Chapter 523

Qin Huairu did not answer Jia Zhangshi's question; instead, she raised her palm and slapped Bangeng across the face.

Huaihua left in a huff, already making Qin Huairu's lungs feel like they were about to explode; worried about Huaihua's consolation, she felt really uneasy inside, returned home, and again heard Bangeng scheming about You Fengxia, completely disregarding Huaihua's life or death; Qin Huairu's inner gloom instantly piled up, she focused and composed herself to scrutinize Bangeng, her eyes full of loss, and for the first time she discovered that her own son could be so cold-blooded.

Huaihua, his half-sister, had left home late at night; as the instigator, Bangeng not only failed to worry about Huaihua's safety, but instead stayed at home as if nothing had happened, discussing with Jia Zhangshi how to take a wife and how to make You Fengxia opposite them become his wife.

Having seen cold-blooded beasts.

Yet I have never seen a scoundrel like Bangeng.

Furious to the extreme.

Full of resentment, she slapped Bangeng.

The crisp slap sound, like a lit fuse, instantly shattered the Jia family's tranquil atmosphere.

Useless at everything, Jia Zhangshi, the top defender of calves, seeing Qin Huairu return, without a word gave Bangeng a slap, guessing that Qin Huairu had taken out her anger on Huaihua.

She subconsciously became a bit unhappy.

You took out your anger on Huaihua, so why are you venting it on Bangeng?

"Qin Huairu, why are you hitting Bangeng? What does Huaihua's matter have to do with Bangeng? Look at you—your slap has swollen Bangeng's face; how will he go out to meet people tomorrow?"

Jia Zhangshi, feeling sorry, fetched a towel.

Then she poured some boiling water into the washbasin.

She soaked the towel in the water, enduring the heat's assault, and placed the hot-water-soaked towel on Bangeng's visibly swollen cheek.

"Is there anything that cannot be said, that you must resort to hitting? Can hitting solve the problem?"

"He has done something wrong to Huaihua; as his mother, am I not allowed to educate him?"

"Education is for childhood; Bangeng is already over twenty, about to marry—if this gets out, what will outsiders say of him?"

"That would still be better than the reputation of driving away his own sister."

"Qin Huairu, explain clearly how Bangeng drove away his own sister." Jia Zhangshi glanced outside, "Did Huaihua not come back with you?"

"How did Xiao Dang leave? And you still blame Huaihua for saying that! In the back courtyard, Liu Guangfu; in the front courtyard, Yan Jiekuang—others are fine, no philandering with a widowed mother bringing children, except Bangeng is the exception; if it weren't for Bangeng's flirtatious chatting with Shi Jiahong, could Xiao Dang have left? Huaihua was driven away just for speaking a few truthful words."

"Qin Huairu, I don't like hearing this—what do you mean Huaihua was driven away?" Jia Zhangshi retorted to Qin Huairu, "How was Huaihua driven away? Didn't you tell her to go?"

"I did call for Huaihua, but I couldn't find her; late at night, a young lady—if something were to happen to her, what would we do?" Qin Huairu was full of worry; Huaihua had inherited Qin Huairu's beauty, and if anything happened to her, what could she do? "Who could bear this responsibility? Is it me, Qin Huairu? Or you, my mother-in-law?"

Upon hearing that Huaihua had not returned with Qin Huairu.

Jia Zhangshi instinctively panicked a little.

The current Jia family.

Really cannot withstand any more turmoil.

Bangeng still wore Chen Shimei's hat on his head, couldn't find work, and if it were exposed that Huaihua left home because of Bangeng.

The Jia family is just the Jia family.

People's words are fearsome.

The neighbors will surely think that Bangeng and Jia Zhangshi, in order to free up a room for Bangeng's marriage, squeezed Huaihua out.

Even Jia Zhangshi could imagine those people spouting nonsense, claiming that Huaihua was the offspring of Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, that Bangeng was the product of Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu, that Jia Zhangshi was Jia Dongxu's biological mother, that Qin Huairu's job was a stand-in for Jia Dongxu, and that inside and out Huaihua was an outsider unworthy of staying in the Jia family.

She became anxious.

She casually stuffed the towel into Bangeng's hand, stepped out of the Jia family, paced around the courtyard, shouting for Huaihua a few times; seeing no reply, she left the Siheyuan, followed the street outside the Siheyuan gate, walked back and forth two or three times, calling Huaihua's name as she went, yet still heard no response.

Only then did Jia Zhangshi dispel the guess that Huaihua had returned with Qin Huairu to the Siheyuan; she hurriedly stepped into the Siheyuan, running three steps at a time into the Jia household.

Seeing Qin Huairu pointing at Bangeng's nose, hoarsely scolding him.

Her face fell.

She grabbed and pulled open Qin Huairu's hand that was pointing at Bangeng.

