Chapter 572: First Meeting Yang Qianjin

Yan Fugui became a shareholder in the butcher's slaughterhouse.

Shazhu only learned of this because Third Aunt accidentally let it slip.

Quite curious.

His gaze fixed straight on Third Aunt in front of him, he was momentarily stunned, and memories of the past involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

In his previous life, Yan Fugui's excessive stinginess meant that even when children lived in his house, they had to pay monthly rent; after buying a nine‑inch television, everyone in the Yan family who watched TV had to pay a fee, and besides the electricity bill, Yan Fugui even came up with a television wear‑and‑tear charge.

Shazhu also joked with Yan Fugui about this, saying that Yan Fugui was lucky not to have become an official, otherwise he would surely be a corrupt one.

Yu Li and her husband opened a restaurant, but lacking funds, they borrowed money from Yan Fugui, who then raised his butcher's knife at his own son, saying money couldn't be lent for free and interest must be charged.

The interest was said to exceed the bank's exchange rate.

The father is unkind.

The son is unfilial.

Because of Yan Fugui's nitpicking, Yu Li and her husband also settled accounts clearly with the Yan Fugui couple.

One good turn deserves another.

Third Aunt helped out at the restaurant for a while, but was kicked out by her own son and daughter‑in‑law; seeing Shazhu bring a meal, she said she would bring some dishes for Yan Fugui, but Yu Li ruthlessly refused.

This continued until the restaurant closed down.

Xu Damiao met Deputy Factory Director Li, got the idea of leveraging Li's influence, said reselling televisions could make money, he found Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiecheng, and those two then sought out the Yan Fugui couple.

The whole family, together with Liu Haizhong, boarded Deputy Factory Director Li's pirate ship.

Because the Yan Fugui bunch wanted to ditch Xu Damiao and go it alone,

but for some reason,

Xu Damiao found out about all of this.

Xu Damiao made a report call, and the savings of the Yan Fugui family and the Liu Haizhong couple all went down the drain.

Those who went to the hospital went to the hospital.

Those who went home went home.

Qin Huairu bustled about, voluntarily paying the hospitalization expenses of Second Aunt and Third Aunt.

The neighbors all praised Qin Huairu for her righteousness, saying she repaid kindness with gratitude.

Little did they know.

The money Qin Huairu produced was clearly Shazhu's salary and the commission from his odd jobs, equivalent to using Shazhu's money to buy goodwill.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui had no money left.

Their children ignored them.

There was nothing they could do.

Qin Huairu used Shazhu's money to support this pack of beasts.

Reborn.

To prevent Yan Fugui from continuing down his old path, Shazhu advised him both openly and secretly many times; he thought things would stay the same, but he never expected Yan Fugui to silently drop a bombshell, secretly buying a share in the butcher's slaughterhouse.

Yan Fugui didn't have Shazhu's foresight.

Based on those experiences from his previous life,

two well‑known meat industry giants started from tiny slaughterhouses.

The butcher's slaughterhouse was not without the potential to grow big.

Yan Fugui could be said to have latched onto a path to wealth.

As long as he doesn't die, he'll have food and clothing for life.

Shazhu, hearing the commotion, saw Yan Fugui come out specially from indoors, gave him a thumbs‑up, and began teasing him.

"Third Grandpa, you keep crying poverty to me, saying there's no money at home, yet you've silently become the boss—looks like I'll have to curry favor with Third Grandpa from now on, Boss Yan, may you get rich big time."

Yan Fugui noticed that Shazhu's voice was relatively loud.

A faint hint of panic flashed across his face.

He warily glanced around.

Only after confirming no outsiders had heard did he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Shazhu, don't talk nonsense, Third Grandpa has no money—I'm a poor teacher, I have none—don't let the neighbors hear and cause a misunderstanding."

Seeing Yan Fugui's face show fear,

Shazhu deliberately raised his voice.

Teasing Old Kou for fun is also quite nice.

"No money? You already put up a thousand to buy a share, yet you're crying poverty—rest assured, I won't borrow from you."

Yan Fugui was so anxious he was about to reach out and cover Shazhu's mouth.

This Shazhu.

He says whatever comes to mind.

His anxious, hurried appearance.

It amused Shazhu.

"All right, I was just joking with you."

"Shazhu, you almost scared Third Grandpa's heart out of his chest." Yan Fugui pointed at Shazhu, wishing to poke his forehead, "Don't joke like that with Third Grandpa anymore; Third Grandpa still wants to live a few more years."

"Yan Fugui, you're no longer Third Grandpa—you can't deceive Shazhu."

Jia Zhangshi, returning from outside after using the toilet.

Hearing Yan Fugui call himself Third Grandpa in front of Shazhu,

she was not very happy.

He spoke up to correct a sentence.

Seeing Shazhu, Jia Zhangshi was very pleased, meaning that the plan she and Yang Qianjin had devised to bleed Shazhu dry was half effective; since Lou Xiao'e didn't come, she forced Shazhu to pay.

