Chapter 386

Shazhu saw through Yan Fugui's petty thoughts.

Literal: Shazhu who saw through Yan Fugui's little thoughts. So translation: "Shazhu saw through Yan Fugui's little thoughts." Keep as one line.

He pretended not to have seen.

He pretended not to have seen.

As a father of two, he felt the responsibility of fatherhood through his children.

"He, a father of two children, experienced that sense of responsibility from being a father through the children." Actually: "He, who has a son and daughter, felt the responsibility of being a father from the children." Let's translate: "As a father of a son and daughter, he felt the responsibility of parenthood from his children." Keep concise.

It truly comes from the heart.

"It truly came from the depths of his bones." Or "It truly came from his very bones." We'll translate: "It truly came from the depths of his bones."

He won't hit Yan Jiecheng.

"He would not hit Yan Jiecheng." Keep.

He just wanted to make the facts clear.

"He merely wanted to clarify the facts." Or "He just wanted to make clear some facts." We'll translate: "He merely wanted to clarify the facts."

That's all.

"That's all." Or "Just that." We'll translate: "That's all."

If Yan Jiecheng can't see through the situation, can't tell the difference between the big and small kings, and insists on competing with Shazhu, Shazhu will really let him taste the might of his iron fist.

If Yan Jiecheng couldn't see through the situation, couldn't tell the difference between the big and small kings, and insisted on competing with Shazhu, Shazhu would really let him feel the power of his iron fist.

His gaze fixed on Yan Jiecheng, his tone very calm.

His gaze fixed on Yan Jiecheng, his tone very calm.

"I came back late, I don't know why you're making a fuss, but I heard some neighbors' talk and roughly understood the situation: the cause is that you, Yan Jiecheng, wrote two complaint letters against me. Many neighbors work at the steel mill, and they know what happened there today. Because of your two complaint letters, I can't even hold the position of cafeteria chief; now I work as a custodian in Warehouse No. 4. Yan Jiecheng, no matter how great your resentment, you should let it go."

"I came back late, I don't know why you're making a fuss, but I heard some neighbors' talk and roughly understood the situation: the cause is that you, Yan Jiecheng, wrote two complaint letters against me. Many neighbors work at Yagangchang, and they know what happened there today. Because of your two complaint letters, I can't even hold the position of cafeteria chief; now I work as a custodian in Sihuocangku. Yan Jiecheng, no matter how great your resentment, you should let it go."

Special period.

"Special period." We'll translate: "Special period."

Should be treated with caution.

"Must be handled with caution." We'll translate: "Must be handled with caution."

"Shazhu, you really aren't the cafeteria chief anymore?"

"\"Shazhu, you really are no longer the cafeteria chief? \"" We'll translate: "\"Shazhu, you really are no longer the cafeteria chief? \""

Just Yan Fugui's tone full of surprise.

Just Yan Fugui's tone full of surprise.

Then you can tell he doesn't really believe it.

"Then you could tell he didn't really believe it." We'll translate: "Then you could tell he didn't really believe it."

The power of the complaint letter.

"The power of the complaint letters." We'll translate: "The power of the complaint letters."

Is it really that big?

"Is it that big?" We'll translate: "Is it that big?"

Shazhu's influence at the steel mill is known even to steelworker Yan Fugui; backed by Deputy Factory Chief Li, who holds absolute authority, he can get whatever he wants.

"Shazhu's influence at Yagangchang is known even to Yan Fugui, a worker there; backed by the decisive Deputy Factory Director Li, he gets whatever he wants—wind if he wants wind, rain if he wants rain." Need to keep meaning. We'll translate: "Shazhu's influence at Yagangchang is known even to Yan Fugui, a worker there; backed by the decisive Deputy Factory Director Li, he gets whatever he wants—wind if he wants wind, rain if he wants rain."

He is truly the one who stands under one and above ten thousand.

He is truly the one who stands under one and above ten thousand.

But that's exactly who he is.

"But he is exactly such a person." We'll translate: "But he is exactly such a person."

Because of his son's two complaint letters, he went from being the cafeteria chief who fed thousands to a warehouse custodian, shocking some people to the point of dropping their jaws.

