Chapter 652: with translation of chapter title

Jia Zhangshi was left bewildered by the four words "inheritance rights".

What?

Men and women are equal, enjoying shared rights; even a married daughter has the right to claim her natal family's property.

This remark.

Like a heavy punch, it struck Jia Zhangshi's head hard, leaving her dazed and wondering if she had misheard.

Why should a married daughter demand her natal family's property?

Once married, she belongs to another family.

The Jia family's estate, besides Bangeng, must also be divided between Xiao Dang and Huaihua.

This is tantamount to taking Jia Zhangshi's life.

The son-preferring, daughter-neglecting Jia Zhangshi.

She cannot accept it.

She also cannot accept it.

"He Yushui's words are the truth? Whatever she says goes? She says she wants to take back the Jia family's house, so you must give it all to her?"

This isn't just He Yushui venting her grievances.

It is directed at Xiao Dang and Huaihua.

After reaching adulthood.

They have always lived in the siheyuan, especially Xiao Dang, who for some reason chose not to marry but instead took in a son-in-law.

Jia Zhangshi previously could not understand this.

Now she understands.

Xiao Dang and Huaihua are after the Jia family's estate.

No.

Nothing can be given to Xiao Dang and Huaihua, no matter what.

Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes fixed on Xiao Dang and Huaihua, showing no mercy as she bluntly spoke her words.

"Other families' affairs are none of my business, but as for the Jia family's affairs, this old woman must intervene—I don't care about gender equality in inheritance, I don't care, I'm too lazy to care; the Jia family has its own rules, and I don't fear your grudges, even if you call me biased, I must speak plainly: the Jia family's house belongs entirely to Bangeng, the money too belongs to Bangeng, Xiao Dang, Huaihua—don't even think about claiming these."

Xiao Dang and Huaihua.

They both felt unconvinced in their hearts.

They had wanted to retort a few sentences.

But seeing Qin Huairu give them a look, they vented their inner grievances by letting out a fart.

Jia Zhangshi saw that Xiao Dang and Huaihua's attitude was not bad, so she did not persist further.

It was a case of each side stepping back a bit.

In the following days, certain matters proceeded in an orderly fashion.

First was Bangeng's divorce from Tang Yanling; on the third day after Shazhu's funeral, Bangeng and Tang Yanling went to the civil affairs bureau to finalize the divorce, and even though Tang Yanling did not want it, Qin Huairu still forced Bangeng to give her one thousand yuan.

Tang Yanling took that money, bought a house in the southern Big Courtyard, and the remainder was just enough to open a small noodle shop; business was decent, sustaining her livelihood.

According to the divorce agreement, Xiao Geng went to the Jia family.

Although Qin Huairu said Tang Yanling could come see Xiao Geng anytime, Tang Yanling still decided not to; Xiao Geng had been spoiled by Jia Zhangshi into a Bangeng who is no longer Bangeng.

Using some people's original words to describe it.

This child.

At a glance, he's beyond help.

On the day Tang Yanling divorced Bangeng, Qin Huairu and He Yushui went to the housing bureau to complete the property transfer; whether it was He Yushui's superb tactics or Qin Huairu's own scheme, the originally agreed-upon single house became two, and the He family ancestral home that Shazhu had given away was returned by Qin Huairu to He Yushui.

The word "return".

Perhaps it is somewhat inappropriate.

He Yushui had spent money.

In front of the clerk, she handed over the full amount for the two houses, not a penny less, into Qin Huairu's hands.

This left Qin Huairu feeling rather depressed.

But she didn't dwell on it.

She hurried off to work at the steel mill.

The widow originally wanted to return the house to He Yushui without taking a cent, since the house had come for free; she could treat it as returning something to its rightful owner, and use the occasion to show the Jia family widow's magnanimity, draw closer to He Yushui, and through her quickly meet Lou Xiaoe to make big money with Lou Xiaoe.

Unexpectedly, He Yushui gave Qin Huairu the money at market price.

Thus.

How could Qin Huairu still use He Yushui to scheme against Lou Xiaoe?

She could only think of another way.

……

Inside the siheyuan.

After He Yushui completed the property transfer, she brought people to the siheyuan to collect the houses.

This left Jia Zhangshi rather speechless.

Laoqianpo had already braced herself mentally, thinking at worst she would return He Yushui's house to He Yushui, while Shazhu's house would continue to be lived in by the Jia family.

This is the best house in the siheyuan.

It must belong to the Jia family.

