My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

The true face of Aunt Su left a group of people utterly stunned.

Not just those in Xinghuali Lane, nor even the machine factory, but the entire city knew about her. After all, it had been over twenty years since liberation, and to see a pre-liberation madam still active was truly shocking.

The police officers didn’t hide the matter. For one, there was nothing worth concealing, and secondly, spreading the news might encourage others to come forward with more information. Because of this, the story spread like wildfire.

Ming Mei, returning home after three days, found herself struggling to keep up with the gossip. The first thing she did upon arriving was to join the group of elderly women chattering away, darting around like a curious groundhog in a melon patch. She was utterly dumbfounded by Aunt Su’s background.

Truly, appearances can be deceiving.

Who would have guessed that her delicate exterior hid such a scandalous past?

Not just Ming Mei, but even her grandfather, Uncle Lan, came out slurping noodles, not wanting to miss a single detail. Uncle Lan felt that his life was a constant challenge to his understanding of the world, always something new to shock him.

In the gossip circle, the most regretful was Zhou Qun, who cursed himself for not being home at the time, instead spending too long at the bathhouse. He missed the moment when the gold bars were unearthed. But that didn’t stop him from boasting. Standing in the center of the courtyard, he pontificated like a true armchair critic.

“I always thought Aunt Su was shady, always acting suspicious. I knew there was something off about her. Turns out I was right—she’s no ordinary person.”

“You’re just bragging now. If you really knew, why didn’t you say something earlier?” Yang Lixin called him out.

Zhou Qun retorted confidently, “I did notice something was off, but I didn’t realize how serious it was. If I’d known she was like this, I would’ve reported her. People like her are a cancer among the masses. We can’t have that.”

“That’s true. I also thought she was always a bit too frivolous in her actions. Who would’ve guessed?”

“She’s loaded, you know. Yet she always acted like she was struggling. What kind of person does that?”

“Whether she’s rich or poor, it’s none of our business. The one who’s really bitter is Wang Xiangxiu. She got nothing—it all went to the state…”

“How is it none of our business? It’s very much my business. She borrowed cornmeal from me. I wonder if Wang Xiangxiu will pay it back…”

“Oh, she borrowed cornmeal from you? She borrowed oil, salt, and vinegar from me countless times…”

The chatter grew louder, and it seemed almost every household had lent her something. Zhao Guihua chimed in, “I didn’t lend her anything this year, but last year I lent her cornmeal twice, and she never paid me back. I thought she was struggling, so I didn’t press her. If I’d known she was like this, I wouldn’t have lent her a thing. At least I didn’t lend her anything this year, so I didn’t lose more. But I’m still out from before!”

“Exactly! Do you think if we report this, we might get our stuff back?”

Zhao Guihua shrugged, “Who knows? It’s not much, and it’s not worth much money. Besides, she’s in jail now. Wang Xiangxiu hates her and won’t take responsibility.”

“But she did eat it.”

Zhao Guihua laughed, “She did eat it, but we can’t push her too hard. Look at her family’s situation. Even the police aren’t pressing her too much.”

“What a mess. How did things turn out like this? I feel worst for Su Pandi. She’s been holding up the family since she was a kid, the real backbone of the household. She was more capable than her brother. But look at her now—her life’s ruined, separated from her husband and child. Is that the right term? She’s got nothing left, and now she’s got a criminal record. Who knows how many years she’ll get? She’s really been wronged.”

“Su Pandi’s fate is unclear, but Aunt Su definitely won’t be getting out.”

“Don’t call her Aunt Su anymore. Her real name is Gou Lanxiang. I bet she always called herself Aunt Su to hide her real name. She made a big show of being loyal to the Su family, asking for housing and jobs from the factory leaders, but it was probably just to keep her real name hidden. Think about it—her surname is so unusual. If someone recognized her, she’d be in trouble. Back then, she was working at the factory.” Zhao Guihua’s analysis was spot on.

Aunt Wang nodded, “Right. When Old Su died, and the kids were young, they had to take over his job at the factory. If she used her real name, someone might’ve recognized her. But by calling herself Aunt Su, fewer people would make the connection. That’s why she stayed under the radar for decades.”

“She really killed two birds with one stone.”

Aunt Zhou cursed, “Damn it, I even tried to emulate her. Turns out I was fooled.”

Madam Zhou Li, who should’ve been called Aunt Li, had been influenced by Aunt Su’s antics. Both were widows, and Madam Zhou Li had tried to prove herself just like Aunt Su. Now she realized she’d been duped.

Madam Zhou Li sighed, “I really…”

Aunt Wang said, “Don’t change how we address you. We’ve called you Aunt Zhou for years. It’d be too weird to change now.”

Aunt Zhou muttered, “What a mess. That old woman is truly despicable.”

“She won’t come to a good end.”

As the group continued their heated discussion, Bai Fendou stumbled out weakly. Since his father’s sudden death, he hadn’t slept for three days. He’d cried himself unconscious multiple times, barely holding on. After the funeral, he collapsed.

Fortunately, it was just exhaustion, not illness. Bai Fendou slept deeply, completely unaware of the commotion caused by the police. Only now did he hear about Aunt Su.

