My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 152

The affairs of the Fan family were unknown to those living in the distant compound.

However, that didn't stop Bai Fendou from being in high spirits. After all, he hadn't gone in vain today—throwing Old Lady Fan into the manure pit was enough to make him happy. Human happiness can be so simple. Bai Fendou was full of energy, brimming with pride.

He Lan was also all smiles, feeling nothing but joy.

When she was happy, she liked to find something to do. On this summer evening, while everyone else was cooling off, she was busy cleaning the windows.

Several men in the compound couldn't help but look at Bai Fendou with envy. This guy, who wasn't much of a man in their eyes, seemed to have all the luck. He Lan was not only good-looking but also hardworking. While everyone else was chatting, she was diligently working.

Bai Fendou felt his spirits soar. He glanced smugly at Zhou Qun and then at the Zhuang brothers, convinced that he was the happiest man in the compound. None of their wives could compare to his.

He held his chin high, exuding arrogance.

Zhou Qun understood Bai Fendou's feelings all too well. He snorted and turned his face away.

He didn't see what Bai Fendou had to boast about. Bai didn't even have a child, while Zhou had a son. Did Zhou brag about it? Not at all. He had to set a good example for his child.

Otherwise, he thought silently, looking toward the Su family, he might end up like Su Jinlai.

Zhou Qun snorted again but said nothing.

As for Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zhixi, the two brothers were deep in a discussion about chickens laying eggs—yes, they were really talking about that. Their chickens had been laying eggs quite well lately, and it was worth discussing.

One had to admit, they were just bored.

The compound was bustling with activity in the evening. Everyone was gathered together, gossiping about this and that. Just then, a young boy entered the compound. Zhao Guihua was the first to notice and asked, "Kid, who are you looking for?"

The boy, about the same age as Jinlai, around ten years old, looked around and said, "I'm looking for Bai Fendou."

His gaze finally landed on Bai Fendou, and he recognized him. "Uncle Fendou, I'm Guan Guiling's son. Do you remember me?"

Bai Fendou had visited Guan Guiling's house many times during their ambiguous relationship, always helping out with chores. He recognized the boy immediately and said, "I know you. What is it?"

The boy replied matter-of-factly, "My mom just gave birth, but we don't have enough money for the hospital bills. She said you should help her."

Bai Fendou was stunned. "What? Help her? Why should I help her?"

He thought about how Guan Guiling had broken off their engagement and ruined his reputation, and his mood soured. "Don't come to me. I have nothing to do with your mom, and I can't help her."

The boy was displeased. "How can you be so unkind? You pretended to be a good person in front of my mom. She thought you were kind, selfless, and above petty concerns. But now you're being so stingy. My mom is in a tough spot right now. What's wrong with helping her?"

Everyone stared at the boy, feeling a bit shaken. How could he say such things with such confidence? It was just too much.

The boy continued, "Help my mom. She just had a baby boy. Don't you want a son? If you come and help, and if you do well, I'll convince her to give you a chance. My brother could even call you 'godfather.' Wouldn't that give you someone to take care of you in your old age?"

Bai Fendou frowned and quickly retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting? I have a wife and a child. Why would I want to raise your family's kid? And give me a chance? I don't need it. Get out of here. I don't want to see you. You're ridiculous."

Bai Fendou waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

What did he need a son for? He already had a daughter, and his little Qingqing was wonderful. Why would he raise someone else's child?

His little Qingqing even smiled at him.

Bai Fendou was utterly disgusted. "Go away. Go find someone else. I don't want to see your mom."

He Lan, who had been quietly cleaning the windows, let out a soft sigh of relief. She observed the boy, who was glaring at Bai Fendou, clearly upset that Bai hadn't taken the opportunity he'd offered.

The boy said, "You're not even a real man. Who would want you? My mom only offered to let you take care of my brother because of your past relationship..."

Before he could finish, Bai Fendou had had enough. He grabbed the boy, dragged him to the gate, and threw him out. "Get lost!"

The boy fell face-first into the dirt, stunned. "Bai Fendou, you jerk!"

Bai Fendou sneered. He thought about all the times he'd bought meat for Guan Guiling's family during their relationship, and now it felt like he'd been feeding it to dogs. What kind of people were they? He stood with his hands on his hips, furious. "Get out of here, or I'll beat you up. Who do you think you are, coming to my door? Do you think I'm an idiot? I'm not going to put up with this. Take a good look at what kind of family you have. Pah! Get out! Your mom badmouthed me behind my back, and I haven't even settled that score yet. How dare you come here? Do you think Bai Fendou is an easy target? You little brat, get lost!"

The boy, being just a kid, didn't dare to confront Bai Fendou directly. He could only shout, "You eunuch! You're just a big eunuch!"

Bai Fendou raised his fist, and the boy immediately ran off, sticking out his tongue.

Bai Fendou muttered, "You little brat. Just wait, I'll deal with you..."

The boy ran off, and Bai Fendou didn't bother chasing him. He stormed back inside, grumbling, "That family really thinks I'm a fool."

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled. "It doesn't matter if they think you're a fool, as long as you don't think you're one."

Bai Fendou tossed his head. "That's not going to happen!"

