Zhuang Zhixi took a bite of the spoiled melon, and on his way home from work, he felt an overwhelming urge to return quickly.
Really, knowing something but not being able to talk about it was too stifling. Zhuang Zhixi couldn't wait to get home. At this moment, only going home to chat with his wife while cracking sunflower seeds could help him vent properly.
He strolled home, but Ming Mei hadn't returned from work yet. He sighed, "Why isn't my wife back yet?"
Zhao Guihua and the others had already dispersed, each heading home to cook. She glanced at her son and said, "Her workplace is farther than yours. Meanwhile, how come you're back so early?"
Even though three members of the Zhuang family worked at the same factory, they rarely commuted together. They usually went their separate ways. However, Zhuang Zhixi was almost always the first to return. She gave him another look and said, "Judging by your expression, did you find out something again?"
Indeed, a mother knows her son best.
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, picked up his son, and gave him a big kiss. Then, without missing a beat, he kissed Little Yuanyuan too, saying, "You really know me well."
Zhao Guihua snorted, "Stop pretending. We all know each other too well."
Seeing that no one else was around, Zhuang Zhixi leaned closer to his mother and whispered a few things. He couldn't say these things openly, but he trusted his mother and his wife completely. He mumbled on, and Zhao Guihua's brows furrowed as she listened, shaking her head in disbelief. It was all quite disturbing.
What kind of mess was this?
She said, "Really..."
For a moment, she couldn't find the right words to describe it, but she straightforwardly added, "Tao Yuyue is really something."
She had initially thought Tao Yuyue was just a slightly vain young girl, but now it seemed that appearances could be deceiving. However, in her previous life, she hadn't heard any rumors about Director Chen being involved in any scandals. Of course, her previous life and this life were entirely different. Just because nothing happened last time didn't mean it wouldn't happen this time.
She didn't dare to use her past experiences to judge the present.
A small butterfly effect could change everything.
She said, "Stay out of their business. It's too disgusting."
Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "What do I care? They're them, and I'm me. We have no connection. Why would I meddle in their affairs?"
He remained calm and composed, "Besides, who am I to get involved in their matters? Oh, by the way, Mom, Bai Fendou approached me today. He wants to get back at the Fan family and asked me for advice. I thought about it, and it's really not easy to do anything. Can you help me think about it?"
Zhao Guihua replied, "You just said you wouldn't meddle in other people's affairs. Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue are others, and Bai Fendou is also someone else."
Zhuang Zhixi said, "I know that. Honestly, my impression of Bai Fendou is just average, but he came to me for help. Whether it works out or not, I owe him an answer. Besides, that family is really despicable. You see, I still have a sense of justice, don't I?"
Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes at him. Truth be told, if anyone had a stronger sense of justice, it was Zhao Guihua, not her son Zhuang Zhixi. However, the matter with Fan Jianguo was tricky to handle.
They could expose the family for abusing women and children and coveting their wife's dowry, but doing so would inevitably implicate He Lan. Although they hadn't known He Lan for long, Zhao Guihua could tell she was a pitiful girl. She didn't want to drag He Lan into this mess.
Moreover, even if they exposed the matter, the outcome might not be significant. First, there was the issue of evidence. Second, all these actions were carried out by the Fan family, and Fan Jianguo could easily claim ignorance. Given He Lan's questionable background, Fan Jianguo might even gain a good reputation by cutting ties with someone deemed ideologically backward. It could ironically turn into a positive for him. If Fan Jianguo's superiors were protective of him, this matter might not affect him at all and could even work in his favor.
Of course, they could also expose the fact that the Fan family had certain possessions, but the origin of those items would again involve He Lan. No matter how they approached it, He Lan was always at the center of the problem, making it the most challenging aspect. The situation was manageable, but Zhao Guihua wanted He Lan to come out unscathed.
She said, "I need to think about this."
In reality, most people looked down on those with questionable backgrounds. The reason He Lan lived peacefully in the compound was because Bai Fendou's antics were so absurd that everyone was too exasperated with him to pay attention to He Lan. Plus, Bai Fendou always drew attention to himself, making He Lan less noticeable. No one had ever discussed He Lan's situation.
If this were outside the compound, He Lan would have faced discrimination.
Zhao Guihua didn't judge people based on outdated views. She didn't evaluate whether He Lan's family was good or bad, but she could see that He Lan was inexperienced in the ways of the world. Therefore, she had a decent impression of her. She said, "Alright, we need to think more about this. Don't mention it to others... Wait, did you say you saw Fan Jianguo taking a woman to the department store?"
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Yes, I saw it."
He thought carefully and added, "The woman was very close to him."
Zhao Guihua said meaningfully, "Could he be planning to remarry? Maybe they went to the city to buy wedding items?"
It wasn't unreasonable for Zhao Guihua to think this way. Generally, social norms were quite strict at the time, but according to Zhuang Zhixi, they were very intimate. If they dared to act so boldly, they must be planning to marry, right? Otherwise, why would they be so open?
Zhuang Zhixi thought about it and said, "That's possible."
He added, "If they're getting married, that's quite interesting."
Zhuang Zhixi hadn't considered this earlier, but now that he thought about it, he chuckled, "How can someone like him dare to get married again? Isn't he just harming the girl?"
