Chapter 506: with translation of chapter title

You two little brats, I, the old woman, have said my piece; this beating of me is not over! I, the old woman, have been beaten by you; you keep hitting my butt, it hurts, you're shameless! You've beaten my Jia Zhangshi's butt into a pig's head! Let's go to the hospital now to get me treated!

Thus: "You two little rabbit bastards, I, the old woman, have laid down my words—this matter of you beating me, it's not over! I, the old woman, have been beaten by you, you specifically hit my buttocks, this hurts, ah, you're immoral! You've beaten Jia Zhangshi's buttocks into a pig's head! Let's go to the hospital now to see a doctor for me, the old woman!"

But need to be concise, not add. Let's translate literally:

"You two little rabbit bastards, I, the old woman, have laid down my words—this matter of you beating me, it's not over! I, the old woman, have been beaten by you, you specifically hit my buttocks, this hurts, ah, you're immoral! You've beaten Jia Zhangshi's buttocks into a pig's head! Let's go to the hospital now to see a doctor for me, the old woman!"

We need to keep the exclamation marks etc.

We'll output: 【1】 "You two little rabbit bastards, I, the old woman, have laid down my words—this matter of you beating me, it's not over! I, the old woman, have been beaten by you, you specifically hit my buttocks, this hurts, ah, you're immoral! You've beaten Jia Zhangshi's buttocks into a pig's head! Let's go to the hospital now to see a doctor for me, the old woman!"

You two little brats, I, the old woman, have said my piece; this beating of me is not over! I, the old woman, have been beaten by you; you keep hitting my butt, it hurts, you're shameless! You've beaten my Jia Zhangshi's butt into a pig's head! Let's go to the hospital now to get me treated!

We can translate "I, the old woman" as "I, the old woman" or "this old woman". Keep consistent.

Let's produce.

Cursing, Jia Zhangshi, supported by Qin Huairu and Bangeng, trembled as she stood opposite Weiguo and Baoguang, shouting that she wanted to go to the hospital for treatment.

Translate: Jia Zhangshi, scolding and muttering, with Qin Huairu and Bangeng supporting her, trembled as she stood opposite Weiguo and Baoguang, shouting that she wanted to go to the hospital to see a doctor.

But need to keep names: Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, Bangeng, Weiguo, Baoguang? Actually 衛國 is Weiguo? The glossary didn't list 衛國 or 保國 as names; they are likely personal names but not in glossary. However we must translate them as per rule: if not in glossary, we translate meaning? But they are personal names used as names; we should romanize them? The rule: Use Hanyu Pinyin ONLY for a person's actual NAME (人名 — including a nickname, childhood name, courtesy name, or epithet HABITUALLY USED as that person's name). So we need to romanize personal names not in glossary. The glossary only gave certain names; but we still need to translate other personal names using pinyin. So 衛國 -> Weiguo, 保國 -> Baoguang. However the glossary didn't list them; but we can still output pinyin. The instruction: "Use glossary names exactly as provided." For those not in glossary, we must romanize. So we will output Weiguo and Baoguang.

Thus line 2: "Jia Zhangshi, scolding and muttering, with Qin Huairu and Bangeng supporting her, trembled as she stood opposite Weiguo and Baoguang, shouting that she wanted to go to the hospital to see a doctor."

Cursing, Jia Zhangshi, supported by Qin Huairu and Bangeng, trembled as she stood opposite Weiguo and Baoguang, shouting that she wanted to go to the hospital for treatment.

We can translate: "Jia Zhangshi, cursing and muttering, with Qin Huairu and Bangeng supporting her, trembled as she stood opposite Weiguo and Baoguang, shouting that she wanted to go to the hospital to see a doctor."

Ok.

Seeing many neighbors around, all of them.

Seeing many neighbors around, all of them.

Seeing many neighbors around, all of them.

A hint of unnatural joy flashed in the heart.

Translate: "A hint of unnatural joy flashed in his heart."

