My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

"What!"

Wang Xiangxiu glared at Hu Huihui, feeling as though she could lunge forward and scratch her at any moment. She was like a raging bull, nostrils flaring, and suddenly exploded: "Hu Huihui, get out of my house! I knew you weren't any good, always pushing my son into those shady deeds. Are you even human?"

In an instant, Hu Huihui was berated to the core.

However, despite being scolded, Hu Huihui remained unruffled and calm. She didn't move from her seat but spoke quietly: "Sister, I'm doing this for your family. Your son is a grown man without a job, just sitting around wasting resources. Sure, it might not sound honorable, but if you don't tell, who would know? And even if they do, when you're in dire straits, do you really think others will lend you a hand?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "You..."

She grabbed Hu Huihui by the arm, and Su Jinlai quickly stepped in to stop the fight, saying: "What are you doing, Mom? Why are you so angry? Auntie hasn't said anything wrong."

Wang Xiangxiu trembled with rage: "She wants you to do that kind of work, and you think she's right?"

Su Jinlai felt a bit uneasy but still insisted: "What's wrong with that kind of work? It's just a one-time thing."

Once it happened once, the second time came easily.

The first time, Su Jinlai hesitated, but by the second, he was quite willing.

His eyes shone with eagerness as he looked at Hu Huihui and asked: "Auntie, how much will I get this time?"

Hu Huihui held up a hand showing five fingers.

Su Jinlai's eyes dimmed slightly. Hu Huihui explained: "This time, it's only half of what you got last time, but it's just one person. You'll accompany her for a week."

Hearing it was just one person, Su Jinlai visibly relaxed. Last time, it had been three people—three ferocious foreign women who seemed like they wanted to devour him.

He had been helpless, unable to resist, and the memory still brought immense discomfort. Back then, he had sworn never to do this again; it was just too hard, and he'd rather die than be a gigolo.

But... time passed, the pain faded, and now the allure of money rekindled his determination. He wavered instantly, thinking, one person should be manageable.

Hu Huihui, of course, could read Su Jinlai's thoughts.

She said: "Jinlai, I wouldn't come to you if it weren't important. This time, it's a foreigner, but actually a Chinese visiting from abroad. She heard about your reputation while shopping at Xidan and wanted to experience it herself. Ordinary people wouldn't offer that much. You understand? This price is due to your fame!"

Su Jinlai was stunned.

Wang Xiangxiu felt like she might faint.

Yinlai and Tonglai, peeking from the inner room, couldn't help but stick their heads out... Wang Xiangxiu shouted: "Get back inside!"

The two quickly ducked back in.

Hu Huihui didn't care about this. Whether it was Jinlai, Yinlai, or Tonglai, none of them were special to her. But Jinlai was famous and could earn her money, so she was willing to interact with him.

"The lady has heard of your reputation and is eager to meet you. Don't worry, during this time, you'll stay with her in a hotel. She'll cover all your expenses."

Hu Huihui added with gravity: "This is a great opportunity to make money."

Su Jinlai: "Sure."

Wang Xiangxiu: "You scoundrel!"

She slapped her son across the face. Su Jinlai, after being hit, retorted impatiently: "Mom, enough! You can't give me five hundred dollars, so what's wrong with me earning some money? Besides, I'm young and strong. What's wrong with making money this way? The client is a big fan, after all. It wouldn't be right to disappoint her."

"You, you, you!"

Wang Xiangxiu looked at her eldest son and realized he had truly gone astray. No matter what she said, it was futile. Taking a deep breath, she said: "Do as you please."

Su Jinlai: "Auntie, see..."

Hu Huihui: "I'll come pick you up tomorrow."

She smiled and said: "Think about it. You're promoting cultural exchange with foreign visitors, fostering goodwill between people. What's not to like? And when you look at it closely, you're technically working. Your job is accompanying foreign guests, like being a guide."

Could this be justified like that?

Su Jinlai's eyes lit up: "That makes perfect sense."

Hu Huihui gave a subtle smile: "Alright, since you agree, I'll take my leave."

Wang Xiangxiu: "Take these things with you. We don't want them."

Despite her words, Hu Huihui didn't take them back but said with a smile: "Sister, keep them. It's for the kids' nourishment."

She spoke softly: "The child is grown; you can't control everything. Let him find his way and save some money. Earning while young is always better than struggling when old, right?"

"Get out!"

Wang Xiangxiu didn't want to hear any more from her.

Hu Huihui wasn't angry; she didn't mind when money was involved.

She said: "Goodbye, Sister."

Wang Xiangxiu seethed: "I never want to see you again."

Even if her son was a disappointment, he was still her child. All she could blame was Hu Huihui for leading him astray.

Hu Huihui genuinely said: "I swear, I'm not taking a single penny. May I be struck by lightning if I lie. I just want your family to earn some money. Moreover, I don't think there's anything wrong with a man doing this. If you had a daughter, I wouldn't approach you."

These words are left for the individuals to interpret.

Wang Xiangxiu didn't care what she said, pointing to the door: "Leave!"

Hu Huihui shrugged: "Think about it. I mean no harm."

She left quickly, already calculating how much she could make. Not from Su Jinlai's deal, though. That was her gesture to curry favor. The five hundred yuan was actually her contribution.

Her real goal was to secure the TV sets from the wealthy lady, shipped from Hong Kong. If she could pamper the lady well, flipping that batch of TVs could net her a tidy profit.

She usually dealt in fake antiques, but the profits weren't stable, with some stingy foreigners.

