heard Liu Haizhong's words, which meant not only did they have to inventory the Jia Family's belongings, but also they had to move the Jia Family to live in Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan.

Translation: The smelly sock blocked her mouth but not her ears; she heard Liu Haizhong's words, which meant not only were they inventorying the Jia Family's possessions, but they also intended to evict the Jia Family to live in Long Laotaitai's room in the rear courtyard.

The smelly sock blocked her mouth but not her ears, so she heard Liu Haizhong's words, which meant not only did they have to inventory the Jia Family's belongings, but also they had to move the Jia Family to live in Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan.

Thus: The smelly sock blocked her mouth but not her ears; she heard Liu Haizhong's words, which meant not only were they inventorying the Jia Family's belongings, but they also intended to evict the Jia Family to live in Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan.

Her body shook.

Translation: Her body trembled.

When it got hot, sweat soaked her armpits.

Translation: In some places, when she got hot, sweat soaked her underarms.

Long Laotaitai met an untimely death.

Translation: Long Laotaitai died an unnatural death.

If they were moved to Long Laotaitai's room.

Translation: If they were to move into Long Laotaitai's room.

How could they sleep?

Translation: How could they sleep?

What if, in the middle of the night, they woke up and saw a hideous old woman standing beside them—wouldn't that scare them to death?

Translation: If, in the middle of the night, they woke up and saw a hideous old woman standing beside them, wouldn't that scare them to death?

But they can't be moved.

Translation: But they cannot move.

With a shove.

Translation: With a heave.

The foul sock in her mouth was spit out.

Translation: The smelly sock in her mouth was spat out.

"Liu Haizhong, what do you mean? What right do you have to drive our Jia Family to Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan? I, the old woman, have said my piece; if you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I will go to the steel mill and the streets and have them explain it to me."

"Liu Haizhong, what do you mean? What right do you have to drive our Jia Family to Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan? I, the old woman, have said my piece; if you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I will go to the steel mill and the streets and have them explain it to me."

Thus: "Liu Haizhong, what do you mean? What right do you have to evict our Jia Family to Long Laotaitai's room in Hou Yuan? I, the old woman, have said my piece; if you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I will go to Yagangchang and to Jiēdào, and I will have Yagangchang and Jiēdào explain it to me."

We'll output that.

Jia Zhangshi's tantrum.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi's shameless tantrum.

It depends on one's shamelessness.

Translation: It depends on one's own shamelessness.

Even more dependent on Yi Zhonghai's support.

Translation: It also depends on Yi Zhonghai's support.

Without a hypocrite taking sides, people like Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, and Yan Jiecheng could beat Jia Zhangshi until she's spitting out teeth.

Interpretation: Without a hypocrite taking sides, people like Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, and Yan Jiecheng could beat Jia Zhangshi until she's toothless.

Thus: Without a hypocrite playing favorites, people like Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, and Yan Jiecheng could beat Jia Zhangshi until she lost all her teeth.

We'll output that.

This is also why Jia Zhangshi shrewdly mentioned the steel mill and the streets.

Translation: This is also why Jia Zhangshi shrewdly brought up the steel mill and the street office.

Since Yi Zhonghai is gone, she must find a new patron for herself.

Since Yi Zhonghai is gone, she must find a new patron for herself.

Thus: Since Yi Zhonghai is gone, she must find a new patron for herself.

You, Liu Haizhong, are mighty—you can outmatch the steel mill and overpower the streets.

Interpretation: "You Liu Haizhong, you're big—can you surpass the steel mill? Can you be stronger than the street office?" Means: You think you're important, but can you outrank the steel mill or the street office?

Thus: "Liu Haizhong, you think you're big—can you outrank the steel mill? Can you be stronger than the street office?"

We'll output: Liu Haizhong, you think you're big—can you outrank the steel mill? Can you be stronger than the street office?

"Jia Zhangshi, you ask what right I have to drive your Jia Family to Hou Yuan? I, Liu Haizhong, have laid down my words; this is only because we've lived in this courtyard for so many years—otherwise I would have long ago driven your Jia Family out of the Siheyuan. You ask why? I'll tell you: your house's rent should have been paid last month; you've lived there rent‑free for half a month. As a Level Seven Technician at the Yagangchang and as the Head Steward of the Siheyuan, I've recouped the Yagangchang's losses—am I wrong?"

