Chapter 365: Not the Result of a Result

Qin Huairu had just shouted the words "My life is so bitter," and Jia Zhangshi, who was sitting slumped not far from Qin Huairu, also burst into tears, voice and tears together, and started crying.

"My life is bitter too!"

"Wu…wu…wu…." Qin Huairu, who had originally wanted to have a shouting match with Jia Zhangshi, realized the situation was wrong, and decisively changed what she was about to say into a soft sob, "Wu…wu…wu…."

While crying.

She shrewdly presented her swollen face from being beaten.

Facing the crowd.

She wanted to prove with facts that her suffering was greater than Jia Zhangshi's.

A face swollen like a pig's head.

This was evidence that could not tolerate outsiders saying false things.

As expected.

The situation on the spot instantly shifted in Qin Huairu's favor; seeing the clear five‑fingerprint on her cheek, gasps of cold air kept coming from the mouths of the onlookers watching the drama.

They marveled at An Jiahe's cruelty.

Just a few slaps turned Qin Huairu's face into a butt.

How much force was used!

Immediately afterward, a bit of sympathy arose toward An Jiahe.

Putting oneself in another's shoes.

If they were in An Jiahe's position, having their wives cuckold them, they might be even more ruthless than An Jiahe, panicking to the point of causing loss of life.

They increasingly felt that Jia Zhangshi was not human.

If Jia Zhangshi hadn't forced Qin Huairu to work for the Jia family, Qin Huairu wouldn't have ended up in a disgraceful situation just for a bite to eat.

Sunday.

Blocked at the door.

Blaming heaven and earth, they blamed Jia Zhangshi.

Looking at Jia Zhangshi, their gaze carried a strong sense of contempt.

Some people began to whisper among themselves.

"An Jiahe did well in cutting; this matter is to blame on Jia Zhangshi, that wicked old woman—even though Qin Huairu is divorced, she still forces Qin Huairu to support her."

"Who says no? Let the former daughter‑in‑law support her; you just need to be a bit more diligent instead of sitting at home doing nothing, sucking Qin Huairu dry like a leech while letting her eat and drink well to support you. Too bad, An Jiahe's knife didn't even hit Jia Zhangshi—evil people aren't taken by heaven."

"Qin Huairu's life is bitter…."

The voice wasn't loud.

Nor was it small.

Jia Zhangshi, slumped on the ground, happened to hear it clearly.

She was completely stunned on the spot.

She was dumbfounded.

"I was chased and hacked by An Jiahe with a cleaver, and you not only didn't help me speak, but instead mocked me with cold words."

"You're all beasts."

In the past.

Jia Zhangshi would have to cause a scene with the neighbors no matter what.

Now.

Jia Zhangshi, frightened out of her wits by An Jiahe's act of chasing and hacking with a cleaver, had her legs go weak and couldn't muster the strength to curse.

All that was left was her sniveling.

"My life is bitter; my son met with misfortune and died early, leaving me, a widowed mother, in a difficult situation. I thought the daughter‑in‑law would be a support, but who would have thought she is an ungrateful wretch. She had her husband take a knife to slash me. Heaven, what point is there in my living? I might as well die—how unfilial!"

"Mother, you let the neighbors judge—am I unfilial, or have you gone too far? That family's daughter‑in‑law remarried and still sincerely looks after her mother‑in‑law; could that mother‑in‑law ever torment her daughter‑in‑law like you do? You serve white steamed buns and meat dishes every meal; if we don't make them for you, you accuse us of being unfilial, pointing at mulberry trees while cursing locust trees."

"Qin Huairu, do you believe I'll fight you to the death?"

Jia Zhangshi's resolve to fight.

Meaning she would reveal Qin Huairu's secret.

These past years.

She has relied on this secret to control Qin Huairu.

She had thought Qin Huairu would obediently comply.

She never expected Qin Huairu to put on a performance of an iron‑headed fool for her, Jia Zhangshi.

"Live or die, who's afraid of whom? We're all people with a head on our shoulders. If I die, can you live? Your head isn't a scallion that can regrow."

The scene fell silent.

It became a battlefield where the Jia family's former mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law competed in crying and misery.

When you finish your part, I take the stage.

Everyone was trying to express their grievances as much as possible in words.

Strictly speaking.

