My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

The residents of Xinghua Lane quickly received the notice of demolition.

Compared to the previous rumors, this was now an official document. It was said that this area would be demolished and rebuilt into a large community. Nowadays, the first thing everyone said when they met was, "What do you think about it?"

Although most people were looking forward to it, hoping to make a fortune, there were also those who were genuinely unhappy, especially the older folks. The machinery factory was a place where many had worked and dedicated their entire lives. Suddenly, it had gone bankrupt, and now it was being sold off. Just thinking about it made them feel uneasy.

This was a deep-seated sadness.

There were all sorts of rumors circulating in the area, and discussions were rampant every day. The courtyard where Zhao Guihua lived was also bustling, with people coming and going as if it were a city gate. It wasn't that they needed advice, but rather, everyone gathered together to talk things over, feeling more assured.

Zhao Guihua was there every day, and because she knew more, she shared a lot of information about the developer with everyone. Although it wasn't particularly useful, it gave everyone a sense of confidence.

The demolition began quickly, with the first step being a collective meeting.

The neighborhood office assisted the developer in distributing notices, going door-to-door to inform people about the meeting at the machinery factory. Although the factory had only been abandoned for a year, it was already overgrown with weeds and looked quite dilapidated. Back when everyone was working there every day, they hadn't noticed it, but now that it was devoid of human activity, it felt desolate.

In recent years, many factories had gone bankrupt, and they weren't the first nor the last. But after just a year, everyone was back, albeit for different reasons. Even if they were happy, there was still a lingering sense of unease.

The residents of Zhao Guihua's area mobilized en masse, setting off together in a grand procession. Although Zhao Guihua wasn't from the factory, she was quite well-known in the area. And it wasn't just her; their courtyard had many capable people.

Back in the day, who hadn't heard of Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun, the "hot topics" of the factory?

Although the old days were gone and times had changed, they were still legendary figures on the "list of famous people." Wherever they went, they stirred up some excitement. Everyone came to the meeting, exchanging greetings.

Even though they all lived in the same area, Xinghua Lane was quite large, and not everyone saw each other every day.

Zhuang Zhixi accompanied his mother, with his brother standing on either side of their parents, like two eunuchs. Ming Mei was also there—no one was missing.

"We don't know what's going to happen with this demolition. I heard..."

"Our factory was so good. How could it just go bankrupt like that? Now that it's being sold, there's nothing left..."

"Exactly."

...

Wang Xiangxiu had already started chatting with the people around her. Although she hadn't gotten along with her female colleagues when she was younger, and many had disliked her behavior, Wang Xiangxiu had since turned over a new leaf and gradually bridged some of the gaps. However, she still wasn't particularly close to anyone.

But after not seeing each other for several years, they were now quite friendly.

Over there, Liang Meifen was also chatting with someone: "Your child is married, right? I really envy you. Your children are so successful, and their jobs are so respectable. Not like mine..."

"Yours aren't bad either. The last time I saw him..."

Blah blah blah.

They exchanged compliments and flattery, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Ming Mei looked around and whispered, "I don't know anyone. I feel like I can't even find someone to chat with."

Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh. "Then chat with me."

Ming Mei rolled her eyes at him. Zhuang Zhixi said, "Look at you, I..."

"Zhuang Zhixi."

Zhuang Zhixi turned around and was stunned. He hadn't expected to see Chen Yuan here. Chen Yuan had come alone, and his hair had turned completely white. Chen Yuan and Zhuang Zhixi were of the same generation, much younger than Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun.

They were both around forty-five, which wasn't particularly old.

But Chen Yuan looked even older than Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou. Even though it was summer, he was wearing a knitted shirt and a pair of yellowed old sandals.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Chen Yuan, it's been many years."

Back then, hadn't the factory taken back the Chen family's house?

If we're being honest, ever since Tao Yuyue left, the Chen family had completely fallen apart. It wasn't entirely because of Tao Yuyue, but she was certainly a factor.

