My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 115

The new day began with the gossip of Wang Xiangxiu kneeling down to propose marriage.

Zhou Qun was like a groundhog in a melon field, hopping around energetically, more lively than anyone else.

He chattered away with Aunt Wang, then cooed with Auntie Sui, and even came over to Zhao Guihua to prattle on, leaving the aunties quite speechless. If he were a woman, chatting with us would be fine, but he's a grown man.

Today wasn’t Sunday, and most of the working folks in the courtyard had already left for work, but Zhou Qun wasn’t in a hurry, still buzzing around like a bee.

His wife, Jiang Lu, had already left for work, and here he was, still fooling around.

Zhao Guihua held back for a while but finally couldn’t resist saying, “Zhou Qun, if you don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”

Zhou Qun replied, “No rush, I ride fast. Jiang Lu left the bike for me.”

“But it’s getting late.”

Zhou Qun: “Actually, it’s still early, I… Oh crap! I gotta go!”

Just a moment ago, he wasn’t in a hurry, but now, looking at the time, he panicked.

He quickly pushed his bike out the door, tripping over the threshold on his way. Zhao Guihua called out, “Oh my, be careful!”

Zhou Qun: “I’m fine! See you later! Keep me updated if there’s any news!”

He hopped on his bike and sped off.

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips, feeling a bit of a toothache: “...”

Never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d one day be sitting around gossiping with Zhou Qun.

Not just Zhao Guihua, Aunt Wang also felt a similar discomfort.

She said, “He didn’t used to be like this!”

Zhao Guihua: “He used to be a man, is he still one now?”

Fortunately, because of the rain, everyone had gone back inside, leaving just the two of them, otherwise, she wouldn’t have said such a thing.

Aunt Wang chuckled and said, “What’s going on here?”

Zhao Guihua, however, thought it was a good thing. She said, “Don’t you think Zhou Qun seems more human now than before?”

In the past, Zhou Qun was all about appearances, putting on airs, but behind the scenes, he was a mess, sleeping with women to climb the ranks, not to mention all the scheming. But now, even though he’s a bit effeminate, he’s taking care of his pregnant wife and even gossiping with the neighbors… well, communicating.

All in all, it’s a step in the right direction.

After Zhao Guihua’s analysis, Aunt Wang thought about it and nodded, “That makes sense. I just wonder what it’ll be like when Aunt Zhou comes back next month.”

“Who knows? Being in jail isn’t like strolling in the park, there’s bound to be some change, right?”

Aunt Wang: “Oh my, it’s hard to say. I just hope she doesn’t lead Zhou Qun astray again. I’ve had enough of managing this courtyard.”

In their neighborhood, every courtyard has someone in charge. In other courtyards, people are practically fighting over the position. But in their courtyard, as soon as the topic of selecting a manager comes up, everyone takes a step back, looking like they’ve been through a nightmare.

Even the troublemakers don’t want to be the manager. Aside from the title and being a bit closer to the neighborhood committee, what’s the point?

You have to deal with everything.

And their courtyard has no shortage of issues.

It’s a thankless job.

While others are eager for the position, everyone in their courtyard avoids it like the plague.

Aunt Wang is fed up, but there’s no one to take over. She envies the enthusiasm in other courtyards.

Aunt Wang: “Old Zhao, you’re more capable than me. Haven’t you thought about stepping up? I think…”

“Don’t think about it. I’m definitely not doing it. Don’t try to push me into this mess.”

“What are you saying? That’s so cold-hearted. How is it a mess?”

Zhao Guihua: “Hmph.”

She said, “Don’t try to fool me.”

Aunt Wang: “People are so smart these days, it’s hard to trick anyone.”

Zhao Guihua: “Exactly. You know who I am. Want to come over for a bit?”

“Sure.”

The two old ladies went to the Zhuang Family. Zhao Guihua glanced at the Su Family, where the three mischievous kids were at home. They were on summer break and couldn’t be sent to school, but today Hu Huihui had gone out without them.

“I wonder what’s going on with Wang Xiangxiu. If something happens, those three kids will have nowhere to go. We can’t just dump them on Hu Huihui,” Aunt Wang said. “The Su Family hasn’t been particularly kind to Hu Huihui, so she probably wouldn’t want to take care of them.”

Zhao Guihua: “Exactly.”

The rain kept pouring down, though it had lightened up a bit today. Still, it was quite annoying. She said, “Look at the house, everything’s damp.”

Aunt Wang: “This rain… your daughter-in-law just woke up.”

Ming Mei came over, rubbing her eyes, and greeted them. Zhao Guihua said, “I left a boiled egg for you in the pot, go get it.”

Ming Mei had been resting these past few days and felt really good.

They usually have to get up early for work, and while they’re full of energy, it’s clearly not as comfortable as now. If only money would fall from the sky without having to work. Ming Mei didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down to eat breakfast.

She asked, “What was all the noise about this morning?”

She had heard the commotion but had stubbornly stayed in bed.

Zhao Guihua: “Hu Huihui said Wang Xiangxiu proposed to Bai Fendou.”

“What?”

Ming Mei’s eyes widened like headlights, round and shocked. She stammered, “P-p-proposed? Is she c-c-crazy?”

