Chapter 93

Yi Zhonghai felt his mind wasn't up to the task.

Late at night.

The night was deep and quiet.

The Jia family's new daughter-in-law, Qin Huairu, appeared at the bachelor Shazhu's home—even though Shazhu was young, he was still a man of flesh and blood.

What is the Jia family trying to do?

Jia Dongxu isn't even dead yet!

The Jia family matriarch's little schemes—she really thinks Yi Zhonghai can't see through them.

She's surely after that sewing machine again.

The sewing machine was bought by Yi Zhonghai; Jia Dongxu discarded his bicycle, and using the new sewing machine to offset Shazhu's new bicycle debt is reasonable enough.

The Jia family matriarch repeatedly needles Yi Zhonghai's heart, merely thinking he and his wife are childless and wanting Jia Dongxu to support them in old age, thus seizing the moment to blackmail Yi Zhonghai into helping the Jia family achieve three turns and one response.

His hypocritical nature ensures he won't be blackmailed.

I can give it to you, but you can't force me.

The Jia family matriarch's scheming has precisely become the act of pressuring Yi Zhonghai; at tonight's courtyard gathering, she is especially strange.

Yi Zhonghai suddenly recalled a perspective he had previously overlooked.

Jia Zhangshi reported the deaf old lady!

In other words.

Yi Zhonghai might be taking the blame for Jia Zhangshi.

The more he pondered.

The greater the likelihood.

Yi Zhonghai quietly listened to the sounds from next door; upon realizing he might be made a scapegoat, his thought was simple: compensate as much as possible, and keep compensating.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.

First, listen to the sounds.

"Qin Huairu!"

Shazhu's voice rang out.

Gazing at the woman before him who had made his previous life miserable, Shazhu felt a myriad of emotions, a tangle of five flavors, mistakenly believing his feud with Qin Huairu should have begun after Jia Dongxu's death—back then, Shazhu, how could he not have married, having gained experience from his past life; if in this life he still couldn't marry before Qin Huairu became a widow, he would truly be a complete fool.

Fate plays tricks.

Qin Huairu married into the Siheyuan and barely lasted twenty days.

Late at night, she quietly came to the door.

Based on Shazhu's understanding of Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu, Qin Huairu's backside is surely followed by the Jia mother and son's watching eyes.

If this were to shout out.

Troublesome.

Hard to explain.

Shazhu suddenly felt fortunate he could drink tonight with Yan Fugui and Permadeath Mao.

Good thing these two didn't leave.

Otherwise, Shazhu would be muddy pants falling down—not shit, but still shit.

At this moment, Qin Huairu, newly married, still inexperienced, her new-bride charm and the shyness of approaching Shazhu's door perfectly appear on her tender yet charming cheeks, her big braid hanging behind her head—she must have hesitated long at the doorway, her cheeks tinged with a hint of cold beauty.

"Qin Huairu, what are you doing here so late at night?"

Qin Huairu hadn't expected Shazhu's room to still have Yan Fugui and Permadeath Mao; her heart, suspended in midair, could barely settle—regarding Jia Zhangshi asking her to borrow Shazhu's sewing machine, she inwardly felt a hundred unwillingnesses, she being Jia Dongxu's new wife, Shazhu a bachelor.

Jia Zhangshi keeps saying Shazhu is only seventeen this year, thus a minor.

Does being seventeen really mean knowing nothing at all?

Originally, Qin Huairu hoped Jia Dongxu would speak up for her, advise her wicked mother-in-law, but Jia Dongxu's performance disappointed her.

Regarding borrowing Shazhu's sewing machine.

The Jia mother and son are of one mind.

Some people still shamelessly say things that upset Qin Huairu's mood.

"You country bumpkin, able to marry into the city and eat city rations—already your past-life blessing; truly think our Jia family's food is that good? Go borrow the sewing machine, just go borrow it—why all this nonsense?

Besides, that isn't Shazhu's sewing machine—it's our Jia family's sewing machine, merely occupied by Shazhu; as Jia family's daughter-in-law using Jia family's sewing machine, wherever you go, it's our Jia family's right.

Don't fear—with your mother-in-law here, with your husband Jia Dongxu here, no big trouble will come; if trouble arises, you shout, and I and your husband will rush in to help you—facing the Siheyuan neighbors, if you cry and make a scene, Shazhu won't escape losing a layer of skin."

Qin Huairu also worries about gossip—after all, at this moment she is merely a newlywed in the Siheyuan, not yet evolved into the future scheming white lotus Qin Huairu.

