Chapter 562

What made Shazhu feel even more troubled.

It was because last night Xu Daming and Lou Xiao'e both didn't go home, also because they had drunk too much, worried about danger on the road, they all drank until they were staggering and unconscious.

Yu Li then arranged for them to stay in the main house of the front courtyard, one staying in the east room, the other in the west room.

Shazhu and his wife slept in the back courtyard with He Weiguo and the others.

There was also the idea of using the opportunity to matchmake Lou Xiao'e and Xu Daming.

Although I don't know whether Lou Xiao'e is divorced or not, Yu Li feels they should be together; more than ten years ago their marriage was also happy, if not for the damned times, they probably wouldn't have divorced.

Divorce isn't necessarily a bad thing; if they hadn't divorced and stayed in the capital, Lou Xiao'e wouldn't have the graceful demeanor she has now.

Shazhu didn't know about Lou Xiao'e staying overnight; he still got up in the morning, went to the front room to eat, saw Lou Xiao'e there, and almost fainted from fright.

Worried that whatever thing he borrowed would be found out by Yu Li.

He forced himself to ask Lou Xiao'e; Lou Xiao'e said she didn't go back last night, she slept in the Siheyuan.

Shazhu's mind buzzed, as if a pot exploded; to divert attention, he asked Xu Daming where he had gone.

Lou Xiao'e said Xu Daming is now going to see Factory Director Yang to handle the procedures for leaving his job with pay retained, saying Xu Daming wants to go south to have a look; hearing from Yu Li, saying Shazhu will return to the Siheyuan soon, Lou Xiao'e asked Shazhu to take her along, saying she needs to go back to the Siheyuan to take care of some matters.

Shazhu asked, and only then learned that Xu Daming had sold the back courtyard house to Lou Xiao'e; Lou Xiao'e specially went to drive out Qin Jingru.

Originally, Qin Jingru used the excuse that she was pregnant with Xu Daming's child to force Xu Daming to divorce Lou Xiao'e, effectively driving Lou Xiao'e out of that back courtyard house.

The tides of fortune have turned.

Now it's Lou Xiao'e's turn to force Qin Jingru to divorce.

Shazhu told Yu Li, Lou Xiao'e also greeted Yu Li, the two left the Siheyuan and walked up to the Item: niezi.

Looking at the somewhat decent three-wheeled motorcycle before her, Lou Xiao'e couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.

"Yours?"

"A scrapped vehicle eliminated from a state-owned unit, it can be ridden, faster than a bicycle, less effort."

Lou Xiao'e didn't speak.

She sat inside the Item: niezi.

Together with Shazhu, they drove toward the Siheyuan.

On the road.

Various thoughts floated up.

All she thought about were Shazhu's matters; from the moment Lou Xiao'e married into the Siheyuan, she began to care about Shazhu; at first it was because of Xu Daming, Xu Daming always said some praises and criticisms of Shazhu in front of Lou Xiao'e; after getting along with Shazhu, she realized Shazhu was not an ordinary person; while others thought bicycles were a novelty, Shazhu had his own bicycle, even bought one for Yushui, the household also had a radio and a sewing machine; even more astonishing was that all these things were procured by Shazhu alone.

Just as bicycles were about to become widespread, Shazhu instead rode a three-wheeled motorcycle; although it was an old vehicle, at least it was an oil-consuming gadget; she believed that when motorcycles became common in every household, Shazhu would surely be able to drive his own small car.

Suddenly she thought of giving Shazhu a small car.

……

Inside the Siheyuan.

Yan Fugui, as always, was watering the flowers.

He was getting on in years.

He always felt things had changed, everyone lived low-key, over a decade passed in the blink of an eye, the neighbors in the courtyard also underwent changes: Liu Haizhong went to prison, his wife left and children scattered, Shazhu moved out and moved into a separate Siheyuan, while the Jia family remained firmly entrenched in the Siheyuan.

But many things also happened: Bangeng grew up, evolving from a juvenile white-eyed wolf into the ultimate white-eyed wolf king, he went to be a sent-down youth for several years, just returned, all day long he wore a dead-fish face, as if others owed him money, eventually he found himself a place to eat free meals.

Xiao Dang and Huaihua have also grown up, becoming graceful, marriageable maidens; but because of Bangeng this white-eyed wolf, one ran off to the northwest and married a man over ten years her senior, heard she even bore two or three children. Huaihua, although unmarried, was driven out of the Jia family by Bangeng and Jia Zhangshi jointly, leaving no trace alive or dead. The Jia family thus split, Jia Zhangshi all day regarded Qin Huairu as her enemy, and Qin Huairu also disliked Jia Zhangshi.

These are all changes in the Siheyuan.

He was waiting for Shazhu.

Purely out of boredom, responding to Qin Huairu's request, he prepared to have a good talk with Shazhu, to see if he could rent Shazhu's house.