Although Chen Yuan's father had arranged for Tao Yuyue to go abroad for an inspection, which was a violation of discipline, he hadn't anticipated the outcome. The real problem with Chen Yuan's father was that he was corrupt. He wasn't a womanizer, but he loved money. As the head of the logistics department, he had embezzled quite a bit over the years.

Originally, he might not have been investigated. Despite Chen Yuan's bravado, his father had always been good at hiding his true nature. At the very least, no one at the factory had seen through him, and everyone thought he was a diligent and kind man. But when Tao Yuyue fled to the other side of the ocean, things became complicated.

No matter what, an investigation was necessary, and during the investigation, they discovered that Tao Yuyue had stolen money. Although the Chen family insisted that not much had been taken, no one believed them. One thing led to another, and a lot of dirt was uncovered.

Tao Yuyue's escape would have only resulted in a disciplinary action for Chen Yuan's father, but the discovery of embezzlement changed everything. Chen Yuan's father was detained and soon sentenced to eight years for corruption and bribery. Their house was also reclaimed by the machinery factory.

Zhuang Zhixi's expression remained unchanged. Chen Yuan rubbed his hands together and said, "It's been a long time. I think... it's been over ten years since I last saw you. You still look young."

Zhuang Zhixi joked, "Wasn't I quite handsome when I was young?"

Chen Yuan nodded. "Indeed, you were always good-looking."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed. "Two grown men discussing looks? This feels a bit strange."

Chen Yuan smiled. "You're right. Do you know what the policy is for this demolition? Have you heard anything?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I'm not sure. They'll probably talk about it today. Didn't your family move away?"

He asked directly, but Chen Yuan didn't seem embarrassed. Over the past decade, he had heard much worse. He said, "Our house at the machinery factory was taken back. We had to stay with relatives, and later we bought the house we're in now. This demolition is actually good timing for us."

To be fair, Chen Yuan's father had been quite well-liked. He had helped many relatives get jobs at the machinery factory. When the Chen family fell on hard times, a relative who worked at the factory took them in.

Well, it was mostly just Chen Yuan. His parents had both been imprisoned for corruption. His grandfather had beaten his grandmother after she made a scene, and she had been bedridden ever since. When news of their sentencing came out, both of them passed away from the shock.

Chen Yuan's "girlfriend" at the time had also dumped him without hesitation.

"This demolition is a good thing," Chen Yuan said.

Zhuang Zhixi nodded. "It certainly is. Your family finally has a way out."

Although the Chen family had gone through a lot, Chen Yuan's job at the food factory hadn't been affected. After all, he had nothing to do with the embezzlement, and he had no idea about his wife's actions. In that sense, he was innocent. His job remained secure.

However, after the scandal, he became a pariah at the food factory. Even though he kept working, it was a miserable experience, with everyone avoiding him. A few years ago, the food factory went bankrupt, and he was laid off. Now, he worked as a night watchman.

"Over the years, have you heard anything about Tao Yuyue?" Chen Yuan couldn't help but ask.

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised. "You don't know, and you expect us to? We haven't heard anything."

Chen Yuan nodded and let out a sigh.

The two of them didn't have much else to say. After all, Chen Yuan wasn't close to anyone from the machinery factory, and even if he had been, he knew how much people disliked him. His father's corruption was something everyone at the factory despised.

Actually, his father had already been released and was now living with him, but this time, during the demolition, he didn’t show up.

“It’s about to start…”

Zhuang Zhixi was talking to Chen Yuan, but many people were eavesdropping on their conversation.

At that moment, an old man looked at Chen Yuan and asked, “You don’t know about Tao Yuyue’s situation?”

Chen Yuan shook his head, “No, I don’t.”

He really wanted to know about Tao Yuyue. In this lifetime, Chen Yuan hated no one more than her. Although outsiders thought his family’s downfall was self-inflicted, he believed that if he hadn’t married Tao Yuyue, none of this would have happened.

If that woman were standing in front of him now, he would rather die than stab her to vent his hatred.

