My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Zhuang Zhixi stepped out wearing his clothes, joining a group of men, and said, "I can't get to sleep either."

He closed the door behind him and found a stool to sit on. Everyone exchanged glances—this was a gathering of middle-aged men! They all ended up gathering at Zhou Qun's place, sitting outside his door. Zhou Qun started handing out cigarettes.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I don't smoke."

Yang Lixin: "Neither do I."

Zhou Qun slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten about that.

Zhuang Zhixi had just graduated and started working in the medical clinic, a place where smoking was strictly prohibited. So, he never smoked, and after getting married, he certainly didn't start. As for Yang Lixin, his profession as a chef made smoking unthinkable. A chef covered in smoke smells wouldn't go over well with clients. Cooking smoke and cigarette smoke are different things, after all.

The four men sat in a row, with Zhuang Zhixi being in his early thirties and the other three in their early forties.

Yang Lixin: "What's going on with you guys?"

No one answered. Zhuang Zhixi: "What about you?"

Yang Lixin stayed silent too. Everyone had their own troubles. Zhuang Zhixi leaned against the wall and said, "I'm worried about my mom."

The others all looked at Zhuang Zhixi, puzzled. Why would he worry about Zhao Guihua, who was full of energy and could outdo any man? Bai Fendou bluntly asked, "Really? What are you worried about her for?"

Zhuang Zhixi's eyes showed a hint of melancholy as he said, "I brought back some bell-bottom pants, and my mom's been selling them quite well, but they're about to run out."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"You're complaining when you're already benefiting? How does this have anything to do with your mom?"

Zhuang Zhixi murmured, "Once they're sold out, my mom will want to restock. Can you guess how she'll do it?"

The group paused, deep in thought.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm scared she'll go to Guangzhou to get them herself."

He ruffled his hair and continued, "She's already in her sixties—how can I not be worried?"

The three others nodded in agreement: "You should be worried."

Thinking about it, they realized that Zhao Guihua was exactly the type to do such a thing. The idea of an elderly lady traveling to Guangzhou for business made her children shudder. Looking at Zhuang Zhixi, they couldn't help but feel sympathy for him.

Yang Lixin also sighed and said, "The oil stick stand in the alley is closing down, and I'm thinking of taking it over. But I'm hesitating. I don't know what the family thinks. Plus, I still have my job…"

If he started selling oil sticks early in the morning, his regular job would definitely suffer. If he didn't affect his main job, no one would care, but if he did, there was a risk of being fired. He was very troubled and uncertain about his future.

The others nodded: "You definitely have reason to worry—it's no small matter."

"And you?"

Everyone turned to Zhou Qun, who pursed his lips and looked at Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou: "What are you looking at? Looking at nothing."

He took a puff of his cigarette and said, "I'm planning to buy a tricycle to pick up passengers at the train station in the evenings. But the tricycle isn't cheap, and I'm not sure about it either…"

"Oh! You're thinking of doing that." Zhou Qun was surprised, but then he realized it actually suited Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou was hot-tempered and had a sharp tongue, so setting up a stall would likely lead to trouble and offend people. But riding a tricycle was a different story.

He felt that Bai Fendou's idea was quite fitting for his personality.

Still, they weren't sure if the job would be profitable. Whether you're doing anything, some people make money, and some don't. Plus, a tricycle is genuinely not cheap.

The other men nodded: "You do have reason to worry."

"And you? What are you worried about?"

They all looked at the last person, Zhou Qun.

Zhou Qun: "I…"

Before he could finish, Zhang San walked up from the back courtyard and said, "I heard yapping outside and thought there was a thief, but it turned out to be you guys. What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"

Everyone exchanged glances, and Zhou Qun spoke up: "Everyone has their own troubles—it's the hardship of middle-aged men."

Hearing this, Zhang San also felt a pang of worry and said, "Give me a cigarette—I have it tough too."

"What's up?"

Zhang San: "The place we're living in is too small, so the kids have to stay at my in-laws'. They're not close to us anymore. Sometimes when I try to discipline them, they don't listen. What happens when they're older if they're already not listening now? I'm afraid they'll end up like Su Jinlai."

"That probably won't happen."

Zhang San: "I'm just thinking that the kids are still young, and I can still fix their little bad habits. But every time I try to discipline them, my mother-in-law and father-in-law interfere, giving us dirty looks and yelling at me and my wife like we're the bad ones. You know, it's really tough for me…"

The other men looked at Zhang San with sympathy, especially Yang Lixin, who felt his pain the most. Being a son-in-law himself, he knew how it felt to not be able to hold your head up high at your in-laws'. He patted Zhang San's shoulder and said, "We're all in the same boat."

Zhou Qun: "You guys…"

"Why are you all here?"

As he said this, Zhuang Zhiyuan suddenly showed up.

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow: "Big brother, why did you come out?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Give me a cigarette—I can't sleep."

He exhaled a cloud of smoke, looking melancholy: "Hutou is about to take the college entrance exam. His grades are average, looks are average, personality is average, and even the extra lessons he takes are average. What am I supposed to do? The kid can't work in the factory either. I'm really worried."

