My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Strange things happen every year, but this year seems particularly eventful.

The Guan Family has been providing the neighborhood with quite the spectacle lately.

Guan Guiling isn’t well-liked, but Zheng Yufeng has always had a decent reputation—though that reputation is now hanging by a thread and could crumble at any moment. Zheng Huimin has been screaming and crying hysterically, threatening to end her life.

Everyone rushed to stop her, fearing she might actually go through with it.

This situation is truly life-threatening.

Zheng Yufeng’s face darkened. He never expected Zheng Huimin to find out about this, nor did he think she’d have the guts to come back and cause such a scene. In his eyes, even if she knew, she wouldn’t dare make a fuss. But after being away for a while, she’s become bolder and more assertive.

The whole crying, screaming, and threatening suicide routine is nothing new to the family, so they didn’t take it seriously. They didn’t believe Zheng Huimin actually wanted to die. But the neighbors didn’t see it that way. They all tried to stop her, offering heartfelt advice.

People are quick to sympathize and rally against a common enemy. The more they tried to comfort Zheng Huimin, the more they felt the family was heartless. How could they be so cruel? Guan Guiling glared at her eldest daughter, wishing she could strangle her.

She stared at her daughter with rage, but Zheng Huimin continued her theatrics. Some neighbors couldn’t stand it anymore and started offering suggestions: “Zheng Huimin, don’t be afraid. If your parents are trying to leave you with a mess, we won’t stand by and watch. I’ll tell you what—go to your mom’s workplace and make a scene every day. I don’t believe they’ll be able to smoothly transfer her job.”@@novelbin@@

“That’s right. Even if they run away, you’ll at least still have a job. That’s something stable.”

“I agree. I live on the next street. I’m an old lady with nothing better to do. If I see anyone coming to look at the house, I’ll tell them the truth. They won’t be able to sell it!”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve never seen a family like this.”

“If Fan Debiao comes looking for trouble, we’ll stand by you. This has nothing to do with you, and they can’t pin it on you. Forced marriages are a thing of the past.”

……

Everyone chimed in, rallying around Zheng Huimin. She never imagined she’d have so much support. Tears streamed down her face as she said, “Thank you, everyone. Really, thank you!”

She sobbed uncontrollably, on the verge of passing out.

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei were among the crowd, watching the drama unfold. Zhuang Zhixi thought Zheng Huimin hadn’t gone far enough. If she made an even bigger scene, more people would pay attention, and Zheng Yufeng and his wife wouldn’t be able to take drastic measures.

Still, Zheng Huimin’s performance was impressive enough.

Zhuang Zhixi gave Zheng Yufeng a deep look. For some reason, he felt Zheng Yufeng wouldn’t take Guan Guiling with him. Despite Guan Guiling’s claims of going to Hong Kong, her words didn’t seem credible.

She was frail and sickly—what could she possibly do there? Zheng Yufeng would see her as a burden rather than a help. Zhuang Zhixi doubted the plan. Meanwhile, Zheng Yufeng was seething. He thought he had everything under control, but who could’ve predicted his eldest daughter would cause such a scene?

What’s worse, Guan Guiling was making things harder. She shouldn’t have said those things. Her outburst only made her look worse.

A terrible teammate is hard to tolerate.

He took a deep breath, thinking about how he was about to be rid of this woman, and said softly, “Everyone, I know no matter what I say now, you won’t believe me. But I’m not that kind of person. I’ve lived in this courtyard for decades, and you all know my character. I promise I won’t leave or put my daughter in a difficult position. If you don’t believe me, you can keep an eye on me. My wife isn’t the most tactful, but she’s uneducated and doesn’t always express herself well. I’ll keep her in check, but please believe me—we’ll resolve this matter.”

“What good is your promise to us? You need to answer to your daughter!”

“Exactly!”

Zheng Yufeng: “Let’s not talk about other things. Selling the house or the job is off the table. We’ll wait for Fan Debiao to return. How does that sound?”

He added, “My wife sold some of Fan Debiao’s belongings. We’ll sort it out when he gets back.”

Zheng ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‍Yufeng was playing the good guy, retreating to advance.

“Huimin, stay at home. If you stay, you’ll see that your mother and I aren’t…”

“Oh, come on! If she stays, you’ll just trap her. Once she’s in your hands, you can say whatever you want. What if you sell her off? Even in this modern age, some people still cling to old ways. We’re not blind to it.” Guan Hong sneered, raising her voice. “You just want to control her so she can’t fight back.”

Zheng Yufeng shot Guan Hong a dark look. The girl had hit the nail on the head, but he replied, “I’m not like that. You kids always think the worst of your parents.”

In the past, Zheng Yufeng’s words might’ve carried some weight, but now everyone saw through his excuses.

After all, the family’s attempt to sell the house was real. They weren’t fooling anyone.

“Go to the neighborhood committee! This can’t be left like this!”

“Yes!”

“Go to the committee!”

Zheng Yufeng: “If she doesn’t want to come back, fine. You can all keep an eye on us. We won’t run away. Let’s wait for Fan Debiao to return, okay?”

He was clearly stalling for time. People sensed it but didn’t know why. They just watched Zheng Huimin, who by now had cried her eyes swollen. She said, “I’ll come every day. Mom, tomorrow I’ll go to your workplace. You’re not selling that job.”

