Chapter 553: Moving Out of the Siheyuan

The Siheyuan before my eyes covers about one mu, with four north-facing rooms evenly placed on both sides of the main gate; inside the gate is a screen wall.

Probably to protect the interior; the screen wall outside has been coated with a layer of mud, bearing some old folks' sayings.

Behind the screen wall are four main rooms numbered one to four; where a fifth room should be, there is a small round archway, which is the passage between the front and rear courtyards.

On the east and west sides of the front courtyard, each side has four side rooms.

The entire front courtyard is essentially a standard square.

The rear courtyard is a standard rectangle, with five large main rooms serving as the residence of that director and his family; the east side has three side rooms, while the west side, originally meant for side rooms, has been turned into a row of ornamental gateways leading all the way to the round archway.

Shazhu took a liking to this place at first sight.

He wanted to buy it.

This place is tranquil.

Convenient for his family to live in.

Move in, close the door, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, winter; when Jia Zhangshi wants revenge, it'll be useless—she can't possibly fly in with wings!

"Director Wang, how much is the other side asking?"

"Now on the market, a single-room house sells for between three hundred and four hundred yuan; this two-entry, standalone Siheyuan has a total of twenty-four rooms."

Seeing Shazhu ask about the price, one could tell he had ideas; Director Wang, though somewhat doubtful in his heart, still gave a quote of seventy-five hundred yuan.

Uncertain whether Shazhu could have that much money.

But thinking of Shazhu's cooking skills, a bit of approval arose again.

Shazhu glanced at Director Wang, guessing whether this was the price offered by Director Wang or by the seller; he looked and saw nothing particular.

On the contrary, it made Director Wang impatient, and he explained why the price was seventy-five hundred.

"Seventy-five hundred, for such a large courtyard, it's not expensive at all."

"Director Wang, business isn't conducted like this."

"Director He, seventy-five hundred is truly not expensive; besides, there's a small garden next door—come, come, come, take a look."

Beside the round archway, on the left wall, a new door appears, which is the connecting passage between the second-entry Siheyuan and the small garden.

Following Director Wang's steps, Shazhu arrived here—a private small garden covering about six to seven hundred square meters, surrounded by walls taller than a person, connected to the Siheyuan through a round small gate.

In the center is a small pavilion; at the left wall corner is a small fishpond, now fishless, with only dead water, surrounded by some fake rockeries; on the garden's right side, it is said that some flowers, grasses, and fruit trees such as plum trees have been planted.

From Director Wang's words, Shazhu understood that he had benefited from that director's favor, linking the small garden originally not part of the Siheyuan together.

It really is an elegant place to reside!

The two-entry Siheyuan plus this small garden is worth seventy-five hundred yuan, but Shazhu still wants to press the price as low as possible; on one hand, he doesn't want to give Director Wang too easy an impression of being a sucker; on the other hand, Shazhu believes no one else besides himself would buy it.

Let's learn about being a bird startled by the bowstring.

Those people have just gone through a catastrophe, barely surviving; while the Siheyuan before them could be said to have been given to them again, to them it is no less than a hot potato.

Pull one hair and the whole body moves.

For those people, the greatest convenience is to convert as much as possible into cash, taking the money to go out to seek relatives.

This is Shazhu's reliance.

It is also the greatest cheat for a reborn person.

It's just being ahead of the curve!

"Director Wang, this number."

Shazhu stretched out five fingers.

Director Wang's face changed slightly.

This is pressing too hard, isn't it!

Five thousand.

"Director He, seventy-four hundred, I won't take any of the furniture; I'll leave it all for you."

"Director Wang, I, He Yuzhu, speak frankly with you: besides me, is anyone else buying this residence? More importantly, would they dare to buy it?"

A faint bitter smile.

Appearing on Director Wang's face.

He admitted that Shazhu was right.

This Siheyuan has actually been entrusted to Director Wang for about half a month already; many people, upon hearing of a standalone Siheyuan, all got scared and changed color.

Those who want to buy have no money; those who have money dare not buy.

Shazhu's description of it as a hot potato is not wrong at all.

Selling the rooms inside the Siheyuan one by one also feels like destroying the tranquility and elegance that a standalone Siheyuan ought to have.

He hardened his heart.

He reported the final price to Shazhu.

"Six thousand."

"Director Wang, if you had said that earlier, we could have avoided an unpleasant scene."

"In that case, Director He, does this mean you agree?"

