My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 156

Zhuang Zhixi led Bai Fendou to stake out near the small inn, and soon enough, they saw the woman who had previously been seen arguing with Fan Jianguo. She was not alone; she was with Fan Jianguo. The two seemed much more at ease, unlike their earlier argument.

“It really is Fan Jianguo,” Bai Fendou muttered under his breath.

Zhuang Zhixi was slightly surprised; he had assumed Fan Jianguo had already left.

“I wonder if he’s managed to smooth things over. That’s not good,” he said.

“Should we go expose them…”

“I’ve told you before, no one will believe you if you just go and say that.”

Bai Fendou pursed his lips, spat, and cursed, “This unlucky bastard.”

Zhuang Zhixi watched the two leave together, their actions intimate. His eyes twinkled as he thought, “It’s fine. I have a great idea.”

He smiled and said, “As long as you’re shameless, you can break them up.”

“What do you mean?”

Bai Fendou perked up immediately. He had been wanting to deal with Fan Jianguo for a long time. If it weren’t for his own lack of strategy, he wouldn’t have waited until now. At this moment, Bai Fendou felt that being brainless was truly pitiful. Even if he wanted to do something, he had to rely on others for advice.

Fortunately, the people in their compound, though a bit unpredictable, were dependable.

“Tell me more,” he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, “Let’s confirm one thing: is your goal just to stop Fan Jianguo from getting married?”

Bai Fendou nodded decisively. “Honestly, I don’t care if this woman ends up in a bad situation. I don’t even know her. But I don’t want Fan Jianguo to have a powerful father-in-law. That would only help him rise through the ranks. This bad guy should go back to hauling manure. Why should he thrive? That’s why I don’t want him to marry someone with a capable family.”

He admitted his dark intentions but didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it. After all, he wanted to avenge his wife, and what was so wrong with that?

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Alright. Then do this…”

He ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????whispered his plan into Bai Fendou’s ear. Bai Fendou raised an eyebrow in surprise and then gave Zhuang Zhixi a long, complex look. “You… this method…”

Zhuang Zhixi: “What?”

Bai Fendou thought for a moment and said, “Well, I can assure you, I won’t ever offend you in the future.”

Zhuang Zhixi rolled his eyes. “I’m helping you, and you call me ungrateful.”

Bai Fendou quickly explained, “No, no, I’m not saying you’re not good. I know you’re a good person…”

He struggled to find the right words, feeling a bit clumsy with his speech, but eventually said, “Really, thank you.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Make sure Fan Jianguo isn’t around when you do it.”

Bai Fendou: “Got it.”

He sighed, “In the past, I only knew how to use brute force, but that didn’t do anything. What you’re suggesting is much more effective.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “We haven’t even started yet. Are you sure this will work?”

Bai Fendou now had a kind of blind confidence in Zhuang Zhixi. He firmly nodded. “What you say is definitely right. But why do it this way?”

Zhuang Zhixi said with meaning, “Because you’re a unique character, that’s what will make people remember. You want to ruin Fan Jianguo’s reputation, right? If it’s something ordinary, people might talk about it for a few days and then forget. But if it’s sufficiently outrageous, everyone will remember Fan Jianguo for a long time. Also, you can’t directly target Fan Jianguo’s fiancée. Her family has some influence, and if you go after her, they might investigate seriously and uncover the truth. But if you’re sufficiently outrageous and she’s seen as a victim, it’s different. This is for your own good. Moreover, she really was deceived, so we’re just targeting Fan Jianguo. There’s no need to harm an innocent person.”

Bai Fendou nodded vigorously. “You’re absolutely right. Let’s do it like that! Come on, let’s go home. I’ll prepare, and we’ll come back to stake out in the evening.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Alright.”

Bai Fendou, thinking about the upcoming confrontation, felt a surge of excitement. He chuckled, “I feel like I’m about to float away.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Calm down. Go home and think about it. If you need to, watch Zhou Qun to practice how to flick your wrist like a lady. You need to act like a woman.”

Bai Fendou: “Okay.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “You go home today to prepare and observe. Come back tomorrow after work. Make sure Fan Jianguo isn’t around and that there are a lot of people around when you make a scene. Only then will the situation escalate, and she’ll feel embarrassed.”

Just as they were about to leave, Ming Mei also finished work. She came down the stairs with her bag on her back. As she approached the landing, she suddenly spotted a shadow on the ground. At the corner of the stairs, it seemed someone was standing there, motionless.

Ming Mei was puzzled and slowed her pace. As she approached the landing, the shadow suddenly darted out. Thankfully, Ming Mei had been moving cautiously, and she quickly stepped back to create some distance.

Guan Guiling nearly bumped into Ming Mei, but the expected collision didn’t happen as Ming Mei had moved back. Guan Guiling bit her lip and then forced a smile. “Oh, Ming Mei, just getting off work?”

Ming Mei looked at Guan Guiling suspiciously and responded with a simple “Mmm.” She didn’t move closer but was full of doubts.

Guan Guiling leaned against the stairs and began to walk down.

“Shall we go together?” she asked.

Ming Mei: “No need.”

Throughout the interaction, she didn’t come closer to Guan Guiling.

Since Guan Guiling had previously tried to get Ming Mei alone, Ming Mei had no intention of getting close to her. She felt something wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t that Ming Mei was overly cautious, but she had a hunch that Guan Guiling had something unsavory in mind.

