Chapter 90: Jia Dongxu Goes Missing, Shazhu Refuses Yi Zhonghai (Seeking Subscriptions)

Jia Dongxu's disappearance.

It stemmed from a misunderstanding.

Yi Zhonghai mistakenly thought Jia Dongxu, newly wed, couldn't hold back and indulged nightly. Having been young himself, married, and knowing some inside matters, he guessed Jia Dongxu lacked stamina and wanted to rest properly, so he kindly asked for a day off. In the workshop, the married men and women, hearing Jia Dongxu hadn't come, all knowingly smiled, some even cracking a few off-color jokes.

Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu: one thought Jia Dongxu had gone to work the night shift, the other thought he was still inside the house, waiting for him to return in the evening and run into Yi Zhonghai.

Upon their conversation,

Only then did they realize each had made a mistake.

Jia Dongxu had not been indulging nightly, had not been on night shift, nor gone to a colleague's house for drinks; instead, he had mysteriously disappeared.

He's missing!

Jia Zhangshi panicked.

The Jia family's sole heir.

Qin Huairu was startled.

Just married in, and now she might have to become a widow?

Yi Zhonghai was dazed.

Those calculating for old-age support, are they planning to replace Jia Dongxu with Shazhu?

They searched all over the street.

Without success.

They decided to hold a meeting in the great courtyard.

Shazhu came back from work at night, saw everyone gathered in the central courtyard, at first didn't think much of it, assuming the three managers were again conveying the latest instructions from the superior leadership......

He didn't think much of it.

He parked his bicycle under the eaves of his own house.

Under everyone's gaze.

He took out one million from his pocket and handed it to the elder lady.

Many people were speechless.

Why does Shazhu just hand over money as soon as he arrives?

"Elder sir, elder lady, you two old folks forgot? Not long ago I bought something, didn't have enough cash, borrowed one million from you, agreeing to repay two hundred thousand each month. Today our workshop paid wages, and I also applied to the station chief for an advance of two months' salary. You told me this morning that the old lady wanted to eat dishes from Abundant Marsh Garden, and that you were a bit short on cash, the old lady is important."

Yi Zhonghai gave the elder lady a look.

Only then did the elder lady accept the money.

What was she thinking inside?

Shazhu didn't know, but he knew he had cleared Yi Zhonghai's debt and successfully put Yi Zhonghai on the spot; this debt‑repayment drama was essentially the concrete rhythm before the two families fell out.

Too disgusting.

Relying on caring for the deaf old lady to gain a reputation, now seeing the deaf old lady as a burden, they want to pawn her off on Shazhu—what good could come of that?

If Shazhu doesn't fight back, Yi Zhonghai will still mistakenly think Shazhu has no temper.

Xu Daming, who had attended the great courtyard meeting early, loudly praised Shazhu's debt‑repayment move, then hurried over with small quick steps and gave a detailed rundown of the meeting's background.

Shazhu went numb.

Jia Dongxu has gone missing.

Jia Zhangshi and the neighbors in the courtyard all suspected Jia Dongxu had run away from home; as for their reasons, some said he couldn't bear Qin Huairu's exploitation, others said he was caught between the constant squabbles of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, stuck in the middle, and simply left home.

All of that is nonsense.

Newlywed bliss.

Leaving aside such a flower‑like, jade‑like young wife Qin Huairu.

Run.

Sick.

"Shamao, do you believe what they're saying?"

"Hehehe." Xu Daming gave a lewd smile, his eyes unnaturally darting to Qin Huairu, "Buddy, I'm not stupid—do you think this is a dog‑tail flower?"

"You little brat aren't stupid either."

"Buddy, this is called being smart, okay? Shazhu, in a few days make me a meal, I'll treat a few Publicity Section colleagues to dinner—remember, show off your best skills, otherwise I, Shamao, won't let this go with you, Shazhu."

Shazhu glared at Xu Daming.

Bastard.

I've become your personal chef.

Just Xu Daming's lewd expression.

He's definitely asking for either the female publicity‑section staff, the pretty ones; the ugly ones, Xu Daming wouldn't even bother with.

Lecher.

He'll surely die at a woman's hands.

Xu Daming glared back at Shazhu with the sharpness of a needle against a wheat awn, his arrogance exceeding Shazhu's.

"You've screwed me out of two meals, promised to cook twenty times, and you still owe me nineteen, Shazhu. A person must have conscience—your Lantern Festival dinner even shocked the Yagangchang workers. Buddy, I've got face now; many people are begging me to treat them to a meal."

