My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 117

Early in the morning, the cicadas were chirping incessantly.

Zhuang Zhixi had just dropped off his wife and then gone to his workplace to ask for leave. He hurried back to the courtyard house, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. As he entered the courtyard, he called out, “Brother, let’s go.”

The two brothers had agreed to go to the hospital together. Zhuang Zhiyuan had the day off, so he didn’t need to ask for leave.

Liang Meifen, her eyes swollen like walnuts, followed them to the door, looking at them with hope.

Zhuang Zhiyuan said firmly, “You don’t need to come.”

Liang Meifen’s expression darkened. Zhao Guihua, who was outside pouring water, chimed in, “With your mind, you’d only be in the way.”

Liang Meifen silently went back to her chores, feeling bitter. Ever since the kids were on summer break, the workload seemed to have doubled. Since she couldn’t go with them, she quietly started washing clothes. The two brothers left together, and just as Zhao Guihua was about to go back inside, she noticed someone watching her. It was Jinlai, peeking sneakily toward her house.

Being watched by a little thief wasn’t a good sign. She glared fiercely at the mischievous child.

Jinlai pouted defiantly. His aunt had already gone to work, and the three of them had eaten cornbread again for breakfast. Ever since his mom and grandma were hospitalized, they’d been eating cornbread every single day.

At first, the kids had cried about it, but if they cried, they wouldn’t even get the cornbread. Over the past few days, they’d toughened up, but they were still craving something better. Before, they’d had at least one meal of white steamed buns a day, and they’d occasionally eaten meat.

But now, it had been over a week, and they’d had nothing but cornbread and boiled cabbage. Not even a single green vegetable. Their mouths felt as bland as could be. Jinlai glanced toward the Zhuang family’s house and spat, “They’re so selfish, always eating alone and never helping us out. How can people be so stingy?”

“Brother…” Yinlai said, “I want to eat meat.”

Jinlai wanted meat too, but Hu Huihui wasn’t buying any. He said, “We’ll have to wait until Mom comes back.”

Tonglai whispered, “Hutou and the others can catch sparrows.”

Sparrow meat was still meat. Roasted, it was delicious.

Did Jinlai not know that? Of course he did, but they couldn’t catch any. He said irritably, “They can catch them because they have grass seeds to attract the sparrows. We don’t have any, so we can’t catch them.”

How easy was it to catch something flying in the sky?

Yinlai said, “We could ask Hutou for some.”

Jinlai sneered, “His family even eats fish. Do you think they’d give us any?”

Because of the continuous rain over the past few days, most people hadn’t gone out to buy groceries, so Zhao Guihua had steamed some salted fish a few times. The sharp-nosed little glutton had caught a whiff of it. Jinlai cursed, “Those selfish dogs, eating alone. They’ll get their comeuppance sooner or later.”

“Yeah, definitely.”

“For sure.”

The three kids were united in their resentment.

Hutou and the others had grass seeds, as did Li Junjun, Li Weiwei, and Sui Hong from the Sui family. Sui Hong, who was fourteen and lived in the back courtyard, was part of Hutou’s group. They always worked together to catch sparrows, but they never included Jinlai and his brothers.

Jinlai had seen them divide the catch several times. What made him angriest was that even Xiao Yanzi, a girl, got a share. Why didn’t they give any to the boys?

Girls were just a waste of resources. Eating cornbread was already too good for her, and she wanted meat? Those idiots, not giving any to the boys but sharing with a girl. They were such fools.

Yinlai was even more indignant. “Worthless, cheap girl,” he muttered.

Jinlai said, “I hope they choke on it.”

After venting their anger, they felt a bit better.

Jinlai said, “When I grow up, I’m going to steal all their good stuff.”

He was still young and afraid of getting beaten up, but when he grew up, he’d make them pay.

Yinlai said, “I’ll go with you, brother.”

Tonglai blinked and said, “I’ll keep watch.”

“Alright, we’re in this together. Let’s go, I’ll figure something out. We’ll get something good to eat.”

“Where are we going to get it?”

It wasn’t that they doubted their brother, but the whole courtyard was on guard against them. It wasn’t easy for them to get anything.

Jinlai said, “We’ll go outside. There’s more than just our courtyard in this alley. We’ll go to another courtyard and steal there.”

“Okay!”

The three kids quickly ran off, not even bothering to close the door behind them.

Zhao Guihua watched them run out and wondered, “What are they up to now?”

Liang Meifen said sympathetically, “Who knows whose house is going to suffer this time? I thought I heard them talking about stealing something…”

“Stealing what?”

Aunt Wang came to the front yard and joined the conversation.

Liang Meifen said, “We were talking about Jinlai and his brothers. I thought I heard them saying they were going to steal something.”

Aunt Wang rubbed her temples.

Zhao Guihua laughed and said, “You’re really worried about this, huh?”

Aunt Wang said, “Of course I’m worried. What kind of kids are they? They’ll grow up to be street punks.”

“Street punks would be the least of it. They might end up in jail eating free meals. But it’s not our business. Their family doesn’t care, so why should we?”

She asked, “Where are you going?”

Aunt Wang said, “I’m going to the neighborhood committee to get some materials for making paper boxes. It’s been raining for the past few days, and I didn’t want to risk ruining the materials, so I didn’t go. Now that it’s sunny, it’s a good time to work and earn some money.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“That’d be great.”

