My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Brother Wei's gang was arrested.

What a "hundred-strong gang," just bragging!

What harassing women, that’s also nonsensical boasting!

They were far from as formidable as they claimed, but they weren't exactly innocent either.

Although the so-called "hundred-man Wolf Pack" and harassing women were fabrications, they did have cases of theft and extortion tied to their names. With all of these criminals in custody, the police officers weren't about to let their guard down; they swiftly uncovered more issues through interrogation. It wasn’t that bad guys always ended up crossing paths with Ming Mei, but rather that many people’s first instinct when faced with trouble was to keep the peace rather than report it to the police.

This emboldened Brother Wei and his gang, allowing their audacity to grow unchecked. The police, however, lacked sufficient information on them and thus couldn’t take action. But these guys had "good luck," or rather bad luck, as they stumbled right into Ming Mei’s hands.

With just a lever, the police could lift the entire earth. The entire gang was swiftly dismantled by the police.

Despite Brother Wei’s boastful claims of being part of a formidable hundred-man Tiger Clan, their gang consisted of just over ten people, all of whom were caught this time. They were nowhere near as tough as they pretended to be and quickly confessed once detained.

It turned out they were involved in stealing steel from the machinery factory.

That was their primary crime, and while their extortion attempts were limited to bullying the elderly and women, stealing steel was a serious matter.

Police Officer: “I knew this wasn’t simple. We’ve got them.”

With the investigation reaching its conclusion, Ming Mei and her family earned another commendation. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law returned home elated, their satisfaction palpable from exposing society’s parasites. Ming Mei hummed a tune, while Zhao Guihua sang "Sha Jia Bang."

The two were indifferent, but the Zhuang family was thoroughly frightened.

Old Man Zhuang: “Old lady, can we not meddle in such affairs anymore? At your age, how can I feel at ease?”

Zhuang Zhixi also sighed: “Mother, wife, my heart is racing.”

Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes: “Is it really necessary to react this way? You’re overreacting.”

She put her hands on her hips, stating, “When we encounter such scoundrels, can we just ignore them? Besides, we never go looking for trouble; they come to us. With bad guys at our doorstep, can we just let them off the hook?”

“Exactly,” Ming Mei added. “When they’re brazen enough to stand in front of me, I have to teach them a lesson. Otherwise, they’ll think women are easy targets.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “You’re right, but as your family, I’m just worried about you.”

“Don’t worry, I can handle them,” Ming Mei reassured with a smile.

She winked, “These small-time thugs who think they can bully women? I can take on ten of them.”

Zhuang Zhixi knew how formidable his wife was and was deeply proud of her. But pride aside, his concern remained. After all, accidents happen, and no matter how capable Ming Mei was, as her husband, he couldn’t help but worry. He squeezed her hand and said, “I’m concerned about you and worry for your safety.”

Ming Mei: “I know.”

She grinned sweetly. Of course, she understood what Zhuang Zhixi was worried about. Her man was the best, and she knew that better than anyone.

Ming Mei’s soft smile revealed her affection, and as their eyes met, a wave of sweetness washed over them. Zhao Guihua was left rolling her eyes at the two. They were both over thirty, yet still so lovey-dovey.

Just as the family discussed the situation, a commotion broke out outside.

Zhao Guihua: “What’s going on?”

She stepped out and was surprised to see Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin, two young girls.

Zhao Guihua: “…”

How did these two end up here? Where was Guan Guiling, and why didn’t she confront them? It was unclear what had transpired.

Ming Mei soon joined her, peeking over Zhao Guihua’s shoulder and exclaiming, “Aren’t these Su Jinlai’s two girlfriends? Why are they here?”

“What’s going on? Two girlfriends?”

Suddenly, Zhou Qun appeared out of nowhere, eager to know more. He quickly approached, asking, “What’s the deal here, Mrs. Zhuang?”

Ming Mei: “It’s a bit complicated to explain in a sentence or two.”

Zhou Qun: “That’s fine; I’ve got time to spare.”

Gossip wasn’t a waste of time, after all.

Ming Mei: “…”

She waved him off. “Later, my mother-in-law will fill you in.”

Zhao Guihua shot Zhou Qun a glance, saying, “Why are they here?”

Zhou Qun: “I have no idea.”

Others in the neighborhood also gathered, curious about the situation. Everyone was cautious, watching as Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin faced each other—one glaring angrily, the other silently weeping.

Wang Xiangxiu sat at her doorstep, looking like a man burdened by life’s struggles, massaging her temples in distress.

Everyone cautiously observed the unfolding drama. Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei, knowing more than the rest, were all too familiar with such shenanigans. Zhao Guihua whispered, “Two women fighting over one man.”

The crowd gasped.

In the presence of Guan Hong, the identity of the man in question was obvious.

However…

Where was Su Jinlai?

Despite his absence, the battle between the two women raged on.

Wang Xiangxiu, seemingly at her wit’s end, yelled, “Su Jinlai, you little brat, get out here! You brought these girls here, so deal with them! Don’t dump this mess on me! Am I your servant or something? Get out here!”

Her shouts finally drew Su Jinlai out of the house. He looked hesitant but also somewhat smug. He stood at his doorstep and said to Wang Xiangxiu, “Mom, why don’t we just let them stay?”

Wang Xiangxiu was instantly furious: “Let them stay? Why would we let them stay? What excuse would we have to let them stay? Are you out of your mind? Don’t you care about your reputation, but what about these young girls’ reputations?”

Though Wang Xiangxiu wasn’t entirely selfless, she feared that if people talked about her son’s inappropriate relationships, someone might report him.

