Chapter 654: with translation of chapter title

Seeing He Yushui looking at her, his eyes held a hint of puzzlement.

You Fengxia guessed that He Yushui had learned her true identity.

So she didn't conceal it.

Since she was helping He Yushui take revenge on the Jia family, she also counted as his friend; You Fengxia spilled the beans, detailing her own story, the Siheyuan neighbors, and all the gossip involving Da Mao.

After the narration.

Only then did He Yushui understand the ins and outs.

Behind this event, there still lay a secret unknown to outsiders.

Many people thought that Da Mao and Liu Haizhong's families being ruined by You Fengxia's harm was due to Da Mao's lechery; in front of Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiecheng, he openly embraced You Fengxia, making her very displeased. Behind Da Mao's back, he colluded with Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui's families to do business, and then Da Mao, who had sensed something, secretly schemed against them.

Actually, that's not the case.

Lou Xiaoe's hand was also involved.

You Fengxia has always been Lou Xiaoe's person.

This point.

Even Deputy Factory Director Li didn't know.

Initially, the Lou family was ruined by Liu Haizhong; if not for Shazhu finding outside help, there probably wouldn't be any Lou family left in the world.

A mortal enmity.

How could it not be avenged?

Knowing Da Mao's lechery, Lou Xiaoe selected You Fengxia as her instrument of revenge.

By using the pretext of not cooperating with Da Mao, she eventually lured him into taking the bait, secretly placed a report call, and had Liu Haizhong's family and Yan Fugui's family arrested; the goods were gone, and the money was gone too.

Lou Xiaoe's target has always been Liu Haizhong and Da Mao.

Who let Da Mao, after divorcing Lou Xiaoe, team up with Liu Haizhong to attack the Lou family; the past suffering cannot be explained in a few words.

Yan Fugui's family were just small fry, getting caught up incidentally.

At that time, Lou Xiaoe still thought the Jia family would join in.

Yet she didn't expect the Jia family not to participate; after Shazhu's death, upon learning that He Yushui wanted to vent for Shazhu, she keenly realized this was her chance to revenge on the Jia family.

When Qin Jingru was fooling around with Da Mao, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu both knew, but deliberately kept it from Lou Xiaoe; when Da Mao's affair with Yu Haitang was heating up, they used a fake pregnancy report to force Da Mao to marry Qin Jingru.

Lou Xiaoe has always kept this matter in mind.

She specially introduced You Fengxia to He Yushui.

Professional matters.

Should be left to professionals to handle.

In scheming against people, He Yushui and Lou Xiaoe are not as professional as You Fengxia; during their conversation, she inadvertently heard He Yushui say that Bangeng had divorced his wife, while Jia Zhangshi was openly arranging a new wife for Bangeng.

You Fengxia then devised a plan, deciding to start with Bangeng.

First, get Bangeng's work stopped; they also need to figure out how to tell Bangeng the reason, otherwise if Bangeng returns to the Jia family, how would he cause a ruckus with Jia Zhangshi?

Only by letting the Jia family fall into chaos.

Can things then develop further.

Like pulling chestnuts from the fire.

……

Jia Zhangshi, to vent her anger over Tang Yanling and Bangeng's divorce-induced depression, the very next day after their divorce, openly began arranging a marriage for Bangeng.

In Jia Zhangshi's eyes, their Jia family is no longer what it used to be; it is now a grand and prosperous Jia family.

They have money.

They also have the means.

Thus.

Bangeng's wedding must be a grand affair.

Initially, when Bangeng married Tang Yanling, everything from the house to the wedding to arranging the banquet, etc., was handled entirely by Shazhu; Jia Zhangshi had no part in it.

Shazhu died.

The Jia family also handled Shazhu's posthumous affairs.

Jia Zhangshi wanted to completely sever the Jia family's ties with Shazhu, thinking she might compensate for Bangeng's wedding, so early in the morning she summoned several well-known matchmakers and spoke at length about finding a partner for Bangeng.

Tea was poured.

Snacks like peanuts and dried fruits were prepared.

Money bags were full.

And their backs straightened.

"Her sixth aunt, her Zhang ma, her two elderly aunts, her Li grandma—you are all well-known matchmakers nearby; I, the old lady, have summoned you because I have something to say."

The several matchmakers looked at each other.

They didn't know what medicine Jia Zhangshi was selling in her gourd.

Judging by her tone.

It had to do with matchmaking.

They wondered: Could it be that Qin Huairu is looking for a later-life spouse?

They were all frightened.

Shazhu had just kicked the bucket, not even past the first seven days, and Qin Huairu couldn't bear the loneliness, wanting to find a later-life spouse; truly a fickle woman, and Shazhu was unlucky to have married such a woman.