For Qin Huairu, Shazhu's awful attitude isn't important; what matters is that Yan Fugui and Permadeath Mao are still in Shazhu's home.

Many people.

Equivalent to having witnesses.

Spare Qin Huairu the embarrassment; Jia Zhangshi's taught methods, for current Qin Huairu, still make her hesitant to speak up.

"My mother-in-law asked me to borrow the sewing machine." Worried about misunderstanding, Qin Huairu quickly lifted the thing in her hand—a piece of old, torn cloth—"I'm making a pillowcase; it'll be quick, just a few minutes."

In the end, her face still thin-skinned; some of Jia Zhangshi's teachings she didn't voice, like "our family's sewing machine" and such shameless talk—Qin Huairu chose not to say them.

Permadeath Mao once again acted as the vanguard against the Jia family; before Shazhu could speak, Permadeath Mao stepped forward and refused Qin Huairu's unreasonable request to borrow the sewing machine late at night.

Just two words.

No lending.

In Permadeath Mao's mind, lending the sewing machine is unacceptable.

Qin Huairu stood uneasy in place, head low, her hands with nowhere to go clutching the torn cloth in her grasp, then heard a rip.

The small piece of cloth was torn into two.

Yan Fugui is old, and as San Daye, seeing Qin Huairu on the verge of tears, he sighed inwardly, feeling that this woman Qin Huairu had been wronged—married into the Jia Family, she had fallen into a pit of fire. Some matters in the Siheyuan, Yan Fugui saw clearly. Late at night, forcing the newlywed daughter-in-law who had just joined the Jia Family less than three weeks ago to come begging for Shazhu's sewing machine—had it been another family, they would never do such a disgusting thing. Yet the Jia mother and son forced Qin Huairu to come. If they shouted, Shazhu couldn't explain, nor could Qin Huairu; they might as well wait to be wronged.

"Qin Huairu, Dam Mao is young and hot-headed, and there's some business between him and your Jia Family—his words carry fire, so don't take them to heart. Shazhu is a bachelor; you've just moved into the Siheyuan, and it's nearly nine now. You came at night to borrow the sewing machine—those who know understand you mean no harm, those who don't might think something's going on. Hear San Daye's advice: go home quickly. Borrow the sewing machine by day—what sense is there in borrowing it at night?"

That's the reasoning.

The key is that Shazhu's door is locked in the daytime.

This is a current feature of coexistence in the Siheyuan: every household locks its door. Jia Zhangshi is just being shrewish—she also knows what consequence comes from picking someone's lock and entering their home.

In the daytime, the Iron General bars the door.

At night, they fear gossip.

Thus, this sewing machine is insulated from the Jia Family.

Had this been the later-era Qin Huairu, evolved into a scheming white lotus, she would surely have burst into tears, washing her face with them. But the present Qin Huairu can only stand her ground, stubbornly expressing her opinion.

"Qin Huairu, it's not that I won't let you use the sewing machine—we're all neighbors in the same courtyard, heads down we don't see, heads up we do. Neighbors should help each other. When we three drink, sometimes we let loose with liquor and say risqué things. With you here, we feel ill at ease. If someone heard, they'd think we'd gone mad, and if it reached the Jiēdào, we couldn't wash it clean even jumping into the Yellow River—your reputation would suffer too."

Yan Fugui glanced at the speaking Shazhu.

He hadn't expected Shazhu to utter such a roundabout refusal.

Better than Dam Mao.

Dam Mao, that bastard.

Clearly enjoying the spectacle, unafraid of big trouble.

"Shazhu, you're an unmarried bachelor, yet you speak to Qin Huairu, who is married to someone else, like this—it's brandishing a broadsword before Guan Yu's gate. Does Qin Huairu know nothing? And yet you keep saying 'avoid suspicion'—if she avoided suspicion, she wouldn't come at night to borrow the sewing machine."

Qin Huairu's face.

Turned red in an instant.

She caught the licentious meaning in Dam Mao's words.

Head lowered.

Growing increasingly uneasy.

"The Long Laotaitai was just taken away—are you, Dam Mao, trying to become the second person snatched?" Shazhu turned his face to the still, wooden Qin Huairu rooted in the doorway, refusing to leave: "Qin Huairu, when we drink and talk, you, an outsider, hinder our discussion. Some things we can't say in front of you. I don't care what you think, but please convey my meaning to your mother-in-law and husband. My bicycle, bought for 170,000, was thrown away by your husband Jia Dongxu. This sewing machine is under the neighborhood's attention."

"It is witness."

