My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 97

Ming Mei's transfer was met with the most joy not by her own family, but by the petty criminals of the city.

Yes, who said there were no thieves at this time? These days, things were relatively more stable, and thieves were not as common. After all, everyone was poor, and even rats would feel sorry for them—there was really nothing worth stealing. Moreover, if a stranger appeared in an alley, a group of aunties would immediately take notice, and someone might even approach to interrogate them before anything could happen.

However, even in such circumstances, there were still thieves around.

For those who were used to the quick money of thievery, it was difficult for them to "change careers." Earning money easily made them unwilling to work hard, so there were always people like this in the city. These individuals usually avoided wandering through neighborhoods.

They couldn't afford to deal with those sharp-eyed aunties. Never underestimate an auntie; one could be as good as a detective. So, they targeted public places like department store entrances, buses, and trains.

That was their usual hunting ground.

Ming Mei herself might not have realized it, but her reputation was well-known throughout the city. She was famously known as the "She-Tiger of Route 140," and no one dared to mess with her. The bus route itself seemed to warn people, "Mess with her, and you're dead."

If it weren't for the lack of advanced photography at the time, these thieves would have had photos of Ming Mei to avoid her.

She had caught thieves twice on the bus and even nabbed a robber once. These stories had spread far and wide. When they heard that Ming Mei was being transferred, they were overjoyed, almost wanting to celebrate with drums and gongs. There was no better news in the world.

Blessings from the patron saint of thieves!

Because of Ming Mei's transfer, many people were celebrating with feasts.

Several gangs even discussed: "Should we set off firecrackers at the bus station?"

"Or pool our money to buy a pig and send it to thank them for transferring that woman away?"

"No, no, you're just asking to get caught, aren't you? Be low-key!"

"For now, let's avoid Route 140 to make sure they don't transfer her back. Let's just wait a while to let this all blow over. She's pregnant, right? Once her belly starts showing, there won't be any chance of her coming back."

"Exactly, boss, you're so wise."

"Damn, I never want to see that woman again. She's too fierce."

"I feel sorry for her husband. Do you think she beats him?"

"I think so, definitely."

"Same here. If he ever complains, she'd probably call her dad, and it'd be a father-daughter double beatdown. Poor guy."

"Poor him indeed."

"Let's not meddle in their affairs. We'll just quietly set off some firecrackers to celebrate at our place."

"Sounds good!"

Ming Mei had no idea her transfer would cause such a stir, but she was quite happy herself. After all, who wants to suffer, even in their dreams? Feeling relieved, she bought a pound of pastries on her way home after her last day of work.

She had originally planned to buy meat, but since they still had some lamb left at home, and it was summer, she decided not to buy more meat.

As Ming Mei walked back with the pastries, she saw Zhuang Zhixi about to ride his bike to pick her up. When he noticed Ming Mei already there, he asked in surprise, "Did you leave early?"

Ming Mei shook her head. "No, I just finished work on time. But today, I was lucky—the bus that goes through our street happened to leave just as I was leaving, so I got off at the alley entrance."

Zhuang Zhixi stepped forward to take her hand. Ming Mei said, "I'm not a panda; you don't need to treat me like this."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "You should still be careful."

Ming Mei smiled. "My transfer is finalized. Today was my last day at work."

Zhuang Zhixi looked at her in surprise. "So soon?"

Ming Mei chuckled. "Yeah, my mom has good connections at the station. Plus, I'm leaving a position that pays less, and there are plenty of people who'd love to take it."

Zhuang Zhixi thought for a moment and nodded, agreeing with the logic. After all, the job came with an extra three yuan, which was a significant amount for most people, especially those with families and heavy financial burdens.

He said, "That's great. Now we can finally have weekends together."

Previously, they had to take time off to spend together, but now they could enjoy their weekends as a newlywed couple.

As they walked together, they passed by a public toilet where people were still cleaning it. The process was incredibly slow.

It wasn't that they were slow, but they were being thorough. They suspected something was hidden in the toilet, so they had to check every inch, even the cesspit. With the warm weather, the whole street was filled with an unbearable stench.

Ming Mei covered her nose and looked up at the sky, sighing, "I wonder how long this will take."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "You should hurry up and leave. You're pregnant—being around this smell might not be good for you."

Ming Mei replied, "I've never heard that before," though she did find the smell unbearable.

The young couple quickened their pace. Even children passing by would cover their noses and run away. Even the fearless Jinlai brothers from the Su family dared not come close.

This situation was truly challenging.

If it weren't for the fact that they couldn't afford to cause trouble, they would have thrown stones at the workers, shouting, "Can't you work faster? The smell is unbearable!" But they were just kids, not fools.

So, they stayed far away.

The victims were full of complaints, but the workers were even more miserable. They didn't get paid, but they were the first to clean the toilets. It was a tough life. They suffered, but they didn't get to enjoy any rewards.

They had to endure everyone's strange looks, which added to their stress.

After enduring this, they went back and cursed the unlucky Yu Baoshan. He had done so many bad things, and now they had to suffer for it. If he had hidden the stuff in a better place, they wouldn't be in this mess. Choosing such a place was just asking to be suffocated.

