Chapter 355

The next day, past nine o'clock.

Shazhu, returning from the toilet.

He saw a pestle like a door god standing at Xu Daming's own doorway.

His listless, enervated appearance.

Instantly it made Shazhu feel a bit pleased.

Looking at Biesun's behavior, he surely didn't sleep well last night, or maybe he's just pissed off.

One of life's four great joys—the wedding night—was spoiled by a supercharged lightbulb of a teenager; things he wanted to do couldn't be done, and he had to put on the act of a respectable gentleman.

Really, it's tough on Xu Daming.

"Held in?"

"Can you speak human words?" Xu Daming pointed at his own face, anxiously saying, "I'm radiating vitality."

"Bullshit vitality." Shazhu lowered his voice suddenly, teasing Xu Daming, "Did your aunt get to you?"

Xu Daming's already not-so-good-looking cheeks now looked even worse.

The neighbors in the Siheyuan, anyone who witnessed last night's strange scene, knew exactly who Shazhu was referring to when he mentioned Xu Daming's so-called aunt.

Naturally, it was the Siheyuan's notorious shrew, Jia Zhangshi, known to all and despised by people and dogs alike!

Shazhu was quite curious, wondering whether Jia Zhangshi had really gone to cause trouble for Xu Daming last night.

Jia Zhangshi wasn't as foolish as people thought.

How high is Qin Huairu's stature?

She manipulates Shazhu, teases Xu Daming, and puts on a tearful, pitiful act before everyone; otherwise she wouldn't have earned the nickname 'scheming white lotus'.

Yet this very person is completely under Jia Zhangshi's thumb, spending his life as an ox and horse for the Jia Family.

Shazhu thought Xu Daming might have been schemed against by Jia Zhangshi, while Laoqianpo had let slip the night before that she wanted to invite Xu Daming and his wife to eat dumplings.

But Shazhu had mistaken Xu Daming's intention.

It wasn't that he had been troubled by Jia Zhangshi.

Rather, Xu Daming was thrown into confusion by Xiao Dang's dramatic act of acknowledging parents, and he wanted to consult Shazhu on how to handle the matter.

More people.

More wisdom.

Three clumsy craftsmen beat Zhuge Liang.

"I'm looking for you about something."

"A big matter?"

"Mm!"

"Call Lao Kou!"

First the petty person, then the gentleman.

What is it?

Say what.

A big matter that could push Xu Daming to this point—Shazhu supposed he, too, was like a clever wife unable to cook without rice, unable to think of a solution.

Summon Yan Fugui.

One reason is that their three-way relationship is decent.

They drink together.

They squat by the wall together.

When something comes up, they naturally shoulder it together; even if worried, all three must worry.

On the other hand is Yan Fugui's status—who let Lao Kou be appointed by the Jiēdào as a managing elder, a temporary post of the Jiēdào, yet for some people they truly obey this managing elder.

Wielding the tiger's skin to raise a big banner.

If something really happens.

At least there's Yan Fugui, the managing elder, taking the front.

This stems from such thinking.

Shazhu had Xu Daming call Yan Fugui over, and the three of them gathered at his place to discuss the matter.

Mainly Xu Daming spoke.

Shazhu and Yan Fugui listened.

If you don't say it, you won't know.

Once said, it's startling.

From Shazhu and Yan Fugui's stunned expressions and their gaping mouths sucking in cold air, it was clear this matter truly shocked them.

It's utterly absurd—Xiao Dang alone ran to Xu Daming's home and told him and his wife, "I, Xiao Dang, don't want to be a maiden of the Jia Family; I want to be your daughter."

What made them even more horrified was that the whole thing, from start to finish, was plotted solely by Xiao Dang, with no behind-the-scenes instigation by Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu.

A ten-year-old brat.

Carrying out such a shocking act.

Yan Fugui and Shazhu.

At that moment they became the ones staring big-eyed at each other.

You look at me.

I look at you.

"Don't just stand there, help me think of an idea, see what to do." Xu Daming said: "I know this is hard, which is why I came to you for advice."

Being highly regarded by Xu Daming.

Shazhu and Yan Fugui didn't know whether they should feel happy.

Or whether they should feel miserable.

"Why are you looking for me?"

"If not you two, who else? Who let me, Xu Daming, have the best relationship with you two inside the courtyard and the factory!"

"Xu Daming, are you sure you're not joking with us about this?"

