My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 158

Dinner time is the liveliest time at the Zhuang Family household.

The whole family gathered together, and Zhuang Zhiyuan announced with excitement at the dinner table, "It's settled on my end. I'm getting a housing allocation this time for sure."

Feeling overjoyed, he continued, "I thought I'd have to wait a long time, but I didn't expect it to move so quickly. Our unit colleagues speculate that it likely started internally long ago, and by the time it reached us, the decision was already made."

Zhao Guihua smiled, "That's great news. Once you get the new place, our living space will be more spacious."

"Exactly," Zhuang Zhiyuan said with some pride. "I was really lucky this time. You don't know, there are plenty in our unit who haven't gotten housing. There are older colleagues ahead of me in the queue, and new colleagues with connections behind me. I was worried I wouldn't make the cut, but luckily, my turn came up."

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei looked envious. "Big Brother, you're so lucky," they said.

They too longed for a housing allocation, but with their shorter work tenure, they didn't know when their turn would come.

Liang Meifen, also elated since it concerned her own family, said happily, "Everyone will get their chance. Just be patient."

Zhuang Zhixi and his wife nodded.

Zhao Guihua felt a wave of emotions, realizing that no matter the era, a house always holds paramount importance.

She asked, "So, how long before you get the keys to the new place?"

Initially, she wasn't too keen on the house, but then she reminded herself not to judge with decades-old perspectives. Indeed, that house might have been a source of regret in the future, but now, it wasn't too bad. Although it was an older building, they could renovate it by the 1980s. For now, getting a house allocation was a blessing; being picky wasn't wise.

Zhuang Zhiyuan replied, "This month is almost over, so probably next month. But it won't drag beyond that. It should be quick since it's not a newly built house waiting on construction."

Zhao Guihua nodded, "Alright. What about the kids? How do you plan to arrange them?"

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi immediately looked at their parents, unaware that the conversation involved them. Zhao Guihua, noting their confused expressions, explained, "Your parents' new place is small. If you move with them, you'll need to partition a room in the living room, which will be cramped compared to here. Alternatively, you can stay here with your grandparents and Uncle. Your parents will come back on weekends. It's up to you to decide, and I won't interfere."

The two kids became conflicted. They wanted to live with their parents and also with their grandparents—they didn't want to be separated.

With their little mouths pouting, they looked visibly worried.

Zhuang Zhiyuan asked, "So, do you want to live with your parents or your grandparents?"

Hutou replied, "Both."

He pouted and said, "I don’t want to be apart from you."

Zhuang Zhiyuan chuckled, "You're a big boy now."

"I'm not a big boy; I'm a little kid."

Zhuang Zhiyuan teased, "If you're a little kid, then what are Tuantuan and Yuanyuan?"

The two little ones were lying in their stroller, playing with their ugly, clownishly colored toy caterpillars—their absolute favorite. Zhuang Zhiyuan glanced at them, finding the caterpillars truly hideous, but the chubby babies were undeniably adorable.

He said, "Tuantuan and Yuanyuan are the little ones. You're the big kids now."

Hutou argued, "No, that’s not right. We’re little kids, and they’re tiny kids. Right, Sister?"

Xiao Yanzi nodded immediately, "Right!"

The siblings' thoughts were clear to Zhuang Zhiyuan—they didn’t want to be separated. However, he and Liang Meifen had discussed this. They agreed that Hutou and Xiao Yanzi should stay here. The new place had only one room, while living in the courtyard was far more comfortable.

They wouldn't have to squeeze together if there was still space available.

But seeing his children’s reluctance to be apart, Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "We’ll think about it some more."

"That works," Zhao Guihua agreed.

Hutou blinked innocently.

Zhuang Zhiyuan added, "We’ll decide after the house is assigned and we see its size."

"Sounds good," Zhao Guihua replied.

Curious, Zhuang Zhiyuan asked, "By the way, where were you all today? You took so long to get back?"

He was surprised to find Liang Meifen taking care of the kids when he returned, though Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were easy to manage.

Zhao Guihua answered, "I went out to buy some things and ended up watching a fight. That’s why I got back late."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "That’s right."

Zhuang Zhiyuan gave them a look, suspecting they might have been up to something mischievous. He said, "In life, we should always strive for harmony, especially outside. Avoid getting involved in others’ affairs."

Zhao Guihua shot him a look. "What’s this? Feeling bold, are you? Now you dare to lecture me? Do you even know who you're talking to?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "..."

Zhao Guihua continued, "And what’s this talk of harmony? Who’s making me feel uneasy, I’ll make them feel uneasy. But I was just watching someone else fight; what does harmony have to do with that? Do you think I was the one fighting? Am I that kind of person? As a son, you should wish me well. I’ve always been reasonable."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "...................................."

Liang Meifen: "!!!!!!!!!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Cough, cough, cough."

Ming Mei, smiling, chimed in, "Mom, I’m on your side."

Her flattery drew eye rolls from everyone else.

