Ming Mei went into labor on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The whole family accompanied her at the hospital, and even the extended Ming family had come over.
A large group of people from both families crowded the hallway, drawing curious glances from some patients who hadn’t been discharged yet. The commotion was simply too much.
Of course, the main reason was that Ming Xiangdong didn’t look like a particularly friendly person. He was tall, burly, and intimidating, with a scar on his face that made him seem anything but gentle. To make matters worse, he was yelling at his son-in-law, Zhuang Zhixi, at the top of his lungs, berating him relentlessly.
“Look at you, you good-for-nothing! If it weren’t for you, my daughter wouldn’t be suffering like this! Do you think giving birth is easy? You little brat, couldn’t you have waited a couple more years? My daughter is still so young! Look at what she’s going through! You…”
He had been ranting nonstop for an hour without catching his breath. Zhao Guihua, on the other hand, remained unfazed. In her past life, she might have been upset by this, but now she didn’t care. Having experienced it before, she no longer found it bothersome.
The rest of the Zhuang family, however, huddled in a corner like frightened chicks.
Zhuang Zhixi stood alone, weathering the storm with a forced smile, taking all the verbal abuse.
“You useless…”
The door creaked open slightly, and a nurse peeked out, saying softly, “Please keep it down.”
Though her voice was quiet, Ming Xiangdong finally fell silent.
Zhuang Zhixi anxiously glanced toward the delivery room. After what felt like an eternity, the news finally came: Ming Mei had given birth.
“Congratulations! It’s a boy and a girl.”
Zhao Guihua quickly took one of the babies, while Lan Ling held the other. Lan Ling asked urgently, “How’s my daughter doing?”
“The mother is doing well. She’s already asleep.”
“That’s good, that’s good.”
At that moment, Ming Mei was wheeled out. Her hair clung to her forehead, her face pale, and her lips dry and cracked. Zhuang Zhixi hurried to her side, gently stroking her head. Ming Mei was in a deep sleep, completely unresponsive.
Zhuang Zhixi held her hand, but she remained unconscious, clearly exhausted.
“Please make way. We need to take the mother back to her room.”
“Oh, of course.” Zhuang Zhixi didn’t let go of her hand. He looked down at his wife, seeing her so vulnerable for the first time. Though their relationship had been brief—they had married quickly after meeting—Ming Mei had always been full of energy. He had never seen her so weak before. His heart ached as he tenderly brushed her hair, murmuring, “You’ve worked so hard, my love,” even though she couldn’t hear him.
The room wasn’t far, and once Ming Mei was settled in her bed, Zhuang Zhixi fretted over her. The weather was cold, and he worried she might feel chilly. He pulled the blanket up high, frowning. “Do you think she’s cold?”
Lan Ling reassured him, “The temperature should be fine.”
Hospitals always took care of patients’ needs, but Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t convinced. He turned to his brother and said, “Brother, could you go to the nurse’s station and rent a thermos? Then fill it with hot water for me.”
“Sure.”
As Ming Mei slept, her brows furrowed, as if she were having a bad dream. Zhuang Zhixi reached out and gently smoothed her forehead, whispering, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Just then, the babies let out soft whimpers, on the verge of crying. Zhao Guihua quickly rocked the baby in her arms, cooing, “Hush now, little one.”
She gently swayed the child, and Zhuang Zhixi finally took a closer look at the baby. He leaned in and asked, “Is this the boy or the girl?”
Zhao Guihua replied, “I’m not sure.”
She had only taken one of the twins, and the newborns looked identical. She checked and said, “This one’s the older brother.”
Zhuang Zhixi gazed down at his son. He was a father now. The baby’s skin was red and wrinkled, his eyes closed, and his tiny mouth puckered. He was so small. Zhuang Zhixi remembered that Hutou had been bigger at birth.
He pursed his lips and then turned to look at his daughter. The little girl looked just like her brother, making it hard to tell them apart. Lan Ling cradled her granddaughter lovingly and said, “This is the little sister.”
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, gently poking the baby girl’s cheek. She let out a tiny coo, her head nuzzling slightly.
Zhuang Zhixi remarked, “They’re so small.”
A nurse nearby chimed in, “Your babies aren’t small. One weighs five pounds and eight ounces, and the other is five pounds and nine ounces. The little sister is slightly bigger. Twins are usually smaller than single babies, but yours are actually on the larger side for twins.”
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, and the nurse gave him some additional instructions before wheeling her cart away.
Zhuang Zhixi looked at his son on one side and his daughter on the other. The two babies were practically identical. He said, “Let me hold them for a bit.”
Zhao Guihua shot him a glare. “You don’t know how to hold a baby. Don’t drop them. Step aside.”
Lan Ling agreed, “Your mother’s right.”
Zhuang Zhixi: “…”
But these are my children. Can’t I even hold them?
Wah, so unfair.
No one else saw his frustration, though. The room was filled only with family. After all, it was the first day of the Lunar New Year. Only those in urgent need would come to the hospital on such a day.
He said, “We don’t need so many people staying here. I’ll take care of things. Mom, you can stay with me. Dad, everyone else, you should go home and rest. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, you’ve been here since last night. You must be exhausted.”
