Zhao Guihua never expected that she would have to listen to Su Jinlai pour out his heart.
To be honest, whether in her past life or this one, this guy had always been somewhat of a troublemaker, and Zhao Guihua had never held him in high regard. But he was crying so pitifully, tears streaming down his face, looking utterly miserable.
Zhao Guihua struggled to comfort him, saying, “Stop crying. There’s no hurdle in life that can’t be overcome.”
Su Jinlai rubbed his eyes, his voice choked with tears: “I almost lost my innocence! I know a handsome guy like me is bound to attract attention, but she shouldn’t have arranged for a man to be with me. What about my masculinity? It’s bad enough she arranged for a man, but she even arranged for a couple! Oh, right, it was a couple! Wuwuwu, it’s so terrifying! Rich people really know how to play. How could they do this?”
Su Jinlai broke down again. Life was full of such moments, and Su Jinlai felt like life was just too cruel.
He covered his face, tears streaming down as he looked up at the sky: “Is this what I’m destined to face just because I’m good-looking? This world is so hostile to handsome young men like me, wuwuwu!”
Zhao Guihua handed him a handkerchief, saying, “Wipe your tears.”
Su Jinlai: “Beauty is fleeting!”
Zhao Guihua couldn’t hold back any longer, her lips twitching as she said, “Your grasp of language is really poor. Even an old lady like me, who hasn’t had much education, knows that ‘beauty is fleeting’ doesn’t apply to you!”
Su Jinlai: “Am I not good-looking?”
Zhao Guihua: “It’s not about whether you’re good-looking or not. You’re just using the phrase wrong. Oh, never mind, why am I even talking to you about this? Don’t overthink it. I get that you feel wronged, but think about it—that person didn’t chase after you. Maybe it wasn’t about forcing you into anything. It could just be a misunderstanding. They thought you were there for one thing, but you weren’t.”
Su Jinlai sniffled: “I was there for that thing.”
Somehow, the two of them managed to understand each other despite the vague wording.
Zhao Guihua: “…What I mean is, you thought it was a woman, but they thought it was mutual. That’s where the misunderstanding came from.”
Su Jinlai: “So what should I do now?”
After wallowing in self-pity, he finally remembered the main issue: “My aunt will never let this slide. She gave me a thousand yuan in advance.”
Zhao Guihua: “…”
Damn, this kid’s expensive.
No wonder it was a couple.
She said, “Then just return the money and apologize properly. Do you think she’s going to eat you? I’ve had some dealings with Hu Huihui before. She’s not the easiest person to talk to, but you’re still family. She’s not going to kill you.”
Su Jinlai stammered: “Return the money…”
Zhao Guihua shot him a look: “Don’t tell me you don’t want to return the money? Do you think that’s possible? Do you really think you can get away with this? Either you go through with it, or you return the money and apologize. You can’t have it both ways. Do you think Hu Huihui will just let it slide? Sure, you’re family, but that doesn’t mean she’ll let you off the hook unconditionally. You’re lucky if she doesn’t slap you a few times. A thousand yuan! Do you think that’s pocket change? Stop dreaming and return the money. Are you really going to risk your life for money like a rat serving a cat?”
Su Jinlai: “…”
He pouted: “Why am I the rat?”
Zhao Guihua: “Figure it out yourself. Honestly, chatting with you is taking up my own time.”
Su Jinlai looked at her pitifully: “Are you still going to set up your stall?”
Zhao Guihua: “Of course! I’m busy, unlike you. You’re so lazy, it’s like you can’t even move your own butt. Don’t underestimate me just because I’m an old lady. I earn my money through hard work.”
She glanced at him and added, “Your brother has to work and set up his stall. He’s so busy, and here you are, doing nothing. Aren’t you ashamed?”
After mocking him, she didn’t say anything more and left.
Did Su Jinlai listen to her? Yes.
But did he want to change? No.
He knew he was a bit lazy, but wasn’t laziness just human nature? He silently returned to his room, covered himself with a blanket, and started crying again. Life was just too hard. Was there any job where he could earn a lot of money without doing any work?
Preferably one where he didn’t even have to go to work.
He wanted that!
Although Zhao Guihua told Su Jinlai to return the money and apologize, Su Jinlai really didn’t want to part with it. His mother had already taken all his money, and he didn’t have a single penny to his name. A thousand yuan was a lot.
He clenched the money, unwilling to give it back.
Maybe he could just bluff his way out of it?
That’s what he thought.
However, Su Jinlai’s plan wasn’t foolproof. Not everyone was as easygoing as he thought. Hu Huihui might seem reasonable, but she wouldn’t tolerate anyone messing with her interests. Su Jinlai had almost offended her clients, which was a huge no-no.
Not only had he offended the clients, but he also acted like nothing had happened, neither returning the money nor apologizing. Hu Huihui’s anger grew by the minute. She had to put on a smile when dealing with Mr. Li and his wife, but as soon as she got back, she exploded.
She kicked over a chair in her office, shouting, “That useless piece of trash! He’s good for nothing! He can’t even handle a simple task. He’s worse than a dog! I’ve been too nice to him, and now he thinks he can take advantage of me, Hu Huihui. Damn it! I’m not letting him off the hook this time!”
