Wang Zhaodi wanted to change her name. These days, changing one's name isn’t difficult, and for someone like her, who was moving her household registration anyway, it was even more convenient.
However, deciding on a new name proved to be a real challenge for Wang Zhaodi. Without much education, she found it hard to come up with something suitable. She looked around at everyone with hopeful eyes, and the group, being practical, started offering suggestions.
“I think ‘Zizhen’ is nice—cherishing oneself.”
“How about ‘Lingzhao’? ‘Ling’ means beauty, and ‘zhao’ means brightness.”
“Or ‘Sitian’—thinking of sweetness, living a sweet life.”
“You could also go with ‘Xiangyang’—facing the sun, such a positive meaning.”
“What about ‘Guiying’? Like Mu Guiying, the legendary heroine. You could be just as strong.”
“If all these seem too complicated, you could simply go with ‘Wang Xin’—‘Xin’ as in ‘new,’ symbolizing a fresh start. Or ‘Xin’ as in ‘joy,’ representing a happy life ahead.”
The lively chatter made it feel like a bustling marketplace, even though there were only a few people present. Wang Zhaodi, who had been at a loss earlier, suddenly felt like she had plenty of options. She was so touched by everyone’s kindness that her eyes welled up with tears. She smiled gratefully and said, “Thank you all!”
After a pause, she added, “I can even use these names for my future children.”
“Haha, you’re really greedy,” Ming Mei teased playfully.
But Wang Zhaodi was serious. “I’m not well-educated, so having so many good names means I can use them for my kids later.”
This was when the importance of a surname really stood out. Da Qiang’s surname was Ye, which made it easy to give their children nice-sounding names, whether they were boys or girls. Unlike surnames like Bai, which could sound plain, or Zhuang, which might come off as pretentious.
Da Qiang’s name was pretty ordinary, but “Ye Qiang” didn’t sound too bad, did it?
She imagined having a son named Ye Xiangyang or a daughter named Ye Sitian. Or perhaps a son named Ye Xin and a daughter named Ye Xin. Just thinking about it made Wang Zhaodi feel like she could laugh in her sleep.
The more she thought about it, the happier she became, giggling uncontrollably. Ming Mei asked, “What about you? What do you want to be called?”
Wang Zhaodi thought for a moment and said, “I think ‘Guiying,’ ‘Zizhen,’ or ‘Xinxin’ are all great.”
Zhao Guihua’s eyes flickered, realizing how different generations had different tastes. People from her era, without much education, often chose names related to flowers and plants, but now, names like Fang, Ying, Xiu, Zhen, and Ling were more popular.
Wang Zhaodi continued, “I’ve decided on ‘Zizhen.’ No one else has ever cherished me, so I want to cherish myself.”
Ming Mei nodded approvingly. “That’s a good choice. Wang Zizhen—it sounds really nice.”
Wang Zhaodi smiled warmly. “Of course, thank you all for helping me come up with such great names.”
Everyone laughed, and Wang Zhaodi said, “Once I change my name tomorrow, I won’t be the old Zhaodi anymore.”
Just thinking about it filled her with joy, and everyone shared in her happiness.
Zhao Guihua asked, “So, have you officially cut ties with your parents? Is it all on paper now?”
Wang Zhaodi nodded. “Yes, they’ve stamped their fingerprints. I didn’t give the document to Da Qiang; I kept it myself.”
Although Da Qiang had paid for it, Wang Zhaodi decided to hold onto the document. She felt a bit cunning for doing so, but she didn’t want to leave her fate in someone else’s hands. Even if it didn’t matter much, it served as a reminder that her parents had abandoned her for just a hundred yuan.
It was a stark warning to never soften her heart toward that family.
Still, she didn’t think she’d ever go back. As long as she stayed away, there would be no further contact.
Aunt Zhou chimed in, “You two should live well together from now on, united as a couple, and stop thinking about the past.”
Wang Zhaodi nodded. “I know.”
She smiled and said, “I can’t let all your efforts go to waste.”
Aunt Zhou waved it off. “Oh, it’s nothing. If I hadn’t made a fuss and acted like a troublemaker, they wouldn’t have been in such a hurry to get rid of us. These things need to be handled quickly. If you give them time to think, they might demand more, or you and Da Qiang might slip up. But if I go in like a shrew, they’ll be eager to get rid of me and settle things fast.”
Her acting hadn’t been for nothing.
Even Zhao Guihua and Aunt Wang gave her a thumbs-up. Aunt Zhou chuckled and said, “You haven’t been through this kind of thing, so you wouldn’t know. Dealing with sneaky people requires this kind of approach. Don’t feel sorry for them just because they look pitiful—some people are just rotten to the core.”
Zhao Guihua asked, “Will your family ever come to the city?”
Wang Zhaodi was confident about this. “They won’t. They’ve lived in the mountains for so long; they’re too set in their ways to leave. That’s why our village is so poor. Remember when I told you about selling eggs? They don’t even have the courage to come out and sell eggs. Even if it’s just a two-hour walk, they won’t do it. Do you think they’d take multiple buses to come find me? Impossible. They’ve already taken Aunt Zhou’s fifty yuan and Da Qiang’s hundred yuan. They’re probably using it to nourish themselves and try for another son. My mother is pregnant again. But even if they did come, I’m not afraid. In the village, they can gang up with others, but here, they can’t do whatever they want.”