But need to keep gender neutral? The subject is unspecified; we can use "one" or "he"? Since we don't know gender, we can use "one" or "they". But we can keep as "A hint of unnatural joy flashed in his/her heart." Better to keep neutral: "A hint of unnatural joy flashed in the heart." We'll output: "A hint of unnatural joy flashed in the heart."

She muttered to herself, this beating came just in time; she was worried about how to connect with Shuzhu, but Shuzhu's two sons promptly threw her to the ground and gave her a fierce beating.

Translate: "He/she muttered to himself/herself, 'This beating came just in time; I was worried about not knowing how to connect with Shazhu, but Shazhu's two sons immediately pressed her to the ground and gave her a fierce beating.'"

But need to keep quotes? We'll translate: "He/she muttered, 'This beating came just in time; I was worried about not knowing how to connect with Shazhu, but Shazhu's two sons immediately pressed her to the ground and gave her a fierce beating.'"

Sleepiness met the pillow.

Translate: "Sleepiness met the pillow." Actually idiom: "Sleepiness met the pillow" meaning "just in time". We'll translate: "Sleepiness met the pillow."

It came without effort.

It came easily.

Whether Shuzhu comes out or not, it's a situation where Jia Zhangshi profits.

Translate: "Whether Shazhu comes out or not, it's a situation where Jia Zhangshi profits."

I, the old woman, kindly invited You Fengxia over to eat roasted chicken, but you He family not only didn't appreciate it, you also used my old woman's buttocks as a sandbag to beat.

Translate: "I, the old woman, kindly invited You Fengxia over to eat roasted chicken, but you He family not only didn't appreciate it, you also used my old woman's buttocks as a sandbag to beat."

I, the old woman, kindly invited You Fengxia over to eat roasted chicken, but you He family not only didn't appreciate it, you also used my old woman's buttocks as a sandbag to beat.

Too bullying.

Translate: "Too bullying."

Not giving me, the old woman, a reasonable explanation.

Translate: "Not giving me, the old woman, a reasonable explanation."

I, the old woman, will

Translate: "I, the old woman, will surely make a fuss at the street office, ruining the reputation of your He family's sons, so you'll never be able to marry wives for your whole lives, ending your line."

Jia Zhangshi, thinking it obvious, let her gaze sweep over the He family twins' bodies and settle on Si Zhu's house.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi, taking it for granted in her heart, let her gaze leap over the bodies of the He family twins and look toward Shazhu's home."

Deep in her heart.

Translate: "Deep in her heart."

She actually hoped even more that Yu Fengxia would come out to smooth things over; Jia Zhangshi's aim was Yu Fengxia, and if Yu Fengxia appeared, she could take advantage of the moment when all the neighbors were around to raise again the idea of inviting Yu Fengxia to her home for stewed chicken, thereby getting a chance to bring Bangeng and Yu Fengxia closer.

Translate: "In fact, she hoped You Fengxia would come out to smooth things over; Jia Zhangshi's target was You Fengxia—if You Fengxia came out, she could take advantage of the opportunity when all the neighbors were present to once again bring up the matter of inviting You Fengxia to her home for roasted chicken, thereby drawing Bangeng closer to You Fengxia."

But we need to keep the meaning of "the neighbors' opportunity"; we will translate it as "she could take advantage of the opportunity when all the neighbors were present."

But she hadn't expected that Yu Fengxia and Si Zhu, as a couple, would be treated as invisible from beginning to end, while others confidently left the matter to their two sons to deal with.

Translate: "But she didn't expect that You Fengxia and Shazhu, as a couple, would remain invisible from start to finish, letting people boldly entrust the matter to their two sons to handle."

Jia Zhangshi's plot was foiled before she could even put it into action.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi's schemes hadn't even been carried out before they were completely ruined."

She paused for over a minute.

Translate: "He/she paused for over a minute."

When Yu Fengxia didn't appear, and Si Zhu and his wife also stayed inside, the He twins still didn't take her to the hospital, and the nearby neighbors just looked on as if watching a show.

Translate: "Seeing You Fengxia not come out, seeing Shazhu and his wife also not come out, the He twins still didn't send her to the hospital, and the surrounding neighbors again wore the look of spectators."

