My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Su Jinlai felt quite wronged. Although the three foreign women were gone, he still felt that the place where he had suffered deserved some retaliation. However, he didn't know that others were also eyeing the durian shell, planning to use it against him.

Oh, not Zhou Qun, who felt he wasn't showing enough respect.

But his rival, Li Weiwei.

When it comes to the source of the conflict between Li Weiwei and Su Jinlai, it's Guan Hong, but it's not just Guan Hong.

Originally, the Guan Hong matter was over, but soon after, Guan Hong and Su Jinlai got involved again, constantly coming to their compound to do this and that.

Actually, Su Jinlai wasn't very good to Guan Hong. However, Guan Hong just ate it up, enduring everything. Every time Su Jinlai met Li Weiwei, he would deliberately command Guan Hong to do this and that, as if to say, "The girl you admire is working like a servant for me, deeply in love, yet look at me, I don’t care at all." In this way, he gained some hidden psychological satisfaction.

He would always flaunt in front of Li Weiwei, which made Li Weiwei incredibly angry every time he saw them.

So Li Weiwei also wanted to teach Su Jinlai a lesson.

He hadn't originally planned to pick up the durian shell that Zhuang Zhixi had thrown away. He just happened to see it while looking out the window, where he was renting a room in the Su family house. He saw Zhuang Zhixi talking with Grandpa Lan and thought the durian shell would be perfect for hitting Su Jinlai.

This tiny durian shell had now attracted four people.

Everyone wanted to use it as a weapon.

Zhuang Zhixi didn't care what others thought and threw it away boldly. Only then did he return with his hands behind his back. As soon as he got back, he noticed that there were quite a few people in the courtyard tonight. Several of them were out for a stroll.

Zhuang Zhixi scratched his head and said, "I’ve only been gone for half a month, and everyone’s got a habit of strolling in the courtyard?"

Bai Fendou glanced at Zhou Qun, and Su Jinlai and Li Weiwei exchanged looks. The atmosphere was a bit awkward, as everyone had some ill intentions.

Bai Fendou coughed and said, "I came out mainly to go to the toilet."

Zhou Qun: "That's a coincidence, so did I."

Li Weiwei: "Me too."

Su Jinlai: "You all have frequent urination problems! That’s not good for men.”

He said mockingly, and Bai Fendou immediately changed his stance, no longer wanting to deal with Guan Guiling. Guan Guiling wasn't bothering him anyway, but Su Jinlai was being quite provocative. He wanted to teach Su Jinlai a lesson. Damn, who told him to be so mouthy? It’s as if he’s deliberately poking fun at people.

Although he was present, he wasn’t exactly a normal man, and hearing this would naturally make him red with anger and want to hit someone.

He shot a cold glance at Su Jinlai, who didn’t seem afraid of Bai Fendou at all. Back in the day, this guy was just a bootlicker, and Su Jinlai could steal things from his house with ease, so he certainly didn’t respect Bai Fendou.

He provocatively looked at Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou glared back at Su Jinlai furiously. Needless to say, the three of them all agreed that Su Jinlai needed to be put in his place.

Who let him be so arrogant?

As for Su Jinlai, he had no idea about this. All he knew was that his little brother, Tonglai, refused to pick up the durian shell for him. This kid was really unreliable! What kind of brother was that? But if he went out to pick up the durian shell now, those guys with kidney issues would definitely laugh at him!

For someone like him, it would be utterly humiliating to do such a thing.

There was nothing he couldn’t do, but he just couldn’t lose face. Not for any reason, just because, he was Su the Boss!

He hesitated for a moment and said, "Old men with bad health are the ones who like to go to the toilet frequently. I’m not like that; I just came out to digest my food. I had chicken broth tonight, and it was too greasy."

The looks the other men gave him were even less friendly.

Su Jinlai smirked triumphantly. He loved the feeling of being admired and envied. He proudly lifted his head. He was different from them—he was a man who could dominate those foreign women.

He curled his lips even more in satisfaction.

Admire me, envy me!

Actually, no one was doing that; it was all in his imagination.

“Big Brother? Why are you still standing at the door?”

Tonglai came out to wash clothes and saw his older brother standing like a guard. Jinlai's eyes lit up and, in one swift move, he grabbed Tonglai and said, "Come here."

He dragged him to a corner and said, "Go pick up the durian shell for me."

Tonglai was very firm: "I won’t."

It wasn’t just about losing face; it was also because his older brother was too bizarre. The hotel hadn’t wronged anyone; since the people were gone, what was the point of causing more trouble? Instead of letting him get into trouble, he was firmly against it.

He turned to leave, but Jinlai said, "I’ll give you money."

Tonglai: "I don’t want it."

"One yuan."

"No way."

"Two yuan."

He felt Tonglai’s determination weaken a bit, but soon Tonglai said firmly, "No."

"Five yuan. Think about it, just picking up some trash."

Tonglai said seriously, "But it’s embarrassing, with so many people watching."

Jinlai gritted his teeth, "Ten yuan."

He was bleeding heavily.

Tonglai: "..."

He pursed his lips and held out his hand: "Give it."

Jinlai: "You’re so greedy for money."

