Little kids, little kids, don't be greedy, after Laba Festival, the New Year is near.
As the year-end approaches, children are excited, and adults are bustling too. Kids are the happiest during the New Year—there's plenty of delicious food, and they can set off firecrackers, instantly adding color to their otherwise monotonous lives.
Adults, on the other hand, have a lot more to worry about. At the end of the year, they have to buy this and that, and for families already struggling financially, it feels like adding frost to snow. It’s truly what you’d call the "year-end hurdle." But this year is different—this year is especially lively.
On the last day of work at the machinery factory, everyone was eagerly discussing something.
The focus of their discussion, naturally, was none other than the factory’s number one figure—Bai Fendou. But this time, there was another notable character: Chen Yuan, the son of the logistics department’s Director Chen, who made a grand appearance.
Chen Yuan also worked at the machinery factory, in the factory office. Though he was just a lowly clerk, he had powerful backing, which made him act arrogantly, always looking down on others. Because of this, he had made quite a few enemies, and everyone was now enjoying the drama.
In just one day, the gossip had spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the factory.
Even the factory director had heard about it.
Though the logistics director wasn’t as high-ranking as the factory director, the position was still significant and came with considerable power and perks. Only the director’s most trusted confidants could hold such a position. So, when the director heard about the humiliation of Director Chen’s son, his reaction was rather ambiguous.
Like, does your son have some special preferences?
What everyone was discussing wasn’t just a fight, but something much more scandalous. Two grown men fighting—punching each other—would have been one thing, but why did they have to go and do *that*? One kissing the other, and vice versa?
Well, they called it "biting," but everyone thought it was pretty much the same as kissing.
In any case, it was quite the spectacle.
Chen Yuan, knowing how embarrassing it was, kept himself covered up, but Bai Fendou? Not a chance. Despite the freezing cold, he unbuttoned the top of his padded jacket, deliberately exposing his neck.
Yes, that was his badge of honor.
He had fought, but he hadn’t lost.
Only a man covered in scars could be called a real man.
Bai Fendou strutted around the factory like this, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
The restrooms were packed with people, one group after another.
Bai Fendou had a knack for single-handedly turning the quiet machinery factory into a lively place. Just as the New Year was approaching, he had pulled off another stunt. His lack of discretion infuriated some people.
And the one who was most furious was none other than Chen Yuan.
Today was the last day of work, payday. Chen Yuan arrived at the factory right on time, and as soon as he reached the gate, he saw Zhang San grinning at him in a particularly odd way, the kind of enthusiasm that didn’t bode well.
Though they were neighbors, Chen Yuan had no interest in associating with him. What kind of person was Zhang San, anyway?
He gave Zhang San a cold glance and strode away.
Zhang San: "Oh, oh, oh."
He leaned over to Wang Er, who was also guarding the gate, and whispered, "Did you see that? He still looks down on people."
Wang Er spat: "Pah!"
He rubbed his face and said, "As if anyone doesn’t know what happened."
Zhang San disagreed, "Don’t spit like that. If our boss sees you, he won’t be happy."
Wang Er retorted, "Who hasn’t seen Bai Fendou’s neck? It’s not like he’s the one who bit it. Even women don’t fight like that."
Even women don’t fight like that.
Just then, a few others who had just arrived at the factory asked curiously, "What’s going on? Did someone get into a fight?"
The moment they heard about a fight, they got excited.
Zhang San: "Not today, last night. If you want to know, go to the restroom and check out Bai Fendou’s neck. He and Chen Yuan… blah blah blah."
Gasps erupted around them.
Zhang San: "And also, yesterday Tao Yuyue… blah blah blah."
He was as gleeful as a melon-field thief, eagerly sharing the gossip, making the most of his day covering for Li Si at the gate. Spreading joy to everyone.
At this point, Chen Yuan still didn’t know that his story had already spread far and wide. Of course, it wasn’t just Zhang San spreading the news—there had been plenty of witnesses last night, including people from the surrounding neighborhoods. With so many people involved, who wouldn’t talk about it?
The gossip spread like wildfire!
Chen Yuan went upstairs and ran into Zhuang Zhixi, who paused subtly. Chen Yuan just chuckled, acting as haughty as ever.
Zhuang Zhixi silently shook his head, almost shaking it off. He could understand Bai Fendou’s unconventional way of fighting. After all, Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t exactly the manliest man, and he had a penchant for doing strange things. But Chen Yuan…
Zhuang Zhixi really didn’t get it.
He quietly headed to the finance department—today was payday, after all.
Officially, payday wasn’t supposed to be today, but they had moved it up so everyone could have money to shop for the New Year. Ming Mei’s workplace had done the same, and so had Zhuang Zhiyuan’s.
Though usually paydays weren’t synchronized, because of the New Year, almost the entire city had their payday today.
You could already imagine the chaos in the stores once everyone got their hands on their money.
Zhuang Zhixi joined the line at the finance department. Even though the office was indoors, the line had already spilled out the door and into the yard. As Zhuang Zhixi stood in line, the main topic of conversation wasn’t about what to buy with their salaries, but rather: "Did Bai Fendou and Chen Yuan really kiss each other?"
Just look at what everyone was concerned about.
Zhuang Zhixi replied earnestly, "Why ask me? Go check Bai Fendou’s neck in the restroom."
Though he answered seriously, everyone burst into laughter, their expressions full of meaning. They had all seen Bai Fendou’s neck, and Bai Fendou wasn’t the least bit embarrassed about it.