Zhao Guihua said, "He..."
"What are you two whispering about? Keep it down." Old Man Zhuang entered, accompanied by Liang Meifen. Liang Meifen quickly stepped forward and said, "Mom, let me handle it."
She took over the tasks Zhao Guihua was doing.
Zhao Guihua was relieved to let go. She pushed the two children to the doorway, and sure enough, the little ones were delighted. No child disliked going out to play—none! Zhao Guihua pushed the stroller under the eaves, and the two children watched the hens clucking away.
They babbled incoherently, not saying anything intelligible.
Zhao Guihua smiled and coaxed the children, "These are hens. They lay eggs."
Little Tuantuan and Little Yuanyuan, though small, knew what eggs were. Little Yuanyuan started drooling, opening her little mouth wide and saying, "Ah~."
Zhao Guihua couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not giving you eggs to eat. The hens lay eggs, lots of eggs, for you to eat."
The two children began smacking their lips.
Zhao Guihua said, "Good babies! We'll eat eggs tomorrow, okay?"
She poked their chubby little chins and said, "Wait a bit. When your mom comes home, you can eat."
Little Tuantuan made a fuss, babbling loudly, while Little Yuanyuan, not getting what she wanted, pouted her little face and started mumbling, as if she was a little angry. Zhao Guihua couldn't resist poking the little girl again, saying, "You little girl, always thinking about food."
Little Yuanyuan wriggled cutely, giving her grandma a big smile. Zhao Guihua praised her, "So good!"
Little Yuanyuan pointed at the hen, let out a little "ah," smacked her lips, and stretched out her tiny hand, making a grabbing motion. Zhao Guihua laughed, "Do you want to catch it and eat it?"
At the mention of eating, Little Yuanyuan's eyes widened, staring intently at her grandma.
Though the twins were still young, they had a sense of certain words, like "eat," which was very important to them. Her big, watery eyes locked onto her grandma. Zhao Guihua said, "When our Little Yuanyuan grows up, we'll cook a chicken for you, okay?"
Yuanyuan started smacking her lips again.
By this point, Zhao Guihua had completely forgotten about the Fan family matter she had been discussing with her son. Her focus was entirely on her precious Little Yuanyuan. Meanwhile, Little Tuantuan, seeing his grandma paying so much attention to Yuanyuan, started babbling to get her attention.
Zhao Guihua laughed and poked his chubby little arm, saying, "What is it, Tuantuan? Do you want to eat too?"
"Eat what?"
A crisp voice rang out, signaling Ming Mei's return. She pushed her bicycle through the gate, and her two little children, always especially affectionate toward their mother, immediately began babbling and stretching out their arms, like little sparrows eager to flutter onto her. Ming Mei, delighted by their actions, exclaimed, "My babies love me the most!"
Zhao Guihua glanced over, and Ming Mei quickly added, "Of course, they also love Grandma the most. Grandma dotes on them so much!"
She approached with a cheerful grin, pulling a bottle of "Da Youyi" (a popular brand of lotion) from her satchel and handing it to Zhao Guihua. "Mom, this is for you."
Zhao Guihua's bottle on the shelf was nearly empty, and she had been thinking about finding time to buy a new one. She hadn’t expected Ming Mei to bring one. No wonder Liang Meifen often said Ming Mei knew how to flatter—she really was a perceptive young woman.
Zhao Guihua asked, "How much did this cost?"
Ming Mei immediately straightened her expression. "Mom, if you’re going to talk about money, I’ll be hurt. We’re family—why should we keep track of such things? You work so hard taking care of the kids all day. What’s a small gift like this compared to that?"
She nudged Zhao Guihua playfully and continued, "I know how much you’ve been doing, Mom. I know a bottle of lotion isn’t much, but it’s a small token of my appreciation as your daughter-in-law."
Zhao Guihua chuckled. "Alright, I’ll take it then."
Though they were in the courtyard, it was summer, and the doors and windows were wide open. Liang Meifen, who was cooking, could easily see and hear them from where she stood. She thought back to her own past and realized she had never done anything like this. No wonder she wasn’t as well-liked as Ming Mei.
Back then, whatever little money she had was taken by her younger brother. Looking back now, she felt like such a fool. No matter how much she gave, it never earned her that scoundrel’s genuine gratitude.
Why had she even bothered?
She had really lost out.
Still, she wondered how her brother was doing after the beating he had received. Her parents’ home had been thoroughly ransacked by Zhuang Zhiyuan, and many of their belongings had been smashed. She wasn’t sure what the situation was like there now. She pursed her lips, considering whether to go back and check, but after a moment’s thought, she firmly decided against it.
They probably weren’t in any real danger, and she wasn’t about to go back just to be their punching bag. Her parents might be weak when it came to outsiders, but they were experts at taking their frustrations out on their own family.
Liang Meifen was lost in thought when Zhuang Zhixi called out, "Sister-in-law, if you don’t take the food off the stove soon, it’s going to burn."
Liang Meifen snapped out of it. "Oh, right, right."
The last one to return home was Zhuang Zhiyuan, who came in with a spring in his step. As soon as he entered, he announced cheerfully, "Mom, they’re starting to register for housing allocation at my workplace!"
