Chapter 583

He had dinner. OK.

Translation: "Had dinner." Could be "Finished dinner." Keep simple: "Had dinner."

Shazhu lay idle in the room, hand as pillow under head, shod feet sticking out of the wooden frame at the head of the bed, pondering the future and wondering exactly how to proceed. No Chinese.

We need to keep content: Shazhu lay idle in the room, hand pillow under head, feet with shoes sticking out of the wooden frame at the head of the bed, thinking about the future path, specifically how to go. Let's translate: "Shazhu lay idle in the room, hand pillow under his head, feet with shoes sticking out of the wooden frame at the head of the bed, thinking about the road ahead, wondering exactly how to proceed."

Make sure we keep all info: lay idle in the room, hand pillow under head, feet with shoes sticking out of the wooden frame at the head of the bed, thinking about the future path and wondering exactly how to go. OK.

Bai Xu has now gotten past the most dangerous and most envied stage. OK.

Translation: "Bai Xu has currently gotten past the most dangerous, most watched stage." Or "Bai Xu is now considered to have passed the most dangerous, most envied stage." Keep: "Bai Xu has currently gotten past the most dangerous, most watched stage."

Thanks to Secretary Zhao. OK.

But we need to keep the meaning: 'thanks to'. So: 'Thanks to Secretary Zhao.' OK.

A twenty‑thousand‑dollar favor secured Bai Xu's safety; those who saw Bai Xu as a cash cow and wanted to scheme, under the strong backing of the top leader, became trembling wrecks; the earlier concerns about material supply were also resolved in passing. OK.

Make sure to keep numbers: twenty thousand dollars favor bought Bai Xu's safety; those who regarded Bai Xu as a cash cow and wanted to scheme, under the strong backing of the top leader, became trembling existences; the previously worried material supply problem was also resolved in passing. OK.

Let's produce: "A twenty‑dollar‑thousand favor bought Bai Xu's safety; those who saw Bai Xu as a cash cow and wanted to scheme, under the strong backing of the top leader, became trembling existences; the previously worried material supply problem was also resolved in passing."

A twenty‑thousand‑dollar favor bought Bai Xu's safety; those who regarded Bai Xu as a cash cow and wanted to scheme, under the strong backing of the top leader, became trembling existences; the previously worried material supply problem was also resolved in passing. OK.

The steel plant has an empty lot just outside the factory, bordering the street. OK.

Translation: "Yagangchang had a piece of vacant waste land, just outside the factory area and bordering the street."

Some resourceful people turned it into a place for trading goods, making it a sort of market that isn't a traditional farmers' market. OK.

Translation: "Some enterprising people used it as a venue for trading goods, barely counting as a market that isn't a farmers' market."

Saturday and Sunday. OK.

Translation: "Saturday and Sunday." Or "Weekends." Keep literal: "Saturday and Sunday."

Villagers from around the capital would bring their livestock, poultry, and home‑grown vegetables by cart or on their backs to sell here. OK.

Translation: "Villagers from around the Capital City would drive carts or carry on their backs the chickens, ducks, various meats they raised, or vegetables they grew, coming here to hawk their wares."

The new street officials, concerned about safety, regularized the market. OK.

Translation: "The newly arrived street leadership, considering safety, formalized it."

When the market opens, street personnel arrive to maintain order, and it has even been mentioned in the newspaper as the announcer of the capital's market. OK.

Translation: "When the market opens, street staff come to maintain order; I heard it even made the newspaper, calling them the heralds of the Capital City market."

Shazhu went with Thus: Thus: Mahua to buy there a few times, feeling deeply moved; the locals' faces lit up with smiles, their eyes full of hope, and they no longer skulked about as before. OK.

Translation: "Shazhu took Thus: Thus: Mahua to buy there several times, feeling deeply moved; the common folk's faces showed smiles, their eyes held more anticipation, no longer sneaking about as before."

The range of goods is far richer than it was a few years ago. OK.

Translation: "The produce was much richer than in previous years."

Everything you could want is sold there. OK.

Translation: "Everything you could want was for sale."

He also noticed some negative aspects: unemployed youths returning to the city used the market as a venue for profiteering. OK.

Translation: "I also saw some bad things: some youths who returned to the city unable to find work turned the farmers' market into a place to gouge profits."