She never expected that her son, Su Jinlai, had the audacity to charm two naive girls into coming to their home. It was somewhat reminiscent of her own younger days, but she wished he hadn’t inherited such traits!

Was it too much to ask for him to live a decent life?

She took a deep breath, saying, “You two should go home. I can’t let you stay here. It’s not right for you to stay without a proper reason. I’m doing this for your sake.”

While her words stemmed from fear of trouble, they weren’t entirely wrong.

However, her advice fell on deaf ears.

Guan Hong, tears in her eyes, said, “Mom, if you don’t take me in, I have nowhere to go. I’m determined not to return home. My parents don’t treat me as a human being; they only want me to marry someone they approve of. This outdated thinking from the old society is something I, as a young pioneer of the new era, must resist.”

Wang Xiangxiu: “Oh, for goodness’ sake! Don’t call me ‘Mom’; I’m not your mom.”

She felt her scalp tingling, overwhelmed. “If you like, call me Aunt Xiangxiu, but don’t ever call me ‘Mom’ again. I can’t take on such a title.”

Guan Hong: “Whether it’s Mom or Aunt Xiangxiu, in my heart, you’re like my real mother.”

Wang Xiangxiu: “…”

Others: “What the…”

The elderly ladies in the courtyard were left speechless. They simply couldn’t comprehend the situation unfolding before them.

Su Jinlai finally spoke up, saying, “Don’t say that. If you call her Mom, how will others view our family? I haven’t even said I’ll marry you.”

Guan Hong stared at Su Jinlai in disbelief, stammering, “But… but… we…”

She bit her lip, their intimate past clearly weighing on her mind.

How could he act as if nothing had happened?

She felt wronged and her eyes turned red with tears. Then, she seemed to think of something, turning her head to glare fiercely at Zheng Huimin. Zheng Huimin had been weeping silently, looking like a pitiful little thing. When she noticed Guan Hong's gaze, she turned her teary eyes toward Su Jinlai, uttering softly, "Su Gege~"

The voice was full of tenderness and nuance, truly evoking a sense of longing.

She bit her lip softly and sobbed, pleading, "Please, please help me think of a way. If I go home, my mom will beat me to death~"

Her face was full of sorrow and dependence as she looked at Su Jinlai. But this only incited even more jealousy in Guan Hong. She stared at Zheng Huimin with fiery eyes, cursing, "Little slut! You're quite skillful for someone so young, aren't you? So good at snatching men!"

Zheng Huimin replied softly, "Su Gege is single, so how is it snatching a man?"

Though she appeared delicate, her words clearly revealed her sharp tongue and cunning nature. Turning toward Wang Xiangxiu, she added, "Aunt Xiangxiu, I can work. Please let me stay. I can do everything, I’m good at working."

Wang Xiangxiu sighed, "This isn’t about whether you can work or not."

Zheng Huimin began to weep softly once more.

"Where did this girl come from?"

"I don’t know. She doesn’t seem from around here. I’ve never seen her before."

"No idea."

Aunt Wang moved closer to Zhao Guihua and began gossiping with her old friend, "Tell me, what’s so special about Su Jinlai? How come these girls are throwing themselves at him? Look at all those good young men, yet they’re still single. It’s so unfair!"

It really was baffling.

Zhao Guihua could hear the heavy resentment in Aunt Wang’s tone. How could she not be resentful? After all, they both had eligible young men at home, yet Aunt Wang’s two boys had no romantic prospects whatsoever.

She patted Aunt Wang’s shoulder sympathetically, saying, "My Hu Tou is the same, no one’s interested in him either."

Aunt Wang rebutted, "But your Hu Tou is a student!"

Even at the same age, a student and a young worker were worlds apart. People only expected students to study well, but for those already working and earning salaries, the expectations were different.

At school, parents just hoped their kids would focus on studies. If they started dating, their parents would definitely be upset. But once they graduated, if they hadn’t found a partner within a week, their parents would already start worrying.

In school, they had to be single, especially during the intense final year of high school.

So Aunt Wang thought it was entirely different.

She looked at Guan Hong, then at Zheng Huimin, her gaze shifting back and forth as she mumbled, "They don’t seem dumb, though."

At that moment, Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin were still locked in their standoff. Wang Xiangxiu absolutely wasn’t letting them in the house, but the two girls gazed pitifully at her, as if she were the evil parent tearing apart two star-crossed lovers.

But they never thought about how three people’s feelings could ever be balanced.

Wang Xiangxiu felt so stressed she was drowning in sorrow.

Just then, Tonglai came back from school. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw everyone staring at his family’s door. He thought, "…What’s going on?"

He stepped forward, asking, "What happened?"

Wang Xiangxiu was at her wits' end. She felt like she was swallowing bitter herbs. She said, "Your brother brought two girls back, wanting them to stay in our house."

Tonglai looked at his older brother and said, "Big Brother, aren’t you supposed to move out and rent a place?"

Jinlai was momentarily stunned, then quickly glanced at Zhou Qun’s house and responded, "I’ve thought about it, and I don’t have to rent a place after all. After all, we already have a house, why rent elsewhere?"

He had originally planned to move out and rent, but with both Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin wanting to follow him? He realized he didn’t need to rent a place after all. With two female companions, Zhou Qun wouldn’t dare mess with him, right? So he boldly returned, hoping everyone would see his charm.

At that moment, he was the coolest kid in the neighborhood.