"If I don't agree, there's nothing I can do—who let me, He Yuzhu, have to give Director Wang face?"

A little bit of flattery.

It was thrown over.

Director Wang, however, did not feel happy; facing the current situation, he suddenly couldn't see clearly, really unable to understand why those people are in such a hurry to leave.

"No credit, a fixed price."

"I actually think you can't agree either; should we call the landlord over?"

"No need, the property certificate is right at the street office; just follow me."

It's still Director Wang who thought of everything.

It's still Director Wang who thought of everything.

Shazhu followed Director Wang, went back to the street, obtained the courtyard house's property deed, went to the office, and they exchanged the passbook for the house.

Make sure pronouns: Shazhu male -> he. Director Wang male -> he. Use "his" etc.

Line: Shazhu followed behind Director Wang, returned to the street, found the property deed of the siheyuan, went to the department, and both sides exchanged the passbook for the house.

Let's produce: 【62】 Shazhu followed behind Director Wang, returned to the street, found the property deed of the siheyuan, went to the department, and both sides exchanged the passbook for the house.

Before leaving this morning, Shazhu specially brought a passbook worth six thousand yuan—one not in his name but still usable to withdraw money.

Translate: This morning before leaving, Shazhu specially brought a passbook worth six thousand yuan, a passbook not in his name but from which he could withdraw money.

It's a passbook with six thousand yuan, not in Shazhu's name, but usable for withdrawing money.

Line: 【63】 This morning before leaving, Shazhu specially brought a passbook worth six thousand yuan, a passbook not in his name but from which he could withdraw money.

When he was about to leave, he told Director Wang about the urgent recruitment of two guards at Bai Xu. Director Wang was delighted, saying he just happened to have two discharged veterans looking for work, and that Shazhu had done him a big favor, so he let Shazhu go to the street warehouse to haul some supposedly unused furniture to the courtyard house.

Translate: When it was nearly time to leave, he also told Director Wang about Bai Xu's urgent recruitment of two gatekeepers; Director Wang was delighted, saying he just happened to have two discharged veterans looking for work, saying Shazhu had done him a big favor, and thus he let Shazhu go to the street warehouse to haul some furniture supposedly not currently used to the siheyuan.

Shazhu gave him a big hand with the cash he had on hand.

Line: 【64】 When it was nearly time to leave, he also told Director Wang about Bai Xu's urgent recruitment of two gatekeepers; Director Wang was delighted, saying he just happened to have two discharged veterans looking for work, saying Shazhu had done him a big favor, and thus he let Shazhu go to the street warehouse to haul some furniture supposedly not currently used to the siheyuan.

He hired two porters to carry the goods.

Translate: He hired two porters.

He hired two workers who carry goods.

Line: 【65】 He hired two porters.

One of them turned out to be an acquaintance—a coworker from Shazhu's scrap yard, Wen San, who likes to brag and avoid taxes.

Translate: One of them turned out to be an acquaintance, a coworker from Shazhu's scrap yard, Wen San who boasts without paying taxes.

Wen San is the type who likes to brag and avoid taxes.

Line: 【66】 One of them turned out to be an acquaintance, a coworker from Shazhu's scrap yard, Wen San, who likes to brag and avoid taxes.

They hauled some obviously valuable tables and chairs from the street warehouse, all at once, to the courtyard house.

Translate: They hauled some furniture—tables, chairs, and benches that looked valuable at a glance—all at once to the siheyuan.

Line: 【67】 They hauled some furniture—tables, chairs, and benches that looked valuable at a glance—all at once to the siheyuan.

Lock the door.

Translate: Locked the door.

Line: 【68】 Locked the door.

Returning to Red Star Courtyard, he told Yu Li about buying the standalone courtyard house, and had her take the kids to familiarize themselves with the gate.

Translate: Returning to the Red Star Courtyard, he told Yu Li about his purchase of a standalone siheyuan, and then had Yu Li take the children to familiarize themselves with the gate.

Line: 【69】 Returning to the Red Star Courtyard, he told Yu Li about his purchase of a standalone siheyuan, and then had Yu Li take the children to familiarize themselves with the gate.

Yu Li, a woman of her word, decided to move there the same day.

Translate: Yu Li was also a person of her word; that same day she decided to move over.

Line: 【70】 Yu Li was also a person of her word; that same day she decided to move over.

The main concern was the safety of Niuniu and the others.

Translate: Mainly out of concern for Niu Niu and their safety.

