My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 155

Chen Yuan was scared out of his wits!

"So white," these two words were like a magic spell, crashing down on Chen Yuan like a thunderbolt. In an instant, Chen Yuan's defenses were shattered, and he fled in a panic, though... the effect wasn't quite as expected.

The ticket collector held onto him tightly, pulling him back inside: "Brother, brother, you're still naked, don’t run out!"

Tears welled up in his eyes; this was his first day at work, and how could it be this disastrous!

Worse still, a few female colleagues came out from the women's bath, and upon seeing this naked guy, they let out a scream, yelling: "What’s going on here? What’s the meaning of this! Indecent exposure in broad daylight!"

"What is this! Disgusting!"

Although they said that, they couldn't help but take a look.

Chen Yuan, upon seeing the women who had just come out of the bath staring at him, let out another shriek, gave the ticket collector a forceful push that sent him stumbling, and dashed back inside. He covered his privates and howled in agony, feeling like his life was over.

He was caught between a rock and a hard place!

"What’s wrong with your bathhouse! How can someone pull such a stunt here? Can you even manage this properly? How did this man even run out!"

The ticket collector was nearly pulled apart, his heart aching as if it would burst. He felt like his luck had completely shattered; his first day at work, and how could he run into such a mess? Some people go their entire lives without encountering something like this.

Unable to hold back his tears, he cried out: "Sisters, this is all a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding. Let me go inside and see what’s going on. I’m sure there must be some explanation. You mustn’t misunderstand. A place like ours could never allow such behavior. That’s just not possible!"

Afraid of angering the furious women, he hastily explained and quickly headed into the changing room.

He searched left and right and finally found Chen Yuan cowering in a corner between two lockers. Fortunately, the lockers weren’t too big, or Chen Yuan might have hidden inside one. He quickly said: "Brother, are you okay?"

Chen Yuan sobbed even more pitifully than the ticket collector, wailing: "I’m soiled!"

Ticket Collector: "???"

Chen Yuan wailed: "How did I end up in this situation! I’m cursed with bad luck!"

Ticket Collector: "???"

Chen Yuan: "I…"

Ticket Collector: "Brother, stop crying first and get dressed…"

Chen Yuan: "Ah, right, right, I’ll put on clothes."

He quickly opened his locker, ready to fetch his clothes, when Zhou Qun emerged, his head wrapped in a towel, asking: "Brother, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly bolt? I…"

So white, so white, so white.

"Ahhh!" Upon seeing Zhou Qun, Chen Yuan instantly lost it again, nearly going mad. He let out a howl, grabbed his clothes, and dashed out.

This time, the ticket collector didn’t even have a chance to stop him. Chen Yuan ran so fast, it was like a flash of white lightning. With all the commotion, many people started poking their heads out, and a few women curiously peeked from the changing room entrance.

Chen Yuan barged through the crowd, sprinting like a man possessed.

Who could have expected this? He actually ran out again!

Everyone was caught off guard, almost colliding with him before hastily moving aside: "Oh my~"

"What’s wrong with this guy?"

"What got into him?"

Chen Yuan clutched his clothes and desperately fled, not caring about anything else, determined to escape Zhou Qun’s clutches. As he raced through the streets on a summer evening, the roads were bustling. Unexpectedly, Chen Yuan ran into Bai Fendou on the way.

"Oh my god, what did I just see?"

"Ah, that’s too indecent! Was he not wearing clothes?"

"That man’s really brazen. Intentional indecent exposure…"

"Oh dear, I saw… that!"

…

It was a summer evening, and the streets were indeed crowded. Chen Yuan dashed home like a whirlwind.

Oh, not the family home in the Siheyuan courtyard, but his parents' place. How could he dare return to the courtyard? That place was a dragon's den—filled with dangers. There was Bai Fendou in front and Zhou Qun behind; it was a man's worst nightmare. Fortunately, the Machinery Factory family housing wasn’t too far away. Chen Yuan sprinted like his life depended on it.

A group of righteous citizens started chasing after him, and amidst the chase, Chen Yuan finally reached the family housing complex. Even though it was an apartment building, people liked to gather downstairs in the summer to enjoy the breeze and chat about everyday gossip.

At that moment, Chen Yuan's grandparents were among a group of elderly men, women, and young wives discussing the latest news. The hottest topic recently was the "Hex Incident" in Xinghua Alley. After all, Old Lady Yu’s voodoo dolls had caused quite a stir.

Even a casual glance from someone else could draw her ire, making her quite the peculiar character.

Not to mention, her involvement in superstitious activities and her penchant for stealing other people’s underwear and boxers made her highly unpopular. Regardless of the era, such topics always stirred up excitement. Moreover, Xinghua Alley was part of the Machinery Factory housing complex, so it was quite familiar to the locals here.

The housing here, however, was primarily allocated to small leaders.

As everyone chatted enthusiastically, a naked figure raced by like a gust of wind, moving incredibly fast. "Ahhh! Who’s that!"

"Eh, isn’t that Little Yuan? What happened to him?"

"My heavens, why isn’t the child wearing clothes? How bold!"

"This…"

Chen Yuan's grandmother was utterly distraught, shouting: "Don’t talk nonsense…"

She hurried to approach him, but Chen Yuan didn’t give her a chance to speak, dashing past her and straight into the house. Once inside, he leaned against the door, collapsing to the ground. Chen Yuan's Mother: "???"