"Did you hear? Chen Yuan messed with Bai Fendou’s wife?"
"No, that’s not accurate. I heard Chen Yuan likes Bai Fendou and couldn’t stand the thought of him getting married, so he sabotaged Bai Fendou’s relationship with his fiancée. When Bai Fendou found out, he was furious. Bai Fendou, the eternal bachelor, had been looking forward to getting married, so of course he was angry. That’s why he bit Chen Yuan, saying he’d make Chen Yuan his wife."
"Wait, really?"
"Think about it. If that wasn’t the case, why would Chen Yuan do something like that? It’s classic love turning into hate."
"No, I heard it was Bai Fendou who fell in love with Tao Yuyue from the medical office—Chen Yuan’s wife. But Tao Yuyue insisted on marrying Chen Yuan. Bai Fendou was heartbroken, so he found another woman to marry. But then Chen Yuan, jealous that Bai Fendou had eyes for his wife, sabotaged Bai Fendou’s wedding plans. Bai Fendou, already disliking Chen Yuan, got even angrier and attacked him."
"That can’t be right. He didn’t just attack Chen Yuan—he straight-up kissed him in public. That’s harassment!"
"No, no, I heard Chen Yuan was two-timing. He had his wife, Tao Yuyue, and was also flirting with Bai Fendou’s fiancée. Bai Fendou, seeing both the woman he once loved and the woman he now loved being taken by Chen Yuan, decided to teach Chen Yuan a lesson. So he took Chen Yuan down!"
"Wait, does that make sense?"
"Of course it does. Chen Yuan likes stealing people, so Bai Fendou showed him how cruel the world can be."
"No way. Everyone knows Bai Fendou isn’t a real man anymore."
"He may not be able to perform, but he can still fight. He doesn’t really love Chen Yuan—he just wanted to humiliate him."
"Ah…"
"I believe Chen Yuan definitely had something going on with Bai Fendou’s fiancée. Otherwise, why would Chen Yuan help her husband find a job? I heard Chen Yuan’s mom arranged it…"
"Wow, what a nice guy."
"Exactly."
Although everyone started talking as soon as they saw Zhuang Zhixi, the conversation quickly spiraled out of control like a runaway horse. Before Zhuang Zhixi could even say a word, people had already come up with countless versions of the story, each one more sensational than the last. The boldness of the speculation was downright overwhelming.
Standing there for just a short while, Zhuang Zhixi had already heard so many versions. It was easy to imagine that the entire factory would be buzzing with even more versions, too many to count. Bai Fendou, who already had a bad reputation, was now in even deeper trouble. But, as expected, Bai Fendou probably wouldn’t care. After all, his reputation couldn’t get much worse, so what difference did it make?
As for Chen Yuan, although he had a father who was the head of the logistics department, his own abilities were limited, and he always carried himself with an air of superiority. As a result, he didn’t have much presence in the factory. Whether it was good news or bad news, he was never really involved.
But overnight, he became famous.
For someone ordinary to become famous, all it took was a single incident involving Bai Fendou.
It was truly a case of “no loss, no regret.” As long as Bai Fendou was involved, anything was possible.
Zhuang Zhixi watched in amazement. Seeing his sister-in-law, Liang Meifen, come to collect her salary, and noticing the long line of people behind her, he decisively said, “Sister-in-law, I’ll collect your salary for you.”
Liang Meifen hesitated for a moment, but then Zhuang Zhixi added, “If you enjoy waiting in line, you can take my spot. That way, you can collect mine and Dad’s salaries too, and I’ll go back to work.”
Liang Meifen immediately nodded and said, “Okay.”
This wasn’t cutting in line; she was simply swapping places with Zhuang Zhixi, who then left the queue and headed back. Liang Meifen was a little excited. She couldn’t believe she was being trusted to collect her father-in-law’s and brother-in-law’s salaries. This was a big deal for her!
Although she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, she could tell that her brother-in-law, Zhuang Zhixi, was usually quite wary of her. In most families, it’s the sisters-in-law who don’t get along, but in her case, she felt that her brother-in-law was even harder to deal with than his wife, Ming Mei.
Ming Mei was always sweet-talking her mother-in-law and knew how to flatter her, but she wasn’t the type to hold grudges. Liang Meifen had noticed several times that Hutou and Xiao Yanzi had gotten snacks from Ming Mei. For a mother, seeing her children happy was the most important thing.
Moreover, in most families, sisters-in-law tend to compete with each other, but Ming Mei wasn’t like that.
On the other hand, her brother-in-law, Zhuang Zhixi, often gave her subtle looks that made her feel on edge. She always felt like he was up to something. So, in their household, Liang Meifen had always felt that her brother-in-law was the harder one to get along with.
But who would have thought? She never imagined he would trust her with something like this.
Being entrusted to collect their salaries made Liang Meifen feel like she had been given a great responsibility.
Zhuang Zhixi, however, wasn’t overthinking it like Liang Meifen. He was simply too lazy to stand in line. Seeing Liang Meifen, he decided to use her as a stand-in. As for whether Liang Meifen would embezzle the money, he was confident she wouldn’t dare.
When Liang Meifen started working, she had agreed with her husband, Zhuang Zhiyuan, that he would be the one to collect her salary. She wasn’t allowed to handle the money herself. But sometimes, when Zhuang Zhiyuan was away on business or otherwise occupied, this rule wasn’t strictly enforced.
