My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

"Thief! Thief!"

A sharp scream echoed through the yard, startling Ming Mei as she had just arrived.

Zhuang Zhixi grabbed his wife's hand, reassuring her, "It's nothing, don't worry."

Ming Mei peeked outside and saw Tao Yuyue standing at the door, screaming. In no time, a crowd had gathered. Her eyes instinctively darted toward the Su family's house, and sure enough, she spotted Su Jinlai's face.

She shook her head, then adjusted her coat and said, "Let's go take a look."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded. "Alright."

He parked his bicycle, but before they could approach, Tao Yuyue was already storming off. She declared loudly, "I'm going to report this to the police. Whether it's an adult or a child, this is unacceptable! Taking advantage of our family being at the hospital to steal—how despicable! If I don't teach them a lesson today, they'll think they can walk all over us. Our home isn't a place for anyone to just waltz into!"

Tao Yuyue continued her tirade as she walked away.

Aunt Wang didn't stop her. If she did, people might accuse her of shielding the thief. Meanwhile, Wang Xiangxiu, who had returned home early from work, looked worried. She glanced toward her house and said decisively, "Maybe we should ask around and see if anyone knows who did it. If someone did, they should come forward and confess."

Tao Yuyue smirked at Wang Xiangxiu and said, "Oh? Could it be your son?"

"No, it couldn't be him. They've learned their lesson," Wang Xiangxiu protested, her voice rising.

"Learned their lesson? I doubt it. Sometimes, knowing right from wrong depends on what they do. Your son? Ha!" Tao Yuyue had no sympathy for thieving children, especially when they weren't her own. She coldly snapped, "Move aside!"

Wang Xiangxiu took a deep breath and immediately turned back home. Tao Yuyue stormed out of the courtyard.

Once inside, Wang Xiangxiu confronted Jinlai, "Was it you?"

Her younger son, Yinlai, was still weak and couldn't possibly have done it. If anyone, it had to be Jinlai.

Jinlai avoided her gaze and insisted, "It wasn't me. I didn't do it."

Wang Xiangxiu scolded him, "Do you realize she's gone to the police? Do you understand what that means? How many times have I told you to behave? Why won't you listen? You..."

Su Jinlai shrugged it off. "So what? It's no big deal. At most, I'll get a scolding."

He had stolen before and never faced serious consequences. Jinlai wasn't afraid. After all, he was just a kid, and people tended to go easy on kids.

"You just don't get it..." Wang Xiangxiu's voice trailed off as Zhuang Zhixi helped Ming Mei back home.

Ming Mei tilted her head and said, "I'm not that fragile, am I?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "The ground is slippery."

It had snowed the night before, and although he had cleared it early in the morning, a thin layer of ice had formed again by evening. Winters in Beijing were bitterly cold. Zhuang Zhixi ignored the commotion between Wang Xiangxiu and her son, as well as Tao Yuyue's departure to report the theft. Instead, he focused on bringing his wife home.

They headed straight to the main house, where dinner preparations were already underway. The room was much warmer than their own. Zhao Guihua was slicing thin pieces of pork belly, preparing a stew with pickled cabbage and glass noodles.

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Mom, we still have meat?"

Their monthly ration wasn't much, and it wasn't a matter of money—it was about the lack of meat coupons. So, he was genuinely surprised.

Zhao Guihua explained, "Your sister-in-law has started working, so we have a bit more meat coupons now. If we run out, I'll figure something out."

She could always visit the black market if necessary.

Zhao Guihua added, "It's so cold now. If we don't eat well, we won't be able to withstand the chill. I can manage at home, but you two are out working all day, and Ming Mei is pregnant. How can I not take care of you?"

Ming Mei clung to Zhao Guihua's arm and cooed, "Mom, I knew you loved me the most."

She giggled, and it was true—her mother-in-law was incredibly generous when it came to food. Even families of cadres didn't eat as well as theirs. Her own father, who worked long-distance deliveries and had access to good food, didn't provide as well as Zhao Guihua. Her mother-in-law truly spared no expense.

Zhao Guihua's generosity in this regard had always amazed the entire family.

"Mom, I..."

Ming Mei was about to shower her mother-in-law with more praise when a heart-wrenching cry erupted from outside. The two women quickly looked out and realized the sound was coming from the Su family. Wang Xiangxiu was beating her child.

Zhao Guihua remarked, "She actually dares to hit her child now."

It was surprising, but considering the circumstances, she approved of teaching Jinlai a lesson. She didn't need to see it to know it was Jinlai. There were no other thieves in their courtyard.

Ming Mei whispered to her mother-in-law, "I saw him sneaking around the backyard this morning."

Zhao Guihua nodded. "Then it must be him."

Ming Mei asked, "How was the hospital today?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Both of them are fine."

She added, "Bai Fendou didn't even use his full strength. If he had, Chen Yuan wouldn't be a man anymore. So, scratching him up like shredded potatoes was already going easy on him. Though, Bai Fendou's fighting style isn't exactly manly."

However, Zhao Guihua mused, "I think Bai Fendou's marriage might hit another snag."

Ming Mei exclaimed, "What?!"

She looked at Zhao Guihua in surprise. Zhao Guihua nodded. "It's true."

Ming Mei pressed, "Tell me more!"

