My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Nowadays, whether it's a joyous occasion or a funeral, everything is kept simple. Old Man Bai's funeral was no exception. However, due to the bizarre circumstances of his death and the countless times Bai Fendou had fainted from crying, their situation attracted quite a bit of attention. People from near and far came to offer incense and pay their respects.

Wang Xiangxiu returned on the morning of the third day, just before the burial, bringing Tonglai with her. The two of them kowtowed to Old Man Bai.

Bai Fendou, his eyes bloodshot, roared, "Get out! Get out of here! How dare you show your faces here? Haven't you done enough harm to our family? If it weren't for knowing your family, if it weren't for getting involved with you, how could our family have ended up like this? How could we have come to such a tragic end? Now that my father is lying here, you still won't let him rest in peace? Why are you here? Get out!"

Bai Fendou had been kneeling and crying for three days straight, completely drained of energy. If he had even a shred of strength left, Wang Xiangxiu would have surely been beaten.

Wang Xiangxiu looked utterly haggard. Holding her child's hand, her eyes swollen like walnuts, she seemed on the verge of collapse. Wiping her tears, she said, "I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry... I know I've wronged you all these years... But many things, I was deceived too... I'm sorry..."

"No matter how many times you say sorry, my father won't come back... He's gone..." Bai Fendou sobbed, collapsing to the ground.

Aunt Wang tried to console him, "Fendou, let's focus on what's important now."

Bai Fendou took a deep breath and said, "Alright."

Indeed, laying his father to rest was more important than anything else. Bai Fendou staggered to his feet, supported by a few young men from the courtyard. The people in the yard quickly followed as they headed out. Without hesitation, Wang Xiangxiu also followed...

As for Zhao Guihua and a few other women, they didn't join the procession up the mountain. Typically, aside from immediate family members, women didn't accompany the men to the burial site.

A group of middle-aged and elderly women sat in the courtyard, chatting idly. Everything had happened so suddenly, and now Old Man Bai was gone. Reflecting on it, it seemed as though fate had played its hand.

Outsiders didn't know the full story, but those who had been present at the time recalled that it was Old Man Bai who had started the trouble. He had grabbed Aunt Su's hand and slapped her, which led to him being pushed off the cart later.

But who could have imagined that such a small incident could lead to such a tragic outcome?

Zhao Guihua sighed, "From now on, no matter how much we argue, we should never resort to physical violence. People are so fragile. A single misstep, and a life can be lost."

Her words rang true, and the women nodded in agreement, visibly shaken.

Aunt Zhou whispered, "Why do you think Wang Xiangxiu came back?"

"She must have been released. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here. But Aunt Su hasn't returned. It seems she won't be coming back."

"That's likely the case."

Zhao Guihua suddenly noticed someone approaching. "Oh? Director Wang? You're here?"

It was Director Wang from the neighborhood committee. She hurried over, seeing everyone gathered. "Have they already gone up the mountain? I rushed over to check on the situation, but I guess I'm too late."

"Yes, they've already left."

Director Wang asked, "What about Wang Xiangxiu?"

"She went with them."

While it was unusual for women to accompany the procession, Wang Xiangxiu's situation was somewhat special. It wasn't entirely wrong for her to follow. Aunt Wang made room for Director Wang, who sat down and said, "I hope nothing happens..."

She hadn't come because Old Man Bai was particularly important, but rather out of concern that Wang Xiangxiu's return might cause trouble.

She had hoped to be there to prevent any incidents, but she had arrived too late.

Zhao Guihua reassured her, "Don't worry. The men from the courtyard are all there. Nothing will happen. Besides, Bai Fendou hasn't rested for three days. He's fainted from crying so many times. He doesn't have the strength to cause any trouble."

Director Wang sighed softly, "I hope so."

Zhao Guihua took the opportunity to ask, "So, Wang Xiangxiu is in the clear now?"

Nowadays, improper conduct was a serious issue. If Wang Xiangxiu had been released, it likely meant she had held her ground and didn't confess to anything. Otherwise, given the nature of the accusations, she wouldn't have been let go.

Director Wang said, "Since you're all here, I'll explain Wang Xiangxiu's situation. When your husbands return, please pass this information along." She pulled out a piece of paper and read, "Following reports from the public, Wang Xiangxiu and Su Pandi were accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Tian Jianye, the deputy director of the slaughterhouse. After an investigation by the police station, it was found that the situation wasn't entirely as reported. On the evening of September 4th, Su Pandi met with Tian Jianye under the pretext of discussing business, during which they engaged in an inappropriate relationship. However, Tian Jianye wanted more, so Su Pandi called her sister-in-law, Wang Xiangxiu, to the scene. Upon arriving, Wang Xiangxiu did not engage in any inappropriate behavior with Tian Jianye. Before anything could happen, Su Pandi's ex-husband, Yuan Jun, burst in with a group of people and beat Tian Jianye. The incident caused a scene at the slaughterhouse, but no one reported it to the police at the time. The next day, after receiving a tip, we detained all parties involved. The neighborhood committee, in cooperation with the police station, conducted an investigation. During this time, Gou Lanxiang, also known as 'Aunt Su,' accused Wang Xiangxiu of having affairs with multiple men and claimed she had no knowledge of the Tian Jianye incident. However, Wang Xiangxiu insisted that Gou Lanxiang was framing her, as Gou Lanxiang had previously had a heated argument with her daughter-in-law, Wang Xiangxiu, over Gou Lanxiang's attempts to profit from her and the subsequent accident that left her son in a daze. We interviewed relevant parties, and their testimonies supported Wang Xiangxiu's claims. Additionally, we investigated the men Gou Lanxiang accused, and they all denied any involvement with Wang Xiangxiu. No evidence of any inappropriate relationships was found. Wang Xiangxiu also firmly denied any involvement with these men. As for her presence at the slaughterhouse incident, it was not for any improper reasons but to plead for the slaughterhouse to spare her son. Since there was no evidence of any inappropriate behavior between Wang Xiangxiu and Tian Jianye, we could not confirm any relationship between them. Considering that Wang Xiangxiu has three children to care for and there is no evidence of her engaging in inappropriate relationships, she was released. We urge everyone not to spread rumors. As neighbors, you should also monitor Wang Xiangxiu's behavior to help maintain the moral standards of our community."

