Human life is truly fragile!
The story of Zheng Yufeng and his wife Guan Guiling quickly spread throughout the city.
No one could have imagined that their seemingly harmonious family of six would end up in such a state. Zheng Huimin, as the only daughter who could step forward, took full responsibility for handling everything.
She felt dazed throughout the process. As a family member, she knew that her mother’s attempt to jump off a building years ago to extort money had been instigated by her father. Back then, her mother had only suffered minor injuries from jumping off the second floor. But now, her father had fallen from less than ten steps and died instantly.
For a moment, Zheng Huimin wondered if this was some kind of retribution.
Her father had schemed all his life, only to end up being outsmarted himself. Even his death came so easily.
Zheng Huimin truly couldn’t understand it. Not just her, but even the Zheng Brothers hadn’t expected Zheng Yufeng to die like this. Yes, the Zheng Brothers had been found. After Zheng Yufeng’s incident blew up, they were quickly located.
They were intercepted on the platform where they had just gotten off the train. The two brothers were brought back, but Wang Ju, sensing the situation was bad, had already fled without a trace. However, the Zheng Brothers no longer cared about Wang Ju at that point.
They had never imagined that their decision to leave would lead to their father’s death.
They had never liked their parents, thinking them selfish and foolish. But all those grievances vanished the moment their father died. The two brothers returned, following Zheng Huimin and helping with everything.
Zheng Huimin, who had never dealt with such matters before, had no choice but to hold the family together.
Because Guan Guiling had gone mad.
Ever since witnessing Zheng Yufeng’s death, she had lost her mind.
Every day, she would mutter to herself: “Yufeng will take me away.”
“I’m going to kill Fan Debiao.”
She would occasionally have violent outbursts. During the days Zheng Huimin was handling the funeral arrangements, Guan Guiling nearly hurt someone several times. If it weren’t for the Zheng Brothers keeping a close eye on her, she would have caused trouble. Her madness wasn’t just delusional—she was capable of harming others.
Her mind seemed fixated only on matters related to Zheng Yufeng. She would imagine others harming him.
Sometimes, she would think of Fan Debiao, gnashing her teeth in hatred.
She oscillated between these two thoughts. Because she was dangerous, Zheng Huimin had no choice but to send her to a mental hospital. She had no other option. Her family was in shambles, and she had to deal with one problem after another.
Zheng Yufeng was buried. Fan Debiao, though injured, was detained again for accidentally causing Zheng Yufeng’s death. This time, however, many felt sorry for Fan Debiao. After all, if it weren’t for Zheng Yufeng and Guan Guiling stealing money, none of this would have happened. And Fan Debiao truly hadn’t meant to kill anyone.
With the Zheng Brothers found, the six thousand yuan they had taken was also recovered.
Zheng Huimin decided to return the money to Fan Debiao, but he refused to take it. Instead, he asked the Zheng family to write a letter of forgiveness for him. This wouldn’t exonerate him, but their forgiveness would be taken into account during sentencing.
Zheng Huimin agreed.
She used the money to pay off all the family’s debts, including her eldest brother’s gambling debts and the money her parents had borrowed by mortgaging their house. Because the incident had attracted significant attention, with the police involved, both creditors had quietly waived the interest.
This gave Zheng Huimin a huge sense of relief.
After settling the debts and handling Zheng Yufeng’s funeral, she sat down with the Zheng Brothers. The brothers had been silent ever since learning of their father’s death. The three siblings sat together, and Zheng Huimin, holding back her grief, said, “Let’s divide the family assets.”
The Zheng Brothers exchanged glances and said, “We don’t want anything.”
They felt too ashamed to take anything.
It seemed as though they had all matured in an instant.
Both the brothers and Zheng Huimin.
Zheng Huimin said, “I won’t be coming back to this home anymore.”
The two brothers began to cry. Zheng Huimin said, “You…”
“We won’t be coming back either.”
The three of them fell silent for a long time. Finally, the eldest brother said, “I plan to take our younger brother away from this city of sorrow. We don’t want the money or the house. If you don’t want it either, then sell the house and keep the money for our mother’s hospital expenses. If anything happens to her, contact me!”
After a pause, he added, “You should take over our mother’s job.”
If they had known that stealing money and running away would lead to their father’s death, they would never have done it. Though selfish, they had never done anything truly terrible before. Who could have imagined that this one act would indirectly cause their father’s death?
