My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

"Bai Fendou, hello."

Bai Fendou was feeling downcast, thinking that people really had no taste, when someone suddenly greeted him.

He turned around in surprise and instantly felt his heart bloom. The woman in front of him was exactly his type. He wasn’t into the youthful, girlish look; instead, he preferred someone a bit more glamorous and curvaceous.

Like Wang Xiangxiu.

And the woman before him was just that type.

"What? Don’t you recognize me? I’m your elementary school classmate, Guan Guiling. What, now that you’re doing well, you’re ignoring old friends?"

Bai Fendou: "Guan Guiling?"

He didn’t remember her, but that didn’t stop him from nodding. "Oh, it’s you."

After all, what man would admit he didn’t recognize a pretty woman?

He glanced down at her name tag, only to find it blank. Surprised, he looked at Guan Guiling and asked, "You’re not here for the matchmaking event?"

Guan Guiling’s tone carried a hint of melancholy. "I’m not qualified to be here for matchmaking. Look at all the fresh-faced young girls here. Someone like me would just be a background character. I work at the bus station’s union and came here to help out."

Bai Fendou: "What do you mean, background character? I think many here can’t hold a candle to you."

As soon as he said this, he was met with a flurry of angry glares. Flattering a woman was one thing, but why insult everyone else? And why say it so loudly, as if he wanted everyone to hear?

What kind of person was this?

So rude.

The women nearby rolled their eyes, while the men seemed pleased. With someone like Bai Fendou around, they looked much better by comparison. The more unpopular he was, the better their chances.

Hmph.

Everyone had their own thoughts, but Guan Guiling smiled and said, "Thank you for standing up for me. Old classmates are the best."

Bai Fendou blushed at her words. Guan Guiling asked, "So, have you found anyone you like? The girls at the bus station are quite something, you know."

Of course, Bai Fendou knew they were. Whether it was the bus station, the elementary school teachers, or the girls at the machinery factory, there were plenty of attractive women. But none of them were interested in him. Whenever he tried to strike up a conversation, they ignored him, acting so aloof.

Still, he had his pride. "I haven’t found anyone suitable yet. I’m quite picky."

Guan Guiling raised an eyebrow and said softly, "You’ve always been like that, even as a kid. High standards."

Bai Fendou laughed, feeling that this old classmate was really nice, much better than those young girls who didn’t appreciate him. He couldn’t help but ask, "Are you single or married? Someone as wonderful as you must have married early, right?"

Guan Guiling nodded. "I was married."

She paused, then added, "But I’m divorced now."

Bai Fendou sighed softly. Guan Guiling’s eyes flickered as she said, "I’ve had a hard life. My ex-husband, well..."

She paused again, seeing that she had piqued Bai Fendou’s interest, then added, "Never mind, why am I talking about this? I don’t want to ruin your matchmaking mood."

Bai Fendou grew anxious. "No, no, go on. Why stop now? This matchmaking thing isn’t really working out for me anyway. Why don’t we go out and sit somewhere? It’s too crowded here to talk properly." He thought for a moment and said, "Let me treat you to a meal. We’ll go to the state-run restaurant and have some meat buns."

Guan Guiling hesitated. "Is that appropriate? Everyone here is matchmaking, and I’m sure there are plenty of young girls interested in talking to you. If I take you away, they’ll hate me for ruining your chances."

"Nonsense. Just because someone’s interested in me doesn’t mean I have to be interested in them. I’m not that easy, you know. I have standards when it comes to finding a partner. Come on, let’s go. It’s not every day we old classmates run into each other. Let’s have a meal together."

Guan Guiling smiled. "Alright then."

The two of them walked out together, leaving Zhuang Zhixi dumbfounded. From his corner, he couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was clear they were getting along well. He stared at their retreating figures in shock when he heard an incredulous voice: "Bai Fendou actually left with a woman? How is that possible?"

Zhuang Zhixi turned his head and saw Zhou Qun, who had apparently been watching for some time. Zhou Qun looked utterly stunned, his expression slightly dazed. "I never thought he’d actually leave with someone! Wait, who is that woman? What unit does she work for? She must be blind. Or maybe she’s up to something?"

Zhou Qun’s questions came from the depths of his soul.

Zhuang Zhixi looked at his disheveled appearance and said, "Maybe Bai Fendou’s luck is finally turning. Can’t you wish your buddy some happiness?"

Zhou Qun’s face remained one of shock. "This isn’t about wishing him well or not. What if Bai Fendou’s being scammed?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Who knows? I noticed that woman wasn’t wearing a name tag, but people without tags aren’t supposed to be allowed in."

Truth be told, Zhuang Zhixi also felt something was off. After all, what normal woman would go for someone like Bai Fendou?

"We’ll ask him about it when we get back to the courtyard."

As neighbors in the same compound, they were genuinely concerned that Bai Fendou might be getting duped. Not that they were nosy or anything—absolutely not.

If they hadn’t been on duty, Zhuang Zhixi would have followed to see what Bai Fendou was up to.

Zhuang Zhixi felt that today’s matchmaking event, while lively, was ultimately rather dull. Hundreds of young men and women, yet it wasn’t as interesting as the gatherings in their courtyard with just a dozen families.

Young people these days were too reserved.

After watching for a while, he sighed, thinking that things had been more entertaining when Bai Fendou was around. But now the man had left—what a pity.

