My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 118

Sometimes, being a troublemaker has its perks.

Take Bai Fendou, for example. His reputation is far from stellar. Besides chasing widows, his most infamous claim to fame is being a "man-killer," having already incapacitated three men.

But as the saying goes, "the wicked are tormented by the wicked." He too ended up being incapacitated.

Now, his father has gotten into trouble, and it feels like the family is cursed with bad luck.

Despite his bad reputation, he’s had such a streak of misfortune that when he went to the factory to make a scene, they actually resolved his issue. Why? Because if a decent person had made the same complaints, it might not have worked. But with a troublemaker like Bai Fendou, the effect is quite different. The factory leaders didn’t want to cross him, given how reckless he is—who knows what he might do? Moreover, although there are rumors about Old Man Bai, without concrete evidence, they couldn’t just fire him.

With no one to take over his position, they had to figure something out.

In theory, jobs aren’t supposed to be bought or sold—they’re supposed to be passed down. But in reality, some people do sell their jobs. It’s not something openly discussed, but it happens. Who’s going to stop it? If you crack down on one, do you crack down on all? It’s a widespread practice, and no one wants to make enemies over it.

The factory was actually happy to let Bai Fendou sell his job privately so someone else could take over. Otherwise, without money for medical expenses, he’d just cause more trouble at the factory. It’s not just about the money—it’s about saving face.

A family with two workers in a factory of ten thousand employees, with no financial burdens, shouldn’t need to borrow money to live. If word got out, other factories would laugh at them.

Bai Fendou has already brought enough notoriety to their factory. The less trouble, the better.

So when he came to make his demands this time, the factory leaders considered it and agreed. As for his request to switch jobs, they hesitated for a moment. But Bai Fendou didn’t hold back: “I want my cousin-in-law to take over. She’s a high school graduate and used to work in a textile factory. She’s got a good head on her shoulders and would pick up the work faster than most. Let’s be honest, some people have been working here for seven or eight years and still haven’t improved. They’re just dead weight in the workshop, like parasites.”

He continued, “Take Wang Xiangxiu, for example. She’s been here for years without a promotion, and she’s always causing trouble outside of work. She shouldn’t even be in the workshop—she’s a bad influence on others! She’s no better than me, and I’m stuck cleaning toilets. Why does she get to stay in the workshop?”

The factory leaders exchanged glances, wondering if this was a case of love turning to hate.

If Bai Fendou had brought up someone else, they might have hesitated. But when it came to Wang Xiangxiu, they weren’t keen on keeping her in the workshop either. Her questionable behavior had caused friction among the workers, leading to family disputes and affecting team cohesion.

Of course, if Wang Xiangxiu had been a skilled worker, the factory might not have considered moving her. But she’s only a Level 1 worker, and even that was a stretch. It was only because of her family’s financial struggles that they had shown her any leniency.

The workshop supervisor had complained about her multiple times. In a team of hard workers, someone who drags the team down isn’t exactly popular.

Her poor performance meant others had to pick up the slack, which had led to growing dissatisfaction. So when Bai Fendou brought this up, the leaders didn’t give him a hard time.

After a brief discussion, they nodded and said, “Alright, we’ll consider it. You can go now.”

“Wait, no! Don’t just consider it—you have to agree! If you don’t, I’m not leaving!”

Bai Fendou was relentless: “You can’t protect Wang Xiangxiu. Did she sleep with you or something?”

That comment hit hard.

“Bai Fendou, what are you talking about?”

“Am I wrong? How did she get promoted to Level 1 with such poor skills? Did you make some under-the-table deal?”

At this point, Bai Fendou thought about the 20 yuan Vice Director Cai had given Wang Xiangxiu after sleeping with her. Not a small sum.

He pressed on: “Did you… did you…”

“Bai Fendou, we’re not like that. You’re insulting our integrity. We would never do such a thing. As for the job transfer, we’re inclined to agree. But we’ll need to discuss it with the workshop supervisor first.”

Bai Fendou: “The supervisor will agree. Wang Xiangxiu always told me how much he disliked her, how he bullied her just because she wasn’t as skilled. She even asked me to stand up for her.”

“What the—! I mean… that’s quite the accusation. Tell us more about this ‘standing up for her’ business.”

The factory leaders suspected that Bai Fendou’s feelings for Wang Xiangxiu had turned to hate, and they weren’t wrong. But it wasn’t just that. After years of obsession, he’d realized she was nothing like the woman he’d imagined. Instead, she was the type who used men for money.

His image of her had completely shattered.

This time, it was different from the incident where Jinlai had beaten him up.

Back then, he could chalk it up to a mother protecting her child. But this time, he’d seen with his own eyes what Wang Xiangxiu was like behind closed doors, and the things she’d said felt like a slap in the face.

He’d ruined his life for her, only to realize that in her eyes, he was just a loser. He hated himself, but he hated her even more.

People tend to blame others for their own mistakes rather than their own foolishness.

During his hospital stay, he’d overheard a conversation between Aunt Su and Wang Xiangxiu, and from that moment on, he’d harbored nothing but hatred for the pair. So when it came to exposing Wang Xiangxiu, he didn’t hold back.