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, considering Bai Fendou's words. He realized that Bai wasn't lying. If Bai Fendou hadn't met He Lan, he might have fallen for the boy's scheme. Bai wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and had always been desperate for a wife and child, making him an easy target for manipulation.

But now things were different. Bai had developed feelings for He Lan after living with her for several months. He had watched their daughter, Qingqing, grow from a frail little thing into a healthy child. He had poured a lot of emotion into raising Qingqing and truly saw her as his own daughter.

In this situation, there was no need for him to seek out another child elsewhere.

Any child outside his family would still have their own parents, and they'd just be using him.

If he had acted impulsively, he might have been deceived. But now that he had a family, he was determined to protect his own household and was thinking clearly.

Bai Fendou vented, "What's wrong with Guan Guiling? Does she really think I'm an idiot? She has a baby and comes to me for help? It's not even my kid. Does she think sweet talk will make me hand over money? I'd rather spend that money on treats for my Qingqing."

He Lan breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside Bai Fendou.

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Exactly. Besides, the kid has a father and mother."

Bai Fendou slapped his thigh. "That's right. He has parents. Why should I get involved?"

Everyone found the situation baffling, wondering what Guan Guiling was thinking. Zhou Qun, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "Wait a minute, Bai Fendou. That Guan Guiling should have given birth a while ago. The timeline doesn't add up."

You see, when you're a seasoned gossip, you notice every little detail.

Most people wouldn't have picked up on it.

Bai Fendou was puzzled. "Huh?"

Zhou Qun explained, "Think about it. You met her at the matchmaking event, right? She was already pregnant then. How long has it been since then? That was last year, and now it's August. What is she, pregnant with Nezha? How is she just giving birth now?"

Bai Fendou exclaimed, "Oh, you're right!"

Everyone was a bit confused. The dates didn’t add up; they definitely didn’t add up. There was a gap of several months in between. No one’s child could possibly be pregnant for fourteen or fifteen months before giving birth. He scratched his head and said, “What’s going on here?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “What else could it be? She’s definitely trying to scam you for money!”

He looked at Bai Fendou sympathetically, feeling genuinely puzzled. Why did these kinds of things always seem to happen to Bai Fendou? Was the word “gullible” written all over his face? It seemed like all sorts of shady characters were drawn to him.

Zhuang Zhixi said sincerely, “Bai Fendou, your life is truly different from most people’s. Look at you—your life is so full of ups and downs, so dramatic.”

Bai Fendou: “…”

He paused for a moment and said, “That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

Zhuang Zhixi smiled: “I’m just telling the truth.”

As they were talking, the boy returned. Bai Fendou glared at him, grabbed a slipper, and was about to chase after him. The boy shouted, “Don’t come near me! I’m not here for you. I’m looking for Chen Yuan. I’m looking for Chen Yuan…”

Everyone fell silent.

Although they had already suspected that Chen Yuan was the one who had scammed Bai Fendou, this pretty much confirmed it.

“I’m looking for Chen Yuan.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Chen Yuan isn’t here. He’s been staying at his parents’ place for several months now and hasn’t come back.”

“Huh?” The boy was displeased. “Then where do his parents live?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “I don’t know.”

“How can you not know? Are you just refusing to tell me?”

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow and immediately ignored the kid.

Hmph, kids from outside were definitely not as cute as the ones from their own neighborhood. What a bunch of brats.

“Hey, I’m talking to you!”

“What kind of manners does this kid have? No sense of respect at all. What kind of upbringing is this? Go away, don’t come into our courtyard. You’re just annoying.” Old Lady Wang spoke up. At this moment, she felt a bit relieved. Thankfully, Guan Guiling had called off the wedding back then. Otherwise, if she had brought this unruly kid into their courtyard, it would have been a real headache.

Managing this courtyard was already hard enough.

The boy glared at everyone defiantly, but seeing that no one was paying him any attention, he snorted heavily and cursed, “You bunch of losers!”

“Hey, you little brat! I think you need a good beating to learn some respect…”

Several men stood up, and the boy, realizing the situation was turning against him, quickly scampered off.

“What a brat.”

“Thank goodness he’s not from our courtyard.”

“Speaking of Chen Yuan, he really has too much time on his hands. Back then, he meddled in your relationship with Guan Guiling…” At this point, the speaker glanced at Bai Fendou and stopped himself. It wasn’t appropriate to bring up those old matters, especially since Bai Fendou was already married.

Bai Fendou, however, didn’t seem to mind. He said, “Looking back now, Chen Yuan messing things up for me was actually a good thing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met He Lan.”

He Lan blushed slightly and smiled softly.

Zhao Guihua: “That’s true. Living a good life together is what matters most.”

Then Zhou Qun chimed in.

He said, “Oh, by the way, Ming Mei, you’re colleagues with Guan Guiling, right? You should know when she gave birth, shouldn’t you?”

Ming Mei, who had been named, shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m not close to her, and we don’t work in the same building. I have no idea when she gave birth.”

Everyone sighed in disappointment. They had hoped to find out.

Although Ming Mei didn’t know, she decided she would go and ask around tomorrow. After all, who didn’t love a bit of gossip?