"Me, an idiot? I'm joking with you about this?" Xu Daming wore a worried expression, pointing to his listless face, "Because of this matter, I didn't sleep all night last night; as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was startled awake by Xiao Dang's expression at that time."

"Just now you said you were radiant." Shazhu teased Xu Daming, "Now you're worried—was that really true?"

The atmosphere inside the room.

As Xu Daming recounted that fact.

It became too oppressive.

It needed to be eased.

"With so many neighbors present, I don't want to lose face, do I?"

Xu Daming blurted out the answer without thinking, his tone filled with helplessness toward Xiao Dang, mainly because he feared Xiao Dang would join the ** Youth Corps!

"Xu Daming, let me ask you a question—speak honestly, what exactly are you thinking?"

"That's a good question—Xiao Dang calls you dad and Qin Jingru mom; what do you two think, agree or not? This is practically picking up a daughter for free, a good thing."

"San Daye, with Jia Zhangshi's insatiable greed, could this be a good thing of picking up a daughter for free? I reckon it would completely drain Xu Daming's finances."

"It's not about money; this matter is disgusting. I just got married, and she came running, saying she wants to be our daughter. You two don't know—it nearly made me furious. It's clearly a curse that I'll have no children. If it were someone else's daughter, I'd accept, but the key is Xiao Dang's surname is Jia. Last night, without a thought, she even rejected her own grandmother. Someone like that, I, Xu Daming, dare not take; once I can't move, she'll surely kick me out."

Shazhu's gaze.

Suddenly turned sharp.

Xu Daming's words.

They touched Shazhu's deepest, most unwilling-to-mention painful memory.

Jia Family's Xiao Dang, truly a white-eyed wolf, Xu Daming taking her as a daughter really ends up like Shazhu's past life—being driven out of the home.

"Shazhu, are you okay?"

Xu Daming noticed Shazhu's oddness.

He asked a question.

A vague meaning arose in his heart.

Why does Shazhu hold such great resentment toward Xiao Dang?

"I'm fine."

Shazhu casually made up an excuse—he couldn't tell Xu Daming and Yan Fugui about his past life; even if he did, they wouldn't believe him, and would hurriedly label him a lunatic.

"Xu Daming, if you disagree, why not just tell Xiao Dang straight? Why make things so complicated?"

Cut the Gordian knot with a swift blade.

This is Yan Fugui's proposed solution.

Analyzing according to certain logic.

It has some feasibility.

However, Shazhu doesn't see it that way; any problem Yan Fugui could think of, Xu Daming surely thought of too.

In other words.

Xu Daming had considered the swift-blade solution, but because it was ineffective or had no effect at all, he didn't adopt it.

What reservations.

Would make Xu Daming hesitant?

"Xu Daming." Shazhu spoke with a hint of solemnity, whispering in Yan Fugui and Xu Daming's ears, "Do you have any reservations?"

Xu Daming widened his eyes.

He stared straight at Shazhu.

If not for the fact that Shazhu is Xu Daming's friend, he would have instantly guessed Xu Daming's thoughts.

Toward Xiao Dang.

He truly had reservations.

Xu Daming glanced outside, lowered his voice, and spoke six ordinary Chinese characters that only Yan Fugui and Shazhu could hear.

** Youth Corps!

Just those six simple words left Shazhu and Yan Fugui without a trace of temper.

No wonder the petty Xu Daming would worry so much.

Not to mention Xu Daming, even Shazhu wouldn't dare confront Xiao Dang, who joined the ** Youth Corps, head-on.

When facing certain matters.

They are crazier than madmen.

Shazhu, having been through it, knows what those words ** Youth Corps signify.

Although Yan Fugui hasn't lived a second life, he is a firsthand witness—his daughter-in-law Ran Qiuye, having fallen into their hands, began handling campus sanitation work; when she returned from work at night, her body carried a faint smell of feces.

"Now it's not a matter of speaking up or not; I simply dare not voice opposition. A few days ago, when I went to the countryside to show a film, I saw that bloody scene. Don't laugh at me—after experiencing it, I don't dare go to the toilet alone at night, and sometimes even seeing red things frightens me."

Shazhu didn't know how to describe his current mood.

He felt numb.

Xu Daming's revelation was too shocking.

Combined with those memory fragments from his past life.

He believed without doubt what Xu Daming had recounted.

No way!

In my previous life, it seems Xiao Dang didn't join the ** Youth Corps.

Could it be that my appearance has caused some different rules?