Aunt Wang and Zhao Guihua walked to the neighborhood committee together, chatting along the way. Zhao Guihua lowered her voice and said, “I’m thinking of buying some grain to store at home.”

Aunt Wang was surprised and quickly asked, “Why? Is something going on?”

Zhao Guihua said, “It’s been raining heavily for a week. My eldest read in the newspaper that it’s raining all over the country. Beijing isn’t even the worst. The worst-hit areas have had heavy rain for seven or eight days straight. So I’m thinking, I’m not sure how this will affect the grain supply. It’s better to stock up now. You know how it is, my family is big—kids and a pregnant woman. I’m really worried about going hungry.”

They’d lived through the three years of famine, so they knew what it was like to go hungry. That’s why they were especially concerned about food.

Aunt Wang slapped her forehead. “You’re right, you’re absolutely right.”

Zhao Guihua said, “Exactly. You know Beijing doesn’t produce much grain. Most of it is shipped in from other places. If those places have even heavier rain and the harvest is reduced… Pfft, listen to me, I’m such a pessimist. But I just can’t help worrying. I’ve been through hunger, so I can’t help but overthink.”

Aunt Wang said, “That’s understandable. I think you’re making sense. I’ll think about buying some too. Like you said, adults can tough it out, but kids and pregnant women can’t.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve only told you about this. Don’t spread it around. I don’t want to get in trouble for spreading rumors.”

Aunt Wang laughed. “Don’t worry, I know better than to get you in trouble.”

They were old friends.

“Are you planning to go to the black market?”

Zhao Guihua said, “That’s what I’m thinking, but I don’t know what the prices are like there. Honestly, I’m a bit nervous about going.”

“Same here.”

For working-class families like theirs, sometimes they had money but couldn’t get what they needed, so they’d trade with others. But ever since the pigeon market became the black market, fewer people went. It just felt different.

Some families preferred to trade with relatives in the countryside rather than go to the black market, especially since they were workers.

The poorer families weren’t as afraid of these things, but those with stable jobs were more cautious. They didn’t want to risk their livelihoods. Zhao Guihua said, “I’m not planning to buy much, just enough to have on hand in case of emergencies.”

“Right. I’ll talk to my husband about it when I get home. Maybe he and my son-in-law can go.”

Zhao Guihua nodded and didn’t say more. They arrived at the neighborhood committee.

As they walked in, they saw a skinny young man, looking disheveled and gaunt, standing there being scolded by a middle-aged woman in her forties. She had a stern, almost harsh expression on her face.

She looked at him with frustration and said, “Tell me, what’s your excuse this time?”

The man mumbled, speaking softly, "She's a bit too strong. I don’t think I can handle her."

The middle-aged woman glared at him, "Can’t handle her? You’re a man! Where’s your backbone? Besides, being strong isn’t a bad thing. A strong woman can give birth more easily. And if she’s this strong, it’s probably because her family’s well-off. You’re just too clueless to see it."

"I don’t want her anyway."

"Are you trying to make me angry? Her family’s so well-off, and you’re complaining about her being strong? Look at yourself! You’ve gotten so thin these past few months, you look like you’re on the verge of collapsing. She hasn’t even complained about you being as skinny as a chicken. How dare you say she’s too strong? Fine, this one’s too strong for you. What about the last one? If you don’t give me a good reason, I’m disowning you as my nephew!"

"The last one… she was too pretty," the young man said, lowering his eyes. "She was so beautiful, I was afraid I couldn’t handle her."

The middle-aged woman was almost speechless. "Good, good, good. Again with the ‘can’t handle her.’ Everyone else wants a pretty wife, but not you. Are you an idiot? What about the one before that?"

The young man hesitated, "She kept staring at me… I was afraid I couldn’t handle her…"

"I swear, are you a complete moron? How did I end up with a nephew like you? You seem smart, but when it comes to women, you’re utterly clueless. This one’s too much, that one’s too much—what kind of woman do you even want? Don’t tell me you’re looking for someone from the countryside, thinking you’ll be able to handle her?"

"Someone from the countryside… no, they work hard and have good stamina. I couldn’t handle that either," the young man muttered, rubbing his hands nervously.

The middle-aged woman exploded into a string of curses.

She fully demonstrated the verbal prowess of a middle-aged woman, berating the young man until he was thoroughly humiliated. If it weren’t for the fear of making a scene, she might have even resorted to physical violence. She was so furious that she didn’t care who was around or what they might hear.

Zhao Guihua and Aunt Wang watched from a distance, quietly stepping back. Aunt Wang whispered to Sister Chen, the neighborhood staff member, "Sister Chen, what’s going on here?"

Sister Chen replied, "It’s Sister Xu’s family matter. Her nephew, a perfectly good young man, refuses to settle down. She’s introduced him to several women, but he always finds an excuse. This time, it’s because he ‘can’t handle her.’ Look how angry she is. And his reasons are just ridiculous."

Zhao Guihua and Aunt Wang nodded, silently standing by as they observed the drama.

The young man, thoroughly scolded, finally stumbled away.

Once outside, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, still shaken, but quickly got on his bicycle and rode off. This young man was none other than Little Xu, Zhuang Zhixi’s "good" colleague and the movie projectionist.

The middle-aged woman from the neighborhood was Little Xu’s aunt.

