Chapter 566: with translation of chapter title

Shazhu is here.

The beasts of the Siheyuan wouldn't dare even think of using moral blackmail to extract benefits from Lou Xiao'e.

To help Lou Xiao'e out of the predicament.

They specially brought out Factory Director Yang, this great deity.

Most of the neighbors are workers at Yagangchang, and they more or less know something about Lou Xiao'e's enterprises interfacing with Yagangchang, so they no longer say anything.

That kind of thinking of going along with the crowd.

Echo the Jia Family widow's suggestion that Lou Xiao'e spend money to repair the Siheyuan.

They can rely on neighborly feelings to scheme against Lou Xiao'e, but they dare not touch Factory Director Yang's sore spot.

Everyone knows Shazhu and Factory Director Yang are on very good terms; if they anger Shazhu, Shazhu will expose how the neighbors forced Lou Xiao'e to repair houses for the Siheyuan residents, and the Siheyuan neighbors will surely suffer for it—Factory Director Yang may be unable to deal with Lou Xiao'e, but that doesn't mean he can't deal with these people.

After thinking again, Factory Director Yang associates the failure of the interface with the neighbors pressuring Lou Xiao'e; the neighbors present probably won't have good days.

The scene instantly became deathly silent.

Everyone was silently paying attention to the development of the situation.

Some were also waiting for the Jia family widow's next move, hoping Jia Zhangshi would use shameless tactics to force Lou Xiao'e to agree, so they could join in and reap the benefits.

The Jia family widow, the focus of everyone's attention, was loudly cursing Shazhu's eight generations of ancestors in her heart.

She thought to herself, 'Shazhu, you're rich and live in a private Siheyuan, while we Jia family widows are crammed in a tiny house; we finally found a big spender to improve our living conditions—what does it have to do with you, Shazhu? Yet you shamelessly oppose us Jia family widows.'

She also knew the situation was already a done deal.

Factory Director Yang has come out.

What more is there to say?

Unless they don't take Factory Director Yang to heart.

Does the Jia family widow dare?

She doesn't dare.

Looking at them, they were like a dud firecracker, looking helpless.

Shazhu, taking in the Jia family widow's expression, let out a cold snort in his heart.

At this point, still having the nerve to indulge in unrealistic dreams—when Lou Xiao'e earlier donated money and goods to the Jia family, it was to avoid trouble, to keep a low profile. Now Factory Director Yang relies on Lou Xiao'e; what are you, Jia family widow? Even if Yi Zhonghai were resurrected, it probably wouldn't help.

Don't even think about it.

Shazhu said a few polite words to Lou Xiao'e.

Originally intending to tease the Jia family widow and the beasts of the Siheyuan, Lou Xiao'e saw Shazhu's expression carry a hint of pity, so she abandoned the idea of teasing the beasts; she knew Shazhu was helping her out of the predicament, and she lightly nodded.

Shazhu's heart.

It landed.

I really don't understand the rich lady's thoughts, fearing something might change.

Lou Xiao'e tucked Shazhu's relieved expression into her view, and inadvertently recalled some past events.

If I remember correctly, since the day Lou Xiao'e married into the Siheyuan, Shazhu has hardly interacted with the neighbors; at most he dealt with Yan Fugui in the front courtyard and Xu Daming in the back courtyard, and not at all with people like Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi, Liu Haizhong, and the like.

It is clear that Shazhu saw through the true nature of many people in the Siheyuan, knowing they were not good sorts.

The hypocritical Yi Zhonghai, the sinister and ruthless official-obsessed sulfur soap, the scheming white lotus Qin Huairu, the trouble-making Jia Zhangshi, and others like them made Lou Xiao'e's goodwill toward the Siheyuan disappear long ago; if it weren't for her desire to see Qin Jingru's jokes, she would never have returned to the Siheyuan.

The Jia family widow schemed against Lou Xiao'e, trying to make her spend money for the enjoyment of these Siheyuan people—pure daydreaming.

No one's money comes from the wind; she has no obligation to spend her hard-earned blood and sweat to feed a bunch of inhuman bastards.

Don't even think about it.

These people never helped her before; she owes them nothing.

Lou Xiao'e followed Shazhu's words and said a few sentences.

"We have always been engaged in giving back to society; our Lou family enterprise has been doing this, and newspapers have reported on it. The Capital City leadership highly praised our Lou family's social contribution."

Although Lou Xiao'e didn't mention Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu by name, the Siheyuan neighbors all know her words were actually aimed at the Jia family widow.

Just now, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu took turns pressuring Lou Xiao'e, saying that repairing the Siheyuan would earn her fame among the neighbors.

Not repairing the Siheyuan means being unkind despite wealth.

Everyone's leadership says Lou Xiao'e is right; does the Jia family widow dare say she's wrong?

A leadership commentary highly praising this matter.