Zhao Guihua: “She’s not crazy, that’s why she did it.”

She had a bit of an idea about what Wang Xiangxiu was thinking.

Wang Xiangxiu had been scheming all this time, but she hadn’t planned for life. Now, marrying Bai Fendou might actually be a good thing.

Ming Mei sighed, “I really want to go to the hospital to see the drama.”

“You better stay put.”

Ming Mei: “...”

She said, “I’ve been staying put.”

After a pause, she said, “Huh? The three kids are leaving.”

Zhao Guihua looked over and saw the three kids, who had just woken up, each holding a steamed bun and wearing raincoats as they headed out.

Aunt Wang frowned, “What are they up to now?”

As the manager, she couldn’t just ignore it. Aunt Wang got up and followed them, asking, “Jinlai, where are you going?”

Jinlai: “Out to play.”

You could see how carefree these kids were. Their mother’s situation was still unclear, and yet this kid could just go out and play without a care in the world. He’s already ten years old, not some clueless little kid.

Aunt Wang: “The weather’s been bad lately, don’t go out wandering around. Don’t cause any more trouble for your family. Just look at all the trouble you’ve already caused.”

Jinlai pouted in defiance, “It’s just you adults making a big deal out of nothing.”

Aunt Wang: “...???”

“You’re the ones picking on kids, that’s just low.”

Aunt Wang: “...”

Zhao Guihua couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “Aunt Wang, come back.”

Aunt Wang was shaking with anger, “What kind of brats are these?”

Zhao Guihua: “Just let them be.”

They weren’t responsible for looking after the Su Family’s kids.

Aunt Wang watched as the three kids sauntered out and said, “These kids are hopeless.”

Honestly, with these three kids around, the other children in the neighborhood get into less trouble. Every family compares their kids to these troublemakers and thinks their own kids are angels.

Even if they make a small mistake, it’s just a matter of a little scolding.

Wang Zhaodi also shook her head silently as she watched the three kids leave. At their age, her sisters could already help out at home a lot, but these three brothers were still out causing trouble every day. She shook her head in disapproval.

She came over to Zhao Guihua and said, “Aunt Zhao, Aunt Wang.”

She stood at the door, not coming in, “Aunt Zhao, are you using your fishing rod? If not, could I borrow it for the day?”

Zhao Guihua was surprised, “You’re going fishing by the river in this rain? It’s not safe.”

Aunt Wang nodded and said, "Yes, you’re not in a rush for just a day or two. Wait until the weather clears."

Wang Zhaodi hesitated, asking, "Won’t you need it when the weather clears?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "We can’t go every day. You can borrow it when we’re not using it, just don’t damage it."

Hearing this, Wang Zhaodi’s expression softened, and she said, "Thank you, Aunt Zhao."

"Come in and sit down."

"Alright."

Ming Mei, who had just finished breakfast, joined the group.

Aunt Wang asked, "Ming Mei, how many days of leave did you take?"

Ming Mei replied, "A week."

She leaned lazily on the chair, as if boneless, and said, "The doctor told me to rest more."

If possible, she wished she could rest until the baby was born.

Zhao Guihua understood her meaning and chuckled.

These days, most people were quite driven, willing to burn themselves out for work. Someone like Ming Mei was a rare exception. Although she was a bit of a slacker, she was still very diligent when it came to work.

She preferred to rest, but when she was on the job, she didn’t slack off and worked earnestly.

"You all…"

"Grandma!" Just as they were chatting, Hutou led his sister over and asked, "Can we go play with Li Junjun and Li Weiwei?"

Aunt Wang said, "Go ahead, they’re at home."

It was summer vacation, and the kids were all at home. With the rain these past few days, they were all restless and itching to go out.

She said, "Go on."

Hutou looked at Zhao Guihua, who also said, "Go ahead."

"Alright~"

The children quickly ran off.

"You see, kids are all different. Hu Huihui leaves them at home, but she seems to trust them."

"What else can she do? She has to work."

"That’s true. With relatives like that, Hu Huihui has it tough."

The conversation shifted to Hu Huihui. Aunt Wang said, "That girl really shouldn’t stay with the Su Family for so long. Over time, she might pick up bad habits. That family… tsk tsk."

Zhao Guihua said, "It’s not that bad. She’s not a three-year-old child; she won’t be influenced so easily. I wonder… how the Su Family is doing."

"Who knows?"

Indeed, they didn’t know. Even if they were curious, they wouldn’t brave the rain to go to the hospital for some gossip.

But was there no drama just because they didn’t go to the hospital?

There was still some.

Wang Xiangxiu knelt down and begged Bai Fendou to marry her, which was quite the spectacle. But what was truly unexpected was that Bai Fendou didn’t agree. He remained silent and lay back down on the hospital bed, lifeless as a corpse.

Wang Xiangxiu had thought that Bai Fendou would be overjoyed that she was willing to marry him.

After all, he had been chasing after her for so many years.

He had even proposed to her before, and she had turned him down. Now that she was the one bringing it up, he should have been ecstatic. Given his condition, she was still willing to be with him—he should have been thanking his ancestors for their good fortune.

She never expected things to turn out so differently.