The Jia family has five people total; Jia Zhangshi is in her eighties, so she couldn't possibly look for a later-life spouse—she's already broken the record for widowhood in the siheyuan. Bangeng is married, Xiao Dang took in a son-in-law, Huaihua married, they all have their own kids; after thinking it over, only Qin Huairu, in her sixties, has this need.

The Jia family has money.

This is a fact acknowledged by the neighbors.

Who let Shazhu make money?

They exchanged a glance.

The eldest among them spoke up.

Jia Zhangshi, you're truly open-minded. We may not be good at anything else, but we can still find a later-life partner for Qin Huairu. Listen up—did Qin Huairu tell you her conditions? For example, what kind of later-life partner she wants—good-looking or educated, tall or short?

The other matchmakers.

They also turned their gazes to Jia Zhangshi, waiting for her answer.

I didn't expect Jia Zhangshi to look so shocked.

What?

Is Qin Huairu looking for a later-life partner?

Who said that?

Shazhu just died, and Qin Huairu is already looking for a later-life partner; how will outsiders view the Jia family?

He slapped his thigh.

You've got it wrong—it's not Qin Huairu looking for a partner.

Several matchmakers.

They were all frightened silly.

It's not Qin Huairu looking for a partner, then it must be Jia Zhangshi looking for a partner; I heard there's something called 'late-life romance' these days, and Jia Zhangshi even jumped on the trend.

Jia Zhangshi, what kind of spouse do you want? For someone your age, we're matchmaking—like a young lady riding in a bridal sedan for the first time; rest assured, we'll definitely get it done for you.

Jia Zhangshi also realized she had caused the matchmakers to misunderstand.

She cracked a smile.

You're all mistaken—it's not Qin Huairu looking for a partner, nor am I, an old woman, looking for a later-life partner; it's our family's Bangeng, we need to find a partner for our Bangeng.

Bangeng?

Isn't she married?

Her wife is Tang Yanling.

Find a partner for Bangeng!

The matchmakers became even more puzzled.

"Bangeng and Tang Yanling have divorced." Seeing the matchmakers' puzzled faces, Jia Zhangshi spoke frankly: "He's now single."

"When did this happen?"

"It happened just yesterday—Tang Yanling inexplicably went mad, refused to live with Bangeng, insisted on divorcing him. Huairu even specially went to talk with Tang Yanling about it, saying you've been together for so many years, how can you just divorce? In the end, they couldn't reconcile, still had to divorce, and finally fulfilled Tang Yanling's wish; the couple divorced. Our Jia family, considering Tang Yanling gave birth to a son for the Jia family, gave her one thousand (yuan)."

The reason Jia Zhangshi mentioned the one thousand.

Was to show off her family's strength.

Wanted to appear wealthy.

You all will surely work diligently.

"Not steaming buns to vie for breath—Tang Yanling still thought our Bangeng, after divorcing him, could only remain a bachelor. Trouble a few, help us find a partner for our Bangeng; no special requirements: the person should be beautiful, cultured, well-read and reasonable, with a good figure; best if she's an unmarried young lady."

What a fine fellow.

This is still without requirements.

This is damn near like an imperial selection.

Several matchmakers, tempted by the money, readily agreed to Jia Zhangshi's request and left the Jia family one after another.

Jia Zhangshi sitting inside the house thought that just sitting idle wasn't right.

She needed to get moving.

He leaned on his cane, left the Jia family, glanced at the He family ancestral home that no longer belonged to the Jia family, let out a long sigh, walked toward the courtyard outside, intending to go to the street to personally find a partner for Bangeng.

Arriving at the front courtyard, he greeted the shoemaking Third Aunt and others, asking if they had any unmarried young ladies in their early twenties to set up a match for Bangeng.

The neighbors perfunctorily laughed it off, then turned their attention to Jia Zhangshi's departing figure; only when they could no longer see her did they start complaining to a shoemaking aunt.

"Goudang's mother, you're talking nonsense, you won't admit it, you said Jia Zhangshi wanted to find a later-life partner, but it turns out Jia Zhangshi is finding a wife for Bangeng."

"Am I talking nonsense? I just heard the matchmaker say they were finding a partner for Jia Zhangshi, mentioning 'late-life romance' and that Jia Zhangshi had jumped on the trend."

"You didn't hear Jia Zhangshi's words clearly—it's Bangeng."

"It's Jia Zhangshi, not Bangeng; Bangeng's wife is Tang Yanling—how could it be Bangeng?"

"Exactly, Bangeng is married; when the matchmaker enters the Jia household, isn't she just telling Jia Zhangshi about her in-laws?"

"Couldn't it be Qin Huairu?"

"Shazhu hasn't even passed the seventh day after death, and Qin Huairu dares to look for a partner? So it must be Jia Zhangshi!"

"What is Jia Zhangshi after? She's been a widow for decades, now old, she's remarrying."

