My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

If we’re to talk about it, the Zhuang family sure worked fast. They started heading back before noon. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to pick more, but they simply couldn’t carry any more. Ah, the bountiful harvest season. All three carts were packed to the brim, mostly with chestnuts, but there were other things too. The men who had been scouting around the area had also managed to gather some things. Zhuang Zhixi was even lucky enough to catch a wild pheasant.

On this point, Zhuang Zhiyuan had to admit he was impressed by his younger brother and his wife. It seemed like every time they went up the mountain, they managed to catch some wild game—pheasants, rabbits, you name it. Even his mother often had similar luck. As for him? Not so much.

But he wasn’t completely empty-handed. He had found a shady spot with a good number of large mushrooms. Not bad at all. With all the rain this year, the mushrooms had grown well. The whole family came down the mountain loaded with their harvest, drawing envious glances from others.

As time passed, more and more people had gathered on the mountain. Not wanting to linger, they quickly made their way back. The journey from the outskirts wasn’t short, and by the time they got home, it was already past noon. Most families had already finished their meals. Seeing everyone return, Ming Mei quickly reheated the lunch she had prepared. Zhuang Zhixi and the others carried their haul into the house, sweating profusely as they stood in the yard, rinsing themselves off.

Ming Mei went back inside to fetch some towels and stood at the door. Zhuang Zhixi turned around and smiled, “You’re the best, wife.”

Ming Mei chuckled and scolded him lightly, “Hurry up and dry yourself off, then come eat.”

She handed out the towels to everyone and then went back inside to check on the pot, which hadn’t yet come to a boil.

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi were busy inspecting the baskets, scratching their heads in confusion. “Auntie, what’s this?” they asked.

They didn’t recognize the chestnuts and had no idea what their family had gone out early in the morning to gather. They didn’t look like something edible. The two children were thoroughly puzzled. Ming Mei didn’t recognize them either. Even in the 1970s, Ming Mei had grown up in the city and wasn’t familiar with chestnuts in their natural state.

If you peeled off the spiky outer shell, she might have recognized them. But in their raw, unprocessed form, Ming Mei had never seen them before.

Still, even though she didn’t recognize them, Ming Mei knew they had to be chestnuts. After all, the main purpose of their trip that day had been to gather chestnuts.

“These are chestnuts,” Ming Mei explained. “They’re really delicious. Have you ever had chestnut stewed with chicken?”

The two children shook their heads.

Ming Mei thought for a moment, trying to suppress her own drooling. “It’s absolutely delicious. The chestnuts soak up the flavor of the chicken broth, and when you take a bite…”

Xiao Yanzi’s mouth started watering…

Just then, Zhao Guihua walked in. “…”

She sighed, “I’ve never seen anyone drool just from talking about food.”

“Hehe.”

Xiao Yanzi wiped her mouth, embarrassed but still smiling.

Zhao Guihua said, “I’ll cook it for you tonight.”

“Really?” Ming Mei and the two children immediately turned their bright eyes toward Zhao Guihua.

Zhao Guihua raised an eyebrow. “What? Don’t want it?”

“We do!”

They all shouted in unison.

Ming Mei patted her belly, thinking it must be the baby inside her that was craving the food. Otherwise, she, Ming Mei, would never be so easily tempted. She was a woman of the world, after all.

Zhao Guihua said, “Hurry up and eat. We’ve got work to do this afternoon.”

Ming Mei was puzzled. “What else is there to do?”

Zhao Guihua replied, “We’ve got to shell these chestnuts, don’t we?”

Then she thought of something else. “Oh, and I need to move that big bag of rice and flour from my room to yours. With all the people coming and going in my place, it’s not good for them to see so much stuff lying around. But you two are both working, so you don’t get many visitors. It’s perfect.”

Ming Mei nodded. “Sure.”

Zhao Guihua suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh, right. Don’t move anything this afternoon. Eldest and third son, you two go check every room for any rat holes. If you find any, put down some poison and then seal them up with cement. Also, check the window frames and door gaps. Fix anything that needs fixing.”

“Got it.”

They did this kind of check once or twice every year.

With so many rats around, you had to be careful. If you didn’t take precautions, your home would be overrun.

Zhao Guihua said, “Alright, let’s eat first, then get to work.”

“Okay.”

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi, having eaten their fill, had also each managed to snag a bowl of malted milk from their aunt. The two of them ran off to the yard to find their friends. While the adults were busy, the kids couldn’t help much, so they went to call for Li Junjun and Li Weiwei. Soon, a group of children ran off together.

Bai Fendou watched as Zhuang Zhixi went around opening doors and windows, and called out, “Hey, Zhuang, what are you up to?”

Zhuang Zhixi replied, “Looking for rat holes. If we don’t deal with those nasty things, they’ll ruin our food. Plus, it’s a good time to check the house for any repairs. You can’t exactly do this kind of work in the winter, can you?”

“True enough.”

Hearing this, Bai Fendou immediately got to work as well.

His family’s situation was even worse than the Zhuangs’.

While the Zhuang family was bustling with activity, the same was true for other households.

Most men worked during the week, so any heavy chores had to be saved for the weekends. Sometimes, weekends were even more exhausting than workdays.

Life back then was much harder and busier compared to decades later. But people still had a lot of energy and drive. After all, the concept of “slacking off” didn’t exist back then.

The Zhuang family was busy at work.

