My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 99

Aunt Su had been hospitalized for several days, losing out on the small earnings she made from folding matchboxes, and she was furious.

She felt that Aunt Wang was deliberately targeting her. If it wasn't intentional, why did Aunt Wang suddenly secure earning opportunities for everyone as soon as she was hospitalized? Why hadn't she done that before? This was clearly a personal attack.

However, Aunt Su didn't dare to confront Aunt Wang directly. She still relied on this old woman to secure more poverty subsidies for her. So, even though she was in a bad mood, she forced herself to endure it and continued working with everyone, laughing and chatting as if nothing was wrong. She glanced around and asked, "Has the entire family of Guihua gone out?"

Aunt Wang nodded, "Guihua said they were going fishing."

Everyone in the courtyard knew that Zhao Guihua had become obsessed with fishing this year. Not only had she bought fishing rods, but also fishing nets. She went fishing every few days. Although Zhao Guihua's luck with fishing was average, her family members were quite skilled, so they often had some catches. As a result, the smell of fish being cooked frequently wafted from their house.

It was undeniable that fishing was one of the cheapest ways to improve their living conditions. Even Aunt Wang's husband, Chef Li, often went fishing to supplement their meals. So, she fully supported it.

"Fishing is good. After all, it's a source of protein."

"That's true. Seeing Guihua go fishing so often, I feel like joining in too. Aunt Wang, want to come along?"

Aunt Wang shook her head, "I can't. I don't know how to fish. I'd rather spend that time folding matchboxes to earn some household money. My old man catches more fish than I would, so I don't compete with him."

"That makes sense. Sometimes you go fishing and come back empty-handed."

"Guihua must have had a good catch today; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone." Aunt Su was shrewd and quickly figured it out.

"Of course! You can see and smell it; they often eat fish at home." People were very attentive to food and drink, even if they didn't openly discuss it. Everyone had their own calculations.

Aunt Su smiled faintly and said, "I bet they have a good fishing spot. Otherwise, how could they always have a catch?" She slyly stirred the pot, adding, "If such a place exists, they shouldn't keep it to themselves. We've been neighbors for so many years; we should help each other. Wouldn't it be great if we all went? Fish aren't going to run out, are they?"

"That makes sense."

"Exactly. I feel like I can smell fish every day."

Aunt Wang chuckled, "If you can smell it every day, your nose must be playing tricks on you. You can see that Old Zhao doesn't go fishing every day."

"I was just saying that. Maybe they're drying fish?"

"Could be."

Everyone chimed in with their opinions. Zhao Guihua, of course, had no idea everyone was talking about her fishing. When she returned in the evening, she was immediately spotted by Aunt Su. Aunt Su's eyes were like searchlights, fixed on the baskets Zhao Guihua carried. Her gaze was so intense that she forced a smile and asked, "Guihua, did you go fishing? Looks like you had a good catch."

At this, Zhao Guihua immediately sensed Aunt Su's ill intentions.

After all, they were both seasoned veterans; there was no need for games.

Didn't she know what Aunt Su was like? Despite her seemingly meek appearance, Aunt Su could be quite vicious. The courtyard was much more peaceful when she wasn't around. Wang Xiangxiu wasn't very shrewd, and Zhao Guihua herself didn't stir up trouble at home.

But as soon as Aunt Su returned, things changed. Just look, she was already making moves.

Zhao Guihua remained calm and glanced at her, saying, "We did have a good catch today, but it wasn't from fishing. You know my skills; I'm too embarrassed to brag about them anymore."

She laughed and continued, "Today, we met an old man who was really good at fishing. Seeing his plentiful catch, we exchanged some with him. I thought it was a rare opportunity, so I traded some fish to dry them for winter. That way, we'll have an extra dish, right?"

"Yes, you're very thoughtful, Guihua."

Aunt Su still stared at the baskets and said, "If you exchanged a lot, that could be considered speculation and profiteering."

These words instantly silenced everyone.

No one spoke. Zhao Guihua sneered and said, "What speculation and profiteering? Spending money to buy things is speculation and profiteering. I exchanged goods with someone by the river, and many people saw it. I traded some food stamps and two rabbits. I did it openly; what do I have to be afraid of? Besides, Aunt Su, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say anything. If you're looking for trouble, don't blame me for being rude!"

Zhao Guihua immediately rolled up her sleeves.

Perhaps Zhao Guihua's confidence was too convincing, and everyone instantly believed her.

"Aunt Zhao, it's not that serious."

"Right, don't get angry. Aunt Su was just speaking carelessly. We know you wouldn't do that..."

"Exactly, don't get mad. Aunt Su, what are you saying? Is that how you talk?"

Mentioning "speculation and profiteering" had angered everyone.

It wasn't that they were particularly defending Zhao Guihua, but everyone secretly bought food from the black market. With the limited rations, how could they survive? If you called this behavior wrong and deserving of punishment, you'd be standing against everyone. No one wanted to hear that.

Aunt Su quickly explained, "That's not what I meant... I was just reminding..."

But everyone's expressions remained displeased.

Zhao Guihua raised her voice, "I set traps in the countryside and caught three rabbits, exchanging two of them."

She was blatantly lying, but no one could prove she was.