Zhao Guihua was taken aback. "Housing allocation?"
This was happening earlier than she remembered from her previous life.
"Tell us more. What’s going on?"
"Yeah, explain it to us."
The family quickly gathered for dinner, but the main topic of conversation was the housing news. Even Little Tuantuan and Little Yuanyuan, who were usually whisked away, were left at the table, babbling and staring at the food like little gluttons.
Zhuang Zhiyuan didn’t even bother washing his hands before diving into the topic. "As you know, our unit hasn’t allocated housing in years, so many people are really struggling with living space. Everyone’s been pestering the leadership about it, and finally, there’s some good news. Our unit has swapped some properties with another unit, and they’re going to allocate them to employees who’ve been waiting a long time."
Zhao Guihua quickly asked, "Where are these houses located?"
Zhuang Zhixi chimed in, "Mostly around..."
When Zhao Guihua heard the location, she realized it was the same place as in her previous life. Her enthusiasm waned a bit. It sounded good—by modern standards, it was within the second ring road. But as of 2022, the area hadn’t been redeveloped, and there were no private indoor bathrooms. You had to go to the end of the hallway to use the toilet. Sure, it was better than their current hutong, but it couldn’t compare to other apartment buildings.
The buildings were decades old, and anyone with a decent income wouldn’t choose to live there.
Sure, being inside the second ring road was great, but without redevelopment, the place was barely livable. Forget about Zhuang Zhiyuan—even Hutou’s generation might not benefit from it. As locals, they had better options.
"Mom, I’ve checked, and there’s a good chance I’ll get allocated a place. If I do, we can finally improve our living conditions. Just thinking about it makes me so happy. How did we get so lucky?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan had no idea what Zhao Guihua was thinking. He was simply overjoyed.
Zhao Guihua asked, "So you’ve already signed up?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan nodded. "Of course! I think my chances are pretty good. My rank and seniority meet the requirements."
He grew even more excited. "Now it’s just a matter of which floor I get. I’m hoping it’s not too high up. Moving things in the winter would be a hassle otherwise." He often traveled for work, so his wife would have to handle things at home. A lower floor would be more convenient.
He was already thinking about these little details.
Zhao Guihua remained silent, and Old Man Zhuang noticed her lack of enthusiasm. He glanced at her, puzzled. Zhuang Zhiyuan’s potential housing allocation was a big deal, and even Zhuang Zhixi was happy for his brother. Having a place of their own was incredibly important.
Zhuang Zhixi thought the same way. Right now, his children were still young, but as they grew older, they’d need their own space. They couldn’t all stay crammed in one room forever.
The kids might get used to it, but he and his wife certainly wouldn’t. How were they supposed to have any privacy?
So Zhuang Zhixi also thought this was great news. Only Zhao Guihua knew that the allocated housing wasn’t all that great. Perhaps because she didn’t say much, Old Man Zhuang tried to comfort her later that evening when they were alone.
"The kids are growing up, and it’s natural for them to move out. I know you don’t want them to leave, but this is a rare opportunity, and they’re really happy about it. Why do you look so serious?"
Zhao Guihua’s mouth twitched. "It’s not that I don’t want them to leave. It’s just that the housing they’re allocating isn’t that great."
See? He’d misunderstood.
She wasn’t one of those mothers who wanted to keep her children close forever. If they could gain something, she’d be happy for them. It was just that, based on her past life, this housing felt like a consolation prize, which was why she hadn’t said much.
"Even if it’s not the best, it’s still an apartment! It’s better than our courtyard house. I think you’re just reluctant to see them move out and too stubborn to admit it."
Zhao Guihua was speechless.
Stubborn?
She wanted to say that their courtyard house was worth far more. But then she remembered that, at this time, no one wanted to live in courtyard houses. Even in the 1980s, they weren’t popular. It wasn’t until the 1990s that their value became apparent.
Still, in terms of comfort, the apartments were better in the early years.
Zhao Guihua fell silent for a moment, then suddenly relaxed.
Yes, she knew the housing wasn’t great, which was why she felt it wasn’t worth it. But for now, if her son really moved there, it wouldn’t be so bad. Even if it wasn’t a new place, they could live there for a few years and sell it after housing reforms.
In her previous life, they had been too honest, which led to their later struggles.
This time, she had been reborn. How could she not handle such a small matter?
Zhao Guihua suddenly felt a sense of clarity. She asked Old Man Zhuang, "Do you prefer our courtyard house or an apartment?"
Old Man Zhuang thought for a moment. "Apartments are nice, but I love our courtyard house. It’s lively, and living in an apartment feels too detached. The neighbors are too far away. I like the bustling atmosphere here."
Zhao Guihua smiled. "Then let’s stay in our courtyard house and never move."
Old Man Zhuang nodded. "Alright."
Zhao Guihua thought back to her previous life. Back then, they had sold their house, but it had been a mistake. Who could have known how much its value would skyrocket? The reason she had been willing to sell and leave was because Old Man Zhuang had passed away in that courtyard house.
It had been too painful to stay, so she had chosen to move on.
But in this lifetime, she looked up at her husband and said, "We must grow old together. Neither of us can leave the other behind first."