She stared in shock at her son, quickly asking: "What happened? What’s wrong? Why did you come back like this? Who bullied you?"

"Mom, wahhh!"

Upon seeing his mother, Chen Yuan felt all his suffering had an outlet, and he wailed: "Mom, it’s so hard for me! Zhou Qun, that scoundrel, wants to take advantage of me!"

Chen Yuan's Mother: "What!~"

She was petrified. Although not from the Machinery Factory, her husband was the director, so she was well aware of the gossip there. The name Zhou Qun was already notorious. She quickly asked: "What happened? You must tell me, what’s going on with this person?"

She checked her son from head to toe, asking: "Did he do anything to you? Has he hurt you?"

Chen Yuan cried with tears streaming down his face.

This sight completely terrified Chen Yuan's Mother. In shock, she exclaimed: "What, did he do something to you?"

In her mind, all sorts of horrifying possibilities filled her thoughts, all revolving around unpleasant "male-on-male" scenarios. In that instant, Chen Yuan's Mother also burst into tears: "This, is there no justice left in the world? My innocent son…"

"Wife, open the door, wife!"

"Little Yuan…"

Chen Yuan's grandparents, unsure of what had happened, saw Chen Yuan rush home like this and quickly followed inside.

Chen Yuan's Mother, in a daze, opened the door, her mind still reeling, as the grandmother quickly squeezed past her daughter-in-law to ask: "What happened? Tell us…"

"Little Yuan, you… ah, your foot’s hurt, where are your shoes? Did you run back barefoot?"

"My poor child…"

At this moment, Director Chen came out from the house, quickly asking: "What exactly happened? Explain it clearly to me…"

As this family was about to speak, a voice came from downstairs: "Where’s that pervert now?"

"Did that guy run this way? Did anyone see him?"

"We have to turn this person over to the police. Indecent exposure in broad daylight, how bold…"

"Exactly!"

"A severe punishment is a must!"

Seeing that the situation couldn’t be hidden any longer, Chen Yuan's Father immediately said: "I’ll go down and handle it. Just give me a brief rundown quickly."

Chen Yuan's Mother swayed on her feet, tearfully muttering: "It’s already like this, how can we explain?"

Chen Yuan's Father: "Shut up, Chen Yuan, you tell me. Hurry up. Do you want to be treated as a pervert and taken away?"

Chen Yuan cried and said: "I went to the bathhouse with Zhou Qun to bathe. He smacked my bottom and complimented me for being so white… wahhh, he definitely has designs on me, wahhh…"

Director Chen almost gasped for breath, asking: "Anything else?"

Chen Yuan was stunned: "You still want more?"

Chen Yuan's Mother was also shocked: "Your son was touched on the butt, and you still want more?"

Chen Yuan's Grandparents: "What's wrong with you, kid? My poor Xiao Yuan, it's just because you're too handsome, which makes some unscrupulous men have ulterior motives..."

Director Chen took a deep breath and said: "I'll go downstairs to deal with this."

He quickly left the house and, as soon as he stepped outside, saw that some people had already come up. He knew it was impossible to hide the fact that the naked man who had been running around was Chen Yuan. Director Chen quickly thought of the simplest excuse.

He hurriedly stopped the crowd who had come to help: "Comrades, comrades, wait a moment."

"You are..."

"The father of the naked runner," someone muttered softly.

Others suddenly understood: "Oh~"

They looked at Director Chen with great caution.

"Comrade, your son doing such a thing in the street is very wrong. We chased him all the way here..."

Before they could finish, Director Chen interrupted: "I know, I know it's my son's fault. But I can explain, we can explain. The situation is like this: my son just went to take a bath, and as soon as he took off his clothes, he was startled by a rat. This child was bitten by a rat when he was young, and seeing a rat just makes him unable to control himself, he screamed and ran back... and that's how the big mistake happened. But in essence, he really didn't mean to run naked."

After explaining this, he continued: "My son and I both work at the machinery factory. I am the head of the logistics department, Director Chen. If you trust me, I will personally take my son to the factory security department tomorrow. No matter how they handle it, we will accept it. Please give us face."

Everyone looked at each other, and after a long time, they all nodded: "Alright then."

Firstly, since the factory has a security department, this kind of matter can indeed be handled there. It doesn't necessarily have to go to the police station, as the security department is authorized to deal with such matters.

Secondly, hearing that this person is the head of logistics, most people don't want to offend him.

Anyway, he said he would take the initiative to go to the factory's security department and give everyone an explanation.

"Alright then, you need to advise your son. Even if he's scared, he can't do that."

"Exactly!"

At this time, neighbors from upstairs and downstairs also came to watch, and Director Chen persuaded them to go downstairs politely, then turned to the neighbors and said: "I will take him to the security department tomorrow morning."

Although he said that, Director Chen felt relieved. Although the police station could handle the matter, the factory's security department could also handle it, but since they both worked at the machinery factory, the security department would have to leave some room.

Although this matter was quite disgraceful, it didn't cause any extremely serious consequences. He had considered this: if tonight's gift-giving didn't work, he would write an apology letter tomorrow. Having made up his mind, he turned back home.

At home, Chen Yuan was still crying.