Guan Guiling: “You wretched girl…”

She hated her daughter with a passion. No wonder people said daughters were trouble. Not a single one of them was considerate or willing to sacrifice for the family. They were just a waste of resources.

Zheng Yufeng grabbed Guan Guiling and said, “Calm down.”

Guan Guiling took a deep breath and stayed silent.

Zheng Yufeng: “If you want to follow your mom, go ahead. I don’t mind.”

He added, “It’s getting late, and the window’s broken. We can’t leave it like this in this weather. Whatever happens, let’s deal with it later. Huimin, you’re my daughter. I won’t harm you. Just trust me one last time, okay? I’ll make things right.”

Zheng Huimin hesitated but finally nodded.

Zhuang Zhixi, unnoticed, pulled Ming Mei away. Ming Mei whispered, “I feel like Zheng Yufeng is stalling on purpose.”

Zhuang Zhixi looked at her and said softly, “You think so too? I feel the same. He’s probably planning to ditch Guan Guiling and leave.”

The two exchanged knowing glances. At least, after today’s scene, Guan Guiling’s job and the family house wouldn’t be so easy to sell. Even if loan sharks or Fan Debiao came after Zheng Huimin, they’d think twice.

After all, everyone now knew the general situation. If they still tried to pin things on Zheng Huimin, the neighborhood committee wouldn’t stand by. They couldn’t let things escalate to a life-or-death situation.

Plus, Zheng Huimin’s dramatic performance today made it clear she was capable of going to extremes. No one would easily blame her now. If she went berserk, it could end badly for everyone.

Zheng Huimin had made herself a thorn in their side, which meant she was safer.

Zhuang Zhixi sighed, “I don’t know what’s going through Zheng Yufeng’s mind. How can he be so ruthless? He’s willing to use his wife and daughter. I doubt he has any real affection for his son either.”

Ming Mei nodded.

The couple returned home, deeply affected. Selfishness is one thing, but being willing to exploit anyone, even family, is truly terrifying.

They were both shaken. And from Guan Guiling, Ming Mei truly understood the saying: “A woman fears marrying the wrong man.”

Everyone knew that Guan Guiling was no good, but Zheng Yufeng was truly the most terrifying.

The couple returned to the compound together. At this time, Zheng Huimin hadn’t come back yet, but they did run into a few railway police officers. The two groups passed each other by, and the officers had just come out of their compound.

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei entered the courtyard and couldn’t help but glance back. Ming Mei asked, “What were they here for? Were they looking for your brother?”

In their compound, only Zhuang Zhiyuan worked for the railway—oh, wait, Li Junjun did too.

As the two muttered to themselves, Aunt Zhou suddenly popped out and said, “They were here for your mom.”

Zhuang Zhixi asked, “My mom? What good deed has she done this time?”

Aunt Zhou’s tone was full of pride as she replied, “Not just your mom, but us too. They came to thank us. We helped out big time on the train. Not only did we catch a group of human traffickers, but we also nabbed some thieves. Oh, and on our way back from Guangzhou, we spotted a gambling ring on the train. Your mom and I even went undercover to investigate! We wrote down their methods and physical descriptions. As soon as we got off the train, we handed it over to the railway authorities, and they’ve already arrested the culprits. They came to thank us, hehe.”

When it came to this matter, Aunt Zhou was especially proud.

This wasn’t just Zhao Guihua’s accomplishment—they had all played a part. Not only had they helped catch the criminals, but they had also participated in the “investigation.”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Wow, you all are really aging like fine wine.”

Aunt Zhou beamed with pride, “Of course! This time, we just provided some clues, so it’s not that big of a deal. But the police officers said that since we helped catch those traffickers earlier, they’re going to reward us. The investigation isn’t over yet, but once it’s done, they’ll come back and present us with a commendation banner.”

She had never been praised like this in her life. It was the kind of thing that could make her laugh in her sleep!

Zhuang Zhixi said, “You sure kept yourselves busy during this trip.”

“Of course!”

Aunt Zhou said, “Alright, you should go see your mom now. I need to go spread the word.”

This kind of news deserved to be shared far and wide. They had done something truly remarkable. Aunt Zhou was practically floating with joy. Not only had she made money from her street vending, but she had also been praised for her good deeds.

It felt like she had finally found her purpose in life.

Aunt Zhou said proudly, “I need to go tell all my neighbors and old friends about this.”

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, “Go ahead. Our alley is a model of civility. No one else can match our standards.”

“Absolutely.”

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei bid farewell to Aunt Zhou. As soon as they got home, they saw Zhao Guihua proudly showing off to the neighbors, her tone just as boastful as Aunt Zhou’s. Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, “Mom, I heard you got praised?”

Zhao Guihua replied, “Of course! I just couldn’t stand by and do nothing when I saw something wrong. Who knew it would turn out so well? Hahaha!”

She was overjoyed and said, “I’ve got a sharp eye. I can spot trouble from a mile away.”

Zhuang Zhixi asked, “So they caught all of them?”

Zhao Guihua said, “They did. Once the investigation is over, we’ll even get a commendation banner.”

At their age, things like this mattered a lot. Whether it was Aunt Zhou, Zhao Guihua, or the others who had participated, they all wanted this kind of recognition. What an honor!

