Chapter 292

The house matter is very important.

Translation: The matter of the house is very important.

It concerns the Jia family's incense matter.

It concerns the Jia family's incense matter.

Jia Zhangshi, however, lacks Xu Fugui's ability; she gave the Siheyuan house to Xu Daming, and she can still manage to get another place outside.

We need to keep names: Jia Zhangshi, Siheyuan; Xu Fugui and Xu Daming are person names and should be kept in pinyin.

Thus line: Jia Zhangshi, however, lacks Xu Fugui's ability, leaving the Siheyuan house to Xu Daming, and still manage to get another place outside.

She gave the Siheyuan house to Xu Daming and can still manage to get another place outside.

We need to keep meaning.

The house matter.

Translation: The matter of the house.

We can only start with the newly moved-in neighbor of the Siheyuan, An Jiahe.

Only can start with the newly moved-in neighbor of the Siheyuan, An Jiahe.

This is the Jia family's old house; if An Jiahe marries Qin Huairu, or Qin Huairu marries An Jiahe, Jia Zhangshi will bring her grandson to live there.

We need names: Qin Huairu (provided). Also Jia Zhangshi. So: This is the Jia family's old house; if An Jiahe marries Qin Huairu, or Qin Huairu marries An Jiahe, Jia Zhangshi will bring her grandson and move in together.

Under the pretense of taking care of An Jiahe and his wife.

Translation: Under the pretense of taking care of the An Jiahe couple.

The vacant house in the back courtyard became Bangeng's wedding room.

We have Hou Yuan (provided) and Bangeng (provided). So: The vacant room in the Hou Yuan becomes Bangeng's bridal chamber.

They have a house.

Translation: Having a house.

Still worried about not having a grandson's wife.

Translation: And still worried about lacking a grandson's wife.

Jia Zhangshi is waiting to hold her great-grandson.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi is waiting to hold a great-grandson.

Whether short-term or long-term, An Jiahe is an excellent asset; he can improve their family's quality of life in the short term and solve their housing problem in the long term.

We must hold onto An Jiahe and make him work like an ox and horse for the Jia family.

Translation: No matter what, we must seize An Jiahe and turn him into the Jia family's ox and horse.

Otherwise, the beasts in the courtyard will all scheme against An Jiahe, leaving the Jia family with nothing to do.

We have Siheyuan, Jia Family. So: Otherwise, the beasts inside the Siheyuan will surely scheme against An Jiahe, and then there will be nothing left for the Jia family to do.

My daughter-in-law Huairu went back and said you don't know how to work alone; she's a widow, worried she'd cause you trouble, and she told me to have my old woman come help.

We need to keep quotes. Translate: "My daughter-in-law Huairu went back and said you don't know how to work alone; she's a widow, worried she'd cause you trouble, and she told me to have my old woman come help."

My daughter-in-law Huairu went back and said you don't know how to work alone; she's a widow, worried she'd cause you trouble, and she told me to have my old woman come help.

How can I be embarrassed?

Translation: "How can I be embarrassed?"

Once you move in, you're just a neighbor; no need to stand on ceremony.

Translation: "Once you move in, you're just a neighbor; no need for politeness."

Jia Zhangshi stepped inside.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi stepped through the door.

A glance from the corner of her eye.

Translation: The corner of her eye.

She glanced at the wooden bed.

Translation: She glanced at the wooden bed.

The stone in her heart.

Translation: The stone in her heart.

It fell to the ground.

Translation: It landed on the ground.

Scheme against An Jiahe, make him work like an ox and horse for the Jia family, and take all his money and property.

Translation: Scheme against An Jiahe, turn him into the Jia family's ox and horse, and make all his money and house belong to the Jia surname.

This must be based on a precondition.

Translation: This must be based on a precondition.

An Jiahe has no wife.

Translation: An Jiahe has no wife.

He has a wife.

Translation: He has a wife. (But contradictory; maybe it's a rhetorical). We'll translate literally: "He has a wife."

What gives you the right to take our wages and house for the Jia family?

Translation: On what basis should we give our wages and house to your Jia family?

We can't let them go hungry while blindly helping your Jia family.

Translation: One can't let someone starve their own wife and child while indiscriminately helping your Jia family.

Now.

Translation: Now.

