Chapter 576

Jia Zhang's scheming is utterly futile.

Meaning: Jia Zhangshi's scheming is purely a waste of effort.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi's scheming is purely a waste of effort."

Yang Qianjin, feeling humiliated after being mocked by Shuzhu, is very unhappy and believes his current predicament is entirely Shuzhu's fault.

Meaning: Yang Qianjin, who felt humiliated by Shazhu's mockery, was very unhappy, thinking his current situation was all caused by Shazhu.

Translate: "Yang Qianjin, who felt humiliated by Shazhu's mockery, was very unhappy, thinking his current situation was all caused by Shazhu."

He wants to take revenge on Shuzhu.

Meaning: He wanted to take revenge on Shazhu.

Translate: "He wanted to take revenge on Shazhu."

But he worries because he doesn't know how to get revenge on Shuzhu.

Meaning: But he worried because he didn't know how to take revenge on Shazhu.

Translate: "But he worried because he didn't know how to take revenge on Shazhu."

Shuzhu is the manager of Bai Xu, while Yang Qianjin is a worker at a repair shop not far from the Red Star courtyard, having risen to foreman through seniority.

Meaning: Shazhu is the person in charge of Bai Xu, while Yang Qianjin is a worker at a repair factory not far from the Red Star Courtyard, who became a shift leader through seniority.

Translate: "Shazhu is the person in charge of Bai Xu, while Yang Qianjin is a worker at a repair factory not far from the Red Star Courtyard, who became a shift leader through seniority."

He and Shuzhu are not in the same system.

Meaning: They are not in the same system.

Translate: "They are not in the same system."

Yang Qianjin truly has no way to retaliate against Shuzhu.

Meaning: Yang Qianjin truly had no way to take revenge on Shazhu.

Translate: "Yang Qianjin truly had no way to take revenge on Shazhu."

Within the courtyard, Shuzhu has moved out again and rarely returns; if Yang Qianjin wants revenge, he can only target the ancestral house Shuzhu left behind in the courtyard.

Meaning: Inside the courtyard, Shazhu had moved out again and rarely came back; if Yang Qianjin wanted revenge, he could only target the ancestral house Shazhu left in the courtyard.

Translate: "Inside the courtyard, Shazhu had moved out again and rarely came back; if Yang Qianjin wanted revenge, he could only target the ancestral house Shazhu left in the courtyard."

Just thinking that Shuzhu's brother-in-law is the chief of the police station...

Meaning: Just thinking that Shazhu's brother-in-law is the chief of the police station.

Translate: "Just thinking that Shazhu's brother-in-law is the chief of the police station."

Yang Qianjin instantly abandons his revenge plan; feeling humiliated, he can only stew alone in resentment, then grudgingly announces the meeting is over.

Meaning: Yang Qianjin instantly doused the idea of revenge; feeling humiliated, he could only stew alone, then angrily announced the meeting was over.

Translate: "Yang Qianjin instantly doused the idea of revenge; feeling humiliated, he could only stew alone, then angrily announced the meeting was over."

The beasts present are somewhat displeased; we elected you, Yang Qianjin, as Head Steward precisely so you would secure benefits for us—we set the stage, the audience took their seats, but the performers never showed up.

Meaning: The beasts present were somewhat unhappy; we elected you, Yang Qianjin, as Head Steward, so you would secure benefits for us, the stage is set, the audience is seated, but the performers didn't show up.

Translate: "The beasts present were somewhat unhappy; we elected you, Yang Qianjin, as Head Steward, so you would secure benefits for us, the stage is set, the audience is seated, but the performers didn't show up."

Isn't this just playing with people?

Meaning: Isn't this playing with people?

Translate: "Isn't this playing with people?"

He's unhappy.

Meaning: Not happy.

Translate: "Not happy."

Someone deliberately asked a question.

Meaning: Someone deliberately asked a question.

Translate: "Someone deliberately asked a question."

"Are we still going to renovate the courtyard houses?"

Meaning: "Are we still renovating the houses in our courtyard?"

Translate: "\"Are we still renovating the houses in our courtyard? \""

"He's bringing up the sore spot."

Meaning: (Idiom) To bring up a sore point.

Translate: "He brought up a sore point."

"How can we renovate without money?"

Meaning: "How can we renovate without money?"

Translate: "\"How can we renovate without money? \""

"If Shuzhu won't pay and Lou Xiao'e won't show up, what will we use to renovate the house?"