Instantly, the Jia family widow was pressured into not knowing what to say.

You, an old widow of the Siheyuan, speak so confidently that this is a bad thing, as if your age lets you do whatever you want and spout lies with eyes wide open.

Pure nonsense.

If Jia Zhangshi acknowledges this as a good thing, then mentioning the Siheyuan renovation would be out of the question; bringing it up again would be opposing the leadership.

As for these Siheyuan neighbors, they've long disliked the Jia family; as soon as Jia Zhangshi acknowledges it, they'll rush to report the Jia family widow, then claim they stand on truth and that reporting Jia Zhangshi is a righteous act.

The Jia family widow was turned back by Lou Xiao'e, feeling terrible; her dream of using Lou Xiao'e's influence to get an extra house for the Jia family was shattered in an instant.

Others have done better things; their moral blackmail has absolutely no effect.

It's just that this is the ending.

This truly is not the result Jia Zhangshi wanted to see.

The reason the Jia family widow can unify thinking and unanimously target Lou Xiao'e is that Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu thought they could bleed Lou Xiao'e dry, using the pretense of repairing the Siheyuan to gain an extra room for themselves—thus Jia Zhangshi would have a place to live, and Qin Huairu wouldn't have to shamelessly rent from Shazhu.

The idea is not bad.

But they didn't expect Lou Xiao'e to counter with the leadership's praise of the Lou family's social contribution.

They hesitated for a moment.

The unwilling-to-give-up Jia Zhangshi spoke up.

Bangeng came out, without a house, how can he get married?

Just consider it for Bangeng's sake.

As the most shameless person in the Siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi has also gone all out.

With one foot already in the coffin, what's there to be afraid of?

Bangeng also went in.

Who cares about whom?

Jia Zhangshi, with a desperate resolve, stared unblinking at Lou Xiao'e, speaking in a cold tone about blood-sucking words.

Since the leaders have all praised your Lou family's good deeds, repairing the Siheyuan is also a good thing—one sheep is let go, two sheep are also herded; as you, Lou Xiao'e, would say, we have always been giving back to society, and repairing the Siheyuan is also giving back to society, only to the old neighbors of the Siheyuan. Your money is more than enough to last several lifetimes; repairing the Siheyuan won't cost much; you help the neighbors—what's the harm?

Jia Zhangshi really dares to say that.

If shamelessness had levels, Jia Zhangshi would definitely be the top tier; her words clearly mean that if you have money, you should let us help you spend it.

At the very least, Shazhu couldn't say such shameless words.

The thing that leaves Shazhu feeling puzzled.

Lou Xiao'e, after hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, did not get angry at the stingy, selfish Jia Zhangshi; instead, a faint smile appeared on her face.

She glanced around at the neighbors, smiling, and answered Jia Zhangshi's words.

By rights, we should give back to our Siheyuan, but our Lou family's giving back to society has certain standards; for someone like this childless, widowed old person, even if we don't say it, we would let her enjoy her old age in peace, Grandma Bangeng—do you think you meet our Lou family's assistance standards? What you just said is not impossible; if you force yourself to meet our Lou family's assistance standards, we will comply with your wishes.

Typically harsh words.

It means the Jia family is completely cut off.

Bangeng died, Xiao Dang died, Huaihua died, Qin Huairu also died; the entire Jia family is left with only Jia Zhangshi, and Lou Xiao'e repairs Jia Zhangshi's house, fulfilling her wishes in every way.

Jia Zhangshi still hopes Bangeng will come out to marry and have children, and as a great-grandmother she helps take care of the great-grandson.

They're all dead.

Still okay?

Jia Zhangshi, snapped at by Lou Xiao'e and not knowing what to say, could only stare, looking flustered and exasperated.

Looking at Jia Zhangshi's side that dares to be angry but not to speak.

Lou Xiao'e was like eating honeyed chilled watermelon in the dog days of summer, her whole body feeling an unprecedented sense of refreshment from inside out.

If there's nothing else, we'll leave first; we're very busy now.

Lou Xiao'e finally personally understood how it feels for Shazhu to live in the Siheyuan; no wonder he had the ability, so she hurriedly moved away.

These beasts' faces, each thicker than the last!

If it weren't for Shazhu helping to defuse the situation, she really wouldn't be able to wrap things up.

This favor.

She kept it in Lou Xiao'e's heart.

……

Inside the Siheyuan.

Because the neighbors' moral blackmail plan failed, their attitude toward Shazhu is very dissatisfied!

Under Jia Zhangshi's call.

Held a Dayuan meeting.

Those neighbors who failed to suck blood earlier, inexplicably resentful of Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e, all gathered around Jia Zhangshi.

Yan Fugui did not participate, feeling he owed Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e an apology.

The butcher and other newly moved-in neighbors also did not participate, feeling they couldn't afford to lose face.

Thus: Thus: Mahua participated.