Zhuang Zhixi said, “If you think about it, you’ve always had a knack for spotting human traffickers. You were the one who noticed something was off when that child was kidnapped before. And now you’ve done it again.”

Although Zhao Guihua was tempted to brag, she didn’t take all the credit. She said, “Well, that girl was also very alert.”

She didn’t mention Zheng Huifang directly.

But as she spoke about the incident, Zhao Guihua added, “I just heard that this group of traffickers is a bit different from the usual ones. They’re not just in it for the money.”

“Oh?”

Zhao Guihua explained, “I heard that the female trafficker is the eldest daughter of a village chief. Their village is extremely poor, tucked away in a remote mountain area. Most families there want sons, so many baby girls are drowned at birth. As a result, there are very few women left in the village. With so few women and mostly boys, no outside girls want to marry into such a poor place. So, the village chief came up with a plan to kidnap girls from outside. His eldest daughter led the operation, and the male accomplices were all from the same clan. Apparently, several men from the village take turns going out with her. Some girls are tricked into coming, while others are drugged and taken away. At first, they tried to lure girls with lies, but that didn’t work very well. Over time, it became too risky. So now they use sleeping pills to knock the girls out and pretend they’re just a family traveling together. They always make sure to kidnap at least four girls per trip to make the train ticket worth it. This isn’t the first time they’ve done this.”

Ming Mei listened in shock, feeling her hair stand on end.

“They don’t want daughters, but they’ll kidnap other girls to marry their sons and continue their family line? Why hasn’t lightning struck them dead?”

Zhao Guihua said, “I know, right?”

“But their village must have some connections. How else could they get their hands on sleeping pills?”

At this, Zhao Guihua’s expression turned even more complicated. She said, “The village chief’s younger daughter works at the town hospital. She agreed to help get the sleeping pills on the condition that she wouldn’t have to marry any of the village men. She didn’t want to marry any of them, but she knew she couldn’t avoid it forever. So, she came up with a plan—sacrificing others to save herself.”

“Disgusting!”

Many people in the courtyard had gathered to listen, including He Lan and others. Hearing this, they felt sick to their stomachs.

He Lan said, “What kind of people are these? There’s not a single decent one among them.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Even Wang Zizhen, who had come to watch the commotion, couldn’t understand it. Her village was also poor and didn’t value daughters, but they didn’t go as far as killing baby girls.

Her own parents hadn’t done something so extreme.

She said, “Our village isn’t like that.”

Zhao Guihua said, “Well, that’s just how it is. This country is vast, and there will always be places that are poorer and more backward.”

The women in the room were furious, and while the men were also upset, the women could relate to the situation more deeply. Wang Zizhen said, “This makes my heart ache.”

Zhao Guihua said, “I’ve been thinking about how we can raise awareness and help more people stay vigilant. If even one person avoids being kidnapped because of it, it’ll be worth it.”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “We could write a guide and try to get it published, but most publishers won’t run something like that.”

Although literature had become more open compared to earlier years, not everything could be published. Works with more literary value were still preferred. A straightforward guide on how to avoid scams, while useful, might not make the cut for various reasons.

Ming Mei blinked and said, “What if we submit it to the railway department? A lot of traffickers use trains to transport their victims, and some even commit crimes on the train. If the railway repeatedly broadcasts warnings about human trafficking methods, wouldn’t that make more people cautious?”

She added seriously, “It might be hard to get it published in a newspaper, but what if we submit it to the railway department’s publicity office? Your brother works there—he could help us find out.”

Zhao Guihua said, “That’s a good idea.”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Then you all can describe the situation, and I’ll write it up.”

Working in the publicity office, he was skilled at writing articles. Something like this would be easy for him, and he knew how to phrase things appropriately. He said, “Let’s get started right away!”

“Deal!”

Zhao Guihua agreed without hesitation.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, “If it doesn’t get accepted, don’t be too disappointed.”

Zhao Guihua shot him a look and said, “Do I seem like that kind of person? If it doesn’t work out, so be it. But we have to at least try.”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Exactly.”

"I can also offer some advice."

"I can too!"

Everyone chimed in, not seeking fame or profit, but genuinely hoping to make a difference.

Just as things were heating up, Zheng Huimin returned. She froze at the door, asking, "Why is everyone gathered here?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "We're discussing some matters. How did things go on your end?"

Unaware of the situation, everyone was startled by Zheng Huimin's appearance and quickly asked, "Are you okay?"

"What happened? Did you get into a fight with someone?"

Zheng Huimin said, "I went home and had a fight with my parents."

She didn't elaborate further. Her eyes scanned the room, but she didn't see Li Junjun. Remembering that he worked day and night, she didn't linger for small talk. With a weak smile, she let Guan Hong help her home. The others wanted to ask more, but it didn't feel appropriate to press her.

However, by the next day, everyone quickly found out what had happened to Zheng Huimin. After all, to make a show of support, Guan Hong had called a few young men from their workshop to accompany her. Young men care about face, and even if they weren't particularly close to Guan Hong, since she had asked, they couldn't easily refuse.

They were glad they had gone along, or else Zheng Huimin might have been driven to drastic measures.

The things Zheng Huimin's parents said were clearly manipulative, and even the young men could see through it. If they really didn't want her to leave, why were they selling their jobs and house? Actions speak louder than words.

