Chapter 570

Shazhu originally did not want to deal with those people in the Siheyuan.

But he learned some of Yang Qianjin's remarks from Thus: Thus: Mahua's mouth, suddenly developed a little interest in this person, and wanted to get to know this guy.

After the Jia Family widow finished conspiring, Yang Qianjin specially sought out Thus: Thus: Mahua, entrusting Thus: Thus: Mahua to bring a word to Shazhu.

It's not that one fails to be a good neighbor; it's only that as a resident one is not thorough.

This remark sounds somewhat familiar.

Savor it carefully.

It really is the Moral Heavenly Venerable Yi Zhonghai possessing him.

When Yi Zhonghai was alive, he often had this saying on his lips: Not being a good parent is not the issue; only being a child who is not thorough.

Yang Qianjin's remarks are strikingly similar to Yi Zhonghai's words, merely swapping the terms parents and children for neighbors and residents.

One Yi Zhonghai left.

One Yang Qianjin came.

Shazhu also doesn't know whether the Siheyuan's feng shui is bad, but repeatedly scoundrels like Yi Zhonghai appear; anyway, the big environment is different now, and the former all-effective moral coercion tactics used in the Siheyuan have no place to be applied, and if he gets anxious he will still be slapped back by a big palm.

Whether to hit Yang Qianjin or not.

It's not up to Shazhu to decide.

But depends on Yang Qianjin's own intention.

If he really tries to manipulate Shazhu like Yi Zhonghai does, not hesitating to put on the airs of the so-called Head Steward, Shazhu's fists will inevitably fall on Yang Qianjin.

What era is this, still wanting to be the Head Steward of the Siheyuan, still using the Head Steward's identity to manipulate everyone, threatening and enticing Shazhu.

When Yi Zhonghai was alive, he couldn't even get things done; can Yang Qianjin succeed?

Huaihua's running away from home made Shazhu realize his own heart; upon rebirth, he knows he has only taken half the right path.

Stay away from the Jia Family, right!

Stay away from Yi Zhonghai, right!

Take good care of He Yushui, right!

Let himself marry and have children, no longer be sucked dry by beasts, right!

But the resentment from his previous life, when the Jia Family's white-eyed wolves drove him out to freeze and starve to death, has never disappeared; instead, Shazhu has artificially pressed it deep in his heart.

Huaihua's departure stimulated Shazhu, making him realize he actually harbors hatred toward Yi Zhonghai, Long Laotaitai, and the Jia Family.

As long as the Jia Family members are alive, one can see their retribution.

Yi Zhonghai is dead, Long Laotaitai is also dead; Shazhu wants to take revenge on them, but since they are gone, he can only swallow his resentment.

Yang Qianjin is rushing to become a second Yi Zhonghai; Shazhu could well channel his resentment toward Yi Zhonghai onto Yang Qianjin.

While he schemes against Shazhu, Shazhu is also scheming against him.

When he learned from Thus: Thus: Mahua that Yang Qianjin, in order to suck Lou Xiao'e's blood, intended to convene a Dayuan meeting, Shazhu told Thus: Thus: Mahua that if he had time he would return to the Siheyuan to see that so-called Yang Qianjin.

Repairing the Siheyuan needs money; the Jia Family widow's idea is to use the Siheyuan repairs to gain an extra room for the Jia Family, they themselves are unwilling to spend money, they want to suck Lou Xiao'e's blood, and even prepared to let Shazhu pay, the reason being that Shazhu lives in a separate-gate Siheyuan.

This Dayuan meeting, with Shazhu not attending and Lou Xiao'e not attending, simply cannot get started.

……

The next few days.

They passed quickly.

Inside the Siheyuan, because of the house repairs, the neighbors were somewhat eager.

One could also see Yang Qianjin's ability; not knowing what he said to the neighbors, a bunch of neighbors earnestly expressed their wish to support Yang Qianjin as Head Steward.

Yang Qianjin shone brightly.

The Jia Family widow also shone brightly.

Faint rumors spread that Jia Zhangshi wanted to become the Second Matron; these days Jia Zhangshi has been using her heavenly spirit cover to observe people, and she also brought Qin Huairu together to visit Bangeng.

Bangeng received ideological education inside, but those teachings had no effect on him; he felt depressed, not knowing whether he was angry at Jia Zhangshi or resentful of Qin Huairu.

Facing the Jia Family widow, Bangeng became silent and taciturn; usually when Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu asked ten questions, Bangeng answered one, his complexion also very bad; from meeting to parting, he always had a dead-fish face, as if people owed him several hundred dollars.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi both felt heartbroken; they are not blind, they clearly saw the scar on Bangeng's cheek, obviously he had been beaten, and moreover it was the pattern of being beaten every few days.