They were loudly summoned by the neighbors to the scene of the Dayuan meeting.

Saying Thus: Thus: Mahua is Shazhu's apprentice, both working at Bai Xu, letting Thus: Thus: Mahua convey the neighbors' dissatisfaction with Shazhu to Shazhu.

"Thus: Thus: Mahua, moving into our Siheyuan makes you a member of our Siheyuan." Jia Zhangshi spoke first, adopting the manner of Yi Zhonghai possessing her, and began to give Thus: Thus: Mahua ideological work: "Just now I was seeking benefits for the entire Siheyuan; you, Thus: Thus: Mahua, are also among those who benefit; as a member of the Siheyuan—no, it's your master Shazhu; Shazhu is also a member of the Siheyuan; how can your master dismantle everyone's stage?"

Jia Zhangshi treated Thus: Thus: Mahua as Shazhu, with a critical tone and a rather unfriendly expression.

"Thus: Thus: Mahua, it's all your master's fault; listen to what he says—what kind of words are those? In a moment there's still work to be done—what's urgent with Factory Director Yang, what major things take priority, repairing the Siheyuan—you, Thus: Thus: Mahua, push down the house and just say the wall is bad; isn't turning one room into two a good thing? But because of your master, he just stopped mid-sentence, leaving us neither human nor ghost; originally our Siheyuan could be renovated, the neighbors could all benefit, but because of your master's meddling, the renovation failed."

Qin Huairu harbors heavy resentment.

Failed to suck blood from Lou Xiao'e.

Still have to let Qin Huairu continue sharing a room with Jia Zhangshi.

The current Jia Zhangshi.

They're all crazy.

Bangeng went in, and Jia Zhangshi's hope is gone; she's become like a barefoot person unafraid of shoes—if she harbors ill intentions, does Qin Huairu still have a life?

"Thus: Thus: Mahua, if your master himself doesn't want it, that's fine, but why are you wrecking our stage? As Qin Huairu says, your master is truly a bastard; if it weren't for him not showing up, could my son Bangeng have gotten in? That night, I and my mother-in-law knelt before Shazhu and kowtowed, but your master stubbornly refused to save Bangeng; now he's also ruining the neighbors' good deeds—I see your master deliberately wants to oppose everyone in the Siheyuan!"

Qin Huairu verbally cursed Shazhu.

In the entire Siheyuan, the Jia family's housing is the tightest; they only have one room—don't think Xiao Dang isn't there, Huaihua isn't there, Bangeng went in.

But there will always be a future.

Someday in the future, the three children will return, and by chance someone will arrange a wife for Bangeng, plus Bangeng's wife, making six people total, all crammed into one room to sleep.

Some things are really inconvenient.

How can Jia Zhangshi still repay the great-grandson?

At that time, seeing Lou Xiao'e return, and hearing Yan Fugui say that Lou Xiao'e is now very rich, with everyone in the Siheyuan helping, she couldn't spend it in several lifetimes.

Then Jia Zhangshi was moved.

She originally wanted to take advantage of Lou Xiao'e spending money to renovate the Siheyuan, to get a room for her family's Bangeng; if things went well, she could get two rooms; even if she couldn't get a room, she'd still have to get some other benefits.

The result was ruined by Shazhu.

Can she not hate Shazhu?

Because what was destroyed was not only the Jia family's dream of a house, but also the Jia family widow's hopes for the future.

Thus: Thus: Mahua, who was on the scene, looked at the faces of those people around and found it especially funny.

They actually took Lou Xiao'e's payment to renovate the Siheyuan as a matter of course, thinking they could bleed Lou Xiao'e dry; now that their attempt to bleed dry has failed, they all blame Shazhu for ruining their good thing.

They don't even think about it.

Why would Lou Xiao'e help them?

They're already his damn enemies, yet they still have the nerve to bleed Lou Xiao'e dry.

Recalling the things Shazhu and Thus: Thus: Mahua had warned about, if you live in the Siheyuan, don't think about anything, and don't bother with those people in the Siheyuan.

Indeed, that's really the case.

「Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, and the neighbors present—I just don't understand: what does Lou Xiao'e's earnings have to do with you? Where do you get the nerve to still ask Lou Xiao'e to help you repair the Siheyuan? To say something that shouldn't be said: helping is a favor, not helping is one's duty. If they want to help, they help; if they don't, they don't. Even more absurd is that you actually resent this and take it out on my master—what has my master done to you? Come on, everyone, speak up: is it because my master said Lou Xiao'e should coordinate this with Factory Director Yang, thus violating the neighbors' taboo? I may have no other talents, but I can still meet Factory Director Yang—should I go and tell him, and tell him about the faces of our Siheyuan neighbors? Lou Xiao'e doesn't owe your Jia family anything, so why should she give you benefits? To try to morally blackmail her for gain out of nowhere—you're dreaming. 」