Unexpectedly, after He Yushui locked her previous small cottage, she came toward Shazhu's big house, followed by people who pointed and commented on how to tidy up the house and so on.

Jia Zhangshi's brain.

A blank expanse.

What are you trying to do?

He spread his arms, placing them in front of the door, his muddy gaze falling on He Yushui.

Watching the magnificent sight of He Yushui.

Jia Zhangshi felt somewhat envious.

Upon reflection, you're already so wealthy—why do you still want Shazhu's big house?

He refused to give it.

"This is the Jia family's house!"

"When did it become your Jia family's house? Maybe it was yours for a while, but from now on it's still my He family's ancestral home."

"I've returned your house to you, but I can't give you this house."

"Jia Zhangshi, didn't Qin Huairu tell you?" He Yushui, apparently thinking of something, said to Jia Zhangshi: "Today at the housing bureau, I exchanged money and house with Qin Huairu hand over hand; this house I bought from Qin Huairu—if you don't believe me, you can check my documents."

He handed the red property certificate to Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi initially wanted to tear it up.

Later, feeling she couldn't tear it, she used her illiteracy as an excuse and refused to look at the documents He Yushui held.

She played the old‑person card to the utmost.

Just as He Yushui was telling people to get ready to move Jia Zhangshi aside, Qin Huairu finally remembered what was missing, rushed in time from the Yagangchang to the Siheyuan, and in front of Jia Zhangshi explained the whole story in detail, then produced the money He Yushui had paid for the house and let Jia Zhangshi see it.

After the house‑sale money was finally placed in Jia Zhangshi's hands, she reluctantly left the house she had been eyeing for a long time.

Night.

At the dinner table.

She was still complaining about Qin Huairu, feeling Qin Huairu shouldn't have acted unilaterally—why didn't she consult her about selling the house? If she had known Qin Huairu would return the He family's house to He Yushui, she definitely wouldn't have agreed.

Qin Huairu, who didn't want to explain, was provoked by Jia Zhangshi and finally spoke the blunt truth.

"What's there to discuss with you? Discussing with you, could it let our Jia family earn several million?"

Upon hearing the figure of several million,

Jia Zhangshi almost died of joy.

Bangeng, Xiao Dang, Huaihua, and the others, however, wore expressions of disbelief.

"Do you think I, Qin Huairu, am talking nonsense? Do I joke with you like that? Huaihua works at the bank, He Yushui has several million in cash deposited at Huaihua's unit; if you took it all out, our family's current house couldn't hold it—do you think all this money is what He Yushui earned?"

"Isn't it?"

"It is what He Yushui earned, and also not what He Yushui earned; it's what Lou Xiaoe gave."

Jia Zhangshi, who had just caught her breath and not died,

Upon hearing that Lou Xiaoe had given He Yushui several million,

He immediately started cursing.

"Lou Xiaoe, that damn bastard, He Yushui is Shazhu's sister, she gave He Yushui several million, Shazhu is her man—why doesn't she give him a single cent? If Shazhu had that money, our Jia family would have money too; Lou Xiaoe deserves to be unlucky, this old woman curses her to lifelong misfortune—what right does she have to not give Shazhu money?"

The people at the dinner table,

All were sighing.

No one expected Lou Xiaoe to have such great ability, casually giving He Yushui several million.

Back in the so‑called Shazhu‑snatching incident, Bangeng, Xiao Dang, and Huaihua—all three have grown up; they were both witnesses to the incident and its planners.

At that time, Bangeng had no wife, Xiao Dang and Huaihua had no partners, no money, no house—nothing at all except Shazhu.

Worried that Shazhu would follow Lou Xiaoe away and ignore the Jia family, leaving Bangeng unable to marry and Xiao Dang and Huaihua unable to find spouses.

Under Yi Zhonghai's urging, they eventually united, using every means to scheme against Shazhu, assisting Qin Huairu.

Xiao Dang and the others repeatedly expressed their intentions to Shazhu, saying, "We only have you, Shazhu; you can't abandon us and ignore us, or we'll be heartbroken. Even if Hexiao is your biological son, as your adopted children, the saying goes that the gratitude for upbringing outweighs that for birth; we will wholeheartedly care for you in your old age, wear mourning for you, and smash the fire basin for you."

In the situation of forming a team to do ideological work, Shazhu stayed, but also ended up being kicked out.

Hearing Jia Zhangshi scold Lou Xiaoe for not giving Shazhu money,

Bangeng and the others also didn't know what to say.

Lou Xiaoe brought Hexiao back, and Jia Zhangshi was panic‑stricken all day.