It was clear that cutting ties with her family had given Wang Zhaodi a newfound confidence.
Zhao Guihua reminded her, “That Su Zhaodi’s mother-in-law—she’s your real aunt, right? Your mother’s older sister. Could she cause trouble?”
Zhao Guihua, though not highly educated, had lived through decades of ups and downs. Her experience far surpassed anyone else’s in the room, and she could consider every angle of a situation.
She added, “If she comes, you need to be prepared for how to handle it.”
Wang Zhaodi replied firmly, “I won’t acknowledge her.”
She sneered, “When my family was struggling, she never showed up. Even though she’s my aunt, I’ve only seen her twice in my life. She doesn’t associate with mountain relatives like us. The first time I saw her was at my older sister’s wedding, and the second time was when she came to the village to take me away. So, I don’t care who she is. If she dares to come, I’ll curse her out. Who does she think she is, acting all high and mighty here?”
Zhao Guihua gave her a thumbs-up. “That’s the right attitude.”
She could see how much Wang Zhaodi had changed. She used to be a shy girl, but now she was different. Perhaps breaking free from her toxic family had truly transformed her.
Zhao Guihua advised, “If she does come, don’t start by cursing. Start by crying! You know how to cry, right?”
Wang Zhaodi was puzzled. “Huh?”
Zhao Guihua explained, “Wail loudly! Say your parents sold you off early just to have a son! Say you’ve only seen this so-called aunt twice in your life. Tell them you don’t even know if she’s really your aunt, and even if she is, she’s never been involved in your life. What does a sold-off daughter have to do with them? Just tell the truth! The people here in Xinghua may not be heroes, but they’re kind-hearted and won’t stand by while someone bullies you. If you just curse at her, no one will understand the situation. But if you cry and explain, no one will dare to side with her.”
Wang Zhaodi nodded. “I understand.”
She thought about it and realized it made sense.
Zhao Guihua always had the best advice.
Zhao Guihua: "If you show weakness twice and she still dares to come, you can grab a broom and chase her away. After all, she's just a distant relative you don't keep in touch with, so there's no need to be polite. Look, everyone is supporting you. You can't let someone who's practically a stranger bully you like this! You can even shout at her—even if your parents come, it’s none of their business."
After a pause, she smiled: "Da Qiang and his moving crew are all big, burly men. Why not have them talk to your dear cousin? Don’t fight, of course, but you can teach him a lesson. You can tell him that if he causes trouble for you through your parents, those two old scoundrels, you’ll have a 'chat' with his younger family members. I’m not saying you should actually do anything, but you can scare him a bit, right? People like him are cowards. I don’t believe his family would dare cause any more trouble after that."
As soon as Zhao Guihua finished speaking, Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang were left speechless.
Wow, Zhao Guihua. No wonder everyone thought she was not someone to be trifled with. She was even resorting to threats now.
Zhao Guihua: "What are you looking at? I’m not telling them to actually do anything. A little chat is harmless."
Wang Zhaodi: "...Okay!"
She felt as though she had mustered all her courage. But soon, she wasn’t deflated—no, it wasn’t that. Instead, she smiled happily and said, "It’s so good. I’ve left home."
She used to not understand, thinking that life was just the way it was. But after coming here, even though everyone was noisy and chaotic, she realized that life shouldn’t be like how it was at her family’s home.
Wang Zhaodi’s mother was named Wang Qin. Wang Qin was born into a family that heavily favored boys over girls—not just a little, but extremely so. Her mother and grandmother were cut from the same cloth. After marrying into the family, she kept giving birth to daughters, constantly pregnant and giving birth. Even though Wang Qin was much younger than Aunt Zhou, she looked much older. Aunt Zhou, who had been widowed young and raised her child alone, already looked older than her peers due to her hard life.
Wang Qin, just over forty, looked older than a woman in her early fifties.
Because she couldn’t bear a son, Wang Qin was looked down upon by the villagers. Outside, she was meek and submissive, not just to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, but even random people could bully her. Wang Qin never complained, but instead took her frustrations out on her daughters at home.
Even though she seemed weak and bullied outside, she was harsh and cruel to her daughters.
As for her father, he was cunning. He never laid a hand on anyone because Wang Qin did it for him. Wang Qin would give all the good things to her husband, so he didn’t have to lift a finger. He enjoyed everything without lifting a finger. Thinking about how she had escaped these two people, Wang Zhaodi couldn’t help but laugh out loud with joy.
"It’s so good."
"When you marry Da Qiang and start your life with him, if he ever bullies you, come back and tell me. We’ll stand up for you. Don’t think that just because you don’t have your parents’ support, you can be bullied. You’ve lived in our courtyard for so long. We can’t just stand by and watch you suffer. We’re all family here," Zhao Guihua said.
Wang Zhaodi nodded vigorously.
She knew that in their village, even if some girls got married, their parents might not have the courage to stand up for them like this. But here, even though they were just neighbors, Wang Zhaodi felt so warm inside.
Ming Mei chimed in, "If anyone bullies you, you can tell me. Don’t let my slim figure fool you—I can take on three people at once."