“Old man, do you know?”

The old man chuckled, giving Chen Yuan a disdainful look, and then said, “My son works abroad. About six or seven years ago, he once saw Tao Yuyue in a restaurant, saying she was washing dishes there. She wasn’t doing too well.”

Chen Yuan was stunned, “Washing dishes?”

The old man nodded, “Yes, in the kitchen of a restaurant. If it weren’t for the big fuss she caused when she ran away, my son wouldn’t have remembered her.”

“Did she remarry?” Chen Yuan immediately pressed.

Zhuang Zhixi and the others listening nearby couldn’t help but twitch their lips, thinking this guy’s brain was as useless as ever.

The old man replied, “I don’t know. They only met once, and there was no further interaction. Later, when my son went back, he didn’t see her again.”

“Huh? You don’t know? How can you not know?”

The old man retorted, “Why should I know? Tao Yuyue isn’t someone important.”

Chen Yuan pursed his lips, standing there in a daze for a long time before suddenly letting out a cold laugh, “Serves her right, serves her right to live like that. It’s what she deserves.”

Seeing his almost deranged state, everyone took a few steps back, keeping their distance.

Zhao Guihua, who had been watching the whole scene without saying a word, finally spoke softly, “Admittedly, Tao Yuyue left out of greed for vanity and admiration for foreign things, but I think Chen Yuan’s parents being involved in corruption and bribery was also one of the reasons she left.”

Back then, no one had really thought about it, but now, looking back, Tao Yuyue might have been afraid of the Chen family getting into trouble, which is why she gave up her stable life here and fled. Of course, that doesn’t mean what she did was right—it was still despicable.

But with Chen Yuan’s parents involved in corruption, she must have been scared of being implicated.

Zhao Guihua shook her head, feeling that this whole family was full of bad people.

Even Chen Yuan wasn’t a good person. He didn’t embezzle money or flee overseas, but if he hadn’t hit Tao Yuyue or had affairs outside, she might not have made the desperate decision to leave.

So, really, none of them were good people.

Zhao Guihua warned her son, “Don’t learn from people like that. You have money now, and there are many temptations. If you dare to follow their example, I’ll break your legs.”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed awkwardly, “I’m not that kind of person. Besides, why would I need to? My wife is so beautiful.”

Ming Mei scoffed, “Hmph!”

Zhuang Zhixi added, “I may like to watch drama, but I don’t want others to watch my family’s drama. Besides, my wife and I have a great relationship. I wouldn’t do something like that.”

Ming Mei said, “Good for you.”

Zhuang Zhixi put his arm around Ming Mei’s shoulders and said, “Honey, you can’t doubt our relationship. You… holy crap!!!”

Ming ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Mei asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed, “We shouldn’t have mentioned her! Look over there, isn’t that Tao Yuyue?”

Ming Mei followed his gaze and widened her eyes in shock. Although the person had changed a lot, it was indeed Tao Yuyue. She looked much older, far beyond her actual age.

Tao Yuyue had worked in the machinery factory for over a decade, so many people recognized her. As soon as they saw her, others noticed too, and the crowd immediately buzzed with chatter.

The demolition couldn’t compare to the drama unfolding before them.

“Is that Tao Yuyue? Why is she back?”

“It’s her, it’s her. How did she get so old? She used to be the belle of the factory.”

“Forget being the belle, why isn’t she being arrested?”

“Why is she with the developers?”

……

The murmurs rose and fell.

Even Zhao Guihua frowned, looking surprised. This was something that hadn’t happened in her past life.

Chen Yuan heard the commotion and followed the crowd’s gaze. Sure enough, he saw Tao Yuyue. She was wearing a professional outfit, looking quite put-together, but the sight of her instantly enraged him. Without thinking, he charged forward.

The crowd quickly made way for him, and without hesitation, amidst everyone’s shocked gasps, he rushed up and punched Tao Yuyue in the face, shouting, “You bitch, how dare you come back!”

