My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

The train began to move slowly again, and the passengers on board were still quite excited. This kind of opportunity to witness the capture of big or small criminals was not something easily seen.

Zhao Guihua felt that she had accomplished something great without drawing attention to herself.

Perhaps due to tiredness, despite their excitement, the passengers soon fell into a deep sleep. They did not know how long they had slept when they were awakened by a knocking sound outside the door. Zheng Huifang woke up, rubbed her eyes, and got up to open the door. She whispered, "Who is it?"

"I am surnamed Zhao, and I am a train conductor. We met early this morning during the capture of the human traffickers," came the reply.

Zheng Huifang opened the door to see the young train conductor, Comrade Zhao, who had been leading them. He smiled and asked, "Do you recognize me?"

Zheng Huifang replied, "Of course, we worked together to catch the bad guys. Is there something you need?"

Comrade Zhao explained, "It’s like this, the human traffickers have confessed, and there are no other accomplices on the train. I came to inform you so you can feel at ease."

He had overheard the human trafficker threatening Zheng Huifang earlier and, knowing she was young, feared she might be scared. So, upon receiving this news, he came to reassure her.

He continued, "After conducting a thorough check, we discovered four more individuals with suspicious identities and have handed them over for further investigation. Overall, the situation is quite safe. You don’t need to worry."

Zheng Huifang thanked him, "Thank you."

Comrade Zhao smiled and said, "No need to thank me. It’s our duty. By the way, to express our gratitude for your support in our work, we have arranged for boxed meals that will be provided free of charge until you reach your destination. Since you are all awake now, I’ll have someone bring them over."

Zheng Huifang immediately turned to look at Zhao Guihua.

Zhao Guihua responded, "Thank you, but we really can’t accept your generosity. We will pay for it ourselves."

Comrade Zhao said, "Please, this is something we should do. If you refuse, we would feel quite embarrassed. After all, you played a significant role. If it weren’t for your quick discovery, who knows what issues might have arisen. This is just a small token of our appreciation; you must accept it."

In fact, they had planned to provide meals at noon, but considering that they had not slept well the previous night, they decided not to disturb their rest.

"If you insist on paying, we would be quite disheartened," Comrade Zhao added.

Zhao Guihua hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, then."

They never expected such a kind gesture. The thought of someone providing free meals was a pleasant surprise. However, Comrade Zhao and his colleagues were equally pleased. These aunties not only helped them capture criminals and eliminate potential dangers but also brought them honor.

This railway line, with the collaboration between the police and the public, had managed to apprehend a human trafficking ring, petty thieves, and suspicious individuals. Each of these was a significant achievement, and they were quite proud of it.

Although not everyone had actively participated in the arrests, there were seven meals provided, showing great consideration.

He Lan commented, "We are truly lucky to benefit from this."

Yinlai nodded, "I didn’t do much, yet I still get this treatment. The free food indeed tastes extra good."

Comrade Zhao and his team were thoughtful, providing each person with a large box of rice and a dish of red-cooked pork. Both rice and red-cooked pork were considered luxurious foods in those times.

Zheng Huifang hadn’t had such a good meal in years. At home, any good food was first given to her father, then her older brother and younger brother. After they finished, there was nothing left for her.

Even during the Lunar New Year, she could only eat pickles.

Her family was poor, and life had to go on as it was. The last time Zheng Huifang had eaten meat was two years ago when a neighbor married off their child and asked her to help. She was secretly given a piece of meat. Usually, her meals consisted of nothing more than pickles, turnips, cabbage, and corn bread.

As she ate the red-cooked pork, she felt as though she might swallow her tongue.

"It’s so delicious!" she exclaimed.

Zhao Guihua, noticing her excitement, reminded her, "Don’t eat too much meat; your stomach might not handle it."

Zheng Huifang hurriedly nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t just a guess; she had heard stories of people who hadn’t eaten meat for a long time and then suddenly consumed rich foods, leading to diarrhea. Reluctantly, she put away the food, and at that moment, Wang Zizhen handed her an egg, saying, "Have an egg."

Zheng Huifang blushed and said, "No, no need. Thank you."

Wang Zizhen insisted, "Take it, I have more. It won’t keep for long if left, so don’t let it go to waste."

In truth, there was no risk of wasting anything. Wang Zizhen looked at Zheng Huifang and couldn’t help but think of her younger self. Back then, her family couldn’t rely on her, and she had to venture out on her own. The biggest fortune she had was meeting Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang Zhao. If circumstances had been different or she had met other people, she might not have fared so well.

She repeated, "Take it."

Zheng Huifang finally agreed, "Alright, then."

She ate the egg cautiously, her mood bubbling with joy.

Zhao Guihua added, "The further south you go, the hotter it gets. Your red-cooked pork won’t keep much longer, so eat it over the next two meals. Don’t save it."

Zheng Huifang nodded quickly.

She asked, "Aunt Zhao, does it get hot in the south?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Yes, it does. How come you’re not prepared for the journey?"

Zheng Huifang blushed slightly and nodded.

Aunt Zhou chimed in, "How can you manage like this? Besides, you’re just a girl. Your parents really can’t be counted on if they let you go so unprepared. I’ve always said Guan Guiling isn’t a good person. Uh, please don’t take offense at me speaking ill of your mother, but she really isn’t. She once nearly caused trouble for a neighbor of ours, and we could all see what kind of person she is."

Aunt Wang interrupted, "Enough, why bring up all that in front of her daughter?"

Aunt Zhou stubbornly retorted, "I’m just speaking the truth."

