Bai Fendou had been dumped.
His already tarnished reputation was now hanging by a thread.
Rumors swirled that he was an impulsive, abusive man who beat his wife.
He couldn’t accept it and went to see Guan Guiling multiple times, but each time she rejected him more vehemently. The security department at the bus station even warned him that if he continued harassing Guan Guiling, they’d have him locked up. With no other choice, Bai Fendou could only silently watch Guan Guiling from afar, his heart heavy with sorrow.
Bai Fendou seemed utterly dejected. After all, this had been his closest brush with marriage in over thirty years.
And yet, just like that, it was over!
In the biting cold of winter, Bai Fendou sat at his doorstep every evening, puffing on a pipe, his worries practically dripping from him. He quietly observed Guan Guiling, noticing that she seemed completely unaffected by the breakup. Bai Fendou felt nothing but sadness.
Everything had been going so well.
He couldn’t understand how people could change so quickly.
He had never been a smoker before, but now, consumed by worry and frustration, he had taken up the habit. Every evening, he sat there, unfazed by the cold. Everyone around him noticed, though they didn’t pay much attention.
Bai Fendou’s failed marriage seemed strange to many. Some even thought it might be for the best that it didn’t work out.
Of course, Bai Fendou didn’t see it that way.
But his opinion didn’t seem to matter much. Time flew by, and soon it would be the end of the year. Everyone was busy preparing for the New Year, and no one had the time to spare for him.
This year, food was scarce, and goods were hard to come by. Prices on the black market had skyrocketed, especially for fine grains, which were said to be shockingly expensive.
However, Zhuang Zhixi’s family had managed to save some money. They had stocked up on grain during the summer, before the prices rose. As the year-end approached, the black market was bustling. Zhao Guihua had secretly gone a few times, mostly to buy meat and eggs. With the New Year approaching, the prices of these items had also gone up, though not as drastically as grain.
The most outrageous prices were for grain, after all—it was what filled people’s stomachs.
Zhao Guihua frequented the black market, and whenever she came across meat or eggs, she didn’t hesitate to buy them. Her family had enough grain and vegetables, but meat and eggs were in short supply. With the cold weather, their hens weren’t laying eggs every day.
She also needed to save eggs for her daughter-in-law, who would soon be giving birth.
Last year, they had managed to trade some fish for meat, so they hadn’t lacked for it. But this year, that wasn’t an option.
The small pond had been completely emptied, and it would likely take four or five years for it to recover. Zhao Guihua couldn’t rely on it for extra income anymore. Though they didn’t have the same windfall as last year, Zhao Guihua was still willing to spend. If there was meat to be had, she would buy it.
If they didn’t stock up on meat from the black market, the ration coupons alone wouldn’t get them far!
In her past life, Zhao Guihua had despised fatty meat, finding it greasy and unappetizing. But now, she loved it. People truly adapt to their circumstances.
With plenty of fatty meat, she could render it down for oil. Otherwise, the meager ration of cooking oil wouldn’t go far!
As their household supplies grew, Zhao Guihua’s savings dwindled, but she felt it was worth it.
“Zhao Guihua, are you home?” Aunt Wang came by early in the morning.
Zhao Guihua: “I’m here. Come in.”
She was busy sewing a shoe sole, intending to make a pair of cotton shoes for her husband.
Aunt Wang stepped inside and saw the two children playing on the kang. She said, “You two, go play at my house.”
It was winter break, and the kids were home all day. They didn’t mind the cold and were eager to run around outside, but Zhao Guihua didn’t let them out too early. Playing outside was fine, but not first thing in the morning when the air was still chilly. They could go out mid-morning, and she wouldn’t stop them.
Hutou and Xiao Yanzi, who hadn’t gone out yet, quickly put on their shoes and ran to the backyard as soon as they heard they could play with their friends.
With everyone else at work, Zhao Guihua was left alone. She looked up and asked, “What’s up? Do you have something to say?”
Aunt Wang patted her chest and said, “You bet. I nearly died of fright last night.”
Zhao Guihua was puzzled. “What happened?”
Aunt Wang whispered, “After work yesterday, I sent my son-in-law to the black market to buy some eggs. Who would’ve thought he’d almost get caught? Last evening, they cracked down on illegal trading. I heard a whole group of people surrounded the black market. Yang Lixin was lucky—he got there just as a truck pulled up, so he didn’t dare go in. He turned around and ran back as fast as he could. I’ve been thinking about it all night, and it still scares me. What if he’d been caught?”
Why were they so afraid? Because it could affect their jobs.
Aunt Wang was trembling with fear. “You shouldn’t go there anymore.”
As the year-end approached, everyone went to the black market to stock up for the New Year. The ration coupons alone weren’t enough. But this crackdown had everyone terrified.
Zhao Guihua was also shocked. “Why are they cracking down now? In previous years, they never bothered the black market around this time.”
She wasn’t exaggerating—this was indeed the case. Everyone wanted to celebrate the New Year, even those in the anti-speculation office. So, this time of year was usually the most relaxed for the black market. But this year was different.
Zhao Guihua was a bit scared too, as she had been going there frequently. Thankfully, she hadn’t been caught.
