Chapter 156: The Deaf Old Lady

"The key to this matter is Shazhu. As long as Shazhu loosens his mouth, everything will be easy to solve," the Deaf Old Lady said unhurriedly.

"Old Lady, I also know that Shazhu just needs to write a letter of forgiveness and it will be over. The key is that Shazhu refuses to loosen his mouth no matter what," Qin Huairu said.

"Sigh, Shazhu has changed, changed to be disobedient," the Deaf Old Lady sighed and said.

"Yeah, Shazhu has changed, changed to be disobedient. If only he were still as obedient as before," Qin Huairu also sighed and said.

"Do you know why Shazhu has changed so much?" the Deaf Old Lady sneered.

"Why?" Qin Huairu asked subconsciously.

"Why? Isn't it because of your greedy mother-in-law?" the Deaf Old Lady sneered again.

"My mother-in-law?" Qin Huairu was confused.

"Right! It's that dead girl Jia Zhangshi, your mother-in-law. Since I entered the nursing home, I have recalled the things that happened recently when I had nothing to do. I have thought about it countless times, and I found that Shazhu started to change on the day Jia Dongxu died."

"I remember clearly that that night, when Shazhu and the others went home, your mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi rushed up when she saw Shazhu, insisting that Shazhu caused Jia Dongxu's death."

"Everyone knows in their hearts that Jia Zhangshi did this just to extort some money from Shazhu. The change is here. If it were before, you would come out and cry, and Yi Zhonghai would come out to fool Shazhu, and Shazhu would most likely swallow his anger and pay the money to end it."

"However, Shazhu didn't pay the money to end it, but directly beat your mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi. Although I wasn't at the scene, I thought about it carefully afterward. Shazhu's beating your mother-in-law was a real beating, and he used a deadly hand."

"From that day on, Shazhu changed, changed completely. I understand the idea of that dead girl Jia Zhangshi. She not only wanted to extort Shazhu's money but also wanted to make Shazhu's reputation stink. If Shazhu's reputation stinks, he won't be able to marry a wife."

"Yi Zhonghai would come out to fool Shazhu, letting Shazhu help your family, while you would drag Shazhu, no matter what method you used, just dragging him like this, and if you couldn't drag him, you would marry Shazhu. Anyway, you won't give birth to children for Shazhu."

"Yi Zhonghai's ultimate goal is to let Shazhu and you support him in his old age. Shazhu is responsible for earning money, and you are responsible for taking care of their daily trivial matters. In the end, my house, Yi Zhonghai's house, and Shazhu's house and property will all belong to your Jia family."

"When Shazhu gets old and can't work, and the house is in your hands, Bang Geng will definitely kick Shazhu out and let Shazhu freeze to death in a bridge hole."

"Your calculation is quite good, but unfortunately, you are too anxious. If Jia Zhangshi hadn't been so anxious to extort Shazhu that day, or had discussed it with Yi Zhonghai in advance, things wouldn't have developed to this point."

"Shazhu is not stupid, just stubborn, and many things can't turn the corner. However, no matter how he can't turn the corner, Shazhu couldn't let Jia Zhangshi put the hat of a murderer on him. You guys, you are too careless, and too self-righteous, thinking everything is under control."

"Now, you've played it off, right?" the Deaf Old Lady said coldly.

"Old Lady, what's the use of saying this now? Hurry up and think of a way for me to save Bang Geng." Although Qin Huairu admitted in her heart that the old lady's words were right, the current priority was still to save Bang Geng.

"The current Shazhu is not someone you can manipulate just because you want to. I'll give you two ideas. Which one you choose and whether it succeeds depends entirely on you," the Deaf Old Lady said.

"Good! Old Lady, hurry up and say it," Qin Huairu said impatiently.

"The first idea is a 'fairy jump' (honey trap). You run into Shazhu's room when Shazhu is alone, and then shout that Shazhu is playing hooligan, forcing Shazhu to marry you. Once it's done, you are family, so the problem of stealing money or not stealing money won't exist."