They couldn’t bear to stay in the city any longer. After the funeral, they had discussed it privately and decided to leave together.
“Don’t worry about us. We’ll live properly from now on. If… if we do well, we’ll come back to see you.”
Zheng Huimin looked at them and said, “I’ll take over the job. I won’t argue about that. After all, you’re leaving, and everything related to our mother’s care in the mental hospital will fall on me.”
She took a deep breath and said, “Even if I have nowhere to live, I don’t want to come back here after selling the house.”
This place was the source of their family’s sorrow.
The three of them fell silent again.
Zheng Huimin said, “The six thousand yuan from Fan Debiao’s compensation was used to pay for a year of our mother’s hospital expenses and to settle the debts… They didn’t charge interest. The funeral cost nearly eight hundred yuan, so we have about five thousand two hundred left. Don’t blame me for forgiving Fan Debiao. This time, he was truly innocent, and… our family needed the money.”
“We understand.”
“Our mother’s gone mad, our younger sister isn’t here, and you two… I’m just a woman, not even twenty yet. This is all I can do.”
The Zheng Brothers said, “We know.”
Zheng Huimin continued, “Normally, two rooms could sell for seven or eight hundred, but given all the bad luck surrounding our house, it might be hard to get that much. Let’s assume we can get eight hundred. That would leave us with six thousand…”
“We don’t want the money,” the younger brother suddenly cried. “If I hadn’t wanted the money, none of this would have happened. It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s my fault. I fought with Dad. I always thought he wasn’t a good person…”
The two brothers were filled with regret, but there was no turning back.
Zheng Huimin said, “I don’t blame you. I don’t blame Fan Debiao either. I don’t even know who to blame… Maybe it’s all just fate.”
Though she had always been a bit scatterbrained, Zheng Huimin’s mind was unusually clear at that moment. She thought that if anyone was most at fault in this whole mess, it was her father, who had died because of it.
If it weren’t for all the things he had done, none of them would have ended up where they were.
“Huimin…”
Zheng Huimin forced herself to stay strong and said, “Let’s assume we can sell the house for six thousand. I’ll take half, plus the job, since I’ll be responsible for our mother. The three of you—you two and our younger sister—will each get one thousand.”
“We can’t take it!”
Zheng Huimin insisted, “Take it. If you’re leaving the city, you’ll need some money to get by. Otherwise, how will you eat or find shelter? Our family is already in ruins, but you still have to live.”
She rubbed her eyes and said, “Don’t think I’m taking too much. I…”
“Huimin, you don’t need to explain. We understand. Our mother’s gone mad, and even though you’ve sent her to a mental hospital, it’s not cheap. Her health isn’t good either. Honestly, we’re the ones benefiting… But I just can’t stay here anymore.”
Zheng Huimin said, “I know.”
After this conversation, the Zheng Brothers left again.
This time, their departure was different from the last. They didn’t need to sneak away, but their mindset was entirely changed.
By the time Zheng Huimin returned to the courtyard, it was already May.
Although the Zheng family had their fair share of troubles, it didn’t really affect the lives of those in their compound. Everyone was still enthusiastically busy making money, and by this time, they had already sold out their second batch of goods.
Seeing that the market was still doing well, they had already brought in their third batch. Although the market might become somewhat saturated over time, they could always expand to the countryside and surrounding areas. After all, who doesn’t love a good bargain?
Even Zhao Guihua had started selling a second wave of T-shirts. Originally, they had planned to sell just one batch, but seeing how well the business was going and that similar styles weren’t flooding the market yet—though there were some imitations—they decided to continue. This time, they ordered ten thousand pieces.
Zhuang Zhixi had also considered it. Ten thousand pieces might not sell out completely, but since their neighbors were already buying underwear and socks from the surrounding areas, why couldn’t he sell clothes there too?
So, they remained optimistic about the market.
Last time, they had invested twenty-seven thousand and ended up making a profit of forty-one thousand. Zhuang Zhixi’s share was twenty percent, which came to over eight thousand.
This time, when they restocked, he and his mother went back to their usual routine of splitting the investment equally. The total cost was fifty-four thousand, with each contributing half, and they would split the profits equally. Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei had to come up with twenty-seven thousand.
After scraping together all their savings, Ming Mei even borrowed three thousand from her family.
