Chapter 667: The Truth Behind Yi Zhonghai's Childlessness

Yi Zhonghai's apology, in He Daqing's view, was just like the maggots in a cesspit—only endless disgust.

Originally wanted to give Yi Zhonghai a big slap.

His hand also reached out.

But he really couldn't bring himself to slap.

He Daqing suddenly realized that everything Yi Zhonghai now faces is the best revenge for him, and is there anything more painful for an enemy than letting the enemy live alone in the world?

No.

Besides living alone.

The matter of supporting old age is also Yi Zhonghai's biggest heart ailment.

For old age, he schemed his whole life, did evil his whole life, didn't hesitate to scheme He Daqing's son Shazhu to death, but ended up with a basket drawing water—nothing gained, except the Jia Family benefited, Yi Zhonghai got no benefit, even had to do garbage picking for survival, also was kicked out of the Siheyuan by the Jia Family, ended up similar to Shazhu.

The pleasure of revenge.

Welled up in He Daqing's heart.

Looking at Yi Zhonghai's gaze, it turned into pity.

Yi Zhonghai looking at pitiful He Daqing, his lungs about to explode with anger, he doesn't need He Daqing's pity, nor his sympathy.

Even if He Daqing slapped her a few times, scolded him a few sentences, Yi Zhonghai would feel much better inside.

"Take care of yourself."

He Daqing uttered those harsh words.

Stood up.

Want to leave.

At this time he had already let go of his hatred toward Yi Zhonghai; the struggling Yi Zhonghai, let time take revenge on him—He Daqing wants to focus his thoughts on the Jia Family people.

But he didn't expect Yi Zhonghai to grab He Daqing's arm, not letting He Daqing leave easily; some words remained unsaid, he couldn't let He Daqing just walk away, otherwise Yi Zhonghai's heart would hurt even more.

"Old He, don't go."

"Let go."

"Please, scold me a few sentences, hit me a few slaps also fine—I did wrong to your He family, I feel guilty, my lard-covered heart, I am lacking virtue."

He Daqing saw it.

Yi Zhonghai is also disgusted with him.

He Daqing, having let go of everything, will not easily comply with Yi Zhonghai's wishes.

Yi Zhonghai sees that He Daqing has a grandson, living better than himself, his heart feels imbalance.

What the hell.

"Yi Zhonghai, I neither hit you nor scold you; although I lost my son, my son also considered promising, gave me a grandson, the He family won't cut off incense—I want to accumulate hidden virtue for my grandson."

Tone shifted.

The heart-piercing words stabbed Yi Zhonghai's heart.

"These words don't reach you—you have no son, nor grandson, lifelong you are childless, you also did so many wicked deeds, heaven records them one by one; this lifetime you are childless because in your previous life you did too many wicked deeds; next lifetime, likely you will also be childless, premise is you have a next lifetime; you in my eyes are just a stinking unbearable dog feces."

"Yi Zhonghai, I arranged for your son to support the widow; I am just feeling imbalance—why do you have son and daughter while I have nothing? Why? Your son listened to my words, supported Qin Huairu, later married Qin Huairu—all this is what I Yi Zhonghai did."

"You have no son, I have a grandson."

He Daqing just has one countermeasure.

"My He family has descendants."

"Lou Xiaoe brought He Hui back; when I saw He Hui's appearance, I knew He Hui is Shazhu's son, but I cannot let Shazhu leave—if Shazhu leaves, who will support my old age? Rely on Jia Family people? I know Jia Family people are all ungrateful white-eyed wolves, so I must keep Shazhu; only Shazhu staying can support my old age. I told Shazhu, the gratitude of raising is greater than that of giving birth—although He Hui is your son, you never raised him, in He Hui's heart you are just a pure stranger."

Yi Zhonghai's tone.

Became smoother as he spoke.

"I told him, Lou Xiaoe has no feelings for you; she brought He Hui back just to stimulate Da Mao, revenge on the Siheyuan neighbors—this also includes Shazhu. I said you Shazhu took care of the Jia Family widow for many years; although Qin Huairu didn't give you a son or daughter, but Bangeng etc are good kids; I said your Shazhu's old age, Bangeng etc will take care of you, will support Shazhu's old age—you can't let Bangeng etc feel hurt, thinking they are not your biological son; Shazhu listened to my words, truly didn't recognize He Hui. He Daqing, you know? I feel hilarious."

"Although Shazhu didn't recognize He Hui, but He Hui still carries my old He family's blood—you Yi Zhonghai are childless."

