Chapter 344

It's best not to mention loans or borrowed items that offend people, lest my kind lending cause you, Aunt, to resent me and look down on me for ruining the Jia family's reputation of self-reliance and self-improvement.

Interpretation: "Borrowing money or things that offend people, we'd better not mention it, lest my kind lending of things cause you, Aunt, to resent me and look down on me for ruining the Jia Family's reputation of self-reliance and self-improvement."

We'll produce: "Loans that offend people, or borrowing things—best not mention them, lest my kind-hearted lending cause you, Aunt, to resent me and look down on me for ruining the Jia Family's reputation of self-reliance and self-improvement."

We'd better not mention loans or borrowed items that offend people, lest my kind lending cause you, Aunt, to resent me and look down on me for ruining the Jia family's reputation of self-reliance and self-improvement.

Ok.

Qin Jingru truly took the four‑character phrase 'speaking positively in reverse' to the extreme.

Interpretation: Qin Jingru truly brought the four-character phrase "speaking positively in reverse" to its extreme.

The four‑character idiom means 'speaking positively in reverse'.

She also stunned everyone present.

Interpretation: She also stunned everyone present.

Xu Daming's worried heart could finally settle. Qin Jingru could tell right from wrong, knowing she couldn't aid the Jia family, so his purpose was already achieved.

Interpretation: Xu Daming's worried heart could finally settle. Qin Jingru could distinguish good from bad, knowing she couldn't help the Jia family; thus his purpose was achieved.

We must keep the pronouns straight: Xu Daming is male, Qin Jingru is female, and 'his purpose' refers to Xu Daming's goal. So Xu Daming's worried heart could finally settle; Qin Jingru could tell right from wrong, knowing she couldn't help the Jia family, thus his purpose was already achieved.

Thanks to these few words, Qin Jingru completely turned around the very poor impression she had in the neighbors' minds, making them look at her with newfound respect.

Interpretation: Thanks to these few sentences, Qin Jingru completely turned around the very poor impression she had in the neighbors' eyes, making them look at her more favorably.

The neighbors suddenly realized that Xu Daming's wife seemed somewhat different from the Jia family's daughter‑in‑law; her refusal of Jia Zhangshi left Jia Zhangshi with nothing to say.

Interpretation: The neighbors suddenly realized that Xu Daming's wife seemed somewhat different from the Jia family's daughter-in-law, in that this tactic of refusing Jia Zhangshi, which Jia Zhangshi couldn't complain about, was notable.

We need to keep meaning: "The neighbors suddenly realized that Xu Daming's wife seemed somewhat different from the Jia family's daughter-in-law; this approach of refusing Jia Zhangshi, which Jia Zhangshi couldn't object to, was a tactic."

It is therefore worth the neighbors studying it in depth.

Interpretation: Thus it's worth the neighbors studying deeply.

The only person who wasn't happy.

Interpretation: The only person who wasn't happy.

Only Jia Zhangshi.

Interpretation: Only Jia Zhangshi.

A hint of annoyed anger flickered across her smiling cheeks; the clash of these two expressions gave a strong sense of discomfort.

Interpretation: On her smiling cheeks appeared a hint of angry embarrassment; the clash of these expressions gave a strong sense of incongruity.

Listen.

Interpretation: Listen.

This is something a person would say!

Interpretation: This is what a person says!

It was practically poking Jia Zhangshi right in the heart.

Interpretation: It's practically poking Jia Zhangshi's heart.

It amounted to cutting off Jia Zhangshi's escape route after she had been draining Qin Jingru's blood.

Interpretation: It's equivalent to blocking Jia Zhangshi's retreat after sucking Qin Jingru's blood.

We need to keep meaning: "It's tantamount to cutting off Jia Zhangshi's escape route after she had been bleeding Qin Jingru dry."

It amounts to blocking Jia Zhangshi's retreat after she had been sucking Qin Jingru's blood.

The true intention behind trying to get close.

Interpretation: The original intention of getting close.

It's simply blood‑sucking.

Interpretation: That is, to suck blood.

As a result, in front of the neighbors, borrowing things on the left damages neighborly relations, while borrowing money on the right destroys family ties.

Interpretation: As a result, you, in front of the neighbors, borrowing things on the left harms neighborly relations, borrowing money on the right destroys familial ties.