Still, every month when Liang Meifen’s salary came in, no matter who collected it, it was immediately handed over to Zhao Guihua because they had to pay a monthly living expense of 15 yuan.
Liang Meifen’s salary barely covered this expense, leaving her with almost nothing for herself. Zhuang Zhiyuan would then supplement her allowance from his own salary.
As for the family’s finances, those were firmly in Zhuang Zhiyuan’s hands. He had no choice; his wife was a bit scatterbrained. Even though she had been working for years, she hadn’t saved a single penny.
Whenever she had money, she would get a little confused and end up giving it to her family.
So Zhuang Zhiyuan made sure she didn’t handle any money. With him and his mother keeping an eye on her, she had become more sensible and stopped giving money to her family. Of course, Liang Meifen’s newfound clarity was also due to a couple of wake-up calls. The first was when her younger brother got married without even informing her, which had been a huge blow. The second was when Su Pandi divorced and ended up in jail. It was the first time Liang Meifen had seen someone suffer so badly because they had blindly trusted their family.
Seeing these things had definitely shaken her up.
Zhuang Zhiyuan noticed that his wife had become more clear-headed and trusted her a bit more as a result.
Zhuang Zhixi, on the other hand, didn’t have much of a relationship with his sister-in-law. His attitude toward her was entirely based on his brother’s stance. Whatever his brother thought, he thought.
So recently, Zhuang Zhixi had been treating Liang Meifen better. After all, they were family. Although there had been some unpleasantness in the past, they had never openly fought, and there was no need to do so now.
When Zhuang Zhixi returned to the office, he noticed that everyone was unusually distracted.
After all, it was the last day before the holiday.
“Xiao Zhuang, your wife is due around the New Year, right?”
Zhuang Zhixi replied, “Yes.”
The mention of this topic perked him up. “We’re not sure if it’ll be before or after the New Year. It’ll probably be after, since there are only a couple of days left before the holiday.”
“Then it’ll be either a little dog or a little pig,” someone joked, referring to the Chinese zodiac signs.
Zhuang Zhixi laughed. “Whatever it is, it’s my child. I’ll love them no matter what zodiac sign they’re born under.”
“That’s true.”
“Oh, by the way, I heard your courtyard had another commotion last night…”
Zhuang Zhixi replied, “Do you even need to ask? By now, the whole factory knows about it.”
“Haha, I heard it from Zhang San at the security department when I came in… They were all talking about it excitedly.”
“I heard it from Old Li in the workshop. He said he went over after hearing the noise and saw Chen Yuan running away like a wronged wife, covering his face and crying.”
“I heard it from the strong guy in the loading group. He said he went to see what was happening too, but even though he’s usually so strong, he didn’t dare to step in and break it up…”
Everyone was chattering away.
You see, Bai Fendou had given their machinery factory plenty of gossip and entertainment.
With the New Year approaching and people visiting relatives, this news would surely spread far and wide.
Tong County wouldn’t be able to stop it; Tianjin might hear about it too. Who knows, it might even go further.
Tsk, tsk!
Zhuang Zhixi commented, “Bai Fendou used to be impulsive, but he could still rein himself in a bit. Now, he’s really let himself go.”
“I think it’s because everyone in our courtyard is married except him. He just can’t handle being the only single guy left,” a voice chimed in. Everyone turned to see Zhou Qun, who added, “Has the circuit here been reported for repair? I’m here to fix it.”
“Come on over!” Sister Cui eagerly greeted him. Although she used to dislike Zhou Qun for putting on airs, ever since he became “one of the girls” with them, they had gotten along quite well.
She had even gotten a lot of gossip from him.
She said, “You’re not wrong. Before, he wasn’t like this because he wasn’t the only single guy around. But now it’s different, and he’s getting desperate…”
Zhuang Zhixi watched as Zhou Qun took over the conversation and chuckled to himself, not joining in. He focused on finishing up the last bit of work.
He said, “Master Huang, will you be home during the New Year? I’ll come visit you.”
Master Huang replied, “No need to come. I’ll be spending the holiday with my son.”
After a pause, he added, “Your wife is due any day now. You should take it easy and stay home to look after her. You’re not a kid anymore; you’re about to be a father. You need to be more responsible.”
Zhuang Zhixi smiled. “You’re right.”
On his last shift before the holiday, Zhuang Zhixi made sure to wrap up all the year-end work and organize the documents. As the bell rang to signal the end of the workday, everyone exchanged early New Year greetings and headed home with their holiday bonuses.
Yes, holiday bonuses.
Their factory still gave out holiday bonuses.
That was the advantage of working for a large factory. As a key machinery factory, their production wasn’t affected by external activities, so they were doing well financially.
Zhuang Zhixi worked in the propaganda department, which was a managerial position. They received one pound of meat, one fish, one pound of rice, and one pound of high-quality flour.
These were real, tangible goods.
It was also a tangible benefit from their factory. Some factories with better resources would manage to acquire extra supplies through other channels to distribute to their employees, which was a unique perk of certain factories. No wonder workers were in high demand these days.
There was one factory that was truly exceptional.
Their workshop didn’t distribute as generously—there was no rice or flour, but each person still got a fish and half a pound of meat.
Being a large factory with many employees, getting this much was already quite good. Of course, some people got even more, but even so, Zhuang Zhixi’s family was already very happy. He carried the New Year goods home. Old Man Zhuang and Liang Meifen got a bit less, but they still received something.
