Chapter 665: Yi Zhonghai Scared Off, He Daqing Learns of Hexiao

Yi Zhonghai, who cared too much about face and suffered for it, didn't want to appear before He Daqing in this sorry state, losing face.

He did not admit that he was Yi Zhonghai.

Yet he didn't expect that the scavenger who had been fighting Yi Zhonghai over the paper scraps would expose his disguise in one breath.

"How come you're not Yi Zhonghai anymore? You've been fighting me over garbage for so long; seeing someone recognize you, you feel embarrassed and refuse to admit you're Yi Zhonghai? Comrade, let me tell you, he is Yi Zhonghai, before retirement an eighth-level worker at Yagangchang. Because he had no children, he was an extinct line; he didn't adopt children, scheming to have people support him in his old age…"

A truly kind-hearted person.

Afraid that He Daqing didn't know Yi Zhonghai's past, he laid out Yi Zhonghai's glorious history in detail: scheming to have people support him in old age, bullying the honest Shazhu, arranging for the unmarried Shazhu to support the widow Qin Huairu, delaying Shazhu's marriage, Shazhu's son returning to see Shazhu, Yi Zhonghai refusing to let father and son meet, Shazhu's death, Yi Zhonghai, whose hopes for old-age support were shattered, causing a scene at Shazhu's funeral hall.

He Daqing had heard some of these things, more or less, from He Yushui.

He wasn't very interested.

What truly excited He Daqing was that Shazhu's son had come looking for Shazhu, but Yi Zhonghai wouldn't let Shazhu meet his son.

If I remember correctly, in what He Yushui told He Daqing, Shazhu had no son, was schemed into being an extinct line, and the He family line was cut off.

He has a child.

What's going on?

He Daqing no longer wanted to compete with Yi Zhonghai; his mind was full of Shazhu's son's affairs. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to the scavenger.

"Old brother, have a smoke."

"Yo, this is a premium Daqianmen, fine cigarettes, two yuan a pack."

"Smoking is just for fun, old brother. Tell me about Shazhu's son—why won't Yi Zhonghai let Shazhu see his son? I heard Shazhu is an extinct line."

"About this, if you ask others it's pointless; I really know, but I can't tell you—I've got to pick garbage, no time to chat."

"Old brother, how much can you earn in a day?"

"About a hundred yuan a month."

"Not bad."

"Hard-earned money, yet people still ridicule it."

He Daqing took out five yuan from his pocket and handed it to the scavenger.

He had originally thought three yuan would be enough.

Then he thought again.

This concerned his own grandson; giving five yuan, he expected the other might speak more detail, but he didn't expect the five yuan to startle the scavenger.

Staring at the money before him, he went blank.

Seeing the scavenger in a daze,

He Daqing urged him on.

"Take it, old brother—no offense—I've just come to your Capital City; I haven't heard any of what you said. They're father and son—by what right do you keep them apart? Isn't that wicked?"

"Since you also like gossip, I'll chat with you properly—you've run into me; anyone else wouldn't tell you."

The scavenger reached out and took the five yuan He Daqing handed over.

He even held it up to the sun to check its authenticity, then slipped it into his own pocket.

Just as he began to speak a few words, the scavenger suddenly clutched his stomach, made an excuse to go to the toilet, and asked He Daqing to watch the garbage he'd collected.

He Daqing didn't mind, sitting honestly in place waiting for the scavenger; as time passed, he gradually sensed something was off,

He had been in the toilet for over an hour and still hadn't returned.

His heart skipped a beat.

He didn't even care about the scavenger's waste paper scraps anymore, walked to the toilet, entered, and stood there frozen—he had been tricked.

Without the urge to compete with the scavenger, he turned and left the toilet.

He headed toward He Yushui's home.

He wanted to learn about Shazhu's son from He Yushui, but halfway there he suddenly realized: if He Yushui knew the truth yet deliberately didn't tell He Daqing, it showed He Yushui still resented him; even if He Daqing found He Yushui, he likely wouldn't speak frankly, and might even get lectured.

His aura.

Suddenly it deflated.

He also became listless.

He paused where he stood, thinking: the matters of the Siheyuan, those people should know; yesterday, returning to the Siheyuan, he saw Yan Fugui at the gate.

Ask Yan Fugui, and he'll know everything.

Worried that meeting inside the Siheyuan wouldn't be good, he had someone pass a message: inviting Yan Fugui to a meal at some hotel, and saying he himself was surnamed He, an old acquaintance.

