My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Hello, 1997.

Time flies, and as the 1980s pass, the 1990s come rushing in. Compared to the hardships of the 1970s and the reform and opening-up of the 1980s, the 1990s brought even more changes. Things like televisions and bicycles were no longer rare items; people's standards of living had improved, with taxis replacing pedicabs, and dining out becoming more common. It was also a time when the once-prominent machinery factories had vanished.

The once-glorious state-owned enterprises, which had been the envy of many, had now completely shut down, and their workers had been laid off. The machinery factories of the 1970s and 1980s were highly sought-after workplaces, offering good benefits and high efficiency. However, they couldn't withstand the tides of change, and by the early 1990s, they began to decline. After struggling intermittently, they finally closed their doors in 1996. The once-thriving factory, which had employed tens of thousands, had come to an end.

Although the machinery factory officially closed in 1996, its decline had begun in the early 1990s. Those with connections and resourcefulness had already started looking for new opportunities. Compared to the wave of layoffs in other enterprises across the capital, the machinery factory's situation wasn't the worst, but it certainly wasn't the best either.

Despite the lingering bitterness, life had to go on. A year wasn't enough to heal the pain of being laid off, but people had grown accustomed to it. Fortunately, the neighborhood of Xinghua Li wasn't hit too hard. While the loss of the factory, where many had devoted their entire lives, was deeply felt, it didn't leave people destitute. This area, which was essentially the old residential quarters of the machinery factory, was full of hardworking people, thanks in part to Zhao Guihua and others. As early as the 1980s, the residents had started "hustling," and anyone who didn't take on side jobs was labeled "lazy."

In this environment, the people here were relatively well-off. The money earned in the 1980s had real purchasing power. People tend to follow the crowd, and with role models to emulate, the neighborhood thrived and prospered. Even though the layoffs were painful, they were still better off than many others.

At this point, many were grateful they had saved money over the years and worked hard, or else they would have been left in the dark.

Now, more than a year later, people had gradually adjusted to life after the layoffs.

Just like ten or twenty years ago, the courtyard was bustling with noise early in the morning—coughing, the sound of water running, and parents scolding their children filled the air.

The young people of the past had become middle-aged, and the young couples had settled down and started families.

Thirteen years had passed, and the courtyard had seen many changes. Lan Sihai had passed away three years ago at the age of 93, which was considered a blessed age. According to his wishes, he left his house to his wife, Luo Xiaohe. Luo Xiaohe had lived a difficult life in her earlier years, but her later years were much easier. With Lan Sihai, she had truly found joy in life.

Over the years, she had become close with Zhao Guihua, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Zhou, forming a new group of "four aunties."

After Lan Sihai's passing, Luo Xiaohe's nieces, nephews, and other relatives had offered to take her in, but she declined. She had grown accustomed to life in the courtyard. Though she was quiet and seemingly unremarkable, Luo Xiaohe was an integral part of the new "four aunties."

She got along well with everyone and enjoyed her life there. She had no desire to move in with her younger relatives, knowing that distance often makes the heart grow fonder, and living together might lead to conflicts. She had her own place and savings, so why would she want to live with others? It might not turn out well.

Now, Luo Xiaohe spent her days with Zhao Guihua, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Zhou. They danced in the square, strolled around looking for anything suspicious, and then returned to drink tea, eat snacks, and gossip. Life was good.

While Luo Xiaohe stayed, others had moved away. One family, the Zhaos, who lived in the backyard, had quietly left. They had seen the factory's decline and found a way out, transferring to another unit. Since it was too far from the courtyard and they had some savings, they bought an apartment and moved out. They sold their two rooms in the courtyard, and no one competed with Aunt Wang, who, along with Li the Cook, bought the rooms for their grandsons. The other room they had bought outside was now rented out, but the property had been given to Li Zhenzhen.

In addition to the Zhao family, the Sui family had also moved away.

The Sui family was large, but their children had done well for themselves. After getting married, they sold their rooms in the courtyard and moved their parents out, leaving even earlier than the Zhao family. The Sui family's three rooms were sold to Wang Zizhen.