Tao Yuyue was standing next to the podium, feeling emotional, when she was suddenly struck.

She had expected to encounter the Chen family upon her return, but she thought they would grovel at her feet, given how much she had changed. But she didn’t expect Chen Yuan to attack her right at the entrance. Chen Yuan didn’t hold back, landing several more punches, and Tao Yuyue fell to the ground, screaming, “Help! Someone help! He’s trying to kill me!”

The crowd gasped, “Oh my god!”

Chen Yuan pinned Tao Yuyue down and continued hitting her as she screamed and tried to dodge.

After a brief pause, someone finally reacted and rushed forward to pull them apart.

Chen Yuan shouted, “You bitch, how dare you come back! You ruined my family, you deserve to die… Why did you come back? Are you here to cause trouble? Didn’t you sneak off abroad? Coming back now can’t be for anything good. You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and you’ll pay for this, you…”

He kept yelling, and the scene quickly descended into chaos.

It was worth noting that this demolition meeting wasn’t just attended by Hong Kong businessmen but also many officials from relevant departments. No one could have predicted that a fight would break out here.

“Exactly, how can someone like Tao Yuyue, who sneaked off abroad, just waltz back like this?”

“Why is she here?”

“She betrayed her in-laws. Could she be here to scheme against the whole factory?”

“Arrest her! Someone like Tao Yuyue should be arrested!”

“Yeah!”

The scene was in complete disarray.

Zhuang Zhixi muttered, “Holy crap.”

Seeing everyone in such a frenzy, he made a quick decision, “Mom, let’s go back first. Everyone’s too worked up. We don’t want a stampede or something.”

“You’re right.”

They quickly made their way out. Zhao Guihua had some reputation in their neighborhood, so when they left to avoid trouble, many others followed. What was supposed to be a smooth demolition meeting turned into complete chaos as Chen Yuan was arrested and Tao Yuyue was taken away.

“Tao Yuyue actually dared to come back. Is that woman crazy?” After returning to their courtyard, the neighbors didn’t go home but instead gathered in the yard to chat. Everyone was huddled together.

“Zhuang Zhixi, you’re well-connected. Go find out what’s going on, will you?”

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, “Sure.”

The urge to gossip was irresistible.

Zhuang Zhixi dashed out like a gust of wind.

The others were equally eager for the latest scoop. Since everyone was present, some of the younger ones who didn’t know the full story eagerly pressed for details. Zhou Qun said, “Let me tell it, let me tell it…”

Aunt Zhou pushed her son aside, “Get lost, I’ll do it!”

Bai Fendou chimed in, “I can tell it too. I know a lot about this.”

“Step aside!”

The group quickly became lively. Oh, this was getting even more interesting.

They soon started discussing the love-hate saga between Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue. Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixi returned after gathering information. He rushed back, saying, “I asked around and finally found out what’s going on. After Tao Yuyue went abroad, she got married and changed her name. But it seems she didn’t have a good life. She worked odd jobs in her early years and later became a nanny as she got older. She came back with the family she works for. Her employer is a high-ranking executive who came to Beijing on a business trip and brought their child. She came along to take care of the kid.”

"Huh? Why did she come along today?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I heard she followed them on her own. Probably to show off. Flaunting her triumphant return? Or maybe she wanted to prove that coming back wasn’t a big deal? Or perhaps she wanted to boast about how well she’s been living abroad? But with Chen Yuan hitting someone, they’ll definitely make a fuss again. It’s a messy situation."

The older generation had a strong sense of patriotism, and they absolutely despised people like Tao Yuyue.

Li the Cook chimed in, "What kind of person is she? How does she even have the nerve to come back?"

"Exactly! A trashy foreign-worshipper," Old Man Zhuang added, clearly unimpressed.

Everyone was disgusted by her. The younger generation, however, couldn’t understand it. What was there to show off about working as a maid or washing dishes abroad? It just didn’t make sense.