As Little Xu rode back, he felt a bit of relief.

When it came to marriage… honestly, he was terrified. It wasn’t that he had someone else in mind, but… he was genuinely scared.

He used to think that women were soft, sweet, and that getting married would be a wonderful thing. But after his recent experiences, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Sure, having a wife meant someone to take care of the housework and manage the household, but he was worried.

There were plenty of benefits, but the downsides were even greater.

Women… they could easily drain a man dry.

Just the thought of it made him shudder.

He wasn’t exaggerating.

As he locked his bicycle and headed into the office building, he ran into Jiang Lu, who was on her way to the restroom. The two of them came face to face, and Little Xu’s face instantly turned pale. Without hesitation, he turned around and hurried in the opposite direction.

Jiang Lu: "…"

Seriously?

Am I a tiger or something?

Little Xu quickly ducked around a corner, panting as he waited for Jiang Lu to leave. Only then did he sneak into the office, looking as guilty as a thief.

"What’s wrong with you?" Sister Cui asked curiously.

Little Xu slumped onto his desk, "I’m not feeling well."

He really wasn’t feeling well. Just the sight of Jiang Lu made him uncomfortable. The truth was, his current state was entirely because of Jiang Lu.

Two months ago, his father had broken his leg, and Little Xu had been spending nights at the hospital to keep him company. He didn’t have to do much—just help his father to the bathroom when needed. It was there that he ran into Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu had grabbed him and pulled him into the restroom. He… didn’t resist.

Well, he didn’t really want to resist.

He was thrilled.

It was like a gift from the heavens. As a man, he wasn’t losing anything, and he was eager to experience what it was like to be with a woman.

He was quite happy about it, so when Jiang Lu came looking for him the next day, they found another place to… enjoy themselves, going at it like there was no tomorrow.

The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day…

Even a plow ox couldn’t keep up with that kind of pace.

Every night, he was called out, and every day, he was left exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and weak legs.

His grandmother even joked that if it weren’t for the new society where criminals had been driven out, she would have thought he was addicted to opium. He had lost weight so quickly and had no energy left.

Little Xu knew why. Every night, he was kept busy for three or four hours.

He… he couldn’t take it anymore.

But Jiang Lu kept coming for him. What had started as a stroke of luck now felt like a story straight out of a ghost tale.

In those tales, the fox spirits, the female ghosts—they all preyed on men.

Little Xu felt like one of those scholars who were drained dry by supernatural beings. After more than ten days, he couldn’t escape Jiang Lu’s clutches. At first, he thought he was getting the better end of the deal, but now he felt like he was the one being taken advantage of.

He wanted to refuse, but every time he tried to say something, Jiang Lu would kiss him…

He was in a tough spot, feeling both wronged and unhappy.

Sure, he had enjoyed himself and felt like he was getting something out of it, but… only he knew the toll it was taking on him.

He had tried eating all sorts of tonics—lamb testicles, ox penis—but nothing worked. He was truly being drained. After less than twenty days, he couldn’t take it anymore and finally confronted Jiang Lu, telling her he wanted to end their relationship. Jiang Lu had stared at him so intensely that he was terrified.

He didn’t even give her a chance to respond. Even though he was disheveled, he stumbled away as fast as he could.

From then on, he avoided Jiang Lu like the plague.

A woman in her thirties was too much for a young man in his twenties to handle.

She could drain him dry in no time.

Some men might enjoy that kind of thing, wishing it could happen every night… but after nearly twenty days, Little Xu was completely worn out. On this matter, he was as calm as a monk ready to renounce the world.

Now, when it came to finding a partner, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to. He did, but he wanted someone who was nothing like Jiang Lu.

Not even a little bit similar—not even the same hairstyle.

The moment he saw any resemblance, he would think of Jiang Lu’s… enthusiasm, and it would make him shudder.

His excuse of "can’t handle her" was just that—an excuse. The real reason was that the woman reminded him of Jiang Lu in some way.

Like the most recent one, who came from a good family—just like Jiang Lu.

And the one before that, who had eyes like Jiang Lu. And the one before that, who was as tall as Jiang Lu…

And the one before that… she even wore the same kind of shoes as Jiang Lu.

No way!!!

Little Xu now had a full-blown Jiang Lu complex. Only a man who had been drained dry could understand!

He took a deep breath, only to realize that Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t there. He quickly asked, "Where’s Zhuang Zhixi? Did he skip work?"

Sister Cui replied, "He took the morning off to visit someone in the hospital."

She added meaningfully, "His neighbor…"

Little Xu’s heart skipped a beat. Jiang Lu was Zhuang Zhixi’s neighbor, and she was supposedly on good terms with Zhuang Zhixi’s wife. He was instantly terrified, "N-n-neighbor?"

"Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou’s father fell from a building."

"Damn!" Little Xu patted his chest in relief. As long as it wasn’t Jiang Lu.

"What happened?"

Sister Cui, known as the factory's number one gossip, was quite well-informed. She said, "What else could it be? I heard it's because of Wang Xiangxiu. That old man Bai, he may be old, but his thoughts are quite wild. He’s got his eye on the pot while still eating from the bowl. You wouldn’t believe it, he…"

The news from the hospital yesterday couldn’t be kept under wraps. There were too many onlookers at the scene. It wasn’t just Sister Cui who heard about it; many people in the machinery factory had caught wind of it. By mid-morning, the rumor was already buzzing.

