Chapter 518

~24 min read 4,637 words

Yu Li, as a neighbor of the Siheyuan, finds some things inconvenient to say, which would leave a bad impression of using power to suppress others. You Fengxia is young and still has to worry about her reputation; she also needs to find a husband's family to marry into. Thus: Thus: Mahua, being a man, naturally could not possibly act in a way that talks back to a woman.

Among the few people responsible for cleanliness and hygiene at Bai Xu restaurant.

The person most suited to speak up is actually Liu Lan.

Having no dealings with the Jia family, yet she is a witness to Huaihua being treated well by Yu Li and others, and her personality is still the type that cannot tolerate even a speck of sand in her eye.

Seeing Huaihua come and go again, Liu Lan, who had already guessed why Huaihua had come, stepped forward without hesitation and pointedly mocked Huaihua.

Her blunt reprimand reached Huaihua's ears, and she even took a step back, moving her body away as far as possible to increase the distance from Huaihua, her face showing a look of disdain, a pair of knife‑like eyes scanning Huaihua up and down.

She is truly Qin Huairu's daughter.

Her appearance is not bad.

Her figure is slender.

In terms of scheming, she is on par with Qin Huairu.

Otherwise she would not have done something like betraying You Fengxia without blinking an eye.

Don't think Huaihua doesn't know the hidden meaning behind Jia Zhangshi calling You Fengxia to eat roast chicken; knowing it yet still doing so can only be summed up by a common saying.

Not being of the same family, they do not enter the same door.

"Huaihua, I, Liu Lan, am also someone who has seen a lot; I didn't expect you, this little girl, to trip up, and you really made me look at you with new respect."

Huaihua felt guilty in her heart.

Knowing she had done something wrong to them, and aware they were angry, being lectured a few sentences was understandable.

What she feared was that they might not even bother to lecture her.

"Liu Lan sister."

"Don't, don't, don't, I still say that we are not acquainted; even if we were, I couldn't bear the title of 'sister' you give me—who knows how you might scheme against me—so it's better to keep our distance."

Liu Lan's tone was one of keeping people at a thousand miles' distance.

This made Huaihua genuinely feel a bout of depression.

The corner of her eye.

Leaping over Liu Lan, it landed in mid‑air onto Yu Li's body.

Whether Bai Xu could stay was entirely up to a single word from Yu Li.

Maybe it was just for show; I tried to explain to Liu Lan, but these words were actually also meant for Yu Li and You Fengxia.

"Liu Lan sister, please listen to my explanation; the matter really isn't what you imagine—I am just grateful, yes, just grateful, with no other ill intent, I didn't think much, I just thought it was a good thing, so I called out to Sister Xiang Hong."

Huaihua, thick‑skinned, once again called her 'sister' and added a few more sentences of similar explanation.

The situation of the Jia family.

Described with an old saying, it has reached the most dangerous point.

Bangeng's return made the Jia family's already dire situation even worse.

On one hand, dissatisfaction with housing conditions.

On the other hand, dissatisfaction with living conditions.

Every aspect requires money.

Huaihua knows that Jia Zhangshi favors males over females, and also knows that Qin Huairu regards Bangeng as her reliance for old age.

In the minds of the Jia family mother‑and‑daughter, Huaihua is unreliable; they can only rely on Bangeng, who needs money to marry, needs money to buy a house, and still has no job.

Moreover, Jia Zhangshi is a proud and arrogant person, openly saying that Bangeng can only enter the factory as a cadre.

The crucial point is that the Jia family lacks the condition to let Bangeng enter the factory as a cadre; perhaps such a condition exists, but it has been ruined by Jia Zhangshi's loose tongue.

Bangeng is also called Chen Shimei.

Having this nickname.

To marry, he can probably only rely on spending money.

Under these circumstances, Huaihua staying in the Jia family for even one day brings danger; she has witnessed how the Jia mother‑and‑daughter, in order to save Bangeng's life, tried to sell Xiao Dang as merchandise. Xiao Dang's fate is a warning for Huaihua; through letters she learned roughly what kind of life Xiao Dang leads—a hard life. If Huaihua stays in the Jia family, she is very likely to become another Xiao Dang.