Meaning: "If Shazhu doesn't put up money and Lou Xiao'e doesn't show up, what will we use to renovate the house?"

Translate: "\"If Shazhu doesn't put up money and Lou Xiao'e doesn't show up, what will we use to renovate the house? \""

"Are we supposed to renovate with just empty talk?"

Meaning: "Are we supposed to renovate with just empty talk?"

Translate: "\"Are we supposed to renovate with just empty talk? \""

Yang Qianjin waved his hand and resignedly said, "Renovate the houses yourselves," feeling utterly despondent.

Meaning: Yang Qianjin waved his hand helplessly and said, "Renovate the house, figure it out yourselves"; he felt utterly lost.

Translate: "Yang Qianjin waved his hand helplessly and said, \"Renovate the house, figure it out yourselves\"; he felt utterly lost."

The grand ambitions he once had to scheme against Shuzhu and Lou Xiao'e have now turned into utter misery.

Meaning: How lofty the ambition was when they plotted against Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e; now how miserable it has become.

Translate: "How lofty the ambition was when they plotted against Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e; now how miserable it has become."

That saying has come true.

Meaning: This proves that saying.

Translate: "This proves that saying."

The higher you fly,

Meaning: The higher you fly.

Translate: "The higher you fly,"

the harder you fall.

Meaning: The harder you fall.

Translate: "the harder you fall."

It's miserable indeed.

Meaning: It's really miserable now.

Translate: "It's really miserable now."

Yang Qianjin tried to shirk responsibility, but he didn't expect the neighbors to take Shuzhu's earlier words as gospel and start manipulating him.

Meaning: Yang Qianjin wanted to dodge responsibility, but he didn't expect the neighbors to take Shazhu's earlier words as truth and start manipulating him with them.

Translate: "Yang Qianjin wanted to dodge responsibility, but he didn't expect the neighbors to take Shazhu's earlier words as truth and start manipulating him with them."

"Head Steward, you're wealthy and you spearheaded this, so you should foot the bill—it won't be much, at most five or six thousand. We have no choice; you're the only one with money in the courtyard. If you fix the houses for us, we'll remember your kindness."

Meaning: "\"Head Steward, you have money, and you're the one who initiated this, so you should pay this sum—it won't be much, at most five or six thousand. We have no choice; only you in the courtyard have money. If you help us fix the houses, we'll remember you kindly. \""

Translate: "\"Head Steward, you have money, and you're the one who initiated this, so you should pay this sum—it won't be much, at most five or six thousand. We have no choice; only you in the courtyard have money. If you help us fix the houses, we'll remember you kindly. \""

Yang Qianjin was stunned.

Meaning: Yang Qianjin was stunned.

Translate: "Yang Qianjin was stunned."

He suddenly felt like he'd lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Meaning: Suddenly he felt like he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Translate: "Suddenly he felt like he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot."

How could you think that?

Meaning: "How can you think like that?"

Translate: "\"How can you think like that? \""

My money is my own; what does it have to do with you?

Meaning: "Even if I have money, it's my own; what does it have to do with you?"

Translate: "\"Even if I have money, it's my own; what does it have to do with you? \""

He refuses to pay.

Meaning: He didn't want to spend the money.

Translate: "He didn't want to spend the money."

He muttered something under his breath that the neighbors didn't catch; because they didn't understand, they mistakenly thought he was insulting them. The formerly obedient neighbors now refused to give him any face, shouting at him and even cursing Jia Zhang, the female Head Steward.

Meaning: He muttered something under his breath that the neighbors didn't catch; because they didn't understand, they mistakenly thought Yang Qianjin was cursing them. The neighbors, who had been obedient just moments before, now gave him no face and started cursing, even dragging in Jia Zhangshi, the Head Stewardess, to be cursed as well.

Translate: "He muttered something under his breath that the neighbors didn't catch; because they didn't understand, they mistakenly thought Yang Qianjin was cursing them. The neighbors, who had been obedient just moments before, now gave him no face and started cursing, even dragging in Jia Zhangshi, the Head Stewardess, to be cursed as well."

"What a damn Head Steward, and damn Head Stewardess too—bah!"

Meaning: "\"What a damn Head Steward, and damn Head Stewardess too—bah! \""

Translate: "\"What a damn Head Steward, and damn Head Stewardess too—bah! \""

"What a damn Head Steward, and damn Head Stewardess too—bah!"