She sneered and said, "Keep your mouth shut and stop scheming to plot against others. If you keep slandering me, I'll beat you up!"

Zhao Guihua was unyielding.

Liang Meifen: "..."

Oh my, her mother-in-law was definitely not someone to be trifled with. Even when lying, she could be so confident and threaten to beat someone up. She, as a gentle and meek person, was no match for her mother-in-law. The best course of action was to stay low-key and avoid offending her.

Aunt Su forced a smile and said, "Guihua, you misunderstood me..."

Zhao Guihua cut her off, "Stop with your roundabout talk. I know what you're up to. Pfft!"

Aunt Su had thick skin and quick reflexes. In an instant, she thought of an excuse and was about to speak when suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her butt. She turned around and was instantly terrified. All thoughts of explanation vanished, replaced by a scream: "Ah!!!"

"What's wrong? What happened? Why are you screaming?"

Everyone followed Aunt Su's gaze and saw a large black rat scurrying away.

"Oh my god!"

"Ugh, I hate rats..."

"Quick, kill it!"

"These pests are so annoying..."

Seeing the rat, everyone sprang into action, grabbing slippers to smack it. The rat fled for its life. Although people said that in such poor conditions, even rats wouldn't want to enter, the reality was that rats still liked to come in. And there were quite a few of them. That's why they paid for rat tails; it was a small amount, but it was still money.

Rats were hard to catch, but seeing one in broad daylight, they couldn't let it go. Not only for the money, but also because rats stole food. The most annoying thing was that they ate the food.

The courtyard became lively.

Zhao Guihua quickly nudged Liang Meifen, who immediately reacted and carried the two baskets into the house.

After a while, the rat managed to escape the courtyard without being caught. Aunt Wang sighed, "This is so annoying."

Aunt Su clutched her butt, cursing, "This damn rat bit my butt! If I catch you, I'll fry you in oil, you pest..."

At this point, who cared about being polite?

She was furious: "I'll have to go to the hospital again. How much money is enough to waste like this?"

Everyone looked at her with sympathy, feeling that Aunt Su's recent luck was really bad. It seemed like she was treating the hospital like her home, going there endlessly. If it were something minor, she could skip it, but getting bitten by a rat? That definitely needed a check-up.

After all, no one really knew what kind of bacteria might be lurking.

If someone were actually pricked by a rusty nail or hit by a brick, the injured person might not even go to the hospital, opting to save money instead. People back then didn't know about tetanus shots. But when it came to being bitten by a rat, people would actually go and get checked. They were afraid of catching some terrible disease from the filthy creatures.

After all, rats were the most disgusting and dirtiest of all pests.

Having lived through the old society, they had heard all sorts of rumors about rats and were deeply superstitious about them. Despite Aunt Su's reluctance to spend money, she still tucked a dollar into her pocket and grumbled her way out the door.

"Karma! She deserved it for being so mean-mouthed!"

The neighbors chuckled softly, clearly showing how unpopular it was to bring up the topic of "speculation and profiteering." Even someone with a good reputation couldn't escape the backlash.

Aunt Wang chimed in, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about that anymore. She's already had her bad luck."

Zhao Guihua shrugged and said, "That's really bad luck."

"Who says it isn't? But lately, the rats have been getting more active. I heard some noises in the kitchen last night and even saw a rat trying to mess with my food. I chased it around for a long time."

"Me too, I saw one a few days ago, slipping through the cracks by the door."

"These damn things actually bite people! Aunt Wang, you're the neighborhood head, you need to do something about this. What if a child gets bitten?"

"Yeah, this isn't a small matter."

Aunt Wang was a capable woman. She said, "Let's arrange a rat-catching day in the next couple of days. We usually do this in the spring and fall, but we missed it this year." She thought for a moment and added, "I'll go to the street office and ask for some rat poison."

"Sounds good."

"I think that's a good idea. Let's do it this weekend, when everyone's off work."

Aunt Wang agreed, "I think that works. I'll take care of the notifications."

Zhao Guihua chimed in, "Once the rat poison arrives, everyone needs to be careful. The kids are young and don't understand. Keep an eye on them."

"Of course."

The neighbors started chattering away, and Zhao Guihua sighed, realizing how rampant these pests were. Living in modern society for so long, she had almost forgotten how bad the rat problem was back then. She shook her head, thoroughly disgusted.

Who wouldn't be disgusted by such filthy creatures? Everyone would find them utterly repulsive.

Zhao Guihua said, "I need to go home and check for any rat holes. I'll block them up."

She turned and left, and Aunt Wang commented, "You're too quick to act."

Zhao Guihua replied, "I can't stand those things."

If there was one pest everyone hated the most, it was definitely rats.

They were just so disgusting. Zhao Guihua later heard that cockroaches were also widely detested, but at that time, cockroaches weren't as prevalent. Even decades later, Zhao Guihua wasn't afraid of them.

Ever seen a centenarian kill a cockroach with a slipper?

She had no fear of those creatures at all.

But rats were a whole different story. She had also heard that the cockroaches in the north were different from those in the south.

Well… those were just useless bits of trivia.

Zhao Guihua coughed and went home to look for rat holes. Liang Meifen was already busy cleaning fish.