Tonglai: "If you don’t give it, I won’t do it. But I have to warn you, if you dither and someone else picks it up, I won’t care."

Su Jinlai: "Fine, fine, I’ll give it to you. You only care about money. No brotherly love at all."

Tonglai didn’t care what his brother said and, taking the money, turned around and asked, "Uncle Zhuang, where did you throw the durian shell?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "???"

He looked surprised at Tonglai, then at Jinlai, and then at Zhou Qun, who awkwardly turned his head away. Not just Zhou Qun, even the weird Bai Fendou and Li Weiwei did the same.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Are you all up to no good?

But soon, he said, "I threw it in the trash cart by the toilet."

Tonglai: "I’ll go pick it up."

Zhou Qun & Bai Fendou & Li Weiwei: "???"

What are you doing? You’re picking it up?

They had all just missed it by a step.

And everyone had seen Jinlai whispering to Tonglai, and the expression on Jinlai’s face was quite indescribable. However, Jinlai seemed quite pleased. He thought it was good that his little brother was taking money and doing the job.

As for the others, they all guessed it was him, but... he himself didn’t realize it.

This guy’s brain was somewhat simple.

He smiled slightly, thinking that money really makes things easier.

Tonglai walked straight out of the courtyard gate, and Li Weiwei hesitated for a moment before following. Although he didn’t get along with Su Jinlai, he had a decent relationship with Tonglai. Although Tonglai was also from another family, since he was renting a room in the Su family house, he knew that Tonglai had it tough.

He had to go to school and, when he came home, would squeeze in household chores, cooking, and washing. To save coal, he would go out to pick firewood, and in spring, he would go to the outskirts to dig vegetables. Despite being so busy, he would study late into the night.

Honestly, Li Weiwei had never liked the Su family, but seeing all this, he thought the kid didn’t have it easy. So, over time, they got along pretty well.

He quickly caught up with Tonglai and said, "Why are you picking this up? Is it for your older brother? Is he planning to use it against me?"

Tonglai: "No, he’s not going to use it against you."

He looked Li Weiwei up and down and thought, he’s not planning to use it against you, but you might be planning to use it against him.

Li Weiwei felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, but Tonglai didn’t say anything. They found the trash Zhuang Zhixi had just thrown and saw Tonglai heading toward the toilet. Li Weiwei exclaimed, "What are you doing?"

Tonglai didn’t enter the toilet but instead went around the back and threw the durian shell into the toilet’s waste pit.

Li Weiwei: "..."

Tonglai: "It’s better for me to throw it away than for my brother to cause trouble."

If his brother really went to the hotel to cause damage, their family would inevitably get involved. So, Tonglai wouldn’t give him the chance. Of course, he also wouldn’t leave it for others to use against his brother, as that would also bring trouble to their family.

So, throwing it away was the best solution.

No one could pick it up.

After throwing it, he went straight back.

Li Weiwei: "..."

He really couldn’t understand him.

Tonglai returned to the courtyard, and everyone had dispersed, but those who wanted to peek through the door were still doing so. Tonglai came back empty-handed, and Jinlai immediately asked, "Where's the thing?"

Tonglai: "In the toilet."

Jinlai widened his eyes: "You're taking money but not doing the job?"

Tonglai: "I promised to go pick it up for you, but if I couldn't find it, what can I do? Can I fish it out from the toilet for you?"

Jinlai: "You, you, you... How did it end up in the toilet?"

Tonglai: "Who knows?"

He threw it, that's how.

Jinlai: "Then give me back the money."

He had just spent ten yuan earlier.

Tonglai took out ten yuan and handed it directly to Wang Xiangxiu, saying, "Mom, you keep this."

Then he looked at Jinlai: "I promised to pick it up for you, but I didn't say I'd definitely be able to bring it back. How can you have the nerve to ask for the money back now? Are you still a man? Besides, one thing is one thing—this is the money you gave me to do a job, and you didn't say it had to be done successfully."

"You, you, you..."

Wang Xiangxiu glanced at her two sons. Tonglai shot her a look, and Wang Xiangxiu promptly pocketed the money.

Jinlai was fuming, feeling utterly unwelcome in his own home. Even his younger brother was swindling him. It was too much. How dare a kid his age scam him out of money? But Tonglai didn't care much and went out to do the laundry.

Jinlai: "I'm so annoyed."

As Tonglai went out to do the laundry, Wang Xiangxiu followed him outside: "Isn't it wrong to trick his money?"

Tonglai remained calm: "What's wrong with that? He took out a thousand yuan and only gave you twenty to buy chickens, with nothing else. He spent all that twenty yuan on chicken for himself, and all we got was a couple of sips of soup. What does he do at home? Nothing. When he's out of money, who's he going to depend on? You. You should hold onto his money when you can. Otherwise, he'll just squander it all and won't care about you. When he's broke, he'll come back looking for you again. A grown man who doesn't work. Taking his money now is still spending it on him. Why feel guilty? If you don't take it, he won't give it to you anyway. What kind of person is that?"

Wang Xiangxiu was silent for a moment, knowing Tonglai was right. Jinlai, her child, was a bit selfish. This time, he had money, which everyone knew, whether it was her or Yinlai or Tonglai. But Jinlai didn't hand over a single penny.