Lan Ling smiled. “This is my daughter. How could I be tired?”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “Mother-in-law, since both my daughter and son-in-law are first-time parents, there might be things they overlook. Why don’t the two of us stay? We can take turns looking after the babies and Ming Mei. The others can go home and rest. What do you think?”
Zhao Guihua agreed. “That works.”
She added, “One person alone wouldn’t be enough, especially with twins. I’ve heard that child traffickers sometimes target hospitals, and with two babies, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Having more people around is better. We can keep a closer eye on things.”
Lan Ling nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right.”
While child trafficking wasn’t common these days, it still happened, and traffickers often targeted baby boys, especially newborns who couldn’t understand anything. So, it was important to be vigilant.
“You all go home. We’ll handle things here.”
Lan Ling thought of something else and instructed, “Daughter-in-law, go home and cook the chicken we have. Bring it over tonight.”
Ming Cheng’s wife nodded. “Alright.”
Zhao Guihua wasn’t shy either. “That’s fine. You can bring dinner tonight, but don’t worry about tomorrow. We’ll handle it. Eldest daughter-in-law, tomorrow morning, take some flour and make a soup with two eggs. Also, stew the pig’s trotters and soybeans I prepared. Make sure it’s tender for lunch.”
Liang Meifen nodded.
She had received the same treatment when she was pregnant.
She wasn’t jealous—and even if she were, she wouldn’t dare show it. Her mother-in-law was intimidating enough, and her brother-in-law’s father was like a bandit. It was terrifying. Liang Meifen kept quiet, staying out of the way.
Zhao Guihua said, “Alright, everyone, go home and rest.”
The Zhuang family nodded.
Ming Xiangdong, however, didn’t want to leave. “I’ll stay a bit longer.”
Lan Ling said, “Fine, you can stay. Ming Cheng, take your wife home. The kids are alone, and I’m worried.” She paused and turned to Zhuang Zhixi, a hint of apology in her voice. “Son-in-law, your father didn’t mean to yell at you earlier. He actually likes you a lot and has no issues with you. He may look tough and intimidating, but he’s just nervous and scared. He was so worried about Ming Mei that he lost his temper. When he’s stressed, he tends to shout—it’s just his way of coping. He doesn’t really blame you. Please don’t take his harsh words to heart. Once Ming Mei is discharged, your father-in-law and I will personally come and apologize to you.”
Zhuang Zhixi quickly responded, "Mom, aren’t you being too harsh on me? As a son-in-law, getting scolded a couple of times is nothing. I’m actually grateful to Dad for scolding me. His outburst helped me take my mind off the delivery room, which I was terrified of. His yelling actually eased my tension, so I really should thank my father-in-law. Besides, we’re family. Family doesn’t stand on ceremony. If I were to apologize over such a small matter, I’d truly be embarrassed. A father scolding his son is just natural, especially when he’s anxious and worried. I completely understand that feeling—I was the same way."
Zhao Guihua glanced around, genuinely impressed by how well Lan Ling handled the situation. And her son, well, he wasn’t far behind. Even though her eldest son was seven or eight years older than her third, she knew he wouldn’t have been as smooth with his words as Zhuang Zhixi was now.
As for the others… they were all stunned.
Just how good was this guy at talking?
Zhuang Zhixi continued, "Dad, big brother, brother-in-law, you should all head back. You’ve been here with us for so long, and you must be exhausted. Go home and rest. There might be people visiting for New Year’s greetings this afternoon, so there’s no need for everyone to stay here. With both moms here, who are more than capable, there’s nothing to worry about."
"Alright then," Ming Cheng agreed. They had arrived that morning.
Zhuang Zhiyuan and the others had been there since the previous night, so they had been around for a while. Honestly, staying up all night had left them drained.
As they prepared to leave, Ming Xiangdong stayed behind. "I’m not tired. I’ll stay with you all. If there’s any errand to run, I’ll handle it."
Lan Ling nodded, "Fine, you can stay."
Ming Mei was still deep in sleep, and the two little ones were also asleep, snugly wrapped in their blankets and placed beside their mother. The blue blanket was for the little brother, and the patterned one was for the little sister. Ming Mei had slept right through the chicken soup. She didn’t wake up until the next morning.
At the crack of dawn, a heart-wrenching scream echoed through the hallway, startling Ming Mei awake. She groaned softly and reached up to rub her eyes, accidentally brushing against the baby beside her. At that moment, Zhuang Zhixi’s voice came through, "Darling, you’re awake?"
Ming Mei rubbed her eyes and opened them to see Zhuang Zhixi with his hair all disheveled. She gave a small smile and said, "You…"
Before she could finish, she suddenly remembered something and immediately reached for her belly, murmuring softly, "Did I give birth?"
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Yes, you did."
He said, "Come, take a look. This is the little brother, and this is the little sister. Ming Mei, you gave birth to twins!"
Ming Mei looked down at the two babies, her smile weak but radiant. She whispered, "I know. I remember giving birth before I fell asleep. I just forgot for a moment. Am I silly?"
"Not at all. You’re the best. You’ve been through so much!" Zhuang Zhixi gently kissed her forehead.
Her eyes glistened as she looked at him, pouting, "Giving birth was so hard."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I know, I know. I heard your screams from outside."