Ming Mei snorted, and as soon as the kids heard their mom’s voice, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan started fidgeting. They babbled and tried to reach out from their strollers. Ming Mei patted them gently, saying, "Be good. Mommy will play with you after dinner."

She poked their little cheeks and said, "So well-behaved."

While entertaining the kids, she suddenly thought of something and said, "Mom, I’m thinking of buying some cotton to make Tuantuan and Yuanyuan each a padded jacket. Do you have time to do it?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Yes, go ahead and prepare the materials."

"Great," Ming Mei said.

Each month, they contributed fifteen yuan, which covered living expenses including food, utilities, and hygiene. Anything additional, like clothing, they had to prepare themselves. Liang Meifen felt fortunate that last year her kids had managed to get three sets of clothes each—it was a real blessing.

Although Tuantuan and Yuanyuan had gotten some too, being infants, they required far less fabric. Her children, being older, needed more material. Despite the striped patchwork design of the dresses, no one else seemed to mind.

She felt quite pleased with herself, feeling like she had gotten a great deal.

Zhuang Zhiyuan saw his wife lost in thought, looking unusually happy. He gave her a light kick under the table and then said, "Mom, make the padded jackets for the little ones first, and then for Hutou and Xiao Yanzi too."

He instructed Liang Meifen, "Check how many cotton ration tickets we have. If it's not enough, I’ll see if I can trade with someone. Hutou and Xiao Yanzi’s padded jackets from last year should be a bit too small by now."

Last year, their family had eaten well, and while the adults didn’t show much change, the kids had shot up like weeds. Their old padded jackets and pants no longer fit.

Last year, they had extended the jackets and pants by adding extra fabric, but this year, with the kids having grown even more, it was time for a change.

He said, "Disassemble the old ones, fluff the cotton, and add some new layers."

Liang Meifen agreed, "Alright."

Although the weather was still warm, this was the right time to prepare the jackets. By the time it got cold, they’d be ready to wear.

Zhao Guihua said, "Get the materials ready and bring them over."

"Thanks, Mom," they replied.

Ming Mei also leaned in: "Mom, you're really the best."

Zhao Guihua pushed her away, saying, "Who taught you this? Stop being so clingy."

But the smirk on her lips still showed that she was quite pleased with this display.

Zhao Guihua was in a good mood, smiling as she said, "You all should be thanking me, the homemaker. If it weren't for me, could you live so comfortably? Working all day, then coming home to take care of the kids, wash dishes, cook, do laundry, mend clothes—there's so much to do."

This was no exaggeration. Nowadays, life wasn't like it would be decades later, with household appliances becoming the norm and everything available for purchase. Back then, if it got cold, you bought a cotton-padded jacket—you wouldn't be unable to afford it, just maybe at the high or low end of the price range. Most households had to make things themselves. There were stores selling such items, but even for worker families, it wasn't something you could casually buy and replace. Let alone the manual labor involved in washing clothes and cooking—there were no electric rice cookers or washing machines back then.

The more Zhao Guihua thought about it, the more she felt her contributions were paramount. She said, "You two are lucky to have a mother-in-law like me—it's a blessing eight lifetimes in the making. Otherwise, with one of you being a fool and the other a simpleton, you'd be taken advantage of without even realizing it."

Liang Meifen and Ming Mei both nodded, not daring to refute her.

Liang Meifen truly didn't dare to contradict her mother-in-law. Whatever Zhao Guihua said, she always agreed with it. There was no arguing with this woman—when she got fierce, she really would throw a punch. Liang Meifen had witnessed their family storming her own parents' house once, and just thinking about it made her shudder.

As for Ming Mei, she genuinely thought Zhao Guihua was a good person. She believed her to be sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Unlike Liang Meifen, who was purely afraid, Ming Mei had worked in a department with many female colleagues and knew firsthand how harsh some mother-in-laws could be towards their daughters-in-law.

Zhao Guihua, though seeming tough on the surface, was very sincere towards her own family. Outsiders might think it steep for them to pay 15 yuan a month for living expenses, considering it was just for food and drink. But Ming Mei knew that, in reality, her in-laws were subsidizing their expenses.

The meals at their house were so good that even if they paid 20 yuan, it wouldn't be enough to cover the cost.

Moreover, Zhao Guihua took care of all the household matters, so Ming Mei was very grateful. She was thankful that her mother-in-law's mindset was different from that of most older women. Zhao Guihua was indeed a woman of vision.

Ming Mei leaned in again, cooing, "Mom, I really adore you."

Zhao Guihua: "…"

Everyone else: "…"

What kind of bootlicker is this?

Ming Mei: "I'm so lucky. When I tell people how great my mother-in-law is, they all think I'm exaggerating, but it's true! You're even better than I say."

Zhao Guihua smiled: "That's good to know."

She smiled, she really did smile—she clearly loved this kind of flattery.

The Zhuang family members exchanged helpless glances. With such a fierce demeanor, a little flattery and she's all smiles—where's the dignity in that?

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, enough fussing. After dinner, go boil some water to bathe the baby—they need a bath today."

Ming Mei: "Sure thing."

