Chapter 1553: Green Intestines

Red Star Sihe Academy

Shazhu and Yi Zhonghai were whispering in the courtyard when they were bumped into by someone returning from outside. That person leaned in with a cheeky grin and said, "Yo, not resting in your rooms in the middle of the night? What state affairs are you two discussing out here?"

Shazhu snorted with a face full of disgust: "I'll do whatever I please. None of your damn business. Do you have to be such a busybody? Get lost, I feel nauseous just looking at you. I'm about to puke."

Yi Zhonghai said with a straight face: "Zhuzi, is that any way to talk? We're all neighbors in the same courtyard, after all. Talking like that is too hurtful. Don't do it again. If you have something to say, say it nicely. Neighbors should help each other, be united and friendly, and be as close as family, as close as brothers. You can't go around causing division and hostility."

Xu Damao sneered: "Uncle Yi, don't bother lecturing Shazhu. He won't understand. Don't you know? He's just a stubborn mule, acting like a mad dog, biting whoever he catches. In this courtyard, other than Qin Huairu, there isn't a single good person in his eyes."

Shazhu opened his mouth and cursed: "Go to hell with your dog-fart talk. You're the dog, a mangy dog, a shit-eating dog, a dog thing. You're the worst dog in our courtyard. If I wasn't in a good mood today, I'd beat the shit out of you."

Yi Zhonghai turned his head and glared at Shazhu: "Zhuzi, hold your tongue. How did you become like this? Your hostility is way too heavy. Can't you speak properly without being so sharp and aggressive?"

Ever since Xu Damao bailed him out, Yi Zhonghai's attitude toward Xu Damao had undergone a earth-shattering change. If Xu Damao weren't so uncooperative, he would have really wanted to adopt Xu Damao as his godson. Compared to the dim-witted Shazhu, the slick and worldly Xu Damao was much more reliable. Plus, the more he looked at him, the more pleasing he became, and the more he looked like his own son.

Yi Zhonghai often thought in the dead of night: If Xu Damao were willing to acknowledge him as a godfather and provide for his old age, that would be much more reliable than the stubborn Shazhu. At the very least, Xu Damao knew how to make money and handle affairs, providing an economic foundation for his retirement, unlike that blockhead Shazhu who couldn't make money and spent his days causing trouble. If he relied solely on Shazhu for his old age, he'd be starving nine times out of three days.

Therefore, in his daily life, Yi Zhonghai became increasingly friendly toward Xu Damao and would occasionally persuade Shazhu to get along with him, saying that enemies should be reconciled rather than knotted, and that they should try to improve their relationship to help each other instead of fighting and ending up both hurt.

But the grudge between Shazhu and Xu Damao was not formed in a single day; it was a buildup of resentment and conflict over time, deeper than the sea and higher than the mountains. How could it be so easily resolved?

Both of them wished they could kill the other. Wanting these two to shake hands and make peace? It would be easier to have a mouse be a bridesmaid for a cat.

Shazhu snatched the package from Yi Zhonghai's hand: "Uncle Yi, stop wasting your breath with your yapping. This is just my temper. I can't tolerate sand in my eyes, and I can't suppress my fire when I see bad people and scum. I'm taking my things back. If you want to chat with Xu Damao, go ahead. I'm going back to my room to rest."

Watching Shazhu walk away with the yellow horse-jacket, Yi Zhonghai felt a surge of anger. This ungrateful white-eyed wolf, wanting to hog the benefits all to himself, forgetting how his godfather helped him through his family troubles? If he hadn't emptied his savings to smooth things over, could this stubborn mule have survived crisis after crisis?

The more he thought, the angrier he got; the more he thought, the more he regretted. If Yi Zhonghai were to pull out his intestines right now, nine times out of ten, they would be green.