Zhao Guihua asked, "Why don't you take a break before starting?"

Liang Meifen wasn't afraid of hard work. She said, "The sooner I finish, the sooner I can relax."

She added, "Mom, we must have at least fifty or sixty pounds of fish, right?"

Two baskets full, so definitely more than that.

Zhao Guihua replied, "More than that. Set aside two for tonight's dinner. We'll have two dishes: stewed fish and fish innards stewed with tofu."

Liang Meifen nodded, "Okay."

Her mother-in-law always insisted on stewed tofu.

But Liang Meifen was still full of energy. After all, their recent catches had been quite bountiful. If they made them all into salted fish, they could eat it three or four times a week and easily last a quarter, maybe even three months.

So, of course, she was happy.

If they were more frugal, they could probably stretch it to half a year.

Liang Meifen worked diligently, while Zhao Guihua checked around the house and actually found two rat holes. She immediately got to work: "Filthy things, trying to mess with my house? Not on my watch." Seeing Zhao Guihua take action, some neighbors also went home to look for rat holes.

"Guihua."

Zhao Guihua was busy when Aunt Wang called her. She quickly went outside and asked, "What's up?"

Aunt Wang pulled her aside and whispered, "I saw you got another rabbit today. Can you spare one for me? I won't let you do it for nothing."

She gestured and whispered, "One dollar and fifty cents."

That was the normal price for a rabbit. A hen only cost two dollars.

Zhao Guihua agreed, "Sure."

She turned back, picked up the rabbit, and handed it to Aunt Wang. Meat was hard to come by these days, and Zhao Guihua was willing to trade because she thought Aunt Wang was generally a decent person. Plus, good neighborly relations required give and take.

Aunt Wang was overjoyed, saying, "My little rascal has been craving meat lately. But since my daughter-in-law Li Fang is pregnant, I was planning to use the meat tickets to buy some for her to replenish her nutrients. If I give them the meat, they won't know how to appreciate it. I thought about swapping for a rabbit, since pregnant women aren't supposed to eat them, and it would satisfy their cravings…"

There was a belief at the time that pregnant women shouldn't eat rabbit meat, or their baby would be born with a hare lip. No one knew how this superstition spread, but it had been passed down for generations.

Zhao Guihua didn't believe it, but she didn't say anything else.

In fact, she hadn't given the rabbit to Ming Mei to eat, as people widely believed in this superstition. As a mother-in-law, she didn't mind doing this, but she didn't want her family to misunderstand. Zhao Guihua wasn't afraid of outsiders' opinions, but she cared about her family's feelings.

So, she hadn't given the rabbit to Ming Mei, and since Aunt Wang wanted to swap, she agreed.

If she didn't swap, they would be eating while Ming Mei watched, which would be quite frustrating, wouldn't it?

Aunt Wang happily carried the rabbit away, and Zhao Guihua looked up at the increasingly overcast sky, saying, "It's been cloudy for days now. I wonder if it will actually rain."

Without rain, the air pressure was low, and it felt stuffy, making people uncomfortable.

She muttered, "I think this weather…"

BOOM!

A sudden thunderclap startled Zhao Guihua. She quickly looked outside and saw the wind picking up. Aunt Wang was gathering people to put away the matchboxes they were assembling. Today's work was cut short. Actually, this kind of work could be done at home, but since these matchboxes had patterns, if they were damaged, they wouldn't get this job again. So Zhao Guihua didn't let them take it home. She gathered everything up, and some housewives had already started taking in their clothes.

The weather grew even darker as more clouds gathered. Zhao Guihua hurried around, taking care of everything.

Her "good son," Zhuang Zhixi, stood by the window, looking outside.

Sister Cui asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "I'm watching the weather. Hopefully, it doesn't rain too soon. I still need to go pick up my wife."

"You're a good man, Zhixi. All the men should learn from you." As women, they appreciated a man who was family-oriented and caring toward his wife. Those who were abusive were looked down upon.

"I don't deserve that praise. It's just because my wife is pregnant…"

Not far away, Xiao Xu rolled his eyes, clearly disdainful. Due to the film learning incident, he had a falling out with Zhuang Zhixi, though it wasn't public. Everyone knew why Zhuang Zhixi had firmly refused the position, and their interactions in the office had been minimal. Since Xiao Xu often had to go to the countryside to show films, their relationship had grown even more distant.

Zhuang Zhixi ignored Xiao Xu's mocking expressions and turned around, "I'm going to the restroom."

"Has the restroom in your alley still not been fixed?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Not yet."

Everyone knew that the restroom in Zhuang Zhixi's alley had collapsed. Of course, there were also some superstitious rumors and gossip, as is common in employee residential areas. Everyone knew the deal.

Because of this, Zhuang Zhixi always went to the restroom at the unit before heading home after work.

Not only him, but basically everyone in their alley who worked at the factory operated this way. It was much more convenient. Otherwise, they would have to detour to the back alley to use the restroom. Zhuang Zhixi went downstairs and headed straight for the restroom. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou had a black face, looking like someone owed him ten yuan, and he was visibly displeased.

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, put on a smile, and said, "Yo, Fendou, you're standing at the restroom entrance like a guardian deity. What's up? Finished with your work?"