Once upon a time.

Bangeng was Jia Zhangshi's apple of her eye; she feared he would melt if held in her mouth, feared he would get sunburned if held in her hand; when he stumbled while walking, Jia Zhangshi would stomp her feet, scold a few times, and say she had caused her precious grandchild Bangeng to trip.

Now, however, he is here enjoying a daily beating, with big slaps, punches, and scratches from fingernails.

Heart as if cut by a knife.

Both wore looks of heartache.

Yet there was nothing they could do; they could only comfort Bangeng as best they could with kind words, saying they hoped Bangeng would properly accept education, strive to come out early, and after coming out get Bangeng a wife, etc.

Bangeng on the iron railing side seemed already on the road to complete corruption, going further and further; facing Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu's earnest teachings, he still wore that dead-person expression, and even made a suggestion to the overseer nearby, saying he wanted to end the interview as soon as possible.

This scene.

It deeply pierced the hearts of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu.

Facing Bangeng, the two for the first time had the feeling of facing a stranger, and suddenly missed Xiao Dang and Huaihua.

On the way back from prison to the Siheyuan.

Jia Zhangshi silently resolved in her heart that no matter what she must get Yang Qianjin to push through the house repairs; Bangeng's attitude made her feel a bit displeased.

Without extra rooms, what can Bangeng, who just came out of detention, use to marry?

Thus the Jia Family also has no continuation of incense.

All day they cursed Long Laotaitai as an extinct line, cursed Yi Zhonghai as an extinct line, yet they never expected the fate of extinction to fall on the Jia Family's heads; this result is certainly not what Jia Zhangshi wanted to see.

In her heart she began to hate Shazhu.

A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes—all are Shazhu's fault.

If Shazhu hadn't stuck his foot in, Jia Zhangshi and the others might have already gotten the money from Lou Xiao'e's hands; Shazhu destroyed all their hopes.

At the Siheyuan gate.

They met Yang Qianjin.

Because the neighbors all agreed, the Siheyuan once again had a Head Steward and a Head Steward's wife; Yang Qianjin appointed himself Head Steward, and Jia Zhangshi became the Head Steward's wife.

As for the former Third Head Steward Yan Fugui, knowing his place, he did not want to mix with Yang Qianjin, Jia Zhangshi, and the others.

Yan Fugui knew Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhangshi were allied, and he was no match for Shazhu; as for trying to trick Lou Xiao'e into paying for the repairs, he didn't even dare think about it.

Better than being implicated later.

It would be wiser to protect oneself now.

He might even gain Lou Xiao'e's favor.

Yan Fugui, in front of the neighbors, said that the Jiēdào had already abolished the Siheyuan Head Steward system a few years ago, that he was no longer the Siheyuan's Third Head Steward, that big and small matters had nothing to do with him, not to consult him, and that he couldn't bear that responsibility.

Now the Siheyuan is basically run by Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhangshi; the neighbors who had hoped they would lead the repair work, with an eye to using them, flattered them as much as possible, calling them Head Steward or Madam whenever they met, making them overjoyed.

After meeting at the gate, one called him Head Steward, the other addressed her as Head Steward's wife.

They didn't avoid people.

They started talking about repairing the Siheyuan right at the gate.

Yang Qianjin patted his chest, gave Jia Zhangshi an assurance, saying he had already taken care of it; tonight Shazhu would return to the Siheyuan to attend their Dayuan meeting.

Upon hearing the news, Jia Zhangshi's joy could not be expressed in words; she lavished praise on Yang Qianjin.

"A train runs fast thanks to its engine; our Siheyuan benefits because we have you, Head Steward Yang Qianjin, allowing the neighbors to gain benefits and move into new houses."

The conversation shifted.

They began discussing installing a toilet inside the house.

These past few days, Jia Zhangshi hadn't been idle; she inquired all over the street and finally found out about installing a toilet in the room.

In front of Yang Qianjin and the neighbors, she put the matter of installing a toilet inside the house on the agenda.

"Head Steward, I've heard that many neighbors living in Siheyuans like us have installed toilets inside their homes, so they don't have to queue for the toilet; unlike us, we still have to go to the public toilet outside. On a fine day it's okay, but if it rains or snows, the whole way is mud; when we come back from the toilet, we don't know whether the stuff stuck to our feet is mud or feces."

Jia Zhangshi's voice.

It suddenly rose considerably.

She straightened her back slightly, and her face showed a hint of self-satisfaction, as if everyone had merely gotten a bit of her glory.

That's an achievement.

Besides that, having a house where you don't need to go out to use the toilet makes it a bit easier for Bangeng to find a wife.