Old Zheng, Hu Huihui’s husband, saw how angry she was and said, “I told you to hire someone else. You could’ve found a decent guy for half the price. Why did you have to go with him? We’re not even taking a cut from him anymore, and now he’s causing us trouble. See? This is what happens when you hire family.”
Hu Huihui was beyond frustrated: “Shut up! In business, integrity is key. If they’re looking for a big shot and you hire someone else who gets exposed, who’s going to trust us? We’re selling fake goods, but the people can’t be fake. If you cut corners on the small stuff, don’t expect people to trust you with the big things.”
“What about the cut…” Old Zheng tried to interject, but Hu Huihui cut him off: “You used to be a deputy director. Can’t you stop being so petty? You’re focusing on the wrong things. In business, you have to prioritize. If you nitpick over every little thing, how are you going to make big deals?”
She was growing more and more dissatisfied with this man. If it weren’t for the fact that he still had some use, she would’ve divorced him already. After all, society wasn’t kind to divorced women, and having him around helped shield her from some of the criticism.
She said, “None of that matters right now. What’s important is that Su Jinlai dared to mess up my plans. Round up a few people and come with me to teach him a lesson. Otherwise, he’ll think I’m easy to push around.”
“Alright.”
Since Old Zheng and Hu Huihui started their business together, their dynamic had shifted. Hu Huihui was now the one in charge at home. After all, she was younger and made more money. She was far more capable than this man.
Old Zheng: “I’ll get some people ready. By the way, is the replacement for Mr. Li suitable?”
Hu Huihui: “Yes, Mr. Li actually took a liking to Su Jinlai and even offered to pay more. I turned it down. Damn it, even though this kid messed up, Mr. Li’s impression of him isn’t bad. Rich people have such strange tastes.”
This left Old Zheng baffled: “Mr. Li and his wife aren’t upset?”
Hu Huihui shook her head: “No, they actually think Su Jinlai is quite endearing. They found him innocent and naive, and he left a deep impression on them. I can’t believe it…” The thought made her teeth ache. Hu Huihui continued, “They were willing to pay more, but I refused. I thought about it—if Su Jinlai could mess up once, he could do it again. I can’t take that risk, so I sent Xiao Zhu instead. Xiao Zhu might not be as good-looking or famous as Su Jinlai, but he knows how to handle things. He’s not bad.”
Old Zheng: “I really can’t figure out how rich people think.”
Hu Huihui: “Neither can I. If I could, I’d be rich too. Anyway, I’m going to deal with Su Jinlai.”
Old Zheng was actually a bit puzzled. He said, "Since Mr. Li and his wife didn’t blame Su Jinlai, why are you…"
Hu Huihui sneered and replied, "No matter what Mr. Li and his wife think, if I let this slide today and don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll only push his luck even further in the future. I’ve spoiled him too much! Besides, if I don’t deal with him, what will people think of me? How can I keep my reputation? This little brat dared to undermine me, and I’ll make sure he knows the consequences."
Su Jinlai had no idea that Hu Huihui was coming for him. After a night’s rest, seeing that Hu Huihui hadn’t shown up, he felt relieved. Although Zhao Guihua had warned him the day before, he had mostly forgotten about it after waking up.
In fact, he felt a bit smug, convinced that his judgment had been right all along.
He slept until almost noon before getting up and went to the courtyard to wash up. The courtyard was quieter than usual, with fewer people around. As he brushed his teeth, Su Jinlai muttered to himself, "They say experience comes with age, but I don’t think that’s true. Older people are just outdated. Aunt Zhao kept talking about paying back the money, but hey, I’m doing just fine without paying it back. I don’t believe Hu Huihui would have the nerve to demand money from someone younger like me."
He spat out the mouthwash and whistled, feeling pleased with himself for pocketing a thousand yuan without lifting a finger. Meanwhile, his friends were sweating it out at their stalls, unsure if they’d even make that much.
"They’re just too timid. Making money isn’t that hard! The only pity is the pair of leather shoes I ruined yesterday. Hu Huihui should compensate me for that. If she hadn’t arranged for that man to show up, I wouldn’t have been so scared and run off."
Having calmed his fears, Su Jinlai became even more emboldened, feeling like he was the one who had been wronged. He thought Hu Huihui shouldn’t just let him off the hook—she should even compensate him.
"If she doesn’t buy me a new pair of leather shoes, I won’t give her a single nice word," he muttered.
"Who won’t you give a nice word to?"
Su Jinlai was startled to see Hu Huihui standing at the gate. He quickly straightened up, tilting his chin slightly and said, "You dare to show up?"
Hu Huihui: "???"
How could he have the audacity to say that?
If the situation were reversed, it would make sense for her to say that, but this guy? She twitched her lips, her anger growing as she glared at Su Jinlai. "You caused me trouble, and now you’re yelling at me?"
Su Jinlai froze, his courage faltering. Despite all his self-assurance, seeing Hu Huihui in person made him shrink. He forced a careful smile and stammered, "Well…"
Hu Huihui cut him off, "Well what? Come inside."
She strode into the Su household. Although she wanted to teach Su Jinlai a lesson, she didn’t want to make a scene in public. She had learned that even if you’re going to lose face, you don’t do it in front of a crowd.
Only then did Su Jinlai notice that Hu Huihui had brought four burly men with her—the kind who could knock out a cow with one punch. He immediately cowered, shrinking his neck and whimpering, "Auntie…"
As soon as they stepped inside, Hu Huihui slapped him hard across the face—*smack*—the sound echoing sharply.