But TVs were a different story.

Smiling, she swiftly left the alley.

Hu Huihui came and went quickly, leaving the Su family in a heavy atmosphere. Wang Xiangxiu was so angry she couldn't eat.

The family had already been furious over Su Jinlai's actions, not feeling like eating. It was Tonglai's persuasion that got her to prepare a meal, and then... Hu Huihui showed up. Although Hu Huihui seemed well-meaning, Wang Xiangxiu couldn't trust her.

Moreover, even if Hu Huihui had good intentions, a grown man engaging in such activities wasn't respectable. The humiliation didn't bother her as much as the physical toll it would take.

Wang Xiangxiu was extremely worried: "What will happen in the future?"

Su Jinlai, however, was utterly unfazed: "Mom, you're overthinking it. Auntie even lets her husband do this, and she doesn't care. What's the big deal?"

"What!!!" Wang Xiangxiu was shocked. But quickly, she shook her head firmly: "Your aunt may be fine with it, but no wealthy lady would!"

Su Jinlai: "Hey, you can't be sure. Auntie herself said so."

Wang Xiangxiu scoffed: "Impossible. Use your head. Her husband is over fifty; what would a wealthy lady want with him? His age? His old body? No way!"

Su Jinlai insisted: "Last time, Auntie said her husband also entertained guests."

Tonglai looked at his older brother, seriously doubting they were actually brothers. His brother's reasoning skills were suspect. He worriedly said: "What she means by entertaining guests is just that—pure hosting. Not what you're thinking."

He looked at his brother with concern, feeling his sibling's mind might be a bit off. He said: "Mom's right. Over fifty years old; is the lady crazy? Young guys aren't appealing? Look at you; you've got quite the reputation. What does her husband have?"

Su Jinlai: "..."

Tonglai: "Mom, don't be angry. Let big brother do whatever he wants. It's better than following those street hooligans around. At least sleeping with rich women isn't a crime, but if he got involved in something illegal, that would be a disaster."

His words carried a clear implication.

Wang Xiangxiu: "???"

Tonglai: "I just heard in the yard that the gang stealing steel from the machinery factory was caught. If Big Brother had mixed with such people, he'd be in big trouble."

Su Jinlai immediately became uneasy.

As Tonglai spoke, he kept his gaze fixed on Su Jinlai. Noticing his nervousness, he asked, "Did you get involved? You should know the consequences if you did."

Su Jinlai was instantly frightened. Sure, he liked to show off, but he definitely didn't want to go to jail. He had already spent a few years in a juvenile detention center and found the place unbearable. He had heard that prison was even worse.

In the detention center, he had a friend whose older brother was in prison, and rumors said you had to be careful about... well, certain... matters.

Su Jinlai, a proud man who could battle with women for days, would never accept anything involving men. He frantically defended himself, "I-I-I wasn't really involved. I just stood guard twice, and they used me as a decoy. They only gave me ten yuan for those two times."

He was quite irritated just thinking about it.

He added, "I may have boasted about being part of it, but in reality, I wasn't."

Tonglai: "How exactly did they use you as a decoy?"

He pressed him for details.

Su Jinlai: "They didn't trust me at all. All the information they gave me was fake. They were distracting me, playing tricks on me."

Thinking about it made him even angrier.

Su Jinlai felt he had to clarify: "I may steal things, but I don't dare to steal big money. My petty thefts are just a few yuan or maybe a chicken. You know that."

In truth, he had tried multiple times to join their gang, but they found him too cowardly and weren't interested in taking him along.

Tonglai nodded, "As long as you weren't fully involved, that's fine."

His eyes flickered as he said, "So, what's the name of the person you were in contact with?"

Su Jinlai: "He's called Monkey. He actually wanted to go solo too, but neither of us could pull it off. Monkey's boss, who stole the steel, is called Black Brother."

He wasn't sure if they were the ones caught today, but...

Tonglai let out a long "Oh" and suddenly changed the subject, asking, "So, what are you going to do with the two sisters in the backyard for the next week?"

Su Jinlai: "..."

He said, "I'll go and tell them."

He walked out the door and headed to the backyard.

Wang Xiangxiu was truly alarmed. She asked, "Tonglai, is there really nothing to worry about?"

Tonglai: "As long as Big Brother wasn't lying, then there's no issue. If he didn't actually participate, he's fine. I think his expression shows he was telling the truth. Plus, if I were running a criminal gang, I wouldn't take him either. He's an idiot."

Wang Xiangxiu: "..."

Tonglai lowered his eyes slightly and then added, "But just to prevent Big Brother from getting desperate for money and taking this path again, and also to do the right thing, I've decided to report Black Brother and his gang. If they were the ones caught today, so be it. If not, eliminating another gang is still a good thing."

Wang Xiangxiu: "..."

Tonglai: "With all of them in prison, Big Brother won't have anyone to help him if he wants to do dirty stuff. With his personality, he can't make real friends anyway. Monkey and the others were all people he knew from the detention center. Now that they're all locked up, Big Brother will be all alone, which is great."

He spoke solemnly, "Let him mess around with those women—as long as he doesn't get caught, it's fine. It's better than him stealing."@@novelbin@@

Wang Xiangxiu: "What you're saying does make some sense."

Yinlai: "???"

"I'll report Black Brother and the others."

Wang Xiangxiu was a bit worried: "What if someone comes to get revenge?"

Tonglai: "Don't worry, Auntie Ming will know who to trust and whose mouth is tight. Besides," he paused, "they just caught one gang, so if another one crops up, they'll just think it's dog-eat-dog business. They won't suspect someone turned them in."