Huaihua wants to change this situation.

Whether she leaves or stays, she needs money.

She has no money.

She cannot move an inch.

She needs a job.

After working a few days with Bai Xu's construction crew, she learned some things about Bai Xu restaurant, such as hiring staff; a restaurant this size would certainly need more than a dozen servers.

Being a server is not a glorious job, but it's still better than cleaning toilets.

She wants to stay.

This is also why Huaihua came back; she had prepared herself to be scolded by Yu Li and the others, but she didn't expect Yu Li to stay silent, You Fengxia not to utter a sound, Thus: Thus: Mahua to become mute, and only Liu Lan to keep lecturing Huaihua.

A flicker of unhappiness passed through her heart.

What I want is not your scolding, Liu Lan, but Yu Li's scolding.

Huaihua looked at Liu Lan with a crisp gaze, then turned her eyes to You Fengxia and spoke an apology.

"Sister Xiang Hong, you must believe me—I really didn't mean it. My grandmother said that since our two families have had no contact for so long, there was originally no great wrong, so I thought that grievances should be resolved, not deepened. Considering we've lived in the same big courtyard for years, never seeing each other's faces, I thought maybe we should ease our relationship. I truly have no ill intent."

The Jia family's fine tradition.

Huaihua's nature was fully expressed.

Praise is always taken as one's own, while faults are always blamed on others.

You Fengxia ignored Huaihua's apology, turned and said a few words to Yu Li, then walked upstairs; she had long seen through Huaihua's little tricks.

In fact.

It was using You Fengxia as a tool for scheming.

You go first.

I naturally need to do fifteen minutes.

"I naturally want to do fifteen." Probably "I naturally want to take fifteen." Could be "I naturally want to do fifteen." Might be "I naturally want to take the fifteenth." In context of a game where they alternate? Probably "I naturally want to take fifteen." We'll translate naturally: "I naturally want to take fifteen." Or "I naturally want to do fifteen." Which is more natural? "I naturally want to take fifteen." We'll go with that.

You Fengxia gave Huaihua a 2-0.

"You Fengxia gave Huaihua a 2-0." Actually "gave Huaihua a 2-0 score." Could be "You Fengxia gave Huaihua a 2-0." We'll translate: "You Fengxia gave Huaihua a 2-0 score." But maybe "You Fengxia gave Huaihua a 2-0." We'll keep: "You Fengxia gave Huaihua a 2-0."

Aunt Yu Li, you have to believe me.

Seeing You Fengxia ignore her, Huaihua began trying to win over Yu Li.

In Shazhu's household, Yu Li has the final say.

How can I believe you? Do you really think shouting last night for Huaihua to come to your house for roast chicken was just kindness? No hidden agenda? Huaihua, schemers always get schemed against in the end. That's all I have to say—I'm going upstairs to get busy.

This is a quoted speech by Yu Li? Let's translate: "How can I believe you? Believing you shouted last night for Xianghong to come to your house to eat roast chicken out of goodwill? No scheming involved? Huaihua, those who scheme will eventually be schemed against. That's all I have to say; I'm going upstairs to get busy." We'll translate: "How can I believe you? Believing you shouted last night for Xianghong to come to your house to eat roast chicken out of goodwill? No scheming involved? Huaihua, those who scheme will eventually be schemed against. That's all I have to say; I'm going upstairs to get busy."

Yu Li turned and walked away.

"Yu Li turned and left." We'll translate: "Yu Li turned and walked away."

But Huaihua lunged forward and grabbed her arm.

No one saw that coming.

"No one expected that." We'll translate: "No one expected that."

Aunt Yu Li, listen to my explanation.

All right, I'll give you a chance to explain.

"Okay, I'll give you a chance to explain." We'll translate: "Okay, I'll give you a chance to explain."