If it were just one baby, it would be simple, but with two, it was like a battle. The two little ones didn't understand the concept of bathing—to them, it was all about "playing with water." Each bath required the efforts of several people.

At this point, Ming Mei was already stretching and flexing in preparation for the battle ahead.

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi: "We want to help too!"

They loved helping bathe Little Tuan and Little Yuan. The two chubby babies, still smelling of milk, were just too adorable.

Zhao Guihua immediately turned stern: "You can watch from the side, but don't get in the way."

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi pouted, but as long as they could watch the fun!

The twin's bathtub was larger than a typical one. As soon as the two toddlers saw their tub being brought out, they became excited, waving their little hands and wiggling about. Their joy was boundless.

Ming Mei: "Just look at them…"

Zhuang Zhixi: "It's normal—I like going to the bathhouse for a soak too."

Ming Mei: "…"

She couldn't even argue with that.

As the Zhuang family boiled water for the children's bath, the chaos carried over to the neighboring Bai family, who were also bustling about, giving their child a bath. Bai Fendou had just finished bathing his daughter and was carrying the water bucket out to pour. In fact, their household chores were much more abundant than before, but Bai Fendou didn't feel burdened at all—in fact, he felt his days were now fulfilling.

Perhaps it was because life now had purpose and flavor.

After pouring the water, he returned to sweep the floor, only to see his daughter Little Qingqing crawling on the bed in her little bib. Bai Fendou said, "Watch her, don't let her fall off the bed."

He Lan: "I've got it under control."

She said, "Let her play for a bit."

She folded the freshly dried and retrieved clothing and placed it neatly in the cupboard, adding, "If Fan's family compensates us, the compensation money will technically be my funds."

She had already gotten a rough idea from Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou: "Feeling sorry for the money?"

He Lan shook her head: "Not sorry. Though it is a pity, one has to consider the circumstances. Even if I had kept that money, it might not have been a blessing. Back then, everyone knew my family's situation—even though I was an unfavored daughter, I was still the daughter of a small capitalist family. Do you think people wouldn't scheme against me? But since everyone knew that Fan's family treated me poorly and took my dowry, I managed to avoid the worst of it in the early days of the turmoil."

She had seen people being paraded through the streets, and it was truly terrifying.

"How much dowry did you have back then?" Bai Fendou wasn't greedy for money; he was simply curious.

He Lan: "My father gave me a dowry of two thousand yuan, along with a bicycle, a radio, a sewing machine, and a watch for both Fan Jianguo and me. My family also prepared the bedding, and for clothes… well, those weren't part of the dowry, but they were high-quality items I had accumulated over the years and were taken by them."

Bai Fendou was amazed: "Wow, your dowry was substantial—even more than Jiang Baohong's. No wonder people had issues with capitalists. Even as an unfavored daughter, your family still provided so much…"

He Lan nodded quietly.

"Have you thought about getting those things back?"

He Lan looked at Bai Fendou and shook her head gently, saying, "I just want to live a good life—nothing else matters to me. Fendou, do you think I'm useless?"

Bai Fendou: "Of course not."

He scratched his head, saying, "I do feel bad about that money—so much of it. You could have bought so many nice things for Little Qingqing. But considering your background… I think losing it might have been for the best."

He Lan scooped her daughter back from the edge of the bed and nodded, saying, "I thought the same at the time. If Fan's family hadn't taken my dowry, it might have stirred up jealousy, and I could have ended up in a worse situation. I remember a neighbor sister from before I got married—she was taken out to parade the streets, and it was really frightening. I didn't want that for myself. If I had continued to live well and had a good background as the daughter of a small capitalist, someone might have exposed me or done something worse. So in that sense, even though they took my things, the fact that everyone in Yang Family Village knew I was cheated by them—with nothing left and living miserably—actually made me safer in a way."

Bai Fendou smiled: "Don't worry, I'll be here from now on. I'll take good care of you."

He Lan: "I feel truly fortunate to have met you. You're a wonderful person, just and kind."

Bai Fendou: "Hey, I'm not as great as you say. I just can't stand to see men bullying women."

The couple didn't let the loss of that dowry dampen their spirits. Instead, they were content with their current life.

He Lan rarely gave a sly smile and said, "Actually, I'm not a fool. I realized early on that I had misjudged people and made the wrong choice, and it hurt, but I quickly pulled myself together. I told myself, even if life gets harder, I don't want to be condemned. The more miserable I appear, the less anyone will bother me. So I deliberately let slip how much money the Fan family had taken from me. That was all my money."

The villagers all disliked the Fan family. Some had genuine grievances or simply didn't like their ways, as they weren't very principled. However, others just harbored resentment against the wealthy. If the Fan family didn't have so many strong men in their household, some troublemakers might have already tried to fleece them.

Bai Fendou: "You're really smart."

He Lan said with a small sense of pride, "I'm not capable of much, and my personality is soft, so I can't do anything big. I can only sneakily pull off these small schemes to annoy them."