Liang Meifen was the happiest. She said, “I didn’t expect to get anything this year. I thought as an apprentice, I wouldn’t qualify, but it turns out I got the same as the regular employees. Only the temporary workers didn’t get anything; everyone else did.”
Even though she had been a regular employee before, the benefits at her previous factory were nowhere near as good as now. This really highlighted the difference between a large factory and a small one.
Zhuang Zhixi didn’t pay much attention to her chatter. He quickly rode his bike to pick up his wife. Last year, Ming Mei was still working as a ticket seller and had to work even during the New Year. This year, after changing positions, she could enjoy the regular holiday schedule.
Not only did Ming Mei get the New Year holiday, but she also combined it with her maternity leave. According to the standards in the capital, female employees were entitled to 56 days of maternity leave. Adding the New Year holiday, Ming Mei could take over 60 days off, equivalent to two months, perfect for staying cozy at home during the winter.
As a male employee, Zhuang Zhixi didn’t have as much leave, but he still got three days. He took them together with the New Year holiday.
It wasn’t that they could predict the exact day of delivery, but it was clear that it wouldn’t be long now. There was no point in going back to work for just a day or two after the New Year holiday and then taking maternity leave. It made more sense to just stay home and rest.
The New Year goods from Ming Mei’s workplace were slightly better than those from the machinery factory. Different units had different distributions. Although Zhuang Zhixi’s state-owned factory was indeed good, Ming Mei’s workplace and Zhuang Zhixi’s older brother Zhuang Zhiyuan’s unit were also quite decent.
After all, anything related to vehicles was doing well these days.
Among the “Eight Great Professions,” drivers were at the top. Units related to vehicles were all thriving.
Zhuang Zhixi brought Ming Mei and the New Year goods home. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they caught the aroma of frying meat. Ming Mei sniffed the air and decisively said, “That must be my grandpa.”
In this courtyard, the only one who would fry the meat as soon as they got it was Lan Sihai. Everyone else would save their New Year goods for making dumplings on New Year’s Eve. But Lan Sihai was an exception.
Lan Sihai always ate whatever he had without saving it.
He also didn’t care what others thought. While others were willing to sacrifice for their children, Lan Sihai had no such intentions. Whether it was his son who lived far away or his daughter in the capital, Lan Sihai’s attitude was, “Don’t bother me.”
The only person he was relatively close to was Ming Mei.
That was because his granddaughter lived in the same courtyard.
Ming Mei said, “I wonder if it’s fried meat or rendered fat. It smells so good.”
“Why don’t you come and taste it to find out?” A flat voice suddenly spoke up, startling Ming Mei. She turned around, clutching her chest, and said, “Grandpa, why did you suddenly speak up behind me? You scared me to death!”
Lan Sihai said, “I’m not a ghost. I make noise when I walk. You were so focused on the meat that you didn’t hear me.”
Ming Mei pouted.
Lan Sihai glanced at the two of them and said, “Put your things away at home, then come over to my place.”
Ming Mei immediately beamed, “Grandpa, you’re the best!”
Lan Sihai scoffed, “Oh, what a filial granddaughter. I’m only the best grandpa when there’s meat involved.”
Ming Mei cooed, “I always say you’re great, even when there’s no meat. You can’t accuse me of being ungrateful.”
Zhuang Zhixi chimed in, “That’s right. My wife is wonderful. And I, as your grandson-in-law, am also great. I…”
Lan Sihai, knowing exactly where this was going, cut him off, “Just shut up already.”
With that, he turned and went back inside.
Zhuang Zhixi sighed, “So cold, just like this freezing weather.”
Ming Mei couldn’t help but laugh, and Zhuang Zhixi joined in.
When Lan Sihai entered the house, he saw his wife, Luo Xiaohe, frying pork cracklings. He had asked her to do it. He walked over, inspected the work, and said, “Not bad.”
“Of course it’s not bad. This is five pounds of meat, with at least three pounds of fat. I’ve already rendered almost two pounds of fat. Who else in this courtyard would be so extravagant?”
They hadn’t even used all the fat yet, saving some for dumplings. A bit of fat made the dumplings tastier.
Lan Sihai said, “At our age, if we don’t eat now, when will we? Do you want to wait until we’re in the ground to enjoy it?”
He continued, “You can’t shortchange yourself in life. Otherwise, when you suddenly die, you’ll regret not having enjoyed life. I don’t want to be one of those fools who never indulged in anything.”
Luo Xiaohe nodded with a smile. Although Lan Sihai was much older than her, she never regretted marrying him. She had learned a lot from him. While some might see his behavior as selfish, Luo Xiaohe felt more liberated.
Her earlier life had been quite stifling, but after getting together with Lan Sihai, she gradually became more open-minded.
Of course, it might also be because there was so much drama in this courtyard that she felt relatively normal in comparison. Watching the chaos unfold was always entertaining. She said, “On New Year’s Eve, we’ll make dumplings with cabbage and pork. Zhao Guihua gave me a salted fish a while ago. We can steam that too…”
“Grandpa, Grandma Luo.”
Ming Mei poked her head in, her belly visibly large. Lan Sihai frowned, “Come in already. Where’s your husband? He should be supporting you.”
Ming Mei said, “He went to the restroom.”
Lan Sihai ordered, “Serve Ming Mei some cracklings.”
Luo Xiaohe smiled, “Sure thing.”
Ming Mei happily ate without feeling the least bit embarrassed. This was a family trait—none of them were easily swayed by others’ opinions. Ming Mei had no qualms about mooching off her grandpa.