Xu Daming couldn't keep it to himself either; he laid out clearly to Shazhu everything that had happened at Yagangchang these past days, and also mentioned that Jia Zhangshi's precious son Jia Dongxu had vanished, that Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu had searched everywhere to no avail, and added that as well.

"Xu Daming, Zhuzi, what are you two up to? We're holding a meeting here, and you're down there having a little side‑meeting—do you still have any sense of organizational discipline?"

Yi Zhonghai's tone was very cold.

Didn't know whether he was angry at Shazhu for repaying the debt, or at Xu Daming and Shazhu for talking.

"Elder sir, Shazhu is my brother; I'm going to help my brother. I've told Shazhu about recent events at Yagangchang—for example, Li Jianshe's investigation into the person who deliberately prevented Shazhu from taking on an apprentice worker, and I heard the Security Section is also getting involved."

Typical backstabbing.

What don't you want to hear?

What does he insist on telling you?

Yi Zhonghai is now most worried about the secret being exposed; these past few days he's been thinking of a solution, but he can't think of one. As soon as the former canteen director speaks up, Yi Zhonghai's deliberate act of not letting Shazhu mention the apprentice worker matter in order to manipulate Shazhu will be exposed, and then Yi Zhonghai will face public disgrace on the spot.

Xu Daming uttered a sentence.

Yi Zhonghai was so frightened his guts felt like they were about to burst.

Holy shit.

Yi Zhonghai suddenly regretted it, regretting his earlier actions. If he hadn't manipulated Shazhu, Shazhu would have become an apprentice worker, and none of these troubles would have arisen; Long Laotaitai, this burden, could easily have been dumped on Shazhu. But because Shazhu entered the scrap yard, came into contact with many people, his mind became lively and his horizons broadened, ruining Yi Zhonghai's scheme.

The eldest madam, being Yi Zhonghai's wife, knew full well about his manipulation of Shazhu; seeing his expression, she immediately knew he was worried.

He let out a faint sigh.

He wondered whether he should proactively mention it to Shazhu that day.

Just explain.

Volunteering to bring it up is far better than being found out and having to explain passively.

Attitude decides everything.

"Xu Daming, you and Shazhu stop talking; our old man, hearing that Dong Xu hasn't shown up for work a day and didn't come back last night either, is frantic, so anxious he's about to set the roof on fire."

Shazhu was puzzled by these people; Jia Dongxu has been missing for a day and a night, damn it, yet they still have the leisure to hold this bullshit courtyard meeting.

Go look for him.

"Three elders, Jia Dongxu has gone missing; let's go look for him."

"Shazhu, you think we haven't looked for him?" Xu Daming deliberately echoed Shazhu, just to add fuel to the fire: "After getting off work, I dragged my exhausted body back and forth searching for a little over an hour, still couldn't find Jia Dongxu. When I returned, Madam Jia looked down on me, saying we only searched for an hour. The reason we didn't find Jia Dongxu is because we didn't keep him in mind; maybe we're off somewhere chatting, just to see the Jia family's joke."

Yi Zhonghai was troubled.

Liu Haizhong, however, had nothing to say.

Yan Fugui had even less.

Whether Jia Dongxu is found or not is irrelevant to those two; the most anxious person should be Yi Zhonghai.

Since Jia Zhangshi can see it, Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui naturally can see it too.

He doesn't resent Xu Daming for saying that.

In fact, Jia Zhangshi is doing exactly that; Laoqianpo vents her resentment over Jia Dongxu's disappearance onto everyone, otherwise she wouldn't still be holding a courtyard meeting at this critical moment.

It's essentially wiping Jia Zhangshi's ass.

"Xu Daming, Shazhu, you both say a few less words; we're now holding a meeting to discuss Jia Dongxu's situation."

Society, my bro Mao.

Specifically to piss off the Jia family.

"Xu Daming, you're full of shit; our Dong Xu is destined for a long life, my old lady had someone check."

Xu Daming, who had been bitterly waiting for an opportunity.

He seized the opportunity without yielding.

"Three managing elders, the higher-ups have explicitly forbidden engaging in this superstitious activity; Jia Zhangshi just said she had someone check, claiming Dong Xu is destined for a long life—what kind of behavior is this?"

Jia Zhangshi, sensing the situation, closed her mouth.

Yi Zhonghai was troubled.

After getting off work, he returned.

He didn't eat.

He didn't drink water.

He was just busy wiping Jia Zhangshi's ass.