All kinds of costs emerged. OK.

Translation: "Various fees sprang up."

Some even waylaid people along the route. OK.

Translation: "Some even intercepted people midway."

Jia Zhangshi exemplifies this. OK.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi is a typical example."

According to Thus: Thus: Mahua, after the scheme against He Weiguo failed, she had a big argument with Qin Huairu, and Qin Huairu completely cut off Jia Zhangshi's meals. OK.

According to Thus: Thus: Mahua, after the plot against He Weiguo failed, she quarreled loudly with Qin Huairu, and Qin Huairu completely stopped providing meals for Jia Zhangshi. OK.

Jia Zhangshi had no alternative but to go back to her old business of making and selling cloth shoes; she sold five pairs at the market, but they were stolen on her way home. OK.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi had no choice but to revert to her old trade, making cloth shoes to sell; she sold five pairs at the farmers' market, but on the way back someone stole them."

Jia Zhangshi burst into tears, wailing and lamenting, calling the thief immoral and saying he deserved a terrible fate. OK.

Translation: "Furious, Jia Zhangshi wailed and lamented, cursing the thief as lacking virtue and declaring that the thief would come to a bad end."

Liu Guoguo and his associates spent several days busy because of this, arresting many people. OK.

Translation: "Liu Jianguo and his crew, because of this, were busy for several days, arresting many people."

At that moment. OK.

Translation: "At present." Or "Now." Keep: "At present."

A little braver, a little more daring. OK.

Translation: "A bit bolder, a bit wilder in approach."

You can earn a lot of money. OK.

Translation: "One can make big money."

I heard that some were selling pirated cassettes, which older people denounced as decadent music, and these became tools for profit. OK.

Translation: "I heard that some people were selling pirated cassette tapes; tapes that the older generation called decadent music became tools and means for these people to profit."

The 'decadent music' mentioned by elders refers to Hong Kong and Taiwanese songs like Teresa Teng's 'The Sweetest Sweet', Liu Wenzheng's 'Little Rain in March', and Zhen Ni's rendition of 'Ruby Flower', among others. OK.

Translation: "The 'decadent music' referred to by the older generation means songs from Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Teresa Teng's 'The Sweetest Feeling', stories of a small town, Liu Wenzheng's 'Spring Rain in March', and Zhen Ni's cover of 'Ruby Flower', etc."

It was extremely popular. OK.

Translation: "Extremely popular."

Xu Daming noticed electronic watches were selling well, bought a train ticket, rode from the capital to Yangcheng, stocked up on electronic watches, and sold them back in the capital at three times the price. OK.

【75】

Let's produce: "Shazhu's eldest son, He Weiguo, spent a dollar on a pirated cassette of Liu Wenzheng and listened to it all day; this made Yu Li brandish a feather duster and go to reason with He Weiguo—if Shazhu hadn't acted as mediator, the eldest of the He family would surely have gotten a beating."

But we must keep the name transliterated as Yu Li. Also, the phrase meaning the eldest of the He family. Good.

He Weiguo told Shazhu that he bought a cassette for a dollar and made a profit; now Liu Wenzheng's and Teresa Teng's cassettes

Translation: "He Weiguo told Shazhu, saying he bought a cassette for a dollar and made a profit; now the cassettes of Liu Wenzheng and Teresa Teng have been bid up to one and a half dollars each."

Outsiders just watch the spectacle.

Translation: "Outsiders watch the excitement."

Insiders look for the details.

Translation: "Insiders look for the way."

A tiny music cassette confirmed something.

Translation: "A small music cassette proved a point."

The populace has progressed from just avoiding starvation to eating well, and now also seeks spiritual and cultural pursuits.

Translation: "The people have moved from the stage of not starving to that of eating well, and while eating well they also developed pursuits in spirit and entertainment."

Bai Xu's two‑story shop.

Translation: "Bai Xu's two‑story building."

It can no longer satisfy consumers.

Translation: "It can no longer satisfy consumers."

Shazhu seriously considered opening a branch for the first time.

Translation: "Shazhu for the first time seriously considered the suggestion to open a branch."

They called it a branch.

Translation: "Called a branch."

In fact, it was also the flagship store.

Translation: "In fact it is also the main store."