He crossed his arms, saying, "Both of them are my friends, and now they have nowhere to go. As a friend, do you honestly think I could just leave them helpless? I’m not that kind of person. It’s settled, don’t rent out our house anymore. Let them stay."

After saying that, he even gave Li Weiwei a provocative glance.

Li Weiwei was so furious his hands were trembling. Just as he was about to curse, Wang Xiangxiu spoke up, "No way!"

She snapped, "This isn’t up to you to decide. Not renting a house? Are you going to pay me rent? You’re barely surviving on the scraps you get here, and now I should sacrifice even more to raise outsiders? You think that’s possible?"

Su Jinlai retorted, "Mom, why are you always so money-grubbing, so crass?"

Tonglai chimed in, smiling innocently, presenting himself as harmless as ever. He said, "Since Big Brother isn’t crass, why not pay for living expenses? And since Big Brother isn’t crass, why not just rent a place on your own? Since Big Brother isn’t…”

“Stop! Rent, I’ll pay the rent!” Guan Hong couldn’t bear to see her man being criticized like that, so she promptly spoke up, “I make thirty-three yuan and fifty cents a month, don’t you think I can afford rent? I won’t freeload.”

Unlike Guan Hong, Zheng Huimin had no formal job or money, so she could only rely on Su Jinlai with a tearful, helpless gaze.

Su Jinlai—Su Jinlai pretended not to see her.

Despite appearing tough, this guy had been poor since he was a child, understanding the importance of money. So he was all talk and stingy at heart. He remained silent.

Guan Hong, proud of herself, said, “You should leave now.”

Zheng Huimin pleaded, “I can work, I can do all the work. Su Gege, please~”

The neighbors watching all shook their heads, muttering, “These girls must have lost their minds.”

Bai Fendou, however, looked Zheng Huimin up and down with some suspicion, saying, “I feel like I’ve seen this girl somewhere before.”

He Lan pinched Bai Fendou, but Bai Fendou insisted, “Ouch, ow! I really think she looks familiar, but I can’t remember where I saw her.”

Zhao Guihua chimed in, “This is Guan Guiling’s daughter.”

The crowd exclaimed, “Oh ho!”

Guan Guiling’s name was infamous throughout the city.

Not just for her classic extortion stories, but her entanglement with Bai Fendou was well-known—everyone knew this woman was no good. Looking at Zheng Huimin now, they felt even more wary.

You couldn’t be too careful.

This was Guan Guiling’s daughter, a brazen opportunist who only cared about money.

Seeing everyone’s distrustful eyes, Zheng Huimin didn’t argue with them as she had at Xidan Market. Instead, she covered her face and sobbed softly.

When Su Jinlai saw her so pitifully crying like that, he finally couldn’t hold back, saying, “Mom, I’ll cover Zheng Huimin’s rent. Just rent the house to them.”

At this news, Zheng Huimin’s lips imperceptibly curled into a small smile.

Wang Xiangxiu had her brows furrowed tight. She had never expected to be manipulated by her own son. If another two girls like this appeared, she’d surely be driven to spit blood.

Seething with frustration, Tonglai suddenly spoke up beside her.

He said, “You want to stay? Fine, but we have no extra room to rent. The most important thing is to be honest. Since we’ve rented out the rooms, we won’t retract the offer. If you want to stay, try staying in Mom’s room. We can partition off one corner and put in bunk beds for you two.”

Pausing, his tone became even kinder, “The rent is twenty yuan a month, per person. If you’re happy to stay, stay. If not, then leave. But, of course, my family prefers it if you don’t stay.”

The meaning was clear—he was setting such a high price that anyone with sense would back off. After all, twenty yuan a month was outrageous, especially for just a corner with bunk beds. Even the whole room Zhou Qun’s family was renting was only four yuan.

“You’re too money-hungry,” Guan Hong exclaimed, utterly shocked by Su Jinlai’s brother.

Tonglai smiled bitterly, saying, “I hope you leave.”

He set such a steep price just to ensure their departure. Otherwise, letting his brother bring two girls back to stay would be a mess, and Tonglai couldn’t afford that embarrassment. Twenty yuan was clearly calculated to make them turn back.

As expected, neither Guan Hong nor Zheng Huimin made a sound.

Guan Hong bit her lip fiercely and declared, “Since you won’t take me in, I’ll sleep on the pavement in your courtyard. Anyway, I’m following Su Gege!”

She had only been away from Brother Su for a few short days, and already, little vixens were trying to steal him away. She was determined not to leave; he was her man, and no one could take him from her. Their love could withstand any test.

With that, she looked triumphantly at Zheng Huimin, who bit her lip and equally firmly declared, "I feel the same way."

Guan Hong really wasn't a nice person—how shameless to keep pushing herself on Brother Su when he clearly didn't like her. This only made her more determined not to back down; otherwise, how could they ever be together?

The resolute stances of the two women left everyone stunned. They had never seen such devotion before.

When they looked back at Su Jinlai, he didn't seem particularly outstanding.

This was truly perplexing.

Even Zhuang Zhixi, with his flawless looks, assets, and personality, had never attracted such a swarm of admirers. Ugh, he wasn't that kind of person! But still, Su Jinlai was just an ordinary guy, so why did women flock to him? Others shared the same thought; it was truly baffling.

Could it be that the more people fought over something, the more appealing it became?

Just as the situation was at a standstill and everyone was bewildered, Zhang San raised his hand and announced, "I have a house for rent."

His words immediately drew everyone's attention to him. Zhang San shrank back slightly and explained, "My wife and I are planning to move to my mother-in-law's house. The house will be for rent. If you're interested, you can come rent it."