When they heard that Zhao Guihua was sealing up rat holes, the neighbors all agreed it was a good idea and went back to their own homes to do the same.

Compared to the lively atmosphere at the Zhuangs’, the Su family’s house was quiet and empty. Tonglai had gone to the hospital with his mother and grandmother. The front door was locked. After finishing their work, Zhao Guihua and the others sat by the door, shelling chestnuts.

Zhao Guihua warned the family, “Be careful, everyone. Do it like this, so you don’t prick your fingers.”

“We know.”

“Take your time. It’s better to go slow than to get hurt.”

Zhuang Zhixi teased, “Mom, you’re such a nag.”

Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes. “You little brat, are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

Her son immediately raised the white flag. He knew better than to provoke his mother.

Zhao Guihua smirked in satisfaction. “You, after all… huh?”

She paused as she saw a thin woman hurrying into the yard. It was none other than Su Pandi, the second daughter of the Su family.

Su Pandi was carrying a small bundle. Seeing the lock on the door, she froze for a moment, then quickly turned to Zhao Guihua, who was in the yard. “Aunt Zhao, did my mom and the others go to the hospital?”

Zhao Guihua nodded. “They’ve been at the hospital since the night before last. I haven’t seen them since. Did you hear the news?”

Su Pandi nodded. “My mom sent me a message.”

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Can you take me to the hospital?”

Zhao Guihua was taken aback. “???”

The nerve of her, speaking so casually.

“It’s the one closest to us. You can go by yourself. They’re on the second floor.”

Su Pandi frowned slightly. Zhao Guihua added, “You’ve lived here for twenty years. Don’t tell me you don’t know where it is?”

At this, Su Pandi pursed her lips and said, “Alright.”

Without another word, she turned and left.

She came and went in a hurry. Ming Mei, curious, asked, “Was that the Su family’s second daughter?”

Zhao Guihua nodded.

Ming Mei said, “She looks a lot like her sister.”

Actually, Su Zhaodi and Su Pandi had returned more than once, but they always came and went so quickly that Ming Mei hadn’t had much chance to see them. She had only seen Su Zhaodi once, when she brought Wang Zhaodi to their door. As for Su Pandi, this was the first time.

Su Pandi looked quite similar to Su Zhaodi, both resembling their mother, Aunt Su. Neither had particularly striking looks—they were rather plain.

Truly plain.

Just ordinary women, with average features, thin builds, and dry, yellowish hair. She had the common bob haircut of the time and wore clothes with noticeable patches.

It was clear that life hadn’t been kind to her.

You could tell a lot about a person’s life from their energy and the way they dressed.

Liang Meifen said, “Mom, I think the Su family’s second daughter is around thirty-four or thirty-five, right?”

Zhao Guihua thought for a moment. “Thirty-five.”

Liang Meifen remarked, “She looks much older. I’d say she looks like she’s in her forties.”

That was being generous. Some might even say she looked forty-five.

Zhao Guihua sighed. “That’s what a life of hardship does to you.”

She smiled and said, "You should all be thanking me. If it weren't for me, your lives wouldn't be this comfortable. Your father's salary supports the family, and I help take care of the kids. Otherwise, with work, childcare, and housework, you might end up looking older than Su Pandi."

Ming Mei immediately leaned against Zhao Guihua's arm, cooing, "Mom, I know you're the best to us. Having a mother-in-law like you is a blessing I must have earned over eight lifetimes. How am I so lucky? My mom dotes on me, and my mother-in-law treats me just like my mom. I’m so happy."

Zhao Guihua couldn’t help but shiver at her overly sweet tone.

She shook her arm, giving Ming Mei a look of mixed emotions, and said, "If you're going to flatter me, at least don’t use that voice. Look, the hairs on my arm are standing up."

Ming Mei giggled, "But I’m telling the truth. Even if it sounds like flattery, it’s sincere."

She added, "Really, it is."

Zhao Guihua sighed, "You..."

Ming Mei pouted, "Don’t you believe me?"

She playfully nuzzled Zhao Guihua’s arm with her head.

Zhao Guihua groaned, "Oh, for heaven’s sake, act normal."

As a native of Beijing and a typical northerner, she couldn’t handle such sugary behavior.

Not just Zhao Guihua, even Liang Meifen, who was standing nearby, rubbed her arms uncomfortably. This level of flattery was something she could never master. If she tried, she’d probably lose her appetite from the sheer cringe.

Flattery was important, but so was eating.

Zhuang Zhixi, however, chuckled and said, "My wife is the cutest."

He wrapped his arm around Ming Mei and said, "Sweetheart, take a break. This work is tough on your hands. Let me handle more of it. I’m a man; I can manage."

Ming Mei smiled, "Okay~"

Liang Meifen sighed, glancing at her own husband, who clearly lacked her brother-in-law’s charm.

Zhao Guihua looked at them all and thought to herself that while their family had its minor conflicts, they were nothing compared to the chaos in other households. They were doing just fine.

She reminded herself to be content.

Their family was much better off than the others who were constantly embroiled in drama.

Her gaze drifted to the Su family’s locked door, wondering if Tonglai had pulled through.

Jinlai and Yinlai’s hospitalization had cost a fortune, but there was no other choice—it was a matter of life and death. The two hundred they had recently scammed was gone in an instant, and it still wasn’t enough.

Wang Xiangxiu had to chip in another sixty.