The other family members were comforting Chen Yuan, and Chen Yuan's Mother, hearing that it was only a slap on the butt, asked seriously: "It was just a normal slap, right?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan cried even louder. What more could have happened?

It was already very bad for him.

Director Chen glared at his wife and said: "Alright, as long as the son is fine. That Zhou Qun is really not a good person."

Then he glared at Chen Yuan and said: "And you, you also work at the machinery factory, don't you know what kind of person Zhou Qun is? Those rumors about him, do you think someone decent would have them? You didn't know to be careful, and you dared to go to the bathhouse with him. You, this child, how big is your heart? Be thankful that nothing happened this time. If you were bullied, how painful would it be for us parents?"

After a pause, Director Chen suddenly thought of something and slapped his head: "Luckily, Zhou Qun is not capable! Thank goodness, even if he wanted to harm you, he couldn't."

Grandma Chen cursed: "What kind of courtyard is this? A man living there is not safe? First, it's Bai Fendou, then Zhou Qun. They're all not capable, so why can't they just behave? Truly have malicious intentions. My grandson is too good-looking, that's why he's being targeted."

At this point, Chen Yuan had finally stopped crying, but his voice was hoarse from crying. He said: "Dad, I absolutely will not go back to that courtyard."

Chen Yuan's Father frowned: "Whether it's Zhou Qun or Bai Fendou, they're not capable, so you don't need to be afraid..."

Chen Yuan interrupted his father excitedly: "Even if they're not capable, can't I still be hurt? How can you think like this? Dad, think about it for me. Imagine if you were bathing downstairs, and Section Chief Li upstairs is leering at you, would you be afraid? If you went downstairs and Section Chief Wang squeezed your butt and said, 'So bouncy,' would you feel disgusted? If..."

Chen Yuan's Father: "Enough! No need to say more."

He was already feeling disgusted.

Chen Yuan's Mother also insisted: "Lao Chen, we can't let our son go back. No matter what you say, I won't agree."

Director Chen: "Alright then, he can stay at home for now."

Chen Yuan's Mother wanted to send her in-laws to the other side, but seeing Chen Yuan's desperate state, she knew it wasn't the best time. They were worried about Chen Yuan, so they certainly wouldn't go.

She could only find another opportunity.

But in any case, Chen Yuan definitely wouldn't go back to that courtyard.

Her dear son!

"Our son can't go back. In the factory... think of a way to get rid of Zhou Qun..." She frowned: "This person is too dangerous around our little group."

Director Chen: "It's difficult. He hasn't done anything wrong, and he's a seventh-level electrician. How can we get rid of him? Let me think about it."

Chen Yuan's Mother was dissatisfied: "If you can't get rid of Zhou Qun, I'll move our son. He can come to our food factory. Although our factory isn't as big as the machinery factory, the benefits and treatment are not bad."

Chen Yuan quickly said: "I want to go."

He no longer wanted to return to the machinery factory.

He didn't dare to imagine how others would talk about him tomorrow. He... "Sob sob sob!"

He started crying again.

Chen Yuan's Mother decisively: "Then I'll handle it!"

Chen Yuan's Father: "Alright."

He also felt sorry for his son, but the machinery factory and the food factory were different. There was no reason to directly move someone, and Zhou Qun was an electrician, so he would go where there was a problem. This meant they couldn't control whether he met Chen Yuan or not.

The best solution was for Chen Yuan to leave.

Chen Yuan's Mother: "Son, hurry up and sit down. Let me take a look at your foot; we need to go to the hospital to get it treated. Look, it's bleeding. My poor son..."

Grandpa Chen: "I'll carry him! Let's go to the hospital."

"Alright!"

Although Chen Yuan wasn't particularly big and strong, he was still an adult man, and Grandpa Chen was already quite old. However, neither Grandpa Chen nor Chen Yuan, nor Chen Yuan's Father, felt anything was wrong with this.

The whole family rushed to the hospital.

When they went out, many neighbors downstairs who were enjoying the cool air peeked out curiously, their expressions very meaningful.

After they left, some elderly women, regardless of anything else, started talking: "To be honest, if they don't have children, it's not Tao Yuyue's fault. It's just that Chen Yuan is too young. It's not even as long as my finger."

"Aunt Yan, you have such good eyesight."

"That's right."

"I saw it too. Really, it's not as long as my finger..."

Everyone started discussing, and some said: "What being scared by a rat? I find that hard to believe. How could that be? Who knows what really happened?"

"Go ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????and ask around..."

"This Chen Yuan, usually acts very politely, always raising his eyebrows to show respect. Seeing leaders, he's all smiles and greetings, but seeing us regular folk, he acts like he doesn't see us at all. This time, he deserved it."

"I think so too."

"He deserved it!"

The scene became lively...

This story has to be told in two parts. For now, let's leave Zhou Qun's various antics aside and focus on what happened the moment Chen Yuan bolted out of the bathhouse. To the patrons inside, it was as if something had gone horribly wrong. Zhuang Zhixi, in particular, couldn't stop coughing—whether it was real or fake, who knows? But he just kept going, "cough, cough, cough," as if he were about to cough up his lungs.

The others? Well, they were all on edge.

Everyone's eyes turned to Zhou Qun, and the looks they gave him? Oh, they were full of suspicion.