Old Man Zhuang replied, "Alright."
Zhao Guihua added, "I’ll secretly boil an egg for you to nourish yourself."
Old Man Zhuang felt a bit embarrassed and said, "The kids should eat it. I’m already this old..."
Zhao Guihua insisted, "They’ll have plenty of chances to eat eggs. But for us, at our age, we need to take care of ourselves. Especially you—your work is so exhausting."
In his previous life, Old Man Zhuang didn’t have any major illnesses, but he was worn down by overwork and poor nutrition, gradually burning out like a spent candle. During that time, the factory was rushing to meet deadlines, and he worked late into the night every day, only to rush back to work early the next morning.
One day, he came home from work, hurried into the yard, and suddenly collapsed from a brain hemorrhage.
He passed away quickly, without much suffering.
But his sudden departure left his loved ones heartbroken. How could someone so healthy and well leave so abruptly?
If he had been bedridden for a long time, the family might have been mentally prepared. But this was too sudden. Zhao Guihua couldn’t bear the pain. Reflecting on those events, she realized it could have been prevented.
As people age, they shouldn’t push themselves too hard.
In this lifetime, she was determined not to let such a tragedy happen again.
Although their family’s income wasn’t as high as Jiang Lu and Zhou Qun’s, their household undoubtedly ate the best in the entire compound. Zhao Guihua believed that instead of saving money, it was better to spend it on good food to nourish their bodies. She shifted closer to Old Man Zhuang and said, "We can’t keep sacrificing everything for the children and not think about ourselves. We’re each other’s companions in old age."
Old Man Zhuang smiled happily and said, "I understand."
The next morning, during breakfast, Zhao Guihua brought up the topic with Zhuang Zhiyuan, "When you get assigned a house this time, you’ll probably only get one room, right?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan replied, "Normally, I should get around 30 to 40 square meters."
Even in the 1970s, housing in the capital was tight.
Zhao Guihua said, "If the space is too small, let Hutou and Xiao Yanzi stay in the compound, and you and your wife can move into the new place. Of course, if you prefer to take the kids with you, that’s fine too. I don’t mind not babysitting for you."
Zhuang Zhiyuan was immediately delighted, thinking his mother was just being coy, "Thanks, Mom."
He didn’t know what the situation would actually be like, but he was still happy to hear her say that.
He added, "This is just the beginning. We’ll have to wait and see."
Zhao Guihua nodded. House assignments weren’t something that happened overnight.
With such good news, Zhuang Zhiyuan was practically floating as he went about his morning routine, a smile plastered on his face. Liang Meifen shared his joy—she had been waiting for this moment for so long. In contrast, their children, Hutou and Xiao Yanzi, were oblivious to the excitement.
The kids didn’t understand these adult matters. It was summer break, and they were busy running around and playing.
It was Sunday, and the compound was quiet, with most people sleeping in. Zhao Guihua and the others planned to go up the mountain. Ming Mei was thrilled, "I’ll go with you!"
Zhao Guihua glanced at her, "What about the kids?"
Ming Mei replied matter-of-factly, "Zhuang Zhixi can take care of them. It’s the same."
Zhuang Zhixi, who doted on his wife, chimed in, "That’s right. I’ll handle it. If the babies get hungry, I’ll make them formula or steam some eggs."
Zhao Guihua agreed, "Alright then."
Liang Meifen quickly added, "I’ll go too."
She wasn’t about to let Ming Mei take all the credit. As daughters-in-law, they were in competition, and Liang Meifen didn’t want to fall further behind. Her mother-in-law was known to be a bit petty.
Zhao Guihua didn’t mind, but Ming Mei had already put on long sleeves and wrapped her hair in a scarf.
Everyone was stunned.
Ming Mei explained, "I’m fully armed, down to my teeth."
The others: "..."
Zhao Guihua said, "That’s not a bad idea. Getting sunburned would ruin the trip."
"Sunburned? Really?"
"Of course! We’re used to the sun, but young wives like her are different."
"That makes sense."
Soon, they set off. Zhao Guihua rode her own bicycle, while Ming Mei and Liang Meifen shared one. Aunt Wang gave Aunt Sui a ride, and the five women made quite a lively group.
As they rode, Ming Mei remembered last year’s fishing trip. But now, the pond was empty—they had practically fished it dry.
Ming Mei remarked, "It hasn’t rained much this year. If it did, we could’ve picked some mushrooms."
The weather was unpredictable. Last year had been rainy, but this year was dry.
Because of last year’s heavy rains, the canteen had rationed staple foods during the winter. Many people looked thinner, but their compound had been largely unaffected, thanks to Zhao Guihua’s excellent management.
Their family not only hadn’t suffered but had actually eaten better than in previous years.
It just showed how important a good head of the household was.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Ming Mei sighed, "This is my first time coming here this year."
Zhao Guihua replied, "Mine too."
Last year, she had been up the mountain regularly, but this year, with two little ones to care for, it wasn’t until now, in the middle of summer, that she finally had the chance. Still, thinking of her grandchildren, Little Tuantuan and Little Yuanyuan, Zhao Guihua couldn’t help but smile.
