Chapter 342

As a woman of supplies.

Qin Jingru is very realistic; she knows how to choose when faced with Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi's overtures, and how to please Xu Daming.

All she now has rests on her status as Xu Daming's wife; if she truly angers him, he will divorce her.

That would be the result of trying to fetch water with a bamboo basket—utterly futile.

Qin Jingru is smart.

She is not stupid.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to use the trick of turning uncooked rice into cooked rice to force Xu Daming to marry her.

After everyone's round of explanations, Qin Jingru roughly understood Qin Huairu's current situation, knowing that her cousin actually lived poorly, suffering various oppression from her wicked mother-in-law.

Before the truth is exposed.

Qin Jingru envied Qin Huairu; she heard too many villagers praising Qin Huairu, and some even compared the two of them.

Her appearance is not bad, her figure is not bad.

Why can Qin Huairu marry into the city and enjoy blessings, while Qin Jingru has to do farm work in the village?

This can be considered a psychological gap.

When this psychological gap causes their original positions to be reversed.

Their mindset will produce a strong fluctuation.

This psychological shift in self-role will put Qin Jingru in the so-called position of a benefactor.

If Qin Huairu or Jia Zhangshi were to ask Qin Jingru for a loan of money or goods, Qin Jingru would eight times out of ten hand over the money and goods without blinking.

Afterwards, a sense of pleasure arises.

The Qin Huairu envied by countless people in Qin Family Village repeatedly borrows money and goods from Qin Jingru, who is looked down upon by the village folk.

This emotion puts Qin Jingru in the spotlight.

If it were someone else.

They would worry about saving face.

They would surely find it hard to open their mouth.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi are both notorious figures; for them, profit is paramount.

If things go badly, Qin Jingru might truly become the Jia Family's supply depot.

Xu Daming's repeated reminders are quite necessary.

Qin Jingru also wisely chose to heed Xu Daming's words.

She frantically nods her head.

She was just short of swearing at the light bulb.

Suddenly.

A plump, white figure squeezed its way to Qin Jingru's front.

It was Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi, hiding in the crowd to watch the show, kept scanning the crowd.

The Liu family father and son's fratricidal drama.

With such a lively scene, Xu Daming couldn't possibly stay inside; finding Xu Daming, one could follow his lead to pluck Qin Jingru's melon.

She indeed spotted Qin Jingru in the crowd; although she had never met Qin Jingru, she inferred from Xu Daming and Qin Jingru's intimate gestures that the married young woman holding Xu Daming's hand must be her target this time, Qin Huairu's cousin Qin Jingru.

She stepped forward, walking toward their direction.

She arrived before them.

She wore a smiling face.

(One does not strike a smiling person.)

Before speaking.

First, she puts on a smile toward the person.

"You are Jingru, right?"

Having heard Xu Daming's words, Qin Jingru, who remained highly vigilant toward the neighbors, saw a plump, white old woman squeeze up to her, beaming and calling out her name.

Her instincts warned her a little.

This build.

It surpasses even the previous richest woman of Qin Family Village.

How does she eat?

Could she also be someone of low status?

Qin Jingru is not an ignorant novice; if the other's status is truly bad, speaking with her might bring trouble upon herself.

She shook her head.

She uttered a lie.

"I am not!"

Jia Zhangshi was stunned.

She was dazed.

Isn't it that Xu Daming married Qin Huairu's cousin Qin Jingru?

Why, when I asked this young wife if she was Qin Jingru, she blurted a denial, saying she is not Qin Jingru.

Could it be that she is not Xu Daming's wife!

If she is not Xu Daming's wife, why does she put on such an intimate act in front of all these neighbors, unafraid of being sent to work underground?

"Xu Daming, is this your wife?"

Jia Zhangshi directly pointed the spearhead at Xu Damao.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi directly pointed the spearhead at Xu Damao.

But "spearhead" metaphorically means "the point of contention" or "the target". Could translate as "Jia Zhangshi directly aimed her accusation at Xu Damao." However we must be faithful: "pointed the spearhead at" literally "pointed the spearhead at". We'll translate as "Jia Zhangshi directly pointed the spearhead at Xu Damao." That's fine.

I asked the person involved.

Translation: I asked the person involved.

Or "I asked the party concerned." We'll keep simple: "I asked the person involved."

It's my wife, what's wrong?

Translation: "It's my wife, what's wrong?"

But note: speaker is Xu Damao? Actually line 63 is a quote: "It's my wife, what's wrong?" Likely Xu Damao speaking. We'll translate: "It's my wife, what's wrong?"

Xu Damao gave a sideways glance at Jia Zhangshi.