Not only did he not contribute, but he also wanted to eat chicken.

If Wang Xiangxiu hadn’t been firm about not buying, he wouldn’t have handed over the twenty yuan. In fact, he initially only wanted to give ten yuan, but under Tonglai’s goading, he reluctantly gave twenty. But nowadays, a live hen costs four yuan.

They had bought five chickens in total.

Four of them were already eaten, and the fifth was plucked and ready to be cooked.

Clearly, even if Jinlai had money, he only looked out for himself. So, Tonglai's argument made sense. What was wrong with that? Once he squandered his money, he'd definitely rely on the family again. She pursed her lips and said, "I'll listen to you."

Tonglai nodded: "You should take the money when you can."

Wang Xiangxiu: "Alright."

The mother and son whispered in the courtyard, and many people were peeking at them.

Jinlai peered from the window, huffing, "Our mom isn't a good person at all. She’s actually listening to Tonglai’s nonsense."

Yinlai, after finishing work, sat at the sewing machine. Their family had saved up to buy one, and both Yinlai and Wang Xiangxiu did some small tasks at home to supplement their income. He was busy and didn't want to listen to his older brother’s ranting, filled with nonsense.

Yinlai snorted, "If you don't like it, go find a proper job."

Su Jinlai boasted: "What do you mean? Even without a job, I still have money."

A man like him would never lack money, that was for sure.

But Yinlai didn't even glance up, saying, "Just because you have money doesn't mean you've given it to us. What's the point of bragging in front of us? Even if you have money, you still eat, use, and drink from the house."

Su Jinlai: "Hey, you little punk, I'm your older brother."

Yinlai nodded: "Yeah, an older brother who’s selfish, lazy, and doesn't work."

Finished speaking, he continued working, ignoring the man completely.

Su Jinlai: "Damn, damn, damn. What kind of family is this?"

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixi was also peeking. Ming Mei was with Yuanyuan, and the three of them had just finished devouring a big durian, eating with great joy. Now, they were back in their room, rubbing their stomachs and lying on the kang with their legs up, looking like thoroughly satisfied couch potatoes.

Tuantuan, however, wrinkled his nose, not liking the smell, and clung pitifully to the edge of the kang.

Zhuang Zhixi watched the spectacle for a while before speaking mysteriously: "You see, I bought a durian, and it was quite a hit. Everyone wanted to pick it up and take it home."

Ming Mei: "Not out of good intentions."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Who cares, I threw it away anyway."

He climbed onto the kang, looking at his two children, and said, "Aren't you going to leave?"

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan didn't want to go. Their dad had been away for a few days, and they wanted to spend time talking with him. The two kids stayed put, and Ming Mei giggled coquettishly. Zhuang Zhixi pinched Ming Mei's nose, and she went, "Mmm!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Got you laughing at me."

He got up: "Since no one’s leaving, I’ll make some tea. Want some?"

"Sure."

Zhuang Zhixi brewed a pot of tea, and they all sat together.

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded, and Zhuang Zhixi opened the door, finding Wang Xiangxiu from next door. Zhuang Zhixi: "Something the matter?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "I’m looking for Ming Mei."

Zhuang Zhixi turned back, and Ming Mei said, "She's looking for me."

She then slapped her head: "Oh right, I remember now. Did you finish the bedsheet?"

Wang Xiangxiu nodded: "Yes, I brought it over for you to check."

Ming Mei took the neatly folded bedsheet from Wang Xiangxiu and said, "It should be fine. Thanks!"

Wang Xiangxiu: "No problem, it's my duty."

After handing over the item, she added: "If you need anything else, come to me. I can do it all."

Ming Mei: "Great."

With Ming Mei's approval, Wang Xiangxiu happily left. Zhuang Zhixi glanced at the bedsheet: "Did you make that new?"@@novelbin@@

Ming Mei: "Yeah."

Their family also had a sewing machine, but since both she and Zhuang Zhixi worked, she didn't bother her mother with such detailed work. Since Wang Xiangxiu was willing to do it, she paid her for the service.

Wang Xiangxiu didn't just work for their family; she also took on jobs from nearby households. If anyone needed help with small tasks they couldn't manage, she and her sons would take it on, though it was usually small jobs for some extra money.

For example, Ming Mei's bedsheet cost only five mao since it wasn't complex handmade. Including washing and delivering, it came to eight mao. Ming Mei found it very convenient.

Zhuang Zhixi: "She’s quite clever, thinking of ways to supplement the household income."

"I guess Yinlai and Tonglai came up with it. They’re pretty good kids."

A few years ago, Wang Xiangxiu really struggled, with only one person working and sons all in their growing years. Fortunately, there was also rental income. In the past two years, Yinlai started working, and they took on some small tasks, which improved their situation.

Tuantuan poured himself a cup of tea, holding the small cup and sipping, his big eyes glancing between his father and mother. He said, "Yinlai Brother needs to earn more money to get married."

Ming Mei laughed, "And you know this how?"

Tuantuan: "I just do!"

He spoke with certainty: "Yinlai Brother tells us things."