“Every quarter during the skills competition, their supervisor would give Wang Xiangxiu a hard time, never treating her fairly. She cried to me about it so many times. Aunt Su, Wang Xiangxiu’s mother-in-law, even told me that Wang Xiangxiu often cried herself to sleep because of the supervisor’s bullying. She said he was taking advantage of them being a widow and an orphan. She even wished he’d get sick or injured so he’d have to take time off, giving Wang Xiangxiu a break.”

“That wasn’t Wang Xiangxiu saying that, was it? It was her mother-in-law, right?”

Bai Fendou nodded: “It was her mother-in-law, but they’re family. Wang Xiangxiu and her mother-in-law are as close as mother and daughter. They’re always on the same page. And later, Wang Xiangxiu herself complained about how the supervisor never seemed to have any bad luck. I knew they wanted me to teach him a lesson, but I pretended not to understand.”

“You’re quite the righteous man.”

Bai Fendou: “Not really. I just knew I couldn’t beat him.”

The factory leaders: “…………………………”

An awkward silence followed.

He really was a fool.

But then again, their workshop supervisor was tall, strong, and had the grip of a vice from his years as a fitter. Even the security team didn’t dare mess with him.

“At least you’re honest.”

Bai Fendou: “I’m not stupid.”

The factory leaders: “…”

His words didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Not stupid? Really?

“Alright, we’ve got it. You can go now.”

Bai Fendou was stubborn: “What about the job transfer?”

The deputy factory manager had never dealt with someone like him before but finally waved him off: “Go.”

Bai Fendou: “Wait, you need to give me a definite answer. Otherwise, I can’t arrange the job transfer. So, is it a yes or no?”

The deputy factory manager: “Yes. Now go.”

This kind of situation is usually something people tacitly understand without saying it out loud, but this guy just had to go and spell it out. However, no one really wanted to argue with him anymore, so they just agreed and sent him on his way.

Their factory had far more important matters to deal with; who had time to bother with such trivial issues?

But when Bai Fendou got the news, he was thrilled. Instead of heading back to the compound, he went straight to the propaganda department. "Zhuang Zhixi, Little Zhuang!"

Zhuang Zhixi came out. "Brother Fendou?"

Bai Fendou said, "It's done."

Zhuang Zhixi immediately replied, "Then tomorrow morning, my older brother and sister-in-law will come with you to handle the paperwork and hand over the money. Does that work for you?"

Bai Fendou nodded. "That works."

The two didn’t say much more, and Bai Fendou quickly left. Sister Cui, who loved to meddle in others' affairs, asked, "Little Zhuang, what did Bai Fendou want with you?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "He asked me to pass on a message."

Since nothing was confirmed yet, he wasn’t going to spread it around.

He sat back down and started organizing the documents. The workload in the propaganda department wasn’t heavy, but there were still a lot of little tasks to take care of.

"Hey."

Sister Cui shifted her position and moved closer to Zhuang Zhixi. Zhuang Zhixi looked at her, puzzled.

Sister Cui lowered her voice and said, "The announcer from the broadcasting room, Little Lin, has found a way to transfer to the cultural troupe. His position will be vacant soon. If you’re interested, you should ask the leaders about it."

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised. "Really?"

Sister Cui gave him a meaningful look. "I found out early. Just keep it in mind."

Zhuang Zhixi thanked her. "Thank you."

Sister Cui waved it off. "No need to thank me. They won’t bring someone in from outside; it’ll be an internal competition. You young people are stronger than us older folks. If you’re interested, you should prepare early."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded. "Got it."

He quickly considered whether the transfer would be a good move or not. After a brief moment of thought, he decided it would be beneficial. Although there wouldn’t be much difference in salary, being a broadcaster was more likely to get him noticed than being an office clerk.

His eyes flickered, and he went back to writing.

"It’s over. It’s over, it’s over." Little Tang came in, looking completely dejected.

In the propaganda department, there were only two single guys: Little Xu, the projectionist, and Little Tang, the clerk. Little Xu was like a ghost, still not fully recovered, looking thin and weak. Little Tang, on the other hand, was usually full of energy, but now he was on the verge of tears. "Wah, the flower of the clinic is going on a blind date!"

"Flower of the clinic? Who’s that?"

Little Tang widened his eyes. "There’s only one person in the clinic who can be called the flower of the clinic. Don’t you know? It’s Tao Yuyue, of course. I heard she’s going on a blind date this weekend. Wah~ How could she go on a blind date?"

"Isn’t that normal? Tao Yuyue has been looking for someone for a while now. If you’re interested, why don’t you confess your feelings?" someone teased.

Little Tang replied, "You think I haven’t? She told me we’re just comrades. Wah~"

He slumped over the desk, looking even more lifeless than Little Xu.

It had to be said, the two unmarried young men in the propaganda department were not in great shape.

Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t help but laugh. He remembered that Bai Fendou had once been interested in Tao Yuyue too. But when he thought about it, even though it wasn’t that long ago, it felt like a lifetime had passed. So much had happened recently.

But thankfully, it had nothing to do with him. Zhuang Zhixi never delayed when it was time to leave work. He had to pick up his wife every day, so when it was almost time, he started packing up. Everyone was used to it.

"Little Zhuang, when’s your wife’s due date?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "January."

He added, "If the little ones are in a hurry, they might be born as little dogs; if they’re not in a hurry, they’ll be little pigs."

"Wow, what timing. Right around the New Year, when things are already so busy."

"Exactly."