"She can't bear the loneliness; a few days ago, the Jia family members argued—you all know that, it was quite a fracas."

"You say the Jia family argued because Jia Zhangshi wants to remarry?"

"Otherwise why would they argue? It must be because Jia Zhangshi is remarrying!"

A large group of people, speaking with conviction, unified their opinions and unanimously decided that the matchmakers' appearance at the Jia household was for the purpose of Jia Zhangshi's remarriage.

This remark somehow reached Yi Zhonghai's ears.

Since Yi Zhonghai caused a ruckus at Shazhu's memorial hall, his reputation plummeted to the lowest point; no one paid him any heed, and no one took care of him.

After staying in the park for two or three days, Yi Zhonghai could only submit to the harsh reality, regardless of whether the Jia family were beasts; his own livelihood mattered most.

The helpless Yi Zhonghai, upon hearing the rumor of Jia Zhangshi's remarriage, suddenly had the idea of marrying into the Jia family, preparing to let Jia Zhangshi remarry him so he could enjoy a life free of worries about food and clothing.

He said Shazhu died under the Jia family's cruelty.

But the Jia Family people gave Shazhu a splendid funeral, and even threw the fire basin at him.

Yi Zhonghai would be content if he could be given a grand, ostentatious funeral like Shazhu.

After tidying his clothes, in the evening he brought several boxes of snacks and waited at the gate of the Jia Family's Siheyuan.

Upon seeing Yi Zhonghai arrive.

The Jia family members all had the sneaking suspicion of a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken, and they hadn't forgotten how Yi Zhonghai, in front of the whole courtyard's neighbors, kept calling Qin Huairu 'Pan Jinlian' and shouting 'Ximen Qing' at Bangeng, even treating Jia Zhangshi as Wang Po, leaving the Jia family embarrassed and suffering greatly.

They didn't even let him through the door, directly stopping Yi Zhonghai in the middle of the courtyard.

"This place isn't welcome to you." Bangeng stood menacingly in front of Yi Zhonghai, "Get out."

"Bangeng." Qin Huairu still knows how to behave; although it looks like she's scolding Bangeng, she's actually retorting at Yi Zhonghai: "How dare you speak to your Grandfather Yi like that? Even if your Grandfather Yi has done a thousand things wrong, and caused a huge scene at your foolish father's memorial hall, you still shouldn't treat your Grandfather Yi this way. Our Jia Family cares about reputation; if this gets out, how will outsiders view our Jia Family? Hurry up and apologize to your Grandfather Yi."

Yi Zhonghai's old face turned red.

He thought the matter was actually his own fault.

Too eager.

Really!

He also blamed Shazhu's death, which muddled Yi Zhonghai's thoughts; he wondered how the perfectly fine Shazhu could just die, and, worried about his own old-age care, he randomly speculated.

If only he could slow down.

Let go.

The matter might still have another turn.

"Huairu, stop talking—it's me, Yi Zhonghai, who's wrong; I shouldn't have caused a scene at such an important occasion. This is also you Jia Family giving me face; if it were someone else, they'd surely beat me. Here, I apologize to you Jia Family members; I was foolish, I hope you can forgive me."

The snacks in his hand.

He handed them to Jia Zhangshi.

"Dong Xu's mother, these are snacks I specially bought—not much; consider it my small gesture from Yi Zhonghai; please accept them; the matter of Shazhu is my fault."

Seeing neighbors appear.

Yi Zhonghai raised his voice.

"I said Qin Huairu was Pan Jinlian, which was wrong; Qin Huairu is a good woman, wholeheartedly devoted to the Jia Family, a rare good woman. I said Jia Zhangshi was Wang Po, which was also wrong; Jia Zhangshi is a good mother-in-law, who helped Qin Huairu sustain the Jia Family, a good person. I said Bangeng was Ximen Qing, which was even more wrong; Bangeng is a fine young man, intelligent from childhood, and I shouldn't have called Qin Huairu Pan Jinlian, shouldn't have called Bangeng Ximen Qing, and shouldn't have called Jia Zhangshi Wang Po."

"Yi Zhonghai, you're still coming? Do you really think my Bangeng has no temper?"

"Bangeng!" Qin Huairu once again played the nice person, looking at Yi Zhonghai: "Elder, we Jia Family have accepted your apology; to be frank, we never took those words to heart, we've long forgotten them. If you have nothing else, please go back now; it's not early, and you're old—what would we do if something happened to you on the way?"

He turned his head toward the nearby Huaihua.

Let out a squeak.

"Huaihua, go inside and fetch our household flashlight, give it to Grandfather Yi to hold, let Grandfather Yi light the way on the road—he's old, can't afford to have an accident."

The implication.

We, the Jia Family, won't keep you.

You hurry and leave.

The Siheyuan is also not a place where Yi Zhonghai should stay.