Cleaning the toilets was already exhausting and disgusting, but now they had to build a new one in the hot summer. Just thinking about it made them feel dizzy. They weren't used to such physical labor.

But their boss refused to be straightforward, always covering things up with excuses, which only added to their workload.

It was truly exhausting.

Life was tough, and everyone had to endure hardships to survive.

The workers dragged their feet, hoping to find the hidden items soon and maybe even get a share of the reward. Zhao Guihua clutched some paper and hurried out, glancing at them from a distance before quickly running to the next street.

Her look was one of disdain.

One of the younger workers couldn't hold back and said, "Even people going to the toilet look down on us."

"Stop complaining. If the boss hears you, he'll be mad. Just keep working."

"But we can't tell who's suspicious."

"A fox will always reveal its tail. If someone has hidden so many valuables, they'll either be nervous or elated. We just have to watch carefully."

"Yeah."

They had been working here for two days, but they hadn't noticed anything unusual among the locals. Instead, the locals found them strange. After all, who in their right mind would do such a thing? It was absurd.

"Let's just consider ourselves unlucky."

The hardships of being a laborer were evident.

Zhao Guihua ran to the toilet, feeling quite satisfied. These people weren't good either, always causing trouble and picking fights. Seeing them suffer made everyone secretly happy.

Of course, if they didn't mess with the toilets, people would be even happier.

During the day, it's manageable, but at night, if you have to deal with diarrhea or something, going to the toilet is really far.

Zhao Guihua grumbled to herself for a while before coming out of the toilet. Now, even going to the toilet was a long trek. Back when the foreman said it would take three or four days to finish, it now seemed like pure nonsense. They've been cleaning the cesspit for two days and still haven't finished. It looks like it'll take at least a week.

Who knows why they're working so slowly.

"Zhao Guihua," Zhao Guihua turned around to see Auntie Lian.

Auntie Lian was carrying a small bag and walked over to ask, "I heard that Aunt Zhou from your courtyard got taken in. Is that true?"

Zhao Guihua: "It's true."

She nodded and said, "What are you...?"

Auntie Lian: "She wanted two old hens, right? I managed to get them, but I don't know if her family still wants them under these circumstances. Are her children at home?"

Zhao Guihua: "No, they all left early in the morning. Probably out trying to smooth over relationships. Aunt Zhou got involved in superstitious activities..." She paused and bluntly said, "Aunt Zhou won't implicate you, will she?"

Zhou Auntie is the kind of person who wouldn't keep anything confidential. That's just not possible.

If she really gets taken in, she'll definitely try to drag in a whole group.

Auntie Lian, in Zhao Guihua's opinion, wouldn't be spared by Aunt Zhou. This old lady is like that—she schemes against anyone without holding back. She's the type who can betray everyone but expects everyone else to treat her well.

After Zhao Guihua asked that, Auntie Lian remained calm. She said, "What she says is what she says. That's not how it works. I'm familiar with the police station's work. They need solid evidence. Otherwise, I won't admit to anything. Auntie Zhou says I'm involved in superstitious activities, so I am? Just talking doesn't mean anything. Unless they catch me in the act, I won't admit to anything. I'm just an old widow. Who am I supposed to be afraid of? Besides, at my age, making a little money isn't a big deal. They won't arrest me unless it's a direct bust. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I've seen a lot in my life. Last time with the fabric scraps from the garment factory, didn't I come out unscathed?"

Auntie Lian then asked, "Speaking of which, Aunt Wang in the courtyard also wanted some hens, right? Can you ask her if she wants this pair? If she does, she can come over. I'll wait for her here. If she doesn't show up... well, I'll know. Ugh, it's so annoying. There are a bunch of people with red armbands working in your alley, so I can't just carry them over. It's such a hassle."

This whole situation is affecting her ability to make money. Those idiots.

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, I'll pass the message along."

Auntie Lian: "Oh, right. Do you want some dried mushrooms? Look, they're top-notch. I got them from the countryside. Proper, clean, and high-quality dried mushrooms. All of this, for just twenty cents."

She shook the bag, saying, "Look, there's quite a bit."

Zhao Guihua immediately reached out to take it, saying, "Let me see."

She rummaged through the bag and saw that the dried mushrooms were indeed plentiful, all strung together and stuffed in a cloth bag. They looked heavy, and twenty cents seemed reasonable. If she were to sell them at the black market, she could probably get a bit more, considering the commission.

Still, twenty cents wasn't exactly cheap. She said, "Can you lower the price a bit?"

Auntie Lian: "Oh, you know, I have to make some profit too. I had to go to the countryside to get these. Plus, look at them, they're really good. You won't find mushrooms this good even at the grocery store."

Zhao Guihua nodded, acknowledging the quality of the mushrooms. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Alright, I'll take them."

She handed over the money, saying, "Here."