He didn’t delay and quickly headed downstairs. As he was riding his bike out the gate, he ran into Tao Yuyue. She smiled at him and said, "Brother Zhuang, are you heading east? Can you give me a ride?"

Although the two weren’t very close—Zhuang Zhixi had transferred out before she joined—they were acquainted because Zhuang Zhixi was on good terms with Tao Yuyue’s aunt, Doctor Wang. They would greet each other when they met.

Zhuang Zhixi shook his head. "I can’t. If someone sees me giving you a ride, they’ll talk. I don’t mind the gossip, but my wife wouldn’t be happy if she heard about it. I’ve got to go pick someone up."

He quickly rode off, not giving Tao Yuyue a chance to say more. She pursed her lips in annoyance. "I just wanted a quick ride. I asked you because you’re married! If I asked a single guy, people would misunderstand. Who would misunderstand a married man? Really!"

She didn’t want to damage her reputation, so she quickly added, "I’m just in a hurry."

Today, the gatekeeper was still the gossip-loving Zhang San. He smiled and said, "Nurse Tao, why don’t you wait for me? Where are you going? I’ll take you. Little Zhuang wouldn’t dare give you a ride. His wife is fierce. He’s scared of her."

Tao Yuyue frowned. "That’s nonsense. I’ve met Brother Zhuang’s wife. She’s gentle and delicate. How can you say such things? That’s really too much."

Zhang San was baffled. "Gentle? Delicate? Are you serious?"

He scratched his ear and looked at Tao Yuyue, realizing she wasn’t joking. She was completely serious.

He grimaced. "His wife can take on several men at once, and she does it easily. She once caught a thief on the bus and kicked a burly guy so hard he broke a bone. Gentle? Delicate?"

This wasn’t exactly common knowledge in the factory, but the security department knew all about it. Most of the security staff were veterans, and many of them had connections to the police force. Their work overlapped, so they interacted frequently.

Everyone in the security department knew about Zhuang Zhixi’s wife. The reason it wasn’t widely spread was that no one wanted to stir up trouble. If the tigress—cough, I mean, if his wife came looking for them, they’d get beaten up for nothing.

And if they got beaten by a woman, it would be humiliating.

To avoid all that, they kept it to themselves and only talked about it among themselves.

Zhang San was interested in Tao Yuyue, which was why he was willing to share this with her.

He said, "Let me tell you, appearances can be deceiving. How did you come to the conclusion that she’s gentle?"

Tao Yuyue replied, "I’ve seen her."

She had once seen Zhuang Zhixi’s wife when she went to their compound to give Bai Fendou an IV. She remembered her as delicate and lovely. Even as a woman, she had to admit that Zhuang Zhixi’s wife was beautiful.

She said, "You’re not just jealous, are you?"

Zhang San shook his head. "Not at all."

Tao Yuyue said, "I don’t believe it. Anyway, I’m in a hurry. I’ve got to go."

She hurried off, and Zhang San watched her figure, muttering, "Nurse Tao is not only beautiful, she’s also so innocent. Where else could you find such a good woman?"

He gazed at her dreamily, then sighed sadly. "Why doesn’t Nurse Tao like me? I’m a good young man too."

He was truly feeling melancholy.

Zhuang Zhixi had no idea about all these little dramas, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care. Their compound was full of gossip, and these little rumors were nothing compared to that. Tao Yuyue was just a regular girl who wanted to marry well. That wasn’t strange at all.

Who wouldn’t want to marry well? Who would purposely choose a hard life?

No one.

Compared to the people in their compound, this was nothing.

Zhuang Zhixi and his wife headed home after work and saw that Aunt Su and her daughter-in-law had already been discharged from the hospital. They didn’t want to stay any longer, not just to save money but also because staying in the hospital was a bit embarrassing.

As soon as Aunt Su returned, she lay down on the kang and didn’t move.

Wang Xiangxiu was also suffering from a headache, having been dragged by her hair and slammed against the wall multiple times. Even after a week of rest, she hadn’t fully recovered. Both she and her mother-in-law were lying down, and as evening approached, the children were nowhere to be seen.

Who knows where they’ve run off to.

As evening fell, households began preparing dinner, with smoke rising from chimneys and the aroma of food wafting through the air. Wang Xiangxiu struggled to sit up and muttered in frustration, “That brat Hu Huihui still isn’t back.”

She glanced out the window and added, “If she doesn’t come back, who’s going to cook?”

Wang Xiangxiu had no intention of getting up to cook. As a patient, she naturally wanted to rest more.

But by this time, Hu Huihui still hadn’t returned. Neither had the three Jinlai brothers.

Wang Xiangxiu wondered, “Could Hu Huihui have taken them out to eat? Why haven’t they come back yet?”

Aunt Su scoffed and said, “They don’t have much money on them. How could they afford to eat out? Besides, Hu Huihui wouldn’t be so generous. She’s just an ordinary person.”

She thought Wang Xiangxiu was being delusional, dreaming up scenarios that were far from reality.

However, she spoke softly to Wang Xiangxiu, “I think the kids are just playing outside. Hu Huihui probably hasn’t gotten off work yet.”

Wang Xiangxiu complained, “That girl is really something. She eats our food, drinks our water, and lives under our roof, yet she doesn’t help out more. Look at the state of this house. I’m really at my wit’s end. Why did we have to end up with such poor relatives?”

