My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

People, after all, have some hobbies.

A few old ladies curiously squat under the windowsill, eavesdropping and puzzled whether Hu Huihui is saying something ironically. As they are puzzling over it, they see a pair of slippers appear before them. Looking up, they see none other than Su Jinlai.

Su Jinlai's face is grim as he says, "Old ladies, are you sick or what? What, you come to eavesdrop under my window? Do you think I'm easy to bully? There's no way to handle things like this, can't you have some manners? Do you think you can just snoop and eavesdrop on me, Su Jinlai? If I catch you peeking around here again, I'll snap your necks."

Aunt Zhou is about to retort, but Zhao Guihua quickly stops her. After all, they were in the wrong.

She quickly says, "Jinlai, it was our mistake, we're sorry."

She pulls the group of old ladies away hurriedly.

Su Jinlai proudly raises his head, saying, "You're wise."

He grumbles as he turns back, "These old ladies have no manners at all. Talk about them always hanging around the courtyard, just like troublemakers. I suspect they're ruining my reputation outside. Otherwise, how could a fine young man like me... uh, cough, cough, Auntie, how did you hear about me?"

Hu Huihui doesn't have a high opinion of these old ladies either, but she didn't come here because of them. She doesn't care about them and says, "Never mind them, I've heard about you. You don't know, your reputation, Su Jinlai, is ringing in all of Beijing. That's why Auntie came to find you."

Su Jinlai: "!!!"

He hasn't even started making a name for himself in society, yet his reputation is already widespread?

His eyes are full of joy as he asks, "Auntie, did you encounter some trouble that needs solving?"

Otherwise, why would she come to him?

Hu Huihui shakes her head, "Not exactly."

After a pause, she smiles meaningfully, saying, "Auntie heard, your nickname is Da... Niao?"

Su Jinlai: "!!!"

His face darkens.

He remembers his drunken foolishness. Looking at Hu Huihui again, he feels more hostility. Isn't this auntie going too far? Coming here to laugh at him? Is this how relatives behave? He coldly says, "What are you trying to say, Auntie?"

Hu Huihui sees Jinlai's expression change and curses inwardly. However, thinking about how this kid wasn't reliable even as a child, a ungrateful brat, she's not at all surprised by his current attitude.

She smiles softly, saying, "Look at you, such a reputation, it's not bad at all. Men, having such a reputation is a good thing, isn't it better than others? Auntie will be honest with you, I have a foreign friend who heard about your reputation and wants to meet you."

Su Jinlai: "...???????"

He's so awesome that even foreigners want to make friends with him? Su Jinlai is momentarily stunned, then proud. Look, he's that good. Even without stepping out of his home, his fame spreads throughout Beijing.

He proudly kicked his feet and said, "Auntie, what kind of friend do you have? She has good taste."

Hu Huihui: "……"

She takes a deep breath, saying, "My husband and I mainly work as tour guides, guiding some foreigners who come from abroad to tour around, experiencing our beautiful landscapes and helping them buy some unique things. The foreigner I mentioned is our guest."

Actually, Hu Huihui isn't lying. Although her husband, Old Zheng, used to be a leader, this is Beijing, where if a wall falls and hits ten people, nine of them have connections. They really didn't dare to be too arrogant. Because her husband, Old Zheng, was more cautious, although greedy for money, he didn't go too far, leaving some leeway. Thus, he didn't offend many people, and when the final reckoning came, he was only dismissed from his position.

Unlike some people who directly went to prison.

After Old Zheng was ousted, she naturally was sent home and lost her job.

It was coincidental that a neighbor of theirs was exonerated and returned home with nothing to do. Hu Huihui also had nothing to do at home, so they gradually got closer, oh no, became acquainted. This neighbor had a background of studying abroad, so Hu Huihui decided to learn English from him.

She thought, more skills don't weigh you down.

Hu Huihui has known what she wanted since she was in her teens, and now is no exception. She knows that no matter what she learns, it belongs to her, and you never know when it might come in handy. So she's been studying seriously.

Unexpectedly, because of this, she got an opportunity. Due to her mediocre English, Hu Huihui happened to meet a foreigner here on official business. At that time, many people were wary of this, but Hu Huihui had some guts. She seized the opportunity and volunteered to be a tour guide.

Not only did she become a tour guide, but she also took the foreigner to buy antiques, making him very happy.

Although these antiques were, as Hu Huihui knew, fake. Over the years, they had confiscated quite a few things. Her biggest advantage was being diligent in learning, not mastering them, but generally being able to distinguish good from bad.

After all, she had handled quite a few things and paid attention.

But what does it matter if they're real or fake, as long as the foreigner thought they were real? Hu Huihui, by conniving with others to sell fakes to foreigners, made a big profit and tasted the sweetness. From then on, she specifically targeted some foreigners, volunteering to be a tour guide.

Sometimes it was through customer referrals, and her "business" was pretty good. Although there aren't many foreigners in Beijing now, isn't her line of work like "three years without opening, and when it opens, it lasts for three years"?

She didn't intentionally want to sell fake antiques, but where are so many real ones?

Would she specifically go look for them? Isn't that just idle?

As an old Beijinger, she's heard a lot about foreigners coming to Beijing to grab good stuff. So now, using fake goods to trick people, Hu Huihui feels no guilt at all. Her business is quite successful.

