Chapter 521

~24 min read 4,749 words

Shazhu brought Yu Li.

Translation: Shazhu brought Yu Li.

Shazhu brought Yu Li.

He came back from outside.

Translation: He came back from outside. But we need to keep subject?... -> English commentary, skip.

He saw the neighbors sitting in small groups.

Translation: Saw the neighbors sitting together in small groups. The subject is Shazhu (implied). We'll add "He saw". But again adding subject. However maybe we can phrase as "He saw the neighbors sitting together in small groups." That adds "He". Could also be "Saw the neighbors sitting together in small groups." That's a fragment but maybe okay. I'd lean to adding subject for readability. The instruction says "Natural, fluent English prose". I'd add subject.

But we need to check if any guidelines about pronouns:... -> English commentary, skip.

Thus for lines where subject is Shazhu, we can use "He". For lines where subject is unspecified but likely Shazhu, we can use "He". For lines where subject is others (like neighbours), we can use "They" or neutral.

Let's proceed.

He saw the neighbors sitting in small groups.

Translation: He saw the neighbors sitting together in small groups.

What were they chatting about?

He had a vague guess of the specific answer, but pretended not to know, and gave a hearty greeting to the several old neighbors.

"Hey, old folks, what are you chatting about?"

"Master He is back!"

Translation: "Master He is back!" (Note exclamation). Keep quotes.

The neighbors responded enthusiastically.

Translation: The neighbors responded enthusiastically. Could be "The neighbors responded with enthusiasm." We'll do: "The neighbors responded enthusiastically."

This showcased Shazhu's status in the siheyuan nowadays.

It surpassed that of Yi Zhonghai back then.

Truly a case of one call, a hundred responses.

Shazhu didn't yet have the Moral Heavenly Venerable's tactics that Yi Zhonghai had.

The neighbors' way of addressing Shazhu also underwent a fundamental change.

Translation: The neighbors' way of addressing Shazhu also underwent a fundamental change. We'll do: "The neighbors' way of addressing Shazhu also underwent a fundamental change."

In the siheyuan now, aside from Yan Fugui and Jia Zhangshi calling him Shazhu, the remaining neighbors either called him Director He or Master He, and on the surface they wouldn't fall out with Shazhu.

Translation: In the siheyuan now, besides Yan Fugui and Jia Zhangshi addressing Shazhu, the remaining neighbors either call him Director He or Master He, and on the surface they won't fall out with Shazhu. Need to keep meaning. Let's craft: "In the siheyuan now, besides Yan Fugui and Jia Zhangshi addressing Shazhu, the remaining neighbors either call him Director He or Master He, and on the surface they won't fall out with Shazhu."

Shazhu also didn't deliberately ask the neighbors to stop calling him Shazhu.

Translation: Shazhu also didn't deliberately ask the neighbors not to call him Shazhu. We'll do: "Shazhu also didn't deliberately ask the neighbors not to call him Shazhu."

Starting from now, going back ten-odd years.

Long sentence. Let's break into two sentences as source has a period after first clause.

This nickname for Shazhu is not a derogatory term, nor does it imply looking down on him; the 'foolish' in Shazhu indicates that a person is honest, sincere, and does things properly, someone worthy of trust and responsibility. Shazhu was able to spend those years unharmed, partly because Deputy Factory Director Li was his backer, and partly because this nickname served a purpose: upon hearing he was called Shazhu, others subconsciously thought he had no ulterior motives and wouldn't violate rules.

First sentence: "This nickname for Shazhu is not a derogatory term, nor does it imply looking down on him; the 'foolish' in Shazhu indicates that a person is honest, sincere, and does things properly, someone worthy of trust and responsibility."

Second sentence: "Shazhu was able to spend those years unharmed, partly because Deputy Factory Director Li was his backer, and partly because this nickname served a purpose: upon hearing he was called Shazhu, others subconsciously thought he had no ulterior motives and wouldn't violate rules."

We need to keep the meaning exactly. Let's refine.

Shazhu treated the neighbors well and didn't put on airs.

Translation: Shazhu also treated the neighbors well, not putting on airs. We'll do: "Shazhu also treated the neighbors well, not putting on airs."