He had been terrified, but both his mom and mother-in-law, as well as the nurses, had assured him that Ming Mei’s delivery had been relatively smooth and quick. It was hard to imagine how much pain she had endured.
He held her hand and asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Ming Mei shook her head, "Not anymore."
After a pause, she added, "But it feels a little strange."
Carrying two little ones had given her a heavy feeling, and now that she was lighter, it felt a bit unfamiliar.
"Now that you’ve given birth, you can relax."
Gurgle.
Ming Mei’s stomach growled, and Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "Hungry?"
Ming Mei nodded, "Is there anything to eat?"
Zhuang Zhixi said, "I’ll go to the cafeteria. Wait for me."
As they spoke, the two mothers and Ming Xiangdong, who had stayed behind, woke up. Seeing the young couple so absorbed in each other, they didn’t interrupt. But when they heard Ming Mei was hungry, Lan Ling said, "The chicken soup from last night—can the kitchen heat it up?"
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Sure, I’ll take care of it."
He was familiar with the hospital, so this was no big deal.
Zhao Guihua said, "I’ll go with you. Mother-in-law, you stay here and look after Ming Mei and the babies."
"Alright, go ahead."
Plans had changed quickly. Ming Mei hadn’t woken up the previous night, so they hadn’t had the chicken soup and had just eaten cafeteria food instead. That morning, they had planned to wait for the porridge, but Ming Mei had woken up early, and Liang Meifen hadn’t arrived yet.
Fortunately, Zhuang Zhixi could ask the hospital kitchen to heat up the soup.
As the mother and son left with the pot, Lan Ling approached the bed. She gently touched her daughter’s face and asked, "Was it really painful?"
Ming Mei’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. In front of her parents, she was always a child, no matter how old she got. She pouted and said, "Giving birth was so painful. I kept telling myself that once they were born, I’d spank them. That’s how I kept myself going."
Lan Ling chuckled softly, "Well, if they misbehave, you can spank their bottoms."
Ming Mei nodded vigorously, "I never want to have kids again."
Lan Ling said, "Alright, no more kids. My poor baby, you’ve been through so much."
Ming Mei whined, "It was so hard. Being pregnant was hard, and giving birth was even harder. When I was carrying them, my legs would cramp, and my stomach would feel uncomfortable at night, so I’d wake up. It was so tough…"
Lan Ling gently chided, "Don’t cry. You need to take care of yourself during this postpartum period. If you cry and ruin your health, I’ll be heartbroken. Look, it’s all over now. Let’s focus on recovering, okay?"
Ming Mei nodded.
Lan Ling said, "Have you seen the babies? They look just like you did when you were little."
Ming Mei frowned, "Huh? Let me see… Ew, they’re kind of ugly. I couldn’t have been this ugly as a baby."
Ming Xiangdong: "…"
Lan Ling: "…"
She said, "Don’t be silly. Babies aren’t ugly. All newborns look like this. As they grow a little, they’ll get cuter and cuter. Look at their little pink mouths—they’re just like yours."
Ming Mei asked, "Really?"
She tilted her head, trying to see the resemblance.
"They look just like you, especially around the eyes."
Ming Mei looked at the two little ones. The little brother squirmed, his tiny mouth moving toward Ming Mei. Lan Ling said, "They’re probably hungry. You didn’t wake up yesterday, so they couldn’t feed. I had to give them a little formula."
Lan Ling continued, "I wanted to find another new mom to help feed them, but it was New Year’s Day. Everyone who could leave the hospital had already left, and there was no one to help. Luckily, the hospital had some formula on hand, so the little ones got their fill."
Ming Mei looked down at the two babies and teased, "Oh, so these two almost went hungry yesterday."
She grinned, and Lan Ling shook her head at her daughter’s carefree attitude. She said, "Old Ming, step out for a bit. I’ll help Ming Mei feed the babies."
Ming Xiangdong quickly agreed, "Alright."
He left the room promptly.
Perhaps because Ming Mei had been well-nourished during her pregnancy, the babies latched on easily. Unlike many new mothers who struggle with breastfeeding at first, Ming Mei had no trouble at all.
She fed them one by one. Even though she hadn’t eaten yet, the newborns didn’t need much, so she quickly satisfied them. The little ones, their bellies full, opened their dark, grape-like eyes and cooed for a moment before drifting back to sleep.
Babies sure do sleep a lot.
After venting her frustrations and feeding the babies, Ming Mei heard Zhao Guihua returning with the pot, the aroma of chicken soup drawing attention as they walked through the hallway.
Ming Mei, still in bed, sniffed the air and said, "They’re back."
Sure enough, Zhuang Zhixi and Zhao Guihua entered the room. Zhuang Zhixi said, "Here, darling, let me feed you!"
No matter what, everything can wait until after eating.
Ming Mei nodded gently. Lan Ling pulled out a pillow to use as a backrest, then helped her daughter sit up. Zhuang Zhixi was very attentive, adjusting the positions of the two children before sitting by the bed to feed his wife.
Ming Mei didn’t have a big appetite, and after eating a little, she felt much better. She said, “I can do it myself now.”
Zhuang Zhixi shook his head, “You don’t have the strength. Let me do it.”
Ming Mei asked, “What should we name the baby?”
