Chapter 47: with translation of chapter title

He Zhu went back to his bedroom, lay on the bed and began reading the library book he'd borrowed. In the end, only cultured people can get ahead; relying on anything else just won't do.

Translation: He Yuzhu returned to his bedroom, lay on the bed and started reading the book he borrowed from the library; from now on, only educated people can go far, relying on anything else won't work.

We need to keep meaning, not add extra. Let's produce concise but faithful.

【1】 He Yuzhu returned to his bedroom, lay on the bed and started reading the book he borrowed from the library; from now on, only educated people can go far, relying on anything else won't work.

Traditionally, families emphasized farming and education as their heritage; farming provides the minimum, whereas education lifts the family's potential.

Translation: In the past, families emphasized the tradition of farming and scholarship; farming sets the lower limit, while study raises the upper limit.

At about nine, He Zhu switched off the lights as usual. He was half-asleep when he suddenly sensed someone standing beside his bed.

Translation: At around nine o'clock, He Yuzhu turned off the lights on time; just as he was drifting off to sleep, he suddenly felt someone standing at his bedside.

Before he could react, a somewhat stiff hand clamped over his mouth, and a soft voice whispered, "It's me—stay quiet."

Translation: Just as he was about to move, a slightly rough hand covered his mouth and whispered, "It's me, don't make a sound."

He Zhu felt a flutter of excitement; they weren't married yet, but Wen Xiuxiu had come over—could today be the day he says goodbye to single life and begins a happy life?

Translation: He Yuzhu felt a little excited; since they weren't married yet, Character had come over—could today be the day to bid farewell to his single life and start a happy life?

He brushed Wen Xiuxiu's hand, about to go further, but she snorted and warned, "Don't get fresh—someone's outside."

Translation: After feeling Character's small hand, he was about to move up when she snorted and said, "Don't mess around, there's someone outside."

Wen Xiuxiu came over to tell him she'd heard faint footsteps near his room; in the moonlight she saw a furtive shadow.

Translation: Character came over to tell him that she had just heard faint footsteps nearby his room; in the moonlight she spotted a sneaky figure.

He Zhu threw on his clothes, slowly pulled back the curtain, and saw a bulky dark shape pressed against a wall corner. Nobody in the courtyard would be loitering like that, so it's likely headed his way.

Translation: He Yuzhu also put on his clothes, slowly lifted the curtain, and saw a fat black shadow pressed against a wall corner; there's no one in the courtyard who likes that sort of thing, so it's likely coming for him.

"Looks like he's here to catch us in the act," He Zhu murmured in Wen Xiuxiu's ear, "and I already know who it is."

Translation: "He's probably here to catch us in the act," He Yuzhu whispered in Character's ear, "and I already know who it is."

"I'll go out and kill her," Wen Xiuxiu declared, her face flushing; she already considered herself He Zhu's wife, and if he hinted, moving into a bedroom wouldn't be out of the question.

Translation: "I'll go out and kill her," Character said, her face slightly flushed; she already considered herself He Yuzhu's wife, and even if he hinted, moving into another bedroom wouldn't be out of the question.

After all, many couples these days aren't even officially married.

Translation: After all, many couples these days don't even have a marriage certificate.

I never thought the folks in the courtyard could be so vicious.

Translation: I never expected the people in the courtyard to be so nasty.

He Zhu was also thinking about how to handle this—specifically, how to deal with these people. He considered luring them out, but decided it wouldn't be enough; he'd need something more severe.

Translation: He Yuzhu was also pondering how to handle this; specifically, how to deal with them—should he lure the snake out of its hole? After thinking, he felt that tactic wasn't strong enough and needed something harsher.

He needed to determine exactly who was involved. Though it was pitch dark outside, besides Jia Zhangshi, who else could have that bulky build? But she was merely a pawn.

Translation: He needed to find out exactly who was involved; although it was pitch black outside, besides Jia Zhangshi, who else could have that bulky frame? But she was just a pawn.

Once he knows who they are, he'll give them a lesson they won't forget.

Translation: Once he found out who they were, he would give them an unforgettable lesson.

Jia Zhangshi listened outside for a while, hearing nothing; with the biting wind blowing nonstop, she hurried back in a few quick steps.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi listened outside for a long time but heard nothing; with the piercing cold wind blowing nonstop, she hurried back in quick steps.