He waved to greet Yu Li, who brought Yu Fengxia and the children back home, didn't mind the dirt on the ground, casually grabbed two bricks, and propped them under his buttocks.

Translation: He waved to greet Yu Li, who brought You Fengxia and the children back home, not minding the dirt on the ground, and casually grabbed two bricks to prop himself up. Need to keep meaning. Let's craft: "He waved to greet Yu Li, who brought You Fengxia and the children back home, not minding the dirt on the ground, and casually grabbed two bricks to prop himself up."

That was a makeshift seat.

Translation: That was a makeshift seat. We'll do: "That was a makeshift seat."

He took out an opened pack of filtered cigarettes from his pocket and handed one to each person present.

Translation: He took out an opened pack of filtered cigarettes from his pocket and handed each person present a cigarette. We'll do: "He took out an opened pack of filtered cigarettes from his pocket and handed each person present a cigarette."

Yan Fugui, guessing he had also seen Shazhu, shuffled over with a grin, and Shazhu tossed the remaining half pack of cigarettes into his hand.

Translation: Yan Fugui, guessing he had also seen Shazhu, came over with a chuckle, and Shazhu tossed the remaining half-pack of cigarettes into his hand. We'll do: "Yan Fugui, guessing he had also seen Shazhu, came over with a chuckle, and Shazhu tossed the remaining half-pack of cigarettes into his hand."

Yan Fugui caught the cigarettes Shazhu threw and looked at the printing on them.

Translation: Yan Fugui caught the cigarettes Shazhu tossed and looked at the printing on them. We'll do: "Yan Fugui caught the cigarettes Shazhu tossed and looked at the printing on them."

The shock in his heart can be imagined.

Translation: The shock in his heart can be imagined. We'll do: "The shock in his heart can be imagined."

Shazhu has really risen.

Translation: Shazhu has really risen. We'll do: "Shazhu has really risen."

He could actually afford to smoke such cigarettes.

Translation: He can actually afford such cigarettes. We'll do: "He can actually afford such cigarettes."

He jokingly made a remark.

Translation: He jokingly made a remark. We'll do: "He jokingly made a remark."

Shazhu gave the other person a white-eye look and explained.

Translation: Shazhu gave the other person a white eye and explained briefly. We'll do: "Shazhu gave the other person a white eye and explained briefly."

"I went to Weiguo's grandfather's house today and specially bought a pack of cigarettes to keep up appearances. By the way, what were you just talking about? Why are you so happy? Is there a happy event at home? Where are you planning to set up the banquet? Let me know the date; if no one comes, the gift money will be mine."

Translation: "I went to my maternal grandfather's house in Weiguo today and specially bought a pack of cigarettes to save face. By the way, what were you just chatting about? Why are you so happy? Is there a happy event at home? Where are you preparing to set up the banquet? Set a date and let me know; if no one comes, the gift money will be mine." Need to keep meaning. Let's translate more literally: "Today I went to my maternal grandfather's house in Weiguo and specially bought a box of cigarettes to save face. Right, what were you just chatting about? How come you're so happy? Is there a happy event at home? Where are you preparing to set up the banquet? Set a date and tell me; if no one comes, the gift money will be mine." We'll do: "Today I went to my maternal grandfather's house in Weiguo and specially bought a box of cigarettes to save face. Right, what were you just chatting about? How come you're so happy? Is there a happy event at home? Where are you preparing to set up the banquet? Set a date and tell me; if no one comes, the gift money will be mine."

"Master He, you're wrong; it's not that our family is having a celebration, we're discussing the Jia family's affairs."

Translation: "Master He, you're wrong; it's not that our family is having a happy event, we're talking about the Jia family's affairs." We'll do: "Master He, you're wrong; it's not that our family is having a happy event, we're talking about the Jia family's affairs."

"The Jia family's affairs? What happened to the Jia family?"

Translation: "The Jia family's affairs? What happened to the Jia family?" We'll do: "The Jia family's affairs? What happened to the Jia family?"

Shazhu is also a man of acting skills.

Translation: Shazhu is also an actor type. We'll do: "Shazhu is also an actor type."

Staring wide-eyed.

Translation: He stared wide-eyed. We'll do: "He stared wide-eyed."

