Chapter 626

The Jia family's five poultry were arguing over whether to give Shazhu mourning clothes, making a mess of things, when Yi Zhonghai returned.

By unfortunate coincidence, he touched upon the Jia family's sore spot.

Naturally, they wouldn't give Yi Zhonghai a pleasant look, each gathering their disdainful gazes upon him, hoping he would have the self-awareness to leave on his own.

This is the Jia family's property; outsiders like Yi Zhonghai had best keep their distance.

Some things.

Cannot be said clearly face to face.

Shazhu's death.

Affected the Jia family's life.

Some people who originally didn't associate with them suddenly appeared in the Siheyuan; they didn't stay inside the Jia family's house but went to other neighbors' homes in the Siheyuan, using the pretext of visiting to gossip.

This made the Jia family's five poultry very inconvenienced.

For the first time, they felt it was a pity that Shazhu died like this; if the entire Siheyuan were turned into Jia family property, and he died having lost his body and Dao, it would be a fitting death, a death with value. The Jia family's five poultry might, for the sake of the property, burn a paper offering for Shazhu.

Because the house wasn't fully occupied and outsiders still lived in the courtyard, they couldn't openly confront the issue, so they could only use veiled language to hint to Yi Zhonghai that he should leave promptly, not forcing the Jia family to come to blows with him, or forcibly drive him out.

Unexpectedly, Yi Zhonghai stubbornly refused to leave and even sat down on a stool.

This made Jia Zhangshi very dissatisfied.

The Jia family—she, Jia Zhangshi, is the heaven here; what are you, Yi Zhonghai? Do you really think things are still as before, when the Head Steward could swagger about, say anything and it would be law, and easily manipulate the Jia family?

Facing Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi suddenly felt the pride of a long-time servant who had become master, raising her eyebrows and exhaling in triumph.

She gave Yi Zhonghai a sideways glare and spoke rudely.

"Yi Zhonghai, can't you show some decorum? You weren't invited to sit, yet you sat down yourself—what do you want? Do you really think this is your Yi family's place?"

The Jia family's five poultry imagined a scene of backing down, but it did not appear.

Yi Zhonghai not only didn't lower his head, but instead brightened up; he first let out a cold snort, then looked disdainfully at the Jia family's five poultry before him and began to mutter complaints.

"According to your Jia Zhangshi's meaning, do I, Yi Zhonghai, need to apply to enter this Siheyuan? What are you, that you dare to make me, Yi Zhonghai, apply? I'll lay it out plainly: before, I, Yi Zhonghai, came and went as I pleased; now, I, Yi Zhonghai, can still come and go as I please, without needing to look at the Jia family's faces, yet you still act like a big shot—does the Jia family have that qualification? Others may fear you, but I, Yi Zhonghai, am not afraid of you, Jia Zhangshi."

Jia Zhangshi, having been rebuked by Yi Zhonghai,

brought out her strongest weapon.

The Jia family's Bangeng.

Others set dogs loose; Jia Zhangshi sets Bangeng loose.

"Bangeng, this old bastard Yi Zhonghai, on our Jia family's turf, right in front of you, dares to give your old woman a dirty look—King Yama isn't angry, you don't know King Yama has a tail, so go on, give him hell for me."

Bangeng jumped up with a shout.

He harbored hatred toward Yi Zhonghai.

To this day, he hasn't forgotten that it was Yi Zhonghai who arranged for Shazhu to marry Qin Huairu.

The Jia family gained many benefits through Shazhu—this isn't spoken of, and Bangeng won't mention it either; he just knows that because Shazhu married Qin Huairu, he himself was called "Silly Geng" for a time.

This was the doing of the Liu family's two fools, who hung broken shoes on Bangeng's neck, saying Shazhu had become Qin Huairu's man, so Bangeng had become Shazhu's silly son, nicknamed "Silly Geng."

This made the young Bangeng very indignant.

Before, when Shazhu was alive, Bangeng truly couldn't beat him, so naturally he didn't dare provoke Yi Zhonghai.

Shazhu died, Yi Zhonghai's backing was gone, so he no longer feared Yi Zhonghai; the anger suppressed for years by Yi Zhonghai surged instantly to his heavenly crown, he clenched his fists and strode toward Yi Zhonghai.

Qin Huairu worried Bangeng might beat Yi Zhonghai to death or injury, with no way to explain it.

After all, Yi Zhonghai is over ninety.

Just a bump.

He'd fall flat on the ground.

What to do?

She hastily stepped between Yi Zhonghai and Bangeng, shouting at Bangeng.

"Bangeng, what are you doing? How old are you? How old is Yi Zhonghai? Over ninety—do you want to go in? Do you really want to go in? If you want to go in, go now, don't drag us into this."

Bangeng stopped his steps.

He gave Yi Zhonghai a deadly glance, then turned and sat back down on the stool.

Yi Zhonghai's heart.

Ached with a cold, sharp pain.