He wondered where Bai Fendou had taken that woman.

Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t stupid. Even though he couldn’t hear their conversation, he could tell at a glance that the woman wasn’t unmarried. Her age gave her away. Besides, no unmarried woman would approach Bai Fendou willingly.

Even Wang Zhaodi, a poor country girl, wouldn’t do it.

Actually, Zhuang Zhixi was mistaken about Wang Zhaodi. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t do it. If it were a normal matchmaking situation, even knowing Bai Fendou’s shortcomings, Wang Zhaodi’s family would likely have agreed. Wang Zhaodi, being a naive girl, wouldn’t have known any better and would have followed her family’s wishes to marry him.

But this wasn’t a normal situation. Wang Zhaodi had ended up living in their courtyard due to unusual circumstances and had come into contact with many people, which had changed her perspective. She now knew exactly what kind of person Bai Fendou was and understood that marrying him would be a disaster for any unmarried girl.

So Wang Zhaodi wanted no part of it.

She was hardworking and self-reliant, able to make a living with her own hands. She didn’t want to settle for a miserable life.

See, even Wang Zhaodi, a country girl, wasn’t interested. So how could a working woman from the city possibly be interested in Bai Fendou?

Yes, there was a noticeable difference between those who had jobs and those who didn’t, both in demeanor and appearance. Housewives tended to be a bit more unkempt, while working women were usually more put-together.

Of course, this wasn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but it was generally true.

So Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t help but think that Bai Fendou might be walking into another trap.

"Hey, do you know that woman?" Zhou Qun asked, interrupting Zhuang Zhixi’s thoughts.

Zhuang Zhixi shook his head. "No, I don’t."

Zhou Qun: "You don’t know her, and she’s not wearing a name tag. I’ll go ask around. We can’t have some shady woman sneaking in here."

He darted off, and Zhuang Zhixi stroked his chin, deep in thought.

When he looked up again, he saw Zhou Qun darting around, talking to one person after another, busier than ever.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Who could have imagined that at the beginning of the year, this person was still putting on a facade of seriousness, spouting moral lessons left and right? The change came so fast it was almost jarring! But honestly, Zhou Qun being like this isn’t so bad. At least he seems more human now.

Not long after, Zhou Qun returned and sidled up to Zhuang Zhixi, whispering as if they were sharing a secret: “I’ve got the scoop.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Oh?”

He was curious too and quickly asked, “What’s the deal? What does that woman do? How did she get in touch with Bai Fendou?”

Zhou Qun: “I asked around at the entrance. She’s from the union at the bus station, here to help out.”

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, “Help out? This event is mainly organized by our factory. Most of the people setting up the venue are from our machinery plant. You’ve been here all morning, haven’t you noticed? It’s mostly our people. The school didn’t want to make a big deal, so they didn’t send anyone. As for the bus station, only a few union members are here. We’ve already seen them this morning. She wasn’t among them.”

The school was keeping a low profile, not daring to draw attention, being extremely cautious and quiet.

As for the bus station, they don’t have weekends off. They operate on a rotating schedule since the buses run every day. So, many people from the bus station signed up for the matchmaking event, and someone had to cover their shifts. In recent years, there’s been a wave of new hires at the bus station, with fewer single people in the administrative offices and more single ticket sellers.

So, with so many people attending the matchmaking event, a lot of shifts needed to be covered.

That’s why only five people from the bus station came to help. Zhuang Zhixi knew this well.

After all, his wife works at the bus station.

It was because of this connection that the two sides got in touch and organized this matchmaking event. Everyone at the bus station had seen Zhuang Zhixi picking up his wife, so even if they didn’t know him personally, they recognized his face. That’s why they all greeted him when they arrived.

So, Zhuang Zhixi was familiar with everyone from the bus station, but he hadn’t seen that woman earlier.

Hearing this, Zhou Qun slapped his forehead, “You’re right! I’ve been here all morning and didn’t see her either. But she wouldn’t lie about this, would she? It’d be too easy to expose. Anyway, I asked a few female colleagues who were standing near Bai Fendou earlier. They said the woman is Bai Fendou’s elementary school classmate, Guan Guiling. The two old classmates ran into each other and went out together, saying they were going to eat meat buns. Tsk, look at Bai Fendou, always so sneaky. But they also said the woman is divorced. Geez, it feels like she’s fishing. My heart’s itching with curiosity.”

Zhuang Zhixi looked at Zhou Qun in surprise, “Aren’t you and Bai Fendou classmates too?”

He asked, “If Bai Fendou knows her, how come you don’t?”

Zhou Qun was stunned for a moment, then said, “You’re right, Bai Fendou and I are classmates.”

Zhou Qun, Bai Fendou, and that kid from the Su family were all elementary school classmates. Although they weren’t the same age, they were born within a year of each other. The Su kid was a year older, but only by about ten months.

However, none of them studied much, and they all dropped out after elementary school.

Zhou Qun: “We were in the same class. How come I don’t remember having a female classmate like her?”

“Probably because she’s changed a lot since then. You wouldn’t recognize her.”

Zhou Qun: “Ugh, my memory is terrible. How could I forget a woman?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “…”

Why are you insulting yourself?

Zhou Qun: “No, I need to go ask around some more.”