Bai Fendou's face grew even darker as he replied, "You've got quite the sharp tongue. Go do your business in the restroom. What I do doesn't concern you."

Zhuang Zhixi shrugged, entered the restroom, and oh, there were quite a few people there at this time.

"Brother, here you are?"

Zhuang Zhixi's mouth twitched as he smiled and said, "Here I am."

He sighed, "This restroom is quite crowded. No wonder Bai Fendou's face was so dark."

One of the guys said, "So what? Can't people use the restroom?"

"Exactly, who does he think he is, trying to control everything, even when people poop or fart? He should just mind his own business."

"With his tiny steps, does he even have the right to meddle in others' affairs?"

...

Everyone chimed in, one after another.

Bai Fendou was not happy about it and raised his voice, "I heard everything you said, you little brats. Let me tell you, don't look down on the young just because they're poor. You're judging people from behind a crack, underestimating them. One day, your grandpa will rise up and show you. When I get back to the security department, I'll deal with you all."

"What 'don't look down on the young just because they're poor'? You're not that young anymore."

"You'd better hope you can get back to the security department first."

"Right, the security department wouldn't want someone like you with such bad character. Chief Liu is a man of integrity and wouldn't tolerate your kind."

"Who says otherwise? Just look at the things you've done. The rumors have spread as far as Tong County. It's embarrassing enough for our machinery factory."

"What Tong County? It's even reached Tianjin. My aunt in Tianjin heard about it. Isn't that embarrassing? As someone from the same factory, I feel my face burning just talking about it."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Hahaha."

Bai Fendou was shaking with anger, "You bunch of scoundrels, you're just mean. Zhuang Zhixi, you're just joining in the fun. We live in the same courtyard, yet you have no sense of neighborly affection. Just wait for your karma."

Hearing this, Zhuang Zhixi felt he had to defend himself. He said, "Why would I deserve karma? Am I not allowed to laugh? How can you curse someone so viciously? With such malicious curses, of course, I have to laugh at you. I've never seen someone like you. Besides, everyone's telling the truth. Your dirty deeds are already stinking up the place."

"Pfft, hahaha!"

"Zhuang Zhixi, you're good."

Bai Fendou was even angrier, "You, you, you..."

Zhuang Zhixi was a bit worried that this guy might get so worked up that he'd do something crazy, especially since they were in the restroom. What if he went berserk and started throwing feces around? Bai Fendou was sometimes so impulsive that he didn't think things through. Zhuang Zhixi shuddered at the thought. Bai Fendou himself didn't seem to mind, as he had once fallen into a cesspool and probably got used to it.

But Zhuang Zhixi certainly couldn't handle that.

He quickly said, "Don't get angry, this is the restroom, don't do anything rash. If I were you, I wouldn't think about these pointless things. Instead, I'd think about how to fix the windows at home."

Ah, the way to calm down a problem is to bring up another one.

He said, "It's going to rain, don't you want to fix your windows, and your door..."

As he said this, Bai Fendou's face indeed darkened. Zhuang Zhixi was right; his home's windows and doors were all full of holes, though he liked to boast that it was quite cool this way. But in reality, he just didn't want to spend money on repairs.

His dad didn't spend money, so why should he?

He didn't have much savings to begin with, and a few days ago, he had lent Wang Xiangxiu five yuan out of pity. Now he was even more strapped for cash. If he were to replace all the glass in his house and fix the door, he'd be left with nothing, and it might not even be enough.

So he absolutely couldn't touch his money. He snorted and said, "It's been like this almost every day recently, and it hasn't rained. I don't believe it will rain today. It's probably just a false alarm. What do I have to be afraid of? As a man, I can't be scared of rain. I'll just take it as a cold shower."

Zhuang Zhixi: "You're really something."

A kind-hearted coworker said, "Bai Fendou, you should still find a way to fix them. Even if it doesn't rain today, look at this weather. It's bound to rain in the next few days. Fixing the windows and doors early will ensure safety."

They had all heard about how bad Bai Fendou's windows and doors were.

This wasn't something Zhuang Zhixi had spread, but gossip always travels fast.

"Right, if it rains, your house will be flooded. You must be short on money, right?"

"Short on money?" Bai Fendou was agitated, "How dare you say I'm short on money? What a joke. You underestimate me. My salary is all mine to spend. How could I be short on money? I'm much better off than you guys with your families to support."

He bragged, "What flooding? As far as I'm concerned, this rain won't come!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Keep dreaming."

Bai Fendou: "Why is it dreaming? I, Bai Fendou, say it won't rain, and it won't! That's how awesome I am!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He scratched his head and walked out, saying, "You must be drunk. How else could you talk like this?"

"Pfft."

Everyone burst out laughing. Since Bai Fendou insisted on not fixing the glass, it wasn't their business, so they didn't want to get involved in the mess. Zhuang Zhixi also gave Bai Fendou a deep look and said, "You're really floating high."

Bai Fendou turned his head, not bothering to respond.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and walked towards the office building. But before he got far, he saw Zhou Qun approaching.