What kind of normal guy acts like you, huh? Sure, you might not be into men, but this all happened so fast, no one could have predicted this!

Everyone stared at Zhou Qun with a mix of horror and disbelief. Bai Fendou, for instance, had already huddled at the far end of the pool, looking ready to dive in and never come up again if Zhou Qun so much as glanced his way.

Zhou Qun, however, was utterly clueless. He said, "Wait, why did he run off? What did he even yell just now?"

He was genuinely puzzled: "I was just complimenting him, that's all. Why the big reaction?" Then, with a hint of frustration: "And why are you all reacting like this too?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "...!"

Everyone was too stunned to speak, but Zhuang Zhixi, ever the calmest among them, managed to pipe up: "Stop with the pointless chatter and go check on Chen Yuan, will you? He ran out completely naked, for crying out loud."

Zhou Qun blinked. "Oh, right."

He quickly got up, uncaring about the situation, and hurried to the changing room. "Chen Yuan, are you okay...?"

Chen Yuan: "Ah!!!!"

With clothes clutched to his chest, he fled.

Zhou Qun: "What the—?!"

If earlier it was just speculation, now, seeing Chen Yuan actually bolt out of the bathhouse stark naked, Zhou Qun was completely flabbergasted.

After what felt like an eternity, he turned, stunned, to the ticket seller: "What... what's his problem?"

The ticket seller: "...You're asking me? How would I know? Why is he so scared of you?"

Zhou Qun: "I don't know either."

He sounded genuinely wronged: "I just told him he was pale. Why did he freak out like that?"

The ticket seller: "...................................."

Silence. Endless silence.

You're a grown man, Zhou Qun. Complimenting another grown man on how pale he is?

The ticket seller quietly backed away a few steps, saying, "I'll go check outside."

He rushed out, only to be immediately cornered by a group of people, all demanding answers.

The ticket seller: "...Oh no."

He couldn't escape now even if he wanted to!

Zhou Qun, looking dazed, returned to the bathhouse and announced, "Chen Yuan ran out without a stitch of clothing on."

"What the—?"

"Damn. That's what I call brave!"

Finally, everyone snapped out of their shock, though their reactions were mostly aimed at Chen Yuan.

Zhuang Zhixi shook his head: "He's not going to run all the way home like that, is he?"

"Of course not. He was holding clothes when he left. He'll probably put them on outside."

"Exactly. He's not crazy. He wouldn't parade naked all the way home."

"True, he's not that reckless."

As everyone chatted away, Bai Fendou, still slightly wary, turned to Zhou Qun and asked the burning question: "What on earth were you thinking back there?"

Zhou Qun looked at everyone, finally catching on after a long pause.

Well, it wasn't too late... or maybe it was too late. A real mess.

He said, "Oh, come on, you guys must have misunderstood me. I’m not into that sort of thing. You think I’m like that? Man, I feel really bad now. I was just trying to flatter him a bit, you know? Like when you butter up your boss. Chen Yuan is the son of the logistics director, so I thought flattering him would help..."

Zhuang Zhixi looked doubtful: "You weren't buttering him up. You were going for his backside."

Zhou Qun: "...!"

He sighed in exasperation: "Look, I couldn’t find anything nice to say about the guy, so I just commented on how pale he was. Besides, we’re all grown men here. What could I possibly do to him?"

Everyone stared at him skeptically.

You’ve got a history, man.

Zhou Qun got the message loud and clear and said, "Listen, come on, you seriously think I’m like that? I swear I didn’t overthink it. I mean, I feel so wronged! I usually do this kind of thing all the time. People love it, you know? But Chen Yuan? He just threw a wrench in the works..."

Zhou Qun had been hanging around the women’s gossip circles lately, thinking that everyone enjoyed a good complement.

But Chen Yuan? Obviously, the guy wasn't your average joe.

Zhuang Zhixi, seeing Zhou Qun’s genuine confusion, rolled his eyes and said, "Complimenting a woman like that might work, but complimenting a man? Don’t you think it sounds weird?"

Zhou Qun: "...!!"

He rubbed his hands together, defeated: "Well, what do you suggest I do now? Do you think he’ll hold a grudge against me?"

He sighed again: "To be honest, I’m not even interested in men anymore."

To be precise, he wasn’t interested in anything related to either men or women. Life isn’t just about those things. One should strive for a higher spiritual level. These people are so caught up in their petty romantic escapades; it’s truly a waste.

He was sincere: "I feel so wronged. I complimented him, and he didn’t even appreciate it. What a difficult person."

Bai Fendou, seeing Zhou Qun’s genuinely frustrated expression, began to soften a bit. "Are you saying that’s the truth?"

He was most afraid that Zhou Qun still had ulterior motives, as that put him in serious danger.

Zhou Qun: "Yes, yes, of course! What reason would I have to lie?"

He sighed mournfully: "Great. Now I’ve probably pissed someone off. Career advancement? That’s impossible now."

Zhuang Zhixi smirked.

Bai Fendou, being quite straightforward himself, added, "You were never close to advancing in the first place."

Considering Zhou Qun’s past antics, advancement was a pipe dream. Even if others were almost qualified enough for promotion, as long as they performed adequately, people tend to be lenient. But with Zhou Qun, it was a surefire no-go. He’d be held to the strictest standards, considering his history of shady behavior.

And the higher the rank, the harder it was to advance—everyone knew that.

