Chapter 513

【4】

The neighbors criticized Qin Huairu's words.

It extinguished the scheming woman's last illusion.

It extinguished the last trace of illusion of the scheming woman.

【8】

We need to parse: "Seeing the neighbors before her, filled with righteous indignation and occupying the moral high ground, constantly blaming her, how could Qin Huairu not understand her current situation?" So translation: "Seeing the neighbors before her, filled with righteous indignation and occupying the moral high ground, constantly blaming her, how could Qin Huairu not understand her current situation?"

She suddenly realized she had fallen into Shazhu's trap and understood why he had slapped Bangeng in front of everyone.

"She suddenly came to a realization, realizing she seemed to have fallen into Shazhu's trap, knowing why Shazhu would slap Bangeng in public." So: "She suddenly came to a realization, realizing she seemed to have fallen into Shazhu's trap, knowing why Shazhu would slap Bangeng in public."

【12】

"She also understood what Shazhu's follow-up move was." So: "She also understood what Shazhu's follow-up move was."

Shazhu's justification for beating Bangeng was the five-fingerprint on Jia Zhangshi's face.

"Shazhu's basis for violently beating Bangeng was the five-fingerprint on Jia Zhangshi's face." So: "Shazhu's basis for violently beating Bangeng was the five-fingerprint on Jia Zhangshi's face."

【16】

"That slap just now, Bangeng struck with great force, clearly imprinting a large palm print on Jia Zhangshi's cheek; this is the evidence that Bangeng hit Jia Zhangshi." So: "That slap just now, Bangeng struck with great force, clearly imprinting a large palm print on Jia Zhangshi's cheek; this is the evidence that Bangeng hit Jia Zhangshi."

Since men's and women's hands differ in size, comparing the size of the slap mark on Jia Zhangshi's face reveals who lied and who didn't.

"Men's hands differ in size from women's; by comparing the large palm print on Jia Zhangshi's face, one can tell who lied and who didn't." So: "Men's hands differ in size from women's; by comparing the large palm print on Jia Zhangshi's face, one can tell who lied and who didn't."

【20】

"The fact that Bangeng beat Jia Zhangshi leaves no room for Qin Huairu and Bangeng to deny." So: "The fact that Bangeng beat Jia Zhangshi leaves no room for Qin Huairu and Bangeng to deny."

Just thinking that besides the reputation of Chen Shimei, Bangeng would also gain the nickname of a beast who beats his own grandmother.

"Thinking that besides the reputation of Chen Shimei, Bangeng would also gain the nickname of a beast who beats his own grandmother." So: "Thinking that besides the reputation of Chen Shimei, Bangeng would also gain the nickname of a beast who beats his own grandmother."

【24】

"Qin Huairu even felt like dying." So: "Qin Huairu even felt like dying."

The plan collapsed.

"The plan collapsed." So: "The plan collapsed."

【28】

"The plan to frame Jia Zhangshi with a feces-filled chamber pot to drive her away, under Shazhu's intervention, has already reached the brink of collapse." So: "The plan to frame Jia Zhangshi with a feces-filled chamber pot to drive her away, under Shazhu's intervention, has already reached the brink of collapse."

The current plan is.

The current plan is.

【32】

"It is not to stubbornly insist that Bangeng didn't hit Jia Zhangshi, or to persist that Jia Zhangshi slapped herself, but to try to turn the bad thing into a good thing as much as possible." So: "It is not to stubbornly insist that Bangeng didn't hit Jia Zhangshi, or to persist that Jia Zhangshi slapped herself, but to try to turn the bad thing into a good thing as much as possible."

That is, to smooth things over.

"That is, to smooth things over." So: "That is, to smooth things over."

【36】

"We must not let Bangeng acquire another reputation for being unfilial by beating his grandmother." So: "We must not let Bangeng acquire another reputation for being unfilial by beating his grandmother."

Although Jia Zhangshi was at fault in many respects, she treated Bangeng well, doting on him from childhood; when Bangeng brought back stolen goods, she even helped him cover up.