I've wasted so much saliva after all my hard work.

Interpretation: I've painstakingly used up so much saliva.

What are you after?

Interpretation: What are you after?

You're just after Qin Jingru's good looks.

Interpretation: You're after Qin Jingru's good looks.

Isn't it just because you see Qin Jingru as Xu Daming's wife, and Xu Daming, who profits from showing movies, is greedy for a bit of food, drink, and money?

Interpretation: Isn't it just because you see Qin Jingru as Xu Daming's wife, Xu Daming's film projection brings in extra income, and you're greedy for a bit of food, drink, and money?

In the end, it was all just wasted talk.

Interpretation: All that talk was for nothing.

Jia Zhangshi knew she couldn't refute Qin Jingru's words.

Interpretation: Jia Zhangshi knew she couldn't refute Qin Jingru's words.

There was no reason.

Interpretation: No reason.

This is the first point.

Interpretation: This is one.

This is the second point.

Interpretation: This is two.

Once she refuted, it would amount to confirming certain things.

Interpretation: Once she refutes, it amounts to confirming certain things.

Unwilling to back down, Jia Zhangshi, upon seeing Qin Hai‑ru nearby, grabbed her and used Qin Hai‑ru to salvage this awkward situation she couldn't escape.

Interpretation: Unwilling Jia Zhangshi, seeing Qin Huairu approach, grabbed her and used Qin Huairu to smooth over this awkward situation she couldn't get out of.

We need to keep meaning: "Unwilling Jia Zhangshi, seeing Qin Huairu come forward, grabbed her and used Qin Huairu to smooth over this awkward situation she couldn't get out of."

"Hai‑ru, you've finally come—have you seen her?" Jia Zhangshi pointed at Qin Jingru and said to Qin Hai‑ru, "She is Xu Daming's wife, named Qin Jingru; like you, she's from Qin Family Village; her father is Qin Wu, so you are cousins. You've often complained that no one in the courtyard talks to you, but now that Jingru has moved into our courtyard and is also Xu Daming's wife, you should spend more time chatting with her when you're free, so she won't feel depressed and develop problems on her own."

Interpretation: Direct speech. We'll translate preserving quotes.

"Huairu, you've finally come—have you seen her?" Jia Zhangshi pointed at Qin Jingru and said to Qin Huairu: "She is Xu Daming's wife, named Qin Jingru; you and she are both from Qin Family Village; her father is Qin Wu; you are cousins. You've always complained that no one in the courtyard talks to you. Now that Jingru has moved into our Siheyuan and is Xu Daming's wife, when you have free time, you two should interact more, so Jingru won't feel depressed and develop problems alone."

We need to keep punctuation? We'll output as one line.

Jia Zhangshi's eloquent words.

Interpretation: Jia Zhangshi's beautiful words.

Qin Hai‑ru didn't take it to heart; her eyes were filled only with Qin Jingru's beautiful figure.

Interpretation: Qin Huairu didn't take those words to heart; her eyes were filled only with Qin Jingru's lovely figure.

She was provoked.

Interpretation: She was stimulated.

A boundless sense of sourness welled up in her heart.

Interpretation: A boundless sense of sourness welled up in her heart.

There was envy.

Interpretation: There was envy.

And also a feeling of desolation.

Interpretation: And even more desolation.

Once upon a time.

Interpretation: Once upon a time.

Qin Hai‑ru was the figure countless people in Qin Family Village looked up to, praised by word of mouth, and regarded as the village's pride.

Interpretation: Qin Huairu was the figure countless people in Qin Family Village looked up to, praised by countless mouths, and regarded as the pride of Qin Family Village.

At that time, Qin Jingru was merely a tag‑along trailing behind Qin Huiru, always using Qin Huiru as her benchmark and striving to become a second Qin Huiru, dreaming of marrying into the city and enjoying a comfortable life.

Interpretation: At that time, Qin Jingru was merely a little follower trailing behind Qin Huairu, taking Qin Huairu as the standard in everything, striving to become a second Qin Huairu, and dreaming of marrying into the city to enjoy blessings.

For this reason.

Interpretation: For this.