Zhao Guihua explained, "I saw Guan Guiling from your workplace today. She doesn't seem like an easy person to deal with. She's a bit like Wang Xiangxiu but smarter. I noticed her staring at Chen Yuan. I wouldn't be surprised if she has other intentions."

She shrugged. "But who knows?"

Ming Mei fell silent.

The two women continued chatting while the children sat in the room doing their homework—or rather, the older brother was doing his homework, and the younger sister was watching.

By now, the children had finished and were peeking out the window at the Su family. The little girl gasped, "He's getting beaten."

The older boy nodded. "If you don't listen, you get beaten."

"Getting hit hurts."

"Yeah."

Both children patted their chests, relieved they hadn't been punished. In those days, spanking children was common. Every child got beaten at some point. The two of them had been spanked before, so they watched the scene outside with fear.

During winter, the children mostly stayed in the main house. Their family had three and a half rooms—the half-room was the children's bedroom. In warmer weather, they slept there, but when it got cold, they moved into Zhao Guihua's room to sleep with the adults.

Zhuang Zhiyuan often traveled for work, so when he was away, the children slept with their mother, Liang Meifen. Occasionally, they slept in their own room, but not often.

Zhao Guihua preferred not to let them sleep alone in winter. For one, it wasted coal, and secondly, she worried they were too young to handle the stove. At the moment, the children had moved into Zhao Guihua's room, where they slept on a heated kang. While it wasn't noticeable in summer, it was incredibly cozy in winter.

After chatting for a while, Ming Mei entered the room and sat cross-legged on the kang. The children greeted her sweetly, "Hello, Auntie Ming Mei."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The little girl leaned close to Ming Mei and looked at her belly, asking, "Baby, when are you coming out?"

Ming Mei smiled and replied, "When do you want the baby to come out?"

The little girl tilted her head and said, "I hope it's soon, so I can have a little brother or sister. Auntie Ming Mei, is it a boy or a girl?"

Ming Mei chuckled. "I don't know yet. There are two babies, so maybe there's one of each."

The little girl's eyes lit up. "Really? Then I'll have both a brother and a sister!"

Ming Mei laughed softly and reached into her pocket, handing each child a piece of candy.

The children, delighted, accepted the candy and said, "Thank you, Auntie Ming Mei."

"Pork fat candy!"

Ming Mei nodded. "That's right."

The children didn't care what kind of candy it was—they were just happy to have some.

“Auntie Ming Mei, when I grow up and make money, I’ll also buy candy for my younger siblings,” the child said.

Ming Mei chuckled and replied, “That’s a good idea.”

Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, “Where’s your mom?”

Hu Tou raised his hand excitedly, “I know, I know!”

Ming Mei smiled, “Then you tell me.”

Hu Tou explained, “My mom went out to buy groceries. Auntie Jiang Lu just came by and told us.”

Ming Mei was puzzled, but Zhao Guihua, who was in the outer room, overheard and said, “She didn’t go to buy groceries. Jiang Lu mentioned that the supply station just got a new batch of cornmeal, so I asked your sister-in-law to rush over with the grain ration book.”

This year had indeed been tough in terms of food supply. Even grains weren’t delivered all at once, and every time they arrived, people had to queue up to get their share. So, as soon as news came, no one dared to delay. Ming Mei sighed, “Mom, it’s a good thing you’re so foresighted. Our family has some preparations. Otherwise, with so many mouths to feed, life would be really hard. I have a colleague whose family hasn’t split up yet, and there are almost twenty people in the household. They say they barely get enough to eat, with each person only getting one steamed bun per meal.”

Living like that would be unbearable for Ming Mei. She remembered the three years of hardship when everyone was starving and looked emaciated. Back then, she was only about ten years old, and her parents could still give her one steamed bun per meal, mixed with a bit of fine grain. Life now was much better than it was back then.

One steamed bun per meal? That would never be enough.

Zhao Guihua said, “Our family has more workers, so our rations are larger than others.”

It was no wonder everyone wanted to be a worker these days. Being a worker was much better than toiling in the fields. Workers also had a higher social status, so it was rare to see them frequenting black markets. Only those who were truly struggling would take such risks. Their family was doing relatively well, so they wouldn’t do anything reckless. Losing their jobs over something like that would be a huge loss.

Zhao Guihua added, “When everyone’s back, we’ll start dinner.”

Ming ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍Mei nodded, “Got it.”

Then she asked, “Mom, do you think it’s possible to install a heated brick bed (kang) in our room?”

Zhao Guihua was surprised, “Why? I thought young people prefer beds.”

Ming Mei explained directly, “Sleeping on a kang is much warmer in the winter, and it’s cozier. Besides, a bed only takes up so much space. If we install a kang, we can expand the area by at least half. I’m carrying twins, and when they’re born, my husband and I will have to sleep with two children. A bed feels too small, but a kang would give us more room. It won’t feel so cramped, and when the kids start crawling, they’ll have more space to move around.”

That made sense. When children were young, they had to sleep with their parents. For families with only one child, it might be manageable, but theirs would have two. Even a little movement would make the space feel inadequate. Zhao Guihua remembered that in her previous life, they hadn’t installed a kang at this time, but they did so the following year. People often underestimated how much space children could take up, even when they were small.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Guihua said, “Alright, I’ll contact someone. We’ll install the kang tomorrow.”