Over the years, she had managed to save up a little over five hundred yuan, nearly six hundred. After giving away sixty, she was left with exactly five hundred.

This money had come from Bai Fendou’s occasional contributions and some side hustles. Her mother-in-law, a kind and simple woman, never interfered with her finances or took control of the household money, so it all stayed in Wang Xiangxiu’s hands.

Her mother-in-law, who had swindled some money from Old Bai, would occasionally buy meat to supplement the family meals.

Wang Xiangxiu was deeply grateful for having such a good mother-in-law.

She believed that many women suffered due to strained relationships with their in-laws, but she had no such worries. However, her children’s misfortune weighed heavily on her.

Yes, misfortune.

Wang Xiangxiu didn’t think her children had done anything wrong. She just believed they were unlucky to have been trampled by the pig. If they hadn’t been, they might have even come home with some pig tails. Bringing things home was a sign of cleverness, after all.

But now, it was all over.

Although she still had five hundred yuan, she was deeply worried. The children’s treatment was only just beginning, especially for Yinlai, who was still in critical condition. The medical expenses would be substantial.

She sighed, "Mom, what should we do?"

Aunt Su looked at Wang Xiangxiu’s troubled face and thought to herself how useless she was. Instead of scrambling to borrow money, she was just sitting there.

Aunt Su immediately put on a pitiful expression and said, "Xiangxiu, what can an old woman like me do? At my age, even if I wanted to find a man to exchange for some money, no one would want me."

She glanced at Wang Xiangxiu and continued, "If Old Bai were still around, I’d have willingly married that shameless old man for the money. But now, with him in that state, I’d be lucky not to lose money. It’s just not possible. Why is life so unfair? The bad people live so well, while good people like us suffer. It’s truly the wicked who prosper, and the good who weep."

Wang Xiangxiu nodded, "Yes, look at our neighbors. They’re all so stingy and heartless, yet they live comfortably. Meanwhile, our family struggles to make ends meet."

Although she still had five hundred yuan, she was reluctant to dip into her savings.

After all, without Bai Fendou’s support, life would be even harder.

She hesitated, "Bai Fendou probably has a few hundred yuan. I’m not sure exactly how much, but selling his job would bring in a decent sum. I just don’t know how to get that money now. He’s lost his manhood, so even if I tried to seduce him, it wouldn’t work. He has no need for that anymore."

She pursed her lips, "Even if I set him up for harassment, it probably wouldn’t work either."

In the past, she had thought Bai Fendou was easy to manipulate, but now, without his infatuation, he was completely unyielding. She couldn’t control him anymore.

She was truly at a loss.

Aunt Su thought for a moment and said, "Let’s take this step by step."

Wang Xiangxiu looked at her expectantly. Aunt Su continued, "First, you need to go to the factory tomorrow. This is a must. Find the factory director and make a scene. Cry and make a fuss about how pitiful our family is. The factory has to help us. Demand that they organize a donation drive. If the leaders refuse, kneel in the factory courtyard and kowtow. It might be humiliating, but if it works, the payoff will be huge. The factory has thousands of workers. Even if everyone donated just a penny, it would add up to at least a hundred yuan. And the leaders would surely donate more, as would the kind-hearted. We might even get a thousand yuan. That would cover the children’s treatment and leave some for our daily expenses. The kids need proper nourishment after such injuries."

Wang Xiangxiu’s eyes lit up, "That’s a great idea! Yes, we’re in such a difficult situation; they should organize a donation for us. The factory once raised over a thousand yuan for an elderly, childless veteran. We can definitely do the same."

She was thrilled. This plan would not only solve their financial troubles but also bring in extra money.

"Mom, what’s the second step?"

Aunt Su smiled faintly, "Second, go find the men who used to have a good relationship with you. Men have a natural tendency to pity the weak. If you appear desperate enough, they’ll help. Even if they can’t give much, they’ll give something. And once we get the money, we won’t pay it back."

Aunt Su didn’t spell it out, but her meaning was clear. Wang Xiangxiu could approach the men she had been involved with before. Even if each only gave five or ten yuan, it would add up. After all, sleeping with them had cost that much before. Now, asking for help, they wouldn’t hesitate to give a little.

As for repaying the money?

Forget about it.

If necessary, she could always sleep with them again.

Aunt Su knew Wang Xiangxiu would understand without her having to explain further.

There were at least a dozen men Wang Xiangxiu had been involved with. Even if each gave just four or eight yuan, it would still be a significant amount.

Wang Xiangxiu nodded vigorously, "Yes, that’s a good plan."

She thought her mother-in-law’s idea was brilliant.

Aunt Su: "Although this is the second point, you need to do it first. Otherwise, once the whole factory starts donating, they won't give you extra money. You won't have a reason to ask for it either. Go now and ask them for some money first. Then go to the factory tomorrow. If someone dares to question you, you can pretend that all the money went to medical expenses and it still wasn't enough. This way, you can also maintain your image in everyone's eyes."

Wang Xiangxiu nodded vigorously, feeling that her mother-in-law was truly a capable woman. She hadn't thought of this herself.

She eagerly asked, "Mom, what's the third method?"

Aunt Su: "The third method is to find Bai Fendou. Don't be fooled by his tough exterior; it's just that you haven't given him enough. Just stand in front of him stark naked. I'll teach you, there are some things..."

She leaned close to Wang Xiangxiu's ear and whispered a few words.