Yinlai had grown up among elderly women, and while people took care of him, he didn't have many friends his age. Instead, he often hung out with older folks or younger kids. Tuantuan said, "He needs to save more money."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's true."

Tuantuan: "We know the troubles of all the big brothers and sisters."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, "Oh, you're quite the know-it-all. Then tell me, what's the trouble with your Sister Bear Swallow?"

Tuantuan made a zipping motion over his mouth, "How can I casually talk about someone else’s secrets?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Just how capable are you?

Yuanyuan, beside them, blinked her big eyes, gazing softly at her brother and giggling in a tiny voice.

Zhuang Zhixi wasn't like some parents; he didn't force his children to speak but instead sighed, "You two little troublemakers."

Both of them made silly faces.

Tuantuan, afraid that his sister would be tricked by their father, quickly changed the subject and said, "Dad, are we going to Grandma's house tomorrow?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Yes, I've brought them some things, so of course, we're going."

"We want to play with our cousins," Yuanyuan chimed in excitedly.

Ming Mei smiled and teased, "They're all big kids now; they probably won't want to play with you little ones."

Yuanyuan retorted, "No way! Our cousins love us, don't they, Brother?"

Tuantuan nodded confidently, "The most. They love us the most."

He was quite narcissistic, adding, "We're just universally adored."

Ming Mei stuck out her tongue and teased them again.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan sighed, "Mom is so immature."

Ming Mei: "..."

Seeing this, Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh. Ming Mei huffed and lightly punched him.

Zhuang Zhixi pretended to groan, "Ouch."

Ming Mei gestured at him playfully.

The whole family of four had lively personalities, and soon the atmosphere was vibrant again. It wasn't long before Zhuang Zhixi checked the time and said, "It's already past eight. Hurry up and go to your rooms to get ready for bed. You have school tomorrow."

"Okay."

The two kids slumped their shoulders and trudged to their rooms. Poor little ones; they had to go to school. Boohoo!

As soon as the kids went to their rooms, Zhuang Zhixi got up and bolted the door. "These little rascals," he muttered, "they don't care at all about the hardship of their dad being away for so long." Without further ado, he began unbuttoning his shirt. After being away for over half a month, he was anxious to make up for lost time.

Holding his wife, he switched off the light. A good man had to show his devotion before and after being away, and what better way to demonstrate it than this? Otherwise, how else could he prove himself?

One advantage of sleeping on a kang (heated brick bed) was that it didn't creak and groan. They could be as expressive as they wanted without worrying about noise.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The passionate reunion between the couple lasted until the early hours of the morning. Even though the weather wasn't particularly hot, Ming Mei was sweating profusely and clung to Zhuang Zhixi, burying her face in his neck and mumbling softly.

Zhuang Zhixi held his wife close, his voice husky as he said, "Does this prove that I’ve been faithful while away?"

Ming Mei replied, "If you dared to be unfaithful, I'd cut you down."

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled deeply.

He said, "You know me; I'm not that kind of person."

He was also starting to feel tired, yawning before saying, "Honey, I'm getting sleepy."

When he looked down again, his wife was already asleep.

He gently pinched her cheek, but Ming Mei didn't stir.

He too felt comfortable but weary. A man had to know his limits, and a night of indulgence could be exhausting. He stretched out on the kang, pulled the blanket up, and soon fell asleep.

Zhuang Zhixi's return to the courtyard didn't attract much attention. He and his wife weren't the type to stir up trouble, so they didn't stand out much. However, despite the lack of widespread interest, the neighborhood aunties and uncles inevitably pulled him over to chat about his trip to Guangzhou.

Many of these people had never left Beijing in their lives, so hearing about the climate and lifestyle in other parts of the country was fascinating.

The one most interested in the Zhuang family was Aunt Zhou. As the most well-off resident in the courtyard, Aunt Zhou kept a close eye on everyone. She was sharp enough to notice a discrepancy. When Zhuang Zhixi returned, she had seen him with a lot of luggage, enough to require a tricycle to transport.

But upon his return, the Zhuang family hadn't made any major purchases. Sure, they had some new clothes, but those didn't take up much space. Aunt Zhou was convinced that something was amiss. She kept a close eye on Zhuang Zhixi, and coincidentally, Su Jinlai did the same.

Su Jinlai watched Zhuang Zhixi, though there was no particular reason. He just couldn't stand to see anyone in the courtyard doing well. He didn't just keep an eye on Zhuang Zhixi but also on Zhuang Zhiyuan, Zhou Qun, Bai Fendou, and the Li family. He basically kept tabs on everyone.

He spent his days glued to the window, spying on every family in the courtyard.

Under the watchful eyes of Aunt Zhou and Su Jinlai, the weekend quickly arrived. Zhuang Zhixi invited his mother and headed to Xidan to set up a stall. Ming Mei also wanted to go, but on the first day, Zhuang Zhixi didn't want her along.

Mainly, he wasn't sure how well the goods would sell. If things went well, no problem. But if they didn't, he didn't want his wife to worry. Going alone meant he could make up any excuses if things weren't great.

Although he wanted to go alone, Zhao Guihua insisted on accompanying him. "We agreed to set up the stall together," she said, "so let's not be shy about it."