Wang Xiangxiu: "Alright, I'll trust you on this."

Late at night, Tonglai came knocking. Zhuang Zhixi: "This little scoundrel."

He got up to open the door and said, "I was about to sleep. What are you doing?"

Tonglai: "Sorry to disturb you, Uncle Zhuang. I came to ask..."

He explained quickly, and Ming Mei, hearing it, said, "I'll take you there tomorrow."

Tonglai nodded: "Thank you, Auntie."

Ming Mei: "You're welcome."

Tonglai didn't delay their rest. Ming Mei, rubbing her temples, said, "Tomorrow I'm going to face a barrage of questioning again."

Zhuang Zhixi: "If you like it, go ahead."

He added, "Before, you couldn't let go because the kids were young, but now that they're older, if you enjoy it, you should go."

Ming Mei hesitated and admitted frankly, "I do like it, but I'm also afraid I might not do a good job. You know, this isn't a small matter. I'm afraid I might not be suited for it and, if I make a mistake, it could lead to serious consequences. This isn't something minor."

She ruffled her hair and said, "If it were about teaching them martial arts, I'd be fine with it. That's something I'm good at, something I'm confident in. But if it's solving crimes, look at me—I'm just an ordinary person with no experience in that. If I mess up, it could harm others. No, no, no."

Ming Mei flopped onto the bed and said, "I won't push myself. I'm not suited for that."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Then think about it some more."

Smiling, he said, "Shall I come with you tomorrow?"

Ming Mei: "That's not necessary."

It was just some extra nagging, nothing serious.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Alright, let's sleep."

Ming Mei gave a slight smile and said, "Are you going to grow some Clivia plants?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yes, I thought I'd stock up while they're not trendy here, and if they become valuable, we can profit."

But he also honestly added, "If it doesn't work out, we can just enjoy them as decoration. Don't blame me, okay?"

Ming Mei looked deeply at Zhuang Zhixi. He winked at her, and she burst out laughing, saying, "Okay."

"You're really not worried about losing money?"

Ming Mei: "Not at all. We can always make more. I trust you. And I've calculated it, and with this sale, splitting the profits 50-50 with your mom, we'll have about 10,000 yuan. You're not going to spend all of that."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's true."

Ming Mei: "Alright, let's get some sleep."

Zhuang Zhixi moved closer to his wife and gently embraced her...

As expected, Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, cleared out all the bell-bottom pants by the fourth day. After packing up, they returned home and calculated the profits, returning the initial investment to Zhao Guihua and splitting the rest, with each ending up with 10,500 yuan.

Ming Mei couldn't believe she had become a "ten-thousand-yuan household." She was so excited her breathing quickened.

Zhao Guihua, on the other hand, remained calm. Ming Mei was in awe. She exclaimed, "Mom, the way you stay so calm makes me look so useless."

Zhao Guihua shot her a glance and said, "You are pretty useless. Getting excited over just 10,000 yuan."

Ming Mei chuckled.

Zhao Guihua: "Keep that money well. If you don't need it, deposit it in the bank."

Ming Mei nodded. She knew she had to listen to her mother-in-law on that. It was a serious matter.

She asked seriously, "Mom, now that we have money, what should we do? You're older and have more experience. Can you guide us?"

Zhao Guihua: "In the long run, buying property is the most reliable. It's like saving money. Right now, the benefits aren't big, but in the long term, you won't lose out. If you're good at doing business, that's another option. In these times, as long as you're willing to work hard, you can make money."

Ming Mei was decisive: "I can't really endure hard work."

She had never suffered much in her life, even for the sake of making money.

Zhao Guihua: "I can see that."

Ming Mei giggled sweetly.

Zhao Guihua: "Or, you can work with me. I'm planning to head to Guangzhou for some goods."

Ming Mei: "Pfft!"

She had just taken a sip of tea and spat it out immediately.

Apparently, Zhuang Zhixi had guessed correctly.

He had worried that his mother would get hooked on business and want to continue selling. It seemed that he really knew his mother well.

Ming Mei: "You're really... going to Guangzhou?"

She cautiously asked, "Has Big Brother and Zhuang Zhixi been informed?"

Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes and glanced at her daughter-in-law, saying, “Am I the mom or are they the mom? Isn’t this something I can decide for myself?”

Ming Mei: “…”

Zhao Guihua: “Do I need to consult with them? I can make the decision on my own. If you trust me, invest your money with me, and I guarantee you’ll make a profit.” Though I’m an uneducated old lady, I have experience. I can seize this opportunity.

Ming Mei: “I trust you, but you’re planning to go to another city, and that’s really worrying.” Noticing the old lady’s eyes narrowing, she added, “Don’t glare at me. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go, but it’s really a concern.”

“There’s nothing to worry about!”

Ming Mei: “There is! First, the long train ride might be too tiring for you. And what if something happens once you get there? What if you get scammed during the purchasing process? What if people take advantage of your age and cheat you?”

Ming Mei was trying her best to persuade Zhao Guihua, but it was clear that the old lady didn’t see it that way. “You mind your own business,” she snapped.

The stubborn old lady was not backing down. “I’m going to buy some vegetables. Let’s have a nice dinner tonight.”

After all, money earned must be spent. Zhao Guihua didn’t want to listen to her daughter-in-law’s nagging. “Alright, I know what I’m doing. Why are you, young people, so reserved? Anyway, what do you like to eat?”