She conveniently forgot that Hu Huihui had been contributing money.

She wished they had relatives like Uncle Lan, who was wealthy. She sniffed the air and noticed the smell of meat coming from Uncle Lan’s direction.

They were cooking meat again.

Life at Uncle Lan’s house was really good. Wang Xiangxiu couldn’t help but think that Luo Xiaohe had hit the jackpot.

A woman who had been promiscuous before marriage and couldn’t bear children was now living a life where meat was served regularly. What right did she have? Besides, they were both old now. What good was eating meat? It would be better if they gave it to her family, so her sons could get some proper nutrition.

Wang Xiangxiu drooled over the stir-fried meat they were cooking, and she also coveted Uncle Lan’s wealth. She wondered how much money the old man had.

She said, “Mom, if only you had ended up with Uncle Lan back then. Now Luo Xiaohe is the one benefiting. What does she have that you don’t? She’s so ordinary, not even half as good as you. It’s such a pity. If you had made a move back then, Lan Sihai would have been yours for sure. You’re so much better than Luo Xiaohe. Our family shouldn’t have chosen Old Man Bai. We thought he had been helping us all these years, so we couldn’t just abandon him. But now it seems like he deserves to be a widower for the rest of his life. He’s useless and full of tricks. It’s such a waste of your sincerity. It’s a shame you gave up Uncle Lan for him.”

She spoke as if it were the truth, not realizing that Lan Sihai had never been interested in Aunt Su in the first place.

But Wang Xiangxiu had great confidence in her mother-in-law and herself.

Wang Xiangxiu was well aware of her charm and the “popularity” she had among men.

However, believing in her charm was one thing.

Thinking about it carefully, this whole situation was infuriating. Old Man Bai had somehow managed to take advantage of her, which was really annoying.

Now, with Bai Fendou having a falling out and Old Man Bai in this state, there was no hope of relying on them in the future.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. “This is so frustrating. Why is everything going wrong?”

Aunt Su said, “Why are you in such a hurry?”

She gently took Wang Xiangxiu’s hand and said, “Xiangxiu, the more chaotic things are, the more you need to stay calm. If you panic, you’ll lose control. You’re the pillar of this family. Without you, the three kids and I would be out begging. You’re our support. If you lose your composure, it’ll be a disaster.”

Wang Xiangxiu said, “Mom, I’m just upset. Even though we’ve gotten some money, we can’t rely on Old Man Bai anymore, and Bai Fendou is now on bad terms with us. With two sources of income gone, how can I not be worried?”

“I believe in you. You’re the most capable person I know. You’ve held this family together for so many years. I have faith in you, and you should have faith in yourself too. I know you’ve hit a rough patch, but I know you’ll succeed. Look at Bai Fendou—what does he have? Nothing. He’ll definitely need someone to take care of him in his old age, and we have three kids. He’s perfect for that. He’s probably just angry right now. Don’t provoke him. In a few days, you can win him back. I believe in your ability. Besides him, there are others. Uncle Lan is in a good position. What does Luo Xiaohe have? Can she really compete with us? Oh, and there’s Zhuang Zhixi… No, he’s no good. His salary goes to his wife. He has no money.”

Although Zhuang Zhixi was handsome and young, it wasn’t worth it if he had no money.

“Yang Lixin… Yang Lixin’s wife controls the finances, so he’s no good either. Zhuang Zhiyuan is a possibility, but he’s always away on business trips… Zhou Qun is useless… The men in our courtyard are all low-quality.”

The two women began scheming.

Meanwhile, they were unaware that Hu Huihui had already appeared in the hospital room. She sat on a stool, looking at Bai Fendou, and said, “I know it’s not ideal for you to sell your ancestral property, but think about it—you’re short on money…”

“I’m not short on money anymore,” Bai Fendou said firmly. “I absolutely will not sell the house, and private sales of houses aren’t allowed anyway.”

Hu Huihui said, “You could transfer it to me as a gift.”

She smiled. “I’ll still pay you. And think about it—with your father in this state, you can’t live separately. You’ll have to live together and take care of him. Selling me one room would be a good solution, wouldn’t it?”

Although she smiled, she was also wondering why Bai Fendou wasn’t short on money anymore.

Theoretically, he should be in need of money.

Bai Fendou said seriously, “I really can’t sell the house. You should ask someone else. I need to keep both rooms in case I get married in the future. Having two rooms would increase my chances of finding a wife.”

He added, “I know you’re not happy about this, but I still want to find a wife.”

Hu Huihui was speechless.

Everyone in the city knew Bai Fendou was no longer capable. Was he serious about finding a wife?

Was that even possible?

Hu Huihui hesitated and said, “Do you really think that’s possible?”

Bai Fendou said, “I want to try.”

Hu Huihui said, “Alright, think it over. If you decide to sell one room, let me know.”

Bai Fendou looked up at Hu Huihui and said, “You’re different from how you were in the courtyard.”

He was impulsive and often acted without thinking, but he wasn’t completely stupid. Hu Huihui’s demeanor felt very different.

He said, “Have you always looked down on us?”

Hu Huihui said, “No, it’s not that. Actually, I have a boyfriend. But he looks down on my background and doesn’t want to marry me. He’s been stringing me along. My family is pressuring me, so I had to move out.”