She had also specially begged Qin Hai‑ru, hoping that, considering their cousin relationship, Qin Hai‑ru would pull her strings and give her a chance to move to the city and obtain state‑supplied grain.

Interpretation: She also specially begged Qin Huairu, hoping that Qin Huairu, considering they were cousins, would pull her up and give her a chance to enter the city and eat state-supplied grain.

She overestimated her standing in Qin Hai‑ru's heart.

Interpretation: She overestimated her standing in Qin Huairu's heart.

Moreover, since Qin Hai‑ru herself was already living poorly, she feared that if Qin Jingru moved to the city it would expose her false pretenses; although she verbally agreed, she never followed through.

Interpretation: Moreover, since Qin Huairu herself was already doing poorly, she feared that Qin Jingru's move to the city would expose her false facade; she verbally agreed but never actually followed through.

She was driven to desperation.

Interpretation: Pressed to the point of desperation.

She fabricated a pretense of helping Qin Jingru find an exceptional husband, then casually brushed her off.

Interpretation: She fabricated a pretense of helping Qin Jingru find a one-in-a-million good husband, then casually brushed her off.

She thought Qin Jingru would never manage to marry into the city.

Interpretation: She thought Qin Jingru couldn't marry into the city.

Qin Jingru, though young, was shrewd; without Qin Hai‑ru's help, she relied on her own abilities to marry into the city, and by chance ended up as Qin Hai‑ru's neighbor in the same courtyard, marrying a man everyone envied—a movie projectionist.

Interpretation: Qin Jingru, though young, was shrewd; without Qin Huairu's help, relying on her own abilities she married into the city, and coincidentally became neighbors with Qin Huairu in the same Siheyuan, marrying the enviable film projectionist.

In one fell swoop, she took away Qin Hai‑ru's former grace.

Interpretation: In one fell swoop she took away Qin Huairu's former grace.

Even guessing with your toes, you could tell that Qin Jingru had replaced Qin Hai‑ru as the new object of envy for the people of Qin Family Village.

Interpretation: Even guessing with your toes, you could tell Qin Jingru replaced Qin Huairu, becoming the new object of envy for Qin Family Village folks.

This is also why Qin Hai‑ru stared at Qin Jingru without speaking.

Interpretation: This is also why Qin Huairu, watching Qin Jingru, remained silent.

She didn't know what to say.

Interpretation: She didn't know what to say.

She looked at Qin Jingru before her.

Interpretation: Looking at Qin Jingru before her.

Then she glanced at herself.

Interpretation: Then glancing at herself.

It cannot be summed up with just the word 'tragic'.

Interpretation: It cannot be summed up with just the word "tragic".

Qin Jingru wore black women's leather shoes on her feet, her trousers and jacket were the latest fashionable styles, and on her left wrist she wore a women's watch.

Interpretation: On Qin Jingru's feet were a pair of black women's leather shoes; her pants and jacket were the current fashionable style; on her left wrist she also wore a women's watch.

Her whole presence shone like a pure white swan.

Interpretation: Her whole person shone like a pure white swan.

At a glance, it was clearly Xu Daming's doing.

Interpretation: At a glance it's Xu Daming's doing.

That bastard really doesn't mind spending money on his wife.

Interpretation: This bastard really doesn't mind spending money on his wife.

Qin Hai‑ru wore green rubber shoes; the big toe on her left foot had torn a hole, through which her stubborn big toe stubbornly poked, greedily breathing the fresh outside air.

Interpretation: Qin Huairu's feet wore a pair of green rubber shoes; the big toe on her left foot had a torn spot, through which her big toe stubbornly poked, greedily breathing the fresh outside air.

Her clothing was the earth‑gray work uniform issued by the steel mill.

Interpretation: Her clothing was the earth-gray work uniform issued by the Yagangchang.

Because sanitation cleaning is carried out year-round in the toilet.

There is a faint smell of feces.

These two years.

Jia Zhangshi and An Jiahe made Qin Huairu ecstatic; the wrinkles on her face visibly increased, and she no longer had the charming allure of the Yagangchang Qiao Gua Fu.

Although she is clearly a woman in her early thirties, claiming she is over forty, many people firmly believe it.

I don't know if Xu Daming specially taught her that.