Jia Zhangshi realized that An Jiahe is an old bachelor with no wife.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi clarified one thing: An Jiahe is an old bachelor without a wife.

She spoke so confidently because she had just seen An Jiahe's luggage on the wooden bed.

Translation: That's why she spoke so confidently, because she just saw An Jiahe's luggage on the wooden bed.

That is, the bedding.

Translation: That is, bedding.

The mattress is on the bottom, the quilt on top, rolled into a round bundle and tied with a hemp rope, the knot being the same kind used to tie a pig's trotter.

Translation: The mattress below, the quilt above, rolled into a round bundle, tied with a hemp rope, the rope's buckle still the kind used to tie pigs' trotters.

This is how the luggage is tied.

Translation: This way of tying luggage.

Only old bachelors would tie their luggage like that.

Translation: Only old bachelors would do it this way.

Jia Zhangshi didn't see a second set of bedding, and even the bowl and chopsticks were only one set; if she really had a wife, the bowl and chopsticks would at least be two sets.

Jia Zhangshi didn't see a second set of bedding, and even the bowl and chopsticks were only one set; if she really had a wife, the bowl and chopsticks would at least be two sets.

He is a bachelor.

Translation: He is a bachelor.

Then everything becomes easy to handle.

Translation: Then everything becomes easy to handle.

Just tell my old woman if there's any work you can't do, and she'll help you. Jia Zhangshi, eager to make a good impression on An Jiahe quickly, gave him no chance to explain, saying: "Don't say you're embarrassed; we're all neighbors—you can't do it, I can, I'll help you. What's the problem? You have money, I don't; I'll borrow some from you—this is just a small favor."

First quote: "If there's any work you can't do, tell my old woman, and my old woman will help you." Then narration: Wanting to leave a good impression on An Jiahe in a short time, Jia Zhangshi gave him no chance to explain, with a big‑hearted attitude, saying: "Don't say you're embarrassed; we're neighbors, you can't, I can, I'll help you, what's the problem? You have money, I don't, I'll borrow some from you—this is all just a side matter."

We need to keep the quotes exactly as translated.

Let's produce: "If there's any work you can't do, tell my old woman, and my old woman will help you." Wanting to leave a good impression on An Jiahe in a short time, Jia Zhangshi gave him no chance to explain, with a big‑hearted attitude, saying: "Don't say you're embarrassed; we're neighbors, you can't, I can, I'll help you, what's the problem? You have money, I don't, I'll borrow some from you—this is all just a side matter."

But need to keep the Chinese punctuation? We'll just use English punctuation.

An Jiahe thought for a moment.

Translation: An Jiahe pondered for a moment.

He accepted Jia Zhangshi's words.

Translation: He accepted Jia Zhangshi's words.

There are some chores.

Translation: Some work.

He really can't do them.

Translation: He really can't do it.

Forcing himself to do them only backfires, with no other result.

Translation: Forcing himself to do it only brings the opposite result, with no other outcome.

At worst, he'll compensate the Jia family afterward.

Translation: At worst, he'll compensate the Jia family afterward.

Then thank you; in our hometown there's a saying that when moving house you eat dumplings. I don't know how to mix the filling or wrap the skins, I'm worried—you've come, please help me make them, and afterwards I'll share a bowl of dumplings with you.

Translation: "Then thank you; where I'm from, there's a saying that when moving house you eat dumplings. I can't mix the filling or wrap the skins, I'm worried—you've come, please help me make them; afterward I'll share a bowl of dumplings with you."

Little Anzi, if you say that, I really won't help you; if word gets out, it'll make our Jia family look bad—dumplings, we Jia family don't want any.

Translation: "Little An, if you say that, I really won't help you; if it gets out, it'll make our Jia family look bad—dumplings, we Jia family don't want any."

This is Jia Zhangshi's strategy of sacrificing the small for the big.

Translation: This is Jia Zhangshi's strategy of sacrificing the small for the big.

We must leave An Jiahe with a good impression.

Translation: We must leave a good impression on An Jiahe.

She knows.

Translation: She knows.

It won't take a few days.

Translation: It won't take a few days.

The kind-hearted neighbors in the courtyard will tell An Jiahe all the glorious things the Jia family has done, without leaving anything out.