Zhao Guihua said, "She’s been gone for over a decade. Maybe she still thinks we’re as poor as we used to be. She probably believes that even washing dishes or working as a maid abroad earns her more money. But she hasn’t considered how fast our capital city has developed."

"That’s true," someone agreed.

As they discussed Tao Yuyue, no one could quite figure out what was going through her mind.

However, within a few days, it was rumored that she had left again. This time, it was a normal departure, but she still left quietly, almost shamefully. As for Chen Yuan, since Tao Yuyue didn’t press charges, he got off scot-free. The whole drama had just started to get interesting, but it ended abruptly.

It left everyone feeling unsatisfied.

But then again, Tao Yuyue wasn’t an important figure. What really mattered was the ongoing demolition and relocation process.

Although the first demolition meeting was disrupted by Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue, the second mobilization meeting happened quickly. After all, the capital city operates with rules and order, so the demolition process was proceeding steadily, with repeated negotiations and discussions.

These matters were handled by the elders in the family. Even though younger members like Hutou also owned property, it was their grandmother who took charge. The younger generation didn’t have much to do with it, as the elders were the ones making the decisions.

If the family called them back to sign papers, they’d come. If not, they’d wait. They trusted their elders not to let them suffer any losses.

Interestingly, the older women in the neighborhood, who had been living quiet, uneventful lives, suddenly became full of energy. Dealing with the developers, negotiating back and forth, they were like chickens pumped with adrenaline. It was as if they had found a new lease on life.

Zhuang Zhixi wished the demolition process could drag on a bit longer. He wasn’t hoping to make more money, but he could see how much his parents were enjoying the hustle and bustle. It kept them active and engaged. For the elderly, having something to focus on was crucial. As long as they were busy, Zhuang Zhixi felt like his mother could live another five hundred years!

Zhao Guihua, Aunt Zhou, and the other older women were indeed full of energy, bustling about every day. And it wasn’t just them—many of the elderly in the neighborhood who had decision-making power joined in. There was strength in numbers.

The courtyard was always lively. The younger generation hadn’t moved out, but many of them had other homes elsewhere. For example, Qijin and Bai Qingqing lived outside the courtyard. They had started a company together and were busy with their entrepreneurial endeavors. They came back every weekend to avoid worrying their families.

As for Li Zhenzhen, she was still in school and lived on campus.

But on weekends, everyone would come back. Qijin would drive around to pick them up. Every weekend, he’d make the rounds, picking up Li Zhenzhen and Erlin from school. Li Zhenzhen was about to graduate with her master’s degree, while Qijin was only a freshman. Still, they attended the same university, so Qijin would drive over to fetch them both, then head to the police station to pick up Ye Sijia. As a child, Ye Sijia had been as lively as a monkey, but now he was a police officer, having just started his job a year ago.

After picking up those three, Qijin would swing by the magazine office to get Xing'er. Xing'er had graduated this year and was working at the magazine. Finally, he’d pick up Ye Sitian, who was still in college. With seven people in the car, it was a full house.

Qijin often joked that he was glad he had a seven-seater car; otherwise, they wouldn’t all fit.

But when Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, and Siyuan came back, there definitely wouldn’t be enough space.

On one of these drives, after picking up Ye Sitian, Qijin noticed Xing'er sprawled out in the back seat. Of course, the term "Ge You slouch" didn’t exist yet, but she looked utterly exhausted.

"Xing'er, what’s wrong?" Qijin asked.

Xing'er let out a long sigh. "Work is so tiring," she said.

Ye Sitian chimed in, "Is your magazine really that busy?"

"It’s a shallow pond with too many turtles," Xing'er replied, using a Chinese idiom to describe the petty politics at her workplace.

She sighed again, "Working at a fashion magazine is just... ugh."

Everyone laughed. Bai Qingqing teased, "If it’s that bad, why don’t you quit and join us in our startup?"

Xing'er shook her head firmly. "No way. I’m not cut out for what you guys do. The magazine is a good fit for me. I refuse to believe I can’t handle this."

