Chapter 45

: Jia Zhangshi said eloquently, "Yan Lao Kou, if you hadn't told us this afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't returned, I could have gone with Lao Yi to the Steel Rolling Mill to look for Li Qiang. Not only would we have suffered the hardship, but we would have missed the best time to find him. If we had found Li Qiang last night, our Dong Xu wouldn't have been locked up overnight by the Security Department, and there wouldn't have been any further punishment. Now the Steel Rolling Mill has deducted his monthly bonus. Who should pay for this money if not you?"

Translation: "Old Yan, if you hadn't told us yesterday afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't come back, I and Old Yi could have gone to Yagangchang to look for Li Qiang. We wouldn't have been tired for nothing and missed the best time to find Li Qiang. If we had found Li Qiang last night, our Dongxu wouldn't have been detained overnight by the Security Section, and there wouldn't have been the later punishment. Now Yagangchang has deducted a month's bonus from him. You say this money, if you don't pay it, who will?" Jia Zhangshi said this fluently.

We need to keep it as one line.

We must keep the quotes? The source includes Chinese quotation marks 「」. We should translate them into English quotes? The instruction: translate faithfully, not add explanatory words. The Chinese uses 「」 as quotation marks. In English we can use double quotes. That's typical. We'll keep the quoted speech inside double quotes. The speaker tag outside.

Thus output: 【1】 "Old Yan, if you hadn't told us yesterday afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't come back, I and Old Yi could have gone to Yagangchang to look for Li Qiang. We wouldn't have been tired for nothing and missed the best time to find Li Qiang. If we had found Li Qiang last night, our Dongxu wouldn't have been detained overnight by the Security Section, and there wouldn't have been the later punishment. Now Yagangchang has deducted a month's bonus from him. You say this money, if you don't pay it, who will?" Jia Zhangshi said this fluently.

But we need to ensure we didn't add anything not present. Let's verify each clause:

: "In the original Chinese, Jia Zhangshi said eloquently, "Yan Lao Kou, if you hadn't told us this afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't returned, I could have gone with Lao Yi to the Steel Rolling Mill to look for Li Qiang. Not only would we have suffered the hardship, but we would have missed the best time to find him. If we had found Li Qiang last night, our Dong Xu wouldn't have been locked up overnight by the Security Department, and there wouldn't have been any further punishment. Now the Steel Rolling Mill has deducted his monthly bonus. Who should pay for this money if not you?""

Breakdown:

: "The quoted speech is: "Yan Lao Kou, if you hadn't told us this afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't returned, I could have gone with Lao Yi to the Steel Rolling Mill to look for Li Qiang. Not only would we have suffered the hardship, but we would have missed the best time to find him. If we had found Li Qiang last night, our Dong Xu wouldn't have been locked up overnight by the Security Department, and there wouldn't have been any further punishment. Now the Steel Rolling Mill has deducted his monthly bonus. Who should pay for this money if not you?""

: "Jia Zhangshi spoke eloquently."

Our translation: "Old Yan, if you hadn't told us yesterday afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't come back, I and Old Yi could have gone to Yagangchang to look for Li Qiang. We wouldn't have been tired for nothing and missed the best time to find Li Qiang. If we had found Li Qiang last night, our Dongxu wouldn't have been detained overnight by the Security Section, and there wouldn't have been the later punishment. Now Yagangchang has deducted a month's bonus from him. You say this money, if you don't pay it, who will?" Jia Zhangshi said this fluently.

Check each piece:

: "Regarding the nickname Yan Lao Kou (literally 'Old Yan the stingy'), there is uncertainty about whether to translate it as 'Old Yan' or to use the pinyin 'Yan Lao Kou'. According to the rules, if a nickname is habitually used as a person's name, it should be rendered in pinyin. Since the characters address him as Yan Lao Kou, it appears to be a habitual nickname, so we should use the pinyin form Yan Lao Kou. This nickname should be added to the glossary as a character name."

: "But we need to check if the nickname is used habitually. In the line, Jia Zhangshi says, "Yan Lao Kou, if you hadn't told us

: Thus we should translate the nickname as Yan Lao Kou.

: Similarly, later lines refer to Yan Butgui as his proper name. So we have both the nickname and the proper name.

Thus we need to adjust translation: "Yan Lao Kou, if you hadn't told us yesterday afternoon that Li Qiang hadn't come back..."

: Now we also need to add Yan Lao Kou to the glossary as a character nickname.

: Now we also need to note that Yan Butgui is already in the glossary.

I can go with Lao Yi to the steel mill to find Li Qiang.

: Similarly, later lines include "Lao Jia, come up and take a look," referring to Jia Zhangshi. Lao Jia could be a nickname for Jia Zhangshi, so we should translate it as Lao Jia and add Lao Jia to the glossary.