Guan Hong quickly declared, "I'll take it!"

Zhang San listed the price: "Eight dollars a month."

He quickly added, "My place is different from the empty house at the Su's. Although it's also just one room, it's larger, with a partitioned inner and outer area. We recently painted the walls and cleaned up, and even have a pot."

That said, in reality, such a fully equipped place would usually go for around six dollars, not eight. But hey, if he could make more, why not?

Guan Hong gritted her teeth. It was too expensive.

Su Jinlai, watching the two girls, suddenly spoke up, "I'll rent it."

Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin turned their eyes to Su Jinlai simultaneously. He explained, "Whether it's Guan Hong or Zheng Huimin, you're both my friends. Since you're my friends, I can't just watch you end up homeless. I'll rent this house, and you two can live together. However..."

He paused briefly, then continued, "I'll only cover the rent for one month. After that, you'll have to figure it out on your own."

Despite his words, both Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin were moved to tears.

Su Jinlai smirked smugly.

Ming Mei, on the other hand, scratched her head so hard she felt like she was about to turn into a frizzy mess. She just couldn't understand what was happening. What even was this situation?

Zhang San was quite pleased, saying, "Alright, I'll immediately get my wife to start packing. You can move in tonight."

What a great landlord.

Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin looked at Su Jinlai, who simply said, "Fine, let's do it this way."

Zhang San took the money from Su Jinlai and quickly prepared to move out. Zhuang Zhixi, who was friends with Zhang San, noticing the sudden move, stepped over and asked, "Why are you moving so suddenly?"

He offered to help pack up.

Zhang San explained, "Didn't I mention my dilemma before? It really isn't right to always be separated from the kids. My wife and I have thought it over and decided to move to my mother-in-law's place, since there's room there. Otherwise, the kids... well, it just can't go on like this. I was still mulling it over, but then today, someone popped up wanting to rent the place. I thought, might as well make some money."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "That’s true. If not for this, you’d never get such a high price."

"Exactly."

No one had any objections to Zhang San renting out his house. Life was tough for everyone, so any opportunity to make some extra cash was welcome. However, having both Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin living together could lead to some trouble.

Su Jinlai was quite the enigma, arranging for two women to live together like that. Even more surprising, both girls agreed without protest.

Aunt Wang, who lived in the back courtyard, watched Zhang San move out and the two girls move in, her head spinning in astonishment. She’d lived so long and never seen anything like this. She pulled Zhao Guihua aside and muttered, "If only my two grandsons had this kind of charm, they'd probably already be married. I really..."

Zhao Guihua, being dragged by Aunt Wang, couldn't help but think of her past life.

This, once again, brought up memories of her previous life.

Yes, another mention of the past life.

Zhao Guihua didn't want to keep dwelling on her past life, but as she grew older, memories of the past naturally became more frequent. Besides, it was interesting to compare.

First was her brother, Li Junjun. Li Junjun had always secretly admired Xiaoyan, but she never returned his feelings. After Xiaoyan went to university, she started dating a classmate, and they married after graduation.

Zhao Guihua genuinely liked her granddaughter-in-law. Though he wasn't very sociable or flattering, he was honest and straightforward, a typical scholar with no ulterior motives. He and Xiaoyan both became teachers at a key high school in the city after graduation.

Though they weren't wealthy, their lives were good, fitting their personalities well.

Li Junjun, still harboring feelings for Xiaoyan, didn't marry until several years after she did, dragging on until he was over thirty. By then, it was the 1990s, and without wealth or youth, he ended up with a very ordinary partner.

His ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍wife was from another place, and they married so she could stay in the capital.Knowing about Li Junjun's unrequited love for Xiaoyan, she held a deep grudge against the Zhuang family, causing many rifts. As a result, the relationship between the two families grew distant.

But it must be said, while Li Junjun did indeed like Xiaoyan, he dated others after she got into a relationship, having two failed relationships before meeting his eventual wife. So his wife's blame on Xiaoyan was somewhat misplaced.

In the end, their marriage fell apart, and Li Junjun raised their child alone.

As for Li Weiwei, he was completely different from Li Junjun. He had always wanted to find a partner and was very proactive in dating, marrying early as a result. The reason Zhao Guihua didn't consider his previous wife when thinking of setting him up was because that woman had caused him serious trouble.

His previous wife was a local girl, attractive but burdened by her family. They had clicked immediately, and everything seemed great before marriage. However, after marriage, her true colors emerged.

She was a ruthless "sister raising her brother."

Even compared to Liang Meifen, she couldn't hold a candle, matching the likes of Su Pandi from back in the day. Su Pandi had been willing to go to prison for her family, while this woman would send every cent she earned back to her family, almost draining the Li family dry.

Li Junjun's divorce, aside from his wife's resentment over his feelings for Xiaoyan, was also due to the discord with this sister-in-law.

This woman’s attempts to sell her in-laws' house to buy a bigger one for her brother, along with stealing the property certificate and forging signatures, had been narrowly avoided, or the family would have ended up on the streets.

Not to mention, she had also stolen the couple’s retirement savings... there were countless other misdeeds.

In such circumstances, it’s no surprise that Li Weiwei’s marriage ended in divorce as well.

So, despite wanting to set up Li Weiwei, Zhao Guihua was in no way considering his previous wife. A pretty appearance couldn’t make up for a messed-up mind, as that would only bring ruin to others.

Neither of the Li family's daughter-in-laws had been very good.