Line: 【71】 Mainly out of concern for Niu Niu and their safety.

Jia Zhangshi was getting worse and more hysterical; she just held Jia Dongxu's memorial photo, sat at the door shouting 'Bargain!' and cursing Qin Huiru.

Translate: Jia Zhangshi was becoming less and less human, increasingly unhinged; just now she again clutched Jia Dongxu's memorial photo, sat at the doorway shouting for Bangeng, and cursed Qin Huairu.

Line: 【72】 Jia Zhangshi was becoming less and less human, increasingly unhinged; just now she again clutched Jia Dongxu's memorial photo, sat at the doorway shouting for Bangeng, and cursed Qin Huairu.

Following Shazhu's suggestion, they brought some spare clothes and bedding.

Translate: Following Shazhu's suggestion, they brought some changes of clothes and bedding.

Line: 【73】 Following Shazhu's suggestion, they brought some changes of clothes and bedding.

Some valuable items were also gradually taken away—for example, antiques Shazhu found or bought at the scrap yard, and valuables found in Warehouse No. 4 of the steel mill, which Wen San hauled away several times.

Translate: Some valuable items were also hauled away in succession—for example, the antiques Shazhu had picked up or bought at the scrap yard, and also the valuables found in Warehouse Four of the Yagangchang, which Wen San hauled over several trips.

Line: 【74】 Some valuable items were also hauled away in succession—for example, the antiques Shazhu had picked up or bought at the scrap yard, and also the valuables found in Warehouse Four of the Yagangchang, which Wen San hauled over several trips.

With such a commotion, the move couldn't fail to attract the neighbors, who came out to help; Bai Xu's enthusiasm also made the neighbors see Shazhu as talented, sparking their desire to flatter him.

Translate: With such a commotion, the move could not fail to draw the attention of the siheyuan's neighbors, who all came out to help; Bai Xu's fervor also made the neighbors think Shazhu was talented, sparking their desire to flatter him.

Line: 【75】 With such a commotion, the move could not fail to draw the attention of the siheyuan's neighbors, who all came out to help; Bai Xu's fervor also made the neighbors think Shazhu was talented, sparking their desire to flatter him.

"Master He, are you moving house?"

Translate: "Master He, are you moving house?"

Line: 【76】 "Master He, are you moving house?"

"Moving house."

Translate: "Moving house."

Line: 【77】 "Moving house."

"An apartment building?"

Translate: "An apartment building?"

Line: 【78】 "An apartment building?"

"The questioner anxiously stared at Shazhu."

Translate: The one asking looked anxiously at Shazhu.

Line: 【79】 The one asking looked anxiously at Shazhu.

"The one not asking listened intently."

Translate: The one not asking prick up their ears.

Line: 【80】 The one not asking prick up their ears.

"At that moment."

Translate: At that moment.

Line: 【81】 At that moment.

"Moving into a building where you don't need to go out to use the toilet is fashionable, a sign of one's ability."

Translate: Moving into an apartment building where you don't need to go out to use the toilet is a fashion, a sign of one's ability.

Line: 【82】 Moving into an apartment building where you don't need to go out to use the toilet is a fashion, a sign of one's ability.

"In the neighbors' eyes, Shazhu should be the first to move into an apartment building and live there; they looked at him with a hint of envy, thinking from now on his family wouldn't have to queue for the toilet—they could go whenever they wanted, though they wondered how to deal with the smell inside, perhaps using a chamber pot!"

Translate: In the neighbors' eyes, Shazhu should be the first person to move into an apartment building and live there; a hint of envy appeared in their gaze, from now on Shazhu's family wouldn't have to queue for the toilet, they could use it anytime, though they didn't know how to deal with the smell indoors—maybe they'd have to use a chamber pot!

Line: 【83】 In the neighbors' eyes, Shazhu should be the first person to move into an apartment building and live there; a hint of envy appeared in their gaze, from now on Shazhu's family wouldn't have to queue for the toilet, they could use it anytime, though they didn't know how to deal with the smell indoors—maybe they'd have to use a chamber pot!

"Facing the neighbors' expectant gazes, Shazhu chuckled."

Translate: Facing the neighbors' expectant gazes, Shazhu gave a hehe laugh.

Line: 【84】 Facing the neighbors' expectant gazes, Shazhu gave a hehe laugh.

"I actually wanted to live in an apartment building, but I don't meet the requirements—I moved to Unit 1, Ma Ye Hutong courtyard house."