They had already discussed this at home. Whether it was a boy or a girl, the nickname would be “Tuantuan” or “Yuanyuan,” as Ming Mei’s due date had been around the Spring Festival, symbolizing reunion and togetherness.
In any case, these nicknames worked for both boys and girls.
What Ming Mei was asking about was the formal name.
Zhuang Zhixi replied, “We haven’t decided on that yet. There’s no rush. We can think about it together when we get home. For now, we’ll just use the nicknames.”
Ming Mei nodded, “Okay.”
After eating a little more, she said, “I can’t eat anymore.”
Zhuang Zhixi said, “That’s fine. If you can’t eat, don’t force it. Later, when my sister-in-law brings more food, you can have a bit of the dough drop soup.”
Ming Mei lay back down, with two little piglets sleeping soundly beside her. She asked, “Didn’t you all go home to rest? You don’t all need to stay here.”
Zhao Guihua said, “It’s fine. We managed to nap a bit last night.”
She and her son had taken turns resting during the first half of the night, and then swapped with the in-laws for the second half. They didn’t need to be so cautious and meticulous, but since Ming Mei hadn’t woken up, they couldn’t help but worry. Even though the doctor kept saying everything was fine, as family, they couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Besides, the babies were so small, so they took turns keeping watch.
Ming Mei smiled softly and said, “You’re all so good to me.”
She felt incredibly lucky. Everyone treated her so well, making the ordeal much easier to bear. She had been well taken care of, and even though giving birth was exhausting, she couldn’t imagine how much harder it would have been if her family hadn’t been so supportive.
She asked, “When can I leave the hospital?”
Zhuang Zhixi replied, “You need to stay for at least three days after giving birth. So, the day after tomorrow.”
He added, “Actually, tomorrow would be possible, but I think it’s better to stay an extra day for observation. After all, this is your first time giving birth, so we need to be careful.”
Ming Mei nodded, “I’ll listen to you.”
She snuggled under the blanket and said, “I want to sleep a little more.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
Zhuang Zhixi gently patted his wife. Ming Mei was truly exhausted and soon fell back asleep. When she woke up again, it was already evening. Her sleep schedule was completely messed up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt the baby squirming.
When the mother is hungry, the baby is hungry too.
Ming Mei asked, “Where are my parents?”
Zhuang Zhixi replied, “You were asleep during the day, so I told them to go home and rest for a bit. They’ll be back soon. Here, the pig trotter and soybean soup is still warm. Have some. I was going to make it for you at noon, but I figured you wouldn’t wake up, so I made it in the afternoon. It’s just the right time now.”
Ming Mei asked, “What about your mom?” She asked about everyone one by one.
Zhuang Zhixi said, “She went to the bathroom.”
Ming Mei nodded. After feeding the baby, she let Zhuang Zhixi feed her. It was only then that she noticed there was another woman in the room. It wasn’t just their family anymore. She remembered the heart-wrenching screams she had heard in the hallway earlier that morning and guessed it must have been this woman.
This floor was mostly for pregnant women, so it couldn’t have been anything else.
She glanced at the woman, who looked to be in her twenties. She had a delicate face but looked extremely haggard, her complexion sallow. There was no one around to help her. Perhaps noticing Ming Mei’s gaze, Zhuang Zhixi whispered, “She also gave birth at noon, but you gave birth yesterday, and she gave birth today. Her in-laws saw that she had a girl and immediately started yelling at her. My dad was here at the time and told them to take their nonsense outside, or he wouldn’t be polite.”
Ming Mei’s lips twitched, but she felt a deep warmth in her heart. Her father always doted on her unconditionally.
“And then?”
“Then that sharp-tongued old woman, who only bullies the weak, shut her mouth. But because she had a girl, they wanted to leave the hospital right away. But the woman had complications during childbirth and couldn’t be discharged. Plus, they said she might not be able to have more children. When the old woman heard that, she took the whole family and left.”
Ming Mei frowned, “What kind of people are they?”
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, also disdainful of such behavior, but he didn’t say anything more. He whispered, “Here, have a little more. I tasted it earlier. It’s a bit bland, but it’s quite good.”
Ming Mei teased, “You stole a taste?”
Zhuang Zhixi said, “Is that not allowed?”
“Of course it is.”
The young couple spoke in hushed tones. Whether it was because she had slept well or eaten enough, Ming Mei seemed much more energetic. She looked down at the two little ones lying beside her and said, “They sleep so much.”
“That’s how babies are.”
Just then, Zhao Guihua walked in. She said, “You two really are in sync. Third Son said you’d wake up in the evening.”
Ming Mei reached out and held Zhuang Zhixi’s hand.
Zhuang Zhixi said, “Of course. If we didn’t have this kind of tacit understanding, how could we be a couple?”
“Look at you, bragging.”
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and said, “Mom, Ming Mei didn’t finish the pig trotter and soybean soup. You should have some.”
Zhao Guihua said, “What would an old lady like me eat that for? Let’s take it home and reheat it so everyone can have some. Tomorrow, I’ll make you some chicken soup, and the day after, I’ll stew some more pig trotters…”
Ming Mei asked, “Do we have that many pig trotters at home?”
