Now that Sha Zhu has changed, he has seen the true nature of the Deaf Old Lady.
The Old Lady was kind to Sha Zhu, but that was just a means to control him. If she truly wanted to be good to Sha Zhu, she wouldn't have helped Yi Zhonghai come up with ideas to trick Sha Zhu.
Liu Haizhong passed away in 1990. Before he died, he had a conversation with He Daqing and told He Daqing about Sha Zhu supporting the people in the Courtyard in their old age.
Yi Zhonghai told Liu Haizhong that at the end of 1965, the Deaf Old Lady suggested to Yi Zhonghai that Sha Zhu was the only person in the entire Siheyuan (Courtyard) who could support them, these elders, in their old age.
He Daqing had told Sha Zhu, but it was useless. Sha Zhu didn't care at all at the time.
But upon closer inspection, one can discern the conspiracy within.
What time was the end of 1965?
Sha Zhu took the blame for Bang梗 and became a notorious chicken thief in the vicinity. His reputation was already bad, and now it was even worse. It could be said that at that time, Sha Zhu had basically given up hope of finding a wife.
It just so happened that at that time, the Deaf Old Lady and Yi Zhonghai had already discussed and agreed to make Sha Zhu their caretaker for their old age.
If there was no connection between these events, it would be impossible.
What they wanted was an obedient Sha Zhu who would wholeheartedly take care of them. And a Sha Zhu who couldn't find a wife was the most satisfying Sha Zhu to them.
As for the Deaf Old Lady later introducing Lou Xiao'e to Sha Zhu, that was just a means to counterbalance Qin Huairu.
After the chicken-stealing incident, Sha Zhu's thoughts were firmly controlled by Qin Huairu. Without specific instructions, Sha Zhu wouldn't even think of the Deaf Old Lady in the Back Courtyard.
In 1966, Sha Zhu met the noble person in his life - Da Lingdao (Big Leader). He went to Da Lingdao (Big Leader)'s house multiple times to cook, and each time he brought back several lunchboxes of meat dishes, but the Deaf Old Lady didn't get a single bite.
Finally, the Deaf Old Lady was forced to a point where she had no choice but to trick Lou Xiao'e into staying at her house and then used the excuse of cooking for Lou Xiao'e to once again enjoy Sha Zhu's cooking.
Thinking of these things, Sha Zhu felt he should stay away from the Deaf Old Lady.
The Deaf Old Lady in front of him hasn't yet formed the terrifying 'Elderly Care Group' with Yi Zhonghai that strikes fear into everyone in the Siheyuan (Courtyard), but there is already a trend of them merging.
For the past year, the Deaf Old Lady's daily needs, including eating, drinking, and using the restroom, have mostly been taken care of by First Aunt.
The trend of two childless households huddling together for warmth is unstoppable.
Getting involved with the Deaf Old Lady means getting involved with Yi Zhonghai, and getting involved with Yi Zhonghai inevitably means involving the Jia family and all the elderly people in the entire Siheyuan (Courtyard).
Then Sha Zhu's fate will most likely return to its original state.
If that were to happen, He Yuzhu would rather smash his head against a block of tofu and die.
Therefore, facing the Deaf Old Lady's concern, Sha Zhu showed no reaction at all. Instead, he said to He Daqing: "Dad, I'm going to work."
He Daqing looked at his son with some surprise, always feeling that something was off, but couldn't find the reason.
What he disliked most was Sha Zhu's contact with the Deaf Old Lady. That old hag was always staring at the lunchbox in his hand.
If he gave the lunchbox to the old hag, what would he eat?
"Go ahead!"
After getting He Daqing's permission, Sha Zhu immediately jogged away from the Middle Courtyard.
The Deaf Old Lady's face immediately darkened as she watched this scene, scaring He Yushui into hugging He Daqing's thigh tightly.
He Daqing felt his precious daughter's fear, looked down at her, and gently said: "Don't be afraid, come home with Dad. We'll get ready, and you'll go to work with Dad."
He Yushui nodded obediently and held He Daqing's clothes as she went home.
Seeing this, the Deaf Old Lady became even angrier, her lips moved, and she cursed softly, calling them ungrateful and taking kindness for granted.
