[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-siheyuan-standing-up-to-jia-zhang-sending-her-to":3,"chapter-siheyuan-standing-up-to-jia-zhang-sending-her-to-siheyuan-confronting-widow-jia-and-sending-her-t-chapter-261":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Courtyard House: Cursing Out Old Lady Jia and Sending Her to Labor Reform",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2151533,3576,"Chapter 261","siheyuan-confronting-widow-jia-and-sending-her-t-chapter-261",261,"\u003Cp>\"How is that batch of imported televisions doing? There’s a shortage in the capital right now. Remember, you must go through legitimate customs and transport channels!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Although the country is strongly supporting us self-employed individuals, we must not be careless in these matters!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Especially Chen Tian—he’s a state-level director now. We must not bring any trouble to him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lou Xiao’e’s father took a sip of tea and asked Lou Xiao’e slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ever since the atmosphere began to ease, Lou Xiao’e had only been doing business in clothing and timber.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>With Chen Tian’s help, Chen Tian and the Lou family’s industries now had great influence in home appliances and even the automobile industry!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Especially now that the economy was picking up, the demand for televisions in the capital was completely different from before—at least ten times higher!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After all, people’s consumption concepts had changed; they didn't save money for their children’s dowries like before!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Since there were state subsidies for selling home appliances, the prices weren't as exaggerated as before!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"I know all this, but it’s not just us dealing with televisions lately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"The demand for televisions is too high. Many self-employed individuals who can't get goods through legitimate channels have started smuggling!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"I’ve tried to persuade some of the individuals we’ve worked with, but judging by their performance, they aren't easily persuaded!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"The country is cracking down on this now. If they get caught, the trouble will be significant. And the greater risk is that if something goes wrong on the smuggling route, they’ll lose everything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lou Xiao’e had perfectly inherited her parents’ business acumen and saw the crux of the matter at once!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>She had seen those who had ideas about smuggling, but Lou Xiao’e knew that human greed couldn't be quelled by a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Sigh, forget it, let them be. But if you discover any smuggling rings, you must report them to the police!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"It would be fine if they were caught by the police, but if they hand over all their money and something goes wrong, the loss won't be a small matter!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lou Xiao’e’s father sighed. He had been in business for so many years; how could he not know that everything Lou Xiao’e said was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ever since Xu Xu Damao moved in, there hadn't been a day he didn't show off his wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Xu Xu Damao, a sycophant, had suffered during the ten years of turmoil, but relying on his thick skin and flattery, he had survived.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After saving some money, he had made a small fortune by doing business.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Now, whenever Xu Xu Damao went out, he wore sunglasses, a gold chain, a watch, a leather bag, and a stylish denim jacket!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He acted as if he were afraid others wouldn't know he was an upstart!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Oh my, why is it already 3 PM? I slept until now. That batch of goods is worth thousands of yuan! I can't delay!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"If I lose a minute, I’ll lose several yuan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Xu Xu Damao pushed open his door, walked into the courtyard, and shouted at the top of his lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He looked at his gold-rimmed watch repeatedly, as if afraid others wouldn't know he had one!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Xu Xu Damao, where are you going to make a fortune again? Dancing every night—what kind of business is that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"I, Xu Xu Damao, am not like them. I earned all this money on my own. Now that there’s another way to make money, you’re still here criticizing me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Go, go! If you don't want to make money, there are plenty of others who do. You can just collect your dead-end wages for the rest of your lives. If you get fired, let’s see who you go to for justice!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Xu Xu Damao said this deliberately. How could he not want these people to come and hand their money to him!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Especially since he was dealing in televisions now—as a self-employed individual, he couldn't possibly get many goods!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He had no connections and no capital. If he wanted to make big money, he had to reach into smuggling.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Although smuggling wasn't strictly regulated in this era, if something went wrong, the one who would be unlucky wouldn't be anyone else!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But with such huge profits in front of him, Xu Xu Damao felt that the money he had made recently was entirely due to his own methods and intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He never thought that in this era, with strong state support, anyone with a bit of courage could make money!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But Xu Xu Damao didn't think so. He felt his opportunity had come, and he dared to take any money and touch anything!