But the couple was full of energy and determination.
If you’re not enthusiastic about making money, there’s something wrong with your mindset.
They were normal people, after all, so of course, they were eager.
When Zheng Huimin returned to the compound, it felt like she had entered a completely different world compared to her time at home. Back there, it seemed like everyone wanted to comfort her, looking at her with pity as if she were the most unfortunate person in the world.
Some people despised her family, thinking they were cursed. They believed that if her family hadn’t stolen things in the first place, Fan Debiao wouldn’t have ended up in trouble again. It wasn’t that they sympathized with Fan Debiao, but rather that they couldn’t help but think about themselves.
Some pitied her, some despised her, and others even wanted to take advantage of her family’s misfortune.
Her family had already fallen apart, with her brothers leaving. To many, this made her an easy target—not exactly an heirless family, but close enough. Naturally, some people had their eyes on her, especially since she had a house, a job, and some savings. Shockingly, some even started showing interest in her right after her father’s funeral. Zheng Huimin found it all utterly exhausting.
So, as soon as she had settled everything, she packed up and returned to the compound. Although she was sharing a place with Guan Hong, life here was much more comfortable. Guan Hong might have a sharp tongue, but she wasn’t a bad person.
It wasn’t that her old neighbors were all bad—there were plenty of good people—but being constantly pitied and sympathized with made her feel just as miserable.
Returning to the compound, she felt a bit more at ease. The people here didn’t know much about her family, and most only knew her as Zheng Huimin, so the pressure wasn’t as intense. She went back to her room to organize her things, having brought quite a few belongings from home this time.
Zhao Guihua, returning from outside, heard the commotion of moving and asked, “You’re back?”
Then she added, “And you’ve brought your own furniture?”
Zheng Huimin replied, “I’m planning to sell my house, so I’ve moved some things here.”
Zhao Guihua was surprised. “Sell your house? Where will you live then?”
She knew more than others, having been at the train station with Zhuang Zhixi when they were selling goods, so she had witnessed some of the events firsthand.
Zheng Huimin said, “I’ll stay here for now, renting a place.”
Zhao Guihua kindly advised, “Having your own house is more important than anything. If you sell it now and can’t afford to buy another later, you’ll regret it.”
Zheng Huimin knew Zhao Guihua meant well, but she really didn’t want to go back to her old home, where memories would only bring her sorrow. She said, “I don’t want to go back.”
Zhao Guihua sighed, “Well, as long as you’ve thought it through.”
After a pause, she asked, “How much are you planning to sell it for?”
Zheng Huimin answered, “Given my family’s reputation, I’m asking for eight hundred, but I’ll go as low as seven hundred and fifty. I’ve already spread the word and am waiting for potential buyers.”
Zhao Guihua asked, “Are you really sure about selling?”
Zheng Huimin smiled, “I am.”
Zhao Guihua said, “Then take me to see it. I’m interested in buying.”
Zheng Huimin was stunned. “What?”
Zhao Guihua said, “I’m planning to buy a house. Is that a problem?”
Zheng Huimin quickly shook her head. “No, not at all.”
Zhao Guihua said, “Then let’s go.”
At their age, they weren’t cut out for much else. Even setting up a stall wouldn’t last long, as they weren’t getting any younger. Instead, Zhao Guihua preferred to invest in property, thinking it would be a steady source of income in the future.
While others might be called “Uncle Landlord” or “Sister Landlord,” she’d be the “Grandma Landlord.”
Zheng Huimin asked, confused, “But you already have a place to live, don’t you?”
Zhao Guihua replied, “I can rent it out, can’t I? It’s a steady income over time.”
Zheng Huimin nodded silently. She understood that. In fact, she could have rented it out herself, but with her brothers gone, it would have been troublesome. If someone tried to take over the house, what could she, a young woman, do?
She could make a scene, but it would inevitably lead to more problems.
But Zhao Guihua… Zheng Huimin glanced at her, confirming that the older woman wasn’t the type to be taken advantage of. In these times, the tougher you were, the less likely you were to be bullied.
If a tenant tried to mess with Zhao Guihua, she wouldn’t just curse—she might even throw hands. She wasn’t your average elderly lady.
Zheng Huimin took a deep breath and said, “Alright, I’ll take you over to have a look.”