"Huaihua, Huaihua is gone, she ran away—what does that have to do with Bangeng? It's not as if Bangeng made her run. Bangeng also feels bad inside; Huaihua is his sister, he must feel sorry for her, and you know this—Bangeng treats his two sisters well; he even stole Old Lady Hen from Xu Damiao's family to roast and eat, just because Xiao Dang and Huaihua were hungry, and later he even brought back a chicken's butt for me and you."

Jia Zhangshi, trying to smooth things over.

Using the Siheyuan's chicken-stealing anecdote to highlight Bangeng and Huaihua's sibling bond, seeing Qin Huairu's grim expression, she changed the subject.

"Now is not the time to assign blame; Huaihua is missing, we must think of a way to call her back—if something happens, nobody will be fine."

Jia Zhangshi turned and left the Jia household.

She stood at the door and glanced around at the neighbors.

Seeing every household bustling extraordinarily.

Only their Jia household was in utter disarray.

A faint worry welled up in her heart.

The hardship of a widowed family.

Who could know.

Old Jia died, Jia Zhangshi became a widow; little Jia died, Qin Huairu became a widow; Bangeng then married a widow, ultimately divorcing her.

"Ah!"

She let out a sigh.

She walked a few steps toward the courtyard outside, but then stopped her steps.

At first she thought that letting the neighbors know Huaihua had been driven away would damage the Jia family's reputation in the Siheyuan, possibly preventing Bangeng from marrying a city girl with a job.

Later she felt that it would still be better to let the neighbors know about this.

Many hands make light work.

More people.

More pairs of eyes.

The chance of finding Huaihua increased a bit.

Jia Zhangshi worried that Huaihua might meet with an accident; she actually had her own plans for Huaihua, and if her scheme to figure out You Fengxia came to nothing, for Bangeng's lifelong affair she could only resort to the tactic of exchanging brides.

Bangeng married someone's daughter, and someone's son married Huaihua.

If Huaihua ran into a thug and got into trouble, Jia Zhangshi's backup plan for the marriage exchange would also come to nothing.

Inside the siheyuan.

Who is the most capable?

Naturally, it's Shazhu.

Jia Zhangshi shoved open Shazhu's door; out of the corner of her eye she saw the table laden with a decent feast: a plate of pork head meat, a plate of stir‑fried mushrooms and greens, a plate of stir‑fried cabbage and potato slices, a bowl of tomato‑egg soup, and a basket of big white‑flour mantou. Shazhu, Yu Li, and You Fengxia sat around eating, chatting and laughing.

Envy, jealousy, and resentment washed over Jia Zhangshi.

Tonight the Jia family ate steamed corn buns, drank sorghum porridge, and had pickles as a side.

Their standard of living simply can't compare to Shazhu's family.

As for Shazhu's family, while they were happily eating, Jia Zhangshi suddenly barged in—these two households had had no contact for years.

Jia Zhangshi's unannounced visit really startled Shazhu and his family.

They stared at Jia Zhangshi.

Nobody spoke.

They had heard the commotion inside the Jia household earlier, but since it didn't concern them and the Jia family were scheming against Shazhu's household, they pretended not to have heard; they were just gossiping about what trouble the Jia family was stirring up when Jia Zhangshi arrived.

Both sides were taken aback.

Jia Zhangshi was taken aback by Shazhu's family's meal.

Shazhu and his family were taken aback by Jia Zhangshi's arrival.

The atmosphere grew tense for a moment.

It was Yu Li who spoke up, breaking the indoor silence.

"Grandma Bangeng, what do you want? We two families know our relationship, I know, you know, and the neighbors know even better—no matter what, don't say a word; we can't help, and we won't."

She pointed a finger at the door.

She issued an eviction order to Jia Zhangshi.

"We still have to eat; I won't keep you. Go back quickly, don't delay your own affairs, or if you cause trouble for us we won't be able to bear the responsibility."

With a "plop" sound,

Jia Zhangshi knelt before Shazhu.

She said nothing.

Three loud kowtows went "bang bang bang".

Shazhu, sitting on his stool eating, felt that Yu Li's intervention had made things so final that even if Jia Zhangshi were thick‑skinned, she could no longer stay put.

So he wasn't mentally prepared.

Then he fell into Jia Zhangshi's scheme and enjoyed her three kowtows.

By the time Shazhu came to, Yu Li and He Weiguo had already pulled Jia Zhangshi up from the ground.

"Old woman, are you trying to extort us?"

Jia Zhangshi felt weary.

"Even if I am trying to extort, I can't first kowtow three times to Shazhu."

"Don't say that."

You Fengxia's tone of questioning Jia Zhangshi really matched the Jia family's Bangeng.

"Xianghong, don't speak." Shazhu waved his hand to cut off Dang Xianghong's questioning of Jia Zhangshi, then told Yu Li and his eldest son to release their grip on Jia Zhangshi: "Let go."