Wang Zizhen had also moved from the neighboring courtyard, renting out her three rooms there. She had always been close with the residents of this courtyard, and everyone was used to her presence.

Now, Zhao Guihua and the others were in their seventies, no longer hustling like they had in their younger days. The old ladies were in good spirits, with money in their pockets and a spring in their step.

Over the past decade, the courtyard had seen many changes, but in some ways, it remained the same. The children had grown up, but a new generation had arrived, keeping the courtyard lively. Early in the morning, someone was already scolding a child, with Guan Hong shouting:

"You're just like a lazy donkey—full of excuses. Whether you like it or not, you're going to kindergarten today. Crying won't help."

"Waaah, I don't want to go to school! I don't want to go to kindergarten!" The chubby little boy rolled on the ground, while his mother stood with her hands on her hips, saying, "If you keep rolling around, you won't get any candy or meat for a while. You'll only eat vegetables."

"Waaah, I don't want to eat vegetables! I'm not a rabbit, I don't eat greens! I want meat..."

"Then go to school! Don't think you can get out of it!"

"I don't want to... Waaah, Daddy, save me..."

Su Jinlai couldn't help but whisper, "Maybe let him take the day off? It's just kindergarten—it's not like he's learning much. Look how upset he is..."

The little boy immediately looked at his mother with pleading eyes.

Guan Hong glared at the child and then turned to Su Jinlai, snapping, "Su Jinlai, are you trying to undermine me? Didn't I tell you to stay out of it when I'm disciplining the child? Stop playing the nice guy. Where else is he supposed to go if not kindergarten? If he doesn't learn anything now, how will he keep up in elementary school? Besides, it's not his first day at kindergarten. You're going to give in just because he's crying? Are you even a man?"

After this tirade, Su Jinlai quietly retreated into the house.

Guan Hong stood firm, hands on her hips. "Get up! Don't think your dad can save you. No one can help you now!"

The little boy finally realized he had no choice but to go to school. Waaah!

Poor kid, off to school he went.

Mothers really need strong hearts. Guan Hong grabbed her son by the collar, lifting him like a little puppy, and marched off.

The child cried and cried, but there was no escaping kindergarten.

Yes, Guan Hong and Su Jinlai had gotten married. This had come as a surprise to many, but they had gone through a lot together. Although they had met back in 1982, they didn't marry until 1992.

Ten years had passed in between. Su Jinlai was good-looking and had a stable job, though there had been many rumors about him in the past. But as the saying goes, a reformed man is worth his weight in gold, and society tends to be forgiving of men. He had dated several women, but none of the relationships lasted long.

Su Jinlai was a bit of an odd character. While he had some redeeming qualities, his personality wasn't exactly charming. Every relationship started off well, but over time, things fell apart.

On top of that, his mother, Wang Xiangxiu, didn't seem easy to get along with, which scared off many potential partners.

Su Jinlai had dated more than ten women, but he was always the one who got dumped in the end.

The situation had gotten so intense that even the machinery factory started taking bets—speculating on when Su Jinlai would finally get married and how many times he would be dumped. Over this, Su Jinlai cried himself to sleep at night, biting his blanket in despair.

Meanwhile, Guan Hong had truly taken a liking to Li Junjun. Both she and Zheng Huimin were interested in him, but Li Junjun had always harbored feelings for Xiao Yanzi since childhood. After all, some things are hard to change.

However, during her third year of college, Xiao Yanzi started dating a classmate of hers.

From that point on, Li Junjun somewhat gave up, but Guan Hong still didn't succeed in winning him over. Even though Xiao Yanzi didn't like Li Junjun, Li Junjun also didn't have any feelings for Guan Hong. He wasn't the type to be indecisive—whether it was Guan Hong or Zheng Huimin, he made it clear from the start that he wasn't interested.

If they needed help with something, he was willing to lend a hand, but he definitely didn't have any romantic intentions.