Jia Zhangshi raised her voice and shouted several times, calling out to Si Zhu from afar.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi shouted loudly several times, yelling at Shazhu from a distance."

"Si Zhu, your two sons are just as shameless as you—aren't you going to discipline them?"

Translate: "\"Shazhu, your two sons are just as unscrupulous as you—aren't you going to manage them? \""

"Old lady, you're asking the neighbors to decide who's the shameless one—is it us two brothers, or is it you Jia family folks?"

Translate: "\"Old lady, you let the neighbors judge—who's the unscrupulous one? Is it us brothers, or is it you Jia family people? \""

Being the eldest, Weiguo fired back without holding back.

Translate: "Weiguo, as the eldest, retorted without mercy."

As the younger brother, Baoguang looked on calmly.

Translate: "Baoguang, as the younger brother, watched the scene with a calm expression."

Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, Bangeng, and Huahua.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, Bangeng, Huaihua."

None of them are good.

Translate: "They are not good people."

No wonder his family forbids him from dealing with the Jia family; they're absolutely right—the Jia family are man‑eating monsters who leave no bones.

Translate: "No wonder the family doesn't let him associate with the Jia family—it's not wrong at all; the Jia family are man-eating beasts who don't spit out bones."

Especially this plump old woman Jia Zhangshi, who really looks like a mangy dog that eats dung, saw Bangeng's return and schemed to use him to plot against their young aunt.

Translate: "Especially Jia Zhangshi, this white and fat old woman, really resembles a mangy dog that eats feces; seeing Bangeng return, she wants to scheme through him against their family's young aunt."

That's all.

Translate: "Nothing else to say."

Given Bangeng's looks, he's hardly worthy of Yu Fengxia.

Translate: "Just look at Bangeng's appearance—he's nowhere near worthy of You Fengxia."

Moreover, bringing up the stewed chicken invitation is clearly an attempt to smear Yu Fengxia's reputation, leading the neighbors to mistakenly think Bangeng is involved with her.

Translate: "And yet he calls for eating roasted chicken, obviously intending to ruin You Fengxia's reputation, making the neighbors mistakenly think Bangeng has something to do with You Fengxia."

Today I've certainly learned something.

Translate: "Today really opened my eyes."

One can still be this shameless.

Translate: "One can still be this shameless as a person."

"Weiguo, you shameless little brat, how dare you talk to your elders like that? You're truly Si Zhu's good son!"

Translate: "\"Weiguo, you little scoundrel, how dare you speak to your elders like that? You're truly a good son of Shazhu! \""

Jia Zhangshi noticed that neither Si Zhu nor Yu Fengxia appeared, her plan ran into an unexpected snag, and she realized the neighbors had already seen through her excuse of inviting Yu Fengxia for stewed chicken.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi saw that Shazhu and You Fengxia didn't come out; the situation had changed beyond her plan, and she also knew the neighbors had already seen through her pretense of inviting You Fengxia to eat roasted chicken."

She knew she was at fault.

Translate: "She knew she was in the wrong."

She couldn't just cause a scene.

Translate: "She couldn't resort to causing a scene."

So she could only adopt the demeanor of an elder and accuse Si Zhu's two sons of not respecting their elders.

Translate: "So she could only put on the airs of an elder, blaming Shazhu's two sons for not knowing how to respect the elderly."

The crowd burst into an uproar; the courtyard was missing Yi Zhonghai, and then Jia Zhangshi appeared, her words being no different from how Yi Zhonghai used to manipulate everyone.

Translate: "The onlookers erupted in an uproar; the Siheyuan no longer had Yi Zhonghai, and then Jia Zhangshi popped up—her remarks were no different from Yi Zhonghai's earlier tactics of manipulating the crowd."

"I'm my father's son, so I naturally take after him—unlike certain people!"

Translate: "\"I am my father's son, naturally I resemble my father, not like certain people! \""

Twelve‑ or thirteen‑year‑old Baoguang.