The incident with Guan Guiling borrowing money was just a small episode in their courtyard, but the next day at work, Ming Mei found out that it was already old news at their workplace. And the story was even more convoluted and bizarre than she had imagined.

This was partly because Ming Mei was still on maternity leave, going home every morning and afternoon to nurse her baby, so she had been out of the loop.

As soon as Ming Mei started asking around, someone in her office immediately filled her in.

“You didn’t know? Guan Guiling gave birth a long time ago, like three or four months ago.”

Ming Mei: “…” So it wasn’t a recent birth.

She said, “I never saw her going home to nurse the baby, so I thought I was the only one on maternity leave in our unit.”

“Guan Guiling doesn’t need to go home. Her child was given away right after birth.” The colleague paused and added, “She told everyone the baby didn’t survive, but in reality, she gave it away. It was a boy, so there were plenty of people willing to take him. Everyone knows about this, Ming Mei. You’re really behind on the news. This happened months ago. You’re way out of the loop.”

Ming Mei: “…”

She scratched her head and said, “I’ve been so busy with my baby.”

“Isn’t your mother-in-law helping out?”

Ming Mei nodded. “Yes, but I can’t just leave everything to her. It’s my baby, after all.”

Everyone laughed, and one of the older colleagues, Sister Zhang, said, “You’re really out of touch. The latest news isn’t even about the baby anymore. It’s about her ex-husband. Guan Guiling’s ex-husband is sick again and is currently hospitalized. His health isn’t great, and it’s costing a lot of money. She even went to our boss crying, hoping the unit would organize a donation.”

Ming Mei: “But the unit didn’t organize one, right?”

“Right, they didn’t. The boss didn’t agree. Their income is above the minimum living standard in the city. How can we justify a donation? Besides, who’s doing well these days? It’s not like this is a one-time thing. If we donate this time, what about next time? What if someone else has a similar situation? Should we keep donating? If it becomes a regular thing, how will anyone else manage? And besides, she’s divorced. That’s her ex-husband. Asking the unit to donate money for her ex-husband—it just doesn’t make sense.”

Ming Mei: “…”

Now she understood why Guan Guiling’s son had come to their courtyard the day before.

Curious, she asked, “So how bad is Guan Guiling’s ex-husband’s condition?”

“He’s always sick. He’s in and out of the hospital all the time and needs long-term medication. That’s why the boss didn’t dare to organize a donation. If it were a one-time thing, they might have helped. But this is an ongoing issue. If we donate this time, what about the next time he’s hospitalized? And the time after that? It’s just not feasible to keep donating.”

Ming Mei nodded softly, understanding the situation.

It was a classic case of helping in an emergency but not with chronic problems.

If it were a one-time thing, everyone would be willing to help. But this wasn’t a one-time issue, and everyone had their own families to take care of.

“Oh, by the way, why did you suddenly ask about her?”

Ming Mei: “I just remembered she was pregnant too, but I never saw her going home to nurse the baby, so I was curious.”

Ming Mei didn’t mention the incident with Guan Guiling’s son coming to Bai Fendou for money, wanting to preserve some dignity for the family.

“Guan Guiling… she’s not all there, you know? I heard she’s pregnant again…”

“What?!” Ming Mei, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly spat it out. “She’s pregnant again?”

Sister Zhang nodded. “Yes, a couple of days ago, she was throwing up like crazy in the cafeteria. I could tell right away she was pregnant, and others noticed too. She didn’t deny it.”

Ming Mei: “…”

She scratched her head again, messing up her hair until it looked like a bird’s nest. She just couldn’t wrap her head around it.

She said, “But… she’s divorced.”

“Yeah, but she and her ex-husband are still close. Even though they’re divorced, they’re still together. You know how it is with men and women…”

Ming Mei: “…”

Oh…

She felt like she was a bit naive.

What kind of mess was this?

“But… isn’t she afraid of getting caught? She’s an unmarried woman. This counts as promiscuity.”

“I heard she’s planning to remarry her ex-husband soon.”

Ming Mei: “…”

She had always thought their courtyard was a hotbed of gossip, but it seemed their workplace was no different. Guan Guiling was truly a character. Her expression twisted in confusion—she just couldn’t understand it.

She remembered what the doctor had told her when she was in the hospital: even if she wanted to have another child, she should wait two or three years to let her body recover. Having children too frequently was harmful to a woman’s health.

Ming Mei: “Guan Guiling…”

After a pause, she really didn’t know what to say and could only fall silent.

“It’s true that right after giving birth, it’s the easiest time to get pregnant again. Guan Guiling calculated the days, and it was exactly that time…” Sister Zhang continued to chatter on.

At this moment, another woman chimed in, “She couldn’t even afford to raise the last one she had, and now she’s pregnant again. If she has another, won’t it be the same? She shouldn’t have gotten pregnant.”

“Well, it’s not like she can just decide not to be pregnant. The couple has a good relationship.”

Ming Mei: “…”

The number of times Ming Mei had been left speechless today surpassed the past month combined.

What kind of situation was this?

She clicked her tongue in disbelief, feeling like she had once again encountered someone extraordinary.