Wang Xiangxiu's face turned red, and she asked, "Will this really work?"

Aunt Su: "Whether it works or not, you have to try. Otherwise, this person will completely slip out of our control. Besides, it's not like you're losing anything in this situation."

Wang Xiangxiu bit her lip and said, "Alright."

She took a deep breath and asked, "Will this really work?"

Aunt Su: "No matter what, it's a hope. As long as there's hope, our lives will be better."

Wang Xiangxiu nodded, agreeing with this statement. They were currently in desperate need of money. Although their family had some savings, they couldn't touch their own money. This was a rare opportunity; not only would they not have to spend their own money, but they could also make some.

Wang Xiangxiu: "The money issue is settled, but what about the slaughterhouse..."

The slaughterhouse would also demand answers. If the child recovered, he would have to go to juvenile detention, which was unacceptable to them.

Aunt Su: "I'll handle this. I've been thinking about it for the past couple of days, and I finally came up with a solution."

"What is it?"

Aunt Su: "The second-in-command at the slaughterhouse had a thing for our Pandi back in the day. I stopped it at the time, but now, we can have Pandi go and ask him for help."

"Wow, he's that powerful? Why didn't you agree back then?" Wang Xiangxiu was shocked.

After all, Su Pandi's current husband was a timid and unremarkable man with very average circumstances.

Aunt Su: "What ability does he have? Just like Yang Lixin, he rose to power by becoming a live-in son-in-law. Otherwise, he'd just be a poor country boy. Back then, Pandi was a temporary worker at the match factory, and he wasn't even a temporary worker—he was a substitute. A relative of his got injured, so he was called in to substitute, earning only three yuan a month. Even then, he thought he was getting a good deal. What kind of future could someone like that have? His family couldn't even afford a proper bride price. He actually thought he could marry someone with just five yuan. Shameless! Do you know how much our Pandi's bride price was? Fifty yuan!"

It's worth noting that, at the time, fifty yuan was an exceptionally high bride price.

The standard price was around twenty yuan, with some variation depending on the family's financial situation.

But Su Pandi had received fifty yuan over a decade ago. That was truly a lot.

Aunt Su smiled smugly and said, "My daughter was raised well."

Although she had been stingy with her daughters when they were young, always saving the best for her son, she had always spoken sweetly to them and secretly given her son extra treats. As a result, both daughters firmly believed that their mother treated them equally and was the best.

When they were older and nearing the age of marriage, Aunt Su made sure to give them extra care, teaching them how to dress up. Despite their average looks, their fair skin and a bit of grooming made them stand out compared to most girls who didn't know how to dress up.

It could be said that back then, their family had many suitors for their daughters. Thanks to their marriages, the family had profited quite a bit.

She pursed her lips and said, "After Pandi got married, that guy started working hard too. I don't know which ancestor's grave was blessed, but he managed to marry a city girl. Although she was nearly two hundred pounds and looked like an old sow, her family was well-off. They were from the slaughterhouse, and that's how he climbed up the ranks."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

She didn't regret breaking up her daughter's relationship because if Pandi had married him, she would have just lived a rural life. The guy's current success was all thanks to his father-in-law.

She said, "If Pandi goes to him for help, I think it could work."

Wang Xiangxiu: "But... she's not the same as she was ten years ago. Will it really work?"

Aunt Su: "Pandi may not be as fresh as she used to be, but men always desire what they can't have. At worst, she can sleep with him and fulfill his wish. With some grooming, it should be fine. If all else fails, you can help out too. Two people are always better than one."

Wang Xiangxiu blushed again.

Aunt Su sighed and said, "Xiangxiu, I'm doing all this for our family, for the child. Do you want our child to end up in juvenile detention?"

Wang Xiangxiu shook her head decisively.

Aunt Su: "That's right. We're all doing this for the family. I'll talk to Pandi. I think Zhaodi and Pandi should be arriving soon. I wonder how much money they'll bring."

She was planning to squeeze money out of them and get their help as well.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo had their plans all figured out.

Wang Xiangxiu: "Then I'll go find those men now..."

"Go ahead."

After a pause, Aunt Su added, "Go home and change into something white. Wear that white dress you bought a few years ago. Also, redo your hair, letting a few strands fall by your cheeks. Go home and put on some face cream."

"Alright."

Wang Xiangxiu understood her mother-in-law's intentions.

She agreed and was about to leave when Aunt Su softly said, "To look charming, wear mourning white."

"Mm, I understand."

Wang Xiangxiu quickly left and ran into Su Pandi, who had just arrived downstairs. Su Pandi stopped her and asked, "Where are you going?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "I'm going to borrow money."

Su Pandi nodded: "Go ahead." As the elder sister-in-law, she still looked down on Wang Xiangxiu. "Borrow as much as you can. Honestly, I don't know how you take care of your child. If anything happens to my nephew, I won't let you off as his elder aunt."

Wang Xiangxiu dug her nails into her palm but replied, "I understand, Second Sister."

She hurried away, glancing at Su Pandi's back and spitting, "Trash. You're just a workhorse for our family. In your mother's eyes, I'm the real daughter—the wife of her son and the mother of three grandsons. You're nothing. Just a worthless girl."

She walked away smugly and quickly went home.

The Zhuang family was sitting at the door shelling chestnuts when they saw Wang Xiangxiu rush in like a gust of wind. When she came out again, she was dressed in white.

The Zhuang family was stunned.