Personally driving Lou Xiaoe away, yet still hoping she'd give you money—what good thing could that be?

Because Jia Zhangshi is their grandmother, they couldn't complain to her, so they could only bitterly look at Qin Huairu.

"Scold, keep scolding—best let the neighbors hear, then let it reach Lou Xiaoe's ears, to see if she'll give you money."

"I'm also doing this for our Jia family."

"For the Jia family, just shut up and listen to me."

Under Qin Huairu's reprimand,

Jia Zhangshi obediently closed her mouth, and Xiao Dang and the others fixed their gazes on Qin Huairu, wanting to hear what she would say.

"Those things back then, Lou Xiaoe clearly remembers: marrying into the Siheyuan, how your grandmother bullied her, how she helped Xu Daming bully Lou Xiaoe, during the time Lou Xiaoe was with Shazhu, how the Jia family acted, when Lou Xiaoe brought Hexiao back to find Shazhu, how the Jia family responded, and so on—do you think Lou Xiaoe would forget?"

"No way! I feel Lou Xiaoe is pitiful."

"Our Jia family owes Lou Xiaoe; given her resentment toward us, why should we get her money—especially a lump sum of several million? Earlier we had a chance when Shazhu was around; we treated Shazhu well, but Lou Xiaoe gave nothing, and Hexiao also had something—now we have nothing."

Jia Zhangshi shrank her neck, feeling guilty.

This matter,

Her responsibility,

"For the Jia family, to be able to get money from Lou Xiaoe, I can only try to ease relations with He Yushui."

"So you returned the house to He Yushui?"

"It's not a return, but a sale; they gave the Jia family the full amount without omission—this money you hold, I originally wanted to take not a single cent."

Ah, we don't want a single penny—we've taken advantage of Shazhu for nothing?

Grandma, my mother's meaning is that we got this house for nothing, we're giving it to He Yushui for nothing; He Yushui will at least remember the Jia family favorably; having that favor, it's as if we owe the Jia family a debt of gratitude; Jia family members interacting with He Yushui will improve relations and feelings; He Yushui will naturally help us contact Lou Xiaoe; even if Lou Xiaoe bears a grudge against the Jia family, we can still make money from He Yushui.

Qin Huairu glanced at Huaihua.

This young lady.

She resembles her the most.

She also understands Qin Huairu best.

She nodded.

What Huaihua said is exactly what I want to say: He Yushui's money is all earned with Lou Xiaoe's help; we can also get news of making money from He Yushui, buy low and sell high, and the money will come—too bad.

Qin Huairu changed her tone.

A good plan, and you let your grandmother ruin it.

Jia Zhangshi saw the melon fall on herself.

She hastily retorted.

What does it have to do with my old woman? How is it that I ruined your plan, Qin Huairu? Qin Huairu, tell me clearly—what's going on?

He Yushui said that Bangeng's grandmother would definitely not agree to give the house for free; when the time comes there will surely be a fuss, saying she can't afford to lose face, and she would just buy the He family's ancestral home at market price. This afternoon I wanted to take advantage of there being people, return the money to He Yushui, and let this resentment settle substantively, but your grandmother almost snatched the house money, clutching it in her hand, refusing to give it to me, and even in front of He Yushui said some unpleasant things, like pension money, like 'personnel fees'.

You didn't tell me about these things either." Jia Zhangshi paused, then turned to Qin Huairu and said: "Huairu, if I give He Yushui the money without withholding a single cent, will she ease relations with the Jia family?"

How can you gather up spilled water?

Then there's nothing to be done? It's several million!

I'll think of a way; a living person can't be held to death by urine, there's always room to ease things.

Huairu, you really need to think this over; it concerns the Jia family." Jia Zhangshi pulled a long face, saying with a worried expression: "Just give Tang Yanling one thousand."

No wonder Tang Yanling says Xiao Geng is useless.

Parents divorced.

Just as if nothing had happened.

Even if Jia Zhangshi mentioned Tang Yanling's name, Jia Xiao Geng's attention remained on the food in front of him; he's a total glutton.

We have to think of a way to earn back the money we gave out.

Jia Zhangshi looked at Bangeng.

She started worrying about Bangeng's marriage.

Bangeng, you and Tang Yanling are divorced; the Jia family is no longer what it was—we're big and prosperous, we don't care about those trivial trifles; you can arrange it yourself, or I and your mother will arrange it for you—marriage is a big deal, even if it's a remarriage, the Jia family will give you a splendid wedding, not quarreling over steamed buns but over spirit.