Because of Guan Guiling’s actions, Ming Mei had been pondering about her all day, and even as she left work, she couldn’t stop marveling. What amazed her even more was how fertile Guan Guiling was—one after another. The last person she knew who was this prolific was Wang Zizhen’s mother.

Ming Mei knew that Wang Zizhen’s mother, due to frequent childbirths, had aged prematurely and was now physically weak.

She pursed her lips, determined not to end up like that.

Despite being shocked all day, Ming Mei hurried home after work. She had agreed with He Chen yesterday that he would likely come over today. After all, with a guest visiting, Ming Mei didn’t want to delay.

She rode her bike home, and as soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw He Chen sitting there. Even Zhuang Zhixi had already returned.

Zhuang Zhixi: “Honey, you’re back?”

He stood up and took Ming Mei’s hand, leading her to sit under the eaves. “I came back early from work today and ran into He Chen in the alley. I immediately knew he must be coming to our place, and sure enough, he was.”

He Chen smiled. “What a coincidence.”

Ming Mei grinned. “Why didn’t you go inside?”

“We just came out. It’s cooler outside,” He Chen said, quite at ease. “Besides, your little one wanted to come out too, so I followed. Kids are so much fun.”

Ming Mei: “You should say that in front of your mom. By the way, how’s the matchmaking going?”

He Chen: “I met one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Neither worked out.”

Zhao Guihua brought out some tea and said, “A fine young man like He Chen won’t have trouble finding a partner. Good looks, a decent family, and a respectable job—those are great qualities. You can find someone whenever you want, as long as it’s what you truly desire.”

He Chen: “That’s true, but my mom doesn’t see it that way. She thinks if I don’t get married soon, I’ll never find a wife.”

He Chen was exhausted from this trip back. In the past, his parents had always tried to set him up with Ming Mei. But then he quickly enlisted in the military, and Ming Mei swiftly got married through a matchmaking arrangement. His parents were left scrambling.

It had been three years since he last returned, and he had thought everything would be calm by now, that his parents would stop meddling. But to his surprise, the old couple had become even more anxious.

Of course, the main culprit behind their urgency was Ming Mei.

Their reasoning was simple: Ming Mei already had children, while He Chen was still single. How could that be? Starting from the same point, Ming Mei had already lapped him twice, and they weren’t happy about it. They felt their son was falling behind.

He glanced at Ming Mei and said, “You’ve really caused me a lot of trouble.”

Ming Mei widened her eyes. “How is this my fault?”

He Chen: “Your parents keep bragging about you having twins. My parents are frantic, thinking I’m some kind of slacker.”

Ming Mei burst out laughing. “So what if you’re behind? Why are you being so competitive about it?”

Seeing how open and comfortable Ming Mei and He Chen were with each other, Zhuang Zhixi felt even more at ease. He hadn’t really been worried before, but since they had grown up together, he couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit jealous.

Not jealous of anyone trying to set them up—he wasn’t foolish enough to be bothered by that. No, what he envied was that He Chen had gotten to grow up with Ming Mei.

Ming Mei must have been adorable as a child!

Curious, he asked, “Was Ming Mei cute when she was little?”

He ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Chen looked at Zhuang Zhixi in surprise. “You really see her through rose-colored glasses. Where exactly did you get the idea that Ming Mei was the cute type as a kid?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “I can see it from head to toe.”

He Chen: “…”

He finally understood why he and Ming Mei could never have been a couple, even though their parents had once entertained the idea. His parents had been particularly keen, but it just wasn’t meant to be. After all, he had seen too much of Ming Mei’s less-than-cute side.

And Ming Mei had seen too much of his less-than-manly side.

There was simply no spark between them.

But Zhuang Zhixi? He genuinely believed Ming Mei had been adorable as a child, something He Chen couldn’t wrap his head around.

He Chen’s expression must have been particularly telling, because Zhuang Zhixi asked, “What’s with that look? Do you know how jealous I am that you got to see my wife when she was all cute and tiny?”

He Chen’s face twisted as if he’d just swallowed a fly.

After a long pause, he finally said, “You know, back when we were kids, in our neighborhood, whether it was the older kids or the younger ones, we all called Ming Mei ‘Boss.’ Guess how fierce she was?”

Ming Mei snorted. “That’s because you were all too weak.”

Zhuang Zhixi nodded. “True, most men aren’t as strong as my wife. But who says being fierce isn’t cute? Feisty is adorable too.”

He Chen was at a loss for words. He couldn’t even argue with that. He pursed his lips, once again marveling at how love truly blinded people.

He said, “Ming Mei practiced martial arts as a kid. Back then, the kids from our compound often got into fights with kids from other compounds. Every time, Ming Mei would lead us to settle the score. She was famous in our area. I even have a relative who used to scare their kids by saying, ‘If you don’t stop crying, I’ll send you to play with Ming Mei.’”

Ming Mei let out a loud huff.

Zhuang Zhixi, however, remained calm. He smiled and said, “My wife is still adorable. A little warrior—she never bullied anyone unprovoked.”

“That’s true.”

But was a fierce girl really considered cute?

He Chen had already figured out that Zhuang Zhixi was an unabashed Ming Mei fanboy. No matter what flaw he pointed out, Zhuang Zhixi would find it endearing. He sighed, “Now I know why I can’t find a partner. I just can’t genuinely find a fierce girl cute.”