"That’s the spirit," someone said.

Xing'er lifted her chin proudly. "Of course."

Despite her complaints and exhaustion, Xing'er was doing well at work. She said, "Our editor-in-chief really believes in me. She says I remind her of herself when she was younger."

"Wow, she’s really hyping you up," someone joked.

Xing'er laughed. "It’s not hype. I really am that good."

She then asked, "By the way, why haven’t Tuantuan and Yuanyuan come back yet? They’re really dragging their feet."

Qijin, who kept in touch with them regularly, explained, "Tuantuan has some work to finish before they can come back. It’s been so many years since they left. It’s about time they finally returned."

Time really flies. They had all grown up from being kids to adults.

"Yeah, it’s crazy," someone agreed.

"Your brother isn’t coming back with them this time, right?" someone asked, looking at Ye Sijia and Ye Sitian.

Ye Sijia replied, "He’s coming back next year."

Siyuan and Tuantuan had studied the same major, but Siyuan was a year behind.

Ye Sijia added with a smile, "My brother even said, ‘Tell them to hold off on getting married this year. I have to be a groomsman next year.’"

Qijin laughed. "We don’t even have time for that right now. Besides, if I went home and said I wanted to get married, Bai Qingqing’s dad would kill me."

Bai Qingqing shot him a look. "You’re one to talk. Your dad complains about it all the time too."

Qijin grinned. "Let’s be honest here. My dad isn’t complaining about you. He actually really likes you as his future daughter-in-law. He just loves picking fights with your dad. It’s a habit at this point."

"That’s true," Bai Qingqing admitted.

Although they had all grown up together, Qijin and Bai Qingqing were the only couple among them. Everyone was happy for them, including their families.

Jiang Lu and He Lan were particularly pleased.

After all, they had watched these kids grow up. They knew them inside and out, and they were well aware of each other’s family backgrounds. If they had chosen partners from outside their circle, it might have been harder to understand them so deeply.

Moreover, both families were well-matched in terms of social standing. It was a classic case of childhood sweethearts and marrying within one’s social class. Their relationship had everyone’s blessing.

As for Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou, their constant bickering was purely a personal feud.

As Jiang Lu and He Lan put it, "Those two are just bored."

But deep down, Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou enjoyed their little rivalry. Everyone understood that.

Qijin smiled at Bai Qingqing. "So, when are we getting married?"

Before Bai Qingqing could answer, Li Zhenzhen interjected, "Are you even serious? If you’re going to propose, shouldn’t it be more formal? This casual question doesn’t count. As your older sister, I have to call you out on this. You can’t just ask like that."

Qijin laughed. "Of course, I’ll do it properly. But I need to give my dear a heads-up and get her opinion first. What if she doesn’t like it? What if she’s not ready to get married yet?"

He added with a smile, "I’m not the type to make decisions unilaterally."

Li Zhenzhen nodded. "That’s more like it."

Bai Qingqing said, "Let’s not rush it this year. We’ll talk about it next year. We can’t leave Siyuan out. He’d definitely make a fuss if we did."

"That’s true," Qijin agreed.

"Hold on, I’m stopping to grab some stewed pork offal," Qijin said, pulling over.

He stopped the car and asked, "Who else wants some?"

"I do."

"Me too."

Qijin: "Alright, one portion each."

Xing'er joked, "Li Zhenzhen, your family has several chefs."

Li Zhenzhen calmly replied, "If you eat the same thing day in and day out, you'd get tired of it too."

"Pfft!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Bai Qingqing: "I'll get out and join you."

Qijin: "That's my wife for you."

The young couple went off together to buy some food, while the others lounged around like they were in a "Ge You slouch" pose. If you were to talk about the temperament of the girls in their little group, Bai Qingqing was definitely the most easygoing. Whether it was Li Zhenzhen, Yuanyuan, or Xing'er, they all had their fiery sides.