"Jia Zhangshi, you ask what right I have to drive your Jia Family to Hou Yuan? I, Liu Haizhong, have laid down my words; this is only because we've lived in this courtyard for so many years—otherwise I would have long ago driven your Jia Family out of the Siheyuan. You ask why? I'll tell you: your house's rent should have been paid last month; you've lived there rent‑free for half a month. As a Level Seven Technician at the Yagangchang and as the Head Steward of the Siheyuan, I've recouped the Yagangchang's losses—am I wrong?"

Thus: "Jia Zhangshi, you ask what right I have to evict your Jia Family to Hou Yuan? I, Liu Haizhong, lay down my words—this is already out of consideration for the fact that we've all lived in this courtyard for so many years; otherwise I would have long since evicted your Jia Family from the Siheyuan. You ask why? I'll tell you: your house should have paid rent last month, but you've lived there rent‑free for half a month. As a Level Seven Technician at Yagangchang and as the Head Steward of the Siheyuan, I am recouping Yagangchang's losses—am I wrong?"

We'll output that.

Jia Zhangshi was seething with anger.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi's teeth itched with anger.

Unexpectedly, Liu Haizhong was even more overbearing than she was.

Translation: She never expected Liu Haizhong to be even more overbearing than she.

The rent issue.

Translation: The matter of rent.

Jia Zhangshi had truly forgotten.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi really had forgotten.

He is the eldest uncle.

Jia Zhangshi realized her situation.

She lowered her stance.

Just a moment ago she was still calling Liu Haizhong, but in the blink of an eye she had become a senior elder.

"Regarding the house, I admit it—you know our family has run into so many troubles. Considering our decent relationship, we, the Jia Family, won't move; we'll stay in our original house. As for the rent, if you're reassured, we'll go pay it first thing tomorrow morning; if not, we'll hand the money to you and you can pay it for us."

Jia Zhangshi played the emotion card.

It's not easy to evict the Jia Family, as it involves everyone's interests.

Liu Haizhong could not possibly touch this sore spot of the neighbors.

Jia Zhangshi's emotion card thus had no effect.

"Jia Zhangshi, sweet talk won't help. Based on the Yagangchang staff housing rental regulations and the Jiēdào resident management provisions, we unanimously agree to move your Jia Family to the house of Long Laotaitai in the Hou Yuan. This is the joint decision of the over twenty households in our Siheyuan."

The tone shifted.

"Guangtian, go to our place and fetch a lock. The Jia Family's house needs to be locked, lest they sneak back while we're at work or away from the courtyard."

Yan Fugui jumped out.

The Jia Family's house.

On what grounds should we put your Liu Family's lock?

Even if a lock is truly needed, it should be our Yan Family's lock.

If the Liu Family were to use their lock as an excuse and kick up a fuss, claiming the Jia Family's house belongs to them, the neighbors would just be doing the Liu Family's work for nothing.

"Guangtian, wait a moment." Yan Fugui called out to Liu Guangtian, then said to Liu Haizhong: "Old Liu, there's no need to trouble Guangtian with the lock; let our third son handle it."

The people in the courtyard.

They're all sharp individuals.

How could one fail to see what Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui are after?

So you're using us again.

They don't even care about the head steward anymore.

"As for the lock, we'll handle it—our Zhong Yuan is closer."

"We are the head stewards; for matters in the courtyard we must first help the neighbors resolve their worries. The neighbors' reluctance to use our lock simply stems from fear that we might seize the house. I, Yan Fugui, guarantee to you that it's just a simple lock on the door to keep the Jia Family from moving back—nothing else."

It's a pity.

Nobody listened to his nonsense.

Everyone was busy with their own little schemes.

Shazhu saw clearly that after the crowd's noisy argument, several locks appeared on the Jia Family's gate—one from the Liu Family in the Hou Yuan, one from the Yan Family in the front courtyard, plus a few unknown extras. He couldn't understand why Xu Daming also put a lock there.