She mixed truth with lies, lowering her eyes as she quickly thought things over. “I had no choice. I needed a place to stay, but my cousin insisted I go on blind dates, or else they wouldn’t take me in. You know how hard it is to find a place to live these days. I had no other option… But I didn’t lie to anyone. Whenever someone asked, I told them I wasn’t interested in dating because of this.”

Bai Fendou said, “I knew it! They just wanted to take advantage of us!”

He thought about how Wang Xiangxiu had tried to set him up with Hu Huihui and felt that the woman was cunning from head to toe.

He said firmly, “I really won’t sell the house. You can leave now.”

Hu Huihui said, “Alright, think it over.”

She stood up. This matter wasn’t urgent; she could take her time.

But she also wondered where Bai Fendou had gotten the money. Could it be related to the items Yu Baoshan had mentioned? If Bai Fendou had taken them, had he secretly sold them? They needed to hurry to the black market and see if anyone had been selling gold and silver jewelry recently.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhiyuan counted his savings. Over the years, he had managed to save up 190 yuan.

Liang Meifen sat beside him and said, "We're still short by half."

Zhuang Zhiyuan nodded. In the earlier years, their salaries were handed over to the family, and he could only save a little from side jobs. It was only this year, after they separated from the main household, that he managed to save some money. He stood up and said, "I’ll go borrow some from my parents."

Liang Meifen nodded in agreement.

Zhuang Zhiyuan found a piece of paper and began writing carefully.

Liang Meifen peeked over and saw it was an IOU. She pursed her lips but ultimately said nothing, only letting out a soft sigh.

Zhuang Zhiyuan took the IOU to the main house. Zhao Guihua didn’t mince words; since her son wanted to write an IOU, she didn’t refuse it. She simply took the IOU and said, "Alright, here you go."

Zhuang Zhiyuan borrowed 220 yuan.

In addition to the 400 yuan needed to buy a job the next day, he borrowed a little extra, leaving ten yuan as a backup for the family.

With the money in hand, he returned to his room and looked at his wife’s expectant face. He said, "If your parents or your brother hear the news and come looking for you, just tell them the truth. You don’t handle the money or manage the salary in this household."

Liang Meifen replied, "I know."

Zhuang Zhiyuan continued, "Also, I can be honest with you. My parents have had enough of your parents. If they show up, my mom won’t hold back. If they don’t want to be confronted, they’d better stay quiet."

Liang Meifen shrank her shoulders at this.

Zhuang Zhiyuan added, "You know how strong-willed my mom is. She wouldn’t lose even in a fight with a shrew like Aunt Zhou."

Liang Meifen firmly said, "I understand!"

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "If we have jobs, our child might not have to go to the countryside in the future."

At this, Liang Meifen agreed wholeheartedly, "That’s true. Going to the countryside is really tough. You know that young boy from our alley? He even had connections and went to a relatively better place, but when he came back to visit recently, he looked at least ten years older. He’s the same age as Zhuang Zhixi, but he looks older than you now."

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "Working in the countryside is hard labor."

Liang Meifen replied, "I didn’t think about it before, but I won’t make that mistake again. We both need to have jobs so we can provide for our child."

Thinking back, if she hadn’t given her previous job to her brother, she wouldn’t have had to spend 400 yuan to buy a new one.

Four hundred yuan!

Just thinking about it made her heart feel numb.

It was too much.

When she first heard about it, it didn’t seem so bad, but seeing the stack of money on the table, she felt regret for the first time.

If she hadn’t given her textile factory job to her brother, could she have saved those 400 yuan?

Even if she didn’t eat or drink, it would take her two years to earn that much.

Liang Meifen sighed, "Ah."

Zhuang Zhiyuan comforted her, "Don’t sigh. We’re a couple, and we should support each other. You’ve done a great job taking care of the household and keeping everything in order. You focus on that. But managing the money should be my responsibility. You’re too soft-hearted to handle money. Look, I’ve managed to save quite a bit recently. I don’t spend recklessly, and I’ll keep saving."

Liang Meifen nodded, "Alright."

Zhuang Zhiyuan suddenly asked, "By the way, is your brother married yet?"

Liang Meifen’s expression turned awkward, and her lips twitched as she said, "Yes, he is."

Zhuang Zhiyuan was surprised, "Why didn’t I hear about you going?"

Liang Meifen fell silent for a long time before saying, "They didn’t invite me."

She had been very firm when discussing the betrothal gifts for her brother’s marriage, which had completely offended her sister-in-law. Her parents didn’t see her actions as being for the family’s benefit but instead scolded her for meddling.

Either provide the "three rounds and one sound" (traditional wedding gifts) or keep quiet.

Her brother had pointed at her and called her a troublemaker.

Her parents told her not to come back unless necessary.

At the time, Liang Meifen had been deeply hurt, but what hurt even more was that her brother hadn’t even told her about his wedding. Because she had offended her sister-in-law, she wasn’t invited. Of course, if she had money, she might still have been invited despite the offense, but she didn’t have any.

Her parents had noticed this and simply didn’t invite her.

If they had invited her, she wouldn’t have been able to give a proper gift—maybe just a dime or two—and that would have made the new bride unhappy. So, they didn’t even bother to tell her about the wedding.

Zhuang Zhiyuan perked up at this, "They didn’t tell you?"

He stirred the pot, "That’s really ungrateful of them. After all you’ve done for them over the years, they’re really kicking the ladder away. Your brother’s job was yours! That’s worth 400 yuan!"