Xiao Yanzi was already in a relationship, and Li Junjun had moved on, but he still didn't choose Guan Hong. Guan Hong, too, stopped being persistent. She had been introduced to several potential partners, but all the relationships fizzled out quickly.

Society tends to be harsher on women than on men. Guan Hong was considered late in finding a partner, being in her late twenties, which many saw as too old. Most of the men introduced to her were, frankly, less than ideal—full of nonsense, yet demanding and controlling, even wanting to manage Guan Hong's finances. Guan Hong, not one to tolerate such behavior, always stood her ground, and several of these matchmaking attempts ended in disaster.

Of course, there were also men who actively pursued Guan Hong, some with decent looks and good conditions. But Guan Hong didn't continue any of these relationships either. Having been in business for many years and surrounded by shrewd older women, even if she wasn't close to them, she had picked up a thing or two. She knew that freeloaders were never in short supply, especially since everyone knew she had a fair amount of money. Some men would come sniffing around, drawn by the scent of wealth.

It wasn't just some men—even her own family was like this.

For instance, Guan Hong's parents once asked her to hand over her income so they could save it for her.

Guan Hong refused. She wasn't incapable of saving money herself—why should it go through someone else's hands?

Her mother was somewhat better, but her father even asked to borrow money from her to buy a house for her brother. Guan Hong refused that too. Her brother wanted to buy a house worth 80,000 yuan and asked her for 80,000, while he himself only had 1,000 yuan in savings. Seriously, did they think she was a fool?

Her younger brother also wanted to borrow 10,000 yuan to buy a job, but Guan Hong didn't lend him the money either.

She might have a bad temper, but she wasn't stupid. Even Aunt Wang Zizhen had managed to find a way out of the mountains and carve a path for herself. Why should Guan Hong become a "brother-sustaining machine"?

Because she refused to lend money to her brothers, her relationship with her family had deteriorated over the years.

In the courtyard where she lived, many people's lives had improved because they had money—better living conditions, more harmony, and fewer conflicts. But for Guan Hong, it was the opposite. Her wealth had strained her relationship with her family.

Back when she didn't have much money, she worked a stable job and handed over half her salary to her family for living expenses, keeping the rest for herself. Her parents seemed fair at the time, and she was quite carefree. But after she became wealthy, things changed. Her parents expected her to contribute all her income to support the family.

Both her older brother and younger brother hoped to get money from her, and her parents were no different.

Ironically, their family bonds had become fragile because of money.

Both Su Jinlai and Guan Hong had struggled with relationships and matchmaking, but neither of them was particularly troubled by it. After all, their personalities weren't the type to dwell on such things.

No matter what outsiders said or thought, they both acted as if nothing was wrong.

Logically, they might not have ended up together, especially since they had already cleared the air years ago. But sometimes, fate is unpredictable. Guan Hong's sister-in-law, upset about not being able to take advantage of Guan Hong, came to cause trouble. Su Jinlai happened to be there when it happened.

Su Jinlai, a man with no manners whatsoever, didn't care that the troublemaker was a woman. Guan Hong was part of their courtyard community, and they were all in the same boat. How could he let someone come and bully her? No way!

The people in their courtyard didn't take kindly to being taken advantage of.

Su Jinlai stood up for Guan Hong, not only shutting down the troublemaker but also putting an end to the gossip. Guan Hong... well, she felt that old spark reignite.

She had a bit of a "knight in shining armor" complex, and after a few more interactions, she found herself drawn to Su Jinlai again. She made the first move, and Su Jinlai, not exactly the most disciplined man, went along with it. In the end, they ended up together.

Their relationship surprised many people, as they had been at odds for so long.

But on second thought, it wasn't that strange. After all, Guan Hong had been interested in Su Jinlai before, so it wasn't entirely unexpected for her to fall for him again.

Wang Xiangxiu was in her fifties now. By the time Zhao Guihua was her age, her eldest grandson was already seven or eight years old. But Wang Xiangxiu's son still hadn't married. Over the years, she had come to realize that her eldest son truly had a hard time settling down.

So when Guan Hong expressed interest, Wang Xiangxiu was more than happy.