Zhao Guihua looked at Zheng Huifang and asked directly, "Did you run away on your own?"

Zheng Huifang panicked for a moment but then, reminded of how kind these people were, nodded slightly and admitted, "Yes, I ran away by myself."

"Well, I’ll be. You’ve got guts," Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhou exclaimed in shock. Being of an older generation, they hadn’t expected such boldness.

Aunt Zhou said, "Running away on your own makes you a vagrant."

Zheng Huifang replied, "I have my ID."

She explained, "I wanted to get far away from home. If I stayed, they would scheme against me, so I had to leave. I heard that some factories in the south are hiring workers, so I want to go and take a look. I’m very diligent."

Zhao Guihua cautioned, "You’re not yet an adult. They might not hire you, or at best, it would be in some shady factory."

Zheng Huifang’s eyes widened in worry. "Then, then what should I do?"

Zhao Guihua, offering practical advice, said, "I really can’t say for sure, but we’re going to Guangzhou to stock up on goods, so we’ll be there for a few days. If you trust us, you can stay with us for now and get a feel for Guangzhou. Then, we can decide on the next step based on the situation. Until then, all we can do is feel our way like blind men."

Zheng Huifang carefully noted this down and said, "I understand."

Zhao Guihua smiled and encouraged her, "You’ve already shown bravery by catching the human traffickers. There’s nothing you can’t do if you stay determined and put in effort."

Zheng Huifang nodded, "I know, I’m not lacking in anything!"

Seeing Zheng Huifang regain her courage, Aunt Zhou curiously asked, "Why did you run away on your own?"

Zheng Huifang replied, "I didn’t want to go through with the marriage they planned for me just for the bride price. I know they only care about money, not who I am as a person. My father even wanted to send me somewhere unpleasant to make money for the family. I absolutely won’t listen to them."

"Another disgusting fellow," the women collectively spat in disgust.

After expressing their contempt, Aunt Wang remarked, "I feel like I’ve heard something like this before."

A moment later, she looked at Yinlai.

Ah, no wonder it sounded familiar.

At the beginning, Aunt Su (Gou Lanxiang) was just like this. She hoped others would earn money by selling themselves to support her. What kind of people are they? This isn't just selfishness anymore; it's truly deserving of hell. However, since Jinlai is also here, everyone refrained from openly criticizing Gou Lanxiang.

However, He Lan frowned and said, "So, your mom just listens to your dad?"

Although she looks down on Guan Guiling, she wouldn't go so far as to harm her own daughter, right? Shouldn't she be defending her daughter at a time like this?

Zheng Huifang shook her head, "My mom won't care about me. She only listens to my dad."

He Lan's brows were knitted so tightly that a fly couldn't escape. She felt even more disdain for Guan Guiling, lowering her opinion of this woman even further. Such a woman doesn't care about herself or her children but is blindly devoted to a man, burning herself out in the process and even forcing her daughter to do the same. It's enough to make one feel disgusted to the point of wanting to vomit. It's utterly contemptible.

He Lan thought this, and others felt the same way.

If it weren't for Zheng Huifang being present, they probably could have ranted for a hundred years. But saying such things directly is not appropriate.

Zhao Guihua said, "Since you've come out, don't go back."

Zheng Huifang nodded, "I know."

On this matter, Wang Zizhen had something to say. She climbed down from the upper bunk and sat on the lower bunk, saying, "I have experience with leaving home and never wanting to see my parents or hometown again in my lifetime. Let me tell you, sometimes don't think you're being heartless, because it's almost impossible to change the mindset of someone who is very determined. If you don't leave, you'll be dragged into a deep abyss by familial ties. You won't be able to climb out of it yourself. Some parents are like this—their bond with their children is shallow. My parents wanted a son so desperately that they went crazy thinking about it. In their eyes, daughters like us are unimportant. The role of a girl is just to work for the family and bring in bride price. Even after I got married, they expected me to endlessly support my parents' home, no matter what the cost. Whether I lived well or not didn't matter as long as I helped my parents. My older sister became a cautionary tale for me. She was willing and even happy to do it, but I refused. A person must have their own life, not one that is lived entirely for others. If your entire existence is for someone else, then what's the point of living? I'm glad I left when I got married. They took the money like they were selling a daughter and severed ties with me. I felt relieved."

Such matters might not resonate with others, but Wang Zizhen truly understood.

If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have changed her name.

If no one cherished her, she would cherish herself.

And by cherishing herself, she also found someone who cherished her.

She said, "Just remember, some people use family ties to manipulate you, but they don't value those ties themselves. If you give in to guilt, you've been tricked."

Zheng Huifang replied, "I know. I've always known."

She had known these things since she was very young.

Back then, she discovered that her family didn't like her and that she wasn't important to them. She even knew that she had a younger brother or sister, though she didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. There was a child that her mother had given birth to and then secretly given away.

To say "given away" was just a polite way of saying they sold the child.

She heard everything clearly. Although she was young at the time, the memory remained vivid, and she dared not trust her parents. Although her father seemed gentle and kind to them, she never trusted him completely.

It was precisely because of this that when her older sister Zheng Huimin revealed their father's true nature, she immediately believed it.

It wasn't because she blindly trusted her sister but because she knew it had to be true. After all, her parents had once sold their own child. They didn't care at all.

"Once you leave, don't go back."

Wang Zizhen told Zheng Huifang this.