There’s something special about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
She thought they were much cuter than her own children had been at that age. Even Hutou and Xiao Yanzi were better than their father had been. It must be because she had raised them.
Zhao Guihua said, "Let’s go up the mountain."
As they climbed, Zhao Guihua noted, "There aren’t many people on the mountain this year."
Ming Mei replied, "It’s too hot."
Even though it was only mid-morning, the heat was already unbearable.
Ming Mei suggested, "Should we check the pond on the mountain? Maybe there are some fish."
"Sure."
Even though they knew it was unlikely, the group’s enthusiasm wasn’t dampened. There were fewer people on the mountain, which meant more wild vegetables to pick. As they walked, they chatted. Aunt Wang, seeing that there were no outsiders around, whispered, "Did you hear? Something big happened in the Yu family."
"The Yu family?"
The others looked at her, confused.
Aunt Wang clarified, "You know, the family of Yu Baoshan, the one who was struck by lightning last year."
Yu Baoshan had died last year, but it felt like a long time ago, and everyone had almost forgotten. The Yu family was well-known in the neighborhood as a poor household. They had many mouths to feed, but only one person had a steady job. The rest worked odd jobs, and the family was constantly bickering. Yu Baoshan had been the favorite son, and his parents had doted on him, causing tension with the rest of the family.
Now that Yu Baoshan was gone, the conflicts among the sisters-in-law had only grown worse.
First, they fought over Yu Baoshan’s job, only to have it taken away. Normally, a formal worker’s job wouldn’t be so easily revoked, but Yu Baoshan had caused so much trouble. He had even tried to harm others before being struck by lightning. His actions were so egregious that his job was forfeited.
Then there was the matter of Yu Baoshan’s room. The family’s housing situation was already tight, with many sons and grandchildren. The sisters-in-law fought fiercely over who would get his room.
Aunt Wang, as the compound manager, was well-informed about the neighborhood. She said, "Sometimes when I go to the neighborhood committee, I run into their manager. He’s been really worried about them."
Zhao Guihua asked, "So what’s the latest news?"
Aunt Wang replied, "Rumors are spreading in their compound that Yu Laosan’s wife and Yu Laosi are having an affair. Yesterday, they even got into a fight over it."
"Wow!"
That kind of gossip was certainly scandalous.
Ming Mei suddenly recalled the incident she encountered in the restroom the other night.
Could it be the Yu family?
Aunt Wang said, "Yu Laosan and Yu Laosi are twins, and they look alike. The Yu family isn't well-off, so it's hard for them to find partners. Yu Laosi is quite picky and has remained single. Truth be told, no one wants to marry into their family since there's no place to live even if they did. The brother and sister-in-law got involved with each other, and at first, no one knew about it. After all, they look alike, and it's normal for family members to swap clothes. So, people often saw Yu Laosan and his wife being all lovey-dovey, but then they'd also hear them fighting loudly at home. Back then, people used to say that the couple was sweet when they were happy but ruthless when they fought. But who would've thought that the sweet one wasn't Yu Laosan at all? It was actually Yu Laosi. Outsiders couldn't tell at a glance, but Yu Laosan knew the truth. He knew whether he had been affectionate with his wife outside or not. That's why they ended up fighting at home."
Ming Mei: "..."
No doubt about it, the two people she encountered the other night were definitely them.
She wondered why they weren't at home but in the restroom. Now she understood—they dared to be loud and unrestrained because no one could tell them apart.
Aunt Wang continued, "They would fight behind closed doors, but since we all live in the same compound, everyone could hear them. In fact, everyone knows about it now."
Zhao Guihua clicked her tongue, "Tsk!"
The others also gasped in shock.
Liang Meifen grimaced, "What's she even after?" Even if it was for the thrill of something new, they look exactly the same, so there's nothing new about it. It's just baffling.
Ming Mei was equally confused and nodded in agreement, "It's really baffling!"
Zhao Guihua said, "...Well, it's not entirely unexpected."
"Not unexpected?"
Zhao Guihua replied, "If you live long enough, you'll see all sorts of things."
Everyone laughed, and Aunt Wang teased, "You make it sound like you've lived for centuries."
She joked for a moment, then remembered something else and said, "The old couple in the Yu family isn't exactly virtuous either. They've been badmouthing your family behind your back."
Zhao Guihua frowned, "Our family? Why would they talk about us? We're not even close."
Aunt Wang explained, "Their son, Yu Baoshan, was struck by lightning while chasing your son, Zhuang Zhixi. They blame your family for it."
It's true that strange things happen every year, but this year seems especially full of them. There are even people who are this unreasonable. Aunt Wang added, "When Yu Baoshan first died, his family didn't dare to make a fuss because his death was undignified. But now that some time has passed and the incident has faded, Old Lady Yu has slowly recovered. She's been saying in the compound that her son Yu Baoshan was killed by your Zhuang Zhixi. If Zhuang Zhixi hadn't run onto the wall, her son wouldn't have been electrocuted and struck by lightning."
Aunt Wang wasn't just gossiping; she wanted Zhao Guihua to be aware of the situation.
People who talk behind others' backs might do anything.
After all, everyone knows that Old Yu and his wife doted on their youngest son, Yu Baoshan.
