My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 102

Jiang Lu let out a scream and burst into tears.

Wang Zhaodi was flustered, trying to calm her down, which attracted many people from the ward to peek out. Some were purely curious, while others, with short tempers, came out to scold. Jiang Lu ignored all the scolding and continued to wail.

In that moment, she truly broke down.

She could choose not to believe that Zhou Qun was fooling around with other women, and she could forgive his infertility, but she simply couldn't understand how Zhou Qun, having her, could still engage with men, especially Bai Fendou, who had once tried to take advantage of her.

How could he do such a thing?

Moreover, many things couldn't be thought about too deeply. As she pondered, she recalled how close Zhou Qun had been to Bai Fendou recently. Now, she felt that everything Zhou Qun had done was with ulterior motives. If he claimed it was a dream, even Jiang Lu herself wouldn't believe it, because Zhou Qun's interest in Bai Fendou had been evident.

It was precisely because of these signs that it was heartbreaking.

Seeing Jiang Lu's cries growing louder and her screams becoming more hysterical, a few neighbors who had followed them could only help Wang Zhaodi drag Jiang Lu out of the ward. The cold wind at the entrance kept blowing, and Jiang Lu's cries grew even more intense. She crouched on the ground, feeling like a laughingstock.

"Sister Jiang Lu..."

Jiang Lu: "Get away, all of you, just get away! I know you're all laughing at me, I know you all have bad intentions. You've always been jealous of me. Now, seeing me in this situation, you must be so pleased, aren't you? I know you must be delighted, finding amusement in my misfortune..."

"Jiang Lu, what are you saying? Isn't our kindness misinterpreted as something wrong?"

"Exactly, Jiang Lu, saying such things is really heart-wrenching. We never had that intention. Besides, it's Zhou Qun who brought you shame, not us..."

"Jiang Lu, we understand you're in pain, so we won't take it personally. You should calm down before going back upstairs. If you really can't get over this, then get a divorce. Blaming everyone and everything and acting hysterical won't help."

Wang Zhaodi: "Please, stop talking. Sister Jiang Lu isn't a bad person; she's just too hurt..."

She patted Jiang Lu's back and said, "Sister Jiang Lu, if you're feeling sad, just shout it out. That's what I do when I'm upset. Shouting might help you feel better."

She didn't know how to comfort someone, but she knew what to do when she was upset, so she tried to console Jiang Lu gently: "Sister Jiang Lu, if you keep hurting yourself like this, it's only hurting you. Wait until Brother Zhou Qun recovers, and then ask him. Ask him what happened. Maybe things aren't as you think..."

Jiang Lu covered her face and cried. Hearing this, she finally looked up at Wang Zhaodi, as if grasping at a lifeline.

"Yes, you're right. I need to ask Zhou Qun. Maybe it's not as I imagine. Maybe... Zhou Qun isn't that kind of person. How could I doubt him!"

Wang Zhaodi: "Ah?"

She was dumbfounded. She had only said that to comfort Jiang Lu, never expecting her to take it seriously. This... This Zhou Qun clearly has issues. This left Wang Zhaodi at a loss.

Everyone else was also confused.

Just a simple comforting remark, and she believes Zhou Qun is innocent?

Jiang Lu: "I need to go upstairs. I need to check on Zhou Qun's condition. He can't be in danger."

Jiang Lu wiped away her tears and rushed upstairs.

"Uh, this..."

"Let's follow her."

As Jiang Lu hurried upstairs, the operating room door opened. She rushed over and asked, "Doctor, how is he? How is my husband?"

The doctor looked at Jiang Lu with sympathy, took a deep breath, and said, "The patient's... erm, private part was kicked and fractured. Although he was brought in timely and we performed surgery, the organ is still there, but the function..."

He paused and said, "He won't be able to have intercourse in the future."

"Holy crap!"

"Oh my God! He's done for?"

"Fractured?"

"Goodness, Bai Fendou is ruthless."

"Jiang Lu is so pitiful, so young and now a widow."

"Who could blame her? She married into their family without even having a child. What will her future be like?"

"What else can she do? With this kind of scandal, Jiang Lu will definitely get a divorce!"

"That's true."

Jiang Lu was struck by the news, her whole body frozen. After a long while, she leaned against the wall and sat down, her eyes vacant, as if devoid of any emotion.

"Family member, are you alright? We noticed the injury seems to be caused by external force. Do you need us to call the police? The injury is quite severe, and he won't be able to function in the future."

He had also heard that the couple didn't have any children.

Looking at Jiang Lu's expression, the doctor felt even more sympathetic.

"Do you need us to..."

"No need!" Jiang Lu suddenly spoke, her voice wooden. "No need to call the police."

She looked up and said, "He brought this on himself."

The doctor: "..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent, only saying, "The patient will be sent to the ward. Given the circumstances, his emotions might be fragile..."

Jiang Lu: "He won't die."

The doctor: "..."

Jiang Lu's emotions were like a rollercoaster; you couldn't predict when she would calm down or break down again. One moment she seemed to forgive Zhou Qun, the next she appeared to go mad.

