Chapter 594: with translation of chapter title

Bànggèng meets Xiǎoguō.

Translation: "Bangeng and Xiao Dang's meeting."

A half-hearted, botched ending appeared.

Translation: "A half-hearted, botched outcome appeared."

A half-hearted, botched ending appeared.

With an inscrutable expression, Bànggèng, who clearly understood why Xiǎoguō had appeared before him, suddenly threw caution to the wind and went straight to the point.

We need to parse: "One side inscrutable appearance, for Bangeng who clearly understood Xiao Dang's intention appearing before him, suddenly not following the routine, directly went to the topic." Let's translate: "With an inscrutable air, Bangeng, who clearly understood Xiao Dang's intention in appearing before him, suddenly broke routine and went straight to the point."

He demanded that Jiā Zhāngshì or Qín Huáirú get him cigarettes, and on top of the original condition he added another one.

Translation: "He asked Xiao Dang to have Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu prepare cigarettes for him, and on top of the original demand he added another one."

How can someone be so shameless?

Translation: "How can someone be so shameless?"

Even now he was still thinking of bleeding the Jiā family dry, and shamelessly suggested that Xiǎoguō pay for the cigarettes up front, then go home and have the Jiā widow settle the account.

Translation: "Even now, still thinking of bleeding the Jia family dry, he shamelessly proposed that Xiao Dang advance the cigarette money, then go home to settle the account with the Jia family widow."

Xiǎoguō was seething with anger.

Translation: "Xiao Dang, seething with anger inside."

I really wanted to give Bànggèng two slaps.

Translation: "He really wanted to give Bangeng two slaps."

But because of the iron bars, I couldn't reach him to hit him.

Translation: "But because of the iron fence, he couldn't reach Bangeng."

After struggling to calm herself, Xiǎoguō hurled her secret weapon at Bànggèng.

Translation: "After struggling to calm himself, Xiao Dang threw her killer's whip at Bangeng."

Having served time, Bànggèng needed the Jiā family's house to marry and Qín Huáirú's job to support his family.

Translation: "Having served time, Bangeng needs the Jia family's house to marry, and needs Qin Huairu's job to support his family."

Only then did Xiǎoguō understand the reason.

Translation: "Only then did Xiao Dang understand the reason."

After returning, Xiǎoguō will truthfully tell Jiā Zhāngshì and Qín Huáirú of Bànggèng's demands; otherwise she really couldn't continue her related plans.

Translation: "After returning, Xiao Dang will truthfully tell Bangeng's demands to Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu; otherwise, she really couldn't continue her related plan."

Amid Bànggèng's countless instructions and admonitions.

Translation: "Amid Bangeng's repeated urgings."

Jiā Zhāngshì gave a light nod.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi lightly nodded."

Xiǎoguō left the prison.

Translation: "Xiao Dang left the prison."

Xiǎoguō won't be muddle-headed about this either.

Xiao Dang won't be muddle-headed about this either.

The person is gone.

Translation: "The person is gone."

Moreover, Jiā Zhāngshì had told Xiǎoguō more than once that once Bànggèng came out, she would transfer the house into his name so he could use the Jiā family's old house to marry, have a big fat child, and then she would help raise the great-grandchild.

Translation: "Moreover, Jia Zhangshi has told Xiao Dang more than once that once Bangeng comes out, she will transfer the house to his name, letting him marry and have a fat child using the Jia family's old house, and then Jia Zhangshi will help raise the great-grandchild."

"It's about your brother—how could I not be worried!" Jiā Zhāngshì's anxious expression was like ants on a hot pan, giving a sense of frantic urgency. "Our Jiā family's lineage depends on your brother to continue; you say, how could Grandma not be worried? You just said Liú Hǎizhōng is with your brother, and everyone calls him Second Grandfather."

Last night.

Translation: "Last night."

Jiā Zhāngshì's heart.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi's heart."

Looking at her wrinkled granddaughter before her, Jiā Zhāngshì, who had never taken Xiǎoguō and Huáihuā to heart, felt a rare pang of emotion.

Translation: "Looking at the wrinkled-faced granddaughter before her, Jia Zhangshi, who never cared about Xiao Dang and Huaihua, felt moved for once."

I thought Xiǎoguō would ask about some trivial matter, but it turned out to be about Qín Huáirú remarrying.

Translation: "I thought Xiao Dang would ask some trivial questions, but it turned out to be the issue of Qin Huairu remarrying."

According to Jiā Zhāngshì's preference for sons over daughters, this house definitely wouldn't go to Xiǎoguō.

Translation: "According to Jia Zhangshi's favoring sons over daughters, this house definitely has no share for Xiao Dang."

To deceive Bànggèng with nonsense.

Translation: "Fool Bangeng with nonsense."