Even though she went out just to use the toilet, Zhao Guihua still carried some money. Most people nowadays didn't carry money when they went out, but Zhao Guihua, being someone who had experienced a rebirth, still habitually kept a few cents on her just in case. And sure enough, it came in handy. Auntie Lian had been prepared to wait for her to come back with the money, but seeing the cash, she smiled brightly, saying, "Alright, if I get any good stuff in the future, I'll come to you."

Zhao Guihua smiled and said, "I think that's a good idea."

She added, "My family is big, so we always need food and whatnot. It's quite expensive."

"With a big family, you earn more too," Auntie Lian winked. "You have so many workers in your family. Life must be good."

Zhao Guihua didn't say much, just smiled and said, "There are more people in my family who don't work than those who do. Plus, the kids are in school. But, we can't live too frugally. We still need to eat well. Alright, I'm leaving now."

Auntie Lian: "Sure."

As for Auntie Zhou being taken in, Auntie Lian didn't seem worried at all. She wasn't afraid of Auntie Zhou implicating her and just went about her business.

Besides, everyone has their own connections. She hadn't done anything major, just trying to make a living. The police station wouldn't arrest her.

Zhao Guihua, after going out to use the toilet, came back with a bag of dried mushrooms worth twenty cents. She handed the bag back to Auntie Lian and carried the string of mushrooms back home. As she walked to the alley entrance, she ran into Bai Fendou and Wang Zhaodi.

Bai Fendou: "Oh, Aunt Zhao, where have you been? These dried mushrooms look pretty good."

Zhao Guihua: "That's what you get when you're lucky. I went out to use the toilet and ran into an acquaintance who just came back from the countryside. She gave me these dried mushrooms. Perfect for when my daughter-in-law gives birth. We can make a chicken stew with them."

Bai Fendou rolled his eyes: "Your daughter-in-law isn't due for a while. Isn't this a bit too early?"

"What's wrong with preparing early?"

She glanced at Bai Fendou and then at Wang Zhaodi, saying, "What about you two...?"

Bai Fendou's expression darkened slightly but he still said, "I'm going to the park. She's on the way, so we're going together and coming back together."

Wang Zhaodi nodded lightly.

Bai Fendou: "Aunt Zhao, since we're all from the same courtyard, you've practically watched me grow up, haven't you? Now that your two sons are married, why don't you help me find a match too? That's a bit too unfair. I'm not getting any younger, and it's time for me to settle down. Plus, look at my conditions—I could find anyone I want!"

Zhao Guihua listened as he boasted about himself, thinking this guy really had no self-awareness.

She chuckled coldly and said, "I wouldn't dare introduce anyone to you. You have high standards, and we can't meet them. I don't want to end up being blamed."

She quickened her pace, leaving Bai Fendou behind.

Bai Fendou: "Hey?"

He wanted to say more, but Aunt Zhao was already walking away.

Zhao Guihua didn't want to linger, after all, who wants to smell that stench? Besides, Bai Fendou was the type who, fearing injury, would only take small steps. Speaking of which, Bai Fendou had been injured for over a week now. He should be recovering, right?

Why was he still walking like that?

Come to think of it, Bai Fendou could walk normally now, but since his injury, he was too afraid to take big strides. Every time he went out, he took small steps. Over time, he got used to it. Plus, the doctor had said he needed to recover fully.

Bai Fendou didn't care about other things, but this was different. This was crucial for his future happiness. He couldn't take any risks, so he was very careful. However, thinking about how he was mocked at the park today, his mood wasn't great.

He looked at Wang Zhaodi beside him and said, "You're not allowed to tell anyone about my situation."

Wang Zhaodi softly replied, "Oh."

She had also gone to the park today. Initially, she was torn—wanting to go but thinking about how she was living with others, she decided against it. But after talking to Jiang Lu in the morning, for some reason, Jiang Lu strongly encouraged her to go. Not only that, but she even gave her twenty cents.

Moreover, she went to Bai Fendou's house to specifically remind him to take care of Wang Zhaodi. Wang Zhaodi, feeling confused, followed Bai Fendou out. This was her first time going out in the city, and everything seemed fresh to her.

They didn't take the bus, and since Bai Fendou's injury hadn't fully healed, they didn't ride bicycles either. They walked all the way to the park, their legs feeling numb by the time they arrived. Tao Yuyue was also quite warm towards Wang Zhaodi.

She also brought along a child, who, surprisingly, seemed to dislike her. Wang Zhaodi, who was already quite self-conscious, became even quieter.

However, despite this, she had gained a lot of new experiences that day. They "coincidentally" ran into several male colleagues in the park. Among these five or six men, along with Bai Fendou, several of them were vying to impress Tao Yuyue.

She even benefited from it herself.

It was her first time drinking "North Ice Ocean" soda.

Her first time dining out.

And her first time boating in the park.

All of these were free of charge!

Even now, she still felt a sense of shock, as if everyone wanted to please Tao Yuyue, and these men were busy slandering each other.

Someone called Bai Fendou a shameless scoundrel.

Another called him a fake man with a broken egg.

And...

These men, competing for attention, almost came to blows, but fortunately, Tao Yuyue managed to stop them. During lunch, she ate meat buns with Tao Yuyue. She initially hesitated to eat, but Tao Yuyue insisted.