To understand why the clinic in their massive machinery factory, which employs tens of thousands, is so poorly equipped, it’s because they’re located too close to a hospital. And not just any hospital—it’s one of the more renowned hospitals in the city, staffed by some of the best doctors.

Because of this, everyone has gotten used to going to the hospital for treatment. For minor issues like a cold, fever, or a small cut, they might visit the factory clinic for convenience. But for anything more serious, they head straight to the hospital. After all, it’s more reassuring.

This is also why many people in the factory are somewhat familiar with the hospital, and news spreads quickly.

By mid-morning, the gossip had already fermented.

Almost everyone was discussing the topic. To be honest, people used to look down on Bai Fendou. With his decent conditions, how could he mess things up so badly? He was doing fine in the security department, but now he’s been demoted to cleaning toilets.

But now, when people think of him, they can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

Who did he get into a fight for? For Wang Xiangxiu.

Who did he lose his manhood for? Again, for Wang Xiangxiu.

It was already tough enough for him to get involved with a widow, but who could have guessed that his father would turn out to be so unreliable?

Old man Bai had always been quiet and low-key, not someone who stood out. But it turns out that even the quiet ones can have their share of devious thoughts. Who could have imagined he’d come up with such a disgusting idea? How could anyone understand this? It’s shocking.

Given Bai Fendou’s current situation, if old man Bai wanted to have another child, no one would have objected if he had found someone else to marry. Everyone would have understood. After all, continuing the family line is a big deal.

But the idea of having his son marry a woman so that he could be the groom instead? That’s just…

Utterly immoral.

By mid-morning, everyone was working with extra vigor.

Work paired with gossip—now that’s a powerful combination.

"Remember back in early spring? There were rumors that Wang Xiangxiu’s mother-in-law was pregnant, supposedly by Bai Fendou’s father. Who knows if it was true or not, but if it was, then… If they had decided to keep the child, maybe this wouldn’t have happened."

"I think it was just a rumor."

"Not necessarily. It could have been true. Back then, Wang Xiangxiu’s mother-in-law was hospitalized. Wang Xiangxiu was so busy, having to take care of her kids at home while also looking after her mother-in-law at the hospital. How do you know she wasn’t there to get an abortion?"

"Ah, if that’s the case, then old man Bai really missed out. If he didn’t want the child back then, now he’s out of luck."

"That old pervert deserves it."

"Hey, why do you think he’s got so many devious ideas? Now when I look at Bai Fendou, I think he’s just a big fool. Even his own father is scheming against him."

Some people, who could somewhat understand old man Bai’s desire to continue the family line, said, "He probably just didn’t want the Bai family to die out, so he lost his head."

"He’s an old bachelor, but it’s not like he couldn’t get married. Why would he scheme to take his son’s wife? I heard Bai Fendou was crying so hard at the hospital yesterday."

"What’s worse is that the old man is going to drag his son down. His illness is going to cost a fortune. Sure, the factory will cover most of it, but he’ll still have to pay some. And besides… the whole thing is just so disgraceful."

"Bai Fendou is really pitiful."

"Pitiful indeed!"

The factory was abuzz with discussions, and naturally, the Women’s Federation also heard about it. They heard about Wang Xiangxiu kneeling to propose to Bai Fendou.

Yes, Zhou Qun told them.

They also heard that old man Bai wanted to have his cake and eat it too, planning to make his son a cuckold.

Again, Zhou Qun told them.

They heard that old man Bai tried to scare his son into agreeing by pretending to jump off a building but accidentally slipped and fell.

You guessed it—Zhou Qun.

And then there was the rumor that the two women in the Su family, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, had a combined monthly income of about sixty yuan, but they had spent a lot of the Bai family’s money.

Well, no need to say who spread that one.

Zhou Qun.

It’s always him.

Jiang Lu isn’t even as good at spreading gossip as her husband, Zhou Qun.

Isn’t that something?

But these things might as well be known. Since they are, and since Wang Xiangxiu is part of the Women’s Federation, the Federation felt it was necessary to check in on her and get a better understanding of the situation. The director of the Women’s Federation said, "Jiang Lu, why don’t you take Fang with you? Try to give Wang Xiangxiu some advice. She’s been really out of line lately."

It seems like she’s been involved in every scandal.

Jiang Lu replied, "I can go, but…"

She was being honest: "Wang Xiangxiu probably doesn’t need our intervention. I’ve been her neighbor for over ten years, so I know her pretty well."

"She’s been involved in so many romantic entanglements lately. Whatever the case, she needs to calm down. She’s really embarrassing the women here."

Jiang Lu said, "Alright."

"But when you go, don’t get too close. You’re pregnant now, so you need to be careful. Who knows if they might go crazy and hurt you."

The women in the Women’s Federation weren’t particularly close to Jiang Lu, but everyone knew that she had been married for over ten years and had finally gotten pregnant. Her husband was now incapacitated. If she lost this baby, it would be hard to say if she’d ever have another chance.

So they were especially protective of her.

The reason they sent her to the hospital this time was also because of this.

"After you talk to Wang Xiangxiu at the hospital, you can just go home."

This was a gesture of consideration.

When it comes to pregnancy, don’t expect men to understand much.

But women understand the hardships of pregnancy better than anyone.