Su Jinlai, already shaky, stumbled from the force.
Hu Huihui followed up with another slap, even harder than the first. She scolded, "You little brat, who do you think you’re messing with? Do you think I’m some pushover? We had an agreement, and you backed out at the last minute, making me look bad. What, you think I’m made of clay? You think you can just take my money and get away with it? Let me tell you, I’m not someone to be trifled with. Do you believe I’ll throw you into the moat?"
Su Jinlai’s head was spinning. This was the first time he had seen Hu Huihui so fierce. In his memory, she was either the timid woman who had lived under someone else’s roof ten years ago or the soft-spoken woman who had encouraged him to make money. He had never seen this side of her—slapping him relentlessly, her face dark with anger, her words cutting like a knife.
"I-I-I didn’t mean to, I didn’t know…"
"You didn’t know? I asked you if you understood, and you kept saying you did. You brainless idiot! If you didn’t get it, you should’ve said so instead of pretending to be so capable. And what are you even good for? Huh? What can you do? You’re useless at everything, always eating more than your share. The only thing you’re good at is running your mouth, and now you’ve screwed me over. I’ve been too lenient with you, haven’t I? Go ask around and see who I am. If you dare to cross me again, you’re asking for trouble!"
She slapped him again, then pinched his arm. "You’re dumber than a pig, I swear. You think you can take my money and not deliver? Do you think my money is easy to take?"
Su Jinlai winced in pain, tears streaming down his face. "I-I didn’t mean to, I’ll give it back. I was planning to return the money to you."
"You’re lying! Do you think I didn’t hear you earlier? You wanted to keep my money for free!"
She pinched him harder, and Su Jinlai cried out, "Ow! Oh my god! Auntie, I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I’ll never do it again."
Finally, Su Jinlai remembered to beg for mercy. If he didn’t, he might not make it out alive. This woman hit hard. He sobbed pitifully, "Auntie, I’m really sorry. I’ll return the money! I’ll do better in the future, I promise. I swear I’ll make it up to you."
He was so overwhelmed with pain that his words were becoming incoherent.
"As long as I don’t have to deal with male clients, I’ll do anything! I’ll charm all the ladies, just like you said you liked. I’ll learn from Tonglai and make sure everyone feels like they’re basking in the warmth of my words. Please, just let me go."
Hu Huihui narrowed her eyes. "Do you mean it?"
"Yes, I swear! It’s as true as pearls!"
Su Jinlai didn’t dare lie. His aunt was already terrifying, and with four burly men standing at the door, he was too scared to say anything wrong. Those men looked like they could crush him with their bare hands—their arms were as thick as his thighs.
He insisted, "I promise, I’ll never let you down again."
Hu Huihui finally let go, seeing him thoroughly beaten and humiliated. Su Jinlai quickly scrambled to the farthest corner of the room, keeping his distance. Hu Huihui snorted coldly and said, "Where’s the money?"
At this point, Su Jinlai wasn’t about to cling to the money. His life was more important!
If his aunt went crazy and ordered those men to do something to him, what would he do? He didn’t dare think Hu Huihui was incapable of it. Her gaze was terrifying, like a devil’s.
He stammered, "I-I’ll get it for you."
He quickly fetched the money and handed it over with trembling hands. "It’s a thousand yuan. I haven’t spent a single cent."
Hu Huihui glared. "You wanted to spend it?"
"No, no, I didn’t."
Su Jinlai quickly retreated to the far corner of the room, keeping a safe distance.
Hu Huihui snorted again and pocketed the money.
She pointed at Su Jinlai and said, "This is your first mistake. I’ll let it go because you’re my nephew, but if you ever pull something like this again, I’ll wring your neck!"
Su Jinlai didn’t dare argue. He hung his head, shrinking into a ball, looking utterly pitiful.
Hu Huihui gave a final snort and left. As she stepped out, she saw He Lan peeking around the corner. He Lan and Hu Huihui didn’t know each other—He Lan had married into the courtyard after Hu Huihui had moved out. But they had both heard about each other.
In He Lan's impression, Hu Huihui was a useless little housewife, someone who would even marry a man like Bai Fendou just for a stable life, showing no backbone at all.
In Hu Huihui's eyes, however, He Lan was far more intimidating. Hu Huihui had worked in the revolutionary committee, and He Lan was most afraid of people like her. On top of that, Hu Huihui was now acting as a matchmaker for Su Jinlai, making her a woman who was not to be trifled with.
He Lan quietly took a few steps back. Seeing her turtle-like retreat, Hu Huihui scoffed with disdain.
She ignored He Lan and walked away with her entourage. As soon as they left, He Lan heard ear-splitting wails coming from the Su household. Concerned, He Lan went to the Su family's door and asked, "Are you okay?"
Su Jinlai was covering his face, howling in tears, but he didn't dare to badmouth Hu Huihui anymore. She was too fierce, almost like a man-eater. How could he dare to say anything?
He shook his head and said, "Aunt He, I'm fine."
He spoke between sobs.
He Lan asked, "Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine!"
Su Jinlai covered his face. Even if something was wrong, he wouldn't dare to say it.
His bad luck clearly hadn't left him; it was still there, lingering. He couldn't hold it in anymore and looked up at He Lan, asking, "Aunt He, do you know of any particularly effective temples around here?"