It was her first time eating meat buns and her first time trying fried liver, which was really delicious.

She didn't know how much money was spent and wanted to offer the two mao given to her by Jiang Lu, but Tao Yuyue refused. Tao Yuyue told her, "When a man is courting a woman, he should be willing to spend money. If he's not even willing to buy a meat bun, what kind of husband would he make?"

However, Tao Yuyue didn't seem interested in any of these men.

Wang Zhaodi was deeply affected and returned home in a daze.

She followed Bai Fendou into the courtyard, and he reminded her again, "Don't talk about what happened outside today."

Having already mentioned it once, he repeated it, showing just how worried he was.

Wang Zhaodi softly replied with an "Mm."

Bai Fendou had gone out excited but returned disappointed, having been scolded by several men and almost getting into a fight. This was all quite embarrassing for him. Wang Zhaodi didn't understand, nor did she want to. Seeing that Jiang Lu and the others hadn't returned, she quietly sat down to help assemble matchboxes.

Today's events had indeed left a strong impression on Wang Zhaodi. She lowered her head, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, the Zhuang family had a joyful day. Ming Mei's job transfer had been finalized, and Zhuang Zhixi was happy. Ming Mei herself felt a mix of emotions, saying, "I never thought I'd change jobs, leaving behind being a bus conductor."

With the loss of three yuan, her income fell just short of forty yuan.

Ming Mei sighed, and Zhuang Zhixi said, "You're earning a lot."

He added, "There are gains and losses. Now you don't have to work so hard all the time."

Ming Mei gently wrapped her arms around Zhuang Zhixi's neck. He smelled a fresh fragrance, which he thought was from the soap Ming Mei used. He leaned in closer, thinking it might be the scent of her shampoo. His hands encircled her, and he whispered, "I miss you."

The meaning behind "I miss you" was clear to both of them.

Ming Mei looked up, her eyes glistening, and teased, "That's not allowed."

She playfully added, "Just bear with it a little longer. You know it's not okay."

The doctor had already advised them that it wasn't advisable in the early stages, but later, once things were stable, it would be fine. Zhuang Zhixi knew this, but he still whispered, "But I really miss you."

Ming Mei softly chuckled, her cheeks turning pink. She kindly suggested, "Then take a cold shower."

"You're heartless," Zhuang Zhixi muttered.

Ming Mei didn't take it to heart and instead laughed lightly. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, asking playfully, "Am I still heartless now?"

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and said, "If you did a little more, you'd be considerate."

Ming Mei innocently asked, "But wouldn't doing more make you even more uncomfortable?"

She leaned her full weight against Zhuang Zhixi, saying, "I don't want you to feel bad."

Zhuang Zhixi thought to himself, if you don't want me to feel bad, why are you leaning so close? What a mischievous girl. His hands slid across her back, and he said, "How about you think of a way?"

Men being men, they often talked about such matters. Zhuang Zhixi had heard plenty, and while he didn't engage in such conversations himself, he figured it wouldn't hurt to learn a thing or two.

So he suggested, "Or, should I teach you?"

Ming Mei immediately pinched Zhuang Zhixi's cheek, saying, "Where did you learn that?"

Her tone turned stern.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Why the sudden change?

He defended himself, "Where else could I have learned it? I just heard it from others."

Ming Mei scoffed, "Don't pick up these random things."

Zhuang Zhixi: "You're making it hard for me. Ouch, ouch, be gentle! I promise, okay? I won't learn anything like that again. If they talk about such things, I'll just stay far away."

Ming Mei huffed softly, and Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, saying, "Wife, I was wrong, alright?"

There wasn't really any wrongdoing, but he knew that a pregnant woman's emotions could be unpredictable. Making her happy was his duty as a husband. He added, "You say the word, and I'll admit my mistake."

Ming Mei raised an eyebrow, looking at him skeptically, "You admit your mistake quickly, but it doesn't seem very sincere."

As Ming Mei leaned close to Zhuang Zhixi, she could naturally sense his reactions. Despite his words, his body was telling a different story.

Zhuang Zhixi felt even more innocent. After all, he was a normal, young man. What could he do? He was full of vitality.

He poked Ming Mei's cheek and said, "Stay away from me, let me cool down."

Ming Mei looked at him hesitantly, asking, "Are you really that uncomfortable?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "What do you think? I'm not a machine in the workshop, immune to all feelings."

Ming Mei stopped teasing him and stood up, saying, "Then maybe you should take a cold shower to cool down."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Later tonight, there are too many people in the courtyard now."

Ming Mei: "Then suit yourself."

As for taking a cold shower, Zhuang Zhixi never did it in the courtyard, not even at night. The courtyard was shared with others, and there were female residents too. It wasn't like their own private yard where he could do as he pleased.

Even Bai Fendou, who was known for his lack of manners, wouldn't take a shower in the courtyard.

Speaking of Bai Fendou, he had a terrible day. He had expected a romantic outing with Tao Yuyue, only to find that she had also invited Wang Zhaodi, which displeased him. What kind of date was that with three people?