She said cheerfully, “I love eating this.”
Lan Sihai said, “Eat up. There’s plenty more.”
Ming Mei nodded, sitting on a chair and gently swinging her legs. She spotted the meat on the cutting board and exclaimed, “Grandpa, how did you get so much? Zhuang Zhixi only got one pound, and my sister-in-law and father-in-law got half a pound each.”
Lan Sihai tilted his head slightly and said with a smile, “Do you think I’m on the same level as them? I’m a hired expert. Do you know what that means?”
Ming Mei nodded, “You’re amazing.”
Lan Sihai said, “Of course I’m amazing. Otherwise, why would they hire a seventy-year-old man like me?”
He continued, “Let me tell you, even though I didn’t have much formal education and taught myself to read, I’m an expert in certain fields. If you excel at something, people will always respect you, no matter the era.”
Ming Mei nodded, “I get it.”
Lan Sihai said, “Do you really? I think you’re just muddling through, always eager to watch the drama.”
Ming Mei was about to argue, “You’re the same!”
“People who are capable watch drama for relaxation. People who aren’t capable watch drama because they’re idle,” Lan Sihai said with a tone of authority. But then he added, “But being happy is what matters most. Even if the Lan family isn’t particularly skilled, it’s fine. We’ve got me, after all.”
Ming Mei thought, “???”
You just finished lecturing me and then immediately contradicted yourself. That’s…
“I have some canned peaches here. Take a couple home with you later.”
Ming Mei said, “Okay.”
The conversation abruptly shifted.
“Knock knock.” Zhuang Zhixi rapped on the door. Lan Sihai called out, “Come in.”
He glanced at his grandson-in-law and said, “You’re quite polite, huh.”
Coincidentally, Zhuang Zhixi was also thick-skinned. He grinned and said, “Of course. I have many good qualities, and politeness is just one of the lesser ones.”
Lan Sihai: "Hmm, you remind me a bit of my younger self." Shameless!
Zhuang Zhixi: "Then we must have a special bond, old man."
Lan Sihai: "Get lost, who's your old man? You’ve got no respect for your elders. Come over on New Year’s Eve and help me put up the couplets."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Sure thing."
He pointed to a large package in the corner and said, "Later, unwrap that and see if there’s anything you need. Take what you want."
Zhuang Zhixi rubbed his hands together: "I’m about to strike it rich."
His shamelessness earned him a swift kick from Lan Sihai, while Ming Mei burst into laughter, doubling over.
The three people in the room were startled. Did this silly girl not realize she was pregnant? She really had no sense of caution. Zhuang Zhixi steadied his wife and said, "Take it easy, will you?"
Ming Mei pouted, "Alright, alright."
The young couple didn’t go home, choosing instead to stay and mooch a meal. The food at her grandfather’s place was just too good.
"Coocoo, coocoo, it’s six o’clock, six o’clock…"
Ming Mei followed the sound and asked, puzzled, "Grandpa, when did you get this clock?"
She leaned in closer, supporting her back, and frowned, "It’s an old one."
The clock wasn’t very big, with a cuckoo bird on top that had just made the sound.
Lan Sihai looked at his granddaughter and said, "You’ve got no eye for value. It’s the old ones that are worth something. Don’t underestimate this clock of mine. It’s got history."
Ming Mei: "But didn’t ancient times not have clocks?"
"Well, not that old. It’s from the Qing dynasty, over a hundred years old. When I bought it, it wasn’t working. I fixed it myself." Lan Sihai was quite proud of himself. Not everyone could do that.
Ming Mei: "I know, I know."
She said, "Grandpa, you’re really amazing. You can even fix this kind of thing."
Lan Sihai: "It’s not that hard."
He added, "I’ve told you before, I’m good at enjoying life. Even though I’m a poor farmer, I don’t save money. Spending money to gain experience isn’t just spending—it’s accumulating knowledge."
Ming Mei giggled. Zhuang Zhixi stood up to support her and also looked curiously at the clock. "How can you tell it’s over a hundred years old?"
Lan Sihai: "Even though this was an imported item back then, things made in different years have their own characteristics. Take this mechanism, for example. Come here and look…"
Lan Sihai, rarely finding someone interested, immediately pulled Zhuang Zhixi over. "Look, I’ll tell you, these foreign things are just like ours. Each year’s products have their own unique features. See here…"
Lan Sihai kept rambling on, holding onto Zhuang Zhixi.
Ming Mei also tilted her head, watching curiously. The young couple was quite intrigued.
Lan Sihai was very pleased. The others in his family never listened to him talk about these things. They were no fun at all. But Ming Mei and her husband were different. They could "play" along with him. Like that time they pretended to be ghosts to scare people… No one else would have done that.
This was why Old Man Lan liked his granddaughter and son-in-law so much. They were shameless and loved to have fun. That’s what made life interesting.
Luo Xiaohe watched the three of them chattering around the clock and shook her head with a smile.
They were so engrossed they didn’t even eat. She ate by herself.
As the young and old chattered away, Zhao Guihua’s family had also finished their meal. Old Man Zhuang muttered at home, embarrassed, "It’s somewhat understandable for our daughter-in-law to go over and mooch a meal—she’s his granddaughter after all. But how can our son be so shameless as to go too? Where did he get that from?"
He wasn’t like that, and neither was his wife.
Who did this kid take after?
He glanced silently at his eldest son. Hmm… the youngest couldn’t have taken after the eldest. He couldn’t blame him.