"Although Jia Zhangshi is wrong in many ways, she treats Bangeng well; she has doted on him since childhood, and when Bangeng brings back stolen goods, she even helps him cover up." So: "Although Jia Zhangshi is wrong in many ways, she treats Bangeng well; she has doted on him since childhood, and when Bangeng brings back stolen goods, she even helps him cover up."

【40】

"This is a fact recognized by all the neighbors." So: "This is a fact recognized by all the neighbors."

When reputation is everything, hitting your own grandmother is wrong; if it gets out, the neighbors will stab Bangeng in the back.

"In a time when reputation outweighs heaven, if you strike your own grandmother, that is wrong; once it spreads, Bangeng will be stabbed in the spine by the neighbors." So: "In a time when reputation outweighs heaven, if you strike your own grandmother, that is wrong; once it spreads, Bangeng will be stabbed in the spine by the neighbors."

【44】

"Qin Huairu, in her anxiety, will also suffer misfortune; after all, she just kept insisting that Jia Zhangshi framed Bangeng with a feces-filled chamber pot, and if the matter is escalated, her accomplice guilt cannot be escaped." So: "Qin Huairu, in her anxiety, will also suffer misfortune; after all, she just kept insisting that Jia Zhangshi framed Bangeng with a feces-filled chamber pot, and if the matter is escalated, her accomplice guilt cannot be escaped."

Qin Huairu opened her mouth, about to say a few words.

"Qin Huairu opened her mouth, about to say a few words." So: "Qin Huairu opened her mouth, about to say a few words."

【48】

"Shazhu seized the initiative once again." So: "Shazhu seized the initiative once again."

You scheming woman, you damn well want to whitewash Bangeng—forget it.

"Scheming woman, you damn well think you can whitewash Bangeng? Give up that idea." So: "Scheming woman, you damn well think you can whitewash Bangeng? Give up that idea."

【52】

"Shazhu pointed to the five-fingerprint on Jia Zhangshi's cheek and began to explain to the crowd." So: "Shazhu pointed to the five-fingerprint on Jia Zhangshi's cheek and began to explain to the crowd."

"Qin Huairu, Bangeng, you just claimed Jia Zhangshi slapped herself, then said Bangeng slapped her; look at Jia Zhangshi's five-fingerprint, neighbors—you can see who's right."

Quote: "Qin Huairu, Bangeng, you just said Jia Damama slapped herself, then told the neighbors that Bangeng whipped her a slap; neighbors, all look, look at Jia Damama's five-fingerprint on her face, right or wrong, I believe the neighbors present have seen it clearly." So translation: "\"Qin Huairu, Bangeng, you just said Jia Damama slapped herself, then told the neighbors that Bangeng whipped her a slap; neighbors, all look, look at Jia Damama's five-fingerprint on her face, right or wrong, I believe the neighbors present have seen it clearly. \""

【56】

"Qin Huairu's heart was like dead ashes." So: "Qin Huairu's heart was like dead ashes."

As expected.

"As expected." So: "As expected."

【60】

"Shazhu really used the large palm print on Jia Zhangshi's face to make his point." So: "Shazhu really used the large palm print on Jia Zhangshi's face to make his point."

A hint of resentment flashed in his heart.

"A hint of resentment flashed in his heart." So: "A hint of resentment flashed in his heart."

【64】

"Our Jia Family's affairs, what do they have to do with you, Shazhu? For over ten years we've had nothing to do with each other; today something happened, and you suddenly jumped out to speak up for Jia Zhangshi, clearly intending to make the Jia Family suffer; otherwise Qin Huairu would surely use this pretext to drive Jia Zhangshi to the countryside." So: "Our Jia Family's affairs, what do they have to do with you, Shazhu? For over ten years we've had nothing to do with each other; today something happened, and you suddenly jumped out to speak up for Jia Zhangshi, clearly intending to make the Jia Family suffer; otherwise Qin Huairu would surely use this pretext to drive Jia Zhangshi to the countryside."