Shazhu, corrected by Yan Fugui on his mistaken phrasing, adopted Yan Fugui's suggestion: the meanings of 'attention' and 'witness' are not the same.

"Under the witness of the Siheyuan neighbors, this sewing machine is compensated to me, offsetting the debt of my new bicycle. Don't think I don't know what your mother-in-law thinks—nothing more than seeing the sewing machine come to our house, she's displeased and wants to use it. That's fine—leave it be—but don't scheme."

Shazhu spoke the consequences aloud.

In the previous life.

Shazhu had suffered this lesson before: because Qin Huairu once sat awhile in his room, Laoqianpo Jia Zhangshi set up a spirit hall, publicly declaring before the neighbors that Shazhu and Qin Huairu were improper. Shazhu couldn't fall twice in the same place.

"A lone man and widow—if one shouted, or you cried and made a scene, I'd have nothing left but the path of target practice. My household welcomes all, just not you Jia Family. If you come again like this, don't blame me for being blunt—take this to your mother-in-law. Our two families: eternal estrangement. Want the sewing machine? Fine—return my new bicycle first. Empty-handed, grabbing a white wolf? Ridiculous."

Qin Huairu left, sniffling.

Indoors.

Fell into silence.

Dam Mao and Dam Mao stared at Shazhu like he was a fool.

Such a sharp Shazhu—seemingly, the two had never seen him like this before.

"What are you looking at? Drink." Shazhu mumbled, raised his cup: "Really, he M bad luck."

"Like my brother."

"Shazhu, you think this way, speak this way—good. The Jia Family had best not get deeply involved; Jia Zhangshi is no easy person to get along with."

With liquor emboldening him.

Yan Fugui shared some old secrets.

In the year Old Jia died, Jia Dongxu was eight. Some around saw the Jia Family's widow and orphan as easy prey, wanted to seize Jia property, and some harbored improper thoughts toward Jia Zhangshi—so she raised a ruckus, grabbed a bucket of night soil, fought them, and ultimately preserved the Jia Family's assets.

As Jia Dongxu grew older, Jia Zhangshi feared her shrewish reputation would hinder his marriage prospects, so she restrained that trait, acted as a good person in the Siheyuan for years. With Yi Zhonghai introducing Qin Huairu as Jia Dongxu's wife, Jia Zhangshi showed signs of her old ailment flaring up.

Hearing Yan Fugui's meaning.

The former shrewish master Jia Zhangshi will return to the Siheyuan—only then will it be the Siheyuan of Shazhu's memory.

Jia Zhangshi, who has the scheming white lotus firmly under control, is truly not a fool to the bone.

"Shazhu, I ask you: if Jia Dongxu retrieves your bicycle, and the Jia Family mother-in-law comes for the sewing machine—what then?"

Shazhu directly gave two replies.

First reply: Shazhu's bicycle has been lost for over two months; even if recovered, it would surely have this and that damage—unless Jia Zhangshi compensates him with a new bicycle.

New bicycle for new sewing machine.

Second reply: Shazhu already has a bicycle; he certainly won't need another extra one—let the Jia Family keep their bicycle.

The initiative in the sewing machine matter.

Lies in Shazhu's hands.

He fundamentally fears no shrewishness from Jia Zhangshi.

Meet force with force, meet water with earth.

Listening to the crickets' chirps, still not farming?

The three chatted intermittently; in the blink of an eye, two and a half jin of white liquor went down—Yan Fugui drank about three liang or more, Dam Mao and Shazhu each a jin, eyes glazing over drunk, no longer guarding the gate while spouting nonsense.

"Shazhu, San Daye, it's not that I, Dam Mao, look down on the opposite family—what kind of rotten trash are they? Initially, Jia Zhangshi opposed Jia Dongxu marrying Qin Huairu, gave me five thousand to sabotage, I got beaten, my clothes torn, Jia Zhangshi turned face and denied it—just one sentence: I, Dam Mao, am the Jia Family's lifelong enemy."

Dam Mao, fired up, revealed how he became a man, boasting he'd sleep his way through the vicinity, a true Cao Cao.

"Don't think that because Jia Dongxu married Qin Huairu, the Jia Family has gotten ahead of me, Dam Mao—I tell you, there's no gate, I, Dam Mao, did that deed days ahead of Jia Dongxu—I'll let Qin Huairu see just how popular I, Dam Mao, really am."

Shazhu, drunk, his mouth firmer, no rambling—he performed for everyone: one gulp, two liang of white liquor down in one breath into his belly, slightly overdone—then the liquor in his mouth felt like plain water, wine no longer wine, just water.