He was utterly shocked, “She was in that line of work?”

“To be precise, she was the boss.”

Bai Fendou growled, “That damn woman deserves to be executed. She owes my father that much.”

The group fell silent. Aunt Wang tried to comfort him, “I know this might be hard to hear, but Fendou, your father’s gone, and you’re not young anymore. I’m sure your parents, in the afterlife, just want you to live well. The law will punish the bad people. You need to focus on living a good life, so they don’t worry about you. Isn’t that right?”

Bai Fendou was silent for a long time before nodding slowly.

Then, out of nowhere, he turned to Zhuang Zhixi and asked, “When’s the factory’s matchmaking event?”

The sudden change of topic nearly gave everyone whiplash.

Zhuang Zhixi replied smoothly, “At the end of the month, before National Day.”

Bai Fendou nodded, “I’ll sign up. My father always wanted me to settle down. I won’t let him down.”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “The factory will probably open registration soon. I’ll let you know when it does.”

Bai Fendou replied, “Alright.”

The others exchanged uneasy glances. In their eyes, Bai Fendou’s situation was complicated. Whether he married a young woman or a widow, it would essentially doom her to a life of loneliness. His condition made things difficult.

After all, in those days, carrying on the family line was everything.

Without children, you’d be labeled as “childless” and scorned.

And Bai Fendou’s condition meant any wife would be left in a terrible position.

But no one said anything harsh to him. He wasn’t in a state to handle criticism. On the bright side, aside from his condition, Bai Fendou had other decent qualities. Though it was a harsh truth, his father’s passing had lifted a burden from him.

But no one would say that aloud. No one wishes for a loved one’s death, and Bai Fendou was no exception.

"Bai Fendou, actually, everyone in the capital knows about your situation. It’s not easy for you to find a way out here. Why don’t you apply for the support program? Our factory has a one-to-one assistance partnership with the machinery factory in Lizhou. They’re expanding production and need skilled workers to go there for support. Although you’re not from the workshop, given your current situation, if you talk to the leaders, I think they’ll arrange something for you," said the man from the Sui family.

He continued, "Little Zhang, didn’t you sign up for the support program?"

Little Zhang was a resident of the backyard, living in the first house you’d see upon entering, right next to Uncle Lan’s place. His family, like Bai Fendou’s, had two rooms. There were six people in total: his parents, his wife, and two children.

This time, he had signed up to go to Lizhou.

When called out, Little Zhang replied, "Yes, I’ve already signed up, and the procedures are almost done. My whole family is going."

"Ah, so you’re leaving soon? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?"

"Right, is Lizhou really a good place? After all, the capital is still the capital. Lizhou… I’ve never even heard of it. Are you sure it’s going to work out there?"

Little Zhang explained, "Why wouldn’t it? I’m currently a fourth-grade worker, and after the transfer, I’ll be promoted to fifth-grade. Plus, the support program will provide a spot for one of my children to avoid being sent to the countryside. My eldest daughter is about to reach the age where she’d have to go in a couple of years. If we all move to Lizhou, she won’t have to."

"That’s a good deal."

Though everyone talked about responding to the call and supporting rural areas, no one truly believed in it anymore. No one wanted to send their children to the countryside, especially not their daughters. Girls raised in the city, even if not spoiled, had no experience with farm work. And sending a young girl alone to the countryside? No father would feel at ease. There were good people, of course, but bad ones too. Every group had its share of troublemakers. If there was a chance to avoid it, why wouldn’t you take it?

"The factory will also arrange a job for one of my children. My daughter is still a bit young to work directly in the factory, but with this opportunity, my wife can take the job, and in three years, my daughter can take over. Lizhou might not compare to the capital, but it’s still a small city, not the countryside. Plus, with a larger family, we’ll get more living space than we have now. So, all things considered, it’s a good deal."

Everyone had their own calculations, and Little Zhang was no exception.

He added, "My family isn’t originally from the capital anyway. My parents came here fleeing famine. Leaving now isn’t a big deal."

"You know, Little Zhang makes a good point. There are actually quite a few benefits to this support program."

"So, are you going?"

"Not me. There are benefits, sure, but my roots are here. I can’t just uproot myself and leave. Besides, my kids are still young, so I don’t need to worry about this yet. But in a few years, when they’re older and might face being sent to the countryside, I’ll probably have to consider it. I have a son, but I don’t want him to go either. What could he possibly do there? He’d just be a burden to the farmers."

"Exactly."

No one wanted to send their children to the countryside, but they had no choice. They had to seize every opportunity to avoid it.

Little Zhang said, "It really depends on your family’s situation. You’ve seen mine—two rooms for six people. It’s impossible to live like this. After we move, we’ve been promised at least three rooms. That way, my daughter and son won’t have to share a room with us anymore. Even with a curtain, it’s not ideal. With an extra room, my wife and I can have one, my parents can have another, and the third can be split for the kids. It might be small, but at least they’ll each have their own space."

"You’re really thinking about your kids."

"Of course."