Wang Xiangxiu didn't have time for small talk. Since they couldn't lend her money, they were nothing to her. She couldn't be bothered with them. After all, when the factory-wide donation happened, no one would escape. Wang Xiangxiu quickly left.

Jiang Lu happened to be going out and saw her. She asked in surprise, "Who was that?"

All she saw was a flash of white. If it had been at night, it would have been terrifying.

Ming Mei: "That was Wang Xiangxiu."

Jiang Lu: "Wang Xiangxiu? Did her son pass away?"

Ming Mei: "...No, if he had, she would have said so directly. Besides, she wouldn't be this calm."

"Then why did she come back specifically to change into white?"

Liang Meifen: "Who knows? When she ran out earlier, I caught a whiff of perfume. What's she doing dressing up while her son is still in the hospital? She must have nothing better to do."

Hmm...

This comment made everyone present think of something.

Maybe they didn't realize it at first, but after a moment of reflection, they started to connect the dots.

With a little thought, they could guess what was going on.

Zhao Guihua: "This is disgusting."

Having someone like this in the courtyard was ruining everyone's reputation.

She glared at the three men in her family and said, "If any of you dares to say even one word to her, I'll kill you."

Old Man Zhuang nodded quickly. Being older, he couldn't stand such behavior.

The two Zhuang brothers also nodded in agreement.

It must be said, at this moment, Ming Mei and Liang Meifen had formed an alliance. With just a glance, they communicated their intentions. They would keep an eye on each other, ensuring no funny business happened outside.

As for Jiang Lu, she didn’t have to worry about such things. After all, Zhou Qun wasn’t exactly… capable.

Well, if one wasn’t too keen on matters of romance, finding someone like Zhou Qun could be quite convenient. At least there wouldn’t be any wild thoughts wandering outside. Although he was becoming more effeminate and chatty these days, what did it matter?

She could just consider him another sister.

Jiang Lu sighed, “I guess I’m quite lucky.”

Others around her: “???”

They were puzzled.

Jiang Lu didn’t explain further, just smiled.

Zhao Guihua stood up and said, “I need to go talk to Aunt Wang.”

If there really was someone in the courtyard engaging in shady activities, it would tarnish the reputation of the entire compound, affecting both men and women. Zhao Guihua didn’t want to see that happen.

In her past life, the Su family had managed to keep things under wraps because they were good at hiding their actions, and Aunt Zhou was adept at deflecting attention. Plus, with the financial support from the Bai father and son, their lives weren’t too bad, so they didn’t need to be too obvious.

But now, with Bai Fendou no longer reliable, the Su family’s behavior had become quite blatant.

Zhao Guihua didn’t want their neighborhood to gain such a reputation, so she hurried off to discuss the matter with Aunt Wang. If Wang Xiangxiu became any more obvious, they would have to report it to the local authorities and the factory management.

What a mess.

Meanwhile, Aunt Su, unaware that the neighbors had already caught wind of her family’s behavior, was at the hospital brainwashing her two daughters.

Not only had Su Pandi arrived, but Su Zhaodi was there too.

Su Zhaodi, her face bruised and swollen, said, “Mom, my husband wouldn’t let me take the money. He took it all back and hit me. But I managed to hide a little. Here, take it.”

Aunt Su looked at the ten yuan and was far from satisfied.

What could that amount even do?

Su Pandi, on the other hand, was mocking. “Big sister, you’re so useless. Bringing such a small amount is like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water. Our little brother is gone, and Jinlai, Yinlai, and Tonglai are the roots of our Su family. No matter what, we have to raise them well. Ten yuan? Hah.”

She pulled out a wad of cash, a mix of bills and coins, and said, “Mom, here’s 125 yuan. This is all our family’s savings. I’ve brought it all.”

As she spoke, she set down her bundle. “I’ve also brought the rice and flour from home. The kids need to eat well.”

Aunt Su nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, this is good.”

Su Zhaodi hung her head in shame. She wasn’t as capable as her sister. Seeing what Su Pandi had brought, she felt resentment toward her husband. Why couldn’t he understand her? This was her family, her support! Why couldn’t he give her some face?

Su Pandi continued to berate her sister. “Big sister, you’re just not capable. How can you let your husband walk all over you like that?”

“He hits me.”

“That’s still your fault. You don’t know how to control your man.” Su Pandi scolded her sister a few more times.

Aunt Su quickly intervened, playing the peacemaker. “Your sister has it hard. Don’t be so harsh on her. She’s not as strong as you. Besides, her family’s situation isn’t as good as yours. Your husband is capable. Pandi, I’m counting on you the most. You’re the most promising in our family. Your sister is weak, and your sister-in-law is an outsider. Who else can I rely on? I just hope that your brother’s three sons grow up well and achieve something. When they’re grown, tall and strong, they’ll stand up for their aunts. The Su family will always be your support.”

Both Su Zhaodi and Su Pandi nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with their mother’s words.

Aunt Su said, “Zhaodi, you stay here and take care of the kids. Pandi and I will go home to cook some porridge and steam some buns.”

“Alright.”

“When this IV is done, call the nurse to change it.”

“Okay.”

At that moment, the children were all asleep. Jinlai and Yinlai, in pain, had dozed off, while Tonglai lay on an empty bed, sleeping soundly. But once everyone had left, Tonglai opened his eyes. He blinked, deep in thought…

He had learned something.