Wang Zhaodi laughed and said, "Ming Mei, I know you’re really strong."
Legends of her strength had long been circulating.
"Wang Zhaodi, even though you’re marrying Da Qiang, many fresh graduates and families in difficult situations are struggling to find work through the local authorities. It’s hard for someone like you to get assigned a job," Jiang Lu said bluntly. "You and your husband need to save some money. Why don’t you come and help me out? You know my situation—my family is overwhelmed. I’ll give you ten yuan a month. How does that sound?"
Since everyone in the room was familiar with each other, Jiang Lu felt comfortable making the offer openly.
Wang Zhaodi waved her hands in surprise, "No, no, I can’t take your money. You’ve already helped me so much…"
Jiang Lu: "No, this is separate. I’m not giving you ten yuan forever. Once my kids are older, I won’t need to. And once you’re married, you’ll probably have kids too. When you’re busy taking care of your own children, you won’t have time to help me. If I ask you to do odd jobs then, I won’t be paying you ten yuan."
Wang Zhaodi: "But…"
"Don’t say 'but.' Are you saying the pay is too low?"
Wang Zhaodi shook her head vigorously, "No!"
How could she think the pay was too low?
Everyone laughed, "Then it’s settled."
Wang Zhaodi, remembering that Zhao Guihua still needed her for another month, quickly said, "I’m very hardworking. I can handle work for both families."
Zhao Guihua: "Fine."
Wang Zhaodi: "I’ll deduct the days I’m not here."
Zhao Guihua: "Fine."
She didn’t argue over this.
Wang Zhaodi smiled happily.
Wang Zhaodi’s return brought good news, and as neighbors, Aunt Zhou was genuinely surprised that Bai Fendou had gotten married in such a short time. She exclaimed, "Did Chen Yuan not cause any trouble?"
See, everyone knew Chen Yuan would stir up trouble.
Zhao Guihua suppressed a laugh and said, "No! Chen Yuan hasn’t been around the courtyard lately. He’s been avoiding Bai Fendou."
Ever since Bai Fendou had publicly "communicated" with him, Chen Yuan’s reputation had become even more peculiar. Chen Yuan himself was convinced that Bai Fendou had feelings for him. Despite Chen Yuan’s usual arrogance, he had never dealt with a situation like this before and was so scared that he fled back to his parents’ place.
He hadn’t been around for the past few days, and only Tao Yuyue came home after work.
But Chen Yuan’s absence didn’t seem so bad. Everyone could smell the meat Tao Yuyue was cooking at home.
With Chen Yuan gone, Tao Yuyue was enjoying good food at home.
These two were really something else.
Aunt Zhou: "Wow…"
"What kind of person would marry Bai Fendou?"
"A young woman who was mistreated and taken advantage of by her in-laws," Aunt Wang summarized, though she didn’t mention the woman’s problematic background.
Aunt Zhou: "What?"
She widened her eyes, "How could she let herself be bullied like that?"
Even though Aunt Zhou hadn’t always been a good person herself, she was fiercely resistant to being taken advantage of.
Neither her own family nor her in-laws could get the better of her. When her husband passed away, her brother-in-law tried to take over his job. She didn’t hold back—crying, making a scene, even threatening to hang herself. In the end, they didn’t get what they wanted.
So Aunt Zhou couldn’t understand how someone could be so weak and let themselves be bullied like that.
She said, "Surely Bai Fendou wouldn’t bully her, would he?"
"Of course not. Bai Fendou finally found himself a wife."
"That’s true."
The women chatted at home, and Bai Fendou, the center of their conversation, was sweeping with extra vigor. He was a married man now, completely different from before. He finished cleaning quickly and went inside to rest.
As soon as he entered, he saw Wang Xiangxiu there, quietly wiping her tears. When she saw Bai Fendou come in, she wiped her face and said, "I’ll go out."
The room was a place where many in the logistics department stored tools. Whether it was the toilet cleaners or other logistics staff, they all came here to rest. But with just the two of them alone, Wang Xiangxiu left. Bai Fendou glanced at her back and then looked away.
He was a married man with a child now. He couldn’t concern himself with others.
Wang Xiangxiu wasn’t there to play the victim in front of Bai Fendou. She was just feeling down. Thinking about Jin Lai being locked up again, how could she not feel upset? Everything she did as a mother was for her son. But why couldn’t Jin Lai stay out of trouble?
Three years!
She didn’t know how he would survive inside.
Though Wang Xiangxiu was heartbroken, she didn’t dare miss a single day of work. She still had two other children at home. Even though she had some savings, she didn’t dare spend recklessly. After all, Yin Lai’s health required long-term care.
Tonglai... She could only rely on Tonglai now, and she hoped that Tonglai could make it to high school, giving him more opportunities in life.
Even though people often say education isn’t important these days, in big cities, people still value those with more schooling. They’ve seen more of the world and understand that with the same background, those with more education tend to have more opportunities.
Take, for example, the factories nowadays—many of them won’t hire anyone without a high school diploma.
Even if the job is just tightening screws on an assembly line, something anyone could do, the competition for such positions is fierce. Naturally, employers prefer candidates with better qualifications.
So even though it might seem like education isn’t crucial, many families with the means still push their kids to finish high school. It opens more doors.