"Who just mentioned Yi Zhonghai? You, Yang Qianjin, as Head Steward, are nothing like him, yet you still have the nerve to call yourself Head Steward."

Meaning: "\"Who just mentioned Yi Zhonghai? You, Yang Qianjin, calling yourself a Head Steward, have nothing comparable to Yi Zhonghai's Head Steward, yet you still have the nerve to call yourself one. \""

Translate: "\"Who just mentioned Yi Zhonghai? You, Yang Qianjin, calling yourself a Head Steward, have nothing comparable to Yi Zhonghai's Head Steward, yet you still have the nerve to call yourself one. \""

"Yang Qianjin, you are our Head Steward, and you initiated the renovation plan; we also proclaimed grand plans to renovate the courtyard. Now you tell us each household must pay for its own renovations. If we're paying ourselves, what do we need you for? Just decoration!"

Meaning: "\"Yang Qianjin, you are our Head Steward, and the house renovation was your idea; we also proclaimed grand plans for renovating the courtyard. Now you tell us that whoever renovates pays themselves. If we pay ourselves, what do we need you, a Head Steward, for? Just for show! \""

Translate: "\"Yang Qianjin, you are our Head Steward, and the house renovation was your idea; we also proclaimed grand plans for renovating the courtyard. Now you tell us that whoever renovates pays themselves. If we pay ourselves, what do we need you, a Head Steward, for? Just for show! \""

That was the neighbor's remark.

Meaning: That neighbor's words.

Translate: "That neighbor's words."

It gained the agreement of many neighbors.

Meaning: Gained much agreement from neighbors.

Translate: "Gained much agreement from neighbors."

Everyone quickly echoed it.

Meaning: Everyone immediately echoed it.

Translate: "Everyone immediately echoed it."

During the period when Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhang appointed themselves as the courtyard's stewards, they repeatedly made lofty promises to bolster their image.

Meaning: During the period when Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhangshi set themselves up as the courtyard's stewards, to build up their personas they frequently issued grand statements.

Translate: "During the period when Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhangshi set themselves up as the courtyard's stewards, to build up their personas they frequently issued grand statements."

They claimed the renovation was a done deal, asserting that if the residents approved and trusted them, they would surely move everyone into spacious, bright new homes.

Meaning: They said the renovation of the courtyard was a done deal; as long as the neighbors approved and trusted them, they would surely let the neighbors live in spacious, bright new houses.

Translate: "They said the renovation of the courtyard was a done deal; as long as the neighbors approved and trusted them, they would surely let the neighbors live in spacious, bright new houses."

Neighbors lacking space or facing housing shortages would benefit most from this renovation, turning one room into two, two into three.

Meaning: Neighbors lacking space or facing housing shortages would gain the most from this courtyard renovation, turning one room into two, two into three.

Translate: "Neighbors lacking space or facing housing shortages would gain the most from this courtyard renovation, turning one room into two, two into three."

Jia Zhang's proposal to bring toilets inside the houses attracted even more attention, as everyone wanted the convenience of not having to go outside to use the bathroom.

Meaning: Jia Zhangshi's plan to bring toilets inside the house attracted even more attention; everyone wanted to enjoy the convenience of not having to go out to use the toilet.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi's plan to bring toilets inside the house attracted even more attention; everyone wanted to enjoy the convenience of not having to go out to use the toilet."

Each person harbored their own dreams.

Meaning: Everyone now harbored their own fantasies.

Translate: "Everyone now harbored their own fantasies."

In the end, Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhang backed down.

Meaning: In the end, Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhangshi backed down.

Translate: "In the end, Yang Qianjin and Jia Zhangshi backed down."

Many felt they had been toyed with.

Meaning: Many felt they were being toyed with.

Translate: "Many felt they were being toyed with."

Like a ruffled chicken.

Meaning: Like a flustered chicken.

Translate: "Like a flustered chicken."

They were all angry.

Meaning: They all became angry.

Translate: "They all became angry."

They immediately surrounded Jia Zhang and Yang Qianjin; some spoke to Yang Qianjin, others turned their focus to Jia Zhang, using the same tactics they'd employed on Yang Qianjin, insisting she fund the renovations.