Zheng Huifang nodded vigorously. Perhaps because of their shared experiences, Wang Zizhen and Zheng Huifang quickly became close. Both had unreliable parents. Wang Zizhen's parents were obsessed with having a son, willing to sell their daughters to achieve that goal.

Zheng Huifang's parents, on the other hand, weren't focused on having a son. Zheng Yufeng wanted a comfortable life for himself, while Guan Guiling was the kind of woman who would gladly die for her man—the kind of "good woman" in Zheng Yufeng's eyes. However, to any sensible person, she was just plain crazy.

Zheng Huifang asked, "How do you all know my mom?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "That's a long story. You've probably heard of someone named Bai Fendou, haven't you?"

Zheng Huifang exclaimed, "Yes! My parents used to talk about him a lot. They called him a fool… he seemed to be mentioned frequently for a while when I was young."

He Lan said, "If you say that, I might get upset."

Zheng Huifang looked puzzled, while Wang Zizhen tried not to laugh. She explained, "Bai Fendou is her husband."

Zheng Huifang immediately felt like she was dying of embarrassment. Her face turned bright red, and she frantically rubbed her hands, stammering, "I-I'm s-so sorry! I-I wasn't, uh, I… It's what my parents said, I thought… I… Anyway, I'm sorry!"

Seeing her like this, He Lan couldn't help but burst out laughing. "I'm not angry. It's what your parents said. You were young and didn't understand."

Zheng Huifang still felt very embarrassed.

Aunt Zhao said, "Actually, we all live in the same neighborhood."

Zheng Huifang added, "My sister also lives there."

When Zheng Huimin was mentioned, everyone had a complicated expression. Aunt Zhou said sincerely, "Your sister isn't as sharp as you. She's a bit like your mom—she'll take anything, no matter the quality. That Su Jinlai, oh, don't take this the wrong way, but I've had a sharp tongue for decades. But I'm telling the truth—Su Jinlai is no good. Even a dog wouldn't look at him. Your sister somehow thinks he's worth it."

Yinlai chimed in, "Guan Hong also likes him."

Aunt Zhou retorted, "That's why they're both fools."

Zheng Huifang: "..."

She still cared about her sister, and Guan Hong seemed like a good person, despite being a bit stern. Zheng Huifang wasn't clueless. She quickly asked, "Why is Su Jinlai not good? Why do you say Guan Hong and my sister are fools?"

She continued, "Actually, they're both good people."

Aunt Zhou replied, "It's all because of Su Jinlai… Oh, Yinlai, cover your ears."

Yinlai found two paper towels and said, "Go ahead."

He stuffed the paper into his ears and lay down to rest.

Aunt Zhou remarked, "This is a good idea. Next time I hear something I don't like, I'll do the same. I think it's great."

The others: "…"

Aunt Zhou freely criticized Su Jinlai, not forgetting to bash Zheng Huimin and Guan Hong as well. These two girls were a bit dumb, or else how could they have such poor judgment? She finally found someone to rant to and kept talking nonstop to Zheng Huifang.

Meanwhile, the subject of their discussion, Su Jinlai…

Su Jinlai dragged his weary steps homeward, his movements sluggish. If one looked closely, they could see he had lost weight recently. He made his way to the neighborhood, his eyes slightly red. If observed closely, one could tell he had been crying.

He arrived at his home, his voice worn with age, "Mom, I'm back."

Hearing the commotion, Wang Xiangxiu hurried out. "Jinlai, you're back? How did you get like this?"

Although Wang Xiangxiu was a bit biased, she still cared for her son. She quickly ushered him in and looked him over from head to toe.

Su Jinlai said pitifully, "I didn't do much. Just overworked myself."

He stepped inside, looked around, and asked, "Where's Tonglai?"

The little scoundrel had borrowed money from him. Damn, why did he lend it to him? The kid couldn't be trusted. Knowing how hard it was to earn money, he endured physical exhaustion and mental strain just to make a bit, only to have it borrowed. Ugh, he'd make that little rascal pay. However, Wang Xiangxiu didn't know what was going through Su Jinlai's mind. She said, "He went to study. He's not back yet."

Tonglai now went to visit a retired professor from the Film Academy every evening after school, hoping to find a different path to get into university. Wang Xiangxiu understood their family's situation and knew that Tonglai's hope lay in getting into college, so she strongly supported it.

Jinlai: "He still hasn't come back after dinner?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "Have you seen anyone succeed without putting in the effort?"

She asked, "Did you eat? I'll make you some food."

Su Jinlai waved his hand: "No need, I've had dinner."

Although he was tired, his meals were far from meager. In fact, they were quite good. However, no matter how well he ate, his body couldn't keep up. This old woman was too demanding. Over the past few days, Su Jinlai had barely left his bed. Not just that... He lazily yawned and said, "I'm going to sleep for a while."

"Okay, sleep."

Wang Xiangxiu watched him and asked, "You're not going out these days, right?"

Su Jinlai: "Not going out."

Somehow, Wang Xiangxiu felt that this time Su Jinlai's return was slightly different from the last. She scrutinized her son carefully and asked, "Are you really okay?"

Su Jinlai: "I'm fine."

He pulled the blanket over his head and began to sob under the covers. This old woman was terrifying... It was so hard to earn this five hundred dollars.

Before Wang Xiangxiu could leave, she heard her son crying. She quickly sat down and said, "What's wrong with you? Tell me, why are you crying? Did someone bully you?"

Impulsively, she said, "I'll go find Hu Huihui."