Su Jinlai and Guan Hong got married on May 1st, 1992, and had a child around May the following year. Their chubby little boy was now four and a half, in kindergarten, and struggling with school.

Every morning, his loud cries could be heard, like a punctual alarm clock.

Now, Guan Hong was dragging her son to kindergarten. Although his grandmother felt sorry for him, she didn't stop them. After all, going to school was a good thing—she understood that. Her own three sons had caused so much trouble when they were young.

It just goes to show that children need to be educated from a young age.

Speaking of which, Wang Xiangxiu's three sons were all doing quite well now. The eldest couple had both been employed, but at the end of 1993, when one of them had to be laid off, Guan Hong volunteered to leave, receiving a severance package. She then focused entirely on her business.

She used the money to open a clothing store, and with the two stalls she already had in the mall, she was earning much more than she ever did at her job. When the machinery factory went bankrupt, Su Jinlai lost his job, but he wasn't worried. Unlike others who panicked about being laid off, he wasn't fazed.

This was largely because his wife was the breadwinner. Many people whispered behind his back about Su Jinlai being a freeloader, but he took pride in it. He believed those gossiping were just jealous. After all, who wouldn't want to live the easy life if they could?

Only those who had to work hard knew how tough it was.

Guan Hong didn't dare let Su Jinlai get involved in her business. He wasn't cut out for it—his past failures were still fresh in her mind, even after more than a decade. Back then, it was rare to lose money in business, but Su Jinlai had managed to do just that.

So Guan Hong kept him out of her business but didn't let him stay idle at home either. She set him up with a small bookstore selling books and audio-visual products. The shop wasn't big, but because it was near a university, business was decent. The store was manageable for one person, and the income was higher than what Su Jinlai had earned at his old job. Even though it was summer break and the student crowd had thinned, the monthly income was still better than before.

Su Jinlai went to the shop every day, happily calling himself "Boss Su."

Wang Xiangxiu couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head as she watched him head off to work.

Her three sons were all doing well in their careers, but their love lives hadn't been as smooth. Su Jinlai had married in his thirties, and so had Su Yinlai. Su Yinlai had started selling goods early on and had accumulated some wealth. He had bought a few shops and even started a small clothing factory, which was doing quite well. He had taken a leave of absence from his job long ago.

Thanks to Su Tonglai's connections, his clothing factory also got contracts for making costumes for film and TV productions, so business was really good.

Su Yinlai had married in the same year as Su Jinlai, but he had been in a relationship for many years before that. His wife was Su Tonglai's classmate, who had stayed on as a teacher after graduating. They had met during a gathering at their house, and she had pursued him for years before they finally got married.

If we were to talk about it, their courtyard really has quite a few people who are teachers. Ming Mei teaches at the police academy, and although Su Yinlai didn’t even finish elementary school, his wife is a teacher at the film academy.

Similarly, Hutou also stayed at his university to become a teacher after graduating. He’s a colleague of Su Yinlai’s wife. Besides them, Xiao Yanzi and her husband also became teachers at a prestigious high school. It’s clear that their courtyard can truly be called a scholarly community.

Su Yinlai and his wife have a little girl, who is two years old this year and hasn’t started kindergarten yet.

The little chubby kid doesn’t want to go to kindergarten because he wants to stay home and play with his little sister.

If we’re talking about who’s the most successful in their family, it’s Su Tonglai. In the 1980s, the value of a university degree was still very high, and the same was true for the film academy. Su Tonglai is now a household name. Unlike his two older brothers, he didn’t marry late. He got married the year after he graduated, but the marriage only lasted a year before they divorced. His ex-wife went abroad to pursue her dreams, and they parted amicably. They have a son who is now in elementary school and lives with them. Wang Xiangxiu takes care of the child, and when Su Tonglai is filming locally, he comes home almost every day. The father and son have a very good relationship.

Su Tonglai doesn’t mess around, but over the years, he’s had a steady stream of girlfriends. According to Zhao Guihua, it’s not surprising given the environment he’s in. As long as he’s not juggling multiple relationships or being unfaithful, dating and breaking up is considered normal.