He would rather have everything in his life be ordinary if it meant his child could excel in everything.

But dreams are always beautiful, and reality—sigh.

Zhuang Zhiyuan's troubles were understandable to everyone, and they all looked at him with sympathy: "Just relax. Let the kid do his best in the exam. The child isn't even that way yet, but look at you and your wife—you're both so worried that you're about to lose your minds."

Zhuang Zhiyuan laughed bitterly: "That's the truth, but as parents, who isn't worried about their kids?"

"You really have it tough."

The group fell silent. After a while, Bai Fendou said, "Zhou Qun, you haven't said what you're worried about yet. Why are you out here in the middle of the night?"

Zhou Qun: "Me? I’m thinking about the future! I have a son, so of course, I have to think more for him. Everyone is looking to make some extra money, and I want to as well, but I just can't figure out what to do. You see, I'm an electrician, but I can't exactly go around fixing people's wiring, can I? Setting up a stall is too embarrassing for me. I just don't know what else I can do. That's why I came out to clear my head."

"Why is setting up a stall embarrassing? The government allows it, so why do you feel ashamed?" Zhuang Zhixi didn't hold back, saying, "You don't support national policies, and then you look down on small merchants? Everyone is equal, and that kind of attitude is wrong."

Zhuang Zhixi went on and on, while Zhou Qun just muttered, "Geez, he's like a rabbit preaching."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Besides, your family is doing just fine. Both of you have jobs with good salaries, and your family is simple. Why do you still want to make extra money?"

"Exactly."

"That's right. Your family is one of the best off in our courtyard."

"You're just spoiled by your good life."

Zhou Qun: "Pfft. What do you mean, spoiled? If everyone else wasn't moving forward, I wouldn't be in a hurry. But you see, everyone else is charging ahead, so how can I stay still?"

"True enough."

Zhou Qun thought for a moment and said, "Hey, we're neighbors, and it's rare to be out here together in the middle of the night. Help me figure out what I can do."

The group fell silent for a moment, mainly because they couldn't really think of anything Zhou Qun could do. Going all out for some venture was out of the question—he wasn't that desperate. They all shook their heads. Zhou Qun sighed heavily: "Look, I'm the one with the most to worry about."

The six men sat under the night sky, feeling the chill and their worries.

Everyone had their own burdens—this was the life of middle-aged men.

As a younger member of the family, Zhuang Zhixi was genuinely concerned about Zhao Guihua's potential trip to Guangzhou. Ever since his mother had inquired about Wang Xiangxiu's goods procurement the previous day, Zhixi had sensed that his mother, who was anything but an ordinary old lady, was itching for an adventure.

He sighed, "Your worries are trivial compared to mine. I'm dealing with something much bigger."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "What's the matter?"

Upon hearing Zhixi's explanation, Zhiyuan fell silent.

Why?@@novelbin@@

Because, like his younger brother, he knew all too well about their mother's adventurous spirit.

"What if she really decides to go? What are we going to do then?"

Suddenly, Zhiyuan found himself juggling not one but two major concerns.

The six of them sat silently in the courtyard.

Late at night, Su Jinlai suddenly felt a strong urge to relieve himself. Cursing under his breath, he dressed and stepped outside. His brother Yinlai slept soundly, while Tonglai merely rolled over but remained asleep. Jinlai, feeling a bit moody, shuffled out half-asleep, clutching his clothes. Late-night trips to the bathroom were never pleasant, especially on such a night where, despite the summer heat, the air was still a bit chilly.

He hurried out, only to feel multiple gazes suddenly focusing on him. It was an eerie sensation, as if he had been caught in someone's crosshairs. Su Jinlai quickly closed his eyes and muttered, "Heaven divine, earth divine..."

Zhuang Zhixi and the others: "..."

What was this kid up to now? While they didn't strictly enforce anti-superstition policies anymore, it was still odd to see someone resorting to such practices. Moreover, it wasn't exactly scientific, and people might look down on him for it.

Jinlai dared not open his eyes, scurrying out quickly. If he could have held it in just a little longer, he would have rushed back inside.

Sob, sob.

He ran blindly, tripping over himself as he mumbled, "Buddha, Guanyin, Tathāgata, Jade Emperor, bless me, Su Jinlai, with pure righteousness. Scare away demons and ghosts. Heaven divine, earth divine..."

He continued muttering as he ran, quickly exiting the courtyard.

The onlookers were left dumbfounded. Zhou Qun asked, "What's wrong with that kid now?"

"Who knows?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "I think he's acting a bit crazy."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "But didn't he see us? We're right here, sitting as big as life. Can't he see us? Are we invisible?"

Zhang San sighed, "I don't think he thinks we're invisible. I think he actually thinks he's seeing ghosts."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's a bit much, isn't it? Even a glance would have shown him that we're real people!"

He stood up, "Forget it, I'm going back to bed. There's no stopping my mother anyway. I have to go to work tomorrow."

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "I'm heading to Bingcheng tomorrow, and it'll take a few days to return. I'm leaving too."

As he took a few steps, he turned back to Zhuang Zhixi and said, "You'll have to look out for Mom."

