Chapter 351: Xiao Dang's Calculation

It's mainly that people don't want to use the malice of adults to guess what a child under ten is thinking; they'd rather believe an adult is behind it all, urging it on.

Jia Zhangshi counts as one.

Qin Huairu counts as one.

Even Qin Huairu's later spouse An Jiahe wasn't let off.

They were all suspected.

The neighbors unanimously thought that just now everything was Xiao Dang acting under the Jia family elders' orders; ultimately it still came down to calculation.

Among the neighbors, Shazhu was the only adult who tried to guess Xiao Dang's recent move with malice, basing his analysis on some memory fragments from his previous life.

The final result.

It truly proved that saying.

A rat's offspring is born knowing how to dig burrows.

The Jia family's offspring are born knowing how to scheme.

Xiao Dang, trembling, hid behind Qin Jingru; looking at her made people feel a bit more sympathetic sorrow, but her eyes gave away Xiao Dang's true intention.

Young age.

Is one aspect.

Lack of experience.

Is another aspect.

Her gaze made Shazhu uncomfortable.

In his previous life.

When Shazhu was forced out of the siheyuan by Bangeng, he once tried to use familial affection to sway Xiao Dang, hoping that Xiao Dang would, out of gratitude for his past service to the Jia family, find him a place to stay inside the compound so he could die there.

Unfortunately.

Xiao Dang stood on Bangeng's side.

Familial affection still couldn't overcome the Jia family's blood ties.

Facing Shazhu, an outsider.

The Jia family's three white-eyed wolves joined forces against him, Bangeng repeatedly claiming the siheyuan houses were all Jia family property.

As an outsider, Shazhu should leave, both emotionally and logically.

After all, Qin Huairu is already dead.

Shazhu's last lingering thought also vanished.

Although Huaihua and Xiao Dang never openly told Shazhu to leave with words, they hinted at him indirectly, urging him to move out.

Sometimes.

Cold violence is far more frightening than blunt speech.

If Shazhu remembers correctly, Xiao Dang used a gentle tone calling him "silly dad," praising him while belittling him, urging Shazhu, for the years they've called him silly dad, to move out while he still has breath, so he won't die in the courtyard and bring them bad luck.

At that time, Xiao Dang.

Her eyes were just as strange as tonight.

Shazhu guessed that Xu Damao and his wife had fallen into Xiao Dang's scheme, except Xiao Dang overestimated herself and underestimated Xu Damao.

As a true villain of the siheyuan.

Xu Damao is also well‑versed and an expert in playing dirty.

The scheming Xiao Dang meets the deceitful Xu Damao.

Shazhu guessed Xu Damao would prevail, but because Qin Jingru got mixed in, the matter became full of a hint of unknown meaning.

"Weiguo's father, what are you thinking about?"

"Just thinking about Xiao Dang."

"Father, what do you think Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu are thinking? As parents, as grandparents, teaching children like this—aren't you afraid of ruining them? How will Xiao Dang ever marry?"

Shazhu muttered to himself.

How will she marry?

Find a son‑in‑law who moves into the family.

In his previous life.

Unable to find a mother‑in‑law for Xiao Dang, Shazhu demanded a room, using the house as condition, and found a young man without a house to marry, persuading him to become a live‑in son‑in‑law.

"Why bother with them? Anyway, we don't associate with them." Shazhu worried Xiao Dang would corrupt his precious son, "Right, let our son stay away from that Xiao Dang."

"No need for you to remind me, I know." Yu Li changed tone, "I just remembered, tomorrow is Sunday, a day off—Yushui will bring Jianguo to see you."

"See me?"

Shazhu looked bewildered.

Not a holiday.

What gift to bring.

"Did you get mud on you? Discuss their wedding day." Yu Li took the chance to mention He Daqing, "Although Father‑in‑law hasn't returned for over ten years and left no specific letters, he is after all a father; as the son, you should at least inform him of Yushui's big day."

Shazhu didn't reply.

Why He Daqing refuses to return to the capital city, why he doesn't write letters.

The specific reason.

I guessed roughly.

Besides that damned identity, there's no other choice.

Shazhu has always wondered what his father did back then that made him hide in nearby Baocheng for the sake of his siblings' safety, to the point that even when Shazhu wanted to invite him back for his wedding, he dared not move.

Yu Li's suggestion was to have He Daqing return to attend He Yushui's wedding.

It's just empty talk.

Translation: "It can only be empty talk."

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). Keep as is.

Xu Daming's home.

Xu Daming's home.

As he watched Xiao Dang still clinging desperately to Qin Jingru's thigh, refusing to let go, a hint of unnatural indifference flashed across Xu Daming's gaze.

Translation: "Looking at Xiao Dang, who still clung tightly to Qin Jingru's thigh, refusing to let go, a flash of unnatural indifference crossed Xu Daming's eyes."