But getting into high school isn’t easy.
Wang Xiangxiu hoped Tonglai would have more opportunities, so he could live a better life and maybe even help his unreliable older brother and his sickly second brother. Wang Xiangxiu sighed and went back to her work.
Zhuang Zhixi stepped out to use the restroom and saw Wang Xiangxiu working while wiping away tears. He hesitated for a moment, then turned and headed to another restroom. Seeing her crying like that, someone might get the wrong idea.
He later found out that Jinlai had been sent back to juvenile detention.
After Jinlai’s last stint in juvenile detention, he rarely came home. Most of the adults were busy with work, so they didn’t run into him much. But who would’ve thought he’d end up back in trouble so soon?
Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t help but think to himself that if Jinlai kept this up, he might end up in and out of detention multiple times.
It wasn’t that he was being pessimistic, but Jinlai had been through so much and still hadn’t changed. It seemed unlikely he’d ever turn his life around. As Zhuang Zhixi walked away, he glanced back and noticed Director Chen—Chen Yuan’s father—standing in the shadows, talking to Wang Xiangxiu.
Director Chen’s expression was hard to make out, but Wang Xiangxiu’s tears were flowing freely. Even from a distance, it was clear she was constantly wiping her face.
Zhuang Zhixi thought to himself, “What are they talking about? Doesn’t Director Chen realize this spot might seem hidden, but it’s in full view from the upstairs windows? Whatever he’s saying, if someone sees them, rumors are bound to spread.”
Zhuang Zhixi quickly ducked into the restroom, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
“Oh no, I’m not getting involved in this mess,” he thought. “Even old-timers have their pride.”
As Zhuang Zhixi made his way back upstairs, he entered the office and saw a row of heads peeking out the window.
Zhuang Zhixi: “…”
He should’ve known!
He squeezed in next to them. “Let me see.”
At this point, it didn’t matter that he was standing next to Xiao Xu, someone he didn’t get along with. Xiao Xu wasn’t important—what mattered was the drama unfolding outside.
Xiao Xu, too, ignored his usual dislike for Zhuang Zhixi and eagerly filled him in. “They’re talking about something, and Wang Xiangxiu just raised her hand and swore an oath. Oh my, this is getting juicy!”
Zhuang Zhixi: “???”
An oath?
This was getting intense.
“Make some room for me. I want to see too…”
Everyone was absorbed in the spectacle. Meanwhile, Director Chen looked at Wang Xiangxiu and said, “You’re swearing to it?”
Wang Xiangxiu: “I swear, even though Bai Fendou used to follow me around and try to win me over, he never laid a finger on me. If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning!”
She dared to swear such an oath, which meant… it was probably true.
Director Chen pursed his lips and said, “Alright, I understand.”
Wang Xiangxiu looked at him, puzzled. She had no idea why Director Chen had suddenly come to scold her and then pressured her to confess whether she’d ever been involved with Bai Fendou. The whole situation was baffling.
She’d sworn multiple times—something she wouldn’t have done with just anyone.
But with Bai Fendou…
There really was nothing between them.
Wang Xiangxiu rubbed her eyes, confused as she watched Director Chen walk away.
Director Chen hadn’t approached Wang Xiangxiu out of any personal interest. Not all men are driven by lust, and Director Chen certainly wasn’t. He’d come to see her because of his son, Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan had come home insisting that Bai Fendou liked men and that all his antics were just a way to get Chen Yuan’s attention. In fact, Chen Yuan claimed Bai Fendou had a crush on him!
Director Chen had been horrified to hear this, especially since there were already rumors circulating that his son had feelings for Bai Fendou.
The same story, just with the roles reversed.
The whole thing was hard to believe, but Director Chen felt he had to investigate. The easiest way was to question Wang Xiangxiu, since Bai Fendou had spent years chasing after her. Everyone knew Bai Fendou had spent a fortune on her. If nothing had ever happened between them…
Then Director Chen was starting to believe the rumors might be true. Maybe Wang Xiangxiu had just been a smokescreen for Bai Fendou’s true preferences.
Honestly, Director Chen had hoped Wang Xiangxiu and Bai Fendou had been involved. At least that would’ve proven Bai Fendou wasn’t interested in men. But no! There was nothing!
Why not ask Bai Fendou’s wife?
Well, Bai Fendou wasn’t exactly in a position to answer questions now.
So Wang Xiangxiu was the only option.
But the result left Director Chen’s head spinning. If Bai Fendou had spent so much money and time on Wang Xiangxiu without ever getting anywhere with her, did that mean Bai Fendou really didn’t like women?
His son was in danger!
Director Chen felt a wave of despair wash over him. He returned to his office, his mind racing.
He absolutely couldn’t let his son get tangled up with Bai Fendou. But Bai Fendou was already working as a janitor—there was no lower position to demote him to. His son worked in the factory office, so he’d inevitably run into Bai Fendou when using the restroom.
They’d keep crossing paths!
The solution was to transfer Bai Fendou!
Yes, he had to find a way to move Bai Fendou to another department. If Bai Fendou were assigned to a busy workshop, he’d have fewer chances to run into Chen Yuan. Right now, every time Chen Yuan went to the restroom, he had to be careful not to catch Bai Fendou staring at him.