A job was worth 400 yuan.

Liang Meifen felt even more heartache. She clutched her chest and leaned on the table, saying, "My sister-in-law is no good."

"I think your brother is the worst. Your sister-in-law might not know how much you’ve done for the family or that your brother took your job, but your parents know, and your brother knows. And yet, he still blames you? He’s not even human!"

He cursed, "He’s worse than an animal."

He had only meant to stir things up, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He said, "No, I have to tell Mom about this. They didn’t even invite you, their own sister, to the wedding. They clearly don’t see you as family. I’ll have Mom go and give them a piece of her mind."

Liang Meifen’s face turned pale, and she quickly said, "Let it go… they’re still my parents, and they did put me through school."

"You’ve already repaid them. How much have you given them over the years? Besides, your parents are one thing, but your brother? He’s nothing!"

He declared, "I’ll get my younger brother to come with me. He’s on good terms with Zhang San from the mechanical factory’s security team. We’ll go together and settle this."

Liang Meifen was terrified and pleaded, "No, let it go."

Zhuang Zhiyuan insisted, "How can we let it go? They’ve gone too far."

Liang Meifen said, "I’ll ignore them from now on, really. If they come looking for trouble, I won’t indulge them, but let’s not… make a scene."

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "They’re not afraid of making a scene, so why should we be?"

"Please, no…"

Their whispers weren’t exactly quiet. Ming Mei, lying in bed reading a book, looked up and said, "What are your brother and sister-in-law talking about? It sounds like they’re bickering."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I don’t know, but it’s fine."

He added, "My brother knows what he’s doing."

He then asked, "Did the kids bother you today?"

Ming Mei shook her head, "No, they were quite well-behaved."

Zhuang Zhixi leaned down to listen to the baby’s movements, and Ming Mei put her book down. She said, "Hey, you know Jiang Baohong from my workplace, right?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "How could I not know her?"

Ming Mei said, "She filed for divorce."

Zhuang Zhixi looked up in surprise, "What? She didn’t go to the northwest with her husband?"

Ming Mei shook her head, "No, she filed for divorce and came to the factory to get a reference letter. I really didn’t expect that."

"Married couples are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways," Zhuang Zhixi remarked.

Ming Mei pursed her lips, "It’s not fair to say that. Her husband was fooling around with other women. Why should she stick with him through thick and thin? If he were a good man, then flying separately in times of trouble would be cruel. But in this case, her husband was no good."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "For other families, that might be true, but don’t forget, I specifically looked into this woman. She got where she is entirely because of her husband’s influence. She only has an elementary school education, no real skills or abilities. She climbed the ladder using her husband’s connections and stepping on others’ achievements. So, it’s not fair to act like she’s completely innocent now."

He had immediately gone to his mother-in-law’s house to ask about it when he heard the news. His mother-in-law knew a lot.

He had originally been thinking about how to avoid this woman, but the situation had taken an unexpected turn.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Let’s not worry about her. But I think even if she gets a divorce, she won’t have an easy time in the future."

Ming Mei agreed, "That’s true."

Although this person had not been at their workplace for long, she had already caused quite a stir in other units due to her high-profile and arrogant demeanor, which likely earned her many enemies. Previously, her husband had been a vice director, so no one dared to cross her. After all, in that position, it was all too easy to make life difficult for others.

But now things were different. Her husband had been transferred to another city, effectively sidelined. She was also in the process of getting a divorce, seemingly trying to distance herself from the mess. However, in the eyes of many, she not only lacked character but was also seen as kicking someone when they were down.

Most men tend to side with their own kind, and when it came to Jiang Baohong, they certainly didn’t have a favorable opinion of her. Zhuang Zhixi deduced that Jiang Baohong’s days wouldn’t be easy, but he felt no sympathy for her. Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t a particularly sentimental person. He would sooner sympathize with Bai Fendou than with Jiang Baohong.

At least Bai Fendou had grown up with him. Whether their relationship was good or bad, they had known each other for over twenty years, since they were kids in split pants. Jiang Baohong? She was nothing to him.

What’s more, she had tried to climb up by stepping on his wife, Ming Mei, and Zhuang Zhixi truly despised her for that.

As the couple chatted, the neighborhood buzzed with activity. Zhuang Zhixi was about to say something when a loud wail interrupted him.

“Grandma! Waaah…”

The sound of a child’s crying erupted, and Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei rushed to the window to see what was going on. Outside, they saw the three Su children, bruised and battered once again.

It had only been a week since they last got beaten up, and their injuries had just healed. How had they managed to get into trouble again so soon?

Aunt Su and Wang Xiangxiu rushed out, hugging the children and crying, “What happened? Who hit you? What’s going on?”

Jinlai sobbed, “We haven’t had meat in so long… waaah…”

Tonglai, the younger one, chimed in, “Big brother took us to steal meat from the front street, but we got caught and beaten up…”

He rubbed his eyes, “Luckily we ran fast, or they would’ve dragged us to our parents…”

Aunt Su cried as she held the children, “Those heartless people! How can they be so selfish? What’s wrong with the kids taking a little something?”

The neighbors who had come out to see the commotion exchanged glances, clearly displeased.

“Aunt Su, whether your kids are stealing or just taking things, it’s none of our business. But if they dare to come into our homes and steal, I won’t hesitate to break their legs.”