They didn't believe Jia Zhangshi could still kneel and kowtow three times to him.

It was a misstep.

Yu Li and He Weiguo had just let go.

Jia Zhangshi then knelt again before Shazhu and gave him three kowtows.

Shazhu was dumbfounded.

Yu Li and the others were also dazed.

What predicament has the Jia family run into? First they kowtowed six times to Shazhu; given Jia Zhangshi's habit of only going to the Three Treasures Hall for a reason, those six bows must carry a huge price.

Jia Zhangshi thought similarly; to keep Huaihua safe and preserve the hope of Bangeng's marriage exchange, she prepared to use six kowtows to reverse‑psych Shazhu.

"I, the old lady, have kowtowed six times to you—you can't possibly refuse to help me find Huaihua with all your heart."

She meant to have Shazhu organize the neighbors to help look for Huaihua.

"Shazhu, help this old lady; we two families have lived in the same compound for years—out of respect for the Buddha if not the monk, please help this old lady."

Jia Zhangshi is also a ruthless person.

Nine returns to one.

On the basis of those six kowtows, she added three more.

Shazhu said nothing.

Jia Zhangshi, after seeing that she had kowtowed nine times, stopped bowing to him, bit her lip, and turned her gaze to Yu Li and the others.

They were all trying hard not to laugh.

They wore an expression of finding Shazhu amusing.

Shazhu turned his eyes back to Jia Zhangshi and thought, "Helping the Jia family—namely, getting Bangeng a wife and finding work for Huaihua—is not out of the question, but why should I help you Jia family? At most I could keep Huaihua working in Bai Xu; as for Bangeng, let him sink or swim—he won't even take the street‑assigned sewage‑cleaning job."

"Jia family matriarch, I can't help with the work—even if you kowtow another nine times, I'm still powerless, and I won't let you kowtow for nothing; later I'll have my eldest son kowtow to you, so nobody loses out."

"Dad."

He Weiguo drew out his shout.

"Why is it always me who gets the short end?"

「Shazhu, it's not about finding a job, it's about Huaihua's matter. Just now when we were eating at home, I don't know what happened, Huaihua said a few words about Bangeng, saying Bangeng shouldn't have come back. My old lady momentarily muddled, and said a few harsh words to Huaihua. Huaihua ran out. Huairu searched around, I searched around, couldn't find this child. Late at night, so many people have returned to the city. Huaihua happens to be a young girl; if something happens, my old lady surely would have no way to live. Shazhu, you are the most capable person in our Siheyuan. Please help me shout to the neighbors, together look for Huaihua. If something happens to her, my old lady also wouldn't want to live. 」

After saying the last sentence.

Jia Zhangshi burst into tears with a wail.

The sobbing of a hoarse, broken-gong voice.

Centering on Shazhu's home, it rapidly spread outward.

Some neighbors who had finished dinner, upon hearing someone crying at Shazhu's home, listened closely and realized it was Jia Zhangshi's voice, mistakenly thinking Jia Zhangshi had come to cause trouble at Shazhu's place.

Everyone knew Shazhu had influence at Yagangchang.

Such a good opportunity to curry favor with Shazhu—why not seize it? Yan Fugui's third son initially couldn't find a job; Shazhu helped arrange things, and now he works in Yegang chang baowei ke. It's said that matchmakers have come to propose marriages for him.

With a splashing sound.

They surged to Shazhu's home.

Some people, fearing they'd miss the chance, even before arriving, the voice scolding Jia Zhangshi for speaking up for Shazhu flew ahead and reached everyone's ears.

「Well done, Jia Zhangshi, you're not being troublesome enough, you ran to Master He's house to cause trouble—do you really think the neighbors in the courtyard fear you, Jia Zhangshi? You're just too lazy to bother with. 」

「Jia Zhangshi, can't you just settle down for a while late at night? You're making noise all day long. 」

「Master He, are you alright? 」

「It's good you came, saves me the trouble of calling you. 」Shazhu pulled Jia Zhangshi's sleeve, brought her into the courtyard, looked around at the neighbors who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the commotion, and explained the whole situation 「The Jia family old lady didn't come to our house to cause trouble; it's a Jia family matter. Just now you all heard the Jia family's argument. Huaihua has run away from home. 」

The scene instantly became deathly silent.

Everyone was dumbstruck by what Shazhu had said.

What the heck.

Huaihua ran away.

If it weren't for the fact that these words were spoken by Shazhu, the neighbors present might have already burst out laughing.

The Jia family really has bad feng shui.

Bangeng went to the countryside to marry a widow; for her sake, he ruined Xiao Dang's entire life. After great difficulty returning to the city, he ended up causing the fact that Huaihua had run away.

Some people.

They began to send signals with their eyes.

Could it be because of certain things?

The Jia family only has one house; for Bangeng to take a wife, there is no lack of suspicion that they used an excuse to drive Huaihua away.