“Exactly! I didn’t expect it either. My daughter Li Fang said she wouldn’t let her husband go again. This morning, when I went out to dump the chamber pot, I overheard people talking about it. They said there was a joint operation yesterday, with several units working together. They caught a whole truckload of buyers and sellers and hauled them away.”
Zhao Guihua clicked her tongue and sighed. “We really can’t go anymore.”
Aunt Wang: “Exactly. I was worried you might go again, so I came to warn you.”
Zhao Guihua: “Thanks. You’re a true friend. But why are they doing this right before the New Year?”
Aunt Wang: “Who knows?”
The two old women chatted for a while, both dissatisfied but powerless. They were just ordinary old ladies, after all. After discussing the serious matter, they moved on to gossip. Aunt Wang whispered, “By the way, that Chen Yuan beat his wife again last night.”
Zhao Guihua’s eyes widened. “What?!”
Aunt Wang sneered, “It’s that Chen Yuan. Say what you will about Tao Yuyue’s personality, but she’s a good-looking girl. How can Chen Yuan treat her like that? Last night, he was yelling and cursing in their room. As soon as I heard it, I went over. Nurse Tao opened the door and told me everything was fine, but one side of her face was swollen. She still insisted it was nothing.”
Zhao Guihua frowned. She couldn’t stand men like that—bullies who picked on women.
As the saying goes, this kind of behavior never stops at just once. It’s either zero times or countless times. Chen Yuan had only been back for a few days, and he was already hitting his wife again.
Not long ago, Chen Yuan and Bai Fendou had gotten into a fight. After being discharged from the hospital, Chen Yuan had gone home to recuperate. Their door had been locked tight, and now, just days after returning, he was beating his wife again. It was outrageous.
“Next time, call me. I won’t stand for this. He’s getting away with too much.”
Zhao Guihua couldn’t tolerate such behavior.
Aunt Wang: “Forget it. When I went over yesterday, Chen Yuan didn’t even come out. Nurse Tao straight-up told me I was imagining things and that she’d fallen. Can you believe it? A fall that leaves a handprint on her face? They say you shouldn’t hit someone’s face, but he deliberately aimed there. Chen Yuan comes from a good family, but he’s a real piece of work—a rotten apple.”
Zhao Guihua: “What a scoundrel. Should we report it to the neighborhood women’s federation?”
Aunt Wang sighed. “I already did after the last fight. The federation talked to Tao Yuyue, but she denied it. If the victim won’t admit it, what can outsiders do?”
As a neighborhood manager, Aunt Wang was familiar with the federation’s work. Handling such cases was incredibly difficult, especially when the victim refused to cooperate.
Tao Yuyue was adamant in her denial, which made it nearly impossible for the federation to intervene.
She had heard that in other neighborhoods, the Women's Federation had intervened forcefully, which led to verbal abuse from those who were reprimanded, calling them "dogs meddling in other people's business." In short, it was a difficult situation.
Aunt Wang said, "I've thought about it. Since we're all in the same courtyard, and I'm not her mother, if Tao Yuyue doesn't appreciate my advice after a few attempts, I'll just stop caring. I can't keep doing thankless tasks."
Zhao Guihua thought this made sense.
"It's true that women fear marrying the wrong man."
"Who wouldn't agree?"
"By the way, isn't your daughter's due date coming up?"
Aunt Wang replied, "Yes, it's just a few days away. That's why I sent my son-in-law to the black market—to buy some good stuff for her postpartum recovery..."
There were three pregnant women in their courtyard, and their due dates weren't too far apart.
The Li family, who were chefs, wanted a daughter. Li Fang had already given birth to two sons. They weren't as eager for another boy and instead hoped for a soft, delicate little girl. Although Aunt Wang and the Li chef had once wished for sons in their youth, now that they had grandsons, their perspective had changed.
They wanted a little girl.
As for Jiang Lu, her entire family hoped for a son. Jiang Lu knew the chances of having another child were slim unless she risked being labeled as unfaithful, which she didn't want. So, compared to a daughter, she preferred a son.
In fact, most people preferred sons unless they already had many and didn't care anymore. If there was only one child, the majority hoped for a boy.
However, Ming Mei didn't have a preference.
This wasn't because she was particularly open-minded, but because she already knew she would have both a boy and a girl. She didn't need to wonder or wish for anything specific—she simply knew.
Aunt Wang asked Zhao Guihua whether she preferred a boy or a girl. Zhao Guihua was straightforward: "I want twins—one boy and one girl. That would be perfect."
Aunt Wang laughed, agreeing with Zhao Guihua's logic.
She said, "Your family has a history of twins, right? Didn't your daughter have two boys?"
Zhao Guihua replied, "Exactly."
During the winter, gossip spread quickly. As Zhao Guihua and the others chatted, more people joined in. It seemed everyone was well-informed, especially about the black market.
It was said that the recent crackdown at the end of the year was due to the skyrocketing prices of grain on the black market. While a slight increase in the price of meat, fish, and eggs during the New Year season was expected, the grain prices had risen excessively due to this year's food shortages. This was unacceptable.
Grain was the foundation of people's livelihoods.
As a result, three departments had joined forces to raid the black market, arresting many people.
Zhao Guihua asked, "Why did they choose the evening?"