Aunt Su led her second daughter home, working on her mindset along the way. Su Pandi was willing to do anything for her family without complaint. Although betraying her husband made her feel guilty, she believed it was worth it to help her mother and her brother’s children.

Without her, those kids would have ended up in juvenile detention.

As their aunt, she couldn’t be so heartless.

…

Meanwhile, in a residential building in the northern part of the city, a middle-aged man returned home from work to find the place in disarray. His two children sat on the floor, tear-stained faces looking up at him. He immediately asked, “What happened? Where’s your mom? Why is the house like this?”

The older child, already somewhat numb, said, “Mom went to Grandma’s again. She took all the money and even took all the fine grains from the house.”

“What?!”

The man looked around and saw it was true. Not only had she taken the fine grains, but she had even taken the last bit of cooking oil.

His eyes turned red with anger. This wasn’t the first time. It happened every so often, over and over again.

He asked, “Then why is the house such a mess?”

The older girl finally broke down crying. “I tried to stop her, but she hit me and smashed things. She said I was being unreasonable and threatened to sell me to get money for my cousin’s treatment. Please don’t sell me, don’t sell me…”

The younger boy also cried out, “Don’t sell my sister!”

The man shouted, “No one’s selling anyone! This is a new society. Who dares to sell people? No one’s selling my precious daughter. My daughter is the most sensible. I could never part with her.”

He hugged his children, comforting them softly, then said, “Be good. Daddy will make you something to eat. After we eat, I’ll go to your grandma’s place and see what’s going on.”

A look of disgust and anger flashed in his eyes. He hadn’t been to his in-laws’ place in years, not since his brother-in-law had died. But he had had enough. Su Pandi was acting like a madwoman.

Their own family could barely afford to eat coarse cornbread, yet she kept giving money to her family.

If her family was truly destitute, helping out would be understandable. But Jinlai, Yinlai, and Tonglai were eating fine flour buns every day, while his own children were stuck with cornbread. He couldn’t take it anymore.

This family had gone too far.

“You two go stay at Grandma’s for the day. I’m going to your grandma’s place.”

No matter what, he was going to settle this once and for all. He had had enough.

People shouldn’t live like this.

The middle-aged man hurried out the door, heading straight for the Su family’s place…

The Su family wasn’t having dinner in the courtyard. Aunt Su had dressed up her daughter, sighing inwardly. Her daughter wasn’t as pretty as she had been before marriage. Back then, she had been a flower, but now… well, men would still remember her, right?

At the very least, she could fulfill a wish.

If all else failed, they could push Wang Xiangxiu forward. With two women, surely they could secure the safety of their grandsons.

She said, “Go. If it doesn’t work out, bring up your sister-in-law.”

Su Pandi nodded. “Alright.”

She felt a bit shy and nervous, having changed into one of Wang Xiangxiu’s red dresses. She looked much better than she had in the afternoon. The two of them left, one heading to the hospital, the other to the slaughterhouse.

Ming Mei craned her neck to watch them go. “What are they up to? Why is she all dressed up now?”

As for Wang Xiangxiu’s actions, there were some guesses, but what about Su Pandi?

Was she going to do the same thing?

Was their family really that shameless?

Were they forming a team for this kind of work?

Ming Mei pursed her lips, looking around anxiously. Not just her, even Bai Fendou was leaning against the window to peek outside. Over at the Zhou household, Wang Zhaodi appeared to be cooking, but her eyes kept darting furtively toward the outside. Aunt Zhou was pressed against the window, her lips flattened as she muttered, "Something’s going to happen in their house, it’s bound to. They’re all dressed up so fancy, it’s not right, absolutely not right."

Aunt Zhou suddenly jumped off the bed, slipped on her shoes, and rushed into the yard, asking, "Where’s Zhao Guihua?"

Ming Mei replied, "Mother-in-law went to the backyard."

Aunt Zhou hurried off to the backyard as well.

Ming Mei wondered aloud, "What’s going on with everyone?"

By then, they had finally finished shelling the chestnuts. They packed them up and stored them in the house. The prickly husks were swept under the window, and someone said, "We’ll use these for kindling later."

After everything was done, Zhuang Zhixi took his wife to wash their hands. He whispered, "They’re all worried that Aunt Su might go off the rails and do something improper outside, which could tarnish the reputation of everyone in the compound."

Ming Mei nodded but added, "But would they really dare? It’s such a serious matter, and the authorities are so strict. Would they risk it?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Without catching them in the act, it’s hard to say. The more serious the matter, the more cautious people are. You can’t just rely on rumors without proof."

Ming Mei frowned, "It’s disgusting."

She understood. If someone with a bad reputation lived in the compound, it wouldn’t just affect the atmosphere within, but the gossip outside would also spread to others. For men, people would speculate if they’d ever visited such a person. For women, they’d be judged as being of the same kind.

In short, it was a terrible situation.

"Let’s go home," Zhuang Zhixi said.

"Dinner tonight is chestnut stewed chicken," he added.

Ming Mei gave a soft "Mm" and said, "I’ll go check if the pot’s boiling."

The stew was already simmering, and it looked like it would be ready soon.

"Xiao Zhuang," someone called out.

Zhuang Zhixi turned around, hesitated for a moment, and said, "You’re Old Yuan, right?"

It had been many years since he’d last seen this man, so recognizing him was no small feat.