Zhao Guihua said, “We didn’t, but after you gave birth yesterday, your grandfather brought over ten pig trotters.”
Ming Mei was speechless.
It seemed her grandfather could always get his hands on anything. It was almost magical.
“Your grandfather also bought you a bucket of powdered milk. It’s not for the babies; it’s for you. Your sister-in-law brought it over. Later, Third Son can make you a cup.” Zhao Guihua sighed deeply, marveling at how resourceful the old man was.
To give some background, Zhao Guihua was originally from the outskirts of Beijing. Back in the day, it was chaotic, and her family had passed away early. She married Zhuang Laonian when she was sixteen or seventeen and had been living in a courtyard house in the city ever since. She had been in Beijing for so long that she could be considered a true local.
Yet, compared to Old Man Lan, who had only moved here less than a year ago, she felt almost ordinary. It was hard to explain.
Was it that they were too average, or was Old Man Lan just that impressive?
She said, “For the next few days, the food will be a bit bland. Try to bear with it. We’ll gradually adjust it back to normal.”
Ming Mei said, “Okay.”
She actually didn’t mind the taste.
“Auntie,” a weak voice called out.
Zhao Guihua turned around and saw the woman in the opposite bed. She asked bluntly, “What is it?”
The woman weakly smiled and said, “Could you help me send a telegram?”
She added, “I have money. I can pay…”
She seemed to have tugged at her wound and winced in pain.
Zhao Guihua asked, “What do you need to send a telegram for?”
“My name is He Lan. I want to send a telegram to my husband. He’s in the military.”
Zhao Guihua hesitated. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, but having lived through their era, she had heard all sorts of stories about spies and how they sometimes used ordinary people. So, she was cautious.
Sending a telegram to the military, even if it was from a woman who had just given birth, made Zhao Guihua wary.
After a moment, she said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I don’t know you, and I don’t know what kind of person you are. We have to be careful about these things.”
He Lan pleaded, “Auntie, I’m not a bad person. Please, I…”
Zhao Guihua interrupted her, “Don’t worry. There’s a police station nearby. I’ll go and let them know. Is that okay?”
He Lan was stunned for a moment but then quickly nodded, “That would work. But… they’re so busy. Would they really come for something like this?”
Zhao Guihua said, “They will. If you have trouble, you go to the police. That’s the right thing to do.”
He Lan quickly nodded, “Yes, thank you, Auntie.”
Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei exchanged a glance but didn’t say anything.
It must be said that it was fortunate that Zhao Guihua didn't directly intervene, as it could have turned out poorly. It's not that the woman in question was bad, but after the police arrived, they discovered that her background was problematic. In such cases, caution is never a mistake.
He Lan's parents were small capitalists who ran a shop. Now, no one knows where they've been sent for re-education. The woman had cut ties with her parents and married into a village in Tong County. It was said that her husband's family was extremely poor, but their background was good. Her husband was a soldier who was often away from home.
Her in-laws looked down on her because of her problematic background, and she was left to do all the heavy chores. Her sisters-in-law also bullied her.
As the saying goes, she rose earlier than a rooster, slept later than a dog, and ate worse than a pig.
This time, too, if she hadn't been pushed by her sister-in-law and suffered a hemorrhage, she wouldn't have been sent to the hospital. Fearing a potential fatality, the village head insisted on sending her to the hospital. The money for her hospitalization came from the small savings she had hidden away before her marriage.
The police verified that, despite her problematic background, she herself was not a problem. They sent a telegram to her husband's military unit. Although Zhao Guihua didn't directly help, she had indirectly assisted, and He Lan managed to exchange a few words with them.
This time, she sent the telegram hoping her husband would return to help her.
If he didn't, she feared she would be ground down to death in that household.
He Lan showed Zhao Guihua her arm, covered in bruises where they couldn't be seen. With a lifeless expression, she said, "My mother-in-law never hits me where it shows; she pinches where no one can see. I can endure anything, but my daughter is still so young. If we go back, I'm afraid my daughter won't survive..."
Zhao Guihua sighed and said, "Why talk like that? If you want to protect your daughter, you must stand up for yourself."
"With my background, how can I stand up?" He Lan lowered her head, tears falling.
From a young lady to a beaten village wife, she had suffered so much that she had lost all spirit.
Zhao Guihua said, "Even with a bad background, you haven't done anything evil. The weaker you are, the more they'll bully you. No matter how bad your background is, you're still part of their family. What are you afraid of? Besides, are you sure your husband will help you if he comes back?"
In these times, blind filial piety was common.
He Lan remained silent.
Zhao Guihua didn't press further, only saying, "You need to think more about yourself and your child."
She had twins, who were supposed to be smaller than average. Yet, He Lan's daughter weighed just over four taels (about 150 grams). As someone who had been reborn and was used to seeing plump babies, Zhao Guihua was horrified by the weight. It was clear that He Lan had been malnourished during her pregnancy.
Ming Mei was discharged from the hospital on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Although He Lan was in a difficult situation, it was clear she still had some money. However, if she didn't stand up for herself, no amount of advice would help. Their interaction was brief, a chance encounter, and saying too much would have been inappropriate.
Little did they know, they would meet again soon, and in a completely unexpected way.
But that's a story for later.