"Don't you get it? The evening is when it's busiest and the best goods are available. Most working families can't shop during the day, so they go after work. That's when the sellers bring out their best stock. That's why they got caught in one sweep."
"What a mess. With the New Year around the corner, people are getting arrested. Who can have a proper celebration now?"
"The sellers, we don't know about, but the buyers had their goods confiscated and were fined."
"Oh no..."
They truly lost on both ends.
This incident had scared people, and even if the black market reopened, it would likely remain quiet for a while.
However, it was their own fault. If the grain prices hadn't gone crazy, this wouldn't have happened.
With the black market closed, everyone had to line up early in the morning to prepare for the New Year, hoping to get good items as soon as the stores opened. Zhao Guihua had even enlisted her two sons to help.
In her previous life, she would have sent her husband for such tasks.
But now, she made her sons do the work. Older folks deserved more rest, while the young ones shouldn't be spoiled.
Zhuang Zhiyuan, seeing how big his sister-in-law Ming Mei's belly was, felt a bit uneasy and took on more responsibilities so that Zhuang Zhixi could stay home and take care of her.
Zhuang Zhixi gladly accepted his brother's kindness.
On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Fang went into labor and gave birth to a baby girl at the hospital. Li Fang finally got her wish. Everyone in the neighborhood knew that the Li family and Aunt Wang had wanted a granddaughter, so they rushed to congratulate them.
Zhao Guihua, who also had a pregnant daughter-in-law, didn't send red sugar or eggs but gave a pound of millet.
It might not seem like much, but in those times, it was considered a generous gift. Only close friends would give something like that. Li Fang returned home three days after giving birth.
Everyone in the courtyard visited, each bringing a small gift.
Aunt Zhou, after seeing the Li family's baby girl, went home and said, "The Li family, being chefs, really know how to take care of themselves. Look at their chubby granddaughter—a girl weighing six pounds and eight ounces!"
Wang Zhaodi nodded vigorously. Her younger sisters had all been born weighing around four or five pounds.
Five pounds was considered good, but this was the first time she'd seen such a plump baby girl.
She said, "Even the golden grandson of our village head didn't weigh six pounds and eight ounces."
Aunt Zhou replied, "That's why they're chefs."
She turned to Jiang Lu and said, "May the heavens bless you with a son, Jiang Lu."
Jiang Lu touched her belly and said, "I hope so."
She added, "But if it's a girl, we'll still take good care of her, because..."
Aunt Zhou understood Jiang Lu's unspoken words.
She said, "That's right. The Li family takes in sons-in-law. If it's a girl, we'll do the same."
Jiang Lu nodded silently.
In reality, Jiang Lu's pregnancy was a month off from what people thought, but the difference was so slight that no one noticed. Neither Aunt Zhou nor Zhou Qun suspected anything, especially since Jiang Lu had been devoted to Zhou Qun for over a decade.
Jiang Lu was actually quite grateful to Li Fang, as Li Fang had given birth a few days later than expected. Jiang Lu thought that if she also gave birth late, it wouldn't stand out as much.
She sipped her egg water and said, "I'll visit my parents tomorrow. They have some good things prepared for the baby."
Aunt Zhou looked a bit awkward but nodded.
Though Jiang Lu had changed somewhat, she still cared for her family.
Jiang Lu wondered aloud, "I wonder when Ming Mei will give birth."
Aunt Zhou said, "Twins usually come a bit early. Let's see if it's before or after the New Year."
As they speculated about Ming Mei's due date, Ming Mei herself was also thinking about it. Since they had installed a heated brick bed (kang), life had become much more comfortable. Although it wasn't as soft as a regular bed, with a quilt on top, it was cozy, especially during the cold winter.
The kang also provided more space. Ming Mei sometimes ate on it, which wasn't the best habit as crumbs got everywhere, but Zhuang Zhixi cleaned up after her.
As the family prepared for the New Year, Zhao Guihua decided to fry some fish.
Fish wasn't hard to come by, but oil was precious.
Fortunately, after frying, the oil could be reused, even if it had a slight fishy smell. In those times of scarcity, no one would complain about such things.
Besides fish, Zhao Guihua also fried radish balls, potato balls, and sweet potato balls.
They prepared a lot of New Year's food, storing it in pots to reheat during the festivities.
Although Ming Mei had to work and couldn't enjoy the food as soon as it was ready like the children, she always made a beeline for the kitchen as soon as she got home.
Zhao Guihua cut off some of the fat from the meat she had bought and rendered it into cracklings. She made them in the evening, so the aroma wafted through the entire courtyard, just to take care of Ming Mei. Ming Mei received a small bowl of cracklings and ate them with great delight.
These days, every household was preparing for the New Year, so although the smell of meat was tempting, no one came out to investigate. After all, who doesn’t prepare something nice for the New Year?
Hutou and Little Swallow, the two kids, also got a small bowl of cracklings. The children ate until their mouths were shiny with oil.
"If only every day were New Year," the child said blissfully.
Zhao Guihua glanced at him, "You’re not big, but you sure know how to dream."
The little one chuckled, smacking his lips, "It’s so delicious."
Ming Mei nodded in agreement, "Exactly."
