Chapter 530: Long-awaited Grand Courtyard Meeting

He returned indoors.

Shazhu, by the light, glanced at what Yan Fugui had given him.

He discovered it was a small jade pendant.

Although he didn't understand collecting, he could still tell at a glance that this was good; the sense of antiquity on the jade pendant couldn't be faked.

He thought about those collections of later generations.

He felt relieved.

Bai Xu's suspension and rectification, for Shazhu, was not necessarily a bad thing; after his rebirth, amidst various busyness, he single-mindedly paved his own way.

Instead, he forgot the true meaning of life.

Leisure.

Starting tomorrow.

Wandering around the entire capital.

Shazhu recalled his old Seagull camera; he originally wanted to capture some scenery, but because he hadn't anticipated the circumstances at the time, it ended in a mix-up.

He almost got arrested, mistaken for a detective.

It was only after Shazhu appealed to Director Wang, who helped testify, that Shazhu avoided imprisonment.

After that.

Thereafter, the camera was set aside by Shazhu.

Bending over.

He began searching.

Upon hearing the commotion, Yu Li came back from outside, saw Shazhu sticking his head into the cabinet with his butt raised, and involuntarily let out a few pleased laughs.

In ancient times, ostriches bury their heads.

Nowadays, Shazhu sticks his head out.

"Honey, what are you looking for?"

"Wife, do you remember or not remember our family's camera?"

"What do you want it for?"

"I was thinking that lately there's nothing to do, so it's a good chance to wander around the whole capital."

"I'll help you find it; look at you—people who know will realize you're looking for something, while those who don't might think you're up to something."

Shazhu pulled his head back out of the cabinet.

His face somehow got a smudge of ash.

Yu Li rubbed his face with her hand, took the camera out from a drawer, Shazhu fetched a clean cloth and began wiping it carefully.

He looked focused.

He truly treated the camera as a treasure.

Three or four minutes later.

Suddenly, the sound of an argument between the Jia family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from diagonally opposite flew through the glass into Shazhu and Yu Li's ears; the couple exchanged a glance.

They pretended not to have heard it.

They continued with their own affairs.

……

"Well done, Qin Huairu, whose face are you showing? I'm your mother-in-law, and you treat me like this? Do you still have any filial piety? Since Dong Xu is gone, as his wife, it's only natural for you to look after me, his former mother-in-law; what are you arguing about?"

"I'm arguing—shouldn't I be allowed to argue?"

Qin Huairu's face turned dark as she glared venomously at Jia Zhangshi, increasingly feeling that this old hag was no good.

She drove away Huaihua, not to mention.

Moreover, she stirred up Bangeng to resent Qin Huairu.

She does nothing all day, just stirring up trouble; perhaps she won't be satisfied until the Jia family is in an uproar.

Qin Huairu had to busy herself with work at the steel mill, and also find time to inquire about Huaihua's whereabouts; Jia Zhangshi and Bangeng didn't treat Huaihua as anything, but Qin Huairu couldn't do that, after all, Huaihua was flesh from her own body, raised from infancy to a height of 1.56 meters; only Qin Huairu knows the heartache within.

Because she was busy.

She had no time to cook.

Qin Huairu bought three extra steamed buns from the steel mill, thinking that after work she would look for Huaihua, and when she returned in the evening she could fill her stomach a bit, thus avoiding having to cook.

What a bunch.

Of the three steamed buns, none were left for Qin Huairu—Jia Zhangshi ate one, and Bangeng ate two.

Qin Huairu became unhappy, saying a few things to Jia Zhangshi, such as reproaches like "You're at home, why don't you cook yourself?"

Jia Zhangshi refused to continue, saying that eating Qin Huairu's steamed buns was giving her face, claiming this was what Qin Huairu should do, and also saying that they should eat today, eat even more tomorrow, and keep eating from now on.

Needle point against wheat awn.

Neither would yield to the other.

And so they began arguing.

Both sides flushed red as they stared at each other.

Their words were especially fierce.

"You're lazy and still find excuses? You say I'm unfilial, but what kind of mother-in-law are you? All day you stir up trouble, constantly saying 'Jia family,' the Jia family has been ruined by you. If it weren't for your lack of virtue in speech, Dong Xu wouldn't have met with misfortune."

"Qin Huairu, explain clearly how I've ruined the Jia family."