Translate: "I actually wanted to live in an apartment building, but I don't meet the requirements—I moved to No. 1 Ma Ye Hutong siheyuan."

Line: 【85】 "I actually wanted to live in an apartment building, but I don't meet the requirements—I moved to No. 1 Ma Ye Hutong siheyuan."

"Those who knew the Ma Ye Hutong Unit 1 courtyard house widened their eyes instantly, looking at Shazhu as if he were foolish."

Translate: Those neighbors who knew the No. 1 Ma Ye Hutong siheyuan instantly widened their eyes, looking at Shazhu as if he were a fool.

Line: 【86】 Those neighbors who knew the No. 1 Ma Ye Hutong siheyuan instantly widened their eyes, looking at Shazhu as if he were a fool.

"A standalone courtyard house—how much does that cost?"

Translate: A standalone siheyuan—how much does that cost?

Line: 【87】 A standalone siheyuan—how much does that cost?

"Spending that much money and not buying an apartment is just plain crazy."

Translate: Spending that much money and not buying an apartment building is pure madness.

Line: 【88】 Spending that much money and not buying an apartment building is pure madness.

"This is also why Shazhu could buy a two‑entry standalone courtyard house for six thousand yuan: everyone was scrambling to get into apartments, while standalone courtyard houses, being ordinary homes, were overlooked, letting Shazhu snag a bargain."

Translate: This is also why Shazhu could spend six thousand yuan to buy a two‑courtyard standalone siheyuan: everyone was scrambling to live in apartment buildings, while a standalone siheyuan is just a plain house, unpopular, so Shazhu managed to snag a bargain.

Line: 【89】 This is also why Shazhu could spend six thousand yuan to buy a two‑courtyard standalone siheyuan: everyone was scrambling to live in apartment buildings, while a standalone siheyuan is just a plain house, unpopular, so Shazhu managed to snag a bargain.

"Director He, how much does this cost?"

Translate: "Director He, how much does this cost?"

Line: 【90】 "Director He, how much does this cost?"

"I've spent all the money we had saved, and I've scraped together some from friends and relatives, barely managing to raise enough for the house."

Translate: "The money we had saved at home has been spent, and I also cashed out some from friends and relatives, barely scraping together enough for the house."

Line: 【91】 "The money we had saved at home has been spent, and I also cashed out some from friends and relatives, barely scraping together enough for the house."

"He wasn't telling the truth—after all, you can't just reveal your family's entire wealth."

Translate: He didn't tell the truth, after all one can't just spill the family's entire fortune.

Line: 【92】 He didn't tell the truth, after all one can't just spill the family's entire fortune.

"Envy is something everyone experiences."

Translate: Envy is something everyone has.

Line: 【93】 Envy is something everyone has.

"Shazhu made up an excuse."

Translate: Shazhu made up a reason out of thin air.

Line: 【94】 Shazhu made up a reason out of thin air.

"Shazhu, are you selling our Red Star Courtyard house?"

Translate: "Shazhu, are you selling the house in our Red Star Courtyard?"

Line: 【95】 "Shazhu, are you selling the house in our Red Star Courtyard?"

"Uncle San, do you have an idea?"

Translate: "San Daye, do you have an idea?"

Line: 【96】 "San Daye, do you have an idea?"

"Looking at Yan Fugui, Shazhu thought: he already had a two‑entry courtyard house with a small garden, and seeing the mixed‑quality courtyard houses before him, he naturally wouldn't move back."

Translate: Shazhu looked at Yan Fugui, then thought: he already had a two‑courtyard siheyuan with a small garden, and the mixed‑quality siheyuan before him naturally wouldn't be his residence again.

Line: 【97】 Shazhu looked at Yan Fugui, then thought: he already had a two‑courtyard siheyuan with a small garden, and the mixed‑quality siheyuan before him naturally wouldn't be his residence again.

"Having just given the excuse of borrowing money to buy a house, if he didn't sell the Red Star Courtyard house it would be hard to explain; he smiled and expressed his intention to Yan Fugui."

Translate: Having just given the excuse of borrowing money to buy a house, if he didn't sell the Red Star Courtyard house it would be hard to explain; he smiled and expressed his willingness to Yan Fugui.

Line: 【98】 Having just given the excuse of borrowing money to buy a house, if he didn't sell the Red Star Courtyard house it would be hard to explain; he smiled and expressed his willingness to Yan Fugui.