This was Zhao Guihua’s first time visiting Zheng Huimin’s house, and as soon as she arrived, she couldn’t help but feel that Zheng Huimin would be making a huge mistake by selling it. The house was only five stops away from the train station.
Five stops—that was practically nothing.
Moreover, she remembered that this area had been redeveloped much earlier than their compound. Their compound was tied to the machinery factory, so it wasn’t redeveloped until the factory shut down in the nineties. A real estate developer had taken over the factory site and turned the surrounding area into a large mixed-use community.
But this area had been redeveloped even before the nineties.
“If you sell this house, you’ll regret it. The location is excellent,” Zhao Guihua said, though she was genuinely interested in buying.
Zheng Huimin was firm. “I won’t regret it.”
She added, “I can buy a house somewhere else, but I don’t want to live here anymore.”
Seeing her determination, Zhao Guihua decided to be straightforward. “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I’m really interested.”
This area was different from the machinery factory compound. Over there, most people were not just neighbors but also coworkers. Here, the residents were more scattered, with many working at or around the train station.
Zheng Huimin led her into the courtyard, where they ran into some neighbors chatting. Seeing Zheng Huimin return, they were a bit surprised but greeted her warmly. Zheng Huimin returned the greetings and then took Zhao Guihua to see the house.
Someone asked curiously, “Old Zheng’s eldest daughter, are you really selling the house?”
Zheng Huimin nodded. “Yes.”
There wasn’t much to see—just two rooms. Zhao Guihua nodded and said, “This will do.”
The neighbors sighed, having lived together for so many years, and now the house was being sold. One of them bluntly asked, “How much are you selling it for?”
Zheng Huimin replied, “Eight hundred.”
“Good heavens!”
The person gasped in shock.
Property prices had risen significantly in recent years.
Zheng Huimin pursed her lips, and someone else chimed in, “If it’s eight hundred, you could add a bit more and get a two-bedroom apartment. That wouldn’t be bad.”
Zheng Huimin agreed, “Exactly.”
In these times, everyone loved apartments. In terms of comfort, they were simply better.
While Zheng Huimin was talking to someone, Zhao Guihua went in to take another look. At that moment, a neighbor, a middle-aged woman, approached her and whispered, "Auntie, since you seem serious about buying a house, I should let you know that their house has a bit of bad luck. There have been quite a few incidents in their family. If you're interested, you can take a look at my place. I’m asking for the same price, but my family is blessed with many descendants, much luckier than theirs."
Zhao Guihua: "..."
Is this a competition for customers?
She asked, "Your place? Where is it?"
The woman pointed, and Zhao Guihua saw that it wasn’t really two rooms—just one main room and what looked like an illegally built side room. It couldn’t compare to Zheng Huimin’s proper two-room house.
Zhao Guihua wasn’t the type to mince words. She said bluntly, "Your place can’t compare to the Zheng family’s. Yours is basically just one room, and the other probably doesn’t even have proper documentation. If you’re asking the same price, that’s just ridiculous. Don’t talk to me about feng shui either. I’ve lived long enough to know better. Any house I buy will be fine. Even if there’s bad luck, I’ll deal with it myself—one bad omen, one punch! Just give me a fair price. Trying to cheat an old lady like me? No way."
Sometimes, it’s like this. If a kind-looking person had said these words, the other party might have gotten angry. But coming from Zhao Guihua, who had a sharp and unyielding demeanor, the woman didn’t dare argue and just pursed her lips.
Zhao Guihua walked out and said, "Xiao Zheng, your house seems decent, but I won’t pay 800. Let’s go and discuss the price."
Zheng Huimin: "Huh? Oh, okay!"
She was speaking in monosyllables now.
Zhao Guihua led her away, and the neighbors in the courtyard immediately started gossiping about the topic.
As they walked, Zheng Huimin said proactively, "Auntie Zhao, the lowest I can go is 750."
Zhao Guihua: "..."
