Chapter 384 Everyone Wants to Fly to the Branches
The conversation between Liu Zhiye and Xu Damao outside became a secret that no one in the house could know.

Everyone felt that the two of them were peeing for a long time. They looked left and right, but there was no sign of them returning, which added to their curiosity and imagination about the unknown conversation outside the door.

“Da Mao, did you drink too much and fall into the toilet?” Sha Zhu teased while hooking his greasy arm around Xu Damao’s shoulder. The conversation between the two was full of humor.

“Fuck you, Sha Zhu. Are you a dog that can’t spit out ivory? Come on, drink a glass of wine as a lesson for you.” Xu Damao scolded with a smile, joking with Sha Zhu and raising his glass as he spoke. The laughter and scolding between the two instantly drew the attention of the people around them away from other places and refocused them on this lively banquet. The atmosphere was ignited again, and the laughter of the men and the sound of clinking glasses intertwined into one.

Liu Zhiye watched everyone playing with a smile, his thoughts suddenly drifted to the deaf old lady in the backyard, and he couldn’t help but ask: “Zhu Zi, has the food been delivered to the old lady in the backyard?” There was concern in his words, but he did not join in their laughter and play, maintaining the calmness of a boss.

Now, his status and position made people around him more respectful, and even jokes were made with caution, adding a bit of restraint to the atmosphere.

“Brother, I sent it over a long time ago. The old lady was eating it with great relish. She kept saying that it was good to have the Liu family kid back. Every time she could get to eat delicious food, hahahaha…”

The deaf old lady sat on the edge of the kang, holding a large bowl of meat and seafood in her hands, and she was eating with gusto.

The old lady’s face was filled with a satisfied smile. She ate and muttered, “This Liu family kid is really thoughtful. As soon as he comes back, I, an old thing, will have a good meal. Hehehe…”

“Hey, what a good boy. It’s not easy for him. I feel that he has lost a lot of weight when he came back this time. This bowl of rice from the government is not so delicious…”

“Zhu Zi, grandma is old, but her mind is as clear as a mirror. The young man of the Liu family is kind-hearted, well-behaved, and talented. He will surely achieve great things in the future. You need to follow his footsteps and move forward together…”

Sha Zhu deliberately made fun of me, with a hint of teasing on his lips, but he pretended to be aggrieved and said: “Hey, old lady, you are so biased. I have been around you every day, and my lips are almost worn out, but I have never seen you care so much.

Brother Liu has only appeared a few times, and you treat me like a treasure. Don’t you realize that I am your grandson? This is how you treat me…” His words were a bit coquettish and dissatisfied, but also revealed his closeness and dependence on the old lady.

The deaf old lady patted Sha Zhu’s back lovingly and said with a smile, “You, what nonsense are you talking about! In grandma’s heart, the eldest grandson is naturally the dearest.

You are my grandmother’s favorite, but I am old and have only a few years left to live. I don’t know if I can…!”

When Sha Zhu heard this, his brows furrowed, and his tone was a little unhappy: “Grandma, I like what you said. We are having a good time, don’t talk about this.

You are still strong and healthy, and you can enjoy decades of happiness. When He Qiu gets married and has a baby, he will have to count on you to help take care of it!”

When the deaf old lady heard this, she smiled with tears in her eyes. She gently stroked Sha Zhu’s face and said lovingly, “Silly boy, how can grandma live for another few decades? Wouldn’t she become an old monster?” Seeing that Sha Zhu looked unhappy, she quickly changed her words, with a relieved tone, “Okay, okay, grandma will try her best to live, and wait for He Qiu to grow up… Zhuzi, this is the fate of our grandparents, and grandma will cherish it even more.”

…………

Thinking back to the happy look on the deaf old lady’s face just now, Sha Zhu felt a warm current involuntarily welling up in his heart, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously rose.

“Liu Zhiye looked at Silly Zhu, who was halfway through his words when he suddenly grinned inexplicably, with a somewhat naive smile. He couldn’t help but interrupted in confusion, “Zhuzi, what are you laughing about? By the way, how is the deaf old lady doing recently? Is she still strong?”