Bai Fendou was completely indifferent.

This infuriated Wang Xiangxiu. How dare a man like him, who couldn’t even have children, reject her? He was really pushing his luck. Wang Xiangxiu didn’t get what she wanted, and her expression immediately darkened. She wasn’t a particularly cunning person; her emotions were always written on her face.

Aunt Su quickly coughed at the sight of this.

Wang Xiangxiu snapped back to reality and put on a pitiful expression again.

She wasn’t very capable, but fortunately, she had her mother-in-law backing her up.

"Wang Xiangxiu, come out for a moment."

Since the key individuals involved were all seriously injured, the police didn’t force them to leave the hospital for questioning at the station. Instead, they used an empty office in the hospital for the interrogation, which was a more humane decision.

Wang Xiangxiu’s injuries were mainly from her altercation with Jiang Baohou. The most severe was when she had been dragged by the hair and slammed into a wall, leaving her head heavily bandaged. Wang Xiangxiu heard her name being called and silently stood up. This wasn’t the first time.

She knew what they were going to ask, but no matter how many times they asked, she firmly maintained that she had been assaulted.

If she didn’t, her reputation would be ruined.

"Wang Xiangxiu, please take a seat."

Wang Xiangxiu tugged at her clothes and sat down. The officer in charge glanced at her and said, "We need to verify some details with you again…"

In truth, the officers all believed that Wang Xiangxiu was lying to some extent.

But it was also possible that Vice Director Cai had used the situation and her child to coerce Wang Xiangxiu into compliance.

This incident had caused quite a stir, and everyone was paying attention, so they had to be extremely careful. Not a single mistake could be made. Currently, both sides were sticking to their stories. Vice Director Cai admitted to having relations with Wang Xiangxiu—there was no way to deny that.

Since the incident happened in the hospital, they had conducted an immediate examination.

The evidence was undeniable.

So he admitted it, but he insisted that he had fallen victim to a honey trap set by Bai Fendou and Wang Xiangxiu.

However, Wang Xiangxiu herself denied this, and Bai Fendou… aside from talking about his wife, remained silent the entire time. No matter what they asked, he was like a corpse. But it was clear to everyone that Vice Director Cai was in trouble.

The evidence was heavily stacked against him.

First, Wang Xiangxiu had indeed been assaulted. Second, Bai Fendou had been extremely violent during the fight. If it had been a honey trap, they would have demanded money, but Bai Fendou had clearly been out of control.

Honestly, judging from Bai Fendou’s reaction,

He and Wang Xiangxiu weren’t in on it together.

As for who got injured, who ended up in the toilet, and who got a concussion, that was all part of the subsequent chaos.

Vice Director Cai might not have assaulted her, but in this situation, he couldn’t explain himself clearly. After all, he couldn’t keep his pants on! And Wang Xiangxiu held her ground firmly. No matter how many times they questioned her, she remained steadfast and unwavering.

Even if Vice Director Cai felt wronged, he had to take the loss.

The main reason was that the incident had caused too much of a stir and had too much impact. Otherwise, given Vice Director Cai’s status and position, he could have smoothed things over. But because it had blown up so publicly, and both parties had been severely injured, it became a hot topic that spread quickly.

This meant that no one dared to get involved in this mess.

But given Vice Director Cai’s position, he knew a lot, and many people still wanted to protect him. Even Deputy Director Zheng approached Hu Huihui again. Hu Huihui was incredulous: "Haven’t you always wanted to take him down?"

Deputy Director Zheng looked slightly uncomfortable but said, "That’s true, but he knows too much. If he really ends up in jail, he’s sure to go down fighting. No one can afford that kind of fallout."

Their own hands weren’t exactly clean.

Hu Huihui said, "If he gets out, he’ll definitely seek revenge."

Although she didn’t like Wang Xiangxiu, she didn’t want to see such an outcome either.

Deputy Director Zheng said, "Our director has promised that as long as he doesn’t go to jail, he can be transferred to the northwest. And I’ll take his position when he retires. This way, I’ll take out two birds with one stone."

In truth, he also wanted to see Vice Director Cai fall. But they were all in the same boat, and they were afraid he’d drag everyone down with him.

Hu Huihui said, "If my cousin changes her story, it’ll be considered false accusation. She’s not stupid."

Deputy Director Zheng said, "Even if your cousin takes down Vice Director Cai, his wife won’t let it go. It’s better to find a way to resolve this amicably. Your cousin just needs to say that Vice Director Cai was drunk and made inappropriate advances. It doesn’t have to go as far as actual assault. We’ll protect him this way. As for Bai Fendou, he can still be seen as a hero, and your cousin remains the victim, but Vice Director Cai’s situation won’t be as severe. We’ll arrange for him to be transferred out of the capital. That way, he won’t have the chance to seek revenge against your cousin. Your cousin’s reputation will remain intact, and it won’t affect her job."

He paused and added, "We’ll have Vice Director Cai compensate your cousin with a hundred yuan."

Hu Huihui: "…"

Deputy Director Zheng: "Vice Director Cai has been in this position for so many years. He really can’t go to jail."

Hu Huihui hesitated for a long time and finally said, "I’ll try to talk to my cousin."