Hearing the child's relayed words, Yan Fugui instantly realized who was inviting him to eat.

Besides He Daqing, there was no one else.

The gene for loving to take advantage welled up in Yan Fugui's heart; he changed clothes, prepared to go on time, but upon leaving the door he ran into Liu Haizhong.

After a brief exchange, Liu Haizhong insisted on coming along; with no other choice, Yan Fugui could only let Liu Haizhong tag along, one behind the other, as they walked to the hotel.

What they didn't know was that, just as they left the Siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi's plump figure burst out from inside.

Watching the backs of Yan Fugui and Liu Haizhong recede, he was stunned, unable to fathom why they were dressed like that—especially Yan Fugui, who had even put on the clothes he wore when he got married.

……

"Old Yan, who exactly is it?"

"You'll know when you go." Yan Fugui said to Liu Haizhong: "They invited me; you insist on coming along—this is just bringing a guest to bring a guest."

"Let me guess—is it He Daqing?"

Yan Fugui startled.

He looked foolishly at Liu Haizhong.

He didn't expect Liu Haizhong to guess correctly.

"From your expression, I guess I'm right—if it were someone I didn't know, they wouldn't know me either; even if I knelt before you, you wouldn't bring me along; the fact that you can bring me means we definitely have some history."

You'll know when you get there.

Yan Fugui kept them in suspense, led the way ahead, leisurely entered the Capital City Hotel, and found He Daqing already waiting at the ninth spot in the lobby.

The three greeted each other.

Afterwards each ordered a dish and also requested a bottle of baijiu.

No alcohol, no feast.

At the dinner table, without alcohol, it always feels like something is missing.

He Daqing opened the bottle cap, filled each person's cup, gestured an invitation, after three cups of baijiu went down, their chatterboxes opened as well.

Old He, this wine isn't very tasty, but speak up—what do you want to know? As long as I know it, I'll definitely tell you everything.

And I'll tell you everything I know as well.

Nothing major, just what happened in the siheyuan after I left.

"These things—I thought I'd say them myself." Liu Haizhong seized the opportunity and began recounting the siheyuan's past to He Daqing: "After you left, Yi Zhonghai, in front of everyone in the courtyard, told Shazhu that you had run off with the widow, abandoning him and also He Yushui, and the two kids cried their hearts out..."

After Old Liu finished, I'll add a sentence: Yi Zhonghai arranged for Shazhu to assist Qin Huairu; I told Shazhu several times, but Shazhu had been brainwashed by Yi Zhonghai—he believed whatever Yi Zhonghai said. I advised him not to associate too much with Qin Huairu, as it wasn't good, but Shazhu didn't believe me and even called me stingy.

Under Yi Zhonghai's education, Shazhu's judgment had a single standard: helping Qin Huairu made one a good person, not helping made one a bad person. I've often been complained about by Shazhu over this; we also tried to arrange a marriage for Shazhu, but Yi Zhonghai said he'd take responsibility, so we couldn't say much, and Shazhu still didn't trust us.

Does Shazhu have a son?

Yan Fugui and Liu Haizhong were stunned on the spot.

I thought they were joking.

But seeing He Daqing's unusually serious expression, they realized he was telling the truth; they were all shocked, and He Yushui hadn't even told He Daqing about this important matter.

The current dilemma is whether they should speak up.

Not to speak.

Sorry for imposing on He Daqing's drink; moreover, He Daqing had invited Yan Fugui solely to learn this matter, and Liu Haizhong had only tagged along for a free meal.

To speak.

Would it offend He Yushui?

The two hesitated.

He Daqing isn't foolish; seeing their expressions, he knew what they were worried about.

You guessed right—Yushui didn't tell me this; I just wanted to know if it's true. Old Yan, Old Liu, you both have grandsons, but I don't.

Yan Fugui looked at Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong looked at Yan Fugui.

Both had made a decision and each nodded.

A slight movement, yet it stirred He Daqing's long‑absent excitement; he raised his cup and drank three in a row.

Shazhu has a son.

He has a grandson.

The He family line has not been broken.

Suddenly I felt like laughing, but I wanted even more to find Yi Zhonghai, point at his nose, and give him a good scolding: "You Yi Zhonghai, with all your scheming, you drove me He Daqing away back then—who would have thought heaven would open its eyes, giving me He Daqing a grandson, while you, Yi Zhonghai, are good for nothing."

Old He, that child's name is Hexiao.