The Su family is doing well these days. Wang Xiangxiu has her own shop. Unlike Zhao Guihua and others who are in their seventies, she’s only in her fifties and still very capable. Plus, her work doesn’t expose her to the elements.

Although they all live in a courtyard house, each family has some “assets” outside.

They’ve got plenty of property.

Of course, this is largely thanks to Zhao Guihua. She’s set an example for everyone. She’s the type who buys property whenever she has money. In fact, Zhao Guihua herself knows that the 1980s and 1990s were big opportunities, with many industries that were just as lucrative as real estate.

Although housing prices in the capital have been steadily rising, they really took off after the millennium, especially in the early 2000s, when the increase was staggering. Even now, prices are still rising, and it’s no exaggeration.

Some industries are actually just as good as buying property.

But at their age, it’s better to play it safe.

Zhao Guihua is all about stability, buying property left and right. And in fact, having the experience of a past life gives her an edge over ordinary people. Most of the properties Zhao Guihua chose were near Zheng Huimin’s old house. That area turned out to be a goldmine, with rumors of redevelopment starting as early as 1988. The following year, the area was officially redeveloped. Zhao Guihua had thirteen properties there. Instead of taking compensation, she added money and exchanged all of them for more properties.

Because she owned so many properties, the developers approached her first. After some back-and-forth, Zhao Guihua added more money and, without hesitation, took an entire building. She chose a building in the front row of the development, ten stories high with four units per floor.

That’s forty properties in total.

Zhao Guihua is now a bona fide landlady. The rent from these forty properties alone is enough to keep her and Old Man Zhuang living comfortably. Seeing how Zhao Guihua benefited so much from the redevelopment, everyone else became even more eager to buy property. If you didn’t have at least one or two extra properties, you’d feel uneasy.

That year of redevelopment, others also reaped benefits. After all, everyone followed Zhao Guihua’s lead and bought properties in that area. While they didn’t end up with forty properties like Zhao Guihua, they still made gains.

Quietly getting rich!

The first time, they followed Zhao Guihua into street vending and made money. The second time, they followed her in buying property in that area and made money again from the redevelopment. Just these two instances were enough to make everyone eager to follow her lead.

People naturally tend to follow the crowd, especially after seeing Zhao Guihua’s capabilities. In this area, Zhao Guihua has a strong influence. She’s truly an impressive old lady. Zhao Guihua also bought a few commercial properties, and everyone followed suit.

It’s not about being smart; it’s about having someone shrewd to learn from.

Following someone like Zhao Guihua, how could you not get rich?

Even Aunt Wang, Aunt Zhou, and Luo Xiaohe each have a property they rent out. The rent is enough to support their lives. Although they don’t have pensions, their lives are no worse than those who do.

Sometimes, you really can’t ignore the importance of self-care. In his past life, Old Man Zhuang worked diligently and was extremely frugal, never spending on himself, which took a toll on his health. But since Zhao Guihua’s rebirth, they’ve been living more comfortably, not skimping on food, clothing, or comfort. As a result, Old Man Zhuang is in great shape. Although he’s in his seventies and has some minor health issues, he’s still doing well.

If it were his past life, the grass on his grave would already be tall.

But in this life, he and Zhao Guihua are doing great. In the evenings, they even take walks together. The old lady dances in the courtyard, and Old Man Zhuang is always there to provide the music. He learned a lot from Lan Sihai after retiring. He and Li the Cook often hang out with the old ladies, and sometimes they even go on trips together. They’re quite the trendsetters.

Li the Cook has now fully retired.

How could he not? He’s getting on in years.

The elderly in the courtyard are the happiest. Every now and then, they sign up for senior group tours and travel together. Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang, Li the Cook and Aunt Wang, Aunt Zhou, and Luo Xiaohe—six of them often travel together.

The younger generation is as busy as dogs, and their lives can’t compare to the elderly’s.

Life ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌‍is good!