"If the price is right, why not sell?"

Translate: "If the price is right, why not sell?"

Line: 【99】 "If the price is right, why not sell?"

"Yu Li thought of something."

Translate: Yu Li thought of something.

Line: 【100】 Yu Li thought of something.

"He pulled Yu Fengxia aside and whispered something."

Translate: She pulled You Fengxia aside and whispered something.

Line: 【101】 She pulled You Fengxia aside and whispered something.

"Yu Fengxia glanced at Shazhu, then at the courtyard house, shook her head, then nodded."

Translate: You Fengxia glanced at Shazhu, then at the siheyuan house, first shaking her head, then nodding.

Line: 【102】 You Fengxia glanced at Shazhu, then at the siheyuan house, first shaking her head, then nodding.

"Yu Li stepped up to Shazhu and whispered: 'We bought a standalone courtyard house with over twenty rooms; I thought our family wouldn't need them all, so I told Xiang Hong to move with us, but she refused. I was thinking maybe we could give her one room—what do you think?'"

Translate: Yu Li stepped up to Shazhu and said softly, "We did buy a standalone siheyuan, didn't we—more than twenty rooms. I thought our family wouldn't fill them all, so I told Xiang Hong to move with us, but she refused. I was thinking, why not give her one of the siheyuan rooms? What do you think?"

Line: 【103】 Yu Li stepped up to Shazhu and said softly, "We did buy a standalone siheyuan, didn't we—more than twenty rooms. I thought our family wouldn't fill them all, so I told Xiang Hong to move with us, but she refused. I was thinking, why not give her one of the siheyuan rooms? What do you think?"

"Xiang Hong, aren't you moving in with us?"

Translate: "Xiang Hong, you're not coming to live with us?"

Line: 【104】 "Xiang Hong, you're not coming to live with us?"

"Brother, I've told my sister‑in‑law I still like the courtyard's atmosphere; after work I can still chat with Uncle San."

Translate: "Brother, I've told my sister‑in‑law, I still like the atmosphere of our siheyuan; after work I can still chat with San Daye."

Line: 【105】 "Brother, I've told my sister‑in‑law, I still like the atmosphere of our siheyuan; after work I can still chat with San Daye."

"Then, as your sister‑in‑law wishes, I'll give you the two left‑side rooms.' Shazhu pointed to the two rooms that used to belong to Old Yi Zhonghai and told Yu Fengxia, 'The central main house is our Old He family's ancestral home—please look after it.'"

Translate: "Then, as your sister‑in‑law wishes, I'll give you the two rooms on the left." Shazhu pointed to the two rooms that used to belong to Yi Zhonghai's family, and said to You Fengxia, "The main hall of the central courtyard is our old He family's ancestral home; please look after it."

Line: 【106】 "Then, as your sister‑in‑law wishes, I'll give you the two rooms on the left." Shazhu pointed to the two rooms that used to belong to Yi Zhonghai's family, and said to You Fengxia, "The main hall of the central courtyard is our old He family's ancestral home; please look after it."

"The ancestral home cannot be sold."

Translate: The ancestral home cannot be sold.

Line: 【107】 The ancestral home cannot be sold.

"Maybe Grandpa He will come back and live here."

Translate: Maybe He Daqing will come back and still live there.

Line: 【108】 Maybe He Daqing will come back and still live there.

"In the previous life."

Translate: In the previous life.

Line: 【109】 In the previous life.

"In this life, Shazhu fell victim to Xu Daming's scheme; he deliberately went to Baocheng to bring back He Daqing, who had been kicked out of his home by the White Widow and her children, into the courtyard."

Translate: In his previous life, Shazhu fell victim to Xu Damao's scheming; Bie Sun deliberately went to Baocheng and brought back He Daqing, who had been driven out of his home by the Bai widow's several children, to the siheyuan.

Line: 【110】 In his previous life, Shazhu fell victim to Xu Damao's scheming; Bie Sun deliberately went to Baocheng and brought back He Daqing, who had been driven out of his home by the Bai widow's several children, to the siheyuan.

"This lifetime."

Translate: In this life.

Line: 【111】 In this life.

"It's likely to end the same way."

Translate: I suppose it will end up the same.

Line: 【112】 I suppose it will end up the same.

"No problem—I'll take responsibility; when I have money later, I'll repay you for the house."

Translate: "No problem, I'll take care of it; when I have money in the future, I'll repay you for the house, Brother."