Su Jinlai quickly grabbed his mother. Hu Huihui was his main source of income. If his mother interfered, how would he make money in the future? Despite the hardship, the blows, and the toll on his body, it was all for the money!

Well, not exactly a main source, more like a pimp.

He quickly said, "Don't go find her, it's not her fault."

"Then what is it?"

A mother can't help but ask.

Su Jinlai covered his head and shook it firmly: "It's nothing!"

This reaction made it impossible to believe it was nothing. Finally, Wang Xiangxiu couldn't take it anymore and pulled the blanket off him, saying, "Can't you act like a man?"

The mention of this set Su Jinlai off. He began to wail uncontrollably: "Why do you say I'm not a man? Everyone says I'm not a man! Can any man handle ten or more sessions a day? I'm being drained! And that old woman still says I'm not a man. That's so unfair!"

He felt wronged and anguished. He thought he had it so hard.

After all, he was innocent, wasn't he?

This client Hu Huihui introduced was no less demanding than the last three foreign women. She was relentless, leaving him confined to his room for days on end, with all his needs taken care of inside.

He thought he had served her well, given it his all, but that old woman still said, still claimed his reputation was overblown and he wasn't that great.

What did she mean, not that great?

Could any man handle countless sessions in a day?

Su Jinlai had once eavesdropped outside a couple's door in the countryside, and even they didn't do it that often. He thought he had performed admirably, yet she complained about his endurance and his size. He thought he had excelled.

Su Jinlai felt utterly wronged. He had worked so hard for this money, and now that scoundrel Tonglai was asking him for a loan, taking away the money he had risked his life for!

Wang Xiangxiu: "..."

Silence, just silence. After a long while, she held Jinlai and patted his back, saying, "Alright, alright, don't cry. I know you're feeling wronged. Let's not do this kind of work anymore. We can live well by working hard; we don't need to rely on shortcuts."

"No way!"

Su Jinlai was resolute: "We can't stop. Are you going to give me the money if we don't?"

He said, "How can we pass up such big money?"

He looked disdainfully at his mother and said, "It's because you're useless. If you were as capable and resourceful as my aunt, would I have to live like this? You're sisters, but look at how far short you fall! Why don't you reflect on yourself? If it weren't for the hope of a better life, would I have to make money this way? It's all because you're a useless mother."

Su Jinlai most resented his mother. At that moment, he somehow remembered his grandmother. When his grandmother was still around, their family had been well-off. It wasn't like later, when life became difficult.

If not for their hard life and lack of resources, would he have resorted to stealing? Would he have ended up in a juvenile reformatory?

If his family had been capable, would he have had to go to the countryside? Could anyone endure that kind of hardship? He had suffered so much.

He wept pitifully, crying out, "You're so useless! Couldn't you have tried to keep some of my grandmother's gold bars for ourselves? How could you be so unprepared? Others hide such things, and you didn't even know! How could you be so foolish!"

If only his grandmother hadn't been caught, they could have kept some of the gold bars. But in the end, it was all seized.

His grandmother was also an old hag.

She didn't spend the money on them!

Wang Xiangxiu didn't expect Jinlai to blame her so harshly. She was stunned for a moment, looking at her son's hostile gaze. Her heart turned cold as she said, "Useless? I supported three children as a widow. You three boys ate and drank a lot; wasn't it hard for me? Over the years, you always got into trouble, and I always fixed it for you. Wasn't it hard for me? Now you say I'm useless and you dislike my lack of talent? How could you say such things? And you dare mention your grandmother, that old hag? You ungrateful wretch, I'll beat you to death!"

Wang Xiangxiu glared at Jinlai, bursting with anger at his mention of Aunt Su. She started beating him, hitting him repeatedly: "You little brat, I've wasted my efforts raising you. All you think about is eating and drinking well. Have you ever tried to live a decent life? And you dare mention your grandmother, that old hag? I'll beat you to death! I'll make you stop mentioning her! If not for her, your father wouldn't have died. I wouldn't have... lived such a miserable life. You unappreciative brat, I'm going to teach you a lesson today."

Wang Xiangxiu's punches rained down mercilessly on Jinlai. He was completely caught off guard by his mother's sudden outburst.

He yelled, "What are you doing! What are you doing? Do you think I won't fight back?"

Wang Xiangxiu didn't care what he said, continuing to beat him: "You think I'm not capable? You're not even worth a dog! Dogs don't abandon a poor home, look at you!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, hitting him relentlessly. Su Jinlai, already weak and wobbly on his feet, stood no chance against Wang Xiangxiu, who had been doing physical labor and was strong from being a fitter. She beat her son like a small chick.

"You even dare mention your grandmother? That old hag should die far from home! She was so vicious and lived a life of luxury; she should've died long ago. And you dare mention her!"

Wang Xiangxiu kept hitting him.

Truthfully, Jinlai's disdain for her paled in comparison to his mention of Aunt Su Gou Lanxiang.

That old woman was her absolute limit.

Su Jinlai had never been physically punished by his mother before. He was always allowed to be willful. But Wang Xiangxiu's sudden outburst left him stunned. He quickly covered his head and cried, "What are you doing! Why are you hitting me? A gentleman uses words, not fists. Stop it! You you you..."

"I'm going to teach you a proper lesson today. I guess I didn't discipline you enough before, which is why you're so ungrateful! You think I'm poor, that I didn't save any money for you. Well, I think you're even worse than a dog. Look at your brothers. Look at the others in the compound. Who isn't striving to improve themselves? Only you, only you act like a rascal. I haven't even been embarrassed by you. Do you have any pride? Your pride isn't worth anything!"