The recent clients she's been dealing with are some foreign rich ladies, introduced by her previous customers.

By her observation, these people just want to make a fortune by picking up bargains, so Hu Huihui isn't very polite in tricking them. Coincidentally, they recently went to eat local specialties and happened to hear someone mention Su Jinlai.

This foreign rich lady is quite open-minded and instantly lit up, wanting to experience it.

This kind of thing, Hu Huihui isn't doing it for the first time. Anyway, it's mutual consent, with enough money, neither side loses. If they're not willing, Hu Huihui won't force them; she can always talk them into it with sweet words.

She walks the line, but you can't say she's outright bad.

Since Su Jinlai is a relative, Hu Huihui took the initiative to come.

If it weren't for this, Hu Huihui wouldn't be willing to find Wang Xiangxiu. She always feels that Wang Xiangxiu is a bit eerie, somewhat like a jinx. This isn't her superstition; her good cousin has already taken down quite a few people.

Hu Huihui has to be cautious.

That's why she specially chose a time when Wang Xiangxiu wasn't around.

How could she not know that this time Wang Xiangxiu is at work? She definitely knows, thinking with her toes, so she deliberately chose this time. Anyway, she doesn't want to meet her good cousin.

Hu Huihui: "Look, I'm not lying to you, Auntie. Auntie's friend heard about your exceptional talent and wants to see it. You won't do it for free; you'll get paid. Although they're older, as a man, you're not at a loss, are you? Besides, it's also about face; foreigners are coming specifically because of you, don't you think?"

She looks at Su Jinlai, saying, "I heard you're very impressive, so we should also let foreigners see it, right?"

She speaks to different people differently. For Su Jinlai, she needs to flatter him.

"If you don't want anyone to know, no one will know. The foreign lady will leave in a couple of days." Hu Huihui smiles, saying, "There are three of them, you'll get this much money."

She held up one finger.

Su Jinlai rolled his eyes and snorted, saying, "Ten yuan? That's nothing."

Hu Huihui's mouth twitched, "...”

She wanted to curse. How ignorant could this kid be?

She said, "What are you thinking? If it were just ten yuan, would your aunt even come to find you? That would be insulting you, wouldn't it? How could I live up to your nickname?"

Su Jinlai curiously asked, "So how much is it?"

He truly had no idea about such matters.

Hu Huihui: "One thousand yuan."

Su Jinlai almost shouted, "How much?"

His eyes nearly popped out as he looked at Hu Huihui in disbelief. He had never had that much money before. To be precise, he had never had more than ten yuan in his life! This sudden offer of one thousand yuan... When he went to the countryside, his family only gave him a hundred yuan.

And that was for going to the countryside!

He stammered, "Y-y-you, aren't lying, are you?"

Hu Huihui: "I'm your aunt. Although our families haven't been close, I wouldn't lie to you, would I? Think about it. Although we haven't been close, have I ever lied to you?"

Su Jinlai thought carefully and said, "Well, no."

Hu Huihui: "Exactly. And why wouldn't I offer this to someone else? It's because you're my nephew. I want you to make some money. Otherwise, I could have easily found someone else. They’ve only heard the name; they haven’t seen you in person. I could have found a fake to trick them, and they wouldn’t have known. That way, I could have made money too. But now, I'm doing this for free to help you. One thousand yuan, and I won't take a single cent. Not only that, but there are extra benefits too."

Su Jinlai was curious, "What are they?"

Hu Huihui: "Think about it. During their stay here, the food and drinks will definitely be of high quality, right? If you join them, won't you also enjoy it? Places like Old Mo and Quanjude, you can go to any of them. Plus, they’ll probably buy you a new outfit, right? Think about all these benefits."

It was undeniable that Hu Huihui was quite persuasive. Su Jinlai was immediately tempted, not for any other reason than the money.

He didn't hesitate at all and said, "Alright, I agree to this, Auntie. But it's not just for the money, okay? I can make money easily. I just want to show this foreign woman what's what."

Hu Huihui rolled her eyes inwardly but smiled on the surface, "Yes, I know you're a competitive kid, eager to prove yourself in everything."

Hu Huihui: "So, you’ll come out with me now? I’ll take you to buy a couple of new outfits."

Su Jinlai: "Ah, right now, to buy clothes?"

Hu Huihui: "Of course! My nephew is no less than a movie star from Hong Kong. He deserves to be well-dressed. Let's go!"

Hu Huihui glanced at the steamed corn bread on the stove and said, "Look, how can you eat this? I know you're not picky, but we should at least eat well. Come on, Auntie will take you for Peking duck."

"Great!"

Su Jinlai was instantly thrilled. He never expected such good fortune.

At that moment, he felt truly grateful to Monkey. If it weren't for Monkey's watered-down sorghum liquor, he wouldn't have gotten drunk. If he hadn't gotten drunk, he wouldn't have acted so carelessly. And if he hadn't acted so carelessly, he wouldn't have gained such notoriety.

So, thank you, watered-down sorghum liquor!

