Chapter 76 Intending to Find Zhang's Face

"Sigh, our family has been relocated to the back house in the front yard," Old Jia said, then couldn't help but raise his hand as if to slap that fat face.

"What? A reverse-facing room? Is that a place for people to live? Did Chen Shuxiang say that? I'm going to settle accounts with her!"

While saying she was going out to reason with them, Jia Zhangshi's body moved incredibly fast, shrinking to the very back of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"No one from the He family said anything; it was the old lady in the backyard who made the decision. How many times has this happened? Do you really want our family to be kicked out and left to wander the streets?"

As Jia Laonian spoke, he became more and more agitated, and finally slammed his raised hand hard on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Jia Zhangshi shrank her neck, but still stubbornly said, "They dare to do it but we can't say anything? Does Zhuzi often run away and bring back things of unknown origin?"

"So what if I said he stole it? He's just a kid, what ability could he possibly have to get those things?"

"Shut up! It's their skill that they were able to get it. Zhu Zi is just a kid, but He Daqing is not!"

"Couldn't it have been He Daqing who brought it here and had Zhu Zi bring it back?" Old Jia roared in a hoarse voice.

"He's just a cook, what great skills could he possibly have?" Jia Zhangshi retorted stubbornly.

Old Man Jia didn't want to waste any more words with Madam Jia, so he turned around to look for some tools. He happened to spot a feather duster on the cabinet and strode over to grab it.

Terrified, Jia Zhangshi cried out, "Husband, don't hit me! Don't hit me! I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong!"

"It's too late to realize our mistake. We'll move tomorrow. The old lady was kind enough to give us two rooms in the back row." Jia Laonian stopped and plopped back down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Move out tomorrow? Do they even have any sense of reason? God, may lightning strike that heartless old woman to death! And strike the He family down with her too!" Jia Zhangshi threw a tantrum on the kang, rolling around and cursing.

"Shut up! Do you really want us to be kicked out and sleep on the streets? Keep cursing if you want, I'm going to the He family right now to beg them to write me a letter of divorce. You get out of here, Dongxu and I still need to live!"

Old Jia stood up and was about to pounce on the kang (a heated brick bed) to grab Jia Zhangshi.

"Gah..." Before Jia Zhangshi could finish her next curse, she choked back the words. Then, a breath caught in her chest, causing her already swollen face to turn purple. She pounded her chest with both hands.

A rapid knocking sound suddenly rang out, and the Jia family fell silent.

Jia Laonian and Jia Zhangshi exchanged a glance. Jia Laonian's eyes were full of sorrow, while Jia Zhangshi's eyes revealed a pleading look.

Old Jia sighed and called out towards the door, "Who is it?"

"Old Jia, it's me, Lao Yi."

"What's wrong so late?"

"I heard there was a commotion at your house, so I came to check on things. May I come in?"

"It's alright, you can go back now!"

"Are you really alright?"

"Ouch, why are you pinching me?" Jia Laonian said in a low voice to Jia Zhangshi, who leaned over and pinched him hard.

"Let him in. Xiao Yi still has some influence with the old lady. Let him plead for him."

"What are you thinking? Pleading for them? How dare you! Our family's relationship with the Yi family is just so-so!"

"Give it a try, I don't want to stay in that back room."

Jia Dongxu, who had been silent for a while, then chimed in with a helpful suggestion: "Dad, I don't want to live there either. It's damp and dark there, and there isn't even a decent window. How am I supposed to get married like this?"

After a long silence, Jia Laonian said to the door, "Old Yi, the door isn't latched, come in."

Yi Zhonghai waited outside the door for a while without hearing any movement. Just as he was about to leave, he heard him being told to come in, so he pushed the door open and politely asked, "May I come into the inner room?"

Before Jia Laonian could answer, Jia Zhangshi interjected, "Brothers Yi, it's convenient, very convenient!"

Jia Laonian immediately regretted letting Yi Zhonghai into the house—this woman doesn't even look at herself now, isn't she afraid of making a fool of herself?

It was too late for Jia Zhangshi to clean up now. Yi Zhonghai walked into the inner room, glanced at the mother and daughter on the kang, and immediately turned his head away.

"Old Jia, why did you do that? Did you hit him a little too hard?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

After returning home today, Li Guihua told him what had happened in the yard. At first, he didn't take it to heart—it wasn't the first time there had been arguments and fights in the yard.

As long as my wife doesn't cause trouble or make a fuss, that's fine.

However, Li Guihua's mention of He Yuzhu carrying his own things back from outside made him secretly take note.

He knew that silly boy's personality all too well.

He was born with a simple-minded and honest appearance.

He used to spend all his time following around that kid from the Jia family across the street.

If he had any rare or unusual items,

They were all fooled by that Jia family brat's few words.

If you want Yi Zhonghai to believe,

He Yuzhu truly obtained those things through his own abilities.

Even if he were beaten to death, he would never believe it in the slightest.

I suffered a setback at He Daqing's hands a while ago.

He had been holding back a lot of anger.

I'm trying to figure out how to get back at them.