He stared straight at the neighbors present, looking utterly clueless about what had happened.

Translation: He stared straight at the neighbors present, looking completely clueless about what had happened. We'll do: "He stared straight at the neighbors present, looking completely clueless about what had happened."

"Bangeng isn't back yet?"

"I know about this; last night there was even a joke, and today Xiang Hong is listless all day."

Translation: "I know about this; last night there was a joke, and today Xiang Hong is listless all day." We'll do: "I know about this; last night there was a joke, and today Xiang Hong is listless all day."

Long quote. Let's translate naturally.

Translation: "The Jia family people are really over-smart; Jia Zhangshi didn't take last night's lesson to heart, and early this morning went to the street office to find work for Bangeng, putting on senior airs with the young people looking for work at the street office, got beaten up by those youngsters, then went to the newly arrived Director Wang and said that Bangeng is a good child with talent, shouldn't be an ordinary worker but a cadre, asked Director Wang for a cadre position, and insisted that Bangeng should decide the cadre position." We'll do: "The Jia family people are really over-smart; Jia Zhangshi didn't take last night's lesson to heart, and early this morning went to the street office to find work for Bangeng, putting on senior airs with the young people looking for work at the street office, got beaten up by those youngsters, then went to the newly arrived Director Wang and said that Bangeng is a good child with talent, shouldn't be an ordinary worker but a cadre, asked Director Wang for a cadre position, and insisted that Bangeng should decide the cadre position."

"\"Is Jia Zhangshi crazy? \" Shazhu muttered, \"If she weren't crazy, could she say this? Does she think the street belongs to the Jia family? \""

Translation: "Is Jia Zhangshi crazy?" Shazhu muttered, "If she weren't crazy, could she say this? She thinks the street office is run by the Jia family?" We'll do: "Is Jia Zhangshi crazy?" Shazhu muttered, "If she weren't crazy, could she say this? She thinks the street office is run by the Jia family?"

"\"Who says no? Just now Director Wang came with a staff member, saying he'd found a job for Bangeng, just needs him to sign. Master He, guess what job Director Wang found for Bangeng? \""

Translation: "Who says no? Just now Director Wang came with a staff member, saying he'd found work for Bangeng, just need him to sign. Master He, guess what job Director Wang found for Bangeng?" We'll do: "Who says no? Just now Director Wang came with a staff member, saying he'd found work for Bangeng, just need him to sign. Master He, guess what job Director Wang found for Bangeng?"

"\"Could it really be a cadre position? This Director Wang has enough guts, not afraid of being reported? I'll say this: if she assigns Bangeng a cadre position today, tomorrow someone will use this to make trouble. \""

Translation: "It couldn't really be a cadre position, could it? This Director Wang has enough guts, not afraid of being reported? I'll put it bluntly: she first arranged a cadre position for Bangeng, then someone would use this matter to make an issue." We'll do: "It couldn't really be a cadre position, could it? This Director Wang has enough guts, not afraid of being reported? I'll put it bluntly: she first arranged a cadre position for Bangeng, then someone would use this matter to make an issue."

"\"Master He, Director Wang found Bangeng a job cleaning toilets, saying whatever the section chief, how to do it, it's up to Bangeng to decide. The Jia family are unhappy, saying Director Wang is bullying the Jia family, looking down on Bangeng, and they outright refuse. Director Wang snapped, saying from now on, if the Jia family seeks jobs, don't come to him—he won't take responsibility. \""

Translation: "Master He, Director Wang found Bangeng a job cleaning toilets, saying whatever the supervisor, how to do it, it's all up to Bangeng to decide; the Jia family people were unhappy, saying Director Wang was bullying the Jia family, looking down on Bangeng, and they refused to agree; Director Wang snapped, saying from now on, don't come to him for the Jia family's job searches, he won't be responsible." We'll do: "Master He, Director Wang found Bangeng a job cleaning toilets, saying whatever the supervisor, how to do it, it's all up to Bangeng to decide; the Jia family people were unhappy, saying Director Wang was bullying the Jia family, looking down on Bangeng, and they refused to agree; Director Wang snapped, saying from now on, don't come to him for the Jia family's job searches, he won't be responsible."