Ming Mei rolled her eyes dramatically. “Ungrateful! I even helped you back then.”

He Chen immediately turned sycophantic. “That’s why you’ll always be our Boss. Once the Boss, always the Boss. Our bond is pure.”

Ming Mei snorted again.

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled beside her, though he couldn’t resist pulling her closer by the shoulder. “My wife has always had a strong sense of justice.”

He Chen: “I guess that’s what love is.”

Despite this being his first time meeting Zhuang Zhixi, He Chen found him easy to talk to. The two hit it off right away. Zhuang Zhixi soon asked, “So, in the military, are the rules very strict?”

He Chen: “Of course. Our unit is even stricter than most.”

But he didn’t elaborate further.

“Why? Are you interested?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Not really. I’m actually asking for someone else. Say, if your unit received a report about someone with poor conduct, how would you handle it?”

He Chen raised an eyebrow. “We’d definitely investigate thoroughly and handle it based on the specifics.”

He added, “Do you know someone in that situation?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Yes. But her background isn’t great, and she never got a marriage certificate. I’m not sure if that would affect the judgment of the case.”

“It will. But as I said before, it depends on the specific situation and how different people handle it. However, just from what you’ve told me, I think her chances of success aren’t high. Although nowadays, many consider hosting a banquet as being married, officially, it still comes down to the marriage certificate. And if there’s a bad element involved, it’s even harder to prove. He could argue that he’s cutting ties with the bad elements. There’s no way around that, right? Unless there’s solid evidence of misconduct, but frankly, that kind of evidence is hard to come by.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “I understand.”

He Chen: “Generally speaking, when a report letter is received, it’s investigated from several angles… and when it comes to handling it, they also consider…”

He Chen clearly understood the process better than Zhuang Zhixi, and with this simple explanation, Zhuang Zhixi realized that Bai Fendou and He Lan’s attempt to expose Fan Jianguo’s character through official channels would be difficult. It’s like in local areas—many people cut ties with their parents or divorce their spouses just to avoid being implicated. So if Fan Jianguo made such a claim, He Lan would have no way to counter it.

“Alright, I get it.”

He Chen: “Do you need my help?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Not really.”

Although he had a sense of justice and wanted to help Fan Jianguo and He Lan, he wasn’t completely naive.

He smiled and said, “They’re just ordinary friends. I’m helping them gather some information, but I’m not going to take full responsibility for their situation. By the way, my brother-in-law is also in the military. He’s stationed on an island in the south. My sister has been living with him for years and hasn’t come back.”

“That’s how it is for us. Sometimes, we really have no control over our circumstances. I have a comrade who left home before his child was born, and by the time he returned, the kid was running around the village, asking, ‘Uncle, who are you looking for?’”

This was also why He Chen didn’t want to get married. Being separated like this made being a military wife too difficult.

He said, “Hey, do you know which island your brother-in-law is on? I’m also stationed in the south, and our area has several islands under its jurisdiction.”

Zhuang Zhixi gave an address, and He Chen exclaimed, “Oh, that’s not too far from me!”

He smiled and said, “I’m leaving next week. If you have anything you want to send over, let me know, and I’ll take it for you. My camp is in the same city as their island.”

“Ah.”

Not only Zhuang Zhixi but even Zhao Guihua was pleasantly surprised.

She said, “That’s wonderful! But won’t it trouble you?”

He Chen: “It’s no trouble at all. It’s just a small favor. If you feel bad about it, you can always see me off at the station.”

He was joking, but Zhao Guihua took it seriously: “Alright, let’s have the third son see you off.”

He Chen: “…That’s really not necessary.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “It’s fine.”

He Chen: “Then, let me tell you about the climate and customs over there?”

Zhao Guihua: “That’d be great, thank you!”

Actually, Zhao Guihua already knew what it was like over there—she had lived it in her previous life. But as a mother, even if she couldn’t know everything about her daughter’s life, hearing about the environment she was in brought her joy.

She kicked Zhuang Zhixi and said, “What are you still sitting around for? Go buy some ribs. Let’s make something nice to eat.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Why is it always me?”

He got up reluctantly, while Ming Mei giggled. Although He Chen had come to see her, his childhood friend, Zhao Guihua had practically taken over the conversation. Ming Mei didn’t mind, though, and sat nearby, smiling.

Old Lady Zhou peeked out from her door, puzzled. “Wasn’t he here to see the child?”

She added, confused, “Why is he chatting so warmly with Zhao Guihua?”

Jiang Lu: “Aunt Zhao is just a warm person.”

Old Lady Zhou: “Nonsense. She’s warm? You believe that? Look at how she beat up her in-laws. Warm? Hah.”

Jiang Lu: “Well, they brought it on themselves.”

Old Lady Zhou: “…That’s true.”

She sighed, “The Liang family is too spineless. They let Zhao Guihua storm into their home, and they didn’t even dare to make a peep.”

Jiang Lu didn’t respond, just held her child and watched the commotion.

As for Liang Meifen’s family, they had indeed wanted to go and cause trouble. Their home had been wrecked, and they’d been beaten up—they were fuming. But when it came to actually going over to settle the score, they kept passing the buck.