Ming Mei knew her own situation well and should be aware that borrowing money from them was impossible. Yet, she had still tried to borrow money from many people in secret. Some, like Ming Mei, had simply refused outright without saying anything harsh. But others had been quite blunt in their rejection.

Ming Mei didn’t understand why Guan Guiling would do this when she knew she wouldn’t get the money.

In any case, the situation was a bit strange, so Ming Mei was determined not to get close to Guan Guiling. And now, seeing Guan Guiling lurking there and suddenly rushing out, if Ming Mei hadn’t slowed down or quickly stepped back, they would have certainly collided.

Ming Mei glanced at Guan Guiling’s belly and suspected she might be trying to use her pregnancy to stage an accident.

If one wanted to be more cynical, maybe borrowing money from people was part of a scheme. The scheme wasn’t necessarily aimed at Ming Mei, but whoever it was directed at, the goal could be to create trouble. Of course, Guan Guiling had likely targeted several people. Ming Mei suspected she was one of them.

Guan Guiling likely knew that Ming Mei had young children at home and always left work in a hurry, moving quickly. This made her easier to target.

If it was indeed a scheme starting with borrowing money, then once they had a collision, Guan Guiling might claim she had been injured due to the impact. Or, she could go further and say Ming Mei had intentionally bumped into her because of a disagreement over the loan.

Then Ming Mei would be in a difficult situation, as she would be hard-pressed to explain herself. Guan Guiling likely didn’t want to send Ming Mei to jail, but she would want compensation, perhaps demanding a large sum.

Ming Mei didn’t want to think ill of others, but such stories weren’t uncommon. Her father was a long-haul truck driver who had traveled far and wide, and he had many such tales. Even Ming Mei’s grandfather had seen a lot in his day, having lived in Shanghai before liberation. That era and place were bustling with all sorts of stories.

Ming Mei often heard these tales from everyone, so despite her naive appearance, she wasn’t as innocent as she looked.

She stood there coolly, staring at Guan Guiling.

“Ming Mei, why aren’t you leaving yet?”

Several older women from Ming Mei’s office were leaving, and Ming Mei replied, “Let’s go together.”

She smiled sweetly, saying in a soft voice, “Sure.”

Guan Guiling was slowly walking down the stairs but picked up her pace upon hearing this. One of the women, Sister Wang, was puzzled. “Huh? Guan Guiling, why are you walking down here?”

Guan Guiling didn’t work in the same building as them. What was she doing here?

Guan Guiling remained composed. She smiled and said, "I'm just here to drop something off." She quickened her pace a bit.

Ming Mei suddenly spoke up at that moment. She smiled and said, "Sister Guan, are you feeling okay? You should slow down."

Guan Guiling replied casually, "I'm fine, no discomfort at all."

Ming Mei had been waiting for that exact response. She smiled and said, "Oh, I saw you standing there earlier, not moving, so I thought you might not be feeling well. I'm glad I didn't rush over; otherwise, I might have bumped into you."

Although her words seemed innocuous, Guan Guiling still hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile and saying, "I wasn't... You must have misinterpreted it."

Ming Mei shrugged and said, "Oh, maybe so."

Though their conversation was brief, many nearby frowned upon it, especially Ming Mei's subtle implications. Everyone began to speculate inwardly. It was clear—they needed to stay away from Guan Guiling; otherwise, trouble might find them. Looking at Guan Guiling's retreating back, they felt nothing but distaste. No one wanted to be caught in her mess.

A few bicycle riders headed to the bike shed together. Ming Mei looked down and muttered, "Oh no, I forgot to bring my bike key downstairs."

"Then we'll head out first?"

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Ming Mei swiftly ran back upstairs, feeling like she had woken up early only to end up last. She had left the office early, but she was the last one now. She quickly retrieved her bike key from the office and ran back downstairs.

If you're not eager to get off work, there must be something wrong with your mindset.

She hurried back to the bike shed.

As she arrived, she heard voices coming from behind the shed. Ming Mei stopped abruptly, her ears perked up. The voice wasn't unfamiliar—it belonged to Guan Guiling.

Guan Guiling's tone carried a hint of resentment as she said, "There's nothing I can do; she didn't fall for it!"

Ming Mei felt a chill—the "she" in Guan Guiling's words seemed to refer to herself.

Quietly, she moved to the side and peeked out from behind a car. She saw Guan Guiling conversing with another woman. Just a glance was enough to recognize Jiang Baohong. Since her husband's downfall and departure from Beijing, Jiang Baohong had become less cautious and was now transferred to the transport team.

Ming Mei couldn't fathom how Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong had joined forces.

She frowned slightly and listened intently.

Jiang Baohong's voice was filled with frustration as she said, "Why don't you just bump into her? You have a 'baby bump,' so what are you afraid of? Besides, the doctor said your pregnancy is bound to fail. If you don't find a scapegoat, you'll have to spend your own money later. Plus, if you trick someone for more money, your husband might be able to use it too. If you don't act soon, even if you miscarry, there won't be anything you can do about it."

Guan Guiling sighed. "Of course, I understand that. But Ming Mei seems careless on the surface, yet she's very cautious. I suspect she might have figured it out."

Jiang Baohong was resolute. "Impossible. She's not that smart. She might appear clever, but you're overthinking things."