The Zhuang family is doing the best in the courtyard, thanks to Zhao Guihua’s leadership. But they’ve also worked hard themselves. Zhuang Zhiyuan is still working in the railway department, though he’s no longer on the trains. He’s now a department head. Liang Meifen, on the other hand, lost her job and, with the help of their son Hutou, became a dorm supervisor at his school.

Although her income can’t compare to many of the women in the courtyard, Liang Meifen is quite content these days. Unlike others who are always striving for more, she and her husband are more laid-back. They’re happy with their lives and don’t feel the need to constantly compare themselves to others. It’s too exhausting.

In her twenties and thirties, she couldn’t see past the need to be the best. But now that she’s almost fifty, she’s become much more open-minded.

Besides, the elderly in the family support them quite a bit, so they’re satisfied.

Liang Meifen is now working as a dorm supervisor in the girls’ dormitory at the film academy, and she’s thriving.

Oh, the gossip there is no less than what they had in the courtyard back in the day. She’s sharp-eyed and sees everything clearly. Liang Meifen is always energetic at work. It’s pure joy.

Every day, there’s new gossip from the entertainment industry.

She comes home every day eager to hold a family meeting and share the latest gossip.

After all, she doesn’t have much else to do. Their family life is really relaxed and carefree.

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi are both married now.

Hutou married his classmate, and Xiao Yanzi did the same.

If we’re talking about it, Xiao Yanzi is the only one in the courtyard who followed the same path as her past life, marrying the same person. Everyone else’s lives have changed completely. Hutou started dating his classmate during university, and they’re doing well. He married early, right after graduating. His child is the oldest in the courtyard, now ten years old and in elementary school.

Even though Hutou was allocated a house after starting work, he still prefers to live in the courtyard, and his wife doesn’t mind. Although Hutou is easygoing and not competitive, whether in this life or his past one, he’s always been the decision-maker at home.

His wife doesn’t fuss over these things.

It must be said that in the eyes of the older generation, Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen had the easiest life. They lived comfortably, and their children were stable. Everyone knew that doing business could make money, but having a secure job was also good. The whole family worked as teachers, earning respect from others.

Moreover, their two children didn’t need to be pressured into marriage. They both married their classmates right after graduation. Others weren’t so lucky; the elders always considered marriage a big deal, but in the compound, Hutou and Xiao Yanzi were the most fortunate in this regard.

The situation in the Su family was another story, and even Aunt Wang’s family didn’t have it as smooth.

Li Junjun, of course, was no exception. He had a crush on Xiao Yanzi for years, and everyone knew about it except Xiao Yanzi herself. In the end, he never even confessed. Years passed, and by the time he was almost thirty, he finally ended up with Zheng Huimin after much back and forth.

Yes, Zheng Huimin.

This was as surprising as Guan Hong and Su Jinlai getting together, but upon closer thought, it made sense. Zheng Huimin had pursued Li Junjun for years—not in an overly clingy way, but she never hid her feelings either.

Li Junjun didn’t get together with Zheng Huimin right after Xiao Yanzi got married. There was a gap of two or three years, but eventually, when Zheng Huimin decided to leave, Li Junjun finally realized his feelings. Over the years, they had developed a genuine connection.

Li Junjun and Zheng Huimin eventually found their way to each other. Both had stable jobs, and Zheng Huimin also ran a small business. The couple lived a comfortable life. Since most of their peers married late, their children grew up together as playmates.

In their compound, the kids grew up in batches, always playing together.

Li Weiwei started by selling soy milk and fried dough sticks from a street stall, and now he owned three restaurants. He married even later than his older brother. His wife was the youngest daughter of the fat butcher from the backstreet. When they were kids, there was a kidnapping scare in their neighborhood, and the culprit was caught on the spot.

A little chubby kid was also caught in the commotion, and his father went on a rampage to protect him—that was their family.

The girl was about four or five years younger than Li Weiwei, but they were a good match.

One was the son of a cook, and the other was the daughter of a butcher—what could be more fitting? They always had plenty to talk about.

As someone who knew the past life well, Zhao Guihua truly believed that the younger generation’s marriages were happier in this lifetime. Perhaps it was because they all married for love, having gone through many experiences together, which gave them a stronger emotional foundation.