“Same here.”

“No one’s living comfortably here. Why should we give anything to your family?”

People used to think Aunt Su was a decent person, but lately, her true colors were showing, and it wasn’t a good look.

“You’ve got it all wrong, really…”

“Enough with the excuses. We won’t tolerate thieves in our homes!”

“Neither will we.”

Aunt Su wept bitterly, but the neighbors had seen enough. Everyone knew about her family’s antics. After issuing their warnings, they all turned and went back inside.

Wang Xiangxiu muttered curses under her breath, “These heartless, ungrateful people.”

She then added, “That Hu Huihui still hasn’t come back.”

“Mom, I’m hungry.”

“Me too.”

Unable to wait for Hu Huihui to return and help, Wang Xiangxiu said, “I’ll steam some buns for you.”

“Yay!”

“Buns! Buns! Those cornbread buns are so bad.”

“Yeah, they are.”

…

Zhuang Zhixi pulled his head back from the window and said, “See? There’s no way those kids are being raised right.”

Ming Mei, patting her belly, replied, “We’ll make sure our child isn’t raised like that.”

“Absolutely.”

Ironically, the Su family’s neglectful parenting style ended up benefiting the other families in the neighborhood. Because they didn’t discipline their children, the Su kids had become the neighborhood troublemakers, like rats, cockroaches, and bedbugs.

Whenever their names came up, people would shake their heads and sigh, saying those kids were destined for a life behind bars.

It was truly pitiful.

But because of the Su kids’ bad behavior, the other children in the neighborhood were getting into less trouble. Parents, seeing the Su family’s chaos, were more motivated to teach their own kids properly, fearing they might end up like the Su brothers. They knew that if they didn’t discipline their children early, it would be too late later on.

This was absolutely unacceptable.

As a result, years later, when people looked back, they realized that the children from their courtyard, the street, and even the surrounding areas had a remarkably high success rate. The closer the kids lived to the Su brothers, the more successful they tended to be.

Would you believe it?

In their entire alley, there were over twenty children. Aside from those who joined the military, every single one of them got into a proper school, with the least successful attending a technical college. At that time, graduating from such schools guaranteed a job, which was essentially a lifelong career.

When you thought about it, it was quite astonishing.

Except for the Su family. Except for the Su family.

All the other kids turned out to be somewhat successful.

Many years later, when people reflected on it, they felt that it was largely because the Su children were so unruly that it scared the neighbors into being more diligent in raising their own kids. They had seen firsthand what happened when children weren’t properly disciplined, and it motivated them to put in the effort.

Compared to the laissez-faire parenting style common at the time, they were much more attentive.

Most children lack self-discipline, but when parents put in the effort, the results can be quite remarkable.

Of course, all of this was in the future.

For now, the parents in the neighborhood were all busy lecturing their children.

Even Zhuang Zhiyuan and his wife stopped discussing family matters and went to their children’s room to deliver a heartfelt pep talk.

Little Hutou and Xiao Yanzi exchanged confused looks, not quite understanding what was going on.

The same scene played out in other households.

Parents also made a point of warning their kids to stay away from Jinlai and his brothers and never bring them home. Those three troublemakers were known to steal, and the other children took the warning to heart.

Truthfully, the other kids didn’t play much with the Su brothers anyway. The three boys, being older and stronger, often ganged up to bully others. No one liked that kind of behavior, so they avoided them.

The children’s antics were just a small subplot. Everyone was already numb to the Su kids’ stealing—it wasn’t the first time, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

What mattered now was the real business at hand.

Early the next morning, Bai Fendou took Zhuang Zhiyuan and his wife to the workplace. Zhuang Zhiyuan was mainly there for support, while Liang Meifen went with Bai Fendou to the personnel department to complete the necessary paperwork. Once the formalities were done, Zhuang Zhiyuan handed over the hefty sum of four hundred yuan to Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhuang Zhiyuan also felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

His wife had been assigned to the third workshop as an apprentice fitter. In her first year, she would earn fifteen yuan and fifty cents. After a year, she would be promoted to a full-time position with a salary of twenty yuan and fifty cents. Once she became a full-time worker, she could apply for skill level exams, which were held every two years. If she passed the first level, her salary would increase to twenty-five yuan and fifty cents.

Wang Xiangxiu, for example, was at the first level. Over the years, her salary increases had only been due to seniority, as she hadn’t advanced in skill level.

If she reached the second level, her salary would jump to thirty yuan and fifty cents.

So, the only way to significantly increase one’s salary was through skill level exams, where technical expertise was the key. Otherwise, relying solely on seniority would only result in a meager raise of fifty cents every two years.

At the moment, Liang Meifen’s salary was fifteen yuan and fifty cents. While this was nearly ten yuan less than the twenty-five yuan she could have earned as a cleaner, both Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen felt that the lower pay was worth it.

Cleaning toilets had no future, but as a fitter, if she worked hard and honed her skills, her salary could steadily increase over time.

Take Old Man Zhuang, for example. As a sixth-level riveter, he earned over sixty yuan, nearly seventy.

Clearly, the higher the skill level, the more substantial the salary increase.

Liang Meifen had confidence in herself. When it came to hard work, she wasn’t one to back down.

When Liang Meifen joined the factory, it caused quite a stir. It wasn’t that she was particularly important, but everyone was surprised that Bai Fendou had so quickly “given up” his father’s job.