Zhuang Zhixi borrowed a handcart—not the one from their courtyard, as he couldn't bring himself to use that one. He borrowed another cart and pushed his wife home. Liang Meifen had already heated the kang (heated bed) in Ming Mei's room, and Zhuang Zhixi carried his wife inside.
Ming Mei was a bit embarrassed, her cheeks flushed, but Zhuang Zhixi didn't mind. He made sure she was comfortable before relaxing.
Ming Mei whispered, "I could have walked."
Zhuang Zhixi replied bluntly, "I just wanted to make sure you're okay. This is the most important time for a woman. You need to rest well."
He added, "Anyway, your maternity leave is more than a month. We can make it two months if you want."
Liang Meifen's eyelid twitched at this, but no one paid her any attention. Lan Ling and the others had also come over, bringing the babies. The twins, now four days old, looked a bit better than they had on the first day. Or maybe it was just the family's bias.
Hutou and Xiao Yanzi bounced around, saying, "We want to see the babies!"
They leaned over the edge of the kang, looking at the sleeping infants. Hutou tilted his head and said, "The little brother and sister look the same."
Ming Mei smiled and said, "That's because they're twins."
"That's so nice. My sister and I don't look the same."
Liang Meifen explained, "That's because you're not twins."
Xiao Yanzi asked, "Then why didn't you have twins, Mom? Are you not smart enough?"
Liang Meifen: "..."
What a brat.
She said, "Do you want a spanking?"
Xiao Yanzi immediately shut up, then muttered softly, "Who wants that?"
Liang Meifen: "..."
Such a brat.
She warned, "You're on vacation, but don't bother your aunt and the babies all the time, okay? They're small and need to sleep a lot."
"Can't we play with them?"
"They're too young to play outside. Be good."
"Fine."
Ming Mei had just returned, and Zhao Guihua said, "Alright, everyone, let's not crowd the room. Let Ming Mei rest for a bit."
Once everyone had left, Ming Mei said sincerely to Zhuang Zhixi, "It really is best to be home."
Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Of course. Just the quiet alone is something the hospital can't compare to."
The hospital wasn't bad, but they had been in the maternity ward, where the cries of women in labor were unavoidable. That's why they had returned home so quickly. Although "quickly" was relative—it was about the same as most people.
Ming Mei said, "Go get a towel and wipe my face for me."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Alright."
Back at home, Ming Mei relaxed. In winter, she was used to sleeping on a warm kang, and the hospital had been uncomfortable. The warmth of home was the best. Since Ming Mei had returned, the neighbors in the courtyard came by to visit. The men didn't enter, as Ming Mei was in confinement, but the women came to see the babies, marveling at how beautiful they were. Ming Mei was puzzled—were they really that beautiful?
She thought the babies still looked like little monkeys!
But she didn't dare say that, as both her mother-in-law and her own mother would have glared at her for it.
It seemed that with the new arrivals, the old ones were forgotten.
"I..."
"Wuwuwu, wuwuwu..."
Ming Mei was about to speak when she heard crying outside. The sound wasn't loud, but it was muffled, making it eerie. Thankfully, it was daytime; if it had been nighttime, it would have been terrifying.
Ming Mei asked, "What's going on outside?"
Zhuang Zhixi said, "I'll go check."
He went out and was surprised to find that the one crying in the courtyard was Su Zhaodi.
Su Zhaodi, the eldest daughter of the Su family, was the older sister of Gou Lanxiang's three children.
Zhuang Zhixi muttered, "Why is she crying here?"
By then, Zhao Guihua and the others had also come out, and even Ming Mei was peeking through the window.
Indeed, when it came to gossip, their courtyard was the liveliest.
As soon as they returned, there was already some drama.
Zhao Guihua and the others had been at the hospital recently, so they didn't know what was going on, but Liang Meifen did. She quickly explained, "Su Pandi came on the afternoon of New Year's Day. She was here to ask Wang Xiangxiu for money."
"Money? What money?"
Liang Meifen pouted, "It's all because of Aunt Su. Didn't she get sentenced? She was supposed to be sent to the Gobi Desert to plant trees. Originally, she was supposed to be sent away before the New Year, but it seems the weather delayed it until the end of the year. If she were sent now, it would definitely interfere with the New Year celebrations. The higher-ups decided to let the police officers enjoy their New Year, so they scheduled the transfer for after the holiday. That's why Su Zhaodi applied to visit her mother during the New Year. Who knows what Aunt Su told her daughter. Anyway, she said that if there was any money, she should bring some. With money, she could eat better in prison. Even in jail, you can save money in the canteen. So, Su Zhaodi went to Wang Xiangxiu. Where would she get money? She was counting on Wang Xiangxiu to give her the money Aunt Su had saved. But would Wang Xiangxiu admit to having it? She said their house had been searched, and there was no money. Su Zhaodi isn't the type to confront Wang Xiangxiu, so she just kept crying and begging from morning till night."
Zhao Guihua said, "This Su Zhaodi, really..."
Su Pandi is already in prison, and yet Su Zhaodi still listens to her mother. And as for her mother, what kind of person is she? Su Zhaodi really has no sense of shame.