So Zhuang Zhixi thought Bai Fendou had a point—Zhou Qun’s chances were slim from the get-go.

But Zhou Qun just couldn’t see it!

Zhuang Zhixi: "We’re not here to talk about that. Should you go after Chen Yuan, do you think?"

Zhou Qun: "Do you guys think I should?"

The group of burly men all shook their heads.

"Not going?"

"Nah, we don’t know."

This doesn’t concern us.

Bai Fendou, speaking from a “victim’s” perspective, suggested, "I don’t think you should. If you go, he might think you have something for him, right? Wouldn’t that just scare him even more? You know, if he’s already freaked out, it’d be even worse."

This wasn’t him being overly cautious. No, he’d been through it himself.

"I think you should just avoid him."

Although he had started to believe Zhou Qun, he still kept his distance, adding, "I think you should just hurry up, wash, and go home."

Zhuang Zhixi kindly added: "If you feel awkward about it, maybe ask your wife to explain for you. I think Bai Fendou’s got the right idea—you should stay away."

Zhou Qun: "Fine."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at him, then proceeded to leisurely wash up, slowly rinsing off with the medicinal water.

In contrast to Zhuang Zhixi’s leisurely pace, the others hurried their baths. While they had tentatively accepted Zhou Qun’s explanation, they were still wary. Even in the bathhouse, they quickly wrapped themselves with small towels and started scrubbing furiously, trying to get out of there as fast as possible.

A big man like Zhou Daniu, usually unbothered, now twisted and turned like a bashful bride, all while scrubbing himself furiously.

He quickly said, "I’m leaving first."

The others weren’t far behind. Seeing Bai Fendou about to leave, Zhuang Zhixi called out to him: "Help me scrub my back, will you?"

Bai Fendou gritted his teeth: "Fine."

He scrubbed away with gusto, treating Zhuang Zhixi’s back like a washboard.

He made quick work of it, quickly following the others out.

Zhou Qun was no exception; he was eager to leave too. He needed to get home and figure out how to fix this mess with Chen Yuan before things escalated.

Just moments ago, the bathhouse was still bustling with activity, but now it was nearly empty. Everyone had left in a hurry, changing quickly and heading out. However, upon stepping outside, they found the area around the bathhouse abuzz with excitement, with many people craning their necks to catch a glimpse of what was going on.

After all, what Chen Yuan had pulled off was nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Everyone was curious.

Those who had just left the bathhouse were even more easily spotted and targeted, with whispers and murmurs following them wherever they went. Their faces flushed crimson as they tried to escape the chaos.

Some onlookers even recognized acquaintances and wouldn't let them go until they got all the details.

It was truly a spectacle.

Soon, only Zhuang Zhixi remained in the bathhouse. He took his time, washing until the very end. Through the small vent window, he could see that the sky outside was starting to darken. Finally, he emerged, changed, and left. The ticket seller was startled and said, "Ah, was there still someone inside? I thought everyone had left."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled innocently. "I was just slow."

The ticket seller replied, "You got lucky. You don't know, but every person who came out earlier had a bright red face, and each one was stopped and questioned. Everyone thought everyone had left, and as it got darker, the crowd finally dispersed."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "I guess I was fortunate."

What fortune?

He had guessed that there would be a lot of onlookers outside and didn't want to embarrass himself by being caught up in the commotion.

Given how big of a stir Chen Yuan had caused, it would have been strange if no one was watching.

He walked home clean and refreshed. As he reached their alley, he noticed people gathering and chatting animatedly.

At first, Zhuang Zhixi thought they were discussing Zhou Qun, but upon getting closer, he realized they were actually talking about how pale Chen Yuan's skin was and how firm his butt was.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He twitched his mouth, feeling a bit speechless.

If you're going to discuss a woman, it might still be somewhat understandable. Well, maybe not entirely.

But discussing a man like that? That's just awkward.

Luckily, as the last one to return slowly and casually, no one stopped him to ask questions. Zhuang Zhixi entered his courtyard smoothly. The courtyard was lively once again. Ming Mei and the others were sitting in the yard to enjoy the cool evening breeze. Seeing Zhuang Zhixi return, Ming Mei waved. "Why are you only coming back now?"

This man had left with Bai Fendou, but he was over an hour late in returning.

Zhuang Zhixi whispered into his wife's ear, "I didn't want to be caught up in the crowd and be watched."

Ming Mei came to understand and let out a long "Oh."

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "What are you all talking about? So lively?"

Aunt Wang said, "Oh, you didn't know? Chen Yuan went on a naked run! Quite a few people saw it. Unfortunately, he ran back to his parents' place. If he had run back here, we could have seen the fun too."

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Who was it that said Chen Yuan wouldn't run naked?

Who was it?

Zhuang Zhixi admitted that at the time, he also thought Chen Yuan would definitely put on his clothes. However, he never expected that Chen Yuan had something magical about him and actually dared to run naked.

After being stunned for a while, Zhuang Zhixi asked, "So, he just ran like that?"

"Of course not," Aunt Wang replied. "A crowd chased after him! They even followed him to his home. It's said that Director Chen promised to go to the security office tomorrow."

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He glanced at Zhou Qun, thinking that this guy would probably be hated by the Chen family.