"Jia Zhangshi, some things, you can say, say." Yi Zhonghai lamented: "If you can't say it, then don't say it, okay? Nobody treats you as a mute."

"Jia Zhangshi, there are some things you can say, say." Yi Zhonghai vexedly said: "If you can't say it, then don't say it, okay? Nobody treats you as a mute."

Does he despise his own unhappy death?

Jia Zhangshi also realized she had been caught by Xu Daming, and she honestly nodded at Yi Zhonghai.

Jia Zhangshi also knew she had been caught red-handed by Xu Daming, and she honestly nodded at Yi Zhonghai.

You're not letting me speak, are you?

"Xu Daming, for the sake of the courtyard, let's just drop this matter; when discussing Jia Dongxu, who knows where he likes to go?"

"Han Family Hutong, Bull's Eye Hutong—those places Jia Dongxu surely knows well."

Someone who knows the inside story.

He laughed loudly.

"The two other alleys that are as famous as the Capital City's renowned Eight Great Alleys, represented by the half‑closed doors, echo throughout the Capital City."

The two other alleys that are as famous as the Capital City's well-known Eight Great Alleys, represented by half-closed doors, echo throughout the Capital City.

In other words, Jia Dongxu has passed away.

This saying.

People don't believe it.

Nobody is blind.

"There's Qin Huairu up ahead—just as homemade flowers aren't as fragrant as wild ones, you can't neglect Qin Huairu to go pamper those shameless little sluts."

There's Qin Huairu before you—just as home-grown flowers aren't as fragrant as wild ones—you can't neglect Qin Huairu to go care for those shameless little sluts.

The whole country is pushing this prostitute reform.

The whole country is pushing this prostitute reform.

"Xu Daming, don't joke."

What if Jia Dongxu went gambling?

Everyone's gaze gathered on Jia Zhangshi, Yi Zhonghai included.

Floating is impossible.

Gambling still has a reason.

Our Dong Xu doesn't gamble.

That means he was snatched away.

Xu Damao quickly gave an explanation.

Anyway, from his mouth, Jia Dongxu is surely no good—either Piao got caught, or gambling got caught, or else he was snatched away and sent to a mountain ditch.

Typical of not wishing the Jia family well.

Xu Damao, you don't wish our Jia family's Dong Xu well.

Jia Damei, how could you not wish your Jia family's Dong Xu well? Being alive is better than dead, right? I heard that in some mountain ditches there are unmarried young men; Jia Dongxu is good‑looking and also a Yagangchang worker. People see that he meets their conditions and take him away—that's perfectly normal. Xu Damao pointed at Shazhu beside him: "If it were Shazhu, people might not even want him sent to their door."

Fuck!

You slander Jia Dongxu, using me as an example—what the hell!

Even sent to their door, nobody wants him.

Bullshit.

Xu Damao, you're full of shit.

Shazhu, with your mature looks, these days the Yagangchang folks all say you're twenty‑four or five, and someone even wants to set you up with a wife.

Yi Zhonghai's heart.

It rose to his throat.

From the moment He Daqing left, Yi Zhonghai started scheming to intervene in Shazhu's marriage—in short, Shazhu's wife must be decided by Yi Zhonghai.

He doesn't even consider what his relationship with Shazhu is.

He then thinks about controlling Shazhu's marriage.

Speaking of Jia Dongxu...

I didn't even mention Jia Xixu.

Folks, Jia Dongxu is after all a member of our courtyard; help look for him, meeting adjourned.

Don't look at the monk's face, look at the Buddha's.

The three senior stewards said so.

Even putting on a show must be done.

With a clatter.

Everyone got busy.

Shazhu pushed his bike into the house, locked the door, greeted Yushui, didn't eat dinner at the siheyuan, and took the chance to look for Jia Dongxu while grabbing a snack.

Damn Xu Damao.

He's really the roundworm in Shazhu's gut.

He actually waited for Shazhu.

When Yushui stared blankly, Shazhu and Xu Damao's gazes began to clash in midair.

Shazhu, you damn well actually want to sneak a bite—with me, Xu Damao, around, no way; you're dragging me, Xu Damao, along.

I pay for my own food; what's it to you, Xu Damao? I'm still dragging you along, ready to set you up once.

If you screw me over, I'm fine—worst case, after it's over you help me cook ten meals; now many at Yagangchang praise your cooking, screwing me over is my luck, Xu Damao—I hope you screw me over.

Using Shazhu's cooking to fulfill your Xu Damao career dreams—what good things? I scoff.

