Chapter Thirty-Five: Tearing Off His Disguise

“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine!” No man could tolerate such an accusation!

After saying this, Shazhu deliberately thrust his hips forward. “If it weren’t for the place we’re in, I’d whip it out and scare you to death, believe it or not?”

Oh, give it a rest. Chen Liang didn’t even want to deflate his ego, let alone scare him. He remembered when Chen the Fool used to go to the bathhouse—no one dared come within two meters of him. Why? They couldn’t handle feeling so inferior!

And yet here Shazhu was, trying to show off in front of me. If I took mine out, it’d be twice as big as yours!

“Look at you. Since that’s not the issue, then what’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you, Shazhu. Honestly, your circumstances are among the best in the whole city. Think about it: you make thirty-seven and a half yuan a month, you have two rooms, you’re a cook so you never have to worry about food, and you have no parents to support. When your sister gets married, it’ll just be the two of you left at home. These are all your advantages!” Chen Liang couldn’t help but analyze things patiently for him. “With all these good conditions, why are you fixated on that widow Qin? What’s so special about her? She’s not even as good as a fresh young maiden!”

“What’s so special about her? I haven’t even touched her! It’s the old man in our courtyard—he’s the one who keeps telling me about all the hardships the Jia family faces. If I didn’t help them, they probably couldn’t even survive!” Shazhu was frustrated as he explained his reasons.

Well, that explains why Shazhu changed his mind so quickly. So the real root is here!

Chen Liang glanced at Shazhu and decided to give him a little spoiler.

To be honest, other than exposing his true colors later in the series, Yi Zhonghai was actually rather decent in the earlier episodes. At least in Shazhu’s eyes, he was a moral role model. But if that golden veneer wasn’t stripped away, Shazhu was doomed to be exploited by him for life.

“That old man? He’s not as good as you think!” Chen Liang pronounced his judgment, making sure Shazhu took it to heart.

“Hey! Chen Liang, you can’t talk about him like that. He’s always been good to me!” Shazhu snapped back, clearly emotional.

This was exactly the right move—Shazhu getting worked up meant the words had hit home.

“What are you getting so bent out of shape for? Let me finish, will you?” Chen Liang pressed on, determined to deepen the impression.

“You say that old man’s a good person? I really don’t buy it. What’s so good about him, exactly?” Chen Liang fired off three consecutive questions, not waiting for an answer. “Shazhu, we’ve been neighbors for years. Everyone knows what goes on in your courtyard, even if you don’t say a word.”

“Let me ask you: Yi Zhonghai wants you to help the Jia family, but what about himself? He’s an eighth-level worker like my father, making ninety-nine yuan a month! My family has so many mouths to feed, and my father can’t even spend all his wages. Yi Zhonghai has no children, so where does all his money go?”

“See? Even you don’t know where his money goes! That’s why I say he doesn’t have good intentions. Making ninety-nine a month, but instead of supporting the Jia family himself, he pushes you to do it! What does that tell you?”

“And, Shazhu, I remember there’s a really poor household in your courtyard—a grandmother raising her grandson alone. Is that right?” Chen Liang’s words stirred up a storm in Shazhu’s heart. When asked about his courtyard, Shazhu nodded, “Yes, Old Lady Han in the middle courtyard lives with her grandson.”

“So when Yi Zhonghai told you about the hardships of the Jia family, did he ever mention Old Lady Han? He wants you to help the Jia family, but why not that grandmother? No matter how tough things are for the Jia family, they can’t be worse off than that poor household, right?”

“Let me put it this way: your courtyard has a terrible reputation in our alleyways! Do you know why Yi Zhonghai only wants you to help the Jia family? I’ll tell you—because that ill-fated son of the Jia family was his apprentice. The Jias are supposed to take care of him in his old age, get it?”

“You really are a fool if you think he’s a good man. And don’t get upset yet! Wait until I finish my last point and you’ll know why I’m calling you an idiot!”

Chen Liang paused for breath, his mouth dry from talking so much. After swallowing, he went on, “Shazhu, when your father ran off with the widow, did he ever say anything to you?”

Hearing this, Shazhu thought for a moment and shook his head. “That was so long ago, I don’t remember.”

“Oh, for crying out loud, do you live your whole life with your head in the chamber pot?” Chen Liang couldn’t help but jab at him again. “You never bothered to ask the neighbors if your father left any instructions before he left?”

He Da Qing, when he ran off, had actually made all the arrangements for his children—otherwise, he wouldn’t have come slinking back in the series, shamelessly asking Shazhu to support him in his old age.

“Why would I ask about him? No father of mine would do that!” At this, Shazhu got worked up, launching into a tirade.

“Shazhu, are you really this dense? Did you really think your father left without doing anything for you?” Chen Liang felt he was hopeless.

“Yes, your father did abandon you and your sister for a widow, but he made sure everything was set up for you before he left,” Chen Liang looked at Shazhu, who clearly didn’t believe him.

“Don’t tell me you think you got into the canteen at Red Star Steel Works as an adult because of Yi Zhonghai?” Chen Liang cursed, “Even I know this, and you have no clue?”

Unbelievable.

“Shazhu, you really are a genius—deserved to be sold out and still help count the money for the seller!”

Seeing Shazhu’s shattered worldview, Chen Liang continued: “After I finished my apprenticeship in wrestling, I kept an eye on you because I wanted to see you trip up. You got into the factory entirely because your father arranged it for you—it had nothing to do with Yi Zhonghai!”

“And after your father left, he sent ten yuan a month to Yi Zhonghai. I bet your muddled head didn’t know that either?” Chen the Fool really didn’t know this, but with his omniscient perspective, Chen Liang exposed it directly.

After spilling everything he knew in one breath, Shazhu was completely stunned. The man he had seen as a father figure, Yi Zhonghai, was now in pieces thanks to Chen Liang’s revelations. He felt like his entire life had been a joke.

“Chen Liang, is everything you said true?” Shazhu’s voice was low, his whole body like a volcano about to erupt.

“I can’t vouch for everything, but your job at the factory and the money your father sent every month—those things are all on record. If it’s not true, it couldn’t possibly be faked!”