"Because of his son's two complaint letters, he went from being the cafeteria chief responsible for feeding ten thousand people to a warehouse custodian, shocking some people to the point of dropping their teeth." We'll translate: "Because of his son's two complaint letters, he went from being the cafeteria chief responsible for feeding ten thousand people to a warehouse custodian, shocking some people to the point of dropping their teeth."

Not to mention Yan Fugui.

"Not to mention Yan Fugui." We'll translate: "Not to mention Yan Fugui."

Now many steel mill workers still haven't recovered from this news.

"Now many Yagangchang workers still haven't come to their senses from this news." We'll translate: "Now many Yagangchang workers still haven't come to their senses from this news."

Overall, it feels a bit unrealistic.

"Always feeling a bit unrealistic." We'll translate: "Always feeling a bit unrealistic."

Is it because Shazhu's problem is too serious?

"Is it that Shazhu's problem is too serious?" We'll translate: "Is it that Shazhu's problem is too serious?"

Or has a rift arisen between Deputy Factory Chief Li and Shazhu?

"Or has a rift appeared between Deputy Factory Director Li and Shazhu?" We'll translate: "Or has a rift appeared between Deputy Factory Director Li and Shazhu?"

Given their relationship, Shazhu shouldn't have been directly demoted.

"Given their relationship, Shazhu shouldn't have been directly demoted." We'll translate: "Given their relationship, Shazhu shouldn't have been directly demoted."

"Shazhu, Third Uncle is timid; don't scare him. Are you really quitting as cafeteria chief? Are you really going to work as a custodian?"

"\"Shazhu, San Daye is timid; don't scare him. Is it really true that you're no longer the cafeteria chief? Have you really gone to work as a custodian? \"\" We'll translate: "\"Shazhu, San Daye is timid; don't scare him. Is it really true that you're no longer the cafeteria chief? Have you really gone to work as a custodian? \""

"Third Uncle, if you don't believe me, you should at least believe the neighbors; Second Uncle is here too, ask him."

"\"San Daye, you don't believe me, but you should at least believe the neighbors; Er Daye is here too, go ask him. \"" We'll translate: "\"San Daye, you don't believe me, but you should at least believe the neighbors; Er Daye is here too, go ask him. \""

"Old Yan, Shazhu really is working as a custodian."

"\"Old Yan, Shazhu really has become a custodian. \"" We'll translate: "\"Old Yan, Shazhu really has become a custodian. \""

Liu Haizhong took the opportunity to show off his presence.

"Liu Haizhong took the opportunity to show off his presence." We'll translate: "Liu Haizhong took the opportunity to show off his presence."

His heart inexplicably felt a bit more balanced.

"He inexplicably felt a bit balanced in his heart." We'll translate: "He inexplicably felt a bit balanced in his heart."

The Liu and Yan families have finally evened out.

"The Liu and Yan families have finally evened out." We'll translate: "The Liu and Yan families have finally evened out."

"Shazhu, Third Uncle is sorry; it's all his fault for making you lose the cafeteria chief position for nothing; Third Uncle apologizes."

"\"Shazhu, San Daye is sorry to you; this is all San Daye's fault, causing you to lose the cafeteria chief position for nothing; San Daye apologizes to you. \"" We'll translate: "\"Shazhu, San Daye is sorry to you; this is all San Daye's fault, causing you to lose the cafeteria chief position for nothing; San Daye apologizes to you. \""

What Shazhu wants is not Yan Fugui's apology.

"What Shazhu wants is not Yan Fugui's apology." We'll translate: "What Shazhu wants is not Yan Fugui's apology."

It's Yan Jiecheng's apology.

"It is Yan Jiecheng's apology." We'll translate: "It is Yan Jiecheng's apology."

He waved his hand.

"He waved his hand." We'll translate: "He waved his hand."

"Third Uncle, whether you apologize or not isn't important; I just want to ask Yan Jiecheng: after being stripped of the cafeteria chief position, has his anger subsided?"

"\"San Daye, whether or not you apologize isn't important; I just want to ask Yan Jiecheng whether his anger has subsided after I was removed from the cafeteria chief position. \"" We'll translate: "\"San Daye, whether or not you apologize isn't important; I just want to ask Yan Jiecheng whether his anger has subsided after I was removed from the cafeteria chief position. \""

"It's gone."