This was something that should be done sooner rather than later. If they were going to do it eventually, they might as well do it now so they could enjoy the warmth during the winter.

Ming Mei immediately beamed with joy, “Thank you, Mom.”

Zhao Guihua added, “I’ll have your father and third brother move to the smaller room. You can stay with me for a couple of days while the work is being done.”

Ming Mei agreed, “Okay.”

Although they hadn’t planned for this earlier, it wasn’t entirely impractical now that the weather was getting colder. Ming Mei smiled, “I’ve never slept on a kang before.”

Zhao Guihua teased her, “What if you don’t like it after switching?”

Ming Mei laughed and playfully scolded, “I won’t! Besides, it’s my own idea.”

Zhao Guihua nodded, “Alright.”

Ming Mei added, “I’ll get the money for you.”

Zhao Guihua didn’t refuse. She managed the family’s daily expenses and small matters, but she didn’t cover everything. Since Ming Mei offered to pay, Zhao Guihua didn’t decline.

“I’ll take care of this for you…”

Suddenly, a loud cry interrupted them. “Please, please spare him! He knows he was wrong. I’ve already punished him. He really knows he was wrong…” The Zhuang family all rushed to the window to see what was happening. They saw Wang Xiangxiu crying hysterically as the police were about to take Su Jinlai away.

Su Jinlai hung his head, his expression unreadable.

The police officers were in a difficult position. The items Su Jinlai had stolen weren’t of great value, and he was still recovering from injuries. However, the problem was that he was a repeat offender. He had previously been involved in cutting off pig tails, an act that undermined socialist principles and was deeply despised by the community.

“This time, we have to take him away. This isn’t his first offense. If it were, we might give him a chance. But he’s a habitual offender. Last time, we let him off because he was injured, but it’s clear he hasn’t learned his lesson. Therefore, we need to send him to a more suitable place for re-education.”

“No, please! Please, spare my child. He’s just a kid!”

Wang Xiangxiu knelt on the ground, weeping uncontrollably.

Hu Tou swallowed hard and asked, “Is Su Jinlai going to be taken away?”

The children in their neighborhood had seen more than most kids their age. While other children might be terrified of the police, the kids in their alley were used to such scenes. They were still a little scared, but they weren’t completely unfamiliar with such situations.

Ming Mei, who was also watching from the window, said, “It looks like he’s being taken away.”

Wang Xiangxiu’s cries grew louder. Seeing no hope from the police, she crawled over to Tao Yuyue and begged, “Nurse Tao, please spare him. I swear I’ll keep a closer eye on him. He’ll never make a mistake again, and he’ll never steal from your family. Please, I beg you. Whatever you lost, tell me how much it’s worth, and I’ll pay you back. I’ll definitely pay you back.”

Tao Yuyue remained unmoved. Under different circumstances, she might have let it go, but not today.

Earlier that morning, she had been humiliated and beaten, and her anger had been simmering all day. When she returned home in the evening and found her belongings missing, her rage exploded.

If the thief wasn’t caught, she wouldn’t let it go.

She had asked around when she returned, demanding to know who had taken her things, but no one admitted to it. Under these circumstances, she couldn’t be blamed for her actions.

She pushed Wang Xiangxiu away and said coldly, “I can’t trust you. Everyone knows your son is a repeat offender. If I let him go today, he might do it again tomorrow. Am I supposed to watch over my things every day? Don’t try to sweet-talk me. I don’t believe you can control him. If you could, he wouldn’t keep doing this. He’s over ten years old—he’s not a little kid anymore. Don’t try to use his age as an excuse.”

Tao Yuyue was merciless.

Wang Xiangxiu continued to sob, “I’ll do anything you want. Please, spare my son…”

Hearing this, Tao Yuyue became even more displeased. “What are you saying? ‘I’ll do anything’? Wang Xiangxiu, I’m not a man. Watch your words. If you really felt remorseful, why didn’t you admit it when I asked earlier? It was only after the police found your son’s footprints that you came forward. Do you think I’d believe you now? Get out of here! Officers, I won’t forgive them. Moreover, I demand strict punishment. If this child isn’t disciplined harshly, he’ll never stop.”

“How can you be so heartless? How can you be so cruel!”

No matter how much Wang Xiangxiu cried, it didn’t change the fact that Su Jinlai was being taken away.

Su Jinlai hadn’t expected this to happen. He had done similar things before and gotten away with it, but this time, he was being held accountable. He wailed, “Mom, save me! Save me! I’ll never do it again…”

“Jinlai…”

Amid Wang Xiangxiu and Su Jinlai’s hysterical cries, the boy was finally taken away. Wang Xiangxiu collapsed on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Tao Yuyue snorted coldly and walked away without looking back.

That little brat actually ate everything in his house, what a cursed child.

She didn’t care at all about Wang Xiangxiu’s crying. She was a woman, but she wasn’t the type to show pity or tenderness. Tao Yuyue went straight back to the backyard, and no one went to comfort Wang Xiangxiu. Not even a hint of sympathy was offered.

It wasn’t that everyone was heartless, but Su Jinlai was truly a lost cause.