Zhuang Zhixi waved him off, "I already know that. Go ahead."

Zhuang Zhiyuan nodded and left, his heart heavy with worry.

Yang Lixin stood up, "I should leave too. I have to prepare breakfast in the canteen tomorrow morning."

The staff starts work at 7:30, but the canteen needs to have everything ready by 6:30, which means they have to start cooking by 5:30. He stuffed his hands into his sleeves and headed back, knowing he'd have to wake up early. Bai Fendou followed suit, "I'm leaving too. I need to stay focused in the workshop."

Accidents in the machinery factory happen every few years, often due to carelessness. While not all tasks are dangerous, one must always be cautious, especially since the work in the workshop is physically demanding. Bai Fendou left as well.

Seeing everyone else depart, Zhang San exchanged a glance with Zhou Qun and said, "I have to be on duty by 6:30. I'm leaving."

The job at the security department was no easy feat, especially with recent thefts of steel materials. They had been busy trying to catch the culprits. He added, "You should get some rest too."

Among them, Zhou Qun had it relatively easy, as the work in the electrical group was flexible—there was downtime when there was no task to handle.

Zhou Qun: "It's boring sitting here alone. Since I'm already out, I might as well go to the bathroom before heading back to bed."

Strangely enough, although he had been anxious about what to do before coming out, encountering a few sleepless men had unexpectedly calmed him. He realized his life wasn't so bad after all. While he hadn't figured out how to make extra money, seeing others with their own worries made him feel better. Knowing others had it tough somehow made his own life feel more peaceful.

Zhou Qun strolled out, hands in his pockets, humming a tune. He arrived at the bathroom just as Su Jinlai was leaving. Still spooked, Jinlai let out a yelp upon seeing someone approach.

Zhou Qun: "What the hell? What are you yelling about? Are you crazy?"

Su Jinlai trembled in place, then upon closer inspection, recognized Zhou Qun.

Furious, he said, "Why didn't you make a sound when you came over? You scared me!"

Zhou Qun: "Seriously? I was just walking to the bathroom—why would I announce myself? And what's your problem? A grown man acting all jumpy. Are you that scared of your own shadow? Pathetic."

Indignantly, he pointed a finger at Su Jinlai, "You're the one who's acting like a scaredy-cat. Let me through!"

Zhou Qun gave his hips a dramatic shake and entered the bathroom.

Su Jinlai: "What a wuss!"

This sparked a furious reaction from Zhou Qun. He stormed out of the bathroom, pointing at Su Jinlai and shouting, "What do you mean by that? Calling me a wuss? Look at yourself—pale and frail, probably sapped dry by women. No wonder Guan Hong's family turned you down. Any family would consider it bad luck to have their daughter with you. Useless loser. And you dare talk about me? Pfft!"

"You—you—you!" Su Jinlai stared at Zhou Qun, feeling this was unbelievable. How could this guy, who acted like a woman, dare insult him? Zhou Qun’s behavior was anything but manly, yet he had the audacity to call Su Jinlai a wuss. Su Jinlai retorted, "Why are you insulting me? Look at yourself—what kind of person are you? I know your secrets. You're into anyone, male or female. You even had a thing for old ladies and older men. That's why Chen Yuan moved out of the compound because you creeped him out. Don’t think I’m unaware!"

Although he hadn’t been present at the time, he had heard people gossiping about it.

Zhou Qun sputtered, "You're lying! Chen Yuan moved because he wanted to live in an apartment building, not because of me. You’re smearing my name for no reason! You're the one with a history of trouble. You were a thief as a child and ended up in juvenile detention. You're no saint! You should be sent back to prison for reform!"

Su Jinlai was undeterred, "You wish! That was juvenile detention, not prison. And your mother should be in prison for her superstitious nonsense. Hypocrite!"

Zhou Qun: "At least I know better than to point fingers at others when I’m just as guilty. You were the one chanting about Buddha and the Jade Emperor just now. Heard it loud and clear!"

He smirked, "Come on, take a look! This guy’s calling me out for superstition while he’s the one spouting prayers. Talk about not knowing your own face."

The two stood in front of the bathroom, hurling insults at each other at the top of their lungs. Despite the late hour, their shouting quickly roused the nearby compound, and people came out to see what was happening. It didn’t take long for onlookers to realize these two were having a noisy argument, their spittle flying as they hurled insults, both seemingly ready to throw a punch and take each other down.

The heated exchange even reached Daqiang, who was bold enough to come out early. Seeing Zhou Qun, he asked, "What’s the fight about, big brother-in-law?"

Indeed, big brother-in-law.

Zhou Qun is also Wang Xiangxiu's adopted brother, making him a cousin of sorts to Wang Xiangxiu. So calling him Da-jiu-ge (big brother-in-law) is pretty appropriate.

Zhou Qun complained, "Can you all come and help me settle this? I just came out to use the bathroom, and when he came out of the bathroom, he accused me of using the bathroom without making any noise. He even wanted to criticize me for it. Is there any justice left in this world? Do I need to make a huge racket and announce my arrival from the house to the toilet? Am I going to the bathroom or attending a funeral? The guy is just complaining about me, but he's bringing up old stuff too. Isn't he going overboard?"