He Lan widened her eyes, "What are you talking about?"
Su Jinlai said, "I think I need to go pray. I've been having a streak of bad luck lately. It's time to turn things around."
He was resolute.
He Lan was at a loss for words.
She said, "I don't know anything about that."
Su Jinlai pressed, "Then who do you think would know?"
He Lan thought for a moment. She had been married into the neighborhood for over a decade and had never seen anyone from their compound go to pray. After some hesitation, she finally thought of someone who would definitely know. She quickly said, "Auntie Lian from the back street. She would know for sure."
Auntie Lian was deeply involved in superstitious practices herself.
Her business covered all sorts of areas. Although no one in the neighborhood ever went to her for fortune-telling, they did engage in other transactions with her, like buying chicks or fabric scraps. They used to have quite a bit of interaction.
"That's right, Auntie Lian has a wide network and is into this stuff herself. If you're curious, go ask her."
Su Jinlai nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, I need to go find Auntie Lian."
He dashed out in a flash, running as fast as he could.
He Lan watched him go, clicking her tongue. "He's been beaten to a pulp. Hu Huihui is truly terrifying."
She watched him leave, shook her head, and turned to go home.
"He Lan, is He Lan here?"
He Lan hurried out, "I'm here!"
It was the postman. He said, "There's a package for you. Please sign for it."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome."
He Lan took the delivery slip and didn't waste any time. She hopped on her tricycle and headed to the post office. Their little supply team consisted of three elderly women who often forgot how to write characters. Wang Zizhen could barely read, but she hadn't attended school and didn't know many characters.
And since Su Jinlai was a man, it wasn't appropriate for him to handle these tasks.
So the responsibility of communication fell to He Lan.
He Lan rode her tricycle to the post office and quickly retrieved the package. Having a tricycle at home made things much more convenient. She returned home swiftly, but none of the elderly women were around. Aunt Zhou seemed to have some business and had left early.
Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhou had recently become obsessed with going door-to-door to boast about their achievements, so they weren't home either.
He Lan opened the package and called out to the backyard, "Zheng Huimin, are you there?"
Zheng Huimin rushed out, "What's up?"
He Lan said, "The goods are here. Come and get them."
Zheng Huimin's eyes lit up, "Great!"
She hurried over. The 200 yuan she used to buy the goods was borrowed from Guan Hong, but she had promised to pay back 210 yuan when the time came. Zheng Huimin wasn't a particularly generous person, but she knew that Guan Hong lending her so much money was already a big deal.
She had to show some gratitude. Otherwise, it would be heartless.
She ran over to He Lan, and her eyes immediately locked onto the goods. "These hair accessories are so pretty!"
He Lan nodded enthusiastically. Women, after all, love beauty, and He Lan was no exception. She looked at the hair accessories with great fondness, "They really are beautiful, and there are so many styles."
It wasn't that the south was more developed than the capital, but rather the social environment played a role.
In the capital, everything was state-owned, so there was no incentive to develop a wide variety of hair accessory styles. These things weren't considered essential, so they weren't mass-produced. In the past, people didn't pay much attention to such things either. But the small private factories in the south were different.
They were privately owned businesses, so they were more willing to innovate and create diverse styles. After all, the more attractive the designs, the higher the price they could fetch. Because of this difference in motivation, the south had a much wider variety of styles.
He Lan asked, "When are you planning to start selling? I want to buy some too."
Zheng Huimin replied, "I'll sort them out tonight. Tomorrow is Sunday, so I'll go to Xidan to sell them."
He Lan suggested, "Actually, you could start selling at factory gates today."
Zheng Huimin's eyes lit up again, "You're right! Alright, I'll head out then."
She still needed to study the hair accessories carefully and even make some herself.
He Lan encouraged her, "Go for it!"
Zheng Huimin hesitated for a moment, then shyly said, "Aunt He, I actually want to buy some underwear too."
The ones she was wearing now were full of holes, but her family wouldn't spend money to buy her new ones. Now that she was out on her own, she wanted to take care of herself and buy some.
He Lan replied, "Sure, how about we trade?"
She smiled, "If you like something of mine and I like something of yours, we can just swap."
"Deal!"
The two agreed, and Zheng Huimin left happily.
He Lan was also pleased. She quickly sorted out the goods based on everyone's orders and waited for them to come pick up their items. Looking at everything, He Lan couldn't help but smile. Making money really was a joyful thing.
There was no denying that money gave people confidence.
Although Bai Fendou treated her well, He Lan still preferred to earn some money herself. It not only made life more comfortable but also gave her a sense of security. Otherwise, she always felt like she was relying on others to get by.
The 2,000 yuan her brother had given her, she had never dared to touch. But now, things were better.
She pursed her lips and smiled.
"He Lan, He Lan, I heard you went to the post office?"
Aunt Zhou called out as soon as she returned. He Lan replied, "Yes, come and get your goods."
"Great, that's perfect."
The previous batch of goods had sold out, and she had been anxious. Now everything was fine.
Aunt Zhou was even more eager to make money than He Lan. After all, He Lan was only in her mid-thirties, still young. Aunt Zhou, on the other hand, was sixty and had no pension. Although her son and daughter-in-law earned well, it wasn't her money.