Everyone took a step back, not daring to provoke the clearly distraught woman.

While others could avoid her, Wang Zhaodi couldn't. She sat quietly, ready to help with whatever was needed.

At that moment, Zhou Qun was wheeled out by the doctor. He hadn't woken up yet due to the anesthesia. Jiang Lu watched Zhou Qun and silently stood up, following the gurney. Late-night hospital admissions were rare, mostly emergencies.

Patients admitted at night were usually placed in new wards to avoid disturbing others' rest. Zhou Qun was the first patient in this ward.

Jiang Lu sat by the bed and said, "You can all go back now."

Seeing that no one left, she seemed to realize something, stood up, paid everyone, and said woodenly, "Thank you for your help."

Although they weren't very close and Jiang Lu, due to her better circumstances, often looked down on others, at this moment, everyone felt sympathy for her. After all, who could have expected her to encounter such a situation?

"Jiang Lu, don't think too much. Whatever happens, wait until he recovers and then talk it out."

"Yes, there's no point in discussing this now. Should we inform your family?"

Jiang Lu looked at everyone, still expressionless, and shook her head, "No need."

She sat by the bed, not moving.

"Maybe we should go back."

"Yes, let's leave so Jiang Lu can have some peace."

Wang Zhaodi pursed her lips, and Jiang Lu said, "You go back too, and lock the door. Su Jinlai is a thief; don't let him steal from your home."

Wang Zhaodi: "Ah? Oh!"

When everyone left the ward, Jiang Lu remained seated. Through the door, everyone sighed and shook their heads.

"Poor Jiang Lu."

"She's really in a tough spot. How did she end up with such a family? Neither the mother nor the son is decent."

"Let's go."

As they walked back in the rain, Wang Zhaodi whispered, "Do you think Sister Jiang Lu... will be okay?"

Everyone was startled and quickly said, "Ah, surely not? Could Jiang Lu do something drastic?"

"She wouldn't try to kill herself, would she?"

"Oh, crap!"

"Probably not. It's just a divorce; she wouldn't go that far..."

"Yeah, that's right."

Everyone left, and Jiang Lu slowly stood up, walking to the window. They were on the second floor. Outside, the rain poured heavily. Even though it was already dawn, the sky showed no signs of lightening. Normally, the sun would have risen by now.

She sat on the windowsill, tilting her head slightly.

"My goodness, you, you, you... get down quickly! Don't even think about doing anything foolish!"

The young nurse came in to deliver the medicine and was startled. She quickly stepped forward to persuade her.

Jiang Lu turned her head and said, "I'm not trying to commit suicide."

She spoke softly, "I just wanted to see how long the heavy rain would last."

The nurse couldn't fully believe her, considering the woman's husband had just been rendered infertile, and they didn't have any children... She spoke gently, "I know, I know you're not trying to commit suicide. Come down, it's slippery because of the rain, and if you fall, it would be terrible. Plus, there's thunder, so sitting by the window is especially unsafe. Come down, and we can talk things through."

Jiang Lu gave a faint smile and finally came down from the window. The nurse quickly helped her up, saying, "What were you doing! No matter what, we can't give up. There are still good days ahead."

Jiang Lu hummed in acknowledgment.

"What's going on here?" the nurse couldn't help but ask. She mainly wanted to chat with this sister and help her feel better, so she wouldn't think of anything drastic.

Jiang Lu: "It's nothing."

She asked, "Do you have any cigarettes?"

The nurse: "No..."

She didn't smoke.

Jiang Lu: "Oh."

She stood up, and the nurse quickly moved to her side.

Jiang Lu said, "You don't need to follow me. I'm not planning to kill myself. I'm just in a bad mood, and I don't want to die."

The nurse glanced at her and then at the man on the hospital bed.

Jiang Lu: "Do you know anyone who smokes? I want one."

Seeing her emotional state, the nurse thought for a moment and said, "The hospital doesn't allow smoking, so no one would smoke here."

Jiang Lu sighed, "I see. Then I'll go to the bathroom."

She walked out, and the nurse, seeing that her mood seemed relatively stable, sighed softly and didn't follow her. Jiang Lu walked alone toward the bathroom... Oops.

She bumped into someone.

"Sorry..."

"It's okay. Hey, you look a bit familiar..."

"I think you do too. Oh right, are you from the machinery factory?"

"Yes, I'm the projectionist in the propaganda department. I usually handle the movie screenings at the factory... Ah, I remember now. You're from the factory office, right? You're Jiang... Jiang..."

"Jiang Lu. You're Xu the Projectionist."

"Yes, yes, that's right."

"What brings you to the hospital...?"

"What about you...?"

...

The heavy rain lasted all night. That night, their courtyard was busier than ever, as if no one had slept well, yet everyone seemed quite energetic.

After all, such excitement was rare.

Although their courtyard was always lively, each event seemed more thrilling than the last. This time, it completely shattered everyone's expectations. And now, people had heard from those who returned from the hospital that Zhou Qun was completely infertile.

This time, it wasn't just a matter of shattered eggs, but something far worse—a complete loss of fertility. In other words, Zhou Qun would now be childless.

