Chapter 328: Accomplishment

"How are we supposed to act with just the two of us? You should have given us a heads-up in advance so we could have been prepared!" Zhang's father frowned.

"I created the opportunity for you, but you were the ones who didn't seize it," Zhang Shuying said coldly. "From now on, I'm not getting involved in your affairs."

"How can that be?" Zhang's father said hurriedly. "How about this: invite him to the house for a meal next Sunday. We'll put something in the food, and once he passes out, we'll take him away."

"It's a deal, but this is the last time," Zhang Shuying stared at her father. "Once this is done, I'm leaving for the United States to study immediately."

"I promise you!" Zhang's father nodded heavily.

Liu Zhai.

Liu Rusi paced back and forth in the living room, heavy with worry.

Pingping couldn't help but complain: "Miss, you've really got me confused. Since you don't like Chief Engineer Yuan, why do you still associate with him? Since you have He Yuzhu in your heart, why don't you tell him clearly?"

Liu Rusi sighed softly: "My father has caused trouble in the United States again, and even those brothers who never had any contact with me want to swallow up my company. I won't be staying here much longer, and He Yuzhu can't possibly go abroad with me... Even if we were together, it wouldn't be for many days, so why drag him into this mess..."

"Who cares about how many days it is! Don't you often recite that poem? If the two hearts are one, does it matter if they are together or apart?"

"What benefits did he give you? Why are you speaking up for him like this?"

"I didn't take any gifts!" Pingping pouted. "I just think that since you don't think much of Chief Engineer Yuan, why force yourself?"

Liu Rusi let out a long sigh: "One cannot only think of oneself in life. Thinking about it carefully, I owe that kid too much, and I won't be able to pay it back in this lifetime..."

"That's not true! When the master was in power, you often protected him and his family in secret!" Pingping argued.

"That was just a small effort on my part, and many times I even took his money. But for everything he has done for me, hasn't he risked his life every single time?" Liu Rusi shook her head.

"Miss, you are too hesitant now; you weren't like this before..."

"Are you trying to say that I used to stop at nothing to achieve my goals?"

"Exactly!" Pingping nodded stubbornly.

"My change is all because of that kid... If it weren't for him, I would have become a wandering ghost long ago."

"Miss, why must you be so stubborn..."

"That kid's wings are already strong. I cannot tie gold to his wings and keep him from flying high."

"Isn't it just shooting down a few enemy planes? What's so great about that?" Pingping was unconvinced.

"Did you see who he was with today?"

Pingping shook her head.

"I spent a few years in the Military Statistics Bureau, so I understand those people fairly well. The person accompanying him today is not simple... He has already been noticed by the higher-ups, and the background checks are getting stricter... Why should we drag him into this?" Liu Rusi said faintly.

"Miss, I saw He Yuzhu when I was dropping off Chief Engineer Yuan. He was passing by our door with a pretty girl... I almost called out to him..."

"Don't give him any more hope in the future."

Pingping nodded silently.

As soon as He Yuzhu walked into the Zhongyuan of the Siheyuan, he saw Zhao Yingzi sitting in the bright moonlight, scrubbing clothes.

Seeing him return, Zhao Yingzi immediately stood up and waved.

When he walked closer, she lowered her voice and said: "Manager He of the Qianmen Xiaojiu Guan is dead... My heart just doesn't feel right. Do you think it's because I sold him that stone that he..."

He Yuzhu quickly comforted her: "He sold the jade of his own free will; you didn't force him. I didn't feel guilty even after I got his tavern shut down, so don't overthink it!"

"That is true, I suppose." Zhao Yingzi's expression eased slightly.

"If you really feel bad about it, go pay your respects. Logically speaking, since I was the one who had his door closed, I should show my face too!"

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi happened to come out of the Houyuan. She had intended to tell her son to buy grain tomorrow, but caught a glimpse of the two huddled together whispering.

She immediately trotted over and raised her hand to slap Zhao Yingzi across the face.

Zhao Yingzi had followed her father hunting since she was a child, and her movements were extremely fast.

Before the slap could land, she instinctively raised her leg to block it, kicking Jia Zhangshi right in the stomach.

The old woman let out an "Ouch" and fell to the ground, the back of her head hitting the bluestone slab with a "thud."

"There's no justice left—" Jia Zhangshi began to wail, slapping her thighs. "The little slut is cheating on her husband and dares to hit her mother-in-law! Everyone come and judge this! This jinx is always flirting around, and now she's even trying to kill me... Lao Jia! Open your eyes and look, someone is bullying us orphans and widows!"

Seeing her mother-in-law on the ground, Zhao Yingzi was flustered, twisting the corner of her clothes, not knowing what to do.

Jia Dongxu ran out of the house barefoot, but just as he was about to help her up, he was pushed away by Jia Zhangshi: "You spineless wretch! Your wife is cheating on you and you don't even care, do you want to be a cuckold?"

"Mother, stop talking nonsense!" Jia Dongxu stomped his feet in anxiety. "Yingzi is not that kind of person!"

This crying and shouting alarmed the entire courtyard.

Lights turned on in every household, and neighbors gathered in the courtyard, throwing on their clothes.

He Yuzhu quietly called Ershuan over and gave him a few instructions, and the boy turned and ran out of the courtyard.

The three masters arrived one after another.

Yi Zhonghai asked while fastening his belt: "Sister-in-law Jia, what's going on this time?"

"I can't go on living!" Jia Zhangshi pounded the ground. "This slut was washing clothes in the middle of the night to seduce a wild man, and I caught her red-handed!"

He Yuzhu sneered and turned to Yan Bugui: "Third Master, didn't I just come in from the front gate?"

"That is indeed the case." Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses.

"Then I ask everyone to judge—Zhao Yingzi was just telling me the news of Manager He's death and asking if I wanted to go pay my respects. Jia Zhangshi is just throwing mud at me! I've tolerated her veiled insults in the past, but today she dares to slander me. I'll have the comrades from the police station come to judge the case in a moment and have you taken away!"

Liu Haizhong stepped forward, puffing out his chest and putting on an official air: "Jia Zhangshi, you say they have an illicit affair, but do you have any evidence?"

"They were standing so close when they were talking! If they didn't have a guilty conscience, why were they whispering?"

"According to your logic, one must shout so the whole courtyard can hear when talking at night?" He Yuzhu retorted.

Jia Zhangshi began to cry and shout again: "It must be He Yuzhu colluding with this slut to forge letters! Otherwise, why would Lao Jia favor her?"

"Excellent! That's another count of false accusation!" He Yuzhu looked around at everyone. "The day Lao Jia's spirit manifested, I was standing next to Xu Damao the whole time. Xu Damao, tell them, did I move at all?"

Xu Damao quickly stood out: "I can testify, He Yuzhu stood right next to me the whole time, not moving an inch."

At this moment, Shen Guizhi pushed through the crowd and walked over.

She glared at Jia Zhangshi with burning eyes: "I've been trying to save face for you, yet you dare to slander my son! To tell you the truth, the threshold of my house has been nearly worn flat by matchmakers these days. Why would my Zhuzi pass up good girls just to flirt with your daughter-in-law? What are you thinking? Who doesn't know that you're only throwing mud at her for the sake of that little bit of dowry money? Bah! If you smear my son again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

"Well said!" He Yuzhu cheered loudly.

Suddenly, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

Director Wang walked quickly into the courtyard with the members of the Lianfang Team.