Their behavior was telling, and Zheng Huimin's mother—oh, the things she said! It was harsh and cruel, the kind of talk you'd expect from a bitter old woman, not someone who should care for her child.

Having witnessed this, they naturally had to talk about it.

Though Zheng Huimin wasn't closely connected to them, gossip is a universal pastime. Soon, the story spread around the factory, and even Guan Hong's reputation improved a bit. Previously, Guan Hong hadn't had the best reputation—not just because she had gone on a blind date with Li Weiwei and then taken a liking to someone else that same day, but that's another story.

Mainly, Guan Hong was known for being petty, harsh, and always looking to take advantage. On top of that, she had a bit of a romantic streak, having once run away from home for a man. Such behavior made her seem unreliable, and her reputation wasn't great.

But yesterday's events showed a different side of her—a more loyal and brave one.

The factory workers knew, and so did the residents of the compound, since most of them worked at the factory.

As for Zheng Huimin's situation, no one was particularly surprised. After all, the compound was well-acquainted with Guan Guiling. Bai Fendou had almost been swindled by her, if not for Chen Yuan stepping in at the last moment.

Speaking of Chen Yuan, people couldn't help but marvel at his rise to power and wealth after exacting his revenge.

He was quite the "great man."

That said, most people didn't think highly of Chen Yuan. Even though he was the son of Director Chen—now Deputy Factory Director Chen—Chen Yuan himself wasn't well-regarded. For instance, Zhuang Zhixi had personally seen Chen Yuan walking intimately with another woman.

Of course, others had seen it too.

Though Chen Yuan no longer worked at the machinery factory, many were still familiar with him. Quite a few had noticed him getting cozy with a female colleague. The problem was, he was still married—he hadn't divorced his wife, Tao Yuyue, who worked in the factory's health clinic.

No one could tell if Tao Yuyue knew about her husband's infidelity. Over the years, she had climbed the ranks at the factory thanks to her father-in-law's influence. When Director Chen was promoted to Deputy Factory Director, Tao Yuyue was promoted to Deputy Director of the clinic.

Many in the factory whispered that this was Director Chen's way of compensating Tao Yuyue. After all, if Chen Yuan's affair became public, it would spell disaster for the whole family. Tao Yuyue not making a fuss and keeping the family stable was no small feat.

But Tao Yuyue seemed unfazed.

Coincidentally, Zhuang Zhixi ran into Tao Yuyue while heading downstairs to the restroom. He nodded and was about to walk away when Tao Yuyue called out, "Zhuang Zhixi."

Zhuang Zhixi turned back, "Deputy Director Tao, is there something you need?"

Tao Yuyue smiled, "Our families exchanged houses a while back, right? Your brother and I."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, waiting for her to continue. Tao Yuyue went on, "At the time, we just wrote up an exchange agreement but didn't go through any formal procedures. Now that it's been so many years, I hear we can officially complete the paperwork. I was thinking, maybe we should finalize the formalities?"

Zhuang Zhixi had no objections. They had agreed on everything back then, and he saw no reason to make things difficult now. He said, "Sure, that's fine. But my brother is away on a business trip and won't be back for about a week. How about we set a date for a week from now?"

Tao Yuyue smiled, "Of course, that works. But do remind your brother, okay?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Will do."

Tao Yuyue nodded, then added, "By the way, I heard your mom has been setting up a stall at Xidan. She's quite the famous 'Xidan Auntie' now."

Zhuang Zhixi wasn't embarrassed at all. He said, "Yeah, my mom's more famous than I am these days. Mention Zhuang Zhixi, and no one knows who you're talking about. But say 'Xidan stall owner Auntie Zhao,' and everyone knows her."

Tao Yuyue said with a meaningful tone, "It must be quite profitable, running a stall at her age. It's not easy."

Zhuang Zhixi replied seriously, "Money isn't the main thing. At her age, happiness is what matters most. Plus, she needs to feel valued. Elderly people fear being treated as if they're useless. Now, she's full of energy every day, so it's not about the money."

He could sense a hint of sarcasm in Tao Yuyue's tone, but he chose not to engage.

After a pause, he added with a smile, "Some things are never about the money. Anyway, I'll be going now!"

Since they weren't in the same department, he saw no need to flatter her.

As Zhuang Zhixi walked away, Tao Yuyue snorted. She had joined the factory later than Zhuang Zhixi and had taken over his position after he was transferred. Being in the same role, people inevitably compared them, and most agreed that Zhuang Zhixi was the better of the two.

Over time, Tao Yuyue had heard some of these comments privately. She resented the gossipers and, to some extent, blamed Zhuang Zhixi. She didn't see what was so great about him.

But now she was a leader, while Zhuang Zhixi was still a lowly clerk.

She smirked mockingly, thinking he wasn't all that impressive.

In reality, Tao Yuyue was overestimating herself. Though she was the Deputy Director of the clinic, the position was rather insignificant. In a factory of ten thousand employees, the clinic staff numbered in the single digits, making the department quite marginal.

In such a department, even the director had little influence, let alone a deputy with no real power.

But Tao Yuyue didn't see it that way. She held her head high, proud of her leadership role.