Old Yuan had also called out tentatively, unsure if he could recognize Zhuang Zhixi. The last time they’d met, Zhuang Zhixi was just a teenager, and that was six or seven years ago. Now, he was a grown man. Old Yuan noticed Zhuang Zhixi holding onto a woman and asked, "You’re married?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Yes, I got married at the end of last year."

He added, "Old Yuan, the Su family isn’t home. They’ve all gone out."

At that moment, Bai Fendou hurried out and said, "Old Yuan, it’s me, Bai Fendou. Remember me?"

Old Yuan nodded. Of course, he remembered. Even though he hadn’t been around much in recent years, he’d heard from his wife about Bai Fendou—how he was like a loyal dog to the Su family, always giving but never receiving anything in return. People looked down on him.

He’d even heard that Bai Fendou had suffered a terrible injury for the Su family.

What a tragic figure.

Old Yuan said, "Bai Fendou, I remember you." A well-known figure in the capital.

Bai Fendou chattered on, "You should hurry to the hospital. I have a bad feeling about this. That old woman Su is up to no good. You don’t know, but your wife came back all dressed up, wearing a red dress. Who knows where she’s going? And the perfume she was wearing—surely it’s not just to take care of some kids, right? You don’t need to dress up for that."

He added, "You’d better go check, or you might end up wearing a green hat."

Old Yuan’s face darkened. He glared at Bai Fendou and asked coldly, "Which hospital are they at?"

Bai Fendou quickly gave him directions.

Old Yuan nodded, forcing a smile that was more unsettling than reassuring. He said, "I’ll go take a look," and quickly left.

Bai Fendou called after him, "You’d better hurry, or you won’t catch up. They left a while ago."

As Old Yuan disappeared, Bai Fendou sighed, "I guess I did a good deed."

Zhuang Zhixi remarked, "I don’t know if you did a good deed, but you’re definitely stirring up trouble. If the Su family finds out what you said, they might come after you."

Bai Fendou puffed out his chest, "What do I have to fear? Am I scared of those scoundrels? If one comes, I’ll handle one; if two come, I’ll handle two! I’m not afraid! Did I say anything wrong? If they can do it, why can’t I talk about it? I used to be foolish, believing in them, but not anymore."

Zhuang Zhixi stayed silent.

Bai Fendou continued, "Hey, maybe I should go take a look too. I don’t have anything else to do anyway."

Zhuang Zhixi still didn’t respond.

Bai Fendou said, "I’ll go check. If something really happens, I can help Old Yuan out, so he doesn’t get screwed over. He’s a decent guy."

With that, he dashed off after Old Yuan.

Zhou Qun saw this and quickly ran out, saying, "Wait for me, I’m coming too."

Bai Fendou was annoyed. He disliked Zhou Qun the most. After all, Zhou Qun had once shown interest in him, and that was something Bai Fendou couldn’t handle. He waved his hand irritably, "Get away from me. I don’t want to see you."

Zhou Qun retorted, "What are you thinking? I just want to see what’s going on. Whether you go or not, I’m going. We might as well go together. If something happens, we can handle it as a team."

He added, "We’re just going to watch the show. Don’t overthink it."

Bai Fendou spat, "Pah."

Zhou Qun urged, "Stop wasting time. Let’s go, or we’ll miss it."

"You swear you’re not interested in me!" Bai Fendou was still on guard.

Zhou Qun sighed, "Come on, have some self-respect. Why would I go after you? Even if I did, I’d have to be capable. Well… not that I’m not capable, but why am I even talking about this? Are you coming or not? We’ll miss them if we don’t hurry."

"Fine," Bai Fendou relented.

The two of them left together, in a hurry.

Zhuang Zhixi turned to Jiang Lu and asked, "Are you okay with this?"

Those two had a history.

Jiang Lu, however, remained calm. "They’re both harmless now. Why should I worry? Neither of them is capable anymore. Besides, Zhou Qun really just wants to see the show."

Well… that was true.

Back when Zhou Qun was still functional, his gaze would wander among men. Now, he spent his time gossiping with the women. So, Jiang Lu really had nothing to worry about.

Jiang Lu smiled, "Sometimes, men don’t need to be hung on the wall to behave. Being rendered useless works just as well."

Zhuang Zhixi was speechless.

He nudged his wife’s shoulder and said, "Let’s go home for dinner."

He couldn’t let his wife spend too much time with Jiang Lu. This woman had gone from one extreme to another.

Truly, women were not to be trifled with.

Ming Mei understood what Zhuang Zhixi meant and giggled.

Old Man Zhuang called for Zhao Guihua, and the family gathered for dinner. Zhao Guihua said, "Aunt Wang will talk to Aunt Su tomorrow. If she doesn’t rein herself in, we’ll have to report her to the neighborhood committee."

In these times, reputation was everything.

They couldn’t afford to be dragged down.

Everyone nodded in agreement, seeing nothing wrong with the plan.

"This is delicious," Hutou said, holding his bowl. "Chestnuts are really good."

They’d had rabbit meat just two days ago, and today’s stew only used half a chicken but plenty of chestnuts. The chestnuts had become soft and tender in the chicken broth, with a rich, nutty flavor complemented by the savory broth.

It was absolutely fantastic.

Zhao Guihua said, "We still have half a chicken left for the day after tomorrow."

"Great!"

"Our family eats so well."

Zhao Guihua replied, "You all benefit from your father. I’m thinking of him, working so hard every day. He deserves to eat well and stay healthy. Otherwise, with just you all, our meals would be the same as before."

