Chapter 310

Lou Xiaoe is not as stupid as she looks.

Translation: Lou Xiaoe isn't as stupid as she looks.

The so-called sweet naive fool.

Translation: So-called sweet fool.

It's merely Lou Xiaoe's self‑protection.

Translation: It's merely Lou Xiaoe's self-protection.

This truth is the conclusion drawn from Shuzhu's experience of living two lives, combined with the letter Lou Xiaoe just wrote to him.

Translation: This truth is the conclusion drawn from Shazhu's experience of living two lives, combined with the letter Lou Xiaoe just wrote to him.

A powerful woman who made a name for herself on Hong Kong Island in her previous life.

Translation: A woman who, in her previous life, made a fearsome name for herself on Hong Kong Island.

Scheming and strategy.

Translation: Scheming and strategy.

Far surpassing Shuzhu and the others.

Translation: Far surpassing Shazhu and the others.

As for the matter of the child mentioned in the letter.

Translation: As for the matter of the child written in the letter,

Perhaps it was nothing but an empty fantasy from start to finish, something that cannot be believed.

Translation: Perhaps from beginning to end it was just an empty fantasy, something that cannot be believed.

If Lou Xiaoe didn't say that, Shuzhu would never obediently comply and do things her way.

Translation: If Lou Xiaoe didn't say so, Shazhu would never obediently comply and do certain things according to her wishes.

Do you really think Shuzhu has forgotten all those things from his previous life?

Translation: Do you really think Shazhu forgot all those things from his previous life?

The family heirloom left to Shuzhu in his previous life, taken back from him in the name of love!

Translation: The family heirloom left to Shazhu in his previous life, in the name of love, was ultimately taken back from his hands!

Essentially, she is just a smart woman.

Translation: Essentially, she is just a smart woman.

In the courtyard she appears sweet and naïve, merely because she feels her status is inadequate.

Translation: In the Siheyuan she appears cute and clueless, merely because she feels her status is inadequate.

The daughter of the sensible elder, wherever she goes, is seen as an unwanted presence.

Translation: As the daughter of the responsible elder, wherever she goes she is seen as an unwanted presence.

Lou Xiaoe knows that confronting those people head‑on would be more than she could bear.

Translation: Lou Xiaoe knows the consequences of confronting those people head‑on are more than she can bear.

In everyday life she tries to stay as low‑key as possible; her friendship with the deaf old lady is also motivated by self‑interest. Since the deaf old lady is the most senior elder in the courtyard, if she were to ignore and not protect Lou Xiaoe, the others really couldn't do anything to her.

Translation: In daily life she tries to keep herself as low‑key as possible; her good relations with Long Laotaitai also stem from considerations of interest, for Long Laotaitai, as the foremost elder of the Dayuan, if she truly ignored and failed to protect Lou Xiaoe, those people in the courtyard really couldn't do anything to her.

Anyone who thinks Lou Xiaoe is a sweet naive fool is actually the sweet naive fool themselves.

Translation: Anyone who thinks Lou Xiaoe is a sweet fool is truly the sweet fool.

Just like that drunken incident, Xu Daming still thought he had covered his tracks perfectly and believed he had fooled Lou Xiaoe.

Translation: Just like that drunken incident, Xu Daming still thought he had done something flawless, believing he had fooled Lou Xiaoe.

Little did he know.

Translation: Little did he know.

Not only did Lou Xiaoe know everything, she even turned the tables on him with a counter‑scheme.

Translation: Lou Xiaoe not only knew everything, she even went with the flow and staged a counter‑scheme.

This truly proves the old saying:

Translation: It truly proves the old saying:

While you are scheming against others,

Translation: While you are scheming against others,

others are scheming against you.

Translation: others are also scheming against you.

Lou Xiaoe's letter to Shuzhu only startled him; after tearing it up, she went back to eating, sleeping, and working, feeling bored, she took her son Weiguo and her wife Yu Li into the crowd to watch the Jia family's drama, chatting aimlessly.