She continued earnestly, "I know you're under a lot of pressure, but think about it—Ming Mei's circumstances are excellent. Both she and her husband have jobs, and her family can support her. Everyone in our unit knows how much Ming Xiangdong and Lan Ling dote on their daughter. Even Lan Ling's daughter-in-law, who works as a temp at the train station, gave up her job for Ming Mei. If Ming Mei runs into financial trouble, her family can easily help her out."

Jiang Baohong went on, "Don't underestimate Ming Mei's background. If you look closely, she's actually one of the better-off people in our unit. She has a light burden. Choosing her would be the most suitable option."

Guan Guiling replied, "I'm not opposed to targeting her; in fact, I want to extort her too. But she's too careful."

After a pause, Guan Guiling chuckled sardonically. "Actually, I could extort anyone, as long as the money's there. But you—why are you so fixated on Ming Mei? I don't think you've had any dealings with her before, have you?"

Even before Jiang Baohong was transferred to the transport team, Ming Mei had already left it. Yet, Jiang Baohong had been insistent on getting Ming Mei back. It was truly perplexing.

Guan Guiling added, "I agreed to target Ming Mei for you, but I didn't do it for free."

Jiang Baohong's expression darkened, turning grim. "As long as you get the job done, I'll pay you. But if you fail, don't blame me for being heartless. As for Ming Mei... heh, if it weren't for her, I wouldn't even have to go to Xinghua Lane. If I hadn't gone there, I wouldn't have run into that brat. And if it weren't for that incident, my husband wouldn't have been ruined and exiled from Beijing."

She became increasingly furious thinking about it. Previously, everyone had fawned over her, but now, they treated her like trash. The thought of being stripped of her leadership position and the loss of adoration angered her immensely.

"If only Ming Mei had obediently become a stewardess and helped me catch thieves to bolster my achievements, I would have been promoted long ago! Anything that hinders me is despicable! Ever since my husband's downfall and our divorce, my life has become a living hell."

Everyone mocked her, refusing to revere her!

Damn it!

She continued, "Plus, she's in the same courtyard as that bitch Wang Xiangxiu and that damned Bai Fendou. Given that, I can't see her as innocent."

She glared coldly at Guan Guiling. "Bai Fendou treated you like a rag, discarding you just like that. You should team up with me to deal with them. Each one of them deserves to die!"

Jiang Baohong fixed her gaze on Guan Guiling. "If you want money, you have to listen to me."

Guan Guiling's eyes flickered. If not for the money, she would never have bothered with this crazy woman. But for now, using Jiang Baohong suited her purposes. She had her own schemes. From the start, she hadn't taken Jiang Baohong seriously. If not for the prospect of fleecing her, she wouldn't have engaged with her at all.

But for now, Jiang Baohong was useful.

Guan Guiling said, "Of course, I'm willing to listen to you. If I weren't, why would I even bother contacting you? We're in this together, and I despise them too. That damned Bai Fendou—agreeing to be with him was already giving him face. If it weren't for his house, do you think I'd even spare him a glance?"

Jiang Baohong scoffed. "You're just shortsighted."

Desiring a trifling benefit was enough to stoop to consorting with a eunuch—she viewed such behavior with disdain.

However, she was glad Guan Guiling was like that; it made her easier to manipulate.

She said, "So, you focus on dealing with Ming Mei. Make her responsible for your 'miscarriage,' and demand at least two to three thousand yuan from her. Don't let her off without it."

When Guan Guiling heard the sum, her eyes brightened. "Isn't that... a lot?"

"What's so much about it?"

"Clearly, you've never seen the world."

Guan Guiling replied, "But she's not falling for it. What should I do?"

Jiang Baohong said, "You have to find an opportunity quickly! Keep a close eye on her and see if any chances arise."

Guan Guiling: "Fine." This useless Jiang Baohong was worse than useless. Her advice amounted to nothing—simply nonsensical drivel. If not for the extra assistance and the money, Guan Guiling wouldn't have bothered engaging with her.

"I'll deal with her first, then move on to the others. Hehe, haha..."

As Jiang Baohong envisioned Ming Mei kneeling in despair, she cackled with glee.

The two women continued their scheming, exchanging endless chatter. Ming Mei, hidden in the corner, heard every word clearly and was left dumbfounded. She never imagined someone harbored such malicious hatred toward her. She couldn't comprehend Jiang Baohong's twisted reasoning.

Was Jiang Baohong insane?

How could this entire situation be blamed on her?

It was Wang Xiangxiu's deal with her husband.

It was Bai Fendou who ruined Jiang Baohong's husband.

Even the initial troublemaker was Su Jinlai.

She, Ming Mei, had had no involvement in this matter from the beginning. Yet, clearly, Jiang Baohong didn't see it that way. Not only had she connected with Guan Guiling, but their endless babble hardly revealed any coherent plan.

But Ming Mei still heard it—Guan Guiling's child couldn't be saved.

She wanted to use this child to extort money from her.

Ming Mei furrowed her brows tightly. Quickly, she crept to her bicycle and pushed it away silently. Although Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong might continue their discussion, Ming Mei felt there was no need to listen any further.

These two kept going in circles with their pointless chatter, revealing nothing of any substance.

She didn't want to bump into them here, especially if it was just Jiang Baohong left; with two against one, it would be hard to explain. Who knows how these two managed to team up, but they clearly had a sinister alliance.

Ming Mei clicked her tongue and left. She quickly rode away from her workplace.

Because so much time had been wasted today, Ming Mei returned home late, and everyone else had already gone home. Zhuang Zhixi was in the yard watching the kids, while Bai Fendou hovered nearby, pouring tea and muttering, looking like a bootlicker.