Shazhu wanted to select a five‑story building on the outskirts of Huangcheng and turn it into Bai Xu's flagship store.

Shazhu wanted to select a five‑story building on the edge of Huangcheng and remodel it into Bai Xu's flagship store.

Twenty years later, regardless of market value or profit, simply that five‑story building on the edge of Huangcheng would keep Bai Xu unbeatable.

Translation: "Twenty‑plus years later, without mentioning market value or profit, just that five‑story building on the edge of Huangcheng would be enough to keep Bai Xu invincible."

He kept thinking.

Translation: "Thinking and thinking."

Suddenly Xu Daming came to mind.

Translation: "Suddenly he thought of Xu Daming."

Shazhu heard from Lou Xiaoe that Xu Daming had gone to Hong Kong to gain experience, and wondered when he would return and what he would look like when he showed up.

Translation: "Shazhu learned from Lou Xiaoe that Xu Daming had gone to Hong Kong to broaden his horizons, and wondered when he would return and in what guise he would appear before him."

In his past life.

Translation: "In the previous life."

He hadn't escaped Xu Daming's ridicule.

Translation: "He hadn't been spared Xu Daming's mockery."

The scene of Lou Xiaoe bringing He Xiaoyinjin back to her hometown stirred Xu Daming's fragile nerves; after that, Xu Daming rarely appeared in the courtyard, and when he did he looked busy; during that period Shazhu said something to Xu Daming, but Xu Daming still mocked him.

We need to keep 'He Xiaoyinjin' as a name; it's not in the glossary but it's a person's name, so we pinyin it. Similarly, 'Xu Daming' is pinyined.

Now translate: "The scene of Lou Xiaoe bringing He Xiaoyinjin back to her hometown stimulated Xu Daming's fragile nerves; after that, Xu Daming hardly appeared in the Siheyuan, and when occasionally seen he looked busy; during that time Shazhu said a sentence to Xu Daming, but it was still mocked by Xu Daming."

Shazhu was listening to opera on the radio when Xu Daming burst in, waving a Teresa Teng cassette and asking, 'Who listens to opera these days? Everyone listens to them—do you know who Teresa Teng is? Do you know Liu Wenzheng?'

Translation: "Shazhu was listening to opera on the radio when Xu Daming caught him, holding up a Teresa Teng cassette and saying to Shazhu, 'Who listens to opera these days? Everyone listens to them—do you know who Teresa Teng is? Do you know Liu Wenzheng?'"

A few days later.

Translation: "A few days later."

Upon meeting Xu Daming, Shazhu sensed that something was not right with him.

Translation: "When Shazhu met Xu Daming, he noticed something off about Xu Daming."

Shazhu still dressed in his old‑style liberation shoes, earth‑gray pants, and a light‑blue shirt.

Translation: "Shazhu still wore his old‑style outfit: liberation shoes, earth‑gray pants, and a light‑blue top."

Xu Daming, on the other hand, dressed like a successful boss in black leather shoes, a black suit, a blue shirt with a tie, a gold necklace, and a black synthetic‑leather bag.

Translation: "Xu Daming, however, dressed like a successful boss: black leather shoes, a black suit, a blue shirt adorned with a tie, a gold chain around his neck, and a black synthetic‑leather small bag in his hand."

To be honest.

Translation: "To be honest."

At that moment Shazhu really didn't know what Xu Daming was doing, but he felt a pang of envy, envying Xu Daming's polished, successful appearance; however, since Shazhu's money was all controlled by Qin Huairu, he could only counter by pointing out that he had no son.

He could only counter with the extreme move of being son‑less.

Let's produce: "At that time Shazhu truly didn't know what Xu Daming was doing, but he felt a twinge of envy, envying Xu Daming's polished appearance; yet because Shazhu's money was all clenched in Qin Huairu's hands, he could only retaliate with the extreme move of being son‑less."

Later Shazhu learned that Xu Daming had stockpiled pirated cassettes, buying them for $1 each and selling them for up to $3 each.

Translation: "Later Shazhu heard that Xu Daming had stockpiled a batch of pirated cassettes, buying them at a dollar each and selling them at the peak price of three dollars."

He made his first fortune.

Translation: "He earned his first pot of gold."

After he had money.