Parents in those days were like candles, willing to burn themselves out for their children. While there were some who were selfish and only cared about themselves, especially when it came to daughters, most were devoted to their sons. It was frustrating, but that was the way society was.

As they discussed this, Aunt Zhou suddenly spoke up, "What will happen to your house here once you move?"

Everyone remembered that Aunt Zhou had once tried to take over Uncle Lan’s house and ended up in the security office. Clearly, she was very concerned about housing.

Little Zhang replied, "This house isn’t mine. It was allocated by the factory, and since I’m being transferred, it’ll be returned to the factory. They’ll assign it to someone else."

Aunt Zhou had been hoping to claim it, but that was out of the question.

She muttered, "When I have kids, I’ll need more space too."

In their courtyard, the Su family had the most spacious house, and now that Aunt Su was gone, it was even more so. Aunt Zhou’s family had enough space for now, but she was already thinking ahead—when she had children, they’d need their own rooms, and when they got married and had kids, one room wouldn’t be enough.

This woman was planning far into the future.

Little Zhang said, "I don’t know about that, but there are plenty of people waiting for housing in the factory. I’m sure someone will move in soon."

Aunt Zhou sighed but didn’t dare say more.

She had learned her lesson after facing the consequences of her actions. Plus, with recent events in the courtyard—some people being arrested, others passing away—she had been somewhat shaken. Aunt Zhou said, "We’ll manage for now, but when we have kids, we’ll have to figure something out."

"Aunt Zhou, aren’t you worried about having a daughter? If Jiang Lu has a daughter, you won’t have to worry."

Aunt Zhou retorted, "If it’s a daughter, we’ll find her a husband to move in with us!"

The conversation had veered off track, but someone brought it back: "Bai Fendou, honestly, if you go to Lizhou, it might be better. At least no one there would know about…"

Unlike here, where if you shouted "Bai Fendou" at the entrance of the alley, three hundred out of a hundred people would recognize the name. People would even come over just hearing it.

But Bai Fendou shook his head and said, "I’m not going. My family has been in the capital for generations. I grew up here, and I’d never get used to living elsewhere. Besides, even if I go, it’s not like I’m going alone. People will still talk about my situation. It’s not like no one would know."

He was firm. "I’m not leaving. I have two rooms here, and there’s no one else in my family. If I go, I might not even get more space. I’m staying. Besides, I believe there are still people who don’t care about that kind of thing."

He was thick-skinned and didn’t care anymore, speaking bluntly.

The others were at a loss for words.

"What about Wang Xiangxiu…"

Bai Fendou reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What about Wang Xiangxiu? She has nothing to do with me. If I see her, not slapping her across the face is the most mercy I can show. If it weren’t for the fact that she was also tricked, I wouldn’t let her family off so easily."

Bai Fendou was furious.

"I have no connection with her. I’ve never laid a finger on her before, and there won’t be anything between us in the future."

It wasn’t entirely because he saw Wang Xiangxiu as a victim of Aunt Su. Part of it was that he had seen enough of the police recently and was a bit afraid of them. So, he decided to let it go and not hold a grudge against Wang Xiangxiu.

After all, she had also been deceived.

He said, "Don’t associate me with her. She doesn’t care about her reputation, but I do. Besides, Jinlai and the others are Aunt Su’s grandchildren. Because of that, I can’t stand them."

If he were to get together with Wang Xiangxiu, he’d have to help raise her children. While he was open to marrying a widow with kids, he absolutely refused to raise the children of someone he considered an enemy.

He was serious. "If anyone brings this up again, don’t blame me for breaking windows."

"Look at you, we were just making conversation."

"Exactly."

As they spoke, they turned and saw Wang Xiangxiu returning.

She stood at the door with her son, unsure how long she had been listening. However, no one spoke to her. Wang Xiangxiu walked in with a stiff expression, only to find the cement ground outside their window dug up. Their glass had also been smashed by Yuan Jun.

To say the least, their home was in complete disarray. Wang Xiangxiu sighed deeply. Without saying a word to anyone, she went straight home and started cleaning meticulously. Seeing that it was getting late and the sky had turned completely dark, everyone else gradually went home too.

Ming Mei hadn’t been home for several days. As soon as she entered the room, she flopped onto the bed and said, "No matter how grand other places are, there’s nothing like your own humble home."

Zhuang Zhixi leaned in with a smile and said, "Isn’t our home the best?"

Ming Mei replied, "My parents’ home is nice too, but no matter how nice it is, I still prefer the freedom of my own place."

Her mother was stricter with her than her mother-in-law, which only proved how much of a "real mother" she was.

Ming Mei muttered this and then sat up, asking, "So, what’s been happening lately? Tell me more."

Seeing her bright eyes filled with curiosity, Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t help but laugh. He leaned closer and joked, "Our courtyard is the most harmonious place. What could possibly happen here? Nothing, of course."

Ming Mei burst into laughter and said, "Who would believe that?"

Zhuang Zhixi pretended to be serious, "Why don’t you trust me?"

Ming Mei pouted playfully, "I don’t, I just don’t!"

After a bit of playful banter, she said, "Oh, right, you need to go to my parents’ place tomorrow."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Huh?"