"Waaah, stop hitting me!"

"What, do you think I can't hit you? Before, I didn't hit you, and did you ever behave? All you do is think of crooked schemes!" Wang Xiangxiu completely snapped, not caring that her son was already in his twenties. She beat him soundly.

The commotion finally caught the attention of those outside, and Zhou Qun, the master of gossip, was the first to dart out, poking his head around the gate of the Su family, his eyes wide with curiosity. Watching Wang Xiangxiu in a rage, he felt a twinge of pain himself, though he wasn't the one being hit.

Was Wang Xiangxiu really this fierce?

Just as he was about to share his thoughts with those around him, it dawned on him that the usual group of gossip-loving aunties were absent. Zhou Qun felt a tinge of disappointment.

Gossip without an audience was a bitter pill to swallow.

But Zhou Qun didn't have to wallow in his disappointment for long. Bai Fendou soon appeared, and upon seeing Zhou Qun, he let out a soft chuckle, keeping his distance. In Bai Fendou's eyes, Zhou Qun was even more dangerous than Wang Xiangxiu. This guy had a thing for him.

Though years had passed since the incident, Bai Fendou, as a party involved, could never forget. This guy had harbored improper intentions towards him.

With his wife not at home, Bai Fendou had to be extra careful.

He fixed Zhou Qun with a vigilant stare and said, "Stay three meters away from me."

Zhou Qun's eyes widened in astonishment. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"

Bai Fendou: "Heh."

Zhou Qun was furious. "Listen here, stop thinking nonsense. How could you be so despicable?"

Bai Fendou didn't hold back either. "You're not despicable? What gives you the right to talk about me?"

"Why can't I talk about you?"

And so, the two, who had originally come to watch the drama, ended up in a heated argument.

As the two men bickered like roosters, a clear, youthful voice broke through the tension. "Dad, are you fighting?"

Bai Qingqing came running from the Zhuang family, tilting her head to look at her father, her face serious. "Dad, you can't argue with people. Mom told you to stay out of trouble at home."

The little girl still remembered her mother's words. "You better not cause any trouble, okay?"

Seeing his daughter, Bai Fendou's eyes softened with affection. "Alright, alright, no arguing. Dad's not fighting. Dad's just joking with Uncle Zhou Qun. We're actually here to watch the show."

Bai Qingqing looked skeptical. "Really?"

"Of course."

At that moment, Qijin also appeared, scolding his father. "Dad, you have to be friends with Uncle Bai. Just like me and Qingqing, we're all friends." Although he didn't live at the Zhuang family, at this time, the group of children were all together in Tuan Tuan's room, playing a game of Old Maid.

Qijin: "If you argue with Uncle Bai, I'll tell Mom."

Zhou Qun: "Listen to you, telling your mom about this."

It was undeniable that Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou had a few things in common, and both were adept at shifting the blame.

Zhou Qun: "We're not arguing at all. Listen, Aunt Wang is beating Su Jinlai."

Oh ho!

The two kids immediately dashed over and pressed themselves against the window, listening to the sound of Wang Xiangxiu hitting someone. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and they covered their mouths in shock. Soon, the other kids inside the house also ran out, a group of them like the characters from the popular Chinese animation "Huluwa," all crowding to watch the spectacle.

Li Weiwei was especially elated.

If ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍his enemy was suffering, he was happy.

It was rare that Li Junjun was also home today, and he joined in, full of curiosity. "This is the first time I've seen Aunt Wang hit her child."

Wang Xiangxiu was known to be very doting with her children, despite their constant troublemaking growing up. But today, she had actually resorted to hitting them.

Not only was Li Junjun puzzled, but so were the others.

They had never seen her lay a hand on them before. Why now?

By this time, everyone in the courtyard had come out, Zhuang Zhixi: "Move aside, will you?"

Everyone was practically glued to the window, with only Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin feeling anxious.

Guan Hong shouted, "What are you all doing? Move away! How can you just watch someone get beaten?"

Zheng Huimin, on the other hand, sobbed, "Brother Su~"

The two were eager to rush in and save their white knight, but they were stopped by Ming Mei. "You two have no business with the Su family right now. Don't get involved."

Seeing that the two were reluctant, she added, "You're not even married into the family yet. No matter how Wang Xiangxiu and Su Jinlai are fighting, they are still mother and son. If you meddle, and Wang Xiangxiu, as a mother-in-law, firmly opposes either of you marrying Su Jinlai, you'll be the ones crying. I'm doing this for your own good."

Hearing this, the two stopped in their tracks.

That made sense. They were at a loss for what to do.

Unlike the others who were watching the entertainment, they were pacing in place, anxious and worried.

"Why bother with them?" Li Fang sneered, glancing at the two desperate girls. She didn't like either of them, especially Guan Hong, who was on bad terms with their family.

Ming Mei was blunt. "Wang Xiangxiu always goes berserk when she loses her temper. I'm afraid she might hurt them."

No matter how they felt, the two were naive girls. If they ended up getting hurt, it wouldn't be good. Many people in the compound had recently gone to the south, and she didn't want any trouble here.

Ming Mei: "Wang Xiangxiu beating her son is none of our business, but it's not right for them to be caught in the crossfire."

Li Fang sighed. "You have a good heart."

Ming Mei: "I just want things to be peaceful."

Inside the house, Su Jinlai wailed, while the kids outside were uncharacteristically quiet. Despite their usual boisterousness, they now all acted like well-behaved children. Small round girl even went to her mother, cuddling up to her and cooing, "Mommy, I've always been a good girl."