He truly felt the Jia family's cold-blooded ruthlessness; when Shazhu was alive, Qin Huairu always called Yi Zhonghai "Head Steward."

Now she directly calls him by name, clearly not holding Yi Zhonghai in esteem, treating him as a burden.

This is intolerable.

Yi Zhonghai suffered a heavy blow.

Shazhu died pitiably.

This woman is poisonous; the Jia family's current scale is thanks to Qin Huairu's great contribution.

Without Qin Huairu, there would be no Jia family as it is today.

It's just that Jia Zhangshi didn't see this; seeing Qin Huairu stop Bangeng from beating Yi Zhonghai made her teeth grind with anger, and she vented the anger Yi Zhonghai had given her onto Qin Huairu.

"I say, Qin Huairu, whose side are you really on? Yi Zhonghai is our Jia family's enemy—I told Bangeng to deal with Yi Zhonghai, yet you're still stopping Bangeng? Could it be that those past events were actually true?"

With a muttering thought.

She brought up some old grudges.

"In the deep of night, when all is quiet, Yi Zhonghai secretly gives you white flour, outside still using a sack labeled 'barley noodles' to fool the neighbors—helping is good, but why must it be done at night, when outsiders can't see? Qin Huairu, explain—what's really going on? Before, I saved face for you; if you keep this up, be careful—I'll have my old woman expose all the shameful things you've done."

She turned her head.

Her gaze fell on Bangeng.

"Bangeng, don't fear Yi Zhonghai, and don't listen to your mother—give me a beating on Yi Zhonghai; if anything happens, my old woman will take the blame alone, you needn't worry."

Bangeng this time.

Didn't listen to Jia Zhangshi's words.

The bloody scene from last night still flashes deep in his mind to this day.

Upon hearing that Shazhu might have died, possibly leading to an investigation into the Jia family and making them pay with their lives, the Jia family's five members kept shifting blame, each hoping the other would die.

The Jia family's three white-eyed wolves believed Jia Zhangshi could withstand thunder, but Jia Zhangshi wanted Qin Huairu to step forward.

Yet now she shouts that she, Jia Zhangshi, will bear the burden if anything happens.

Only a fool would believe that.

Bangeng won't fall for the same trick twice.

Seeing Bangeng unmoved, Jia Zhangshi urged him on.

"Bangeng, why are you just sitting there motionless? Go beat up Yi Zhonghai, that dog-day bastard, for Grandma! Otherwise, Yi Zhonghai won't leave."

"Mom, do you really have to force Bangeng to go in just to satisfy yourself? You don't consider the Jia family, you don't consider me, you don't consider Bangeng, but you should at least consider Xiao Geng! Do you really want nine-year-old Xiao Geng to bear the stigma of having a father in prison, to be ostracized by classmates at school?"

Jia Zhangshi said nothing.

Logic defeated.

Words exhausted.

Bangeng's son Xiao Geng is Jia Zhangshi's heart's treasure.

She dotes on her youngest child.

"Yi Zhonghai is already in his nineties, his body extremely weak, and he just came back from the hospital. You want thirty-something Bangeng to hit Yi Zhonghai—one punch and could Yi Zhonghai take it? Falling down, a bump could break his leg or arm, worse yet, he could die outright. Bangeng would bear the name of a killer, be executed, and Xiao Geng would become the child of a murderer, unable to marry in the future—would you be satisfied?"

"I'm also considering our Jia family's interests. Shazhu is dead, yet Yi Zhonghai still clings to our Jia family—what is he doing here? I worry he won't leave, forcing us to support him in his old age and bury him."

Jia Zhangshi muttered something.

An attitude of calculating for the Jia family.

Qin Huairu glared at Jia Zhangshi and thought, this old hag is truly incapable of success but abundant in failure—if she hadn't said that, Yi Zhonghai might still have left. Yi Zhonghai heard Jia Zhangshi say that—could he still leave?

Everyone knows Yi Zhonghai is childless, and before, they kept scheming to have Shazhu support him in old age.

Shazhu died.

If Yi Zhonghai weren't foolish, he could only cling to the Jia family, letting them dress him in mourning.

If Jia Zhangshi were in Yi Zhonghai's position, she would do the same.

This is human nature.

But this remark ruined Qin Huairu's plan.

From the moment Yi Zhonghai appeared, Qin Huairu planned to use words to fool him into leaving. With Jia Zhangshi's reminder, could Yi Zhonghai still leave?

Even thinking with your butt, you know Yi Zhonghai won't leave.

Just in case Yi Zhonghai agrees—what if he says yes after all?

Qin Huairu squeezed out a smile and began to coax Yi Zhonghai warmly.

"Elder Uncle, my mother-in-law is just like this—single-minded, speaks without thinking. You know she has no ill intent, doesn't scheme, says whatever comes to mind. Now that you've returned to the Siheyuan, we should set out a table to celebrate your return."