He was about to leave when he suddenly stopped and said, “Wait, I don’t need to go out and ask. I can just ask your wife when we get home. She works at the bus station, so she must know, right?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “My wife hasn’t been working there long. She might not know. You should go out and ask. Get the details, and we’ll share what we find out.”

The subtext was clear: Come on, let’s gossip together.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

We’re both gossipy men.

Zhou Qun: “Just wait and see. I’m off!”

Zhou Qun dove back into the gossip pool.

It wasn’t just the two of them being nosy. After Bai Fendou left, more than half the people at the event were talking about him. After all, a legendary figure like him was always worth discussing. Especially since this legendary figure, despite being, well, let’s just say “incapacitated,” was still looking for a wife.

Not just any wife, but a pretty one at that.

Tsk!

It’s ridiculous!

Do pretty, well-off girls owe you something?

It’s natural for gentlemen to admire beautiful ladies, but you have to be realistic. Otherwise, it’s just delusional.

Everyone was baffled as to why someone would leave with Bai Fendou. But then again, the rumors about him being a bit out of touch were spot on. The man was truly something else.

There’s no denying that Bai Fendou added a lot of spice to the matchmaking event.

Originally, the young men and women were quite reserved. Even though it was a big event, people back then were generally more introverted, so they were naturally a bit nervous. Those with social confidence were few and far between.

Someone like Tao Yuye, who dared to dance at the start, was already considered exceptionally bold.

Most people were relatively reserved, but then Bai Fendou showed up.

Bai Fendou brought his drama with him.

Thanks to Bai Fendou, many of the more introverted young men and women found a topic to break the ice and started chatting.

Zhuang Zhixi watched in amazement. It was truly a case of sacrificing Bai Fendou for the happiness of countless single men and women.

Take Zhang San, for example.

Zhang San—in this era, if a brick fell from the sky and hit ten people, five of them would be named Zhang San—worked in the security department at the machinery plant and was Zhuang Zhixi’s gossip buddy. Despite his job, his family situation wasn’t great.

This time, he didn’t meet anyone suitable at the matchmaking event. Even though he was a full-time employee, his parents were unemployed, he only had one room to his name, and he had a bunch of siblings and in-laws living together. The burden was heavy.

So, Zhang San had made a few attempts to approach potential matches, but it hadn’t gone well. Still, he remained optimistic, unlike Bai Fendou.

When Bai Fendou failed at matchmaking, he blamed others for not recognizing his worth, thinking they were blind to his “golden” qualities. He believed he was a catch, a fine young man with great prospects.

But Zhang San had self-awareness. He knew his family situation was a burden, and he wasn’t exactly handsome, with his sharp features. It was natural for others to not be interested. So, he took it in stride. When Bai Fendou stirred up the crowd again, Zhang San, as a security staff member, knew all about Bai Fendou’s antics and started sharing stories.

This ended up enlightening those who weren’t familiar with Bai Fendou’s exploits. While the machinery plant folks were used to it, people from other units hadn’t heard these tales before. The atmosphere became lively, and by the time Zhang San finished talking, a slightly plump girl was still chatting with him.

The two of them were hitting it off.

They exchanged knowing looks—both were gossip enthusiasts.

And who knows? Maybe there was a spark of something more.

Zhuang Zhixi watched the lively scene and thought their factory should give Bai Fendou a commendation. Truly, society is better with you in it. While Zhuang Zhixi was busy watching the spectacle, Bai Fendou had already left with his old classmate.

As they stepped outside, a young boy approached and whispered, “Want to buy some roasted peanuts?”

Guan Guiling: “No, thanks. They’re too expensive. Who would spend money on that?”

Bai Fendou immediately said, “I’ll take a pound.”

Guan Guiling quickly stopped him, “Don’t! They’re too pricey. Why waste money? It’s not good for you to spend on me just because we ran into each other.”

Her reluctance to let him spend money made Bai Fendou think of Wang Xiangxiu. What a contrast! Wang Xiangxiu always wanted him to spend more, while his old classmate seemed genuinely concerned for him.

He waved it off, “It’s fine. A man from the capital can afford a pound of peanuts.”

The boy quickly handed over the peanuts and took the money, then slipped away. Bai Fendou handed the peanuts to Guan Guiling.

Guan Guiling held the bag, her expression softening. “Bai Fendou, thank you. You’re such a good person.”

She smiled faintly, "I remember you were different from others back in elementary school, more manly than most. That's why I had such a deep impression of you. So when I saw you this time, I recognized you immediately. It's just that you didn't recognize me, but that's understandable. I'm just an ordinary woman, not someone worth remembering."

"Don't say that, you're great," he replied.

They weren’t in a hurry to eat. Instead, they walked to a small park. The reason the matchmaking event was held at the cultural center was because of this nearby park. If two people hit it off, it was convenient for them to take a stroll together.

Some parks in the city charge an entrance fee, but this one didn’t, so there were still some children playing around.

The two found a step to sit on.

Guan Guiling said, "Out of all our classmates, you left the deepest impression on me. I won’t hide it from you—my biggest wish as a child was to marry you. Thinking back now, it’s funny how naive I was, but it’s really nice to meet you again."

Bai Fendou’s face turned slightly red.

This was the first time someone had ever said something like this to him, and it made him feel incredibly warm.

"You’re great too," he said. "What about your ex-husband? What did he do?"