“Ah, oh oh oh, brother, don’t worry about her. The old lady can eat and sleep well, and she can live for many more years!” Sha Zhu said with a smile.

Liu Zhiye nodded. What Sha Zhu said was true. In the original novel, the old lady lived until the early 1990s.

The deaf old lady in the original novel is a wise elder. Although she does not appear many times, she has an important influence on the development of the plot, especially on the emotional line of Sha Zhu. She plays a vital role.

If there hadn’t been the deaf old lady, Lou Xiao’e would not have stayed in the courtyard after being kicked out by Xu Damao, and would not have had any contact with Sha Zhu. Of course, there would have been no love between the two of them. Qin Huairu could not give birth to children for Sha Zhu, so it was very likely that Sha Zhu would have no descendants.

The deaf old lady in the original book is known as the smartest woman in the hospital.

In this noisy courtyard, the deaf old lady is the only one who is truly kind to Sha Zhu. Her wisdom is like stars, illuminating Sha Zhu’s life path.

Under her guidance, Sha Zhu and Lou Xiao’e spent a good night together. Although the love was short-lived, it was enough to make Sha Zhu no longer lonely. At the last moment of the deaf old lady’s life, she left her house to Sha Zhu, and her deep affection was as selfless as that of a grandmother.

It was the best arrangement of fate that Sha Zhu met the deaf old lady. It was also a great blessing for the deaf old lady to meet a kind and filial younger generation like Sha Zhu in her twilight years.

However, the deaf old lady’s attitude towards Qin Huairu has always been puzzling.

In this drama, Qin Huairu is like a blooming white lotus.

The deaf old lady always held an unspeakable sense of distance from her, and it was not until Sha Zhu had no choice that she reluctantly agreed to let Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu be together.

The reason for this may perhaps be seen from the conditions and emotions of the two people.

Although Lou Xiao’e suffered a change in her marriage, she is kind-hearted and comes from a wealthy family. Although there is an obvious gap between her and Sha Zhu, her heart is full of gratitude and admiration for Sha Zhu.

Qin Huairu is different. Her life is full of hardships and tribulations, which makes her more realistic and utilitarian when facing feelings.

She could allow other men to take advantage of her just to survive, and such behavior was naturally unacceptable to the deaf old lady.

As for her feelings for Sha Zhu, Lou Xiao’e is undoubtedly deep.

She met Sha Zhu at the most difficult time. Her gratitude and love made her choose to spend the night with Sha Zhu before she left, and she gave birth to his only blood.

Qin Huairu’s feelings for Sha Zhu are much more complicated. She needs Sha Zhu’s care, but she cannot completely give up her own interests.

Such emotions are naturally difficult to be recognized by the deaf old lady.

Perhaps, it is these reasons that make the deaf old lady always maintain a cautious attitude towards Qin Huairu. And the final coming together of Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu is just a helpless choice of life.

In Qin Huairu’s eyes, Sha Zhu seemed to be just a tool to support the family. Whether it was the growth of her children or their future plans, Sha Zhu always seemed to be ranked last. This kind of use of Sha Zhu can be said to have reached the extreme.

As the most astute person in the courtyard, the deaf old lady had long seen through Qin Huairu’s true attitude towards Sha Zhu.

Therefore, she tried her best to prevent the two from being together, fearing that Sha Zhu would be hurt more deeply. Facts have proved that the deaf old lady’s vision is indeed unique and her judgment is extremely accurate.

Liu Zhiye, who returned from a career change and traveled through time, brought with him a thought that transcended the times and seemed out of tune with his surroundings.

He looked at everything around him with an almost critical eye, from the feudal patriarchy of the deaf old lady, who took advantage of her seniority to bully others, to the hypocrisy of Yi Zhonghai, to the behavior of Liu Haizhong, a corrupt official, to the cunning and sinister behavior of Xu Damao, the stupidity of Sha Zhu, and the careful calculation of Yan Bugui, all of which became irreconcilable differences in his heart.

It was not until Liu Zhiye completely integrated into this complex world and was assimilated by the colors and rhythms around him that he finally removed the shackles of his soul, abandoned those deep-rooted prejudices, and lived a life that belonged to this era, as if he was born and raised here.