When this investigation result was announced, everyone looked at each other in surprise.

After a long pause, Aunt Wang asked, "What about Aunt Su?"

Director Wang replied, "Gou Lanxiang is not only involved in instructing Su Pandi to engage in inappropriate relationships but is also implicated in the accidental death of Old Man Bai. She will remain in custody for further investigation. Tian Jianye and Su Pandi will also be held accountable."

"Oh!"

The group fell silent again. At this point, even Zhao Guihua had to marvel at Wang Xiangxiu's luck. Despite such a major scandal, even Aunt Su had been caught, yet Wang Xiangxiu had managed to be released. What else could it be but sheer luck?

However, Zhao Guihua also knew that the police station and the neighborhood committee were aware that Wang Xiangxiu was likely not entirely innocent. But even so, they hadn't pursued her relentlessly to ensure her downfall.

The consideration, of course, wasn't for Wang Xiangxiu herself. As an adult, her lack of judgment and indecisiveness didn't warrant sympathy. What they were considering were her three children. Though her children weren't exactly model citizens, one was seriously injured, another was critically ill, and the youngest was just a toddler.

They had to take into account the reality of the children's situation.

To put it bluntly, if Wang Xiangxiu had been imprisoned, Su Jinlai aside, Su Yinlai would likely not have survived. That's why, even though they knew Wang Xiangxiu was being stubborn and there was no direct evidence against her, she was still released.

As for Aunt Su and the others, they weren't so fortunate.

But Director Wang's subtle reminder about "monitoring" was clear enough. What exactly they were supposed to monitor went without saying.

Director Wang sighed and said, "Su Pandi has been done in by her mother this time. Even now, she insists that it was her own idea to go find Tian Jianye, that it was her own decision, and that her mother had nothing to do with it. Little does she know, her mother has already shifted all the blame onto her and Wang Xiangxiu. Wang Xiangxiu has managed to extricate herself, leaving Su Pandi to bear the full responsibility. Really, how could it come to this..."

"That girl has always been the one to stand up for her family. She's the toughest one in the household, but alas..."

Zhao Guihua chimed in, "It's all because Aunt Su never treated her children like human beings. From the time they were young, she brainwashed them. Su Zhaodi was weak and useless, so she manipulated Su Pandi instead. That child grew up thinking she was the savior of the family, always willing to sacrifice herself. All these years, Aunt Su has been such a good actress. Even those of us with experience and knowledge have been fooled by her, let alone a young girl like Su Pandi. She's been manipulated since childhood, and now, even though she's older, those ingrained beliefs are deeply rooted. She's completely under her mother's control."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Zhao Guihua's words.

Director Wang added, "So, while it's important to be filial to one's parents, one must also have a strong sense of self and the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise, one's whole life is ruined."

"Absolutely," someone agreed.

After a few more casual remarks, Liang Meifen, who had been listening quietly, seemed lost in thought.

In truth, she was much like Su Pandi—someone who would sacrifice endlessly for her own family. And it wasn't just them; many young women of that era were the same. They worked tirelessly for their families when they were young, and even after marriage, they continued to help their birth families, all for the sake of a little affection.

But in reality, what they often ended up with was nothing but endless scheming.

In the end, they gained nothing.

Liang Meifen scratched her head, and Zhao Guihua glanced over at her, asking, "Why are you still here?"

Liang Meifen replied, "Where else would I be?"

The question caught her off guard.

Zhao Guihua's mouth twitched, thinking to herself that her daughter-in-law really wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. She said slowly, "Shouldn't you be at work?"

Liang Meifen froze for a moment, then exclaimed, "Oh! You're right! I need to go to work!"

She sprang up and dashed off.

Similarly, two other young women who also needed to go to work suddenly remembered and hurriedly got up. They had been so engrossed in the gossip that they almost forgot about their jobs.

Zhao Guihua sighed, "Isn't this just frustrating?"

Aunt Zhou didn't mince words, "Zhao Guihua, if you ask me, your daughter-in-law isn't much smarter either. She's also one of those who blindly supports her birth family. You'd better keep a close eye on her, or else you might end up crying like Su Pandi's family."