He had anticipated everything.

"He had calculated everything." So: "He had calculated everything."

【68】

"Only he hadn't anticipated Shazhu's unexpected intervention." So: "Only he hadn't anticipated Shazhu's unexpected intervention."

The scheming woman's resentment is beyond words; how could the Jia family treat He Yuzhu this way? You're destroying the Jia family; she even saw the neighbors' faces change color, knowing it was because they saw the fingerprint on Jia Zhangshi's face.

"The scheming woman's resentment is indescribable; how could the Jia Family treat He Yuzhu like this? You're doing everything to ruin the Jia Family; she even saw the neighbors' faces change color, and she knew the reason: they all saw the print on Jia Zhangshi's face." So: "The scheming woman's resentment is indescribable; how could the Jia Family treat He Yuzhu like this? You're doing everything to ruin the Jia Family; she even saw the neighbors' faces change color, and she knew the reason: they all saw the print on Jia Zhangshi's face."

【72】

"Others can still speak, if they slightly consider the Jia Family's face, rivals like Wang Yaxiong who compete for Bangeng's affection would have fewer thoughts; they'd say whatever they have, and this rare chance to ruin the Jia Family's reputation must be seized; they'd rather he fail to marry You Fengxia than let You Fengxia fall into Bangeng's hands." So: "Others can still speak, if they slightly consider the Jia Family's face, rivals like Wang Yaxiong who compete for Bangeng's affection would have fewer thoughts; they'd say whatever they have, and this rare chance to ruin the Jia Family's reputation must be seized; they'd rather he fail to marry You Fengxia than let You Fengxia fall into Bangeng's hands."

"Ay, you kept claiming Jia Zhangshi slapped herself and wanted to ruin Bangeng; thanks to He Shu's reminder, Bangeng actually hit Jia Zhangshi—a grandson hitting his grandmother—utterly outrageous; hitting her and then trying to frame her with a feces pot—what a wicked heart."

Quote: "Ay, just now you kept saying Jia Damama slapped herself, and said Jia Damama wanted to destroy Bangeng; thanks to Uncle He's reminder, it turns out Bangeng hit Jia Damama, a grandson hitting his grandmother—absolutely despicable; hitting the grandmother and then trying to frame her with a feces-filled chamber pot—what a wicked heart." So translation: "\"Ay, just now you kept saying Jia Damama slapped herself, and said Jia Damama wanted to destroy Bangeng; thanks to Uncle He's reminder, it turns out Bangeng hit Jia Damama, a grandson hitting his grandmother—absolutely despicable; hitting the grandmother and then trying to frame her with a feces-filled chamber pot—what a wicked heart. \""

【76】

Quote: "I've seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless; clearly it's your own responsibility, yet you insist on pushing it onto others—morals are declining." So: "\"I've seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless; clearly it's your own responsibility, yet you insist on pushing it onto others—morals are declining. \""

"Bangeng, how could you hit your grandmother? Even if she made a mistake, you can't hit her; your father would surely beat you, you unfilial dog."

Quote: "Bangeng, how could you hit your grandmother? Even if your grandmother did something wrong, you still can't hit her; thanks to your father not—your father would surely beat you, you unfilial dog." So: "\"Bangeng, how could you hit your grandmother? Even if your grandmother did something wrong, you still can't hit her; thanks to your father not—your father would surely beat you, you unfilial dog. \""

【80】

Quote: "Among the Jia Family, anyone can be hit, except Jia Damama; how good has Jia Damama been to you, Bangeng? When you stole Damaju's old hen, Damaju caused a scene at the Dayuan assembly; it was your grandmother Jia Zhangshi who, by raising a ruckus, kept you out of juvenile detention; hitting your grandmother makes you ungrateful." So: "\"Among the Jia Family, anyone can be hit, except Jia Damama; how good has Jia Damama been to you, Bangeng? When you stole Damaju's old hen, Damaju caused a scene at the Dayuan assembly; it was your grandmother Jia Zhangshi who, by raising a ruckus, kept you out of juvenile detention; hitting your grandmother makes you ungrateful. \""

The neighbors' remarks.