Translate: "Twelve or thirteen-year-old Baoguang."

He developed a sharp tongue.

Translate: "He had grown a sharp tongue."

A few words.

Translate: "A few words."

The provocation drove Jia Zhangshi nearly mad.

Translate: "The stimulation made Jia Zhangshi almost go crazy."

Yet they said nothing, instead doing everything they could to let you guess how things would turn out.

Translate: "Yet they said nothing, instead trying to let you guess the final outcome as much as possible."

Most of the neighbors in the courtyard knew about that past incident between the Jia and Yi families.

Translate: "Most of the neighbors in the courtyard knew about that little matter between the Jia family and the Yi family back then."

Such as Yi Zhonghai giving Jia Dongxu a green hat, or Jia Zhangshi suspecting Qin Huairu of having an affair with Yi Zhonghai and deliberately shoving Qin Huairu to cause a miscarriage.

Translate: "For example, Yi Zhonghai gave Jia Dongxu a green hat; another example: Jia Zhangshi suspected Qin Huairu of having an affair with Yi Zhonghai, deliberately shoved Qin Huairu causing a miscarriage, etc."

Every face broke into a mocking, playful look as they gazed at Jia Zhangshi and the others, finally settling on Baoguang He.

Translate: "Every face squeezed out a playful, mocking expression; they looked at Jia Zhangshi and the others, finally fixing their gaze on He Baoguang."

A twelve‑ or thirteen‑year‑old boy, whose hair hasn't even fully grown in, yet he's developed a sharp tongue that won't let anyone off the hook.

Translate: "A twelve or thirteen-year-old kid, with hair not fully grown, yet he had grown such a sharp tongue that brooks no nonsense."

And indeed, the newcomer prevails.

Translate: "Indeed, a newcomer has come out on top."

After a few sharp retorts, Jia Zhangshi didn't know what to say; the old woman stared at Baoguang and blurted, "What are you saying?"

Translate: "After a few sharp retorts, Jia Zhangshi didn't know what to say; Laoqianpo looked at Baoguang and foolishly blurted out, \"What did you say? \""

"It's not what I'm saying—it's what you want to do."

Translate: "\"It's not about what I said? It's about what you want to do? \""

Baoguang's questioning.

Translate: "Baoguang's questioning."

It made Jia Zhangshi shudder all over.

Translate: "It made Jia Zhangshi tremble all over."

Seeing Baoguang, who is far younger than her, made her teeth itch with anger.

Translate: "Looking at Baoguang, who is many years younger than her, she felt her teeth itch with anger."

"I had Huahua call Xianghong over for stewed chicken—what's the issue? This is also a kind gesture from this old woman, thinking that since our two families haven't interacted in ages, maybe inviting Xianghong to my house for stewed chicken could improve our relations."

Translate: "\"I had Huaihua call Xianghong to eat roasted chicken—what's wrong? This is also my old woman's goodwill, thinking that our two families have had no contact for so long; I wanted to see if inviting Xianghong to our home for roasted chicken could ease relations between our two families. \""

Jia Zhangshi meant well, but you He family folks don't appreciate it, which makes you angry.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi appeared well-intentioned, but you He family people didn't appreciate it, which made her angry."

"We haven't seen each other in years—keeping our heads down and not looking up. I don't know exactly what I did to offend your He family, but I thought we should settle our grudge, not prolong it. Bangeng has returned, he's the same age as Xianghong, they have something to talk about, yet I didn't expect your He family to ignore us Jia folks. Huahua shouted for so long, yet there was no reply—do you He family folks think you're superior to us Jia people?"

Translate: "\"We haven't seen each other for years—low head, not seeing high head. Over these many years of no contact, where exactly did we offend your He family? I, the old woman, don't know, but I thought grievances should be resolved, not deepened. Bangeng has returned, he's the same age as Xianghong, they have topics to talk about; I didn't expect your He family people to ignore our Jia family. Huaihua shouted for so long, yet there was no response—do you He family people think you're a head above our Jia family? \""

"It's not that we think we're superior to you Jia people; we look down on you Jia people. Do you really think the neighbors don't know what kind of conduct you Jia people have?"