Meaning: They immediately surrounded Jia Zhangshi and Yang Qianjin; some spoke to Yang Qianjin, while others turned their focus to Jia Zhangshi, using the exact same tactics they'd used on Yang Qianjin, insisting that Jia Zhangshi pay for the renovations.

Translate: "They immediately surrounded Jia Zhangshi and Yang Qianjin; some spoke to Yang Qianjin, while others turned their focus to Jia Zhangshi, using the exact same tactics they'd used on Yang Qianjin, insisting that Jia Zhangshi pay for the renovations."

"Jia Zhang, Yang Qianjin has only just moved in, but you're a longtime resident of our courtyard—decades as a neighbor. As the saying goes, distant relatives are nothing compared to close neighbors. We elected you as female Head Steward; if that fails, we could make you Head Steward. At the very least, you must succeed in getting the indoor toilets done."

Meaning: "\"Jia Zhangshi, although Yang Qianjin has only just moved in a few days, you are a long-time resident of our courtyard, living here for decades. As the saying goes, distant relatives are no match for close neighbors. We have elected you as Head Stewardess of the courtyard; if that fails, we could also make you Head Stewardess (female head steward). At the very least, you must succeed in organizing the indoor toilet project. \""

Translate: "\"Jia Zhangshi, although Yang Qianjin has only just moved in a few days, you are a long-time resident of our courtyard, living here for decades. As the saying goes, distant relatives are no match for close neighbors. We have elected you as Head Stewardess of the courtyard; if that fails, we could also make you Head Stewardess (female head steward). At the very least, you must succeed in organizing the indoor toilet project. \""

Head Stewardess

"The renovation also needs to be organized; if you, Jia Zhang, don't bring it up, how can we offend Shuzhu or Lou Xiao'e?"

Meaning: "\"We also need to get the renovation organized; if you, Jia Zhangshi, don't bring this up, how could we dare offend Shazhu or Lou Xiao'e? \""

Translate: "\"We also need to get the renovation organized; if you, Jia Zhangshi, don't bring this up, how could we dare offend Shazhu or Lou Xiao'e? \""

"Lou Xiao'e isn't here, Shuzhu disagrees, so you, Jia Zhang, must pay for our renovations."

Meaning: "\"Lou Xiao'e didn't come, Shazhu disagrees, so you, Jia Zhangshi, must pay for our renovation. \""

Translate: "\"Lou Xiao'e didn't come, Shazhu disagrees, so you, Jia Zhangshi, must pay for our renovation. \""

"Jia Zhang will pay."

Meaning: "\"Jia Zhangshi must pay. \""

Translate: "\"Jia Zhangshi must pay. \""

Jia Zhang silently lamented.

Meaning: Jia Zhangshi secretly groaned in distress.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi secretly groaned in distress."

Why is it coming at me?

Meaning: "Why is it coming at me?"

Translate: "\"Why is it coming at me? \""

He had hoped to slip away while the neighbors focused their attack on Yang Qianjin, but instead they split into two groups—one blocking Yang Qianjin, the other surrounding Jia Zhang.

Meaning: Originally he had planned to sneak away while the neighbors were ganging up on Yang Qianjin, but he didn't expect them to split into two groups, one blocking Yang Qianjin and the other surrounding Jia Zhangshi.

Translate: "Originally he had planned to sneak away while the neighbors were ganging up on Yang Qianjin, but he didn't expect them to split into two groups, one blocking Yang Qianjin and the other surrounding Jia Zhangshi."

Jia Zhang, desperate to flee, now felt like dying; facing the furious crowd, she could only curse Shuzhu and Lou Xiao'e, calling them rich miserly bastards, heartless beasts who would surely face retribution.

Meaning: Jia Zhangshi, who kept failing to escape, now felt like dying; facing the furious crowd, he could only curse Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e, calling them moneybags who won't spend on the neighbors, heartless rich beasts, and saying they will surely meet karmic retribution.

Translate: "Jia Zhangshi, who kept failing to escape, now felt like dying; facing the furious crowd, he could only curse Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e, calling them moneybags who won't spend on the neighbors, heartless rich beasts, and saying they will surely meet karmic retribution."

The neighbors no longer cared who was a beast; they just wanted Jia Zhang to take charge, believing her role as female Head Steward had been nominal.

Meaning: The neighbors no longer cared about who was a beast; they just wanted Jia Zhangshi to take the lead, truly believing her title of Head Stewardess had been empty.