Afterward, no one knew what happened, but Dam Mao and Shazhu grew ever happier speaking. Facing Dam Mao's boastful vow to sleep around, Shazhu lacked such ambition—some tendon twitched, he shouted to adopt Dam Mao as his godson, and asked Yan Fugui to bear witness.

At this time.

It was nine thirty in the evening.

Thinking that they still had to work the next day, Yan Fugui persuaded Shazhu and Xu Daming, saying there was plenty of time ahead, and if they wanted to drink, they could continue tomorrow; mainly, Yan Fugui was worried that if they kept drinking, Xu Daming would truly become Shazhu's adopted son, and his words of persuasion kept turning over in his mouth.

Jia Zhangshi then came storming in with a fierce aura, forcefully pushing open Shazhu's front door and barging in without hesitation, her fierce expression making it seem as if Shazhu had caused great harm to the Jia family by not letting Qin Huairu use the sewing machine.

The front door burst open with a bang.

The cold wind outside rushed in through the wide-open door.

The chilly wind from outside suddenly met the warm air inside, causing Xu Daming and Shazhu to suddenly feel a bit clearer-headed.

"Shazhu, our family's sewing machine—what right do you have to not let us use it?" Jia Zhangshi, playing the victim first, didn't stop there, but also rudely addressed those who had come out to watch the spectacle: "Neighbors, tell me—our family's sewing machine is only like this because our Dongxu lost Shazhu's bicycle, so Shazhu moved our new sewing machine to his house. Let the elders judge—what kind of neighbor is Shazhu? My daughter-in-law Qin Huairu just wants to make a pillowcase; no one's around during the day, so she thought to come over at night to use it, but Shazhu dared to drive her out."

Shameless Jia Zhangshi.

Everyone was already familiar with her.

They wanted to see how Shazhu would respond.

Their gazes swept past Jia Zhangshi's figure and landed on Shazhu and Xu Daming. Although they were far away, they could still smell the alcohol on Shazhu and Xu Daming, seeing their unsteady stances and flushed faces, and secretly wondered: How much baijiu have Shazhu and Xu Daming drunk to get like this? Are they a match for Jia Zhangshi? Don't let her take back the sewing machine with just a few words.

Wishing you misfortune instead of good—this is what the neighbors think.

Some turned their gaze toward Yi Zhonghai, who was squeezed in the crowd: "You are the Head Steward—aren't you going to step in regarding matters of the Zhong Yuan?"

Yi Zhonghai's gaze was actually on Jia Zhangshi; after hearing from the Eldest Aunt that he might have been made a scapegoat, he began to suspect Jia Zhangshi.

In the entire Siheyuan, the person with whom Yi Zhonghai has the greatest conflict is Jia Zhangshi.

The root of it is Qin Huairu.

Jia Zhangshi has always suspected Yi Zhonghai's motive in arranging Qin Huairu's marriage to Jia Dongxu, believing Yi Zhonghai acted without good intentions, and she does not rule out the idea that she reported the Deaf Old Lady just to annoy Yi Zhonghai.

"Shazhu, if you don't give me an explanation today, I, your old woman, won't let this go—I'm not someone to be bullied."

"Who are you?"

"I am Jia Zhangshi, mother of Qin Huairu and mother of Jia Dongxu." Jia Zhangshi stood with her hands on her hips: "If you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I'll take the sewing machine back—it belongs to our Jia family."

"Third Aunt?" Xu Daming pointed at Jia Zhangshi, turned his face toward Yan Fugui, and said: "Third Uncle, how did Third Aunt become like this? Two heads?"

Yan Fugui laughed helplessly.

Jia Zhangshi has become Yan Fugui's daughter-in-law.

This is something one would only encounter after accumulating great wickedness.

Knowing Shazhu and Xu Daming had drunk too much, Yan Fugui also couldn't be bothered to argue with them.

"Shazhu, Xu Daming, you two have drunk too much."

Indeed, they had drunk too much—the neighbors saw clearly how Shazhu and Xu Daming leaned on each other, using each other as support to avoid collapsing to the ground.

"Old Yan, how much baijiu have Shazhu and Xu Daming drunk to end up like this?"

Yi Zhonghai leapt over the crowd.

There was no way around it.

With so many people present, it's impossible to pretend not to see.

Yan Fugui felt a bit embarrassed, yet he did not conceal anything.

"Shazhu and Xu Daming each drank more than one jin of baijiu; if I hadn't stopped them, they would have drunk another jin."