"\"It's gone. \"" We'll translate: "\"It's gone. \""

"Third Uncle, what you say doesn't count; it's up to your son to answer. If he still holds anger, let him beat me in front of the neighbors—I promise not to talk back or fight back."

"\"San Daye, what you say doesn't count; it's up to your son to answer. If he still harbors anger, in front of the neighbors he can beat me up, and I promise not to talk back or fight back. \"" We'll translate: "\"San Daye, what you say doesn't count; it's up to your son to answer. If he still harbors anger, in front of the neighbors he can beat me up, and I promise not to talk back or fight back. \""

"Shazhu, where are you going with this? In a courtyard, neighbors never hold grudges overnight."

"\"Shazhu, where are you going with this? In a courtyard, neighbors never hold grudges overnight. \"" We'll translate: "\"Shazhu, where are you going with this? In a courtyard, neighbors never hold grudges overnight. \""

"Since there are no overnight grudges, let my issue with Yan Jiecheng end here. You guarantee that from now on, Yan Jiecheng will stop teasing my wife Yu Li; he may be shameless, but my wife still deserves respect."

"\"Since there are no overnight grudges, then my matter with Yan Jiecheng is settled; you guarantee that from now on, Yan Jiecheng will stop teasing my wife Yu Li, he's shameless, but my wife still cares about her reputation. \"" We'll translate: "\"Since there are no overnight grudges, then my matter with Yan Jiecheng is settled; you guarantee that from now on, Yan Jiecheng will stop teasing my wife Yu Li, he's shameless, but my wife still cares about her reputation. \""

Yan Jiecheng opposite remained motionless, like a wooden person.

"Opposite him, Yan Jiecheng remained motionless like a wooden person." We'll translate: "Opposite him, Yan Jiecheng remained motionless like a wooden person."

Finally, there was a response.

"Finally, there was a response." We'll translate: "Finally, there was a response."

Looking at Shazhu.

"Looking at Shazhu." We'll translate: "Looking at Shazhu."

A smile uglier than crying appeared on his face.

"A smile worse than crying appeared on his face." We'll translate: "A smile worse than crying appeared on his face."

But in his gaze,

"But in his gaze," We'll translate: "But in his gaze,"

there still lingered a chill.

"yet still exuded a chill." We'll translate: "yet still exuded a chill."

As for this,

"Regarding this," We'll translate: "Regarding this,"

Shazhu also felt helpless; he discovered that this lifetime's Yan Jiecheng oddly resembles his past self—both have become sycophants.

"Shazhu also felt helpless; he discovered that this lifetime's Yan Jiecheng inexplicably resembled his past self, both having become sycophants." We'll translate: "Shazhu also felt helpless; he discovered that this lifetime's Yan Jiecheng inexplicably resembled his past self, both having become sycophants."

In his previous life, Shazhu was a sycophant for Qin Huiru; for her sake he even ignored his own sister He Yushui, ultimately meeting a deathly demise.

"In his previous life, Shazhu was a sycophant for Qin Huairu; for her sake he even ignored his own sister He Yushui, ultimately ending up dead and vanished." We'll translate: "In his previous life, Shazhu was a sycophant for Qin Huairu; for her sake he even ignored his own sister He Yushui, ultimately ending up dead and vanished."

In this lifetime, Yan Jiecheng, having accidentally glimpsed Yu Li on the street, fell madly in love with a girl who had no idea who he was.

"In this lifetime, Yan Jiecheng, having accidentally glimpsed Yu Li on the street, fell madly in love with that girl who had no idea who Yan Jiecheng was or even that Yan Jiecheng existed." We'll translate: "In this lifetime, Yan Jiecheng, having accidentally glimpsed Yu Li on the street, fell madly in love with that girl who had no idea who Yan Jiecheng was or even that Yan Jiecheng existed."

Ultimately, the marriage proposal failed.

"Ultimately, the marriage proposal came to nothing." We'll translate: "Ultimately, the marriage proposal came to nothing."

He vented his anger on Shazhu.

"He vented his anger on Shazhu." We'll translate: "He vented his anger on Shazhu."

He believed that his failure to marry Yu Li was entirely Shazhu's fault.

"He believed that his failure to marry Yu Li was entirely Shazhu's fault." We'll translate: "He believed that his failure to marry Yu Li was entirely Shazhu's fault."

Damn it!