She looked up and asked, "Can you really make all this happen?"

Deputy Director Zheng chuckled and sighed, "With so many people watching, what do you think? Besides, it’s not just me who wants Vice Director Cai gone—it’s everyone."

He could be demoted and transferred, but he couldn’t end up in jail.

As for revenge, that was out of the question.

With so many eyes on this matter, Vice Director Cai knew better than to cause trouble for himself. And, to put it bluntly, even if he wanted revenge, he wouldn’t do it within the next year or so. It would draw too much attention.

Deputy Director Zheng didn’t say this out loud, but Hu Huihui seemed to understand.

"I’ll find a chance to quietly talk to my cousin, and you should help too."

"Sure."

These underhanded matters were quickly settled.

At this time, many things were a mess. As for Vice Director Cai, while he wasn’t entirely innocent, it would be a grave injustice for him to be sentenced to ten or eight years for this charge.

He really hadn’t forced Wang Xiangxiu—she had been willing.

So, almost everyone hoped the matter would be resolved quickly and properly.

With Deputy Director Zheng’s help, Hu Huihui managed to find an opportunity to communicate with Wang Xiangxiu. She didn’t reveal her relationship with Deputy Director Zheng but instead claimed that someone who knew about their situation had come to mediate.

After some back-and-forth, they settled on two hundred yuan.

Of course, none of this concerned the people in the compound.

The machinery factory had its security department involved. If it had been a young, idealistic newcomer, they might have been more zealous. But since the factory had assigned experienced hands, they knew Wang Xiangxiu wasn’t as innocent as she claimed.

Vice Director Cai wasn’t an ordinary person, and many wanted to protect him.

The matter was resolved quickly—even before the rainy season ended, the outcome was announced.

The security department informed the propaganda department, saying, "Draft a notice, and have the broadcast room announce it as well."

After the security team left, Zhuang Zhixi and the others in the propaganda department exchanged puzzled looks.

Sister Cui sighed, "This is really…"

That day, as the workers at the Qianjin Machinery Factory were diligently working, they heard the broadcast: "An urgent announcement, an urgent announcement. Our factory employee Wang Xiangxiu was hospitalized due to a fight involving her child. During the negotiation process, there was some physical contact, which led to another employee, Bai Fendou, mistakenly believing that a case of forced assault on a woman had occurred. He then acted heroically to help the woman. The matter has now been clarified. The other party was under the influence of alcohol and unclear-headed, leading to the misunderstanding. While Bai Fendou’s actions do not constitute heroism, his intentions were good and his courage commendable. The factory commends him. The matter has been resolved, and we ask everyone not to spread rumors. The announcement will now be repeated…"

The workers paused their tasks, looking at each other in confusion.

"What did the broadcast just say?"

"What does ‘physical contact’ mean?"

"Bai Fendou helped a woman?"

"Well, isn’t that what he’s supposed to do? Wang Xiangxiu even knelt down to propose to him. Isn’t it natural for him to help his own wife?"

"Wait, what? I thought Bai Fendou was the one chasing Wang Xiangxiu. How did she end up proposing to him?"

"It’s true. I heard it from Zhou Qun in the electrical team."

"…Zhou Qun…"

The atmosphere turned awkward.

"Zhou Qun was gossiping with the older women for a long time."

"…"

This really left everyone at a loss.

"Let me tell you, I have a relative who works at the hospital. I heard Bai Fendou kicked that man so hard he’s ruined. But that man’s wife also kicked Bai Fendou, and now he’s… well, he’s lost his ability to have children."

"I heard about that too."

"Wow, you’re really well-informed."

"I overheard Zhou Qun talking about it in the restroom…"

Zhou Qun again…

"Did you know this whole thing started because Wang Xiangxiu’s child was being naughty?"

"I heard about it."

"Really? Is that true?"

"Of course it’s true. Zhou Qun said so…"

Everyone was buzzing with gossip. After all, there wasn’t much entertainment around, so this kind of news could keep them talking for at least half a month—maybe even longer.

"Do you think Wang Xiangxiu really…?"

They all exchanged knowing smiles.

The matter began abruptly and ended just as abruptly.

But upon closer thought, this ending wasn’t entirely unexpected. No one wanted a vice director of a certain committee to go on a rampage and start pointing fingers. However, he had suffered a great loss this time. He never expected that a simple incident involving his wife being hit by a child’s stone would escalate to this level.

In the end, aside from Vice Director Cai being unlucky enough to be transferred elsewhere, no one else was significantly affected.

The outcome sparked heated discussions in the factory and caused a small stir in the compound. No one had expected it to end this way. Zhuang Zhixi openly teased his mother, saying, "You said Wang Xiangxiu would definitely stick to her guns for her child’s sake, but she didn’t."

Zhao Guihua replied, "I’m just an old lady, and I only went to literacy classes. Did you expect me to predict everything?"

She had thought Wang Xiangxiu would bite down hard to eliminate future trouble, but she hadn’t expected her to let it go.

She really couldn’t understand this woman.

But Vice Director Cai hadn’t actually forced her, so it wouldn’t be right for him to go to jail over this.

While the committee members weren’t exactly good people, this was a separate matter.