"Just be careful, that's all."
Hearing this, everyone became serious.
Ming Mei hadn't expected that the gossip she was listening to would end up involving her own family.
She sneered and said, "That family really has no shame. Are we supposed to stand there and let them harm us? Not even allowed to run? What kind of logic is that? If they keep badmouthing our family, I'll go straight to their door and ask them if they think they can bully us like this. Who was in the wrong back then? Do we even need to spell it out? We haven't even gone after them, and now they want to come after us? Do they think I'm an easy target?"
Ming Mei wasn't the type to hold back.
Aunt Wang said, "Their nonsense doesn't hold any weight. Everyone knows the truth, and no one listens to them. But it's still wise to be cautious. Who knows what that old woman might do if she goes crazy?"
Zhao Guihua fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, "You're right. My kids are still young, so we really need to be careful. But if she dares to say anything again, I'll definitely confront her. I can't let her twist the truth indefinitely. Over time, some people with muddled minds might start believing her and think we're guilty of something."
Zhao Guihua wasn't the type to suffer in silence, and she certainly wouldn't let her son endure such injustice.
In her past life, her third son had been wrongfully accused once, and she didn't want him to go through that again in this life. Of course, her son had a strong mind and wouldn't be too affected by it, but as a mother, she couldn't stand to see him suffer.
Others might think of reincarnation as trendy and modern, and while she was part of that trend, she was still a person of the 2020s. No matter how modern she was, some things were deeply ingrained in her.
She said, "She'd better not try to mess with my family."
"Just keep an eye out."
"I know what to do."
Liang Meifen chimed in, "That family has enough problems of their own. If they dare to scheme against others, they shouldn't think everyone is a pushover."
Aunt Wang added, "The rest of the Yu family doesn't care much about Yu Baoshan's affairs. Besides, Yu Baoshan was struck by lightning while trying to harm someone—everyone says it was retribution. His brothers weren't particularly close to him, and after his death, they only grew more resentful of him. It's only the old couple who still harbor bitterness."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Zhao Guihua said, "Even if they have ill intentions, they don't have the time to act on them now. Their family is in complete disarray."
"That's true."
As they chatted about this and that, they didn't stop picking vegetables. Ming Mei, on the other hand, was thinking that she needed to tell her husband about this as soon as she got home. It's not the thief you need to fear, but the thief who's always watching. Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixi was at home taking care of their children. The two little ones seemed to know their dad was in charge and were acting up.
Little Yuanyuan was whining, and while the two toddlers weren't big criers, they weren't exactly calm either. As soon as Yuanyuan started fussing, Little Tuantuan got anxious, flailing his little arms and legs.
Seeing them whine, Zhuang Zhixi decided to make them some milk. The two little ones clung to their bottles, gulping down the milk noisily.
Zhuang Zhixi muttered, "Didn't you just eat this morning? How are you already hungry again?"
Xiao Yanzi came over and chirped, "Uncle, babies need to eat several times a day. They'll need an egg later too."
As she said this, she swallowed hard, but she knew there wasn't any for her. She got half an egg every morning, and she'd already eaten hers. The little girl giggled and ran off after her brother.
Bai Fendou pushed his daughter, Qingqing, over, and they all gathered together.
He Lan took advantage of Bai Fendou watching the kids to tidy up the house and do the laundry. He Lan used to be clueless about household chores, but years of marriage had taught her everything. She diligently washed the clothes.
Bai Fendou, who used to be a slob, was now clean and tidy.
It had to be said that He Lan was lucky to have Bai Fendou, and Bai Fendou was equally lucky to have He Lan.
Bai Fendou watched his wife washing clothes intently and let out a chuckle. He never knew marriage could be this good. Coming home to a warm meal every day and having someone do his laundry—though Bai Fendou wasn't lazy either. He'd even gone fishing recently to make sure He Lan got some nourishment.
He gazed at his wife adoringly and said, "She's the prettiest and hardest-working woman in our compound."
Zhuang Zhixi rolled his eyes and retorted, "No way, my wife is."
"She is."
"No, she is."
The two of them started arguing. Zhuang Zhiyuan, who had just stepped out, overheard this childish debate and decided to retreat back inside.
Old Man Zhuang called out to him, "Let's go fishing."
Zhuang Zhiyuan replied, "Sure."
Father and son didn't waste any time and headed out.
Bai Fendou cackled, "So you're a full-time babysitter now, huh?"
Zhuang Zhixi shot him a cold look.
Bai Fendou added, "Oh, by the way, did you ask your mom for me?"
When it came to this matter, Zhuang Zhixi also became serious. He spoke earnestly, "I did ask, but it's really not easy to handle. We can't think of a good solution right now. There are definitely ways, but I’m afraid it might involve your family, especially He Lan. After all, we can’t ruin the stable life we’ve just built just for revenge, right? Don’t you agree?"
Bai Fendou nodded, "That’s true."
He sighed with melancholy. Why was revenge so difficult?
Zhuang Zhixi speculated, "I think Fan Jianguo might be planning to remarry. Think about it, why else would he travel all the way to the city to buy things if it weren’t for wedding preparations? Their town has everything they need."