He looked at his wife with confusion, waiting for her to continue.

Ming Mei: "My dad came back from a business trip out of town and brought us a box of apples. You need to go and get them tomorrow."

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised and then chuckled, "Your dad really is something, isn’t he?"

Ming Mei replied calmly, "Of course, he’s my dad. He’s amazing and loves me dearly."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "That’s because Ming Mei is wonderful."

Ming Mei countered, "It’s not because I’m so great. Even if I weren’t, my dad would still love me. He’s my real father, just like Little Zhang’s brother. He moved to a completely unfamiliar city for his daughter’s sake."

Though it’s unclear whether it was the right decision, it was undoubtedly the best choice for their family after careful consideration.

Ming Mei sprawled out on the bed and said, "I wonder who will move in after they leave. I hope they’re easy to get along with. If they’re not..."

Zhuang Zhixi interrupted, "Once someone moves into our courtyard, there’s no such thing as easy or hard to get along with. With the people and the atmosphere here, do I even need to say more? The least easy to get along with are the people in our courtyard. Who are we to judge outsiders?"

Ming Mei burst out laughing, "You’re right. Most people really wouldn’t be able to adapt to this place."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed too.

"It’s always others who have to adapt to the courtyard, not the courtyard adapting to one person."

Ming Mei shrugged.

There’s no denying that one major event can significantly affect the atmosphere of the courtyard.

Recently, with so many things happening, everyone had become much more subdued.

In the following days, nothing particularly noteworthy happened in their courtyard, but that didn’t stop the gossip. Even at the factory, people were buzzing with rumors.

Although Old Man Bai had passed away, the focus of the discussions wasn’t on him. Instead, the main topic of conversation was Aunt Su, Gou Lanxiang. As time went by, more and more rumors spread.

Some of these rumors were about Aunt Su’s past. Though everyone knew her real name wasn’t Gou Lanxiang, they had grown accustomed to calling her that.

It’s unclear how accurate these rumors were, but they certainly provided plenty of material for gossip.

For example, some said that Aunt Su had been mentioned back in the early days after liberation. At that time, the government was encouraging women in the red-light district to reform and start a new life. It was said that some of these women had been sold into that line of work.

The daughter of the brothel owner was called "Ah Xiang."

Despite her young age, she was known to be extremely cruel. One day she would whip someone, and the next she would sweet-talk them to calm them down. She was a cunning and calculating girl. Later, it was said that she also took clients, but unlike the others who were forced into it, she had a choice.

When their "madam" got into trouble, Ah Xiang fled with the money.

As for whether her mother was alive or dead, she didn’t care.

Some also mentioned the infamous "Madam Gou" from back then. Though she had died long before liberation, she had a notorious reputation. She was known for forcing innocent girls into prostitution. Many girls fell into her hands and suffered terribly. Even her own daughter, who wasn’t very old at the time, was said to be cunning and cruel, skilled at "training" others. That daughter was none other than Aunt Su, Gou Lanxiang.

These rumors spread like wildfire, but there was no way to verify them. After all, it had been a long time since those events. Still, that didn’t stop people from gossiping about them.

Many people even went to ask Wang Xiangxiu about it, but they were all scolded away.

Wang Xiangxiu had been living a three-point life recently: going to work at the factory, visiting the hospital to care for her child, and then returning home. However, there was some good news in her family—her second son, Tonglai, was out of danger.

This was probably one of the few positive developments in her life recently.

Wang Xiangxiu was always in a hurry these days, too busy to even go to the water room to bathe or flirt with anyone. She had lost a noticeable amount of weight, and those who didn’t work at the machinery factory rarely saw her.

She left early and returned late every day.

As for Tonglai, who used to run around with his brothers, now that kindergarten was over, he would come home alone and sit on a small stool by the door.

As for the rest of the people in the courtyard, life went on as usual. Recently, no one had been causing any trouble, and everyone was living quietly. The only one still somewhat active was Zhou Qun, who loved to gossip everywhere.

Because of this, Aunt Wang had a special talk with Zhou Qun. Of course, it wasn’t to stop him from gossiping—that was beyond her control—but to discuss having him take over as the courtyard’s manager during the year-end elections. After all, he loved going from house to house, so wouldn’t that be perfect?

Zhou Qun agreed to consider it.

Aunt Wang was overjoyed.

Zhou Qun was considering it, but his main focus was still on the factory.

Recently, the factory had organized a matchmaking event, and Zhou Qun had plenty to say about it. The main topic of discussion was their old acquaintance, Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou had actually signed up for the event. At first glance, Bai Fendou’s conditions seemed quite good.

If you didn’t know his background, you might easily be fooled.

But thanks to the abundance of gossip, everyone in the city knew about Bai Fendou. His name was practically a household one, and while this wasn’t good for Bai Fendou, it did eliminate the possibility of him "tricking" someone into marriage.

Everyone knew his real situation, so there was no chance of him deceiving a wife.

Even without the rumors, Bai Fendou insisted that he would never deceive anyone. He was a man of integrity, and tricking a woman was beneath him. To prepare for the matchmaking event, Bai Fendou even borrowed a shirt from Old Man Zhuang.