"I think, this time letting Lou Xiao'e pay for the Siheyuan repairs, besides that, every household should install a toilet; at the very least we could also enjoy the convenience of not having to go out to use the toilet, which is like living in an apartment building—on rainy or snowy days we'd save ourselves from having one foot of feces and one foot of mud, and coming home wouldn't be nauseating."

Jia Zhangshi hated Shazhu to the extreme.

She wouldn't miss any chance to give Shazhu eye drops.

Using the incident of installing the toilet in the house, she wanted to stir up the neighbors' hatred toward Shazhu.

"It's all Shazhu's fault—he has everything he needs, yet he doesn't consider the neighbors at all. The other day Lou Xiao'e came to the Siheyuan, a great opportunity, but because of a few words from Shazhu, our plan to repair the houses went down the drain. As I, an old woman, see it, if Shazhu comes to the Siheyuan tonight, we'll give him a good beating; if Lou Xiao'e doesn't pay, we'll make Shazhu pay for the repairs."

The surrounding neighbors, in various ways, praised Jia Zhangshi, saying that as Head Steward's wife she truly lived up to her title, wholeheartedly considering the neighbors.

Actually, they all secretly regarded Jia Zhangshi as a fool to be fooled.

The one who spoke up was Jia Zhangshi.

The matter was settled.

They profited, and verbally praised Jia Zhangshi.

The matter fell through.

The one who offended Shazhu was Jia Zhangshi.

Shazhu settled the score with Jia Zhangshi, which had nothing to do with the neighbors—not even a penny.

Moreover, some people, limited by their understanding, didn't know what a flush toilet was; they mistakenly thought that Jia Zhangshi's mention of bringing the toilet indoors meant simply partitioning off a room, placing a chamber pot inside, doing their business there, and then carrying the chamber pot to dump it in the public toilet.

They harbored a bit of suspicion.

If done this way.

Wouldn't the house then be full of the smell of feces and urine?

They asked aloud.

They asked some naive questions.

Jia Zhangshi seized the opportunity to educate the neighbors about what a flush toilet is, saying that pulling a cord sends water to flush away the waste, with no need to pull it into a chamber pot and then dump the chamber pot's contents into the public toilet.

After the explanation, the neighbors finally understood that this meant not having to go out to use the toilet.

In order to enjoy the privilege of not having to go out to use the toilet, they flattered Jia Zhangshi with even more exaggerated words, harboring the idea of getting her to cause a fuss with Lou Xiao'e and Shazhu.

Having been flattered by the neighbors, Jia Zhangshi felt smug, swaying her head and arms as she walked toward the Jia Family.

Joy turned to sorrow.

Because she was gazing at the sky instead of watching her step, her left foot might have taken the place of her right foot, or her right foot might have slipped under her left foot; Jia Zhangshi took a face-plant like a dog eating feces, falling to the ground, her mouth landing badly on the brick-laid steps.

Then a piercing cry rang out; Jia Zhangshi, who had bumped into the steps, had two teeth knocked out, bleeding nonstop, and lost her earlier arrogant demeanor.

Bai Xu

Yan Fugui brought the butcher to meet Shazhu.

He's indeed a straightforward person.

Before Yan Fugui could finish introducing him, the butcher launched into his purpose, telling Shazhu that he planned to contract a slaughterhouse, considering that Shazhu is a right-hand man at Bai Xu, and since he himself lives in the Siheyuan, he could barely be counted as Shazhu's neighbor; he hoped that, for the sake of neighborly ties, Shazhu would give him a hand.

He hoped the livestock slaughtered at the slaughterhouse would end up on Bai Xu's dining table.

As for Shazhu.

A sure unexpected joy.

He inexplicably obtained a source of meat.

Shazhu didn't waste any words, directly agreeing to the butcher's proposal; the two signed the relevant agreement in front of Yan Fugui.

Along with the signatures and seals of both parties.

Shazhu's heart.

His heart also settled.

Yesterday afternoon, the purchasing staff mentioned to Shazhu, saying they didn't know what was going on; the section chief of the supply and marketing cooperative who used to greet him with a smile now put on airs, and the originally agreed purchase amount of fifty jin of pork was stubbornly changed to twenty jin—these twenty jin of pork were still obtained by the person in charge begging grandparents and grandmothers.

Their explanation was that supplies are now scarce, the supply and marketing cooperative must take care of all aspects; besides pork not being able to be supplied in full, poultry such as chickens, ducks, and fish meat will also occasionally be slightly short.

They said that if Shazhu wanted to continue receiving their full support as before, he should personally go to them to talk.

As for that.

Shazhu just chuckled.

A mere section chief of the supply and marketing cooperative dares to give me a cold face; if no one is behind him directing, I wouldn't believe it even if Shazhu were beaten to death.