"Put-put-put" sound of the motorcycle.

It sounded at the gate of the Siheyuan.

He learned from Thus: Thus: Mahua that Shazhu had bought a motorcycle, and he still couldn't quite believe it.

Has Shazhu become so awesome that he can kick-start a motorcycle?

Hearing the sound, although he didn't see the person, Yan Fugui instinctively felt some approval; Shazhu had created too many miracles for him.

Carrying the watering can, he walked from the front courtyard to outside.

The silhouette of the three-wheeled Item: niezi and Shazhu riding on it immediately appeared before Yan Fugui's eyes.

Good fellow.

It really is a motorcycle.

"Shazhu, did you really buy a motorcycle?"

"It's just discarded old goods."

Shazhu said modestly.

He lifted his leg and got off the Item: niezi.

"Shazhu, San Daye always feels you will eventually drive a small car, you'll be the first person in our Siheyuan to drive a small car."

In Shazhu's mind.

He recalled some events from his previous life.

The first person in the Siheyuan to drive a small car seemed to be Bangeng; even if he drove for a leader, at least he was someone who got in and out of the vehicle.

"Then I thank you, San Daye, for your auspicious words; I'll strive to drive a small car one day earlier."

"Shazhu, come here, San Daye has something to discuss with you."

Yan Fugui mysteriously called Shazhu to the side.

Shazhu thought Yan Fugui had something, so he followed over; when he arrived before Yan Fugui and heard his words, he realized Yan Fugui had overthought things.

Mistakenly thought Lou Xiao'e was the woman Shazhu was fooling around with behind Yu Li's back outside.

Yan Fugui considered himself a man of letters; now retired, he spends all day reading newspapers and learns things the neighbors don't know, such as a wealthy man divorcing his wife to marry a good‑looking female comrade and the like.

He learned these things through the newspaper.

Yan Fugui had watched Shazhu grow up; seeing Shazhu amass a huge estate, he thought Yu Li was a fine daughter‑in‑law and Shazhu's five children were also fine, and unable to bear the thought of Yu Li and the kids meeting a ruined fate, he quietly summoned Shazhu and gave him one earnest admonition after another.

"Shazhu, men all make mistakes; making a mistake isn't a problem, we'll correct him; Yu Li is a good daughter‑in‑law, Weiguo and they are also filial; you can't be muddle‑headed, what gall you have, you actually brought this woman to our siheyuan—you know the neighbors' morals, every one of them is a bastard who can't stand to see you do well, especially the Jia family; anyway, San Daye saw you two, you'd better cut ties with this woman; as for Yu Li's side, San Daye won't say anything."

Shazhu was both laughing and crying.

He still thought there was something else.

It turned out to be a fuss for half a day.

They thought Shazhu had slept with Lou Xiao'e.

That was also true.

Otherwise, how would the child exist?

He offered a brief explanation.

"San Daye, you're mistaken."

"What mistaken? San Daye saw it truly; you can't be muddle‑headed."

"San Daye, where did you hear about this?"

"I saw it in the newspaper, the Legal Daily; there are many such stories there—you mustn't meddle."

"San Daye, I really haven't meddled; who is Lou Xiao'e?"

"Who?"

"Lou Xiao'e." Shazhu even emphasized his tone, "Xu Daming's former wife."

Yan Fugui saw Shazhu's expression didn't look feigned, stared with a blank gaze, returned to the siheyuan gate, and gave Lou Xiao'e a good once‑over.

She sported a fashionable hairstyle, two jade ear pendants, a gold necklace, sunglasses that covered half her face, and clothing that looked pricey.

"Is this Lou Xiao'e?"

Yan Fugui found it hard to connect the elegant lady before him with the fleeing housewife of over ten years ago.

He turned his head toward Shazhu, his face blank with bewilderment.

"Lou Xiao'e, San Daye, I hardly dare recognize you."

Lou Xiao'e stepped down from the niezi, stood tall and graceful before Yan Fugui, and casually removed her sunglasses.

That familiar face instantly imprinted itself on Yan Fugui's mind.

"Lou Xiao'e?"

"San Daye, I'm Lou Xiao'e."

Lou Xiao'e had actually come back.

That was Yan Fugui's first thought; he instinctively reached out and shook Lou Xiao'e's hand.

Shazhu stood beside them.

He felt a bit headache.

He wondered if it wouldn't be like in his previous life, when Lou Xiao'e foolishly spent money to raise the siheyuan's livestock, gaining a good reputation only for Qin Huairu to profit from it.

He thought it over.

Shazhu dismissed that thought; now things differ from his past life. Previously he obeyed Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, opened a retirement home, and when he ran out of money he turned to Lou Xiao'e for funds. This life he had early on cut ties with Qin Huairu; the Moral Heavenly Venerable Yi Zhonghai and the retirement home's patriarch Long Laotaitai have both died and vanished, the two biggest bosses of the retirement home are gone—only bone scraps remain—leaving just Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, and he doubts Lou Xiao'e could match them.