At this, Aunt Zhou felt quite pleased with herself. Even though her own son wasn't much to boast about, her daughter-in-law was at least family-oriented. Heh.

Thinking about it, Aunt Zhou felt a bit more cheerful. Her family's ability to pick a good daughter-in-law was clearly superior to others.

Zhao Guihua, seeing Aunt Zhou's smug expression, snorted.

She said, "I know what I'm doing. Liang Meifen may be a bit slow, but she wouldn't go that far."

It was true that Liang Meifen was devoted to her birth family, but she wasn't particularly bold. And recently, perhaps because her younger brother got married without even inviting her, she had been feeling a bit hurt. It had to be said, the Liang family was a bunch of oddballs. It was rare to see such blatant ingratitude.

Director Wang said, "Alright, since I've delivered the necessary notices, I'll head back to the office. Aunt Wang, please take care of things in the courtyard."

Aunt Wang grimaced but nodded, "Fine."

What else could she do? As the courtyard manager, she couldn't just ignore her responsibilities.

But her heart was truly heavy.

Director Wang, fearing that Aunt Wang might say she didn't want to continue in her role, quickly made her exit.

Aunt Wang muttered, "When it's time for re-election at the end of the year, I really don't want to do this anymore."

"Don't say that!"

"Exactly, you're doing such a great job. If you quit, no one else has the same authority as you."

"That's right, I think you're the most suitable person for this."

Aunt Wang rolled her eyes. She wasn't about to believe their nonsense. These people were clearly afraid of being elected themselves and were just trying to butter her up. Their hearts were truly wicked.

She said, "You all are just being mean."

She continued, "Look at me, look at all these white hairs sprouting out. It's all from the stress of managing this courtyard."

Everyone chuckled and said, "Nonsense, you still look so young."

"Exactly, and look at your strong build. You're perfect for this job. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to handle it."

"That's right, no doubt about it."

"Our courtyard manager needs both authority and strength. You can't do without either."

Aunt Wang replied dryly, "Heh."

Zhao Guihua then brought up another matter, "Speaking of managing the courtyard, I have something to discuss with you. You know how we all share the cellar, with each family having their own section. But now that Uncle Lan's family has moved in, we need to make some space for them. I was thinking, since we have to reallocate the space anyway, why not completely divide it up? We could build walls and install doors for each family, with locks. That way, it would be safer. No one could come in and steal things, and there wouldn't be any mix-ups between families."

Everyone understood what she was getting at.

Aunt Zhou immediately agreed, "I support that. Every year, my cabbages get stolen..."

Aunt Wang said, "That sounds good. Let's have a courtyard meeting this evening to discuss a few recent matters."

Compared to other courtyards that held frequent meetings, theirs didn't have them often. Everyone was too busy trying to make ends meet. Their courtyard already had enough problems without meetings; if they started holding them, it might just create more issues.

So, they generally avoided formal gatherings.

But when there were important matters to discuss, they had to call one.

"Alright, it's about time we had one."

"Oh, by the way..." one of the women said, looking around furtively, "Have you heard? The price of grain on the black market has gone up. White flour has almost tripled in price."

"What? That much?"

"Didn't it just double before?"

"That's old news. It's gone up even more now."

These housewives, who were in charge of their families' kitchens, were particularly sensitive to such matters. They exchanged worried glances. While not everyone bought grain from the black market—after all, each family had their rations—they all kept an eye on the black market prices. After all, the price of grain there was a kind of barometer for the times.

Zhao Guihua said, "Well, my family always buys our entire monthly ration at the beginning of the month. We don't buy again until the next month."

This wasn't about whether they had enough grain or not; it was just how Zhao Guihua's family lived. Even without the whole reincarnation thing, this was how they operated. They didn't split their purchases into three parts like some families did, buying at the beginning, middle, and end of the month.

Her family always went at the start of the month with their ration book and bought the entire month's supply in one go. They planned their meals accordingly.

Aunt Wang asked, "I still have some left from last month, but I think I'll go ahead and buy this month's ration. I'll go this afternoon. Anyone else want to come?"

Aunt Zhou said, "I'll go."

"Me too."

It seemed no one was in a hurry to buy grain.

But that wasn't entirely true. It was like budgeting money. If you received three thousand yuan at the beginning of the month and had to make it last the whole month, it was easier to divide it into three parts—a thousand every ten days—to plan and manage.

Especially with something like grain, if you miscalculated, you could end up hungry by the end of the month.

But if they were running low, everyone wanted to secure their supplies as soon as possible.

Zhao Guihua said, "I'm planning to go up the mountain tomorrow. If you don't go in the fall, when will you go?"

"I'll come too."

"Count me in."

"Do you have a bicycle? It's not convenient without one."

If they had to spend money on bus fare, it might not be worth it, especially if they weren't sure how much they'd gather.

Zhao Guihua was truly grateful she had bought a bicycle. In times like these, it really came in handy. Over the past six months, this bicycle had been a lifesaver for her family.

Zhao Guihua said, "Wang Zhaodi, come with me tomorrow."

Wang Zhaodi replied cheerfully, "Alright!"