Zhao Guihua looked at Aunt Wang and vaguely thought of Aunt Wang's worries from her previous life. This old friend of hers didn't have a good time later on, not because the family was particularly poor, but mainly due to domestic instability. Li Junjun and Li Weiwei were not misbehaved kids; they were hardworking and willing to work.

However, the marital relationships were not good, and both of them were like that.

In her previous life, Aunt Wang envied how Tonglai could attract young girls and was eager to introduce partners for her children, hoping they could marry early without much investigation into their character. She had been a matchmaker her entire life, but when it came to her own family, she was blinded by a single leaf.

In this life, could it be that she is being stimulated again by Su Jinlai?

She pulled Aunt Wang and said earnestly, "This proverb says, 'A bad wife can ruin three generations,' you must have heard it before, right? You mustn't be envious of the Su family. Those two girls, their brains aren't exactly sharp. If someone like that takes a fancy to your grandson, as parents, you must think more. You can't just rush into marriage. It's like buying a pig—you need to check the pen, or else there will be plenty of regrets later on."

Aunt Wang, although she envied that young lad Su Jinlai for having two big girls liking him, also nodded in agreement, saying, "That's true, we definitely don't want our family to be involved with Guan Guiling's daughter."

But if the conversation had ended there, she suddenly remembered: "How do you know she's Guan Guiling's daughter?"

Zhao Guihua: "I saw her today, of course."

She immediately began to recount today's events, and in a flash, a crowd gathered. That gossiping heart, everyone has it…

Even Wang Xiangxiu came over, silently listening to what her son had done today, her face dark as night, but she didn't miss a single word. When she finished listening, she felt a surge of blood, so enraged that she stumbled back home.

She was full of anger.

Of course, this anger wasn't directed at Zhao Guihua and the others, but at her son, Su Jinlai.

Whether she was called selfish or biased, these years she had lived through with her second son and youngest son. The eldest only ever asked for money or caused trouble. She began to pity Jinlai and saved money for him to improve their living conditions, but the child took it all for granted. Even after returning home for over a year, he relied entirely on her for support, a twenty-something-year-old man. Her heart slowly cooled, and she began to show favoritism, so she was genuinely troubled, afraid that Jinlai would affect Yinlai's chances of marrying and Tonglai's chances of passing the university entrance exam.

Wang Xiangxiu returned home with a black face, and Tonglai remained calm: "Mom, don't get too worked up. Just let him be."

Wang Xiangxiu: "I'm afraid he'll affect you. Besides, if he keeps sheltering those two girls, won't their families come looking for me? How will this reflect on our family?"

Tonglai stepped forward, pulling his mother to sit down and massaging her shoulders, saying, "Mom, tomorrow you should go find Guan Hong's second aunt, she works in the same factory as you, right? Go apologize to her like this…"

Wang Xiangxiu: "Do you think that will make her forgive me?"

"No, but we don't have any other options. We can only do this. Even if she has only a few thoughts about it, our action will show our attitude to the people around us. Moreover, this matter wasn't your fault to begin with."

Tonglai comforted Wang Xiangxiu: "We can't control our brother, so what else can we do?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "That's true."

"Mom, live life as usual. As for your worries about us, I think it's fine. Maybe brother will even highlight our virtues. So don't worry."

"Alright."

Probably because Tonglai was good at comforting people, Wang Xiangxiu was no longer as angry.

As the mother of the main characters, Wang Xiangxiu had indeed been furious, but Tonglai was good at soothing her, and she felt much better. However, the parents of the two girls were about to be furious.

Guan Guiling never expected that she would be stabbed in the back by her own daughter.

Usually, whenever she defrauded people, her daughter would usually cooperate, or else how could they live? Not relying on ripping people off, how could they survive? So she never doubted her daughter, but she couldn't have imagined that this time it backfired.

She never expected that her daughter would leave her on a bench in the hospital hall and run off with a man. Even worse, some unlucky person even took the money from her pocket.

Inhuman, truly inhuman.

Guan Guiling, without a sucker, would never spend money on hospital fees, so she dragged herself home, wailing hysterically. Despite this, she had to force herself to cook for her husband and son. No matter what, she couldn't let the men go hungry.

As she cooked, she shed tears, feeling how bitter her life was, even more bitter than Huanglian. How could her own daughter be so inconsiderate? She had five dollars in her pocket, and that was gone too.

The more she thought, the more she cried. Zheng Yufeng walked in and saw her like that, his eyebrows knitting in disgust.

Although he was over forty, Zheng Yufeng was well-maintained, looking like he was only in his mid-thirties. After all, he hadn't worked these years, and even a tiny bit of trouble would send him to the hospital for rest. He had a good life at home, eating the best, as anything good in the house went straight into his mouth.

After all, he was a man and a patient.

Zheng Yufeng looked well-maintained, quite unreserved, and when standing next to Guan Guiling, he could easily pass for her son. However, Zheng Yufeng's entrance was gentle, his eyes full of disdain, but his words were pleasant: "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

Guan Guiling: "It's that eldest girl, this dead girl can't keep her legs from opening when she sees a man. She met someone once and threw herself at him. Today, I had a great chance to get something, but I missed it. She ran off with some wild boy, what good is such a daughter to me?"

Zheng Yufeng frowned: "What wild boy?"

He was dissatisfied: "This girl got acquainted with some wild boy outside? Didn't I say to introduce her to Fan Debiao from the alley? Did you mention this to her?"

Guan Guiling immediately: "No, how could I? Nothing is certain yet, I naturally wouldn't say too much. However, Yufeng, isn't Fan Debiao's condition a bit too poor? He's only three years younger than you, divorced, and without a job. He's even disfigured, how could such a condition compare to our daughter?"