Zhao Guihua sighed, "You lot…"
Ming Mei and the kids wore identical smiles.
Ming Mei suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right!"
She leaned closer to Zhao Guihua and whispered, "Mom, do you remember Bai Fendou’s ex, the one he almost married, Guan Guiling?"
Zhao Guihua, "How could I forget her? I might forget others, but not her. Haven’t you noticed how Bai Fendou’s been acting like he’s nursing a broken heart? It’s all because of her."
Ming Mei nodded, "That’s the one. I heard from someone at work that her ex-husband just got a job, and today was his first day. Guess what he’s doing?"
Zhao Guihua, "How would I know? Just spit it out, don’t keep me in suspense."
Ming Mei pouted, "You could at least try to guess! Fine, I’ll tell you. Guan Guiling’s ex-husband got a job as a security guard at the food factory. Didn’t see that coming, did you?"
Zhao Guihua, "The food factory?"
Ming Mei, "Yeah, even though it’s a temporary position, he’s making twelve yuan a month. The job’s not hard either—just sitting in the guard booth. Not bad at all."
She added with a mysterious and meaningful tone, "But don’t you think it’s strange that it’s the food factory? I heard Chen Yuan’s mom is the deputy director there. Do you think Chen Yuan had something to do with Bai Fendou’s failed marriage?"
Zhao Guihua thought about it, and it really did seem possible.
Back at the hospital, Guan Guiling had visited Bai Fendou, and everything seemed fine at the time. But then she suddenly changed her mind. It was likely that Chen Yuan had pulled some strings. Thinking about it, Zhao Guihua felt exasperated, "That idiot doesn’t even know how to ruin someone’s life properly."
Ming Mei, "???"
Zhao Guihua, "If he really wanted Bai Fendou to suffer, he should’ve let him get married and be stuck with someone else’s burdens. That would’ve been a real trap. What he did now? It’s more like he’s helping Bai Fendou. That’s how dumb he is."
Ming Mei, "…"
She whispered, "Guan Guiling always talks about Bai Fendou at work like she’s scared of him. She says he’s impulsive and has a temper, always ready to hit someone…"
Zhao Guihua, "She’s just trying to make herself look good. Of course, she’s going to throw dirt on Bai Fendou. But honestly, Guan Guiling isn’t that smart either. If she’d stuck with Bai Fendou, he would’ve been a lifelong meal ticket. Now she’s giving him up for a temporary job. Not the brightest move."
Ming Mei, "Maybe it’s because Chen Yuan’s dad is the logistics director at the machinery factory? Bai Fendou still answers to him, and if he gets targeted, he might end up with nothing. But I don’t know for sure. Who knows what Guan Guiling is thinking? But it’s clear she’s choosing what’s best for her."
Zhao Guihua nodded, but she couldn’t help but sigh, "Chen Yuan is such a petty man."
She didn’t judge Guan Guiling—Guan Guiling was just looking out for herself, no doubt about that. What disgusted her more was Chen Yuan. Over a fight, and it was Chen Yuan who started it with his big mouth, yet he’s scheming behind the scenes? And dragging his parents into it? That’s just pathetic.
She said, "That sneaky little man, we’d better stay away from him. Who knows, if you offend him, he might plot against you."
Ming Mei chuckled, "True, but he’s not exactly close to us. He looks down on us anyway!"
It was obvious. He never greeted anyone in the courtyard, always walking around with a sour face, chin up, looking down his nose at everyone. Tsk tsk!
Zhao Guihua, "Who respects him? Always doing shady things behind people’s backs."
There was no need to think too hard about it—it was definitely Chen Yuan’s doing.
After all, Guan Guiling wouldn’t just give up a meal ticket like that. Someone must’ve been pulling strings, and now it’s clear who it was.
Zhao Guihua, "Oh my, I’ll have to tell my friends to watch out for him."
Ming Mei pointed at herself.
Zhao Guihua, "I won’t rat you out."
Ming Mei, "Hehe."
Zhuang Zhixi noticed the two of them whispering and walked over, "What are you two talking about behind my back again?"
Ming Mei, "It’s not a secret. We were just talking about Guan Guiling."
She had already told Zhuang Zhixi about it on their way home from work.
Zhuang Zhixi, "It’s obvious. Chen Yuan must’ve been behind it."
Otherwise, why would Guan Guiling’s ex-husband suddenly get a job at the food factory? But Chen Yuan’s a bit of an idiot too. To go through all that trouble just to mess with Bai Fendou, even getting someone a job? That’s just crazy.
He said, "What kind of family raises someone like that?"
As they were talking, Zhao Guihua looked up and saw Bai Fendou walking toward the backyard with a shovel. Her expression changed, "Oh no!"
"What’s wrong?"
"Why is Bai Fendou carrying a shovel to the backyard?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the air.
Zhao Guihua, "They’re fighting again."
She quickly instructed, "Third Son, watch the stove. I’ll go check it out."
Zhuang Zhixi promptly handed the spatula to Old Man Zhuang, "Dad, take over for me. I’ll go see what’s happening."
The ever-invisible Old Man Zhuang, "…"
Zhuang Zhixi, "Wife, you stay here. Don’t get involved. I’ll go."