Aunt Zhou, feeling jealous, pursed her lips. This Zhao Guihua was really something. She knew full well that Wang Zhaodi was her goddaughter, yet she kept trying to win her over. How despicable! Aunt Zhou asked, "I want to go too. Who else is riding a bike?"

She glanced at Aunt Wang. "Old Wang, what about you?"

Aunt Wang cut her off decisively. "I’m taking Aunt Sui."

Almost every time they went up the mountain, the four of them went together, forming a little group.

Even though Wang Zhaodi was just a young girl, she had managed to become part of the aunties' inner circle.

Aunt Zhou: "..."

She turned her gaze to Zhao Guihua and said, "Let Wang Zhaodi stay home. I’ll go with you instead. What’s the point of a young girl tagging along? I’m much more fun. We can chat and catch up."

Zhao Guihua chuckled, "Haha, I’m not really in the mood to chat with you."

She added, "Give it a rest. You’d just slow us down."

"Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?"

Zhao Guihua shrugged. "Just stating the obvious."

The old ladies bickered back and forth, but they kept it lighthearted. After all, there had been too much going on lately, and everyone was being cautious.

Zhao Guihua suddenly said, "My daughter-in-law is finally coming home today..."

"Same here," someone else chimed in.

As they exchanged small talk, the funeral procession returning from the mountain arrived. Zhuang Zhixi had been busy for several days and felt grimy all over. He nudged his father and older brother, saying, "How about the three of us go for a bath?"

Old Man Zhuang frowned. "Why waste money? Just rinse off at home tonight."

Zhuang Zhixi insisted, "It’s not the same! I’m treating you. Are you in or not? This is a one-time offer."

Old Man Zhuang immediately agreed. "I’m in."

Zhuang Zhiyuan added, "Count me in too."

When Zhou Qun heard they were going for a bath, he quickly spoke up. "I’ll join you. Any other guys want to come? I feel sticky all over after these past few days."

Li the Cook waved his hand. "No, no, that’s a waste of money."

He was very frugal and would never spend money so carelessly. Even though his family had two workers, and he could occasionally bring home leftovers from the canteen or earn extra by catering, he still managed to save 20 to 30 yuan every month. But Li the Cook was careful with his spending. He had plans—after all, he had two grandsons, and his daughter Li Fang was pregnant again. With three children, there would be plenty of expenses in the future.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He said, "You all go ahead. We’ll take Bai Fendou home."

Yang Lixin nodded. "Sure."

He felt a little envious but quickly dismissed the thought. His father-in-law would never agree to such an expense anyway. That was the downside of being a live-in son-in-law—you had to defer to the patriarch in everything. Truth be told, unless it was nearing the New Year, most people wouldn’t spend money on something like this.

The others laughed and declined, so the three Zhuang men and Zhou Qun set off together.

Zhuang Zhixi half-joked, "Brother Zhou, I know I’m handsome, and my brother isn’t bad either, but don’t get any ideas about us, okay? I might have to throw hands if you do."

He couldn’t help but be cautious. After all, Zhou Qun had a history.

Although he seemed more normal lately, it was better to be safe than sorry.

Zhou Qun was indignant. "Hey, Little Zhuang, what’s that supposed to mean? How could you say something like that? That’s not fair!"

Zhuang Zhixi rolled his eyes. "Drop the 'little' and I might believe you a bit. A grown man shouldn’t talk like that."

Zhou Qun: "What kind of person are you? You think I’d be interested in you?"

Zhuang Zhixi shot back, "You were even into Bai Fendou at one point. Can you blame me for being cautious?"

Zhou Qun was furious. "You’re really something. They say you shouldn’t bring up the past, but you keep dredging up old stories. Besides, that was all a misunderstanding. Really, just a misunderstanding."

Zhuang Zhixi smirked. "Oh~"

Zhou Qun glared at him and huffed. "You’re really insufferable."

He strode ahead, not wanting to deal with Zhuang Zhixi anymore. What a waste of a good face—he was so petty and narrow-minded. Zhou Qun couldn’t understand how his wife could have fallen for him. She must have only cared about his looks.

Zhuang Zhiyuan asked, "Why do you provoke him?"

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow. "I’m doing it for you. Aren’t you grateful? What if he sets his sights on you?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan grimaced. "Don’t even joke about that. It’s disgusting."

He gave Zhuang Zhixi a look and said, "Stop talking nonsense. If you keep it up, I won’t feel like going for a bath anymore."

Zhuang Zhixi retorted, "Ungrateful, aren’t you? Fine, don’t come. I’ll save some money."

Zhuang Zhiyuan quickly said, "No, I’m still going."

Who says men don’t gossip? They’re just the same. By the time they reached the bathhouse, the conversation had shifted. The bathhouse was quite convenient these days. After paying the fee and handing over a bath ticket, they received a token and a towel.

The towel wasn’t disposable—they had to return it after their bath.

Once inside, they entered the changing room, where the tokens corresponded to lockers. One token, one locker. At this time of day, there weren’t many people bathing. But during the pre-New Year rush, when all the lockers were taken, people had to put their clothes in baskets and hang them up.

If even the baskets were full, newcomers couldn’t get in.

But on a day like today, when it wasn’t too cold to bathe at home, the bathhouse was relatively empty. After all, it wasn’t exactly cheap.