Zheng Yufeng: "Typical woman's viewpoint, you only see these things, but you don't see that Fan Debiao lives a good life? Although he doesn't work, he secretly does business, with plenty of money. I see him every few days with pig head meat and alcohol; he doesn't have many tricks, and if he becomes our son-in-law, he'll still be filial to us. I know it's a bit unfair for the eldest girl, but who made her born into our family? There always has to be some sacrifices. Wife, don't you think I don't care for her? But Fan Debiao isn't a bad person. Besides, I also want you to live a good life; these years haven't been easy for you. Our bodies aren't in great shape, and as we age, we certainly need someone to support us. I think this son-in-law is fine; I'm also doing this for you."

Guan Guiling was immediately touched, saying: "I know you care about me the most."

Zheng Yufeng: "You're my wife, who else would I care about? We find a rich son-in-law, and later the eldest's life will be better. The son always needs to support the household."

Guan Guiling: "I understand this, so I don't let her go with that man, but who knew that girl took advantage of me not being able to hold on and sneaked away. You don't know, this damned girl even lusts after your job."

Zheng Yufeng: "This insensible one."

Guan Guiling also felt bitter in her heart, saying: "I raised her this big, truly doesn't know how to be grateful."

Pausing, she said: "Yufeng, should we give the job to the eldest?"

"No way!"

Zheng Yufeng resolutely: "You give the job to him, he takes the salary himself, young people can't hold money, maybe he'll spend it, there are still two little ones at home. The salary has to be in your hands. Don't give it to him."

Guan Guiling: "Alright."

She had always been submissive to her husband, dedicating her entire life to Zheng Yufeng. Originally, due to his poor health, they had planned to find someone to move in with them to help out, but by mistake, it never happened. Later, she discovered that she could extort money by feigning injuries, so she was willing to hurt herself instead, as she certainly didn't want another man in her life.

She said, "I’ll do whatever you say."

Zheng Yufeng's eyes flashed with disgust as he replied, "Then you’d better pay attention to the matter of our eldest daughter. Find her and bring her back. How dare she run off with another man? Disgraceful. Bring her home and marry her off quickly. But you have to keep this a secret. If she doesn’t come back, it could ruin our plans."

Guan Guiling responded, "Don’t worry!"

Zheng Yufeng nodded in approval.

The couple’s arrangement was unknown to their daughter, Zheng Huimin, who was currently staring daggers at Guan Hong, despite living together in the same room. However, Zheng Huimin felt a sense of relief. Her family had many children, and life was always tight, living in crowded conditions with her siblings on bunk beds. This was her first time living in such spacious surroundings.

Although she despised Guan Hong, she was glad to have such a privilege. She thought Su Jinlai was an exceptionally good person for offering help to a stranger.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she felt fortunate.

Glancing at Guan Hong, she thought the woman was just taking advantage of the situation. If it weren’t for Su Jinlai's kindness, how could he help someone like her? In reality, he didn’t like her at all. Guan Hong had the same thoughts, believing Zheng Huimin was being overly presumptuous. How dare she follow a man she had just met for the first time home? What a shameless woman. Guan Hong was determined to deal with her eventually.

This woman dared to compete for a man with her? She would never back down.

Guan Hong had made up her mind. She absolutely couldn’t let go of Brother Su. Despite the many obstacles and challenges, wasn’t that proof of their love? Only true love, destined couples, faced such trials. In romance novels, the hero and heroine always went through turmoil, filled with love and despair.

Guan Hong imagined herself as the leading lady in a romance novel, radiating love and determination.

She had to fight against her decaying family.

She would sacrifice everything for love!

As she thought about this, she became more and more serious. She looked at Zheng Huimin and said, "Don’t you dare steal him from me."

Zheng Huimin bit her lip and replied, "I won’t give up either."

The two women locked eyes, glaring at each other. Meanwhile, in the next room, Zhao Guihua eavesdropped against the wall, while Old Man Zhuang hesitated to listen in. After all, it was a room occupied by young ladies. He whispered, "Did you catch anything they said?"

Zhao Guihua shook her head. "I can’t hear clearly. Their sleeping partitions are on that side, and it’s odd they aren’t pulling each other’s hair out."

Old Man Zhuang: "..."

Zhao Guihua: "It’s truly strange. How can they live together? Enemies in love sharing a room—remarkable endurance."

Old Man Zhuang: "..."

Zhao Guihua: "Su Jinlai must have ill intentions. He probably wants to keep both of them."

Old Man Zhuang: "..."

Zhao Guihua: "Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

The arrival of these two young women stirred up gossip among the neighbors. Some were excited by the scandal, while others, like Bai Fendou, felt pure disgust. He ranted at home, "Guan Guiling isn’t a good woman, nor is her daughter. How dare they move into our courtyard? Just looking at them makes me sick. What kind of rubbish are they? Absolutely nauseating. That Su Jinlai bastard is disgusting. He’s a modern Ximen Qing, bringing women home. If he pisses me off, I’ll report him for promiscuous behavior."

He Lan brought the dishes to the table and said, "Why are you so worked up? What do their affairs have to do with you? If you know they’re not good people, just stay away. I think Su Jinlai isn’t a good guy either. Let’s just live our lives."

"I know, but I can’t help getting angry when I think about them," Bai Fendou grumbled. "Oh, by the way, tomorrow I want to buy a tricycle. Will you come with me?"

He Lan replied, "You’re the head of the household, you decide."