Xu Damao looked at Yi Zhonghai's ugly face and snorted with indignation: "Hmph, that dog thing Shazhu who has no respect for his elders is just asking for a beating. You treat him better than your own son, and look at his attitude toward you now—like you're a stray dog on the street. You better be careful, guard against him, and don't pour your heart and soul into being good to him. Be careful that when you're old and can't walk, he'll kick you into a sewer."

Yi Zhonghai forced a smile: "That can't be. Shazhu isn't that kind of person. He has a foul mouth but no bad intentions. He spoke harshly today because he had a disagreement with me, and I understand that he's in a bad mood."

Xu Damao asked curiously: "What happened? Enough to make you two have such a falling out?"

Yi Zhonghai pulled Xu Damao aside and whispered: "Zhuzi got lucky and found a good item while working in the countryside. I wanted him to sell it to you to avoid letting an outsider benefit, but the blockhead refused, and we argued a bit because of it."

Xu Damao asked hurriedly: "What good item?"

Yi Zhonghai said seriously: "I can tell you, but you can't tell anyone else."

Xu Damao patted his chest and said: "I, Xu Damao, am famous for having a tight mouth. You just tell me, I guarantee it will rot in my stomach."

Yi Zhonghai whispered: "A yellow horse-jacket. The yellow horse-jacket Emperor Qianlong bestowed upon Grand Secretary Ji."

"What!"

Xu Damao's eyes widened. Shazhu really had the luck of a dog.

Yi Zhonghai sighed: "It's a pity. Such a good item is about to fall into the hands of an outsider."

Xu Damao grabbed Yi Zhonghai's arm: "No, fertilizer shouldn't flow into outsiders' fields. How can such a treasure benefit an outsider? You put in some effort, persuade Shazhu properly, and give the item to me. I definitely won't treat him poorly."

Yi Zhonghai: "He found Dong Ergou, and Dong Ergou is willing to pay eighty yuan."

Xu Damao gritted his teeth: "As long as the item is real, I'll pay one hundred yuan. You tell Shazhu not to be a fool. Even if he wants to be a fool, don't go against money."

Even though there was a major movement going on, he knew that there were still many people privately trading antiques, especially in Jingcheng. There were plenty of people who weren't short on money and liked to play, and most of these people were Bannermen. Some Bannermen, though fallen, still had the saying that a lean camel is bigger than a horse; their family foundations were solid.

Xu Damao knew a few such Bannermen. The more fallen they were, the more they missed the Great Qing. Even when drinking bean juice, they would mutter, "Thinking back to the beginning..." If he showed them the yellow horse-jacket bestowed by Emperor Qianlong, those Bannermen would definitely fight to pay for it.

Yi Zhonghai frowned and said: "I'll try. I hope Shazhu will listen to reason."

Xu Damao said with fiery eyes: "You must put in more effort. If it succeeds, I'll treat you to a drink."

Yi Zhonghai returned to his room and tried to persuade Shazhu with earnest words, pouring out basket after basket of advice, but Shazhu wouldn't budge, shouting that he'd rather throw the yellow horse-jacket into a fire than let that grandson Xu Damao benefit.

On the other side, Xu Damao learned that Shazhu had the yellow horse-jacket and felt so itchy he couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the scene of Shazhu making a fortune and showing off in front of him.

It really lived up to the saying: As long as you are doing better than me, I can't stand it.

The next day, Dong Xiang came to the Sihe Academy early in the morning and hurriedly found Shazhu, who was still snoring in bed. Seeing Dong Xiang's anxious appearance, Yi Zhonghai became even more convinced that the yellow horse-jacket was real and very valuable.

Shazhu shouted with a red face: "Sixty? No way. I feel like I'm losing out even at eighty. You want to pay sixty now? Don't even think about it."

Dong Xiang said with a bitter face: "Brother Zhuzi, Master Zhuzi, I'm not going back on my word, it's just that I really can't come up with that much money. You can rest assured, take this sixty first, and within ten days, I will definitely make up the missing twenty yuan without a single cent less." ===== CHAPTER 1555 =====