Because Xiao Dang joined the ** Youth Corps, despite her young age, she became so fearless that she kept Xu Daming awake all night.

"This matter is not easy to handle."

"Otherwise I couldn't come to you guys."

"Hey!"

Yan Fugui sighed; he actually saw his future self in Xu Daming.

Things are unpredictable.

Perhaps I too will have to follow in Ran Qiuye's footsteps.

Everyone in the courtyard knows that Xu Daming and Shazhu get along well with Yan Fugui; over these years, Yan Fugui has also gained some benefits from Shazhu and Xu Daming.

He is not as cold-blooded as the Jia Family.

He knows the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a spring.

He glanced at Xu Daming, then at Shazhu, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn't get it out.

"San Daye, we're not outsiders; say what you want to say. Are you wanting a drink? Xu Daming just got married—you should have a good meal."

"Daming, Zhuzi."

"San Daye, you called me Zhuzi; I thought you were calling someone else. This seems like the first time you've addressed me like that. Before, you always called me Shazhu this, Shazhu that."

Shazhu's joking words.

It didn't have the expected effect.

The atmosphere became a bit more solemn than before.

Yan Fugui certainly knew Shazhu's intention in saying that.

That's exactly why.

All the more reason to show his sincerity.

He worried that he would implicate both of them.

"Today our team leader talked to me, listing a bunch of my faults; I estimate that in a while I'll have to join this sanitation cleanup activity just like my daughter-in-law Ran Qiuye."

Shazhu froze.

Xu Daming was stunned.

Yan Fugui's skill is top-notch among them.

But he is such an expert.

Yet now he has to do something else.

This matter is something that neither Xu Daming nor Shazhu can accept.

"San Daye, you…"

"You probably don't know, but three days ago our place already stopped." Yan Fugui drew out his tone, saying to Shazhu and Xu Daming: "It's the group Xu Daming just mentioned; many people have joined it."

"Does that include Xiao Dang?"

"I'm not entirely sure about this, Xu Daming, Zhuzi; here's a piece of advice: when facing those people, just play dumb—believe whatever they say."

"So for this matter, Xu Daming can only obediently be forced to agree?"

"Being alive is always better than being dead."

"San Daye, what do you mean?"

"From now on, the three of us' relationship should appropriately go underground." Yan Fugui suddenly recalled something and urged Shazhu and Xu Daming: "You two, when you have time, hurry to the bookstore and buy a few copies of the *** books; whether you read them or not doesn't matter, the key is to have them."

Shazhu and Xu Daming.

They hurriedly nodded their heads.

This also counts as being reminded.

As they were about to leave, Yan Fugui suddenly saw the half-body ceramic statue placed in Shazhu's room.

"San Daye said he'd remind you, but San Daye himself was reminded by you; this half-body ceramic statue, you should also get one."

"San Daye, buy two; I'll pay you back when I return."

"Okay."

After Yan Fugui left.

Xu Daming put on his helpless expression.

He turned toward Shazhu.

That expression.

Really damn pitiful.

Who would have thought that the esteemed film projectionist of the Yagangchang Steel Plant would one day be manipulated by the Jia Family's Xiao Dang; even if spoken aloud, nobody would believe it.

"Xu Daming, bro, we've got it."

"You can't have it; if you do, it can only be your wife who has it."

"Xu Daming, you can, but at this occasion, do you still have the mood to joke?"

"Just as San Daye said, since we dare not oppose, we can only comply; if we're complying, why not happily choose the life we want?"

"You really are this."

Shazhu gave Xu Daming a thumbs-up.

With Xu Daming's mindset like that.

You can't refuse.

「Xu Daming, this is Xiao Dang's matter, we buddies have a plan。」

Visible to the naked eye.

Xu Daming, with a helpless expression, instantly became lively, and grabbed Shazhu's arm with one hand.

Shazhu, speak quickly.

What do you call me?

Brother! Xu Daming immediately changed his tone, "Little brother begs you, please save little brother."

You're muddled, you use the book to deal with her.

Xu Daming grinned.

He turned and left.

Shazhu's method.

Feasible.

As long as Xiao Dang dares to use his status to manipulate Xu Daming, Xu Daming will use the book to deal with Xiao Dang; when necessary, he will seize the opportunity before Xiao Dang makes a move and bring out the book as a magic treasure.

I'll lend you ten dog gallbladders.

You also wouldn't dare to interrupt my study of the book's content.

Dare to interrupt.

Xu Daming then had an excuse to attack Xiao Dang.