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "???"
What was that strange look for?
But he also said, "Dad, it’s one thing for Third Brother to eat at his in-laws’ place, but going to his wife’s grandfather’s house? Isn’t that a bit…"
They couldn’t figure out whether Third Brother took after his dad or his mom.
What a coincidence—Zhao Guihua was thinking the same thing.
Liang Meifen was also wondering. They just couldn’t understand how Zhuang Zhixi could be so shameless as to tag along.
These were times of extreme scarcity, especially with the food shortage this year. No one had ever seen someone mooch a meal just because someone else ate well. Never.
Meanwhile, Hutou and Xiao Yanzi, the two kids, huddled together and said, "Uncle and Auntie are so lucky. They get to eat delicious food."
After saying that, the older brother patted his sister’s shoulder and said, "We’ll have good food too during New Year’s. There’s lots of meat at home. I’ve seen it."
Xiao Yanzi swallowed her saliva and said, "We’ll eat dumplings."
"Yes, dumplings."
Zhao Guihua: "What are you two whispering about?"
"Grandma, are we having dumplings for New Year’s?"
Zhao Guihua: "Yes."
The two kids immediately smiled.
Their family had plenty of meat. With five workers in the family, each from a good workplace, every unit distributed meat. Zhao Guihua said, "We’ll make dumplings tomorrow."
"Yay!"
“Grandma, grandma, I want to buy firecrackers. Everyone’s setting them off. I want some too…” Hutou tugged at Zhao Guihua, acting cute. Zhao Guihua: “Alright, I’ll buy you some.”
Hutou was immediately overjoyed, and the two siblings clapped their hands together.
"Tomorrow morning, your uncle will take you to buy them. We’ll get some for the house too."
"Okay!"
"Can we buy a lot?"
"Yes!"
"This is great!"
Hutou and Xiao Yanzi were beaming with joy. The sound of firecrackers in the alley hadn’t stopped for days. Families who could afford it let their kids have fun. After all, it was New Year’s!
During New Year’s, it seemed like you could do anything.
As New Year’s approached, every household in the courtyard was busy. Zhao Guihua’s family had many people, so naturally, they had more to prepare. But the other families weren’t far behind. In the front courtyard, the Zhou family had Wang Zhaodi, who was a capable worker.
The others didn’t need to do much. Madam Zhou Li thought about how she had to hustle last year and felt that this year was much more pleasant.
As for the Su family, Wang Xiangxiu’s household had fewer people, but surprisingly, this New Year’s was much easier for her. Wang Xiangxiu couldn’t figure out why. In previous years, as the year-end approached, she had to hustle to prepare everything and even flirt with Bai Fendou to squeeze some money out of him.
What’s more, she had to go out and earn money. But this year, she didn’t have to do any of that.
Instead, she felt like there was more food at home. As a formal employee, she was allocated half a pound of meat and a fish. The half pound of meat was more than enough to make dumplings, and with the cabbage, they wouldn’t even finish it in one meal. Wang Xiangxiu was a bit puzzled but felt even more relieved that her nasty mother-in-law was gone.
Actually, this wasn’t entirely unexpected. Aunt Su was an adult who claimed to be "unwell," but she ate well at home, always choosing fine grains over coarse ones. The coarse grains were mostly eaten by Wang Xiangxiu alone. Even when she pretended to eat poorly in front of Wang Xiangxiu, it was just an act. She secretly ate plenty of good food.
That alone consumed a lot of food.
As for Jinlai, he was already eleven, older than Yinlai and Tonglai, and as the eldest grandson, he could really eat a lot. With those two gone, Yinlai, who was sickly and spent most of his time lying at home, didn’t move much and thus didn’t eat much. Tonglai was even younger.
With those two big eaters gone, their household naturally had an easier time.
Wang Xiangxiu did the math and figured it out, but she wasn’t thinking about her sons. She was thinking about her mother-in-law.
She was happy to let Jinlai eat as much as he wanted, but her mother-in-law? Ha!
Good riddance.
If she had known it would be like this, she would have stopped taking care of that old woman long ago. With a bit more breathing room, Wang Xiangxiu felt more relaxed. Even though her eldest son was in juvenile detention, making the family incomplete, life wasn’t as hard, and her stress wasn’t as overwhelming.
If Wang Xiangxiu felt less pressure, then Bai Fendou, who only had to worry about feeding himself, and the elderly couple Lan Sihai, who already had a good income, were even better off. Every household in the front courtyard was preparing delicious food and drinks, making the atmosphere lively.
The backyard was just as lively, though Chen Yuan and his wife were not at home. Their doors and windows had been replaced—yes, by Tao Yuyue. Chen Yuan hadn't returned since he ran away. This New Year, Tao Yuyue went to her in-laws' place, and Zhang San and his wife also went to their in-laws'. The newlywed couple wasn't around either, so it was the same old faces in the courtyard celebrating the New Year.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, the courtyard was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of food. Whether it was stewed fish or minced meat, the air was thick with delicious scents. Outside, the sound of children setting off firecrackers added to the festive atmosphere.
Ming Mei was in high spirits too. Unknowingly, she had been married for a year. She had gotten married in January, and now it was the end of January—just over a year, to be exact. She leaned on her waist, wandering around the kitchen, until Zhao Guihua shooed her back to her room. Ming Mei had no choice but to return to her room, where she leaned against the window, watching the people in the courtyard chatting.