His injuries hadn’t even healed, and yet he was already stealing again. If he wasn’t arrested, wouldn’t he just turn around and target them next? Thinking this, no one felt sorry for him. Instead, it felt like they were ridding the community of a pest.

The first time, people might have felt sympathy, but after the second, third, and countless times… everyone just wanted him gone.

Wang Xiangxiu was crying bitterly. Yinlai lay on the kang at home, his little face pale. Tonglai leaned over and whispered, “Second brother…”

Yinlai: “Tonglai.”

He hugged his younger brother, never imagining that they would actually arrest someone.

“I don’t want to go to jail.”

“Me neither.”

“We’ll be good.”

“Okay.”

The two brothers held each other for warmth, while outside, Wang Xiangxiu continued to weep. Lan Sihai watched the commotion for a while, unusually refraining from sarcasm. Instead, he said, “You still have two children, one sick and one young. You can’t neglect the ones who need care more just because of one unruly child.”

With that, he turned and went home.

Wang Xiangxiu was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly stumbled back into the house: “Yinlai, Tonglai…”

“What a mess this is.”

“Our courtyard has too much drama.”

“No kidding!”

“Forget about our courtyard ever winning any ‘Model Courtyard’ awards.”

“Oh, come on, don’t even dream about it. If anyone could win, it wouldn’t be us…”

“Wait, wasn’t Bai Fendou supposed to get married today? Did it happen?”

“Marry? He’s in the hospital…”

As everyone chatted, they headed home.

Ming Mei watched the commotion for a while, listened to some gossip, and sighed, “Kids can be mischievous, but they shouldn’t do things like this.”

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi nodded fearfully. So, even children could be arrested by the police.

Su Jinlai had been taken away.

“From now on, we’ll be the best-behaved kids.”

The Zhuang family burst into laughter.

Ming Mei wanted to build a kang, something not uncommon at this time of year. Even though the weather was cold and drying it out would be difficult, this was actually the perfect time to build one. After all, no one thinks about it when it’s warm.

But now that it was cold, everyone was thinking about it. Ming Mei’s family built their kang, with Zhao Guihua enlisting the help of the versatile Aunt Lian. Though Aunt Lian’s fees weren’t cheap, she had a knack for finding skilled craftsmen, and the job was done exceptionally well.

Actually, Zhao Guihua knew someone who could do the job, but their skills weren’t as good as Aunt Lian’s old acquaintance.

The kang was finished in a day, but it needed to be fired for a few more days to dry completely and test the flue. This was crucial. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and the kang turned out great. Ming Mei and Zhuang Zhixi moved back into their room, instantly feeling like they had more space to sleep.

Previously, they had a 1.5-meter-wide double bed.

In those days, double beds were usually 1.5 meters wide, with 1.8-meter beds being rare. After all, most homes weren’t spacious, and practicality was key. A 1.5-meter bed was fine for a couple, but adding two little ones made it cramped.

Now, though, things were different. With the kang built, even five people could sleep comfortably.

Their room wasn’t as big as Zhao Guihua’s, which was divided into two sections, but they had a 1.5-meter partition. Now, connected to the kang, the partition wasn’t as cold as before. Once the kang was fired, the partition would stay warm to the touch, radiating heat.

Ming Mei cleverly suggested, “We can warm our gloves and hats on it, so they’re toasty when we put them on in the morning.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “My wife is so smart.”

Just as Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei settled into their new kang, Bai Fendou and Chen Yuan from their courtyard were finally discharged from the hospital. However, Chen Yuan didn’t return to the courtyard but went to stay with his parents instead.

Tao Yuyue also went to take care of her husband, and their door was locked tight.

Around the same time, they heard that Su Jinlai had been sent to a juvenile detention center for three months.

Well, he wouldn’t be spending the New Year at home.

Three months wasn’t that long, but for a mother like Wang Xiangxiu, it was unbearable. She had been in a foul mood for days, her face dark whenever she saw anyone. Meanwhile, Bai Fendou was in high spirits. Seeing the Su family suffer made him happy.

Although the incident had delayed his wedding, it had also indirectly sent that little troublemaker off for reform. How could he not be pleased?

Bai Fendou was so delighted that he even went to the police station to inquire about Su’s grandmother.

Her grandson had already gotten his comeuppance—when would the old lady be sentenced?

As luck would have it, Su’s grandmother had recently been sentenced. The case had dragged on for months, but by the end of the year, there was finally a verdict. Originally, the old woman was to face execution. She had been involved in coercing and organizing women in the old society… and was also implicated in the accidental death of Old Bai.

Don’t think that just because she was only 14 or 15 when she worked in the brothels, she was innocent. She was far from it. Her mother had been a madam, and she had learned to scheme and target disobedient girls from as young as six or seven.

It’s no wonder they had let Wang Xiangxiu off the hook back then. If they had really wanted to investigate and dig deep, someone like Su’s grandmother, who had hidden her crimes well, would have been exposed. According to her confessions, she was supposed to face execution.

But she was cunning. She had kept many secrets, and when she finally revealed them, the case became much bigger. She helped uncover many old society parasites who were still causing trouble in the present day.

Thanks to Su’s grandmother’s revelations, others were arrested.

Because of her cooperation, her sentence was reduced from execution to life imprisonment.