Jiang Lu quickly packed her things and left with Fang.

After she left, one of the older sisters sighed, "You know, Jiang Lu’s luck is really something. It’s both good and bad."

"I think it’s because Zhou Qun has done too many bad things, which is why they couldn’t have children for so long. Now that Zhou Qun is incapacitated, Jiang Lu immediately got pregnant. Don’t you think that’s fate… ahem…"

Some things, like superstitions, shouldn’t be said out loud.

But even though she stopped herself, everyone understood.

"Maybe heaven saw that Jiang Lu was innocent, so it punished Zhou Qun but also gave them a glimmer of hope."

"Exactly, exactly."

"Jiang Lu has changed so much since she got pregnant."

"Zhou Qun too. He used to be so pretentious. Now he’s much more easygoing. He’s quick to help out with tasks and can even chat with people…"

Ahem.

At this point, everyone exchanged glances and said in unison, "He’s just a bit too motherly."

"Well, at least it’s better than before."

"It’s all thanks to Jiang Lu’s patience. He’s not even a real man anymore…"

"Ahem."

Everyone started whispering among themselves…

Jiang Lu didn’t know what others were saying about her. She went out with Fang, and as they were going downstairs, they coincidentally ran into Little Xu, who had just come out of the bathroom. When he saw them, he turned right back in. Jiang Lu pretended not to notice.

Actually, she probably knew why Little Xu acted that way.

It was like a scholar encountering a female ghost.

But she didn’t care what he thought. She just wanted a child. She had chosen the younger Little Xu to increase her chances. And now, it seemed like it had worked out well.

As for the pregnancy, since she had already told him she was pregnant, Little Xu never suspected that she had deliberately sought him out to conceive a child. All he could think was, "This woman is already pregnant, and she’s still so wild. What was she like before?"

Because Jiang Lu had demanded so much, Little Xu developed a fear of her.

He never even questioned her motives.

Jiang Lu had been involved with him for a while, and when she saw that Little Xu was finally about to crack and run away, she didn’t push him.

What are men, anyway? All she wanted was a child.

For some families, having many children is no big deal. But for Jiang Lu, it was an obsession! From the time she got married until now, over ten years, she had suffered so much for the sake of having a child—drinking black dog’s blood, even… She was determined to have a child.

Now that she finally had one, she felt at peace.

She glanced toward the restroom and said with a smile, "Let's go."

"Alright."

Jiang Lu headed toward the hospital, while Little Xu let out a heavy sigh. He wanted to transfer to another job, but it was difficult to do so now, especially since he was in a technical role. Not every unit needed someone like him.

But if he didn’t transfer, seeing Jiang Lu made him anxious.

Sigh!

Jiang Lu, of course, had no idea about Little Xu’s distress. In fact, she was more than happy that he was avoiding her.

She had originally been thinking about how to end things with him, but she never expected that he would be the one to initiate the breakup. Well, that wasn’t so bad. Since getting pregnant, Jiang Lu had stopped riding her bike. The hospital was close by, so they walked there together.

When Jiang Lu arrived at the hospital, she happened to see Zhuang Zhixi coming out of another ward. She raised her eyebrows in surprise and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "I came to check on Bai Fendou."

He added, "We’re neighbors after all. When something big happens in their family, it’s only right to come and see how they’re doing."

Jiang Lu chuckled, "You’re quite thoughtful. So, what are you up to?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I’m going upstairs to ask the doctor about Uncle Bai’s condition. I used to work in the clinic, so I’m somewhat familiar with the staff here."

Jiang Lu nodded and said, "Alright, go ahead. I’m here on behalf of the Women’s Federation to check on Wang Xiangxiu."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, "You’d better hurry. If you’re too late, they might already be discharged. I heard they’re processing the discharge today."

"What?"

Jiang Lu was shocked, "Wasn’t she hit on the head? How can she be discharged so soon?"

"It’s been a week. She’s probably mostly recovered by now?" Zhuang Zhixi said casually, not elaborating further. He gestured, "I’ll head upstairs."

Jiang Lu replied, "Oh, alright."

Truth be told, it wasn’t that the Su family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were completely fine.

To be honest, Aunt Su was pretty much okay. Despite being knocked into a concussion and falling into a manure pit earlier, after a week of rest, she had mostly recovered.

As for Wang Xiangxiu, Jiang Baohong had really done a number on her. Although Wang Xiangxiu was physically stronger than Jiang Baohong and had fought back, Jiang Baohong had gone berserk, and Wang Xiangxiu had still taken a beating.

She had been scratched and had her head slammed against the wall multiple times.

Her wounds hadn’t fully healed yet.

But Wang Xiangxiu was eager to be discharged. If she didn’t leave soon, she felt she would lose all dignity. Her reputation was already in tatters due to the scandal involving men, and now this incident with Uncle Bai had only made things worse.

She could understand Uncle Bai’s infatuation with her—she was confident in that regard.

But what she couldn’t understand was why Bai Fendou, that idiot, had to blab about everything, making her lose face.

Wang Xiangxiu was furious. She just wanted to be discharged immediately and lay low for a while.

Besides, she felt she was doing well enough, so why waste money staying in the hospital?

She could just recover at home. When Jiang Lu entered the room, she saw them packing up. Wang Xiangxiu asked, "What are you doing here?"