Yes, you read that right—Old Man Zhuang.

That’s because Old Man Zhuang had made a short-sleeved polyester shirt this summer, something even Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zhixi didn’t have. Bai Fendou had reserved it early, planning to borrow it.

This wasn’t an unusual situation. In fact, several people had asked to borrow Old Man Zhuang’s shirt, but Bai Fendou had been the quickest.

Borrowing nice clothes for a matchmaking event was pretty standard, especially in rural areas where resources were scarce and everyone was poor.

The matchmaking event was held at the cultural center.

Zhuang Zhixi, as part of the propaganda department, had gone early to help with the preparations. Others from the union, factory office, and women’s federation were also there. Besides these official departments, there were also volunteers helping out.

For example—Zhou Qun.

Zhou Qun had volunteered to come and help out, and of course, he had his reasons. His explanation was that his wife was a pregnant woman, an older one at that, and it was her first pregnancy, so they were being extra cautious. With so many people around, there was a risk of her getting bumped or hurt, which wouldn’t be good.

So, he preferred that his wife stay back at the factory, and he would come here to help in her place. He had even made arrangements with his colleagues and handed out cigarettes to smooth things over.

As for this whole situation, it left people a bit speechless.

Even if Zhou Qun hadn’t said anything, the Women’s Federation wouldn’t have let Jiang Lu come anyway. There was still a sense of humanity in that.

But Zhou Qun had rushed over quickly, and people suspected that his concern for Jiang Lu was just an excuse. What he really wanted was to see the spectacle.

As the saying goes, it’s a good thing this guy is useless now.

So, there really wasn’t much to worry about.

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t hold back and started giving Zhou Qun tasks. If he volunteered to help, why not put him to work?

He called out, “Brother Qun, come over and help put up these lists. They have everyone’s personal information.”

Zhou Qun replied, “Coming, coming!”

He hurried over to help. The work here was quite meticulous.

He helped put up several large red posters with lists on them. Upon closer inspection, there were three profiles for male candidates and three for female candidates.

The male candidates were mainly from the machinery factory, while the female candidates were mostly elementary school teachers and bus station staff, with ticket sellers being the majority.

Of course, that’s not to say there were no women at the machinery factory. There were some, like the top female candidate, Tao Yuyue, who worked as a temporary staff member in the factory’s medical office. Zhou Qun read aloud, “Number one, Tao Yuyue, temporary worker at the machinery factory’s medical office, 20 years old, graduated from a medical school. She has an older brother, an older sister, and a younger brother. Both her brother and sister are married, and her younger brother has been sent to the countryside. Both parents are alive; her father works at a food factory, and her mother is a temporary worker there.”

Zhou Qun stroked his chin and said, “Tao Yuyue seems quite aloof, but her background isn’t particularly outstanding.”

Actually, her situation wasn’t bad, but Zhou Qun could afford to say that. After all, Jiang Lu’s circumstances were beyond what most people could compare to. It wasn’t surprising that he thought others’ situations were ordinary. But upon further reflection, Zhou Qun had a point.

Without considering her personality, Tao Yuyue’s background wasn’t particularly impressive.

After all, she was just a temporary worker.

In those days, there was a world of difference between being a permanent employee and a temporary one.

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t join Zhou Qun in his commentary. He had a good relationship with Doctor Wang from the medical office. Tao Yuyue was Doctor Wang’s niece, so Zhuang Zhixi didn’t feel the need to gossip. He turned around and went to arrange some snacks. In the center of the table, he placed a few pieces of fruit.

But don’t think these were for everyone to eat. With so many people around, such a small amount of food clearly wasn’t meant to be eaten. It was just for show. If anyone dared to take any, they’d be laughed at.

This wasn’t the place to be greedy.

“What time does this start?”

“In an hour.”

“Then we’d better hurry up.”

Apart from that, they had also prepared balloons, flowers, and some ribbons. Zhuang Zhixi and the other men were the main workforce, taking charge of setting up the venue. After all, there would be reporters coming to take photos.

If the venue wasn’t decorated nicely, it wouldn’t look good in the newspapers.

With many hands making light work, the venue was quickly transformed into a warm and welcoming space.

Zhuang Zhixi sighed, “Why didn’t I think of decorating like this when I got married?”

“Oh, come on, could you have gotten all this stuff?” Sister Cui teased.

Zhuang Zhixi replied, “No way.”

Thinking about it, he didn’t have any regrets. They simply couldn’t have done it.

Many of these things required official applications from proper organizations. Ordinary people couldn’t get their hands on them.

Zhuang Zhixi looked around and asked, “Where’s Little Xu? He’s disappeared.”

Sister Cui said, “He vanished as soon as he got here. Probably went off to sleep somewhere and avoid work. This guy used to be so competitive, but now he looks so worn out. It’s like he’s never had enough sleep. I don’t know how a young guy like him ended up looking so drained. He’s single, but he looks more like a married man than you do.”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed, “What are you talking about? How do I not look like a married man? I’m always talking about my wife.”

Sister Cui rolled her eyes and said, “Alright, we know you two are lovey-dovey. No need to show off.”