Daqiang chimed in seriously, "Yes, that's way overboard."

Su Jinlai retorted, "Get lost, you! Who doesn't know you're related? What, are you going to cover for each other? It's scary enough to not make a sound at midnight, and Zhou Qun isn't exactly a saint either. It's normal for me to feel scared!"

"Oh, please! What's 'normal' about you being scared? It's not like I'm going to do anything to you. Look at you, looking all sickly, with your reputation as a petty thief. I'm the one who should be suspicious of you!"

"You bastard! You insulted me!"

Su Jinlai threw a punch, but Zhou Qun quickly dodged it, saying, "You can get angry all you want, but you can't hit me!"

"Damn it!"

"Damn you!"

The two rushed at each other and started brawling. No one expected things to escalate so quickly. It was completely unexpected!

Zhou Qun, being an adult man, might not have been physically strong, but he was still stronger than the recently weak-legged Su Jinlai. In just a few moves, he pinned Su Jinlai to the ground. Feeling humiliated by Su Jinlai's taunts calling him a "sissy," Zhou Qun's anger boiled over. Without hesitation, he yanked down Su Jinlai's pants and gave his butt a few solid kicks!

Putting his hands on his hips, Zhou Qun scolded in a manner reminiscent of his adoptive mother, "If you dare pick a fight again, I won't be polite anymore. Hmph!"

Su Jinlai was momentarily stunned before bursting into tears, "You pervert! You big pervert! Wah... you pulled my pants down..."

Su Jinlai couldn't believe that in broad daylight—well, not exactly, but even at night—someone could do something like this. How could it happen to him, a pure and innocent young man? What was he going to do now?

He cried loudly, covering his behind as he ran away, "You beast!"

Zhou Qun shouted after him, "What kind of behavior is that? If other people see this, they'll misunderstand!"

Daqiang looked down, saying, "You shouldn't have hit his butt like that!"

He glanced at Zhou Qun with mixed emotions, wondering if the man was intentionally causing trouble. After all, Zhou Qun did have a questionable personality. Watching him with concern, Daqiang took a step back, clearly not feeling very secure.

Zhou Qun stomped his feet, feeling wronged, "I really didn't mean it! I just thought hitting the butt wouldn't cause any real harm!"

This method was something he had observed from Wang Xiangxiu. He had wondered why she disciplined her son by spanking his behind. At first, he didn't understand it, but later, he figured out that it was probably because she didn't want to seriously injure her child. After all, the butt has plenty of padding!

That's why, during the altercation, he had unhesitatingly chosen to target Su Jinlai's behind. However, as he looked around, he noticed the onlookers giving him strange looks. Their expressions spoke volumes.

His heart raced in panic, thinking, Oh no, my reputation!

He explained frantically, "I didn't mean it! I just thought hitting the butt wouldn't cause any lasting damage. You have to believe me! I didn't have any bad intentions!"

Someone in the crowd piped up, "Then why'd you pull his pants down?"

Zhou Qun hastily explained, "It just happened to be already like that!"

The onlookers' expressions grew even more complicated.

Zhou Qun stammered, "No... oh, come on, just trust me! I'm not a bad person. I really wasn't trying to do anything improper! I... I'm so wronged! I just came out to use the bathroom, wah wah wah!"

He started crying in frustration.

When this incident with Bai Fendou happened before, he didn't dare say a word because he truly had ill intentions. But now, he was genuinely feeling wronged. He hadn't had any improper thoughts—he couldn't even if he wanted to!

Yet everyone still suspected him!

Zhou Qun wiped his tears away and stood up with righteous indignation, "I can't even do anything, so what would I gain from it? Use your brains, people!"

The crowd paused, then realized, "Oh yeah, that makes sense."

"True."

"But maybe he has a fetish? Even if he can't, that doesn't mean he wouldn't want to have some fun."

"Oh no."

"Yikes."

Zhou Qun was so furious his body trembled, "You all... how dare you insult me like this? Just because I'm not like that, doesn't mean you can disrespect me. But even if I were like that, I wouldn't look at someone like Su Jinlai!"

"But you did have a thing for Bai Fendou before."

"Yeah, at least Su Jinlai is young and good-looking. Bai Fendou isn't exactly youthful or handsome. You wanted to make a move on him back then too."

Having lived as neighbors for so long, everyone knew too much, and any little mistake was quickly exposed.

Bai Fendou came out to watch the commotion and was teased by someone. He bellowed, "Stop spreading nonsense! We're as pure as snow. Who's spreading these rumors? I'm going to beat them up! Are you really so heartless and disrespectful? If your kids hear about this, what then?"

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

Zhou Qun agreed loudly, "That's right! My reputation is one thing, but if your senseless gossip affects the kids, I won't stand for it!"

With these two men ready to cause a real ruckus, the crowd reluctantly shut their mouths. After all, what they were saying wasn't entirely wrong, but it wasn't pleasant either. It was better not to bring up the past, or they might really get beaten up.

Everyone knew that although Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun weren't exactly model citizens, they were good fathers.