Even Ye Sitian, who seemed soft-spoken, had the typical strong-willed personality of a Beijing girl. But Bai Qingqing was gentle, more like He Lan.

"Big sis, when I went back home the other day, I heard from Mom and Dad that Grandpa and Grandma's graves are leaking. Uncle wants to fix them up and asked Dad to come back and discuss it," Erlin reported to his sister. Xing'er immediately glared and said, "Fix them up, my foot. That old man just wants money."

Back in the day, they didn’t know their family was well-off, and there wasn’t much interaction between them. But over the years, rumors had spread in their hometown about how well their branch of the family was doing in Beijing. Naturally, their uncle had started scheming. But he also knew the strained relationship between the two families, so expecting to get money for free was out of the question. Trying to use their parents to squeeze money out of them? The grass on their grandparents' graves was already a meter tall.

Since that wasn’t going to work, he’d turned his attention to the graves instead.

Xing'er snorted and asked, "Will Dad go back?"

Erlin: "I don’t know, but I think he might. If the graves are leaking and he doesn’t go back to check on them, it’s just... well, it’s hard to justify from any angle."

Xing'er: "Uncle’s family is really no good. I’ve never seen such shameless people."

She still remembered what happened when she was a kid. Don’t think she was too young to remember—she remembered everything crystal clear. And because she remembered so clearly, she had no good impressions of them: her grandparents, her uncle’s family, and her older cousin’s attitude. Ugh!

Xing'er couldn’t help but pull out a small mirror to check her face. Smooth and fair, with delicate willow-leaf eyebrows. She nodded in satisfaction and said, "My older cousin once scratched my face."

Luckily, she’d gone to the hospital and used scar-removal cream. If she’d just let it heal on its own, it would’ve left a scar. Xing'er didn’t understand back then, but the older she got, the more she realized how malicious her cousin’s actions had been.

She said, "I’ll have to talk to Dad when I get back. We can’t give them any face."

"Yeah, I think so too."

Turn the other cheek?

Sorry, but they were only in their twenties. They didn’t have that kind of magnanimity.

Maybe when they were older, they’d be able to let go of these childhood grudges, but at just over twenty, that wasn’t happening anytime soon.

At that moment, Qijin came back with the braised food. "Here, catch this. Damn, Ye Sijia, how are you already asleep?"

Ye Sijia: "I’m exhausted. I’ve been working non-stop at the police station."

"Go home and sleep. I’ll drive faster."

"Still, be careful."

"Of course!"

They all piled into the car and headed home. When they got back, they saw a crowd in the courtyard. Qijin: "Huh? A meeting?"

Aunt Zhou: "Our big grandson’s back! We’re discussing the relocation policy. The developer wants us to move back after the demolition. If we agree to move back, they’re offering really good terms. But Old Zhao analyzed it for us—this developer has a bad habit of buying land and then sitting on it for years without doing anything. If that happens, we’d be stuck waiting for years, and that’s not good for us. We’re debating whether to stick to our original plan or agree to move back."

The generous terms for moving back had made everyone a bit tempted.

But they’d also looked into the developer’s background. This Hong Kong businessman had a history of acquiring land at low prices using favorable conditions and then holding onto it to drive up prices. His reputation wasn’t exactly trustworthy.

So, it was a tough decision.

Qijin didn’t think there was much to understand about this kind of thing. It all came down to luck.

He said, "They say the older generation is wiser. I don’t really get this stuff either, so we’ll just listen to you elders. Whatever you decide is fine with us."

"You sure know how to talk."

Qijin laughed. "I mean it."

The younger generation didn’t get too involved, and everyone else followed the lead of the older folks. The middle-aged people in their courtyard, while influential, didn’t offer much input either. No one had any particularly unconventional ideas.

Liang Meifen turned to her sister-in-law, Ming Mei, and asked, "What do you think about this, Ming Mei?"

Ming Mei looked at Zhao Guihua with unwavering determination. "Whatever Mom says goes. I’ll follow her lead."