Sha Zhu ran all the way, and only when he passed the breakfast stall did he remember that he hadn't eaten breakfast. Smelling the aroma from the breakfast stall, his stomach rumbled.
People at this time rarely ate breakfast to save money. But as someone from a later generation, he didn't have this habit.
He fumbled in his pocket, found no money, and had to give up on the fried dough sticks and steamed buns. He took out a piece of chocolate from his space and quickly put it into his mouth.
Soon, he arrived at the Emei Restaurant and met his former master, Wu Bangming.
This master, to be honest, was very good to Sha Zhu. Aside from being strict with Sha Zhu, he had no other faults.
Sha Zhu's temper was too prone to offending people. If he wasn't strict, he wouldn't feel confident letting him graduate. Doing so was also teaching Sha Zhu how to be a person.
Unfortunately, Wu Bangming didn't know that Sha Zhu lived among a group of people with ulterior motives, who constantly sowed discord between him and his master, ultimately leading to the master-disciple breakup.
"Master."
When Wu Bangming saw Sha Zhu, he asked: "You're a bit late today, did something happen?"
Sha Zhu directly pushed the blame onto He Daqing: "My dad drank last night and took his anger out on me, so I couldn't sleep until late into the night."
Wu Bangming snorted: "How old is your dad, and he's still so unreliable. When I get a chance, I'll teach him a good lesson. All right, go to work!"
Sha Zhu thought to himself, there won't be a chance in this life.
According to his memories from his previous life, He Daqing was going to leave for Baoding with White Widow in October. By the time he returned in 1986, Wu Bangming would have been dead for seven or eight years.
Although Sha Zhu knew He Daqing would go to Baoding, he didn't think of stopping He Daqing. Just as He Daqing didn't want another mother above him, how could Sha Zhu want another father above him?
He had hands, feet, a job, ability, and more importantly, he knew the future developments and had a cheat space. He didn't need He Daqing at all.
Even if He Daqing didn't leave, Sha Zhu would find a wife for He Daqing and make him a live-in son-in-law.
The schemes of those beasts in the Courtyard are actually not something to worry about too much, as long as I have no morals, they cannot morally blackmail me.
Sha Zhu was deceived by those people for many reasons.
The Deaf Old Lady's kindness, Yi Zhonghai's strictness, Qin Huairu's gentleness, one link after another. Not to mention Sha Zhu, even many people in the Rolling Mill and on the Neighborhood Office were deceived by them.
Didn't you see that later, when the Deaf Old Lady tried to tempt Sha Zhu with Lou Xiao'e, she didn't dare to completely fall out with Qin Huairu?
The Deaf Old Lady was well aware that their methods against Sha Zhu were a trinity, indispensable. Without Qin Huairu's honey trap, Sha Zhu would be seduced by other women. Once someone whispered in Sha Zhu's ear, her status as an 'outsider' grandmother would truly become that of an outsider.
Similarly, Qin Huairu also didn't dare to fall out with the Deaf Old Lady. Without the Deaf Old Lady's support, Sha Zhu would be an unbridled wild horse. Her sacrifice to control Sha Zhu would be great. At least, just holding hands wouldn't be enough to trick all of Sha Zhu's money and lunchboxes out of him.
Yi Zhonghai is the steering wheel that controls Sha Zhu, constantly keeping Sha Zhu on their predetermined track.
Sha Zhu now gives them no opportunities. Even if that legendary widow comes to the Siheyuan (Courtyard), she won't be able to stir up trouble.
You should know that the legendary widow only truly awakened after Jia Dongxu's death. When Jia Dongxu was alive, she could only quietly cultivate, drawing experience from Jia Zhangshi on how to be a widow.
Jia Zhangshi wouldn't teach her family secrets until Jia Dongxu passed away.
Another condition that is more favorable to Sha Zhu is that before the legendary widow started her 'dungeon', the target of the Elderly Care Group was Jia Dongxu. Yi Zhonghai and his wife, and the Deaf Old Lady, all believed that Jia Dongxu was the most suitable person to support them in their old age.
Sha Zhu was a casual move made by the Deaf Old Lady, a cook for her after Sha Zhu's culinary skills matured; he was a wallet found by Yi Zhonghai for the Jia family, as Yi Zhonghai was unwilling to spend money.