The sound of people inhaling cold air in shock arose at the scene.

More than one jin of baijiu per person.

They were thoroughly drunk.

Some watching the spectacle looked at Jia Zhangshi, thinking drunk people can do anything—last year, there had been an incident where Shazhu got drunk and beat Yi Zhonghai.

Don't let it happen that Jia Zhangshi fails to extort the sewing machine, only to be beaten badly by Shazhu instead.

"How did you drink so much again? Just because the old lady was taken away doesn't mean you have to celebrate this much."

Yi Zhonghai spoke with double meaning, testing those present.

In Yi Zhonghai's view.

These people in the Siheyuan all have suspicion regarding reporting the Deaf Old Lady, though Jia Zhangshi's suspicion is the greatest.

"Old Yi, it's not that we're celebrating the old lady's arrest—it's just that we're fine, so we had a little drink. Earlier, Shazhu and Xu Daming even said they were wondering if the old lady had violated some taboo, why people keep reporting her every few days, and if the Dayuan continues like this, the civilized Siheyuan will be ruined."

Yan Fugui hurried to explain.

As elders, we can't just beat the Deaf Old Lady to death with a stick—if she comes back to settle accounts with me, Yan Fugui, I truly won't know how to handle her.

Everyone wants to shift blame onto the Deaf Old Lady, hoping Shazhu will take the fall, but they've never succeeded.

"Old Yan, you're the Third Steward of our Dayuan—why don't you persuade Shazhu and Xu Daming? One jin plus of baijiu each—don't let anything happen."

The hypocrite forgot he was facing two drunks; when drunk people are stimulated by alcohol, they develop a reverse psychology—words they'd never dare say and things they'd never dare do, under the influence of alcohol, will erupt like a long-suppressed volcano, shaking mountains and moving earth.

That's what people commonly mean by "alcohol emboldens courage."

After drinking too much, who still treats you as an Elder?

Heaven is vast, earth is vast—I, who have drunk too much, am the greatest.

"Who are you?" Xu Daming, upon hearing Yi Zhonghai scold Yan Fugui, became displeased: "Our drinking is none of your business—salty radish, light concern."

"Shazhu, what are you doing?" Shazhu, drunk and swaying, said to Xu Daming: "How can you speak to an Elder like that? Apologize."

Xu Daming knelt before a wall nearby and knocked his head three times with loud thuds.

"Elder, I'm sorry—I, Xu Daming, drank too much, and I've kowtowed to you."

A speechless expression.

Instantly, it spread across the neighbors' cheeks.

Yi Zhonghai stood outside the house.

You, Xu Daming, are knocking your head against the wall inside the door.

"What's wrong? How did I end up lying on the bed?"

Yan Fugui grabbed Xu Damu and pulled him up.

"San Daye." Xu Damu had a smiling expression as he said to Shazhu: "You're still the best."

"Shamao, did you drink too much? San Daye is standing outside, and you're calling me San Daye—does that make me your San Daye, Xu Damu?"

Shazhu pointed with his finger, and it was clearly pointing at Yi Zhonghai.

"The one outside is San Daye, but who's inside?" Xu Damu sized up Yan Fugui a few times, saying, "I keep thinking he looks like San Daye, but the one outside doesn't look like San Daye."

"Shamao, you've had too much to drink—your eyes are playing tricks on you. The one outside is San Daye."

"Sorry, San Daye." Xu Damu said to Yi Zhonghai: "But that still doesn't make sense—just now, Daye was still here, so how did he just disappear?"

"Where did Daye go?" Shazhu started rummaging through Xu Damu's pockets, saying, "Did you hide Daye in this pocket? I'm warning you—you better get him out right now, or I'll whip you."

A back-and-forth exchange.

Making Jia Zhangshi an outsider to the situation.

Laoqianpo had just one thought.

Who am I?

Why did I come here?

I came to get the Jia family's sewing machine.

"Shazhu, Xu Damu, stop pretending you're drunk—I'm asking you one thing: are you returning the sewing machine or not?"

"Eh, young one." Shazhu pointed at Jia Zhangshi and said, "How did she grow a dog's head?"

That said.

He snatched up a kitchen knife while rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

Whether watching the spectacle or not, everyone had their hearts jump to their throats.

Even Jia Zhangshi herself, the hairs on her head stood up one by one—she realized her shameless tactics meant nothing in front of these two drunks.

If Shazhu really were drunk and did something he'd never dare do before—like hurting Jia Zhangshi or hitting her—then Jia Zhangshi would have nowhere to cry.