Bai Fendou: "Well, this time they're really going to lose a lot. Guan Guiling, the one who almost married me, isn't someone to mess with. She once sold me out for money, and now that she's got the Fan family as easy targets, you watch, she'll milk them dry."

He Lan: "The Fan family is really fierce."

Bai Fendou: "Being fierce doesn't help when you're in a tough spot."

He chuckled and said, "Once I disguise myself, I'll sneak to the hospital to watch the fun during their negotiations."

He Lan: "Be careful not to get caught."

Bai Fendou: "Of course."

After a pause, he suddenly said, "Hey, why don't you come along too? If you're worried about being recognized, disguise yourself as well. I’ll ask Zhuang Zhiyuan’s wife to take you. I trust her."

He Lan: "???"

She said, "She’s such a gentle person…" Before finishing, she stopped herself, thinking of how fiercely Ming Mei once kicked her way into the Liang family to cause trouble.

"Hmm, she’s indeed tough."

Bai Fendou: "Once I find out when the Fan family is going to the hospital, hehehe."

He Lan hesitated slightly. All she wanted was to live a peaceful life, but then she thought, maybe… it wouldn’t hurt to see?

An inner voice urged her, "Go and watch the fun! See how miserable this family is, see if they meet their demise!"

She hesitated and said, "Can I really go?"

Bai Fendou: "Of course. I’ll ask Zhuang Zhiyuan to talk to his wife. To be honest, I’m a bit wary of Ming Mei. She’s a bit intimidating."

If it were Li Fang who beat people easily, Bai Fendou wouldn't be so afraid. After all, Li Fang looks strong and capable of fighting. But Ming Mei looks like a delicate little wife, and yet she’s known to snap and pummel a few burly men as if it’s child’s play. Such a stark contrast is actually quite terrifying!

He Lan, seeing Bai Fendou’s lingering fear, confidently said, "She must have beaten you up before."

Bai Fendou denied it, "No, that’s impossible."

He Lan smiled mischievously, "Definitely!"

Bai Fendou: "..."

Why does she have to be so sharp?

He Lan laughed and said, "It must be because you were too nosy."

Bai Fendou firmly denied it, "Absolutely not. I’m not that kind of person. Besides, I’m a strong man, she couldn’t possibly beat me!"

He Lan smiled subtly, but deep down… she didn’t believe a word of it.

There’s no doubt—he definitely got beaten up, which is why he has such a deep scar.

Hehe.

He Lan didn’t notice that her personality had become much more lively…

………………

Ming Mei’s greatest agony every day is getting up early.

By day, she toils at work, and by night, she takes care of her children and her husband. All she wants is a good sleep-in.

However, work must go on.

Every morning is chaotic for her, rushing to arrive just on time. Once at the office, she instantly senses the extra buzz—and she knows why. It’s definitely because of Guan Guiling.

In these times, having a job is like having a home. No matter the issue, it’s communicated at work. Like this time with Guan Guiling—early in the morning, the police arrived, even before Ming Mei got to work.

By the time she arrived, the police were gone and the news had spread.

Ming Mei parked her bike and rushed upstairs, only to find everyone in the office gathered, discussing with people from other departments. She saw Xiao Tian from logistics. Xiao Tian’s specialty is gossip—once something reaches her ears, it spreads like wildfire.

She winked and smiled, asking, "What are you all talking about?"

Everyone quickly pulled Ming Mei in, "You’re late, so you don’t know—Guan Guiling is hospitalized. Something happened to her. Oh, it’s so tragic—she lost her child."

Ming Mei’s big eyes widened, "I know, I saw it yesterday when I left work."

"Wait, you saw it? Were you there? Do you know what happened? Why was she beaten? Did she offend someone? It shouldn’t be like that—Guan Guiling is actually a decent person."

Ming Mei: "It wasn’t her fault. She was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, caught in someone else’s anger."

"What happened? Tell us!"

Ming Mei cleared her throat and said, "Yesterday, in front of the hotel near the front gate, two women were arguing. Apparently, one of them was… Then I saw my mother-in-law Zhao Guihua among the onlookers, so I rushed in to protect her, fearing she might get caught up in the chaos. At that time, I was focused on my mother-in-law, so I didn’t notice Guan Guiling was also in the crowd. But she was unlucky—the man was already enraged, and when he saw her talking back, he grabbed her and kicked her, causing a lot of bleeding. It was terrifying."

After Ming Mei recounted yesterday’s events, everyone was speechless.

Though they had heard something was up, this detailed version was new to them. They exchanged bewildered glances, saying, "So he…"

Someone else chimed in, "She was completely at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Ming Mei: "Exactly, it wasn’t her fault at all."

Sister Wang: "In my opinion, once you’re pregnant, you really need to be careful, staying away from the chaos. That’s how accidents happen. I heard not only did she lose her child, but she’s also unable to have another. The damage is quite severe."

"Is she still in the hospital?"

"Of course, probably won’t be out for a while."

"Oh, that must cost a lot."

"What can you do? I guess they’ll make the man compensate, but who knows how much he can afford."

"If he can’t pay, then what?"