Such a good woman, why did she get married so early?

Fortunately, she was divorced now, so he felt it was okay to ask.

Guan Guiling sighed, "My ex-husband… he didn’t do much. He used to be a driver at the bus station, but then he got sick and couldn’t work anymore, so I took over his job. But I don’t know how to drive, and since my husband was sick and needed care, they didn’t assign me as a ticket seller. The leaders were kind and, after some consideration, assigned me to the union. The work isn’t too heavy, and I can still take care of my family. Actually, I wanted to be a ticket seller—it pays three yuan more a month, and there’s extra allowance for being on the bus. But the shifts are irregular, so I had no choice but to give it up. I have five children at home, and the oldest is only ten."

Bai Fendou exclaimed, "Wow, that’s a heavy burden."

Guan Guiling nodded, "You’re right. But what can I do? I guess I’m just unlucky."

"What illness does your ex-husband have?"

"Lung disease. He coughs all day and has no strength. He can’t do any work."

"Lung disease?"

She quickly explained, "Not tuberculosis! It’s not contagious. He injured his lungs a long time ago and never fully recovered. It kept getting worse over time. The doctors say he can only rest and that it can’t be cured. He’s so thin now, with no strength at all. He can’t do anything."

She forced a bitter smile, "Even carrying a bucket of water makes him feel like he’s about to faint. My family urged me to divorce him, saying why should I drag this on? Raising children is one thing, but raising a man too? What’s the point? There’s no love between us. We’re more like siblings living under the same roof. My ex-husband even said he hoped I’d divorce him and find someone else. He didn’t want to burden me. We didn’t marry out of love in the first place. I didn’t want to divorce him—I took over his job, so how could I divorce him and still call myself a decent person? My family wanted me to divorce so I could remarry and get another dowry. I didn’t want to, but they kept pressuring me, and my ex-husband did too. In the end, I couldn’t hold out and divorced him. My family isn’t good to me, so I can’t go back—I’d just be exploited. Even though we’re divorced, I still live with my ex-husband. We’re divorced, but we still share the same home. Otherwise, I’d have nowhere to go. I’ve thought about it—even if we’re not husband and wife anymore, I’ll treat him like a brother. He’s been good to me. Even though there’s no love between us, if I left him at a time like this, what kind of person would I be?"

Bai Fendou listened silently.

Guan Guiling continued, "I’ve been feeling so stifled lately, with no one to talk to. When I saw you, I felt like I could trust you and just wanted to share. Are you tired of listening?"

Bai Fendou quickly replied, "Not at all."

He said, "You’re a good woman."

Guan Guiling smiled, "I knew you were a good person. You’re just as I remembered from when I liked you as a child."

Bai Fendou’s face turned red.

Guan Guiling quickly added, "Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t mean anything by it. I just liked you back then, but we were just kids. We didn’t understand much. Now, with how things are, I’m not fit for anyone. Besides, there’s still a man at home, so…"

"Don’t say that. Let’s go eat some buns," Bai Fendou said, thinking how misfortune always seemed to target those already suffering. A good woman like Guan Guiling really had a tough life.

Guan Guiling said, "Don’t eat buns. They’re too expensive."

"What’s the big deal? I’m single—I eat when I’m hungry, and that’s it. Let’s go."

Guan Guiling hesitated, "Well… okay, but don’t buy too many. Just one is enough."

"Don’t talk like that."

…

Though they had just met, they were as familiar as if they had known each other for decades.

Little did Bai Fendou know, their interaction had sparked countless conversations among the onlookers. Zhuang Zhixi saw it all clearly. As soon as the matchmaking event ended, he rushed home on his bike. It was the weekend, and his wife, Ming Mei, was at home.

Although there were many substitute ticket sellers on the buses that day, Ming Mei wasn’t one of them.

Who would dare let a woman five months pregnant sell tickets on a bus? What if something happened?

Well, Jiang Baohong would.

But Jiang Baohong had been demoted to a ticket seller after causing trouble, so she couldn’t manage anyone else. She was lucky to manage herself. Her terrible attitude had already gotten her beaten by passengers several times.

To be fair, most service workers at the time didn’t have the best attitudes, and ordinary people usually didn’t dare provoke them. But Jiang Baohong had pushed people to their limits. Only when pushed too far would someone actually hit her.

After being beaten a few times, she finally learned to behave. If she didn’t, she might not survive.

Ming Mei couldn’t care less about Jiang Baohong. Since the woman was no longer in a leadership position, she couldn’t bother Ming Mei anyway.

Today was Sunday, and Ming Mei was resting as usual, while Zhuang Zhixi was "working overtime."

Ming Mei was helping the aunts and sisters in the neighborhood with making paper boxes.

This was a side job Aunt Wang had recently secured for them. Everyone was working enthusiastically because this opportunity wouldn’t be available next year. Such jobs were usually reserved for impoverished families. They got the chance because of their collective effort in catching thieves earlier in the year.

Originally, they were supposed to be awarded the title of "Model Courtyard," but now… that was out of the question.

Their recent antics had disqualified them, but catching thieves was still a real achievement. So Aunt Wang had been pushing the neighborhood committee for work opportunities. The committee understood that while their courtyard had some issues, they couldn’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.

Since they couldn’t get the "Model Courtyard" title, they at least deserved some work opportunities.