Yu Li turned around.

"Yu Li turned her head." We'll translate: "Yu Li turned her head."

She looked at Huaihua.

"Looking at Huaihua." We'll translate: "She looked at Huaihua."

Her eyes fell on Huaihua's hand gripping hers.

"Her gaze fell on Huaihua's hand gripping hers." We'll translate: "Her gaze fell on Huaihua's hand gripping hers."

Huaihua cheerfully let go of Yu Li's hand.

It's really a misunderstanding; my grandmother said our families' relations are bad, I thought we could ease things, I know this is wrong, but I didn't consider anything else—I just assumed it was as my grandmother said, that our families' relations could improve, and I—

It's really a misunderstanding; my grandmother said our families' relations are bad, I thought maybe we could ease things, I also know this is wrong, but I didn't think about anything else—I just assumed it was as my grandmother said, that our families' relations could ease, and I—

But we must keep it as one line. We'll translate faithfully: "It's really a misunderstanding; my grandmother said our families' relations are bad, I thought maybe we could ease things, I also know this is wrong, but I didn't think about anything else, I just assumed it was as my grandmother said, that our families' relations could ease, and I—"

Yu Li waved her hand, cutting off Huaihua's explanation.

"Yu Li waved her hand to interrupt Huaihua's explanation." We'll translate: "Yu Li waved her hand to interrupt Huaihua's explanation."

She asked a question.

Huaihua, I just want to ask: Is Xianghong good to you?

"Huaihua, I just want to ask you one thing: Is Xianghong good to you?" We'll translate: "Huaihua, I just want to ask you one thing: Is Xianghong good to you?"

Good.

"Good." We'll translate: "Good."

Then do you know what impact shouting like that last night would have on Xianghong?

"Then do you know that shouting like that last night would have what effect on Xianghong?" We'll translate: "Then do you know what effect shouting like that last night would have on Xianghong?"

Huaihua was speechless.

Shazhu stared blankly at Yu Li.

Just as he was about to make up lies to fool Yu Li, he heard Yu Li say to her.

Huaihua, we're both adults—I'm not a three-year-old, so don't try to pacify me with toddler talk. Your brother just went back to the city, and then you turned around and told Xianghong to come to your house for roast chicken. People who know the truth, and those who don't—how would they think? Would they assume there's something between Xianghong and Bargeng? Xianghong is pure and innocent, a proper young lady who's never even held hands with a boy. And Bargeng? He married a widow, then to get back to the city he dumped her. The people in the compound, out of years of neighborly courtesy, can't be bothered to argue with your Jia family. You know what outsiders are saying, right?

Just as he was about to make up lies to fool Yu Li, he heard Yu Li say to her.

Huaihua, we're both adults—I'm not a three‑year‑old, so don't try to pacify me with baby talk. Your brother just went back to town, and you immediately called Xianghong over to your place for roast chicken. People who know the facts, and those who don't, how will they judge this? Will they assume there's something between Xianghong and Bangeng? Xianghong is pure and proper, an unmarried young lady who's never even held hands with a boy. Bangeng, on the other hand, married a widow, then, to get back to the city, dumped her. The folks in the courtyard, out of respect for the longtime neighbors, can't be bothered to argue with your Jia family. You know what outsiders are saying, right?

This is long. We'll translate faithfully but naturally.

Let's break: "Huaihua, we're both adults; I'm not a three-year-old, so don't try to fool me with talk meant to pacify a three-year-old. Your brother went back to the city first, then you called Xianghong to come to your house to eat roast chicken. Those who know the situation, so-called, and those who don't—how will they consider it? Won't they think there's something between Xianghong and Bangeng? Xianghong is pure and innocent, a yellow-flower maiden, never even held hands with a boy. As for Bangeng? He married a widow, then to return to the city he kicked her out. The people in the courtyard, out of respect for the neighbors over many years, can't be bothered to argue with your Jia family. Do you know what outsiders say?" We'll translate naturally.