Ming Mei: "Have you?"

"Yes!"

The little girl raised her hand, snuggling against her mother.

It turned out even grown-ups could get hit.

She didn't want that, so she smiled sweetly at her mother, saying, "Mommy, I'm a good girl, aren't I?"

Ming Mei: "You!"

Jiang Lu, watching the chaos inside, asked, "Should we go in and calm things down?"

Ming Mei: "How?"

Although the relationship in their compound had improved compared to before, and the Su family interacted normally with everyone else, the fact was, most people in the compound didn't have much personal contact with Wang Xiangxiu. They might gather for events, but private interactions were rare.

Ming Mei: "I'm not close to her. I don't know how to mediate."

Jiang Lu: "Uh..."

She wasn't close to her either.

As for Li Fang, she was even less familiar with Wang Xiangxiu.

They all looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

At that moment, Tonglai returned. Entering the gate, he was puzzled. "Why are you all crowded at my house's door? What's happening?"

Li Weiwei quickly said, "You better go take a look. Your mom is beating your older brother."

Tonglai: "What?"

He was shocked. His mom had never laid a hand on anyone before. This was unbelievable.

He hurried inside and saw Wang Xiangxiu with tears streaming down her face, her eyes red.

Tonglai: "Mom, what happened?"

Jinlai, seeing Tonglai return, cried out for help. "Tonglai, quickly, save me! Mom's gone crazy! Wuwuwu, I'm so miserable."

At this moment, he didn't even think about asking Tonglai for money. His life was at stake.

Tonglai: "Mom, has Big Brother upset you again? I know you're angry, but don't hurt yourself. Come, let me help you sit down. Tell me what happened, and I'll join you in scolding Big Brother..."

Tonglai was indeed good at handling situations. Even in comforting, he was practical.

Sure enough, hearing this, Wang Xiangxiu's anger flared. "This little bastard even dares to mention that old hag..."

When it came to his grandmother, Tonglai's feelings were deeper than Jinlai and Yinlai's. After all, it was his father-in-law who exposed his grandmother that day, and the three children were present. Jinlai and Yinlai had been injured by a pig and were in the hospital, but he had experienced the situation firsthand.

His father's death was related to his grandmother!

He harbored resentment towards his grandmother.

Because of Jinlai's words, he turned and gave his older brother a cold look. "Big Brother, why bring up that person? Hasn't she caused enough suffering for Mom?"

Jinlai was beaten to a pulp, his face swollen and bruised, as he cowered in the corner, whimpering like a chastised little wife. Tonglai rolled his eyes and said, "Mom, I know you get upset whenever these things are mentioned, but the past is past. Dwelling on the unhappy things only harms your health. This person was so evil, causing so much harm to Dad and you. I understand your grievances, but we should focus on living our lives well. That's what the heavens wanted you to know the truth for—so you can live well. I believe Dad, wherever he is, also wants you to live happily..."

Wang Xiangxiu: "I know, I know... I'm just so angry at this little brat..."

Tonglai: "Brother, you better apologize right now."

Su Jinlai, already feeling more pitiful after being beaten, quickly spoke up: "Mom, I was wrong. I won't talk about grandma anymore, and I won't spout nonsense again."

Woohoo, his mom was scary! She could beat up even the toughest street thugs. Better not mess with her! Ouch, being beaten hurt so much!

Su Jinlai was a classic bully to the weak but scared of the strong. He had bad intentions, but his courage wasn't exactly stellar. After being beaten, he immediately became obedient, cowering in the corner like a quail, not daring to say a single word.

Tonglai: "Mom, look, big brother has apologized..."

Wang Xiangxiu harrumphed loudly.

Seeing that the situation had calmed down, Tonglai went outside and announced, "Everyone, let's disperse. My mom and brother had a minor disagreement, but it's nothing serious. It's getting late; go to sleep early."

“Can I go in and check on Brother Su?” Zheng Huimin asked.

Tonglai immediately responded, "No."

He added, "You all should rest early too."

He closed the door, and everyone scattered in groups. Li Weiwei chuckled, "Bro, you should've seen what happened to Su Jinlai today. Hahahaha."

His schadenfreude was evident, and immediately, two girls shot him glares.

Guan Hong: "It's no wonder you're still single, you jerk."

Zheng Huimin: "Yeah, you'll be single forever!"

Li Weiwei heard this but didn't get mad. If it had been a few days ago, he would've been furious. But not today. He was calm and composed. He said, "If I ever get married, I'd rather not marry if it's someone like you! I'm in no rush to get married."

Just a few days ago, he had been eager to tie the knot, but plans change fast.

Ever since he saw these two women playing ghost and engaging in fights, he had a new understanding of women. Now, he felt that being single for a while might be better. After all, women were too hard to figure out!

He declared confidently, "I'm better off single!"

The remaining people looked at Li Weiwei in confusion, wondering why he had changed so suddenly.

Wasn't he in a hurry to get married?

But Li Weiwei was resolute: "Women, they're hard to pin down."

The crowd: "..."

You've changed way too quickly.

Guan Hong huffed, saying, "You couldn't find someone even if you tried."

Li Weiwei didn't get mad; instead, he looked Guan Hong up and down and said, "Even if I can't find someone, I wouldn't settle for you."

Li Junjun: "..."

He pushed his brother and said, "Let's go home."

Li Weiwei: "Bro, you don't get it. That woman isn't nice at all..."