This is Jiā Zhāngshì's plan for Bànggèng; as for Qín Huáirú having no job and how she'll eat, she doesn't care, and as for Xiǎoguō having nowhere to live, she couldn't be bothered.

Translation: "This is Jia Zhangshi's plan for Bangeng; as for Qin Huairu having no job and what she lives on, she doesn't care; as for Xiao Dang having no house to live in, Jia Zhangshi also couldn't be bothered."

The Jiā family's current house is registered under Jiā Zhāngshì's name, and she has hidden it in a place Xiǎoguō doesn't know about.

Translation: "The Jia family's current house is written under Jia Zhangshi's name, hidden by her in a place Xiao Dang doesn't know."

Jiā Zhāngshì insisted that Shǎozhù was greedy for money, yet claimed he wasn't greedy, wondering how he could afford such a big house and even ride a motorcycle.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi insisted that Shazhu was greedy for money, saying if Shazhu wasn't greedy, why could he live in such a big house and even ride a motorcycle."

Qín Huáirú fell out with Jiā Zhāngshì; her reason for refusing to move out was that she couldn't find a rental, wanted to rent Shǎozhù's house, but Shǎozhù wouldn't rent to a widow.

Translation: "Qin Huairu fell out with Jia Zhangshi and refused to move out because she couldn't find a rental, wanted to rent Shazhu's house, but Shazhu wouldn't rent to a widow."

Does Shǎozhù ride a motorcycle now?

Translation: "Shazhu rides a motorcycle?"

Bànggèng can't eat these things.

Translation: "Bangeng can't eat these things."

The supervisor didn't say a word.

Translation: "The supervisor didn't speak."

Under the stimulus of hunger.

Translation: "Under the stimulation of hunger."

Last night, Jiā Zhāngshì also argued with Qín Huáirú, saying that since Qín Huáirú had made up her mind to remarry and find another man, she wouldn't stop her, but the Jiā family's job had to be returned.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi also argued with Qin Huairu last night, saying since Qin Huairu had decided to remarry and find another man, she wouldn't stop her, but the Jia family's job must be returned."

Separated by glass.

Translation: "Through the glass."

Just after returning, seeing Qín Jīngrú living in the Yǔshuǐ room, he mistakenly thought Xǔ Dàmào had bought Shǎozhù's house, and furthermore thought Qín Jīngrú was his own aunt, so he tried to ingratiate himself, hoping to gain favor from Xǔ Dàmào and his wife; just as he approached and said a kind word about his aunt, he was startled by Qín Jīngrú's closed-door rebuff; still, Yán Fùguì kindly reminded Xiǎoguō that because of Xǔ Dàmào's matter, Qín Huáirú and Qín Jīngrú had fallen out, and the two families would have nothing to do with each other forever.

Want cigarettes.

Translation: "Want cigarettes."

If it weren't for Bànggèng wasting money on random purchases.

Translation: "If it weren't for Bangeng spending money recklessly."

Could a young widow take an interest in him?

Translation: "Could a young widow take a liking to him?"

In the end, he fell into someone else's scheme, ruining Xiǎoguō's entire life.

Translation: "In the end, he fell for someone else's scheme, ruining Xiao Dang's life."

Sometimes Xiǎoguō wonders whether the Shǎozhù family has moved away, but the Hé family's house is still there.

Translation: "Sometimes Xiao Dang wonders whether the Shazhu family moved away, but the He family's house is still there."

Xiǎoguō let out a cold snort in her heart.

Translation: "Xiao Dang snorted coldly in his heart."

Secondly.

Translation: "Secondly."

Accompanying Jiā Zhāngshì's narration.

Translation: "Along with Jia Zhangshi's narration."

Yet again, a sense of puzzlement arose.

Translation: "Yet doubts arose again."

"Xiǎoguō, how's your brother? Has he gotten thinner again? Has he been bullied in there? Has anyone beaten him?" Before Xiǎoguō could answer, Jiā Zhāngshì, lost in her own thoughts, felt uneasy: "Asking is pointless—are there any good people in prison? They're all scoundrels who've done nothing but evil. Your brother is such a good person, yet just because he ate a few days of plain rice, they ruthlessly sent him in. They're all muddle‑headed vehicles—such a small matter makes him eat plain rice for ten years; do they feel guilty or not? It's just about money—when has our Jiā family ever lacked money? We can't even send them anything; we have to let your brother go in."

Otherwise, he couldn't handle Qín Huáirú.

Translation: "Otherwise, he couldn't handle Qin Huairu."

He also lost his job.

Translation: "The job is also gone."

Why is the gap so huge?

Translation: "Why is the gap so huge?"

During this time, the word Xiǎoguō heard most often was...

Translation: "During this time, Xiao Dang heard the most frequent word."