Old Man Liang wanted his wife, Old Lady Hu, to go alone.

Old Lady Hu wanted Old Man Liang, as the head of the family, to go by himself.

Young Liang hoped his parents would go together, while his wife wanted the old couple to take their son along, leaving her, the daughter-in-law, to hold down the fort at home.

In short, everyone wanted someone else to go, and no one wanted to go themselves. They’d been discussing it for days without reaching a decision. They even dragged Young Liang’s wife’s family into it.

Her family, seeing their daughter beaten up, was also indignant. But after hearing about the fierce confrontation that day, they weren’t eager to step forward either.

If this had been a good thing, they would’ve jumped at the chance. But since it wasn’t, they had to think twice.

This wasn’t going to work.

Their initial anger had waned, and now they had no confidence in reclaiming their dignity. They just cursed at home to vent, but when it came to actually doing something, they were too scared.

They wouldn’t dare. Even if they saw Zhao Guihua on the street, they’d probably hide.

Truly, they were bullies who only picked on the weak.

Liang Meifen had hesitated for a long time but finally sneaked back home to take a look. Although she didn’t actually go inside, she observed from a distance. Seeing that her parents and brother, despite their injuries, were still eating, drinking, and going to work as usual, she felt relieved.

As for showing herself to comfort them—that didn’t happen.

She didn’t dare to show her face. If she did, her parents would surely make a scene. Liang Meifen was truly afraid of that.

But since her parents were fine, she was in a good mood. Her job at the factory was going well, and sure enough, the gossip about her family died down after a couple of days, replaced by other rumors.

Her family’s drama was just a small matter.

Recently, the factory had been busy, and Liang Meifen had stayed late to work overtime. As she was walking back, she ran into Yu Laosan’s wife at the entrance of the alley. The woman was carrying a lunchbox, heading out. Although they lived in the same alley, the two families weren’t close.

Liang Meifen felt awkward seeing this woman, knowing she’d had an affair with her brother-in-law.

But Yu Laosan’s wife didn’t seem to care. She stopped when she saw Liang Meifen and greeted her: “Just getting off work?”

Liang Meifen: “Huh? Oh, yeah, just got off.”

“Has your factory been hiring any temporary workers lately?”

The Yu family only had one steady job—Yu Laosan’s older brother. The rest of them worked odd jobs.

Liang Meifen: “???”

She hesitated and said, “I haven’t heard anything. Isn’t your brother-in-law at the factory? You should ask him.”

Someone in their own family worked at the factory—why ask an outsider?

Yu Laosan’s wife sneered, “Him? If he’s not lying to us, that’s already a miracle. Expecting him to share such news? Don’t even think about it.” She looked at Liang Meifen and said, “We’re neighbors, after all. If you hear about any opportunities, you should let us know.”

Liang Meifen: “You’d better ask someone else. I’m just an apprentice. I don’t pay much attention to these things. Besides, the factory doesn’t hire temporary workers like that. I haven’t heard anything.”

She was genuinely confused but also didn’t want to get involved with the Yu family. They were not ordinary people. She took a step back and said, “I’d better go.”

Yu Laosan’s wife: “Hey, why are you avoiding me? I’m not going to eat you. Can’t you even pass on a message if you hear something? How selfish can you be?”

Liang Meifen forced an awkward smile: “You’d better ask someone else.”

She hurried away, and Yu Laosan’s wife spat at her retreating figure, muttering, “Completely unreliable.”

She carried a lunchbox, hurrying towards the hospital. Liang Meifen glanced back, saw the person leaving, pursed her lips, and quickened her pace. This woman had even gotten involved with her brother-in-law; Liang Meifen didn’t want to exchange a single word with her. If word got out that she was on good terms with Yu Laosan’s wife, how could she ever save face?

Wang Xiangxiu’s reputation wasn’t great in the past either, but at least she was a widow. This woman, however, had a husband and still flirted with his brother… That was even worse. It was truly hard to describe. Although the Yu family hadn’t spread the news, everyone in the alley knew that the two Yu brothers had gotten into a fight and were now both hospitalized.

What was the point of all this?

As Liang Meifen walked away, she didn’t notice an old woman with a gloomy expression emerging from the restroom. The old woman spat in Liang Meifen’s direction and muttered curses under her breath: “Your whole family has no conscience. Why hasn’t heaven struck you all down? You’re all a bunch of cursed scoundrels.”

This woman was none other than Old Lady Yu, Yu Baoshan’s mother.

Old Lady Yu’s favorite was her youngest son, Yu Baoshan, but now he had gotten into trouble, and she was filled with hatred. She loathed Bai Fendou and his father. If it weren’t for their fight with her son, he wouldn’t have been rendered infertile.

If he hadn’t been infertile, he wouldn’t have gone mad trying to take revenge on the Bai family.

If he hadn’t been trying to deal with the Bai family, he wouldn’t have been hiding in the restroom, only to be discovered by Zhuang Zhixi and struck by lightning, losing his life.

So, the root of all this was the Bai family. Her number one enemy was the Bai father and son.