"The neighbors' remarks." So: "The neighbors' remarks."

【84】

"As if Bangeng had been doused with a chilling blast." So: "As if Bangeng had been doused with a chilling blast."

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"Everyone was stunned." So: "Everyone was stunned."

【88】

"The scene before their eyes." So: "The scene before their eyes."

It completely shattered Bangeng's perception; catching sight of Yu Fengxia out of the corner of his eye, he felt an instinctive chill.

"It truly shattered Bangeng's perception; in the corner of his eye he saw You Fengxia, and his heart involuntarily turned cold." So: "It truly shattered Bangeng's perception; in the corner of his eye he saw You Fengxia, and his heart involuntarily turned cold."

【92】

"Unable to enter the Yagangchang factory, unable to become a cadre, with no job, no house, bearing the reputation of Chen Shimei on his head, and being a remarried man." So: "Unable to enter the Yagangchang factory, unable to become a cadre, with no job, no house, bearing the reputation of Chen Shimei on his head, and being a remarried man."

There are working women in the city; Bangeng doesn't need to consider them. Rural girls, he feels unworthy of him, being a city dweller, so he only has eyes for Yu Fengxia—good looks, good figure, a job, truly his ideal partner. But if the rumor of him beating his grandmother is proven true, it would add a bad trait of a violent temper, making marriage impossible except in dreams.

"Urban girls with jobs are out of the question for Bangeng; rural girls, he feels unworthy of him, being a city dweller, he can only set his sights on You Fengxia—good looks, good figure, and a job, truly his ideal partner; if it were proven that he beat his grandmother, it would be equivalent to adding a bad habit of a violent temper that beats family, making marriage possible only in dreams." So: "Urban girls with jobs are out of the question for Bangeng; rural girls, he feels unworthy of him, being a city dweller, he can only set his sights on You Fengxia—good looks, good figure, and a job, truly his ideal partner; if it were proven that he beat his grandmother, it would be equivalent to adding a bad habit of a violent temper that beats family, making marriage possible only in dreams."

【96】

"He spoke up to defend himself." So: "He spoke up to defend himself."

"I didn't do it; I didn't hit her."

Quote: "I didn't do it, I didn't hit her." So: "\"I didn't do it, I didn't hit her. \""

【100】

"Bangeng, eager to clear his responsibility, grasped at straws." So: "Bangeng, eager to clear his responsibility, grasped at straws."

He unexpectedly thought of shifting the blame to Qin Huairu, without considering the consequences or whether anyone would believe him.

"It unexpectedly arose that he would push the blame onto Qin Huairu, without considering the consequences, nor whether people would believe his words." So: "It unexpectedly arose that he would push the blame onto Qin Huairu, without considering the consequences, nor whether people would believe his words."

【104】

"He began to use Qin Huairu as the subject." So: "He began to use Qin Huairu as the subject."

"It was my mother who hit her."

Quote: "It was my mom who hit her." So: "\"It was my mom who hit her. \""

【108】

"It must be the first time he publicly framed Qin Huairu with a feces-filled chamber pot." So: "It must be the first time he publicly framed Qin Huairu with a feces-filled chamber pot."

Bangeng's words were somewhat stammering.

"Bangeng's words were somewhat stammering." So: "Bangeng's words were somewhat stammering."

【112】

"He also glanced at You Fengxia with the corner of his eye; seeing You Fengxia looking at him, his guilt toward Qin Huairu vanished instantly." So: "He also glanced at You Fengxia with the corner of his eye; seeing You Fengxia looking at him, his guilt toward Qin Huairu vanished instantly."

If Qin Huairu hadn't informed Jia Zhangshi ahead of time about Bangeng's job, Jia Zhangshi wouldn't have boasted publicly, which prompted some to file complaints, dragging Bangeng down and preventing him from becoming a cadre at the steel mill.