I'm just scoffing, and I'm following along.

Trouble's here.

Who?

Long Laotaitai.

Xu Damao signaled with his eyes the four words 'Long Laotaitai'.

As soon as he heard Long Laotaitai was coming, Shazhu instantly knew why she was there.

Eat.

This old lady.

No martial virtue.

These days.

All they think about is eating delicacies, but where would they get money to buy these things?

Xu Damao, why are you blocking me?

I'm not blocking you—I want to go with you to look for Jia Dongxu; more people, more strength. Jia Dongxu disappeared out of the blue; if he really fell into bad hands, that'd be a lot of trouble.

Xu Damao, I'm not saying this to you, but your guts are too small—I despise you.

Shazhuzi.

'Hey there.' Shazhu turned his head to look at Long Laotaitai, meanwhile squeezing out a smile: 'Granny, it's so late—why are you out?'

Without waiting for Long Laotaitai to answer.

Shazhu turned and helped Long Laotaitai to Yi Zhonghai's home.

That was New Year's Eve.

He also managed to shift the blame for Long Laotaitai onto the hypocrite.

While supporting her, he spouted nonsense to Long Laotaitai: 'Granny, Jia Dongxu has us neighbors looking for him—he'll be fine. You're old and a woman with bound feet; don't go out late at night. If anything happens, the neighbors will feel bad. Chat with Auntie Yi; as long as we're here, we'll find Jia Dongxu. Knowing you worry about Jia Dongxu, we'll definitely bring him back to you.'

After saying that.

Turned and left Yi Zhonghai's home.

Just as he was about to go out.

Intentionally greeted Xu Daming.

"Xu Daming, the two of us are looking for Jia Dongxu—why are you pulling my sister? The little girl starts school in two days."

"Cut the nonsense, hurry up and look—Jia Dongxu is important."

Inside, the deaf old lady.

They felt helpless.

The timing was wrong.

Yesterday they failed to eat the lunchbox Shazhu brought; angered, they vomited blood and fainted. Yi Zhonghai and his wife apologetically told the deaf old lady that they would cut some meat tonight, let Shazhu cook, and Yi Zhonghai, the deaf old lady, and Shazhu and his sibling would eat together—partly to soothe the deaf old lady's anger, partly to use the meal to air certain matters, such as Yi Zhonghai not allowing Shazhu to become an apprentice worker.

Unexpectedly, they encountered the major incident of Jia Dongxu's disappearance.

Long Laotaitai's idea of eating meat came to nothing again; though she stubbornly fussed, she also knew that her eating meat paled in comparison to Jia Dongxu's disappearance.

Long Laotaitai also felt inexplicably a bit panicked.

Jia Dongxu had disappeared.

Don't let the next one be you.

Earlier, after being reported, the deaf old lady had been educated by the Jiēdào for a while, and in recent days she has been keeping a low profile.

Xu Daming and Shazhu took Yushui out of the Siheyuan gate.

They had not gone far.

They then heard Yi Zhonghai arguing with someone, while Liu Haizhong was kindly trying to persuade Yi Zhonghai to calm down and not stoop to that person's level.

Xu Daming needed no urging; he trotted up to Yi Zhonghai, exchanged a few words, then trotted back and told Shazhu everything he had heard in detail.

Yi Zhonghai brought Liu Haizhong along to look for Jia Dongxu, and by chance ran into several people idly chatting.

One of them said this: "As Jia Dongxu's teacher, Yi Zhonghai, yet on Jia Dongxu's wedding day he sat in the seat reserved only for the father, implying that Yi Zhonghai was acting as the head of the Jia family."

Yi Zhonghai went to support Qin Family Village for a month, staying at Qin Huairu's home; nowadays, women will do anything to get into the city.

It must have been Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu who did this shameless thing; Yi Zhonghai, having no choice, made his apprentice Jia Dongxu the scapegoat.

Jia Dongxu must have learned the truth and run away from home.

With Jia Dongxu gone, the position opened up for Yi Zhonghai, who could then openly enjoy nightly bliss with Qin Huairu; it would be best if he ruined both Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu.

It was originally just a joke.

But some people echoed it, each spouting nonsense.

Yi Zhonghai happened to hear these remarks.

He rushed over to argue with that person, even grabbing their clothes, intending to confront them at the Jiēdào: if Yi Zhonghai did it, he would lose his head to that loudmouth; if he didn't, that loudmouth would lose his head to Yi Zhonghai.

It was likely that Yi Zhonghai's aura suppressed them.