Some families who were in need of work were kicking themselves, wishing they had seized the opportunity sooner.

After all, no one expected that taking over Old Man Bai's position would mean working in the factory workshop. Of course, even if it were in the restroom, many people would still want it. The workshop is even better—it’s a place with potential.

In short, everyone regretted not thinking of this sooner, as they were too busy watching the commotion.

However, despite everyone’s frustration, if they were really asked to pay four hundred yuan, most of them probably wouldn’t have been able to come up with the money. Ming Mei said that her family’s income could cover at least 95% of the population, and she wasn’t exaggerating.

Nowadays, many families rely on a single worker to support the entire household. Families like Ming Mei’s, with high wages and multiple workers, are truly rare.

Saving money isn’t easy.

Bai Fendou, with the money in hand, pondered the next steps. He had already thought about it—if his father’s condition didn’t improve, he would have to discharge him from the hospital to save some money. Just as he reached the door, he was grabbed by Li Si from the security department. Li Si said, “Bai Fendou, why didn’t you tell me you were selling your job? My family could have bought it. We used to be in the same department—do you think I would have shortchanged you?”

He had a relative who was also looking for a formal job to avoid being sent to the countryside.

Bai Fendou replied, “I gave it to my cousin’s wife.”

What cousin’s wife? Everyone knew it was Zhuang Zhixi’s sister-in-law from the propaganda department.

No one had heard of any family ties between Zhuang Zhixi and Bai Fendou—they were just from the same compound.

Li Si continued, “Look at you, how much did they give you? Do you know your job could have sold for at least two hundred?”

Bai Fendou scratched his ear, “How much?”

Li Si said, “Two hundred!”

He gritted his teeth and added, “Two hundred and fifty would work too. Considering our good relationship, I could have given you two hundred and fifty.”

Bai Fendou: “...”

He felt like he was being treated like a fool.

Two hundred or two hundred and fifty—that was the price from two years ago. Now, with so many people desperate to avoid being sent to the countryside, a formal job wasn’t worth that little. Bai Fendou touched the four hundred yuan in his pocket, thinking that at least Zhuang Zhixi and his brother were honest.

They didn’t take him for a fool!

What he hated most now was being treated like a fool.

He gave Li Si a cold glare and said, “Do you believe I could kick you to death?”

Li Si’s face turned pale, and he quickly covered a certain area, stepping back a few paces.

Bai Fendou spat, “Get lost!”

Then he walked away, leaving Li Si behind.

These people were really too much—who did they think they could easily trick?

Li Si watched Bai Fendou’s retreating figure and scoffed, “The swan you can’t have is just a shoe I’ve already worn!”

But considering Bai Fendou’s reputation as a “man-killer,” he didn’t dare chase after him.

In truth, the Zhuang family had given Bai Fendou three hundred and fifty yuan, which was slightly higher than the usual price but not by much. However, including the fifty yuan they discussed for transferring the job, the total of four hundred yuan wasn’t low for a job.

Most people couldn’t afford to pay that much.

But Zhuang Zhixi had analyzed it for the family—this amount was the most appropriate. They couldn’t have moved Liang Meifen from cleaning restrooms to the workshop for just fifty yuan on their own. But given Bai Fendou’s current situation, the factory didn’t want him causing trouble, so it was possible.

Therefore, the fifty yuan given to Bai Fendou wasn’t a loss.

Adding it up to four hundred yuan, most people couldn’t offer that much, so Bai Fendou wouldn’t feel cheated or regret it later. Living in the same compound, it would be troublesome if Bai Fendou regretted the deal and caused problems.

This amount was just right to solve the problem.

As Zhuang Zhixi had predicted, Li Si also wanted the job, but his offer of two hundred, or at most two hundred and fifty, immediately angered Bai Fendou. He felt disrespected.

After Bai Fendou sold his job, several coworkers visited him in the hospital.

Of course, since the job was already sold, they couldn’t take it.

They came to inquire about the price, to use it as a reference for themselves.

If they ever had to give up their jobs, they’d know how much to ask for.

But Bai Fendou was shrewd this time and didn’t reveal the actual amount. Why should he tell the truth? These people hadn’t been particularly kind to him. He counted the four hundred yuan and smiled smugly—even after paying the medical bills, he’d still have a good amount left.

Hehe.

*******

At the Su household.

Aunt Su and her daughter-in-law, Wang Xiangxiu, were among the first to hear that Bai Fendou had sold his job to Zhuang Zhiyuan and his wife. Shocked but delighted, Aunt Su excitedly grabbed Wang Xiangxiu’s hand and said, “Xiangxiu, you can’t afford to be prideful now. Bai Fendou likes you so much! Give him a chance.”

She added, “He’s a bachelor—does he even know how to spend money? Let’s help him.”

Wang Xiangxiu nodded eagerly, “Okay.”

Biting her lip, she said excitedly, “I wonder how much he sold it for.”

Aunt Su replied, “No matter the amount, it’s definitely more than the compensation they gave you. After all, it’s a formal job.”

Her eyes sparkled with joy, “We’ll have money to spend too.”

“Yes, yes.”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had grand plans, but they forgot one thing—today’s Bai Fendou wasn’t the same as yesterday’s Bai Fendou.

Would they get their wish?

Hmph!