Most workplaces issued bath tickets every month, but since the actual cost of bathing wasn’t low, the tickets weren’t in high demand, and few people came. Zhuang Zhixi stripped off his clothes, draped the towel over his shoulder, and headed into the bath area.

The bathhouse had two large pools and several showerheads. Zhuang Zhixi’s routine was to rinse off first, then soak in the pool. A few years ago, there had been professional scrubbers in the bathhouse—getting a scrub and a back rub was a great way to relax. Though it wasn’t cheap, many people enjoyed it.

The scrubbers might not have had the most respectable job, but they made good money.

But in recent years, that service had disappeared. Everyone knew why.

It wasn’t allowed anymore.

So, that little pleasure was gone, but people still enjoyed soaking in the pools. Some brought their own teapots and a bit of cheap tea leaves, paying two cents for hot water from the bathhouse.

They’d set up their tea things by the pool, soak in the water, sip tea, and chat for hours. It was a favorite pastime for the men of Beijing. If they brought a couple of sesame cakes along, they wouldn’t even feel hungry.

When Zhuang Zhixi and the others entered, they saw two men sitting by the pool, towels around their waists, sipping tea and chatting.

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t join them, opting to soak on his own. Zhou Qun, however, quickly joined the conversation.

The hot topic, of course, was Bai Fendou and the Su family. Gossip with a hint of scandal was always the most entertaining, especially when it involved people from the neighborhood.

Even if you weren’t from the area, you’d still know about it. Everyone in Beijing had heard of Bai Fendou.

Especially since it involved a young widow—Wang Xiangxiu. Such topics always carried a certain allure.

But people back then were simpler. When they heard that Wang Xiangxiu had been released, they started speculating.

"That young widow, she’s actually quite decent. I’ve heard some rumors about her before, but it seems they were all baseless."

Zhou Qun: "Uh..."

Someone else chimed in, "Are you sure? Then why was there so much gossip about her?"

"It’s just that widows attract trouble, you know? If she really had improper relationships, she wouldn’t have been released. She must be innocent."

"That makes sense. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law are still in custody. She must be clean."

Zhou Qun: "Uh..."

Of course, he couldn’t say that she wasn’t innocent—they had slept together, after all.

But just like everyone who had ever slept with Wang Xiangxiu, none of them could admit it.

If they admitted it, wouldn’t they be arrested?

So as long as they weren’t caught in the act, everyone would stubbornly claim their innocence.

Even Zhou Qun was no exception.

So Zhou Qun didn’t dare to bring up this topic, afraid that someone might notice something. However, at this moment, he felt that his current state of being "useless" wasn’t entirely without its benefits. You see, now no one would suspect him of the things he had done in the past.

His reputation had actually improved quite a bit.

After all, even if he had the desire, he no longer had the ability.

So Zhou Qun’s reputation had indeed gotten better. Of course, another reason his reputation had improved was that he had become quite the chatterbox. Even the old ladies couldn’t match his gossipy nature, and in a short time, he had become the factory’s most notorious loudmouth.

This reputation wasn’t exactly flattering, but in the eyes of many, it still carried some influence.

Plus, since he really couldn’t do much else, he ended up mingling with the middle-aged and elderly women, and over time, he managed to earn some goodwill.

Men, after all, tend to think highly of their own experiences and look down on someone like Zhou Qun. But since he posed no "threat," they could still get along with him.

"Hey, Zhou Qun, didn’t you used to have some rumors with Wang Xiangxiu too?" someone suddenly asked.

Zhou Qun: "That’s just nonsense. Everyone knows the truth."

The crowd: "...That’s true."

Even though the equipment was still there, everyone knew Zhou Qun wasn’t a real man anymore.

This was a medical diagnosis, and people tended to believe it.

"So, those rumors about Wang Xiangxiu might not be true after all."

"She’s had it rough. Her mother-in-law is just too cruel. I’ve never seen anyone like her."

"Who could argue with that?"

"I’ve seen Wang Xiangxiu’s husband, Xiao Su. He was a decent young man. It’s such a shame he passed away unexpectedly. Who would’ve thought it would come to this because of his mother..."

"Well, you can’t put all the blame on her. Didn’t he have a mind of his own? If he just blindly followed his mother, what was his brain for? Decoration?"

"That’s a fair point, but after all, she’s his mother. Filial piety is important..."

"I don’t agree. Filial piety is one thing, but not to the point of blind obedience. Some old folks just don’t know any better, and it’s up to us, the younger generation, to guide them. Not to blindly follow. To arrange for his wife to do that kind of work? What kind of person thinks like that? If he didn’t agree, he should’ve stood up to her. But look what happened when he didn’t..."

"You’ve got a point there."

The group of men continued to discuss the family affairs of others, each with their own opinions.

The three Zhuang men listened intently, nodding in agreement. Zhuang Zhixi felt that what was being said made sense. Aunt Su was indeed a terrible person, but why didn’t her son stand up to her?

In the end, he didn’t have the courage to resist.

Old Man Zhuang knew everything. They were at the forefront of it all, but he still enjoyed listening to the gossip. Unlike Zhou Qun, who was always so lively, Old Man Zhuang was more reserved. He didn’t join in, but he stayed close enough to hear everything.