He excitedly followed Hu Huihui out the door. As soon as they stepped out, they ran into Zhuang Zhixi. Zhuang Zhixi's family had made meat pies, and Zhao Guihua had ordered him to deliver lunch to the school. Although students could eat at the cafeteria during lunch, it was nice to send some delicious food occasionally.

Some kids even brought their own lunch.

Zhuang Zhixi was muttering, "You never treated me this well when I was a kid."

Zhao Guihua: "Just shut up and go."

This really was a case of favoring the younger generation. Zhuang Zhixi and his siblings hadn't received such special treatment, but the grandchildren, like Huttou, Xiaoyanzi, and Tuantuanyuan, were all well taken care of by Zhao Guihua.

Zhuang Zhixi was sent to deliver lunch.

As he was leaving, he happened to meet Hu Huihui and greeted her with a smile, "Hi, long time no see.Heading out?"

Hu Huihui nodded, "Yes, taking Jinlai out for a meal. You haven't changed a bit, Mr. Zhuang."

Hu Huihui looked at Zhuang Zhixi and couldn't help but marvel at how well he had aged. Even though they hadn't seen each other for over a decade, time had left barely any trace on him. His demeanor still radiated a youthful freshness.

Some people might look good but show signs of aging as they grow older. But Zhuang Zhixi showed no such signs. He remained energetic and vibrant.

She calculated that Zhuang Zhixi was in his early thirties, but he looked ageless.

She was a year or two younger than him, but if they stood together, people would probably guess that Zhuang Zhixi was the younger one. She'd be seen as his older sister. The man looked youthful, handsome, and, if compared with Su Jinlai, anyone with functioning eyes would definitely prefer Zhuang Zhixi.

But those were just random thoughts in her head. She quickly bid farewell to Zhuang Zhixi.

Although Zhuang Zhixi seemed better at first glance, based on her brief understanding of the neighborhood, he wasn't someone to be trifled with. She wouldn't bring trouble upon herself. Hu Huihui and Su Jinlai walked out of the alley together, and she hailed a taxi. Not many people could afford to take a taxi these days.

Su Jinlai was experiencing a taxi for the first time and was ecstatic, feeling like he was floating.

He said, "Auntie, you're living the high life, huh? Taxis aren't cheap."

Despite his claims of being wealthy, every now and then, he revealed his true nature. His hands trembled as he touched the car, his face glowing with excitement. Looking at Zhuang Zhixi riding his bike in the rearview mirror, Su Jinlai felt he had the capital to be arrogant.

This felt amazing!

He was so proud, imagining Zhuang Zhixi full of envy and jealousy, and feeling like he was on cloud nine.

Little did he know that Zhuang Zhixi didn't give them a second thought. Hu Huihui thought she knew Zhuang Zhixi, but coincidentally, Zhuang Zhixi also felt he had a good understanding of Hu Huihui.

She was a shrewd woman, someone who never did anything without a hidden motive.

She hadn't contacted Wang Xiangxiu's family for years, clearly wanting nothing to do with them. But now, she had suddenly approached Su Jinlai. Zhuang Zhixi didn't need to think hard to know there must be a catch, but regardless of what it was, it didn't involve him. He had to go feed his two little greedy cats anyway.

Indeed, the two children were delighted when they received the meat pies, their eyes lighting up with joy. Everyone loves good food.

Zhuang Zhixi not only delivered lunch to his children but also to his wife.

After making the rounds, Zhuang Zhixi found himself more exhausted than a day at work. At work, he could at least sneak in some time to relax. But on this day off, he had been running errands since morning, selling goods and delivering lunch. He was thoroughly worn out.

As he rode back home, he saw the elderly ladies of the neighborhood gathered at his mother's place, gossiping about Hu Huihui's visit.

Zhuang Zhixi: "...”

They really were quite the gossipers.

He decided to go back to his room for an afternoon nap, enjoying the same pleasure Su Jinlai experienced every day by sleeping during the day.

As for Su Jinlai, his joy today was shopping. He had never imagined he could actually buy such nice clothes, feeling so proud. It was his first realization that a man could make money by sleeping with a woman.

Other men always spent money on such things.

He was so unique.

Su Jinlai couldn't keep his excitement to himself. Although he didn't reveal how he was making money, the fact that he had indulged in good food, had bought new clothes, and returned home bragging about it, left Yinlai and Tonglai shocked.

Yinlai: "Big brother, don't do anything illegal. If you get caught stealing, we won't help you."

Tonglai: "I heard Auntie came today. She's never been close to our family. Why did she suddenly visit?"

Su Jinlai: "Look at you, are you jealous of me? Jealous that I've got a new job? Let me tell you, my little aunt is now working as a tour guide for foreigners, and she's bringing me on as her assistant. From now on, I'll be a respectable person. I told you, with my abilities, I could always make it big. You didn't believe me, but now you see? I'm not just anyone."

He was bragging and acting extremely arrogant.

The people around him looked down on him, everyone thinking he was a parasite. Now they knew, he was the one who could really make money. As for being Hu Huihui's assistant, that was true too. Hu Huihui needed a reason to give Su Jinlai money.

Otherwise, with Su Jinlai's reputation, people might think he was stealing things. After all, suddenly getting rich always needed an explanation.

Hu Huihui didn't want to be implicated by Su Jinlai's stupidity, so she had carefully paved the way for everything.