Still, Jia Zhangshi is somewhat worse off—her fat, bulky body usually only moves a little when going to the toilet, but today An Jiahe chased her with a swinging cleaver for over ten meters.

It truly could be said to have taken Jia Zhangshi's life.

To say something without exaggeration.

Jia Zhangshi's pants were soaked from fright.

She had said something correct.

The mastermind behind this incident really is the unfilial former daughter‑in‑law Qin Huairu that Jia Zhangshi denounced in her words.

Once the scheme of borrowing a knife to kill succeeds.

Literal: "The plan of killing with a borrowed knife, once successful." Means: "Once the scheme of killing with a borrowed knife succeeds." We'll translate naturally: "Once the plot to kill using a borrowed knife succeeds."

The only one who ultimately profits is her, Qin Huiru.

"Finally, the only person who profits is her, Qin Huairu!" Could be: "In the end, the only one who benefits is her, Qin Huairu!" We'll output: "In the end, the only one who profits is her, Qin Huairu!"

However, due to various unforeseen circumstances, Qin Huiru's plan was not carried out perfectly—mainly because she didn't expect Liu Jianguo to show up today to discuss Yushui's marriage with Simple Zhu.

"But due to various mishaps, Qin Huairu's plan was not carried out perfectly; mainly because she didn't expect Liu Jianguo would come today to discuss Yushui's marriage with Shazhu." Let's translate: "However, due to various mishaps, Qin Huairu's plan was not perfectly executed; mainly because she hadn't anticipated that Liu Jianguo would come today to talk with Shazhu about Yushui's marriage."

By sheer chance, it gave Jia Zhangshi a slim hope of survival.

"Accidentally gave Jia Zhangshi a sliver of hope to live." Could be: "By sheer accident, this gave Jia Zhangshi a faint hope of survival." Let's translate: "By sheer accident, this gave Jia Zhangshi a faint hope of survival."

Anything.

"Anything." Probably fragment: "Anything." We'll translate: "Anything."

Once the initiative is lost.

"Once the initiative is lost." Could be: "Once the initiative is lost." We'll translate: "Once the initiative is lost."

Then there are no further remedial measures.

"Then there are no remedial measures." We'll translate: "Then there are no remedial measures left."

Qin Huiru, An Jiahe, Jia Zhangshi and the other involved parties were swiftly taken away by the street office; the exact punishment remained unclear to the courtyard's residents.

"Qin Huairu, An Jiahe, Jia Zhangshi and other involved personnel were quickly taken away by the subdistrict office; as for how they would be punished specifically, the neighbors inside the siheyuan were not clear." We'll translate: "Qin Huairu, An Jiahe, Jia Zhangshi and the other involved parties were quickly taken away by the subdistrict office; as for how they would be punished, the neighbors in the siheyuan had no idea."

However, rumors have begun to circulate.

"But rumors have spread." We'll translate: "However, rumors have begun to circulate."

After learning the full details, the street office staff sternly reprimanded Jia Zhangshi, saying that if she continued to be lazy and do nothing all day, even if it violated policy, they would send her to the countryside.

"Saying that after the subdistrict office personnel understood the full story, they harshly scolded Jia Zhangshi, bluntly stating that if Jia Zhangshi continued to be lazy and do nothing all day, even if it violated policy, they would send her to the countryside." Let's translate: "After the subdistrict office staff learned the full details, they sternly rebuked Jia Zhangshi, saying bluntly that if she remained lazy and idle all day, even if it went against policy, they would send her to the countryside."

In order to permanently put an end to Jia Zhangshi's parasitic lifestyle.

"In order to permanently eradicate Jia Zhangshi's continued parasitism!" We'll translate: "In order to permanently eradicate Jia Zhangshi's parasitic behavior!"

The street office assigned Jia Zhangshi the task of cleaning the toilets in its jurisdiction.

"The subdistrict office assigned the cleaning of the toilets in its jurisdiction to Jia Zhangshi." We'll translate: "The subdistrict office placed the responsibility for cleaning the toilets in its jurisdiction in Jia Zhangshi's hands."

Furthermore, a general meeting of the courtyard was held, where Jia Zhangshi, in front of all the neighbors, made a self-criticism and pledged to improve.