Everyone was talking about this.

No one knew if Zhou's mother would go crazy when she returned four months later.

Maybe she would kill Bai Fendou, the one responsible for this?

But then again, Bai Fendou was also a victim.

People were now confused about how to view this situation. But if you had to say, Bai Fendou wasn't at fault. However, Bai Fendou himself claimed that he had been sleepwalking and had mistaken someone...

Whether it was a case of mistaken identity or not, that was up to individual interpretation.

"Let's not talk about it—Bai Fendou is truly a man-killer."

That's true. You see, he can't find a girlfriend, but when it comes to harming male colleagues, he's deadly accurate. That kid from the Yu family—he still hasn't come back. I estimate he will be in the hospital forever, and the several bigger ones from his family, they were also dealt with by Bai Fendou, right? They walked with their legs squeezed together for several days before recovering. Well, this time it's even more impressive; he directly made it impossible for Zhou Qun to have any descendants, so from now on, there’s no way for him to do that anymore…

"Do you think Zhou Qun will seek revenge? Knowing this, he'd go crazy, right?"

"Crazy? Bai Fendou would go crazy first. Didn't you hear? He claims he was the one who was attacked. And Bai Fendou is still a virgin, so who knows if anything actually happened last night."

"Bai Fendou says nothing happened."

"Pfft, of course he'd say that. Otherwise, how embarrassing would that be?"

"Hahaha, yeah, that's hard to say..."

Early in the morning, everyone was brushing their teeth in the courtyard, chatting away. The only one who didn't say much was Wang Xiangxiu.

In fact, Wang Xiangxiu was extremely happy. She was truly delighted. The worse Bai Fendou's reputation became, the harder it would be for him to find a wife. And the harder it was for him to find a wife, the happier she was, as she was counting on Bai Fendou to support her family. If Bai Fendou got married, she'd be out of luck.

But now, with this incident, no normal woman would want to be near him. Wang Xiangxiu's joy was hard to suppress, especially compared to others who were merely watching the spectacle and speculating about whether "anything happened" last night.

She was genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart.

However, when Bai Fendou appeared like a ghost, she quickly stepped forward and said with concern, "Fendou, how are you? If you're feeling down, talk to me. I'm the most concerned about you. No matter what, I believe in you."

Bai Fendou felt wronged and uncomfortable seeing Wang Xiangxiu's concern for him, and couldn't help but think of last night's dream. If it weren't for that dream, he wouldn't have ended up in Zhou Qun's clutches. At least, at least, he could have woken up and fought back.

Looking at Wang Xiangxiu, he felt even more miserable and started silently crying.

The rain hadn't stopped in the morning, though it had turned from heavy rain to a drizzle.

Bai Fendou didn't wear a raincoat or carry an umbrella. He just looked up at the sky, letting the rain fall on his face as he cried unjustly.

This hurdle, he couldn't get over it!

"Brother, what's wrong with you? Can you be okay? Don't cry! I feel heartbroken seeing you like this."

Bai Fendou suddenly lowered his head and looked at Wang Xiangxiu, saying, "Xiujie, let's get married."

Wang Xiangxiu: "What?"

She froze, while Ming Mei, who was about to go to work, stumbled and leaned against the door, immediately focusing on the two of them.

Zhuang Zhixi supported his wife's shoulder and asked, "What's going on?"

He followed Ming Mei's gaze and saw Bai Fendou asking very seriously, "Will you marry me? Let's get married today."

Wang Xiangxiu: "!!!"

She swallowed hard, forcing a smile, "Fendou, have you had too much to drink? What are you talking about?" How could she marry Bai Fendou? Why would she want to take care of such a man?

Wouldn't it be better to take care of her own three sons?

She said, "I'm a widow with a heavy family burden, and I'm older than you. How could I possibly be a match for you? You, a young man, shouldn't have any trouble finding a great wife with excellent conditions."

Bai Fendou: "But..."

He forced a bitter smile, saying, "Xiujie, I only like you!"

If it were before, Bai Fendou would never have confessed. He still wanted to find an unmarried young woman. A widow with three sons—he just... taking care of stepchildren would be exhausting.

So he never intended to be with Wang Xiangxiu.

If there was anything... he was willing, but anything further, he was always hesitant.

But now, after a silent night, he realized things were different. With what happened between him and Zhou Qun, no matter how he explained it, it wouldn't be clear. Finding a partner in the future would only be harder.

Seeing Wang Xiangxiu suddenly, he almost instantly made up his mind.

He was willing to sacrifice himself and marry Wang Xiangxiu.

He didn't mind that she was a widow.

Wang Xiangxiu, seeing Bai Fendou's silence, quickly continued, "You're a great young man with a bright future. I can't hold you back."

Bai Fendou: "No, it's not holding me back. I don't mind."

Wang Xiangxiu: "..." Damn, this guy just doesn't get it.

Bai Fendou: "Even if you're not a match for me, I don't care. I'm willing to be with you!"

Wang Xiangxiu: "..." Damn it, who's not good enough for whom?

Wang Xiangxiu wasn't about to give up an entire forest for one tree.

And it was a crooked tree at that.