Su Jinlai didn't understand Hu Huihui's intentions. He just thought Hu Huihui was the one giving him money, so whatever she said went. As long as he got paid, that was enough for him.

Jinlai was just showing off and didn't have much of a brain, but Tonglai and Yinlai exchanged a glance, both feeling something was off. During their hardest times, their aunt had never offered to help. Why would she suddenly offer help now? They just couldn't figure this out.

Tonglai bluntly said: "What exactly does she want you to do? Let me tell you, if you break the law, I will report you. Don't cause trouble for me."

He said this very seriously, not joking at all.

Jinlai was furious: "I knew it, I knew you were jealous of me. You want to report me? Report me for what? What law have I broken? I just sleep with women, and that's not against the law."

Yinlai and Tonglai: "……"

Both of them didn't know what to say. Seeing their expressions, Jinlai said: "I'm a man, and I don't get the short end of the stick. You should stay out of it."

With a bang, he slammed the door and left.

Tonglai rubbed his temples, saying: "He really knows how to stir up trouble."

After a pause, he said: "I'll go ask Uncle Lan about this situation."

It wasn't that he wanted to tell outsiders about his family matters, but his family was in such a situation. He was already the smartest one in the family, but even he had no experience with this kind of thing. His mother and brother were even less capable, so Tonglai could only turn to the person he trusted most and thought was the wisest, Lan Sihai.

Tonglai went to Uncle Lan's place. He wasn't afraid of Lan Sihai telling others. Although Lan Sihai seemed unruly, he had the tightest lips. Tonglai laid out all the messy family drama to Lan Sihai, then rubbed his temples with a troubled expression, saying: "Uncle Lan, do you think there might be trouble with our family situation?"

Lan Sihai looked at Tonglai's anxiety and thought for a moment, then shook his head, saying: "I don't think the problem is too big. Your brother is making money with his body, right?"

Tonglai nodded.

Although he didn't want to admit it, he could see that was the case.

Lan Sihai: "Such things are always consensual and fairly private. The woman on the other side certainly won't make a fuss. So there might be rumors, but as long as there's no evidence, no one can say your brother has a problem. Of course, it's embarrassing, but isn't he already embarrassing now? It's the same. You just need to stay calm."

"Could this affect my college entrance exams?"

Lan Sihai: "No, whether you get into college depends on your scores, not on what kind of reputation your brother has. In earlier years, some remote places might have held you back based on family background, but it's 1982 now, and that's not an issue. Even if he goes to jail, it shouldn't affect you. And looking at the current policies, they're only getting looser. You're only a freshman now, and you'll only take the college entrance exam in 1984. I think the policies will be even more lenient by then. You should focus on how to study well. Only poor grades will affect you, he won't."

He smiled and said: "The main thing is that he seems like the kind of person who would do embarrassing things, but I think you're used to it. Does our courtyard care about such things? If you let these rumors affect your mindset, that's the real problem. Other than that, there's really nothing. Your family should just eat, drink, and live as usual. Let your brother jump around however he wants. We've had plenty of people like him in our courtyard before. And frankly, even if your older brother is embarrassing, can he be more embarrassing than your grandmother?"

Though tough to hear, this really helped Tonglai.

Tonglai nodded: "You're right."

Lan Sihai patted his shoulder: "The key to life is not to care too much about what others think. Your brother? I don't think he has the guts to do anything truly evil. All he can do are low-level, embarrassing things. Nothing to worry about."

Tonglai smiled: "I see, so I know how to reassure my family."

Lan Sihai nodded, saying: "Stay calm."

"Okay."

Tonglai was convinced and calm again.

Zhuang Zhixi had originally thought the Su family would erupt into a huge fight, but with Jinlai storming out and Tonglai seeking advice, things quickly calmed down. He whispered to his wife: "I thought we were going to see a juicy scandal, but it fizzled out. Suddenly, it's all quiet."

Ming Mei gave him a sidelong glance: "Be a decent person."

Zhuang Zhixi shrugged, then laughed. He quickly wrapped his arms around his wife, saying: "I'll be going on a business trip the day after tomorrow. You better give me your best tonight…"

Ming Mei elbowed him, saying: "Behave yourself."

Zhuang Zhixi pouted aggrievedly: "Wife, why are you hitting me? I haven't even left, and you're already so cold. It really hurts my heart."

Ming Mei snorted lightly, saying: "I haven't even voiced my concerns, yet you're already yapping away. Let me tell you, when you're out there, don't you dare mess around. Don't think that just because you're in another city, you can do whatever you want. If I find out you're fooling around, I'll break your third leg and let you keep company with Zhou Qun and Bai Fen Dou. Then you can be known as the three eunuchs of our courtyard."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm not that kind of person."

Ming Mei snorted again, saying: "Whether you are or not, I need to warn you. If you dare to cheat on me, I won't go easy. You know my personality. Some mistakes, if you dare to make them, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life. Taking care of you will be as easy as playing."

Ming Mei wasn't one to throw out threats often, but when it came to skills, she truly had them.

She poked Zhuang Zhixi's chest, saying firmly: "Out there, no matter if others are up to no good, you have to behave."

Zhuang Zhixi raised his hand as if swearing an oath: "I promise, I definitely won't make any serious mistakes."