"\"Jia Zhangshi is lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot—what was she thinking? Qin Huiru cleans toilets at the steel mill, and Bangeng cleans toilets on the street. \""

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi is lifting a stone only to drop it on her own foot; what was she thinking? Qin Huairu cleans toilets at the steel plant, and Bangeng cleans toilets at the street office." We'll do: "Jia Zhangshi is lifting a stone only to drop it on her own foot; what was she thinking? Qin Huairu cleans toilets at the steel plant, and Bangeng cleans toilets at the street office."

"\"Master He, tell your family to keep Xiang Hong safe; I suspect Jia Zhangshi has designs on her. \""

Translation: "Master He, tell your family to keep Xiang Hong safe; I suspect Jia Zhangshi surely has designs on Xiang Hong." We'll do: "Master He, tell your family to keep Xiang Hong safe; I suspect Jia Zhangshi surely has designs on Xiang Hong."

Living in the siheyuan.

Translation: Living in the siheyuan. We'll do: "Living in the siheyuan."

Still able to persist until now.

Translation: Still able to persist until now. We'll do: "Still able to persist until now."

Not even a few brushes.

Translation: Not even a few brushes. We'll do: "Not even a few brushes."

Really not good.

Translation: Really not good enough. We'll do: "Really not good enough."

The Jia family's current situation is so obvious that even the neighbors could guess it with their toes: the impoverished Jia family faces the difficulty of Bangeng finding a wife—on one hand there's no extra housing, on the other hand there's no job, and Bangeng also bears the reputation of a Chen Shimei; when the prospective in-laws inquire around, learning of Bangeng's conduct, they will surely not agree to the marriage.

Translation: The Jia family's current situation is such that the neighbors could guess roughly with their toes: the impoverished Jia family faces the difficulty of Bangeng finding a wife—on one hand there's no extra housing, on the other hand there's no job, and Bangeng also bears the reputation of a Chen Shimei; when the prospective in-laws inquire around, learning of Bangeng's conduct, they will certainly not agree to the marriage. We'll do: "The Jia family's current situation is such that the neighbors could guess roughly with their toes: the impoverished Jia family faces the difficulty of Bangeng finding a wife—on one hand there's no extra housing, on the other hand there's no job, and Bangeng also bears the reputation of a Chen Shimei; when the prospective in-laws inquire around, learning of Bangeng's conduct, they will certainly not agree to the marriage."

Numerous bad things.

Translation: Many bad things. We'll do: "Many bad things."

All of it presses down on the Jia family.

Translation: All of it presses down on the Jia family. We'll do: "All of it presses down on the Jia family."

Under these circumstances.

Translation: Under these circumstances. We'll do: "Under these circumstances."

Even so, Bangeng could still take a crooked path to marry.

Intend to resolve the Jia family's predicament through Yu Fengxia.

Translation: They hoped to solve the Jia family's predicament through You Fengxia. We'll do: "They hoped to solve the Jia family's predicament through You Fengxia."

One must admit, Jia Zhangshi miscalculated.

Translation: One has to admit, Jia Zhangshi miscalculated. We'll do: "One has to admit, Jia Zhangshi miscalculated."

Who is Yu Fengxia? She's the one who ruined Xu Daming and Yan Jiecheng in the previous life, causing their families to be torn apart; if Jia Zhangshi really sets her sights on Yu Fengxia, the Jia family would find it hard even if they meant well.

Translation: You Fengxia is the one who, in a previous life, ruined the families of Xu Daming and Yan Jiecheng; if Jia Zhangshi really sets her sights on You Fengxia, the Jia family will find it hard to succeed. We'll do: "You Fengxia is the one who, in a previous life, ruined the families of Xu Daming and Yan Jiecheng; if Jia Zhangshi really sets her sights on You Fengxia, the Jia family will find it hard to succeed."

The neighbors don't know these things, but someone kindly reminded them, which is a favor to them; Shazhu nodded with a smile, saying he would soon remind Yu Fengxia.

Translation: The neighbors don't know these things, but those who kindly reminded him have done him a favor; Shazhu nodded with a smile, saying he would soon remind You Fengxia. We'll do: "The neighbors don't know these things, but those who kindly reminded him have done him a favor; Shazhu nodded with a smile, saying he would soon remind You Fengxia."