Jiang Lu replied, "I’m here on behalf of the factory’s Women’s Federation…"

Jiang Lu’s visit to Wang Xiangxiu was purely a formality, but when the Zhuang brothers came to see Bai Fendou, it was anything but. They had quickly reached an agreement. Although it was Zhao Guihua who had brought up the idea, she hadn’t intended for her family to buy or do anything. It was just a spur-of-the-moment suggestion, and she had Bai Fendou’s best interests at heart.

Bai Fendou, though not the sharpest tool in the shed, understood that this was the right thing to do.

His father’s condition meant he could no longer work. Bai Fendou needed to go to the factory while his father was still in the hospital, play the sympathy card, and transfer the job under the guise of medical treatment. That was the smart move.

If he waited too long, complications could arise.

If something changed and the factory started questioning his father’s character, the job could be in jeopardy. There had been precedents for this. Bai Fendou had seen the Yu family earlier that morning.

The Yu family had been fighting tooth and nail over the job left by Yu Baoshan.

They had caused quite a scene, but the factory had refused to let any of the Yu family members take over. While factories couldn’t easily fire employees, Yu Baoshan had committed a serious offense. The factory had previously been afraid to cross him, as he was a troublemaker.

But now they didn’t care and had fired him outright.

What were they going to do? Bring him back from the dead?

The Yu family, refusing to accept this, had gone to the factory to cause trouble and ended up clashing with the factory’s security team. Some of them had even been injured and ended up in the hospital.

Because of this, Bai Fendou was willing to negotiate with the Zhuang brothers. He wanted to resolve things quickly and avoid the factory following the textile factory’s example. If they decided to withhold the job and treat it as a dismissal, he would be in big trouble.

After some back-and-forth, they settled on 350 yuan.

This wasn’t a small amount, but it was within the expected range.

After all, it was a formal job.

Zhuang Zhixi came back downstairs and returned to the ward. Bai Fendou asked, "How is it?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "The doctor said your father isn’t out of danger yet. If he recovers, the best-case scenario is that he’ll be able to move his upper body but not his lower body. If luck isn’t on his side…" He might not make it through the next few days.

That went without saying.

Bai Fendou sighed, wiped his face, and said slowly, "If luck isn’t on his side, he might not survive the next few days?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded. The doctor had already explained this to Bai Fendou, but Bai Fendou felt they had offended the hospital and feared they were exaggerating. Since Zhuang Zhixi was familiar with the hospital, he had asked for confirmation.

Seeing that the conversation was winding down, Bai Fendou suddenly slapped the table and said, "I’ll go to the factory this afternoon. If everything goes smoothly, I can handle the transfer procedures tomorrow!"

Luckily, this ward only had one occupied bed.

Mainly… the hospital didn’t dare assign anyone else to the room, leaving him alone to avoid further incidents.

The hot topic of accidents.

"So soon?" Zhuang Zhiyuan was surprised.

Bai Fendou replied, "If I don’t hurry, what if my father really passes away? I won’t even be able to pay the medical bills."

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "…That’s true."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at his brother, and their eyes met. They exchanged a look, and Zhuang Zhixi spoke up, "Brother, why don’t you go downstairs and buy some lunch? I’ll have a chat with Fendou."

Zhuang Zhiyuan agreed, "Alright."

As Zhuang Zhiyuan left the room, Bai Fendou asked, "What do you want to say?"

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Fendou, actually, my brother is willing to offer an extra 30 yuan."

Bai Fendou’s eyes lit up.

Zhuang Zhixi continued earnestly, "We’ve been neighbors for so many years. You know what my sister-in-law is like."

Bai Fendou didn’t quite understand.

Zhuang Zhixi calmly explained, "My sister-in-law is the type who’s willing to do any kind of work. If there’s something to be done at home, she’ll jump right in. Whether it’s cleaning the factory’s toilets or every toilet in the city, as long as she’s paid, she’ll do it. Labor is honorable, no matter what the job is. But my brother doesn’t want her cleaning toilets."

Bai Fendou nodded in understanding, "Your brother’s worried about losing face?"

Zhuang Zhixi shook his head with a smile, "Not at all. My brother doesn’t want her cleaning toilets because the job is too flexible. The work schedule is self-managed, and my brother doesn’t like that. You know what her family is like. They’re good for nothing, always eating but never contributing. They’re capable of everything except doing the right thing. And my sister-in-law? She’s a classic ‘brother supporter.’ You know what that means, right?"

Bai Fendou thought for a moment and said, "Who came up with that term? It’s spot on."

"My mom."

Zhuang Zhixi said bluntly, "Who else could it be but her?"

Bai Fendou replied, "…That does sound like something Aunt Zhao would say. But what does this have to do with the job?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "We all think her family wouldn’t dare come to the compound to take advantage of my sister-in-law. But they could go to the factory. My brother wants my sister-in-law to work in the workshop so that even if her family goes to the factory to look for her, she wouldn’t have much time to deal with them. The workshop supervisor wouldn’t easily let people chat at the gate either. But if my sister-in-law is assigned to clean the toilets, she’d have more flexible time, and over time, she might get tangled up with her family again. Also, this time when my sister-in-law returns to work, my brother will collect her salary on her behalf. Honestly, my brother is afraid that if she’s swayed, she might take the salary and give it to her family. But if she’s in the workshop, her time is restricted, and she wouldn’t have the freedom to do that."