He wasn't afraid either, only guilty people would fear. He was a decent person, so what was there to worry about? He hugged his wife and said: "I'll be sure not to mess around on this trip. You can rest easy. In fact, I think while I'm there, I'll take the opportunity to look around. They say there are privately owned factories down south, and many goods are cheaper. Some local vendors go south to stock up. I really want to check it out. Oh, and give me some money. I'll take more with me. If I find anything good, I'll try to turn a profit. Since I'm going anyway, maybe I can make some extra cash."

Ming Mei looked at Zhuang Zhixi in surprise, asking: "You're not going with your boss? Carrying a lot of luggage back could be awkward, right?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "What's the big deal? I'm in the publicity department, not the sales department. I don't travel much, so since this is a rare opportunity, wanting to buy some stuff back isn't a big deal, right?"

Ming Mei: "I guess that makes sense."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Relax, I don't care what others say. Having thick skin is actually pretty great."

Ming Mei chuckled, and Zhuang Zhixi laughed along, saying: "Really, it's not a problem."

"Alright, I'll give you the money."

After a pause, Ming Mei thought and said: "Ask your mom too, see if there's anything she wants. When you're out there, might as well pick something up."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Hmm, I know this. This old lady has quite a few little secrets."

Ming Mei giggled softly. She knew why, but she wouldn't say it, hehe.

"As children, we just listen, why ask so many questions? The salt they've eaten is always more than the roads we've walked." Ming Mei was like this; if someone else worries, she's happy to follow in their footsteps.

One doesn't have to be so competitive in life.

Anyway, her life is good.

Zhuang Zhixi: "What you say makes sense."

Ming Mei pouted coquettishly: "Of course."

Zhuang Zhixi prepared to go out, and Ming Mei naturally didn't confiscate the money he made earlier from selling the radio. Zhuang Zhixi happily saved some private funds, hoping that by the time he returned from the south, his wife wouldn't remember this matter.

In reality, did Ming Mei remember? It was obvious.

Men, you can't give them large sums of money; otherwise, they're bound to spend it recklessly.

And wouldn't you know it, the next day, before Zhuang Zhixi could find his mother, Zhao Guihua called him over. She checked outside to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then quietly gave Zhuang Zhixi a few gold pieces. Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

It was broad daylight, and the door and windows were closed. Zhuang Zhixi spoke mysteriously: "Mom, where did these come from?"

Zhao Guihua sneered: "You don't know?"

Zhuang Zhixi was innocent: "How would I know?"

Zhao Guihua chuckled dryly: "Stop acting innocent. I don't believe you never suspected."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed and finally admitted the truth: "It's the stuff hidden in our kitchen stove, isn't it?"

Zhao Guihua glared at him: "Aren't you still aware? I knew you've always suspected me. You're a sharp one, your mind like a sieve."

She honestly said: "This is what I took from the toilet back then. It was what Yu Baoshan had hidden. He secretly pocketed things during the confiscation. I was the one who took it without him knowing. Only your father and I know about this, and now you, too."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Actually, I had my suspicions."

Because a few days before Yu Baoshan started losing his mind over missing items, their family had just built a new stove. It wasn't necessary at all. And with their two sons, they could have done it themselves, but his mother insisted on only letting his father do it. At the time, he just took a few extra looks, and his mother scolded him, so Zhuang Zhixi was suspicious then.

But some things shouldn't be said, so he never mentioned it.

Later, when they moved houses, he noticed that the stove in his room had been moved, which made him even more suspicious.

However, he didn't even tell Ming Mei, not because he didn't trust her, but because there was no need to say it. Even he was just suspicious, and saying too much would only lead to unnecessary excitement if he turned out to be wrong.

So he kept it to himself.

What he didn't expect was that his mother would actually take it out.

Zhao Guihua: "I'll be honest with you. There are still gold bricks in the stove in your room, which I didn't take out. I only took out a part to secretly convert into cash. These things are dead weight when kept, but when converted into money, our family can live a little better."

If they were antiques, there would be a reason to keep them. But with jewelry and treasures, there's not much room for appreciation. Although beautiful, they're not exactly antiques.

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised: "There's still more in my room?"

He thought his mother had taken everything. This showed just how much she trusted him.

Not only did she tell him, but she also left some in his room.

Zhao Guihua: "There is. This matter is only known to you, your father, and me. Don't tell anyone else. Even your older brother doesn't know this. I didn't intend for him to know. He's not as sharp as you. Knowing too much and then showing it could be dangerous. But the stuff in your room isn't entirely for you. I have other uses for it. If you decide to go into business, I can give you some to convert into money. As parents, we can't not support you. But if you don't go into business, I plan to slowly buy more houses in a few years. Then I'll divide them up among you. Even if the younger generation isn't ambitious, they can at least be landlords."

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He paused for a moment and said: "Alright, I understand."

Zhao Guihua: "Keep these few pieces of jewelry with you when you go south and sell them if you can. Of course, if it's inconvenient, don't force it. It depends on the situation."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Okay."

Zhao Guihua: "I don't want to sell these in Beijing. Gold bricks are one thing, but these pieces of jewelry look quite distinctive. I'm afraid someone might recognize them. We're all old Beijing residents, and if someone recognizes them, it might lead to investigations about the treasures Yu Baoshan hid a decade ago. If people find out we have these valuables, it wouldn't be good."