We'll produce: "Huaihua, we're both adults; I'm not a three-year-old, so don't try to fool me with talk meant to pacify a three-year-old. Your brother went back to the city first, then you called Xianghong to come to your house to eat roast chicken. Those who know the situation, and those who don't—how will they view it? Won't they think there's something between Xianghong and Bangeng? Xianghong is pure and innocent, a yellow-flower maiden who's never even held hands with a boy. As for Bangeng? He married a widow, then to return to the city he kicked her out. The people in the courtyard, out of respect for the neighbors over many years, can't be bothered to argue with your Jia family. Do you know what outsiders say?"

Liu Lan backed Yu Li up a little.

She added a sentence of agreement.

"She chimed in with a sentence." Actually subject is Liu Lan? We'll translate: "She chimed in with a sentence."

Outsiders say there's a Chen Shimei in the compound; I've never seen Bargeng, but I've heard his face is all scars, dark and grim like a foreigner, while Xianghong is a renowned beauty—Bargeng doesn't deserve her.

"Outsiders all say there's a Chen Shimei in the siheyuan; although I've never seen Bangeng, I've heard people say his face is all scars, dark and unsightly, looking like a foreigner, while Xianghong is a renowned beauty, and Bangeng doesn't deserve her." We'll translate: "Outsiders all say there's a Chen Shimei in the siheyuan; although I've never seen Bangeng, I've heard people say his face is all scars, dark and unsightly, looking like a foreigner, while Xianghong is a renowned beauty, and Bangeng doesn't deserve her."

Liu Lan's point is, what exactly are you Jia family thinking? I'm not ignorant, nor is Xianghong unaware. You Jia people are too self-important, constantly scheming against others year-round. Your grandmother Jia Zhangshi doesn't just want to use the excuse of eating roast chicken to ruin Xianghong's purity and cement her relationship with Bargeng. Mistakenly thinking that this way, Xianghong won't be liked by any boys and will have to marry Bargeng. When that happens, our family will provide a dowry of two rooms, and you Jia family will solve Bargeng's marriage and housing problems. Huaihua, I originally thought you were a good kid, but I misjudged you—you've truly disappointed me. I also know why you came: not just to look for work. I'll say this: the Baxu Restaurant needs waitstaff; you can apply, but whether you can stay is not guaranteed.

This is Liu Lan speaking. We'll translate naturally.

Break: "Liu Lan's point is, what exactly are you Jia family thinking? I'm not unaware, and Xianghong isn't unaware either. You Jia people are too self-important, scheming against others all year round. Your grandmother Jia Zhangshi's intention is not to use the pretense of eating roast chicken to ruin Xianghong's purity, to cement the relationship between Xianghong and Bangeng, mistakenly thinking that way Xianghong would have no boys liking her and would have to marry Bangeng. Then our family would provide a dowry of two rooms, you Jia family would solve Bangeng's marriage problem and his housing problem. Huaihua, I originally thought you were a good kid, but I misjudged you; you truly disappoint me. I also know why you came—not just to look for work. I'll say this: Bai Xu Restaurant needs waitstaff; you can apply, but whether you can stay, I won't guarantee."

We'll translate: "Liu Lan's point is, what exactly are you Jia family thinking? I'm not unaware, and Xianghong isn't unaware either. You Jia people are too self-important, scheming against others all year round. Your grandmother Jia Zhangshi's intention is not to use the pretense of eating roast chicken to ruin Xianghong's purity, to cement the relationship between Xianghong and Bangeng, mistakenly thinking that way Xianghong would have no boys liking her and would have to marry Bangeng. Then our family would provide a dowry of two rooms, you Jia family would solve Bangeng's marriage problem and his housing problem. Huaihua, I originally thought you were a good kid, but I misjudged you; you truly disappoint me. I also know why you came—not just to look for work. I'll say this: Bai Xu Restaurant needs waitstaff; you can apply, but whether you can stay, I won't guarantee."

She pointed to the restaurant's door.