Though it was life imprisonment, Su’s grandmother was relieved. At least her life was spared.

She had asked several times to see Wang Xiangxiu, but Wang Xiangxiu ignored her. So, she stopped asking. No one knew what she was really thinking, but after her sentencing, she couldn’t stay in the area.

Reportedly, she was being sent to plant trees in the Gobi Desert.

Those with life sentences like hers were sent to harsh places to serve their time. As for her daughter, Su Pandi, she was sentenced to seven years for promiscuity.

This was because it was this year. If it had been during a crackdown, she might have faced execution too. With the Su family meeting such fates, Bai Fendou was overjoyed. He bought some wine and happily headed home, eager to announce the news to everyone.

He got drunk, sat in the courtyard, and sang loudly in the middle of the night, howling like a wolf.

No one in the courtyard bothered to confront him. After all, Old Bai had truly passed away. His father had been murdered, and now the culprit had met a bad end. It was only natural for him to be happy.

Actually, Bai Fendou had hoped Su’s grandmother would die too. He was a bit disappointed that she hadn’t been executed. But then again, sometimes death was too easy.

Now, instead of dying, she was going to the Gobi Desert to plant trees, which meant she would suffer greatly. Thinking about it, this outcome wasn’t so bad.

This was living punishment.

After all, Su’s grandmother wasn’t young. Imagining her spending the rest of her life in misery made Bai Fendou feel quite satisfied.

Bai Fendou couldn’t keep things to himself. Once he knew, everyone knew. It had to be said, thinking about how Su’s grandmother and daughter had ended up like this, everyone felt a sense of pity, especially for Su Pandi.

She was truly unlucky. She was the one who had been dragged into this.

But because she had tried to take all the blame, hoping to make things easier for her mother, she ended up in this situation.

With Bai Fendou bringing news of Su’s grandmother, recent conversations in the courtyard revolved around her.

During the day, the housewives who didn’t have to work would gather together to chat and do chores, and of course, they couldn’t help but gossip a little.

Aunt Sui said, “I have a distant relative who lives near Su Pandi’s place. I heard that Su Pandi’s ex-husband, Yuan Jun, took their kids and left.”

Zhao Guihua asked, “Left?”

Aunt Sui replied, “I heard he applied for a transfer to another city and left with the kids half a month ago. I guess it’s because Su Pandi’s reputation has spread too much. As a man, he might not care, but the kids were bound to be affected and discriminated against. As a father, he had no choice but to do something about it.”

Zhao Guihua sighed, “It’s not easy to get a transfer these days.”

This wasn’t like later times when moving around was much easier. Nowadays, leaving one’s hometown, even if one was willing, didn’t necessarily mean there was an opportunity to do so.

“I heard he went to support a partner unit. But it’s probably for the best. At least the kids will have a better environment.” Although the capital, known as the Four-Nine City, was more developed, given their family’s current situation, staying wouldn’t have been good for the children.

Sometimes adults could handle things, but children’s cruelty could be completely unfounded.

“I heard their kids were being bullied at school because of Su Pandi’s reputation, which is why Yuan Jun applied for the transfer.”

“He’s doing it for the kids. It’s not easy.”

“That’s why Su Pandi’s actions are so sinful. She’s ruined her own children. The outside world might be fine, but it’s nowhere near as good as here.”

“I think it’s Su Pandi’s mother who’s the real problem. She’s the one who caused all this.”

“Oh, by the way, wasn’t Bai Fendou supposed to get married? Why hasn’t there been any news about it?” Zhao Guihua suddenly remembered and brought it up.

“No idea!”

The group of elderly women exchanged puzzled looks. Although they were all part of the neighborhood’s “intelligence network,” none of them knew what had happened with Bai Fendou. He had been ready to get his marriage certificate, but after coming back a few days ago, there had been no further action.

“I’ll ask him,” Aunt Wang volunteered.

Zhao Guihua wondered, “Could it be that the wedding’s off?”

“Oh, surely not?”

“Who knows?”

When it came to Bai Fendou, nothing seemed surprising.

It was a good thing Jiang Lu had only briefly considered introducing Wang Zhaodi to Bai Fendou before giving up on the idea. If she had gone through with it, it would have been a disaster for Wang Zhaodi.

“Oh, by the way, where’s Wang Zhaodi?” Aunt Wang suddenly realized Wang Zhaodi wasn’t around.

Zhao Guihua answered, “She borrowed our fishing rod early this morning and went to the moat to fish.”

Aunt Zhou said proudly, “Our Zhaodi is such a hard worker and a good person. Last night, Jiang Lu mentioned she was craving fish, so Zhaodi went out today.”

Aunt Wang was speechless. “Couldn’t you just buy some?”

This wasn’t something to blame anyone for. Aunt Zhou explained, “I would if I could, but there’s nothing in the stores right now. The grain shops and other stores are completely empty. I wanted to buy some, but there’s no stock.”

She added, “I sent Zhaodi to check this morning, and they said they didn’t have any.”

“In this cold weather, even if she goes, she might not catch anything.”

Aunt Zhou shrugged, “It’s worth a try. Besides, she’s pretty good at it. Oh, I can’t stay and chat. I need to go buy her a fishing rod. It’s not right to keep borrowing one.”