Bai Fendou suddenly understood why Zhuang Zhiyuan had avoided this conversation.

Zhuang Zhiyuan, being such a prideful person, would probably be mortified to bring this up himself.

However, Bai Fendou added, "Having the husband collect the wife’s salary is a bit embarrassing."

Zhuang Zhixi: "There’s no other way. What else can we do? Our family has already lost one formal job; we can’t afford to lose another. If we don’t guard against it strictly, Liang Meifen’s family will take advantage of us again."

Bai Fendou sympathized, "Your family really has it tough, dealing with someone so foolish."

Zhuang Zhixi: "There’s nothing we can do. If it were someone else, we wouldn’t be saying this. But since we’ve known each other for so long, and you’re aware of our situation, I’m being honest with you."

Bai Fendou felt a bit pleased. He used to envy the Zhuang family because both men in the household had wives.

But now, seeing this, he realized that having a wife wasn’t all that great.

She’s disloyal.

"I’m willing to help, but this matter—the factory won’t listen to me, will they?"

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled softly and said, "It depends on how you frame it. This time, although you were the one who hit someone, you were also an innocent victim. If it weren’t for Wang Xiangxiu, none of this would have happened. Why should she get the money and walk away unscathed while you bear such severe consequences? If you hadn’t fought for her, would Jiang Baohong have hit you there, leaving you unable to have children? If that hadn’t happened, would your father have come up with such a ridiculous idea? It’s wrong, but think about it—without the cause, would there be such an outcome? Even if your father is unreliable, he wouldn’t have suggested something so outrageous, right?"

Bai Fendou gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Besides, the factory knows that while this wasn’t exactly an act of heroism, it was still a good deed. Since you did a good deed and are in urgent need of medical expenses, the factory should understand if your father switches jobs so you can sell your position to pay for the medical bills. You and your father faced such a huge crisis without asking the factory for help, and instead, you’re trying to solve it yourselves. The factory should appreciate that. You’ve seen people kneeling at the factory gate, causing a scene to beg for help, haven’t you? What you’re doing is actually trying not to burden the factory. And think about it—this is also good for the factory. Cleaning the toilets pays 25 yuan a month, while a workshop apprentice earns only a little over ten yuan. This would actually reduce the factory’s expenses. As for the shortage of toilet cleaners, some people with poor character and low skills in the workshop should be reassigned to clean the toilets. If they’ve been in the workshop for years without advancing and their character is questionable, they’re better off cleaning toilets. My sister-in-law, after all, is a high school graduate."

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t mention Wang Xiangxiu directly, but his words were clearly aimed at her.

Bai Fendou: "Right! Exactly! Why should I suffer so much while Wang Xiangxiu gets all the benefits? She should be the one cleaning the toilets!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Although these incidents… let’s not talk about the incidents. Just focus on the fact that she’s taken so much time off and her skills are poor, right?"

Regarding the rumors of her promiscuity, everyone was convinced Wang Xiangxiu was guilty.

First, there was the Yu Baoshan toilet incident.

Then there was the Vice Director Cai storage room incident.

Although these seemed to have died down—some due to lack of evidence, others suppressed—it seemed like nothing could be done about Wang Xiangxiu. It was a moral issue. In these times, such matters were taken seriously, but evidence was needed.

Rumors weren’t enough.

But they could avoid mentioning that and just focus on Wang Xiangxiu’s poor work performance, right?

Zhuang Zhixi: "Fendou, what do you think about this…"

Bai Fendou: "I’ll make a scene!"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled. Sometimes, chaos could defeat even the most experienced opponent.

If it were someone else, Zhuang Zhixi wouldn’t have suggested this, but Bai Fendou was the right person.

In their factory, Bai Fendou was known for his recklessness. He was the type of guy who’d even air his father’s dirty laundry. People like him were the last ones others wanted to get involved with.

As long as he didn’t go too far, Zhuang Zhixi believed they could achieve the desired outcome.

Sure enough, Bai Fendou agreed: "Don’t worry about this. But if I succeed, I want 400 yuan!"

He added urgently, "I know 400 is a lot, but jobs are hard to come by—it’s one position per person. And in the workshop, if you pass the skill tests, your salary increases. Unlike cleaning toilets, where you’re stuck at 25 yuan for ten or twenty years. The pay never goes up."

Zhuang Zhixi hesitated and said, "Let me discuss this with my brother first?"

Bai Fendou: "You’d better hurry."

"Hurry with what?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Brother, 400 yuan."

Zhuang Zhiyuan’s eyes widened, and his breathing quickened. That was a lot of money.

If Liang Meifen went back to work, it would take her two years to earn that much. The first year would be as an apprentice with a low salary. But in the long run… He clenched his fists and said, "Okay, I agree."

It took all his strength to say it.

Bai Fendou: "Then wait for my news, brothers. I’ll do my best. If it doesn’t work out, it’s just my bad luck—no fortune for me."

"Thank you."

Bai Fendou waved his hand: "No problem. You guys go back. I’ll eat quickly and head to the factory this afternoon."

He was eager to get the money as soon as possible.

"Alright."

Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zhixi didn’t disturb Bai Fendou any longer and left the hospital together.

These matters had been discussed and agreed upon by both sides. Zhuang Zhiyuan felt a bit embarrassed and said, "I didn’t expect you to be the one to bring this up."