After Liu Zhiye abandoned his prejudice, he found that although these people all had their own little plans, they were actually very soft-hearted. Some were calculating and willing to fight with others, but some were also willing to share weal and woe and were kind-hearted.

In his previous life, he had already known the characters through the original drama, and his impression of Xu Damao was particularly bad, followed by Qin Huairu, then Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong. These names left a deep negative impression in his mind.

However, when he actually stepped into this world and had substantial interactions with these characters, his views quietly changed.

Even Xu Damao, who was once regarded as a typical villain, showed his unknown shining points and merits under close observation. This discovery deepened his understanding of the complexity of human nature.

The worst thing Xu Damao had done was to abandon Lou Xiao’e and divorce her. Ruining Sha Zhu’s blind date was only a minor evil. Considering the situation at the time, Xu Damao abandoning his wife was nothing.

Besides, Xu Damao and Lou Xiao’e’s marriage was destined to be unhappy from the very beginning.

Lou Xiao’e is the richest person in the entire hospital. Her father is a big capitalist who owns countless industries. The steel rolling mill on which the entire hospital depends for its survival, Lou Xiao’e’s father is one of the shareholders and is nicknamed “Lou Bancheng”.

Judging from the mother’s speech and behavior, she is also a lady from a prominent family. From the few scenes in which she appears, we can see that she knows all about Tan family dishes and is obviously quite knowledgeable about food. It can be seen that her family has an extraordinary background.

The reason why Lou Bancheng betrothed his beloved daughter Lou Xiao’e to Xu Damao, who was from the bottom of society, was actually because of a deeper meaning and it was not a simple move.

Growing up in such a wealthy family, Lou Xiao’e inevitably had the common character problems of rich girls—simple-minded, easy to trust others, and ignorant of housework.

After Lou Xiao’e and Xu Damao got married, Xu Damao basically took care of all the housework and cooking. Lou Xiao’e also had the final say on all major matters at home. She had a very strong personality.

This also laid the hidden danger for being kicked out by Xu Damao in the future.

What kind of person is Xu Damao?
He married Lou Xiao’e not because he admired her personally, but because he coveted her prominent family background.

To put it bluntly, the relationship between him and the Lou family is just a matter of each taking what they need!

However, things are unpredictable. When Lou Xiao’e’s family background changed from a help to a burden, and even became a potential threat to Xu Damao, he chose to protect himself without hesitation, and completely drew a line with his former father-in-law’s family, revealing his selfish nature.

After all, they are all just a speck of dust in the mortal world. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes.
As long as they do not touch the bottom line of morality and do not become unforgivable, why can’t those faults and flaws be forgiven? In the long river of time, they will eventually become a thing of the past, and time will treat them gently.

The complexity and diversity of human nature are interwoven into vivid pictures.

In this real world, all kinds of characters appear on the stage, and together they interpret the various forms of society with their own human emotions, life trajectories, and changes in destiny.

Liu Zhiye felt that this was a real world full of stories and emotions, not the vague and illusory world he had just arrived. He felt that this was truly living in this world.

Therefore, even if it is a person like Xu Damao, he would choose to interact with him and even use him. He was able to put aside the past grudges with Yi Zhonghai and show tolerance and generosity. He would also give care and concern to Liu Haizhong’s family in a timely manner, showing his human touch.

However, his attitude towards the old Jia family became increasingly cold, and he even developed a deep disgust for them.

As a result, Liu Zhiye’s attitude towards Qin Jingru, who replaced Qin Huairu at work, seemed quite indifferent, as if he was facing a stranger he had never met before, without any enthusiasm at all.

“Brother Liu, do you still remember me? It’s me, Qin Jingru…”

“Long time no see, I…” Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Liu Zhiye.

“Oh, sorry, I was careless and forgot to ask, which family are you relative of?” Liu Zhiye frowned slightly, and then his tone revealed a bit of casualness, as if Qin Jingru was just an ordinary passer-by and insignificant.

Witnessing this scene, Qin Jingru’s enthusiasm for Liu Zhiye was instantly extinguished, as if it was completely doused by a sudden drop of cold water.

This was the first time she had encountered such indifferent treatment since she entered this courtyard, and she couldn’t help feeling sad.