After several days of heavy rain, the weather finally cleared. The matter was settled, and the skies were bright again. After a week of rain, everything in the houses felt damp. With the sun out, everyone rushed to air out their bedding.

The front courtyard was relatively lucky because the Su Family and the Bai Family hadn’t returned from the hospital yet, so the other families had more space.

The sun after the rain was scorching, even hotter than before.

Ming Mei had taken a week off, sleeping in until mid-morning and living a leisurely, lazy life. In just a week, her face had filled out a bit, her complexion had improved, and her skin had a healthy glow. When she finally returned to work, the middle-aged women in the office remarked, "You’ve really rested well."

Ming Mei replied straightforwardly, "Well, if you’re resting, you should rest well. If you end up worse after resting, what’s the point?"

"That’s true. By the way, a lot happened at the bus station while you were away."

Ming Mei asked, "What happened?"

She already knew, but she blinked her innocent eyes, pretending to be clueless.

"The bus route you used to run had an accident, but it wasn’t serious."

"Oh, that’s minor. The big news is Section Chief Jiang. She got into a fight and ended up in the hospital. I heard she kicked a man so hard he’s lost his ability to have children."

"No, no. Her husband was fooling around with another woman, and that woman’s husband kicked him so hard he’s ruined. So Section Chief Jiang retaliated by kicking that woman’s husband and ruining him too…"

"I heard that woman was a widow."

What a mess!

It was hard for anyone to make sense of it all.

Ming Mei thought the gossip at the bus station was clearly less accurate than the rumors in their compound. The stories were a jumble of truth and fiction. But she didn’t correct anyone, finding it all quite entertaining.

Ming Mei interjected, "So, is she back at work?"

"Back at work? She didn’t even take leave. I heard she’s still in the hospital."

"No, I heard she’s already been discharged. Her husband was transferred to the northwest. Wouldn’t she need to go home and take care of things?"

"Really? Is that true?"

"That’s what I heard, but who knows for sure."

"Do you think we should visit her in the hospital?"

"Why should we? We’re not close. She’s only been here for a few days. The unit leaders haven’t even gone to visit her on behalf of the company. Why should we stick our necks out? Do we have too much money?"

"That’s true."

Ming Mei propped her chin on her hand, listening with great interest.

She suddenly asked, "If her husband was transferred, why didn’t she go with him? Being separated by such a long distance isn’t good, is it?"

"Oh, right. I haven’t heard anything about that."

"True, let’s ask around."

Everyone was chattering away, and Ming Mei felt that no matter where people were from, they all had a heart that loved to watch a spectacle.

To talk about this matter, it wasn’t just the parties involved, like the machinery factory, the bus station, or the Revolutionary Committee. Even other unrelated units were buzzing with excitement.

After all, such an event only happens once in many years.

They had truly never seen anything like this before.

Especially the hospital, which was the first scene of the incident. They were right at the forefront of the gossip and the first to spread the news.

But were they surprised?

No, they weren’t!

They weren’t inexperienced. They were all too familiar with Bai Fendou.

This guy had set countless records at their hospital.

Every time he was admitted, there was never a moment of peace. And who knows if it was because of some bad luck in his life, but the number of times he had been hospitalized was just too many. Oh, and it wasn’t just him. There was also his father, who treated the hospital like his own backyard.

And let’s not forget his neighbor, Aunt Su, and her daughter-in-law, who treated the hospital like a rest stop.

In any case, these people were all regulars at their hospital.

Of course, they didn’t really want to see them either.

While watching the drama was interesting, they still had to deal with the aftermath.

Poor medical workers.

And now, there was another wailing sound coming from the ward.

The doctor on duty immediately shouted, “Quick, notify the security department!”

Without hesitation, they called the security department first—that was always the right move.

In the ward, Old Man Bai was crying his heart out. He was in pain, he was suffering. He never imagined that the Bai family line would end with his son.

It wasn’t that the family line ended with him, but his son was now unable to carry on the family name.

He felt deeply ashamed before the ancestors of the Bai family.

Yes, Old Man Bai had only just learned about the incident today. It wasn’t that anyone had intentionally kept it from him; it was just that no one had told him. He only knew that there had been a fight and someone got hurt, but he didn’t know it involved his beloved Aunt Su, nor did he know that his son was part of it.

As for Bai Fendou not showing up for the past week, he just thought the kid was slacking off again.

He knew what kind of person his son was. He thought Bai Fendou was just being lazy again, and he had been cursing this unfilial son all week. It was only today that he accidentally overheard a nurse talking about the unfortunate guy upstairs—it turned out to be his own son, Bai Fendou.

And then, realizing that his son could no longer have children, Old Man Bai completely broke down.

He wailed, snot and tears streaming down his face, “Ancestors, I’ve failed you! How could I have raised such a useless thing? Our Bai family line is cut off now! Wuwu~ I don’t dare face you even in death.”

The other patients in the ward looked at him with pity.

They had thought he was just an unfilial son, but now… well, this was worse than being unfilial.

Honestly, in this situation, they didn’t even know how to comfort him.