It was Qín Huáirú's job.

Translation: "It was Qin Huairu's job."

He began talking about Shǎozhù's affairs.

Translation: "Speaking of those things about Shazhu."

He launched into a complaint, and Jiā Zhāngshì said that Shǎozhù is now the person in charge of Bǎixù, and added that if she could read, she'd want to write a report denouncing him.

Translation: "After a burst of complaints, Jia Zhangshi said Shazhu is now the person in charge of Bai Xu, and said if she weren't illiterate, she'd want to write a report to denounce Shazhu."

The speaker meant no harm.

Translation: "The speaker meant no harm."

Jiā Zhāngshì was stunned on the spot.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi paused there."

It was as if she had never seen Xiǎoguō before, staring straight at him.

It was as if she had never seen Xiao Dang before, staring straight at him.

"Even if times are good, it's still other people's business and has nothing to do with us; in the courtyard, our family is the hardest‑off."

Translation: "\"Life is good, but it's others, unrelated to our family; in the Siheyuan, our family is the most difficult. \""

She actually deliberately indulged in eating and laziness.

Translation: "She really is intentionally being lazy and fond of eating."

The Jia Family, whose home was bare as four walls, still had two things worth money.

Knowing Bangeng steals chickens and dogs, yet still as always indulging him, going to the countryside, worried Bangeng won't eat enough, secretly giving Bangeng a few hundred yuan.

"Ah!"

Every time I go to the Jiēdào, people say they'll inform Xiao Dang if there's work, but each time there's no follow‑up.

"Grandma, I knew you'd be worried." Xiao Dang said unhurriedly: "Let me tell you."

After being here so many days, I at least know a bit of the rules.

Then it started to hurt.

Just returned to the Jia Family, not even having time to sip water, Jia Zhangshi hurriedly asked Xiao Dang about Bangeng's situation.

Her tone also became urgent.

Five steamed buns came into Bangeng's sight.

Worried that Qin Huairu would never return.

How hard it is to find.

The neighbors simply didn't come out, neither to watch the excitement nor to break up a fight.

"Why are you asking this?"

"Those words you used to warn my mother are exactly the same, saying that in life I belong to their family and in death I am their family's ghost; if their son dies, I must spend my whole life guarding for them. At that time I held resentment in my heart, saying you treat Xiao Dang as what? After returning, seeing you arguing with my mother, sometimes saying she should remarry, sometimes saying she shouldn't. From my mother's perspective, she surely wants to remarry, but from your perspective, you surely don't want her to remarry. Yet last night you said you would let my mother remarry. I just want to know, are those words sincere?"

Xiao Dang was shocked to the core.

In front of Bangeng, Xiao Dang opened the small cloth bag she had brought.

Only then did Xiao Dang truly understand what is meant by 'after three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes'.

"Why am I asking this question?" Xiao Dang looked at Jia Zhangshi, her tone suddenly turning deep: "Don't forget, I am also a mother; my life has been rough, the man I married is eighteen years older than me, he is now in his early forties, and that mother‑in‑law, whenever she has nothing to do, just warns me."

As expected.

First is the house.

"Don't say one question; even ten questions, Grandma will answer you."

The Jia Family widows are arguing fiercely.

Jia Zhangshi, angry, afterwards kept scolding the Siheyuan neighbors, saying these people are cold‑blooded beasts who can't stand the Jia Family doing well, hoping the Jia Family widows will fight.

"Warn you about what?"

They are all people from the Siheyuan.

After coming in, I have never been full; those bullies always snatch Bangeng's steamed buns, giving him just one bun per meal just to keep him from starving.

Without wholeheartedly showing one's dedication to the Jia Family, how could Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu feel at ease entrusting her with work and the house?

Just as Xiao Dang had imagined.

Fragrant white‑flour steamed buns.

She reached out her hand.

Bangeng's current situation is not thanks to Jia Zhangshi's merit.

Xiao Dang hasn't been idle lately; she found out that because too many people have returned to the city and all need housing, the Jia Family's current house is being put up for sale, surely many will come to buy, at least fetching five hundred yuan, and if one drives a hard bargain, six hundred yuan is possible.

"Now life is better, do you agree to let my mother remarry?"

The listener is interested.

I heard Jia Zhangshi mention Shazhu.

Resentful Xiao Dang wants both the Jia Family's house and Qin Huairu's job.

"In the Siheyuan, the wealthiest household is Shazhu's."

Wait until the next lifetime.

She said life in the countryside was bad, the mother‑in‑law disliked her, her husband also despised her, and the children followed the grandmother and father in scolding Xiao Dang as a bad person. Saying she couldn't bear it, she sneaked back to the Capital City. Saying she had no money in her pocket, when passing on messages she would just say to let the family come see Bangeng, not mentioning cigarettes. When leaving, Jia Zhangshi prepared five white‑flour steamed buns for Bangeng, letting him keep them to eat slowly.