Zheng Huimin really didn’t know how to sell things. Normally, people would haggle over big purchases, but she just offered her lowest price right away. However, Zhao Guihua was straightforward too and said, "Alright, if you’re okay with that, let’s get the paperwork done. But I suggest you buy a house soon. Prices have been rising these past few years, and if you don’t buy now, you might not be able to afford it later. I know you’ve just started working at the bus station, but I heard from Ming Mei that your family has already been allocated a house once, so they probably won’t do it again. If you don’t have your own place, what will you do in the future? Don’t think you can just marry a man and have him provide the house. Let me tell you, a woman having her own things is her foundation. That way, even if you argue with your husband in the future, you’ll have your own place to stay and won’t be left homeless or controlled by others. Besides, is 1,000 really that much? Sure, it’s a lot of money now—enough to buy two rooms—but in a few years, that amount won’t seem like much. You definitely won’t be able to buy at this price then. Think about how prices have been rising. Remember how much more you could buy with one yuan in the past? It’ll only get more obvious in the future. If you don’t make your money grow, it’ll just lose value over time. That’s all I’ll say. Honestly, I don’t particularly like you, but since I’m buying your house, I feel I should give you this advice. Whether you listen or not is up to you, but I had to say it."
Zheng Huimin: "Oh."
After thinking for a moment, she told Zhao Guihua, "I’m still running my hair accessory business. I set up a stall after work."
Zhao Guihua glanced at Zheng Huimin and felt she looked much more likable now that she was being earnest.
She asked, "How’s business going?"
Zheng Huimin replied with a hint of excitement, "It’s going really well. I didn’t expect it, but the hair accessories sell quickly. And the ones I make myself—people think they’re pretty. I guess I’m quite skilled at it."
They sourced their goods from the south, which kept costs low, but making them by hand was even cheaper. However, there was only so much Zheng Huimin could make on her own, so she now sold both imported and handmade items.
Zhao Guihua: "That’s not bad."
Zheng Huimin nodded, "Exactly."
When the two of them returned together, it surprised everyone in the courtyard. After all, Zhao Guihua shouldn’t have liked Zheng Huimin—she had once scared people by pretending to be a ghost. But seeing them getting along normally, Aunt Zhou sighed, "Well, you never know."
Zhao Guihua: "What are you talking about? I’m always looking out for the younger generation. Besides, who doesn’t make mistakes when they’re young? If you don’t make mistakes, can you even call it youth?"
Listen to her, talking so righteously.
Aunt Zhou rolled her eyes but quickly asked, "Guihua, are you going to Xidan to set up your stall today?"
Zhao Guihua: "Yes."
She added, "I’ll leave soon. Can’t delay making money."
Aunt Zhou: "Take me with you. I’ll go too."
Zhao Guihua: "Don’t you sell at the factory gate after work?"
Aunt Zhou was blunt: "I just want to sell more. Who doesn’t want extra money?"
That made perfect sense.
Zhao Guihua: "Alright, wait for me, and we’ll go."
Zheng Huimin: "I’ll come too. I’ll sell my hair accessories."
Although she had already started her new job, her official start date was next Monday, so she still had a few days to focus on her own business.
"Sure, let’s go."
The two older women didn’t mind having one more person join them. The three of them each carried their own goods and headed to Xidan. Making money was serious business. When they went to Xidan to set up their stalls, He Lan saw them but didn’t join. She wasn’t in as much of a hurry as Aunt Zhou to sell her things. Her family had an advantage—they owned a tricycle. On weekends, her husband could go with her to sell at rural markets. Bai Fendou had recently figured out the schedules of nearby rural markets, which were held every Sunday. These markets were just as good for setting up stalls. Don’t think only city folks were willing to spend money. Everyday items sold well at these markets too. Compared to the prices at the supply and marketing cooperatives, their prices were more affordable, and people who lived frugally were more likely to haggle. He Lan had already tried selling there once, and the results were surprisingly good.
So during the day, she didn’t go out. Instead, she spent most of her time tidying up the house and doing laundry.
Their daughter Bai Qingqing’s school uniform had to be changed every other day. Luckily, they had ordered two sets, or else she’d be a little mudball. The kids in the courtyard might look well-behaved, but they sure knew how to make a mess.
And Bai Fendou wasn’t exactly the neatest either.
If it weren’t for He Lan managing the household, Bai Fendou would probably be a complete slob.
As the weather was getting warmer, He Lan took apart the bedding and washed it, planning to switch to blankets. She was busy until noon before she could finally take a break.
"Xiao Lan, I’m back."
He Lan looked up to see Bai Fendou coming home with a fish. She was both surprised and delighted. "Where did that come from?"
Bai Fendou: "The factory gave it out. Only our workshop got it."
He was especially proud of this. "Our workshop was named the production model last month. This is the factory’s reward. Everyone in our workshop got one."