Aunt Wang and Zhao Guihua, along with the other women, were satisfied with this arrangement. If they got nothing, they’d still have to endure their situation. This was already a good outcome. By doing these small tasks, they could earn a little extra money to help with household expenses.

Ming Mei was helping her mother-in-law, Zhao Guihua, with the work. She didn’t do much, just a little here and there, and handed it over to her mother-in-law. Liang Meifen, on the other hand, was quick and efficient, doing the most work among them.

Ming Mei took her time, not rushing.

"Is your husband still working today?" Aunt Sui asked.

Ming Mei nodded, "Today’s the matchmaking event. He had to go early to set up the venue. I think it should be over by now."

"Wait, isn’t that the job of the union and the propaganda department? Why did I see Zhou Qun there too?"

Jiang Lu was also there.

She said, "The Women’s Federation was involved too. My husband, Zhou Qun, wasn’t comfortable with me going, so he went in my place. Honestly, I think he just wanted to go himself. They originally said I could rest since I’m pregnant, but it’s good he went. At least it shows I’m not using my pregnancy to get special treatment. I didn’t go, but my husband did, so it’s the same."

"Haha, if Zhou Qun wanted to go, let him. I even saw Bai Fendou there."

“Bai Fendou went to find a partner. I wonder if he found anyone suitable. I heard most of the applicants this time were young girls, and there were hardly any widows or such. He probably won’t find a match, right?” someone muttered.

“Can’t Bai Fendou want to find a young girl?”

“He might want to, but the girls might not want him. You can’t just force someone, right?”

Aunt Zhou chimed in, “In my opinion, he’s just clueless. People with poor conditions usually feel too embarrassed to attend matchmaking events. In previous years, no one cared, but this year is different. Zhuang Zhixi, that troublemaker, even posted a detailed list of everyone’s family backgrounds. Those with particularly bad conditions didn’t even dare to sign up…”

Zhao Guihua snapped, “Who are you calling a troublemaker?” She threw her slipper at Aunt Zhou, who dodged just in time.

Aunt Zhou yelled, “Why are you hitting me?”

Zhao Guihua retorted, “Who told you to badmouth my son? My son did this for everyone’s benefit! By making everything clear, we prevent people from taking advantage. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a scam? If you’re not honest when introducing someone, it’s just cheating. We’re avoiding that kind of situation. In my opinion, everyone should thank my son for his idea. At least now people know they can’t just boast without substance.”

“That’s true. Some people really don’t tell the truth during matchmaking.”

“Exactly!”

Aunt Zhou grumbled, “I was just saying it casually. Besides, I wasn’t talking about Zhuang Zhixi. I was talking about Bai Fendou. He shouldn’t have gone. In our neighboring courtyard, there’s Da Qiang…”

“Da Qiang?”

Aunt Zhou rolled her eyes, “Qiang Dandan.”

“Oh, him! Isn’t he single too? Did he go?”

Aunt Zhou replied, “I ran into him this morning when I went to the restroom. He wasn’t dressed up at all, so I stopped him and asked. Guess what? He didn’t even sign up. He said he’s a widower and a laborer. With his conditions, he wouldn’t find anyone suitable, so why waste time? His situation is much better than Bai Fendou’s, but even he didn’t bother. Bai Fendou is still pushing his luck. Isn’t that just nonsense?”

Zhao Guihua disagreed, “I don’t agree with that. Whether your conditions are good or bad, if you want to find a partner, you should sign up. Not everyone judges by conditions. Besides, there are people with both good and bad conditions signing up. If we city folks say our conditions are bad, how much harder is it for those in the countryside? And finding a partner isn’t just about family background.”

“Zhao Guihua makes a good point.”

Zhao Guihua continued, “So, I think if Bai Fendou wants to find a partner, going to the matchmaking event is the right thing to do.”

“Mom, you’re right.” Just as they were talking, Zhuang Zhixi came speeding back on his bike.

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Mom, you’re absolutely right. After all, you never know when fate will strike. Today at the event, Bai Fendou left with a woman.”

“What!”

Everyone was stunned.

Even Wang Xiangxiu, who was quietly earning some extra money, paused for a moment before quickly resuming her work, as if it had nothing to do with her. Everyone glanced at her and then turned to Zhuang Zhixi, asking, “What happened? Tell us!”

“Yeah, what happened?”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “I don’t know the details. It’s a matchmaking event, so if two people hit it off, they just leave together.”

“I know! I know!” Zhou Qun, who had returned shortly after Zhuang Zhixi, was excited. After all, this was big gossip.

He said, “I know! The woman who left with Bai Fendou today is Guan Guiling. She’s actually an elementary school classmate of mine and Bai Fendou’s. She wasn’t there specifically to find a partner. She works at the bus station’s union and came to help at the event. But she was four hours late. Tsk, clearly not serious about helping. She has a husband and four kids, but her husband is seriously ill and in poor health. After she took over his job, they divorced, but they still live together. That’s what I found out.”

“Oh, so it wasn’t that they hit it off. I thought they had.”

“Well, that makes sense. Someone like Bai Fendou would be hard-pressed to find a match.”

“Probably just old classmates catching up.”

At this point, Lan Sihai, who had been quietly observing, chimed in with a cryptic remark, “Who says having a husband means you can’t succeed in matchmaking?”

Everyone exclaimed, “What!”