Or perhaps Qin Jingru simply wanted to, in front of the neighbors, give Qin Huairu a good ridicule.

She pointed at Qin Huairu.

She exclaimed a few times.

"Are you Huairu sister? It's been two or three years since we last saw each other; how did you become like this? I remember you said at your uncle's house that you were living very happily in the city, that you didn't have to do any work every day, just wait to eat, while chores like cooking, washing dishes, mending, etc., were done by your mother-in-law, and your brother-in-law earned money."

Her expression was exaggerated.

Her body movements were also overly performative.

"Saying that the most proper thing you have done in your life is marrying a good husband who understands and loves you, and meeting a good mother-in-law who treats you like her own daughter; our village, no, no, our whole commune, many girls like me who are of marriageable age all take you, Sister Huairu, as their goal to strive for, saying they also want to be like you, marry a good husband, meet a good mother-in-law, and live happily ever after."

The words spoken were like an invisible knife.

It heavily struck Qin Huairu's weak body.

Making her sway in place a few times.

She had thought of various things.

She never expected that Qin Jingru would, in such a situation, return exactly those false pretenses that Qin Huairu had put on in front of the Qin Family villagers earlier, without omission, to their original owner.

Her face turned pale.

Her steps followed with a step back.

Qin Jingru seemed not to have taken Qin Huairu's reactions into account.

Her upper lip touched her lower lip.

Again she began to poke at Qin Huairu's heart.

"Sister Huairu, tell me, who made you become like this? Isn't it bullying because there are no relatives of yours in the Siheyuan? Tell me, who bullied you? I, Qin Jingru, your sister, will definitely stand up for you; I'm not a match, but there's also Aunt."

Jia Zhangshi, who was standing there dazed, was also dragged into the water by Qin Jingru.

"Aunt just told me that she still has some standing in the Siheyuan, that she will back me, Qin Jingru; Sister Huairu, tell Aunt about your grievances, let Aunt decide for you, Aunt will definitely scold them to death."

"Hahaha!"

In the crowd.

The neighbors could no longer restrain themselves.

They laughed.

They laughed at Qin Huairu for swelling her face to look fat.

They laughed at Jia Zhangshi for lifting a stone and smashing her own foot.

"I laughed to death, really laughed to death; it seems Qin Huairu's impression in front of her natal family is just like this."

"People shameless, invincible under heaven; clearly you're not doing well, yet you insist on putting on an act in front of your natal family—can't you just be sincere?"

"Back then you drove away your natal family with a torrent of abuse, yet you still want to save face—your face was thrown into the mud by the Jia Family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law years ago."

Moreover, some people followed Qin Jingru's lead.

They dragged Jia Zhangshi out to whip.

"What Daming's wife said is right, Qin Huairu—you should tell your mother-in-law about your grievances."

"Do you guys think she'll say it?"

"Jia Pozi, your former daughter-in-law Qin Huairu has been wronged—why don't you stand up for her?"

"Take a look at Qin Huairu's complexion—truly, her grievance has been given voice by her mother-in-law, the grievance has reached home."

Jia Zhangshi's head.

Swollen like a pig's head.

The scene before her eyes.

She also didn't know how to end it.

It was originally intended to, in front of the neighbors, express to Qin Jingru how formidable she was, and then lay the groundwork for later exploitation.

Watching the show turned into being watched.

What can be done about this!

If it were before.

No names were mentioned.

No surnames were mentioned.

Jia Zhangshi might have just acted like an ostrich, but the neighbors, in front of Qin Jingru, called out Jia Zhangshi's name; if she didn't respond, it would be tantamount to losing face for Jia Zhangshi.

How could she still exploit Qin Jingru?

How could she still improve the Jia Family's living conditions?

She moved her mouth.

She simply couldn't say anything, realizing that no matter what reason she gave, the neighbors would find fault in various ways.

Forget it.

Not saying anymore.

At worst, I'll try to think of ways to get close to Qin Jingru in the future.

Jia Zhangshi backed down.

But Qin Jingru didn't want that; she now has just one idea.

Taking this chance, I'll really humiliate Jia Zhangshi.

When Qin Jingru's parents were at their wits' end and followed Huairu's parents to the Capital City to rely on Qin Huairu, it was this Laoqianpo standing at the door, giving them a torrent of abuse from head to toe.