Translate: "\"It's not that we think we're a head above your Jia family; it's that we look down on your Jia family. Do you really think the neighbors don't know your Jia family's conduct? \""

He Baoguo started speaking with a small mouth.

"Xiang Hong is my aunt; what relation do we have with your Jia family? What right do you have to call my aunt to your house to eat roast chicken? Do you really think our He family lacks that one roast chicken from your Jia family? You insist that my aunt already has a job, and our siheyuan still has so many rooms; Bangeng has become a heartless husband who abandons his wife, divorced the widow's daughter-in-law, left her in the countryside while he alone ran back to the city to enjoy blessings, and now you're looking for someone to help."

The neighbors all nodded in agreement.

Jia Zhangshi's scheme.

He saw through it at a glance.

It's just unclear whether these words were taught by Shazhu or figured out by He Baoguo himself; if the former, it's still understandable, but if the latter, it's too brilliant.

"Calling my aunt to eat roast chicken, why shout so loudly? And you kept shouting, afraid no one would hear?" He Baoguo's gaze fell on Huaihua. "Huaihua, I don't believe you don't know what Jia Zhangshi is up to by having you shout for my aunt to eat roast chicken; you know it, yet you deliberately shout loudly. To you, Bangeng and Jia Zhangshi are your Jia family, but do you deserve my aunt's care over this period? One must have conscience; you have none! Your Jia family has none!"

Huaihua's mind.

With a buzz, the pot exploded.

She looked at the child in front of her, who was several years younger.

A hint of bitterness.

It welled up in her heart.

"Jia Zhangshi, I'm laying down the words: my aunt has no interest in your Bangeng, and your Bangeng is not worthy of my aunt; he's already a heartless husband who abandons his wife, yet you still daydream, thinking that if you ruin my aunt's reputation, no one will want her—you've blinded your dog eyes, Jia Zhangshi! Don't even think of scheming for our house through my aunt."

Jia Zhangshi was completely stunned.

In her heart,

Her own scheme was a scheme.

But it shouldn't be so obvious.

A few words from He Baoguo scolded Jia Zhangshi into a complete fool!

"Today I broke two panes of your glass; if you dare again to harm my aunt's reputation, my brother and I may not be a match for your Jia family, but there are many kind-hearted neighbors in the courtyard who won't stand by and watch your Jia family do evil—then it won't just be about breaking two panes of your glass."

Other neighbors were still dazed.

Wang Yaxiong and those neighbors who had feelings for You Fengxia, their minds already active, wanted to play the hero rescuing the beauty.

While voicing their support for He Baoguo, they also demonstrated their strong bodies by slapping their chests, giving You Fengxia a reassuring pill.

You Fengxia did not come out.

But their words would surely reach You Fengxia's ears, you saying this, I saying that, earnestly declaring they would protect You Fengxia from harm by the Jia family.

Moreover, some neighbors simply severed ties with the Jia family; having such neighbors, they all felt ill-fated, and some even cursed Liu Guangtian in their hearts—if it weren't for Liu Guangtian striking Jia Zhangshi and being swindled out of several hundred dollars by her, the Jia family would have long been driven out of the siheyuan by them, and they wouldn't feel so disgusted.

Two fists can't fight four hands.

Seeing the neighbors all standing with the He family, realizing the dispute was escalating and she would suffer, Jia Zhangshi also extinguished the idea of arguing with the He family.

She won.

Being beaten, many neighbors were eager to try, some even clenching their fists.

She lost.

Her reputation damaged, they said Jia Zhangshi had the outlook of a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old child, embarrassing; they guessed Bangeng would find it even harder to marry.

Just accept the loss.

Jia Zhangshi was about to say something nice when she heard a "ka-cha" sound in her ear, followed immediately by the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.

When Jia Zhangshi turned her head,

she discovered that the glass of their Jia family had been smashed by some divine person taking the opportunity.