"Damn it!" We'll translate: "Damn it!"

It seems the courtyard has a hereditary tendency to produce sycophants.

"It seems the siheyuan has a hereditary tendency to produce sycophants." We'll translate: "It seems the siheyuan has a hereditary tendency to produce sycophants."

Who will it be in the next generation?

"Who will it be in the next next lifetime?" We'll translate: "Who will it be in the next next lifetime?"

"Yan Jiecheng, I'll say the unpleasant truth up front, and the neighbors will vouch for me: when I met my wife, she had never even heard of you, Yan Jiecheng. I courted and became engaged to my wife Yu Li, but because you, Yan Jiecheng, saw her once on the road and then begged Third Uncle to have a matchmaker propose marriage, you cut in line. Still, if you dare to bring up my wife's reputation again, don't blame me for disregarding neighborly loyalty—I will go to the street office to ask what crime it is to ruin someone's marriage."

"\"Yan Jiecheng, let me say the unpleasant things up front, the neighbors will also bear witness for me: when I met my wife, she said she had never even heard of you, Yan Jiecheng; I courted and became engaged to my wife Yu Li, all because you, Yan Jiecheng, caught a glimpse of her on the road and then begged San Daye to have a matchmaker propose marriage—this is you cutting in line, or as the saying goes, if you again use my wife's reputation to cause trouble, don't blame me for disregarding neighborly affection; I will go to the Jiēdào to ask what crime it is to ruin someone's marriage. \"" We'll translate: "\"Yan Jiecheng, let me say the unpleasant things up front, the neighbors will also bear witness for me: when I met my wife, she said she had never even heard of you, Yan Jiecheng; I courted and became engaged to my wife Yu Li, all because you, Yan Jiecheng, caught a glimpse of her on the road and then begged San Daye to have a matchmaker propose marriage—this is you cutting in line, or as the saying goes, if you again use my wife's reputation to cause trouble, don't blame me for disregarding neighborly affection; I will go to the Jiēdào to ask what crime it is to ruin someone's marriage. \""

Yan Jiecheng's calm face.

There was a change.

Perhaps it was because Shazhu's last words put pressure on him.

A faint trace of panic appeared on his face.

Yan Fugui saw that the situation was not good.

He gave a glance to the second and third brothers; Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang stepped up to Yan Jiecheng, one grabbing his left arm, the other pulling his right arm, and forcibly dragged Yan Jiecheng into his own home.

Third Aunt sat collapsed on the ground.

Not knowing if it was because the stone in her heart had fallen, she actually began to weep over her miserable fate.

"Heavens, what sin have I committed? How did I give birth to such a bastard son, driving my daughter-in-law away by force?"

Only then did Shazhu learn that Ran Qiuye had been driven away.

He didn't think much about it.

He mistakenly thought that after a while...

Wait for the anger to subside.

Then he would come back.

But after the whistleblower incident, for over ten days straight he never saw Ran Qiuye in the courtyard; hearing rumors from the neighbors, he learned that Ran Qiuye was unhappy about being a stand-in for Yu Li, had someone send a divorce agreement, wanting to divorce Yan Jiecheng, and Yan Jiecheng and Third Aunt were searching all over the capital for Ran Qiuye.

Self-inflicted doom.

Unfit to live.

Deserved.

Compared to the Yan family.

Shazhu's daily life was undoubtedly much more stable; every day he went to work sorting scrap, after work he returned to his parents-in-law's house, helped cook for Yu Li, or else washed his beloved daughter's diapers.

He couldn't bring himself to tell Yu Li that he had been demoted to a custodian.

He held the mindset of concealing it for as long as he could, waiting until the truth was discovered before telling his wife.

During this time, Liu Haizhong...

He became a prominent figure at the Yagangchang who succeeded Shazhu.

Every day he did things like settling accounts and making arrests.

His methods were relatively harsh.

Perhaps inspired by the idea of 'killing a chicken to scare the monkeys,' Liu Haizhong used the Siheyuan as a pilot, directly taking down several neighbors who had a good relationship with him.

That's why.

Many people cursed Liu Haizhong's eight generations of ancestors behind his back, saying he had done too many wicked deeds and would eventually fall flat on his face; however, Liu Haizhong didn't care, and even those who had previously beaten him, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, were gradually leaning toward him.