Bai Fendou often hung around Wang Xiangxiu’s area, but when the waste carts came through, both of them had to move around, increasing the chances of an encounter. Director Chen tapped his desk, thinking he might need to pull some strings.
But Chen Yuan and Bai Fendou also lived in the same compound… For now, he’d have the young couple move back home.
The house was technically theirs, so they could let it sit for a while and then rent it out later when no one was paying attention. But they absolutely couldn’t stay in that compound anymore. When they’d first been assigned the place, he’d been too focused on the benefits and hadn’t realized what a troublesome neighborhood it was.
And then there was Zhou Qun—he’d heard similar rumors about him.
His pure, innocent son couldn’t be corrupted by these people.
No way!
He had to take action.
Director Chen felt a bit better now that he had a plan.
“Knock, knock.”
Director Chen: “Come in.”
The factory secretary entered. “Director, Deputy Factory Director Zhang wants to see you.”
Director Chen: “Alright…”
He stood up and asked, “What’s it about?”
The secretary gave an awkward smile and whispered, “It’s about… personal relationships.”
Director Chen: “…???” He, of all people, being called in for something like this? He walked to the office with a look of utter confusion.
Some time later, Director Chen returned, his face as dark as if he’d stepped in dog poop, fallen into a sewer, or… well, you get the idea. He was fuming, his every step radiating anger.
Back in his office, everyone heard the sound of things being thrown and smashed.
Aunt Cui and the other women didn’t hesitate—they went straight over to eavesdrop. When they returned, they whispered, “He’s trashing his office.”
Zhuang Zhixi: “Wow, he’s got quite the temper. No wonder Chen Yuan’s the way he is.”
As they were talking, there was a knock at the door. Zhuang Zhixi looked up, surprised to see a familiar face.
Hu Huihui.
Wang Xiangxiu’s cousin.
Hu Huihui was also quite surprised to see Zhuang Zhixi, but then it dawned on her—of course, Zhuang Zhixi worked in the propaganda department. A colleague from the factory office led Hu Huihui over and said, "This is Comrade Hu from the committee. She’s here to deliver some propaganda materials. Please take them and ensure the propaganda work is carried out properly."
"Got it."
Hu Huihui took the initiative to greet Zhuang Zhixi, "Brother Zhuang, I didn’t expect you to be working in the propaganda department. Let’s stay in touch in the future."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Sure."
Everyone around them immediately looked at the two with curiosity, their eyes shifting back and forth.
Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, the factory broadcast started.
Zhuang Zhixi was actually one of the broadcasters, but he was more of a backup. He only stepped in when the main broadcaster was absent, and his primary role was to announce the factory’s various data-heavy documents.
The main broadcaster didn’t like reading these kinds of files—they were too complicated and full of tongue-twisting jargon.
So, the more complex documents were usually handled by Zhuang Zhixi, while the rest were left to the main broadcaster, a senior colleague.
"Breaking news, breaking news. After receiving reports from the masses, it has been alleged that Director Chen from the logistics department publicly harassed Comrade Wang Xiangxiu. After investigation, it has been confirmed that this incident is entirely baseless. This matter has caused significant distress to the individuals involved, and we urge everyone not to spread rumors. Additionally, we remind all comrades to be mindful of their work conduct to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and to protect the morale of our workers. Although it has been confirmed that Director Chen did not harass Comrade Wang Xiangxiu, his inappropriate work conduct has been criticized, and he will be withdrawn from this year’s outstanding cadre selection. Comrades, the factory is our home, and we all love it. The workers are the backbone..."
The broadcast continued, but everyone had already grasped the main points.
Hu Huihui: "..."
She was starting to think that her husband might have a point—her cousin really did seem to bring bad luck to anyone associated with her.
Just look at this—another one.
Anyone who gets involved with her ends up in trouble!
She pursed her lips, feeling relieved that they hadn’t gotten involved in the Su family’s affairs last time. Otherwise, who knows if they would’ve been affected too.
"Comrade Hu, Comrade Hu?"
Hu Huihui: "I’ll be going now."
She also gave Zhuang Zhixi a special farewell, "Brother Zhuang, I’ll head off now. See you around."
This "see you around" was as meaningless as asking "have you eaten?"—it wasn’t an actual plan to meet.
Zhuang Zhixi understood and smiled, "Take care."
As soon as she left, Aunt Cui quickly asked, "You’d better explain yourself. How do you know that young lady? You better not be messing around."
Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "You’ve got it all wrong."
"How so?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "First of all, she’s not a young lady—she’s a married woman. Second, didn’t you notice that we were just being polite? I’m not close to her. She used to live in our compound."
"Your compound?"
Zhuang Zhixi’s expression turned slightly odd as he said, "She’s Wang Xiangxiu’s cousin."
"Holy cow!"
"Oh my god!"
"This is…"
Everyone was shocked. Wang Xiangxiu and Hu Huihui didn’t look anything alike.
Moreover, Hu Huihui seemed to be in a much better position than Wang Xiangxiu.
"What’s their relationship like?"
"This Hu Huihui is…"
...
The questions kept coming.
Zhuang Zhixi: "Alright, that’s enough. Don’t gossip about her. Comrade Hu Huihui is the wife of Director Zheng."
"Holy cow!"