Translation: "After he had money."

Xu Daming noticed electronic watches were selling well, bought a train ticket, rode from the capital to Yangcheng, stocked up on electronic watches, and sold them back in the capital at three times the price.

Translation: "Xu Daming saw that electronic watches were selling well, bought a train ticket, rode standing all the way from the Capital City to Yangcheng, stocked up on a bunch of electronic watches, and after returning to the Capital City sold them at triple the price."

Exactly how much money did Biē Sun make?

Shazhu didn't quite understand, but he knew that many people in the Siheyuan envied Xu Daming, especially the Jia Family, who more than once said to Shazhu's face how much money Xu Daming had earned, how he had gotten a motorcycle, bought an apartment, how Xu Daming had his own mobile phone, and could make calls from home.

Shazhu had inquired; this thing was already nearly ten thousand, the cost per minute was damn expensive.

At the time Shazhu didn't think much, mistakenly thinking it was just the Jia family venting complaints; he now lies in bed, after pondering carefully, he discovered that the Jia family were deliberately provoking him, knowing full well that Shazhu and Xu Daming are rivals and can't stand seeing Xu Daming do well, they deliberately, to his face, say that Shazhu is no match for Xu Daming—Jia Zhangshi wears that sneer, Qin Huairu has that expression, Bangeng even threw out the words 'Shazhu gets stepped on by Xu Daming,' and Xiao Dang and Huaihua are even more in a teasing mood.

Why did Shazhu agree to be the head chef for Yu Li and her husband?

It's nothing other than being provoked by the Jia family into having the idea of making money to support livestock.

Simply put, he spent this lifetime staying away from the Jia family and got on good terms with Xu Daming.

In his previous life in the Capital City, despite lacking conditions and ability, Xu Daming could still put on a respectable front, pointing at his Western suit and showing off to Shazhu.

"Have you seen this, buddy? This Western suit of mine is worth half a year of your salary, Shazhu—it's the brand Pierre Cardin, foreign goods."

Now that he's gone to Hong Kong Island, just relying on Xu Daming's gift of gab, even Bie Sun wouldn't get by too poorly.

……

Shazhu really overestimated Xu Daming.

At first.

Bie Sun was very impressive, thinking he had found a way to make money, wearing his outfit, standing in crowded places, earning money by taking photos.

The booming business angered the local thugs.

The money Xu Daming earned stayed in his pocket for only three or four minutes before those people snatched it away.

At first he still thought of calling the police.

Later he came to his senses, realizing he was an illegal resident, so he could only suffer in silence; he also regretted it, regretting that he shouldn't have impulsively torn up the paperwork.

Yet he had no thought of going to find Lou Xiaoe.

Face.

Left with no choice, Xu Daming could only stay at the local extremely distinctive iron-cage hotel, costing ten bucks a night; if he had no money, he could run a tab, but it required a guarantor. In the process of avoiding the thugs' pursuit, Xu Daming met someone who shared his plight; that person stood as guarantor, allowing Xu Daming to stay at the iron-cage hotel.

Called a hotel, it was actually just a big mixed dwelling.

In a large room of three to four hundred square meters, filled with upper and lower bunk iron-frame beds; these beds aren't just iron-framed, but iron wire mesh is installed on the other three sides of the bed, on which clothes and such are hung.

People sleep inside.

It's very oppressive.

Moreover, tall people can't even straighten their legs.

Xu Daming, being tall, could only curl up as much as possible when sleeping at night; having earned no money, he decided not to eat dinner, and while thinking about where to make money tomorrow, a man slightly older than Xu Daming by about ten years pressed a heavy lunchbox into his hands.

Seeing Xu Daming not take it.

He urged him with words.

"What are you looking at? Hurry up and take it—you need to make money tomorrow, not eating at night won't do. By the way, don't think about going to take photos either; I heard from A Kong that the police have been sweeping the streets lately, arresting people without IDs."

"Thank you, uncle." Xu Daming, having taken the lunchbox, not knowing what to call the man, followed the indoor folks' address and called him "uncle," saying, "I'll repay you for the meal."

"Repaying the money isn't important; the important thing is that you first settle down. Look at your attire—you're no pushover over there—why did you come running here?"

Xu Daming, who had originally been moved.