Ming Mei: "..."

As soon as Zhuang Zhixi saw his wife return, he immediately stood up: "Wife, you're back? Is anything wrong? You're quite late today."

Ming Mei glanced at Zhuang Zhixi, then at Bai Fendou, and said, "Nothing."

Did this mean she was unwittingly covering for Bai Fendou?

The two people who schemed against her both had connections to Bai Fendou.

The fleeting glance Ming Mei gave to Bai Fendou was noticed by Zhuang Zhixi. He chuckled and said, "Alright, let's call it a day. Bai Fendou, you should go home now, and I need to go home for dinner too."

Bai Fendou: "Okay."

"Ahoo ahoo..." Little TuanTuan heard his mother's voice and immediately wiggled his little bottom, trying to grab her attention. Ming Mei smiled and picked up her son, saying, "Did TuanTuan miss Mommy?"

"Ah, oh, uh, hmm, hmm."

YuanYuan got anxious because she wasn't being held by Mommy. She waved her little hands furiously, getting very upset.

Ming Mei: "Let's go inside, and I'll feed the kids."

Zhuang Zhixi hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Feed YuanYuan first—she's such a little glutton, she's so impatient."

Ming Mei: "I'm already holding TuanTuan, so I won't switch."

The family of four went inside, and Ming Mei fed the children one by one. Once both kids had been fed and were full, they burped with satisfaction, content.

Zhuang Zhixi helped carry the two kids back into their stroller and asked, "What happened today?"

Ming Mei: "I encountered some crazy dogs. Can you believe it? I've never even interacted with them, and yet..."

Ming Mei recounted the entire incident to Zhuang Zhixi, fuming: "Do you believe this? What do their family issues have to do with me? Why are they blaming me? I'm so innocent!"

Zhuang Zhixi listened, his expression darkening, though seeing Ming Mei so upset, he smiled and comforted her: "We're normal people, so of course, we can't understand the thinking of such lunatics. But don't worry, I won't let anyone scheme against you."

After all, a real man can't let others bully his wife.

Besides, what does this have to do with Ming Mei? Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling are just too malicious. Unexpectedly, he suddenly thought of someone—Fan Jianguo.

He murmured softly: "Maybe we can set them against each other?"

Ming Mei was puzzled: "What are you talking about?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "I have an idea, I'll go and discuss it with Grandpa."

Ming Mei: "???"

She was really confused: "I feel like you're a bit strange."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Where do I seem strange?"

Ming Mei: "I've noticed that when something happens, you tend to consult my grandfather but not your parents."

She just couldn't understand why; her mother-in-law was clearly quite capable.

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled softly and was quite straightforward: "I like talking to Grandpa because he can think of underhanded tricks. I want to use some underhanded methods to deal with them, but my parents aren't like that. My dad is too straightforward, and my mom... my mom seems fierce, and her mind is quick too, but deep down, she's quite upright. Not that she wouldn't approve of me, but some things, she just wouldn't think of in those terms. If I discuss this with her, she might not be able to help me flesh it out. But Grandpa is different—he can help me improve the details. So of course, I'd choose Grandpa first."

This courtyard, the only one who really aligns with him, is Grandpa.

They're truly on the same wavelength.

Ming Mei thought about it and nodded: "What you said does make some sense."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said: "Does it just make some sense? It makes a lot of sense."

Ming Mei pursed her lips playfully. Zhuang Zhixi leaned down and pecked her lightly.

Ming Mei whispered softly: "Hey!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "What, can't I kiss you?"

Ming Mei giggled. "Of course you can, how could you not?"

Zhuang Zhixi pulled Ming Mei into his embrace and said, "Tell me more about Guan Guiling. Did you hear that her child couldn't be saved?"

Ming Mei nodded: "They did say that, and I don't think it's fake. Guan Guiling's complexion was ghostly pale, and she's really skinny."

As for the fact that Guan Guiling's child couldn't be saved, Ming Mei wasn't surprised. After all, Guan Guiling had given birth and immediately went back to work without rest. Without any recovery period, she got pregnant again almost immediately. It's no wonder her body couldn't handle it.

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's perfect. I've been struggling to find the best way to deal with Fan Jianguo, but now I have an idea."

"Do you want to link the two together? Make them set each other off? That might be difficult," Ming Mei mused, scratching her head, unable to see how it could work. But Zhuang Zhixi smiled brightly and said, "I've thought it through carefully; it's not hard."

He said: "Guan Guiling doesn't want the child and plans to use it to extort someone. Well, Fan Jianguo is a great target, isn't he?"

After all, neither of them are virtuous individuals, so we'll just see who ends up on top.

As for Jiang Baohong...

Take it step by step!

Zhuang Zhixi didn't plan to spare Jiang Baohong. Leaving such a crazy person around could potentially harm his family.

He said, "I'll go over to Grandpa's for a bit."

Ming Mei: "Okay."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh, right, come with me tomorrow to see some drama."

Ming Mei's curious eyes sparkled: "What's going on?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Bai Fendou dressed as a woman."

Ming Mei: "Ah, this..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Trust me, it'll be hilarious."

Ming Mei: "..."

Zhuang Zhixi left after saying that. Ming Mei gently poked her babies' cheeks, saying, "Look how nice your daddy is."

Although she knew Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling were both maligning her, Ming Mei wasn't particularly worried. After all... she had a special early warning system! If those two could cause her serious harm, she would have dreamed about it.