Translation: Xu Damao glanced sideways at Jia Zhangshi.

Xu Damao gave Jia Zhangshi a sideways glance.

As a genuine petty person of the Siheyuan.

Translation: As a true villain of the Siheyuan.

But "genuine petty person" means "a real petty person" or "a true scoundrel". Could be "As a genuine petty person of the Siheyuan." We'll translate: "As a genuine petty person of the Siheyuan."

He instantly guessed what Jia Zhangshi was up to.

Translation: He instantly guessed what Jia Zhangshi was about to do.

We'll translate: "He instantly guessed what Jia Zhangshi was about to do."

Besides extortion, there is simply no other explanation.

Translation: Besides bloodsucking, there is simply no other explanation.

"extortion" literal "sucking blood", metaphorically "extortion". We'll translate: "Besides extortion, there is simply no other explanation."

He deliberately did this, hoping that through Jia Zhangshi's extortion he could see whether Qin Jingru would faithfully carry out his plan to stay away from the Jia family and reject Qin Huiru.

Translation: This was done intentionally, wanting to see whether Qin Jingru would faithfully carry out his plan to stay away from the Jia family and reject Qin Huairu, by means of Jia Zhangshi's extortion.

We need to keep meaning. Let's translate: "This was done on purpose; he wanted to see whether Qin Jingru would faithfully execute his plan to stay away from the Jia family and reject Qin Huairu, by means of Jia Zhangshi's extortion."

Would they dare to help?

Translation: Dare to help.

But context: maybe "Dare to provide aid." We'll translate: "Dare to help."

Xu Damao might still need to properly educate Qin Jingru.

Translation: Xu Damao might still need to properly educate Qin Jingru.

We'll translate: "Xu Damao might still need to properly educate Qin Jingru."

No help.

Translation: Not help.

We'll translate: "Not help."

Everything is fine.

Translation: Everything is fine.

We'll translate: "Everything is fine."

He said Qin Jingru's name out loud.

Translation: He spoke Qin Jingru's name aloud.

We'll translate: "He spoke Qin Jingru's name."

Jingru, this is the Jia Madam of the old Jia family in our Hou Yuan, a miserable widow whose husband and son have both died.

Translation: "Jingru, this is the old madam Jia of our Hou Yuan, a miserable widow whose husband and son have both died."

But we have glossary for Jia Zhangshi → Jia Zhangshi, but here it's Jia Madam. We'll translate as "Jia Madam". So: "Jingru, this is the Jia Madam of our Hou Yuan, a miserable widow whose husband and son have both died."

Silly Zhu couldn't help but want to laugh.

Translation: Even Shazhu felt like laughing.

We'll translate: "Even Shazhu felt like laughing."

The surprised joy on Jia Zhangshi's face was stubbornly stuck there by Xu Damao's later words, leaving her expression frozen.

Translation: The surprised joy on Jia Zhangshi's face was stiffly held there by Xu Damao's later words, leaving her expression stuck.

We need to be faithful: "The surprised joy on Jia Zhangshi's face was stubbornly stuck there by Xu Damao's later words, leaving her expression frozen." Means: The surprised joy on Jia Zhangshi's face was stubbornly stuck there by Xu Damao's later words, leaving her expression frozen. We'll translate: "The surprised joy on Jia Zhangshi's face was stubbornly stuck there by Xu Damao's later words, leaving her expression frozen."

A widow, her husband died, and her son died.

Translation: "A widow, her husband dead, her son dead."

We'll translate: "A widow, her husband dead, her son dead."

In a few words, he made Jia Zhangshi's background clear.

Translation: In a few words, he made Jia Zhangshi's background clear.

We'll translate: "In a few words, he made Jia Zhangshi's background clear."

"Damao, my old woman also heard from our Huairu that she has a younger sister named Jingru back home; the neighbors say your wife is also called Jingru, also from the countryside; I wonder if this Jingru might be our Huairu's cousin."

Translation: "Damao, my old woman also heard from our Huairu that she has a younger sister named Jingru back home; the neighbors say your wife is also called Jingru, also from the countryside; I wonder if this Jingru might be our Huairu's cousin."

We need to keep pronouns: speaker is Jia Zhangshi? Actually line 79 is a quote from Jia Zhangshi speaking to Xu Damao (Damao). So we translate as: "Damao, my old woman also heard from our Huairu that she has a younger sister named Jingru back

Jia Zhangshi's eyes were shining brightly.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi's eyes were shining with excitement.

We'll translate: "Jia Zhangshi's eyes were shining."

By the light of the courtyard.

Translation: Using the light inside the courtyard.