His heart rose with twelvefold vigilance.

He didn't know whether this was a test of him.

He lowered his head.

He was slightly stunned for over ten seconds.

He came up with a reason that was half true, half false.

"I used to be a deputy director!"

The uncle's hand.

He patted Xu Daming on the shoulder.

He probably believed it.

The three words "deputy director" carry a strong imagination.

No wonder he ran.

After he left, Xu Daming opened the lunchbox before him, looked at the food inside, and was stunned again; in the Capital City they still used those aluminum lunchboxes that could be washed and reused, while in Hong Kong Island they had already switched to disposable lunchboxes. When Xu Daming first saw this thing, he even made a joke, thinking the foam lunchbox was edible and took a few bites.

Only later did he learn that you throw this thing away after eating; it's trash.

Moreover, he wasn't fond of the lunchboxes here; at first they seemed fine—every meal had meat, either a drumstick or duck leg, or just chicken-and-duck meat—but after a few days he grew tired of it and wanted some vegetables, only to learn upon asking that the vegetable lunchboxes cost far more than the meat ones.

People are iron.

Food is steel.

Skip a meal and you'll be starving anxious.

Even if you don't like it, you have to eat it.

Xu Daming gulped it down; after finishing, he grabbed a bottle of cola from under the bed, downed it in one go, and let out a big burp.

After being in Hong Kong Island for more than ten days.

The biggest impression he had of Hong Kong Island was that this place truly runs on money—having money equals having everything; without money, you don't even have the right to survive.

Xu Daming made a vicious oath in his heart: he would surely rise above others, earn endless money, and fulfill his dream of cola freedom; he grew fond of this thing.

Really refreshing.

……

On the other side.

The old uncle who delivered the lunchbox to Xu Daming.

He sat down facing a man about his age.

The two exchanged a glance.

"What's the situation?"

They say he once served as deputy director!

It's almost been two years.

It's not impossible; suppose his nemesis just returned there—the Lou family's affair, you also know—recently they went back with great fanfare; I heard that back then they were simply chased out in disgrace, holding a grudge, they must find the culprit.

That makes sense.

Have you arranged tomorrow's affairs?

If he cooperates, there should be no problem; I'll talk to him later. These days he's been bullied by those bastards; I think he already knows what to do.

……

Xu Daming, having finished his meal.

Seeing two old men playing chess opposite.

Then he squatted and went over.

People always need to find some pastime for themselves.

His gaze fell on the chessboard, and his eyes widened instantly—not because he was shocked by the two players' moves, but because the chessboard itself frightened him stupid.

That should be a magazine.

It had been turned into a chessboard by the two old men.

If Xu Daming wasn't mistaken, the magazine's cover bore his ex-wife Lou Xiaoe; below were traditional characters he didn't recognize, but he recognized the number 80, followed by a hundred million.

Xu Daming guessed that it said Lou Xiaoe's net worth was as high as eighty hundred million.

He was frightened.

Eighty hundred million.

When will this be spent?

He finally understood where Lou Xiaoe's superior aura came from.

……

A certain village in the northwest.

A couple was arguing.

The female side was Qin Huairu's daughter Xiao Dang; the male side was Xiao Dang's husband, who is ten years younger than Qin Huairu.

The reason for the argument.

It was that Xiao Dang wanted to return to the capital city.

The husband's meaning: you married into our family, you are one of us; wanting to return to the capital city is fine, but you must bring that old man back to the city.

Xiao Dang felt embarrassed.

Looking at him, he seemed like her own father.

Bringing him back to the siheyuan would surely become a laughingstock among the neighbors.

She just wouldn't agree.

The man stepped back, letting Xiao Dang take the kids and return to the capital city together; Xiao Dang considered that after returning to the city, she wouldn't find work, and even getting meals would be a problem.

She raised the banner of returning to the city first to settle down, then, once settled, bringing the children to the capital city.

Xiao Dang's mother-in-law and husband, speaking confidently, said Xiao Dang was deceiving them, insisting she would definitely not return.

In the end, they wouldn't let Xiao Dang leave.

Worried that Xiao Dang would sneak away.

They put Xiao Dang in the thatched hut.

Looking at her surroundings, Xiao Dang suddenly wanted to cry; she realized her efforts were truly worthless.