Ming Mei: “Huh?”

She hesitated for a moment before replying, “I like anything.”

Zhao Guihua: “How unambitious. Tonight, I’ll buy some pig trotters. I remember there’s a place near Chaoyangmen Market that makes the most delicious braised pig trotters. Oh my, that flavor is incredible.”

Ming Mei swallowed hard, her mouth watering.

Zhao Guihua: “I’ll get some seafood too. Alright, I’m off.”

The old lady left with a flourish.

As for how to divide the money without letting the whole family know, Zhao Guihua thought there was no need for that! Since the eldest son was too timid to participate, she wouldn’t tell them about it, lest they get jealous later.

As for Old Man Zhuang and Zhuang Zhixi, they were just meant to follow orders anyway.

Zhao Guihua happily left the house, deciding to buy some good food for a big family dinner. She hummed a little tune as she stepped out, only to see Su Jinlai getting into a taxi, with Hu Huihui in the car as well.

Zhao Guihua shook her head slightly, murmuring, “Looks like he has a new deal underway.”

The last time he came back, his legs were shaking like he was about to collapse. Yet here he was, not giving up and getting back into it. Truly a man who values money over his life. She strolled away, humming her tune.

Thinking back, when Hu Huihui moved in, there was probably more to it than met the eye.

Her real target was the hidden stash of Yu Baoshan. Fortunately, Hu Huihui wasn’t impulsive and hadn’t left any evidence behind. If she had been caught, their family would have been in real trouble. Zhao Guihua hummed her tune as she went to buy groceries. Who would have thought that in just four days, they had made over twenty thousand yuan, and she had earned more than ten thousand herself. It was faster than robbing a bank.

Back then, people always talked about “windows of opportunity,” but she didn’t quite get it. Now she understood. What is a window of opportunity?

This is a window of opportunity!

Even a pig can fly with this kind of opportunity.

Well, she certainly wasn’t calling herself a pig, but that’s the idea.

Zhao Guihua bought some pig trotters, followed by some shrimp and crabs. When she came across some osmanthus cake, she picked some up as well. Life was indeed better than before. In the past, if you didn’t have ration coupons, you couldn’t buy anything, but now, as long as you wanted to buy something, you usually could.

Of course, it might be a bit more expensive without coupons, but it was worth it.

She returned with several bags of groceries, and as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, a few aunties spotted her. Aunt Zhou looked surprised at all the bags she was carrying, saying, “You…?”

Zhao Guihua stood up straight, “The bell-bottom pants business is done, so I’m going to celebrate.”

Aunt Zhou’s eyes landed on the bags full of treats, and she couldn’t help stepping closer to Zhao Guihua, saying, “Old Zhao, tell me, did you make a lot of money from this batch?”

Zhao Guihua chuckled, neither admitting nor denying.

Aunt Zhou’s curiosity was like a cat scratching at her heart, she was dying to know the details. “We’re like sisters, what’s the big secret? Just tell me, did you make a few hundred?”

Zhao Guihua glanced at Aunt Zhou, “Our relationship’s not that close, is it? You’ve got plenty of secrets from me, so don’t get all cozy. But I’ll tell you this—a few hundred? Ha!”

She said with a sly smile, “Do you think I, Zhao Guihua, would get involved for just a few hundred yuan? Do you think I’m that cheap?”

“So, how much then?”

Zhao Guihua chuckled, “You really want to know?”

Aunt Zhou nodded, “Yeah, I want to know.”

Zhao Guihua’s smile grew wider, “Well, even though you want to know, I’m not going to tell you!”

Aunt Zhou: “…”

What kind of person is this?

Zhao Guihua walked past the crowd, proudly heading home. Aunt Zhou sighed, “Look at her, acting like she made a fortune!”

Aunt Wang: “You’re asking way too much.”

Aunt Zhou pouted, “I just wanted to know…”

After a pause, she added with longing, “Is this stuff really that profitable?”

“Who knows? I haven’t tried selling anything,” Aunt Wang replied, though her eyes were filled with eagerness. At their age, they weren’t afraid of anything, and with the recent policy changes, everyone could see things were getting better. If that was the case, why not try something new?

Aunt Wang thought for a moment, then stepped away from the group and sneaked over to Zhao Guihua. She was busy struggling with a crab, so when Zhao Guihua looked up, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Aunt Wang: “Guihua, do you think I could do business too?”

Zhao Guihua: “Of course you can! If I can do it, why not you? What makes you any less capable than me? We’re both old ladies, after all.”

Hearing this, Aunt Wang nodded quickly. She believed she was just as capable as anyone else when it came to hard work and dedication. She hesitated a bit but then sat down and said, “Can you give me some advice?”

Zhao Guihua: “Would your old man agree?”

Aunt Wang laughed coldly, “My house is run by me, not him. He can’t tell me what to do.”

She was firm, “That’s for sure.”

Zhao Guihua: “You’re quite the bossy one, aren’t you? Well, I don’t know how to give advice, but I think it depends on how much capital you have. If you have a lot, you can try selling clothes, but if you don’t, small items like underwear or socks might be better. Of course, small items won’t make as much money, but they have their advantages—you can keep selling them without worrying about losing too much.”

Aunt Wang: “How much capital would I need? If I wanted to sell small items, how much would that take?”

Zhao Guihua: “I can’t say for sure, but generally, the more you buy, the better the price you can negotiate. If you only buy a little, why would they give you a good deal? Besides, the clothing factories here don’t deal with private individuals. If you want to go to the south, you have to factor in transportation and accommodation costs. At your age, would your family even let you travel that far?”