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, “How is telling the truth showing off?”

Old Huang chimed in, “Little Xu started sweating as soon as he entered the venue, like he’d seen a ghost. He looked a bit pale, so I told him to step outside and take a breather.”

Zhuang Zhixi looked around and said, “This place seems fine. What’s wrong with him?”

Sister Cui speculated, “Is he trying to avoid work?”

“Who knows? Probably not, right?”

As they were discussing this, Little Xu was sitting outside by the wall of the cultural center, leaning against it and staring up at the sky in despair. He didn’t want to see Zhou Qun! Every time he saw Zhou Qun, he thought of Jiang Lu, and thinking of Jiang Lu made his legs go weak.

That woman was like a wolf or a tiger.

She had left a psychological scar on him.

Wuwu, he didn’t want to see Zhou Qun.

Besides that, seeing Zhou Qun was a bit awkward for him. After all, he had slept with the man’s wife. There was a mix of guilt, awkwardness, and confusion. But he could understand why Zhou Qun had turned his attention to men, even trying to make moves on Bai Fendou. He probably couldn’t handle Jiang Lu’s insatiable demands.

He was tired of women.

Wuwuwu.

It was just a miserable situation.

He didn’t want to see Zhou Qun, and he didn’t want to see Jiang Lu.

As he wallowed in self-pity, he noticed a large group of people approaching. He checked the time and realized it was almost time.

He quickly got up and hurried inside, saying, “They’re here.”

Luckily, they had arrived early, and the venue was already set up.

Among those who had come early to help, some were single and participating in the matchmaking event. However, the single ones were easily identifiable by the badges they wore. At this moment, Zhuang Zhixi, as a married man, quickly found a corner to stand in. This wasn’t the time for him to steal the spotlight.

All the staff stood on either side of the venue as the leaders entered first. Zhuang Zhixi felt a bit of discomfort in his stomach and quietly slipped out. The weather had been fluctuating a lot lately, with big temperature differences between morning and evening. Leaving the window open for too long at night had upset his stomach.

He headed to the restroom and, upon entering, saw Bai Fendou there, nervously inhaling and exhaling, loudly encouraging himself, “Bai Fendou, you can find a wife!”

Zhuang Zhixi stumbled in surprise and said, “Hey, Bai Fendou, what are you doing causing a scene in the restroom? Hurry up, it’s already started.”

Bai Fendou replied, “I know, I can do this! I’m capable!”

He pumped himself up again and strode out confidently.

Zhuang Zhixi: “…”

This was just ridiculous.

Bai Fendou was even wearing his father’s jacket, though it was unclear whose pants he had borrowed. As Zhuang Zhixi left the restroom and headed back to the venue, he noticed a group of sneaky teenagers carrying baskets, hiding and darting around.

Well, there’s always someone trying to make a quick buck, no matter the situation.

This matchmaking event was quite large, and many people knew about it. With so many young men and women gathered together, there were bound to be some who hit it off. If they decided to go out to watch a movie or something, they’d inevitably run into these basket-carrying kids.

When you’re dating, you’ve got to buy some snacks, right?

The idea was well thought out and logical. They could definitely make some money. But it was also a bit risky. These kids were bold and fearless when it came to making money. Perhaps because Zhuang Zhixi had been staring at them for a while, one of the kids quickly approached him and said, “Big bro, want some roasted peanuts? They’re super fragrant.”

Zhuang Zhixi peeked into the basket and saw that the peanuts looked perfectly roasted.

He said, “…Sure, give me some.”

He bought a pound, wrapped them in paper, and stuffed them into his bag.

“Be careful, don’t get caught,” Zhuang Zhixi warned.

The kid, thrilled with his first sale, said, “Big bro, I can run fast. Besides, who’d be so inconsiderate as to cause trouble here today? The anti-speculation office wouldn’t dare come and ruin the mood. Hehe.”

Zhuang Zhixi gave him a thumbs-up.

Despite being older than others, he wasn't as adept at handling situations as they were.

Zhuang Zhixi carried his bag back. Normally, he wouldn’t bring a bag to work, but today, since he needed to set up the venue, having a bag was convenient. And as it turned out, it came in handy. Zhuang Zhixi peeled a roasted peanut and ate it, nodding in approval: "Tasty."

The vendor, delighted, boasted, "Our craftsmanship is one of a kind. You can enjoy it without worry."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and returned to the venue. To his surprise, the leader was still giving a speech. Zhuang Zhixi thought to himself, "..."

Leaders really do love to talk, don’t they?

He checked the time. The speech had been going on for half an hour already. Didn’t they realize the main event today was a matchmaking session? Fortunately, it was finally coming to an end. As the leader finished, thunderous applause broke out.

One couldn’t help but wonder if the applause was more about celebrating the end of the speech than anything else.

Zhuang Zhixi leaned against the wall, observing the crowd of men and women in the venue. There were easily two to three hundred people, maybe even more. Cheerful music played in the background. Some of the more outgoing young men and women started dancing in the middle of the room, while the shyer ones stood in the corners.

The liveliest spots were around the more attractive girls, who naturally drew more attention.