She watched Zhuang Zhixi from a distance, shrugged, and headed upstairs.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixi glanced back after she left. He didn't know much about real estate, but his mother had always believed their family had gotten the better end of the house exchange. He agreed with her reasoning.

That's why he thought Tao Yuyue pushing to formalize the paperwork was a good thing.

As he reached the restroom, someone grabbed him, startling Zhuang Zhixi. "What the—!"

Was he being mugged in the restroom?

He looked closer and said, "Zhang San, what are you doing?"

Zhang San grinned.

Zhuang Zhixi was puzzled. "What's going on?"

That smile was a bit unsettling.

He asked warily, "What do you want?"

Zhang San said, "Xiao Zhuang, I need your help with something."

After a pause, he added, "Actually, I need your mom's help."

Zhuang Zhixi: "………………"

It was truly a silent minute.

Has his mother become some big shot now? Why is everyone looking for her help? This one, that one, everyone seems to need her assistance. When did she become so influential? Zhuang Zhixi was genuinely shocked!

He asked, "What do you want?"

Zhang San replied, "I have a room in our courtyard, right? I want to sell it as soon as possible. Your mom has a lot of influence around here and knows many people. Could she help spread the word and connect me with potential buyers?"

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised, "You want to sell your house?"

Why was everyone talking about houses today?

Earlier, he ran into Tao Yuyue, who was also talking about houses, and now Zhang San was doing the same?

He looked Zhang San up and down and asked, "Why would you suddenly want to sell your house?"

Zhang San chuckled, "Well, I’ve moved in with my mother-in-law’s family. Coincidentally, there’s a house for sale in their building, so I thought I’d gather some money to buy an apartment. Living in an apartment is much better than staying in the courtyard, don’t you think?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Well, that depends on who you ask. If it were my mom, she’d definitely say the courtyard is better."

Zhang San sighed, "Ah, older folks are always attached to their old neighbors and enjoy the hustle and bustle. But when it comes to actually living there, an apartment is definitely more convenient. Trust me, after just a few days, I’ve already noticed how much easier it is. No more going outside to use the restroom in the freezing cold, heavy rain, or snowstorms. It’s a lot less suffering."

Zhuang Zhixi understood. He said, "Alright, I’ll mention it to my mom. How much are you planning to sell the house for?"

Zhang San replied, "Five hundred and fifty yuan."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Got it. I’ll pass that along."

The price was reasonable, neither too high nor too low.

Zhang San added, "This is a fair price. Make sure your mom helps spread the word! I need the money to buy the apartment."

Zhuang Zhixi waved him off, "Alright, alright, I get it."

Finally, Zhang San let Zhuang Zhixi go, and Zhuang Zhixi could finally head to the restroom.

After finishing his business, Zhang San turned to gossip, "What were you talking to Tao Yuyue about earlier? That woman is something else. Her husband messes around outside, and she acts like she doesn’t see it. You wouldn’t believe it, but she even shut down some people who tried to gossip about him in front of her. She’s really loyal to him, but I don’t get why."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "What could I possibly talk to her about? We’re not close. It’s just that my older brother swapped houses with her before. Now she’s coming to our family to finalize the paperwork. It’s just routine stuff."

Zhang San sighed, "Ah, I thought you were discussing something else. She’s really lucky. She doesn’t have any real skills, but she married into a good family. Now she’s really turned her life around."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled.

Zhang San was much more informed than Zhuang Zhixi. He continued, "Look at us, we’re the same age, but she’s about to go overseas to broaden her horizons, while I’m still struggling with housing."

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised, "Overseas?"

Zhang San was equally surprised, "You didn’t know?"

Then he realized it wasn’t strange that Zhuang Zhixi didn’t know. The guy had been busy helping his mom with her stall and was always buried in paperwork at work. It made sense that he hadn’t heard the hottest gossip at the factory recently.

Thinking about it, Zhang San felt proud of his role as the town’s gossip king and chuckled.

He leaned in mysteriously and said, "You don’t know this, but our factory is organizing an overseas trip. To the United States."

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "A trip? I’ve heard about that, but Tao Yuyue, the deputy director of the medical office, is going too?"

It wasn’t that he looked down on female colleagues. If the factory’s female deputy director were going, he’d find that normal. But Tao Yuyue? She was the deputy director of the factory’s medical office, a position that had been stagnant for ten years.

She had no real standing in the factory.

Her position? Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t believe she’d be chosen to go.

Seeing Zhuang Zhixi’s shocked expression, Zhang San smirked proudly and said, "You’re not as well-informed as I am, are you? She’s really going. It’s all thanks to her father-in-law, Deputy Director Chen, who fought hard for her. You wouldn’t believe how ridiculous it is. Deputy Director Chen’s reasoning was that since it’s their first time going abroad, they might face issues like adjusting to the climate and unfamiliar surroundings. Having someone they know, especially a doctor, would be a big help in case of emergencies. Not only could she act as the team’s doctor, but she could also take care of everyone’s daily needs, making things much easier for the group."

Zhuang Zhixi was speechless, "…That’s truly absurd!"

Tao Yuyue was no doctor. Everyone knew she graduated from a nursing school with barely passing grades. She nearly killed Bai Fendou when she gave him an injection years ago, and her skills hadn’t improved much since then.

This was really something!