Everyone gasped in shock again.
They might not necessarily know who Director Zheng was, but they were all aware of him. The propaganda department often collaborated with the committee for materials, so even if they didn’t know him personally, they definitely knew of him.
"That man must be in his forties, right? This Hu Huihui looks so young."
"An old man with a young wife…"
"If you were a leader, you could have that too!"
"Get out of here!"
As they chatted, they had no idea that Wang Xiangxiu was standing there in complete disbelief, staring at the factory notice. She scratched her head, utterly baffled, "Wait, I… I’ve been transferred back to the workshop?"
"Yes."
Wang Xiangxiu: "Huh? What? Wow…"
She never expected this—it was all so sudden.
Today had been a rollercoaster for Wang Xiangxiu. She had been crying earlier because of her son, but then Director Chen showed up, first scolding her and then probing about Bai Fendou.
This made Wang Xiangxiu extremely anxious, but since she had no real connection to Bai Fendou, she wasn’t too worried.
Then, the factory security department came…
And soon after, she found out why—someone had seen Director Chen talking to her and reported them.
Wang Xiangxiu couldn’t believe how malicious people could be. She hadn’t done anything wrong!
She had been furious, but then… she got transferred.
"Due to the rumors surrounding you and Director Chen, even though they’ve been proven false, there’s a risk of the situation escalating and causing further damage. Therefore, the factory has decided to transfer you back to the workshop."
Of course, this was also because the higher-ups recognized that Wang Xiangxiu was a hard worker who didn’t engage in shady behavior or inappropriate relationships. That’s why they decided to transfer her back.
After all, cleaning toilets and handling waste wasn’t exactly suitable for female workers.
Wang Xiangxiu: "..."
She never thought she’d benefit from a bad situation.
This was completely unexpected!
Who should she thank?
Wang Xiangxiu had no idea.
"The factory will arrange for someone to take over your current duties. You’ll officially return to the workshop next month. You used to be a first-level worker—do you still remember how to do the job?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Good."
As she left work, Wang Xiangxiu felt like she was walking on air. She couldn’t believe her luck.
Was it possible that her fortunes had finally turned?
Or was it that by not scheming and just working hard, life could actually go well?
In the past, she had always looked for shortcuts, trying to do less work and scam money from men. But no one really cared about her. Her life wasn’t bad, but she knew exactly what kind of money it was.
Now, even without those "extra earnings," her life wasn’t that bad.
She didn’t even know what she had been chasing before.
Now, even though things were only slightly better, she felt much more at peace.
On her way home, Wang Xiangxiu happily stopped by the market. She didn’t have any meat coupons left, so she bought some pork bones that didn’t require coupons. She could make a nice soup with them—it was worth celebrating.
Wang Xiangxiu was over the moon, and so was Bai Fendou, who had also been transferred to the workshop. He couldn’t believe his luck either. Since he wasn’t a new hire, his salary wasn’t reduced much.
But now that he was in the workshop, he could work his way up and get raises in the future.
Bai Fendou happily went home, beaming, "Wife, I think you’re really my lucky star. I’ve been cleaning toilets for so long, but as soon as I married you, my job got upgraded."
"That’s great." He Lan was also happy. She was still thin and her face hadn’t fully healed, but the scars were barely noticeable now, and her smile was radiant. This was the first time someone had called her a lucky star.
Her parents hadn’t treated her badly, but with an older brother, a younger brother, and a favored sister, she had always been somewhat overlooked at home. She was practically invisible. And after getting married… well, the Fan family was a mess, to say the least.
This was the first time someone had truly valued her.
She asked, "But why were you transferred?"
Bai Fendou: "I don’t know. Maybe they thought I was doing a good job?"
He was thrilled, "Let’s have a good dinner tonight."
He Lan: "Yes!"
They were both in high spirits. When Zhuang Zhixi got home, he also brought up the news. Since Old Zhuang and Liang Meifen both worked at the factory, they could all discuss it. Liang Meifen: "I never expected this. Those two really have some kind of connection—both transferred to the workshop. That’s a good thing."
She was referring to Bai Fendou and Wang Xiangxiu.
Zhuang Zhixi: "It must be because of Director Chen. He’s definitely involved."
But when it came to this, no one really understood what was going on.
“Shouldn’t the Chen family dislike Bai Fendou and Wang Xiangxiu? Today, Director Chen was even criticized because of Wang Xiangxiu. But Director Chen is also quite innocent.”
Zhuang Zhixi: “Director Chen has his own superiors and factions. He’s aligned with Deputy Factory Director Yu, so it’s not surprising that Deputy Factory Director Zhang is trying to mess with him. Transferring Wang Xiangxiu’s job was probably just to annoy Director Chen.”
“What about Bai Fendou?”
“Who knows? Maybe the Chen family is up to something sneaky? Anyway, it’s not the first time they’ve done something bad that ended up being good.”
“Hmm…”
Everyone was confused but also somewhat shocked.
Though, honestly, it wasn’t all that surprising.
Zhao Guihua: “Our neighborhood is getting better and better.”
“Of course it is.”
“Oh, by the way, I should tell you—Wang Zhaodi isn’t going by that name anymore. From now on, she’ll be called Wang Zizhen. Don’t use her old name.”