She has kept this grudge in her heart all along.

Qin Huairu also couldn't let it go; the matter she had entrusted Qin Huairu to handle years ago was ultimately realized only through Qin Jingru's own efforts.

Qin Jingru realized that Qin Huairu's attitude toward her request to marry into the city had been perfunctory from start to finish; the so-called finding her a good husband was merely an excuse.

If she hadn't met Xu Daming and decisively employed the tactic of turning raw rice into cooked rice, her identity as the film projectionist's wife would truly have had nothing to do with Qin Jingru.

She also understood in her heart why Xu Daming wanted her to stay away from the Jia family and Qin Huairu.

Such relatives.

To get involved.

That's an outcome you can't shake off.

The tides of fortune turn.

Now it's Qin Jingru's turn to shine.

"Aunt, I, Qin Jingru, am Qin Huairu's cousin; she's been bullied. If I didn't know, it'd be fine, but since I do, this matter can't be just brushed over. Aunt, you just told me that someone was bullied in the courtyard, and I should come to you. I beg you, aunt, help this poor cousin of mine. Look at her—she looks like she's in her mid-forties, and people actually believe that."

""Qin Jingru, don't meddle in my sister's affairs," Qin Huairu realized that if she stayed silent the matter wouldn't rest, so she steeled herself and said, "Today is your big day, sister congratulates you, wishes you a lifelong union; don't let my affairs spoil your happy mood."

""Sister, don't be afraid—since we're cousins sharing the Qin surname, if I didn't help you when you're in trouble, would I still be your cousin?" Qin Jingru took it all on, determined to get to the bottom of things, turned to Xu Daming and said, "Brother Daming, by rights today is our wedding day, we shouldn't be doing extra things, but I can't swallow this anger toward my cousin; as her cousin, bullying her is bullying me, Qin Jingru."

""Qin Jingru, whatever you do, I support you."

Xu Daming loves a spectacle and doesn't mind if things get big.

He clearly knows what Qin Jingru is scheming.

Yet he's still adding fuel to the fire.

He wants to use this opportunity to establish an image of Qin Jingru for the neighbors, especially targeting Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi.

That Qin Jingru is not someone to be provoked.

Using this image,

to extinguish the neighbors' unrealistic schemes.

It dispelled Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi's hope of sucking Xu Daming dry through Qin Jingru.

""Brother Daming, you're wonderful—having you say that, I fear nothing." Qin Jingru turned to Qin Huairu and said, "Sister, with my man backing me, we have nothing to fear; if my man isn't a match, there's still Director He."

Shazhu sucked in a breath of cold air.

No wonder she's Qin Huairu's cousin—her talent for causing trouble is greater than the last.

She even dragged this spectator, him, into the mess.

Xu Daming stood beside him.

Out of respect for Xu Daming's face.

Let's just pretend we didn't hear.

Shazhu lifted his head and gazed at the stars.

""Qin Jingru, don't meddle in my sister's affairs."

""Sister, don't be afraid—if Director He won't help, we still have the neighborhood office and the police station; in the Capital City there's surely a place to seek justice." Qin Jingru blinked, feigned puzzlement, and said, "Sister, I said we should go to Director He for help, you said no—could it be that Director He is the one who bullied you into this state?"

Shazhu nearly fainted from anger at Qin Jingru's words.

He immediately spoke up to explain.

""Xu Daming's wife, your sister's affair really isn't on my head, He Yuzhu. If you don't believe me, ask the neighbors, ask your husband Xu Daming, and ask the residents of the nearby courtyards. To be frank, since over ten years ago I, He Yuzhu, have had little contact with your older sister and the Jia family; back then I was just a seventeen-year-old scrap-yard buyer."

""No contact?"

Qin Jingru was taken aback.

No one had ever told her that Shazhu and Qin Huairu didn't associate.

The doubt she just expressed about Shazhu was mostly in jest.

""Head of the household, this!"

""Wife, I can attest to Shazhu's words—over ten years ago their two families had no contact, and neither did we. As for the reason, I'm embarrassed to say; you'd better ask your older sister, and if she doesn't know, ask Jia Zhangshi."

""Sister!"

""Qin Jingru, stop talking—consider it a plea from your sister."