So Aunt Zhou was even more desperate to earn money, saving it for her retirement.
Even if her children weren't necessarily unfilial, there was a big difference between an elderly person with money and one without.
Aunt Zhou decisively said, "I'll continue tonight. Oh, I'll go call Zizhen."
"She's not here; she went fishing."
Wang Zizhen was a master at managing the household. Back when only one person in the family was working, she still kept everything in order. Now, it was even more so. Aunt Zhou smiled, "Oh, right, she said she'd bring me a fish to try."
She asked, "Where's Zhao Guihua?"
"She went out. I'm not sure what she's doing."
Aunt Zhou muttered, "So mysterious."
In truth, Zhao Guihua wasn't being mysterious. She was out handling some paperwork. Who would have thought that this elderly woman was so decisive? She had just learned about the house for sale yesterday and had already bought it today.
Now, she had the property deed in her hands.
Zhao Guihua sighed, "Things really are quick and easy to handle these days!"
She had taken care of everything and was now holding the little booklet, saying, "Not bad!"
Meanwhile, Zhang San was still in a daze. He had been eager to sell the house, and he had genuinely wanted to ask Zhao Guihua for her opinion, but he hadn't expected things to move so quickly. Just yesterday, Zhao Guihua had come to the factory to find him.
After a brief discussion, they managed to negotiate a discount of twenty yuan and finalized all the arrangements. Zhao Guihua promptly secured the house. The deal was agreed upon just yesterday, and today the paperwork was already completed.
Zhang San finally perked up a bit and asked, "Aunt Zhao, is Zhuang Zhixin your second daughter?"
Zhuang Zhixin's family was stationed on an island with the military, so they rarely returned home. They only came back once every two or three years, usually during the New Year. Since Zhang San always left the compound during the holidays, he had never crossed paths with Zhuang Zhixin's family.
Zhao Guihua replied, "Yes, she's my second daughter. I have three children, and I can't favor one over the others."
Zhang San twitched his lips but didn't argue. In his view, how could sons and daughters be treated the same? However, since Zhuang Zhixin's two brothers didn't object, he, as an outsider, naturally kept his mouth shut.
Offending Aunt Zhao would undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.
He said, "That's good. One room for each child—very fair."
Zhao Guihua responded, "Exactly!"
In reality, the youngest child was at a disadvantage for selling the house to the eldest, but given the current housing market, complaining about it would make her seem unreasonable. Still, Zhao Guihua had already made up her mind. She wouldn't let any of her children suffer.
She planned to compensate the youngest child privately. After all, they were all her children, and she wanted the best for each of them.
"Is your second daughter's family coming back?" Zhang San asked, interrupting Zhao Guihua's thoughts.
Zhao Guihua shook her head. "Her husband is stationed on the island, so they can't return. But their two sons will take the college entrance exams next year. Their grades are good, so they should do well. When they come back, they'll have a place to stay. Even if they don't want to live there, they can rent it out to cover some living expenses. Actually, buying this house was a good idea. Zheng Huimin and Guan Hong are renting it now, so it's not sitting empty."
If things followed the same trajectory as in her past life, Zhuang Zhixin's twin grandsons would both get into military academies and return to the capital for university. They had succeeded in her past life, and Zhao Guihua dared not say for certain that they would do so again, but without any external interference, the outcome was unlikely to change.
She added, "Both boys are doing well in school."
Zhang San said enviously, "Kids who do well in school are such a blessing. If it weren't for my own kids, I wouldn't be in such a rush to sell the house."
Zhao Guihua replied, "Well, don't say that. You've bought a new apartment, and that's a good thing. It's more convenient to live in. The reason we didn't buy an apartment is partly because the prices are high, and partly because it wouldn't suit our needs. You know, my husband and I are getting older. At this age, we want to be surrounded by family and neighbors, chatting and enjoying the hustle and bustle. Living in an apartment would mean buying a much larger space, and we wouldn't know the neighbors well. It wouldn't be as lively as living in a courtyard where we see each other every day."
"You're right about that. My parents are the same—they wouldn't move for anything."
Zhang San understood the old lady's sentiment.
Zhao Guihua smiled and said, "Alright, you should get to work. I need to go to the post office."
Zhang San nodded. "Alright, I'll head off then."
After they parted ways, Zhao Guihua made her way to the post office.
She couldn't help but marvel at her own shrewdness. She had previously asked her second daughter, Zhuang Zhixin, for a copy of her ID, saying it might come in handy. Zhuang Zhixin didn't know what it was for, but since her mother asked, she sent it over. Now, it proved useful for completing the paperwork.
Zhao Guihua was pleased with herself, proud of how efficiently she had handled everything. At the post office, she carefully sent off the documents and even managed to write a letter to her daughter, though her handwriting was shaky and uneven. By the time she finished, she felt utterly exhausted, as if she had worked a full day.
Many of the characters were unfamiliar to her, and she had to ask for help as she wrote. The letter took her two hours to complete, leaving her physically and mentally drained.
Reading and writing were no easy tasks. Writing a single letter had worn her out, let alone anything more demanding.
Still, once it was done, Zhao Guihua felt a sense of accomplishment.
She hummed a tune as she walked home.
A few days later, Zhuang Zhixin, who lived on a southern island, was stopped by the gatekeeper just after finishing her class.
"Teacher Zhuang, there's a package for you. It looks like some documents. Please sign for it."