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"You don't believe me, do you? If you don't believe me, look at this watch. Look at this—it’s imported from the department store!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"This watch alone cost over a hundred yuan. How many months would you have to work to earn this watch of mine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Whether I get my house back or not—it’s because my money is used to make more money, not left to mold like yours!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Xu Xu Damao shook his watch in front of everyone. It was true that the watch cost that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After making money, besides using it for business, he spent the rest on himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Is that for real? We see many people on the street wearing this watch. Although it’s imported, it doesn't cost 5 yuan at small shops and stalls. Who knows if yours is real?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>It would be a lie to say they weren't envious; it was worth several months of their wages!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>When Xu Xu Damao saw Yi Yi Zhonghai, he had an idea!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After all, Yi Yi Zhonghai had quite a bit of money. He had been a Grade 8 fitter for so many years and was now receiving a pension every month.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If he could pull Yi Yi Zhonghai onto his boat, wouldn't he make a fortune!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"He He Yuzhu, how much salt did you put in this dish again? This is the how many-th time this month? At first, I could explain it once, but I think you’re doing it on purpose!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Is this the skill of a cook who has been cooking for decades? Is this food for humans? How much salt did you put in it? You eat it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Don't give me any nonsense. Take your salary for this month and get out! Our small restaurant can't accommodate a big chef like you. If you drive away a few more customers, we won't be able to stay in business!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>While Sha Zhu was still stunned, the restaurant owner outside lifted the kitchen curtain with a dish in hand and cursed at Sha Zhu in a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu’s cooking skills had long since faltered, and combined with old injuries on his hands, he wasn't careful with the amount of salt!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>This was the sixth time this month Sha Zhu had made customers turn against them!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>At first, the owner thought Sha Zhu wasn't familiar with the kitchen, but now it was the sixth time, and he didn't know how many regular customers had left!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"So what if I put in more salt? In the past, we didn't even want to put in salt. Are they that picky? When I was the head chef at the rolling mill, no one ever said anything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"I’m not serving anymore. Settle my money, and I’m leaving now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu’s attitude was even more arrogant; he couldn't stand this place either!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In this era, the self-employed economy was flourishing, but there was a price—private owners squeezed labor costs!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If you didn't do business and worked for others, the money you earned wasn't as much as in the factory!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If Sha Zhu still had his old skills, he could make money, but now, since he couldn't even measure the salt, he was just being exploited.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Get out, get out, get out! Take your money and get out! I must have been blind to pick someone like you to be a cook!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The owner settled the money for Sha Zhu impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>To be honest, Sha Zhu didn't want to work here either. The salary was too low—20 yuan a month was lower than what he earned as a kitchen helper at the rolling mill in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Money was becoming less and less valuable now; 20 yuan wasn't enough to live on!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu had inquired about several restaurants in the area, intending to find one with a higher salary.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>What Sha Zhu didn't expect was that among the good restaurants he found, three were managed by his good sister, He Yushui.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Chen Tian had been expanding his industries over the years, and naturally, he needed manpower!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Qin Qin Huairu, Qin Qin Jingru, He Yushui, Yu Li, and Yu Yu Haitang naturally became Chen Tian’s good helpers!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He Yushui had followed He Great Qing and Sha Zhu since she was young, and her talent for cooking wasn't low, so Chen Tian handed the management of several restaurants to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He Yushui didn't disappoint Chen Tian. Over the years, not only had the original restaurants flourished, but she had also opened two or three branches!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Thus, Sha Zhu, who had left his previous job in anger, had stumbled into He Yushui’s restaurant!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He Yushui’s temperament was completely different from 10 years ago. Not only was there no aging in her appearance, but she also had a more mature air.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Exquisite makeup, a dignified and slim work uniform—she was like a completely different person from the He Yushui of 10 years ago!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He Yushui hadn't specifically sought news of Sha Zhu over the years. After all, Sha Zhu hadn't dared to show his face since escaping from the mental hospital.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After all, he was a fugitive from a mental hospital. If someone were to settle accounts and drag him back, wouldn't that be his death?