Translation: Besides startling Shazhu, Lou Xiaoe's letter to him yielded no other concrete gain; after tearing up the note, she ate, slept, went to work, and finding herself bored, she held her son Weiguo, took her wife Yu Li's hand, mingled with the crowd, watched the Jia family's farce, and chatted aimlessly.

Most of the residents in the courtyard lead simple lives, busy daily with firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea, with no thought of quarreling or fighting.

Translation: Most of the courtyard's residents lead simple lives, busy daily with firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea, with no thought of quarreling or fighting.

Only the Jia family remains an everlasting topic in the courtyard, providing the residents with one entertaining diversion after another to pass the time.

Translation: Only the Jia family remains an everlasting topic in the Siheyuan, providing the residents with one amusement after another to pass the time.

Shuzhu can't even imagine how dull and boring life in the courtyard would be without the Jia family.

Translation: Shazhu can hardly imagine how dull and boring the residents' days would be if the Jia family were gone from the Siheyuan!

The Jia family are like the clowns of a circus, sacrificing themselves to amuse the residents.

Translation: The Jia family are like the clowns of a circus, sacrificing themselves to delight the residents.

Free of charge.

Translation: Free of charge.

They let you watch the spectacle for free.

Translation: Letting you watch the excitement for nothing.

Truly noble to the utmost degree.

Translation: Truly noble to the utmost.

Before An Jiahe moved in, the Jia family's conflict stemmed from Qin Huiru and Jia Zhangshi, one wanting to remarry and the other refusing to allow it.

Translation: Before An Jiahe moved in, the Jia family's conflict stemmed from Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi, one wanting to remarry, the other refusing to allow it.

Nowadays.

Translation: Nowadays,

It has become a confrontation between the Jia family faction led by Jia Zhangshi and the Qin family team led by Qin Huiru.

Translation: it has become a confrontation between the Jia family gang led by Jia Zhangshi and the Qin family team led by Qin Huairu.

Breaking the bone also means breaking the flesh.

Translation: Breaking bones and tearing flesh.

Blood ties cannot be severed.

Translation: Blood ties cannot be severed.

Jia Zhangshi united the stubborn Bun and the little Pot with herself, opposing the couple of Qin Huiru who married An Jiahe.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi united Bangeng and Xiao Dang at her side, opposing the couple of Qin Huairu who married An Jiahe.

During this period, there was almost a small fight every three days and a big one every five days; the frequency of disturbances far exceeded that of Liu Haizhong beating his son, becoming a new fixture in the courtyard.

Translation: During this period, there was almost a small fight every three days and a big one every five days; the frequency of disturbances far exceeded that of Liu Haizhong beating his son, becoming a new retained item in the Siheyuan.

The residents have grown accustomed to the disturbances.

Translation: The residents have grown accustomed to the disturbances.

After dinner in the evening, people would bring their own small stools to the central courtyard, gathering in groups of three or five to wait for the Jia family's big show.

Translation: After finishing dinner at night, he brought a small stool to the Zhong Yuan, sat in groups of three or five, and waited for the Jia family's big show to begin.

Some residents who hadn't finished eating didn't care about the Jia family's dignity, holding their rice bowls and eating while watching the Jia family drama.

Translation: Some residents who hadn't had time to eat dinner didn't care about the Jia family's dignity, directly holding their rice bowls, eating while watching the Jia family's performance.

Shuzhu's advantage.

Translation: Shazhu's advantage.

It was immediately evident.

Translation: was immediately demonstrated.

Because the Jia family's former house sits diagonally opposite theirs, one can see their drama from inside the house through the glass.

Translation: Because the Jia family's original house sits diagonally opposite theirs, sitting at home behind the glass, one can see the Jia family's farce.

No need to go out onto the street.

Translation: No need to walk anywhere.

The location is convenient to the extreme.

Translation: The location is convenient to the extreme.

However, sometimes Shuzhu still takes Yu Li into the courtyard to watch the Jia family's performance.

Translation: However, sometimes Shazhu still pulls Yu Li to go into the courtyard to watch the Jia family's performance.