Since she hasn't had such a dream, she probably doesn't need to worry.

That said, it had been about a year since she last had a predictive dream.

This gap is quite long, and as she grows older, her dreams are becoming less frequent. Unlike when she was a child, when they were frequent.

Ming Mei murmured softly: "I wonder if one day I'll stop dreaming altogether."

As she whispered, both babies cooed as if responding. Little YuanYuan even blew bubbles.

Ming Mei lowered her head and kissed her daughter's cheek, saying, "How adorable you are."

Little YuanYuan cooed, wanting Mommy to hold her. Her older brother immediately stretched out his little arms, also competing for Mommy's attention. Ming Mei kissed her son's cheek and said, "Be good, both of you."

The babies didn't understand, all they wanted was to be held.

YuanYuan puckered her mouth, ready to cry, but Ming Mei quickly pushed the stroller out the door, and YuanYuan's tears instantly vanished. The little one was still very happy to go outside, even without being held.

Ming Mei: "Good babies, let's go outside to cool off~"

Zhao Guihua saw Ming Mei looking after the kids and asked, "Where's the third son?"

Ming Mei: "He went to Grandpa's."

Zhao Guihua: "He runs over there quite often."

Despite Zhuang Zhixi being lazy with chores at home, he's quite diligent at Lan Sihai's place, often volunteering to help with various tasks. However, the people in the Zhuang family don't seem to have any issues with it. Even the most calculating Liang Meifen couldn't find fault with it.

But how to explain this...?

Uncle Lan Sihai, this old guy, he doesn't let people work for nothing!

And if you dare say anything, he'll really snap back right in your face. So without solid nerves, you really wouldn't dare engage in a discussion with Uncle Lan.

Zhao Guihua: "If Lao San (Zhuang Zhixi) had been born in the same era as your grandfather, they could have been great friends. Both of them are just like that."

Ming Mei wasn't convinced and said, "I think my grandfather and Zhixi Brother are both very good."

Zhao Guihua gave her a sharp glance.

Ming Mei: "It's true! They both have talent."

Zhao Guihua: "Okay, fine."

Ming Mei: "My grandfather is amazing, both smart and talented. I'm a lot like my grandfather. So I feel I'm a good match for Zhixi Brother. Comrade Zhuang Zhixi is a really great man, he has a strong sense of justice, is handsome, smart, and capable at everything. Plus, he's loyal and has a great sense of humor. I..."

Zhao Guihua: "You don't need to say any more, really, you don't."

Even though she was being praised for her son, she still felt a bit uncomfortable listening to it.

As for Liang Meifen, who had just walked out, she quickly retreated back inside. She hadn't realized her brother-in-law had so many virtues. It truly is 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. She couldn't bear to listen anymore.

Ming Mei, however, was all smiles: "Honestly, Zhixi Brother is very good and even helped me get back at someone. You don't know..."

Ming Mei whispered into Zhao Guihua's ear, and Zhao Guihua's eyebrows shot up, clearly displeased: "These scoundrels!"

"That's right," Ming Mei agreed.

Zhao Guihua hadn't expected that Jiang Baohong was such a lunatic. How could this situation be blamed on her daughter-in-law? It wasn't like they had asked her to come looking for them. They hadn't even said this person was heartless, selfish, and morally bankrupt yet. Yet, she had the audacity to blame others herself.

This was truly outrageous.

"Let Zhixi handle her!"

Ming Mei nodded vigorously: "Absolutely."

Ming Mei had no sympathy for bad people.

As the two were talking, they saw Bai Fendou sneak out from Uncle Lan Sihai's house, looking both stealthy and dazed, as if he had been hit by a huge shock. Following him, Zhuang Zhixi emerged, smiling.

When he approached, Zhao Guihua whispered, "What are you planning?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Just wait and see tomorrow."

Zhao Guihua: "Which hotel are you going to?"

She had already learned everything from her daughter-in-law. First, she wanted to know the location so she could watch the show.

She couldn't miss such a spectacle.

Zhuang Zhixi: "The one at Front Gate. You can come and watch the fun. Oh right, Ming Mei, you said Guan Guiling was following you, right? Just let her follow you."

Ming Mei nodded: "Alright."

Zhuang Zhixi whispered a few instructions, and Zhao Guihua immediately said, "Don't tell me, I don't want to know."

It was like watching a TV show; she didn't want any spoilers.

She wanted to see it unfold tomorrow!

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Zhao Guihua turned and walked away without hesitation.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Look at my mom, she's really confident in my abilities, huh?"

"Isn't that normal?"

"Uh, guess it is."

...

That night, Bai Fendou tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

It wasn't fear, it was excitement.

He couldn't believe he was going to do this, but he felt he could manage!

He got up early, plunged his head into cold water, and He Lan was startled. "What are you doing? If you're nervous, we don't have to go. I don't need any payment, I just want us to live our lives peacefully."

Bai Fendou shook his head: "No, this has to be done! I know you hate their family, we need to give them a taste of their own medicine. Plus, there are other things to consider..."

He Lan was worried: "Can we really do it?"

Bai Fendou: "Don't worry, I have help. I..."

He looked a bit stuck for words but quickly added, "Just trust me, this will work out. Even if I get caught, someone will cover for me."