Laoqianpo didn't need anyone to tell her—she shook off her shoes and ran, fleeing Shazhu's house, turning to hide behind Yi Zhonghai, ready to use him as a shield.

Yi Zhonghai began cursing inwardly—so Jia Zhangshi's life is precious, but I, Yi Zhonghai, can just casually block things for her?

What kind of person is this?

"Jia popo, let go of my hand."

To ensure her safety, Jia Zhangshi hid behind Yi Zhonghai, gripping his arms tightly with both hands.

"You're his Daye—you ought to discipline Shazhu. My old woman came to demand our sewing machine, but Shazhu grabbed a knife and attacked me—he doesn't even regard you as his Daye."

While using Yi Zhonghai as a shield, she didn't forget to put eye drops in Shazhu's eyes.

"Jia Zhangshi, can't you show some shame? Your family's sewing machine? Your Dong Xu lost someone else's new bicycle to Shazhu, had no choice, so you gave the sewing machine to Shazhu as compensation. Shazhu even said he'd take it—just return the new bicycle, or pay him directly."

The old man Yang from the front courtyard, who once rode Shazhu's bicycle on their wedding day.

He spoke a few fair words on Shazhu's behalf.

"Old Yang head, what's it to you? Don't think that because your family married a prostitute, you're suddenly superior."

"Jia popo, if you want to follow in Long Laotaitai's footsteps, go ahead and say whatever you like."

"His Daye, my old woman has lost her mind, she's muddle-headed—now we're talking about the sewing machine, why should Shazhu demand our sewing machine?"

"Shut up." After struggling a few times without breaking free from Jia Zhangshi's grip, Yi Zhonghai turned his face toward the advancing Shazhu and said: "Zhuzi, what are you doing?"

"Daye?" Shazhu blinked, then beamed: "Weren't you just stuffed into Xu Damu's trouser pocket by him? When did you get out? Xu Damu, stop looking—Daye is out. I warn you, Xu Damu, if you stuff Daye back into your trousers again, I'll really whip you."

Yi Zhonghai truly didn't know how to respond to Shazhu's words.

Happy?

Shazhu's words made Yi Zhonghai feel like a dispensable egg, and he even used a trouser-related modifier.

Not happy?

Shazhu's words consistently showed his intention to protect Yi Zhonghai.

Drunk.

No way out.

You can't treat a drunkard like a normal person—it makes you seem lacking in virtue and morality.

Drunk but clear-minded.

Shazhu's words made Yi Zhonghai's happiness override his unhappiness—just from Shazhu's intent to protect him, Yi Zhonghai couldn't say a single bad word about Shazhu.

"Zhuzi, you still haven't said why you're holding a knife."

Shazhu squeezed out a mysterious smile and said to Yi Zhonghai: "Daye, I'll tell you this—just between us. I won't tell others. Earlier, when Jia Zhangshi came to our house, I saw she had a dog's head on top of hers. No other thought—just wanted to chop off her dog's head."

Jia Zhangshi hiding behind Yi Zhonghai.

Trembling.

Her legs went numb.

Frightened.

She touched her own head with her hand—how could this be a dog's head? This is a standard human head, not a dog's. If Shazhu swings his knife, does Jia Zhangshi still have a head left?

"Shazhu, you're talking nonsense—I don't have a dog's head."

Shazhu's gaze fell on Yi Zhonghai.

Feeling Shazhu's unfriendly look, Yi Zhonghai's heart jumped—he had a bad thought.

I'm fucked.

Shazhu won't think I, Yi Zhonghai, am Jia Zhangshi in disguise, will he?

If this is a misunderstanding.

Lezi could really make a big splash.

Just one sentence, a drunkard waving a kitchen knife after too much drink—are you scared?

"He damn it, daring to impersonate a big elder in front of me, He Yuzhu—I'll teach you a lesson, Jia Zhangshi, hand over your life!"

Shazhu punched Yi Zhonghai in the head.

No kitchen knife used.

Because Shazhu's kitchen knife was snatched by Yan Fugui taking advantage of the moment.

The drunk Shazhu, truly strong as an ox, looked just like Li Yuanba—one punch knocked Yi Zhonghai to the ground; Jia Zhangshi, hiding behind Yi Zhonghai to avoid disaster, happened to serve as a cushion for Yi Zhonghai's fall, her head accidentally hitting a small stone, Laoqianpo letting out a shrill scream from her mouth.

"Jia pozi, you dare impersonate a big elder—I'll beat you to death."

Shazhu's feet followed up with kicks toward Yi Zhonghai.