"Let's go, let's go."

"Everyone, head home."

"What a mess."

"Actually, Su Jinlai is just overreacting. Who needs to make a big fuss about using the bathroom? What's with the tiny little cojones?"

"Exactly."

Not wanting to provoke Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun, the crowd started talking ill of Su Jinlai instead.

Su Jinlai, sobbing and yelping, ran home, feeling extremely wronged. How could he have encountered such a thing? He was so ashamed, pulling up his pants as he ran. Once home, he sat on the kang and cried.

Tonglai asked, "What happened?"

He sat up, as did Wang Xiangxiu.

Su Jinlai cried, "Zhou Qun! That bastard took off my pants!"

"What!"

Even Yinlai scrambled to sit up, alarmed.

Wang Xiangxiu immediately pulled down Su Jinlai's pants, asking, "What did he do to you?"

Su Jinlai sobbed, "He kicked my butt."

Wang Xiangxiu, who had been worried, breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "What happened?"

Su Jinlai felt wronged and tearfully recounted the whole incident, howling his complaints, "Isn't he a pervert?"

Wang Xiangxiu knew Zhou Qun had a reputation for being a bit peculiar.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍she also knew he was physically unable to do anything!

Even if Zhou Qun had any intentions, Wang Xiangxiu wouldn't believe it. Not because he was incapable, but because Zhou Qun, after being... incapacitated, began to act more like an old woman.

He gossiped, talked too much, and stirred up trouble, lacking the usual desires of men.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Well... about this..."

Su Jinlai suddenly stopped crying and said determinedly, "I have to move out."

Wang Xiangxiu asked, "Huh?"

Su Jinlai insisted, "I absolutely must move out. I think he's taken a liking to me. Today was just the beginning. He must have fallen for me and wants to possess me."

Wang Xiangxiu: "...?"

Tonglai said, "Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Yinlai commented, "Your thoughts are a bit wild and exciting, bro."

Su Jinlai: "Why wouldn't this be the case? Aren't you still my family? Think about it, didn't Zhou Qun give me the nickname 'Big Bird'? I believe he must have been targeting me and taking a liking to me since then. Now, he's just looking for opportunities. He's trying to find every chance to... to that extent. Yes, that must be it. I've seen through him."

Wang Xiangxiu, Yinlai, & Tonglai: "......"

The three exchanged glances, speechless.

Su Jinlai gazed nostalgically at the sky, his face full of the weight of experience: "I, such a handsome man, am destined to have more admirers than others. The path of love will undoubtedly be lush and blooming."

Tonglai: "That phrase doesn't fit here..."

Jinlai: "Shut up."

Tonglai: "Oh."

Jinlai: "He even mentioned Guan Hong. He said Guan Hong's family doesn't want her to be with me. Think about it, why would he know this? Why would Guan Hong's family object? Perhaps he's the one stirring the pot. It's him, him, him! He's deliberately sabotaging my marriage to achieve his goal of taking control of me."

The more Su Jinlai thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was the case. No wonder Guan Hong hadn't shown up; it must be due to Zhou Qun's meddling. That's it! It must be him!

Wang Xiangxiu felt a bit uneasy hearing this.

In truth, Zhou Qun was just taking the blame for her actions.

Guan Hong hadn't appeared recently because of her, not Zhou Qun. Wang Xiangxiu hadn't deliberately set out to do this. Although she didn't think her eldest son could maintain a good relationship with a wife, she wouldn't interfere. After all, finding a spouse would already be quite challenging for him. So, she wouldn't cause problems.

The reason? She had complained about her eldest son in the workshop and was overheard.

It wasn't Guan Hong who heard her; such girls are driven by love and wouldn't agree with her complaints.

It was Guan Hong's aunt. Guan Hong and Wang Xiangxiu weren't in the same workshop, but Guan Hong's aunt was, so she overheard Wang Xiangxiu's complaints with other coworkers and shared them with Guan Hong's parents.

The Guan family had always been reluctant about Guan Hong choosing Su Jinlai.

They preferred Guan Hong to date Li Weiwei because his family was well-mannered, he was diligent, and worked as a temporary worker in the cafeteria, which showed his effort. But Su Jinlai... well, no one really knew him, so he didn’t seem reliable.

Their doubts had already been there, but they didn't expect Su Jinlai to be even less reliable. This realization led them to strictly control their daughter. That's why Guan Hong hadn't shown up in front of Su Jinlai. Now, her family escorted her to and from work, keeping a tight watch on her!

They made sure she had no chance to secretly meet Su Jinlai. This news spread throughout the factory, but since Su Jinlai wasn't a factory employee, he remained unaware.

Now, he firmly believed that Zhou Qun was behind it all, driven by a desire for his handsome looks. He cleared his throat and declared more firmly: "Mom, I need to go out and stay away for a few days."

Wang Xiangxiu pursed her lips, momentarily at a loss for words.

Yinlai and Tonglai: "......"

Even though the two brothers had seen a lot, they still couldn't comprehend their elder brother's thoughts.

Did Zhou Qun really covet him?

They couldn't see any signs of that!