"This woman, if she were as fierce as Su Pandi, it might be something. But she's not. She doesn't dare to argue or fight with Wang Xiangxiu. All she does is cry and whine. It's really annoying. A few days ago, every time she started crying, someone would chase her away. But she's like a piece of sticky plaster. You chase her out, and she cries outside the door. If you chase her further, she cries at the end of the alley. Everyone thinks she's a bad omen."
"That's right! Who wants to see her crying during the New Year? It's so irritating."
As soon as these words were spoken, Aunt Wang came over from the backyard and said, "Su Zhaodi, get out of here! Are you done yet? Do you think we can't do anything to you? If you keep crying here, we'll call the police. At first, we felt a little sorry for you, but now we see you have no sense of decency. Are you deliberately trying to annoy everyone? You want money for your mother? Well, I’d like to ask, what does a prisoner need money for? Who are you giving it to? What are you planning to do with it? Could it be related to some other case?"
Aunt Wang shouted this out!
Zhao Guihua, on the other hand, laughed. She and Aunt Wang had teamed up countless times before. She raised her voice and said, "Who knows? Maybe Aunt Su never asked for any money. Did Su Zhaodi even see her mother? That's questionable. Maybe she just assumed her mother had money and decided to come here to try and get some for herself."
"Ah!"
Everyone gasped, realizing this was a new angle.
"Aunt Zhao, you make a good point."
"But that can't be, right? Su Zhaodi has always been obedient to her mother and cared about her family. Surely she’s doing this for her mother?"
Zhao Guihua watched as Su Zhaodi shrank back, and she said meaningfully, "Who knows? She used to listen to her mother, but her mother is in prison now and won’t be coming out. Will she still listen to her? Besides, think about it. Can you just visit someone with a life sentence whenever you want? And during the New Year, she went to visit her mother in prison? Does a normal person do that? Let’s not even talk about that. Her husband has always kept a tight leash on her, not letting her have much contact with her family. So how is it that she’s been here crying all day, every day, and her in-laws know nothing about it?"
With Zhao Guihua’s analysis, everyone suddenly realized how sharp she was. This old lady really knew what she was talking about.
At this point, Su Zhaodi panicked. She stammered, "No, no, that’s not it! I just wanted to ask Wang Xiangxiu for money for my mother! She’s already caused my mother so much suffering. Shouldn’t she give back the money my mother saved?"
Oh ho, she actually sounded quite logical.
Then Wang Xiangxiu came out. She had been avoiding Su Zhaodi for days. Even though she wouldn’t lose in a fight, Su Zhaodi crying outside was ruining her reputation. And with all the crying during the New Year, the neighbors found it inauspicious and blamed her for causing trouble.
This was forcing her to deal with it.
Wang Xiangxiu, for once, had a moment of clarity. She had been hiding from Su Zhaodi, but after hearing Zhao Guihua’s analysis, it all clicked.
She rushed out and said, "Su Zhaodi, I never thought you were so cunning. How could you even see Gou Lanxiang, that old hag? Around New Year, I tried to visit Jinlai at the juvenile detention center, and they wouldn’t let me in. How did you see your mother during the New Year? Are you just here to scam money? Your mother didn’t leave any money behind. All those gold bars were confiscated. What money are you asking for? If my family had money, would we be living so poorly? Your mother confessed about the gold bars. If there was money, wouldn’t she have mentioned it? Tell me, are you just here to extort money from us?"
"You know, Wang Xiangxiu has a point. Aunt Su even confessed about the gold bars. Wouldn’t she have confessed about any other money? There’s definitely nothing left. So why is Su Zhaodi here asking for money?"
"Maybe she’s just trying to bluff Wang Xiangxiu. If she can’t get anything, she’ll just extort money for her own family."
"That makes sense. I think that’s exactly what’s going on."
Su Zhaodi grew even more flustered and stammered, "I-I-I didn’t! It’s not like that! I’m just doing this for my mother!"
Her stammering only convinced everyone that she was lying.
She wasn’t here for Aunt Su’s money.
Liang Meifen looked at her mother-in-law in shock. Since the first day of the New Year, Su Zhaodi had been coming every day. This was the fourth day in a row, and everyone was fed up, but no one had thought she might be lying.
But her mother-in-law, as soon as she returned, saw right through it!
And immediately exposed Su Zhaodi’s little act.
Wasn’t that terrifying?
It was absolutely terrifying.
Her mother-in-law was no ordinary person.
No wonder she always lost to her mother-in-law and was so afraid of her. It was completely normal. Her mother-in-law was so sharp that ordinary people were no match for her. Liang Meifen thought about this and shrank back even more.
This was what it meant to be a master.
Someone like her could never outwit this old lady, even if there were a hundred of her.
Liang Meifen stayed as quiet as a mouse.
At this point, Su Zhaodi still wanted to resist. She said, "How can you all be so heartless? My mother lived in this courtyard, and I grew up here too. How can you suspect me…"
"Why shouldn’t we suspect you?"
Wang Xiangxiu also cried out, "Su Zhaodi, hasn’t your family done enough to hurt me? Now you want to come here and ask for money? You’re going too far. How can you be so heartless? Have you forgotten that Jinlai and the others are your nephews too? How could you be so cruel as to try and scam money from us, a widow and her orphaned children?"