She bit her lip, pinched herself hard, and her eyes reddened as she said, "No, I can't! I have my son... I know, I know you're good to me, but I have no choice. Even though, even though I have some feelings for you, I have my son, I can't just abandon him for marriage! If I marry you, what will people think of him?"

Bai Fendou: "Let them call me Dad!"

He thumped his chest and said, "Their father is gone, and I'll be their dad!"

"You bastard!"

Suddenly, Jinlai charged out like a little firecracker, ramming straight into Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou stumbled from the impact.

Once upon a time, he, Bai Fendou, was invincible.

Now, he was so weak that a child could knock him off balance.

Jinlai unleashed a torrent of curses: "You stupid piece of crap, do you still want to be my father? Don't think I don't know what you are, shameless and delusional. I only have one father. You won't be able to take my mom away. I don't want a father like you! Disgusting, shameless, a scoundrel who messes around with men!"

Yinlai and Tonglai also rushed out, joining Jinlai in shouting, "Shameless! Trash! Don't even think about being my dad!"

Bai Fendou was knocked to the ground by the three kids, utterly weak and helpless.

Wang Xiangxiu hurried over: "What are you doing! Stop this nonsense, Uncle Bai means well, he's a good man, how can you treat him like this..."

“He's not a good man, he has ulterior motives, he's the most disgusting. In this family, if I’m here, he’s not!”

"With me, there is no him!"

"Exactly!"

The three kids were of one mind, glaring at the man who wanted to move in.

They all stared at Wang Xiangxiu, asking, "Mom. Are you really going to be with him?"

Wang Xiangxiu quickly replied, "No, no, really not. Me and him, completely innocent."

She crouched down and said, "Mom wouldn't bear to leave you three."

After all, these three were all her sons.

Bai Fendou: "Xiangxiu, you..."

He felt a pang of heartache. Bai Fendou pressed on, "Xiangxiu, you really don't want to..."

He never expected Wang Xiangxiu to reject him, even if it was for the sake of the children, it still hit him hard. He thought, he thought Wang Xiangxiu was eager to marry him.

He started crying again. Ever since the events of last night, he had turned into a crybaby, sobbing nonstop.

Ming Mei peeked through the door, saying, "Here he goes again, crying again, again, again."

Zhuang Zhixi: "The blow must be too much for him."

The most aggrieved thing in the world, perhaps, is being harassed by a man.

The morning started with such a drama, not just Ming Mei's family peeking through the windows, but also the neighbors, the people in the alleys, everyone was watching.

Of course, everyone heard the commotion.

Bai Fendou lay flat on the ground, letting the rain pour over him, utterly despondent.

It was his father who eventually came out to help Bai Fendou into the house. Bai Fendou didn't resist, still despondent. Old Man Bai sighed deeply, feeling much older.

This family, it's just too hard.

A night of heavy rain, no matter what happened outside, their house was flooded. The floor was covered in water, the few pieces of furniture were soaked, not to mention the bedding.

They suffered heavy losses.

But at this moment, they couldn't care less...

With Bai Fendou in this state, if they didn't comfort him properly, he might just kill himself.

The father and son went into the house, staring at each other in silence, both lost in thought.

This morning, the rain didn't stop.

The Bai household was desolate, while other homes were bustling. But whether desolate or bustling, everyone had to go to work. No matter how sad, work must go on. Zhuang Zhixi rode with Ming Mei to work. The night seemed unusually long, with too many things happening.

Ming Mei hugged Zhuang Zhixi's waist and sighed, "Zhou Qun is really shameless. I wonder if Jiang Lu will divorce him."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's hard to say."

Normally, people would divorce. But Zhuang Zhixi couldn't honestly say Jiang Lu was normal. Maybe she really wouldn't divorce, who knows.

He said, "Whether Jiang Lu divorces or not, it doesn't change the fact that Zhou Qun is a eunuch."

Ming Mei: "..."

She curiously asked, "So, do you think your factory will punish him?"

On this point, Zhuang Zhixi had a clear view. He said, "Probably not. They're not a man and a woman, but two men. Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou can just claim they accidentally hugged while sleeping, what can anyone say? Is there evidence of their affair? No. Bai Fendou isn't a woman, you can't even call it harassment. Of course, everyone knows it must be. But they can deny it."

Ming Mei: "That's really..."

Bai Fendou: "Hey? Isn't that Little Xu from our department?"

Ming Mei: "Who? Little Xu?"

She tilted her head, thinking, and said, "The one who wanted to teach you how to operate the projector and kept making moves?"

Bai Fendou: "Yeah, him."

He looked at the direction Little Xu was coming from, puzzled: "His house isn't that way, is it?"

At this moment, Little Xu looked pretty rough, with dark circles under his eyes, appearing completely dispirited, with unsteady steps as he pushed his bicycle. He tried to get on the bike twice but couldn't manage to pedal, so he got off and continued walking. His legs were so weak that they seemed about to give out.

Zhuang Zhixi was a bit curious and took a glance, but getting his wife to work was more important. He said, "I wonder what's wrong with him, looks like he's been drained."