Ming Mei said innocently, "He’ll definitely have to pay a lot. That man is rich. You don’t know, but during the argument yesterday, they mentioned he had deceived a rich girl before. He must have lots of money. Plus, he’s some kind of section leader—his salary must be good. While we workers make thirty or forty a month, which seems like a lot but we need to support a family, what’s that to him? He’s scammed the rich, and the rich are nothing like us ordinary folks. Who knows how much cash he holds. You didn’t see, he and his sister were dressed so well, even wearing a wristwatch."

"Ah!"

"So Guan Guiling can demand more compensation."

"Of course, she’s suffered physically and needs to recover."

"That’s true."

"Wait, are all men these days so shameless? Relying on tricking women to live well?"

"Well, some are just so shameless, what can you do?"

"Finding a partner really requires sharp eyes. Girls with good conditions need to guard against such men, and even those with ordinary conditions have to beware of nasty mothers-in-law. It’s just so hard for us women…"

"Yes, indeed."

Everyone was chattering away, and Ming Mei had already subtly spread the news that "Fan Jianguo" was rich and successful. Guan Guiling must have heard about it yesterday at the scene, though it's also possible she was so focused on spying on Ming Mei that she didn't pay attention to the chaos around her. Nevertheless, Ming Mei is truly a very kind person—so kind, in fact, that she decided to give Guan Guiling a gentle reminder.

Ming Mei really treated Guan Guiling quite well, setting her up with a prime mark to bleed dry, and she even proactively pointed out how wealthy the man was. She's truly a benevolent soul, returning kindness with more kindness.

Of course, this was also a jab at Jiang Baohong.

Jiang Baohong, since your bicycle is gone, why not make Guan Guiling compensate you?

After all, Guan Guiling has already caught herself a big fish.

Ming Mei returned to her seat with a smile on her face.

However, Ming Mei didn’t know that Jiang Baohong had no idea her bicycle was missing. She was stewing in anger over Guan Guiling’s breach of trust. They had agreed to plot against Ming Mei, yet how could she end up getting beaten up in the middle of the street?

Do you even know your own body, enough to casually go gawking at trouble?

Jiang Baohong’s frustration grew, and she was fiercely angry. She felt certain that Guan Guiling had no intention of plotting against Ming Mei and was just trying to swindle money out of her. Jiang Baohong wasn’t someone who could be taken advantage of. The very thought of it infuriated her.

Jiang Baohong’s mood was dire, but someone had the nerve to ask, “Jiang Baohong, why are you walking today? Where’s your bicycle?”

Jiang Baohong snapped, “It’s lent out.”

She regretted lending her bicycle to Guan Guiling. Not only had Guan Guiling failed to deliver on her promise, but she also hadn’t returned the bicycle promptly. It was insufferable. Jiang Baohong seethed with anger, her eyes burning with distaste for everyone around her. She declared, “I’m taking a day off.”

She was going to the hospital to confront Guan Guiling and demand answers about how she could mess up something so simple!

“Wait, no. You’re scheduled for Route 48 today. Asking for leave on short notice, where would we find a replacement? No way!”

Jiang Baohong’s face flushed with anger. “I want time off, and you dare refuse me?”

She had never been subjected to such disrespect. Back when she was a minor leader, she could leave anytime she pleased. Who dared to question her leave? Now, she felt like a tiger humbled by dogs. Furious, she declared, “I’m taking leave today, whether you allow it or not. I’ve already shown you leniency by asking.”

The dispatcher on the shift was stumped. Never had he seen someone so shameless yet so brazen.

“Who do you think you are? You can skip work all you want, but don’t expect us to care!”

Others began to gather, all expressing their disapproval. As before, the consensus was clear: Who do you think you are? Previously, people had tread carefully around her because of her husband, a man from a powerful organization.

But now, with her family mired in troubles, who cared about her anymore?

“Have some self-respect. Do you think this is your personal kingdom?”

“If you’re so capable, why don’t you just quit and leave?”

“Thinks too highly of herself.”

As Jiang Baohong saw everyone ganging up on her, she felt it was all their fault, everyone envying and bullying her. She fumed, “I’m not coming in today, and I don’t care what you all think. You disgusting insects, you’re all poor and worthless fools!”

With that, she stormed out, head held high.

This infuriated the others as well. “Let’s go find the supervisor.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Who does this woman think she is?”

“How can there be someone so shameless…”

Jiang Baohong’s behavior was a source of immense irritation to everyone, and even the leadership was fed up with her.

From her position as a minor leader, she’d been demoted to working in the transport team. This alone showed the consequences of her inability to get along with others and her selfish ways. But Jiang Baohong remained blissfully unaware. Confident that the unit wouldn’t dare fire her, she left without a care.

Indeed, a unit wouldn’t easily fire someone.

But Jiang Baohong’s actions earned her a major demerit. Repeated demerits, accumulated over time, would eventually provide grounds for dismissal. Jiang Baohong had disrupted team operations by skipping work without notice and insulting her colleagues. The announcement of her demerit was posted shortly after she left, causing quite a stir among the staff.