But then he reconsidered; the Chen family was rather peculiar. They might seek revenge, but their actions often had the unintended consequence of benefiting others.

So, no worries.

Seeing Zhou Qun with his head drooping, Zhuang Zhixi said, "You don't need to feel too sad. Although it started because of you, you didn't make him run naked."

"Exactly!"

Aunt Zhou also seemed dissatisfied. "My son just complimented him, what's the big deal? Isn't this disrespectful?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Your son didn't just compliment him; he took action.

But there was no need to mention that. Someone else would surely bring it up. Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and said, "I really don't think there's anything to worry about. Someone with skills, no major work mistakes, and not involved in any illegal activities, no one can do anything to him."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou's eyes lit up. Although she had been making a show of confidence earlier, she was actually somewhat uneasy in her heart.

But now, hearing Zhuang Zhixi's words, she felt reassured.

Her son was a skilled worker, a level 7 electrician. Unless it was something serious, no one could touch him. It wasn't easy to cultivate a senior technician in a factory. Even though their factory was large and had many, they had weathered several previous incidents unscathed.

This one was nothing!

And this time, they were truly innocent.

She immediately calmed down and nodded. "You're right."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled. "See? There's no need to overthink it."

"That's true."

After thinking about it himself, Zhou Qun also realized it was the same.

He said, "I really was flattering the wrong person. It's my own fault for being too naive."

But the more he talked, the more indignant he became. "Besides, isn't it normal to joke between men? What's the big reaction for?"

He felt wronged.

Such a big reaction made him feel like he was some kind of villain.

He wasn't a bad person!

"Has your wife gone to his house?"

Zhou Qun replied, "Yes."

Earlier, after he returned and explained the situation, Jiang Lu didn't get very angry, but Aunt Zhou was furious, almost grabbing a ladle to beat him. Aunt Zhou wasn't worried about Zhou Qun having relationships with women now; she was most afraid of him getting involved with men.

In the past, even if Zhou Qun had done something wrong, Aunt Zhou would have still treasured her son.

But now that they had a grandson, her son naturally had to take a backseat.

Aunt Zhou's requirement was that Zhou Qun should not tarnish the family's reputation outside.

Ever since they got the grandson, Aunt Zhou herself rarely argued or schemed outside. She wasn't afraid, but she wanted to create a good family atmosphere for her grandson. Constant quarrels outside could lead to speaking sharply at home.

Her grandson had to be raised well.

There were many children of the same age in their courtyard, and she was determined to compete with them.

Her grandson couldn't be any worse than Zhao Guihua's grandson, or those little girls.

In short, no one could bring shame to their family.

After yelling at Zhou Qun, Jiang Lu didn't blame him either. She even took some of the fruit they had bought for today and went to apologize. Fortunately, Tao Yuyue didn't hold a grudge; instead, she showed understanding.

How so?

Tao Yuyue actually didn't care about Chen Yuan.

Her goal of marrying into a well-off family was clear, but once married, she wanted a stable life, and that wasn't what Chen Yuan was offering. She realized she had made a mistake, but divorce wasn't an immediate option.

In short, she had no feelings for Chen Yuan, and she also thought his reaction was excessive.

Zhou Qun was already like a eunuch; what could he do?

Besides, everyone could see that Zhou Qun was just wandering around, always in the middle of gossip. He wasn't interested in those things. Tao Yuyue couldn't understand what Chen Yuan was thinking.

Tao Yuyue expressed her understanding and strongly criticized Chen Yuan's overreaction.

Jiang Lu knew that Tao Yuyue's words wouldn't have much impact, and the Chen family wouldn't listen to her. But she had to go and explain to avoid any future misunderstandings.

Tao Yuyue didn't take it to heart and generously forgave Zhou Qun's recklessness, then left with her small bag. After all, news of Chen Yuan's naked run and hospital visit had spread. Tao Yuyue felt that Chen Yuan was more shameful in this situation.

After all, no one had done anything to him, so why make such a big deal?

It was completely unreasonable.

Tao Yuyue thought that someone like Chen Yuan was worse than her father-in-law.

As she left with her bag, the main subject was gone, and everyone was even more enthusiastic about the discussion.

"I heard that Chen Yuan is..."

"Uh..."

The crowd murmured among themselves...

This incident itself wasn't particularly significant, but it garnered a surprising amount of attention. By the next day, it was already the talk of the factory. Of course, the focus of the gossip centered around Chen Yuan running home naked, which overshadowed Zhou Qun's part in the affair.

Who could blame them? After all, Zhou Qun had a bit of a reputation already.

Even if something truly shocking had happened, it would have been his second strike, and people would have been less surprised. By now, they were used to his antics.

Let’s not even mention that Zhou Qun wasn’t doing anything wrong—he was merely complimenting someone.

So, naturally, everyone's attention was on Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan had taken a sick leave and didn’t show up for work, but Director Chen still had to make a trip to the security department to smooth things over. He even wrote an apology letter in his son’s name and submitted it to the broadcast room.

He didn’t want to do it, but if he didn’t, there would be no consequences, and everyone would start questioning the security department. The security department wouldn’t take the blame, so Director Chen had no choice. He wasn’t someone who cared much about his reputation, but he certainly didn’t want anything to affect his position.

At the moment, he held a lucrative role.