Although the weather was cold, the men gathered in the courtyard, laughing and talking. The only difference this year was the absence of Old Man Zhuang and Li the Cook. In previous years, Uncle Bai had been there, but now he was gone.
However, no one felt his absence more than Bai Fendou. In previous years, he had celebrated the New Year with his family, but this year, he was alone. Early in the morning, he was already drunk, singing loudly in the courtyard.
Some people sing for money, but Bai Fendou's singing was more like a cry for mercy. The children quickly ran off to set off firecrackers, hoping to drown out his terrible singing.
Zhao Guihua, cooking with the window open, shouted, "Bai Fendou, aren't you afraid of attracting wolves with that noise?"
Bai Fendou replied, "Me? Afraid of wolves? If they come, they'll just be extra meat for my meal. I'm the best, who dares to mess with me?"
Everyone else: "..."
What a braggart.
How much had he drunk so early in the morning?
In the backyard, Li Fang was still in her postpartum confinement period, and it was too cold to bring the baby outside. However, that didn't stop Yang Lixin from boasting to everyone about how he now had both a son and a daughter. Another reason for his good mood was that his wife had discussed with him that if they had more children in the future, regardless of gender, they would take Yang Lixin's surname.
As a live-in son-in-law, Yang Lixin couldn't be happier. For a man, this was the most important thing, and he was overjoyed.
However, he hadn't shared this news yet. After all, they hadn't even started trying for another child. There was no need to announce it too early. This was a private matter between him and his wife, and they hadn't told the elders yet. But he believed that if his wife wanted to bring it up, she could definitely convince her parents.
Still, there was no need to spread the news prematurely. They could wait until she was pregnant again and close to giving birth. For now, it was enough that he was visibly happy.
To everyone else, it just seemed like Yang Lixin was thrilled to have a daughter.
In these times, it was rare to see someone so happy about having a girl.
Wang Zhaodi was busy with chores inside and out. Seeing Yang Lixin so happy, she thought of her own parents. Her parents were nothing like that. Her father was timid outside, but at home, he was harsh with his daughters. He would yell at them, calling them "worthless girls," and though he didn't hit them, he would make them stand outside in the dark all night, which was scarier than being beaten.
Her mother was no better. She would curse them, calling them "little sluts," and would pinch them hard. Her mother's health had deteriorated from having so many children, but she was determined to have a son. She said that if she didn't have a son in this lifetime, she would rather die. She also instilled this mindset in her daughters.
Wang Zhaodi's sisters shared similar thoughts.
As for why Wang Zhaodi hadn't been brainwashed by this... it was because she had always had a big appetite. She ate so much that her family didn't care for her. Her mother didn't even want to talk to her much, often calling her a "rice bucket."
Of course, if she hadn't been such a "rice bucket," she wouldn't have been sent away.
Compared to her sisters, who ate less, worked hard, and were obedient, Wang Zhaodi, who was always hungry and rebellious, was less favored.
Wang Zhaodi had spent a long time in her village. Unlike some more progressive villages, her village was deep in the mountains and extremely isolated. She had never seen anything like the treatment of girls in the city. But she had noticed how Zhao Guihua treated Hutou and Xiao Yanzi equally. In their courtyard, there weren't many girls.
Xiao Yanzi was the only little girl, and there was another girl in the backyard, but she was older, around thirteen or fourteen.
Wang Zhaodi also knew that the family had moved out of the capital to a smaller city just so their daughter wouldn't have to go to the countryside. She didn't fully understand it, but she was deeply envious. In her village, not only would no one do something like that for a child, but they wouldn't even send them to school.
Xiao Yanzi had even attended kindergarten, something the boys in her village hadn't done.
As for the girls, only one or two might have attended elementary school.
Most didn't get the chance.
"The pot's about to burn," Jiang Lu reminded her.
Wang Zhaodi snapped out of her thoughts and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I was daydreaming."
Jiang Lu smiled, "It's fine."
Her temper had hardened, but she had become gentler. She wanted to set a good example for the baby in her belly.
She asked curiously, "What were you thinking about?"
Wang Zhaodi replied, "Sister Li Fang had a daughter, and Brother Yang is so happy."
Jiang Lu nodded, "They always wanted a daughter, so of course they're happy."
Wang Zhaodi hesitated, then said, "In my village... everyone only wants sons. No one wants daughters, and they don't send girls to school."
Jiang Lu said, "Actually, it's the same in the city. Whether in the city or the countryside, there are many people who prefer boys over girls. But in the city, life is a bit better, so girls get more opportunities. Sometimes, it depends on the family's circumstances."
Like herself, for example. Did her parents love her? Yes, they did.
But compared to her brother, it was nothing.
Yet, to many people, her parents had treated her well, giving her a lot of support and help. People saw that she had attended high school, that she had gotten a bicycle and a watch when she got married, and that she could bring back nice things from her parents' home.
But they didn't realize how easy it was for her parents to give her those things.
Compared to what they gave her brother, she had received less than a tenth.
If her family had been as poor as Wang Zhaodi's, she wouldn't have gotten anything. The reason she received so much was that her family was well-off and had plenty to spare. Giving her a little didn't matter to them.
But she couldn't say these things out loud, because this was just how things were. If she complained about receiving so much, people would say she was ungrateful. After all, how could a daughter compare to a son?
But what was so different about daughters?
Jiang Lu shook her head.
Wang Zhaodi said, "I don't understand."