Wang Zhaodi had been borrowing Zhao Guihua’s fishing rod every time she went fishing.

But she didn’t borrow it for free. Whenever she had a good catch, she would share some with Zhao Guihua. Even though her own catches weren’t always plentiful, she never borrowed without giving something in return. Aunt Zhou, though stingy, understood this was necessary. Otherwise, Zhao Guihua, with her fiery temper, would surely make a fuss.

But recently, Aunt Zhou had done the math and decided it would be more practical to buy their own fishing rod.

Borrowing all the time wasn’t very convenient.

Zhao Guihua glanced at her and said, “Oh, finally decided to buy one, huh?”

Aunt Zhou replied, “I’m not the one managing the household finances. Jiang Lu didn’t think of it, so I couldn’t just use my own money to cover it. It was me who reminded her. Anyway, I’m off.”

She quickly left, and Aunt Wang sighed sincerely, “It’s amazing how the government’s education has changed people. Look at Aunt Zhou—she’s really improved.”

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Guihua thought to herself, *Well, it depends on the person. I remember in my past life, Su Jinlai got into trouble several times, and it didn’t seem to teach him much.*

“I wonder if Wang Zhaodi will have any luck today.”

Wang Zhaodi had ridden a bicycle to the moat. Jiang Lu wasn’t using her bike anymore since she was heavily pregnant, and Zhou Qun now walked to and from work with her every day. The bike was sitting idle at home, so Wang Zhaodi had taken it to go fishing.

Braving the northern wind, she huffed and puffed her way to the moat.

She never would have imagined that one day she’d be able to ride a bicycle!

This was a bicycle! In her village, only the village head had one, and it was treated like a treasure—no one else was allowed to touch it. But now, here she was, riding one! Jiang Lu had even let her use her bike to practice.

Wang Zhaodi felt a warm glow in her heart. She had been clumsy when learning to ride and had even fallen off, but Jiang Lu hadn’t scolded her!

Jiang Lu was such a kind person.

She parked the bike not far from where she was fishing and found a spot where people often fished in winter. The ice here was thinner, so she started breaking it with a rock. *Thud! Thud! Thud!*

*Bang!*

She turned around and saw a familiar-looking man helping her break the ice.

Wang Zhaodi scratched her head and said, “Thank you.”

The man smiled and said, “No need to thank me. The bigger the hole, the better. I’m fishing here too.”

He glanced at Wang Zhaodi and said, “Hey, you look familiar.”

Wang Zhaodi also thought the man looked familiar. She said, “I think so too. You’re…”

“You’re Jiang Lu’s little follower.”

“You’re from the neighboring compound.”

They both recognized each other.

Wang Zhaodi said, “I’m Wang Zhaodi, Aunt Zhou’s goddaughter. I’m staying with Jiang Lu now.”

“Oh, I’m Da Qiang, from the next compound. You’ve probably heard of me—people call me Qiang Dadan (Bold Qiang).”

Wang Zhaodi nodded, “I’ve heard of you.”

Since she often hung around with the elderly women in the neighborhood, Wang Zhaodi knew most of the people in the area. She might not always match names to faces, but she was familiar with some of the local gossip.

For example, she knew about Qiang Dadan.

He was in his late twenties and had been married once, but his wife had passed away from illness four years ago. The medical bills had left him penniless. He had an elderly mother who lived with his older brother, not in their neighborhood.

Qiang Dadan worked as a laborer in the mechanical factory’s loading and unloading department. He had a room in the neighboring compound and lived alone.

Compared to how much Wang Zhaodi knew about Qiang Dadan, he didn’t have much of an impression of her. The only thing he remembered was that she was Jiang Lu’s shadow.

He asked bluntly, “Why are you living with someone else? Why don’t you go back to your own home?”

Wang Zhaodi hesitated for a moment before replying, “My family’s poor. Here, I can at least have enough to eat.”

Da Qiang nodded and didn’t press further. Instead, he asked, “So, do you know how to fish?”

At this, Wang Zhaodi lifted her chin with a hint of pride. “I do! I’m really good at it.”

In the past, she would have been too timid to speak so confidently.

But her newfound confidence came from observing the women in the neighborhood, especially Ming Mei.

Ming Mei was only a little older than her, so Wang Zhaodi felt more comfortable learning from her. She noticed that Ming Mei was very self-assured. Even before others praised her, Ming Mei would praise herself—and she also praised others.

Everyone seemed to enjoy her company.

Moreover, Ming Mei never shied away from looking people in the eye when she spoke. Even though she wasn’t tall, she carried herself with such confidence. Wang Zhaodi admired that and found herself unconsciously imitating her.

She wasn’t bragging, but she really did know how to fish.

Wang Zhaodi explained, “Back in my village, there was a small river. I used to sneak out to catch fish. I was really good at it. When the water was deep, I even made my own fish traps.”

“That’s pretty impressive,” Da Qiang complimented her.

They didn’t sit too close to each other, leaving at least two meters between them, but it didn’t stop them from chatting.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work today?” Wang Zhaodi asked curiously. It was a workday, after all.

Da Qiang said, "We didn’t get a break last week, so they gave us a day off today. With tomorrow being Sunday, we’ll have two days off in a row."

Wang Zhaodi nodded and replied, "Oh, I see. It’s good to have a job that lets you make up for lost time."