She smiled. "I think Mom is the smartest. She has such foresight. If it were up to me, I’d never manage. I’ll just follow Mom’s footsteps." As she spoke, she walked over and put an arm around Zhao Guihua’s shoulders. "Mom, whatever you say, I’ll do. You point, and I’ll go!"

Zhao Guihua: "Oh, stop it."

Liang Meifen: "..."

Her sister-in-law really was the same as ever when it came to flattery.

She shouldn’t have said anything—it just gave her another chance to butter up Zhao Guihua.

Liang Meifen, not wanting to be outdone, said, "I’ll follow Mom’s lead too."

She wanted to say more to flatter Zhao Guihua, but she didn’t know what else to add. She sighed sadly, realizing that flattery really was a talent.

But, to be fair, following the older generation’s lead was the right move. With their silver tongues and extensive property holdings, Zhao Guihua and her group managed to secure the favorable compensation terms they wanted.

This kind of thing wasn’t about taking advantage. As long as both sides agreed, there was no question of who was benefiting more.

And so, every household agreed to sign the contracts together.

But when it came time to sign, there was a tinge of sadness.

After all, this was a place where many of them had lived their entire lives. Back in those fiery years, life was hard for everyone, and conflicts were constant. Some feuds started over something as trivial as a green onion or a clove of garlic.

Looking back now, it seemed unbelievable, but back then, it was just how things were. Everyone was poor. When they worked, earning thirty yuan a month was considered a good salary. Five yuan per person for living expenses was the poverty line—something unimaginable today.

Life now was truly better.

Many people had spent their whole lives here, and even more had been born and raised in this alley. Every corner was filled with memories. From babbling as toddlers to growing up, getting married, and having children.

Zhuang Zhiyuan, Zhou Qun, Bai Fendou, and Zhuang Zhixi—these middle-aged men, weren’t they all born in this courtyard?

Back then, giving birth at home was the norm. Hospitals weren’t really a thing.

Later, the grandchildren were born, and then the great-grandchildren.

This alley, this courtyard, was brimming with human connections.

Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang sat at their doorstep, looking at every plant and tree in the courtyard. Suddenly, Zhao Guihua said, "Let’s take out the camera and take lots of photos as keepsakes. Even though this place will be gone, looking at these photos will remind us of the good old days. It’ll be a beautiful memory."

Old Man Zhuang: "That’s a great idea!"

The old couple dug out their camera and started fiddling with it. They took pictures of every nook and cranny, inside and out. When they lived here, they hadn’t noticed, but now they realized how much they loved every part of it. Zhao Guihua stood at the gate and said, "Do you remember when we first moved here? We were so happy back then."

Old Man Zhuang nodded. How could he forget?

They got married, and on the very same day, they moved here without even having their wedding night.

The day they got married was the day they moved in.

In the blink of an eye, it had been over fifty years—almost sixty.

Old Man Zhuang: "How did time fly by so fast?"

Zhao Guihua couldn’t believe how quickly time had flown by. She had lived two lifetimes, and both had passed in the blink of an eye. She gazed at the eaves of the courtyard gate, then turned to Old Man Zhuang and said, “Whether time passes quickly or slowly, we must take care of ourselves, live well, and strive to live many more years. We still have so many good days ahead of us.”

Old Man Zhuang chuckled and said, “We’re already in our seventies.”

Zhao Guihua glared at him. “So what if we’re in our seventies? We’re still in our prime. I’m aiming for a hundred years, and you better not fall behind.”

Old Man Zhuang widened his eyes. “You’ve got such ambition—a hundred years, huh?”

Zhao Guihua replied, “Of course. And you’re coming with me, got it?”

Old Man Zhuang looked at her seriously and nodded. “Absolutely.”

The old couple held hands, and Old Man Zhuang said, “I suddenly remember when we first met. You weren’t so fierce back then.”

Zhao Guihua raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What was I like?”

Old Man Zhuang smiled. “You were wonderful.”

Zhao Guihua tilted her chin up proudly and laughed.