Chapter 358: with translation of chapter title

Liu Jianguo's appearance.

It could be considered a minor accident.

The set of clothes he was wearing.

To the public.

It could be called a tremendous deterrent force.

Standing there, even without saying a word, the neighbors already felt the strong pressure coming from a law enforcer.

Even Jia Zhangshi, who would raise a fuss over nothing, submitted meekly before that outfit.

Not to mention Guo Da Piezi's wife and her gang, who came to cause trouble at the door; the moment Liu Jianguo appeared, their hearts leapt to their throats.

They feared that the Jia family or Qin Huairu would call the police, landing them in jail.

At that moment they admitted defeat.

Under the influence of thoughts of backing out.

After uttering a few meaningless pleasantries, they took along the relatives and friends who had come to support her or watch the spectacle, and quickly left the siheyuan.

They came in high spirits and left in disappointment.

It wasn't completely without gain.

The last shreds of dignity left for Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi were torn to pieces.

The only thing they regretted was how An Jiahe could have married a woman like Qin Huairu, a decent cultured man, yet ended up wearing a green hat.

Fortunately she didn't know who An Jiahe was.

Otherwise she wouldn't have felt sorry for Qin Huairu.

As for Jia Zhangshi,

Her anxious heart finally settled.

This was the first time since Liu Jianguo moved into the siheyuan that Jia Zhangshi found him pleasing to the eye.

Before, because of Liu Jianguo's presence, she didn't dare cause a scene, Bangeng didn't dare steal, and she cursed his ancestors eight generations over in her heart.

At this moment.

The neighbors, face to face.

It was precisely this Liu Jianguo, whom Jia Zhangshi looked down upon, who saved the Jia family's lives.

He didn't say a word.

Those who had come to cause trouble left in disgrace precisely because they saw Liu Jianguo appear.

Otherwise Jia Zhangshi truly couldn't imagine what fate would befall her.

She opened her mouth.

Wanting to say something.

But she didn't know where to begin.

In the end she could only sigh helplessly.

Liu Haizhong, who had long wanted to show off his abilities in front of Liu Jianguo, seized the opportunity of Jia Zhangshi's sigh to lecture her.

"Bangeng's grandmother, it's not that I, Liu Haizhong, am saying this about you—people live by their face, trees by their bark; if a person loses face, can they still be called human? Guo Da Piezi's wife is right: people more than ten years older than you are still out looking for work on the street, while you constantly use making cloth shoes as an excuse, eating and being lazy—is that appropriate? Let Jianguo judge: isn't that the truth?"

He pointed his finger at Liu Jianguo.

"You say you make cloth shoes—making a pair a week would be fine, but you only make a pair a month, sometimes two months; that's pure parasitism. If your family had savings, you could eat without working. I, Liu Haizhong, wouldn't play the villain, but today everyone in the neighborhood saw it, and the residents of other courtyards know too: the food and drink you consume are all what Qin Huairu extorted from other men, and even had her relatives bring people to block the door. By doing this, are you worthy of your deceased son?"

He then shifted the topic.

He turned the conversation to Bangeng.

"You don't think for yourself, but you should consider Bangeng: he's growing up, and in a few years when it's time to talk marriage, if the girl's parents hear that the Jia family is this sort of chaotic, disorderly household, would they agree to let their daughter marry into your family? If Bangeng can't find a wife, the Jia line will be cut off."

Liu Haizhong grew more excited as he spoke.

He had no more restraint on his mouth.

He also started shouting injustice for Qin Huairu.

"Qin Huairu has remarried, yet you still boss her around—this is like meeting Qin Huairu; if it were anyone else, they'd have thrown down their tools and quit working for you long ago."

Qin Huairu, standing aside, had been slapped twice by An Jiahe.

She didn't know whether it was from the pain of the slaps.

Or whether Liu Haizhong's words had struck her sore spot.

Her tears flowed like a river released from a gate.

Rushingly downward.

As she sobbed, her mouth wasn't idle; she took the opportunity to recount Jia Zhangshi's faults and voice her own grievances.

"Mom, although you didn't say anything just now, I know you resent me—for bringing shame on the Jia family, blackening its name, for letting Dong Xu down. Do you think I want this? I'm human, I care about face too; if it weren't for you constantly demanding good food and drink, I wouldn't have to throw away my dignity and beg those foul men to pay my meals."

Qin Huairu grew angrier the more she spoke.

After all, these past two years.

Her bitter days of dire straits have been plain to see for the neighbors.

"I make you steamed corn buns, you say your throat is hoarse and you don't want them, so you insist on white flour steamed buns. I cook you cabbage soup, you say you're not used to it, it's irritating your throat, so I have to buy you meat dishes. Don't you think? I'm just a street‑sweeping sanitation worker earning nineteen yuan fifty a month, feeding you white buns and meat every day—how are Jiahe, Bangeng, Xiao Dang, and Huaihua supposed to live? Surely they can't go without food, drink, or clothing."

She lifted her face.

She turned the face that had been slapped twice toward Jia Zhangshi and toward Liu Jianguo.

"Who feels good when someone blocks the door and insults your shoes? Jiahe got angry and slapped me twice—it hurt! He slapped my cheeks until they ached, but I don't bear a grudge; he hit me because I made him lose face. Ask yourselves: if you weren't insisting on good food and fine clothes, could Jiahe have hit you? Do you know what people call Bangeng? 'The son of rotten shoes!' With that reputation, who would want to marry him? What kind of dream are you chasing? I ask for nothing—I just hope you could spare a little thought for me, Qin Huairu."

The word "consider" that followed.

Just as it flew from Qin Huairu's mouth.

Liu Guangfu, leading his men to confront Liu Haizhong, this so‑called father, for justice, had already rushed to the siheyuan gate and immediately appeared before Liu Haizhong, staggering as he came.

He looked anxious.

It was as if he bore a deep, blood‑sea grudge against Liu Haizhong.

"Liu Haizhong!"

A grim, chilling shout.

Liu Haizhong stared blankly for a moment.

What should he call him?

Liu Haizhong!

You bastard!

I am your father; when you see your father, in front of all these neighbours, you can't even be bothered to call him "dad."

You've turned against me.

Feeling his authority greatly provoked, Liu Haizhong frowned slightly, habitually adopting the air of Liu Guangfu's family elder, he stretched out his chubby finger and pointed at Liu Guangfu, unleashing a tirade of angry scolding.

"You little bastard, seeing your old man me, you don't even call me 'dad', you call me by name—who gave you the gall to do that? If I don't beat you for three days and tear off the roof tiles, today I'll give you a proper lesson in front of the neighbours, so you won't be so recklessly bold."

Liu Haizhong wiped his arms and rolled up his sleeves.

His eyes darted around.

He looked ready to find something to give Liu Guangfu a thorough beating.