Zhuang Zhixin was surprised. "Oh?"
She signed her name and returned to her office, shaking the envelope before opening it.
"Teacher Zhuang, did you submit another manuscript?"
Ever since she learned a few years ago that her younger brother's articles were being published in newspapers, Zhuang Zhixin had also started submitting her own work. At first, she struggled to find the right style, but over time, many of her pieces were accepted.
She was the person in the school who received the most mail, and her colleagues had grown accustomed to her monthly income from writing, which they greatly admired.
Zhuang Zhixin smiled and said, "No, this is from my mom..."
Before she could finish, a small hardcover booklet fell out of the envelope. Zhuang Zhixin froze, and so did the colleague who had been chatting with her. Zhuang Zhixin quickly picked it up from the table. She recognized it immediately—it was a property ownership certificate.
But why had her mother sent her something like this?
She opened the booklet and saw her name clearly printed as the owner.
Zhuang Zhixin was stunned. Her hands trembled.
"Wait, Teacher Zhuang, that's your name. Wow, it's a property in the capital!" The nosy colleague leaned over and exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Zhuang Zhixin ignored them and quickly read the letter. Her mind was in turmoil, trying to understand how her name ended up on the property deed.
How could it be her name?
Why had her mother given her a house?
Her heart raced as she skimmed through the letter. By the time she finished, her eyes were red.
"Teacher Zhuang, are you okay?"
"Is something wrong?"
Zhuang Zhixin shook her head. "I'm fine."
But her expression suggested otherwise. Her colleagues pressed her, "If something's wrong, don't keep it to yourself."
It wasn't out of nosiness. The island was a small, close-knit community, mostly made up of military families. Life was simple, and people were used to looking out for one another. It wasn't like the bustling city, where people were more guarded.
Zhuang Zhixin said, "It's nothing. I'm just touched."
"Touched?"
Everyone glanced at the property certificate.
Zhuang Zhixin realized there was no point in hiding it now. Otherwise, rumors would start flying.
She explained, "My parents are dividing the family property, and they've given each of us three siblings a house. This one is mine. I'm just moved by their generosity."
"What?"
Her words shocked everyone, men and women alike. It was unheard of for daughters to receive the same treatment as sons when dividing family property. Most families prioritized their sons, and if a daughter received a generous dowry, it was considered a sign of a caring family.
Many families even relied on their married daughters for support.
So Zhuang Zhixin's revelation left everyone astonished. One woman couldn't help but ask, "And your brothers didn't object?"
Zhuang Zhixin shook her head. "No, they knew about it."
She herself felt a bit dazed. Even though she was almost forty, she still remembered her childhood clearly. While her family wasn't as biased toward sons as others, she had always felt that her mother favored her two brothers a little more.
Back then, she hadn't been upset or resentful. Though she sometimes felt a twinge of discomfort, she knew her family was better off than many of her classmates. At least her mother hadn't shown obvious favoritism when it came to food and clothing.
Later, when she got married, even though her parents seemed unhappy with her choice, they still gritted their teeth and prepared a dowry for her. So, Zhuang Zhixin felt that while her parents were biased, they weren’t entirely unfair. It wasn’t like they treated everyone completely equally, but it was close enough. They were much better than many other families.
Back then, there was a girl named Li Fang in their compound who was an only child. Zhuang Zhixin secretly wondered if she could have lived as comfortably as Li Fang if she had been the only girl in her family. However, as she grew older, she realized that Li Fang’s good life wasn’t just because she was an only child—it was also because her father was a chef.
Still, at the time, Zhuang Zhixin was truly envious.
Now, many years after her marriage, with her children all grown up, she often reflects on her childhood, her married life, and the various ups and downs of being a military wife. She feels deeply grateful to her parents.
Her mother always claimed to treat all her children equally. Back then, before she got married, Zhuang Zhixin didn’t believe it. She felt there was still a slight difference. But now, she never expected that at nearly forty years old, she would receive a house from her parents.
A house—not just some cabbage.
“Teacher Zhuang, this house is in the capital. You guys won’t be able to live there, right? Won’t your brothers end up living in it instead?” someone muttered out of jealousy.
Zhuang Zhixin snapped out of her thoughts and replied, “My eldest brother and third brother already have their own houses. They don’t need this one. My parents plan to rent it out. The rent will be saved and sent to me. Next year, when Dabao and Erbao take their college entrance exams, if they get into schools in the capital, they can live there. If they don’t… well, we’re originally from the capital anyway. If we don’t go back, we’ll keep renting it out. It’ll be a place to stay if we ever return. If we do go back, at least we’ll have our own home.”
As she thought about the contents of the letter and how her mother had already planned everything out for her, she felt even more emotional.
Her parents truly treated all their children equally. They hadn’t favored one over the others. Zhuang Zhixin felt her heart swell with gratitude—not just because of the house, but because her parents hadn’t shown any bias.
“Teacher Zhuang, your parents are really amazing. My parents always say that since I’m the only daughter among a bunch of sons, they love me the most and treat me the best. But when it comes to dividing the family property, it’s all going to my brothers. The house has to go to the sons—there’s no question of splitting it equally among the three of us. Even if my parents agreed, my sisters-in-law wouldn’t. Who knows what kind of drama that would cause? Your situation is much better. Since you’re far away, even if they’re unhappy, they can’t do much about it.”