Ming Mei: "Your workplace is so lively, I want to transfer to your unit. Ah, I really want to transfer, today your unit must be very lively."

Like their unit, it's just ordinary.

Sometimes being too ordinary feels so dull.

Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Unfortunately, we're not in the same system, normally you can't transfer."

Ming Mei pouted, rubbing her face against Zhuang Zhixi's back, "So annoying, so annoying, I want to transfer."

Even though they were already married, and even though she was pregnant, she was still very childish. Sometimes that's just how it is. Some people grow up very understanding because of family influences and have to mature.

Others grow up in a simple and loving environment, naturally not so shrewd. Instead, they are passionate and joyful.

Ming Mei was the latter, though not entirely innocent.

Lan Ling, being shrewd, had taught her daughter quite a bit. Ming Mei wasn't an innocent little dodder flower.

After the act of being spoiled, Ming Mei herself was smiling, saying, "Forget it, it's better if I don't transfer."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Huh?"

Ming Mei: "Anyway, you'll tell me everything, right! If I transfer to your factory, my salary won't be as high. Money is more important."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Pfft!"

Ming Mei lightly punched his back, saying, "You've been like a spray bottle since this morning."

Zhuang Zhixi innocently raised an eyebrow, saying, "Isn't it because there's been too much stimulation?"

Ming Mei giggled, the two chatting and laughing all the way. Zhuang Zhixi dropped Ming Mei off at her unit. Ming Mei carried her little bag upstairs. Since being pregnant, she always carried a little bag with some snacks.

Zhuang Zhixi called out, "Wife."

Ming Mei turned back: "Huh?"

Zhuang Zhixi quickly caught up, whispering, "If you get a chance, take a little nap. You didn't sleep well last night, seize the opportunity to sneak in some rest."

Ming Mei whispered back, "Okay."

Last night, hardly anyone slept well.

Ming Mei quickly went upstairs. Zhuang Zhixi then headed back, almost on time for work. Just as he entered the factory, he ran into Zhang San, who excitedly asked, "Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Zhuang, I've heard that something big happened in your yard yesterday?"

Zhuang Zhixi looked at his expression and chuckled, "You already know, don't you?"

Judging from his expression, he must have heard about it.

The commotion in their courtyard last night was so big that not only them, but many neighbors came to watch the excitement, even in the heavy rain. It's no surprise that the news spread so quickly today. Such a big piece of news is bound to spread like wildfire early in the morning.

Other news might take a whole morning to ferment, but this kind of news? It spreads in a second.

Zhang San was excited and said, "I don't know what's true and what's false."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "Then what do you know?"

Zhang San: "I heard that Zhou Qun was broken and then reattached, and now he's completely useless?"

As expected, men are most concerned about such things.

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "I didn't go to the hospital, but apparently, that's the case."

Zhang San: "Oh my god, this is really... Bai Fendou is really ruthless. Ever since his own... incident, he's been targeting that area. He wants everyone to be like him. He has no good intentions, absolutely none."

He sighed deeply and then asked again, "So... that... Zhou Qun doing this and that to Bai Fendou, is that true too? I heard Jiang Lu caught them? Did you all see it?"

He asked with a trembling voice, looking at Zhuang Zhixi, clearly very excited.

After all, ordinary people rarely get to witness such a big scandal.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I didn't see the process. I only saw them without clothes, caught by Jiang Lu. But they said it was a nightmare."

With just those few words, no one would believe it.

Zhang San: "Tsk tsk... oh my."

He felt this was so thrilling. He said, "I never expected Zhou Qun to like men."

What nightmare? No one believes it, not at all.

Not long ago, everyone knew that Zhou Qun was benefiting from messing around with older women, and now he's heard to be messing around with men. Zhou Qun is truly a unique character in their factory. Before, no one noticed, and they even thought he was quite upright.

If it weren't for this recent scandal, no one would have known what kind of person he really was.

Zhang San was excited: "Then, then, tell me more, tell me about the storm in your courtyard last night."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "If I don't go to work now, I'll be late. Go ask someone else."

After a pause, he said, "Why don't you ask the people involved?"

Zhang San: "Bai Fendou and Old Man Bai didn't come to work today."

"Then ask someone else."

Zhuang Zhixi didn't want to say more and returned to the office. He took off his raincoat, shook it, and hung it up. Surprisingly, he wasn't the last to arrive. He had seen Little Xu, who seemed unsteady on his feet, hadn't arrived yet.

Sister Cui joked, "Is everyone in your courtyard late today?"

The news had spread early in the morning.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Sister Cui, I wasn't late. I was already inside before the bell, but I was stopped by the security department." He spread his hands, "Everyone's curiosity is just too strong."

"Xiao Zhuang, what exactly happened in your courtyard? I heard that Bai Fendou was... you know, by Zhou Qun. Aren't they both men?" This was from someone who didn't quite understand.

Zhuang Zhixi: "It's probably... well, actually, I don't know the specifics. I'm still confused. Anyway, something like that happened, but they said it was a nightmare..."

"Tell us in detail."

"Yes, tell us."

Zhuang Zhixi: "It seems everyone is curious."