Even Zhuang Zhixi felt embarrassed by such a blatant lie. Leaders really could lie without batting an eye!

Zhang San agreed, "Right? Anyone who hears this would be shocked."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "So it’s settled? She’s going?"

"Yep, all thanks to her father-in-law’s backing."

Zhuang Zhixi clicked his tongue in amazement.

He patted Zhang San’s shoulder and said, "No use being envious. Let’s work hard and maybe we’ll get to see the world ourselves someday."

"Yeah, yeah, keep dreaming," Zhang San teased.

Zhuang Zhixi laughed.

After chatting with Zhang San, Zhuang Zhixi didn’t linger. His workload wasn’t heavy, but he was currently working on an anti-kidnapping guide for his mom. As for Zhang San’s house, Zhuang Zhixi immediately thought of his own family.

Not that he wanted to buy it, but his mom might.

Zhuang Zhixi actually believed that as the population grew, housing prices would rise, especially since they were already increasing. However, their family already had three rooms in the courtyard, which was more than enough. Buying more would just mean renting them out, and renting out properties in their courtyard wasn’t ideal.

If he were to buy a house, he’d consider other locations, but he thought his mom might be interested. When his parents divided the family property, they gave each of their sons a room. His mom had always said that if the opportunity arose, she’d buy a room for his second sister too, as she wanted to treat all three children equally.

She had repeated this so often that both Zhuang Zhiyuan’s family and Zhuang Zhixi’s family were well aware of it and considered it a given.

Zhang San used to live next to his parents, so it wasn’t surprising if he had overheard this. Zhuang Zhixi felt that Zhang San wasn’t just asking his mom to spread the word but was also subtly offering the house to their family to see if they were interested.

After all, not many people were buying houses these days.

It was strange. Even though housing was tight for most families, there weren’t many actual property transactions happening.

Zhuang Zhixi tapped the desk, thinking his mom might indeed be interested.

According to her, both of her sons had rooms in the courtyard, so she’d likely want her daughter to have one too. Zhuang Zhixi decided to go home and ask his mom if she was interested.

If she wasn’t, he’d help spread the word for Zhang San. If she was, they could start negotiating the price. Even though his second sister couldn’t return to Beijing to live, her children, Da Bao and Er Bao, were planning to attend military academies in the capital next year.

Besides, they could always rent it out for now!

So Zhuang Zhixi was eager to go home and discuss this with his mom.

"What are you doing? Why are you zoning out?" Old Huang noticed Zhuang Zhixi’s distracted expression and asked.

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I’m thinking about my mom."

Old Huang muttered, "Mama’s boy!"

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Hey, I’m heading home for a bit."

Old Huang sighed, "Fine, I’ll cover for you. Just say you’re going to the restroom. Hurry back."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Got it."

He quickly headed downstairs. He could have waited until evening to bring this up, but Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t resist discussing it with his mom sooner. Besides, work wasn’t busy, and his mom should be home for lunch around this time.

Zhao Guihua was also quite busy these days.

If he didn’t catch her during mealtime, he might not see her at all.

Zhuang Zhixi quickly made his way home, and as soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Su Jinlai, dressed rather flamboyantly. His hair was slicked back as if a cow had licked it, and when he saw Zhuang Zhixi, he gave a somewhat haughty smile.

"Uncle Zhuang, skipping work again, huh?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Got a new gig, I see?"

Su Jinlai smiled faintly and said, "What can I say? When you're as handsome and famous as I am, everyone loves having me as their tour guide."

Zhuang Zhixi: "...Oh."

Yeah, right.

As if you’re a tour guide.

But he still smiled and said, "Well, good luck with that."

Su Jinlai: "Of course."

He proudly tilted his head and walked away, heading straight to Hu Huihui's office. Hu Huihui had rented a storefront on the street, with a sign for a travel agency, but in reality, she dabbled in all sorts of businesses.

As soon as Su Jinlai arrived, Hu Huihui frowned and said, "What’s with your outfit? Wash that hair off. I need you to look fresh and youthful, not greasy like this."

Men, she thought, really don’t understand what women want. Middle-aged women looking for young men want that innocent, fresh vibe.

Su Jinlai muttered, "But the women I’ve been with before liked it."

Hu Huihui: "But men don’t!"

Su Jinlai rolled his eyes: "This is just a companion gig, why so much fuss?"

He had already thought this through. The job was for a couple from Hong Kong who wanted a companion for their trip. But Su Jinlai knew the truth—it was essentially a gig where he’d be sleeping with the wife.

He was genuinely shocked. People from Hong Kong really knew how to play. The couple was coming together, and the wife was hiring a male escort? That was wild!

He’d never seen anything like it.

He had a clear understanding of his role: take the couple around to see the sights of Beijing, but mainly sleep with the wife. She must be older, otherwise, they wouldn’t be offering two thousand for ten days.

As for the husband, he probably didn’t need to worry about him at night.

Su Jinlai secretly thought that the husband would likely find some young girl to spend the night with, but that wasn’t his concern. His focus was on the wealthy wife.

With this in mind, Su Jinlai didn’t pay much attention to the husband. After all, he wasn’t the client.

But he hadn’t expected Hu Huihui to have so many demands.