A few nurses tried to console him, saying, “He may not be able to have children, but this is a new society. We don’t focus so much on carrying on the family name anymore. Even if he can’t have kids, you can still adopt. As long as you raise the child well, they’ll be just as close to you.”

“It’s not the same if it’s not our own bloodline. Why should we raise someone else’s child? Wuwu,” Old Man Bai cried in agony. “I can’t go on, I can’t live like this…”

He struggled to get up, trying to jump out of the window, but the security team, who had been prepared for this, quickly restrained him!

They knew it, they knew this family had a tradition of trying to jump out of windows!

Old Man Bai yelled, “Let me go, let me go… I want to die…”

“He can’t have kids, but you still can! Why are you trying to kill yourself?” the doctor shouted, stunning everyone in the room. The patients all stared at the doctor in shock: “He’s in his fifties, he can still have kids?”

“Yes! Although he’s had some injuries, it doesn’t affect his ability to have children. At his age, the chances aren’t high, but it’s not impossible.”

The doctor’s words were fair and honest.

Old Man Bai was stunned.

After a long while, he finally reacted and asked, “Are you serious? You’re not lying to me?”

The doctor replied, “No, I’m certain. You can, but it’s not a guarantee. It depends on many factors…”

“I understand, I understand.”

Old Man Bai lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought…

The Bai family line absolutely could not end. His son was a lost cause, but he could still do something about it. If he had another child, it wouldn’t be impossible. Even if he was old and something happened to him, his son could still take care of the child, right?

After all, his eldest son didn’t have any children, so it would be fitting for him to raise his younger brother as his own.

Old Man Bai thought more and more about it and felt it made perfect sense. He immediately thought of Aunt Su.

But in that instant, he shook his head. Aunt Su wouldn’t work. At his age, he could still have children, but Aunt Su, at her age, couldn’t. If he really wanted a child, she wasn’t the right choice.

He needed someone who was fertile…

Suddenly, Old Man Bai thought of someone—Wang Xiangxiu.

Wang Xiangxiu was very fertile. She had been married for six years and had three children, one every two years. If the Su family’s son hadn’t died, she might have kept having more. And, importantly, she had sons.

That was crucial.

He wanted to have a child, but it had to be a son. A daughter wouldn’t do.

That would be the same as having no heir.

If he found another woman, there was no guarantee she’d have a son, but if he went with Wang Xiangxiu, he could be sure. She’d already had three sons. It was a safe bet. But Wang Xiangxiu wouldn’t agree.

And his son, Bai Fendou, definitely wouldn’t agree.

Plus, Wang Xiangxiu was a widow. How could she have a child…

Old Man Bai quieted down. Everyone watched as his expression shifted unpredictably, exchanging looks, unsure what the old man was plotting. But one thing was clear—it didn’t look like he was up to anything good.

His expression was just too… sleazy.

Yes, sleazy.

But after some thought, Old Man Bai came up with a brilliant plan: have Bai Fendou marry Wang Xiangxiu. That way, as the father, it would be natural for him to “help out.” And when Wang Xiangxiu got pregnant, the child would still be a Bai. The child would truly carry the Bai family name.

Of course… there might be some rumors.

After all, his son couldn’t perform, right?

But as long as they stuck to their story, what could anyone else do?

Plus, he could still live with Aunt Su, even if they didn’t get married…

The two families could merge into one, with the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law… hehehe.

The old man’s thoughts were filled with delight, feeling like there couldn’t be a better plan.

The doctor on duty couldn’t help but ask cautiously, “Uncle, are you okay?”

Old Man Bai replied, “I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be?”

In an instant, his demeanor changed. Just moments ago, he was ready to die, but now he was smiling.

The doctor on duty: “…”

This guy was definitely up to no good!

Old Man Bai asked, “Is my son still downstairs?”

The doctor nodded, “Yes, he’s there.”

At this point, Vice Director Cai and his wife were no longer in the same ward as Bai Fendou. They had been moved earlier for convenience in monitoring. Now that their issues had been resolved, Vice Director Cai had been transferred to another hospital.

This was to avoid any further conflicts.

In this whole incident, Vice Director Cai was the most unfortunate and the most unlucky, but he had no choice but to endure it. After all, he didn’t want to go down in flames. Even though being transferred to the northwest was harsh, he would still be a small leader there, which was better than being locked up here.

With the charges against him, he wouldn’t get out for at least eight to ten years.

And he wasn’t a young man anymore. By the time he got out, he’d be half in the grave.

So he listened to the advice and decided to leave.

As for the rest… well, he wouldn’t let it go!!!

Whether Vice Director Cai would seek revenge in the future was anyone’s guess, but everyone knew he wouldn’t be able to cause trouble for the next couple of years. For now, he was calmly transferring to another hospital, preparing for his next move.

Old Man Bai and his wife were transferred to another hospital, and the police officers left, leaving only Bai Fendou and the Su Family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the ward. The three of them shared the room.

Old Man Bai pleaded with the doctor to be transferred to the same ward, and the doctor, being kind-hearted, agreed. Mainly, they didn’t want to deal with the old man either. This family had a knack for dramatic performances, especially when it came to threatening to jump off buildings.