The few people nearby hurriedly apologized.

That is the full story of Yi Zhonghai's argument with someone.

Xu Daming might have genuinely taken it as a joke.

Shazhu, however, had no inclination to treat it as a joke.

Yi Zhonghai is supposed to be the nice-guy type; at the Yagangchang factory and the Siheyuan, he never loses his temper and speaks rudely, but today, because someone said Qin Huairu had an unclear relationship with him, he flew into a rage and argued.

Too abnormal.

People have a show-off mentality: the less they have, the more they want to show off; the poorer they are, the more they want to flaunt how much their shoes cost, how much their pants cost.

This reasoning applies just as well to Yi Zhonghai.

Precisely because there is a relationship.

That is why Yi Zhonghai flew into such a rage.

He had been struck right in the heart.

Shazhu was bewildered.

His head was all muddled.

Combined with certain reasons from his previous life.

Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu clearly share some unspeakable secret.

Anciently, Zhou Pipi's midnight chicken cry.

Nowadays, Yi Zhonghai gives aid at midnight.

Aid.

Good deeds.

It's impossible that they must secretly give aid in the deep of night, nominally providing coarse grain flour, while actually providing white flour in the late night.

Outside a widow's door, there is much gossip.

As the master of Qin Huairu's husband, Yi Zhonghai aiding Qin Huairu after her husband's death is beyond reproach; no one can find fault with it.

One day as a teacher, forever as a father.

Equivalent to a father.

If aid is to be given, it should be done openly, yet Yi Zhonghai instead secretly aids Qin Huairu in the late night, contrary to his usual high-profile neighborly assistance.

If one is to help, one should do so openly, yet Yi Zhonghai instead helped Qin Huairu in the late night, which runs contrary to his usual high-profile neighborly assistance.

Moreover, there is an elder aunt; Yi Zhonghai could have her pass along these things.

The hypocrite, without letting the elder aunt step forward, saw the elder aunt mysteriously die; all signs indicate that what those people said is likely true.

As soon as the hypocrite didn't let the big aunt show up, the big aunt also mysteriously kicked the bucket; all kinds of signs indicate that what those people said is likely true.

It's also despicable.

Yi Zhonghai secretly helped in the latter half of the night, yet he let himself, an unmarried bachelor, assist Qin Huairu in broad daylight.

Sigh.

Shazhu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"What's wrong? You don't believe me?" Xu Daming, misunderstanding the meaning of Shazhu's head shake, lowered his voice and said, "Shazhu, I think those people are right."

"Dong Xu's sister-in-law and Grandfather Yi."

Shazhu glared at Xu Daming.

Damn Xu Daming.

My sister is right here; why are you spouting nonsense?

"Yushui, who let you listen? Xu Daming is just farting."

"Yushui sis, your brother Daming is just farting."

"What to eat?"

"The Offal King."

Xu Daming, Shazhu, and Yushui walked toward the nearby Offal King, famous for selling offal.

A specialty of the Capital City.

Long Laotaitai longed to try the Wang family's offal, known as the Offal King, among all the snacks in the Capital City.

"Three bowls of offal and ten steamed buns."

"Sure." The shopkeeper replied, and shortly thereafter placed the offal and steamed buns on the table; the three picked up their chopsticks, about to eat.

Then they saw Wen San.

The Capital City's renowned Slap King.

Master Wen.

"Master He, come eat offal?"

"Master Wen, call me by my name; have you eaten? If not, let's eat something together."

"Master He, last time I got such a big favor from you and still haven't treated you; I can't let you spend money, so we'll each pay our own."

Wen San saw that the shop really had no space left.

Only Shazhu's table still had an empty seat.

He lifted his butt, sat opposite Shazhu, ordered a bowl of offal, two steamed cornbreads, a cup of plain liquor, and poured a bit of vinegar into his dish.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out something wrapped in paper.

Shazhu didn't know what it was, mistakenly thinking it was something very precious, until Wen San opened the paper wrap and Shazhu realized what was inside.

A stone.

A stone whose color couldn't be discerned.

In front of everyone.

Wen San placed the stone in the vinegar dish, took a sip of plain liquor, put the vinegar‑soaked little stone in his mouth to chew a bit, then put it back in the vinegar dish.

A way of drinking for the penniless.

Some use a stone dipped in vinegar as a side dish.

Some use an iron nail dipped in soy sauce as a side dish.

"Master Wen, I remember our unit just got some extra cash today, and you...!"

