Chapter 75: Jia Dame, Don

Even though you know they're arguing with you over the sewing machine, you still bring up the sewing machine in front of them, which makes people think you lack virtue.

Actually, it was Jia Zhangshi who first provoked Shazhu.

Shazhu fought back a bit.

That's understandable.

Whatever you want, I'll use that to retaliate against you.

Just one word.

Ruthless.

"That's our sewing machine."

Basically, there's no need for Shazhu to step forward.

Xu Daming is there.

No need for Shazhu.

Big Donkey Face, this buddy is reliable; when there's something to do, he really steps up, and having benefited from Shazhu, he wants to repay him a bit. The meal a few days ago successfully won over the publicity section chief, and Xu Daming has successfully become an apprentice worker who can operate machinery in front of the master. This also lets Shazhu, the Chef God, spread his fame again throughout Yagangchang.

"What, your Jia Family's sewing machine?" He grabbed the couplet and also grabbed Xu Daming, who was holding the Yan Family's Jianghu pot, saying, "If you want the sewing machine, fine—compensate Shazhu's bicycle."

"What does Shazhu's bicycle have to do with you, Xu Daming?"

"Just say a few less words; it's the New Year, why are we arguing?"

Seeing Yi Zhonghai lose his temper.

Xu Daming and Jia Zhangshi also stifled their urge to retort.

Arguing during the New Year.

It'll give people gossip about them.

Each snorted coldly and went back to their own business.

As Jia Zhangshi was about to return indoors, Shazhu deliberately shouted from the front courtyard.

"Third Aunt, you aren't supposed to use the sewing machine to stitch pillowcases? Go ahead!"

Jia Zhangshi glared hatefully at Shazhu, and as she went back inside, she didn't watch her step, falling flat on her face in a dog‑eating‑shit pose, her head pointing straight at Shazhu.

The virtue‑lacking Shazhu.

He ran over to Jia Zhangshi's side.

He casually threw a hundred‑yuan bill in front of her.

According to elder etiquette, you can only kowtow to elders tomorrow; Jia Dame kowtowed today ahead of time, so not giving her some money really isn't justified.

"Jia Dame." Xu Daming appeared at the right moment, following Shazhu's cue: "You kowtowed to Shazhu and earned a hundred bucks; if you kowtow to me, I'll give you two hundred."

Two‑hundred‑yuan bill.

It appeared in Xu Daming's hand.

He also deliberately flicked it in front of Jia Zhangshi.

The sound of the bill slicing through the air drew sideways glances.

"Xu Daming, can't you settle down?"

"Head Steward, I can't stand seeing this—Jia Dame is so old, she kowtowed to Shazhu and got only a hundred; she should at least get two hundred."

Jia Dongxu swung his fist at Xu Daming; though he couldn't beat Shazhu, he was confident he could beat Xu Daming.

It had a hint of striking unexpectedly when the opponent was unprepared.

That counts as a sneak attack.

But he underestimated Xu Daming's shamelessness.

That bastard should have guarded against Jia Dongxu's move earlier; while provoking Jia Zhangshi, he deliberately walked up to Yi Zhonghai, seeing Jia Dongxu swing his fist at him.

He shrank his neck.

Like a turtle pulling its head into its shell.

Jia Dongxu's fist swept over the head of the neck‑locked Xu Daming and struck squarely on Yi Zhonghai's nasal cavity.

Yi Zhonghai, who wanted to use the Head Steward to quell this dispute, had thought of everything but didn't expect himself to be punched by Jia Dongxu.

Blood spattered everywhere.

"Jia Dongxu, you hit your master." Shazhu rushed over and shouted, "Head Steward, are you alright? Jia Dongxu hit you—if it were me, I couldn't stand it."

Seeing his one punch make Yi Zhonghai bleed from the nose.

Jia Dongxu panicked.

He still hoped Yi Zhonghai would help him become a regular worker at Yagangchang.

If Yi Zhonghai listened to Xu Daming and Shazhu sowing discord, turning against Jia Dongxu, he wouldn't be able to secure his regular position—that would be trouble.

"Master, are you alright?"

"All right." Yi Zhonghai lifted his head, trying not to let the blood flow from his nose, "Dongxu, Daming, Zhuzi, Zhangshi, if you want others to laugh at our Dayuan, keep going—arguing nonstop during the New Year, what do you want to do? Shall I call Director Wang of the Jiēdào?"

"Head Steward, this isn't picking a fight or causing a ruckus—it's called 'seeing red'!"

Shazhu turned his head to look at Xu Daming.

This bastard.

He's got a few brushes.

The talent for spouting nonsense just by opening his mouth—most people couldn't have that, no wonder in his past life he constantly brought disaster to young wives and widows.

It symbolizes that the Head Steward will have a prosperous, thriving new year, with doubled happiness.

Yi Zhonghai had no more tricks.

Xu Daming's words.

It left Yi Zhonghai unable to rebut, for he couldn't say Xu Daming was wrong without implying that he himself would have bad luck next year.

The rules passed down from the elders.

Auspicious New Year phrases.

Xu Damao more or less hit the mark.

"What are you looking at me for? Did I say something wrong?" Xu Damao put on an aggrieved look, as if he had done a good deed but was being wronged by you all, "Eldest Uncle, I, Xu Damao, have laid down my words—you are definitely in for something good today."

The most shocked person was not Yi Zhonghai, nor Jia Dongxu, but Shazhu.

Just Xu Damao's tone, speaking with such certainty that Yi Zhonghai would have good fortune today.

Yi Zhonghai just can't have good fortune.

Shazhu had already guessed what Xu Damao was going to do.

The matter of helping Yi Zhonghai and his wife adopt a child, which had been going on recently, will happen before their eyes.

"Xu Damao, don't mess around."

"Shazhu, wait for the news of my victory."

Xu Damao, having dropped a harsh remark.

He flicked his head.

He staggered out toward the outside of the Siheyuan.

Leaving Yi Zhonghai and the onlookers looking bewildered.

"Zhuzi, what is Xu Damao going to do?"

Shazhu looked at Yi Zhonghai and his wife, who were eagerly awaiting an answer, then glanced at the Siheyuan neighbors with a melon‑eating expression, hesitating whether to tell the truth.

"Zhuzi."

"Eldest Aunt, Eldest Uncle, I don't know if what I'm saying is right or wrong; if I'm wrong, please don't get angry. Xu Damao mentioned to me earlier that you two elders have no children, which would prevent you from wholeheartedly contributing to the building of our motherland, and he wanted to do something good."

"What good thing? Shazhu, go on and say it."

"Help the eldest uncle adopt a child."

Shazhu muttered a few words from between his teeth.

Those around couldn't hear very clearly.

"Speak up—what exactly is Xu Damao going to do?"

"Help the eldest uncle and his wife adopt a child."

The onlookers didn't care.

The several parties involved each had their own reaction.

Eldest Aunt's face lit up with surprise—she was the one who most wanted to adopt a child—while Yi Zhonghai's expression was a bit odd, showing neither good nor bad.

What struck Shazhu as strange was that the Jia family mother and son wore the anguish of having lost some of their family treasures.

Shazhu guessed that the Jia family mother and son wanted to swallow Yi Zhonghai's benefits, and if Yi Zhonghai and his wife adopted a child, those benefits would no longer be tied to the Jia family.