He went to the back to wash his hair and came out looking clean and fresh. Hu Huihui nodded in approval, but she still sighed, "You’ve got the looks, but you’re not much of a talker."

This guy was the type who’d even make eating soft rice a hard job.

She mused, "Out of everyone in your neighborhood, I think Zhuang Zhixi and your brother Tonglai are the most promising. They’ve got the charm—always smiling, easy to talk to, and they don’t come off as annoying. Plus, they’re good-looking. Zhuang Zhixi’s already in his thirties, but he still looks fresh. He could easily play an 18-year-old college student in a TV drama."

Su Jinlai’s face darkened. Talking about other men in front of him? That was a slap in the face!

He couldn’t stand this kind of humiliation. If it weren’t for the money, he wouldn’t be here.

But instead of arguing, he said, "Zhuang Zhixi’s busy with his stall now. He doesn’t have time for you."

Hu Huihui nodded approvingly, "He’s not just good-looking; he’s sharp too. He doesn’t care what people think. I think he’s going to make it big."

She was in business herself and knew that many people looked down on entrepreneurs, thinking they were beneath them. But Hu Huihui believed that those who succeeded had vision. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be where they were.

Her words only made Su Jinlai’s face darker.

He swore that as long as he was around, Zhuang Zhixi would never get into this line of work!

Never!

Not a chance!

Impossible!

He swore it!!!

He bit back his anger as Hu Huihui continued, "You and your brother are from the same family. Why can’t you learn to be as sweet-talking as Tonglai? I heard he’s getting tutoring for free because he’s so good at networking."

This made Su Jinlai even more upset.

He said stiffly, "My brother’s studying for college. Don’t distract him. If my mom finds out you’re eyeing him, she’ll come after you with a kitchen knife."

He looked at Hu Huihui seriously and added, "I’m not joking. My mom would do it. My little brother is her only hope. She wants our family to have a college graduate."

In this day and age, having a college graduate in the family was a matter of pride.

Even if the Su family didn’t have much to be proud of.

But every parent wanted their child to succeed.

Su Jinlai: "So stop dreaming."

Hu Huihui: "...How dare you talk to me like that? I was just making an offhand comment. Do you think I’d ruin someone’s future? I just want you to learn from them. You don’t need to flatter people outright—that just makes you look cheap. You need to make people feel comfortable without them realizing it. That’s the real skill."

She added earnestly, "You need to learn."

Su Jinlai: "..."

Learn your ass!

He stayed silent, pursing his lips. Hu Huihui said, "Alright, your hair’s dry. Let’s head to the hotel."

Su Jinlai: "Fine."

At least he wouldn’t have to listen to her lecturing anymore.

The two took a taxi. Every time he got into a cab, Su Jinlai felt a sense of pride. This wasn’t something just anyone could afford. It was only because Hu Huihui’s shop was in a bustling area. If they were in his neighborhood, they’d be waiting all morning for a cab.

No chance.

They arrived at the hotel, where Hu Huihui was a regular. She knew the place well.

Even Su Jinlai had been here twice before, so he was somewhat familiar with it.

He couldn’t help but ask, "Auntie, how do you have so many connections?"

Hu Huihui shot him a look and said, "You think I just fell into success? I’ve spent years selling stuff at the night market, getting to know antique dealers, and meeting foreigners. My business now is all built on word of mouth from previous clients. You think making money is easy? You haven’t seen me groveling to get where I am."

Over the years, she’d had to humble herself so much that it had changed her personality.

She used to nitpick over every little thing, but now she didn’t care. Even when Wang Xiangxiu yelled at her, she could ignore it. It was all part of growing up. Once you started making money, you realized how trivial those little things were.

She said, "Do well, and someday you can open your own shop. You can’t do this forever. When you’re older, you can hire young guys to make money for you. This business isn’t bad."

Su Jinlai: "Got it, got it."

Why was she still going on?

Women and their endless chatter.

Hu Huihui was sharp and could tell Su Jinlai was annoyed. She shrugged. If he wasn’t going to listen, she wasn’t going to waste her breath. They got off the elevator, and Hu Huihui led Su Jinlai to a room.

When the door opened, a middle-aged man with a beer belly and a receding hairline greeted them.

The man, Mr. Li, looked Su Jinlai up and down and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."

Hu Huihui smiled and said, "Of course. I wouldn’t recommend just anyone."

She added, "This is my nephew."

Mr. Li didn’t seem to care. "Really?"

Hu Huihui: "Of course. He’s my cousin’s son. Take good care of him, Mr. Li."

Mr. Li gave a sleazy smile and slapped Su Jinlai’s butt. "Don’t worry!"

Su Jinlai: "What the hell!"

This guy was disgusting.

Mr. Li: "Feisty, huh? Alright, Hu Huihui, see you tomorrow."

Hu Huihui: "Sure."

She turned and left. Su Jinlai might not be the best, but he was willing to do what it took.

Meanwhile, Su Jinlai walked into the room and saw a woman who looked about the same age as Mr. Li. If Mr. Li was in his forties, this woman had to be in her fifties. He was stunned. Earning those two thousand yuan wasn’t going to be easy.

He barely managed to hold himself together and asked, "When are we heading out?"

As he turned around, he exclaimed, "Holy crap!"

Why was the bald guy naked?

The bald guy said, "Why are we going out? Didn’t you come here to keep us company?"