Their village wasn’t like Wang Zizhen’s, which was deep in the mountains. It was close to the city, so the town had plenty of supplies. Unless it was absolutely necessary, there was no reason to come all the way here. Hearing this, Bai Fendou grew even angrier. "What kind of person is he to deserve remarriage? His character is terrible! Marrying someone would just ruin that poor girl’s life. She probably has no idea what kind of family she’s marrying into. I should go and find out, then tell her the truth."
Zhuang Zhixi scoffed, "Do you think she’ll listen to you or Fan Jianguo? You’re a stranger, and he’s the man she likes. It’s completely different."
"What should I do then?"
Zhuang Zhixi teased, "Even if you go and badmouth Fan Jianguo, she might just think you’re jealous. Plus, look at your reputation—falling into a toilet, having questionable relationships with men, getting your... uh, injured, and getting involved with widows. With a reputation like that, why would anyone believe you?"
He wasn’t afraid of upsetting Bai Fendou. After all, Bai Fendou had done all those things himself.
But as soon as Zhuang Zhixi finished speaking, he noticed Bai Fendou staring blankly.
"What’s wrong?"
Bai Fendou swallowed hard and said, "What if... I make Fan Jianguo fall into a toilet too?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "..."
Bai Fendou continued, "I could also... you know, kick him where it hurts."
Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed, "Whoa! Don’t go kicking anyone! Your skills are only good for dealing with people like Chen Yuan and Zhou Qun. Who else can you handle?"
"What about kicking him into the toilet?"
Zhuang Zhixi was utterly speechless. "How are you going to do that? Even if you do something sneaky, you can’t let anyone see it’s you! Fan Jianguo was a soldier. He’s got his guard up. Calm down and think carefully. But from the perspective of ruining Fan Jianguo’s reputation, your idea isn’t entirely wrong."
Bai Fendou’s eyes lit up. "It’s not wrong? Then help me refine it. Even if I can’t deal with him right away, I still want to vent my anger."
Zhuang Zhixi suggested, "I think you should gather more detailed information about him. The whole remarriage thing is just speculation. You need to confirm it first."
Bai Fendou said, "I’ll ask Yang Lixin."
"Yang Lixin won’t be of any help. He hasn’t been back to his hometown since he left last time. He probably doesn’t know anything. If you really want to find out, don’t rely on others. The fewer people who know, the better. You should disguise yourself and go to his village to investigate. Once you have the facts, we can plan the next step."
Bai Fendou nodded vigorously.
He thought Zhuang Zhixi’s advice made sense and immediately decided to disguise himself and go check it out. He was the type of person who acted on impulse.
He said, "If he’s planning to remarry, that makes sense. Back then, he wanted to drive He Lan away because he was flirting with some leader’s daughter. He Lan overheard it, but she didn’t catch all the details. Still, remarriage is highly likely. I want to ruin his plans and expose his true nature later."
Zhuang Zhixi joked, "You could disguise yourself as an old woman. If anyone asks, just say you’re Fan Jianguo’s mistress, a widow who’s been with him for years. It’ll definitely disgust people. You’ll only go once, and if you don’t dress up, no one will recognize you. If you dress as a woman, at most they’ll think you’re an ugly lady."
"That’s a great idea!" Bai Fendou exclaimed, looking at Zhuang Zhixi with admiration. "You’re such a cunning strategist."
Zhuang Zhixi retorted, "Get out of here."
Bai Fendou grinned, "Don’t be mad. It’s my fault. I apologize. Tell me more."
Zhuang Zhixi was too lazy to argue. If it weren’t for his disdain for Fan Jianguo’s despicable behavior, he wouldn’t have gotten involved.
He said, "Your story won’t hold up. Fan Jianguo definitely knows he hasn’t been involved with any ugly widows. But your goal isn’t to spread this story far and wide. It’s to find out if he’s really planning to remarry and to learn more about his family. The mistress story is just an excuse. Don’t go into too much detail, or you’ll give yourself away. If you gather enough information this time, you might even be able to use this disguise again in the future."
Bai Fendou nodded eagerly, "Got it."
Zhuang Zhixi added, "Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like this plan. If you go around spreading rumors, it could really mess up his marriage."
He was starting to see the potential in the idea.
Zhuang Zhixi continued, "Fan Jianguo has been in the military for four or five years. Some people might not believe you, but if anyone presses you, just say you’ve been together for six or seven years. Every time he came back, you two would meet. But remember, don’t go into too much detail. If anyone tries to corner you, make a quick escape."
Bai Fendou assured him, "I understand."
He was quite excited and said, "I’ll go right away."
Zhuang Zhixi advised, "Wear some colorful clothes and really get into character. Don’t give yourself away. Stuff your chest with some buns or something."
Bai Fendou agreed, "Alright."
He asked, "Help me think of how to dress better."
Zhuang Zhixi suggested, "Wear a skirt. You’re tall, so you don’t look like a woman, but a skirt will make people assume you’re female at first glance."
"That works."
Zhuang Zhixi gave him a few more tips, and Bai Fendou excitedly headed home, pushing his child’s stroller.
Both of them knew that this plan wouldn’t immediately shake the Fan family, but since they were planning a wedding, it was a good opportunity to cause some trouble. If they could ruin the marriage, even better.