But Bai Fendou reasoned that perhaps Tao Yuyue had invited Wang Zhaodi for a reason. After all, Tao Yuyue had brought her younger cousin along, and a child needed looking after. Having a child around would also interfere with their romantic interactions. So maybe Tao Yuyue had invited Wang Zhaodi to act as a sort of babysitter.

This thought made Bai Fendou feel better, convincing himself that Tao Yuyue must be quite interested in him to go to such lengths. He felt a sense of pride, believing that his charm was undeniable. If he were an ordinary man, how could Tao Yuyue, such a girl, pay him any attention?

But to his surprise, shortly after arriving, they "coincidentally" ran into a colleague from the factory, Xiao Fang, who joined them without clear reason. Then they met Xiao Li, who also tagged along. And...

In total, they encountered five other men, making it six including himself.

These men all flocked around Tao Yuyue, while she held onto Wang Zhaodi.

Later, they competed to buy lunch for Tao Yuyue, to invite her boating, and so on. Because his money was limited—he had lent five yuan to Wang Xiangxiu the previous night for a hospital visit—Bai Fendou didn't compete much.

This led to him being ridiculed, causing him great embarrassment.

Wang Zhaodi thought that Bai Fendou had asked her not to talk about the arguing and insulting words because of the arguments, but in fact, Bai Fendou didn't want her to mention the fact that he hadn't spent much money.

He lay down on the kang, sighing deeply.

This beautiful woman is sought after by many families, and it truly is the case.

These people have such poor taste, only thinking about spending money to win someone's heart. How vulgar, so very vulgar.

Bai Fendou pursed his lips, yet felt a bit bored.

Although he was very confident, he could sense Tao Yuyue's distance from him. Everything had been fine, but today, because he was stingy and refused to spend money, it seemed very obvious. He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he didn't blame Tao Yuyue. Instead, he blamed those vulgar people who only knew how to spend money to win someone's heart.

Comparing with such things is truly lacking in sincerity and genuine feelings.

If even Tao Yuyue doesn't work out, when will he ever find a partner?

He lay on the kang, feeling utterly hopeless. Why is it so hard to find a partner?

"Fendou, are you home?"

Bai Fendou immediately sat up: "Sister Xiangxiu."

Wang Xiangxiu came in and saw Bai Fendou's expression, knowing he had a terrible day. She felt pleased inside but didn't show it on her face. She said, "I'm going to wash clothes. I want to see if you have anything to wash. Sister Xiangxiu will wash them for you."

She had just received five yuan from Bai Fendou yesterday.

When she takes money from others, even if it's three or two yuan, she has to give something in return. But with Bai Fendou, she doesn't need to. However, she still needs to maintain this fool, or else there won't be any more money in the future.

Bai Fendou: "Alright, Sister Xiangxiu, I knew you're the best to me. How is it that there's a woman as good as you in this world?"

Wang Xiangxiu gave a bitter smile and said, "What kind of good woman am I? Even if I were a good woman, I don't have good luck. Look at my family's situation, my mother-in-law is still in the hospital. Oh right, my mother-in-law is getting discharged tomorrow, just like your father."

She asked, "Are you going to pick them up? If you are, I won't go. It'll cost me a morning's work, and I'll be deducted pay. You know my family's situation..."

Bai Fendou: "Leave this to me."

Wang Xiangxiu: "Alright."

She chuckled softly and said gently, "Come, take off your clothes. I'll wash them for you."

Bai Fendou: "Got it."

In this courtyard, there's no woman more virtuous than Sister Xiangxiu.

Jiang Lu returned from her parents' house, exhausted, and walked past the window, seeing their actions. Her eyes widened instantly, and she screamed, "Ah!!!"

Everyone was making matchboxes, and they all looked over: "What's wrong?"

"Jiang Lu, are you okay?"

"Why the sudden shock? So dramatic."

Jiang Lu looked at Bai Fendou's window and cursed, "Disgusting, shameless!"

She shouted, "Bai Fendou is taking off his clothes!"

Bai Fendou shouted back, "So what if I'm taking off my clothes? What's it to you? I'm taking off my clothes at my own home. I haven't accused you of being shameless for looking over!"

Jiang Lu didn't back down: "Taking off clothes is nothing, but Wang Xiangxiu is still in the room. Can't you two be less blatant about your shamelessness? I know you're both unmarried, eager to be together, but can't you at least put up some glass? We don't want to see such disgusting scenes. Besides, let me tell you, without a marriage certificate, doing these things, I can report you for illicit behavior!"

"You, you, you, you're just spouting nonsense. How am I being indecent? Sister Xiangxiu and I are as pure as snow. She's here to wash my clothes."

"You can really spin a tale. Even if she's washing your clothes, what's the point of taking off your clothes in front of her? What kind of logic is that? Who are you trying to fool? Bai Fendou, you're truly disgusting."

Bai Fendou: "You!"

Jiang Lu: "What about me? You're disgusting."