Still spewing vulgarities from his mouth.

"I let you impersonate a big elder—I'll beat you to death, you dog-day Jia Zhangshi, who gave you the gall to impersonate a big elder? I'll kick you to death."

Caught off guard.

Yi Zhonghai, beaten and knocked down by Shazhu, could only shield his head with both hands while trying to curl up as much as possible.

Feeling wronged to the point of wanting to die.

This beating.

Was truly suffered in vain.

You're treating me like a drunkard.

You're losing face.

Moreover, Shazhu's cursing revealed his attitude—people weren't beating Yi Zhonghai, but Jia Zhangshi impersonating Yi Zhonghai.

Also fortunate—only fists and feet were used on Yi Zhonghai, no kitchen knife.

In a short while, Yi Zhonghai didn't know how many punches and kicks he'd taken from Shazhu; later coming to his senses, realizing he couldn't keep shielding Jia Zhangshi from disaster, Yi Zhonghai performed a donkey roll, rolled to the side, avoided Shazhu's punches and kicks, exposing Laoqianpo, who had served as Yi Zhonghai's protective cushion, to Shazhu's view.

"Big elder, what are you dodging for?"

Jia Zhangshi still resented Yi Zhonghai for dodging, pushing herself forward in front of Shazhu.

Just after muttering a few complaints, Shazhu's fists rained down on Jia Zhangshi like rain, driving back the grievances she was about to voice.

The onlookers.

Not a single person stepped forward to say a fair word.

All just watched.

Watching Shazhu beat Jia Dongxu's play, outsiders saw nothing—after all, no blood relation; Jia Jia's Dongxu, as son of Jia Zhangshi, watched Jia Zhangshi being ganged up on by Shazhu without reaction, which seemed hard to explain—but thinking of the Jia family's beastly household customs, many felt relieved.

Jia Zhangshi was kicked by Shazhu an unknown number of times, her buttocks swollen.

Her teeth ached with anger.

Only a sobbing hum came from her mouth.

I want a sewing machine.

Is it really this hard?

"Shazhu, stop punching—watch your fist!" Permao staggered over to Shazhu, pointing at the bruised and swollen Jia Zhangshi on the ground, "We're brothers—brothers must share fate; Jia pozi is causing trouble unreasonably, I, as the elder brother, must step up for you."

Yan Fugui watching from the side.

Didn't know what to say.

If he hadn't misremembered, it seemed Permao had almost acknowledged Shazhu as a godfather—good thing it didn't work out, otherwise the fun in the Siheyuan would have been great; imagining Permao seeing Shazhu and calling him godfather, laughter involuntarily flew from Yan Fugui's mouth.

Yi Zhonghai on the ground.

His heart felt cold and chilly.

"I've been beaten by Shazhu, and you Yan Fugui still have the heart to laugh?"

"Old Yi, I'm not laughing at you!"

Yi Zhonghai said nothing, flipped over and climbed up from the ground.

Having taken the beating, what's there to be embarrassed about?

Just losing face, that's all.

Liu Haizhong felt he must step forward—Yi Zhonghai beaten, Yan Fugui unable to explain and hiding aside, the whole Siheyuan now had only him as the head steward.

"Shazhu, Permao, look at the fine mess you've made—you beat Jia Zhangshi without saying, you also beat a big elder, do you still have any regard for us few head stewards?"

Shazhu glanced at Permao.

Permao glanced at Shazhu.

They asked in unison.

"Who are you?"

"I'm the second steward."

Shazhu laughed.

Permao also laughed.

"So you're the second steward—second steward, what did you just say?"

Everyone watching the play turned to look at Liu Haizhong.

Clearly knowing Shazhu and Permao were drunk, you still here putting on an act, putting on the airs of a second steward.

Don't wait until Shazhu and Permao beat you.

"I say, what right do you have to beat Jia Zhangshi? Look at what you've done to Jia Zhangshi?"

Liu Haizhong also couldn't help laughing.

Pig-headed Jia Zhangshi.

It's not common to see in the Siheyuan.

Shazhu let out a belch and said: "What right does Jia Zhangshi have to impersonate the eldest master? You can impersonate anyone, but not the eldest master. Whoever ruins the eldest master's reputation, I will beat them."

Yi Zhonghai, who didn't know how many punches and kicks he had taken from Shazhu, stood aside.

Crying is not an option.

Not crying is not an option either.

Shazhu.

I thank you for your kindness.

"He is your second uncle, you must make things right for me. Shazhu stole our family's new sewing machine. My old woman came to ask for it, but Shazhu not only refused to give it to her, he even beat me. Look at what he has turned me into."