He Lan held Bai Fendou's hand earnestly: "Let's do this once and then stop. I'm always a bit scared. My background is bad, and I've already implicated you. I don't want to get you involved in more trouble. I just want you to be safe, and for us to live a good life. Promise me, let's live a good life from now on."

Bai Fendou looked at He Lan's concerned face and felt that this was what life was all about.

He nodded vigorously: "I promise, don't worry."

He Lan nodded: "That's all I need."

Bai Fendou mustered all his courage and said: "Just wait and see."

That day, he tried to act as usual, not showing any signs of anxiety, but inside he was extremely excited. As the hour of his shift's end approached, he proactively sought out his supervisor and asked for an hour's leave, promising to make up for it by working an extra hour tomorrow. Generally, with such commitments, the workshop leaders wouldn't make things difficult.

Although Bai Fendou had always seemed muddle-headed, he was diligent at work, whether it was in the security department, the sanitation crew, or now in the workshop. Leaders wouldn't make things hard for him.

Bai Fendou quickly rode his bike home, panting. He parked his bike at the doorstep and dashed straight over to Lan Sihai's place. Lan Sihai had also returned early. He glanced at Bai Fendou and said, "Sit down."

Bai Fendou obediently sat down and asked, "Uncle Lan, are you really good at this?"

Lan Sihai: "Oh, look at how capable you think you are. If I'm not good, are you? Why don't you give it a try?"

"I'll follow your lead, I'll follow your lead."

Lan Sihai: "Sit still."

Lan Sihai's equipment was quite comprehensive, sourced from who knows where. He quickly started applying makeup on Bai Fendou, saying, "Feel lucky, I tell you. Back in the day, the cabaret singers at the Peking Ballroom in Shanghai used to do this kind of makeup."

He added, "You have no idea how fortunate you are."

Bai Fendou: "Wow, Uncle Lan, you even knew such people?"

Lan Sihai: "There was a cabaret singer living across from where I rented. My wife was curious about her makeup, so after a while, I learned it. What can I say? I'm just smart."

He gave himself a little compliment.

"If you want people to not recognize you, you first have to change the contours of your face. You're lucky, I don't usually do this for just anyone."

Lan Sihai quickly finished decorating Bai Fendou. And indeed, he wasn't bragging. If you weren't very familiar with Bai Fendou, you really wouldn't recognize him at first glance. Lan Sihai: "Now put on this wig."

Bai Fendou's mouth twitched: "Uncle Lan, you even managed to borrow this?"

Lan Sihai: "What's the big deal? I even borrowed a dress for you."

In a flash, Bai Fendou transformed from a burly man into a plump woman with braids, wearing a turquoise blue dress. Looking at himself in the mirror, Bai Fendou was momentarily speechless. This was... quite something.

He felt like he might even marry himself.

Was he more attractive than a woman when dressed up?

With that thought, Bai Fendou quickly shook off all the nonsense in his head. He couldn't end up like Zhou Qun.

He quickly said, "It's about time, I'll head over now."

Lan Sihai nodded: "Go ahead."

He added, "I need to go pick up my wife."

They couldn't miss the fun.

Bai Fendou peeked out, saw no one in the courtyard, and thought, Mrs. Zhao really had some tricks up her sleeve. As expected, she had made sure everyone was out at this time. He quickly darted into his house and said, "He Lan, do I look good?"

He Lan: "!!!"

At first glance, she didn't even recognize Bai Fendou. It was only because of his gruff voice that she managed to figure it out. But looking more closely, she could see it was him. The makeup was really well done.

He Lan sincerely said, "Uncle Lan is really amazing, he has a magic touch."

Bai Fendou: "That's for sure. He can handle even the most intricate parts in the factory. Young people can't match him. And at his age, he's still sharp-eyed and sharp-eared. No wonder Zhuang Zhixi always goes over to flatter him. Now I really understand. This old man is a treasure."

Hearing He Lan's agreement, she said, "I haven’t seen anything more impressive than this."

"Alright, I won’t talk anymore, I’m leaving now! I have a lot of scenes to shoot today."

Today, they had a series of interconnected plans, each step precisely orchestrated.

Bai Fendou quickly went out, took a deep breath, and jogged to catch the bus.

At this moment, Ming Mei was also preparing to leave work. The older colleague Wang had just stood up to pour some water when she saw someone outside the window and said, "The person at the main gate looks like your husband."

Ming Mei: "That should be him."

She said with a smile, "My husband recently published an article in the newspaper, and we want to go out to celebrate."

"Oh? Which article? That’s impressive, it’s definitely worth celebrating."

Ming Mei: "It’s the one praising the retired veterans contributing in the machinery factory."

This was Zhuang Zhixi's normal work; their publicity department was responsible for this kind of thing.

Ming Mei mentioned this just as an excuse.

"That’s really great, your husband is very capable."

Ming Mei smiled, "Yes, he is."

She had mentioned this at the cafeteria at noon. Now she brought it up again, basically to tell Guan Guiling. Didn’t Guan Guiling want to follow her? She must have been waiting around, right? Ming Mei left work carrying her small bag, pushing her bike downstairs.

The couple rode off together, not heading home but towards the front gate area.

Sure enough, Guan Guiling quickly followed on her bike. She didn’t own a bike herself; this one belonged to Jiang Baohong, who lent it to Guan Guiling to ensure her plan would succeed.

This showed how determined they were to stick to Ming Mei and make her pay dearly.

Actually, Guan Guiling could have chosen anyone, but Jiang Baohong offered her extra money, so she was happy to target Ming Mei. You know, she also disliked how happily Ming Mei lived. Why should she?