At the center of the venue was Tao Yuyue.

During the registration, Tao Yuyue had already figured out that the bulletin board would provide detailed introductions of everyone’s backgrounds. As a temporary worker, this was her biggest disadvantage. Other than that, her conditions were fairly average.

But this one major drawback was enough to make people overlook her. Knowing this, Tao Yuyue had planned her strategy early on. Men are often swayed by looks, especially those with good conditions. Sometimes, they might not fixate too much on a woman’s background.

She had been through many matchmaking sessions before. She noticed that men who were average in terms of conditions and overly calculating tended to demand more from the women they pursued. On the other hand, those with better conditions were less stringent. So, she didn’t even bother with those who looked down on her background.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her goal was to shine during this matchmaking event.

She had prepared for a long time, practicing at home. As the music started, she took the initiative to step forward first, smiling as she said, "With such wonderful music and such a beautiful day, it’s rare for us to gather like this. Why don’t I perform a dance for everyone?"

She had learned a Xinjiang dance, which was perfect for the occasion.

"Bravo!"

"Beautiful!"

Thanks to Tao Yuyue’s lead, the atmosphere quickly warmed up. Many bold young men and women joined in. Of course, while some admired Tao Yuyue, others didn’t care for her.

Especially among the women, it was almost instinctive to recognize that she wasn’t their kind of person.

Men might not understand, but women could sense it immediately. They didn’t like her much.

The venue was bustling with activity, but Bai Fendou was the loneliest one there. He had approached several people, only to be swiftly brushed off. This left him feeling disheartened. What he didn’t know was that before he even entered, a group of people had already gathered around the bulletin board, asking, "Which number is Bai Fendou? Bai Fendou from the machinery factory? Number twenty-five? Who’s number twenty-five…"

So, when Bai Fendou appeared, the number "25" on his badge immediately caught everyone’s attention.

So, this was Bai Fendou.

This was the infamous Bai Fendou, the man who was no longer a man, the subject of countless rumors.

At first glance, he was indeed unattractive.

Both ugly and foolish!

To be honest, most people didn’t have a good impression of Bai Fendou. Aside from the rumors about him, there was also the fact that his father had passed away less than a month ago, and the mourning period wasn’t even over. Yet here he was, already out looking for a partner.

This gave off a strong impression of being unfilial.

If he couldn’t even respect his own father, how could anyone expect him to respect his in-laws? It was impossible. So, the women didn’t think much of him. Yet, Bai Fendou remained oblivious. He kept approaching the more attractive women.

This only made people look down on him even more. He clearly lacked self-awareness.

What kind of conditions did he have to be chasing after pretty girls? Wasn’t he just setting them up for a life of loneliness?

The men at the event looked at Bai Fendou with disdain, while the women avoided him like the plague, not even willing to exchange a word with him.

Bai Fendou’s surroundings were practically a vacuum.

He didn’t notice, but Zhuang Zhixi, squatting nearby and munching on peanuts, saw it all clearly.

"Where’d you get those peanuts? Give me some."

Zhou Qun squatted down beside Zhuang Zhixi, who replied without hesitation, "If you want some, go buy your own. There’s a vendor at the entrance."

Zhou Qun: "Cheapskate."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I don’t care."

Zhou Qun watched as Zhuang Zhixi kept eating. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly went outside, jogged to the vendor, and returned with his own bag of peanuts. He squatted down and started peeling them. Watching Bai Fendou get rejected yet again, he couldn’t help but comment, "Why is he so clueless? He should be talking to the women with worse conditions. He doesn’t even realize his own situation, yet he’s chasing after the good ones. No wonder they’re giving him the cold shoulder."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Maybe he’s just blinded by beauty?"

Back in the courtyard, Bai Fendou had mentioned wanting to find a widow with children, but now that he was here, he seemed to have changed his mind. He was clearly captivated by the attractive women. But he didn’t stop to think: why would someone with good conditions choose him?

"Tsk, tsk. I don’t think he’s going to find anyone this time either."

"I think so too."

The two of them squatted in the corner, eating peanuts and gossiping, which caught Sister Cui’s attention. She came over and squatted down, saying, "Give me some."

Zhuang Zhixi shared some peanuts with her, while Zhou Qun snorted in annoyance.

Damn, this guy was playing favorites.

Sister Cui looked at the crowd of men and women and said, "I wonder how many couples will hit it off today."

Zhuang Zhixi: "There’ll definitely be some. Even in previous events that weren’t as well-organized as this one, quite a few couples got together. This time, things are even clearer and more straightforward."

"That’s true."

While they were busy watching the drama, Bai Fendou had made his rounds twice without anyone paying him any attention. He sighed in frustration. He was a decent young man, so why was finding a partner so difficult? Sighing, he turned and saw Tao Yuyue’s smiling face. He immediately approached her: "Nurse Tao, I didn’t expect to see you here. Your dance was wonderful."

Tao Yuyue replied gracefully, "Thank you."

She added, "Mr. Bai, how about you? Have you found anyone you like? Tell me, I won’t tell anyone else."

She playfully winked, causing the men around her to gasp. They found her utterly charming.