So, early in the morning, the two of them left on bicycles, each loaded with goods and supplies like bamboo poles and cardboard signs, essential for selling.

Aunt Zhou was busy cleaning her windows when she saw the mother and son leaving on their bikes. Before she could even ask where they were going, they were already out of sight. She stomped her foot, "Ugh, missed them again."

At that moment, Su Jinlai also rushed out and asked, "Where did they go? What are they doing?"

Aunt Zhou rolled her eyes at Su Jinlai and said, "Why do you care? Mind your own business."

She snorted and headed to the back courtyard, intending to ask Aunt Wang. Zhao Guihua had been acting mysteriously lately; maybe there was something they were hiding. After all, they lived in the same courtyard, and there shouldn't be any secrets.

Aunt Zhou went directly to Aunt Wang's place, and Su Jinlai quietly followed.

Aunt Zhou immediately turned around and warned, "Stop following me."

She really didn't like Su Jinlai. The guy seemed like a spineless wimp.

Su Jinlai sneered, "This is public space. Can't I walk here? What makes you so special?"

Aunt Zhou spat, "And what makes you so special, you garbage!"

She knew better than others about Su Jinlai's antics. As a tenant in his family's home, she had more insight. This guy was worthless—when he had no money, his family supported him, and when he did have money, he still didn't contribute.

Such a person was truly contemptible.

"Even if you had a child, they'd be better than you," she muttered.

She found him utterly despicable.

Su Jinlai retorted, "You... you're the jerk."

Aunt Zhou turned around sharply, "What did you say? Who are you calling a jerk? You little brat, don't you know how to respect your elders?"

She took a step forward, raising her voice, "Do you think I'm too old to swing a knife?"

Su Jinlai: "Crude. You're unbearably vulgar. Disgusting!"

He glared at Aunt Zhou, spouting a few more insults. Realizing she was about to attack, he quickly backed off. It wasn't that he couldn't beat Aunt Zhou; it was just... embarrassing to fight an old lady. What kind of reputation would that give him? He was a man with pride!

A true "Brother Su" of society.

He'd fight any man and come out on top, let alone an old woman. But it was beneath him; it wouldn't reflect well.

He decided to let Guan Hong handle the troublemaking from now on.

Thinking of this, Su Jinlai stepped even further back and said, "I won't stoop to your level."

With that, he turned and left. The nerve of Guan Hong—usually, she'd be at his place by now on weekends, but today she was nowhere to be seen. Unreliable woman!

As Su Jinlai muttered, Aunt Zhou taunted, "Coward, don't run!"

Su ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌‍Jinlai retorted, "A real man doesn't fight women."

Aunt Wang came out to watch the commotion and sighed, "Why bother with him? He's just a brat."

Aunt Zhou replied, "Do I look like I care about him? If he wasn't like a leech, sticking to me, I wouldn't even give him the time of day. The guy has no sense; all that height and nothing to show for it."

She muttered a few words, then pulled Aunt Zhou and asked, “Do you know where Zhao Guihua went? I saw her carrying stuff, cardboard, bamboo poles, and it just felt odd.”

Aunt Wang replied, “No idea, haven’t heard anything.”

Aunt Zhou whispered mysteriously, “There must be something fishy going on here.”

While the two aunts were speculating, Zhuang Zhixi and Aunt Zhou had already arrived at Xidan. They found an empty spot and started setting up their stall. Truth be told, they weren’t the only ones selling today. People who were willing to put their pride aside to make a living were everywhere. In these times, making money wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

Zhuang Zhixi, tall and lanky, glanced around. There were all sorts of vendors—chickens, ducks, hair accessories, underwear, socks, even garlic and scallions. It was a mix-and-match kind of street market. Everyone had their own niche.

Zhuang Zhixi spread a cloth on the ground and took out his bell-bottom pants, setting them up directly. He was well prepared, grabbing the four bamboo poles he had stashed in his cart earlier and tying them together to form a makeshift rack. He then took out a small hammer and nailed the poles into the ground, stabilizing them quickly. With only two styles of pants, he hung them on the rack. The bamboo poles swayed a bit but soon steadied. Finally, he took out a large cardboard sign and taped it onto the pole, boldly writing three words: "Bell-Bottoms."

Everything set, Zhuang Zhixi looked around again. Yep, he was still the coolest kid on the block. Other vendors’ stalls didn’t stand out as much as his. It was Sunday, and there were plenty of shoppers in Xidan. Everyone else had found prime spots to set up, but Zhuang Zhixi had to settle for a dirtier area—otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to secure his bamboo poles.

Zhao Guihua saw that her son had everything so well prepared and immediately started shouting, “Come take a look! The latest style, candy-colored bell-bottoms! Don’t miss out, there’s no better deal! The sooner you buy, the sooner you can enjoy them! Grab them while they’re still in style!”

As soon as Zhao Guihua started her spiel, people turned their heads, their eyes filled with admiration. Goodness, this granny was impressive!

Some vendors secretly hoped she’d shout a bit more so they could learn her tricks. This old lady sure knew how to sell.

Zhao Guihua didn’t care what others thought. She kept on shouting, “Come take a look! You can’t lose, and you can’t go wrong!”