They were shocked—no one had seen someone so eager to shoot themselves in the foot.

Thinking back to Jiang Baohong’s antics since joining the unit, however, it wasn’t that surprising.

From the very beginning, she had been disruptive and wildly unpopular.

Now that she’d received a reprimand, the bus station staff were practically cheering.

Clearly, her reputation had hit rock bottom.

Ming Mei clicked her tongue in amused disbelief.

“Ming Mei, are you busy with work? If not, how about coming with me to the hospital to visit Guan Guiling?” Sister Chen, from the office, approached Ming Mei with the suggestion.

As a staff member of the passenger station, Guan Guiling's situation required a visit from the unit to extend condolences. Sister Chen was responsible for such situations. However, she didn't call her usual companions this time—instead, she opted for Ming Mei.

Ming ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Mei was caught off guard. “I’m free, sure. But why ask me?”

She was puzzled.

Sister Chen replied, “I’ve heard that the family of the person who beat her up is quite vicious. Their son’s in custody, but there’s a risk they might come to the hospital to cause trouble. I thought it would be safer with you there, just in case.”

She dealt with all sorts of unit-related mishaps. Such events often involved unreasonable people who resorted to physical violence. Even a hint of danger required extra precautions.

Others joked, “You’re quite cunning.”

“Aren’t you making Ming Mei your bodyguard?”

Sister Chen chuckled, “Not at all. Besides, it might make for some good entertainment.”

Ming Mei laughed. “True enough.”

“Besides, Ming Mei’s the statistician in our office. We’re all in the same department. It’s not out of place to include her.”

“You do always have a ready excuse.”

Sister Chen happily declared, “Let’s go, Ming Mei.”

“Alright.”

As it turned out, Sister Chen’s suspicions were spot on.

Sister Chen and Ming Mei bought some pastries and malted milk, a total of four items, and headed to the hospital together. Before they could even enter, they spotted a familiar face. This person wasn’t just anyone—it was Jiang Baohong.

Yes, the very Jiang Baohong who had just skipped work.

Jiang Baohong had come to the hospital in hopes of confronting Guan Guiling. She wanted to demand an explanation for how their carefully laid plans had gone so horribly awry. Without that, they couldn’t mess with Ming Mei as planned. Guan Guiling had promised her, so she must deliver.

But when asked to make good on her promise, Guan Guiling’s face turned cold. It was then that Jiang Baohong learned the grim truth: Guan Guiling could no longer conceive.

This revelation only stoked Jiang Baohong’s anger.

Just as Sister Chen and Ming Mei arrived, the two women were at a tense standoff. The room wasn’t empty; several other beds were occupied, along with family members and visitors. Aware of the unsavory nature of their conversation, both Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling spoke in hushed tones, fearful of being overheard.

The tension only sparked the curiosity of others in the room, who began sneaking glances at them.

Why were the two women visiting a sick colleague and yet in such a heated argument?

An elderly woman from Bed 2, feeling concerned, spoke up kindly. “Young lady, you should speak gently with the patient. Comrade Guan has suffered greatly. Her body is already frail; if you upset her, it will only worsen her condition. A woman must rest and not be angered, especially during recovery, whether from childbirth or a miscarriage. Doing otherwise is detrimental to her health.” Having introduced themselves that morning, she was aware of Guan Guiling’s name.

Her words, however, ignited Jiang Baohong’s fury.

She turned and snapped, “You old hag, what does it have to do with you? Who needs you to play the good Samaritan here? How I speak to Guan Guiling is between the two of us. Who do you think you are? Truly insufferable.”

“You… How can you speak to me like that? Aren’t you being too cruel?”

Jiang Baohong didn't mince words: "This is how I talk, what of it? Get lost, you old git." She hated people who acted like they were better just because they were older.

At this moment, Guan Guiling chimed in: "Jiang Baohong, what do you mean by that? The aunt was just being considerate. You don't have to be so harsh. This whole situation is your fault in the first place. Are you a mad dog, biting everyone you see? You can't act like this."

"How dare you speak to me like that?"

"Why wouldn't I dare? What do you mean by that?"

They started arguing, and Sister Chen and Ming Mei suddenly felt awkward about entering directly.

The two stood by the door, frozen in place.

However, everyone's attention was on the arguing duo, so no one noticed them.

Jiang Baohong, having been shut down by Guan Guiling, didn't hold back. She stood up, kicked the hospital bed forcefully, making a loud creak, causing Guan Guiling to wobble. She shouted, "Guan Guiling, stop acting like such a saint in front of me. What are you trying to prove? Calling me a dog. Are you even embarrassed to say such things? You called me a dog, but I think you're a wolf, a white-eyed wolf. Don’t you forget, the entire unit is only I lent you twenty bucks. How dare you speak to me like that now?"

Guan Guiling retorted, "Is it because you lent me money that I have to obey you blindly, regardless of right and wrong?"