Bai Fendou said, "That won’t do. I didn’t study much, and I’m not sure about some things. For something as big as a tricycle, you have to come with me."

He Lan thought about it and smiled, nodding in agreement.

Bai Qingqing, sitting at the table eating, asked with her big eyes, "Mom, are we getting a tricycle?"

He Lan answered, "Yes, we’re getting a tricycle. Your dad just decides things on a whim. He wants to pull a tricycle home from work."

Bai Qingqing excitedly said, "Then we’ll have a tricycle! When Dad takes me out to play, I can also ride the tricycle."

He Lan chuckled, "That’s right, and it’s free too."

Bai Fendou laughed and said, "When Dad makes his first sale, I’ll buy you ice cream."

"Great!" Bai Qingqing chimed in enthusiastically.

He Lan playfully scolded, "You spoil her. Is it okay to eat ice cream at this time? It’s a waste of money."

"My daughter eating ice cream? That’s not a waste at all," Bai Fendou defended.

Bai Qingqing nodded happily.

He Lan smiled, "You two, really…"

Bai Qingqing said, "I love Dad the most."

"Alright, alright, you love him the most. Now, eat up," He Lan replied.

The arrival of Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin sparked a lot of discussion. Everyone in the neighborhood had something to say. Zhuang Zhixi and his wife also sighed over it at home. Even when going to the toilet, the thought of it made him shake his head. Every year has its oddities, and this year seems no different.

As he walked, someone called out, "Little Zhuang Bro."

Zhuang Zhixi stopped, turned, and was somewhat surprised to see the person. He said, "Hu Huihui? It’s you."

Hu Huihui smiled brightly and said, "Yes, I’m visiting my cousin."

She gazed at Zhuang Zhixi deeply and said, "No matter how many times I see you, Little Zhuang Bro, you always look so young. It makes me jealous."

She softly added, "I wonder if I could have the honor of inviting you to have a meal together sometime. Let’s go to the Moscow Restaurant."

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and replied, "No need for a meal. We’re not that close, and if my wife finds out, she’ll be upset. The biggest advantage I have is that I’m afraid of my wife."

His words were so straightforward.

Hu Huihui felt she couldn’t quite understand Zhuang Zhixi. Sometimes, he seemed to have high emotional intelligence, capable of saying such bluntly un-EQ things, rejecting someone so directly that it left them feeling uncomfortable. Yet at other times, she remembered how he had conducted himself back when she was in the revolutionary committee, interacting with various factory publicity departments with ease. Clearly, he wasn’t low in emotional intelligence.

She lowered her eyes and said, "Well, you’re making it sound like we’re strangers. Why don’t we invite Ming Mei along too? Since I’m treating, I’d naturally invite both of you."

She smiled. "I used to live in the same courtyard as Ming Mei, and we were good friends back then."

That was a blatant lie. She hardly spoke to Ming Mei.

Frankly, she had once harbored some jealousy towards Ming Mei. She wasn’t outstanding in any particular way, yet there was an undeniable charm about her. Every aspect of her life was just slightly better than average, making her the kind of person others envied. Hu Huihui had struggled hard, married an older man, and was now scheming for her future. Yet, Ming Mei seemed to effortlessly obtain what they worked so hard for.

They walked a hundred steps, while she was still at the starting line.

Hu Huihui lowered her gaze, quickly repressing her envy. She was content with her life now. She had surpassed Ming Mei’s happiness. Now, others envied her—she didn’t need to envy anyone else. She took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset, and said, "Let’s meet up another day."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and replied, "We’ll see, everyone’s busy."

He didn't say yes, nor did he say no.

Hu Huihui nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take my leave then. I still need to go to my cousin's place."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at Hu Huihui. She was carrying quite a lot of stuff, bags and bundles everywhere. Zhuang Zhixi said, "Go ahead, see you later."

He went straight to the bathroom, while Hu Huihui made her way to the Su residence.

Zhuang Zhixi glanced back at her retreating figure, blinked, and thought to himself: Is this Hu Huihui here to play matchmaker again?

He was curious and wanted to sneak a peek, but eavesdropping at someone's doorstep just didn't feel right. It was curious, yet inappropriate to listen in.

Zhuang Zhixi slowly finished his business in the bathroom and walked back. On his way, he ran into Grandpa Lan Sihai and his wife returning from outside. No need to guess, it was obvious they had been out for a meal. Their life seemed quite leisurely.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Grandpa, back home?"

Lan Sihai gave Zhuang Zhixi a glance and handed him a newspaper, saying, "Go home and take a look."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow and replied, "Got it."

They returned together to their courtyard. It was already dark. Zhuang Zhixi closed the gate and strolled back home. Ming Mei was at that moment tidying up some bell-bottom trousers. Although today's sales weren’t as good as the previous two days, they were still decent, and the remaining stock should sell out by tomorrow.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "How’s it going?"

Ming Mei replied, "Not much left."

She glanced back and then whispered mysteriously, "Hu Huihui is here."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "I know, I met her earlier."

Ming Mei said, "I wonder what she wants."

It wasn’t that they were overly curious, but Hu Huihui was known to be someone who never did anything without personal gain. She hadn’t contacted Wang Xiangxiu in years, indicating their relationship was shallow. So her sudden visit likely had some ulterior motive.

Ming Mei said, "I really want to eavesdrop."

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "No need to eavesdrop. If she’s scheming against anyone in their house, it’s probably Su Jinlai. Just wait a few days and see if Su Jinlai walks with wobbly legs, then you’ll know."