……

Translation: …… (ellipsis). We'll keep as "……". Actually we need to translate ellipsis? Usually we keep as "……". We'll output "……".

The Jia family.

Translation: The Jia family. We'll do: "The Jia family."

It really is just as that neighbor who reminded Shazhu had instructed.

Translation: Indeed, just as that neighbor who reminded Shazhu had said. We'll do: "Indeed, just as that neighbor who reminded Shazhu had said."

They made a round of calculations.

Finding they could not get jobs, and unable to use work to ease the Jia family's predicament, the Jia family members had no choice but to start taking seriously this fact that the Jia family could not refuse.

Bangeng's marriage!

Just the current house.

A blind date is already a huge problem, let alone Bangeng's bad reputation and lack of any way to make money.

Marry a man, marry a man, for clothing and food.

Marry you, and starve all day.

What are you after?

What are you after? Bangeng's infamous reputation!

Faced with the Jia family's dire straits, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu temporarily set aside their internal squabbles and began to think in unison about how to solve Bangeng's marriage.

We can't not take a wife, can we?

Qin Huairu worried.

Jia Zhangshi worried.

Huaihua also worried.

Such a small house, how could we live with even more damn sisters-in-law?

Originally she wanted to earn money to change her living situation, but because of yesterday's mistake of flattering Jia Zhangshi, Huaihua was kicked out by Bai Xu; even though Yu Li said politely that Bai Xu was hiring and she could apply, Huaihua clearly knew she could never get a job at Bai Xu, and even if she did, they'd find a way to force her out with petty tricks.

A big, big 'worry' character.

Appearing on Huaihua's face.

Looking at Bangeng across the way, head down and silent, a strong resentment welled up in her heart: You were doing fine in the countryside, Bangeng, why did you come back to the city?

If it weren't for you, Bangeng, coming back to the city, none of these mishaps would have happened.

She also began to resent Qin Huairu for bringing Bangeng back.

Huaihua realized that no matter how well she did, in the eyes of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu she never measured up to Bangeng; in their hearts, Huaihua would always be an outsider, the outsider who married in.

She let out a faint cold snort from her mouth.

When Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi turned their gazes on Huaihua, she carefully voiced her opinion.

"Mom, Grandma, I think my brother could work cleaning toilets."

Seeing Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu's faces change.

Huaihua hurriedly explained.

"Now our Jia family has four adults: I have no job, my brother has no job, Grandma just sits, Mom works cleaning toilets at Yagangchang, earning the lowest wage, barely scraping by. If my brother marries, the betrothal gifts cost money, the wedding preparations cost money, the banquet costs money—without money, how can he marry? Taking a female comrade to see a movie, you have to buy a ticket, right? Going to the park, shouldn't you buy her something to eat or drink?"

The two widows of the Jia family.

They exchanged a glance.

What Huaihua said made sense, they understood, but they couldn't get past that hurdle in their hearts.

"I think."

Qin Huairu had just said the three words 'I think,' when Jia Zhangshi seemed to guess what she was going to say and preemptively blocked her retreat with words.

"Bangeng can't go clean toilets; if word got out, what would people think? If they ask Bangeng what he does for work and he says he cleans toilets on Jiēdào, if I were the girl's parents, I couldn't agree to this marriage."

"So what should we do now? Marry me off? Raise money for Bangeng?" Huaihua snorted coldly, "I'm not old enough, and I don't want to become a second Xiao Dang."

Xiao Dang is an eternal pain in the hearts of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu.

Just because Bangeng slept with a widow, Xiao Dang was implicated and fell into the heated brick bed.

She married an old man more than ten years older than Xiao Dang.

She worked all day in the village.

Jia Zhangshi's complexion wasn't very good.

Qin Huairu's complexion wasn't very pleasant either.

"Huaihua, Mom won't make you do something you don't want to do."

"Xiao Dang? She deserved it, didn't she?"

Huaihua inexplicably felt a surge of wicked anger.

Her teeth were shaking with rage.

Such an important matter, yet in the eyes of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu it was merely a trivial little thing.