They were both women, so why was Ming Mei living so easily, so happily?

Guan Guiling wanted to tear that apart.

For the sake of money and her twisted heart, Guan Guiling quietly followed Ming Mei on her bike.

Ming Mei and her husband rode straight to the front gate area, and she followed behind…

At this time, Cheng Xiaoping was getting ready to go out for dinner. She was Fan Jianguo’s fiancée, having known each other for over two years. Cheng Xiaoping’s father was a small leader in Fan Jianguo’s army unit, a fairly high-ranking official.

She herself was a performer in the art troupe.

However, in such a place full of beautiful women and talented people, someone like her, who only got in because of family background, wasn’t that outstanding. Compared to others who could sing and dance brilliantly, she was just average, not particularly eye-catching.

So Cheng Xiaoping felt a bit frustrated, unable to fulfill her potential.

But when she performed at Fan Jianguo’s unit, he unexpectedly fell in love with her at first sight. He thought she was the purest and cutest girl. Compared to the flamboyance of others, he firmly believed she had a unique charm.

Since then, Fan Jianguo quietly treated her well. At first, she was reluctant, as their families were quite different, but Fan Jianguo was really willing to spend money on her. Even though his family seemed average, he treated her so well, making Cheng Xiaoping feel quite pleased.

Especially since she had seen others try to get close to Fan Jianguo but fail.

This made her even more pleased.

They had been together for two years and finally decided to get married.

But unexpectedly, it was because of this marriage that she went to Fan Jianguo’s hometown, discovering some things were not what they seemed. She didn’t expect his family to be so poor, and his relatives were so mean.

Although they didn’t show it to her face, she could see some subtle details.

Furthermore, she asked around outside and couldn’t believe it – Fan Jianguo had been married before. He just hadn’t registered the marriage, so no one knew. And that widow who came asking around…

She felt her head spinning, decisively leaving Fan Jianguo.

Originally, she had firmly decided to leave, but Fan Jianguo kept coming to see her, and gradually, she was somewhat moved.

Yes, Fan Jianguo’s so-called ex-wife was from a capitalistic family, he married her out of gratitude, so it wasn’t his fault. Men should be loyal and righteous, and later being able to draw a clear line was a good thing. This showed he had the right stance.

Of course, there was also that ugly widow… But since she hadn’t appeared again, she tilted toward Fan Jianguo.

He claimed someone was jealous of him and framed him. This matter, Cheng Xiaoping wasn’t entirely sure, but she was definitely swayed.

Fan Jianguo was now like a chicken bone to her, tasteless but hard to throw away.

She had already submitted the marriage report, so if she didn’t marry, it would be shameful. But if she married, even though she wanted to believe Fan Jianguo, she also felt his family was really not good.

Even though Fan Jianguo promised to return home less, Cheng Xiaoping was still hesitant.

She wanted to believe Fan Jianguo, but she also had a feeling that he was lying. This feeling really bothered her. She sighed, quietly going downstairs to head to the state-run restaurant.

She went downstairs, thinking about why Fan Jianguo still hadn’t come, was he just trying to please her?

Seeing her soften yesterday, did he not show up today?

As she left, heading towards the state-run restaurant, she suddenly saw a woman marching angrily towards her. Cheng Xiaoping frowned slightly and stepped aside, but the woman stood right in front of her.

She was quite tall and a bit burly.

Cheng Xiaoping wasn’t happy and said, "You’re in the way."

"I’m in your way, yes. Give Fan Jianguo back to me!"

The woman’s voice was very unpleasant, like a chicken being strangled.

She shouted, "I’m Fan Jianguo’s wife!"

Cheng Xiaoping: "!!!"

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the woman.

For some reason, she thought of that ugly woman people mentioned.

Looking closely, she wasn’t ugly, just ordinary, but indeed strong and sturdy.

She asked, "So it was you! Why are you coming after me?"

Bai Fendou, yes, this “woman” was Bai Fendou.

He shouted loudly, "How else would I come? Fan Jianguo told me you’re here. I beg you, give Fan Jianguo back to me, I beg you!"

He yelled loudly, weeping, "Do you know? Fan Jianguo is tricking you. If you didn’t have a father in a leading position, he wouldn’t even look at you! He’s using the money I gave him to please you, all for a promotion!"

His voice was so loud, and it was the time people were leaving work, so many stopped to watch.

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei also stopped their bikes at this moment, curiously looking across the street, having halted due to the gossip.

Bai Fendou: "Fan Jianguo’s favorite is me, not you or his ex-wife. He likes you two, one for money, one for power. We’ve been together for many years. I know his plans outside, and for our future, I’m willing to let him scheme with you. It doesn’t matter if he marries you, you’re all fools anyway. Whether it’s you or his ex-wife, we can squeeze money from you. We’re not losing out! But, but I can’t stand it, because I’m having a baby! I’m not young anymore, I want a child. That’s why I came to you, to let you know, in our eyes, you’re just a pawn, a stupid, brainless one. Are you still unwilling to step aside? Do you know what Fan Jianguo says about you in front of me? He says you’re the ugly monster in the art troupe, if not for having a good father, he wouldn’t have made a move on you. He also says you’re the dumbest, very easy to believe others. That’s why he picked you!"