Ming Mei, "Alright."
She looked down at her large belly and quietly stood by the door, unable to go. She tiptoed, trying to peek toward the backyard.
By now, Zhao Guihua had already reached the backyard. In fact, almost everyone in the courtyard had gathered there. Bai Fendou had smashed all the windows in Chen Yuan’s house.
Zhao Guihua, "Why does our courtyard always have issues with windows?"
Several families had already had to replace their windows.
Chen Yuan and his wife came out, shouting, "Bai Fendou, you mad dog! What’s wrong with you now?"
Bai Fendou, furious, yelled back, "Chen Yuan, you’re a petty, scheming man. Tell me, did you have something to do with Guan Guiling and me breaking up?"
Everyone, "Huh?"
Zhao Guihua’s eyebrow twitched. Were they overheard? That couldn’t be—they were inside, and they’d kept their voices low so Hutou and Little Swallow wouldn’t hear.
Zhao Guihua kept a straight face, while Chen Yuan remained calm, "You mad dog, you got dumped by a woman, and now you’re blaming me? This has nothing to do with me. What, are you trying to pin this on me?"
Bai Fendou, "Bull! If it’s not you, then why did Guan Guiling’s ex-husband suddenly get a job?"
He shouted, "I went to her place today and found out her ex-husband got a job—at the food factory!"
This wasn’t because Bai Fendou had overheard Zhao Guihua and the others. It was because Bai Fendou still hadn’t given up on Guan Guiling and kept visiting her. With the New Year approaching, he thought about how Guan Guiling was pregnant and needed proper nutrition. If they got married, the child would be his too. He still hadn’t given up on her and even considered the baby his own.
It was an unusual way of thinking, but Bai Fendou believed he wasn’t wrong.
That’s why he bought an old hen to give to Guan Guiling, so she could make soup and get some nourishment during the New Year. But when he arrived, he found out her ex-husband had gotten a job.
The man wasn’t in good health and couldn’t do much, but being a security guard was manageable.
At first, Bai Fendou didn’t think much of it, but when he heard it was at the food factory, his heart sank.
Everyone knew that Chen Yuan came from a good family. His mother was the deputy director of a food factory, and his father was the logistics director of a machinery plant. Bai Fendou had heard about this long ago, so he quickly put two and two together. When he returned, he didn’t even go home but headed straight to the backyard. Bai Fendou shouted angrily, “Chen Yuan, you’re a vicious piece of work! You can’t beat me, so you got your parents to do your dirty work behind my back. Your family is disgusting! You ruined my chance at marriage—may you be struck by lightning!”
“Bai Fendou, watch your mouth! How dare you talk like that? What proof do you have that I did anything? I don’t even know who this Guan Guiling is! What, you got dumped by a woman, and now you’re trying to pin it on me? I’m telling you, I’m not falling for your nonsense!”
Bai Fendou roared, “Damn it, stop playing dumb! I’m not falling for your act either. I’ll beat the crap out of you!”
He swung a shovel at Chen Yuan, who barely dodged it and yelled, “Are you trying to kill me?”
Bai Fendou’s eyes were bloodshot, and he didn’t care about anything else at that moment. “I’m going to teach you a lesson, you shameless scoundrel!”
Bai Fendou let out a roar and charged again. Chen Yuan yelped and quickly slipped inside his house, locking the door behind him. He didn’t even care about his wife, Tao Yuyue, who was left outside. From inside, he sneered loudly, “Go ahead, hit me! Oh wait, you can’t! Ha, I’m driving you crazy, aren’t I?”
Bai Fendou screamed, “You jerk!”
“You’re the jerk!”
The two of them hurled insults at each other through the door, while Bai Fendou angrily slammed the shovel against it, making loud banging noises.
Tao Yuyue tried to intervene, saying, “Bai Fendou, this is all just a misunderstanding. You’ve got the wrong idea about Chen Yuan. He’s not that kind of person. Besides, if you keep hitting people, you’ll get into serious trouble. You don’t want to end up in jail, do you? Please stop!”
Bai Fendou shoved Tao Yuyue aside and said, “Get out of my way! You think you’re so important, but does he even care about you? He locked the door without a second thought about you. It’s laughable. Out of all the people, you picked this piece of trash. You must be blind. Get lost!”
Tao Yuyue bit her lip. She knew Bai Fendou was right, but what could she do? She was already married. Could she just get a divorce? And if she did, what kind of man could she find? Someone like Bai Fendou?
No, she absolutely couldn’t get divorced!
Even if she had made a mistake, she had still married into a well-off family where she wouldn’t have to worry about food or clothing.
She pushed Bai Fendou with all her might. “Get away from me!”
Bai Fendou shot back, “You get away from me!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He continued smashing the shovel against the door. Tao Yuyue pleaded, “Someone stop him!”
Zhou Qun whispered, “Who would dare? He’s holding a shovel. If he swings it at someone, it could be fatal.”
No one dared to step in. It wasn’t because they didn’t know Chen Yuan and his wife well—it was because Bai Fendou seemed completely unhinged.
Who would want to confront a madman?
As neighbors in the same courtyard, everyone knew Bai Fendou’s biggest dream was to get married. The closest he had come to it had been ruined by Chen Yuan. Even though Chen Yuan denied it, everyone believed Bai Fendou.