Zhuang Zhixin thought for a moment and said, “It’s not like that. My mom has mentioned this before. When I went home for the New Year, she brought it up, and I noticed my sisters-in-law seemed completely unfazed. At the time, I thought she was just joking…”
Little did she know, her mother had been serious.
Looking back now, she realized that her mother must have brought it up many times at home. Otherwise, how could her sisters-in-law have been so calm about it? They must have gotten used to it, knowing there was no point in arguing since her mother’s mind was made up.
That was probably the case.
Zhuang Zhixin had guessed right.
She took a deep breath and quickly put the property deed away, her excitement hard to contain. She tried to act normal, but she couldn’t stop smiling. During her next class, her students were puzzled, wondering what good news had made their usually stern teacher so happy.
On her way home from work, Zhuang Zhixin even bought some meat—a rare treat. Coincidentally, her two sons didn’t have evening classes that day, and the three of them ran into each other at the entrance of their building. As they walked down the hallway, they caught the scent of meat cooking.
Dabao said, “I wonder who’s cooking meat. I hope it’s us.”
Erbao replied, “Probably not. Mom usually only buys meat once a week, and we’ve already had our share this week.”
Dabao sighed, “I really want some meat…”
“Stop talking nonsense and hurry home. Who can afford to eat meat every day?”
“Let me walk slower. I’ll savor the smell of the meat from outside, and maybe I can eat an extra bowl of rice with just the aroma.”
The three of them joked around as they headed home. But as soon as they opened the door, Dabao exclaimed, “Oh my god, it’s really us! Dad, Mom cooked meat!”
Zhuang Zhixin smiled and said, “Can’t I cook meat?”
Her husband looked at her in surprise and asked, “What’s the good news? You’re so happy today.”
There had to be good news—otherwise, she wouldn’t be like this. His wife was usually very composed, especially since she was a teacher. She had to maintain authority in front of her students. Being too nice would only make the kids take advantage of her. Over time, she had become somewhat stern.
But today, her smile was practically flying off her face.
“There’s definitely good news, right?”
Zhuang Zhixin played coy, telling everyone to wash their hands. Once they were all seated, she poured soda for everyone and said, “Have some.”
This confirmed that something good had happened.
Look, they even got soda.
Zhuang Zhixin was in a great mood. With a smile on her face, she took out the property deed and said, “Take a look.”
The three of them huddled together, curious, and opened the deed. When they saw it, their eyes nearly popped out.
“Wow!”
“Holy crap!”
Zhuang Zhixin smacked Erbao lightly and scolded, “Watch your language.”
Erbao was stunned. “Mom, you… you… you own a house in the capital? That’s amazing!”
Zhuang Zhixin couldn’t hide her pride. “Your grandma gave it to me.”
Her husband was equally shocked. He hadn’t expected his mother-in-law to give them a house. It took him a while to process it. Zhuang Zhixin kept muttering, “My mom doesn’t play favorites. It’s so good.”
She couldn’t quite explain why she was so happy, but she was—deeply happy about being treated equally.
She continued, “Your grandma said that if we’re not living in the house now, we can rent it out, and the rent will go to me. Next year, when you two take your college entrance exams, if you get into schools in the capital, the rent can go to you. Of course, if you want to keep it as a place to stay, we won’t rent it out.”
She spoke earnestly, “You two need to study hard. Look, your grandma even thought of this.”
Dabao and Erbao nodded immediately. Both boys, having grown up in a military compound, were a bit straightforward. Receiving such a generous gift made them a little embarrassed. “Are we really just going to accept this house from Grandma?”
“Yes, we’re accepting it!” Zhuang Zhixin wasn’t being greedy. This was proof that her parents treated all their children equally, and it filled her heart with joy.
Her husband finally chimed in, “Your family already divided the property. Is this a house your mom bought later? I hope they didn’t skimp on themselves just to save up for this.”
Zhuang Zhixin replied, “My mom wrote in her letter that she’s been selling goods at the market and making good money.”
“Holy crap!” Even her husband couldn’t help but curse.
Zhuang Zhixin shot him a look.
Seeing the three men in her family staring at her with wide eyes, Zhuang Zhixin felt even prouder.
She said, “My mom isn’t just any ordinary old lady. She’s amazing!”
Her eyes sparkled with joy as she continued, “The capital is so different from here. It’s bustling with activity. Over here, outside the island, there aren’t many people doing business. But in the capital, it’s lively. My mom went to Guangzhou with Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang. They went with a few other young women, and now they’re all busy with their work.”
She laughed, “I never thought my mom would get along so well with Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang. They used to not get along, but now they’re even going on business trips together.”
The three men were completely dumbfounded.
“Grandma is seriously amazing!”
“Your grandma has always been amazing. When we were kids, times were tough, but even during those three years of food shortages, we managed to get by,” Zhuang Zhixin said, feeling deeply grateful that her parents had worked so hard to provide for the family. Without them, their lives wouldn’t have been as comfortable.
"You all need to study hard, okay? If you don’t study well, you won’t be able to get into the universities in the capital. And if you ever go back, you must treat your grandparents well, understand?"
Dabao and Erbao immediately replied, "We understand."
Zhuang Zhixin happily hummed a little tune and said, "Come on, let’s eat. I still need to write a letter to my mom tonight."