"Exactly, I am childless, so I never considered Shazhu; I know Jia Family people are unreliable, but I didn't remind Shazhu—I am older than Shazhu, I will definitely die before Shazhu; with me arranging Long Laotaitai's funeral, Shazhu will also give me Yi Zhonghai a grand funeral—hateful, I really hate."

"Hate heaven opening its eyes, letting your Yi Zhonghai's plan fail by a hair—you didn't expect Shazhu to die because of Jia Family's ruthlessness, being schemed by Jia Family, dying before you; Jia Family had to give Shazhu a grand funeral to cover up, Bangeng also gave Shazhu mourning clothes and kicked the fire basin—these are what you Yi Zhonghai wanted, but missing; Yi Zhonghai, if you want to be unknown, unless you do nothing, you over-schemed."

He Daqing poked Yi Zhonghai's forehead with his finger.

Word by word came out.

"When I left, I left you 200 yuan living expenses, to give to Shazhu; you didn't give to Shazhu, nor to Yushui."

"At that time they would resent you He Daqing; I worried they'd know this money is from you, they'd refuse—I kindly helped them keep it."

Yi Zhonghai gave explanation without thinking.

This is his draft he's been mulling for decades.

Originally prepared to use on Shazhu, didn't expect Shazhu died, used on He Daqing instead.

"The living expenses I mailed to Shazhu, you also didn't give a cent; the dowry I gave to Yushui, you also didn't give."

"I worried Shazhu young doesn't know restraint, will develop extravagant spending habit—I first helped accumulate virtue, after Shazhu marries, after Yushui marries, I will then give it to them."

"Yi Zhonghai, stop explaining—I know what you think, nothing but wanting to do this high-praise low-derogation thing, borrowing by stepping on me He Daqing to show your Yi Zhonghai's nobility; Shazhu listening to you like this is also for these reasons—pity, my He Daqing has a grandson, Lou Xiaoe gave me a big fat grandson."

Yi Zhonghai stared straight at He Daqing.

Didn't expect He Daqing knew all this.

"You!"

"Yi Zhonghai." He Daqing looking at Yi Zhonghai's face, suddenly thought of something, "You said you provided for Long Laotaitai's old age and funeral?"

"What problem? Why I provided for Long Laotaitai's old age and funeral, while others don't provide for my Yi Zhonghai's old age and funeral."

"Your affair with Long Laotaitai, you can hide from others but not from me He Daqing—know why you are childless? This is all Long Laotaitai's doing."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

【64】

「The day you just came to the Capital City to make a living, did you faint from hunger at the gate of the Siheyuan? Did the old lady give you a bowl of hot soup? You relied on that bowl of hot soup to survive. Do you know what kind of soup that bowl is? It has a name: 'juezi', which also means 'cutting off offspring', i. e., a soup that prevents having children, a soup that makes a man childless for life. 」

Now translate interior:

【74】

Translate:

"On the day you first came to the Capital City to make a living, did you faint from hunger at the gate of the Siheyuan? Did Long Laotaitai give you a bowl of hot soup? You relied on that bowl of hot soup to survive. Do you know what kind of soup that was? It has a name: juezi, that is juezi, it's a soup that prevents having children; a man who drinks it his whole life will have no children."

「In order to have Shazhu wholeheartedly take care of you in your old age, you didn't hesitate to scheme to make him childless, and to have him marry a widow who either wears a ring or is the mother of three children. Is there anything you can think of that the deaf old lady wouldn't anticipate? Only by making you, Yi Zhonghai, also childless can you then huddle together with her for warmth and listen to the deaf old lady's words. 」

Thus: "On the day you first came to the Capital City to make a living, did you faint from hunger at the gate of the Siheyuan? Did Long Laotaitai give you a bowl of hot soup? You relied on that bowl of hot soup to survive. Do you know what kind of soup that was? It's called the offspring‑cutting soup, a soup that prevents having children; a man who drinks it his whole life will have no children."

We need to keep the quotation marks? We'll keep the Chinese quotes? Might be weird. I'll output without the Chinese quotes but keep the meaning. However instruction: "Keep each translation on a SINGLE output line." It didn't say to keep the original punctuation exactly, but to translate faithfully. The quotation marks are part of the source; we should preserve them. But if we translate the content, we could keep the quotation marks as they are (i. e., start with 「 and end with 」). However the interior is English; mixing Chinese quotes with English looks odd but acceptable. Let's do that: keep the 「 and 」 as they appear, and put English inside.