In the past life, many people married through arranged matches, where conditions were laid out on the table, and compatibility was judged solely on paper. Without spending time together, how could anyone truly know each other’s personalities?

This often led to unhappiness or misjudgments.

But when people actually spent time together, it was different. There was a real emotional foundation.

The children of this generation had all married, while the younger ones hadn’t yet. After all, it was 1997, and even Hong Kong had returned to China. It wasn’t like the old days when people married in their early twenties. Nowadays, marrying a bit later was quite normal.

Besides, young people were busy building their careers.

Compared to the stability of the eldest Zhuang family, Zhuang Zhixi was much more flexible. No one expected him to quit his job and venture into business as early as 1988. Over the years, he had bought quite a few properties, including one near the train station during the demolition period.

However, Zhuang Zhixi didn’t put all his eggs in the real estate basket like his mother. He opened a car dealership, initially selling bicycles and motorcycles in the early years. By the 1990s, he shifted to mainly dealing with cars, though he still handled bicycles and motorcycles, which were now a separate business. He started early and had a sharp mind, making him the largest car dealer in the city.

He not only ran the dealership but also owned a repair shop. No one expected him to go into this line of work, but he did.

It wasn’t a coincidence; Zhuang Zhixi had thought it through carefully. And it turned out to be a great decision.

Even his mother, Zhao Guihua, didn’t know exactly how much money Zhuang Zhixi had. He was shrewd and knew better than to flaunt his wealth. Zhao Guihua never asked, and he never volunteered the information. In the compound, no matter how rich someone was, they were still just someone’s son, especially since the parents were still in charge.

But he didn’t mind. After all, the compound also had grandchildren now!

Real grandchildren.

Currently, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were not in the country. Both had gone abroad for university and were now pursuing postgraduate studies. They were set to graduate this year but hadn’t returned yet, as they needed to say goodbye to their classmates, teachers, and friends, and tie up loose ends after many years abroad.

The 1990s were a time of studying abroad fever, but the twins’ decision wasn’t just following the trend. They had thought it through carefully and believed it was the best path for them. While studying abroad, they had achieved quite a bit. Tuantuan—now known as Zhuang Xing—had gained quite a reputation among international students at prestigious universities. He co-founded a website, which he considered more of a practice project than a real business, but it still earned him recognition.

His sister, Zhuang Chen, was no less impressive. She studied finance and excelled academically. Even before graduating, she had received offers from Wall Street. Both siblings were highly capable.

Many of the foreign car brands Zhuang Zhixi now represented were negotiated by the twins abroad. Not only did this broaden their horizons and skills, but it also helped the family business.

Some people even thought their names should be switched—Zhuang Chen for the brother and Zhuang Xing for the sister—as it might sound better. But as twins, “Xing Chen” (stars) still sounded lovely.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were capable children, and both Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei were incredibly proud of them. Ming Mei still worked as a university teacher, and every new class of students had to endure her “lectures.”

This was the downside of judging people by appearances.

Although Tuantuan and Yuanyuan studied abroad, they weren’t the only ones. Ye Siyuan also went abroad to study the same major as Tuantuan, and the three of them looked out for each other.

The rest of their group of friends didn’t go abroad, but even though they were separated, they would return every year during holidays. Having grown up together, their bond remained as strong as ever.

All the kids in this generation did well in school.

It wasn’t just them, though. In the Xinghua neighborhood, especially among their age group, there were very few who didn’t excel academically. This was largely due to the “good deeds” of Su Jinlai and his two brothers.

Because of them, parents became stricter with their own children, ensuring they all studied hard.

Xiao Qijin and Bai Qingqing attended Tsinghua University, while Li Zhenzhen surprised everyone by choosing to study medicine. She had always been a bold child.

Her father was a cook who wielded a knife, and now she wielded a scalpel.

She was still studying and hadn’t graduated yet.

Now, Li the Cook often boasted about his granddaughter, as she was the most accomplished of his grandchildren.