"If Qin Huairu hadn't beforehand told Jia Zhangshi about Bangeng's job situation, Jia Zhangshi wouldn't have shown off publicly, causing some people to write complaint letters, which implicated Bangeng in being unable to enter the Yagangchang factory as a cadre." So: "If Qin Huairu hadn't beforehand told Jia Zhangshi about Bangeng's job situation, Jia Zhangshi wouldn't have shown off publicly, causing some people to write complaint letters, which implicated Bangeng in being unable to enter the Yagangchang factory as a cadre."

【116】

"The root of the matter lies in Qin Huairu's meddling." So: "The root of the matter lies in Qin Huairu's meddling."

Thinking about it.

"Thinking this way." So: "Thinking this way."

【121】

"Bangeng gained some confidence out of nowhere." So: "Bangeng gained some confidence out of nowhere."

The stammering speech also became much smoother.

"It was my mother arguing with my grandmother over my job; my mother said my grandmother ruined my future, my grandmother said she didn't mean to; I worried something might happen to them, and in the scuffle my mother slapped my grandmother—I feared she'd be blamed for beating her grandmother, and I realized I was wrong and shouldn't have come back."

【61】 "It was my mother and grandmother arguing, because of my work, my mother said my grandmother ruined my future, my grandmother said she didn't mean to, in the argument I worried something might happen to them, in the tug-of-war my mother slapped my grandmother, I worried my mother would be blamed for beating her mother-in-law, it's my fault, I shouldn't have come back."

But need to keep quotes? The source line includes 「」. Should we keep them? The translation likely should not keep the Chinese quotes; we translate the content. Usually we drop the Chinese quotation marks and use English quotes? The instruction didn't specify to keep them. It said translate faithfully, never skip, summarise, or merge paragraphs. It didn't say to keep the Chinese punctuation. Usually we translate the meaning, not the punctuation. But we could keep the 「」 as they are part of the text; but they are not meaningful to English readers. I'd drop them and just translate the sentence. However, we must ensure we don't lose any information. The 「」 are just quoting markers; dropping them doesn't lose semantic content. So fine.

Thus produce translation.

Let's go line by line.

I'll produce translations.

【61】 It was my mother and grandmother arguing, because of my work, my mother said my grandmother ruined my future, my grandmother said she didn't mean to, in the argument I worried something might happen to them, in the tug-of-war my mother slapped my grandmother, I worried my mother would be blamed for beating her mother-in-law, it's my fault, I shouldn't have come back.

I worried something might happen to them.

【139】

Bangeng openly treated them as three-year-old children.

【141】

This is over.

【143】

The key is Bangeng's lies; even a three-year-old couldn't be fooled by them.

【147】

We need to keep quotes? The line includes 「」. We'll translate inside but maybe keep the quotes? I'll drop them.

"Me." Bangeng, at a loss for words, couldn't find an explanation.

【149】

"San Daye, we need to hold a big courtyard meeting."

【151】

Yan Fugui turned his pleading gaze toward Shazhu.

【153】

It's not just whatever the manager says that goes.

【155】

"Jia Zhangshi just said that Qin Huairu and Bangeng want to drive her away; it's not that I'm taking Jia Zhangshi's side, but at her age, if she goes to the countryside she'll surely have no way to survive." Shazhu's tone grew much heavier as he pointed at Qin Huairu and Bangeng, naming them one by one: "By then you two will be murderers; can you sleep peacefully? Can you live with a clear conscience in Jia Zhangshi's house, spending her money?"

Need to keep quotes? We'll drop.

【159】

Qin Huairu's tone.

【161】

"San Daye." Shazhu ignored Qin Huairu and said to Yan Fugui, "Let's hold a big courtyard meeting."

【163】

Yan Fugui responded with an affirmative.

【165】

He looked around at the neighbors.

【167】

"Shazhu, you really spoke to Jia Zhangshi's heart." Jia Zhangshi hastily expressed her stance, then began to boast of her reasonableness: "Huairu, if you consulted with Mother, could she not agree to you?"