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu had changed many jobs over the years, first laying bricks and doing manual labor in the capital, then helping out with farm work in the countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu had struggled to survive, and it wasn't until the economy improved that he dared to come to the capital to find work as a cook!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu thought it was still the past, thinking he could find a high-paying job with his skills from the factory canteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But now that people’s lives were improving, their tastes were becoming picky; the canteen food couldn't satisfy their appetites!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu came to He Yushui’s restaurant, but he refused to take off his mask or even provide his identification.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The reason he could work at the small restaurant before was that the price was low, and the owner didn't care about the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But He Yushui’s restaurant was not ordinary; the building itself was four stories high.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>How could the well-managed staff let someone in for an interview who wouldn't provide a name or show their face?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Hey, what are you doing? Why won't you let me in? I told you, I was a head chef at the rolling mill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Why won't you even let me through the front door? I’m here for an interview; I’m here to be the head chef!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu had already asked at one restaurant, and the salary didn't meet his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The price posted at the door of this restaurant was tempting—80 yuan a month, which was more than double what he used to earn!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Comrade, we didn't say we wouldn't let you in. We just need you to take off your mask and show your identification so we can take you to the kitchen for the interview!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The two waiters at the door were in a difficult position, but their attitude was still very standard and polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After all, with Chen Tian’s management philosophy, the service in these restaurants was the best in the capital!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>When Sha Zhu heard them asking for his identification, he became even more afraid. After all, he was a fugitive from a mental hospital; he really didn't dare to reveal his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu was making a bigger and bigger scene, and people on the street gathered around!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Hey, what era is this? You come here for an interview, don't bring any identification, and don't even dare to show your face. You aren't a fugitive, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"That’s right, an honest person has nothing to hide. Wearing a mask in broad daylight and not daring to see people—maybe there’s something going on. Should we call the police?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu’s appearance was too eerie; the onlookers actually thought he was a fugitive!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Seeing that everyone was about to call the police, Sha Zhu became anxious. If they dragged him to the police station and checked his files, he would be in trouble!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Don't call the police! I’m not a fugitive. I’ll take off my mask, okay? I just have wounds on my face!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu took off his mask. The scars on his face were truly terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu had struggled a lot in the mental hospital; once, he even poured a thermos of boiling water on his face. His face now looked worse than disfigured!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"My god, this face is too scary! What happened? Could this be sulfuric acid burns? Even if it were acid, it couldn't be this terrifying!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"No wonder he wears a mask and doesn't dare to show his face. And he wants to be a cook? I wouldn't dare eat his food!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>For a time, everyone was scared into a cold sweat by Sha Zhu; his face couldn't be described as terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Sha Zhu became even more furious. He couldn't take off his mask, and he couldn't keep it on!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>As the matter grew bigger, He Yushui received a notification from her waiter and hurried from her office to the door...\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>When He Yushui saw the person causing the trouble, she was stunned. This person was naturally her brother, Sha Zhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Counting the time, she hadn't seen Sha Zhu for 10 years!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Sha Zhu’s hair was half-white, and his skin was dark to the extreme. Clearly, he had been doing manual labor all these years.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He Yushui formed a sharp contrast with Sha Zhu; her skin was as tender as an 18-year-old girl’s, and there wasn't a single wrinkle on her face, let alone white hair!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"He Yushui, why are you here? Why are you here? Why are you dressed like this? You wouldn't be the boss they’re talking about, would you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Yuyang Restaurant, Yuyang Restaurant... I said why the name sounded so familiar. Chen Tian and He Yushui—you still say you have nothing to do with Chen Tian!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"Do you know what kind of life I’ve lived for the past 10 years? And you’re the boss of such a good restaurant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2482,"2026-06-16T18:44:27.665Z","2026-06-17T08:56:13.387Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","458f259df399d7e93ba23f8b57c04307ba88fcc37bf3ea3ff2a9da93e870e2df","siheyuan-confronting-widow-jia-and-sending-her-t-chapter-262","siheyuan-confronting-widow-jia-and-sending-her-t-chapter-260",308,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsiheyuan-confronting-widow-jia-and-sending-her-t-cover.jpg"]