Jiang Baohong stammered, "You... you dare say that! Do you really think you're some saint? If you were such a saint, would you have plotted with me to swindle Ming Mei's money? Now you're acting all righteous. It's hilarious! Do you believe I'll expose all your dirty secrets at the unit?"

She had some brains, but not much. Earlier, she was quiet and knew to discuss things discreetly, but now that she was angry, she didn't care about anything else. They had no idea that Ming Mei was standing by the door. Even Sister Chen was surprised and gave Ming Mei a curious glance.

Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong were plotting to swindle Ming Mei?

What a horrible thing to do.

They were all from the same unit.

Before Sister Chen could say anything comforting, Guan Guiling spoke with a hint of grievance, "What are you spouting nonsense about? I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm having a tough time after my miscarriage. You still want to bully me. Jiang Baohong, you're despicable. Bullying a weak woman like me, does that make you happy? Why must you be like this?"

She added with a hint of threat, "If you talk about me like that, what good will it do you?"

If you're smart, you'll shut up. Black crows aren’t any better than black pigs. Let’s not criticize each other. If I expose you, you can expose me too! Guan Guiling was hinting that she could use this incident to threaten Jiang Baohong.

It wasn’t worth it to destroy each other in a battle of mutual destruction.

If it were someone else, they would have understood Guan Guiling's meaning, but, well, it just wasn't someone else.

Jiang Baohong... she simply didn’t get it.

After being a leader's wife for so long and being flattered all the time, she had no social skills left. Guan Guiling was clearly hinting at her, but Jiang Baohong completely missed it, thinking Guan Guiling was just arguing with her.

She raged, "I'm bullying you? Guan Guiling, you’re laughable. Do you think I, Jiang Baohong, am someone you can push around? Let me tell you, stay in line, or I’ll expose your secrets. Everyone in the unit will know you’re scheming against them. Your little trick of trying to extort someone with a good position in the unit? I bet people would love to hear about it! It's hilarious! You're covered in dung and still dare to raise your voice at me? Let me tell you, your little secrets are already crystal clear to me. You took fifty bucks from Chen Yuan to smear Bai Fendou’s reputation, didn’t you? You think I don’t know? I heard everything in the restroom. You were muttering to yourself and didn’t even find a private spot. I heard you loud and clear. I chose not to expose you because I’d love nothing more than for Bai Fendou to die. It’s better if you ruin his reputation. It’s even better if you tell everyone he’s a violent abuser. He’s a despicable man, but back then, didn’t he treat you well? Yet you dumped him for a job with your ex-husband. You’re the expert at burning bridges."

She sneered, "Now it’s my turn? But let me tell you, I’m not someone who can be pushed around. I won’t let anyone burn their bridges behind me. You’re scheming against people in the unit, do you believe I’ll spread it all over the place?"

At this point, Jiang Baohong was out of control, shouting loudly without caring about anyone’s opinion.

The other patients in the ward were stunned, not believing what they were hearing. What a scandal! Everyone was in shock. The two at the door... seemed equally stunned.

Sister Chen couldn’t believe that just by representing the unit to visit a patient, she stumbled upon such a huge scandal.

Scheming... against people in the unit?

Ming Mei, though shocked, was calculating.

She didn’t want to make a scene. If they hadn’t been discovered, would these two keep spilling more secrets?

Hmm, interesting.

But Chen Yuan really had too much money burning a hole in his pocket. Smearing Bai Fendou’s reputation for fifty bucks?

She pursed her lips, but it’s not like anyone would believe it anyway!

And Bai Fendou’s reputation was already terrible, so one more or less wouldn’t make a difference. A few more fleas don’t make a dog itch more. It was a waste of money.

Chen Yuan’s brain clearly wasn’t operating on normal logic.

What was even less normal was Jiang Baohong, who was still running her mouth off: "Guan Guiling, you’re putting on an act in the unit, pretending to be pitiful, thinking no one knows? If it weren’t for me keeping an eye on you and discussing how to extort Ming Mei, you’d have already found someone better in the unit to trap. Now you’re acting like a saint? I think you're asking for a beating. It's the heavens punishing you for being so wicked!"

Guan Guiling was trembling with anger. How did she end up with such a blockhead? She thought Jiang Baohong was stupid and could be controlled, but this woman was beyond stupid. She completely lost her sense of place and spoke nonsense without any regard for the setting.

She raised her voice, "Stop talking nonsense! I don’t know what you’re talking about! What scheming against people in the unit, what scheming against Ming Mei, what scheming against Bai Fendou, I've never done any of that. You can’t just make up whatever you want. Who do you think you are? Spouting nonsense here, I had an accident yesterday, my child was fine in my belly, there’s no talk of trying to extort anything. Jiang Baohong, are you out of your mind? You can’t just fabricate things about me because I don’t listen to you. I’ve never done what you said. Shut up!"

Jiang Baohong glared, "Are you still acting? You're such a rotten person, everyone knows you don’t want to have any more kids, maybe yesterday you deliberately went out to... ah!"

Guan Guiling couldn’t take it anymore and slapped Jiang Baohong, she had to stop her before she said something that would ruin her chances of profiting from this.