Hexiao?

The He is from He Yuzhu's He, and the Xiao is from Lou Xiaoe's Xiao.

Lou Xiaoe?

He Daqing, muttering that name, his face changed dramatically; he looked fearfully at Yan Fugui and Liu Haizhong before him, wondering if it wasn't that Lou he knew.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui nodded again.

He Daqing's heart almost leapt out of his throat from fright.

That damned Shazhu, schemed against by the widow his whole life, still managed to have an affair with the wealthy widow Lou Xiaoe, who bore him a son.

Old Liu, Old Yan, tell me about it.

He used to be called Hexiao, but now I hear he's taken the Lou surname.

He's taken the Lou surname?

This definitely involves Yi Zhonghai, right? He Daqing gave a bitter smile, "Otherwise he wouldn't be following his mother's surname."

Old He, you're right—no one should blame anyone; just blame heaven. Fate toys with people, worldly affairs are unpredictable, schemes can't outdo heaven, things...

Yan Fugui, opening his chatterbox, related the matter in detail.

Qin Huairu, using Bangeng's opposition as an excuse, kept Shazhu dangling for eight years; after eight years, Bangeng returned to the city. Due to the earlier circumstances, many were seeking work—Bangeng had no special skill, plus a few bad habits, so good jobs passed him by and he wouldn't take bad ones either.

He idled away his days, looking much like a street loafer.

Qin Huairu found him a job sweeping streets, but Bangeng didn't want it, went home and complained to Jia Zhangshi, who then complained to Qin Huairu.

The widow suddenly remembered Shazhu had connections with leadership; as long as a leader spoke a word, Bangeng's job would be secured—a good job everyone envied.

Because she had kept him dangling for eight years, Qin Huairu felt that suddenly bringing up finding work for Bangeng would backfire, making Shazhu dislike her.

That night, she moved her bedding over and moved in with Shazhu.

Everyone in the siheyuan knew about this.

Jia Zhangshi, who loved putting on a show, publicly scolded Qin Huairu and Shazhu, saying Shazhu had lured away the Jia family's daughter‑in‑law Qin Huairu.

Yi Zhonghai's intervention frightened them, and the next day they obtained their marriage certificate; on the third day of marriage, Qin Huairu tearfully told Shazhu that Bangeng had no job and she was worried, under the pillow‑talk disturbance. Shazhu, losing himself, found a leader, got Bangeng a driver‑learning certificate, and also found Bangeng sweeping the street, saying a few words.

After Bangeng learned to drive, he became a driver.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi were happily discussing finding a wife for Bangeng, never expecting Lou Xiaoe to appear then with Hexiao.

The day Lou Xiaoe returned with Hexiao, I happened to be in the siheyuan and knew the whole story." Liu Haizhong took over Yan Fugui's cue and began: "Lou Xiaoe was the former wife of Xu Damao; Xu Damao, for his own future, bore a grudge against Lou Xiaoe's family, but it was Shazhu who used connections to save Lou Xiaoe's family. After that, no one thought Lou Xiaoe would come back, yet she did, bringing Shazhu's son Hexiao with her, and Lou Xiaoe openly introduced Hexiao to the neighbors in the courtyard; Shazhu at the time…."

Shazhu, hearing Lou Xiaoe say this was his son, immediately took Hexiao to the back courtyard and called out Xu Damao, who was rivaling the household with Qin Jingru.

Pointing at Hexiao, he said, "This is my son, you Xu Daming keep saying I have no heirs all day long; I have a son, the one who has no heirs is you Xu Daming."

The voice was quite loud.

Many people heard it.

The neighbors also came out to watch the excitement.

Jia Zhangshi, standing in the crowd, saw Lou Xiaoe bring back Shazhu's son Hexiao, and recalled that Lou Xiaoe, under the matchmaking of Long Laotaitai, had almost married Shazhu.

Qin Huairu also sent bedding as a wedding gift for Shazhu.

Jia Zhangshi panicked instantly.

Shazhu having a son means that Shazhu's house and Long Laotaitai's house in the rear courtyard will both be left to Hexiao.

Bangeng has no blood relation at all to Shazhu, so on what basis would Shazhu leave his house to Bangeng?

This is the fact.

Everyone in the Siheyuan knows this.

After Bangeng got married, he lived in Shazhu's big house; Xiao Dang and Huaihua lived in He Yushui's small house; Shazhu was driven out by the Jia family to Long Laotaitai's house in the rear courtyard.