Da Qiang chuckled, "My job isn’t anything special, just manual labor, selling my strength."

"That’s still good," Wang Zhaodi said earnestly. "In our village, a family might not save as much in a year as a city worker earns in a month. Even if it’s just manual labor, if there’s an opportunity, I’m sure people would fight for it."

Da Qiang agreed, "That’s true. It’s hard to get a stable job these days."

Wang Zhaodi replied, "Exactly."

"Hey, hey, I’ve got a fish biting the hook!"

"Ah, hurry up!"

...

The winter in the capital was harsh, and when it was time for the coldest days, the snow fell heavily.

That afternoon, snowflakes began to drift down again. Qiang Dadan looked at the three small fish in his bucket and asked, "It’s snowing. Are you going back?"

Wang Zhaodi had even fewer, only two. She hesitated for a moment and said, "I’ll stay a bit longer."

"The snow’s getting heavier. You’ll catch a cold like this. It’s not worth staying an extra day or half a day. You should head back. If you get soaked and sick, it’ll cost you money to recover, and you don’t look like you’re rolling in cash."

Wang Zhaodi smiled and nodded, "You’re right."

"Let’s go together."

"Okay!"

The two of them rode their bikes back home.

As they arrived at their alley, they coincidentally ran into Zhuang Zhixi. Zhuang Zhixi glanced at them and asked, "What’s going on here?"

Qiang Dadan replied, "We ran into each other while fishing. Why are you back so early? Slacking off?"

His lack of tact was almost impressive.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "What are you talking about? I went out to handle some business and came straight home afterward."

On a snowy day like this, there was a document that needed to be delivered to the city. No one wanted to make the trip, so as the youngest, Zhuang Zhixi naturally volunteered. Getting off work early wasn’t a bad deal, after all.

He peered into Da Qiang’s bucket and said, "You’re not very good at this, huh?"

Da Qiang retorted, "I didn’t have much time! If it weren’t for the snow, I wouldn’t have caught so little. But three fish are enough for me. I’ll make some fish soup tonight to warm up."

Zhuang Zhixi smirked, "I’m not like you."

He added, "I have my mom cooking for me at home."

Da Qiang muttered, "What kind of person brags about that?"

"Hmph."

They each went into their own courtyards. Wang Zhaodi handed her fishing rod to Zhuang Zhixi and said, "Brother Zhuang, here’s the fishing rod. I also have two fish. Take one for your family."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "Sure. Your fish look bigger than Da Qiang’s."

Wang Zhaodi beamed, "I got lucky."

She truly felt fortunate. If it weren’t for her good luck, she wouldn’t have been able to come to the city from the countryside. She had arrived with a million worries, but after getting here, she had seen so much and met such kind people.

"Please thank Aunt Zhao for me."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Will do."

He carried the fishing rod and the small fish home.

Since he had returned early, his wife Ming Mei hadn’t gotten off work yet. He wasn’t in a hurry to go fetch her. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw a group of elderly women gathered at his house, chatting. He set the things down and said, "Wang Zhaodi gave these to me."

Zhao Guihua said sincerely, "That girl is really nice."

"Absolutely. She’s hardworking and capable. Whoever marries her will be very lucky."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, thinking of Qiang Dadan…

But maybe it was just a coincidence.

He lazily leaned over and said, "Make some room for me…"

Zhao Guihua asked, "Why are you back so early…"

...

Zhuang Zhixi had returned early and didn’t need to rush to pick up Ming Mei. Ming Mei, however, hadn’t gotten off work yet. She was pacing around the room, one hand on her waist. She was already far along in her pregnancy and was walking more to make the delivery easier.

"Ming Mei, Ming Mei! Come here, quick!" A colleague sitting by the window suddenly called out. Ming Mei slowly walked over and asked, "What’s going on?"

"Guan Guiling from our unit is arguing with a man downstairs, pulling and tugging at each other."

"Ah!"

At this, not just Ming Mei, but everyone else quickly got up. In no time, seven or eight people were crowded by the window, not missing a thing.

They all looked outside. Ming Mei exclaimed, "Oh, that’s Bai Fendou!"

"Bai Fendou? That legendary guy from your compound?"

"The one who got Jiang Baohong into trouble?"

Ming Mei nodded, "That’s him. Why is he here?"

Then she slapped her forehead.

Pregnancy brain was real. Of course Bai Fendou would be here with Guan Guiling. They were getting married, after all.

"I heard Guan Guiling got a marriage certificate, but I haven’t seen her hand out candies. Did they get married or not?" someone asked.

Ming Mei shook her head, "I’m not sure."

She couldn’t say for certain whether they had officially registered. She thought they hadn’t, but she couldn’t be sure. If they had, Bai Fendou would have announced it to the world. He was desperate to get married.

"Is it really appropriate for them to be pulling and tugging like that in public?"

"Who knows?"

Everyone was gossiping, while downstairs, Guan Guiling felt utterly humiliated. She had always maintained a good reputation at work and cared deeply about her image. She never expected Bai Fendou to show up like this, making a scene.

Although she had once considered marrying him, deep down, Guan Guiling looked down on Bai Fendou.

Guan Guiling said seriously, "Bai Fendou, stop pulling at me. This is my workplace, and my colleagues and friends are all around. How am I supposed to face people after this?"