: Also, the term "Old sister-in-law" refers to Jia Zhangshi. In line 7, Yi Zhonghai says, "Old sister-in-law, get up and speak; what are you doing looking like that?" Old sister-in-law is a generic term of address, not a nickname. According to the rule, generic forms of address (not ranks) should be excluded from the glossary and translated by meaning, so we translate it as "Old sister-in-law".

: Similarly, the term "Old Yan" is used later in line 10: "Old Yan, this is indeed where you are wrong." This is a nickname for Yan Butgui, so we should translate it as Lao Yan and add Lao Yan to the glossary as a nickname.

: Also, Lao Yi appears again in line 10 (actually line 8): "Lao Yi, do you think Yan Lao Kou's actions are right or wrong?" This is addressing Yi Zhonghai, so it's again Lao Yi.

: Also, "Old Yan" appears in line 10: "Old Yan, this is indeed where you are wrong."

: Also, Lao Yi appears in line 11: "Lao Yi, if you keep saying that, I won't want to listen."

: Also, line 12 reads: "Yi Zhonghai didn't expect Yan Butgui to say that." This line does not contain the term Lao Yi.

: Also, line 13 reads: "Yi Zhonghai knows that Yan Butgui cannot possibly pay the money." This line does not contain Lao Yi.

Also, line 14 does not contain Lao Yi.

: Also, regarding the term "Lao Jia", line 3 reads: "Jia Zhangshi immediately sat down on the ground, slapping her thighs and began to wail." There is no occurrence of "Lao Jia" in this line.

"I really didn't see him come back— you wouldn't go check his place yourself, and now you actually want me to pay? You're being completely unreasonable; I won't pay your money, you're just picking a fight." In arguments, Yan Butgui truly isn't a match for Jia Zhangshi.

"Old Jia, come up and take a look— Yan Butgui, this miser, will bully us widows and orphans; hurry up and take him away." Jia Zhangshi immediately sat on the ground, slapping her thighs and started wailing.

"Jia Zhangshi, don't bully people too much." Yan Butgui didn't know how to deal with her.

Jia Zhangshi didn't care about those things, continued crying and wailing at Yan Butgui's door, demanding Old Jia come and take Yan Butgui away— making such a scene at someone's doorstep, who wouldn't be annoyed?

Yan Butgui really had no other option, so he could only ask Third Aunt to go find Yi Zhonghai.

"Old sister-in-law, get up and speak— what are you doing like this?" After Yi Zhonghai arrived, he first told Jia Zhangshi to get up. Actually, Jia Zhangshi was causing a scene at Yan Butgui's door; Yi Zhonghai couldn't possibly not know— one lives in the front courtyard, the other in the middle courtyard, not far apart— how could he not hear the commotion? Yi Zhonghai was just pretending not to know.

"Old Yi, do you think Yan Butgui's actions are right or wrong? If it weren't for him, would our Dongxu have been punished by the factory?"

"That's because your Dongxu stole factory goods and got caught by the Security Section— how dare you blame me? The Steel Mill wouldn't punish others." Yan Butgui shouted, straining his neck.

"Old Yan, you really are in the wrong— why not just pay Jia's family some money to avoid letting the neighbors laugh at us?" Yi Zhonghai originally favored the Jia family; now Yan Butgui, in front of everyone in the hall, claimed Jia Dongxu stole things— doesn't that also make him lose face as their teacher?

"Old Yi, if you're going to say that, I don't want to hear it—I told you out of goodwill, and now you're blaming me? No money, just a life. If you keep making a fuss like this, I'll go to the street office and find Director Wang to judge; if she says I must pay, I'll pay, and then I'll report Jia Zhangshi to the street office for spreading feudal superstition." Yan Butgui didn't expect Yi Zhonghai to favor the Jia family so much; he also didn't give Yi Zhonghai face, directly talking back— anyway, Yi Zhonghai is no longer the Household Manager, so he can't do anything to Yan Butgui.

Yi Zhonghai didn't expect Yan Butgui to say that— if he really brought Director Wang over, not only would there be no need to pay money, just the charge of spreading feudal superstition could land Jia Zhangshi in detention for days; once she came out, she'd surely try to extort him again.

"I'm not getting involved in your affairs," Yi Zhonghai said, knowing Yan Butgui couldn't possibly pay, and fearing he'd go to Director Wang, he could only throw down a sentence and slink away.

Upon hearing Yan Butgui say he would report her for spreading feudal superstition, Jia Zhangshi didn't dare cause a scene anymore; she could only get up and slink away behind Yi Zhonghai.

The neighbors of the Siheyuan originally thought they'd get to see a big show, but it ended just like that— anticlimactic. The onlookers also slowly went home.

"Zhuzi, I might be about to give birth," He Yuzhu said as soon as he got home, seeing Yu Li with a pained expression.