After dinner,

He was sitting in the room, secretly plotting.

They planned to start by taking action against He Yuzhu to save face.

Li Guixiang rushed over in a hurry.

Tell him that He Daqing went to find Jia Laonian.

Immediately afterwards, they saw Jia Laonian set off for the He family.

Not long after, he hurriedly returned to his house.

The Jia family courtyard across the street quickly erupted into commotion.

Cries, shouts, and curses rang out continuously.

To onlookers, it sounded like nothing more than a tragedy.

He never intended to intervene in the fight from the beginning.

I've been pondering this over and over in my mind.

It's all about how to profit from it.

And how to settle old scores.

Jia Zhangshi would never stop He Yuzhu without a reason.

He was very clear about this.

That old woman's nose is incredibly sensitive.

He himself had suffered quite a bit because of this before.

She might not even notice ordinary, commonplace things.

But it wouldn't be for no reason.

They insisted that the things in He Yuzhu's hands were stolen.

"She deserves to be hit."

"Just because I said a few words to that kid from the He family."

"There's no need to go that far."

Yi Zhonghai chimed in at the opportune moment.

"Yes, I'm so wronged!"

That kid doesn't look like a good person at all.

I clearly smelled several different fragrances in his bundle.

"What did you smell, sister-in-law?"

Yi Zhonghai asked casually.

"It smells fishy, ​​and it's not the kind of fish you usually see."

It smells exceptionally good.

It also tastes like chicken, like dried goods.

There's another kind, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

"By the way, I reckon they're dried mushrooms."

If He Yuzhu were here right now,

I had to blurt out a sentence on the spot:

Are you a dog? How can you smell that?

Yi Zhonghai narrowed his eyes slightly.

He spoke with a hint of admiration:

"Sister-in-law, you have such a keen sense of smell."

"That's right!"

Jia Zhangshi raised her face triumphantly.

"Alright, haven't you caused enough trouble already?"

Old Jia rebuked him sternly.

I'm telling the truth.

That silly pillar wasn't stolen.

Where could he possibly get all these good things?

"Couldn't they be going to pick up what his dad had ordered beforehand?"

Old Jia patted the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed),

Only then did Jia Zhangshi reluctantly shut her mouth.

Even if it's just for something as trivial as fighting...

"Old Jia, you shouldn't have hit your sister-in-law like that."

Yi Zhonghai was fully aware of the situation.

Last time, Jia Laonian already lost money.

He didn't know the exact number.

But look at the situation today,

I'm afraid we've lost a lot of money again.

She deserved it.

Because of her, we almost lost our place to live.

"I'm annoyed," Jia Laonian said.

"Huh? It's that serious?"

What exactly happened?

"That old lady in the backyard is usually very kind, isn't she?"

"Even if someone is kind, it depends on who they are kind to, right?"

Why should anyone be kind to this troublemaker?

Old Jia pointed angrily at Jia Zhangshi.

"Are you really going to kick you out? That's pretty ruthless."

"No, I begged for ages."

They just agreed that this would be the last time.

However, they suggested we move to the rear-facing rooms in the first courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a moment.

He began to secretly plan in his mind:

Should we take this opportunity to help the Jia family?

To be honest, Jia Laonian is a person...

He has never really thought highly of them.

I'm not good with words, and my cooking skills are just average.

Not very promising.

What he truly valued was

It's Jia Dongxu, that kid from the Jia family.

Although he himself didn't think much of the kid,

Fortunately, he is quite filial.

The most important thing is that they are obedient, and they are also timid.

The couple were both in their early thirties.

He still has no children.

They secretly went to see a doctor.

The problem actually lies with Yi Zhonghai himself.

Originally, he was planning to get rid of Old He's son.

Honest and simple-minded, single-minded, easy to manipulate.

But his father, He Daqing, was too powerful.

He had absolutely no control over the other party.

Right now there's a perfect opportunity.

He wanted to make the Jia family owe him a favor.

What a great opportunity, and it doesn't require much effort!

It's just a matter of saying a few nice words for them.

Let's see later whether that Jia family lad remembers this kindness.

If you remember,

In two years, when he's older and able to go out to work,

They tried to get him into the factory.

He became my apprentice.

Once we have this kid firmly in our grasp...

Then formally accept him as an apprentice.

When I get old,

Isn't there someone to serve you tea and water and take care of you in your old age?

Thinking of this, he slowly spoke:

"How about... I go and put in a good word with the old lady in the backyard?"

"How could I trouble you with this?"

Old Jia quickly spoke up.

"That's right, how could I possibly accept this!"

However, the Yi brothers

If you can really make things work,

If you need any errands or odd jobs at your home in the future,

I'll have Dongxu do it all for you!

The two people started their sentences exactly the same.

However, the underlying meaning is completely different.

"Yes, yes, Uncle Yi."

If you could help our family this time,

From now on, feel free to ask me to run errands or do odd jobs.

I'll make sure you get it all done perfectly.

Jia Dongxu quickly nodded in agreement.

Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but glance at Jia Zhangshi.

He thought to himself:

"This one is a kindred spirit; we must not underestimate him."