"Why are you talking about other women? Let's go!"

Li Junjun and Li Weiwei had vastly different personalities. Li Junjun was much steadier. He pushed his brother into the house and half-heartedly apologized, "Sorry about that."

Then he closed the door.

Guan Hong: "Li Weiwei's brother seems decent."

Zheng Huimin, staring at the closed door, thought about Li Junjun and pursed her lips, unable to look away. Isn't it true that your greatest rival always understands you best? Sure enough, Guan Hong noticed Zheng Huimin's expression and immediately suspected, "You, you, you! Aren't you falling for someone else? Do you have a thing for this guy?"

Zheng Huimin quickly snapped back to reality: "Of course not! My heart belongs to Brother Jinlai."

Even so, she glanced at the door of Li Junjun and Li Weiwei's room before heading to the backyard.

Guan Hong: "If you're not interested, why were you looking at him so much? You're such a fickle person."

Zheng Huimin stopped in her tracks and snapped, "What do you mean? Did you want to fight? Let me tell you, I'm not afraid of you! I just happened to notice him and found him unfamiliar, so I looked a bit longer. Yet, you're trying to sully my reputation. Dream on! My heart only belongs to Big Brother Su."

After all, only those who are fiercely contested must be good.

Zheng Huimin glared at Guan Hong, who smirked, "You sure like Big Brother Su. But does Big Brother Su like you? He likes me. We are a match made in heaven. I know all this is just a test, but I believe I am Big Brother Su's Zhao Min."

"Zhao Min? Who's that?"

Guan Hong sneered, "You're just like Zhou Zhiruo!"

She looked triumphantly at Zheng Huimin, thinking that Zheng Huimin couldn't compare to her. After all, she was the one with education, a job, and genuine feelings.

"Ignorant! Illiterate!"

Guan Hong strutted away like a proud rooster who had won the battle.

Zheng Huimin was fuming, certain that Guan Hong hadn't said anything nice.

After the two women left, Li Weiwei climbed down from the window, having been peeking at them earlier.

No, don't misunderstand; he wasn't interested in them. Not that they weren't women, but Li Weiwei wasn't interested in women in general anymore. He thought he was still too young and should wait a few more years before finding a partner.

After all, women were too hard to read at a young age.

He was purely curious. He looked at the two women, shrugged, and turned back to say, "Bro, did Zheng Huimin just... look at you? Was she checking you out?"

Li Junjun was speechless: "Stop making stuff up. Women have reputations too, you know. They all like Su Jinlai, you heard it yourself. Besides, do you think I'm better-looking or Su Jinlai?"

Li Weiwei: "..."

This was really hurtful, but undeniably true.

Yang Lixin was actually quite good-looking. Despite being a cook, he looked like a cultured man, gentle and refined. No wonder he caught Li Fang's eye.

But Li Fang was just ordinary.

Uncle Li, the cook, was your typical bulky cook with a big head and thick neck, average-looking. Aunt Wang was tall and strong, a tough woman. Their children naturally didn't have any genetic mutations and were ordinary-looking.

It was impossible for them to be handsome.

Interestingly, Li Junjun and Li Weiwei both took after their mom, while their younger sister, Li Zhenzhen, took after their dad.

According to the Li family, it was fortunate that their daughter looked like their dad and was pretty. The boys looked like their mom, just average. If it were the other way around... they would've been worried about Li Zhenzhen's future marriage prospects.

Luckily, Li Zhenzhen was a cute little girl who resembled her father.

But Li Junjun and Li Weiwei were just plain-looking. Not ugly, just ordinary, the kind you wouldn't notice in a crowd.

Su Jinlai, on the other hand, was quite different. There was no doubt that Wang Xiangxiu would've been attractive, given that she had relied on her husband to earn money. Her late husband, the Su family boy, had also been good-looking. Their child naturally outshone the Li brothers.

Even though Li Weiwei was biased toward his family, he couldn't bring himself to say anything against the truth.

He sighed, "Women only care about looks, huh? They don't care about capability. Relying too much on looks can lead to being deceived."

Li Junjun: "Stop talking about women. Aren't you a man too? When it comes to choosing between a good-looking and an ugly one, you'd pick the good-looking one, right? It's only natural."

Li Weiwei: "Woohoo."

After washing up, the two brothers lay down in their bunk beds. Li Weiwei was on the top bunk and leaned down to look at his brother. "Bro, what kind of woman do you like? Someone like Xiao Yanzi?"

Li Junjun grunted faintly in agreement.

Li Weiwei: "..."

He sincerely said, "I don't think Xiao Yanzi would look at you twice."

Li Junjun shot up: "What do you mean by that?"

Li Weiwei shrank his neck and said, "Anyway, I don't think Xiao Yanzi will ever like you. Look, she treats me the same as she treats you, neither of us get any special treatment from her. Plus, you two aren't really a good match. Xiao Yanzi studies really well, and as long as she doesn't mess around, she's sure to get into university, and I heard the adults say she can probably get into a really good one. You, on the other hand, only graduated from high school. Her family has two working parents and only one brother, so their financial burden is light, and they live in a spacious house. Our family, with all the people inside and out, has to rent a place. And hey, she's really pretty, while you're just an average Joe. So why would she like you? I think she just doesn't like you. Brother, I think you should start planning for the future and not hang on to Xiao Yanzi like she's the only tree in the forest."

"Li Weiwei!"

Li Junjun, who had been calm until now, suddenly exploded: "Are you picking a fight or what?"

Li Weiwei immediately retreated: "Forget I said anything."