"For this matter to succeed, it is best to find an outsider to coordinate. You go find Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui was sent to the Great Third Front by Shazhu, so he must be full of resentment toward Shazhu. If you promise Yan Bugui some small benefits, Yan Bugui will definitely help you."

"The second idea is to continue to start from Qin Jingru, or more accurately, from Qin Jingru's family. I heard from you that Qin Jingru and Shazhu's good news is near. Find out the exact time."

"According to custom, Shazhu and Qin Jingru have to hold a banquet in their hometown to celebrate. At that time, you collude with the elders and fellow villagers in your hometown to put pressure on Shazhu. To put it bluntly, it's like holding a full-courtyard meeting in the Siheyuan. I, this old woman, believe that with your intelligence, you can grasp the measure and achieve your goal."

"You don't have to worry about time either. They say it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. With Bang Geng's injuries, he will have to lie in the hospital bed for at least a period of time, which is enough for you to act," the Deaf Old Lady said unhurriedly.

Hearing this, Qin Huairu's eyes lit up.

"Many thanks, Old Lady, many thanks, Old Lady," Qin Huairu said happily.

"I just gave you an idea. As for how to act specifically, you go back and consider it thoroughly, striving to succeed in one go. If the matter succeeds, and you can still remember this old woman, then bring me something delicious. That's all I'm pursuing," the Deaf Old Lady said.

Although the Deaf Old Lady said so, the Deaf Old Lady knew in her heart that if the matter really succeeded, it was highly likely that Qin Huairu wouldn't come to bring her food again.

Afterward, the Deaf Old Lady waved her hand, signaling Qin Huairu to leave.

Qin Huairu didn't stand on ceremony either, and left quickly. Since the idea was in hand, there was no need to hold the Deaf Old Lady up.

"Truly an ungrateful wretch!" the Deaf Old Lady sneered.

Qin Huairu returned to the Siheyuan quickly, went straight to Yan Bugui's house, told Yan Bugui her detailed plan, and promised Yan Bugui a thick reward after the matter was done.

"Qin Huairu, we are leaving soon, and we don't want to get involved in the grievances of the Siheyuan anymore. You should find someone else," Yan Bugui refused Qin Huairu flatly.

Hearing this, Qin Huairu was stunned. In Qin Huairu's plan, Yan Bugui should have been easily persuaded. She didn't expect Yan Bugui to refuse directly. This was unreasonable.

*Could it be that I didn't say the specific amount, so Yan Bugui doesn't believe me? * Qin Huairu thought to herself.

Immediately, Qin Huairu's eyes rolled, and she said seriously: "Third Uncle, as long as you are willing to help me, I will give you two hundred yuan after the matter is done."

Qin Huairu naturally didn't have so much money. What Qin Huairu thought was that she would marry He Yuzhu, and He Yuzhu's money would be her money, so she could completely take He Yuzhu's money to give to Yan Bugui.

Qin Huairu took it for granted that she had plenty of ways to manipulate He Yuzhu.

Yan Bugui still shook his head and refused Qin Huairu very crisply.

"Third Uncle, could it be that you think the money is too little? Two hundred yuan is not a small amount," Qin Huairu said.

"Little Qin, this is not a matter of money. I really don't want to get involved in the courtyard's affairs anymore. You go. If you don't go, don't blame me for being impolite," Yan Bugui said angrily.

Qin Huairu still wanted to persuade him, but Yan Bugui said: "If you don't go, I will tell Zhuzi about your matter; if you go now, I will pretend that nothing happened. We are leaving soon, and we really don't want to cause any more trouble."

Seeing that Yan Bugui was determined not to help, Qin Huairu hurriedly left Yan Bugui's house.

"Old Yan, why don't you join Qin Huairu to pit Shazhu once? Two hundred yuan, that's not a small amount," San Dama asked.

"I said, this is not a matter of money. Even if you have the life to take this money, you don't have the life to spend it. Can't you see it now? He Yuzhu is no longer the Shazhu of the past, who would let Qin Huairu manipulate him."

"Do you think Qin Huairu's matter can succeed? There is no possibility of success at all! Even if I lead everyone to block Qin Huairu and He Yuzhu in the room, what can happen? It was Qin Huairu who went to He Yuzhu's house on her own initiative."