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

For a moment, no one understood what Lan Sihai was saying.

Lan Sihai casually added, “It’s still possible to bring the old husband along and marry a new one.”

After saying that, he turned to his wife, “Let’s go out to eat?”

Luo Xiaohe, still in shock, looked at Lan Sihai for a long moment before finally responding, “Oh, okay, let’s go.”

The old couple lived a very comfortable life.

Many in the courtyard envied them. After all, among the elderly, they were living the good life. Of course, there were whispers behind their backs, criticizing Lan Sihai for being too selfish and not thinking about his children. Shouldn’t he save more for his kids? If he had the means to help, shouldn’t he do more?

But that was just everyone else’s opinion, not Lan Sihai’s. The old man lived life on his own terms. Even when his daughter—Ming Mei’s mother—came to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts, he told her not to bother with formalities and to leave him alone.

Can you believe that?

In short, many people thought Lan Sihai was selfish.

But regardless, he was living his best life.

Look at him now, heading out to eat again.

No one knew how Luo Xiaohe got so lucky. After a lifetime of hardship, she finally found happiness in her later years.

Fate is truly unpredictable.

Some people exhaust all their bad luck in the first half of their lives, only to live well in the second half. The two of them walked away, and as they reached the door, Lan Sihai turned to Ming Mei and said, “Xiao Ming, I’ve got a pound of yarn coupons. What color do you want?”

Ming Mei replied without hesitation, “Red!”

She didn’t even ask why; she just took the offer immediately, saying, “If possible, I’d like red. If not, any other color is fine. Thank you, Grandpa.”

Lan Sihai said, “It’s not free. Have your husband come over and do some work for me. These next few days, he can buy the cabbage and coal briquettes for me. Also, have him check the roof. I heard that heavy snow in the north can even bend the roof?”

Ming Mei replied, “I’ve never heard of that.”

It was true that heavy snow sometimes caused minor issues, but bending the roof seemed like an exaggeration.

Lan Sihai said, “Just get it all done for me.”

Ming Mei replied, “Consider it done.”

Zhuang Zhixi scratched his head and complained, “Grandpa, I’m standing right here. Why don’t you just tell me directly instead of going through my wife?”

Lan Sihai replied, “Because I feel like it.”

This old man!

He’s really something.

Lan Sihai arrogantly left with his wife.

Meanwhile, the younger wives and sisters-in-law in the courtyard looked at Ming Mei with envy. Doing a little work and getting a pound of yarn was a lot!

And yarn coupons weren’t something just anyone could get. Usually, only mid-level or higher employees in the factory had access to them. Whether it was Zhuang Zhixi from the propaganda department, Jiang Lu from the women’s federation, or even Zhuang Laonian, a sixth-grade worker in the workshop, none of them had such perks.

Only someone like Lan Sihai, a skilled technical expert, could get them.

“I wonder if it’s thick or thin yarn. If it’s thin, it’s enough to knit a sweater.” Thick yarn wouldn’t be enough, but if you saved up, another pound would do the trick.

Having well-connected relatives was such an advantage. Just doing a little work here and there, and you wouldn’t leave empty-handed. Everyone in the courtyard helped the elderly with buying coal briquettes and cabbage or cleaning the roof.

But they didn’t get any yarn.

While everyone was envious of the yarn, Zhou Qun was still stuck on Lan Sihai’s earlier comment. Suddenly, he spoke up, “What did Uncle Lan mean by that?”

“What do you mean? He was just talking about doing some work, right?”

“Not this, I mean, he said marrying a new man while still being with the old one... Hiss!~” The more he thought about it, the more he felt he had stumbled upon something, even though he had never interacted with Guan Guiling. But he thought it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Otherwise, why would anyone be willing to get involved with Bai Fendou?

That just didn’t make sense.

Zhuang Zhixi stroked his chin, thinking that what his grandfather said actually made some sense.

No one understood, but everyone was deeply shocked.

Indeed, with age comes experience, and a broader perspective on things. Look, ordinary people like them hadn’t even considered such a possibility. But someone like Uncle Lan, who had seen much of the world, could guess such things right away.

At that moment, an elderly woman from the backyard spoke up: “Back in the day, things like this weren’t uncommon. If the man of the house couldn’t provide, and the woman couldn’t support the family alone, she would find another man to help out. The husband would tacitly allow it. This was called ‘pulling a helper.’”

Zhuang Zhixi: “...”

Ming Mei: “...”

Others: “...”

In short, it was an eye-opener.

Everyone turned to look at Wang Xiangxiu. She had done something similar in the past, but things had spiraled out of control, and now the two families were completely estranged. Wang Xiangxiu was quietly working and didn’t offer any opinion.

It was Aunt Zhou who couldn’t hold back and asked, “Wang Xiangxiu, what do you think about Bai Fendou’s situation?”

Wang Xiangxiu replied calmly, “It has nothing to do with me. I don’t care.”

She looked up and said, “I just want to work and earn money.”

Ever since she learned the truth about her husband’s death and Aunt Su’s schemes, she had grown disgusted with making money through those means. She thought, even if it meant working harder, she couldn’t afford to get into trouble again. If something happened to her, her three children would truly become orphans, with no one to care for them.

She could endure anything, but her children were her life.

Moreover, Wang Xiangxiu knew she wasn’t entirely innocent and that many eyes were on her, waiting to catch her in a mistake.