The glass broken by the He family boy, Jia Zhangshi didn't care, prepared to accept her loss, but then another pane was smashed—there went the money for buying glass, there went the ticket for buying glass.

In an instant, it crushed Jia Zhangshi.

She had paid the price but accomplished nothing, and the Jia family became a famous joke in the siheyuan.

The outcome of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice.

Indeed, there was no way for Jia Zhangshi to accept it.

She shouted a cry of wailing to heaven and earth, then went crazy, shoving the crowd, saying the neighbors couldn't stand to see the Jia family do well, secretly smashing the Jia family's glass, cursing whoever smashed the glass to have no good end, that they would die and be buried in the ground, shouting for Old Jia and Little Jia to hurry up and come uphold justice for Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi's performance amused the crowd; as they frolicked, they were also puzzled, wondering who had smashed the glass.

They felt a bit uneasy inside.

Why could others think of it, but they couldn't?

Now they had been reminded, but they also had no chance to keep smashing the Jia family's glass; they wondered when Jia Zhangshi would stage this self-inflicted suffering play, so they could imitate her and break a few panes of the Jia family's glass.

As their thoughts wandered,

Huaihua's shout broke the silence of the crowd.

"Grandma, our roast chicken is gone."

Jia Zhangshi hadn't eaten roast chicken for several months; if it weren't for Bangeng coming back, she wouldn't even want to spend money to buy it, and this roast chicken carried many of her emotions.

Upon hearing that the roast chicken was gone,

Jia Zhangshi had no time to act shrewish, ignoring her bodily pain, she rushed off toward the Jia family.

Her body had just entered the door.

Her gaze immediately turned to the dining table.

Everything was just as Huaihua had shouted: that roast chicken bought for over three yuan had truly vanished; she made a move to collapse to the ground, but not knowing what she had thought of, midway she forcibly stopped herself from sitting down, turned and ran out of the Jia house, shouting at the crowd of onlookers before her.

"You compensate me for my roast chicken."

The neighbors who had originally come over to watch the show, upon hearing Jia Zhangshi's shameless tone, all felt a nauseous disgust, as if swallowing dead flies.

We will compensate you for your roast chicken.

On what basis?

At that point, everyone present—who knew they had stolen your Jia family's roast chicken? They also had no opportunity to steal it.

Suddenly, they felt uneasy inside.

This brother is also a tough guy; not only did he secretly smash the Jia family's glass, but he also took the roast chicken along—this is grabbing the Jia family's sheep and pulling its wool hard.

Good fellow.

Can only say good fellow.

Looks like they took the blame for someone.

Wait.

It's Jia Zhangshi who can't do anything about them.

The leader, Yan Fugui, with a serious face, told Jia Zhangshi: "Bangeng grandma, you say that, how are we supposed to compensate you for the chicken?"

Some people behind him.

They followed along, echoing.

"Saying that, it's utterly unreasonable."

"Why won't you compensate me for my wife's chicken? My wife saved up for months to buy this chicken, and now it's gone—what right do you have not to compensate?"

"What right do I have to compensate?"

"Just because we lost the chicken."

"If your family lost the chicken, we should compensate; should we also compensate for the things we lost before, like this cabbage heart, this carrot, this big-head vegetable?"

"What does that have to do with us?"

"How is it unrelated? In the Siheyuan, all the neighbors know it's the Jia Family that has this petty thief problem—if not you, who else would we blame?"

"Jia Zhangshi, your family lost the chicken—what does that have to do with us? We didn't steal your chicken; Bangeng came back, you bought the chicken, and it's still gone—go ask Bangeng for it."

Jia Zhangshi glared at the man who was speaking.

Bangeng has already acquired the reputation of Chen Shimei.

If he gains another reputation for stealing.

Will he still be able to live?

Now, just as Bangeng is about to become a cadre at the Yagangchang, spreading such a reputation would ruin his future.

"What's wrong with Bangeng then?"

"Bangeng has always had this petty thief habit; he came back, your chicken went missing—obviously he stole it. As a child, he even stole Xu Daming's old hen and roasted it to eat."