"Qin Huairu, can you warm my bed? You're good for nothing all day, just a freeloader." Jia Zhangshi's bed was still freezing.

Translation: "Qin Huairu, can you warm my bed for me? You're useless all day, just a freeloader." Jia Zhangshi's bed was still icy.

"Oh, you want a warm bed? No wonder you're lurking by the wall. If it's really freezing, go see the eldest uncle—or the second uncle."

Translation: "Well, you want a warm bed, huh? No wonder you're eavesdropping on people's walls—if it's really too cold, go find First Elder, or else Second Elder will do."

Qin Huairu snorted and kept coaxing the child back to sleep.

Translation: Qin Huairu snorted, then continued to soothe the child to sleep.

The morning wind remained strong, its howl truly wintry. He Zhu rose, stretched a little, and looked for something to eat.

Translation: The morning chill hadn't eased; the howling wind really felt like winter, so He Yuzhu got up to stretch and see what there was to eat.

Wen Xiuxiu had gone out to exercise; meanwhile, the rain was still lazily lingering in bed.

Translation: Character had gone out to exercise, while the rain was still lazily lounging in bed.

"Zhuzi, what are you cooking up this early?" Jia Zhangshi, uncharacteristically, came out to cook, saying, "It's getting cold—you need to eat more nourishing food."

Translation: "Zhuzi, what tasty thing are you making this early morning?" Jia Zhangshi surprisingly came out to cook, "The sky looks like it'll get cold, you need to eat more tonics."

This old coot wants me to take tonics—hehe, he must think eavesdropping at the wall isn't enough fun.

Translation: "This old thing wants me to eat tonics—hehe, he must think listening at the wall base isn't enough fun."

"This morning we're having millet porridge with meat buns," He Zhu said with a small smile. "What about you? Hmm. Or you could drink cornmeal porridge—it's not bad with old pickles."

Translation: "This morning we'll have millet porridge with meat buns," He Yuzhu smiled slightly, "What about you? Hmm, or maybe millet noodle porridge—this goes well with old pickles."

Jia Zhangshi glanced at the cornmeal in her hand and immediately lost her appetite.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi looked at the millet noodles in her hand and instantly lost her appetite.

He's just showing off; once I get leverage, I'll take everything from them.

Translation: "She's just showing off; once I catch her with something, I'll definitely seize everything!"

He Zhu never left the courtyard until everyone had mostly dispersed, and he saw no outsiders coming—could this be a plot hatched by Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi themselves?

Translation: He Yuzhu never left the courtyard until everyone had mostly gone, and he saw no outsiders coming—could this have been Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi's own idea?

No, if it were just those two, the one who went out last night should have been Qin Huairu.

Translation: No, if it were the two of them, last night's outing should have been Qin Huairu's.

Someone else must be involved.

Translation: There must be someone else mixed in.

While working at the steel mill, He Zhu was also thinking about this—if he could get Jia Zhangshi to come out and work, there must be some advantage. The eldest uncle probably couldn't order her around, and the third uncle is unwilling to give up anything.

Translation: While working at the Steel Rolling Mill, He Yuzhu also pondered this; if Jia Zhangshi could be persuaded to come out and work, there must be some benefit. First Elder might not be able to move her, and Third Elder is reluctant to spend anything.

Could it be the second uncle?

Translation: Could it be Second Elder?

After work, He Zhu sped home on his bike; once home, he kept a close watch on the Jia household to see if anyone went to see Jia Zhangshi.

Translation: After work, He Yuzhu raced back on his bike; once home, he closely watched the Jia Family to see if anyone went to see Jia Zhangshi.

A similarly bulky figure entered the Jia household—sure enough, it was the second uncle, that scoundrel.

Translation: A similarly bulky figure entered the Jia Family—sure enough, it was that scoundrel Second Elder.

He sneaked over and listened at the Jia family's wall.

Translation: He sneakily followed and listened at the wall base of the Jia Family.

"Did you go out yesterday? Did you get any leverage?" The second uncle cut to the chase: "I've already got people ready at the Security Department; I'm just waiting for him to walk into the trap."

Translation: "Did you go out yesterday? Did you catch any leverage?" Second Elder got straight to the point, "I've already lined up people at the Security Department; we're just waiting for him to walk into the net."

The second uncle wore a hopeful expression.

Translation: Second Elder's face was full of hope.