Ming Mei: "……"

She gave Zhuang Zhixi a playful glare and said, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

She pointed at the newspaper in his hand. "What’s that you’re holding?"@@novelbin@@

"This? A newspaper. Grandpa gave it to me, said to take a look."

Zhuang Zhixi unfolded the newspaper and began to read it carefully. If it weren’t important, Grandpa wouldn’t have handed it to him specifically. He leaned against the kang (a traditional brick bed used for sitting or sleeping in northern China) and started reading. "Huh?"

"What is it?"

Ming Mei leaned over, and they found that the newspaper wasn’t one commonly sold in the market. Instead, it was an unusual local newspaper from elsewhere—The Clivia Gazette.

Ming Mei said, "Clivia? We have some at home, right?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded. "Yes, we do. Let me see."

Ming Mei obediently sat beside him, craning her neck to look.

"Pfft, this paper claims that clivias can prolong life and beautify the skin…" Zhuang Zhixi almost laughed out loud. "My goodness, who would believe such nonsense? And it’s printed in a newspaper?"

"Wow, clivias are worth a fortune, with one pot being sold for fifty thousand yuan? Is that even real?"

"A terminally ill old man was miraculously cured after consuming a piece of clivia… Was that a leaf or a pill? And 'a piece'? And 'miraculously cured'??"

As Zhuang Zhixi read the content of the newspaper, he felt like he was reading a fairy tale. Everything seemed so fake, yet the newspaper itself, despite being a local one, was a legitimately published edition.

Zhuang Zhixi: "……"

Ming Mei’s eyes widened. "Are these… really worth so much? I’ve never heard of that."

Zhuang Zhixi read on, from initial shock to furrowing his brows. Ming Mei sat beside him, asking, "What do you think?"

Zhuang Zhixi said, "This thing is valuable."

He paused and added, "Maybe even more so if we hold onto it, but not for long."

Ming Mei looked at Zhuang Zhixi curiously. "Why do you say that?"

Zhuang Zhixi thought for a moment and said, "Because it’s scientifically impossible for clivias to prolong life. As far as ornamental value goes, these plants aren’t something you can’t grow anymore. Even if they’re hard to grow, they aren’t impossible. So the market will always exist. Something so ubiquitous can’t be priceless. Even if it’s hyped up, the bubble will inevitably burst."

Ming Mei almost wanted to clap for her husband.

He was so clear-headed.

She didn’t understand these things, and for a moment, she felt tempted. But after Zhuang Zhixi’s analysis, Ming Mei calmed down. She fully agreed with his reasoning and nodded. "You’re right, that makes sense."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "I just don’t know how long this frenzy will last."

He pursed his lips and continued, "One pot for fifty thousand yuan—that’s way more than what we earn by selling clothes…"

He glanced at their own clivia and said, "Even if ours isn’t worth that much, it should still be worth a few thousand. The market prices are getting insane. I can’t tell if this is the peak."

Ming Mei was surprisingly calm at this point. She said, "Let’s ask Mother-in-law."

She stated firmly, "Mother-in-law has more experience. She must know about these things."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled at his wife. "You really trust my mom."

"Because Mother-in-law is amazing. You have to believe that some people are just naturally talented," Ming Mei said firmly. "Since she’s been reborn, she’s bound to be incredible. Mother-in-law is the best. Whatever she says, I follow. If we don’t understand, we should listen to the expert."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed loudly. "Hahaha, when did my mom become an expert? You’re so funny, little flatterer! You even flatter her when she’s not around. Alright, fine, I’ll ask Mom tomorrow. But tomorrow afternoon, I plan to visit the flower market."

Ming Mei was surprised. "There’s a flower market in our city?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Surprised, right? It’s been around for a while. It was closed for about a decade due to policy changes, but now it’s reopened. It’s technically an outdoor open area, but it’s quite lively."

Ming Mei blinked. "You say 'it’s quite lively'…"

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Grandpa told me."

Ming Mei rubbed her cheeks, sighing, "My grandpa is truly remarkable."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and folded the newspaper neatly. "Perhaps this is a good opportunity."

Ming Mei asked, "What opportunity?"

Zhuang Zhixi’s expression turned serious as he smiled and said, "To get rich!"

Next up, a new novel coming soon:

My Uncle is the Control Group of the Male Protagonist in Era Literature

In the Qing Shui Village, there were two widowers.

They were like a pair of contrasting groups.

One was hardworking and dedicated; the other was lazy and cunning.

One was steadfast and tough, with a resolute character; the other was weak and indecisive, with a delicate appearance and weak physique.

One had a melodramatic name, Gu Xiangzhi, perfectly suited for a romance novel; the other was called Wang Baoya, a generic name from the Hundred Family Surnames.

One was surrounded by damsels in distress—a white-blossomed maiden who bumped her head, a charming young woman from the countryside who fell into the water, and a beautiful village girl who tumbled down a hill. The other was surrounded by robust widows, a village bully sister as strong as an ox, and various wealthy women.

One had a seven-year-old daughter, Gu Xiangzhi, who could manage the household and cook a variety of dishes. The other had a mischievous daughter, Wang Baoya, who did everything except work.

One rode the wave of reform and opening up, striving tirelessly; the other happily dined on soft rice, earning the title of troublemaker of Qing Shui Village, having successfully collected seven stepmothers for his daughter.

The village adults all shook their heads: The Wang fifth and his daughter will end up ruining themselves.

But the village kids were the most envious of Baoya.

Baoya had seven mothers, all of whom loved her dearly.

The happy little Baoya, sword in hand, roams the world!