Aunt Wang glanced at Wang Xiangxiu and then turned to Su Zhaodi, saying, "Su Zhaodi, you’ve been causing trouble here for days. We’re trying to enjoy the New Year, and you’re deliberately bringing bad luck, aren’t you? You’re just trying to annoy everyone, aren’t you? If you can do all this, why shouldn’t we suspect you? I think there’s no issue with Aunt Su. You’re just here to extort money. Come on, let’s go to the police station and sort this out!"
"No, I won’t go!"
Su Zhaodi let out a shriek.
"Let’s go!" Aunt Wang grabbed her, but Su Zhaodi struggled free and ran off as fast as she could, shouting, "I won’t go to the police station! I won’t!!!"
She was genuinely scared. After all, her mother and sister were already in prison. If she ended up there too… She shivered, terrified, and ran off as if a ghost were chasing her.
"She ran pretty fast!"
"She didn’t cry outside this time."
"Or in the alley!"
"Obviously, she was scared off. If she really had nothing to hide, why would she be afraid? She must have been lying."
"Of course…"
At this point, everyone understood. Zhao Guihua had guessed correctly. Su Zhaodi hadn’t gone to see Aunt Su and then come to ask for money. She had come to ask for money on her own.
And it was probably her husband’s idea.
No, it definitely was.
After all, this Su Zhaodi didn’t seem like a sharp person. She acted without any clear plan, and Su’s mother had raised her to be a rather brainless fool. She had no sense of self and no cunning, so it was certain that someone had put her up to this.
The only people who could persuade her now were her in-laws.
Thinking this, everyone clicked their tongues in surprise. It really was true that you couldn’t judge people by their old ways. They had originally thought that the two Su sisters were completely devoted to their mother. But who would have thought that once their mother was out of the picture, Su Zhaodi could be so easily swayed by others?
“I always said the public security system is very strict. How could she just show up like that?”
“You’re such a Monday-morning quarterback.”
“How am I being a Monday-morning quarterback? I said it back then—something was off about her frequent visits. Isn’t that what I meant? You tell me…”
“You’ve got some nerve. So that’s what you meant? Well, I could say I saw it too…”
Everyone chattered for a while, laughing heartily, but Wang Xiangxiu pursed her lips, unable to laugh.
She thought about the past few days and felt nothing but frustration. What kind of family had she married into? From her mother-in-law to her sister-in-law, not a single one of them was decent. Even in a situation like this, they were still trying to squeeze money out of her.
It was true that Su’s mother did have some money, but why should she give it to them?
Who did Su Zhaodi think she was?
She fumed silently, wishing the entire Su family would just drop dead.
She bit her lip, feeling a headache coming on.
Aunt Wang said, “Alright, you should go home now. Be careful from now on.”
Wang Xiangxiu nodded. “Thank you, everyone.”
She bowed to the crowd and said, “I’ve caused you all trouble these past few days. Thank you. If it weren’t for you exposing her, she might have come back again. Thank you.”
Although people had some grievances with Wang Xiangxiu, ever since Su’s mother passed away, she had become much more reasonable. She still had her little schemes, but she was different from before. She worked hard with her own hands.
Maybe she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but as long as she didn’t cause trouble, that was good enough.
Among neighbors, as long as everyone got along, that was all that mattered.
This incident made everyone even more annoyed with Su Zhaodi.
She was a jinx.
“Widow Wang, don’t take it to heart. It’s fine.”
“Yeah, it’s not your fault. Who could have guessed she’d pull something like this?”
“What good could Su’s mother have taught her? All of them are unreliable…”
“Exactly…”
“Su Pandi’s in jail, and now Su Zhaodi’s causing trouble. Thankfully, she’s not some mastermind—just a coward…”
Seeing the conversation drift off, Wang Xiangxiu finally relaxed a little. She quietly went home, feeling a bit more at ease. Her two children looked at her worriedly and asked, “Mom, is Auntie gone?” The past few days had been hard on the kids too.
Tonglai hadn’t even dared to go out to play.
Wang Xiangxiu nodded. “She’s gone. Your dear auntie was lying. Everything she said was fake—she was just here to scam money. Luckily, Grandma Zhao saw through her lies. She got scared off by Aunt Wang. She’s not a good person. If you see her in the future, stay away. People like her aren’t worth dealing with.”
The kids didn’t understand much, but hearing that she was a liar made them furious. “What a bad person! She’s a big bad guy!”
Wang Xiangxiu hugged her children and said, “From now on, we can’t trust anyone. It’s just the three of us. We only have each other, so let’s live our lives well.”
“Okay!”
The three of them talked inside the house, while everyone else stayed in the yard. After all, this was a topic worth discussing. Bai Fendou was the loudest, cursing the most vehemently.
Zhao Guihua just glanced at the scene and went inside, muttering, “You think your crying and wailing is going to disturb my daughter-in-law and grandchildren’s rest? You’d better think again. You can’t fool me—I’ll expose your tricks!”
Liang Meifen sincerely gave her a thumbs-up. “Mom, you’re amazing.”
No one else could see through it, but this old lady had grasped the key point in an instant. She was truly impressive.
Zhao Guihua snorted. “Hmph!”
She pointed to her eyes and said, “No ghost or demon can escape these wise eyes of mine!”