"Who wouldn't be curious? You see, I'm twenty years older than you, but I've never seen anything like this." Sister Cui was very straightforward: "I've truly never seen anything like it. Oh, right, I heard Zhou Qun was kicked into a eunuch by Bai Fendou?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "It was broken, then reattached, and now it's useless. Strictly speaking, it's different from a eunuch; a eunuch is completely gone, but he still has it."

"Oh my god."

"And he doesn't have a child. What's he going to do in the future?"

"Well, that's up to Jiang Lu."

"What kind of life is Jiang Lu living? How did she end up with such a man..."

...

It just so happened that someone else was thinking the same thing.

In the hospital bathroom.

An old and a young man were "negotiating."

An old lady was staring fiercely at Jiang Lu, saying, "Look at the man you've chosen. Aren't you ashamed? All these years, how much trouble have you gone through to have a child? I know you don't want to remarry, but look at your current situation. Zhou Qun is like this, and you still won't divorce him? Are you stupid? He messes around with older women, he schemes against our family, and now he's shameless enough to mess around with men. If you don't divorce, how can your father and brother show their faces at work? They still need their reputations!"

Jiang Lu was scolded into a daze by her mother, but she still hung her head and didn't speak.

Jiang Lu's Mother was furious and asked sharply, "Are you going to divorce or not?"

She then softened her tone and said, "If you don't divorce, this will be the last time we interact. If you don't divorce, your father and brother will publish a statement to cut ties with you. They can't let you ruin their reputations."

Jiang Lu still stood there without moving. After a long while, she looked around, then went to the door to check, confirming no one was there, and returned.

She looked at her mother and said seriously, "I won't divorce."

The old lady was so angry she almost fainted.

Jiang Lu quickly stepped forward to support her mother. She said, "Mom, I won't divorce."

“You're foolish! How can you be so confused? What has Zhou Qun given you to make you so loyal? Can't you just let go of him? Can't you live without him?” She hit her daughter's back repeatedly, scolding, “Can't you just let me rest a bit? Can't you just leave him?”

Jiang Lu looked up, crying, and said, "I can, but Mom, what then if I divorce?"

"Find someone else."

Jiang Lu gave a bitter smile and said, "Find someone else? Mom, I'm over thirty. If I find someone else, who can I find? I can't find someone younger than me. I can only find someone older. If I find someone older, would they be a first marriage? It would just be two second marriages trying to make it work. You know, I want to have a child. Being over thirty and unmarried, generally speaking, if someone like me who's divorced or widowed before doesn't have children, they might not want to find me, because I already have a reputation for being infertile. Even if later someone says it's Zhou Qun's problem, many still think infertility is a woman's issue. Such a person definitely wouldn't want me. Even if they reluctantly took me, if there's still no child, they'd definitely blame me. I have medical reports saying I can have children, Mom, but gossip is powerful. Can I even have a third marriage?"

Jiang Lu's Mother: "Then find someone who's divorced with children."

Jiang Lu: "Why should I be a stepmother to someone else's child? Why should I take care of someone else's child? No matter how well I take care of them, people will say I'm bad. A biological mother scolding is nothing, but a stepmother scolding is a wicked stepmother. Sister Chen in our department is a stepmother, and I know too well the hardships of being a stepmother. The smallest thing can get you criticized. If I have my own child, it's even harder. There's only so much in the house, can there not be a fight? Mom, I don't want a second marriage, whether they have children or not. But at my age, with my experience, don't tell me I can find someone who's never been married. That's impossible, even I don't have such a dream."

Some people are confused and remain so their whole life.

Some people are confused but suddenly become completely clear-headed at a certain moment.

Jiang Lu was like this.

Zhou Qun had done many things, and she could continue to be confused.

But Zhou Qun messing around with men completely woke Jiang Lu up. She had money, looks, a good family background, a good job, and was a high school graduate. She wasn't infertile, and yet Zhou Qun went to find men?

He actually went to find men!

This was the breaking point for Jiang Lu.

And his complete "castration" made Jiang Lu even more clear-headed in the cold rain.

A "eunuch," his mother's, he's completely useless, how could she not wake up?

This guy isn't even considered a man anymore.

After much deliberation, Jiang Lu still didn't plan to get a divorce.

She said, "If I divorce but don't remarry, will you agree? Will you allow me to stay at my parents' home forever?"

Jiang Lu's Mother frowned, "How can you not remarry? Do you want to grow old alone? A woman always needs someone to rely on. We'll find you a good one."

Jiang Lu: "I just want to ask, can I live at my parents' home for the rest of my life?"

Jiang Lu's Mother hesitated. She loved her daughter dearly, but compared to her son's interests, she couldn't agree to this. After all, she had two grandsons, and her daughter-in-law was pregnant again. If Jiang Lu stayed for a while, of course, her mother would be happy. But if she lived there forever, there simply wasn't enough space.

With housing so tight, the machinery factory wouldn't arrange housing for Jiang Lu again.

"Mom, tell me!"

Jiang Lu's Mother: "A woman can't stay unmarried."