"Master He, do you think I, Master Wen, have no money?" After two gulps of plain liquor, Wen San launched into bragging, stomping his left foot on the stool: "Master Wen, I have a friend named Huamao, a famous tough guy in the Capital City, who died on this very day; I, Master Wen, am mourning my friend Huamao."

"Master Wen, I think you should put that stone away; you ordered a bowl of offal, and offal can go well with alcohol."

Wen San froze.

That makes some sense.

But he had already blown his own horn.

If he were to take it back now,

It would be embarrassing.

"You're still young; you don't know the old Capital City customs—no one there uses offal as a side dish with alcohol." Wen San picked up his chopsticks, lightly tapped them on the table, then said, "Let's eat; first align the chopsticks—this is called 'neat and tidy'—then stir the offal with the chopsticks."

"I remember now, you're Wen San." Xu Daming suddenly realized, "My dad told me before that the Capital City has a Slap King who gets slapped every day, called Wen San—that's you."

Wen San, whose secrets had been exposed.

A flicker of displeasure crossed his face.

"It's not that I, Master Wen, get slapped; it's others who get slapped by my big mouth."

"My dad said, at the front gate lot, you rickshaw pullers teased those female devils, got slapped dozens of times by the little devils, and if Officer Fang hadn't intervened, you, Wen San, would have been used as target practice by the little devils."

"Our teacher said, the little devils are the people we hate most."

"Master He, who is this?"

"My sister."

"Greetings, Grandfather Wen."

"The little lady is very polite."

Everyone quickly turned their attention to eating.

They had eaten half.

Wen San couldn't hold his patience.

Seeing an acquaintance.

Wen San just wanted to brag.

"Old Man He, you and this long-faced brother, you came just to eat?"

Xu Daming was a bit unhappy.

What does "long face" mean?

I have a standard big donkey face, okay?

I am Xu Donkey-face Daming.

"Grandpa Wen, we're looking for someone; a person named Jia Dongxu has gone missing from our compound, and the stewards have asked us to help find him."

Male? Female?

Male.

If it's a male, it's fine, but if it were a female, that would be dangerous. How old is he?

Twenty-two.

Old Man Wen, having lived this long, I've never heard of a twenty-two-year-old young man going missing.

Who says it isn't?

Wen San suddenly thought of something.

He stared fixedly at Shazhu.

Old Man Wen, if you have something to say, just say it.

Old Man He, I remembered something, but I don't know how to tell you.

Please go ahead.

Wen San recounted what happened last night after eleven o'clock.

The more Shazhu listened, the more frightened he became.

It was related to him.

Shazhu, riding his bike back from the scrap yard to the courtyard, felt an urgent need to urinate halfway; while he was relieving himself aimed at the telephone pole, a person whose appearance exactly matched Jia Dongxu's, holding a brick, walked step by step toward Shazhu as he urinated.

A familiar routine.

A classic signature move of striking with a blunt stick.

In the courtyard.

Shazhu's finishing move had been used on Xu Daming many times.

Nowadays, Shazhu almost got hit with a blunt stick by Jia Dongxu.

Wen San perhaps doesn't know who Jia Dongxu is.

But Xu Daming and Shazhu both know.

If Wen San wasn't boasting, the one who bore ill will toward Shazhu would be Jia Dongxu.

The grudge between Shazhu and the Jia family originated from a bicycle, which is the sewing machine now kept in Shazhu's home; Jia Dongxu has a motive to frame him.

A puzzling aspect.

Jia Dongxu took advantage of Shazhu being drunk to hit him with a blunt stick, but Shazhu was fine and even worked a full shift that day, while the culprit who wanted to hit Shazhu with a blunt stick mysteriously disappeared.

Not in the courtyard.

Not in the steel mill either.

It couldn't really be as Xu Daming just said at the courtyard meeting—that Jia Dongxu was taken away to be used as a breeding bull just because of his handsome face.

If that were really the case.

Then the trouble would be big.

Shazhu and Xu Daming, each with their own thoughts, finished their meal, parted ways with Wen San, and returned to the courtyard.

A big scene.

Absolutely a big scene.

Just as Shazhu and a few others entered the courtyard, they discovered the neighbors were loudly discussing things, and from their conversation they learned.

Jia Dongxu has been found.

He was found in the sewer at the entrance of Hemp Skin Street alley, now lying in the hospital; as for the reason Jia Dongxu fell into the sewer at the entrance of Hemp Skin Street alley...

Jia Dongxu's given reason was that he saw a thief and followed him out of a sense of justice.