"Really, Lou Xiao'e, when did you come back?"

Yan Fugui's exclamation boomed like a loudspeaker, instantly drawing everyone's attention; moreover it was Sunday, so the neighbors gathered around.

Lou Xiao'e, whom the siheyuan hadn't seen in over ten years, has returned today.

The neighbors had heard rumors of those past events, and it came as a great shock to everyone in the siheyuan.

Some also wanted to see Qin Jingru's jokes.

Last night Xu Daming appeared in the siheyuan and uttered that harsh remark to Qin Jingru, and the neighbors still remember it vividly.

One is the former wife, the other is the former‑former wife.

Some were just looking for amusement.

As soon as Lou Xiao'e returned, many people tried to curry favor and cling to her.

The first to rush forward was Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu, this scheming woman, deep in her machinations, saw Lou Xiao'e and Shazhu return together; from Lou Xiao'e's clothing she judged she had money and began thinking how to extort some cash from her.

Compared with the money she could pocket, face meant nothing.

Now Qin Huairu doesn't even care about face.

Even though she knows Shazhu doesn't want to see her, she still asks San Daye to mediate and rent Shazhu's house; now that Lou Xiao'e, this golden thigh, is present, Qin Huairu naturally can't bother with Shazhu.

During this period Qin Huairu didn't clean the factory area for nothing; several times she saw Factory Director Yang and those leaders waiting outside the office for Lou Xiao'e, and because Lou Xiao'e was coming to inspect the Yagangchang, Qin Huairu received an order from the factory office to work overtime on sanitation.

Regarding Lou Xiao'e.

She still understood.

Lou Xiao'e's overcoat, from the foreign trade store, costs several hundred each—equivalent to wearing Qin Huairu's annual salary.

The price of one garment equals a year of Qin Huairu's wages; adding Lou Xiao'e's clothing and shoes, it would take her several years' earnings.

With Lou Xiao'e's wealth, even a casual reveal would be enough for her to spend.

"Xiao'e, it's been years since we last saw you, and you're back in this little place—why not come to our house for a chat? We haven't seen each other in over ten years, and there's really a lot to talk about."

Qin Huairu put on an act.

She deliberately played the emotion card in front of the neighbors.

And she did so under the pretense of catching up.

What an old schemer.

She did this to make herself known to Lou Xiao'e.

As long as Lou Xiao'e goes to their home to sit, she then plays the pity card with Lou Xiao'e; when Jia Dongxu first died, Yi Zhonghai persuaded the neighbors to donate money and goods to the Jia family; every time Lou Xiao'e would take out five yuan, Xu Damao wouldn't allow her to not spend money, insisting on giving donations to the Jia family no matter what.

She is the kind of person who has no ulterior motives.

Qin Huairu doesn't even think about it; if Lou Xiao'e really had no ulterior motives, she couldn't have built such a big business in the mixed fish-and-dragon Hong Kong Island.

The so-called donations.

On one hand, Lou Xiao'e has money and doesn't worry about money.

On the other hand, Lou Xiao'e is simply spending money to buy peace, in response to Yi Zhonghai's call, so that Yi Zhonghai will stop holding her background against her.

Put simply.

Qin Huairu is still looking at Lou Xiao'e with old eyes.

She reaches out to pull Lou Xiao'e, intending to pull her to the Jia family home, pour water for her, make tea, then say it's specially made for her; ordinary people would feel a bit embarrassed saying they want to compensate, Qin Huairu will then take the opportunity to make a request, asking Lou Xiao'e to talk to Factory Director Yang to have herself transferred to the logistics management department and also give herself a raise.

She is calculating like this.

As for whether Lou Xiao'e will refuse.

Qin Huairu thinks this way; if Lou Xiao'e refuses, that's heartless and unrighteous!

To some extent, this behavior amounts to moral blackmail.

Lou Xiao'e has met many people on Hong Kong Island; she has seen all kinds of people; upon seeing the expression on Qin Huairu's face, she knows this old woman harbors ill intentions and wants to scheme as she did over ten years ago.

She has no fondness at all for Qin Huairu.

Qin Jingru's older sister — actually, when Xu Damao cheated on Qin Jingru, Qin Huairu clearly knew this but kept it from Lou Xiao'e, treating Lou Xiao'e as a fool.

Lou Xiao'e would absolutely not go to sit at Qin Huairu's home, no matter what.

Moreover, Qin Huairu's home also has an old immortal Jia Zhangshi, who used to scold Lou Xiao'e a lot, calling her an old hen that doesn't lay eggs; seeing Jia Zhangshi, one would surely feel nauseous and unable to eat.