Jiang Lu looked at her mother and gave a bitter smile, saying, "You see, you can't let me live at my parents' home without remarrying. So why should I get a divorce?"

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes, and lit one up.

Jiang Lu's Mother's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Why are you smoking?"

Jiang Lu: "I bought them this morning!"

Jiang Lu: "If I get a divorce, you'll force me to remarry, and if I don't, I won't even have a place to stay. Then I might as well not get a divorce. At least the Zhou family has two rooms. And men are always unfaithful. Instead of fooling around with women, they fool around with men. So I might as well stay with Zhou Qun. At least he's a eunuch, completely impotent, so he definitely won't go out and mess around. Men, as long as they're not hanging on the wall, aren't trustworthy. Zhou Qun is perfect for that."

She took another puff and continued, "And Zhou Qun is a level-7 electrician. Even if he doesn't get promoted, his salary of over ninety is more than most people can achieve. If I find someone else, their conditions might not be as good, and their salary might not be as high."

Jiang Lu's Mother sighed, "He has money, but he doesn't give it to you. Your salary goes to your mother-in-law."

Jiang Lu sneered, coldly, "I used to love him. I felt guilty for not having children, so I was willing to do that. But now... they've wronged me! If Zhou Qun doesn't hand over his salary, we'll get a divorce!"

She laughed even more coldly, "Does he dare to get a divorce? He's a eunuch!"

"But you want children..."

Jiang Lu: "Yes, I want children. Who says I have to have them with him? Can't I have them with someone else?"

"That wouldn't be his child. He wouldn't treat the child well, and you couldn't pin it on him. And your reputation would be ruined..."

Jiang Lu said meaningfully, "What if I'm already pregnant?"

"What?!" Jiang Lu's Mother was stunned, "You... you're pregnant?"

Jiang Lu: "No, not yet. But I can say I am. In this situation, wouldn't they treat me like a queen?"

"But you're not..."

"So I'm finding someone to get me pregnant now." Jiang Lu said casually, "As long as I can get pregnant, what's a month or so? I can say I'm just one month along. After all, it's early enough that it can be detected. Didn't Ming Mei find out just over a month? I can say the same. If I'm already pregnant, Zhou Qun wouldn't suspect. We haven't been intimate recently, but a month ago, we did a few times. I'll find someone now, and by then, it'll only be a month off. I can definitely pass it off..."

Jiang Lu's Mother was completely stunned, utterly shocked. She couldn't believe this was her daughter, who had always been so devoted to love and to Zhou Qun. What kind of blow had she suffered to change so drastically? She stammered, "What... what if you don't get pregnant during this time..."

Jiang Lu: "I'll take the risk. If I don't get pregnant, I'll say I had a miscarriage."

She said, "But this time, I have to take the gamble."

She lowered her eyes, "If I win, it's even better. If I lose, I'll keep looking outside until I get pregnant. Once I have a bit of a bump, I'll find an excuse to go out of town and have the baby. Then, after a few months, I'll come back. It's a bit complicated, and it might raise suspicions, but it doesn't matter. As long as there's no evidence, who can say the child is mine? I'll be leaving a legacy for the Zhou family."

Jiang Lu's Mother: "This... this..."

Jiang Lu: "Mom, if this makes Dad and Brother too embarrassed and they want to cut ties, I don't mind."

She said seriously, "Let them publish it in the newspaper. I don't want to affect their reputation, especially my brother, who needs to move up in the world. Having a brother-in-law like Zhou Qun is embarrassing. But in my heart, they'll always be my father and brother. I just hope that in the future, my child can get some help from them. That's based on all these years of feelings."

Jiang Lu's Mother's eyes reddened, "Alright, I understand. You poor child..."

Jiang Lu: "Mom, this morning, sitting by the window, the rain fell on my face. I thought about all these years, and it felt like a dream..."

Jiang Lu's Mother held her daughter's hand, "You've been through so much."

She knew how hard her daughter had tried to get pregnant, trying everything from black dog blood to boy's urine, living a miserable life. But what could she do if she couldn't conceive? She never expected the situation to be so different.

She took a deep breath and said, "About this fake pregnancy, I'll help you find someone. This afternoon, you go to the hospital and tell Zhou Qun you're pregnant, and at the same time, bring up the divorce."

Jiang Lu: "I don't want a divorce..."

"You have to bring it up!"

Jiang Lu's Mother: "You bring it up, then for the sake of the child, forgive him. You don't need him to thank you. This heartless man won't be grateful. You need to use this situation to take control of his salary."

Jiang Lu nodded.

"And all these years, he's been keeping his salary for himself. It has to be handed over to you. What does a man need money for if not to fool around? If he doesn't give it to you, you threaten to abort the child and divorce him..."

Jiang Lu: "I'll do as you say."

“And your mother-in-law, though a wicked one, isn't useless. Keep her around. If you really get pregnant, you'll need someone to take care of you, especially during the confinement period. Let her look after the child when it's young and doesn't understand, but once the child is a bit older and understands, absolutely don't let her near it. She can't raise a good child. Then we'll find a way to get rid of her. Of course, all this is based on you getting pregnant. If you don't, once she's released, use the incident where she harmed your father to send her to live in the countryside. She won't leave, but you can threaten to divorce. At Zhou Qun's current reputation, even a country girl won't marry him. She won't leave, but she has to. Otherwise, if you want to get pregnant and give birth elsewhere in the future, he'll definitely find out. Zhou Qun, being a man, might be careless, but being a woman who's also given birth, you have to be careful.