Cheng Xiaoping trembled with anger: "You… you…"

Bai Fendou: "If it weren't for the fact that I'm pregnant, I might have allowed you to marry him and helped advance his career! But since I'm pregnant, and his parents are cruel and malicious, they simply can't be relied upon. And he, in his desperate desire for promotion, actually wanted me to have an abortion, which I absolutely refused to do! Let me tell you, I came here today to kindly discuss this with you, but if you don't listen, I'll go to your workplace. Both yours and his, I want to ask them and see if you can get away with treating people like this! I'm determined to create a massive scene."

Cheng Xiaoping was in tears.

She had never experienced such humiliation, let alone such blatant disrespect.

She said, "You're both way out of line! You two are nothing but scammers!"

Bai Fendou, smirking smugly and with an escalating arrogance, retorted, "And what's wrong with deceiving you? It's because your family's in a good position. If your family weren't well-off, we wouldn't even bother to trick you! Fan Jianguo has already told me that once you two get married, your family will need to arrange a spot for Fan Lian in the Art Troupe, and also secure formal jobs for his older brothers."

He quickly added, fearing she might not believe him, "All of this was discussed in their household. If you don't believe me, we can go confront them at Fan's home together! I'm not afraid! Right now, I'm going all out for my child. My child must have a family!"

Although he appeared to be the one suffering, his fantastical claims garnered widespread sympathy for Cheng Xiaoping, the deceived. The onlookers began to scold: "How can you be so shameless?!"

"You con artists actually think you're in the right?"

"How can you bully someone like this?"

"So, having a good family is now a reason to be cheated on?"

Bai Fendou turned to shout at the bystanders, "Shut up! Do you think I wanted this? It's all because my child's father wants a promotion! You have no idea about my man's lofty ambitions. Jianguo said it himself, 'As long as it's for promotion, I'd treat her like a sow with the lights off!' I originally thought tricking such a fool wouldn't matter! But now that I'm the one losing out, that's not acceptable! Get up! Follow me to Fan's house, confront them together! If you decide to marry Fan Jianguo, I'll expose you both. You won't get away with this..."

He continued yelling, "Either way, I have to get married because of the child. If you want to be a second wife, that's fine... but your father will need to arrange jobs for my entire family..."

Cheng Xiaoping was trembling with anger, and said, "You're despicable! I'd rather die single than marry a scammer like you."

For a brief moment, she had second-guessed whether someone was framing Fan Jianguo, but then dismissed the thought. This woman was brazen enough to confront them, and her disjointed words clearly showed she was under heavy stress.

Cheng Xiaoping completely believed Bai Fendou's words.

Thinking about all the manipulative plots Fan Jianguo had schemed, she found it absolutely terrifying.

She said, "Coming here was pointless. I have no connection with him whatsoever! I wouldn't marry such a despicable man. You two can grow old together!"

Humiliated, she turned to leave.

Bai Fendou grabbed her, saying, "No, you can't leave. What if Jianguo asks for you? You need to arrange a spot for his sister in the Art Troupe as compensation!"

Cheng Xiaoping: "????"

What kind of lunatic has she encountered?

Why on earth would she arrange a position for Fan Jianguo's sister?

This whole family must have serious mental issues.

Thinking back, Fan Jianguo had subtly hinted at how hard it was for Fan Lian to work in the fields. If she could also join the Art Troupe... yes, that must be it. The more she thought about it, the more terrifying this family seemed.

Even this ugly woman not yet in their family was terrifying.

Their way of thinking was so far removed from normal people's.

"You're not leaving!"

Bai Fendou held onto Cheng Xiaoping, who was genuinely frightened. She wished she could pack her bags and flee that very night!

"Let go!"

"Wait for Jianguo to arrive..."

"Let go, I have no ties to you! Help!"

The onlookers couldn't stand it anymore, saying, "Miss, what are you doing? Are those words even human? How dare you scam someone and not let them go?"

"Let's bring this woman to the police station. What kind of person is she? I can't help but clench my fists after hearing this."

"Me too, damn, they're really pushing it."

"Miss, don't be afraid, we won't let you get bullied."

"Exactly."

Bai Fendou: "You're in for it! I'll tell you, my husband Fan Jianguo is a high-ranking officer in the army. He can have you all arrested!"

Cheng Xiaoping retorted angrily, "Don't rely on your husband's power to intimidate people. And don't tarnish the reputation of the army. We have strict discipline, nothing like you're suggesting..."

Bai Fendou shot back bluntly, "Jianguo said it himself, any leader who isn't embezzling something is likely incompetent..."

"Bullshit!"

Cheng Xiaoping: "You all wait, I'm going to report you!"

"Yes!"

"Don't let her get away."

"What kind of person is this Fan Jianguo..."

"What's going on here?"

Enraged, the crowd began rolling up their sleeves. If Bai Fendou wasn't a "woman," he would have already been assaulted. As it was, he pretended to be scared while putting on a show of strength, "You just wait! I'll get Jianguo here! He'll set things straight for me!"

With that, as if slightly nervous, he bolted away at full speed.

Before the crowd could react, the center of the controversy had already disappeared in a flash.

"Wow, she fled!" exclaimed one person.

"What just happened?"

"Let's chase her!"

"Why chase her?"

But with that moment of hesitation, the woman had already vanished.

Cheng Xiaoping was left panting with rage. Reflecting on her experience, she felt it was a huge mistake coming here. Thinking of Fan Jianguo's repellent demeanor, she briskly climbed up the stairs, determined to leave immediately.

Marriage?

Screw that!