"You wouldn't believe it—yesterday that bitter wind almost gave me a cold." Jia Zhangshi sniffed, "Yesterday when they turned off the lights I went over, but I heard nothing."

Translation: "You don't know, yesterday that cold wind almost gave me a cold." Jia Zhangshi sniffled, "Yesterday, when they turned off the lights I went over, but I heard nothing."

The second uncle looked resigned; he didn't think He Zhu could hold out that long, so he glanced sideways and told Jia Zhangshi that today they'd go listen to the wall without turning off the lights.

Translation: Second Elder wore a helpless expression; he didn't believe He Yuzhu could endure that much, his eyes darted as he told Jia Zhangshi that today they'd go listen at the wall base without turning off the lights.

"What's the point of going without turning off the lights? If He Zhu notices, we'll likely get a beating."

Translation: "What's the point of not turning off the lights? If He Yuzhu notices, we'll probably get a beating."

"What's a beating? We're not here to catch adulterers—who said we need the lights off?"

Translation: "What's a beating? We're not going to catch adulterers—who said we must turn off the lights?"

Jia Zhangshi was a bit shocked—there's also the option of not turning off the lights.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi was somewhat shocked; there's also the option of not turning off the lights.

"Enough talk—go today; our revenge is just around the corner."

Translation: "Cut the nonsense, hurry up and go today—our day of revenge is right around the corner."

Jia Zhangshi sat on the kang, motionless; after a day's thought, she realized someone like the second uncle would help her get revenge—probably he's just using her as a pawn.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi sat on the kang, unmoving; after a day's thought she somewhat understood that someone like Second Elder helping her get revenge was likely just using her as a tool.

Of course, he's likely someone else's pawn as well.

Translation: Of course, he estimated that he too was someone else's tool.

"The night wind numbs your face—this is no ordinary hardship." Jia Zhangshi saw a chance to gain something: "Give me another five yuan and ten jin of grain coupons, and I'll go."

Translation: "The night's cold wind freezes the face until it goes numb—that's no ordinary suffering." Jia Zhangshi wanted to squeeze out some benefit, "Give me another five yuan and ten jin of grain coupons and I'll go."

The second uncle stared wide-eyed at Jia Zhangshi—was he avenging his grandson, or was he making her a patsy?

Translation: Second Elder widened his eyes at Jia Zhangshi, wondering whether this was to avenge his grandson or to make her a gullible mark.

"Didn't I give you that last time? Why do you need more? Don't you want to avenge your grandson?"

Translation: "Didn't I give you that last time? Why do you need more—don't you want to avenge your grandson?"

"Last time was last time; this time is this time."

Translation: "Last time was last time; this time is this time."

"What do you think I am? One time like this is too costly." The second uncle shook his head: "I can't give you money, but once it's done I'll give you other perks."

Translation: "What do you think I am, charging this much each time?" Second Elder shook his head, "I can't give you money, but once it's done I'll give you some other benefits."

For instance, transferring Qin Huairu's job.

Translation: For example, adjusting Qin Huairu's work assignment.

Jia Zhangshi shrugged; Qin Huairu isn't giving her money either, and moving her job doesn't really affect her, but the second uncle's word is final—he won't spend another penny.

Translation: Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips; Qin Huairu isn't giving her money either, and transferring her job doesn't really concern her, but Second Elder spoke absolutely—he won't spend another cent.

"Who's behind you, saying you'll just transfer her job?"

Translation: "Who's behind you, saying you'll transfer just like that?"

"That's a leadership matter—why are you prying so much?" The second uncle snorted, somewhat smug: "Just relax; this person is a logistics leader, ranked high in the factory."

Translation: "That's a leadership matter—why are you prying so much?" Second Elder snorted, feeling smug, "Just relax; this person is a logistics leader, ranked high in the factory."

"Ah, it's that Li bastard messing with me." He Zhu, hiding outside and eavesdropping, knew the target of revenge. Although he didn't know what crazy notion Deputy Factory Chief Li had, no excuse could let him escape retaliation.

Translation: "So it's that Li bastard scheming against me," He Yuzhu, hiding outside and eavesdropping, knew the target of revenge. Although he didn't know why Deputy Factory Director Li had gone crazy, no excuse could let him dodge retaliation.

Today I'll first deal with the Second Elder, then think of a good way to deal with Deputy Factory Director Li.