Recently, Zhou Qun had been "stuck" to Bai Fendou, always looking for him. Even during lunch, Zhou Qun would seek out Bai Fendou. It's worth noting that Bai Fendou worked as a janitor and carried manure, which wasn't a mark of discrimination, but he did carry a strong stench. Therefore, their lunchtime was delayed compared to others.

Yet, even so, Zhou Qun always went to find Bai Fendou, eating with the Bai father and son.

Well, mainly with Bai Fendou, as Old Man Bai was more of an afterthought.

At the end of the workday, Zhou Qun didn't leave with his wife Jiang Lu but instead looked for Bai Fendou to head home together. The people in the factory were quite puzzled by this.

Some said, "Zhou Qun is keeping an eye on Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou has his sights set on Zhou Qun's wife and even tried to make a move. Zhou Qun must keep a close watch on him."

Others said, "He must be plotting something, planning to take down Bai Fendou in one go."

Of course, there were also more moderate voices, "I think Zhou Qun is sincere. Maybe he really wants to be friends with Bai Fendou, turning hostility into friendship."

Still, others said, "There are also rumors about Zhou Qun being involved with older women. So now, instead of mingling with women, he's hanging out with Bai Fendou. Probably to avoid suspicion. After all, being seen with women might lead to gossip, but with men, it's different."

In short, there were various speculations. Zhuang Zhixi stopped and smiled, "Zhou Qun, you're here again to find Fendou,"

He said with a hint of sarcasm, "I didn't expect your friendship to be so strong."

Zhou Qun: "Yes, Fendou and I share common goals. You young folks wouldn't understand."

The more he interacted with Bai Fendou recently, the more Zhou Qun felt that Bai Fendou was indeed a great guy. Sure, he was a bit rough, but he had a lot of guts.

In a way, Zhou Qun admired men with guts and determination. He grew up with his mother, Madam Zhou Li, who was a real shrew but doted on her son unconditionally, taking care of him meticulously. As a result, Zhou Qun's self-care skills were poor, and he wasn't very masculine.

Deep down, he admired men with a wild, take-charge attitude.

He quickly passed Zhuang Zhixi and arrived beside Bai Fendou: "Fendou, it's almost time to get off work. Shall we go together?"

Bai Fendou still suspected that Zhou Qun had ulterior motives towards him. He believed that Zhou Qun definitely wanted to harm him. Therefore, he never gave Zhou Qun a good look, but the more he didn't give Zhou Qun a good look, the more Zhou Qun clung to him, which made Bai Fendou even more convinced of his suspicions.

Zhou Qun must have a big conspiracy; otherwise, how could he endure this kind of attitude?

He snarled, "Get lost."

Zhou Qun: "Look at you, why are you so fierce? I see it's going to rain, and your windows..." He paused, suddenly thinking that it might be better not to fix the windows. If it rained and Bai Fendou couldn't sleep indoors, he could invite him to stay at his house.

With this thought, he stopped urging Bai Fendou to fix the windows and instead said, "I don't think it's going to rain..."

Bai Fendou: "Do I need you to tell me that? It hasn't rained for so many days; I don't think it will today either."

"You're right," Zhou Qun's voice softened a few degrees.

Zhuang Zhixi rubbed his arms and quickly left.

If he didn't leave now, he felt like his hair would stand on end again. This Zhou Qun was truly a peculiar person. Although Grandpa Lan Sihai had made a judgment earlier, Zhuang Zhixi still had some doubts in his heart.

After all, Zhou Qun had liked women before.

He had also played around quite a bit, so it was hard to believe that he suddenly started liking men.

But facts speak louder than words.

Zhuang Zhixi glanced back and found the scene quite cringe-worthy. He quickly went upstairs. As the end-of-work bell rang, Zhuang Zhixi hopped on his bicycle and rode out in a flash. He was in a hurry, as the sky was getting darker with heavy clouds, and he didn't want to get caught in the rain.

Zhuang Zhixi pedaled furiously all the way to the bus station, where he saw Ming Mei running out quickly.

She hugged Zhuang Zhixi tightly and said, "I didn't bring an umbrella; let's hurry."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Okay."

Although he had ridden like the wind on the way there, he didn't dare to go too fast on the way back, especially with his wife on the bike. The couple hurried as much as they could, and by the time they reached the alley, the rain had started.

Big raindrops fell down all at once.

Ming Mei: "Hurry, hurry!"

Zhuang Zhixi muttered, "I suspect Bai Fendou provoked the heavens, which is why the rain is so heavy."

Ming Mei: "???"

Fortunately, the couple's luck wasn't bad. They had reached the alley entrance just in time and quickly dashed home. Even so, their clothes were soaked halfway through.

Zhao Guihua: "Quick, go change your clothes. I've boiled some hot water; you can take a quick wash and then drink some ginger soup."

"Okay."

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi, the two kids, were leaning on the windowsill looking outside, saying, "The rain is so heavy."

In no time, the rain was pouring so hard it seemed like it was smoking.

Zhao Guihua: "Don't go out, okay?"

"Okay," the two kids replied in their crisp voices.

Hutou leaned out and looked down, saying, "Grandma, the old hen is clucking non-stop."

Zhao Guihua: "It's fine; she's not getting wet."