Dabao and Erbao, sensing their mother’s cheerful mood, also brightened up.
Meanwhile, while Zhuang Zhixin was delighted to receive the letter, news of Zhang San selling his house spread throughout the compound, leaving everyone quite shocked. However, Zhao Guihua buying the house wasn’t much of a surprise. It seemed like everyone had vaguely heard her say before that if she ever needed money, she would buy a house for her second daughter, treating all three children equally.
She had mentioned it many times, and everyone had heard it.
So, her buying the house wasn’t unexpected.
On the other hand, Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin, upon hearing that the house had been sold, hesitantly came over. They hadn’t even had the chance to discuss the rent yet, and now the house had a new owner. Zhao Guihua, seeing the two girls arrive, straightforwardly said, "The house is ours now. You’ve already paid for a month’s rent, so you can stay until the end of the month. This was agreed upon with Zhang San. Also, his family is moving out, and they’ll be taking some things with them. When they come to move their belongings, make sure you’re at home."
The two girls nodded.
Zhao Guihua continued, "This house is for my daughter, but she’s still away and hasn’t returned yet. You can continue renting if you want. Since some things will be moved out, I’ll lower the rent a bit. If you decide to stay, the rent will be five yuan. Of course, they’ll take some things, but the bed and the big pot will remain. They’ll take the cabinet, but I don’t plan to replace it. If you think you can make do, you can keep renting. If not, feel free to look elsewhere. It’s up to you to decide."
Although quite a few things would be moved out, the house still had some furnishings and had been freshly painted, so it was naturally different from Wang Xiangxiu’s place, which was completely empty when rented out.
So, a one-yuan difference in rent was reasonable.
Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin exchanged glances and without hesitation said, "We’ll keep renting. But, you won’t just kick us out, right?"
Zhao Guihua replied, "If I decide not to rent to you anymore, I’ll let you know a month in advance. Is that okay?"
"That’s more than fair," they both said, feeling relieved.
Zhao Guihua added, "Then you can continue renting from the previous date. Make sure to bring the rent money at the beginning of each month. Don’t make me chase you for it, or I’ll get angry."
The two quickly agreed, "Okay."
Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin hadn’t expected things to be settled so smoothly.
Guan Hong, in particular, was sweating a little. She had some past conflicts with Zhao Guihua and had been quite afraid of her. But seeing how straightforward Zhao Guihua was in handling things, she felt much more at ease.
She said, "From now on, we’ll split the rent equally, 2.5 yuan each. Is that okay?"
Zheng Huimin nodded, "That works."
With Guan Hong sharing the rent, Zheng Huimin felt much more relaxed. Unlike Guan Hong, who could still go home if she apologized, Zheng Huimin had no home to return to. So, this arrangement was very convenient for her.
Zheng Huimin said, "With the rent reduced, I can really focus on making some money now."
Guan Hong reminded her, "Don’t just think about earning money. You should keep an eye on your family too."
Zheng Huimin replied, "I know. I’ve been going to the neighborhood committee every day to make a scene."
Admittedly, she felt a bit shameless doing it, but it was effective. Everyone sympathized with her and kept a close watch on the Zheng family. The slightest movement would be noticed.
Zheng Huimin had even gone to the bus station once.
She would rather her parents not help her at all than have them leave her with a pile of trouble and run away.
"Oh, come here," she said as she entered the room. "Guan Hong, here’s the 100 yuan you lent my sister. I’m returning it to you."
Guan Hong was surprised, "So soon? What’s your sister doing over there?"
Zheng Huimin proudly replied, "She found a job at a clothing factory. They provide accommodation, and she doesn’t have much to spend on since she’s working every day. So she returned the money first. Take it. It’s one less thing to worry about."
Guan Hong said, "Your sister seems like a hardworking and reliable person."
"She is. Back home, I used to slack off a lot, but she never did." Back then, the two sisters didn’t seem particularly close, but now that they were apart, they felt a strong sense of concern for each other.
Zheng Huimin rubbed her cheeks and asked, "By the way, the cabinet is being moved out. Should we buy a new one?"
Guan Hong thought for a moment, "I don’t think we need to."
Zheng Huimin agreed, "You’re right."
The cabinet only held a few of Guan Hong’s belongings, and she didn’t have many clothes to begin with. As for Zheng Huimin, she had even less—just one change of clothes. So, having a cabinet or not didn’t make much difference to them. But buying a new one would cost quite a bit, so it wasn’t necessary.
Guan Hong said, "I have a wooden chest. I’ll just bring it over and use that."
Zheng Huimin nodded, "Alright, I’ll help you move it."
As the two discussed their living arrangements, they were unaware that today was the day Zheng Yufeng had decided to leave. Lately, he had been under close watch, but he still managed to find the money hidden in Fan Debiao’s house.
Fan Debiao was quite clever, hiding the money in a crack between the bricks. Zheng Yufeng had been sneaking over every night to search.
After several days of effort, he finally found it.
He knew that tomorrow was the day Fan Debiao would be released, so he had already made plans to run away tonight!
He had secretly discussed this with his two sons, and they had no intention of taking Guan Guiling with them. The two sons didn’t see anything wrong with this, and the three of them decided to use Guan Guiling as a decoy while they made their escape.
But what they didn’t know was that Fan Debiao had already been released from detention…