“That’s a nice new name.”
“Right? We all came up with it together.”
Ming Mei rested her chin on her hand and sighed, “It’s really moving to see how Zhaodi—I mean, Zizhen—has been changing little by little. It’s so rewarding to watch someone become independent and strong.”
Everyone laughed.
Wang Zhaodi—now Wang Zizhen—quickly registered her marriage with Da Qiang. She also moved to the neighboring courtyard. Da Qiang only had one room there, but there was one advantage: no in-laws to boss her around.
Da Qiang’s mother was more focused on her eldest son and somewhat neglected her younger son. For the wedding, they set up two tables in the courtyard, inviting only close friends and family. At first, Da Qiang’s mother didn’t want to host a banquet since it was his second marriage.
But his bride was getting married for the first time, and she was a capable young woman. It wouldn’t have been right to let her marry without any ceremony. In the end, they decided to host two tables. Zhao Guihua attended on behalf of the Zhuang family, gifting a pair of pillowcases—a very generous present.
Aunt Zhou had a special relationship with Wang Zizhen, so it would have been normal for the whole Zhou family to attend. However, Jiang Lu was still in confinement after giving birth, so only Aunt Zhou came. She treated Wang Zizhen like family, gifting her a thermos. That was an expensive item.
A thermos cost around eight to ten yuan at the time.
The one Aunt Zhou bought, adorned with red peonies, cost nearly twelve yuan—a significant amount.
To put it in perspective, Bai Fendou, who cleaned toilets, earned only twenty-five yuan a month. That thermos was worth nearly half a month’s wages.
Others also brought gifts. Aunt Wang gave a washbasin, and Aunt Sui gave a piece of oilcloth.
They had often gone up the mountain together last autumn, so they were familiar but not particularly close. A piece of oilcloth was a thoughtful gift. At first, Zhao Guihua didn’t even realize what the oilcloth was, but then it hit her.
It was a product of the times.
Back then, oil and grain were in short supply, especially oil.
Many families used as little oil as possible, hardly daring to pour it directly into the pan. Instead, they would soak a piece of gauze in oil and lightly rub it on the pan before cooking.
This oil-soaked gauze was called oilcloth.
It was a common gift, as one piece could last ten days to half a month, or even longer if used sparingly. Wang Zizhen treasured it and carefully recorded it in her notebook.
She couldn’t read, but she had her own way of keeping track of things. She drew little pictures to represent people and items.
On their wedding night, Da Qiang looked at her notebook and burst out laughing. “Who’s this?”
Wang Zizhen: “That’s Aunt Wang. See how I drew her big? She’s tall, so I made her big. And this circle next to her represents the basin she gave me.”
She couldn’t read, but she could draw simple pictures to help her remember. Da Qiang looked at his wife with admiration. “You’re so clever.”
Wang Zizhen blushed. “Oh, stop.”
She quickly added, “Since it’s just the two of us, and you eat at the canteen, I’ll usually be at the neighboring courtyard. If you come home and don’t see me, just call me over there.”
Da Qiang: “Sure.”
He didn’t mind such small details.
Wang Zizhen: “Sister Jiang Lu pays me ten yuan a month to help with cooking, washing diapers, and cleaning. Aunt Zhao also pays me ten yuan for the same work. So, I’ll have twenty yuan a month.”
Da Qiang was stunned. He knew his wife had trouble finding work, but he hadn’t expected her to arrange this herself.
“This…” After a long pause, he said, “Can you handle all that?”
Wang Zizhen: “Of course! I wouldn’t have taken it on if I couldn’t. Don’t worry, I used to do even more back at my parents’ house. I’m very capable. Besides, this work won’t last forever. Once I’m pregnant, I won’t be able to do it anymore. And even if I don’t rush to have kids, they won’t need me once their children are older. So, I’ll work as much as I can now. I won’t cut corners just because I’m working for two families. They’ve been good to me, and I won’t let them down.”
Da Qiang immediately said, “Then I’ll help with the chores at home too.”
Wang Zizhen looked at Da Qiang and felt he was nothing like her father. Her father seemed honest but did nothing at home and always demanded the best food because he was the man of the house.
But Da Qiang, despite his burly and intimidating appearance, was kind, gentle, and considerate.
Wang Zizhen smiled and didn’t refuse. “Okay!”
She said earnestly, “Let’s work together to build a good life.”
Da Qiang: “Deal!”
True to her word, Wang Zizhen got up early the next morning, saw her husband off, locked the door, and headed to the neighboring courtyard. Ming Mei had already left for work, so Wang Zizhen took care of the chores for both households without breaking a sweat. She was full of energy.
By mid-morning, she had washed and hung up all the diapers that had accumulated overnight, bustling around like a little spinning top but radiating happiness. Zhao Guihua dressed the two babies in little cotton jackets and placed them in a stroller.
Their stroller was unique—it could hold two babies at once.
Zhao Guihua draped a small blanket over the babies and pushed them out. “Zizhen, you’re really something.”
Wang Zizhen smiled. “It’s nothing. I can handle it easily.”
She bent down and cooed at the babies. “Do you remember me? I’m Auntie Zizhen.”