However, neither dared to speak up. After all, if this were true, their brother's reputation would be at stake. So, whether real or imagined, taking a break might be the right move. The two quietly sat aside, unwilling to voice their opinions.

After a moment of silence, Wang Xiangxiu said: "Where do you plan to move? You need to let me know so that we can reach you if something happens."

Su Jinlai: "......"

He replied: "I'll look for a place tomorrow morning."

He sighed deeply: "I, such a handsome young man, truly endure too much."

At this moment, he could empathize with the plight of Chen Yuan, who had been targeted by men in the past. Feeling uneasy all over, Su Jinlai coughed softly and said: "I'd like to rent an apartment, as it would be more convenient."

Having stayed in hotels before, he understood the difference between a good and bad living situation. He was different from ordinary people—he had been the first in their courtyard to dine at Old Mo, after all.

“Okay, if you want to rent a place, I'll ask Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao to help look around. Oh, and I remember, Aunt Lian knows a lot. I'll ask her too,” Wang Xiangxiu considered.

Su Jinlai: "Sounds good."

He became serious: "This matter can't be overlooked; it needs to be handled quickly."

"Understood."

Su Jinlai firmly believed that Zhou Qun had fallen for him. After all, he was such an attractive man who could captivate both men and women alike.

He was that impressive.

Despite his anxiety and apprehension, Su Jinlai felt a subtle sense of pride.

No one could understand this feeling.

Su Jinlai spoke decisively, but Zhou Qun was fuming, muttering endlessly all the way home: "What's wrong with him? Am I crazy? Am I blind? What am I even doing? How did I get so unlucky that even going to the toilet at night brings all this drama?"

Jiang Lu, who had already woken up due to the commotion, was now calm. Although she felt anxious, she still said: "Go to sleep early."

She paused and warned Zhou Qun: "Don't ruin the family's reputation."

Zhou Qun was aggrieved: "I'm even more wronged than Dou E!"

Jiang Lu looked deeply at Zhou Qun and slowly said: "In this matter, I believe you."

Although Zhou Qun was unreliable, as his wife, she could somewhat discern his current interests. She trusted that Zhou Qun wouldn't go astray, but: "Don't do things that might be misunderstood."

Zhou Qun: "......"

He looked up at the ceiling with teary eyes: "Gossip is powerful; gossip is powerful! I'm even more wronged than Dou E!"

Jiang Lu: "Alright, sleep. Tomorrow, Mother will definitely scold you."

Zhou Qun felt even more aggrieved, tears streaming down his face. He didn't know why his mother never believed him. Whenever such an issue arose, it was as if she had swallowed gunpowder, filled with resentment and distrust toward him.

This lack of trust deeply hurt him, sob sob.

Zhou Qun muttered endlessly, but Jiang Lu didn't care. She simply covered herself and went to sleep.

However, in a blur, Jiang Lu had a vague thought: Her mother-in-law had been unusually well-behaved over the past decade, likely because she had been properly educated and understood that some things couldn't be done. The other reason could be Zhou Qun's reputation... among the older generation, even if you had some ambiguous relationships with women, it wasn't a big deal. But being ambiguous with men was entirely unacceptable, bringing shame to the ancestors.

Therefore, Zhou's mother had little time for mischief, focusing instead on monitoring her son and taking care of her grandchildren.

Jiang Lu's eyes flickered as she closed them and peacefully fell asleep. Zhou Qun, however, sat at the foot of the bed, sobbing like a wronged wife, his heart and tears overflowing with suffering!

Because of Zhou Qun and Su Jinlai's situation, everyone got excited the next morning. When they went out to wash up in the courtyard, they exchanged knowing glances. Bai Fendou again felt he needed to stay away from Zhou Qun, lest the latter relapse and target him again.

After all, being too brave could be a mistake, as it attracted unwanted attention from other men.

Bai Fendou quickly finished his morning routine and promptly rode his bicycle out, afraid of bumping into Zhou Qun.

Little girl Bai Qingqing ate her buns at home, mumbling: "Daddy was so fast today."

He Lan laughed and said: "Your dad was scared."

Bai Qingqing blinked, and He Lan didn't say much but instead stroked her daughter's head and said: "Go to school with Qijin later. Be good friends, okay?"

Bai Qingqing nodded: "I know!"

They grew up together since childhood, and although children sometimes argued and had friction, they would make up by evening. Kids never hold grudges overnight. The children were always together, which was quite joyful.

Bai Qingqing: "Mom, Yuanyuan said they're going to Beidaihe this summer. Can we go too?"

The little girl looked up at her mother with full expectation.

He Lan: "If they go, you want to go too?"

Bai Qingqing nodded and said, "I want to play with Yuanyuan, Zhenzhen, Qijin, Siyuan—everyone wants to go."

While eating breakfast, her little mouth babbled on. He Lan looked at her daughter's big eyes and said, "Alright, if they don't mind, we'll join them."

Bai Qingqing immediately beamed with joy, let out a delighted yelp, and quickly stuffed a bun into her mouth, saying, "Then I'll tell Yuanyuan."

He Lan: "Sure."