Translation: The kind-hearted neighbors in the courtyard will tell An Jiahe, without omission, all the glorious things the Jia family has done.

No matter what, we must get ahead of them, forming a first impression to give An Jiahe a good impression, so that the positive image of the Jia family in his mind conflicts strongly with the negative things the neighbors say.

Translation: No matter what, we must beat them to it, first impression dominant, leaving a good impression on An Jiahe so that the positive image of the Jia family in his mind clashes strongly with the neighbors' negative talk.

To facilitate Jia Zhangshi's subsequent plan.

Translation: To facilitate Jia Zhangshi's subsequent plan.

This is also because Jia Zhangshi is dying to eat dumplings, yet she still forces herself to speak righteously.

Translation: This is also because Jia Zhangshi is dying of craving for dumplings, yet she still forces herself to speak righteous words.

My daughter-in-law mixes the dumpling filling well; every year during the New Year, the neighbors ask her to mix the filling; her filling is delicious—my son can eat sixty dumplings by myself, my thirteen-year-old grandson can eat even more than his father; last New Year he ate sixty-two dumplings in one sitting, and my granddaughter can also eat thirty or forty at a meal.

Translation: "My daughter-in-law mixes the dumpling filling well; usually during New Year, the neighbors ask her to mix the filling; the filling she mixes is delicious—my son alone can eat sixty dumplings, my thirteen‑year‑old grandson can eat even more than his father; last New Year he ate sixty‑two dumplings by himself, and the granddaughter can also eat thirty or forty in one sitting."

Jia Zhangshi changed her tone.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi changed her tone.

Her face was full of regret.

Translation: Her face was filled with regret.

And she deliberately lifted her cheek for An Jiahe to see.

Translation: Moreover, she deliberately lifted her cheeks for An Jiahe to see.

Seize the opportunity to reveal the so‑called deep affection.

Unfortunately, my son lacks fortune; the year before last, an accident happened at the steel plant and he died. My daughter-in-law Huairu took his place at the factory, working hard to support our family. I once told her to find someone who wouldn't despise her, someone who wouldn't despise Bangeng and Xiao Dang, but Huairu refused outright, saying she would remarry. How can an old woman like me live alone? This daughter-in-law who married into the Jia family is a blessing our Jia family cultivated, and it's due to my son's thin fortune.

Jia Zhangshi said that.

Several meanings.

The first meaning is to express to An Jiahe one very capable aspect of Qin Huairu, showing her strengths; the dumpling filling is tasty, which is also a highlight.

By mourning Jia Dongxu's death, she indirectly conveys to An Jiahe the fact that Qin Huairu is a widow.

Such a fine widow, you An Jiahe happen to be a bachelor too, both living in the Siheyuan; shouldn't you be a bit bolder? That's the second meaning.

The third meaning is that Jia Zhangshi agrees to Qin Huairu remarrying, except that Qin Huairu's remarriage requires bringing Bangeng and them along.

The fourth meaning is to once again express Qin Huairu's virtue.

That is, filial piety.

The fifth meaning is, through the number of dumplings eaten by Bangeng and Xiao Dang, to wildly hint that the Jia family's conditions are limited.

Even though Jia Zhangshi keeps saying she doesn't want dumplings, out of respect for the children's feelings, shouldn't you, An Jiahe, also send over a bowl of dumplings?

Regardless of whether An Jiahe understood the meaning in her words.

She threw out the line, "I can't make dumplings by myself; I'll go call my daughter-in-law Huairu," and strode away from An Jiahe's home.

Watching Jia Zhangshi's receding figure.

On An Jiahe's feeble forehead.

Faintly, blue veins were surfacing.

I don't know why.

He felt his hands terribly itchy, not the kind of itch from flea or lice bites, but a psychological itch that made him want to hit someone.

His hands clenched into fists.

He was about to let out a howl from his mouth.

Suddenly, a crackling sound came from his ears.

Based on years of experience beating his wife.

An Jiahe keenly analyzed that someone was whipping a person with a belt.

Who?

Being whipped with a belt in broad daylight.

His steps unconsciously moved out of his own home.

Following the direction of the sound, he saw it came from the rear courtyard.

This Siheyuan.

Looks like.

It's a bit different from what he imagined.

There was a plump old lady, as well as the hitter and the one being hit, but he didn't know who they were.