After all, Chen Yuan didn’t seem like a saint. If he wanted revenge, it wouldn’t be surprising.
So, no one dared to get involved. It wasn’t worth risking their safety for someone else’s problem.
“You guys…”
“Who would dare to stop him? Look how furious he is.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
Bai Fendou kept smashing the door, which was now on the verge of breaking.
The onlookers chattered nervously, but no one dared to step in.
“Bai Fendou, if you hurt someone, you’ll be in big trouble.”
“I don’t care! I don’t care! He’s done this to me, and I have to get justice! Give me back my wife! Give her back!”
Bai Fendou’s wild shouts drew a crowd from the surrounding courtyards. Hearing his words, they misunderstood the situation.
“Is Bai Fendou in love with Tao Yuyue?”
“Isn’t she already married?”
“Feelings are the hardest thing to explain.”
“This is going to be such a scandal. A love triangle…”
Tao Yuyue felt utterly humiliated when she heard the gossip linking her and Bai Fendou.
“Shut up! There’s nothing between us!” she shouted.
She turned to Bai Fendou. “Stop it! If you don’t, I’ll call the police. You can’t just do whatever you want!”
At that moment, Bai Fendou finally broke the door open. Chen Yuan was terrified. Despite his tough talk, he was genuinely scared of Bai Fendou, who was clearly out of his mind.
“You have no proof! You can’t treat me like this without proof! Get out! Leave now, and I’ll let it go. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret it! You… ah!”
Bai Fendou threw the shovel aside and lunged at Chen Yuan, knocking him to the ground and punching him twice. Chen Yuan cried out in pain.
But then Chen Yuan’s own violent instincts kicked in. He grabbed Bai Fendou by the neck, and the two of them started choking each other, both gasping for air but determined to gain the upper hand. They rolled around on the ground, locked in a fierce struggle.
One moment, Bai Fendou was on top; the next, Chen Yuan took control.
Finally, Bai Fendou broke free with a burst of strength, but Chen Yuan yanked him back, and in the heat of the moment, Bai Fendou bit Chen Yuan’s neck!
The crowd gasped. Zhou Qun shouted in shock, “Bai Fendou just kissed Chen Yuan!”
Those who couldn’t see clearly from the back drew in a sharp breath. Considering Bai Fendou’s reputation as a “man-killer” and the fact that he wasn’t exactly a man anymore, this incident was definitely something to ponder.
Chen Yuan cried out in anger and kicked Bai Fendou away. Furious that a man had bitten him, he retaliated by biting Bai Fendou back.
Zhou Qun screamed, “Ahhh! Chen Yuan just kissed Bai Fendou!”
Another gasp rippled through the crowd.
The cold wind of the city seemed to have been sucked in by the onlookers.
“Enough! Enough!” Tao Yuyue felt utterly humiliated. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. Her husband and another man, rolling around and biting each other? It was beyond disgraceful.
No wonder Tao Yuyue felt this way. She wasn’t at the front of the crowd and could only see the two men biting each other’s necks. It made her sick to her stomach. “Stop it! Both of you, stop it!”
But the two men, now completely consumed by rage, ignored her.
They continued to wrestle, biting each other.
Compared to choking, this was less deadly, but both of their necks were now covered in bite marks.
Zhou Qun exclaimed, “This is too intense! They’re really going at it!”
“Shut up already!”
“Ahhh!”
Finally, Tao Yuyue pushed her way through the crowd. Seeing the two men tangled up like a twisted rope, her anger reached its peak.
She grabbed a frying pan and started whacking both of them indiscriminately. “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Are you all ignoring me? Do you think I’m dead? How dare you act like this right in front of me! Are you insane? You have no shame, but I do! Stop it right now, do you hear me?”
The two men scrambled away, covering their heads.
“You shrew!”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Tao Yuyue screamed, “Stop it!!!”
Bai Fendou’s nose was bleeding. “You’re the one who won’t stop!”
“Yeah, you stop first!” Chen Yuan thought the woman had lost her mind.
Tao Yuyue, beyond furious, threw the frying pan aside and shouted, “Ahhh! Both of you, get out!”
She stormed into the inner room and slammed the door shut.
Chen Yuan and Bai Fendou finally stopped fighting. There was a moment of awkward silence, and the onlookers didn’t dare say a word. No one even dared to breathe too loudly. Who knew what was really going on?
Then they looked at each other’s necks.
Well… it was hard to look at.
Anyone would misunderstand.
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.
Chen Yuan suddenly let out a cry and ran out like a madman...
He covered his face, looking like a violated young bride.
Bai Fendou fell silent for a moment, then, amidst the crowd's awkward expressions, he raised his head defiantly and declared, "I never lose a fight!"
The onlookers: "..."
Is this really about winning or losing?
The real question is, why are the two of you even fighting like this?
Everyone was baffled.
People like Zhuang Zhixi stood far back, reminding themselves once again not to provoke Bai Fendou. This guy was truly a man-killer. Not only could he cripple a man, but he could also ruin a man's reputation.
Without a doubt, Chen Yuan was now infamous.
Yep, another notorious figure from their compound.