Thus output: 「On the day you first came to the Capital City to make a living, did you faint from hunger at the gate of the Siheyuan? Did Long Laotaitai give you a bowl of hot soup? You relied on that bowl of hot soup to survive. Do you know what kind of soup that was? It's called the offspring‑cutting soup, a soup that prevents having children; a man who drinks it his whole life will have no children. 」

But we need to ensure we didn't add extra words not in source. We added "the". That's okay as natural English. We didn't add info.

【90】

Translate: "Yi Zhonghai looked at He Daqing doubtfully, still not believing He Daqing's words."

Use glossary: Yi Zhonghai, He Daqing.

Yi Zhonghai hesitated looking at He Daqing, still not believing He Daqing's words.

「In order to have Shazhu wholeheartedly take care of you in your old age, you didn't hesitate to scheme to make him childless, and to have him marry a widow who either wears a ring or is the mother of three children. Is there anything you can think of that the deaf old lady wouldn't anticipate? Only by making you, Yi Zhonghai, also childless can you then huddle together with her for warmth and listen to the deaf old lady's words. 」

【96】

「a widow who either wears a ring or is the mother of three children」

【107】

Now translate:

"In order to have Shazhu wholeheartedly care for you in your old age, you didn't hesitate to scheme to make Shazhu childless, letting him marry a widow who either wears a ring or is the mother of three children. Whatever you can think of, wouldn't Long Laotaitai think of it too? Only by making you, Yi Zhonghai, also childless can you join forces with her to keep warm, only then can you heed Long Laotaitai's words."

We need to keep quotes.

Thus: 「In order to have Shazhu wholeheartedly care for you in your old age, you didn't hesitate to scheme to make Shazhu childless, letting him marry a widow who either wears a ring or is the mother of three children. Whatever you can think of, wouldn't Long Laotaitai think of it too? Only by making you, Yi Zhonghai, also childless can you join forces with her to keep warm, only then can you heed Long Laotaitai's words. 」

A hand rests on Yi Zhonghai's cheek.

Translate: "A hand was on Yi Zhonghai's cheek."

【113】

Translate: "It patted a few times."

「He said meaningfully: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; behind the oriole lurks a hunter with a bow and arrow. Yi Zhonghai, you have been schemed against by the deaf old lady. The deaf old lady you have been longing for is the very culprit who made you childless. I originally didn't want to tell you this, but I thought you couldn't possibly be such a clueless fool. Don't thank me—I mean well too. It's a shame, your fate isn't as good as mine. You are childless, and indeed you truly are childless. Shazhu is childless, yet he has Hexiao."」

note about replacements.

「Hexiao」

Now translate meaning:

"Speaking with deep meaning, he said: 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; behind the oriole there is still a hunter with bow and arrow. Yi Zhonghai, you have been schemed by Long Laotaitai; the Long Laotaitai you constantly think of is the very culprit who made you childless. I originally didn't want to tell you this, but I thought you couldn't possibly be a confused ghost, so don't thank me—I'm also well‑meaning. Unfortunately, your fate is not as good as mine; you are childless, and truly childless; Shazhu is childless, yet he has Hexiao.'"

We need to keep quotes.

Thus: 「Speaking with deep meaning, he said: 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; behind the oriole there is still a hunter with bow and arrow. Yi Zhonghai, you have been schemed by Long Laotaitai; the Long Laotaitai you constantly think of is the very culprit who made you childless. I originally didn't want to tell you this, but I thought you couldn't possibly be a confused ghost, so don't thank me—I'm also well‑meaning. Unfortunately, your fate is not as good as mine; you are childless, and truly childless; Shazhu is childless, yet he has Hexiao.'」

【131】

Translate: "He suddenly stood up."

He looked down on Yi Zhonghai from a high position.

Translate: "Looking down on Yi Zhonghai from a height."

【137】

Translate: "A strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth."

「Yi Zhonghai, I will watch you die in ruin. 」

Translate: "Yi Zhonghai, I will watch you die in ruin."

【143】

Translate: "Not bothering with the already wooden‑person Yi Zhonghai, He Daqing walked away with light steps toward the distance."

During yesterday's drinking session with Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui, He Daqing also obtained a useful piece of news: Bang Geng and Tang Yanling have divorced, and Jia Xiao Geng, the eight-year-old continuation of the Jia family's single lineage, lives with the Jia family.

Translate: "During the drinking session yesterday with Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui, He Daqing also obtained a piece of information useful to him: Bangeng and Tang Yanling have divorced; the Jia Family's three‑generation single line's continuation, Jia Xiao Geng, is now eight years old and lives together with the Jia Family."

note about glossary usage.

Thus we translate: "the Jia Family's three‑generation single line's continuation, Jia Xiao Geng, is now eight years old and lives together with the Jia Family."