Bell-bottoms weren’t exactly mainstream—older folks just couldn’t understand why anyone would wear something so bizarre. But young people? They loved it. Especially those rebellious types who thought being different was the coolest.

Sure enough, a young man soon approached, asking, “How much are these?”

Zhuang Zhixi replied, “Unisex, blue for men and pink for women. Genuine southern goods, thirty yuan each.”

The nearby hairpin seller let out a gasp.

"That's too expensive!" The young man was shocked.

Zhuang Zhixi countered, “Come on, this isn’t expensive at all. Think about it—a regular pair of pants in the store costs fourteen or fifteen, and you still need a voucher for that. But look at mine—bell-bottoms take even more fabric, so the cost is higher. And this isn’t just any ordinary brand. This is the same stuff they’re selling in Hong Kong. Over there? They’re selling them for eighty to a hundred yuan. I had to go through so much effort to get my hands on these. How could they be cheap? Quality goods never are. And there aren’t many of them, either. Go around—you won’t see many people wearing these.”

Zhao Guihua didn’t speak, but internally, she thought, "No one’s wearing them because they’re too outlandish."

But as the seller, she chimed in, “Not only is the style unique, but the colors are rare too. See these? They’re called 'candy colors,' and you won’t find anything like this anywhere else.”

This "candy colors" bit was something new to everyone, but it sounded fancy and exclusive.

“You’re quite knowledgeable, Auntie,” the young man remarked.

Zhao Guihua laughed, “Oh, I’m no expert. I just think they look great. If I were younger, I’d be wearing them in a heartbeat. Now that I’m old, though, even if I wanted to, it’d probably backfire… I’d look ridiculous.”

“Hahaha.”

The two went back and forth, and sure enough, the young man was persuaded—though he still thought they were a bit pricy. “Auntie, can you lower the price a bit? Thirty yuan is still too much.”

Zhao Guihua sighed, “You and I hit it off, so I’ll knock off one yuan for you.”

“Come on, just a bit more,” he begged.

After some haggling, they settled at twenty-six yuan.

Zhao Guihua looked truly heartbroken. “This is my first sale of the day, that’s the only reason I can go that low. With this price, you’re getting a steal!”

The young man smiled. “Auntie, I know you’re giving me a deal here. I’ll spread the word for you.”

Zhao Guihua winked, “Come back with your girlfriend—I’ll give you an even better deal next time.”

The young man laughed, "Oh, it's not a girlfriend..."

Zhao Guihua waved him off, “You don’t have to lie to me. At my age, I can tell. You’re such a handsome young man; all the girls must like you.”

He chuckled. That was just good to hear.

He picked out a pair and happily left.

Don’t underestimate just one sale—as soon as someone buys, others are sure to follow. A young girl soon approached, saying, “I kind of want to buy one, but I’m afraid people will think I’m being too… adventurous.”

Zhao Guihua waved her off, “Nonsense! What’s not decent about wearing clothes? As long as it’s not revealing, there’s nothing wrong with it. The time to wear cool stuff is when you’re young—once you’re my age, it’s too late. And don’t think I don’t want to wear these myself. I’m selling them, so if I put them on, people would wonder why an old lady is wearing them, and suddenly no one would buy from me! I’m doing this for the money, you see. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care one bit.”

“Auntie, you do make sense,” the girl agreed.

This is how it works in sales—the more people there are, the more others are drawn in. Within moments, their little stall was crowded. Older folks just wrinkled their noses, but the young ones? They loved the trendiness of it all. In no time, they’d sold over a dozen pairs.

Zhuang Zhixi watched his mother skilfully collecting money and handing out change, swallowing hard.

Indeed, you can’t beat experience. He thought he was good at selling, but his mom was in a league of her own. He’d picked up some of these sales tactics from vendors in Guangzhou, but it seemed his mom had figured them out all on her own.

Zhao Guihua continued her spiel, “Young people should have flair. Sure, some might think these pants are a bit too bold, but if not now, when? Once you’re older, you’ll regret not embracing your youth. Go get some sunglasses, dress up, and take some fashion photos. When you’re old, you can show your grandkids and say, ‘Look, your granny was once a trendsetter—you can’t even compare!’”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Zhao Guihua was a natural at chatting. Her words made the young folks even more determined to buy. After all, how could they, young and spry, be less stylish than an old lady? Plus, when they thought about it, the price wasn’t that bad. These weren’t disposable clothes—they could wear them year after year.

Zhao Guihua then started crunching the numbers for the crowd. “If you think it’s expensive, just break it down. Let’s say this pair costs thirty yuan. You wear them for three hundred days a year. That’s about one cent per day. If you wear them for ten years, that’s just… less than a penny a day. And that’s assuming you only wear them three hundred days a year. If you wear them more, it’s even more worth it. Don’t you agree?”

Everyone nodded.

After all, it wasn’t uncommon in those days to get three years out of a garment, another three, and then patch it up for three more.

Everyone thought the price set by Aunt Zhou was quite reasonable. It's only one cent per day, which is practically free, right? Just skip one candy a day.

"Alright, Aunt Zhou, find me two of them. I want two pink ones, both in plus size," a young man said.

Another young man beside him was surprised. "You want pink? You're not getting them for yourself?"