Glancing at the frying pan that had been tossed aside, its bottom bent out of shape, it was clear that Tao Yuyue had been absolutely furious.
Better not mess with her.
Zhuang Zhixi thought that someone else in their compound was about to lose their mind.
After a long silence, Bai Fendou suddenly scoffed and said, "This time, I'll let it slide. But if I ever find out someone's scheming behind my back again, I won't be so forgiving! Don't think Bai Fendou is an easy target!"
With that, he grabbed his shovel and dragged it home!
The crowd quickly parted to make way for him. Wang Xiangxiu stood among them, her face expressionless, though inwardly she felt a sense of relief.
Thankfully, she hadn't continued to entangle herself with Bai Fendou, or else how could she ever face people again?
The things Bai Fendou had done... well, it's hard to say.
But it was definitely embarrassing.
Even though he wasn't the main culprit, he was always the one who ended up looking bad.
Wang Xiangxiu felt a chill run down her spine and hurried home, though she couldn't help but feel a bit of joy. Seeing Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue in such a state made her happy. After all, it was these two who had insisted on sending Jinlai to the juvenile detention center.
Couldn't they have given the kid a chance?
She harbored deep resentment toward the couple but had no means to retaliate. Now, seeing them in such a mess, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Her steps felt light, and her heart was at ease.
One by one, the crowd dispersed. Zhao Guihua, who had been at the front, couldn't help but reflect on the scene. She hadn't expected anything like this when she stepped out earlier. Not just her, but everyone seemed to be at a loss for words.
This kind of fight was better left unseen.
It was just too disgusting.
Ming Mei, who hadn't witnessed the scene firsthand, asked excitedly, "What happened? What happened? Did they kiss? Why would they kiss?"
Zhao Guihua: "Probably..."
She glanced at the rising moon and said, "Probably the moon's fault."
The Zhuang family: "..."
How could this be the moon's fault?
But at this moment, Zhao Guihua spoke sincerely, "Oldest and second son, I'm not worried about your father. He's old and won't get into trouble. But you two, stay away from Bai Fendou from now on. Don't get involved with him."
The Zhuang brothers: "..."
Both of them grimaced.
Liang Meifen quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, we can't get close to him anymore. It's too embarrassing."
Zhao Guihua agreed, "I'm not saying Bai Fendou is actually interested in men—he definitely likes women—but this guy is too reckless and shameless. If you get involved with him, it's just too humiliating. And when he gets into a fight, it's always something outrageous, like biting or kicking... you know where. Normal people can't handle that. We need to keep our distance."
"Got it."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Bai Fendou didn't fight like this before. But ever since he stopped being a man, his fights have become incomprehensible. Last time he was scratching people, this time he was biting, and the way he bit was almost like kissing..."
He shuddered. He couldn't bear to think about it. The thought alone made him feel nauseous.
That queasy feeling was really ruining his appetite.
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "I'm skipping dinner. I can't eat. It's too disgusting."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Me neither."
Liang Meifen nodded silently. She felt the same way.
Just thinking about that scene made her lose her appetite.
Zhao Guihua: "...Well, that saves food."
Hutou: "I still want to eat."
Xiao Yanzi: "Xiao Yanzi wants to eat too."
Zhao Guihua: "If they're not eating, we will. Ming Mei, come sit down."
Ming Mei: "Okay."
She thought to herself, it must have been really intense to make everyone so disgusted.
She gave a sympathetic glance to those who had witnessed the scene firsthand and patted her belly with a smile. Thankfully, she hadn't been there to see it.
Their family wasn't the only one affected. Wang Xiangxiu, for instance, made dinner for her two sons but couldn't bring herself to eat. The thought of the tussle and biting made her feel like she had swallowed something vile. She earnestly warned her children, "Stay away from Bai Fendou and that Chen Yuan from the backyard."
The kids didn't fully understand, but they had been disciplined by their mother and obediently nodded.
Tonglai hadn't experienced the full brunt of Bai Fendou's actions, but he had seen enough to know better. He had witnessed the ups and downs of his family and had learned some "secrets," so he was more mature now.
Wang Xiangxiu: "Oh my, I can't even imagine!"
While their family was feeling disgusted, the Zhou family was on high alert. Aunt Zhou stared at her son Zhou Qun like a hawk, saying, "From now on, you're not allowed to have any contact with those two."
Zhou Qun: "I'll listen to you."
He answered too quickly, making Aunt Zhou suspicious. She stared at him and said, "From now on, I'll escort you to and from work."
Zhou Qun scratched his ear, incredulous. "Mom, what are you talking about? I'm not that kind of person anymore! I just want to live a peaceful life now. You escorting me around? That's just embarrassing!"
He nudged Jiang Lu and said, "Wife, back me up here. This is ridiculous. Besides, I would never get involved with those two. I swear, I'm a decent person."
Jiang Lu stared at Zhou Qun for a long time before saying, "I'll believe you for now."
She then turned to Aunt Zhou and said, "Mom, let's not overdo it. If you start escorting Zhou Qun around, people will start to suspect something even if there's nothing going on. We can't do that."
Aunt Zhou thought for a while and finally nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to you." She didn't dare go against Jiang Lu now, especially since her son wasn't exactly reliable.