This was also why she gave the jewelry to Zhuang Zhixi. These items were quite distinctive and could be recognized. Who knows whose family Yu Baoshan took them from. And if the family is missing something, they might realize it during the confiscation, and if they think of Yu Baoshan, there's a risk.

Plus, Yu Baoshan had gone mad and claimed that his hidden gold and jewels were stolen, so Zhao Guihua didn't want to take any risks.

But selling them outside of the city was different.

She said: "Sell them if you can, but if you can't, don't push it. Don't take any risks either. I don't want you to get in trouble over these worthless things."

Zhuang Zhixi said seriously: "I understand."

"After you sell them, buy some things for the family, and keep the rest of the money for yourself. I see you're dealing with those kaffir lilies, and it takes money to do that. You shouldn't always ask your wife for money. The family expenses are not small."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, smiling: "Mom, you're so generous."

Zhao Guihua sighed: "Living a lifetime, who wouldn't want their family to live a little better if conditions allow? It's sick to choose to suffer when you can live well."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's true."

It wasn't that Zhao Guihua was biased toward the youngest son. Among the three children, she treated them equally. The reason she told Zhuang Zhixi was that the boy was sharp and seemed to have everything figured out. Telling him was just to confirm his suspicions.

As for the other two, the eldest's mental fortitude wasn't strong enough. Zhao Guihua was afraid that if she told him, he might end up sleepless and bald from anxiety. In his previous life, the relationship between the two brothers was average, but still siblings. When Zhuang Zhixi was dealing with kaffir lilies, he could stay calm, but Zhuang Zhiyuan, worried for his brother, became so anxious he started losing hair.

This person just can't handle much mentally.

So Zhao Guihua had no intention of telling him. Besides, she also had some reservations about Liang Meifen. Although she seemed different from her previous life, she still had to be careful. If she told the youngest not to tell his wife, Zhuang Zhixi could keep it secret, but if she told the eldest the same, he might blurt it out in his sleep.

Zhao Guihua wasn't taking that risk.

As for the second son, Zhuang Zhixin, she wasn't around him, only coming home a few times a year. She certainly couldn't tell him.

With two sons near her, she might give them more, but it didn't mean she favored sons over daughters. Every year, she also sent quite a lot of things to Zhuang Zhixin, but not excessively.

The main reason was her understanding of her son-in-law. That man was simpleminded, straightforward, and after being in the army for so long, he was pure-hearted. If she showed she was much wealthier than she really was, he might start suspecting she was up to no good.

So Zhao Guihua didn't excessively help her daughter. Of course, she knew that both her daughter and son-in-law had good salaries and a comfortable life. Zhao Guihua thought about it and decided that for now, she shouldn't stand out too much. Later on, she planned to sell the gold and jewelry and buy a house for her daughter.

When policies changed and more people started doing business, she could use the excuse that she made money from business to justify buying houses.

That's why she planned to occasionally set up a stall, whether she made money or not, just to show she was earning. Zhao Guihua felt she was really in a tough spot.

Such is the nature of this era.

If your family suddenly gets rich without reason, even the old ladies in the alley would be watching you closely.

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, I don't need to say more. You understand, so leave. Keep your mouth shut."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded: "Okay."

Zhao Guihua and Zhuang Zhixi’s conversation completely escaped the notice of their family. Zhuang Zhixi, having promised his mother, didn’t disclose anything. He simply continued with his daily routine. After all, he was still a man, and he couldn’t stoop to the level of keeping all the benefits for himself.

Zhuang Zhixi packed his luggage and soon reached the day of his business trip. He only prepared a small suitcase for himself. On the morning of his departure, he gathered with the others as planned. As a member of the Propaganda Department, Zhuang Zhixi was acquainted with everyone in the factory and could even call them by name, though their personal interactions were minimal.

Still, being polite never hurts. Zhuang Zhixi greeted everyone one by one and then went to collect the tickets for the sleeper berths that the factory had arranged in advance. He boarded the train first to secure seats for everyone. The group quickly boarded the train. One compartment had six seats, and Zhuang Zhixi shared a room with three employees from the Sales Department, while several leaders stayed in another compartment. Zhuang Zhixi actively offered to fetch hot water for them. Deputy Factory Director Zhang smiled and said, “You’ve been busy since you got on the train. Thank you.”

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "It's nothing, just part of my duty. Since we're all on this trip together, and everyone else has heavier tasks than I do, it's only right for me to handle logistical support and take care of small things I can manage."

He smiled as he filled everyone’s thermos cups with hot water. Outside, these insulated cups were a must for everyone.

After finishing, Zhuang Zhixi went to fetch another pot of hot water and said, “If any of you need anything, just let me know. Also, the dining car sells food during these times…”

He pointed out the schedule and added, “If you want to rest, I can buy your meals and bring them to you.”

Deputy Factory Director Zhang, being the most polite, laughed and said, “No need, we’ll play some cards and won’t be resting.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Alright, I’ll head back to our compartment then.”