"Bangeng is your eldest grandson, spoiled by you to the point of being unbearable; at his young age he steals things, yet you not only fail to stop him, you even praise him as sensible, a good child. Is there any grandmother in the world who teaches her grandson to steal like you do? I'll speak plainly: you protect Bangeng like a hen protecting her chicks, and Bangeng has been turned bad by you as his grandmother. People like us are fine, but Bangeng stepped into a widow's trap; for his sake, you forced Xiao Dang to marry a man over ten years older than her; after Bangeng returned, you again drove Huaihua away. Go ask around, listen to how the neighbors talk about our Jia family—they say our Jia family's feng shui is ruined because they've encountered a wicked grandmother like you."

"Our Jia family's feng shui is ruined precisely because we married you, Qin Huairu; if it weren't for your insistence on marrying Dong Xu, our Jia family would long have been an enviable dual-income household. Qin Huairu, you still have the nerve to say I'm at fault? I scoff—don't think I don't know what you're thinking: you merely want to drive me out, kick Bangeng out, and enjoy life alone. No way—this house is the Jia family's."

"Indeed, you've said it right—I was planning just that."

Bangeng and the Jia Family are mentioned; also, the term "ma" might not be a name.

【62】 Jia Family.

【63】 Qin Huairu.

【64】 none.

【65】 Qin Huairu, Bangeng, Shazhu.

【66】 Qin Huairu.

【67】 Bangeng.

【68】 Bangeng.

【69】 Jia Family.

【70】 Bangeng.

【71】 Bangeng.

【72】 Jia Zhangshi.

【73】 Bangeng, Qin Huairu.

【74】 none.

【75】 Qin Huairu, Bangeng.

【76】 Siheyuan.

Bangeng and Qin Huairu are mentioned; also, the historical figure Chen Shimei appears, which is a personal name.

Mom, go out, this is the Jia family.

Qin Huairu's heart.

She felt a sudden chill.

Looking at Bangeng, who pointed at the door and told Qin Huairu to get lost, she didn't know what to say and suddenly remembered a phrase Shazhu had once told her.

Qin Huairu, you will have a bitter life ahead.

She stepped back, her eyes scanning Bangeng up and down, wanting to see his face clearly.

"Bangeng, what did you say? Say it again."

Grandma is right, this is the Jia family; I am the only male descendant of the Jia family, and I have the final say in the Jia family. If you make grandma angry again, I will really kick you out.

Bangeng, don't worry about her, just kick her out.

Seeing that she had Bangeng to back her up.

Jia Zhangshi's confidence inexplicably grew.

Arrogantly spouting harsh words, he urged Bangeng to drive Qin Huairu away.

She didn't even think about it.

Qin Huairu is Bangeng's biological mother; for a son to reject his mother and let her fend for herself outside is utterly disrespectful.

The courtyard is crowded and full of gossip.

If Bangeng drives Qin Huairu away, rumors of his unfilial behavior will spread; he already bears the "Chen Shimei hat" of unfiliality, and if more unfilial charges are added, besides being unable to find work, he probably won't be able to find a wife either.

Interpretation: For each name that appears, we should output an entry with raw_term being the English form (as per glossary if provided) and original_term being the Chinese characters. If a name is not in the glossary, we need to provide its English translation (presumably the meaning) as raw_term? But the instruction says "Reuse the EXACT English already in the glossary above." That could mean we should only list those names that have glossary entries; others we should not list? However earlier they said "List every character... that appears in these lines." So we must list all names, but for those not in glossary we need to provide the English translation ourselves (not from glossary). The phrase "Reuse the EXACT English already in the glossary above." likely means for those terms that are in the glossary, we must use exactly that English form; for others we must translate them ourselves (not copy from glossary). So we need to produce a list of all names appearing, with raw_term being the English translation (using glossary forms where available). Let's do that.

Thus we need to identify all names: personal names, place names, sect/clan/faction/people, official & sect rank/title, technique, item/artifact, beast, realm.

Let's go through lines and extract.

We'll go line by line.

"The bride's parents" is a generic term; "the parents-in-law" is also generic.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi are mentioned; also, the name Xu Dam

Also "scheming bitch" is a slang term meaning "scheming bitch". Not a name.

If Xu Damu had snatched it away from me back then, I guess life would be much better.

none.

none.

none.

Bangeng, Qin Huairu? Actually line: "Still have the nerve to laugh, Bangeng, she's making fun of you, tell grandma to chase her out." Names: Bangeng, Qin Huairu (her). Also "grandma" generic.

Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi? Actually line: "Throw me out? On what grounds? This house was bought with my own money, Qin Huairu. What right do you have to evict me? If you want me out, pay up." Names: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi. The speaker is Jia Zhangshi (grandma).

Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, also "Liu Guangfu" appears: "Liu Guangfu". That's a name. So we need to list Liu Guangfu? Actually "Liu Guangfu" -> Liu Guangfu. Not in glossary.

"Who can prove it? The Jia Family relies solely on me, Qin Huairu, to earn money and support the family; the wealth we've accumulated is also my achievement, what does it have to do with you?"

Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu.

Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi? Actually line: "I have children, your children are dead—aren't you basically extinct?" Speakers: Qin Huairu? Actually it's Qin Huairu speaking? The line is quoted: "I have children, your children are dead—aren't you basically extinct?" Likely Qin Huairu speaking to Jia Zhangshi. So names: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi.

Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi? Actually speaker is Jia Zhangshi? The line is likely Jia Zhangshi speaking: "Qin Huairu, I'm going to fight you to the bitter end." So names: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi lunges at Qin Huairu. Names: Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu also rushes toward Jia Zhangshi. Names: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi.

The two widows of the Jia family grapple; you seize my hair, I tug your braid, we tumble on the ground, the fight is fiercely brutal—you strike with the Five-pronged Flaming Fork, I rake with Eagle Claw Technique, your claws become a weapon to gain the upper hand, scratching the opponent's face as much as possible. Names: Jia Family. Also techniques: Five-pronged Flaming Fork and Eagle Claw Technique. These are martial arts techniques. According to the rules, we need to list technique names: Five-pronged Flaming Fork and Eagle Claw Technique. Five-pronged Flaming Fork is a weapon—a fork with five prongs and flames. Eagle Claw Technique is a clawing martial art. Fingernails are not a technique.

Bangeng, as a member of the Jia family, sees Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu fighting; instead of helping or breaking it up, he stands aside watching the show as if nothing happened. Names: Bangeng, Jia Family, Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu.

Eventually, neighbors who heard the commotion couldn't stand it and separated Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu—one was pushed into the inner room, the other blocked in the outer room. Names: Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu. Also "neighbors" generic.

Her complexion is awful, with blotches of blue and purple, traces of blood seeping from the corners of her mouth, nosebleed dripping from her nostrils, her hair a messy tangle, looking like a chicken coop where eggs are laid.

"Jia Zhangshi, what are you competing with Qin Huairu for? You're the elder, she's the younger; if this gets out, people will laugh." Names: Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu.

"And you, Qin Huairu, I'm not saying this to blame you—Jia Zhangshi may be wrong, but she's also Jia Dongxu's mother, your mother-in-law; if you fight her, won't people stab you in the back? How do you look at yourself?" Names: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi, Jia Dongxu. Also "mother-in-law" generic.

"Bangeng, you too—your grandma and your birth mother are fighting; you should be breaking them up, yet you're just watching the show, even sipping tea while you watch." Names: Bangeng, Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu.

"His grandma, I'm not to blame—Qin Huairu is nitpicking, refusing to be filial to me, this old woman, so I have no choice but to confront her." Names: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi? Actually "his grandma" refers to Jia Zhangshi? The speaker is Jia Zhangshi? The line:... Likely speaker is Jia Zhangshi (grandma) referring to "his grandma" maybe her mother-in-law? Actually "his grandma" could be "his grandma"? Hard to parse. But we have Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi.

"This matter also has nothing to do with me, Qin Huairu—who let this wicked mother-in-law do evil all her life, and now she's targeting me, Qin Huairu? Huaihua was driven off, Xiao Dang destroyed, Bangeng led astray, and she still dares to say I'm not doing anything." Names: Qin Huairu, Huaihua, Xiao Dang, Bangeng. Also "wicked mother-in-law" generic.

"Qin Huairu, who are you talking about?" Names: Qin Huairu.

"You're the one I'm talking about."

"This family doesn't welcome you."

"Want to drive me away? No way—it's you who should leave."

"You want to split the household?"

"If we split, we split—who's afraid of whom?"

"You think splitting the household will scare me? I'm going right now to find the Third Elder, hold a Grand Courtyard meeting, and split the household publicly." Names: Third Elder, Grand Courtyard. Also "Grand Courtyard Meeting" is an event, not a name? Might be considered a place/event but we can list "Grand Courtyard Assembly"? However we already have Grand Courtyard as place. The event "Grand Courtyard Meeting" maybe we can treat as "Grand Courtyard Meeting". But instruction: list place, sect/clan/faction/people, official & sect rank/title, technique, item/artifact, beast, and realm. "Grand Courtyard Meeting" is an event, not a place. Might be considered a gathering but not a place. We'll skip unless it's a proper name. We'll list Third Elder and Grand Courtyard.