They had been married over two years before Yu Li became pregnant; after she conceived, He Yuzhu cared for her even more attentively. Li Qiang, using his connection with Li Huade, got Yu Li a job at the Steel Mill, but when she was seven months pregnant, He Yuzhu took her on extended leave so she could rest at home.

"Yushui, hurry to the back yard and call Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law," He Yuzhu said, panicking upon hearing Yu Li's words.

"Okay," He Yushui, already in first year of middle school, hearing He Yuzhu tell her to call Yang Fen and Zhou Rong, didn't hesitate and sprinted to the back yard.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, my sister-in-law is about to give birth— my brother sent me to find you and Second Sister-in-law," He Yushui said, arriving at Li Bin's house out of breath.

"I'll go right away— you go call your second sister-in-law," Yang Fen said, putting down her work and heading out.

"Okay," He Yushui replied and then ran toward Li Qiang's house.

When Li Qiang and his wife arrived at He Yuzhu's home, they found Li Bin's family of four already there.

"Zhuzi, go borrow a flatbed cart— Yu Li can't ride a bicycle right now," Li Qiang instructed.

"Okay," He Yuzhu replied and ran out.

"Brother, you stay home and watch the kid; a few of us will go to the hospital."

"All right," Li Bin replied. Li Qiang's son Li Tao was over two years old, at that mischievous age, always climbing up and down with Li Le, dirty as a little mud monkey.

"Dad, go back and fetch the little clothes I made for the child," Yang Fen said to Li Bin.

"Okay," Li Bin replied and ran home.

After He Yuzhu borrowed the flatbed cart, several people hurriedly sent Yu Li to the hospital.

"Zhuzi, the doctor just said Yu Li will give birth but still has to wait a bit— use this time to notify her parents," Li Qiang came over to remind him.

"If you hadn't said that, I would have forgotten— then the hospital side is yours to handle."

Within less than an hour, He Yuzhu returned, accompanied by Yu Li's parents and Yu Haitang.

"Second Brother, how is it?" He Yuzhu approached Li Qiang and asked.

"She's already been taken to the delivery room; Eldest Sister-in-law and Zhou Rong are waiting at the door— I was worried you wouldn't find it, so I deliberately waited here to meet you."

The group waited at the delivery room door for over half an hour, when suddenly a baby's cry came from inside.

"She's born, she's born!" He Yuzhu exclaimed excitedly.

"Don't get too excited yet— they'll be out soon," Li Qiang patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder. Actually, he could understand He Yuzhu's feelings; after being married over two years, Yu Li finally got pregnant— saying he wasn't excited would be false. Remember when Zhou Rong gave birth, he was also overcome with excitement.

"Yu Li's family, mother and child are safe; the doctor is cleaning up the mother and baby, and they'll be pushed to the ward shortly." A nurse came out smiling and said.

"Thank you, thank you," He Yuzhu kept saying.

"Thank you, nurse— here's some candy, let everyone share the joy," Li Qiang pulled a handful of candy from his pocket and handed it to the nurse.

"Thank you, comrade," the nurse said without hesitation.

Several people came to the ward, especially He Yuzhu, looking at the baby in swaddling— his expression was beyond words, filled with excitement and delight.

"Brother, why is he so ugly?" He Yushui said, looking at the baby with disdain.

"Yeah, brother-in-law, aren't babies supposed to be the cutest? But he's so ugly, all wrinkled like a little old man." Yu Haitang's mouth was also sharp— whose newborn looks like a little old man?

"You little brat, stop talking nonsense— newborns all look like that; you were even uglier when you were born. You'll look better as you grow." Yu Li's mother scolded Yu Haitang.

Yu Li's father's expression was even more remarkable— having two daughters and no son, in that era of preferring sons over daughters, a family without a son always felt inferior. Now it's fine— his daughter gave him a grandson, and his mood is hardly any different from He Yuzhu's.

"Zhuzi, shouldn't you give the child a name?" Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Let's take my surname and Yu Li's surname and add a character," He Yuzhu said.

"That sounds good— have you thought of a name?" Li Qiang asked.

"Let's call him He Yusheng, with the nickname Shengzi," He Yuzhu said offhand.

"No, no, brother, what a terrible name you've picked— those who know will think it's my nephew, those who don't will think it's my brother." He Yushui was the first to object.

"Zhuzi, that name really isn't suitable— a child's name shouldn't resemble an elder's, or it invites conflict," Yu Li's father said.

Upon hearing everyone say that, He Yuzhu also felt it was a bit inappropriate; given his limited education, this really left him stumped.

"Brother, how about He Xiao? The 'xiao' from 'Buddha's awakening'," He Yushui said.

"Good, Yushui's choice of this name is good— simple and easy to remember," Yu Haitang was the first to agree.

"All right, then let's call him He Xiao," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

After hearing the name, Li Qiang couldn't help but think to himself, although he had changed He Yuzhu's fate, he still hadn't altered the father-son bond between He Yuzhu and He Xiao.