When he returned to their room, which had not yet filled up, only four of them were present. Despite the fact that they were not leaders, Zhuang Zhixi didn’t treat them any less respectfully. He fetched water for them as well, this time adopting a different approach: “Since I’m the youngest here, let me do it.”

Logically speaking, the Sales Department and the Propaganda Department were equally ranked. Although the Sales Department traveled more frequently, since they were of the same rank, there was no hierarchy between them. Zhuang Zhixi’s gesture made everyone feel respected and valued.

This wasn’t Zhuang Zhixi trying to act subservient. On a trip like this, which only lasted a few days, there was no point in getting upset over such trivial matters. After all, he was essentially along for the ride. Moreover, since they weren’t from the same department, there was no competition between them, which made it easier to get along.

A small gesture could create a relaxed atmosphere throughout the journey, so why not?

Zhuang Zhixi was good with words and quickly broke the ice with the group, becoming more familiar with them.

Since the Sales Department traveled frequently and had seen many places, they shared stories about local customs and cultures. Zhuang Zhixi listened with great interest. Some had been to Guangzhou multiple times and, even before the train arrived, began introducing the city to Zhuang Zhixi. He listened intently, occasionally asking questions, which only encouraged them to talk even more enthusiastically.

“Xiao Zhuang, I hear the Propaganda Department isn’t too busy, right? Unlike us, who have to travel and are constantly on the go.”

Zhuang Zhixi replied, “Who said we’re not busy? We’re different from you. We don’t travel, but we handle all the propaganda for the documents from above, as well as a lot of miscellaneous tasks. When you break it down, it might not seem like much individually, but when you sum it all up, it’s quite a bit of work.”

He added, “Everyone has their own responsibilities to handle.”

“That’s true. You also have to do a lot of writing. If it were me, I could handle drinking and making deals, but I wouldn’t be good at this.”@@novelbin@@

Zhuang Zhixi laughed and said, “That’s also a skill.”

“Oh right, Old Wang mentioned drinking, and it reminded me. Xiao Zhuang, I heard there was a guy from your place who got drunk and took off his clothes in the street?”

Zhuang Zhixi: “Oh, you already heard about that?”

“Yeah, how could we not know? Your neighborhood sure is lively…”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed heartily and said, “It’s true. But he’s young, so it’s not uncommon for some people to lose their inhibitions after drinking...”

He couldn’t exactly call Su Jinlai an idiot, though.

While Zhuang Zhixi was chatting energetically, Su Jinlai was dressed in a neat suit, polished leather shoes, and impeccably groomed hair, looking very presentable. He was following Hu Huihui. Hu Huihui said, “They only know a few simple Chinese words. They don’t understand much else, so just stay with them and do what they ask. Anyway, when it comes to men and women, you don’t need an aunt to explain it to you in detail, do you?”

Su Jinlai proudly replied, “Of course not.”

This wasn’t his first time.

He had even slept with Guan Hong.

“Also, they’ll only be here for two or three days, so they won’t need you for long. But since we’re family, I have to remind you: don’t think you’re invincible just because you’re young. Once you’re back, make sure your mom cooks something to nourish you.”

Su Jinlai looked confused as he gazed at Hu Huihui. She explained, “You need to nourish yourself with some hearty soup, something like turtle soup or chicken soup. You need to replenish yourself, or you’ll wear yourself out at a young age. Do you remember Zhou Qun from your courtyard? Why do you think he ended up looking so haggard? It’s said that it was because he messed around with too many older women in his youth.”

After all, Hu Huihui was family, and she was being quite sincere: “After this, take some time to rest and don’t go looking for young girls to fool around with. Take care of yourself properly, or you’ll end up a wreck.”

Su Jinlai wasn’t convinced at all. Who did he think he was? Zhou Qun? Comparing him to Zhou Qun was absurd. Could Zhou Qun even compete with him?

Pfft!

He said, “I’m not like that worthless Zhou Qun.”

Hu Huihui replied sternly, “Don’t take this lightly. Everyone has been young before. I’m saying this because you’re my nephew. If it were someone else, I wouldn’t care what happens to them.”

This guy truly didn’t appreciate good advice.

Su Jinlai pursed his lips. He suddenly remembered something: he hadn’t seen Hu Huihui’s husband these past couple of days.

“Why isn’t Uncle… I mean, why isn’t your husband with you?” he asked.

Hu Huihui remained calm and replied, “Oh, it just so happens that a few more people are coming. I had him go take care of them.”

Su Jinlai: “……………………”

He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. Looking at his aunt again, he thought, She’s truly ruthless, even using her own husband?

“Well…”

Hu Huihui: “He’s getting paid for it, so it’s fine.”

Su Jinlai: “………………”

He fell silent.

Hu Huihui didn’t bother trying to figure out what he was thinking. Instead, she led him upstairs. When they reached the room, she knocked twice. The door opened to reveal a woman in her forties, with golden hair and a sturdy build. Her eyes immediately locked onto Su Jinlai.

Those eyes were… hungry.

Soon, two more women appeared, all around the same age, and all three of them stared straight at Su Jinlai.

Hu Huihui smiled and said to the first woman, “Mary, this is the young man I told you about. He’s quite something.”