Their old courtyard house had a covered porch. These traditional courtyard houses were like this, with a section of cement ground at the entrance and a covered porch above it. As long as it wasn't a heavy rain, placing things under the porch was fine.

But if it rained heavily, that wouldn't work.

As soon as the rain started, Zhao Guihua had moved the two old hens under the porch.

Hutou: "But, but the rain is splashing in..."

He knew these were egg-laying hens, and he would even dig worms for them to eat when he went out to play. Eating worms helped them lay eggs. So Hutou and his sister were particularly concerned about the hens.

Zhao Guihua, hearing this, quickly opened the door, feeling a cold gust of wind hit her face.

"Damn."

She muttered, "Why is there suddenly a wind?"

Rain was the worst when there was wind; heavy rain with strong wind was a real hassle.

Zhao Guihua quickly pushed the two bicycles inside the house and carried the hens inside, placing them at the door. The house suddenly felt cramped, filled to the brim. Zhao Guihua put on her raincoat and said, "I'm going to give Grandpa a raincoat."

Although Zhuang Zhixi had gone to pick up Ming Mei and returned a bit late, Old Man Zhuang had been even later recently. Their workshop had been working on some urgent precision parts for the past half month, and they had been working overtime for three to four hours every day after work.

This had been the case for some time, but of course, there would be some extra pay for overtime.

She started looking around, saying, "Where's the raincoat?"

Liang Meifen suddenly remembered and said, "Mom, Dad took the raincoat this morning. He's been bringing it with him for the past two days because of the bad weather."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

She sighed, "This old man is quite good at preparing for rain."

This was good; it saved them some trouble.

Since Old Man Zhuang had taken the raincoat, they didn't need to worry about it.

Zhuang Zhiyuan had left on a business trip early that morning and wouldn't be back for at least half a month, so there was no need to worry about him either. Zhao Guihua took off her raincoat and said, "Alright, when the third couple comes over, we'll have dinner as usual."

"Okay."

Liang Meifen peeked out curiously.

Zhao Guihua: "What are you looking at?"

Liang Meifen: "The opposite house... Bai Fendou's place."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Silence, then she said, "Let me take a look too."

The heavy rain poured down, and the Bai father and son hadn't returned home yet. In fact, their job of cleaning the toilets wasn't that demanding, but Bai Fendou didn't want to get up early to work, so he did more work after getting off duty.

Generally, the toilets needed to be cleaned before morning.

But this required getting up early, and Bai Fendou was used to sleeping in, so he wasn't willing to get up early. Therefore, he did more work after getting off work and just tidied up a bit in the morning. This decision was also supported by Old Man Bai.

The father and son were working hard at the factory when the rain suddenly started.

The rain had been brewing for days and fell heavily and quickly.

Bai Fendou: "Damn it."

He hadn't expected it to really rain, and his face changed instantly. Thinking about the windows and doors at home, he was anxious.

"We're done, Dad, let's hurry back."

Old Man Bai also panicked: "Why did it start raining all of a sudden? I told you to install a window, but you refused to spend the money. Now look, look at this rain, what are we going to do?"

"What's the use of blaming me now? Was it my fault? I don't have any money; I've already had my salary deducted to pay off the debt. And it's not like Aunt Wang, that unlucky old woman, smashed our windows and doors. She deserved to be locked up..."

He cursed non-stop.

Old Man Bai: "What are you dawdling for? Hurry home."

Bai Fendou: "We didn't bring raincoats."

Old Man Bai glared at him: "At this point, don't worry about raincoats; the bed is full of bedding..."

They hadn't made the bed when they left in the morning.

The father and son looked at each other and ran home as fast as they could.

"Oh no! We can't tear..."

"Damn it, why does it always rain when the roof leaks..." Bai Fendou shouted angrily.

Old Man Bai: "You're such a jinx; don't say that. If it really rains all night, what are we going to do?"

Their roof was really leaking.

Old Man Bai shouted again: "I told you Zhou Qun isn't a good guy. He always asks to go home together after work, but today he left first. You see..."

"Don't mention Zhou Qun; hurry up."

The two big men ran in the rain, their legs intertwined, taking small, quick steps. Passersby, even in a hurry, couldn't help but look a few extra times.

Such effeminate men were rare.

Heavy rain was common, but such strange men were truly uncommon.

"Hey, why are these two running like that?"

“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? These are the father and son from the machinery factory who got their eggs crushed.”

"Oh~"

Even in the rain, there were still kind-hearted people eager to explain.

"That was really bad; they might be... you know..."

"Uh..."

Due to the rain, Old Man Zhuang's workshop also got off work early. He had brought a raincoat, proving that being cautious pays off. Although he left later than Bai Fendou and his father, he quickly overtook them by running in his raincoat.

As Old Man Zhuang caught up from behind, he noticed the father and son moving like crabs. He sped up, passing them, and shouted, "Run faster! Why are you strolling around on purpose?"

In a flash, he was gone.

Old Man Bai was furious: "If I could run, would I be like this?"

Besides, are you stupid? Which eye saw us strolling on purpose?

Aren't we afraid of pulling—something?

Old Man Zhuang ran all the way home, just in time for dinner. Zhao Guihua said, "Oh, you got off work early? Did you get wet? Come sit down, I'll get you some ginger soup to warm up."