Old Man Zhuang’s chest swelled with pride at these words.

He smiled warmly, feeling content as he looked at his family.

His sons and daughters-in-law also smiled. Zhuang Zhixi, ever the sweet talker, said, "Here, Dad, have some chicken. We’re all grateful for you. Thank you, Dad."

"You little flatterer."

"It’s not flattery. I’m just telling the truth."

The whole family burst into laughter.

Chestnuts were filling, so they hadn’t prepared much rice, but everyone still cleaned their plates.

Ming Mei patted her stomach and said, "That was so satisfying."

“Picking these chestnuts was really worth it.”

“Of course it was.”

Zhao Guihua said, “The weather is gradually getting colder. We’ll be able to store more things soon, so we should start stocking up. If we save up some good stuff, we’ll have something to eat during the winter. Otherwise, we won’t be able to enjoy little luxuries like we do now.”

“That’s true.”

Zhao Guihua continued, “Luckily, we’ve saved quite a bit of salted fish. I spent a lot on salt, but it was worth it.”

Having salted fish in the winter was already a pretty good dish.

After all, they didn’t have much to work with when the weather turned cold.

It couldn’t compare to later times.

Old Man Zhuang said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go fishing. I’ve already made plans with Chef Li to go to the back lake this weekend. There’s usually a lot of people there.”

“Look at you, showing off.” Zhao Guihua was still a bit resentful that she couldn’t fish.

Old Man Zhuang chuckled, “You’re already so capable. You can’t be perfect at everything. Let me have my moment too.”

Zhao Guihua teased, “Oh, oh, oh.”

Zhuang Zhiyuan said sincerely, “So that’s where Zhuang Zhixi gets his smooth talk from—it’s inherited from you.”

Old Man Zhuang: “...”

How was that smooth talk?

He said, “You’re all talking nonsense. You don’t understand my sincerity at all.”

Everyone smirked, even Hutou made a funny face, and the whole family burst into laughter.

Zhao Guihua then asked, “Daughter-in-law, are you settling in well at work?”

Liang Meifen nodded, “Yes, very well. Working is really great.”

Being a worker was so different from being a housewife.

Zhao Guihua said, “Study hard and aim for a promotion. Don’t follow Wang Xiangxiu’s example, always looking for shortcuts.”

“I know.”

She whispered mischievously, “Many of the older sisters in our workshop don’t like her. They look down on her because she always gets the men to help her with her work.”

That wasn’t surprising.

If she really put her heart into her work, it wouldn’t be like this.

“Guihua, are you done eating? Come out and chat!” Aunt Wang called out.

Zhao Guihua replied, “Coming!”

Although there wasn’t much entertainment at night—not everyone even had a radio—sitting together after dinner to gossip about this and that was still quite enjoyable.

Zhao Guihua carried a stool outside and said, “It really feels like autumn now. The evenings are much cooler than before.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

“The breeze is so refreshing. By the way, Guihua, did you go chestnut picking today?”

Zhao Guihua answered, “Yes, at the mountain outside the city. There were quite a few people there today. Now that it’s autumn, there’s a lot of ripe produce.”

“Oh no, I’ll have to go tomorrow too.”

“Guihua, are you going tomorrow?”

Zhao Guihua said, “I can’t. I need to rest tomorrow. I’m a bit worn out from today.”

“That’s understandable. It’s not good to go two days in a row. The journey is a bit far, and we’re not young anymore. We can’t handle it like we used to.”

“Exactly, but it’s still good to have some harvest. It saves us from having to buy things.”

“You’ve gathered a lot of mushrooms this year, haven’t you? You’ve been out quite a few times.”

“Hehe, that’s right. But you’re no different, are you?”

Everyone chattered away, all preparing for the winter in their own ways.

As they talked, time flew by, and the sky began to darken. The evening tea party was coming to an end. Just then, Aunt Zhou stood at the door, looking out anxiously, and said, “Why hasn’t Zhou Qun come back yet? Could something have happened?”

“Probably not. Didn’t he leave with Bai Fendou?”

“Oh dear, that’s even more worrying.” Someone immediately nudged the speaker.

Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou had a bit of a history, so it wasn’t wise to bring it up in front of Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu remained calm, “It’s fine.”

Aunt Zhou cautiously glanced at Jiang Lu. The calmer Jiang Lu seemed, the more others feared she might explode.

After all, they had all seen Jiang Lu lose her temper before. It was quite something.

Aunt Zhou said, “Jiang Lu, don’t worry. Although Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou left together, they’re definitely not the kind of people you’re thinking of. You should trust their character. They... Oh, oh, they’re back!”

She exclaimed, finally relieved.

However, the one leading the group was actually Su Pandi’s husband.

He was dragging his wife, Su Pandi, tightly by the arm, pulling her along.

The others—Zhou Qun, Bai Fendou, and Aunt Su—were chasing after them.

Aunt Zhou immediately knew something was wrong.

She quickly called out, “Everyone, come quick! Something’s happened!”

Everyone stood up in unison and rushed to the door. As soon as they reached the entrance, they were met with the furious gaze of Su Pandi’s husband. They all took a step back in unison...

Old Yuan roared, “Get out of my way!”

His shout made everyone step aside even more quickly.

He dragged his wife into the courtyard and flung her forward with force...

It was... terrifying!