Wang Xiangxiu's eyes reddened: "Please don't argue. We're all neighbors, it's not worth it. Sister Zhou Qun's wife, you've misunderstood us. You can say whatever you want about me, but you can't say that about Fendou. He's a good man, he's genuinely helping us. I just wanted to thank him by washing his clothes. Where did you get the idea that it's so bad? He's a man, used to changing clothes like this, but he has no bad intentions. He treats me like a sister..."

Jiang Lu wasn't buying it. She had always been jealous of Wang Xiangxiu for having three sons. She gave Wang Xiangxiu a hostile look and snorted heavily, saying, "Shameless."

She added, "Adulterers."

However, Jiang Lu didn't want to engage further, as Zhou Qun wasn't back yet, and Bai Fendou was a low-class individual. If a fight broke out, she'd be at a disadvantage one against two.

“Jiang Lu, don't get upset. Some people are just like that. You've been neighbors for so many years, you know that. Why bother with him? It's not worth it, it just lowers your dignity,” Yang Lixin came out from the back courtyard hearing the argument, comforting Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu looked at Yang Lixin in surprise.

However, Auntie Lian and Li Fang understood why Yang Lixin would say that. After all, Bai Fendou had clearly cheated them out of money. Although the matter was over, they weren't happy about it and had kept it in mind.

But Jiang Lu didn't know that, so she was surprised and slightly impressed. She nodded, "You're right."

Bai Fendou stuck his head out the window and shouted, "Yang Lixin, what does this have to do with you? Why are you meddling in other people's business?"

Yang Lixin: "I'm just telling the truth. If you can do it, don't be afraid of people talking. Besides, what kind of man picks on a woman with words? It's a disgrace to men."

Jiang Lu glanced at Yang Lixin again and whispered, "Xiao Yang, don't take it personally. He's just low-class."

Yang Lixin nodded, "You're right."

“What do you mean, ‘you’re right’? You’re ganging up on me, aren’t you? Look at me, you don’t like me, huh? If you’ve got the guts, fight me one on one. You’re all so self-important. Let me tell you, you can say I’m no good, but you can’t say the same about Sister Xiangxiu. She’s such a good woman...”

"Oh, please," Jiang Lu sneered.

They continued to argue back and forth through the window full of glass shards.

On one side: Bai Fendou and Wang Xiangxiu.

On the other side: Jiang Lu and Yang Lixin.

The rest: onlookers.

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei heard the commotion outside. The couple exchanged a look and immediately climbed onto the bed, both leaning out the window to watch, their big eyes sparkling.

Ming Mei leaned on the windowsill, her chin resting on the back of her hand, her posture like a little seal, lying on the bed. She said, "They're really going at it."

Zhuang Zhixi had the same posture as Ming Mei. He nodded and said, "Old grudges and new hatreds."

If it's a quarrel, the reason might be forgotten by tomorrow.

But if you've been cheated out of money, that's something you won't let go of.

So Yang Lixin is now siding with Jiang Lu against Bai Fendou.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Honey, I think we're too honest. Look at them, causing all this trouble, but we haven't been involved. Don't you think we're a bit lacking in presence?"

Ming Mei: "It seems so."

But she quickly shot Zhuang Zhixi a look and said, "What kind of presence do you want? Stay out of their affairs. These people fight at the drop of a hat. I might have to save you, and I don't want to do that."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm not that weak, am I?"

Ming Mei: "You're not weak, but they go crazy. You don't know how reckless they are when they fight in the courtyard. They could even fall into the toilet."

To be honest, Zhuang Zhixi didn't think it was like that.

He said, "They were clearly chasing a thief..."

Ming Mei: "But they've fought over other things too. Besides, don't you remember? Bai Fendou has his special move. If you get hurt, I'll leave you."

Zhuang Zhixi pouted, looking pitiful, and said, "You're so cold."

Ming Mei: "Hmph."

Zhuang Zhixi: "But you know, no one will dare to mess with Bai Fendou from now on. He already has his Dragon Claw technique. Starting tomorrow, he'll be cleaning the toilets and handling manure. Who would dare to provoke him? That guy thinks in straight lines. If he gets angry, he could grab a handful of poop and smear it all over someone's face. He's capable of that."

Ming Mei: "..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "And, you know..."

Ming Mei immediately crossed her arms and said, "Stop talking, you're being too gross. I still need to eat dinner tonight, and you should consider the mental strength of a pregnant woman, okay?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Okay!"

Ming Mei: "Tsk tsk!"

The argument ended when Zhou Qun returned. Naturally, Zhou Qun sided with his wife... well, not really. He sided with Bai Fendou!

He sternly reprimanded Jiang Lu for causing unnecessary trouble and then dragged her into the house.

However, after entering the room, Zhou Qun comforted Jiang Lu, saying, "I don't want you to get hurt. You know, we've been feeling really tired lately. How could we possibly be a match for Bai Fendou? He's got Wang Xiangxiu by his side too. Wang Xiangxiu works as a fitter in the factory, and her strength is way more than yours, working in an office. If we fight them, we'll definitely lose. It's better to not pay attention to them for now. When it comes to life, we need to use our brains. We're not like Bai Fendou, that crude man. We're civilized people. We need to think smart, outwit them. Isn't that better than fighting?"