“I will shine my true heart on the bright moon, but the bright moon only shines on the ditch.”

Ever since Qin Jingru first entered this quaint courtyard house several years ago, she has quietly developed feelings for the married Liu Zhiye. This feeling has not diminished over the years, but has quietly taken root in her heart, making it difficult for her to forget.

Even though she knew that Liu Zhiye was a married man, Qin Jingru never gave up. She relied on her youth and firmly believed that one day she would be able to replace that “yellow-faced woman” with her youth and beauty.

Therefore, when Liu Zhiye and Gan Ning returned, Qin Jingru came uninvited and went straight to Liu Zhiye as if no one was around.

What was even more surprising was that she dared to do this in front of Gan Ning, as if she was provoking her.

“This shameless bastard, neither of the two sisters is a good person…” She clenched her teeth so hard that they were almost broken. If she didn’t care about her own image, she really wanted to give that little bitch Qin Jingru a few loud slaps on the spot to relieve her hatred.

…………

Qin Jingru, deeply hit by Liu Zhiye’s indifferent attitude, left sadly with a frustrated look on her face.

However, Qin Jingru is not someone who will give up easily.

Faced with a high-quality stock like Liu Zhiye, she had already decided to fight a protracted battle, firmly believing that in time, she would be able to make him fall in love with her.

In fact, Qin Jingru had already made up her mind. Instead of marrying a mediocre person, it would be better to become the woman behind a strong man like Liu Zhiye. At least she could enjoy wealth and glory.

In contrast, her elder sister Qin Huairu wasted her youth on a mediocre and irresponsible person. In the end, not only did she fail to enjoy any happiness, but she suffered a lot of hardships and even fell into a cage.

But… this guy named Liu is so stubborn, how should I deal with him?
Qin Jingru was absent-minded. Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi’s eyes flashed with suspicion and asked directly: “Qin Jingru, what are you thinking about?”

Qin Jingru suddenly came back to her senses and waved her hands quickly, with a hint of panic in her tone: “No, auntie, I didn’t think of anything.”

Jia Zhang curled her lips and said with a bit of teasing in her tone: “You silly girl, you are still lying. The steamed buns are almost stuck in your nose, and you still say you are not thinking about anything? Is it because the food I cooked is not to your taste? Well, then don’t eat it…”

When Qin Jingru heard this, she became even more flustered, and quickly waved her hands to explain: “No, no, no, Auntie, the food you cooked is delicious, I’ll eat it right away, right away…” As she said that, she quickly picked up the steamed bun and started eating it in big mouthfuls.

Jia Zhang narrowed her eyes and suddenly said, “Jingru, do you have someone in your heart? Let me guess, is it the boy named Liu in the front yard?”

Qin Jingru opened her mouth into an “O” shape when she heard this. “Aunt, you are too well-informed, aren’t you? I don’t remember telling anyone about this.”

Jia Zhang curled her lips in disdain and said, “Do I need to ask specifically? Your little tricks are exactly the same as your sister’s, but she knew how to hide her shortcomings and didn’t make a big fuss. You, on the other hand, are better. Who in the whole courtyard doesn’t know your little tricks now?”

“What? My sister, she also likes him? Then why is she involved with that guy named Li?” Qin Jingru was so shocked when she heard this.

Jia Zhang looked around and confirmed that the three children were no longer at the table, so she lowered her voice and said, “Do you think your sister was willing to be with Li Huaide…? In fact, it was because that Liu looked down on her, and in the end, she had no choice but to…”

“Auntie kindly advises you to stop daydreaming. That Liu guy is as hard as stone. How can he know how to be gentle with women? What’s more, he has seen so many beauties. How can he look up to a little girl from the countryside like you?”

“Just stay in our house for a few years and marry the right man if you find one…”

Qin Jingru looked indignant and said, “I look down on ordinary men. If I were to marry, I would marry someone like Brother Liu…” After saying that, she raised her chin slightly, showing her pride.

Jia Zhang looked at Qin Jingru, who had no idea of ​​her own limitations, and secretly despised her. “It’s hard to persuade a damned ghost with kind words. Humph, you little bitch, you’ll cry someday!”

(End of this chapter)