Translate: "The neighbors no longer cared about who was a beast; they just wanted Jia Zhangshi to take the lead, truly believing her title of Head Stewardess had been empty."

"Jia Zhang, don't curse Shuzhu or Lou Xiao'e; we're here to discuss matters. I don't care about anything else, but since you spearheaded the courtyard renovation, you must see the houses fixed regardless of who pays—or else you'd better watch your back at night."

Meaning: "\"Jia Zhangshi, don't curse Shazhu or Lou Xiao'e; we're just stating facts. Regardless, the courtyard renovation was your initiative, so whoever pays, you must see to it that the houses are fixed, or you'd better watch your back at night. \""

Translate: "\"Jia Zhangshi, don't curse Shazhu or Lou Xiao'e; we're just stating facts. Regardless, the courtyard renovation was your initiative, so whoever pays, you must see to it that the houses are fixed, or you'd better watch your back at night. \""

If there is one, there will be two.

Where there are two, there will be three.

Someone took the lead.

Everyone swarmed up like a hive of bees.

"Jia Zhangshi, you also have to take responsibility for our house."

"Whether we renovate the house or not, I don't care; the key is that the toilet being moved inside—this matter, you, Jia Zhangshi, owe me an explanation. I've already bragged about it, and in a few days my friends will come to celebrate. If they find nothing, will I still have any face?"

The crowd's remarks.

Blows like a sledgehammer struck Jia Zhangshi's body.

This made Laoqianpo feel a faint regret.

"Why are you all coming at me?"

It also carried some resentment.

Just now Shazhu was in the Siheyuan, and you all acted like grandsons, letting me and Yang Qianjin step forward to deal with Shazhu. Shazhu dropped his load and ran off; he's gone. Then you all got spirited, blocking me from leaving. You know what's going on in my house, yet you still block me—if you're going to block someone, block a rich person!

Staring with eyes wide.

Looking at the people before him.

He shouted a line.

"I won't be the second madam anymore, okay!"

I've had enough of this act.

Seeing the situation turn sour.

Wanting to run.

"What good thing are you thinking about?"

"Jia Zhangshi, you say you're not the second madam, so you're not? What have you made us Siheyuan neighbors into? A rag you toss around—used when needed, held in hand, discarded when not?"

"That's absolutely right, Jia Zhangshi. Initially we never thought of pushing you to be the second madam; you insisted on being the second madam, saying you could bring us benefits. Regardless of who pays, our house needs renovation. Lou Xiaoe won't pay, you told Shazhu to pay, but Shazhu didn't pay and ran off, so we let you, Jia Zhangshi, pay—just as Shazhu said, the eldest uncle would pay seven or eight thousand, and you, the second madam, would pay three or four thousand."

Three or four thousand.

This will really take Jia Zhangshi's life.

No way out.

Using the Jia family's utter destitution as an excuse to respond to the neighbors' debt pressure, claiming to have no money, but didn't expect the neighbors to suggest selling the Jia family house and Qin Huairu's job as a solution for having no money.

Sell the house.

"Where to live?"

Sell the job.

"What to eat?"

The Jia family's foothold in the city is now gone.

Isn't that something?

Jia Zhangshi, in a panic, spotted Yang Qianjin nearby and came up with a plan to divert disaster eastward, recklessly selling out this teammate Yang Qianjin.

"No wonder Jia Zhangshi is the kind of person everyone in the Siheyuan dislikes—damn, you're selling out your teammate!"

Not far away.

Yang Qianjin, already vexed and annoyed by the neighbors' pressure to renovate the house, never expected to be backstabbed by Jia Zhangshi at such a time.

He froze on the spot.

He stared blankly at Jia Zhangshi, who spoke with conviction that Yang Qianjin had money.

Certain images flashed in his mind.

"No wonder Jia Zhangshi is the kind of person everyone in the Siheyuan dislikes—damn, you're selling out your teammate!"

Seeing Jia Zhangshi still claiming to have money and letting the neighbors pressure him, Yang Qianjin's inner fury instantly exploded.

He walked up to Jia Zhangshi, waving a big slap, swinging at her chubby cheeks.

The onlooking neighbors heard two crisp slaps, then looked at Jia Zhangshi—her face had turned into a pig's head.

Jia Zhangshi, stunned for over ten seconds, howled and charged at Yang Qianjin, cursing his ancestors up to eight generations.