"She pointed toward the restaurant's door." Actually subject likely Liu Lan. We'll translate: "She pointed toward the restaurant's door."

She issued an order to leave.

We're about to get busy—please leave.

"We're about to get busy; please leave." We'll translate: "We're about to get busy; please leave."

Huaihua looked at Yu Li, as if she wanted to say more, but ultimately said nothing, left Baxu with a rueful expression, walked three steps, stopped, and turned back to look at Yu Li and the others.

"Huaihua looked at Yu Li, seeming to want to say a few more things, but ultimately didn't say them, left Bai Xu with a look of regret, walked three steps, stopped, turned back to look at Yu Li and the others." We'll translate: "Huaihua looked at Yu Li, seeming to want to say a few more things, but ultimately didn't say them, left Bai Xu with a look of regret, walked three steps, stopped, turned back to look at Yu Li and the others."

Her face was full of disappointment.

"Her face was full of disappointment." We'll translate: "Her face was full of disappointment."

Yu Li, do you really want to keep Huaihua?

"Yu Li, do you really want to keep Huaihua?" We'll translate: "Yu Li, do you really want to keep Huaihua?"

Anyone can apply, but we decide who stays.

"Anyone can apply, but we decide who stays." We'll translate: "Anyone can apply, but we decide who stays."

Then I can relax; I'm not badmouthing the Jia family, but keeping Huaihua might cause trouble.

"I feel relieved now; it's not that I'm speaking ill of the Jia family, but keeping Huaihua might stir up trouble." We'll translate: "I feel relieved now; it's not that I'm speaking ill of the Jia family, but keeping Huaihua might stir up trouble."

I understand, Head Chef Liu.

What should I call you?

"What should I call you?" We'll translate: "What should I call you?"

Our Shazhu said you're the head chef.

Yu Li, have you and Shazhu been out of touch lately?

We already have five or six kids—what more do we need?

"We already have five or six kids; what more movement do we need?" We'll translate: "We already have five or six kids; what more movement do we need?"

Three women, one drama.

"Three women, one drama." We'll translate: "Three women, one drama."

Not wrong at all.

First-floor lobby.

"First-floor lobby." We'll translate: "First-floor lobby."

Just Yu Li and Liu Lan managed to stir up the kind of restless agitation usually seen with over a dozen people shouting and causing a commotion; this agitation only worsened with You Fengxia's addition.

"Just Yu Li and Liu Lan, the two of them, managed to stir up a restless fuss with over ten people, and this restlessness grew even more with You Fengxia's joining." We'll translate: "Just Yu Li and Liu Lan, the two of them, managed to stir up a restless fuss with over ten people, and this restlessness grew even more with You Fengxia's joining."

Thus: Thus: Mahua, who was with them, couldn't join in and vaguely felt a headache as big as a bucket.

"Thus: Thus: Mahua, who was with them, couldn't join in, and vaguely felt a headache as big as a bucket." We'll translate: "Thus: Thus: Mahua, who was with them, couldn't join in, and vaguely felt a headache as big as a bucket."

……

We need to output the ellipsis as is? Probably translate as "……" but we should keep the same characters? The rule: translate everything else into natural English. Ellipsis is punctuation; we can keep as "...". We'll output "...".

Shazhu learned from Factory Director Yang where Xu Damao was.

Just arrived at Baxu Restaurant.

"Just arrived at Bai Xu Restaurant." We'll translate: "Just arrived at Bai Xu Restaurant."

Hadn't yet greeted Yu Li and the others.

"Hadn't yet greeted Yu Li and the others." We'll translate: "Hadn't yet greeted Yu Li and the others."

The Jiēdào's Director Wang quietly waited at the door.

After identifying himself and letting Shazhu see his work ID, Director Wang got straight to the point, briefly stating his purpose.

"After identifying himself and letting Shazhu see his work ID, Director Wang got straight to the point, briefly stating his purpose." We'll translate: "After identifying himself and letting Shazhu see his work ID, Director Wang got straight to the point, briefly stating his purpose."