Jiang Lu explained, "When a family is better off financially, they're more willing to treat their children well. Also, your village might be too isolated. People there don't get exposed to the outside world or new ideas and policies, so they tend to be more conservative."
Wang Zhaodi nodded, "Yes, my parents are like that."
She said, "They've never left the village. They don't even dare to go to the commune to buy things. They either buy from the village store or ask others to bring things for them. Actually, many people in our village do that. They don't want to go out to buy things themselves, so every month, the village arranges for someone to do the shopping for everyone."
She used to think this was normal, but now she didn't.
Jiang Lu smiled, "So since you've left, don't go back."
Wang Zhaodi pursed her lips and nodded firmly.
"Zhaodi, Zhaodi..."
Wang Zhaodi immediately responded, "What is it?"
Zhao Guihua called, "Come and take a look at this mushroom. I found a dried mushroom and I'm not sure if it's safe to cook..."
Wang Zhaodi quickly said, "I'm coming!"
Despite her young age, she had more experience with mountain produce than the others.
Zhao Guihua and the others, though experienced, were city folks and sometimes weren't sure about certain things. They had already picked out the inedible ones, but occasionally, something slipped through. Wang Zhaodi hurried over, took a look, and nodded, "This one is edible."
Zhao Guihua sighed in relief, "It looked a bit unusual, so I wasn't sure."
Wang Zhaodi smiled, "If you're ever unsure, just ask me. I know these things best."
Zhao Guihua chuckled and said, "Alright."
On the thirtieth day of the lunar year, the lunch was fantastic. Zhao Guihua had prepared stewed chicken with mushrooms and fish. Coincidentally, their factory had distributed frozen fish, so they didn’t have to use salted fish. Zhao Guihua led Liang Meifen, and the two of them bustled about busily.
Ming Mei, who was about to give birth, wasn’t present. She leaned against the window of her house, feeling a slight tingling sensation in her belly.
It wasn’t exactly painful, but it wasn’t entirely comfortable either.
She furrowed her brows, and Zhuang Zhixi noticed immediately when he turned around. He hurried to the window and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Ming Mei replied, "I feel a little uncomfortable."
Zhuang Zhixi’s face changed, and he quickly said, "I’ll tell Mom…"
Ming Mei grabbed his arm and said, "It’s not that painful, just a little discomfort."
She thought for a moment and added, "Let’s wait a bit. If it gets really bad, I’ll let you know."
Zhuang Zhixi didn’t dare leave his wife’s side after that. He nodded and said, "Alright."
He gently rubbed her head and said, "If it hurts, don’t hold it in."
Ming Mei glanced at him. "Do I look like an idiot to you?"
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled. "I’m just worried about you."
Ming Mei said, "If it gets unbearable, I’ll definitely tell you. Don’t worry."
Perhaps it was psychological, but after telling Zhuang Zhixi, Ming Mei felt like the tingling pain had eased a bit. Zhuang Zhixi carefully observed his wife and noticed that she seemed more relaxed, her brows no longer furrowed. He felt a little more at ease.
However, even though he felt somewhat relieved, he didn’t let his guard down. After all, Ming Mei’s due date was just around the corner.
It might not be entirely accurate, but they still had to be extremely cautious.
Sure enough, even though Ming Mei seemed fine at the moment, after lunch, she started feeling uncomfortable again. She leaned against Zhuang Zhixi, groaning softly, and said, "My stomach hurts…"
Zhuang Zhixi, being a man, didn’t understand this kind of thing. He immediately called out, "Mom, Mom… Ming Mei’s stomach hurts."
Zhao Guihua had just wanted to rest in the afternoon when she heard this. She jumped up and asked, "How does it hurt?"
But then she quickly decided, "Never mind how it hurts. Third Son, get the hospital bag ready. We’re taking your wife to the hospital."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Huh? Oh!"
The whole family sprang into action. Some households hadn’t even finished lunch yet when they saw the family hurrying out the door.
"What’s going on? Is she going into labor?"
Zhao Guihua didn’t have time for small talk. She nodded and said, "Yes."
Zhuang Zhixi pushed the bicycle while Ming Mei leaned against his back. Zhao Guihua supported her and said, "We’ll get there soon. It’s not far."
Fortunately, Ming Mei wasn’t in too much pain, or else they would have had to borrow a cart to push her. But honestly, no one wanted to borrow such an unlucky cart. Ming Mei didn’t want to ride it either. It had carried too many people, and she didn’t feel comfortable with it.
Luckily, although she was in pain, it wasn’t too severe.
Zhuang Zhixi quickly made it to the hospital and carried his wife in his arms, saying, "Make way, everyone, make way…"
Zhao Guihua thought to herself, "Why is it happening earlier than expected? Last time, my daughter-in-law didn’t feel anything until the evening and was sent to the hospital at midnight, giving birth at noon on the first day of the lunar new year. I was planning to rest a bit and take Ming Mei to the hospital in the evening, but it seems things have started a little earlier."
Fortunately, she had prepared thoroughly.
Ming Mei was quickly admitted to the hospital, but once she settled in, the pain subsided again.
Ming Mei said, "…"
Her eyes sparkled as she said, "I wasn’t trying to cause trouble, you know."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Of course, I know that."
He patted Ming Mei and said, "Lie down for a bit."
Zhao Guihua said, "This is just the early stages of labor. It’ll probably happen by tomorrow."
She comforted Ming Mei, "Don’t be afraid. We’re all here with you."
Ming Mei felt more reassured and nodded firmly.