Some people believed it.

For example, Jia Zhangshi loudly argued with the neighbors, saying Jia Dongxu was a hero who dared to fight those villains.

Some people didn't believe it.

All the courtyard neighbors except Jia Zhangshi.

As neighbors for many years, they all know Jia Dongxu: he's a bit of a mama's boy, his personality is also somewhat weak; aside from being slightly more handsome in appearance than Xu Daming and Shazhu, he really has no other merits; the claim that he chased a villain and accidentally fell into the sewer is probably eighty or ninety percent made-up nonsense.

When Shazhu and Xu Daming came in, Jia Zhangshi engaged in a verbal battle with everyone in the courtyard, bluntly saying the neighbors were envious of their old Jia family.

I really don't know who gave Jia Zhangshi the courage.

To dare to speak in such a tone.

Among those present, only the involved party Shazhu knows how it went back then—the place Wen San mentioned where he saw someone holding a brick about to hit Shazhu with a blunt stick.

That is precisely where Jia Dongxu was discovered at the entrance of Hemp Skin Street alley.

If it weren't for heaven opening its eyes, Jia Dongxu might have accidentally fallen into this sewer, and Shazhu might really have suffered Jia Dongxu's fate.

Being hit with a blunt stick notwithstanding.

According to the grudge between the Jia family and Shazhu.

Shazhu's painstakingly saved bicycle would also become Jia Dongxu's outlet for venting his resentment—either destroyed or shoved elsewhere.

By then Shazhu could only suffer in silence.

He had drunk too much.

He doesn't remember anything.

He told Yi Zhonghai this morning, "I don't even know how I got home," and that wasn't just an excuse to placate Yi Zhonghai; Shazhu was speaking the truth.

He couldn't be bothered with the Jia family and the Siheyuan residents' petty squabbles.

He went straight back to his room.

He flopped onto the bed.

In his mind, Qin Huairu came to mind, then Yi Zhonghai, then the fragments of his previous life; this year is the year 52, and if nothing goes wrong at year-end, Bangeng will be born, then Xiao Dang, then Huaihua; before Huaihua was born, Jia Dongxu met with an accident and died.

That year, Bangeng was either eight or possibly nine years old.

The incident involving Jia Dongxu happened around 1960.

He is seventeen this year, so around 1960 he would be about twenty-four or twenty-five.

He was an eighth-grade chef at the Yagangchang, with a monthly wage plus subsidy of thirty-seven point five, the Siheyuan had two rooms, he was definitely an excellent, fine young man, so how did he end up a bachelor?

He couldn't marry a good girl in the city, and marrying a good girl from the countryside would be possible, but there were none in the city and none in the countryside.

How strange.

After marrying, he had a wife.

Yi Zhonghai could no longer make excuses to scheme, getting Shazhu to support Qin Huairu.

Could it be because of his looks?

Shazhu racked his brains trying to recall, and he found his memory seemed to have gaps; he couldn't recall certain things from before 1960, and he had no impression whatsoever of reasons like not getting married.

While he was thinking about these things.

Yi Zhonghai pushed the door open and entered, seeing Shazhu's worried face, he said: "Shazhu, don't worry, Dong Xu is fine, he just got a slight scrape on his body."

It was clearly a misunderstanding by Yi Zhonghai.

"Head Steward, do you have something?"

"It's about the old lady; you know she's the type who just likes to eat, Head Steward has no other option, so he came to find you, Shazhu."

Yi Zhonghai is really laying his cards on the table.

Shazhu gave a hehe laugh.

"Head Steward, asking me about this is useless; you need to come yourself. Everyone in the Siheyuan and even the Jiēdào knows you treat the old lady like your own mother; those who know you will give you a thumbs-up and praise your benevolence and righteousness. Your days are top-notch in our Siheyuan; in the Yagangchang you are a fourth-grade technician, in the Siheyuan you are the Head Steward. A few months ago, the Yagangchang piloted this worker-grade system; the Second Head Steward, who entered the factory a month before you, got a third-grade worker rating, while you are a fourth-grade worker."

Under normal circumstances.

Shazhu's reverse moral blackmail tactic.

It would surely leave Yi Zhonghai speechless.

Now then.

Yi Zhonghai really couldn't care less about these empty titles.

First, the old lady has been causing trouble every day lately, shouting at every meal that she wants meat.

Everyone says Yi Zhonghai and his wife are living together with the deaf old lady.