One of the men, who clearly looked down on Bai Fendou, said, "Nurse Tao, you’re just too kind-hearted. You’re willing to be friends with anyone. But some people, you really should keep your distance from. Be careful, or you might get taken advantage of. Some people look human, but they don’t act like it."

"That’s right."

"Why are you even talking to Bai Fendou? He’s not even a real man."

Bai Fendou’s face instantly darkened. "What the hell did you just say?"

He grabbed the man by the collar and snapped, "Who asked for your opinion? I don’t need you to meddle. You think you’re a real man? You’re still here looking for a partner just like me! Nurse Tao wouldn’t give you the time of day either!"

"Whether she likes me or not, at least I’m a real man," the man retorted stubbornly.

"I’ll beat the crap out of you!"

"Go ahead, try it. What are you even capable of?"

The two of them started arguing, drawing the attention of everyone around them.

Some were curious, some were amused, and others frowned in disapproval.

From a distance, Zhuang Zhixi and the others watched in shock. "Damn, what’s Bai Fendou doing now?"

They were really fed up with Bai Fendou’s antics. How could he cause trouble in any situation? Zhuang Zhixi quickly got up to intervene, saying, "Let go, both of you! You’re here to find partners, not to fight. This is embarrassing. Look, the women are watching. We’re men of the capital; we need to save face."

Zhuang Zhixi’s words worked, and the two men separated.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Look, we’re all from the same factory. There’s no need for this, really."

He straightened Bai Fendou's clothes, which belonged to his father, making sure not to damage them.

Just as he finished, he suddenly felt that this wasn’t appropriate, as it might lead to gossip. After all, Bai Fendou had too many rumors swirling around him. He then naturally turned to tidy up the other guy who was ready to fight and said, "You all need to look presentable, neat and tidy. That’s what makes a good impression. Do you know why I’m married and you’re still single? It’s because I’m clean, organized, and have a good personality. You all should learn a thing or two."

Bai Fendou and the other guy who was about to fight: "..."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Be polite and kind to others, that’s how we represent the spirit of our machinery factory, comrades."

Bai Fendou twitched his lips, thinking to himself: *You make it sound so convincing, but it’s really just because you’re good-looking.*

"Do your best and try to get married soon," Zhuang Zhixi added.

Bai Fendou retorted, "Just get out of here already. You’ve got a wife and now you’re showing off in front of me."

The other guy chimed in, "Exactly."

Zhuang Zhixi shrugged innocently and said, "Have you ever thought that what you consider showing off is just me stating the plain truth?"

"Uh..."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "Alright, break it up. What’s the point of fighting? Hurry up and see if there are any suitable girls around. Start making your moves! Don’t tell me you don’t know how to find a partner!"

The people around them laughed along. Although he said it in a teasing manner, his words weren’t aggressive at all. The tense atmosphere from earlier instantly lightened, and everyone started laughing.

A few female comrades whispered among themselves, "Why isn’t he wearing a name tag? What’s his number?"

"Didn’t you hear what he just said? He’s married."

"Was he joking?"

"Of course not. Look, he’s not wearing a name tag. He’s probably just a staff member, maybe from the machinery factory’s union or the publicity department."

"Still, we should ask around..."

Their hushed chatter was overheard by Zhou Qun, who said loudly, "Ladies, don’t get your hopes up about the guys without name tags. They’re all married. Even if you like them, it’s no use."

The female comrades, who had been whispering, rolled their eyes at his booming voice.

But now their attention was no longer on Zhuang Zhixi. Since it had been made clear, he must indeed be married. What a shame—a good-looking, funny, and respectable guy like him, already taken.

The scene returned to its lively atmosphere.

Having successfully mediated the situation, Zhuang Zhixi quietly retreated to a corner, unnoticed.

However, he didn’t notice that a few people were watching him. Some leaders from the unit who had come to observe the situation nodded and smiled, murmuring, "That young man handles things well. He’s got a good approach."

In such situations, it’s easy to stop a fight, but to keep the atmosphere lively and ensure no one feels offended is quite difficult.

"I know him," said the leader from the bus station with a smile. "He comes to our unit every day to pick up his wife. His wife, Ming Mei, is quite something. She’s caught thieves several times. The police station has tried to recruit her multiple times, but I’ve refused to let her go."

"Wow, impressive!"

"Absolutely."

After chatting about Zhuang Zhixi and his wife, the leaders turned their attention back to the event. "Hey, wasn’t that your nephew arguing with Bai Fendou earlier?"

"Yes, that disgrace to the family."

"Gentlemen pursue fair ladies. He must have been fighting over a girl."

"That girl is quite graceful. She dances Xinjiang folk dances very well."

"Indeed."

Don’t think that men don’t gossip, or that leaders don’t gossip. They were all thoroughly enjoying the drama.

Zhuang Zhixi, still crouched in the corner, continued shelling peanuts when he noticed a woman walking up to Bai Fendou with a smile. She said, "Hello, Comrade Bai Fendou."

Zhuang Zhixi stopped eating peanuts and stared in surprise.

*Bai Fendou… getting attention from a woman?*