You have harmed my son.

Translate: "You have harmed my son."

【156】

Translate: "I will also make you taste the pain of sending off black‑haired people while white‑haired."

He Daqing left in a carefree, unrestrained way.

Translate: "He Daqing left in a carefree manner."

【162】

Translate: "But Yi Zhonghai, left behind by him, was full of bitterness; He Daqing's words were like sharp needles piercing his most painful spot, making Yi Zhonghai feel torn between life and death."

He has no children because he drank the deaf old lady's lineage‑ending soup.

Translate: "He has no children because he drank Long Laotaitai's child‑cutting soup."

【168】

Translate: "How could this be possible."

The deaf old lady who treated Yi Zhonghai as her own son turned out to be the culprit who made him suffer misery his whole life.

Translate: "That Long Laotaitai, who regarded him Yi Zhonghai as her own son, turned out to be the very culprit who made him suffer all his life."

【174】

Translate: "Long Laotaitai."

How could it be the deaf old lady?

Translate: "How could it be Long Laotaitai."

【180】

Translate: "Yi Zhonghai thought of something, staggered out running toward the city's outskirts, and finally appeared before Long Laotaitai's grave."

This

Translate: "This tombstone was erected by Yi Zhonghai; the front bears Long Laotaitai's name and birth date, the back bears the name of the person who set it up, Yi Zhonghai."

【186】

Translate: "In other words, Yi Zhonghai truly regarded himself as Long Laotaitai's son, which is why he erected her tombstone; Bangeng's name does not appear on Shazhu's tombstone."

Yi Zhonghai stared at the familiar scene before him, recalling He Daqing's words.

Translate: "Yi Zhonghai looked at the familiar scene before him and recalled He Daqing's words."

【192】

Translate: "The disbelief he originally held suddenly turned into belief."

Old lady, I saw He Daqing, and he told me many things. He said I have no children because I drank the child‑ending soup you gave me. I want to ask you: was it really that soup you gave me that made me childless my whole life? Please answer me.

Translate: "\"Old lady, I have seen He Daqing; He Daqing told me many things, saying that my lack of children is because I drank the child‑cutting soup you gave me. I want to ask you: was it really you who gave me that soup that made me childless my whole life? Please answer me. \""

We need to keep quotes.

Thus: 「Old lady, I have seen He Daqing; He Daqing told me many things, saying that my lack of children is because I drank the child‑cutting soup you gave me. I want to ask you: was it really you who gave me that soup that made me childless my whole life? Please answer me. 」

【202】

Translate: "The last sentence."

He almost shouted it out.

Translate: "It was almost shouted out."

【208】

Translate: "His face also became ferocious."

Tell me, is it really you who made me childless for life? You know how wretched I am without children in the steel mill. Answer me: why are you doing this to me? I have no grudge against you—why treat me this way? Why won't you speak? Why won't you answer me?

Translate: "\"Tell me, is it really you who made me childless my whole life? Why? You know how miserable I am without children at the Yagangchang. Answer me, why do you harm me so? Why ah? I have no grudge against you; why do you treat me this way? Why won't you speak? Why won't you answer me? \""

【215】

Thus: 「Tell me, is it really you who made me childless my whole life? Why? You know how miserable I am without children at the Yagangchang. Answer me, why do you harm me so? Why ah? I have no grudge against you; why do you treat me this way? Why won't you speak? Why won't you answer me? 」

A mouthful of spit.

Translate: "A mouthful of spit."

【221】

Translate: "He spat it onto Long Laotaitai's photograph."

I've been good to you, letting me support you in your old age and see you through to the end without hesitation, but this is how you treat me? You made me childless, leaving me without any children. For my old age I wanted to adopt a child, but you refused, saying an adopted child isn't as good as hiring someone to help with elder care. I first settled on Jia Dongxu, then made Zhuzi a backup for my old-age support. After Jia Dongxu died, Zhuzi became my official old-age caretaker. For my old age I had Zhuzi marry Qin Huiru from Shanghuan, but do you know? Zhuzi died, dying right in front of me, Yi Zhonghai. He gave the Jia family a grand funeral, while I, Yi Zhonghai, became a destitute wreck. Even He Daqing can't bear to look at me. This is all your doing.