Bai Fendou was also upset. He said, "I haven’t seen you in so long. You haven’t been looking for me. I had to come here to find you. We agreed to get married, didn’t we? You didn’t visit me in the hospital, and I didn’t blame you. But I’ve been out for a while now, and you’re still avoiding me. What’s going on?"

Guan Guiling took a deep breath and said, "I need to think about our relationship again."

"What!" Bai Fendou was shocked. "We agreed to get married. Why are you reconsidering now?"

Guan Guiling looked up and saw a row of heads peeking out of the window. She felt even more resentful, but there was nowhere to hide. She clenched her jaw and said, "This is exactly why I need to rethink things. You don’t care about my reputation at all, coming here to my workplace and making a scene. How do you expect people to see me? And look at you—you’re always getting into fights over the smallest things, ending up in the hospital. If we get married, how can I be sure you won’t hit me? Bai Fendou, I like you, and I want to build a life with you. But I’m scared. I’m scared that if we’re together, you’ll be violent toward me. I’m not alone; I have a child. I can’t afford to fall. That’s why I need to think carefully."

Bai Fendou protested, "Hey, I don’t hit my wife. That’s Chen Yuan."

Guan Guiling retorted, "He looks polite and still hits his wife. You get into fights at the drop of a hat. How can I trust you won’t hit me?"

She added, "I’ve heard about your fights. You’ve been in too many. How can I feel safe? That’s why I need to think this through."

Bai Fendou felt utterly wronged. Everything had been going so well, so why was Guan Guiling hesitating now? But he also understood her concerns. She didn’t want to marry someone who might be violent, and that’s exactly how he came across.

But how could she doubt him?

He said miserably, "You’re really being unfair to me."

Guan Guiling replied, "Whether I’m being unfair or not, I need to think carefully. Don’t come looking for me during this time."

"What!"

Bai Fendou grabbed Guan Guiling's arm in agitation, "How could you do this? How could you act on mere speculation? We had it all planned out, everything was settled... What am I supposed to do now..."

He had been looking forward to spending a harmonious New Year together.

How could things change so quickly when everything had been agreed upon?

"Let go, let go of me, you're hurting me," Guan Guiling frowned. "See? You say you're not the type to hit your wife, but I know you are."

She continued, her voice trembling, "You claim to be a good man, but look at what you're doing! I'm not alone—I have a child in my womb. If something happens to me, it would be two lives lost. I can't take that risk! Go, just go! I don't want to see you!"

"Guan Guiling, you..."

"Go! Get out of here!"

"No, you have to explain this to me..."

The two of them began to struggle, pulling at each other.

Upstairs, the onlookers watched nervously. Someone muttered, "Guan Guiling is pregnant. Nothing bad can happen to her, right?"

"Who knows?"

"That Bai Fendou is really scary. He definitely seems like the type to hit his wife."

"I think so too. If he were really a decent man, he wouldn't act like this..."

Ming Mei watched Bai Fendou from above, realizing that new rumors about him were about to spread.

Soon, the security team arrived, and chaos erupted downstairs. Guan Guiling covered her face and crouched down, crying, while Bai Fendou was shoved out of the gate by the security team.

"That Bai Fendou, how could he act like this?"

"Exactly. Marriage is about freedom. Can't she reconsider her decision?"

"He's so quick to fight—who can say he wouldn't hit his wife?"

"That's right."

Ming Mei didn't join in the discussion, but she didn't miss a moment of the spectacle.

Bai Fendou stood outside the gate, snowflakes falling on him, making him look utterly desolate. He couldn't understand how Guan Guiling could conclude that he would hit his wife just because he had fought with Chen Yuan.

Where did that conclusion even come from?

It made no sense at all!

But Guan Guiling was stubborn, and he couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

Overwhelmed with despair, he crouched down, wiping his face, hoping to talk to Guan Guiling again. Just then, the security team came out. The leader spoke bluntly, "Comrade Bai Fendou, we know who you are. If you keep harassing Comrade Guan Guiling, we'll have to arrest you. This is a new society, and marriage is about freedom. Don't even think about forcing her or harming her."

"I'm not..."

"Comrade Guan Guiling has said she doesn't want to have anything to do with you. Stop bothering her."

"I'm not that kind of person! Why does everyone misunderstand me..."

Bai Fendou was completely stunned. After a long pause, seeing the hostility in everyone's eyes, he finally couldn't take it anymore. He raised his arms to the sky and shouted, "Heaven, you're being so unfair! Why? What's wrong with me, Bai Fendou? I'm a good man! Why does nothing ever go right for me? I just want to get married, just want to get married! Why, oh Heaven, why?!"

The security team was speechless.

Ming Mei and the others didn't know what was happening outside, but seeing Bai Fendou raise his arms and shout at the sky left them dumbfounded.

What on earth was he doing?

................

Meanwhile, Guan Guiling stood alone in the bathroom, taking deep breaths to calm herself. "Guan Guiling, don't be afraid. Dump Bai Fendou, and your husband can get a temporary job. Ruin Bai Fendou's reputation, and you'll get fifty yuan. Bai Fendou, don't blame me. Your life isn't bad, so don't blame me for looking out for myself!"