"Also held a general meeting in the siheyuan, letting Jia Zhangshi, in front of all the residents, publicly make a self-criticism and give assurances for the future." We'll translate: "Furthermore, a general meeting was held in the siheyuan, where Jia Zhangshi, in front of all the residents, publicly offered a self-criticism and pledged future conduct."

Qin Huiru and An Jiahe were both given a stern reprimand.

"Qin Huairu and An Jiahe were both given a stern talking-to." We'll translate: "Both Qin Huairu and An Jiahe received a stern lecture."

Both were given a stern warning.

"They were both given a stern warning." We'll translate: "Both were sternly warned."

If Qin Huiru resorts to underhanded tactics to swindle people's money and property again, she will face at least three years in prison.

"If Qin Huairu again uses despicable means to swindle people's money and property, she will face at least three years in prison." We'll translate: "If Qin Huairu resorts to underhanded tactics again to swindle people's money and property, she will face a minimum of three years."

The schemer is greedy.

"The scheming woman is greedy." We'll translate: "The scheming woman is greedy."

Yet she is not stupid.

"But she is not stupid." We'll translate: "But she is not stupid."

If she actually gets a three-year sentence, she essentially has no future.

"If it really means starting at three years, then I have no future at all." We'll translate: "If it really means a three‑year sentence, then I have no future whatsoever."

The reason she originally set the trap was that Jia Zhangshi had pressured her too harshly; the street office's strict order for Jia Zhangshi to fend for herself meant that the burden weighing on her was essentially gone.

"The reason she originally set the trap was that Jia Zhangshi had pressured her too harshly; the subdistrict office's strict order for Jia Zhangshi to fend for herself meant that the blood‑sucking burden weighing on her was gone." We'll translate: "The reason she originally set the trap was that Jia Zhangshi had pressured her too harshly; the subdistrict office's strict order for Jia Zhangshi to fend for herself meant that the blood‑sucking burden on her was gone."

By earning her own wages, she can support herself.

"Earning her own wages, she can support herself." We'll translate: "Earning her own wages, she can support herself."

She gave a solemn assurance to the street office and police comrades.

"She gave a solemn assurance to the comrades of the subdistrict office and the police station." We'll translate: "She gave a solemn assurance to the comrades of the subdistrict office and the police station."

An Jiahe was also given a basic legal education, learning that certain actions are forbidden and that committing them would cost him his life.

"An Jiahe was also given a basic education in relevant legal knowledge, understanding that some things must not be done, and if he did, he would pay with his life." We'll translate: "An Jiahe was also given a basic rundown of relevant legal knowledge, learning that some things must not be done, and if he did, he would pay with his life."

The couple did not divorce.

"The couple did not divorce." We'll translate: "The couple did not divorce."

However, according to unverified rumors from a spiritual informant in the courtyard, An Jiahe has been slapping Qin Huiru hard on the face every night lately.

"However, according to unverified rumors from a spiritual medium in the compound, it is said that during this period An Jiahe has been slapping Qin Huairu two big slaps every night." We'll translate: "However, according to unverified rumors from a spiritual medium in the compound, it is said that during this period An Jiahe has been slapping Qin Huairu twice every night."

As for why there was no sound of the slapping, or why Qin Huiru didn't seek help from the street office or police to stand up for her, it has become a great mystery.

"As for why there is no sound of the slapping, or why Qin Huairu hasn't sought help from the subdistrict office and police station to stand up for her, this has become a great mystery." We'll translate: "As for why there is no sign of the slapping, or why Qin Huairu hasn't turned to the subdistrict office and police station for help, this has become a great mystery."

Anyway, Simple Zhu accidentally ran into Qin Huiru while on the job, noticed a slight red swelling on her cheek, and before he could ask, she volunteered that it was from accidentally falling and bumping on the road.

"Anyway, Shazhu accidentally met Qin Huairu during work, noticed a slight red swelling on her cheek, and before he could ask, she volunteered that it was from accidentally falling and bumping on the road." We'll translate: "Anyway, Shazhu happened to run into Qin Huairu while on the job, saw a faint red swelling on her cheek, and before he could ask, she volunteered that she had simply tripped and bumped herself on the road."

No one else says anything.

"Others don't say." Probably meaning "No one says anything." We'll translate: "No one says anything."

Simple Zhu won't press further.

"Shazhu won't press further." We'll translate: "Shazhu won't press further."

The two families were originally in a relationship of never interacting until death.