…… (ellipsis) no names.

The Grand Courtyard meeting that had disappeared for a long time within the siheyuan. Names: Siheyuan, Dayuan.

It appeared once again before the neighbors.

Things different from the previous Grand Courtyard meeting.

This time, only Yan Fugui is presiding. Names: Yan Fugui.

It's still that familiar table, but the only person behind it is Old Kou. Names: Lao Kou.

Among the three stewards of the siheyuan, Yan Fugui is one of the few remaining. Names: Siheyuan, Yan Fugui. Also "steward" is a rank/title.

But we need to decide if we should list each occurrence or just unique names. Likely unique.

After the neighbors gradually gathered in the central courtyard, Yan Fugui tapped on the teahouse, looked around at the neighbors, and suddenly felt a little pleased. Names: Zhong Yuan. Also "teahouse" generic.

Who would have thought that the one laughing last would be him, Yan Fugui? Names: Yan Fugui.

"Everyone, quiet down—let's hold a Grand Courtyard meeting. It's not for any other reason, nor to convey some superior policies; it's simply to respond to the Jia family's call, to hold a simple meeting. Just now I thought the neighbors all heard the commotion coming from inside the Jia family's house. Yes, that's right—today's Grand Courtyard meeting concerns the Jia family; strictly speaking, it's an internal Jia family matter: Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu are splitting the household, and we neighbors will all bear witness." Names: Jia Family, Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu. Also "Grand Courtyard meeting" again.

The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar.

I never thought the Jia family would end up splitting apart.

We just don't know how to divide the household.

After all, there's only one house.

Could someone actually move out?

To be fair.

They want Jia Zhangshi to be the one to move out.

Who made Jia Zhangshi increasingly shameless, capable of anything.

"Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, tell us your terms. By custom, the house is divided per person—let us know how you wish to split it."

"As I see it, if Qin Huairu moves out, this house belongs to the Jia family, and she must also give up her job—a job my son earned with his life."

Jia Zhangshi jumped in first.

She wants everything.

She wants the house.

She also wants the job.

The problem is Qin Huairu disagreed, she gave a slight smile, her mocking intent obvious.

"Jia Dongxu worked as a fitter, while I now clean toilets—why should I hand it over to you?"

The neighbors, hearing this,

felt there was some truth to it.

Qin Huairu's toilet‑cleaning job is something she earned on her own, having nothing to do with the Jia family.

"As for the house you say is yours, when did it become the Jia family's? Initially the property belonged to Yagangchang; we paid rent month by month, quarter by quarter, year by year. Later a one‑time payment policy was introduced, making the house our private property. Since Jia Dongxu left, who among the neighbors doesn't know the Jia family has been kept afloat by me, Qin Huairu, earning the money to support the household?"

The conversation took a turn.

They brought up Jia Zhangshi's reputation as a manure‑making machine.

Back then they truly despised Jia Zhangshi's lack of effort; now her very inaction serves as proof of Qin Huairu's contributions to the Jia family.

Qin Huairu could call it an unexpected blessing.

"You Jia Zhangshi, eating and loafing all day, a pair of shoes lasts you a month or even two—how could you possibly have money to buy a house? Your savings would rather be totally swindled by con artists than go to me, Qin Huairu."

The fact that Jia Zhangshi was cheated out of money.

Qin Huairu also brought it up.

"The money for the house came from my own hard‑earned savings, Qin Huairu; you Jia Zhangshi just flap your lips and think you can take my house—who gave you the gall? What kind of fantasy are you living in?"

Jia Zhangshi hasn't yet spoken her stance.

The surrounding neighbors then chimed in.

"What Qin Huairu says is reasonable; after Dongxu left, she has been painstakingly supporting the Jia family, playing the roles of father, mother, and son."

"Jia Zhangshi has been lazy and gluttonous for years; I don't believe she could have paid for the house—she has no job, so how could she have saved that much?"

"Bangeng stole chickens, and even Xu Daming wanted to report him to the police, yet Jia Zhangshi clutches her relief money and refuses to spend it."

"Haven't you heard Qin Huairu say that Jia Zhangshi's money was all cheated away?"

"You eat off Qin Huairu, drink off Qin Huairu, spend Qin Huairu's money, and now you want to split from her—why?"