Jiang Lu had already made up her mind, but with her mother's help in refining the plan, it became even more solid.

She nodded, "I understand."

"And that Wang Zhaodi in your house, get rid of her before your mother-in-law is released. Otherwise, if your mother-in-law uses her to cause trouble, it'll mess up your plans."

Jiang Lu: "I plan to introduce her to Bai Fendou."

She said, "Although I don't particularly like Wang Zhaodi, she hasn't been in my house long, but she's not bad. Last night, when Bai Fendou wanted to grab a kitchen knife, only she stepped in. I remember that. His family is too poor. If I send her back to her parents' home, it'll ruin her. With her family's conditions and her parents only caring about having sons, they'll definitely marry her off for money to an even worse situation. So I thought, introduce her to Bai Fendou. He's not great, but he has a house and a job, which is okay for a country girl. And I promised to introduce Bai Fendou to someone. Wang Zhaodi fits the bill."

"Would she agree?"

“Mom, when you're so poor that you can't even eat or dress properly, you don't have the luxury to think about so many things. Do you think I'm harming Wang Zhaodi? In fact, I'm helping her. She won't find anyone better than Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou has a slew of flaws and is obsessed with that widow. But… heh heh!” Jiang Lu sneered, “As long as I keep the money in my grip, what’s a widow worth?”

Jiang Lu had already moved from one extreme to another.

She thought for a moment and said, “I plan to have a talk with Ming Mei to see how I can persuade Bai Fendou. I’m not worried about Wang Zhaodi; I’m worried that Bai Fendou won’t cooperate.”

Jiang Lu's Mother: “Ming Mei? Your neighbor? The newlywed young wife? Why would you go to her? What can a young girl like her possibly understand?”

“She may not understand, but Zhuang Zhixi does. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me, a woman, to directly approach Zhuang Zhixi. Besides, he doesn’t like me and wouldn’t bother to help. If I talk to Ming Mei, Zhuang Zhixi will definitely offer advice. Zhou Qun once said that the shrewdest person in the courtyard is Zhuang Zhixi. Since both Zhuang Zhixi and Bai Fendou are men, they’ll surely come up with a way to handle Bai Fendou.”

She added, “I need Wang Zhaodi to stay in the courtyard.”

She lowered her eyes and said, “Though it’s unlikely, if Zhou Qun really loses his mind and turns against me, I’ll need allies. If I introduce Wang Zhaodi to someone and help her move to the city, regardless of what happens with Bai Fendou, her life will change for the better. I can tell she’s not an ungrateful person. If I make an effort to befriend her, she’ll stand by me. It’s too difficult to manipulate the others in the courtyard, but it’ll be easy to win over Wang Zhaodi.”

Jiang Lu's Mother looked at her daughter for a long time before saying, “You’ve suffered, but since you’ve thought this through so clearly, I won’t say anything more. I support you.”

She knew that their family situation couldn’t allow Jiang Lu to stay for long. Her daughter-in-law wouldn’t be happy about it either. The in-laws weren’t from an ordinary family, and if they came to cause trouble, it would disrupt the household harmony.

Seeing her daughter analyze the situation so thoroughly, Jiang Lu's Mother was convinced.

She said, “Alright, it’s settled then. I hope you can really get pregnant.”

Jiang Lu smiled faintly, “I hope so. I found a younger man… younger, healthier, and more capable than Zhou Qun. I refuse to believe that I’m destined to have no child.”

Jiang Lu's Mother: “…”

She hesitated for a moment and whispered, “Who did you find?”

Jiang Lu: “You don’t need to know that.”

She hadn’t planned to tell anyone yet.

She said, “But don’t worry, it’s not someone from our courtyard. I wouldn’t make such a mistake and give anyone a reason to gossip.”

Jiang Lu's Mother: “Then… be careful.”

Jiang Lu: “I know.”

She added, “After being with another man, I realized that Zhou Qun is just a useless waste.”

Originally, she had felt utterly despairing, not fully clear on what she should do. It was this despair that pushed her to seek temporary relief, not intentionally looking for another man to have a child with. The momentary indulgence was a result of the immense pressure, a desire to escape.

But this escape unexpectedly opened a new world for her.

She wasn’t particularly passionate about the matter, but she suddenly understood that Zhou Qun wasn’t even a real man.

Those few seconds were all he had, which explained why she had never been able to conceive before. A real man wasn’t like that!

A man who couldn’t even perform in bed wasn’t worth expecting anything from… In that instant, Jiang Lu completely lost respect for Zhou Qun and gave up on him. The more she had loved him before, the more disgusted she felt now.

When a woman stops loving a man, her reason returns…

She had also started to plot and scheme completely.

She sneered, “Zhou Qun is not a man!”

Jiang Lu's Mother: “…”