All of this was nonsense. He had no intention of doing anything to Bai Fendou.

He just couldn't bear to.

These were just soothing words to placate Jiang Lu, but she took them seriously. With teary eyes, she nodded, thinking her husband was really clever. She whispered, "I'll listen to you."

"That's good."

Jiang Lu looked out the window and saw Yang Lixin looking over. She nodded at him, and he responded in kind.

This cooperation went pretty well.

Jiang Lu glanced at Yang Lixin and then lowered her eyes, hesitating. She wanted to say something to Zhou Qun but suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She bit her lip and pretended nothing was wrong.

Today, Yang Lixin had stood up for her and spoken up for her. She found it odd. Their families had never had any interaction before. But... thinking carefully, Yang Lixin had never caused any trouble for their family.

She had wanted to suggest to Zhou Qun that they team up with Yang Lixin to deal with Bai Fendou.

But then, it hit her. Could it be that Yang Lixin liked her?

Hmm, it was very possible.

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Today, he had taken the initiative to stand up for her, and there had been another time before.

In fact, there had been several times.

Once, when it was raining heavily after work, he had given her his umbrella.

Another time, when she fell off her bike, he had helped her up and even offered to ride the bike together with her...

And there were...

When she didn't think about it, she didn't notice, but now that she did, she realized there were many such instances.

She glanced at Zhou Qun again and decided not to mention it. No man could tolerate this. Since Yang Lixin hadn't directly said anything or approached her, only silently supported her, she shouldn't say anything either.

A woman's reputation is very important.

Looking out the window, she saw Yang Lixin had already left. So, was he just standing up for her?

She felt a bit touched.

Then she looked at Li Fang... Li Fang was average-looking, not particularly attractive, and her personality was very reserved. Maybe because Yang Lixin was a son-in-law who lived with his wife's family, their household was run by Li Fang.

Jiang Lu felt even more sympathetic.

A man shouldn't be controlled by a woman. What kind of situation is that?

At that moment, Li Fang felt nauseous and retched a few times. Auntie Sui immediately said, "Are you okay? You're pregnant, you should rest."

Li Fang smiled and said, "It's fine."

Jiang Lu pursed her lips. Li Fang already had two kids, and now this was her third pregnancy. She was really fertile. Yang Lixin was quite capable... She felt a bit tempted. If, if she agreed to Yang Lixin once, and got pregnant...

Actually, it wasn't impossible!

The only fear was that her child might look like Yang Lixin, and that would be disastrous.

Jiang Lu's overthinking was completely unknown to anyone. If Yang Lixin knew, he would probably be speechless and frustrated. He really just wanted to come out and curse Bai Fendou for being inconsiderate.

If he knew what Jiang Lu was thinking, he would be even more bewildered.

He lent his umbrella out of kindness, and offering to ride the bike was just to try out the feeling of riding a bicycle. His family didn't have one, and what man doesn't love cars?

Yang Lixin himself was unaware, but in Jiang Lu's mind, he had become her secret admirer.

A silent admirer who never made his feelings known.

Yang Lixin: "..."

Completely unaware, it was just ridiculous.

Of course, Yang Lixin didn't know anything now. After a brief moment of temptation, Jiang Lu quickly dismissed the idea. Even if Yang Lixin admired her and was fertile, it wouldn't be appropriate. If she had a child who looked like a neighbor, that would be a big problem.

Especially since Yang Lixin already had several sons. If her child resembled Li Junjun or Li Weiwei, it would be even worse.

Zhou Qun, being so clever, wouldn't fail to notice.

She sighed deeply, feeling how difficult her situation was.

"What are you spacing out about?"

Jiang Lu immediately snapped back to reality and said, "I was thinking about my mother-in-law and my family."

Her mother insisted on taking her to the hospital to check for infertility, and no matter how she tried to avoid it, it wasn't working. She felt so overwhelmed. She knew that if the check-up showed she was fine, her mother would force her to divorce.

She sighed and said, "I don't know how to deal with this."

Zhou Qun looked up and said, "I've already inquired. The robbery won't affect my mother. But the superstitious activities will probably land her three months in jail."

He didn't want to face this situation, but there was no other way. Who could blame his own mother for being such a fool? The plan had gone awry, and she had ruined a good hand. He had originally intended to use superstition to deal with his brother-in-law.

But his mother had messed it all up. It seemed that with her, you could only be direct; any hint would be misinterpreted and botched. Zhou Qun hadn't been straightforward to protect himself, so he could claim ignorance later.

But he hadn't expected his mother to be this stupid.

He said, "The official result hasn't come out yet, but I've asked around, and it's pretty much going to be like this."

Jiang Lu felt a surge of joy but put on a sad face. "It's hard on Mother."

She hoped she would be locked up forever. This old hag not only treated her badly but even schemed against her father. She wished the old woman would stay inside forever, or better yet, die in there.

She said, "Mother was just too impulsive."

Zhou Qun: "It's already happened."

This had disrupted his plans, and he didn't know when he'd have another chance. It was really frustrating.