The key is that the deaf old lady hasn't handed over all her belongings to Yi Zhonghai; the money distributed by the Jiēdào, she has hidden away, and the grain and oil supplies distributed by the Jiēdào can barely reach the First Aunt's hands.

Thinking about the rice and white flour that the deaf old lady had confiscated earlier this year.

Both Yi Zhonghai and his wife felt weary.

On the other hand, only Shazhu and Yi Zhonghai were in the house, with no outsiders, so Yi Zhonghai naturally wouldn't bother with these pointless, profitless formalities.

"Shazhu, the Head Steward is coming to see you tonight about just one thing: he wants you to help look after the old lady, while the chores are handled by your First Aunt; you just need to help her make some tasty meals."

Yi Zhonghai's moral blackmail cudgel was brandished.

"Today, as soon as the Head Steward entered the Yagangchang, the workers there were in an uproar, all saying your food is delicious, your cooking skills are top-notch; I think if Daqing were here, he'd surely be pleased for you."

Shazhu opened his mouth.

He wanted to interrupt Yi Zhonghai's words.

But Yi Zhonghai didn't give him that chance.

"It's not that the Head Steward and his wife aren't looking after the old lady; it's that she's old and likes to have her grandchildren around her knees. She's been muttering lately that eating with us is boring, and it would be livelier to keep you company, Shazhu. The old lady doesn't have many days left; the Head Steward's idea is for you to look after her for a few days, then we two will send her off peacefully, and then the neighbors will also praise you, Shazhu, for your benevolence and righteousness."

Again, it's a case of putting a high hat on him.

Whether you agree or not.

First, we'll put a high hat on you.

Shazhu let out a cold snort in his heart.

"Head Steward, I can handle what you said, but you also know the old lady's habit of wanting to eat meat; if she stays with me and asks for meat, what am I supposed to do? I can't let Yushui go hungry while I look after an outsider with no blood relation."

Shazhu deliberately emphasized the words 'no blood relation'.

"The old man followed the widow to Baocheng, leaving me and Yushui alone. I can go without eating for a day, but what about Yushui? Am I not supposed to care for this sister? Or should I send Yushui away to look after the old lady? You'd better not think that; I won't agree. I have my own affairs—I can't just drop my work supporting the nation's construction to go back and cook for the old lady."

Shazhu shifted his tone.

"Since there are no outsiders today, let us two speak frankly. The old lady is greedy and likes good food—places like Fengzeyuan, Dingxianglou, Dong Lai Shun, etc. If we tried to make her eat her way through all of them, I estimate that even if we pooled the entire Siheyuan's savings plus an extra unit, it still wouldn't be enough for her. Head Steward, let me give you a piece of advice: if you think the old lady is a burden, eating meat every day and unaffordable, we should first hold a meeting—actually, let's skip the meeting and go straight to see Director Wang of the Jiēdào."

Yi Zhonghai looked as if he had stepped in dog poop.

He felt awful all over.

Shazhu refused, half-tactfully and half-bluntly.

This really made Yi Zhonghai unable to accept it.

Yi Zhonghai couldn't understand how, after He Daqing ran away, Shazhu seemed to have become a completely different person.

"Shazhu, Head Steward."

"I understand what you mean, Head Steward; you must feel embarrassed to bring this up. Don't worry, I'll handle this—tomorrow I happen to be going to the Jiēdào to collect their scrap, so I'll tell Director Wang then, and I'll surely take care of this matter for you nicely."

"Shazhu."

Eldest brother, this is all I should do.

?

? Zhonghai came in high spirits and left disappointed.

Besides a bellyful of anger, he got nothing.

As he was about to leave at the door.

Shazhu suddenly blurted a question to Yi Zhonghai.

"Eldest Uncle, hasn't our family's old man sent you the money? Eldest Aunt mentioned this last year, saying that when the old man left, he promised to send money after the New Year; if the money arrives, please let me know, and if it doesn't, it's fine."

Yi Zhonghai was completely numb.

He had originally wanted to use He Daqing's money to pressure Shazhu.

As it turns out, Shazhu knew about this.

Now that everyone involved knows, how can you still get a cut?

He Daqing isn't dead; if he really wrote a letter, everything would be exposed.

"Shazhu, when Daqing left, he said this; if the money really comes by mail, Eldest Uncle will have Eldest Aunt bring it to you. As for the old lady's matter, Shazhu, don't worry about it—Eldest Uncle will figure something out."

"Won't you stay a bit longer?"

Yi Zhonghai, seething inside.

He had no thought of sitting.