She handed the schoolbag to her daughter and said, "Study hard. Are you going to the youth center after school today?"

Bai Qingqing: "Yes, Mom, I'm leaving now."

The little girl quickly ran to the courtyard to call out, "Qijin, Qijin!"

Qijin hurried out: "I'm ready."

Soon, the other three children came out as well. The five of them arrived at the next door and gathered the Ye Family Siblings, forming an eight-member squad that sang together as they walked to school under the morning sun.

While the children were at school, Zhuang Zhixi left for work early, cautioning his wife: "If you encounter any troublemakers while selling today, take them straight to the police station."

Ming Mei chuckled and said, "When have I ever been afraid of such people?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's true, but caution is the key to safety. Overconfidence isn't a good thing. Stay alert."

Ming Mei: "I know that."

Zhuang Zhixi left for work, and Ming Mei went out with Zhao Guihua to set up their stall for the day.

It being Tuesday, business wasn't as good as the previous day. Some customers only came to buy yesterday because they hadn't brought money the day before, so today's sales were significantly lower. However, after showcasing their abilities the previous day, no one dared to mess with them.

Running a business might seem easy, but if someone does particularly well, they can attract unwanted attention. Troublemakers are always around. However, Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei remained calm. Zhao Guihua told her daughter-in-law, "If anyone comes to collect protection money, we won't hold back."

She thought these people must be idiots for thinking they could act like they saw in movies.

While theaters no longer showed Hong Kong films, some underground video parlors did, and they often displayed a very different style from mainland China, which influenced some local hooligans.

Take that guy "Wei Ge," for example, who showed up a few days ago asking for money. Despite it being late March and freezing cold, he wore flip-flops. Was he trying to freeze his toes off? What a fool.

These people mimicked what they saw in the movies, completely unaware of the reality of mainland China. They were just asking for trouble and deserved a lesson.

Zhao Guihua glanced around and started her usual spiel: "Come and see, come and look! Don't miss out..."

Despite not being as busy as the previous day, they still managed to sell a few items by midday. Ming Mei bought lunch nearby but, in a quick glance, spotted a familiar face.

This acquaintance wasn't just anyone but Guan Guiling from their workplace.

Ming Mei rarely interacted with this woman, who she considered quite unhinged. Her husband, Zheng Yufeng, was no better, always using Guan Guiling as a pawn to swindle money.

Guan Guiling, unlike those who sell their bodies, injured herself to obtain wealth. Despite being classmates with Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou and being in her early forties, she looked well over fifty.

And, to top it off, her health was poor. If a decade ago she had some charm of a mature woman, now she looked like a skinny, sallow old lady. Zhao Guihua was fifty-nine this year.

Guan Guiling was only in her early forties. But if someone said Guan Guiling was only a couple of years younger than Zhao Guihua, many would believe it.

All those years of hardship had taken a toll on her body.

Guan Guiling wasn't alone; she was accompanied by a young woman who, judging by the facial features, seemed to be her daughter. It could be someone else, but Ming Mei had seen Guan Guiling's daughter from behind and suspected it was her.

At that moment, Guan Guiling and her daughter were looking around, clearly searching for Ming Mei.

Guan Guiling had always been jealous of Ming Mei. Both were women, yet Ming Mei's life was infinitely better than hers. She had only recently learned that Ming Mei had taken leave from work due to her mother-in-law's decision to run a stall.

Guan Guiling couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. She thought, "It's about time Ming Mei got a taste of misery. Why should others live well?"

So, she quickly brought her eldest daughter and set out to find Ming Mei. She wanted to see how humiliating Ming Mei's situation was and possibly offer some patronizing sympathy. To make a dig at her, Guan Guiling was determined to find her, even going so far as to have her daughter scout the alleys of Xinghuali and inquire about where Ming Mei was likely to be.

The mother and daughter scanned their surroundings, and Ming Mei, noticing them from afar, returned to her stall with lunch and told Zhao Guihua, "I see Guan Guiling."

She shrugged and said, "I think she's come to gloat over my misfortune."

Zhao Guihua spat and said, "Her? If others don't laugh at her, that's good enough. How dare she come and mock others, thinking herself so great. Hmm, but how did you get on her bad side? She seems to be obsessed with making fun of you."

Zhao Guihua chuckled mockingly.

Ming Mei thought for a moment and said, "Probably because my life is good. Some people feel that if you're doing better than them, you're guilty. They don't envy those who are way out of their league, but they'll begrudge those around them. Having to deal with such a person at work feels like stepping on a pile of dog poop."

Zhao Guihua couldn't help but laugh aloud. After catching her breath, she looked towards Guan Guiling and said, "Let me see... uh?"

She suddenly paused.

Ming Mei: "What's wrong?"

She looked curiously at her mother-in-law.

Zhao Guihua: "Who is that with Guan Guiling?"

Ming Mei: "Probably her daughter? It looks a bit like her."

To Ming Mei, who knew Guan Guiling's age and family situation, the girl seemed to be her eldest daughter. Ming Mei had only seen her from behind once but recognized her outline.

Zhao Guihua grimaced and took a deep breath, saying slowly, "So that's Guan Guiling's daughter..."