"No matter how Qin Huairu cries miserably, no matter how she incites everyone, He Yuzhu can break the situation with one move," Yan Bugui sneered.

"What move?" San Dama asked subconsciously.

"Go to the square to hold a sign, or hit his head against the stone lion in front of the Zhongnanhai gate. He Yuzhu using this move will definitely attract investigation from the people above. I don't need to say who the people above are, right? They have plenty of ways to find out the truth of the matter."

"Qin Huairu is smart, but she is just an ordinary person. Can those who have undergone professional training not be able to withstand their interrogation? Do you think Qin Huairu can withstand it? Or can our family withstand it? Now it's not like before. He Yuzhu has opened his mind and is ruthless. Look at the end of those who have grudges with He Yuzhu."

"The Deaf Old Lady wanted to be He Yuzhu's grandma and wanted He Yuzhu to cook delicious food for her. What was the end? She was sent to the nursing home. Do you not know what kind of place the nursing home is? It's short of food and clothing, and the accommodation conditions are not good. How can it be as comfortable as living in the Siheyuan?"

"Yi Zhonghai wanted to control He Yuzhu and let He Yuzhu listen to him in everything. The result? He ate a peanut (was executed)."

"Liu Haizhong wanted to put on airs in front of He Yuzhu and wanted to suppress He Yuzhu at every turn. He was sent to the Great Third Front by He Yuzhu."

"Xu Damao had been at odds with He Yuzhu since he was a child, and a few days ago, he even messed up He Y

"There's no need for me to detail our family's situation, right? I never offended He Yuzhu at all; I just annoyed him by taking some small advantages, and he sent our whole family off to the Third Front."

"A person as ruthless as him—would he fall for Qin Huairu's scheme? Even if he did, would he be someone Qin Huairu could manipulate? We can appropriately cause He Yuzhu a little trouble, but we mustn't push him too far or make him angry, understand?"

"Besides, we're leaving soon. Even if Qin Huairu's plan succeeds, it will take time, and we can't hold out for that long. So, let's just honestly head to the Third Front."

"By the way, when Zhuzi comes back, you tell him about this and see if you can get some small advantages from him," Yan Bugui said.

"We're selling Qin Huairu out like this; is it appropriate?" San Dama asked.

"What's inappropriate about it? We're leaving soon anyway. Qin Huairu is just a widow; if we offend her, so be it. But He Yuzhu is a leader; since he could send us to the Third Front, he has ways to keep dealing with us," Yan Bugui said.

"Fine, I'll just wait for He Yuzhu to come back," San Dama said.

Yan Bugui was scared.

Although Yan Bugui was stingy and liked to take advantage of others, he had his own survival wisdom to have lived from the previous dynasty until now. The fact that He Yuzhu could send so many people away showed that He Yuzhu himself had immense power.

Yan Bugui would certainly not offend He Yuzhu for the sake of Qin Huairu.

After returning home, Qin Huairu couldn't help but curse Yan Bugui in her heart. Once she calmed down, she began to think about the feasibility of the matter.

In the end, Qin Huairu rejected the honey trap plan. There was no other reason: without anyone to cooperate, the chance of success was too low.

If He Yuzhu was determined to blow things up and go to the Street Office and the police station to report it, Qin Huairu had no confidence she could withstand their interrogation.

Qin Huairu decided to use the second idea instead: first, find out the time when Qin Jingru and He Yuzhu would hold the banquet at Qin Family Village, then wait for an opportunity to act. Qin Huairu was very familiar with this kind of thing.

Moreover, Qin Huairu would be fighting on her home turf, naturally possessing the advantages of timing, location, and human support. Qin Huairu didn't believe He Yuzhu would flip out at the wedding banquet.

Once she thought of this, Qin Huairu's mood relaxed significantly, and she then went to the hospital to see Bang Geng without haste.

Qin Jingru had spent the afternoon learning to ride a bicycle with He Yushui and could already wobble along the road, so He Yuzhu brought the two of them back to the Siheyuan.