We'll translate: "Using the light inside the courtyard."

He saw Qin Jingru's face, which bore a strong resemblance to Qin Huairu's.

Translation: He saw Qin Jingru's face, which resembled Qin Huairu's by about seventy or eighty percent.

We'll translate: "He saw Qin Jingru's face, which resembled Qin Huairu's by about seventy or eighty percent."

Jingru

Translation: Jingru.

We'll translate: "Jingru."

Huairu

Translation: Huairu.

We'll translate: "Huairu."

They look so much alike.

Translation: They look so alike.

We'll translate: "They look so alike."

If they're not family, what else could they be?

Translation: If they're not family, what are they?

We'll translate: "If they're not family, what are they?"

Just as she told Qin Huairu earlier, the Jia family's good days are about to arrive.

Translation: Just as she had just told Qin Huairu, the Jia family's good days are about to arrive.

We'll translate: "Just as she had just told Qin Huairu, the Jia family's good days are about to arrive."

Xu Damao said, "Jia dama, your nose is sharper than a dog's." Then, pointing at the mulberry tree to curse the locust tree and borrowing a dog to scold Jia Zhangshi, he added, "You actually smelled it—my wife Qin Jingru lives in Qin Family Village, Sixth Brigade, Erdao Ridge Commune; her father is Qin Wu."

Translation: "Jia Madam, your nose is sharper than a dog's." Xu Damao, using the old trick of pointing at a mulberry tree to curse a locust tree, borrowing a dog to scold Jia Zhangshi, said, "You actually smelled it—my wife Qin Jingru lives in Erdao Ridge Commune Sixth Brigade Qin Family Village, her father is Qin Wu."

We'll produce: "Jia Madam, your nose is sharper than a dog's." Xu Damao, pointing at the mulberry tree to curse the locust tree and borrowing a dog to scold Jia Zhangshi, said, "You actually smelled it—my wife Qin Jingru lives in Erdao Ridge Commune Sixth Brigade Qin Family Village, her father is Qin Wu."

Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh and said, "I told you this morning I heard a magpie's call—indeed, good news. Damao, if you marry Jingru, you'll be tied to our Jia family by marriage."

Translation: "I said earlier today I heard the magpies' call, and indeed there is good news." Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh, "Damao, if you marry Jingru, you'll be connected by marriage to our Jia family."

We'll translate: "I said earlier today I heard the magpies' call, and indeed there is good news." Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh, "Damao, if you marry Jingru, you'll be connected by marriage to our Jia family."

Jia dama, I'm not following—how are we suddenly relatives?

Translation: "Jia Madam, I don't quite understand what you mean—how are we relatives?"

We'll translate: "Jia Madam, I don't quite understand what you mean—how are we relatives?"

Damao, you're usually quite sharp, how are you muddled now? Our Huairu is also from Erdao Ridge Commune Sixth Brigade Qin Family Village, her father Qin Si, who is a brother to your father-in-law Qin Wu; Jingru and Huairu are cousins; Huairu calls my wife 'mother'; from that point, should Jingru call me 'old aunt'? If you marry Jingru, you should also call me 'old aunt'—wouldn't that make our relationship real?

Translation: "Damao, you're usually quite sharp, how are you muddled now? Our Huairu is also from Erdao Ridge Commune Sixth Brigade Qin Family Village, her father Qin Si, who is a brother to your father-in-law Qin Wu; Jingru and Huairu are cousins; Huairu calls my wife 'mother'; from that point, should Jingru call me 'old aunt'? If you marry Jingru, you should also call me 'old aunt'—wouldn't that make our relationship real?"

Jia Zhangshi, always thinking of good things.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi, always thinking of good things.

We'll translate: "Jia Zhangshi, always thinking of good things."

She first used words to cement her relationship with Xu Damao as relatives.

Translation: First she used words to solidify her relationship with Xu Damao as relatives.

We'll translate: "First she used words to solidify her relationship with Xu Damao as relatives."

Then her tone shifted.

Translation: Then she changed the subject.

We'll translate: "Then she changed the subject."

She warmly invited Xu Damao and Qin Jingru.

Translation: She enthusiastically invited Xu Damao and Qin Jingru.

We'll translate: "She enthusiastically invited Xu Damao and Qin Jingru."

Jingru, Daming, Auntie didn't know before, but now she does; no matter what, I'll make it up to you. Tomorrow just happens to be Sunday, so none of us have to work. I'll have the supply and marketing cooperative cut some meat, and we'll make dumplings at home. Jingru and Daming, you two have to come no matter what. From now on, Auntie will be like Jingru's natal family.