Looking at Xiao Dang, who still clung tightly to Qin Jingru's thigh and refused to let go, a trace of unnatural indifference flickered in Xu Daming's gaze.

Regarding the Jia family.

Translation: "Toward the Jia family."

Regarding Qin Huairu.

Translation: "Toward Qin Huairu."

He had always kept his distance from them respectfully.

Translation: "He had always kept his distance from them respectfully."

He had always kept his distance from them respectfully.

Whenever he encounters a situation or a person, he habitually psychs himself up, giving his all to weigh the ultimate gains and losses, judging whether it benefits or harms him.

Translation: "When faced with events or people, he habitually summoned twelve points of energy, exhausting every effort to consider the ultimate gains and losses, weighing what would benefit or harm him."

When encountering events or people, he habitually rouses himself with full vigor, exhausting every effort to weigh the ultimate gains and losses, judging what would benefit or harm him.

Just like tonight's so-called big show.

Translation: "Just like tonight's so-called grand performance."

It let Xu Daming see through the Jia family's nature completely; they wouldn't let slip any bit of profit, and whenever they encountered the Jia family, they would think of ways to suck a bit out of any opportunity.

Translation: "It let Xu Daming see through the Jia family's character completely; they truly wouldn't let slip any bit of profit, and whenever they encountered the Jia family, they would devise every means to suck out any opportunity to bleed them."

It let Xu Daming see through the Jia family's nature completely; they truly wouldn't let slip any bit of profit, and whenever they encountered the Jia family, they would think of ways to suck a bit out of any opportunity.

After the scheme to exploit them under the pretense of kinship collapsed.

Translation: "After the blood-sucking scheme using relatives as an excuse fell apart."

He actually decided on the spot to put the backup plan into action.

Translation: "He then decisively put the backup plan into action."

He used Xiao Dang as a link to mend the relationship between the two families, hoping that through Xiao Dang their relationship would return to how it was before.

Translation: "He took Xiao Dang as a bridge to harmonize the two families' relations, hoping through Xiao Dang to restore their relationship to its former state."

Either Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu, their calculations are quite sharp.

Translation: "Either Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu, their calculations are loud enough."

But then he encountered Xu Daming.

Translation: "But they ran into him, Xu Daming."

"Xiao Dang!"

Translation: "\"Xiao Dang. \""

"Uncle-in-law!"

"Uncle-in-law"

A clear, childlike voice.

Translation: "A clear, childish voice."

It rang in Xu Daming's ears.

Translation: "It rang out beside Xu Daming's ear."

Accompanied by a frightened, pitiful look.

Translation: "Paired with a frightened, pitiful expression."

The effect was truly remarkable.

Translation: "The effect was truly not ordinary."

Xu Daming let out a genuine sigh.

Translation: "Xu Daming sincerely let out a quiet sigh."

High.

Translation: "High." (Maybe meaning "high" as in "highly"? But just translate as "High.") Could be "Tall." But we keep as "High."

No wonder she's of the Jia family lineage; as the scheming Qin Huairu's daughter, Xiao Dang has inherited the strengths of both the Jia and Qin families, fully carrying forward their fine traditions.

Translation: "As expected of the Jia family's bloodline, the scheming Qin Huairu's daughter, Xiao Dang inherits the dual strengths of the Jia and Qin families, thoroughly carrying forward the fine traditions of both houses."

She is young.

Translation: "Young in age."

Already so scheming at such a young age.

Translation: "Already so scheming."

In the courtyard, it's truly one of a kind.

Translation: "Inside the Siheyuan, this is truly the first of its kind."

He patiently probed Xiao Dang.

Translation: "He patiently probed Xiao Dang."

"Xiao Dang, just now, in front of your grandmother and mother, I made it perfectly clear: my Xu family is the Xu family, your Jia family is the Jia family; we are merely ordinary neighbors. You may call me Xu Daming or Uncle, but please do not call me 'uncle-in-law'—I, Xu Daming, cannot bear that familial title from your Jia family."

Translation: "\"Xiao Dang, just now in front of your grandmother and your mother, I made my words crystal clear: my Xu family is the Xu family, your Jia family is the Jia family; we are merely ordinary neighbors. You may call me Xu Daming or Uncle, but you had better not call me 'uncle-in-law,' for I, Xu Daming, cannot bear that familial title from your Jia family. \""

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Translation: "Tears swelled in her eyes."

She looked as if she could burst into tears at any moment.

Translation: "She looked ready to burst into tears at any moment."

Such an affected manner.

Such an affected manner.

Even more Qin Huairu than Qin Huairu herself.

Even more Qin Huairu than Qin Huairu herself.

"Don't cry! Don't cry at all! If you cry out loud, your shameless grandmother will definitely frame me with a charge of an adult bullying a child, and using that charge she'll demand all sorts of things from me—money and goods—I really find it annoying." Xu Daming hadn't forgotten Qin Jingru, turned his head and said to his wife, "Jingru, do you think that's the case?"