As soon as they arrived at the Siheyuan, San Dama darted out from her home and blocked He Yuzhu.

"Zhuzi, there's something I need to tell you. Qin Huairu is planning to play a honey trap on you; you must prepare in advance." San Dama whispered the sequence of events.

"Thank you, Aunt Yan. Here are two jin of national general grain coupons; you take them. I won't see you off when you leave. Once you get there, those little bad habits of Uncle Yan's really need to be changed."

"I've heard the folk customs there are fierce, and people start hammering others at the slightest disagreement. You must be careful when you get there; don't take advantage of people every day, or else you wouldn't have been sent to the Third Front by me." After He Yuzhu slapped the two jin of general grain coupons into San Dama's hand, he took Yushui and Qin Jingru back home.

"How can Qin Huairu be so despicable? She can even do such a shameless thing," Qin Jingru said hatefully.

"Heh, what can't she do?" He Yushui sneered.

Compared to Qin Huairu, He Yushui still preferred Qin Jingru, because in He Yushui's view, Qin Jingru was silly and didn't have that many schemes; she did whatever she was told.

Unlike Qin Huairu, who was full of eight hundred schemes, making one unable to guard against her, never knowing when she would sell you out.

When it was time for bed after dinner that evening, Li Huaide's driver, Xiao Ma, came to the Siheyuan to find He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu immediately understood that the cigarettes and alcohol sent by Li Huaide had arrived: a total of twelve bottles of Moutai and six cartons of internally supplied Huazi cigarettes.

"Good fellow, Li Huaide has really spent a fortune this time," He Yuzhu thought to himself.

"Many thanks, Director Ma," He Yuzhu said, placing two packs of internally supplied Huazi cigarettes on the passenger seat.

When in front of Li Huaide, you call him driver Xiao Ma, and he won't take issue with it; but when Li Huaide isn't there, try calling him Xiao Ma to his face—it would be a miracle if he didn't give you a hard time. You have to call him Director Ma.

"You're too polite, Director He. If there's nothing else, I'll be going," driver Xiao Ma said.

"Nothing else, nothing else. Let me see you out," He Yuzhu said politely.

"Don't bother. It's more important to put the things away at home first. You don't need to see me out; I'm off," Xiao Ma said, and drove away.

He Yuzhu hurriedly moved the cigarettes and alcohol back home. Even if someone saw, it didn't matter; He Yuzhu had plenty of excuses to brush it off.

"Brother Zhuzi, actually, you don't need to bring such good cigarettes and alcohol for the banquet on the weekend. It's too wasteful. You can just get some loose liquor and that kind of cheap cigarettes," Qin Jingru said.

"You only live once; I can't wrong you. I have my own plans for this. Just do as I say. Tomorrow, take another carton of cigarettes and two bottles of alcohol back for your father to taste first," He Yuzhu said.

Qin Jingru was incredibly moved and insisted that He Yuzhu test her depth that very night.

"You're too young right now, and your body is too thin. Let's wait until you've rested for half a year and built up your health before we talk about it," He Yuzhu said.

Qin Jingru was very touched when she heard this, but she still insisted on sleeping with He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu had no choice but to let Qin Jingru practice the bite technique, planning to feed her more meat later to build her up first.

Early the next morning, after the three of them finished eating, He Yuzhu had Qin Jingru push the bicycle and carry the sack containing the cigarettes, alcohol, chicken, meat, and grain to the station to catch the bus home.

At this time, one could lift a bicycle onto the roof of the bus. If the road hadn't been so long, He Yuzhu would have wanted Qin Jingru to ride the bicycle home.

Qin Jingru didn't mind; regardless, once she reached the village entrance, she would ride the bicycle home in style.

Qin Jingru had always benchmarked herself against Qin Huairu. Back then, Qin Huairu had borrowed a bicycle for Jia Dongxu to carry her back, but today, she, Qin Jingru, was riding her own bicycle home.

Qin Jingru's limelight would naturally overshadow Qin Huairu's.

He Yuzhu did not hide from Qin Huairu that he was sending Qin Jingru home. Qin Huairu decided to ask for leave to go home and scout for information.

(End of chapter)