If not, they could take their time and chip away at it slowly.
After all, revenge is a dish best served cold.
As Zhuang Zhixi thought about this, he shook his head and smiled. He was getting more and more involved in other people’s business. He must have too much free time. He poked the chubby cheeks of his two babies and said, "Our adorable Little Tuantuan and Little Yuanyuan, do you think Daddy is the most meddlesome person ever?"
The babies had no idea what he was saying, but they waved their little hands and babbled. Zhuang Zhixi laughed and said, "You’re saying Daddy isn’t wrong if he’s doing good deeds. You really understand Daddy."
He took out a rattle and shook it, making the babies giggle. Zhuang Zhixi kissed them and said, "I wonder if your mom has had any big discoveries in the mountains."
He always felt that whenever Ming Mei went to the mountains, it was like walking through her own backyard. She always came back with something new, as if she were the luckiest person alive. And as it turned out, Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t wrong. Ming Mei was indeed stunned at that moment.
But it wasn’t the stunned expression of joy. It was shock.
Who would have thought they’d encounter a wild boar?
Yes, that’s right—a wild boar.
A ferocious wild boar. Wild boars weren’t something ordinary people could handle. Although they had seen someone deal with a wild boar last year, that person had a gun. They didn’t have one. It was pure coincidence. Ming Mei and her group had gone up the mountain to check if there were any fish in the pond, but instead, they ran into a wild boar coming to drink water.
Liang Meifen screamed in terror.
Encountering such a fierce animal in the mountains was definitely not a good thing. Don’t think for a second that wild boars aren’t dangerous—they’re nothing like the domesticated ones. They’re incredibly ferocious. The look on their faces isn’t one of friendliness; it’s the look of a wild boar eyeing its next meal.
Liang Meifen’s voice startled the boar, and the group quickly scattered.
Though they were all ordinary people in their daily lives, when it came to life-or-death situations, they could climb trees like lightning. Truly, when faced with a threat, people can tap into hidden potential. In no time, everyone was up in the trees, clinging tightly to the branches, hardly daring to breathe, and unsure how they’d even managed to climb up in the first place.
The wild boar lingered beneath the trees, refusing to leave.
This boar was a clever one. It didn’t budge and instead began ramming into the trees, one after another. It didn’t matter which tree it hit; the sound alone was enough to make everyone cling tighter to the branches, on the verge of tears.
They hadn’t all climbed the same tree, of course. The boar had chosen the thinnest one, proving just how cunning mountain animals could be. It had targeted Ming Mei’s tree.
The boar kept ramming the tree, over and over.
Zhao Guihua shouted, “Ming Mei, be careful! Hold on tight, don’t let go!”
Liang Meifen also cried out, “Be careful! Stay safe!”
“Don’t let go!”
Their voices overlapped, creating a chorus of panic.
The boar only seemed to ram the tree harder.
Ming Mei snapped, “All of you, shut up!”
Clutching the tree trunk, she felt it swaying violently. Taking a deep breath, she glared down at the boar and shouted, “If you keep ramming this tree, I’m coming down there to deal with you myself!”
If she fell, it would be dangerous. But if she took the initiative, there might be a chance of success. After all, she wasn’t some helpless damsel. She took another deep breath, eyeing the distance to another tree she’d chosen as her next target. Gripping her kitchen knife—since she was the most capable fighter, she usually carried it when going up the mountain—she steeled herself.
“I’m going down to take care of it. Don’t scream and distract me!” she declared.
Zhao Guihua pleaded, “Don’t! It’s too dangerous…”
“Quiet!” Ming Mei barked.
Tightening her grip on the knife, she suddenly leaped down, slashing at the boar’s neck. The blade struck, but the boar’s thick hide barely registered the blow. She quickly pulled back the knife and bolted.
The boar let out a roar and charged at her.
Ming Mei wasn’t reckless. She darted forward, swiftly climbing another tree. The boar followed, slamming into the trunk with a loud thud.
Though her initial strike hadn’t done much, the boar’s repeated ramming seemed to be taking a toll. It staggered slightly, looking a bit dazed. Ming Mei glanced down, then leaped again, delivering another slash. This time, the knife bit deeper.
The boar roared again, and Ming Mei retreated once more.
Her agility was impressive—most people couldn’t move as quickly as she did. She scrambled up another tree, feeling the boar’s strength waning. A small smirk tugged at her lips. She took a deep breath, planning to repeat the process a few more times. Even if the boar didn’t die from her attacks, it would likely exhaust itself.
She gathered her courage, ready to take on the boar for the third time.
Just then, someone shouted, “Careful! Don’t move!”
Ming Mei looked up to see several figures rushing toward them, dressed in military green uniforms. They were clearly soldiers from the nearby base. One of them was carrying a rifle.
The soldier quickly raised his weapon and took aim.
Ming Mei muttered, “Well, that’s a relief.”
Her heart settled as she watched.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three loud shots rang out, and the boar collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Ming Mei sighed, “Impressive.”
The soldiers arrived shortly after, looking up at the trees. “Comrades, are you all okay?” one of them asked.
Another soldier, however, looked shocked. “Ming Mei? What are you doing here?”