After all, her mother-in-law had once been of that kind of background...

In their current situation, she could only rely on herself.

She looked up and said, “Right now, I just want to raise my children well. I can’t afford to get involved in anything else.”

No one spoke at that moment.

Wang Xiangxiu added, “I wronged him in the past, but we won’t have any contact in the future.”

She took a deep breath and got up to go home and cook. As she turned around, she saw Tonglai standing at the door. She immediately went over and said, “Come on, let’s go cook. I’ll bring food to your brothers later.”

Tonglai: “Okay.”

Tonglai followed Wang Xiangxiu and asked, “Mom, when are they coming home?”

Wang Xiangxiu: “I don’t know. We’ll have to ask the doctor at the hospital.”

She chopped some cabbage and, after hesitating, added a thumb-sized piece of meat to the pot. Tonglai saw it and swallowed hard, saying, “It’s meat.”

Their family used to eat meat fairly often, but it had been a long time since they last had any.

Unlike his two older brothers, who were unaware of what had happened at home, Tonglai had been with Wang Xiangxiu the whole time and knew everything. At six or seven years old, he was at an age where he wasn’t entirely clueless but still young. However, young as he was, he could still understand what was being said.

At the very least, Tonglai knew that his father’s death was related to his grandmother and that she wasn’t a good person. She had hidden a lot of gold, planning to keep it for her old age, and refused to use it to treat his brothers. He knew all of this.

He also knew that the gold had been confiscated, his grandmother and second aunt had been arrested, and their family was now very poor.

“Mom, meat is expensive.”

Wang Xiangxiu: “I know, but you’re still young and can’t lack nutrition. Besides, your brothers are in a bad state right now, and they need to recover...”

After finishing cooking, she suddenly began to ponder.

Her mother-in-law’s hidden gold bars had been discovered and confiscated. But over the years, her mother-in-law must have swindled money from Old Man Bai. And surely, she must have saved some money when she was younger. So where was that money?

She suddenly grew curious and began inspecting the room.

Because of her mother-in-law’s background, their home had been thoroughly searched that day. Nothing unusual had been found, and the gold bars had been dug up outside, as Gou Lanxiang had confessed. But what about the money her mother-in-law had saved over the years?

“Mom?”

Wang Xiangxiu quickly scooped out some food and said, “You eat first. I’m going to search the house.”

She began carefully searching the house. Tonglai, holding his bowl, asked, “Mom, what are you looking for?”

Wang Xiangxiu: “Your grandmother’s private savings.”

In fact, Aunt Su had confessed about the gold bars, so she must have also admitted to having some private savings. However, the private savings she had accumulated over the years were different from the gold bars she had obtained through exploitation in the old society.

Therefore, the authorities had only confiscated the gold bars, not her private savings.

Since this wasn’t thoroughly investigated, Aunt Su hadn’t mentioned it.

Compared to the major crimes she had confessed to, this was just a trivial matter of daily life and hadn’t been pursued in detail. Wang Xiangxiu had only just thought of it. After all, the gold bars had been so shocking.

Everyone had been focused on the confiscated gold bars and had forgotten that Aunt Su also had some private savings.

“Where would your grandmother usually hide her money?”

Tonglai shook his head. He didn’t know.

Wang Xiangxiu was also puzzled. During the search, nothing had been found, so it must have been well hidden. After all, her mother-in-law had gone so far as to bury the gold bars outside. This showed that she didn’t do things in a conventional way.

It wasn’t surprising that Wang Xiangxiu was eager to find the money. She had some savings, but in less than a month, her children’s hospital bills had drained her down to just two hundred yuan. Both of her children were in critical condition, and saving their lives had cost a fortune.

Wang Xiangxiu was desperate.

“Mom, when Grandma gave us money, she always breathed really hard.” Tonglai didn’t understand much, but he still wanted to help.

He didn’t want his brothers to die because they couldn’t afford treatment.

Wang Xiangxiu: “Breathing hard?”

She suddenly thought that perhaps the money was hidden somewhere high up, which would require climbing and thus cause heavy breathing.

With this in mind, she immediately stood up, found a stool, and climbed up to the beam. Sure enough, there was a small box there. Wang Xiangxiu was so excited she nearly fell. She quickly grabbed the box. Tonglai’s eyes lit up when he saw they had found something.

Wang Xiangxiu happily kissed her son on the cheek and said, “My son is so good. I knew I could count on you. Go eat now.”

Tonglai: “Okay.”

He sat down to eat, glancing at his mother. Wang Xiangxiu hurriedly opened the box.

When she opened it, she bit her lip. Inside were various bills of different denominations.

Not only that, but there was also a gold ring.

The gold ring was smooth and well-worn, showing that Aunt Su must have secretly worn it from time to time. Seeing this made Wang Xiangxiu even more disgusted with the old hag. She had once thought her mother-in-law was a good woman, but now she saw her as a wicked old crone.

Wang Xiangxiu quickly counted the money and was shocked by the amount.

Her mother-in-law, who had no job, had over eight hundred yuan in private savings.

To put it in perspective, a regular worker would earn that much in two or three years. Thinking about this, Wang Xiangxiu realized just how much the old woman had swindled. Who knows how many old men she had scammed.

Wang Xiangxiu felt disgusted but also wondered why her mother-in-law hadn’t confessed about this private savings.

