Chapter 71: Severing Master-Disciple Ties

Yi Zhonghai left the hospital, returning to the siheyuan with mixed feelings. The person he had nurtured for years as his old-age support suddenly met with an accident—how could Yi Zhonghai be happy? No matter what, he still had feelings for Jia Dongxu; to just give him up like that truly pained him, but he had no choice. For the sake of his own old age, he could only steel himself and let go.

"You went to the hospital—what did the doctor say?" Yi Zhonghai had just gotten home when the old lady asked.

"He might end up a vegetative state, and even if he wakes up he could be paralyzed or disabled," Yi Zhonghai said with a complex expression.

"Ah, what a fine young man—how did he run into this?" the old lady said painfully; she also took a liking to Jia Dongxu.

"Ah, it's all fate," Yi Zhonghai sighed.

"You say Dongxu had this accident—how will his family get by from now on?" the old lady lamented.

"That's also why I have to give up on the Jia family; otherwise we'd be dragged down by them."

"But is that alright?" the old lady couldn't bring herself to be as ruthless as Yi Zhonghai.

"For our future old age, this is unavoidable; don't think I want to—after all I've put in so much, I've raised him for years."

"Ah, this Dongxu boy is too pitiful—he just passed the Level 3 Worker exam, and things were looking up for his family, who knew this would happen? Can't heaven open its eyes and have a look?" the old lady said, wiping tears.

"Ah, never mind that—let's think about what to do from now on."

"Is Old Yi home?" As Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, Jia Zhangshi's voice came from outside the door.

"Old sister-in-law, what do you need?" Yi Zhonghai asked in a flat tone.

"Old Yi, Dongxu's had an accident, and we're short on cash—I wanted to borrow some money from you," Jia Zhangshi said, eyes brimming with tears.

"Old sister-in-law, you know—I was transferred to watch the warehouse, and my wages dropped a lot compared to before; plus I often help out your family, I really have no money left," Yi Zhonghai said tactfully, not even asking how much Jia Zhangshi wanted to borrow.

"Old Yi, I don't need much—just twenty," Jia Zhangshi deliberately said low; in fact, even if Yi Zhonghai were now paid at the Level 5 Worker rate, his monthly salary plus various subsidies would be sixty or seventy, which the two of them could never spend through, and although he occasionally helped the Jia family before, it was only ever a bit of cornmeal noodles—never mind that he used to earn ninety‑nine dollars a month.

"Old sister-in-law, I really don't have any—why not try someone else's house?" Yi Zhonghai refused to budge; if Dongxu were fine he'd certainly lend, but now that Dongxu is like this, lending any amount is like throwing a meat‑filled bun at a dog—gone with no return.

"Old Yi, you're Dongxu's master—you can't just stand by and let him die!" Jia Zhangshi exclaimed urgently.

"Jia Zhangshi, how am I not seeing to his rescue? Over the years I've helped your family plenty, haven't I?" Yi Zhonghai also flared up; he had been worrying how to sever ties with the Jia family, and now her fuss gave him the perfect chance to draw a clear line.

"Yi Zhonghai, you're heartless! You used to want our Jia family's Dongxu to support you in your old age, but now that he's had an accident you just ignore him—what kind of master are you?" Jia Zhangshi's request for a loan was really just a probe of Yi Zhonghai's attitude.

"Jia Zhangshi, if you think I'm unworthy to be Dongxu's master, from today I'll sever the master‑disciple bond with him—does that satisfy you?" Yi Zhonghai had been looking for a chance to cut ties with the Jia family; he never expected Jia Zhangshi herself to deliver the opportunity.

"Folks, come have a look—Yi Zhonghai, this heartless man, now that he sees our Jia family's Dongxu in trouble, just wants to cut ties with us!" Jia Zhangshi began shouting.

"Old Yi, what you're doing really isn't quite appropriate, after all Dongxu just had his accident," Liu Haizhong said as he approached. By then Yi Zhonghai's doorway was already surrounded by many onlookers.

"Liu Haizhong, don't stand there talking without a backache—if you think it's inappropriate, you take him as your disciple!" Yi Zhonghai, this time having firmly decided to draw a line with the Jia family, how could a single sentence from Liu Haizhong change his mind?

"Yi Zhonghai, this is what you said—from now on our two families are completely split!" Jia Zhangshi shouted, jabbing a finger at Yi Zhonghai's nose.

"Fine, all the neighbors are here today—let them bear witness: from now on I, Yi Zhonghai, will have nothing to do with the Jia family." Having said that, Yi Zhonghai shoved Jia Zhangshi out his door and then shut it behind her.

This time Jia Zhangshi didn't make a scene; she simply went home, and shortly thereafter she rushed out of the siheyuan again.

"Mom, why are you here?" Qin Huiru exclaimed, seeing Jia Zhangshi and feeling very surprised.

"Just now Yi Zhonghai argued with me in the siheyuan, declaring in front of all the neighbors that he was severing the master‑disciple tie with Dongxu and that henceforth he'd have nothing to do with our family," Jia Zhangshi said angrily.

"Mom, Yi Zhonghai just came to the hospital—he first went to ask the doctor about Dongxu's condition; the doctor said Dongxu is still unconscious, and he even peeked at the ward door, though he didn't go inside," Qin Huiru told Jia Zhangshi about Yi Zhonghai's hospital visit.

"I say, why is this old bastard in such a hurry to cut ties with our family? He really thinks Dongxu's injury is serious, afraid we'll latch onto him later," Jia Zhangshi scoffed.

"This Yi Zhonghai is really pragmatic—people say 'when the person leaves, the tea grows cold,' but he's already distancing himself from Dongxu while the lad's still around; no wonder he's childless—he must have done plenty of wicked deeds, and heaven's giving him his just deserts," Qian Shifu remarked from the side.

"I'll wait and see what he does when he sees Dongxu recover and leave the hospital," Jia Zhangshi said with a laugh.

"Mom, you and Huiru go home first—I don't need anyone to keep me company; Huiru's still pregnant, and Bàng Geng and Xiao Dang are still at home," Jia Dongxu said in a flat tone, giving no sign of whether he was sad or glad.

"All right, Huiru, let's head back—Dongxu's fine."

"Okay, Dongxu, get some rest—I'll go check on the kids."

"Don't worry, I'm fine here."

After Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huiru left, Jia Dongxu said nothing, tears continually spilling from the corners of his eyes. He never imagined that the master he had always respected would, at this very moment, be eager to cut ties with his family. Fortunately he only suffered minor injuries this time; but if something serious had happened, how would his household get by? He now begins to bear a grudge against Yi Zhonghai—this man is too pragmatic, seeing his mishap and ignoring years of master‑disciple affection, insisting on severing the bond.

"Brother, don't take it too hard—seeing his true colors now is for the best, so you won't be duped later," Qian Shifu comforted.

"Qian Shifu, I understand—I just can't accept it right away." Jia Dongxu spoke truthfully; for anyone else, over a decade of master‑disciple affection, to say "break" and then actually break—it's genuinely hard to take in all at once.

"Brother, a person only avoids all that petty nonsense when he becomes strong; work hard, raise your work rank, and then they'll regret it," Qian Shifu said, not being much of a speaker—he just put the general idea across.

"Qian Ge, I get what you mean," Jia Dongxu said, wiping his tears hard, as if he were also wiping away the affection he felt for Yi Zhonghai.