Zhuang Zhixi and Zhuang Zhiyuan were scrubbing each other’s backs.

Zhuang Zhixi leaned against the edge of the pool while his older brother scrubbed his back. Zhuang Zhixi chattered away, "Hey, are you hungry? I wonder what we’re having for lunch."

Zhuang Zhiyuan paused, his hands applying a bit more pressure, scrubbing vigorously.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Ouch, ouch! I wasn’t saying you’re weak because you haven’t eaten. Take it easy, will you? I’m a person, not a washboard."

His older brother always overthought things.

He hadn’t meant anything by it, but his brother immediately assumed he was mocking his strength. Men, honestly...

While the two brothers were busy scrubbing, the others were more relaxed. One bald guy said, "Hey, you two, go scrub over there. Don’t let the dirt fall into my tea."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Sure thing."

He didn’t mind and moved aside. They were really there to bathe, but many people would spend the whole day soaking in the pool, not so much for the bathing but for the pleasure of chatting while sipping tea.

Some people would come in the morning and only leave in the evening.

In the past, there used to be professional scrubbers who offered more elaborate services, but that kind of thing wasn’t allowed anymore.

Zhuang Zhixi finished washing and soaped himself up. The soap was provided by the bathhouse, so they didn’t need to bring their own. Taking it home was out of the question, but using it there was perfectly fine. Zhuang Zhixi quickly washed his hair and body, shook his head, and felt like the most handsome guy in the bathhouse.

Hmm, smelling fresh.

His wife would definitely like it.

After finishing his bath, Zhuang Zhixi saw that his father had already gotten himself some tea. He said, "Big brother, you can scrub Dad’s back later. I’m heading home first. I’m getting hungry. It’s already past noon."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "All you ever think about is food."

Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t happy about that. "Look at you. Didn’t I just treat you to a bath? You’re so ungrateful."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "..."

Back when they were kids, wasn’t it always him who took this little brat to the baths? And the kid was never calm, always running around like a wild dog. It was always him taking care of everything, always him!

Now, this kid just treats him to a bath, and he’s got so much to say about it.

He snorted heavily and said, "You’ve forgotten how it used to be..."

Just as he was about to launch into a long story, Zhuang Zhixi stood up and dashed off.

"That guy, honestly!"

Zhuang Zhixi changed into fresh clothes and felt refreshed. Their factory had really done them a favor. A few of the men had helped Bai Fendou with the funeral arrangements, and they hadn’t been penalized for it. Although it was still counted as leave, they hadn’t had their wages deducted.

On his third day of paid leave, Zhuang Zhixi felt completely relaxed.

However, he understood the factory’s reasoning. By having them help out in the courtyard, they could at least manage the funeral and keep an eye on Bai Fendou. Otherwise, if Bai Fendou went off the rails and did something crazy, it would be the factory’s responsibility to clean up the mess.

It was just the way things were.

Zhuang Zhixi was the first to head back. He knew his father would stay until at least the afternoon. Otherwise, he’d feel like he hadn’t gotten his money’s worth from the bathhouse ticket. Zhuang Zhixi walked back feeling fresh, but as he approached the entrance, he saw several police officers standing at the gate. Zhuang Zhixi was startled and hurried over to ask, "What’s going on? What’s going on?"

Could something have happened again?

The troublemakers in their courtyard had been lying low lately!

He went up to ask, and Zhao Guihua and the others were all in the courtyard. She waved him over, and Zhuang Zhixi squeezed through the gate to see the police digging up the cement floor under the Su family’s window. He asked in confusion, "What are they looking for?"

Zhao Guihua: "Gold."

Her tone was a mix of disbelief and exasperation. Who would’ve thought she wasn’t the only one in the courtyard who had hidden something valuable?

Zhuang Zhixi’s eyes widened. "Gold? They had gold? And they still pushed their daughter-in-law into that line of work?"

Zhao Guihua nodded, her expression even more incredulous. "Exactly."

They really hadn’t expected that Aunt Su had been hiding such a secret. If she hadn’t been caught and dealt with by the iron fist of justice, this might never have come to light.

The story began after lunch. The three men of the household hadn’t returned, so Zhao Guihua had eaten early. After lunch, she thought she’d take a nap, as she’d been feeling a bit tired from helping with the funeral arrangements. Just as she was dozing off, she heard a commotion outside. When she went out to see what was happening, she found that the police had arrived.

Zhao Guihua had rushed out, and so had the other men and women in the courtyard. Everyone was curious.

When they asked, they found out it was a big deal.

The police had come with a mission. Gou Lanxiang had confessed after being held for three days. She had finally admitted at noon that day that she had buried four large gold bars under her window. She had been afraid that if her own misdeeds were discovered and her home searched, she wouldn’t dare to hide the gold inside. Instead, she had buried it outside the window, where it was within her sight but not inside the house. Even if her home were searched and turned upside down, no one would find it.

Who would’ve thought she’d hidden it outside?

Outside the window was a cement floor, and it was beneath this that he had dug a hole to bury something, later smoothing it over with cement. His method was meticulous, and it had remained undetected all these years, hidden securely.

This time, the police officers had come specifically to retrieve it.