Old Man Zhuang drank it in one gulp and said, "You know the Bai father and son, they're really reckless. On a day like this, they're not in a hurry, still dawdling outside, running like that... What are they thinking? They just want to make a name for themselves at the factory! I see through them!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He chuckled and said, "You know, is there a possibility that they simply can't run?"

Old Man Zhuang was stunned, then slapped his head: "Look, I forgot about that."

The sky was covered with dark clouds. Although it wasn't late, it was already dark.

Zhao Guihua lit a lamp and said, "Let's eat."

"Mom, you know, what's the deal with this? These cornmeal pancakes, when made alone, don't taste great, but when put in a fish pot, it's completely different. I think it tastes pretty good."

It's like the pancakes in the fish pot are a whole different thing from regular pancakes.

Zhao Guihua: "It's the fish that makes it taste better."

Despite their recent good meals, they really have to thank the fish pond. They've been eating a lot of fish, and fish pot pancakes are a staple, so even with coarse grains, it still tastes good. It makes their half-year's meals seem luxurious.

"The fish pond we often go to has been discovered by others. I don't think it's going to work out."

"What!" Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei were a bit surprised.

Zhao Guihua: "A few teenagers are bound to be loud. I'll see how it goes. If the rain stops tomorrow, I'll go check it out."

Zhuang Zhixi: "They won't empty it, will they?"

"They won't, but with more people, it's hard to say. Anyway, let's not talk about this." Zhao Guihua was about to nag a bit more, but seeing Hutou and Xiao Yanzi looking over, she stopped the topic.

The family finished eating, and Old Man Zhuang cleaned up.

"Bang!"

"What's that sound?"

Zhuang Zhixi got up and saw it was Bai Fendou, who had kicked the door.

He was already soaked to the bone, looking very miserable. As he approached the door, he probably got angrier and kicked it hard. Several households came out to take a look. Aunt Wang from the back courtyard came out in a raincoat and saw it was him, scolding, "You little rascal, what are you doing? Looking for trouble, huh? If you break it, do you have to pay? You're always causing trouble."

Bai Fendou was in a bad mood and retorted, "I'll pay if I have to! What's the big deal!"

He bragged: "Do I look like I don't have money?"

Aunt Wang rolled her eyes and retorted: "If you have money, you should fix your windows and doors first."

"Damn, right!"

Bai Fendou didn't say anything else and hurried home. Once he got there, he was overwhelmed. The rain was heavy, and there was a strong wind. Even though there was a canopy, the rain had already flooded in, soaking the bedsheets, quilts, and pillows.

And it wasn't just that.

The rain showed no signs of stopping, looking like it was getting heavier.

Bai Fendou: "Dad, think of something!"

Old Man Bai: "What can I think of?"

These two were like that, usually fine, but in critical moments, they would just push the responsibility back and forth. However, they still started looking for something to block the windows and doors.

"First, move the bedding away."

"Maybe use the wet bedding to block the window?"

"It won't work!"

The two were in a frenzy. Aunt Wang said, "You can't do that. Find a wooden board."

The father and son were too miserable, and many people in the courtyard came out, wearing raincoats and standing under the canopy. People from the back courtyard also came over. In those days, no one would carry wooden boards at home.

As for glass, that was even more out of the question.

Although everyone wanted to help, they were also powerless.

Zhuang Zhixi, though enjoying the excitement, kindly reminded them: "Why don't you go back to the factory? Check with the logistics department to see if they have anything to borrow for shelter. If you rely on us, no one has anything."

Bai Fendou almost choked: "I just came back from the factory!"

"We've already made a round trip. It's too late. Why don't you help us go?" Old Man Bai immediately tried to draft someone.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled but didn't move. He said, "Uncle Bai, I can't help you with that."

Aunt Su immediately chimed in: "Zhixi, look, we all live in the same courtyard, and the relationships are good. When it's needed, it's time for you young people to step up. You can't just watch."

"Yeah, just help Uncle Bai, it's quick with a bike."

"Right!"

"Look at how bad their situation is."

"Neighbors should help each other with a warm heart."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at the people speaking, feeling disgusted. He said, "It's not that I don't want to help. I just can't. My older brother isn't home, and my dad is not young anymore. With this heavy rain, how can I go out? I can't feel at ease; what if there's a leak? I have to deal with it."

He looked at the people speaking and said, "Xiao Sui, since you're so enthusiastic, why don't you go?"

He then looked at Aunt Su, smiling even brighter: "Aunt Su, your family has the best relationship with the Bai family. We're just ordinary neighbors, but you two are genuine close friends. They've helped your family so much, so you should take the initiative. When do people show their worth? It's in moments like these. Aunt Su, you wouldn't just watch, right? Uncle Bai has done so much for you; you can't be so heartless."

Zhuang Zhixi threw the topic back at her and then added: "Although this should be a man's job, your relationship with the Bai family is different from others."

"Yeah, Aunt Su, why don't you go?"

Everyone started shouting again.

The person named Xiao Sui didn't say anything this time.

Although he hoped someone would help, he didn't want to do it himself.

Zhuang Zhixi kept pushing, and no one dared to pressure him anymore.