"Yeah, I am. Who says guys can't wear pink? Real men wear pink! I want pink! I'll get two and switch them out."

The onlookers: "……"

This guy, he's definitely got some unique flair.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Actually, this is quite normal. These pants aren't gender-specific, just as long as the size fits. Look, if a taller girl likes sky blue, she can wear them too."

"Right."

Zhuang Zhixi and Zhao Guihua quickly got to work. Business today was even better than they had expected. They had actually brought two hundred pairs of pants with them today. They weren't sure how many they would sell, but they had underestimated the youth of Beijing and the foot traffic at Xidan.

Although sales started slow, they quickly picked up. Before long, the men's sizes were all gone. Zhuang Zhixi said, "Mom, I'm going to go home and bring some more. Can you handle things here by yourself?"

Zhao Guihua nodded. "If anyone dares to cause trouble, I’ll be more than happy. At my age, I’ll just lie down right here. Hehe, that’ll get me a nice check-up at the hospital and some good rest. Whoever lays a hand on me will have to fork out the cash? I’ll make sure they have an extra old lady to take care of!"

Zhuang Zhixi laughed. "You’re tough, Mom."

Zhao Guihua: "Go ahead."

She wasn't really trying to extort anyone; her voice was loud enough for others to hear.

If they took it to heart, it would save them a lot of trouble.

Honestly, they really didn’t want anyone disrupting their business. This was money, after all.

Zhuang Zhixi quickly rode back home. He pedaled so hard that sparks might as well have been flying off his bike. He arrived back at the courtyard just past noon. As soon as he entered, Aunt Zhou came out: "Little Zhuang…"

Zhuang Zhixi immediately stopped her, saying, "Aunt Zhou, I’m in a hurry, no time for small talk, okay?"

He rushed inside. Ming Mei was busy keeping track of the family's expenses for the last month. Seeing Zhuang Zhixi return, she asked, "What happened?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "We’re running out of stock."

Ming Mei's eyes widened in disbelief. "Out of stock? Are you serious? You brought two hundred pairs of pants, didn’t you?"

One hundred pink, one hundred blue.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Right. The pink ones are gone, and there aren’t many blue ones left either. Help me move some more over."

Ming Mei immediately jumped off the kang. "I’ll go with you."

She had wanted to go anyway, so this just made her even more eager. "You guys are so amazing!"

Zhuang Zhixi counted the inventory. "I thought I was pretty good, but after seeing my mom in action, I realize I’m just a rookie. A pure rookie. There was a moment where I almost convinced myself to buy some. It felt like not buying would be a loss. It’s practically free!"

Ming Mei: "Wow."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Let’s go."

Two people worked faster than one. Soon, they were out the door. Aunt Zhou was still pacing around the courtyard, but Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei didn’t say a word; they just zipped out like lightning. But Aunt Zhou’s curiosity was at its peak.

"What are they up to? What exactly are they doing?"

Jiang Lu came out to do laundry and said, "Just mind your own business."

Aunt Zhou: "How is that minding my business? We’re neighbors; I’m just curious, no, I mean, I’m concerned."

Jiang Lu laughed. "Well, they don’t need your concern."

Aunt Zhou was curious: "Do you know what they’re doing? I just find it strange."

Jiang Lu didn’t know either. It wasn’t that they were slow-witted; it’s just that people with regular jobs wouldn’t go street vending, and most saw it as beneath them. Everyone on their street worked at the machinery factory; they were all workers. No one would do that, so they just couldn’t imagine it.

It’s because it didn’t exist in their environment that they couldn’t imagine it.

If they had seen it before, they would have recognized it immediately.

Jiang Lu: "You should just manage your own business and stop meddling in others'. Their affairs don’t concern us. Besides, Zhuang Zhixi is so sharp, he won’t get duped. Let him do what he wants; he’s quick-witted, and his wife knows how to fight. They’re a great match, one smart, one strong. What do they have to fear? Let’s not get involved."

Aunt Zhou: "You make it sound so…"

She felt a bit down, thinking her daughter-in-law had no curiosity at all.

She said, "Of course, I know that brat Zhuang Zhixi won’t get duped. But precisely because of that, I’m curious. If it’s something good, we could learn from them, right?"

Jiang Lu knew what her mother-in-law was thinking but didn’t take it to heart. "Just stop meddling."

She called out: "Since you’re not busy, help me with the laundry. Look at all these clothes for Qijin. That boy is so mischievous."

Aunt Zhou didn’t hesitate this time: "I’ll do it. You won’t clean them properly. For Qijin’s clothes, you have to use soap, so they smell nice after. Laundry detergent doesn’t work; it just leaves that detergent smell."

Jiang Lu: "……"

She twitched her lips, realizing why their soap was running out so fast. Her mother-in-law was using it for laundry when it wasn’t necessary. She looked up in exasperation.

"What time does Qijin come back?"

Jiang Lu: "Their activity at the Cultural Palace ends at 4:30 PM."

Aunt Zhou: "Go get some meat. I’ll make him some meat pies. He mentioned that Zhao Guihua’s pies weren’t enough, so I’ll make some for him too."