Perhaps she thought she could still get out?

Wang Xiangxiu had completely misjudged her mother-in-law, but based on her past experiences with her, she could somewhat understand Aunt Su’s thinking. She hadn’t mentioned the savings because she wanted to keep it as a backup for her old age.

As for why she confessed about the gold bars, it was probably because she knew that if she didn’t admit to something major, the authorities wouldn’t believe her. By sacrificing the big prize and keeping the smaller one, she ensured that the police believed her confession.

This smaller amount was left untouched.

If she had confessed about the smaller savings but not the gold bars, the investigation might have continued, and the gold bars could have been discovered. Then she would have been left with nothing. This way, at least she had something.

She must have thought she could still get out.

Wang Xiangxiu curled her lip in disgust.

Her mother-in-law truly had eight hundred tricks up her sleeve. But now that the money had fallen into her hands, she had no intention of giving it back. It would be perfect for treating her child's illness. Besides, her son Yinlai had been badly injured this time and might need long-term care, so the money would come in handy.

She clenched the money tightly and said, "See, your grandma is such a good person, a truly great person. She has so much money, but she won't spare a single cent."

Not only did she refuse to give any, but she also forced her to go out and "borrow" money by selling herself.

That day, she had indeed slept with several men to "borrow" money. What Yuan Jun had said to her that day was absolutely true—her legs were sore because she had borrowed too much money. She pursed her lips and reminded herself once again to live uprightly from now on.

Otherwise, her children would never be able to hold their heads high.

She rubbed her eyes and said, "From now on, let's live a steady life."

Tonglai softly replied, "Okay."

Wang Xiangxiu added, "Don't learn from your grandma. If you act like her, you'll end up in jail for the rest of your life."

Tonglai nodded solemnly.

He really didn’t want to go to jail. Not at all.

"Let's go. After eating, we'll take food to the hospital."

"Okay."

The mother and son walked out together. The paper box-making activity in the yard had just ended, and everyone was heading home for lunch. Suddenly, Tonglai said, "Mom, I’ll help you make paper boxes this afternoon."

Wang Xiangxiu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Okay, you can be my assistant."

On their way, they ran into Ming Mei, who had just returned from the restroom. Ming Mei greeted them, "Going to the hospital?"

Wang Xiangxiu nodded and then added, "Ming Mei, my family is thinking of raising chickens. Could you ask your mother-in-law where she got her hens? Would that be okay?"

She was actually quite intimidated by Zhao Guihua.

That old lady was really fierce.

Ming Mei replied, "Sure."

Then she whispered, "But it’s probably not cheap."

Wang Xiangxiu said, "If the quality is good, we’ll make the money back quickly." She knew how to calculate.

Some hens were cheaper, but they didn’t lay many eggs, so it took longer to recoup the investment.

Several old ladies in their courtyard raised chickens, two per household, and it was quite profitable—they almost always had eggs to collect. Previously, her child had tried to steal some, but the owners kept a close eye, so they hadn’t succeeded. Now, her own family could raise chickens too.

"Thank you," Wang Xiangxiu said.

Ming Mei replied, "No need to thank me."

As Ming Mei walked home, she heard the hens clucking in the yard and said, "Lay lots of eggs, lay lots of eggs!"

Zhuang Zhixi stood at the door, smiling teasingly at her, and asked, "Feeling greedy?"

Ming Mei retorted, "Not at all! It’s just that Wang Xiangxiu..."

She explained the situation and then sighed, "Actually, her family should have started raising chickens earlier. Aunt Su never bothered because she was too lazy."

After all, it required some effort.

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Exactly."

The two of them entered the house together. Zhuang Zhixi leaned closer to his wife and asked, "Do you know Guan Guiling? She works at your unit."

He hadn’t asked directly in the yard, afraid it might be awkward for her to answer.

Ming Mei nodded, "I know her."

After thinking for a moment, she added more precisely, "Actually, I don’t really know her, but I’m aware of her existence. I see her around, but we’re not familiar."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "She approached Bai Fendou..."

Ming Mei hesitated before saying, "I think my grandfather was right, and Zhou Qun was right too. It’s almost certainly what everyone is thinking. At work, I’ve heard that Guan Guiling is looking for a partner, but she wants to bring her ex-husband along."

Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed, "What the f*** (a type of plant)! Is that even something a person could come up with?"

Ming Mei blinked and said, "Don’t swear! What if the baby picks it up?"

She rubbed her belly and added, "We need to speak politely."

Zhuang Zhixi replied earnestly, "Don’t worry. Our babies have seen and heard it all while still in the womb. This kind of thing is nothing new to them."

Ming Mei sighed, "I don’t want to admit it, but you’re probably right."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed and hugged his wife, saying, "Let’s go."

Ming Mei poked his waist and asked, "Since we know this, should we tell Bai Fendou?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "No need. A lot of people have figured it out, so someone will tell him. Besides, if Guan Guiling really plans to bring her ex-husband along, she’ll have to tell Bai Fendou herself."

He paused and added, "Also, all of this is just speculation. Nothing’s set in stone yet. Maybe she won’t bring him, and we’re wrong to assume."

Ming Mei nodded, "You’re right."

She said softly, "But I think Bai Fendou is quite something. He always attracts such strange women."

Zhuang Zhixi was speechless.