The tone shifted.

A turn appeared.

"But considering your health, we won't hold the celebration. Moreover, some things have happened in the courtyard that you knowing would be bad, so we won't tell you. You're old—I'll have Bangeng accompany you to the hospital to stay a few more days, confirm your recovery, then bring you out. Your health matters; living healthily is the greatest help to us. What do you think?"

She waved her hand.

She instructed the dazed Bangeng.

"Bangeng, why are you standing there dazed? Hurry up and send your Elder Yi to the hospital! Do you have money? Help pay the hospitalization fees—your Elder Yi has a pension, isn't short of money. I'll give you money, but you can't take it—this is how a junior should show filial piety to elders."

Xiao Dang stepped forward first.

She approached Yi Zhonghai, reached out to support him.

Earlier, Bangeng had been so hostile toward Yi Zhonghai; letting him go again would be inappropriate.

She came.

But this scene again displeased Jia Zhangshi. Watching Xiao Dang, who came uninvited to support Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi's heart unnaturally ran through these thoughts.

This is what Jia Zhangshi unintentionally overheard from Shazhu and Xiao Dang's conversation.

Right at the Siheyuan gate, Xiao Dang stopped Shazhu and asked for his specific views on the Jia family's three children.

Shazhu pondered for a moment, then gave a specific answer.

He said Bangeng, as Jia Dongxu's son, resembles Jia Dongxu greatly—in personality, temper, speech, and attitude toward neighbors—he's practically a copy of Jia Dongxu.

He said Huaihua leans more toward Qin Huairu, inheriting Qin Huairu's traits deeply, looking very much like her, speaking in that way that evokes men's sympathy—a delicate woman's aura, comparable to Qin Huairu's, possibly even surpassing her.

As for Xiao Dang, Shazhu said he couldn't give a definite verdict—he has neither Jia Dongxu's traits nor Qin Huairu's charm.

At that time, Jia Zhangshi hadn't thought much.

But just now, that scene forced Jia Zhangshi to think more.

Yi Zhonghai secretly gave Qin Huairu white flour, especially in that era of scarce resources when even coarse flour was hard to come by—yet Yi Zhonghai managed to provide Qin Huairu precious white flour, even stuffing it into the coarse flour sack.

Earlier, Qin Huairu had Bangeng send Yi Zhonghai to the hospital, but Bangeng didn't move, while Xiao Dang did.

There's no denying a connection here.

Jia Zhangshi's head felt like it would explode—could Xiao Dang not be the offspring of Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai's affair? Otherwise, how could Yi Zhonghai provide Qin Huairu white flour?

She glared at Yi Zhonghai with vicious eyes, always feeling he had done something wrong against her own son.

You immortal bastard.

Eavesdropping.

And Xiao Dang.

Also not a proper person— as a young woman, she doesn't think about marrying, but instead seeks a man to marry into the Jia family, bear children surnamed Jia.

The things that Jia Zhangshi couldn't figure out back then are now all clear to her.

Xiao Dang made a big move.

If Bangeng were to get shot because of Shazhu's matter, Xiao Dang could make a big deal out of it; Jia Zhangshi is in her eighties, and she might not live to see the day Xiao Geng gets married.

All of the Jia family's belongings thus became Xiao Dang's, and since Xiao Dang is Yi Zhonghai's child, they ultimately became the Yi family's estate.

No wonder Yi Zhonghai has been tirelessly trying to match Shazhu with Qin Huairu.

The benefit lies here.

Jia Zhangshi, trembling with rage, shouted out.

"Xiao Dang, what are you doing? Your mother told your brother Bangeng to take Yi Zhonghai to the hospital, and you, a girl, what are you meddling in? If Yi Zhonghai can't walk, your brother Bangeng could still carry him for a stretch, but you, a girl, could you carry Yi Zhonghai?"

She wants to ruin Xiao Dang and Yi Zhonghai's scheme.

After saying that.

Seeing Xiao Dang still standing there dazed, and also seeing Bangeng unwilling to take Yi Zhonghai to the hospital, she quickly turned her attention to Huaihua.

"Huaihua, you take Yi Zhonghai to the hospital."

"Grandma, my sister will take him, my sister will take him, I still have things to do."

"Unlucky child, letting you take Yi Zhonghai naturally comes with its reasons; I have something to find your sister for, and I can't get away."

"Mom, it doesn't matter who takes the eldest uncle; the important thing is that the eldest uncle can get a physical check-up at the hospital—that's what matters."

The benefit is at hand.

Qin Huairu's way of addressing Yi Zhonghai has again changed from calling him by name to calling him the eldest uncle.

But Yi Zhonghai didn't accept Qin Huairu's kindness, truly thinking he couldn't see Qin Huairu's plan, feeling that he, Yi Zhonghai, was a burden on the Jia family, wanting to retreat in order to advance, to drive him, Yi Zhonghai, out of the Siheyuan.