Jiang Lu: "Alright, our little Qijin shouldn’t keep relying on others for good food."

Aunt Zhou: "Exactly."

Although Aunt Zhou was quite calculative when she was young, she’s different with her grandson now. She does feel the pinch, but in this aspect, she’s quite generous.

She wouldn’t want her grandson to be laughed at or looked down upon by other kids, so even if he eats something from someone else, she’ll prepare some treats for the other kids as a reciprocation.

"Mom, I’ll go buy it now, or we won’t get the good stuff."

Aunt Zhou: "Alright."

At this moment, Su Jinlai also rushed out, saying, "Aunt Jiang, get me a pound of meat. I want fatty meat, it’s the best."

That’s why Zhou Qun has a problem with him. He’s a younger person, but he acts like he’s in charge, ordering people around. It’s as if he’s bossing around his elders just for show, randomly ordering them to do things for him, and being picky? Who does he think he is?

Jiang Lu was stunned for a moment, but Zhou Qun came out from the house and said, "Help what? You don’t have hands or legs? If you want it, go buy it yourself. Who do you think you are, ordering around elders?"

He directly told Jiang Lu: "Go ahead."

Jiang Lu: "Alright."

She ignored Su Jinlai. Su Jinlai is a kid who doesn’t know how to behave and lacks the sense to read the room. He acts as if he can just order people around without offering to pay. She once helped him and had to keep nagging him to get the money, and even then, he was picky about the goods, complaining nonstop, with a face that sorely needed a good slap.

Since then, under the influence of Jiang Lu and Aunt Zhou, no one in the neighborhood has been willing to help Su Jinlai with anything. No one wants to front him money.

No one knew Su Jinlai had money now, but since he’s always causing trouble, no one’s willing to help him regardless.

Su Jinlai was fuming, thinking that the people in this courtyard are so unfriendly.

He thought about his own family and felt just as displeased.

Su Jinlai's second brother had gone to the countryside with their mom to gather vegetables and fruits, and his youngest brother was taking an acting class, leaving only Su Jinlai at home, not even having had lunch yet. Guan Hong, who usually comes to cook, didn't show up either. Finally unable to bear it any longer, he let out a cold huff, wrapped his jacket tightly around himself, and stepped out the door.

He was going for mutton soup!

Since no one was home, he decided to sneak in some delicious food and get some lamb testicles to boost his vitality.

As he walked past a trash can, he thought about how Tonglai had scammed him out of ten bucks, which made him quite angry. That was hard-earned money!

Recalling those three middle-aged women who were relentless in their pursuit, almost swallowing him whole, he pulled his jacket even tighter. "Women in their thirties and forties are indeed like wolves and tigers," he muttered to himself. "I must never get involved with women of that age again."

He firmly decided that he needed someone younger, preferably introduced to him by someone else.

The ideal candidate would be both young and wealthy, someone who could throw money his way.

Although the thought of those two and a half days made him shudder, feeling like he might pass out, he felt a sense of security when he touched the money in his pocket. It was tough, but having money was good. Nobody else had it.

He chuckled to himself, found a mutton soup place, and stepped inside.

At the same time, he was wondering what Zhuang Zhixi and the others were up to.

His eyes were fixed on every household.

Meanwhile, the Zhuang Zhixi he had been pondering over was surrounded by people. As soon as he returned, over a dozen bell-bottom pants were sold out almost immediately.

Ming Mei: "!!!"

She hadn't expected such a rush!

This kind of scene was usually only seen during holidays at department stores. But now, they were bustling with activity. After a brief moment of astonishment, Ming Mei quickly squeezed in to help find sizes and collect money.

It wasn't that everyone liked bell-bottoms, but people tend to follow the crowd. Seeing so many people buying, they joined in the trend. Even though they didn't have time to eat lunch, they were still very happy.

After all, it was money!

The three of them had their roles, and the business was booming. Sundays were especially busy, and the neighboring stalls weren't as lively. Some quick-witted vendors were already thinking about how they could sell these bell-bottoms.

They didn't know the cost price, but as businesspeople, they knew that even if the cost was high, they could at least double their money.

They didn't know where these three people got their stock from, though they claimed it was from the south, not everyone believed them.

Two people whispered to each other: "Wait a bit, go over and ask that young man where they got their stock. Damn, they're monopolizing the business, and we're not getting any customers. I don't know how they're so persuasive, making those young men and women so happy. We need to dig out their source."

"Brother, let's just talk to that little wife. She must be naive and, hey, she's good-looking too."

Clearly, they were up to no good.

The taller, older brother scolded: "Shut up! You, a man, talking to a little wife? She'd definitely be on guard and wouldn't tell you the truth. Do you think making money or harassing women is more important? Are you out of your mind? We should talk to the man. Don't get in the way."

"Oh."

"They're selling too well."

"Do you think they're making a lot of money?"

"Who knows? But did you jot down how they talked to the customers? It's really effective."

"Yeah, yeah, I wrote it down."

Such conversations weren't just happening at their stall; other vendors were also scheming. After all, when it comes to making money, no one wants to be left behind. Those who don't do business might not realize it, but this was a surefire way to make big money!

Quietly raking in the cash!

This business opportunity had to be calculated.