When Old Man Bai entered the ward, his first glance fell on Wang Xiangxiu. He used to look down on her, but now he couldn’t help but notice her charm. In terms of looks and figure, even Aunt Su in her younger days couldn’t compare.

Wang Xiangxiu greeted him, “Uncle Bai, you’ve been transferred here too?”

Old Man Bai smiled, “Indeed.”

He then turned to his son, scolding, “You little brat, do you realize you’ve cut off the Bai family line? How could I have raised such a useless son? If you had even a shred of competence, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. How will you face our ancestors when you die?”

Bai Fendou lay in bed, silent.

Aunt Su spoke softly, “Old Bai, blaming the child won’t help. It’s our family’s fault for dragging you into this. It’s our mistake…”

Her tears nearly broke Old Man Bai’s heart. He quickly comforted her, “No, no, it’s not your fault. You’re victims too.”

His gaze lingered on Wang Xiangxiu again. Aunt Su noticed, furrowed her brows slightly, and then lowered her head, continuing her fake sobs.

“Really, it’s nothing, Sister Su. Our families are close. We won’t hold it against you,” he sighed. “It’s just that my Fendou has had bad luck.”

Bai Fendou let out a bitter laugh.

Old Man Bai snapped, “How dare you laugh!”

Bai Fendou ignored his father and got up to use the restroom. Old Man Bai said, “I’ll go with you.”

He wanted to discuss something with his son beforehand. He was confident Bai Fendou would agree. After all, since Bai Fendou couldn’t have children anymore, he was willing to help him have one. Who wouldn’t agree to that? A blood-related younger brother was better than an outsider.

“Let’s go together,” he said.

Bai Fendou paid no attention and walked ahead. Old Man Bai hurried to catch up.

Aunt Su watched their retreating figures, deep in thought. Soon, she sneered and spat, “Old lecher, still eyeing the young grass.”

Wang Xiangxiu asked, “Mom?”

Aunt Su replied, “Disgusting.”

Wang Xiangxiu was confused, “???”

Aunt Su looked at Wang Xiangxiu, holding back her anger, and said, “You… never mind, forget I said anything.”

If it were up to her, they should have taken Vice Director Cai down. But Wang Xiangxiu had been blinded by money. Now they were left with such a formidable enemy. It was also because they had been too closely watched, and she hadn’t been able to speak privately with Wang Xiangxiu.

Hu Huihui was such a meddlesome little wretch, probably benefiting from all this.

She wanted to scold Wang Xiangxiu but couldn’t afford to offend her directly. No matter how much she despised her daughter-in-law, she still needed her to make money.

The more money Wang Xiangxiu made, the better life her three grandsons would have.

Aunt Su was shrewd. Although Old Man Bai had just arrived and hadn’t said much, she immediately guessed his motive. He must want Wang Xiangxiu to have a child. After knowing him for decades, how could she not see through him?

Indeed, men were unreliable. The only thing you could truly rely on was money.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Wang Xiangxiu asked, puzzled.

Aunt Su replied, “Nothing. You just focus on recovering. You’re more injured than I am. It’s my fault for not being able to earn more. If I had any capability, you wouldn’t have suffered so much. Thinking about what you’ve been through, I feel so sorry for you, and for my son.”

Wang Xiangxiu quickly said, “Mom, I’m not suffering. I’m willing to do it. My biggest wish is to keep this family together.”

Aunt Su’s eyes welled up with tears, “I know, I know you’re a good person…”

Wang Xiangxiu whispered, “We’re one family, united. Once I get Bai Fendou to support us, he’ll be our helper.”

Aunt Su nodded, “Mm.”

She wasn’t in a hurry to bring up Old Man Bai’s intentions. It wasn’t the right time yet.

He wanted a child?

Well, he could forget about it.

But she did have her eye on the Bai family’s two houses.

No one ever complained about having too much property.

She began to ponder how to maximize the benefits.

Letting Wang Xiangxiu be with Old Man Bai wasn’t entirely out of the question, but it depended on what he could offer.

As for a child? Ha!

Aunt Su’s mind was racing.

Meanwhile, Bai Fendou stared at his father in disbelief, “What did you say?”

He practically hissed the words through clenched teeth.

Old Man Bai explained, “You can’t have children anymore, so I, as your father, will help you. I think Wang Xiangxiu is a good match. Once we have a child, we’ll be one family. I promise I won’t… Although it might sound bad, at least our family line won’t be cut off. Right?”

Bai Fendou asked, “Is… that what you’re thinking?”

Bai Fendou felt like he was going insane. He couldn’t believe what his father was saying. He was already under immense stress and hadn’t recovered yet. Now, he was hit with an even deeper shock.

He could remain indifferent to other things, but not this.

This wasn’t about whether he wanted to marry Wang Xiangxiu. It was about his father’s outrageous idea. He had never heard of anything so shameless, from the south to the north. Was this still a modern society? He stared at his father, realizing he wasn’t joking.

He was dead serious.

“You want to have a child with Wang Xiangxiu and pass it off as mine?” he asked bitterly.

“Exactly!”