Zhao Guihua was only speaking the truth, as a friend, she wouldn’t mislead her. She also hoped Aunt Wang could do well, but these things had to be made clear.

Aunt ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍Wang: “Ah, really? That far?”

Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes, “Are you willing to stay close to home? Do you think the clothing factories will care about you?”

Aunt Wang: “…”

It seemed she was right.

Zhao Guihua vaguely remembered that in a couple of years, a wholesale market would be set up nearby, where small retailers could buy goods, saving on transportation costs. But that wasn’t the case now.

She said, “I’m planning to go to Guangzhou or Shenzhen in a couple of days, probably the latter. If you want to come, we can travel together for company. Of course, it’s not necessary if you don’t want to.”

She added, "My two sons don't want me to go out, but I'm their mother, and I won't listen to them. Anyway, I think, if I don't make money now, what will I do in two years? When I'm seventy or eighty, will I still be able to travel far? So now, I'm going to do what I want."

Aunt Wang: "You're right."

She was genuinely tempted.

"I want to join too."

Aunt Zhou suddenly popped out, having been eavesdropping at the door for who knows how long.

Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes. "You're like a mouse."

Aunt Zhou grabbed Zhao Guihua's hand and said, "I want to go with you too. A money-making opportunity like this, you can't leave me out."

Zhao Guihua: "How do you know it's about making money? It depends on the individual; you might end up losing money. Business depends on one's ability."

Aunt Zhou thought to herself, I'm not incapable, how can you look down on me like that?

She was resolute: "I want to go too. I don't have a retirement pension, and I don't have much money. I feel uneasy. As we get older, we need to save some money. How else can we feel secure? Isn't it just business? I can be polite and understanding too. Just take me with you; we can rely on each other."

"Do you have the capital?" Zhao Guihua asked curiously.

Aunt Zhou: "I plan to borrow some from Jiang Lu. I think she'll lend it to me."

Although she had been very harsh with her daughter-in-law before, they had gotten along well for the past ten years, and she felt confident there wouldn't be an issue. She added, "I'll save some money for my grandson."

Zhao Guihua: "If you want to go, that's fine, but if we all go, we shouldn't do the same kind of business. Although the market in Beijing is big, it's better to avoid doing the same thing for the harmony of the courtyard."

"Old Zhao, what are you planning to do?"

Zhao Guihua: "I have more capital, so I was thinking of stocking up on old man shirts."

In truth, she wanted to stock up on jeans, but the last batch sold pants—bell-bottoms and jeans were considered quite trendy. There were so many opportunities; they didn't want to exhaust them.

She said, "I plan to order a batch with patterns."

"That would be expensive, right?"

Zhao Guihua: "Of course."

"Then what about lower-cost items? Besides underpants and socks, what else?"

Zhao Guihua thought for a moment and said, "There are some, like school bags, pencils, and notebooks. Selling those at school gates wouldn't be bad."

"Right, right, right."

Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhou looked at each other. Aunt Wang asked, "What do you think?"

"I'll choose stationery," Aunt Wang replied.

"Then I'll stick with underpants and socks," Aunt Zhou said.

Zhao Guihua hadn't expected these two older ladies to join them, but this situation didn't last long. Soon, He Lan came over, hesitantly looking at Zhao Guihua. "Aunt Zhao, can I join too?"

Zhao Guihua: "???"

He Lan was serious: "My husband, Zhuang Zhiyuan, works late and rides a tricycle for extra income for our family, so I want to contribute too."

Who doesn't want a better life?

Zhao Guihua: "You want to join?"

He Lan: "Yes."

Zhao Guihua chuckled. "You're willing to join us old ladies?"

He Lan: "Why wouldn't I be? It's an honor to follow you; others don't even get this chance. Besides, you all have extensive experience, and I definitely won't lose out by following you."

"You have some sense," Zhao Guihua remarked.

He Lan: "Hehe."

In no time, the trio of older ladies became a quartet.

By evening, Wang Zizhen came running in, heading straight to the Zhuang household, breathing heavily. "Aunt Zhao, you have to take me with you!"

Zhao Guihua: "???"

Wang Zizhen: "I want to go to the south with you."

Zhao Guihua was dumbfounded. "Aren't you working?"

Wang Zizhen took a deep breath and said, "I've decided to quit my job."

Such decisiveness was truly commendable. Although she was a temporary worker, in a city with so many unemployed people, a temporary job was highly sought after. So for Wang Zizhen to dare to quit, that was really something.

Zhao Guihua: "You…"

It turned out that after Aunt Zhou and Zhao Guihua finalized their plans, Aunt Zhou started making her own calculations. Instead of inviting Wang Zizhen, who had a proper job in their elders' view, she wanted to borrow money from her. She remembered Zhao Guihua's advice about having more capital to buy more stock and negotiate better prices. So she turned to borrowing money from Wang Zizhen. After all, even if Jiang Lu could lend her money, more was always better.

But after some hesitation, Wang Zizhen asked her seriously if she could join.

To be honest, Aunt Zhou was a bit surprised, but soon she said, "You should ask Zhao Guihua about it, but don't you have a job?"

Wang Zizhen nodded. "I do, but I don't want to continue."

She also shared her situation with Aunt Zhou. She worked as a temporary worker in a clothing factory, far from being on par with permanent employees. Without benefits like salary, she wasn't eligible for overtime opportunities or buying discounted materials.