"You... you..."

Su Jinlai instantly understood. It wasn’t because he was quick-witted, but because he had seen a lot growing up.

Things like this weren’t unheard of in their neighborhood!

Although it usually ended in chaos, he still knew a thing or two about it.

Now he got it. So, "keeping them company" meant this?

By this point, Su Jinlai had already been pushed down by the bald guy. Su Jinlai let out a yelp, shoved the bald guy away, and bolted for the door, shouting, "I’m out! I didn’t sign up for this! I’m not doing it! Help me!"

He desperately tried to open the door, but the more panicked he got, the harder it became.

The couple, seeing Su Jinlai completely lose it, were dumbfounded. Wasn’t this supposed to be agreed upon? Didn’t the young man know what he was getting into? Was this some kind of act? Or was he just playing hard to get?

Surely, he couldn’t actually be scared and trying to run away.

As they stood there in confusion, Su Jinlai was already crying so hard that snot and tears covered his face. The bald guy said, "Young man, you..."

"Ahhh, don’t come near me!"

Su Jinlai finally managed to open the door and dashed out, shouting, "I’m not doing this anymore..."

He ran so fast that he even lost one of his shoes. He was crying so hard that he couldn’t even think of hailing a cab or taking a bus. Instead, he ran barefoot down the street, sobbing all the way.

"This is so unfair! You’re bullying me! I’m a guy! How could you make me do this?"

He cried with all his might, wailing, "Why am I so unlucky? Lately, I’ve been cursed with bad luck. Why does it always follow me?"

As Su Jinlai sprinted down the street, the people inside finally snapped out of their confusion. After exchanging glances, they realized what had happened and grew furious. Hu Huihui, how could you mess this up? The young man clearly wasn’t willing!

They might have their interests, but they weren’t about to force anyone into anything.

Meanwhile, Hu Huihui, who had just been chewed out over the phone, was equally baffled. She had been crystal clear about everything, and Su Jinlai had assured her he understood. How could he back out at the last minute?

Was he trying to raise the price?

But then again, Su Jinlai wasn’t that clever.

Did he have a sudden change of heart?

No, that didn’t seem right either, given how he’d acted earlier.

If it wasn’t this or that, then there was only one likely explanation.

Su Jinlai genuinely didn’t know what he was getting into. He really hadn’t understood.

Hu Huihui was at a loss for words. So, yesterday’s conversation had been a complete misunderstanding!

This was such a headache!

If she had known, she would’ve spelled it out clearly!

Now, it was too late. Seeing how things had turned out, there was no point in explaining. She had to rush over and apologize. Mr. Li needed to be appeased, or her reputation would be ruined. Her business relied entirely on word of mouth.

She wasn’t in the business of pimping; she aimed to build closer relationships with her clients and ensure their satisfaction. Her main goal was to secure other benefits from them. For example, foreigners loved buying antiques, so she ran a shop selling fake ones.

There was also the time she got a batch of TV purchase permits.

She wanted more than just money. She wasn’t a madam; she just wanted her clients to feel at home.

Thinking this, Hu Huihui urged the driver, "Step on it, please..."

Hu Huihui didn’t bother with Su Jinlai. He had taken her money and caused her trouble. She wasn’t going to let that slide, but her priority now was to soothe her clients. Meanwhile, Su Jinlai ran all the way home, looking as pitiful as a little cabbage.

As he reached his doorstep, he saw Zhao Guihua returning from outside. It seemed she hadn’t set up her stall that afternoon.

The moment he saw a familiar face, he broke down in tears and rushed over, crying, "Aunt Zhao, I’ve been through hell!"

Zhao Guihua: "..."

You sound like the opening theme of a horror show.

Despite her utter disdain for Su Jinlai, she still steadied him and asked, "What happened to you?"

Su Jinlai cried harder than Zheng Huimin ever had during her tantrums.

He was both heartbroken and lost, sobbing, "My aunt set me up with a man! I almost got taken advantage of! Thankfully, I ran fast... waaah!"

Zhao Guihua: "Holy crap!"

Su Jinlai: "I bolted without a second thought. I even lost my shoes! What am I supposed to do now? Will my aunt come after me?"

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Su Jinlai: "I’d rather die than entertain a man! I’d rather die!"

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Su Jinlai: "The women she set me up with were terrifying enough, but now there are men too? You have no idea, the first time she introduced me to three foreign women, and they were all so scary..."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Su Jinlai: "The second time was some Chinese-American woman. She was older, and she... she wanted it ten times a day and still complained I wasn’t good enough. I was drained! I’m so miserable..."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

She really didn’t want to know so many secrets, but Su Jinlai was clearly on the verge of a breakdown, and venting seemed to be his only solace. Zhao Guihua sighed and said, "Stop shouting! Do you want the whole neighborhood to know? Let’s talk inside."

Su Jinlai suddenly clutched his clothes tightly and said, "Inside? You’re not planning to take advantage of me, are you?"

Zhao Guihua’s face instantly darkened, and she kicked him hard. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even realize how old I am compared to you? Idiot! Moron! Imbecile!"

Su Jinlai blinked, still confused, but then said, "How did you know I still have a thousand bucks on me?"

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Wait, you were talking about a thousand bucks?

Oh!

Misunderstanding!