Her second enemy was Zhuang Zhixi from the Zhuang family. If Zhuang Zhixi had just stayed put and let her son slash him a few times, none of this would have happened. But no, he had to run. If he hadn’t run around and climbed that wall, her son wouldn’t have swung his knife at the wall, cutting the wires and causing the lightning strike. So, Zhuang Zhixi was definitely her second enemy.

Her third enemy was Wang Xiangxiu. Since Wang Xiangxiu was hiding in the restroom with her son, she should have held him back and stopped him from chasing Zhuang Zhixi. But she didn’t. She was truly a despicable woman. Old Lady Yu squinted her triangular eyes, glaring at the courtyard with venomous curses in her heart.

She cursed all those who had harmed her son, Yu Baoshan, wishing them a miserable death.

These people didn’t deserve to live a good life.

She would curse them to death. She had been cursing the Bai father and son, and sure enough, Old Man Bai had died. She believed her curses were effective, and she would continue to curse. The next ones to die would be them, one by one!

They must die!

Old Lady Yu didn’t waste any time. She hurried home, determined to keep cursing.

Though she dared not take any direct action, she was skilled in the art of cursing.

Curse them to death!

As long as she kept at it, no one would escape her curses.

When she got home, she would make a few cloth dolls, write their names on them, and curse them. Then she’d see how much they suffered.

The old woman left with a smug expression, while Lan Sihai, who had just come out of the men’s restroom, overheard her muttering about cursing people to death. At his age, he had never seen anyone actually succeed in cursing someone to death. This old woman was truly out of her mind.

Lan Sihai shook his head. It was true what they said: the world was full of all kinds of strange people.

Luo Xiaohe had gone back to her parents’ home today, so Lan Sihai had bought dinner for himself. He wasn’t in a hurry to go home and cook, so he strolled leisurely. As he entered the courtyard, he noticed that the Zhuang family had guests over, and the atmosphere was lively. Ming Mei called out, “Grandpa!”

Lan Sihai: “Hmm?”

Ming Mei: “Look, do you still recognize him? This is He Chen.”

Lan Sihai glanced over and nodded: “I remember. When he was little, he stuffed peanuts up his nose and couldn’t get them out. We had to take him to the hospital to remove them.”

He Chen: “…”

Why bring up such an embarrassing memory?

It was always like this when meeting elders who knew you as a child. They’d inevitably bring up all the foolish things you did back then. It was mortifying.

Lan Sihai wasn’t particularly close to He Chen. He only interacted with the neighbors when visiting his daughter’s home. The reason he remembered this incident so clearly was that it was Lan Sihai who had given He Chen the peanuts. The kid had immediately gotten into trouble.

Lan Sihai found it quite amusing.

He remembered it vividly.

Zhao Guihua: “Uncle Lan, come join us for dinner. It’ll be more lively.”

Lan Sihai: “Sure, I’ll add a dish.”

He had bought dinner too, so he brought it over.

“That’s great!”

The courtyard was bustling with activity. Wang Xiangxiu glanced outside, swallowing hard at the aroma wafting through the air. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “Let’s fry some eggs too.”

Yinlai and Tonglai’s eyes lit up, and they were thrilled.

Wang Xiangxiu’s family didn’t eat as well as they used to, but it wasn’t too bad. She mostly ate coarse grains, but the children still had a fair amount of fine grains. Tonglai sweetly said, “Mom, you’re the best mom. No one is better than you.”

Wang Xiangxiu smiled: “You know that, don’t you? I don’t ask for much. I just hope you’ll grow up to be successful. Study hard, and when the time comes, you can take over my job at the factory. With a good education, you can work in the office. Look at Uncle Zhuang Zhixi. He graduated from high school, which set him apart. That’s why he could work in the propaganda department. Look at Bai Fendou. He didn’t even finish elementary school, so he has to work in the workshop. Workshop work is tiring and dirty. I want you to have a bright future.”

Tonglai said sweetly, “I’ll study hard and become a leader in the office, so I can give you a good life.”

Wang Xiangxiu smiled and nodded: “Good. I’ll be waiting.”

She added, “Your brother and I are both counting on you to bring us happiness.”

Tonglai: “Okay!”

Wang Xiangxiu: “Here, let’s split the fried eggs.”

Yinlai and Tonglai both happily agreed.

Wang Xiangxiu was also content.

…

No one could have guessed that He Chen’s military unit was so close to the one where Zhuang Zhixin’s husband served. Everyone chatted enthusiastically, and Zhao Guihua even kept He Chen talking until late before finally letting him leave.

Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought He Chen was her own child.

Lan Sihai contributed a bottle of liquor, and everyone got a bit tipsy. However, He Chen, having spent time in the military, had a good tolerance for alcohol. He was fine and went home as usual. The other men in the Zhuang family, however, were a bit woozy and went to bed as soon as He Chen left.

Ming Mei helped Zhuang Zhixi lie down. Zhuang Zhixi lay on the bed, staring blankly, and said, “Wife, you’re so beautiful.”

Ming Mei: “You really shouldn’t drink if you can’t handle it. Now I have to take care of you.”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed: “My wife is so pretty.”

Ming Mei ignored the drunk and washed a towel to wipe their child’s face. Zhuang Zhixi said, “I want that too.”

Ming Mei: “…”

She cooed, “What do you want?”