Zhuang Zhixi was dumbfounded. It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen the world before, but this family was truly something else when it came to hiding things. Moreover, how could Aunt Su possibly have something like gold bars? Those were hard currency, especially in the old society, and ordinary people couldn’t get their hands on them.

And when Aunt Su had moved in, it was still the old society.

“What kind of family was she from? How did she have this?”

They were poor peasants, and even now, they had never seen what a gold bar looked like.

What was that? That was gold!

Zhao Guihua explained, “These were her belongings before she married into this courtyard. Rumor has it there were more, but she spent most of them in her younger days. These few gold bars were her retirement fund, which she kept hidden and refused to touch.”

Unlike decades later, when police investigations were kept strictly confidential, things weren’t so discreet back then. It wasn’t something that needed to be hidden, so when the police came to dig up the gold bars, everyone in the courtyard knew about it.

“Aunt Su is quite something, isn’t she? Would you believe it? She grew up in the Eight Great Hutongs.”

“What!” Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed in shock, though upon reflection, it made sense. Given her actions, no decent woman would have behaved like that. He said, “I guess it’s not that surprising…”

Zhao Guihua added, “She wasn’t one of *those* women. Even if some prostitutes were forced into it, unwilling and oppressed, she wasn’t one of them. She was the daughter of a brothel madam.”

“Holy crap!” Zhuang Zhixi was truly taken aback.

Given Aunt Su’s background, everyone could guess what kind of person she was. Her actions had never been particularly respectable.

But no one could have imagined she was even more despicable. She was the one controlling those women.

Zhuang Zhixi muttered, “Damn…”

Even though he was usually quick with words, Zhuang Zhixi found himself at a loss. The whole thing sounded outrageous, yet somehow not surprising at all.

“Captain, we’ve dug it up. It’s really here.”

“Ah, there really are gold bars.”

“My God, I’ve never seen one before. What do they look like?”

“Wow… Who would have thought there’d be something like this in our courtyard…”

“This old lady is something else, isn’t she? She’s been hiding this right under our noses for decades. She’s terrifying.”

“Goodness, I can’t believe I’ve been living in a courtyard with buried gold.”

“Don’t even mention it. I’ve sat right by her window, right above where the gold was buried, chatting with her. Who would’ve thought there was gold right beneath me? She’s so sneaky.”

“What do they look like? I’ve never seen one. I need to take a look so I can brag about having seen a gold bar…”

Although Aunt Su had never actually harmed anyone in the courtyard over the years, the neighbors couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spines when they thought about her background and how she had deceived them for decades.

The loudest cries came from Wang Xiangxiu. She had never imagined that this old woman had been hiding four gold bars. If she had just taken out one to improve their lives, her husband might not have died, and she might not have had to do the things she did. At this thought, she collapsed to the ground, crying hysterically.

If only… if only she had taken it out earlier, she could have lived a clean and honest life.

Wang Xiangxiu had sacrificed so much for her family over the years, and now, this old woman had hoarded her treasures for her own retirement, refusing to use them. And now, they were all confiscated.

Her son was still in the hospital, his fate uncertain.

“That heartless old hag! How could she do this? How could she! My son Yinlai is fighting for his life, and we don’t even have enough money to save him. Yet she was hiding gold bars all along. What kind of grandmother is she? How can such people exist in this world?” Wang Xiangxiu wailed uncontrollably, while Tonglai stood beside her, unsure of what to do.

Though still a child, he was old enough to understand. He knew his grandmother had hidden so much wealth but refused to save his brother. Despite being the first to run when trouble arose, he now clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face as he wiped them away.

“Please, I beg you, leave me just a little,” Wang Xiangxiu suddenly pleaded, clutching the leg of the lead police officer. “I’m not asking for much, just enough to save my son’s life. That’s all I need.”

She cried bitterly, “My sons Jinlai and Yinlai are still in the hospital. We don’t know how much more it will cost…”

“Comrade Wang Xiangxiu, this is not something we can decide. What we’ve recovered is considered stolen property. Given Gou Lanxiang’s identity, all her possessions will be confiscated. These are ill-gotten gains from exploiting women.”

“But… but my son…”

“There’s nothing we can do about that. However, considering your son’s severe injuries and his young age, we’ve decided not to pursue the matter of them cutting pig tails. Focus on his recovery. That said, your mother-in-law’s background will affect your family’s status. Your household…”

Wang Xiangxiu looked up, confused.

The lead officer sighed silently, thinking that Wang Xiangxiu really wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. But then again, if she were smarter, she wouldn’t have been manipulated by her mother-in-law to this extent. He cleared his throat and said, “You’re her direct relative.”

“What?”

Wang Xiangxiu still didn’t understand.

But everyone else did. Zhao Guihua quickly explained, “Your family’s status will be affected by your mother-in-law’s background. There will likely be other consequences too.”

At this, Wang Xiangxiu was stunned. She finally realized the gravity of the situation and stammered, “What… what should I do?”

She was at a complete loss.

Zhao Guihua sighed softly, while Aunt Wang, always quick to speak, said, “Your mother-in-law was always going to ruin you. She’s a bad element. You should cut ties with her.”

Wang Xiangxiu finally caught on and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, I need to cut ties with her. I said yesterday that I wanted to sever relations with her.”

