Jia Zhangshi had been staring at the window of the Jia family's house for a long time. She was usually lazy and prone to petty theft, but at this moment, she was already itching to do something.
She had already set her sights on the Sun family when they held their last banquet, but unfortunately, the Sun family had too many relatives and their house was too crowded, so they all came to the Intermediate People's Court, which didn't give her a chance to make a move.
Today is different at the Liu family's place; not many relatives have come, and they're all sitting at the Liu family's house! There should be an opportunity to make a move.
"Mom, you've been lying there watching since you got up this morning. What's so interesting about it? You don't even bother to look after your grandson."
Qin Huairu is pregnant again and is very sleepy. She lacks energy and her son is also very fussy, so she is not suitable to take care of the child for a long time. Therefore, her tone of voice is not very good.
Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi was displeased and was about to lash out, but seeing her daughter-in-law's protruding belly, she held back.
"Where did Dongxu go? Why isn't he helping to take care of the kids?"
"There's not much food left at home, so Dongxu went out to buy some early this morning."
Helpless, Jia Zhangshi could only take the child and walk outside, hoping to find an opportunity to gain something.
Once outside, Jia Zhangshi pretended to wander around, returning from the front yard to the middle yard, where she saw Sha Zhu chopping chickens and went over to him.
"Silly Zhu! He's busy chopping chicken! If you ask me, being a cook is better. Not only do you get to eat, but you also make money."
Sha Zhu had no liking for the overly familiar Jia Zhangshi. He didn't even raise his head and just grunted twice.
He wielded the cleaver in his hand with even more force, as if he had a grudge against the chopping board, chopping one after another, making the chopping board bang loudly.
Startled, Jia Zhangshi quickly stepped aside, mentally cursing every one of Sha Zhu's ancestors.
After being rebuffed, Jia Zhangshi tried to ingratiate herself with the helper, but did the helper even know who she was? They were busy with their own affairs and didn't have time for her nonsense.
Jia Zhangshi was at her wit's end. She was disliked everywhere she went, so she could only move a small stool to her doorstep and wait for an opportunity.
It is said that opportunity favors the prepared mind, and indeed, the opportunity that Jia Zhangshi had been waiting for finally arrived.
The reason was that Liu Haizhong's relatives came to visit, and the couple went to the front gate to greet the guests.
Just then, Sha Zhu went to the toilet, and two helpers squatted on the ground with their backs to Jia Zhangshi, busy washing vegetables.
Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi knew she couldn't wait any longer. Time was fleeting, and if she missed this opportunity, she might not have another chance today.
Jia Zhangshi put down the child in her arms, looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention, quickly went to the vegetable counter, picked up a piece of meat, stuffed it into her clothes, and then pretended to be nonchalant as she returned to her own door.
Upon returning to the doorway, Jia Zhangshi did not rush home, but instead spoke loudly.
"Oh dear! My dear grandson misses his mother. Come on, let me take you home to find your mother."
After saying this, he took the child and headed home.
After returning home, Jia Zhangshi quickly closed the door, took out the meat from her clothes, hid it under the cupboard, and only then did she feel relieved and reopen the door.
A little while later, Sha Zhu returned from the toilet. After washing his hands, he was about to cut the meat when he discovered that the meat on the counter was gone. Sha Zhu was shocked. That piece of meat was quite large! It weighed nearly 2 pounds. How could it just disappear like that?
Helpless, Sha Zhu could only ask the helper who was squatting on the ground washing vegetables.
"You two, do you see the meat on the counter?"
Upon hearing the question, both helpers stood up, shook their heads, and indicated that they did not know.
Sha Zhu had no choice but to go to Liu Haizhong. He couldn't conjure up such a large piece of meat.
So, Sha Zhu immediately went to the backyard and arrived at Liu Haizhong's house.
Seeing that Liu Haizhong was with the guests, he could only call out from outside the door.
"Second Uncle, come out for a moment, I have something to tell you."
"They're here, they're here."
Hearing Sha Zhu's shout, Liu Haizhong quickly went out the door.
"Silly Zhu, is something missing?"
"Second Uncle, we lack nothing, except..."
Sha Zhu was a little embarrassed to say it out loud. He went to the toilet, and when he came back, the meat was gone. Who could he complain to?
"But what?" Liu Haizhong pressed.
"Second Uncle, I just went to the toilet, and when I came back, the meat on the counter was gone. What do you say...?"
Liu Haizhong couldn't listen anymore; his face turned ashen, and he was on the verge of exploding.
Who exactly is it?
They must have a death wish to steal from him, even stealing from his bangs! On such a wonderful day, aren't they just deliberately making things difficult for him?
"Let's go take a look."
Knowing he was in the wrong, Sha Zhu silently followed Liu Haizhong. The two arrived at the central courtyard and saw two helpers. Liu Haizhong asked them questions.
"Who came here just now?"
When the master asked them questions, the two helpers began to recall. Soon, one of the helpers remembered something.
"Master Liu! I remember now, a short, fat woman came by just now and we chatted for a bit."
"She also had a child with her. She was chatting with Master He just now, but Master He didn't seem to pay attention to her."
A helper standing nearby added.
Before the two finished speaking, Sha Zhu already knew who it was, but Liu Haizhong still didn't.
"Silly Zhu, who are they talking about?"
"Second Uncle, Madam Jia came by earlier, but I don't know exactly who took this piece of meat."
Sha Zhu guessed that the meat was most likely stolen by Jia Zhangshi, but without evidence, he couldn't make things up. He left the rest to Liu Haizhong to judge for himself.
Does the fringe still need further analysis at this point?
He has confirmed it; besides Jia Zhangshi, who else in this courtyard could do such a thing?
Liu Haizhong, finally finding an outlet for his anger, roared at the Jia family's gate.
"Jia Zhangshi, get out here right now."
The roar from Liu Haizhong echoed throughout the entire compound, drawing crowds of onlookers to the central courtyard, some even bringing stools and sunflower seeds.
Qin Huairu, who had just fallen asleep, was also startled awake, cursing inwardly, "What kind of madness is this Liu Haizhong having now!" Little did she know that this whole thing was caused by her family.
"Jia Zhangshi, what are you still dawdling about? Get out here right now!"
Seeing that the Jia family didn't react, Liu Haizhong shouted again.
Didn't Jia Zhangshi hear that?
Of course not, I heard it the first time, but Jia Zhangshi didn't know how to go out and confront them.
Thieves often have a gambler's mentality. When they steal, they don't know fear or how many loopholes exist; they only seek momentary pleasure.
Once the theft was complete and the excitement subsided, the fear lingered, especially when confronted by the thief, leaving them feeling utterly lost and helpless.
That's exactly the situation Jia Zhangshi is in now; she's sitting alone on a stool, looking completely lost and helpless.
After Qin Huairu got off the kang (a heated brick bed), she saw Jia Zhangshi's appearance and understood that Liu Haizhong had come to cause trouble for her mother-in-law.
However, she was still unaware of the full story.
What exactly did Jia Zhangshi do to make Liu Haizhong so angry?
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