People returning to the city.

"Those returning to the city." We'll translate: "Those returning to the city."

Increasingly more.

"Increasingly many." We'll translate: "Increasingly many."

The Jiēdào's employment pressure.

"The Jiēdào's employment pressure." We'll translate: "The Jiēdào's employment pressure."

Then it suddenly surged.

"Then also suddenly surged." We'll translate: "Then it also suddenly surged."

Even a clever woman can't cook without rice; to solve the district's employment problem, the primary condition is having enterprises operating within the district.

"Even a clever wife can't cook without rice; to solve the district's employment problem for its residents, the primary condition is having enterprises set up in the district." We'll translate: "Even a clever wife can't cook without rice; to solve the district's employment problem for its residents, the primary condition is having enterprises set up in the district."

Shazhu's Bai Xu restaurant, although not exactly a company, nevertheless genuinely solved part of Jiēdào's employment problem.

He came to the door.

He just wanted Shazhu to hand over the hiring of Bai Xu Restaurant staff to the street office.

He looked at the street director in his thirties before him.

Shazhu smiled.

He also told Director Wang, the serving staff, and the kitchen helpers his intention — there would have to be seven or eight people.

One matter shouldn't trouble two masters.

Director Wang can come.

This shows he is a person who gets things done.

Shazhu, however, needed help.

They hit it off; one thought he had solved the hiring problem, the other thought he had solved part of the employment problem.

As for whether anyone would come.

Director Wang was certain someone would come.

It's a simple logic: you need to eat, so you must have a job; even if being a server isn't pleasant, having a place to earn a little is better than doing nothing all day.

As he was about to leave, Director Wang suddenly recalled what Shazhu had just said: he lived in the Red Star Courtyard, in the same big courtyard as Jia Zhangshi.

He then grew suspicious.

He tentatively brought up Jia Zhangshi.

"Master He, you just said you also live in the Red Star Courtyard?"

"We're the same age; don't keep calling me 'you' so politely — I can't stand it. Just call me normally. I was born in the Red Star Courtyard."

"Your big courtyard has a Jia Zhangshi, you know that, right?"

Shazhu glanced at Director Wang.

He couldn't quite read the other's intentions.

Is he a friend of the Jia family?

Or a relative of the Jia family?

He deliberately gave an ambiguous answer.

"I know Jia Zhangshi. Her daughter-in-law is Qin Huairu, and she has a grandson named Bangeng, who just came back from the countryside yesterday; he's a prominent figure in our big courtyard."

Director Wang is also a sharp person.

He instantly understood the implication of Shazhu's words about the prominent figure.

The stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

Hopefully it has nothing to do with Shazhu.

"I just arrived at the street office yesterday; the former Director Wang told me Jia Zhangshi is a troublemaker. Today, on my first day at work, she gave me a hard time in front of dozens of young job‑seekers, saying she wanted to find work for her grandson Bangeng and also a cadre position for him. Because of that remark, it almost sparked a mass incident. Later, when pressed, Jia Zhangshi told the truth: she had taken a liking to a young woman wearing glasses who came to the street office looking for work, and wanted her to become her grandson's wife. Worried the young woman wouldn't like Bangeng, she exaggerated her words, causing the young woman to burst into tears on the spot. I even went to her door to do ideological work."

"It's normal; our big courtyard has also been thrown into chaos by her — decent people find her annoying, and many neighbors avoid her family. Besides, she's bold enough to give the street director a hard time; if she didn't act this way, she wouldn't be Jia Zhangshi."

As he spoke, Shazhu felt a desire for revenge against the Jia family well up.

Jia Zhangshi constantly wanted to find a cadre position for Bangeng.

Then let's help the Jia family.

I vaguely recall that the street office has a job cleaning toilets.

"If this job were given to Bangeng, the Jia family would become a lineage of toilet‑cleaners: Qin Huairu would clean toilets at the Yagangchang factory, and Bangeng would clean toilets for the street office."

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