Besides, she wasn’t deliberately doing anything yesterday.

Though she did plan to extort money from Ming Mei, that was intentional, but the man from yesterday wasn’t.

Her eyes turned red with excitement, "You’re slandering me, you’re talking nonsense slandering me! Do you know how painful it is to lose a child? Do you know I can never have a child again? You’re heartless, always thinking the worst of people, I don’t care about that. But you can’t say such things about me, my child is gone! How could any woman want to be barren for the rest of her life? When you say such things, are you not ashamed? I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you, you horrible liar! I’ll kill you for being wicked! I’ll kill you for bullying me..."

Guan Guiling knew she had to act excited, otherwise, the accusation of being deliberate would stick, and that would be the end of her.

She had to make everyone sympathize with her.

The best way was... if Jiang Baohong hit her.

As soon as she made a move, Jiang Baohong couldn’t hold back.

Guan Guiling quickly came up with a plan and started furiously beating Jiang Baohong, yanking her hair with all her might. "You're a woman yourself, how can you be so vicious to falsely accuse another woman? I only borrowed twenty yuan from you, and I never said I wouldn't pay it back. Are you forcing me to harm others? Are you trying to slander me? I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore..."

Guan Guiling dragged Jiang Baohong towards the window. "You're wrongfully accusing me, let's die together! Let's die together! Waaaaah, my child, mommy's coming for you. I loved you so much, I eagerly awaited your birth, and now you're gone, yet I have to bear these false accusations. I can't take it anymore, I'm bringing this wicked woman to you, I'm coming to you..."

Guan Guiling wailed hysterically, and everyone's hearts immediately went out to her. After all, she looked truly devastated and pitiful.

As for Jiang Baohong, everyone was filled with disgust.

Jiang Baohong had lost a large chunk of her hair from Guan Guiling's relentless pulling and had also been slapped several times. Unable to endure any further, she retaliated by hitting Guan Guiling. Since Guan Guiling had just suffered a miscarriage and was already weak, Jiang Baohong easily overpowered her, straddling her and slapping her repeatedly.

"You want to harm me? I'll beat you to death!"

"Stop hitting her!"

"What is wrong with you, how can you be so vicious?"

"What are you doing?"

The commotion grew louder, and several nurses rushed over to separate the two women. Sister Chen and Ming Mei, seeing the situation, instinctively moved to the left and right sides of the door, pressing themselves against the wall to avoid getting involved.

You on the left side of the door, me on the right side.

It wasn't that they didn't want to intervene, but how could they? The words they had just exchanged were still fresh in their minds. Stepping in would only add to the awkwardness.

Besides, even if they couldn't be sure of the truth, they both suspected that neither of the two women had any good intentions. Sister Chen certainly didn't believe Guan Guiling's performance. After all, they had worked together for years and knew each other well.

And actions don't lie.

A while ago, Guan Guiling had indeed been constantly seeking out others, and once, after work, she had stood silently at the stairs. Anyone hurrying by could easily have bumped into her...

Sister Chen thought back to a time when Guan Guiling had approached her alone, saying nothing of much importance, just casual topics, which made her wonder if Guan Guiling was trying to plot something against her. This realization sent a chill down her spine.

Using one's own child to manipulate others, just how terrifying could this woman be?

In this moment, Sister Chen's mind had already spun through countless thoughts, but she decided to stay out of it.

As for Ming Mei, she certainly wasn't going to get involved. She was smart enough not to care about the fate of two people trying to scheme against her. She wasn't a fool.

At this point, the nurses in the ward finally managed to separate the two women. One of them ran out screaming, "Doctor! Doctor!"

Guan Guiling wasn't doing well again.

Fortunately, they had dealt with many disturbances and suicide attempts before, so their reactions were quick. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to separate them immediately.

Indeed, experience is cumulative.

If there were to be any more incidents, they might even consider adding wire mesh to the windows. They simply couldn't handle this kind of chaos anymore!

"Doctor..."

The ward quickly sprang into action.

Guan Guiling clutched her stomach, sobbing, "You're framing me, frame me..."

Everyone joined in to scold Jiang Baohong, who had been pulled into a patchy baldness, saying, "You're such a vicious woman, not only framing others but also ruthlessly bullying them. Your morals are simply too low..."

"We need to call security, or maybe the police, we can't let her get away with this."

"Exactly, we can't!"

"This person is so bad."

Jiang Baohong faced everyone's accusations and shouted, "Shut up, you fools! What do you know? Mind your own business, die already!"

"How dare you curse at us!"

"You, you, you!"

"I've never seen anyone like you!"

The other patients in the ward couldn't take it anymore. The old man accompanying the elderly woman couldn't resist any longer. He stormed out and slapped Jiang Baohong several times, shouting, "Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson, like your parents should have done, you vicious shrew! How dare you insult my wife, how dare you do bad things! How dare you..."

Slap, slap, slap.

Ming Mei peeked inside and clicked her tongue, "Oh my, she's beaten to a pulp."

"Serves her right!"