For a moment, the focus shifted to Aunt Su, but she didn't refute. She immediately teared up. As expected, even before she spoke, Old Man Bai quickly said: "What are you doing? How can I let Aunt Su, a woman, run around for me?"

He wanted to point someone else to help, but everyone was avoiding eye contact.

Zhuang Zhixi didn't avoid it; he looked at Old Man Bai with a playful expression, as if daring him to name someone so he could counter.

Old Man Bai was a bit more cunning than his son and knew not everyone fell for their tricks.

Zhuang Zhixi, though young, wasn't easy to take advantage of.

Plus, his family had Zhao Guihua, that shrew, so they couldn't afford to offend them.

He hesitated and said, "Well, forget it."

He took a deep breath and said, "Since it's already like this, no matter what we do, it's still wet. I think we might as well put the bedding by the window to absorb the water. Just tough it out for one night, and we'll figure something out tomorrow."

"Ah?"

Just give up?

Everyone was stunned. With such heavy rain, if they didn't do anything, what would happen tomorrow?

Everyone looked at each other.

At this moment, when everyone was silent, Zhou Qun stepped forward. Yes, Zhou Qun.

The highest-paid and most "upright" person in the courtyard, Zhou Qun, took the initiative to say, "Bai Fendou, come stay at my place tonight."

The surrounding people instantly widened their eyes: "Ah?"

Everyone was shocked beyond belief. This man had once tried to flirt with your wife!

No one knew that it was an unsuccessful trap set by Bai Fendou. In everyone's perception, Bai Fendou was the one who had attempted to make inappropriate advances towards Jiang Lu. And yet, this person is now inviting him to his home?

And to stay overnight?

Everyone looked at Zhou Qun with deep confusion, completely baffled by his actions. What was he up to?

Was he planning to lure Bai Fendou over and then eliminate him?

Bai Fendou also stared suspiciously at Zhou Qun. Zhou Qun cleared his throat and said very calmly, "We are neighbors, and although there have been some unpleasantries and misunderstandings in the past, I still believe in Bai Fendou's character. Now that the Bai family has encountered such a big problem, as a neighbor, I feel it's my duty to step up. Bai Fendou, come stay at my place. I'll have my wife go to my mother's room to sleep with Wang Zhaodi. You can sleep with me."

The onlookers: "..."

Something about this feels off.

Inviting him to stay is one thing, and letting him sleep in his mother's room is acceptable. But... inviting Bai Fendou to sleep in the bedroom with his wife's bed?

This... doesn't sound right, does it?

Everyone looked at Zhou Qun, and Jiang Lu also watched Zhou Qun. This time, she didn't speak because she knew that Zhou Qun, being so intelligent, must have a purpose for whatever he was doing. He loved her deeply and must be trying to avenge her by deliberately confusing Bai Fendou.

She bit her lip and stood still.

Bai Fendou said stiffly, "No need."

Zhou Qun: "Look at your place, how can you stay here? If you get wet and catch a cold, what then? Your wounds aren't fully healed yet, right? What if they get infected?"

When Zhou Qun mentioned the wounds, Bai Fendou glared at Jiang Lu. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be in this situation.

Jiang Lu returned his glare with cold indifference.

Zhou Qun: "Money is just material, you can clean up the house tomorrow. But if you get sick, what then?"

Bai Fendou: "Well... is there anyone else who wants to take me in?"

He wanted to choose.

If it wasn't absolutely necessary, he didn't want to go to the Zhou's.

Although he wasn't afraid of Zhou Qun, he still wanted to ask around. With his good reputation, surely there would be a competition to take him in.

Zhuang Zhixi's mouth twitched.

Ming Mei shook her head in utter disbelief. He really had no sense of his own standing.

No one spoke up. Housing was already tight for everyone, who would take you in? Besides, what kind of tone was that, as if everyone owed him something. Who did he think he was? Didn't he know how unpopular he was?

Everyone remained silent, and Bai Fendou frowned.

At that moment, Wang Xiangxiu immediately spoke up, "Fendou, I actually wanted to have you stay at my place, but we're a widow's household, and there's too much gossip. I can't ruin your reputation. If you stay, rumors will spread like wildfire tomorrow, and it'll be even harder for you to find a partner. I can't do that to you."

Bai Fendou gave her an assuring look and said, "Sister Xiangxiu, I understand. You don't need to explain, brother gets it."

Zhou Qun immediately gave Wang Xiangxiu an unkind look, mentally cursing, "Bitch!"

Zhuang Zhixi watched for a while, and the more he saw, the more disgusted he felt. He turned his head and made a face. Ming Mei quickly grabbed Zhuang Zhixi's hand, and Zhuang Zhixi smiled at his wife. Ming Mei tiptoed and whispered softly into Zhuang Zhixi's ear, "Zhou Qun really has his eye on Bai Fendou."

Without someone pointing it out, you wouldn't notice, but once someone does, it becomes so obvious.

The more you look, the more obvious it is.

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Yes, Grandpa Lan is sharp."

Apparently, no one in their courtyard had figured out Zhou Qun's true intentions.

But Lan Sihai saw it clearly.

Old ginger is indeed sharper!