Although through the glass the view is clear, it always feels like taking a shower while wearing a plastic raincoat; in Shuzhu's own words, watching the Jia family's drama from home feels as if it has lost its inner soul, seeming very unreal.

Translation: Through the glass one can see clearly, yet it always feels like taking a shower while wearing a plastic raincoat; in Shazhu's own words, watching the Jia family's farce from home makes it seem as if the farce has lost its inner soul, feeling very unreal.

Watch the argument.

Translation: Watching the quarrel.

And watch it live.

Translation: And still watching the scene live.

After dinner, after helping Yu Li wash the dishes, Shuzhu left the house, joined the crowd watching the show, and kept greeting the people nearby.

Translation: After finishing dinner and helping Yu Li wash the pots and bowls, Shazhu left the house, joined the crowd watching the show, and kept greeting the people beside him.

Before him lay a sea of people.

Translation: Before him stretched a sea of people.

This made Shuzhu feel as if the Jia family had finally done a great favor for the courtyard residents.

Translation: It gave Shazhu the illusion that the Jia family had finally done a great deed for the courtyard's residents.

The crowded throng looked like a market fair.

Translation: The crowded throng looked like a market fair.

Everyone who could come out of their homes did, and even those with mobility difficulties, with family help, sat at the scene, craning their necks to watch the Jia family.

Translation: Everyone who could come out of their homes came, and even those with mobility difficulties, with family's help, sat at the scene, each craning their neck to watch the Jia family.

Shuzhu vaguely recalled hearing someone say that since Qin Huiru married An Jiahe and clashed with Jia Zhangshi, the courtyard residents' lives became less tranquil; those with difficulty moving, motivated by the desire to watch the Jia family drama, felt a slight improvement in their condition.

Translation: Shazhu vaguely recalled hearing someone say that ever since Qin Huairu married An Jiahe and Jia Zhangshi clashed, making the courtyard residents' lives less tranquil, those with inconvenient mobility, motivated by the desire to watch the Jia family's drama, have become a bit healthier than before.

In short, it all comes down to one point.

Translation: In short, it means:

The quarrels between Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huiru have become a miraculous cure for the residents' ailments!

Translation: The quarrels between Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu have become a miraculous cure for the residents' ailments!

The neighbors truly brought the four words 'eating melon crowd' to their utmost.

As usual.

Benefiting from the Jia family, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu would inevitably quarrel and scold with the neighbors.

Yi Zhonghai is gone.

They couldn't even cause a scene.

The neighbors wouldn't give Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu any face.

This is one.

This is the second.

Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu each had their own little schemes, rashly intending to use the neighbors' mouths to spread the other's shameful matters as jokes, to achieve the vicious goal of defaming the other; Jia Zhangshi wanted to make a big fuss about Qin Huairu's unfilial side, taking the opportunity to pressure Qin Huairu, preferably handing over the Jia family's work to Jia Zhangshi's hands.

These past few days.

The two kept quarreling without cease, neither yielding to the other.

Jia Zhangshi really got anxious.

Worried that Qin Huairu would be driven to desperation by her, she went to the hospital alone and secretly removed the ring.

She had formed the worst plan in her heart.

Qin Huairu resented the Jia family, resented Jia Zhangshi, and in a fit of spite gave birth to a child with An Jiahe.

She now had a biological son.

Could she still care for her ex-husband's son?

She already had resentment.

This job, if one grits their teeth and refuses to give it to the Jia family, the Jia family would be in a situation like chickens flying and eggs breaking, they would have nothing—just an old widow, a little thief saint, plus Xiao Dang, a money‑losing item.

Jia Zhangshi's current house is because Qin Huairu works at the Yagangchang, so she has the right to reside; the job has been given to An Jiahe and Qin Huairu's son, and the Jia family will immediately lose the right to reside in the Hou Yuan.

First, no job.

Second, no house.

Which family's daughter would willingly marry someone with no job and no house?

Moreover, Jia Zhangshi's reputation isn't very good either.

If that's the case.

Then the Jia family would completely cut off its incense.