Bai Xu or Bai Xu Restaurant.

As for why Shazhu is so rich.

Rubbed Xiao Dang's cheek.

"Is it because you're worried about finding work, that my mother won't care for you, and you're using the evil mother‑in‑law's persona to intimidate those who want to approach my mother? I don't know if I'm right."

Xiao Dang inquired a bit; at the time she left, Qin Huairu was cleaning toilets at the Yagangchang.

Current job.

After four or five years without seeing each other, Qin Huairu has improved; she no longer handles toilet cleaning, but is responsible for the factory area street's hygiene, and has become a Team Leader, overseeing five or six people.

More wolves than meat.

It flew out from Jia Zhangshi's mouth.

Yet the Jia Family doesn't even have a bicycle.

Big theft gold.

Small theft needle.

"Xiao Dang, what are you saying, saying that Liu Haizhong from our Siheyuan lives in a room with your brother? The people in your brother's room all call Liu Haizhong Second Elder."

Bangeng's craving worms stirred greatly.

"Let me ask you a question first; if you answer, I'll tell you about my brother and Liu Haizhong."

Knowing that Jia Zhangshi would go to the prison to visit Bangeng, when the two confronted each other, the matter of cigarettes came to light, with no need to conceal anything.

In Jia Zhangshi's eyes, Qin Huairu's job is a replacement for the deceased Jia Dongxu's position, and it belongs to the Jia Family.

He pointed to the He Family opposite.

A unrestrained smile spread across his face.

Only then did Xiao Dang recall something: after returning to the Siheyuan for about half a month, she had seen various people here and there—acquainted companions and unfamiliar neighbors—but she had never seen the members of the Shazhu Family; Yu Li did not appear in the Siheyuan, Wei Guo and his group also did not show up inside the Siheyuan, and Shazhu himself was nowhere to be found, making it seem as if they were not part of the Siheyuan.

Feeling the merciless years of life left on Xiao Dang's face.

A helpless sigh.

Just now, Jia Zhangshi, who had been listless and limp like a lump of mud slumped on the stool, instantly straightened her back, looking as if she had just watched a big show; the gloom and worry on her face vanished completely.

"Having hair, who would want to be bald? In our Jia family, ever since your father had an accident, it's been your mother holding up this household. To say something you might not laugh at, if your mother remarried, our Jia family folks would be eating feces and still not get a hot meal. At that time your brother was eight, you were six, Huaihua had just turned one month old, and we encountered such a special time. The three of you kids, as soon as you opened your eyes, cried and shouted that you were hungry. With no alternative, to survive we could only negotiate with your mother: not remarrying, even if I bring someone home for you, I'd accept it. As for me being fond of eating and lazy, this can't be explained in a couple of sentences."

Xiao Dang perhaps did it on purpose; when speaking to Bangeng, every sentence was about food and drink. Seeing Bangeng drool, she shifted the topic to reform, telling Bangeng to reform well inside, while she would outside take good care of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, saying she would come visit Bangeng in a few days and would definitely bring him the big front gate and three cannon platforms he wanted.

Heard Xiao Dang say that Liu Haizhong and Bangeng live in the same room.

Selling a house requires documents.

Only Jia Zhangshi would say Bangeng is not bad.

Enduring the harassment of the craving worm, Bangeng watched the steward inspect each steamed bun one by one.

Since Shazhu didn't sell the house but rented it out, why is his big house unoccupied?

I'm craving.

Bangeng involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Shazhu's family no longer lives in the Siheyuan; they now reside in a separate-entry Siheyuan in Cow Eye Hutong. Jia Zhangshi specially went to see it, saying only ancient princes had the right to live in such a Siheyuan, and now it belongs to Shazhu.

"Do you really bear to let my mother remarry?"

As Qin Huairu's daughter, she innately had the act of feigning pitifulness, which Xiao Dang used on Bangeng.

Steamed bun.

"Grandma." Xiao Dang squeezed out a smile and, speaking vividly to Jia Zhangshi, said, "What you said, I really haven't seen; people look more capable. Right, I heard my brother say that the Second Master shares a room with him, and those people in there also call him Second Master."

Xiao Dang had learned her lesson; the day after returning to the Siheyuan, she went out to look for work—a street‑sweeping job that many people were vying for.

When many people chat, they often say this: "When I have money, I'll treat you to a meal at Bai Xu."

When he had nothing to do, Xiao Dang also ran over to Bai Xu to have a look, standing across the street watching the bustling crowd inside, imagining the scene of himself inside enjoying the food.

Never expected it to be Shazhu's handiwork.