Moreover, due to the mostly female workforce in the factory, there was plenty of gossip. Her easygoing family environment and caring husband made others envious. Plus, her team leader wanted to squeeze her out and replace her with his niece, leading to subtle bullying.

Wang Zizhen wasn't a weak woman and would fight back when necessary, but the work environment wasn't pleasant.

Normally, with three children and a heavier burden, she wouldn't consider quitting, even if she had to endure some grievances. But that day, the money she made selling popcorn was almost equal to her monthly salary. This got her thinking, and she started to feel tempted to leave.

But just when Aunt Zhou and the others had decided to go south, she suddenly wondered why she shouldn't take a leap as well. Over the years, she had followed the advice of these aunties and now lived a good life. Otherwise, she'd still be in her poor hometown, probably married to some random person, struggling to make ends meet.

So she firmly believed in following the right path.

If you're not smart, just follow smart people.

So Wang Zizhen instantly made up her mind and came straight to Zhao Guihua.

She said, "Aunt Zhao, I want to go with you. Please take me with you. I'll work with my godmother on school bag and stationery business. Look, I'm still young—I can help you all with manual work."

Zhao Guihua laughed. "Alright, as long as you don't regret it later, I won't say more."

Wang Zizhen nodded vigorously. "I won't regret it. Every time, I don't regret it."

Zhao Guihua: "A tree that doesn't move grows still; a person's life can change. Maybe this decision is right for you."

Wang Zizhen took a deep breath. "I'll resign tomorrow."

A woman of action indeed.

Zhao Guihua: "It's your decision."

She smiled and said, "Why don't we eat together tonight?"

Wang Zizhen shook her head. "No need, I'm going back now."

She darted off quickly.

If you're not proactive about making money, your mindset needs fixing.

Ming Mei was astonished to find that after she left for a quick trip to the police station in the afternoon, her mother-in-law had already assembled a team.

Earlier that afternoon, during the money division, her mother-in-law was still alone.

It was like the Water Margin heroes—she had managed to recruit several people in such a short time.

Her mother-in-law really had some skill.

If this were discussed, Zhao Guihua would protest, "It was these people who approached me!"

Blunt yet confused, Zhuang’s household members were also bewildered.

As Zhuang Zhiyuan was on a work trip, Liang Meifen, coming home from work, learned that her mother-in-law had already assembled a group to go to Guangzhou and went into deep thought. Were old ladies nowadays really so impressive? No wonder she could never outshine her mother-in-law.

Zhuang Zhixi looked pleadingly at Old Man Zhuang: "Dad..."

Old Man Zhuang, however, didn't side with his son at all. He said, "I'm in favor of your mother going."

He always supported his wife's decisions.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Although they had enjoyed a good meal with fine dishes today, everyone still felt an indescribable unease.

Just as everyone was struggling to express themselves, Ming Mei quietly raised her hand and said, "I have something to say too."

Everyone turned to look at her.

Ming Mei swallowed nervously and said, "I... I'm going to change jobs."

"What?"

The room filled with gasps as everyone stared at Ming Mei in disbelief, their faces frozen in shock. Ming Mei's eyes sparkled as she explained softly, "I made this decision today."

Zhuang Zhixi was the first to snap out of it and asked, "Are you going to become a police officer?"

Ming Mei shook her head, then nodded, then shook her head again, repeating the motion a few times before saying, "Sort of, but not exactly. I've agreed to teach hand-to-hand combat at the Police University, thanks to Deputy Director Wang."

"What?"

Ming Mei sighed and said, "I fell for that old man's pitch, I guess."

The Zhuang Family: "..."

She continued, "But I thought about it, and while I'm not good at solving cases, I do know my stuff when it comes to this. So, I agreed."

Liang Meifen asked a question that seemed to come from deep within her soul: "Can someone from the bus station be transferred to the Police University?"

Ming Mei scratched her head. "I'm not sure if it's normal to do so, but Deputy Director Wang said he'll coordinate with the Police University. I’m considered a special talent."

"Is it a formal position?"

Ming Mei nodded. "Yes."

Liang Meifen gasped. The police must really see something special in Ming Mei to have sorted this out for her.

Zhao Guihua asked, "This is between two different organizations—the police and the school. Can they really help with this?"

Ming Mei replied, "They can. I don’t know the details, but Deputy Director Wang said it’s possible."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

In her previous life, Deputy Director Wang always tried to persuade Ming Mei to change jobs, though she never agreed. But this time, with more interactions due to various issues, and with Deputy Director Wang rising in rank, he became even more insistent. Every time he saw her, he'd give her a one-hour lecture. It seems he’s had an impact, as Ming Mei finally agreed.

It seems that in her previous life, Deputy Director Wang wasn’t persuasive enough. This time, however, things went smoothly.

Ming Mei recounted what happened today.

This afternoon, after splitting the profits with Zhao Guihua, she went to the school to find Tonglai. Tonglai didn’t want to implicate himself and was looking for someone tight-lipped to confess to. So, Ming Mei took him to the city bureau to meet Deputy Director Wang.

That’s when Deputy Director Wang "caught" Ming Mei again, giving her another relentless pitch.

Ming Mei had known Deputy Director Wang for many years, since she first met him on the bus while catching a thief. That was over a decade ago. She was honest with him, explaining that while she wasn’t unwilling, she was afraid of making mistakes that could lead to bad outcomes.

If she were a rookie officer, she wouldn’t have such concerns.