Ming Mei nodded: "Yes, probably."

Zhao Guihua inhaled again and said, "Is her name Zheng Huimin?"

Ming Mei was surprised by her mother-in-law's question and then nodded, "Yes, she's called Zheng Huimin. Her name is quite unique; I remember it."

Zhao Guihua seemed overwhelmed by a huge revelation, staring astonished at Guan Guiling and her daughter, momentarily baffled before letting out a deep sigh.

"What a small, small, small world it is indeed."

Sure enough, Zheng Huimin was a familiar name.

She wasn't just anyone—she was the woman Su Jinlai married in another life.

That woman with no family support, serving her in-laws tirelessly, standing by her husband even when he was imprisoned, raising children, caring for husband's mother—even the imprisoned brother-in-law when he returned, and even the child of her husband's pimp brother; working tirelessly, selflessly, her spirit that of an honorable protagonist in a rural soap opera.

It almost seemed like a popular anti-intellectual rural drama, the kind she, as an elderly woman, couldn't bear to watch. Just like the protagonist of those dramas who is always busy with this and that, diligently and selflessly giving her all to the Su family. In the end, she managed to bring the prodigal son back to his senses.

To be precise, Su Jinlai had simply worn himself out.

By that time, he was already in his fifties or sixties, so even if he wanted to steal, he couldn't anymore. Instead, he became the type of senior citizen who acted mischievously and stubbornly, the kind you'd find causing trouble on public buses. Yes, that was him!

In any case, Zheng Huimin had always poured her deep affection into the Su family. It wasn't surprising, though, since every daughter-in-law who married into the Su family had this trait. Wang Xiangxiu, the daughter-in-law, was like that, and so was her granddaughter-in-law, Zheng Huimin.

All of this was thanks to the matriarch of the Su family.

However, in this lifetime, the old lady had been locked up over a decade ago. Who knows if, without such a mastermind around, Zheng Huimin would still be so devoted? Or even if she and Su Jinlai would ever meet each other again.

After all, two lifetimes are not the same.

Still, she was truly astonished. How could she have never imagined that Zheng Huimin was Guan Guiling's daughter? She had a strong impression of Zheng Huimin but knew absolutely nothing about Guan Guiling. Mainly because, in her previous life, Zheng Huimin had arrived carrying a small bundle by herself and became deeply intertwined with the Su family, never to be separated again.

She had never mentioned having a family, nor had she talked about her parents. Now, finding out that Guan Guiling was her mother was truly shocking.

When Zhao Guihua saw Zheng Huimin, she was utterly shocked but quickly regained her composure. She knew that her previous life was different from this one. She shifted her gaze away, but Guan Guiling, on the other hand, spotted Ming Mei and instantly got excited. She took a deep breath to calm herself, straightened her clothes, and walked over to Ming Mei's stall, smiling, "Oh, isn't this Ming Mei? I heard you asked for leave. So you're really here helping your mother-in-law with her stall?"

She put on a sympathetic expression and said, "How long are you going to be selling for? I'll buy one to help you out."

Ming Mei smiled and said, "That'd be great. Buy a lot if you can. If you could buy all of them, that'd be even better."

She continued with a grin, "Mom, step back a bit. Sister Guan's not feeling well and tends to faint. If she bumps into you, we'd lose all the money we made today. You're old, but not as experienced as her."

Zheng Huimin's voice was soft and gentle as she spoke, "How can you say that? My mom meant well."

Ming Mei chuckled, "I never said your mom had bad intentions. I was just reminding my mother-in-law. Your mom is quite a character at the bus station. She even managed to scare off Jiang Baohong, who's known for being mean. She's truly someone extraordinary."

This wasn't made up.

Ever since the bicycle incident, Jiang Baohong had been at odds with Guan Guiling. However, Jiang Baohong was no match for Guan Guiling. With her fragile body, Guan Guiling had managed to blackmail Jiang Baohong numerous times.

After suffering a few losses, Jiang Baohong wasn't Guan Guiling's match. For some reason, she handed her job over to her daughter-in-law and applied to go to another city to find her ex-husband.

But before Jiang Baohong left, Guan Guiling had someone beat her up. It was a miserable sight—her face bruised and battered, her clothes stripped off and thrown all over the place. She was so embarrassed that she had to stay in the hospital for a week. The doctor had advised her to stay for a month, but Guan Guiling insisted on leaving early.

It was just her habit.

She insisted that Jiang Baohong was behind it, but by then, Jiang Baohong was already on a train somewhere, so there was no evidence. Guan Guiling had no choice but to let it go. But from that point on, she became even more shameless, indiscriminately blackmailing anyone she could.

So now at the bus station, everyone avoids her like the plague. Her reputation outside is just as bad.

Over the years, though, it's become harder for her to blackmail people, because even the nearby police stations are all too familiar with her.

To reach this level of infamy… she's really something else.

Ming Mei smiled, "The bus station's blackmail queen, Guan Guiling—who doesn't know about her?"

As soon as those words were out, the crowd around them immediately stepped back several paces.

Look at that effect!

Guan Guiling's face turned bright red with anger!