Zhao Guihua added, “I can confirm that. She did say she wanted to cut ties with Aunt Su yesterday.”

Aunt Wang chimed in, “I heard it too.”

The other neighbors also vouched for her.

The officer said, “Then you should publish a statement in the newspaper as soon as possible.”

Wang Xiangxiu replied, “Yes, yes, I’ll do it right away!”

She stammered, “What… what else do I need to do?”

“Don’t overthink it for now. Just focus on getting through this immediate crisis.”

Wang Xiangxiu nodded tearfully.

The officer shook his head slightly at her helpless state. Sometimes, when dealing with people like her, they felt both pity and frustration. But whenever possible, they were willing to help them turn over a new leaf.

In Wang Xiangxiu’s case, they had already given her a break.

They could only hope she would truly understand this.

The officer said earnestly, “Wang Xiangxiu, you need to live a better life from now on. Don’t follow in your mother-in-law’s footsteps. She will face severe punishment.”

Wang Xiangxiu asked cautiously, “Will she… will she ever come back?”

No one could say for sure, but it was unlikely.

“Given her background as a brothel madam from the old society, and her role in causing someone’s death, it’s a miracle she’s not facing execution.”

“Ah!”

“That serious!”

The neighbors were shocked. They hadn’t expected that someone they saw every day could end up like this. But at the same time, it didn’t seem entirely unexpected for someone like her.

“You need to live a better life too,” the officer reminded Wang Xiangxiu again, hoping she understood that she wouldn’t always be so lucky. This time, they had gone easy on her because of her children’s dire situation.

Otherwise, with her history of inappropriate relationships, it wouldn’t have been hard to make a case against her.

After being reminded twice, Wang Xiangxiu finally seemed to catch on to the implications in the words. Thinking of what had happened to Aunt Su, she shuddered and then said with seriousness and determination, "I understand."

The police officer nodded and quickly led his team away.

Once the officials had left, everyone began chattering and gossiping. Some, like Zhuang Zhixi, had returned a bit later and asked curiously, "What's going on? Wasn't Aunt Su only sixteen or seventeen when she married into the family? How could someone so young be involved in such things?"

Aunt Zhou immediately jumped into the conversation, finally having a topic she could sink her teeth into.

She said, "The police officer just mentioned that Aunt Su, originally named Gou Lanxiang, grew up in the Eight Great Alleys. Her mother was a well-known madam there, managing many young women. She was involved in forcing innocent girls into prostitution. Gou Lanxiang learned all those despicable tricks from her mother. Later, her mother got into a feud over business and was attacked. Her mother was nearly killed, and Gou Lanxiang stole her mother's savings and fled. When she met Old Man Su, she claimed to be a refugee who had encountered bad people. But that wasn't true—she was actually hiding from her mother's henchmen and rivals. She wasn't from out of town at all; she was local. I always wondered how a refugee could have such fair skin. Refugees are usually skinny and pitiful-looking, but she wasn't. Didn't you hear that she didn't leave the house for a year or two after she married? That's because she was afraid of being recognized. After a year or two, she found out that her mother had died and her enemies had been dealt with, so she finally dared to go out. After liberation, she somehow managed to get classified as a poor peasant and started living a normal life."

"Holy cow! You really can't judge a book by its cover."

"Exactly! If it weren't for the incident with Old Man Bai, she would never have been exposed."

"No wonder she wanted her daughter-in-law to earn money that way. Turns out it's a family business..."

"She's worse than those women who were forced into it by circumstances. Her family specialized in this kind of evil. It's downright inhumane."

Wang Xiangxiu held Tonglai in her arms, silently shedding tears. Her hatred for Aunt Su burned fiercely. If Aunt Su were standing in front of her now, she would have wanted to kill her on the spot.

The trust she once had in her mother-in-law had turned into pure hatred.

Biting her lip, she said, "She deserves to be executed."

Her voice suddenly rose as she shouted, "Someone like her deserves to be shot! She doesn't deserve to live, she doesn't!"

She wiped away her tears and said, "Come on, let's go to the hospital to see your brother."

Finally, she stood up with Tonglai in her arms. Tonglai whispered, "Mom, I can walk by myself."

Wang Xiangxiu shook her head. "No, I'll carry you. I don't feel at ease."

She only had one son left in good health, and she couldn't afford to be careless.

Wang Xiangxiu said firmly, "Your brother will get better. Both your brothers will get better."

Tonglai softly murmured in agreement.

The two of them stumbled away, and the people around them sighed. "Wang Xiangxiu has really been done wrong."

"I used to envy Wang Xiangxiu for having a mother-in-law like Aunt Su. She let her take charge of the household at such a young age, and she was always so gentle, eloquent, and considerate. Now, thinking about it makes my hair stand on end. She was a wolf in sheep's clothing—terrifying."

"Absolutely."

"Wang Xiangxiu has suffered enough. It's time for her to live a good life. If she keeps following Aunt Su's ways, it'll only lead to ruin."

"Look at what she's done to the kids."

"Her kids are really not doing well."

Zhao Guihua sighed, "No matter what, we have to raise our children right."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Their own children needed to be properly raised.

In different corners of the courtyard, the little rascals all shivered simultaneously...