Mary laughed, sizing up Su Jinlai thoroughly. Suddenly, Su Jinlai felt uncomfortable. The intense gaze from this foreign woman, who seemed even older than his own mother, made him uneasy. He immediately stepped back, “I, I, I…”

Sob, sob, sob. He didn’t want to do this anymore. He didn’t want to earn this money.

One woman was already more than he could handle, and there were three? He, he, he… he was scared!

He kept retreating, “No, no, no, I can’t…”

Mary looked at Hu Huihui, puzzled, and spread her hands.

Hu Huihui could clearly see Su Jinlai’s intention.

This coward was backing out at the last minute!

She quickly grabbed him and said, “Let me talk to him.”

She whispered, “This is a thousand yuan, which is equivalent to a thousand pounds of meat. You’d never be able to eat it all. With this money, you could buy plenty of rice, flour, and oil. Your whole family could live off fine grains for a year. Do you know how much money this is? It’s more than what your mom would earn in two or three years of working. You only have to sleep a few times to get it, and it’ll all be yours. Don’t you want it? Do you want to go back to eating coarse grain? You’re not a little girl, you’re a young man. You’re not going to lose anything. So, tell me, are you going to do it? If not, I’ll find someone else, and I’ll still make five hundred out of it!”

Su Jinlai wanted to step back desperately, but the thought of the money made him hesitate. He couldn't afford to walk away now.

Hu Huihui pressed on, "Other guys have to pay to sleep with women, but you? You're getting paid to sleep with them. Let me be clear, some people are willing to spend a thousand yuan just because of your reputation as a 'big shot.' You won't find deals like this every day, understand? You won't! This kind of opportunity didn't go to someone else because I didn't treat you like an outsider! Think carefully—are you in or not?"

He gritted his teeth. "A thousand yuan! A thousand yuan! I'm in!”

With a determined stomp of his foot, he followed the woman inside. The next moment, a loud scream echoed: "Ah…"

Hu Huihui muttered, "Wow, that was a loud one."

Leaning against the wall of the corridor, she felt the urge to smoke again.

Truthfully, she didn't think she was doing anything wrong. Su Jinlai was the kind of person who couldn't do much, yet was full of endless complaints and nitpicking. It was better to make use of him than let him waste his life. At least this way, he was earning an honest thousand yuan.

She had tempted Su Jinlai earlier, but what she said wasn't entirely untrue. With his family's conditions, having an extra thousand yuan made a world of difference. Back when her older cousin relied on men to make money, how much could she earn in one go?

Perhaps only one percent of that amount.

Moreover, if it wasn't for Su Jinlai being her nephew, she wouldn't have considered him at all. It would have been easier to find someone pretending to be a 'big shot.' Su Jinlai, who couldn't even charm a woman and had an inflated sense of self-worth, made things quite difficult for her.

If Su Jinlai didn't perform well, it would affect her plans. She was putting in real effort here.

Besides, she wasn't even profiting from this herself. Her goal was to keep these people happy so they would buy fake antiques.

She had even had to spend money on Su Jinlai's clothes.

She had it tough too.

Leaning against the corridor, Hu Huihui felt deeply troubled.

Deep down, she believed she was doing Su Jinlai a favor by involving him in this arrangement, but she wasn't sure if he would understand her intentions. With a gentle sigh, she quietly made her way downstairs to the café on the first floor. This café attracted many foreign guests, as it was one of the few places in the city offering such an establishment.

Hu Huihui couldn't tell the difference between good and bad coffee, but whenever she came here, she always ordered a cup. After all, foreigners liked it, and she had to keep up appearances.

If she didn't practice more, she wouldn't get used to it.

As she sipped her coffee, she wondered if Su Jinlai would actually be useful or if he was just all talk.

If he wasn't up to par, then that would be a disaster.

Meanwhile, Su Jinlai, feeling utterly wronged, sat sobbing. This job was unbearable, and earning money was proving to be far too difficult.

"Darling, let's go again~"

Su Jinlai wailed, "Waaahhh, save me!"

Three people? He simply couldn't handle it!

Earning money was hard, and so was eating crap!

………………

Tonglai returned home from school and bumped into Aunt Zhou, who was washing clothes in the courtyard. Seeing him, she asked, "Tonglai, hasn't your older brother come back yet? What's the matter? Did he run away from home? Where can he even stay?"

Tonglai replied, "He probably went to my aunt's place."

Aunt Zhou's eyes darted around as she probed further, "Why would your aunt suddenly introduce him to a job? You guys haven't kept in touch all these years, have you?"

Something about this whole situation didn't feel right to her.

Tonglai: "That's right, we didn't have much contact before. But since my older brother hasn't had a job, my aunt thought she shouldn't let our family struggle too much and decided to help introduce him to one."

He smiled and swiftly brought the conversation to a close, saying, "Aunt Zhou, I have to go back to study."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Oh, by the way, there's a vendor selling candied chestnuts at the end of the alley."

Aunt Zhou immediately wiped her hands clean. "Oh, my little Qijun loves those! I have to go get some right away."

"Aren't they back from school yet?"

After all, his high school classes had already ended.

"They went to the youth center after school today." Aunt Zhou explained before hurriedly stepping out. She couldn't let her precious grandson miss out on his favorite treat. Putting the conversation aside, she rushed off. Tonglai returned home, leaning against the door, and let out a deep, troubled sigh.