Using Jia Zhangshi's own words to describe it, you Shazhu ruined the Siheyuan renovation plan, so we neighbors will cause trouble for you Shazhu, and you Shazhu must pay this sum.

Dare you not pay?

I'll take off my clothes and fight you.

Anyway, I'm shameless.

Unhappy about things, worried that Yan Fugui would tell them their plan to Shazhu, making Shazhu think of fleeing; with him not around, how could we bleed Shazhu?

Jia Zhangshi doesn't have the guts to cause a scene at Bai Xu.

Then, using the excuse that Yan Fugui is not the Siheyuan's Third Elder Steward, I gave him a small warning.

Yan Fugui didn't say anything.

But Shazhu was a little unhappy.

I'm now, more or less, the person in charge of Bai Xu; nobody in the Siheyuan dares to call out Shazhu.

Only Jia Zhangshi is the exception; I don't know if she's addled or deliberately trying to show she's superior to Shazhu—upon seeing He Yuzhu, she opens her mouth shouting 'Shazhu' and closes it shouting 'Shazhu'.

No wonder, in his previous life, Bangeng would see Shazhu and shout 'Shazhu' over and over.

The Jia family is rotten at the root.

Shazhu also didn't give Jia Zhangshi a good look, shouting 'Steal his grandmother!'

Jia Zhangshi instantly lost her composure, baring her teeth and ready to raise a ruckus with Shazhu; Shazhu immediately lifted his big palm and even flexed his wrist.

Seeing the situation turn bad, Jia Zhangshi hastily took back her words of causing a scene and swearing in the street.

Now we can't afford to fall out with Shazhu.

We must endure until the Dayuan assembly, then properly bleed Shazhu.

She then presented herself as the Head Stewardess.

"Shazhu, how are you speaking to me? I am now the Head Stewardess of the Siheyuan."

Shazhu's doubtful gaze.

It fell on Yan Fugui.

Understanding why Shazhu was confused, Yan Fugui gave an explanation; only then did Shazhu realize why Jia Zhangshi called herself Head Stewardess—she had hooked up with Yang Qianjin, who had become Head Steward, and Jia Zhangshi considered herself Head Stewardess.

Damn it.

Putting on airs toward himself.

He grinned.

"Steal his grandmother, the Third Elder's steward position is appointed by the neighborhood office; within our Siheyuan, I recognize Yan Fugui as that Third Elder. As for you, Head Stewardess, has the neighborhood office appointed you? Even if they haven't, even if they have, I won't deal with you—you're nothing."

"Shazhu, you."

"You call me Shazhu, but I can't call you 'steal his grandmother'? Bangeng has had a petty thief habit since childhood; if you find that unpleasant, let's change the name to 'call his grandmother'?"

Yan Fugui and his wife.

Covering their mouths, they chuckled.

Suddenly noticing Shazhu was different, his mouth unexpectedly turned venomous: 'Steal his grandmother,' saying Bangeng is a thief; 'Call his grandmother,' saying Bangeng has done time.

A fine move to kill the heart.

Furious, Jia Zhangshi slunk back to the Jia family.

"You."

"Third Elder, it's not my fault; she brought it on herself."

"If I were you, I wouldn't come join in; you say everyone moved out to have fun, so why come back to wade through this muddy Siheyuan business?"

Yan Fugui didn't understand.

Following his meaning.

Once moved away, they'd never come back.

I didn't expect Shazhu, knowing full well that these Siheyuan folks were scheming against him, to still come rushing over.

"Lately work's been busy, with no pastime; I came back just to watch the monkey show."

……

Seven thirty in the evening.

The neighbors of the Siheyuan gradually gathered in the Zhong Yuan.

Probably because there were benefits to be had, and with Jia Zhangshi and Yang Qianjin taking the lead, everyone gave them face, so all who could come did.

Among these people.

The person Shazhu cared about most turned out to be Yang Qianjin.

His gaze also first fell on the one who wasn't Yi Zhonghai but was like Yi Zhonghai.

I don't know if it's because the Moral Heavenly Venerable possessed him, but looking from the side of his face, Yang Qianjin faintly bore some of the former Yi Zhonghai's demeanor.

He looked somewhat similar.

Noticing Shazhu looking at him, Yang Qianjin also directed his gaze at Shazhu.

Shazhu suddenly felt somewhat sentimental.

The Siheyuan must have bad feng shui, for it constantly needs a Yi Zhonghai‑type figure.

The Moral Heavenly Venerable died.

Yet a new Moral Heavenly Venerable has appeared.

Yang Qianjin's gaze, which Shazhu knows well, is exactly the same as Yi Zhonghai's calculating yet kindly look that lets you let your guard down.

After glancing at Shazhu, Yang Qianjin swept his gaze around and loudly shouted at the neighbors.

"Are all the people here? Once everyone's here, we can start the meeting."

His bearing had a touch of pride, giving others a feeling of self-satisfaction.