Qin Huiru, as a human being you should have a conscience. You're treating Jia Dama like this now, cold‑heartedly sending her off to the countryside to fend for herself. Aren't you afraid that one day Bàng Gěng will treat you the same way you treated Jia Dama?

Let's list them with numbers:

(which is 【61】)

(【62】)

(【63】)

(【64】)

(【65】)

(【66】)

(【67】)

(【68】)

(【69】)

(【70】)

(【71】)

(【72】)

(【73】)

(【74】)

(【75】)

(【76】)

(【77】)

(【78】)

(【79】)

(【80】)

(【81】)

(【82】)

(【83】)

(【84】)

(【85】)

(【86】)

(【87】)

(【88】)

(【89? Actually line 200 is Chinese)

(【90? Actually line 201 is Chinese)

(【91? Actually line

Although he didn't want to admit Shazhu's reasoning.

But the fact remains a fact.

At three you see the adult, at seven the elder; Bangeng has never been a good child since childhood.

Just now, in front of the whole courtyard's neighbors, he put a hat on this mother; perhaps in Bangeng's heart, only he himself matters.

Qin Huairu fell silent.

"Bangeng, you are the Jia family's male descendant, the pillar of the Jia household—how could you treat your grandmother like this? Everyone knows how your grandmother treats you; maybe she isn't a perfect grandmother, but toward you she's beyond reproach, nurturing you with care. To be human, one must have conscience; if you can't be good to your grandmother, how can you expect the neighbors to be good to you? Think about my words—isn't that the truth? I hope that slap just now wakes you up."

"Jia Zhangshi, let me tell you something: Qin Huairu and Bangeng have no right to drive you away; although you don't have urban hukou, you have temporary residency papers, and under our street's policy, ten years without moving counts as long-term temporary residence; as long as you don't say you're leaving, no one can force you out."

"Shazhu, Jia Zhangshi thanks you; if it weren't for you, she would have been driven away, and she will kowtow to you."

Jia Zhangshi is just talking.

Of course.

She might really want to kowtow to Shazhu.

But Shazhu didn't comply with Jia Zhangshi's wish; with so many neighbors, plus the worried Qin Huairu and Bangeng, if Jia Zhangshi kowtowed to him, who knows what unfavorable rumors might spread.

Thus she stopped Jia Zhangshi from kneeling.

"We're all neighbors; if you really want to thank me, just stop scolding in the courtyard from now on."

"Shazhu, Jia Zhangshi understands."

"San Daye, please summarize."

"Adjourned." Yan Fugui said, then told Qin Huairu and Bangeng: "Bangeng's mother, Bangeng, there are some things I don't want to say, but forget it—you decide for yourselves."

……

"Head of the household, what did you just do?"

He returned indoors.

Yu Li asked Shazhu a question.

She was frightened by Shazhu's recent actions.

There was a moment.

She suspected Shazhu wasn't really Shazhu, but someone with a deep grudge against the Jia family.

The matter of the courtyard.

Yu Li knew a bit of the inside story, but there had never been any fact of the Jia and He families feuding; if there had been, it would not have been Shazhu's father going with a widow to Baocheng, where Jia Zhangshi publicly mocked him a few times—the problem being that back then Shazhu only thought about beating Xu Damiao, and from start to finish he never paid attention to the Jia family or Jia Zhangshi.

It can't be settling old scores after the autumn, can it?

This all happened over ten years ago; even if it were settling scores, the time gap is too long.

A few worries rose in their heart.

They stared eagerly at Shazhu.

"I'm fine."

"Head of the household, I'm not stupid; just now you weren't fine, you had something going on."

It's not that Yu Li insists on considering this conspiracy.

But because Jia Zhangshi stays with the Jia family, the Jia family can't have good fortune; plus, the two families have had no contact for over ten years, and suddenly someone speaks up for Jia Zhangshi.

Indeed, that's hard to explain.

Not only does Yu Li think that way; most of the neighbors in the siheyuan also suspect that, and those who speak well of Shazhu are probably only Jia Zhangshi.