The babies grinned toothlessly at her, and little Tuan Tuan wiggled his bottom, asking to be picked up. Wang Zizhen reached out, but Zhao Guihua stopped her. “Don’t pick him up. If you do it too often, he’ll expect it all the time and won’t stay put.”
Wang Zizhen: “Really?”
Zhao Guihua: “Of course.”
She added, “Raising kids means you can’t always give in to their demands.”
He Lan came out of her room to use the bathroom. She didn’t dare leave her baby alone inside, so she carried the child on her back. Seeing everyone outside, she nervously hugged the wall as she walked.
Zhao Guihua: “…”
She spoke up. “He Lan, right? Is that your name?”
He Lan stopped and nodded softly. She knew Zhao Guihua was a kind person and whispered, “Yes, Aunt Zhao. What is it?”
Zhao Guihua: “Don’t stay cooped up in your room all the time with the baby. Come out and sit in the courtyard when the weather’s nice. Everyone’s out here. It’s good to chat, and the baby likes being outside too.”
He Lan hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”
She carried her baby to the bathroom, and Wang Zizhen whispered, “She’s even more nervous than I was when I first came here.”
Zhao Guihua nodded. “She’s had a tough time and has been mistreated. But I think she’ll get better with time.”
Wang Zizhen had seen people like this before. “We had someone like that in my village too.”
She started chatting casually, gossiping, "There's a woman in our village who was beaten by her in-laws because she didn't give birth to a son. It was really bad, and she always endured it silently. But one day, she suddenly snapped. It seems her mother-in-law scalded her daughter, and she just lost it. Her daughter was originally named Wang Zhaodi... There are at least eight or ten girls in our village with that name. Her daughter was called Wang Zhaodi, but in that moment, she went crazy and changed her daughter's name to 'Jue Di' (meaning 'no more brothers')."
Zhao Guihua: "Pfft!"
She sighed, "Just changing the name won't do much."
"She even fought back against her mother-in-law and husband, even using a kitchen knife to slash them. After that, her life at home improved. I really admired her back then. But my mom looked down on her the most, saying that people like her wouldn't even have anyone to carry her funeral banner when she died. She also told us not to follow her example."
Based on Wang Zizhen's brief description, Zhao Guihua could already picture what her mother was like.
At that moment, He Lan returned from the bathroom. She came over to look at the twins. Her child was only a day younger than the twins, but you could easily mistake them for being two months apart. Her child was small and thin, while the twins were already plump and fair.
The little one waved her tiny arms, playing softly and quietly by herself, so well-behaved.
He Lan asked softly, "Has the baby's mom gone back to work?"
Zhao Guihua: "Yes, Ming Mei's maternity leave is over."
Since all the babies in the courtyard were out, Li Fang also brought her child out. When the kids were compared side by side, Li Fang's Zhenzhen stood out again. She was already a bit bigger and ate a lot, making the little girl quite chubby.
Zhao Guihua: "My twins are already quite plump, but yours is even bigger."
Li Fang: "She eats a lot."
She reached out to tease Xiao Qingqing and asked, "What's your baby's name?"
He Lan: "Her nickname is Xiao Bao, and her full name is Bai Qingqing."
"Xiao Qingqing."
The little baby lay weakly in her mother's arms, completely unaware of anything, but she seemed to sense the voices around her and gently puckered her lips. Li Fang smiled, "What a soft little girl."
He Lan: "She was born premature, so she's a bit weak."
"You'll have to take good care of her."
"I know."
Zhao Guihua looked at the children and suddenly laughed, saying, "These kids are so close in age. When they go to school, we won't have to worry—they can all walk together in a group."
Everyone nodded, "That's true."
Zhao Guihua: "This generation of kids is really lucky. When my son was little..."
Zhao Guihua quickly steered the conversation.
The atmosphere became lively.
Li Fang: "Zizhen, now that you're married, when are you planning to have kids? Are you thinking about having them right away or waiting a bit?"
Wang Zizhen: "We're just going with the flow. It's fine whenever. If it happens early, that's good too. Having kids early means I'll still be young when they grow up, and I won't have to worry about them when I'm older. But if it's later, that's also fine. I didn't have a great time at my parents' house, so I'm a bit run down. Taking more time to recover would make childbirth healthier."
"You're really flexible about it."
"You've got an answer for everything."
Wang Zizhen nodded, "Hehe, yeah, I want to have two or three kids."
She had already thought it through. She had always dreamed of having a happy family, so she wanted to raise a few children. But any more than that would be too much. She wouldn't be able to take care of them all properly, and she didn't want to neglect any of them.
She said, "I've got it all planned out."
Zhao Guihua chuckled, "These things aren't something you can plan. Plans never keep up with changes."
Wang Zizhen shyly scratched her head, "That's true."
Even though she was married, she still felt a bit embarrassed talking about such topics, so she quickly changed the subject.
Wang Zizhen: "This season, wild vegetables are really fresh and good. I finished all my work this morning, so I'm planning to go dig for wild vegetables this afternoon. Anyone want to join?"
Everyone was tied down with their kids, so who could go?
They all looked at Wang Zizhen with a mix of envy and resentment.
You don't know the struggles of raising kids when you don't have any!
She smiled, "Then I'll share some with you when I get back."
"No need, no need."
"Really, I insist..."
Their courtyard was unusually harmonious and lively...