“This is an urgent announcement: Due to Chen Yuan’s actions causing a negative social impact, the factory has decided to issue a formal warning. All factory employees are reminded to act with caution and responsibility, avoiding impulsive behavior. Furthermore, I will now read the statement submitted by Comrade Chen Yuan…”

At this, all the factory workers stopped what they were doing and listened intently. Conversations buzzed among them: “Why only punish Chen Yuan? What about Zhou Qun?”

“You’re so naive. Zhou Qun didn’t do anything! Chen Yuan was the one who ran home naked. How many people saw that? It’s a real embarrassment for the factory. As for Zhou Qun, he just said something like ‘so white, so firm.’ What can you say about that? It’s just a joke!”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“I wonder how fair Chen Yuan really is…”

“You can’t tell from his face!”

“Maybe he’s pale all over.”

The conversation took a turn.

Meanwhile, some listened to the broadcast, shaking their heads: “Oh, he lied. He said he was scared by a rat. Everyone knows what really happened. It’s like… well, it’s like hiding a million dollars under a rock and pretending no one will notice.”

“He had to give an excuse. What else could he say?”

“He’s got to save face, after all.”

“Hey, I heard Chen Yuan’s in the hospital. Did something happen between him and Zhou Qun? Otherwise, why would he be hospitalized?” Some people liked to think the wildest possibilities.

But most remained logical: “Stop talking nonsense. It’s impossible. You know Zhou Qun… he can’t even… you know.”

“That’s true!”

The chatter resumed.

The factory floor was buzzing like a happy ocean.

This wasn’t just the case in the factory; other factories were abuzz too. Such incidents were rare, and the news spread like wildfire. In no time, everyone in the entire city of Beijing knew about it.

Ming Mei was also asked about it at work. After all, their neighborhood was somewhat well-known in the city. Anyone with a thinner skin might have been mortified, but Ming Mei wasn’t one to be easily embarrassed.

A few older colleagues cornered her in the office, asking for details. Ming Mei answered cheerfully, giving a brief account of the incident, which left everyone gasping in shock.

“So, it wasn’t like the rumors said. It was just that Zhou Qun was trying to flatter Chen Yuan by saying how white he was, but because of Zhou Qun’s past, it scared Chen Yuan into a panicked escape?”

Could this be any more absurd?

Ming Mei replied, “That’s what I heard.”

“This is really…”

“Oh, I heard…”

As they were talking, a woman came to the door and knocked. “Is Ming Mei here?”

Ming Mei responded, “Guan Guiling?”

Though they were coworkers, they weren’t close. Ming Mei asked, “What’s up?”

Guan Guiling gave a weak smile and said, “Can you come out for a moment? I need to talk to you about something.”

Ming Mei was puzzled. “What’s the matter?”

She didn’t have much of a relationship with Guan Guiling. Looking at her, Ming Mei said directly, “Just say it here.”

Guan Guiling’s face froze for a moment, then she said, “It’s a bit of a private matter. I’d rather not talk about it in front of others.”

Ming Mei replied, “We’re not that close. What’s there to talk about privately?”

Still, she stepped to the door but kept her distance from Guan Guiling. “What is it?”

Guan Guiling took a deep breath and said, “Ming Mei, can I borrow some money from you?”

Ming Mei: “???”

She stared at Guan Guiling in disbelief. “Borrow money? We’re not exactly close, are we?”

Their relationship was limited to occasional hellos and nods. Borrowing money from her? That was unexpected.

Ming Mei responded decisively, “I don’t have any. My husband and I both have stable jobs, but we have to support our family. We also have young twins, and everything from clothes to food costs twice as much. I’m barely managing myself—I don’t have money to lend. You’ve got the wrong person.”

Guan Guiling frowned slightly. She had thought that, being a young woman, Ming Mei might feel awkward about saying no directly. She hadn’t expected Ming Mei to refuse so bluntly. With a hint of pain in her expression, she said, “I don’t need much. Just thirty yuan to help me get by. I promise to pay you back next month when I get my salary.”

Ming Mei repeated firmly, “I really don’t have any. You should ask your closer friends.”

Guan Guiling clenched her fists, feeling that everyone was so selfish.

However, she knew that she didn’t have any real connection with Ming Mei.

She hesitated for a moment and said, “Then can you help me deliver a message? Tell Bai Fendou that I will be waiting for him at Beihai Park. If he doesn’t come, I won’t leave. It’s a matter of meeting or never.”

Ming Mei’s expression immediately grew serious. She sized up Guan Guiling and felt a bit uncomfortable. She said plainly, “I won’t deliver that message for you. Bai Fendou is married, Guan Guiling. Acting like this is inappropriate, don’t you think? Not only did you dump him first and spread rumors about him, but now, knowing he’s married, you’re still trying to stir up trouble. That’s beyond disrespectful. I’m not going to be part of something like that. I’d rather keep my dignity.”

With that, she turned and walked away, not wanting to say another word to Guan Guiling.

Guan Guiling: “You!”

She bit her lip, feeling defeated, and had to go look for someone else.

Ming Mei didn’t care what Guan Guiling thought and returned to the office. An older woman sitting next to Ming Mei asked, “She came to borrow money, didn’t she?”

Ming Mei was surprised. “How did you know?”