But since she had captured many criminals, people had high expectations of her, trusting her blindly. Any error due to this blind trust could be disastrous. Ming Mei knew she was good at fighting but lacked proper training in criminal investigation. Most of the criminals she faced were brute thugs, perfectly matched against her physically.

Ming Mei understood Deputy Director Wang’s intentions. He kept persuading her, so she told him straight up that she would be happy to coach their skills, but she wasn’t interested in working there. To her surprise, Deputy Director Wang seized on this statement and asked if she’d like to be a teacher.

Ming Mei was as bewildered as the rest of the family.

Deputy Director Wang had a good plan. Since Ming Mei hadn’t studied criminal investigation and was unsure if she’d fit into police work, teaching would be perfect. They had investigated Ming Mei’s background and knew she had proper martial arts training from a respected master, her uncle. She wasn’t a mere performer; she had real skills. Since she was willing to teach, why not maximize her potential by teaching more people?

Deputy Director Wang thought of the Police University.

Though Ming Mei only had a high school diploma, which wasn’t considered high education by modern standards, it was decent for the current era. Some of the instructors in the Criminal Investigation Department weren’t university graduates either. In this era, talent could be heavily relied upon.

Moreover, if Ming Mei became a teacher at the Police University, it would make it easier to recruit her for police assistance.

Although superstition wasn’t allowed, Deputy Director Wang felt there was something unexplainable about their family. Criminals, no matter the scale of their crimes, always seemed to end up in their hands. It was quite baffling.

Deputy Director Wang was convinced his idea was brilliant and successfully persuaded Ming Mei.

He reasoned, "If you teach a few or a group, why not teach more? The more they learn, the better their chances against vicious criminals—maybe even save lives."

He added, "Your current job is relaxing, but it doesn’t show your value. If you’re passionate about catching bad guys, you wouldn’t want to live a mediocre life. Even if your students catch criminals, it’s still a good outcome, right?"

And, "I know you have young kids, and working as a police officer might not allow you to balance family life. But teaching doesn’t conflict with that—it won’t disrupt your daily schedule or hinder taking care of your children. Plus, you get two vacations a year! Doesn’t that sound great?"

And so on...

With his silver-tongued persuasion, Deputy Director Wang finally convinced Ming Mei, who found his arguments quite reasonable.

She explained today’s events and then innocently asked everyone, "I’ll be transferred this month. After adjusting, I’ll start teaching officially next semester."

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Others: "..."

Ming Mei’s eyes sparkled as she asked softly, "Zhixi, will you blame me for making this decision without discussing it with you first?"

Zhuang Zhixi shook his head. "No, it’s your work. You can decide for yourself. And, I think it’s a good thing."

Ming Mei wasn’t too keen on working at the bus station anyway. Teaching seemed like a good fit. As long as his wife was happy, it was all that mattered. He smiled and gently rubbed Ming Mei’s head, saying, "Do we need to discuss things like this between husband and wife? I trust you. As long as you’re happy, I’ll always stand by your side."

Ming Mei said, "I knew you were great."

Zhao Guihua said, "Stop sweet-talking in front of me."

She continued, "Alright, since Ming Mei is going to teach at the Police University, it’s a good thing. Let’s celebrate with this meal."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Wait, Mom, isn’t this dinner to celebrate our business profits?"

Zhao Guihua retorted confidently, "Profits are your responsibility to celebrate. This is to celebrate Ming Mei’s new job."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Fine, you’re always right."

Everyone laughed.

Hutou looked at his aunt with admiration, remarking, "I struggle to get into college, and my aunt is about to become a university teacher? Why is the gap between people so huge?"

Liang Meifen: "Study hard."

Hutou: "..."

His parents couldn’t get into university themselves, yet they hoped their son could. Hutou thought, if the parents can’t do it, how can the son? Isn’t it a saying that each generation declines?

But Hutou didn’t dare to voice this thought. While his parents usually didn’t hit their kids, they could lose their temper.

TuanTuan and YuanYuan blinked their big eyes and sat to the side, taking a long time to react before asking in a soft, cute voice: "Mom, are you going to become a teacher in the future?"

Ming Mei replied, "That's right."

The two kids showed expressions that clearly weren't happiness, and Ming Mei asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" they replied simultaneously.

Ming Mei poked their little chubby cheeks. Yuanyuan smiled sweetly and said, "Mom, I'll study hard."

Ming Mei praised, "Good boy."

"Me too, me too," TuanTuan chimed in, rushing forward. Although they were already eleven years old, in their parents' eyes, they were still cute little ones. Ming Mei hugged both of them, and Zhao Guihua said, "Alright, let's eat."

"Okay."

Today's meal was quite lavish. At the dinner table, Old Man Zhuang asked, "You're planning to go to the south, when will you leave?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "After the Qingming Festival."

Old Man Zhuang nodded, "That makes sense; it's not good to travel during the Qingming Festival."

Zhuang Zhixi whispered, "Mom and Dad, are we going to visit the graves today?"

In the past, everyone avoided such things, afraid of being labeled as superstitious. Even burning paper money had to be done secretly, let alone formally visiting graves. But in recent years, there had been a noticeable relaxation.

Year by year, the constraints had loosened.

So Zhuang Zhixi asked directly.

Zhao Guihua looked at Old Man Zhuang, who said, "Yes, I haven't been to the graves properly in over ten years. I should go this year."

"Alright, I'll go with you. Big Brother probably won't make it back in time for the Qingming Festival."

Old Man Zhuang nodded, "Good."

He instructed his son, "Make sure you prepare well."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I know."

He added, "I wouldn't be surprised if other families also decide to go."