Over a hundred people surrounded Yang Qianjin, making him feel like the moon surrounded by stars, and he already felt a bit light-headed.

"Just missing Lou Xiao'e; Lou Xiao'e didn't come."

Qin Huairu, who had become Lou Xiao'e's lifelong rival, immediately noticed Lou Xiao'e's absence and was extremely anxious.

Since Lou Xiao'e last appeared in the courtyard, Qin Huairu has been constantly inquiring about Lou Xiao'e's situation, and it really gave her some gains.

From the factory office secretariat, she found a photo of Lou Xiao'e being received by Capital City leaders, and she also carefully read the articles describing Lou Xiao'e.

Seeing above, it said Lou Xiao'e has countless industries in Hong Kong Island and South Asia, totaling seventy or eighty billion.

In Qin Huairu's life, the most money she had ever seen was only five hundred.

Or it was the compensation pension from Yagangchang when Jia Dongxu died.

She just saw it, but Jia Zhangshi pocketed it.

Jia Dongxu died, the pension was five hundred, while Lou Xiao'e has seventy or eighty billion—how many lives of Jia Dongxu would that equal?

Qin Huairu wouldn't calculate that.

She agreed with Jia Zhangshi's words.

Lou Xiao'e has so much money she could spend for several lifetimes; rather than taking it to the grave, it's better to spend it on the neighbors.

Qin Huairu thought a bit more: the courtyard is the courtyard, she wanted ten thousand from Lou Xiao'e.

She wasn't afraid of being laughed at by Lou Xiao'e.

As long as she gets ten thousand, Qin Huairu will do anything.

She also went to the hotel where Lou Xiao'e lives, was stopped by the guard, after announcing she was a neighbor of Lou Xiao'e, Lou Xiao'e still didn't let Qin Huairu in.

She originally thought today's courtyard meeting would let her see Lou Xiao'e, and she had even prepared to turn against the neighbors and speak up for Lou Xiao'e.

Adding icing on the cake is far less valuable than giving charcoal in the snow.

That's why, through this means, she tries as much as possible to move Lou Xiao'e and make Lou Xiao'e trust Qin Huairu.

A multimillionaire with seventy or eighty billion, just a little leak from her fingers would be enough for Qin Huairu to have food and clothing; thinking big, she could become worth hundreds of thousands, making Jia Zhangshi kneel before her and serve her like a grandson.

But she didn't expect Lou Xiao'e not to show up.

That let Qin Huairu's ideas go down the drain.

Qin Huairu also knew Jia Zhangshi's plan: since Lou Xiao'e isn't there, they'd try to force Shazhu to pay; the scheming woman sees through it more clearly—Jia Zhangshi and Yang Qianjin, even if they bring the neighbors to make a fuss, Shazhu wouldn't pay this sum, and being anxious would offend Shazhu, leading to revenge.

Qin Huairu didn't tell Jia Zhangshi about these things; instead she pretended to know nothing and said who wasn't there.

Jia Zhangshi, not knowing what Qin Huairu was thinking, eager to show off in front of the neighbors, muttered a sentence.

"Our Huairu is right—everyone's here, why isn't Lou Xiao'e coming? Is she still part of the courtyard? Shazhu, why didn't Lou Xiao'e come?"

Just now at the courtyard gate, being called by Shazhu as 'the thief's grandma and the prisoner's grandma,' Jia Zhangshi has kept it in mind.

He seriously suspects Lou Xiao'e didn't come because Shazhu was being manipulated behind the scenes.

Who doesn't know Lou Xiao'e has no ulterior motives? Back when Yi Zhonghai organized donations for the Jia family, others said one yuan eighty fen, but Lou Xiao'e always gave ten yuan.

In Jia Zhangshi's mind, Lou Xiao'e is just a pure simpleton.

It's easier to coax Lou Xiao'e into spending money than to coax Shazhu.

I myself am the second matriarch in charge.

You all have to be convinced by me.

"Shazhu, is Lou Xiao'e hiding somewhere in the courtyard? Hurry up and call her back, or I'll kick her out of the courtyard."

Yang Qianjin didn't speak.

Let Jia Zhangshi charge ahead.

This attitude is somewhat similar to Yi Zhonghai back then—clearly knowing Liu Haizhong is dissatisfied and constantly wanting to seize power, yet each time letting Liu Haizhong speak first.

This is also why Shazhu didn't respond to Jia Zhangshi and turned his gaze to Yang Qianjin.

Seeing Shazhu looking at him, Yang Qianjin smiled slightly but still didn't speak.

Jia Zhangshi, deliberately ignored by Shazhu, became somewhat impatient.

Thinking Shazhu was not giving her face as the second matriarch, she frowned, repeated her earlier words, and added a threat to Shazhu.

"Shazhu, what are you laughing at? I tell you, you're about to have bad luck—believe it or not, I'll kick you and Lou Xiao'e out of our Red Star Courtyard? Our courtyard doesn't need people like you, a harmful element."