She just wanted to know what Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu considered a big matter.

Is it Bangeng marrying a wife?

Indeed, it is Bangeng marrying a wife.

From Bangeng's return to the city until now, only over twenty hours have passed, yet the Jia family has experienced many things, losing face twice inside the Siheyuan.

"Bangeng, don't you want to say something?"

Bangeng lifted his head.

He glanced at Huaihua.

Then he let his head droop again.

"Bangeng, say what exactly you want our Jia family to do. Those who went with you are all fine, nothing happened to them—only you, Bangeng, cause trouble, you slept with a widow, forced the family to come up with a thousand dollars, to raise money for you Xiao Dang's life is ruined, you say—you could have stayed fine in Dongbei, why did you come back? Because you came back, the Jia family is in chaos; as a male member of the Jia family, you should be holding up this household, yet you hide indoors, you make Grandma look for work for you, you get Mom to pull strings for you—you're pure garbage, you have no talent yourself yet still dream of being a cadre; I've said my piece: that toilet-cleaning job is the one Grandma found for you."

"Huaihua."

The Jia family widows, grieving for their grandson and son, shouted Huaihua's name in unison, their tone carrying a hint of sternness.

Huaihua laughed hehehe.

She saw it.

The Jia family simply has no place for her.

"What are you shouting for? Bangeng is your child, am I not your child too? Bangeng has no job, the Jia family only has one room—what do you have to marry a wife with? Rely on dreams? A worthless wretch who doesn't even dare to make a living cleaning toilets, what else could you expect of him besides having children? Bangeng, if I were you, I'd smash my head to death on tofu."

Smack!

Two slaps landed precisely on Huaihua's face.

Jia Zhangshi slapped Huaihua's left cheek.

Qin Huairu slapped Huaihua's right cheek.

She was also thrown into confusion by Huaihua's words.

Huaihua covered her slapped cheek, glanced at Jia Zhangshi, then at Qin Huairu, and finally her gaze fell on Bangeng's face.

"Bangeng, did you see? Because of you, I am no longer myself, and Xiao Dang is no longer Xiao Dang."

The conversation took a turn.

She began to question.

"Grandma, Mom, I have a question: Bangeng is your Jia family's child, so am I and Xiao Dang not?"

"Xiao Dang is, you are not, your father is Yi Zhonghai."

"Mom." Qin Huairu glared at Jia Zhangshi, then said to Huaihua: "Huaihua, don't listen to your grandmother's nonsense; you will always be my good daughter."

The secret of Huaihua's biological father was never told to her by Qin Huairu, and the neighbors also intentionally concealed it.

So Huaihua never knew this secret; she thought she was also part of the Jia family, the child of Jia Dongxu.

As a result, Jia Zhangshi said her father was Yi Zhonghai.

All these years.

Within the courtyard, whenever a big meeting is held, Yi Zhonghai is always used as a negative example.

Yi Zhonghai truly achieved everlasting infamy.

Huaihua vaguely knew a bit about Yi Zhonghai: the schemer king, the Moral Heavenly Venerable, who caused Jia Dongxu's death and caused the Deaf Granny's death.

Jia Zhangshi's words made her collapse.

At school, Huaihua had condemned Yi Zhonghai's actions in front of her classmates.

She is Yi Zhonghai's daughter.

"Am I Yi Zhonghai's daughter?" Huaihua stared at Jia Zhangshi, "Not Jia Dongxu's child?"

"Your mother and Yi Zhonghai fooled around and accidentally had you; Yi Zhonghai feared my son would expose this, so he killed my son. Huaihua, our Jia family has raised you all these years, which is enough to repay you. You are not our Jia family's child, you have no right to speak of Bangeng—whether he is good or bad is our Jia family's affair, and has nothing to do with you, an outsider surnamed Yi."

Harsh words bring chill even in June.

Jia Zhangshi's words.

It left Huaihua stunned; she blankly fixed her gaze on Qin Huairu, staring at her silently.

Qin Huairu covered her face.

She cried.

This is the answer that is not an answer.

Huaihua turned and rushed out of the Jia family home, disappearing into the vast night.

◈

End of Chapter

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Ch. 521 / 68077%