"I'll fight you to the death."

The two grappled together.

Yang Qianjin had a wife, a son, and a daughter.

A genuine brawl with the whole family piling in.

But Jia Zhangshi was alone.

Qin Huairu clearly knew Jia Zhangshi was being beaten, yet deliberately stepped aside, watching her get beaten with satisfaction, thinking it was good.

Two fists can't resist four hands.

A hero can't withstand a crowd.

Even though Jia Zhangshi kept acting shrewish, she was no match for Yang Qianjin's family, getting beaten badly—this was the first half of the fight; in the second half, Jia Zhangshi miraculously staged a grand counterattack, defeating the many with the few, chasing Yang Qianjin's family all over the Siheyuan.

The credit goes to the dung.

The tearful, bawling Jia Zhangshi, who had been beaten, unintentionally grabbed a dung scoop used to clean toilets, relying on the slight yellow-white substance on it to fend off Yang Qianjin and his family.

This battle.

It also caused the Siheyuan's moral coercion to renovate the house—targeting Shazhu and Lou Xiaoe—to come to nothing.

The neighbors worried that pressing Jia Zhangshi would make her show up at their doors with a dung bucket, so they lost the mind to keep demanding she pay for the renovations.

The Siheyuan gradually fell into calm.

Later, somehow word got out, and the neighbors all around came to know it; those inside the Siheyuan became famous again.

They were called the 'bestial Siheyuan'.

Yang Qianjin is a major scoundrel, Jia Zhangshi is a lesser scoundrel.

As for Yan Fugui, Thus: Thus: Mahua, You Fengxia and the like, they are praised as the good people who emerge from the Siheyuan unstained.

This can be seen as a polarization.

When Jia Zhangshi and others appeared, those people mocked them as much as possible.

When Thus: Thus: Mahua and company appeared, those people kindly advised Thus: Thus: Mahua to move out as soon as possible.

……

Shazhu heard Yan Fugui recount the events like that, burst out laughing, he really hadn't expected the latter half of the Dayuan meeting to be so splendid.

Jia Zhangshi was beaten.

Yang Qianjin's family was beaten again by Jia Zhangshi.

Regarding this matter.

He could only say, "Serves them right!"

If it weren't for their greed, wanting to scheme against Shazhu and Lou Xiao'e, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

Yan Fugui came along with Thus: Thus: Mahua.

The butcher also came along.

The three of them discussed some details of the cooperation.

I don't know whether it was Yan Fugui's idea or the butcher's intention, but they sought out Thus: Thus: Mahua, saying they wanted to discuss an important matter with Shazhu.

The matter was rather urgent.

Thus: Thus: Mahua believed it, leading Yan Fugui and the butcher to Shazhu's private Siheyuan; after seeing Shazhu and chatting a while about the Siheyuan, he then explained their purpose to Shazhu.

The butcher and Yan Fugui's private small slaughterhouse actually asked Shazhu to buy a share.

No need for Shazhu to spend money.

Not a single penny needs to be spent.

This amounted to giving Shazhu a twenty percent stake.

Shazhu guessed their intentions: on one hand, as the person in charge of Bai Xu, he worried Shazhu would demand raw meat from other slaughterhouses; on the other, they wanted to use Shazhu to connect with Yagangchang's logistics.

Yagangchang employs over ten thousand people.

One day's consumption could be fully covered by the raw meat produced by the slaughterhouse.

Shazhu didn't want to bring trouble upon himself; if discovered, it would be troublesome, so he tactfully expressed his wishes to Yan Fugui and the butcher.

After chatting a while longer with Yan Fugui and the butcher, when the time was about right, he got up and saw them out of the Siheyuan.

At the courtyard gate.

Yan Fugui and the butcher didn't rush to leave; instead they paused, then turned their gaze toward the rear grand mansion.

Even if Yan Fugui were beaten to death, he wouldn't have imagined that the Siheyuan's so-called "foolish chef" Shazhu now lives in his own private Siheyuan.

In Yan Fugui's eyes, this house is fit only for ancient nobles and officials.

He finally understood why Shazhu had moved out.

As for those matters inside the Siheyuan.

It's really frustrating.

Moving out brought tranquility, without so much talk.

He glanced at the butcher, then they walked toward the beast Siheyuan one after another.

Both were curious.

They wondered why Lou Xiao'e lived in Shazhu's Siheyuan.