Line: 【113】 "No problem, I'll take care of it; when I have money in the future, I'll repay you for the house, Brother."

"What repayment? You don't need to pay me back."

Translate: "What repayment? No need to repay."

Line: 【114】 "What repayment? No need to repay."

"Considering Yu Fengxia works at Bai Xu, gets off late, and is a beautiful young woman, if she ran into a hooligan it would be too late to regret."

Translate: Considering that You Fengxia works at Bai Xu, gets off late, and is herself a beautiful young woman, if she ever ran into a hooligan, it would be too late to regret.

Line: 【115】 Considering that You Fengxia works at Bai Xu, gets off late, and is herself a beautiful young woman, if she ever ran into a hooligan, it would be too late to regret.

"Coincidentally, Ma Hua heard about Shazhu's move, came to help; Shazhu thought Ma Hua's housing was tight and also wanted him to protect Yu Fengxia at night, so he sold the front courtyard house formerly belonging to Old Yang's family to Ma Hua."

Translate: Coincidentally, Ma Hua heard the news of Shazhu's move and rushed to help; Shazhu thought Ma Hua's family housing was tight, and also wanted Ma Hua to protect You Fengxia at night, so he sold the front courtyard's old Yang family house to Ma Hua.

Line: 【116】 Coincidentally, Ma Hua heard the news of Shazhu's move and rushed to help; Shazhu thought Ma Hua's family housing was tight, and also wanted Ma Hua to protect You Fengxia at night, so he sold the front courtyard's old Yang family house to Ma Hua.

"It was said to be a sale."

Translate: It was said to be a sale.

Line: 【117】 It was said to be a sale.

"In fact, it was just a gift."

Translate: Actually it was just a gift.

Line: 【118】 Actually it was just a gift.

"Whenever you have money, give it to him; if you don't, it's fine—forget about it."

Translate: Whenever he has money, he'll give it; if he doesn't, it's fine—no need to worry about it.

Line: 【119】 Whenever he has money, he'll give it; if he doesn't, it's fine—no need to worry about it.

As for this honest disciple who helped him a lot in his previous life, Shazhu was still rather generous.

Thus: Thus: Mahua that same day brought his wife and children over to move in, and his mother came along as well.

Except for the He family's ancestral home, Shazhu sold all the other houses in the courtyard that could be sold.

The front courtyard's old Zhou family's house was sold to Yan Fugui; the middle courtyard's house near the Jia family's old Ma family's house was sold to a pig‑butchering butcher, who looked fierce; when the butcher's family moved in, Jia Zhangshi insisted they had stepped on the Jia family's land and demanded compensation, but the butcher's wife slapped her twice, instantly silencing her; the rear courtyard's deaf old lady's house was sold to a family surnamed Hu.

The sparsely populated courtyard saw six or seven new households move in within just one afternoon.

It also became lively.

The only person unhappy was probably Jia Zhangshi; she had been slapped hard, yet could find nowhere to reason, hiding in the Jia family, she stared hatefully at Shazhu, who had pocketed two or three thousand from selling the houses, her back teeth almost grinding to pieces.

She thought: "Damn Shazhu, you got my grandson Bangeng imprisoned, yet you just brushed off your pants and moved away; this old woman curses you to a wretched life."

Shazhu couldn't hear those words.

Even if he heard them, he wouldn't care.

Without her own support and with Bangeng back in jail, Jia Zhangshi would not live a carefree life as she did in her previous life.

Nor would there be any so‑called courtyard retirement home.

Standing at the gate of the Red Star Courtyard.

Shazhu suddenly felt a pang of regret: Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi, Bangeng and the others each got their comeuppance, but Yi Zhonghai, who had plotted deepest against Shazhu in the previous life, had died early and escaped this calamity.

He pondered for a moment.

A sigh escaped.

It flew out from Shazhu's mouth.

Riding his bicycle, he walked toward the nearby police station; he needed to tell Yushui and his spouse about the move, and also ask Liu Jianguo for help.

Secretary Xu's charade of borrowing the tiger's might cannot go on long—just a few days; for Bai Xu's sake and his own, the later act requires Liu Jianguo, his brother‑in‑law, to step forward.

It's still the same act of borrowing the tiger's might, only the performer has changed from Secretary Xu to Liu Jianguo.

Liu Jianguo and Yushui and his spouse were both there; upon seeing Shazhu, he told him he had bought a separate‑entry courtyard house and invited them to come over for dinner that evening.