Such things often start with one person, and then others naturally follow. In recent years, the policies weren’t as strict as before; although they hadn’t been fully relaxed, things had certainly loosened up. Everyone was cautiously observing, and as soon as someone took the lead, others would feel more comfortable doing the same.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Even if others might go, I'll still be careful. Don't worry."

"That’s good."

Zhao Guihua gave a stern look to her children and warned, "Don't go spreading nonsense outside, you hear me?"

"We know!"

Zhao Guihua continued, "Good. Otherwise, I'll have to give you a good beating."

TuanTuan and YuanYuan pouted. Why are you looking at us when you’re talking? Although we're little, we’re not talkative. We’re big kids now. Big and well-behaved kids.

This life is unbearable! Mom is going to be a teacher, and grandma’s going to beat us. Sniffle.

Ming Mei laughed as she watched her two kids pouting, their lips sticking out like little oil jars.

Yuanyuan whined, "Mom, why are you laughing at us?"

Ming Mei replied, "Because I can, what are you going to do about it?"

Yuanyuan cried out, "Wah!"

Ming Mei burst into laughter, "Pfft!"

While Ming Mei's family was celebrating, Zheng Huimin and Guan Hong, who were next door, weren’t faring so well. The two of them were natural enemies, and if it weren't for Su Jinlai, they would never have lived together. But now that Su Jinlai had rented this place, neither of them was willing to leave.

Both of them had run away from home after quarreling with their families, so where could they possibly go? Besides, Su Jinlai was here.

If they left, that vixen would surely cause trouble and pull some tricks.

Guan Hong thought so.

Zheng Huimin thought so too.

Guan Hong had sneaked home today to bring back all her belongings, and Zheng Huimin had done the same. Both of their belongings were more abundant than yesterday, but neither of them was particularly happy. Su Jinlai had gone out as a tour guide and wouldn't be back for a week.

So they were stuck living with this annoying woman, which felt utterly repulsive. On top of that, it was already late in the evening, and they were eating cornmeal buns, while next door, the Ming Mei family was having a feast. While they were enjoying their meal, Zheng Huimin and Guan Hong were fuming, feeling that the food in their mouths was tasteless.

Zheng Huimin glared at the wall, looking at their neighbors, the Zhuang family. This family was too selfish. If they had such delicious food, how could they not share it with their neighbors? In her family’s courtyard, whenever anyone made something tasty, her little brother would always go over and get some, and sometimes she could enjoy a bite too.

Now that’s a good custom!

Everyone in this big courtyard is selfish. They don’t empathize with the weak at all. She, a young girl, moved here from another place, unfamiliar with the surroundings, and she’s struggling. Yet they showed no sympathy. That kind of person should have offered a chicken here, a piece of meat there, and some white bread too!

Not only did they not offer anything, but they also laughed at her. How mean and selfish!

She pursed her lips, firmly believing that this was the right way.

Since Su Jinlai wasn't there, she didn't need to pretend to be weak in front of Guan Hong. She bit into her steamed bun with a viciousness in her actions. Guan Hong glanced at her and immediately sneered, "So you’ve revealed your true colors, haven’t you? I knew you weren’t any good."

Zheng Huimin retorted, "I know you’re jealous that Su Jinlai treats me well, but attacking me won’t help. If you can’t stand me, just leave. Your parents don’t approve of you being with Su Jinlai, right? You should listen to your parents."

She wished Guan Hong would move out, so she could have the place to herself.

But Guan Hong wasn’t one to back down. She sneered, "Dream on. Do you think I’m stupid? You want to monopolize the house and Su Jinlai? No way."

Zheng Huimin knew it wouldn’t be easy to get rid of Guan Hong, so she snorted in response.

Guan Hong coldly stared at Zheng Huimin and cursed, "I know you’re clinging to Su Jinlai for his money. Let me tell you, as long as I’m here, you won’t succeed!"

Just as they were shouting at each other, a delicious aroma of chicken soup wafted in. Suddenly, they lost the urge to quarrel. This chicken soup smelled amazing.

Guan Hong muttered, "They’re eating so well. No wonder Su Jinlai doesn’t like people in their courtyard. Look at them, feasting like this when it’s not even a special occasion. The Zhuang family thinks they’re so great, but sooner or later, they’ll regret it."

She harbored a lot of resentment toward the Zhuang family because Zhao Guihua, from the Zhuang family, had been the matchmaker and had scolded her, showing clear indifference. This made Guan Hong extremely angry and disdainful of them.

Zheng Huimin asked, "They look down on Su Jinlai?"

She frowned, clearly displeased.

Guan Hong replied, "Of course. Su Jinlai has complained about them to me many times."

She smugly looked at Zheng Huimin. She had known Su Jinlai longer and knew more about him than Zheng Huimin ever could.

Zheng Huimin noticed her expression and clenched her fists.

After a moment, she said slowly, "I’ll teach them a lesson for Su Jinlai."

She might not be as rich as Guan Hong, but she could do more for Su Jinlai. She believed that once Su Jinlai knew, he would realize who truly cared for him.

Guan Hong asked, "You want to teach them a lesson?"

Zheng Huimin replied, "What’s it to you?"

"I can too!" Guan Hong said, raising an eyebrow. She couldn’t let this woman get ahead of her. Glancing around, she said, "On Qingming Festival, I plan to dress up as a ghost and scare them to death!"

Showing off your delicious food in front of them, what nerve!

Daring to look down on my beloved Su Jinlai, you’re asking for it!