Jia Zhangshi lifted her face, beaten into a pig's head, and felt ruthless inside. If Shazhu doesn't give her an explanation this time, she will make him pay a hefty sum in compensation.

"This matter cannot just be left as it is."

"Jia Zhangshi, what do you want?"

"Give the sewing machine to our Jia family. My old woman is not unreasonable. As long as the sewing machine is given to our Jia family, we will not pursue this matter of Shazhu beating my old woman."

"And how do we account for Shazhu's bicycle?" Old Yang Tou spoke up for Shazhu again, "You can't just let your family's Dong Xu lose Shazhu's bicycle for nothing, can you?"

"Mind your own business."

"When the road is uneven, someone steps on it. If I can't stand it, I say a few words. Got any opinions?"

Not just having opinions.

Opinions are overflowing.

With the sewing machine placed in Shazhu's home, the neighbors can all use it. But if it's placed in Jia Zhangshi's home, given her character, it's as good as cutting off the neighbors' access to the sewing machine in the Siheyuan.

The neighbors naturally stood with Old Yang Tou at this moment.

The pressure fell on Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong suddenly felt a bit regretful.

This damn thing is getting done.

Whether it's the bicycle or the sewing machine, both are matters worth three or four million.

Should Shazhu give up the bicycle? Or should the Jia family give up the sewing machine?

Things worth several million.

Saying to give it up means giving it up.

What is Liu Haizhong anyway? Why should Shazhu and the Jia family listen to him? After thinking it over, as an outsider, Liu Haizhong said:

"The sewing machine is compensation because Jia Dongxu lost someone else's bicycle—Shazhu's. Jia Zhangshi, hurry up and send people to look for the bicycle. Find Shazhu's bicycle, and use it to compensate Shazhu. If Shazhu is still occupying your Jia family's sewing machine at that time, I will definitely criticize him."

Jia Zhangshi was completely dumbfounded.

Return Shazhu's bicycle.

If the Jia family truly had the ability to return Shazhu's bicycle, Jia Zhangshi wouldn't be so shamelessly refusing, trying to drag the entire Siheyuan crowd into trouble.

It's just because the Jia family can't afford to compensate for Shazhu's bicycle that they've run out of options, trying to use this method to reclaim the sewing machine that originally belonged to the Jia family.

Compensate for the bicycle.

Saying it is as good as saying nothing.

Jia Zhangshi still wanted to say something, but seeing that Liu Haizhong, who sensed the situation was turning bad, had slipped away, and the people in the Siheyuan had all gone their separate ways—Yan Fugui ran off, and Yi Zhonghai went back inside.

Seeing no one paying attention to her.

Jia Zhangshi just felt one word.

Bitter.

I took a beating for nothing, didn't accomplish anything, I'm being foolish.

Qin Huairu kindly came over to support Jia Zhangshi, but was shoved aside by Jia Zhangshi with one hand. I don't know what she muttered, but Qin Huairu's face instantly turned ugly.

Qin Huairu hurried back inside, enjoying the warm towel treatment on her face from the eldest aunt, Yi Zhonghai saw through the glass that Qin Huairu had been pushed aside by Jia Zhangshi, not?

?? shook his head.

An honest official finds it hard to settle family matters.

Let him go as he will.

"Old man, you say Shazhu's habit of drinking too much and then beating people—who did he learn it from? I remember Daqing didn't seem to have this habit."

Yi Zhonghai truly didn't know how to answer his old companion's question.

Shazhu, all things considered, got drunk twice and hit people twice. The first time, he mistook Yi Zhonghai for Xu Damai, beat Yi Zhonghai. This time, it was because of Jia Zhangshi, causing Yi Zhonghai to suffer Shazhu's beating for no reason.

"Could it be he learned it from Xu Damai?"

Yi Zhonghai pondered for a moment.

He accepted his old companion's answer.

Before Daqing left, Shazhu and Xu Damai were truly enemies. At that time, Shazhu was warm-hearted toward the deaf old lady and toward Yi Zhonghai and his wife, making the deaf old lady mistakenly believe Shazhu was her guarantee for enjoying her old age, and also making Yi Zhonghai mistakenly believe he could pass off the deaf old lady as a burden onto Shazhu.

After Daqing left, the relationship between Shazhu and Xu Damai truly became visibly heated, Shazhu lost his warmth toward the deaf old lady, and pulled away from Yi Zhonghai and his wife, causing their plan to shift blame onto Shazhu to come to nothing.