Zhou Qun breathed a sigh of relief.
He muttered, "How could you think of me like that? I don't have those kinds of thoughts anymore."
But he couldn't help but remark, "Bai Fendou is one tough guy."
Aunt Zhou was full of disdain. She felt she had every right to look down on Bai Fendou. They had all been through a lot, and even she, an old woman, had managed to turn her life around. How could a grown man still be so clueless?
It seemed that Old Man Bai's death hadn't affected his son at all.
He was still as impulsive and troublesome as ever.
Even Wang Xiangxiu had learned to live a proper life, but Bai Fendou remained the same reckless troublemaker.
"Jiang Lu, once the baby is born, we need to raise them well and make sure they have no contact with Bai Fendou. That guy is just not right in the head. Even though we're neighbors, we need to keep our distance. And we need to teach our child properly. If we raise a child like Bai Fendou, even our ancestors would rise from their graves in horror."
Jiang Lu was surprised to hear such words from her mother-in-law. It didn't sound like her at all.
But she couldn't agree more.
"It's really something."
"You can say that again."
Wang Zhaodi sat quietly, not daring to speak. She scratched her head, her once neat pigtails now a mess. She had never seen anything like this before. Life in their remote village was nothing compared to the complexity of the outside world.
"Stop scratching," Jiang Lu said. "Haven't you figured it out by now? This kind of thing is normal here."
Wang Zhaodi: "I get that, but... it's still shocking."
Although the commotion in their courtyard happened frequently, each incident was unique, leaving her shocked every single time.
She said, "This is really..."
She hadn’t been educated and couldn’t find the right words to describe it, but... but... but... it was shocking! It was outrageous! It was unbelievable!
A country girl, utterly stunned.
Jiang Lu chimed in, "Don’t say you, even city folks have never seen anything like this..."
Every household was warning their own family members to stay far away from these two troublemakers.
However, Bai Fendou didn’t see it that way. He was quite pleased, feeling like he had achieved a major victory this time. Although the situation was infuriating, Chen Yuan was his defeated opponent—hadn’t he run off crying?
A grown man crying like that? It was truly shameful.
That’s not how a real man behaves.
Proudly, he pulled out a bottle of liquor he had been saving. It was meant for his wedding day, but since that hadn’t happened, he had been holding onto it, hoping for a second chance. Now, that was unnecessary.
Even though Chen Yuan hadn’t admitted anything after the big scene, Bai Fendou could tell from his bluster that the guy was definitely hiding something. Deep down, he felt a pang of sorrow for his lost love.
He had thought Guan Guiling was different, a good woman, but it turned out she was just a fickle reed swaying in the wind.
Such a woman wasn’t worthy of him!
Wang Xiangxiu, a woman with no sense of propriety, wasn’t worthy of him.
Guan Guiling, a fickle woman who changed with the wind, wasn’t worthy of him either.
Bai Fendou would continue on his path of finding a wife through matchmaking. There might be many twists and turns, many obstacles, but he believed he could still find a partner. After all, he wasn’t a bad catch.
He really wasn’t!
Bai Fendou took a couple of swigs from the bottle. The more he drank, the more invigorated he felt.
Hehe.
He touched his neck, feeling like it bore the marks of victory.
After drinking, Bai Fendou got up to use the outhouse. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he strode confidently, even though it was the middle of winter. Surprisingly, there were people chatting in the alley. As soon as they saw Bai Fendou, they scattered like rabbits.
Bai Fendou, slightly tipsy, vaguely recognized one of them. "Big Strong, why are you running?"
Big Strong scurried into their courtyard. His name might suggest bravery, but his courage was anything but.
Better not mess with him!
Better not!
Bai Fendou was like the king of Xinghuali Lane. The moment he appeared, everyone fled. Bai Fendou didn’t care and headed to the outhouse, unaware that tomorrow he would once again be the talk of the entire factory.
Alongside him in the gossip would be his new rumored love interest—Chen Yuan.
Meanwhile, Chen Yuan had already run home, crying his eyes out. Since childhood, he had been the golden grandson of the family, doted on by everyone. Seeing him in such a state, his mother was shocked. "Who’s the wicked woman who’s done this to you?"
How dare someone harass her son?
Hearing this, Chen Yuan cried even louder.
This wasn’t a woman’s doing!
It was Bai Fendou!
How tragic...
The morning sun was exceptionally bright. Today was payday at the machinery factory and the bus station, so everyone was in high spirits. Starting the day with good news—how could they not be happy? With their salaries paid early, they were about to start their New Year holiday.
Money and time off?
This was a double blessing.
Every household was filled with joy, but amidst the happiness, there was also a buzz of excitement. After all, they had some juicy gossip to share today!
Such big news couldn’t be kept until after the New Year—it was too much to hold in!
Liang Meifen couldn’t wait to tell her workshop colleagues.
Even Old Man Zhuang was planning to catch up with his old buddies.
As for others... Zhang San had witnessed the whole scene firsthand. This time, he didn’t need Zhuang Zhixi to recount it—he had seen it all from the front row... Ew!
Disgusting yet thrilling!
What a spectacle!
Their security team was in for a treat.
He had seen it! He could spread the word!