Translate: "\"I have treated you well; you let me support you in your old age and see you off, and I didn't hesitate. But is this how you treat me? You made me childless, took away my children. For my old age I wanted to adopt a child, but you refused, saying an adopted child is not as good as hiring someone to help with elder care. I first settled on Jia Dongxu, then made Shazhu a backup for elder care; after Jia Dongxu died, Shazhu was made permanent by me. For my old age I had Shazhu marry Qin Huairu from the upper ring, but do you know? Shazhu died, dying before me, Yi Zhonghai; he gave the Jia family a splendid funeral, while I, Yi Zhonghai, became destitute trash, and even He Daqing wouldn't deign to look at me—all this is your doing. \""

We need to keep quotes.

Thus: 「I have treated you well; you let me support you in your old age and see you off, and I didn't hesitate. But is this how you treat me? You made me childless, took away my children. For my old age I wanted to adopt a child, but you refused, saying an adopted child is not as good as hiring someone to help with elder care. I first settled on Jia Dongxu, then made Shazhu a backup for elder care; after Jia Dongxu died, Shazhu was made permanent by me. For my old age I had Shazhu marry Qin Huairu from the upper ring, but do you know? Shazhu died, dying before me, Yi Zhonghai; he gave the Jia family a splendid funeral, while I, Yi Zhonghai, became destitute trash, and even He Daqing wouldn't deign to look at me—all this is your doing. 」

【231】

Translate: "Until now."

Yi Zhonghai's reply to He Daqing.

Translate: "Yi Zhonghai to He Daqing's words."

【237】

Translate: "He now believes it without doubt."

Only those who care for the elderly truly understand their suffering, and can therefore devote themselves wholeheartedly to seeing them through their old age.

Translate: "Because only those who support the elderly know the suffering of the elderly, and can wholeheartedly provide care and see them off."

【243】

Translate: "This sentence is what Long Laotaitai told Yi Zhonghai."

Yi Zhonghai's later arrangement for Zhuzi to assist Qin Huiru was actually based on a hint from the deaf old lady: if Zhuzi had children, his energy and attention would inevitably be devoted to his own kids.

Translate: "The reason Yi Zhonghai later arranged for Shazhu to assist Qin Huairu is actually because he followed Long Laotaitai's hint: if Shazhu had children, his energy and focus would inevitably tilt toward his own offspring."

【249】

Translate: "No blood relation."

He remained an outsider.

Translate: "Always an outsider."

【255】

Translate: "Is not trusted by Shazhu."

For Zhuzi to wholeheartedly care for Yi Zhonghai and his wife in their old age, he must not have his own children; only by feeling the pain of being cut off from lineage can he appreciate Yi Zhonghai's sincere motive in choosing Zhuzi for elder care.

Translate: "To have Shazhu wholeheartedly fulfill his duty of supporting Yi Zhonghai and his wife, Shazhu must not have his own children; only by experiencing the pain of being childless can he let go of Yi Zhonghai's earnest intention to have Shazhu support them in old age."

【261】

Translate: "Under Long Laotaitai's incessant ideological work, Yi Zhonghai gradually accepted her argument and began to confront the fact of whether Shazhu should be made childless."

Finally, they arranged for Zhuzi to help Qin Huiru, and even helped the Jia family brand him a chicken thief, utterly destroying his reputation.

Translate: "In the end he arranged for Shazhu to assist Qin Huairu, and also helped the Jia family pin the reputation of a chicken‑thief on Shazhu, utterly ruining Shazhu's reputation."

【267】

Translate: "Left with no choice, Shazhu, seeing his reputation ruined and unable to marry another wife, could only live together with Qin Huairu."

Yi Zhonghai also felt a modest sense of pride in his scheme.

Translate: "Yi Zhonghai also took pride in his scheme, feeling a small sense of satisfaction."

【273】

Translate: "Now looking back."

He's nothing but a jumping clown, having lived all along under the deaf old lady's schemes; he imagined himself as a powerful Buddha, but turned out to be the Monkey King inside the Buddha.

Translate: "He is nothing but a jumping clown, having lived all along under Long Laotaitai's scheming; he thought himself a mighty Buddha with great powers, but turned out to be the Monkey King inside the Buddha."

【279】

Translate: "Pitiful."

It's regrettable.

Translate: "Lamentable."

【285】

Translate: "Laughable."

Hahaha...

Translate: "\"Hahaha…. \""

【291】

Translate: "A desolate laugh flew from Yi Zhonghai's mouth; looking at Long Laotaitai's photo on the tombstone, his heart suddenly turned cold."

As long as I'm alive, I can't do anything to you.

Translate: "While alive, I cannot do anything to you."

【297】

Translate: "When dead, I still have to bury you."

I scoff.

Translate: "I scoff."

We need to output a line for each.

Translate: "He undid his belt and dumped all the bodily waste inside him onto the photograph of the ancestors in the Dayuan."

I let you drink urine.