He muttered: "Honest advice is hard to swallow."

Li Junjun: "..."

Oh no!

Can't sleep now!

This little punk, the truth may be the truth, but do you have to hit me so hard?

As a result, Li Junjun also felt a pang of sorrow.

Of course, he knew there was a gap between him and Xiao Yanzi. The gap itself wasn't the main issue; the main issue was that Xiao Yanzi truly didn't see him as anything special. Yet, liking someone is not a crime, is it? Li Junjun was furious with his brother, who had no tact to speak of.

His embarrassment turned to anger because Li Weiwei had spoken the truth.

Li Junjun got up, opened the door, and sat at the doorway to smoke. As soon as he lit up, he saw the door next door creak open.

Su Jinlai came out wiping his tears and also sat by the door. They looked at each other.

Su Jinlai: "Buddy, give me a cigarette."

Li Junjun hesitated for a moment but handed it to Su Jinlai. Waste of good tobacco!

Su Jinlai also lit the cigarette and complained: "Oh, yours isn't that great. How come you're smoking such cheap ones? I always roll with Hua Zi."

Li Junjun turned black: "You shut up with your bragging. You and your Hua Zi, the few cents you've smoked have all been from me. What are you showing off for?"

Su Jinlai: "You, you, you. Why are you cursing at me? Don't you look down on people. I may not be rich, but if it weren't for that little scoundrel Su Tonglai borrowing money from me, I’d have the Hua Zi to smoke."

Sob, Tonglai threatened him, saying he wouldn't lend him the money unless he reported him for being an escort.

He really didn't want to end up behind bars, so he had to lend the money.

The guy said he'd repay it in a month; who knows if that'll actually happen? The more he thought about it, the more worried he became: "Do you think Tonglai will return my money?"

Li Junjun: "..."

You're brothers, why are you asking a stranger like me?

But Li Junjun was blunt: "Of course he will. Tonglai has better integrity than you. He keeps his word."

Su Jinlai: "What's wrong with you? What kind of person talks like that?"

Are these people blind? He's a fine young man, yet they all treat him like he's not a good person. Tonglai, on the other hand, is full of tricks and schemes, like a cuttlefish—deceptively pretty on the outside, but with all manner of black thoughts inside. Yet everyone treats him like a good person.

Why?

He was so angry that he couldn't help but badmouth his brother endlessly.

"Tonglai isn't a good guy. All he knows is bootlicking and trying to impress his high school teachers by sneaking extra private lessons."

Li Junjun: "I know. True, he didn't pay for the private lessons, but he did all the work around Teacher Liang's house. He wasn't just taking advantage of people."

Tonglai's high school teacher was also Li Junjun's high school homeroom teacher. He got along well with the teacher and was aware of Tonglai's situation. To be honest, any teacher would love a studious and ambitious student like Tonglai.

Even without the extra labor, Teacher Liang would have been happy to tutor him.

Letting Tonglai do the chores was mostly so he wouldn't feel indebted.

When Li Junjun said that, Su Jinlai was furious and continued: "He even pretends to be a good guy in the courtyard, sweeping the yard often just to earn praise and some side dishes."

Li Junjun: "He takes the initiative to help everyone out, saving them effort. Don’t take it as just praise—if he really asked for money, it would be fair too. As for the side dishes you mentioned, it's normal for neighbors to exchange a stalk of scallion or chives. You're overthinking it. I think he knows how to behave and is diligent and sweet-talking—a really good guy. Much better than me."

"You, you, you!" Su Jinlai was enraged: "What's wrong with you? Why do you always praise him?" He went on: "He even helped Grandpa Lan with chores just to get benefits. Grandpa Lan gave him food. You see, isn't that just an opportunistic move? Oh, right, Grandpa Lan even found a professional acting teacher for him. Can't you see his cunning side?"

"It's good that Tonglai is willing to help Grandpa Lan with chores, given his age. Grandpa Lan's temperament isn’t easy to get along with—Tonglai getting along well with him proves it."

Su Jinlai: "I'm at a loss for words. Is he brainwashing you or something?! Why do you always defend him? Where is the good in him? You're just the type of person who deserves to be fooled. Waste! Dumb! Delusional!"

Seeing that none of his words could win, Su Jinlai angrily turned around and left, howling: "You scoundrel!!!"

He let out a roar that sounded like a thunderclap in the dead of night.

Zhuang Zhixi and others were all asleep, suddenly woken up by the noise, feeling a deep anger. Pulling open the window, he cursed: "Who's screaming in the middle of the night like a ghost? Are you crazy? Take your meds if you're sick."

As soon as Zheng Zhixi finished, Zhou Qun also opened the window and cursed: "Are you suicidal? Who's spewing curses at midnight like they're possessed? Don't believe that I won't throw manure on you."

Bai Fendou also opened his window: "Throw it at him, give it your all. I can tell it's Su Jinlai, that rascal, making an ungodly sound in the middle of the night. Ready to take another beating?"

Everyone in the front courtyard was burning with anger. Suffering a midnight disturbance even caused decent rest.

Su Jinlai, knowing he can't bully his way through it, quickly locked the door and hid back in his room, and quickly crawled back in bed, again doing nothing.

Tonglai: "…Shuddap."

After a pause, he continued: "They mean business with that manure throwing threat."

Su Jinlai: "…Waaaah."

What a sense of grievance, he feels so scolded, is it possible that he’s less respected in this big courtyard!"@@novelbin@@

Big courtyard and out of proportion competition!