Zhou Qun: "I'm going to find Bai Fendou for a drink."

Jiang Lu: "???"

She was puzzled. Why did Zhou Qun keep seeking out Bai Fendou lately?

She understood that Zhou Qun wanted to get closer to Bai Fendou to take revenge, but because she knew that, she felt worried. She sighed and called, "Zhaodi, make dinner!"

Before, she used to do all these chores, but now it was easier.

Wang Zhaodi quickly entered the room. Jiang Lu asked her about today's outing. Wang Zhaodi hesitated and only mentioned a few things, but Jiang Lu still picked up on something and smiled meaningfully, asking more questions.

Seeing Wang Zhaodi's evasive behavior, Jiang Lu suddenly said, "Zhaodi, come into the inner room."

Some things needed to be said in private.

"How about I introduce you to someone? What about Bai Fendou?"

Wang Zhaodi: "!!!"

She was shocked.

Jiang Lu: "Think about it. Your Zhou Qun brother doesn't fancy you. You're not a match for him, but you're more than enough for Bai Fendou. If you go back to the countryside, you'll never have a life like this again. You know how much better city life is compared to the countryside, right?"

Wang Zhaodi: "Ah? I know, but but but..."

Jiang Lu thought it was a perfect plan and whispered, "Just think about it, this is a great opportunity. You could marry into the city, and Bai Fendou is a formal worker, even if he's just a sewer cleaner, he still makes twenty-five yuan a month. His father also makes twenty-five, so two men together make fifty yuan. Plus, they have two houses. You wouldn't get any of this in the countryside."

Wang Zhaodi: "But..."

She didn't know what to say, but she just felt it wasn't right.

"Don't worry about him not being willing. We can make it a done deal, and if he's not willing, we can sue him. He won't want to end up in jail, so he'll have to marry you. As long as you can get married, reputation doesn't matter, right?"

Wang Zhaodi was completely shocked.

Today, she had been stirred up by Tao Yuyue, and now Jiang Lu was saying this, she was utterly astonished, her hands moving so fast they almost blurred.

"I, I can't..."

Jiang Lu stared at her for a long time, then finally smiled and said, "Well, just think about it. We can take it slow."

If Wang Zhaodi married Bai Fendou, then what could Wang Xiangxiu possibly boast about? Would she still get so much help? Would she still flaunt her son? Moreover, Jiang Lu believed her suggestion wasn't bad for Wang Zhaodi.

What kind of man could Wang Zhaodi marry if she went back to the countryside?

Her family, just to get a dowry, would likely marry her off to someone even worse. After all, they were willing to send their daughter to the city to have a baby for someone else, so it's clear they have no moral bottom line. As long as someone could pay the dowry, they'd probably marry her off to a gambler, an old man, or a widower.

So why not marry someone a bit better?

Jiang Lu felt she wasn't doing anyone harm; in fact, she was doing a good deed.

Bai Fendou had many flaws, he was a bit of a jinx, and he was entangled with a widow, but he was still the best option Wang Zhaodi could hope for.

"Just think it over."

Wang Zhaodi bit her lip: "Mmm."

The two were talking in the inner room, their voices low, thinking no one knew, but they didn't notice Ming Mei's conflicted expression. It wasn't that Ming Mei had extraordinary hearing, able to hear them from her own home. It was just...

Ming Mei's grandfather, Lan Sihai, was preparing to make a spinning wind chime for her unborn child. Naturally, Ming Mei was curious and came over.

Lan Sihai's room was only separated by a wall from the inner room where Jiang Lu and Wang Zhaodi were talking. Ming Mei happened to be sitting near the door, right under Jiang Lu's window. Coincidentally, she... overheard them.

Ming Mei heard, and so did Lan Sihai.

The old man and the young girl exchanged a glance. Ming Mei scratched her head, unsure of what to do. She hadn't expected to hear such a topic.

This topic was a bit explosive.

She hadn't expected things to develop this way.

This Wang Zhaodi was found by the Su family for the Zhou family. Now Jiang Lu was trying to push her towards Bai Fendou. If this really happened, the Su family would go crazy.

Ming Mei continued to scratch her head. Lan Sihai said, "Stop scratching, you'll go bald."

Ming Mei: "..."

She whispered, "I just don't understand..."

Lan Sihai: "It's not hard to understand."

Though he said that, the old man didn't want to discuss this at the door. He said, "Just mind your own business and watch the show."

Ming Mei nodded. That made sense.

But even so, she was still quite surprised.

After sitting for a while, Ming Mei went home in a daze. Zhao Guihua noticed and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Ming Mei hesitated for a moment but couldn't hold back and immediately gestured with her hand. Zhao Guihua: "???"

This daughter-in-law of hers, how so childish.

But even though she thought that, she still leaned in: "What is it?"

Ming Mei whispered in Zhao Guihua's ear, and Zhao Guihua exclaimed, "Holy crap!"

Her exclamation caught the attention of everyone in the house. Zhuang Zhixi pouted in grievance: "You're whispering secrets to Mom but not telling me."

Ming Mei: "..."

At this moment, don't be jealous.

This is your own mother!