“She’s asked everyone else. Now she has to go to people she’s not close with. She’s practically borrowed from everyone at the transport station. Honestly, who isn’t struggling to make ends meet these days? If we lend her money, she’ll never pay it back—no one’s that naive.” It was clear that this person had also been bothered by Guan Guiling.

“Oh, she tried to borrow from me too. I said no, but she wanted to kneel down, it was terrifying. What is she thinking?”

“She tried to borrow from me too.”

“Me as well.”

Ming Mei shook her head, genuinely unable to understand.

She said, “I didn’t get too close to her. Her complexion is really bad.”

“That’s because she doesn’t take care of herself. When she was pregnant, she didn’t get enough nutrition, and after giving birth, she didn’t even do a proper postpartum recovery. Then, she got pregnant again. With her condition, she’s also having to take care of her husband at the hospital. How can she be in good shape?”

“Didn’t she get time off after giving birth?” Ming Mei was shocked. After all, paid maternity leave was a rare and valuable thing—no one would give that up if they could help it. Did Guan Guiling really go back to work voluntarily?

We live close by, so I know. She went back to work at the food factory just three days after giving birth. Her husband works as a gatekeeper at the food factory, right? There was a big sister who was injured and needed someone to cover her shift. They were worried about someone stealing her job, so they wanted to find the right person, someone with a stable job on leave who could earn some extra money. Her husband arranged for Guan Guiling to fill in. Since she already had a regular job and was on maternity leave, they weren’t worried. She was reportedly paid twenty yuan a month.

Ming Mei: “……”

At that moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Guan Guiling’s husband was, in Ming Mei’s opinion, a terrible man. If he had even a shred of decency, how could he let his wife, who had just given birth, go look for work? What kind of person does that? Ming Mei exclaimed, “What a terrible man!”

“You don’t know this, but Guan Guiling took over the shift in the food factory’s logistics department, working as a kitchen helper, washing vegetables all day. Think about it, a woman who just gave birth, constantly exposing herself to cold water... there’s a tough life ahead for her.”

Ming Mei nodded in agreement.

Her mother-in-law had mentioned before that a woman's postpartum period is very important. If it's not taken care of properly, it can have a significant impact on her health. She should avoid cold water and breeze at all costs. It's commendable that a mother-in-law can think so much about her daughter-in-law. The husband, however, is behaving like a complete trash.

Ming Mei: “What kind of person is he? I feel like cursing.”

“I definitely don’t approve of such people.”

“Exactly, it’s one thing to work normally, but how can someone force their wife to do this during her postpartum period?”

Women understand women, and they know how hard this situation can be.

However, no one really sympathizes with Guan Guiling. She chose to cling tightly to that big burden (her husband) herself. She cares for her man, but doesn’t seem to care for herself, which makes her not worth sympathy.

“Oh right, Ming Mei, didn’t she use to be with Bai Fendou from your neighborhood?”

Ming Mei nodded: “Yes, but Bai Fendou is married now and very happy.”

“Does he beat his wife?”

Ming Mei laughed: “No, he treats his wife very well.”

Despite Bai Fendou having many flaws, he’s not the type to abuse his wife. Although he’s not great with words, he’s very caring. He treats He Lan very well. Sometimes, it’s not about how smart someone is, but rather who they meet.

Before, he was constantly being tricked by the Su family women and was quite naive.

Now, with He Lan, who may be soft-spoken but is upright and principled, Bai Fendou has transformed into a better person.

“Their marital harmony is strong and can’t be destroyed by outsiders,” Ming Mei added.

The others laughed, saying, “So Guan Guiling was just talking nonsense when she claimed that Bai Fendou was a violent man.”

“She never really liked Bai Fendou.”

“True, her heart still belongs to that man of hers.”

Ming Mei shook her head again.

While Ming Mei and the others discussed Guan Guiling, they also brought up Bai Fendou. Little did they know, Bai Fendou was at that moment with Zhuang Zhixi.

Bai Fendou: “Did you really see that?”

The two of them were crouched in a corner, like two geckos.

Zhuang Zhixi: “If it’s not true, then leave! I really saw Fan Jianguo, he went into this cheap motel.”

Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t help but feel that he must have some kind of knack for finding gossip. He had just stepped out to deliver some documents to a related unit when he saw Fan Jianguo.

He didn’t even follow Fan Jianguo; he just saw him enter this motel.

Moreover, he saw Fan Jianguo arguing with his fiancée at the door. To be precise, it was Fan Jianguo trying to coax her back, urging her to return with him. However, the woman wasn’t having it. Her words hinted at her dissatisfaction with the Fan family.

She seemed to be staying at the motel. Although it couldn’t be said that their relationship was entirely broken, it was clear that there were significant conflicts.

Upon seeing this, he quickly returned to the factory and informed Bai Fendou.

Consequently, Bai Fendou took leave.

Now, the two of them were crouching there.

“What if they already left?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “The woman is staying in the motel, so even if Fan Jianguo is gone, she’s still here.”

He asked: “If you know the woman is staying here, what do you plan to do? Confront her?”

Bai Fendou hadn’t really thought it through. Squatting on the ground, he said, “I’m not sure. I just want to see what’s going on for now!”

He scratched his head: “Or, can you help me think of a plan?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Why is it always me?”

He said, “Can’t you think for yourself? Why do you always come to me?”

Bai Fendou justified himself: “I don’t have a brain, do I?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Hehe!”