“I want you.”

Zhuang Zhixi grabbed Ming Mei’s hand and wouldn’t let go: “I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful wife.”

Ming Mei smiled softly: “Alright, I know. I’m already yours. I’m lucky too, to have met you.”

Falling in love at first sight was rare. Ming Mei felt that she was truly fortunate. Zhuang Zhixi had a good personality and was a kind person. Though he could be a bit unreliable at times, he had a strong sense of justice.

She knew that Zhuang Zhixi had asked those questions today to help Bai Fendou and He Lan.

She leaned down and gently kissed Zhuang Zhixi’s forehead: “You’re really wonderful.”

Zhuang Zhixi held onto Ming Mei tightly: “If I’m so wonderful, then kiss me more!”

Ming Mei glanced at their child, who was still rolling around and not yet asleep, and whispered, “Not now. The baby’s still awake.”

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled softly, as if understanding her meaning. He whispered, “So… when they’re asleep, it’s okay, right?”

Ming Mei cooed, “Just lie down properly.”

She pushed Zhuang Zhixi away, but he kept staring at her. Blushing, she went to wash the towel and returned to his side: “Here, let me wipe your face.”

Zhuang Zhixi playfully said, “I want you to do it like you do for the baby. I want that too.”

Ming Mei laughed: “You think you’re a baby now?”

Zhuang Zhixi: "Ming Mei, my adorable Mei..."

Ming Mei: "Alright, alright, you're such a nuisance."

Though she said that, her lips curled into a smile. She gently wiped Zhuang Zhixi's face. He looked at her and said, "I think He Chen really doesn't know what he's missing."

Ming Mei pinched his cheek, saying, "Stop talking nonsense. There's nothing between me and He Chen. If you keep saying things like that, I'll get angry."

Zhuang Zhixi's face was pulled out of shape, and he quickly replied, "I'm sorry, I won't talk nonsense anymore."

Ming Mei hmphed.

Zhuang Zhixi leaned closer to Ming Mei, eventually resting his head on her lap and said, "I don't mean anything by it, and I'm not jealous..."

Ming Mei: "You're not jealous? You're practically Shanxi aged vinegar."

Zhuang Zhixi: "No I'm not."

Ming Mei: "Yes, you are."

Zhuang Zhixi mumbled something, and Ming Mei poked his face, saying, "Don't say things like that in the future, it might cause misunderstandings and awkwardness, and there's nothing going on."

Zhuang Zhixi immediately responded, "Yes!"

Ming Mei: "Alright, come on, let me help you take off your coat and let's get some sleep."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I can't sleep. Why don't we do something... Hey!"

His face was pinched by Ming Mei again. Ming Mei said, "You're still talking nonsense, aren't you? The kids aren't asleep yet, don't act up."

Zhuang Zhixi: "....I'm so miserable."

He turned his head to look at the baby and said, "Why don't they show any compassion for their parents?"

Ming Mei poked him, "Oh, come on. Quickly get ready, let's all go to sleep."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Fine."

Although he did have some thoughts, he wouldn't act on them in front of the awake children. What kind of man would he be if he did that? He was a respectable man. Ming Mei changed the baby's diaper and covered them with a thin towel blanket. The little one kicked their legs impatiently, as if trying to kick off the blanket covering them.

Ming Mei spoke softly, "I know you're hot, but if you don't cover up, you'll catch a cold at night."

Of course, the baby couldn't understand, but Ming Mei still liked to explain things to them. The two children responded with little noises here and there.

Ming Mei had finished washing up, and now the four of them lay together. Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei placed the two children in the middle. Zhuang Zhixi propped his chin up and said, "Sleep well, babies~"

Ming Mei: "Let's get some rest."

Despite having some other thoughts, Zhuang Zhixi was genuinely feeling sleepy. Before the children fell asleep, he had already drifted off. Seeing him asleep, Ming Mei smiled and turned off the light.

Late at night.

It was a summer night with a clear moon and sparse stars.

The night was silent, with even the dogs nowhere to be heard. In this quietness, an old woman silently slipped out from the innermost courtyard of the alley. She moved with some stealth, yet was familiar with the path.

She was, of course, familiar with the path. She had lived in this alley for years.

She wasn't just anyone; she was Old Lady Yu from the Yu family. Old Lady Yu sneaked her way to the gate of the Number 44 courtyard. She grinned craftily, gently pushing open the gate, muttering under her breath, "None of the people in this big courtyard are decent."

Many courtyards didn't bother shutting their gates, as it was convenient for late-night visits. Besides, there was no need due to good public order, with the concept of "doors open at night."

She gently pushed the door, which creaked. Old Lady Yu was startled and quickly hid in the corner. After some time, seeing no one react or wake up, she quietly entered the courtyard. She scanned the area, her gaze stopping at the clothesline in the yard, where she smirked with satisfaction.

That was her target this time.

She identified the location and confirmed the position of the Zhuang family. But, seeing no clothes outside their window, she frowned slightly, feeling a bit disappointed. However, she quickly shifted her gaze to other households.

Ah, Wang Xiangxiu's door had children's clothes hanging near it. Old Lady Yu quickly moved over...

"Thief! Catch the thief!"