Zhuang Zhixi: "We’re brothers, after all."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "I really didn’t think he’d actually agree."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Because he can make more money, and also because he gets to see you embarrassed."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "???"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Think about it—going to the factory to collect your wife’s salary will definitely get people talking. He’ll enjoy seeing you humiliated. Bai Fendou has always been jealous of the guys in the compound around his age, and you’re at the top of that list. It used to be Zhou Qun, but Zhou Qun’s reputation is ruined now, so it’s just you left. You have a troublesome wife, and now you have to go to the factory every month to collect her salary. Just thinking about it is embarrassing. He’ll love it."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Why is he jealous of me? What about you, Yang Lixin, and the Sui family…"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yang Lixin is a live-in son-in-law; his children take his wife’s surname. Bai Fendou is a Beijing man; he looks down on that kind of thing. He wouldn’t be jealous of Yang Lixin. As for me… I’m much younger than you guys. You’re only three years younger than him, so you’re roughly the same age."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "If he’s jealous of me, why would he help? He wouldn’t even sell the job to me."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at him: "Bai Fendou is in a hurry to sell his job. How many people do you think can come up with three or four hundred at any time? Besides, he’s just jealous, not completely rotten. He does lack boundaries, but you’re often away on business, so you’ve had the least conflict with him and haven’t provoked him. His jealousy won’t be directed at you. Let’s just say he’s jealous, wants to see you in a bit of a mess, but he’s not out to harm you. That’s the state he’s in. If your sister-in-law goes to clean the toilets, she’ll have more flexible hours since she just needs to get the job done, whether it’s in the morning or evening. With more free time, she’ll likely get involved with her family again and end up supporting them. Then you won’t be able to collect her salary from the factory. How’s he going to enjoy your mess then? He’s not malicious, but he does want to see some drama."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "…"

He sighed: "You’ve got a good grasp of the situation."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I understand Bai Fendou better than I understand you."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "…"

He was speechless: "Are you even my brother anymore?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "If I weren’t your brother, would I be saying all this to Bai Fendou? Do I have nothing better to do?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Big brother thanks you."

Zhuang Zhixi: "You should thank me. Who knows, it might even get around that I’ve been badmouthing your wife."

Zhuang Zhiyuan laughed: "Isn’t this what we agreed on? A tactical move to appear weak? I’ll explain it all to your sister-in-law when I get back. She’ll know it was all part of our plan."

"You’d better tell her. I’ve turned into a gossipy man for the sake of your marriage. Bai Fendou seems fine now, but once he gets his life back on track, he’s definitely going to tell others that I’ve been badmouthing your wife behind her back."

But coming from his mouth, it had a better effect on Bai Fendou than if his brother had said it.

So he had no choice but to do it this way.

"You really owe me big time."

Zhuang Zhiyuan smiled: "I’ll treat you to a bath tomorrow."

"Ha, as if I can’t afford it myself."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "I’ll scrub your back, how about that?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "I’ll go with Dad. He’s always eager to scrub my back too."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "…Then I’ll buy an old hen. It’ll be good for your wife since she’s pregnant."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That’s more like it."

He sighed: "I’ve sacrificed my reputation for you."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Alright, alright."

He chuckled: "You’re quick-witted. If you hadn’t brought it up, I wouldn’t have thought of adjusting the job situation. If this works out, I’ll really owe you one."

Zhuang Zhixi: "It wouldn’t work for just anyone, but with Bai Fendou in this state, the factory won’t give him a hard time. If they push him too far and he snaps, who knows what he’ll do? Bai Fendou’s in a pretty miserable state right now. If he loses it and decides to take someone down with him, there could be chaos in the factory. Besides, Wang Xiangxiu has done too much, and it’s getting out of hand. A lot of people in the factory aren’t happy with her. If they adjust her job, she’s the easiest target. Even if Bai Fendou doesn’t make a fuss, I think the factory will find a way to move her out of the workshop eventually. There are too many male workers there, and the factory’s probably worried about something happening. Given her behavior…"

Zhuang Zhiyuan sighed: "Who would’ve thought the only victims in all this would be Bai Fendou’s family, while the Su family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law came out ahead. It’s good they got a bit of a lesson."

Zhuang Zhixi said thoughtfully: "Their family… it’s hard to say what’ll happen in the future. I don’t believe Vice Director Cai will just let it go."

Wang Xiangxiu had tried to scheme but ended up losing more than she gained.

While it seemed like she got some money, Zhuang Zhixi believed Vice Director Cai would definitely seek revenge.

Neither Wang Xiangxiu’s family nor Bai Fendou would be able to escape it.

Right now, nothing’s happening because everyone’s watching, but revenge is a dish best served cold.

Zhuang Zhixi was sure Vice Director Cai would make a move.

After all, he’s not exactly a decent person.

If he were a good man, he might let it slide, but since he’s not and he’s suffered a big loss in this, he definitely won’t let it go. But there’s no need to say all that now.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I’m starving. Let’s go."

"Alright!"

Although they’ve only taken the first step and don’t know what Bai Fendou will do next, the brothers still felt they’d gained something. Both were in good spirits as they hurried home for lunch.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I’ll head to work this afternoon and keep an eye on things."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "You… I’d have to buy three old hens to match your efforts."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Three? That’s not enough."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "…"