Old Man Bai smiled, “You see, it’s the only way. If we don’t have a child, you’ll be left without an heir. Our Bai family may not be wealthy, but we can’t let the family line end with us. If that happens, how can we…”

Bai Fendou suddenly grabbed his father by the neck and shoved him toward the window. Old Man Bai gasped, “You… you…”

Bai Fendou’s eyes were bloodshot. He looked at his father, feeling utterly disgusted. With a forceful push, he shouted, “Get out!”

“You… you ungrateful brat! Who do you think I’m doing this for? I have a son, but you don’t. If we don’t find a solution, who will take care of you when you’re old? Who will honor you after you’re gone?” Old Man Bai ranted, “You’re blaming me now? You’re not willing? You’re so ungrateful! Do you believe I’ll jump? Do you? You’ve cut off the Bai family line. You’re unfilial!”

Just then, someone else entered the restroom and saw the father and son in this state. They asked, “What’s going on?”

Old Man Bai shouted, “My son has no heir, and I’m trying to help him, but he’s blaming me. I can’t go on. I can’t live like this!”

He climbed onto the windowsill.

“Hey, be careful!”

“Uncle, get down!”

“You’re too old for this, stop it!”

“Young man, talk your father down…”

Bai Fendou coldly said, “If you want to die, don’t scare others.”

“You… you’re unfilial! You’ve cut off the family line…”

“Shut up, you old fool! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Get down now, stop making a scene. This is only the second floor… no, the third. You won’t die if you jump. Stop pretending! Get down!”

“Uncle, come down.”

“Yeah, don’t risk it…”

“Don’t yell, don’t provoke him.”

Security rushed over, exasperated. Why was it always them? Couldn’t this family bother another hospital?

It was getting too much to handle.

Soon, a crowd gathered, all trying to persuade Old Man Bai. Naturally, he couldn’t reveal the real reason, only shouting that Bai Fendou was unfilial and had no heir.

Bai Fendou took a deep breath and said, “Do as you please.”

He turned away, “I don’t care anymore. I’m already without an heir. What’s the point of worrying about anything else?”

He was about to leave directly.

“Wait a moment…”

“Ah, hurry up!”

“Be careful…”

Old Man Bai waved his arms, cursing, “You little brat, all these years I… ah!”

He moved too vigorously, lost his grip, and tumbled backward…

“Oh my god!”

“Holy crap!”

“Quick, someone help!”

Bai Fendou instantly turned around, reaching out to grab Old Man Bai, but it was too late. Old Man Bai fell straight out of the third-floor bathroom window… “Ah!!!”

Bai Fendou: “Father!!!”

Without a second thought, he dashed downstairs, while others rushed to the window, peering down. There was a pool of blood on the ground, and the man was motionless. Everyone turned pale with fear… A living person had just fallen like that?

This was too terrifying.

“Doctor, doctor… quick, save him!”

…………

“Is anyone in the courtyard?” A panting voice called out.

Zhao Guihua and a few other women were busy washing clothes by the water tank and quickly responded, “Yes, come in!”

It had been raining for a week, and everyone had accumulated a lot of laundry. Besides airing out quilts, many were washing clothes. Everyone was bustling about. After the rainy days, the bright sun felt so good.

“It’s me, from the compound at the end of the alley.”

“Old Liu, right? We know you.”

“Yes, yes, come in! What brings you to our compound?”

Old Liu: “Oh my, you haven’t heard yet? Old Man Bai from your compound jumped from the hospital building.”

“Holy crap!”

“Is that true?”

“Is he crazy? Why? Is he okay?”

Zhao Guihua and the others rushed out, unable to believe such a thing could happen. She had always thought that jumping from a building was just a scare tactic. If someone really wanted to die, they wouldn’t do it like this. But she never expected Old Man Bai to be so ruthless.

He actually jumped?

“How is he?”

Old Liu: “He passed out immediately and was rushed into surgery.”

“Oh my god.”

Old Liu gestured anxiously, “I was on my way to get medicine and happened to see it. I watched him just fall from the building. My god, it was terrifying. They say his son is childless, and he’s been in despair, attempting suicide twice before. This time, he just jumped. I saw Bai Fendou; he was standing there in a daze, like a fool.”

“This is really…”

For a moment, no one knew what to say. Although they didn’t care much for the Bai father and son, hearing about this still left them with a bitter taste in their mouths. After all, they had been neighbors for decades and were old acquaintances.

“Let’s go to the hospital and see.”

“Alright, I think that’s a good idea. Let’s go to the hospital and see. Old Man Bai, why would he be so desperate?”

“Who knows? I’d say it’s his own fault. Back in the day, when people tried to set Bai Fendou up with someone, he, as the father, meddled. If Bai Fendou had married early and hadn’t gotten involved with Wang Xiangxiu, he wouldn’t be childless now. Even if he did get involved, if he had married early, the family would have had descendants by now.”

“What’s the point of saying all this? We can’t turn back time.”

“What will happen to the old man in his later years?”

“Doesn’t he still have his son?”

“But Bai Fendou has been so traumatized; who knows what state he’s in now.”

Zhao Guihua wiped her hands: “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s go to the hospital and see what’s going on. At the very least, we can offer some comfort. With all these things happening one after another, Bai Fendou must be overwhelmed.”

“Old Zhao is right.”

“Let’s go.”

A large group of them headed straight to the hospital…