Although Li Weiwei was the wealthiest among his siblings, the old man believed that having enough money was sufficient. The elderly couple wasn’t poor themselves, but they took greater pride in their academically successful grandchild. To them, Li Zhenzhen had brought honor to the Li family.

In ancient times, it would have been like her passing the imperial exams!

Li the Cook was most proud of Li Zhenzhen.

Bai Qingqing didn’t pursue postgraduate studies after graduating. Instead, she started a business with her boyfriend—yes, her boyfriend. Bai Qingqing and Qijin had been dating since high school, and Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, Li Zhenzhen, and the other kids had covered for them, keeping their relationship hidden from their parents.

Even someone as sharp as Zhuang Zhixi didn’t notice.

Not even Zhao Guihua, the reincarnated old lady, saw through it.

These kids were truly clever.

The younger generation was indeed surpassing the older one!

It wasn’t until after they started university that the two of them were discovered—not right after starting university, but in their third year, when He Lan accidentally found out. He Lan was really… well, as expected.

They ended up together, having grown up as childhood sweethearts. It wasn’t surprising, really, since the two kids had always been close. However, Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun had dueled over it a hundred and eight times. Both of them felt their own child was getting the short end of the stick.

Every time they met, it was like two roosters squaring off.

But they were good to the kids—it was just that they couldn’t stand the unlucky in-laws.

“That eunuch!”

“Hmph!”

Both sides thought the same about each other!

Meanwhile, Jiang Lu and He Lan remained calm. Only fools would bother with these foolish men.

They were all workers at the machinery factory. When the layoffs came, they were lucky that each family had their own businesses, so their lives weren’t affected much. Of course, there was sadness and a sense of loss. After all, it was a place they had worked at for decades. They were used to that environment, where everything followed a set routine. The sudden change hit everyone hard—even Jiang Lu, Zhou Qun, and Bai Fendou fell ill for a while.

But after recovering, seeing how some of their former coworkers were struggling, they couldn’t help but feel grateful that they had started their businesses early. Otherwise, not only would they be emotionally distressed, but their lives would have been much harder.

They were all deeply affected, and so was Da Qiang, who had also worked for decades. Thankfully, Wang Zizhen comforted him, and he gradually recovered. Helping out at his wife’s shop kept him busy, and over time, he stopped dwelling on the sadness.

The layoffs were part of the era’s great wave, but they still left people feeling deeply unsettled.

Fortunately, they had prepared early. Otherwise, life would have been incredibly difficult. Looking back, who wouldn’t be grateful for Zhao Guihua and the others in the courtyard who started setting up stalls back then? At the time, many people gossiped behind their backs, but they couldn’t help but join in, competing fiercely.

But it had truly paid off. The hard work back then had laid a solid foundation for today.

Otherwise, how would they have gotten by?

Zhao Guihua could feel it—lately, everyone had been treating her with extra respect.

But Zhao Guihua just smiled to herself, thinking, “This is just the beginning!”

Sometime this year, their courtyard was going to be demolished!

Finally, they would understand the benefits of owning multiple properties.

This kind of windfall wasn’t common.

It was like a pie falling from the sky!

When the time came, they would realize that this old lady wasn’t just any ordinary person.

Although her rebirth hadn’t led to earth-shattering changes, she had used her “rebirth” advantage to live a comfortable life and even helped everyone become prosperous.

Just wait and see!

Zhao Guihua felt like she knew far too much. She strolled around the courtyard with her hands behind her back, smiling faintly, though she couldn’t quite remember the exact date.

As if her thoughts had summoned it, while she was walking, she heard the sound of a bicycle clattering, its pedals practically sparking. Rushing in was Bai Fendou. Even at nearly fifty, this guy was still as impulsive as ever.

In his youth, he was an impulsive teenager; later, an impulsive young man; and now, an impulsive middle-aged man.

Bai Fendou threw his bike aside and shouted, “Aunt Zhao, have you heard? Our place is going to be demolished!!!”

He was beyond excited: “We’re going to be demolished!!!”

They were going to strike it rich!