He Lan was thrilled. "That’s wonderful. I’ll stew it for the kids tonight."
Bai Fendou: "Great. Let my daughter taste the fruits of my labor."
He Lan laughed, then asked, "Why are you home early?"
"We finished the last batch of parts, so the machines are completely shut down for maintenance. You have to maintain them regularly to avoid problems."
He added, "Let’s go sell stuff together this afternoon."
He Lan: "I’ve been washing clothes all morning and I’m exhausted. You’ve been working nonstop too. Why don’t we rest?"
Bai Fendou: "I’m not tired. I’m full of energy. Look at the old ladies in the courtyard—they’re not resting. How can I, a grown man, take a break? That’d be embarrassing. Oh, by the way, where are Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou?"
He Lan: "They went to Xidan to set up their stalls. Zheng Huimin went with them."
At the mention of Zheng Huimin, Bai Fendou was surprised. "She’s back?"
He Lan nodded: "She's back. I saw that she still has some spirit left. This girl has had a tough life—her parents are unreliable, and so is her brother. I used to think she was the irresponsible one, but who would have guessed she’s actually the most dependable in her family?"
Bai Fendou replied, "Isn't that the truth?"
He never expected that Guan Guiling would lose her mind.
To think, he almost married Guan Guiling. If she hadn’t backed out at the last minute, he would never have met He Lan. Every time he thought about it, he felt grateful for Chen Yuan’s interference back then.
Without Chen Yuan’s meddling, his life would have been ruined.
But to be honest, when he first met Guan Guiling, she wasn’t like this. Even though they were classmates and around the same age, Guan Guiling was like a caring older sister to him—kind, gentle, and always looking out for him.
He asked, "How did Guan Guiling end up like this?"
He Lan didn’t have a clear answer, but she wasn’t surprised. She had encountered similar people before. She said, "Take Fan Jianguo and his family, for example. They were nice to me at first, but once they thought they could control me, they changed. I think some people’s kindness is just a facade. They’re only nice to achieve their goals—it’s not in their nature to be good."
She didn’t mind using Fan Jianguo as an example.
Bai Fendou nodded. "I get it, I just didn’t expect it."
He Lan continued, "Besides, I think life’s pressures got to her. At the time, Guan Guiling had three children at home and was pregnant with another. Her husband couldn’t work, so the burden was even heavier than Wang Xiangxiu’s family. When life is too hard, people tend to become extreme. And after she successfully extorted money from the Fan family, she found a new way to make money. That success opened a door for her. She kept hurting herself and framing others to get money, but over time, her body and mind couldn’t take it anymore. It’s no surprise she became more and more unstable and eventually lost her mind."
Listening to He Lan’s analysis, Bai Fendou couldn’t help but feel that education really matters. He only finished elementary school, so he couldn’t understand Guan Guiling’s transformation. But after hearing He Lan’s explanation, he thought it made perfect sense. A high school graduate like her really saw things differently.
He said, "You’re so insightful, dear."
He Lan laughed lightly. "I don’t know if I’m right, but I think there’s at least a little truth to it."
Bai Fendou replied, "Not just a little—it’s a lot of truth."
He Lan smiled. "Actually, I’m not entirely sure, but I think when someone keeps getting hurt, it really weighs on their heart."
She had experienced it herself.
Bai Fendou thought for a moment and said, "Don’t worry, dear. I’ll treat you well. Let’s not dwell on the past. Those people and those things are behind us. Fan Jianguo is in prison, and Guan Guiling has lost her mind, but even if they hadn’t ended up like that, it wouldn’t have anything to do with us. What’s important is that we live our lives well. Our family is doing just fine, and I don’t believe a man who works hard can’t make a good life."
He Lan nodded. "Exactly. Let’s focus on living well."
Bai Fendou said, "Ah, I can’t stay. I need to go to the train station this afternoon to pick up passengers. It’s rare to have half a day off, but I can’t just sit around at home. You rest, dear. I’ll go work."
He Lan said, "You should rest too. You’ve been working so hard..."
"I’m not tired!" he replied. "I’m full of energy. It’s not like I’ve been eating for nothing!"
He Lan: "..."
After a short nap, Bai Fendou headed straight to the train station. He loved working there because business was always good. Others had the same idea, but even with more rickshaws around, it didn’t affect his earnings much. To his surprise, he saw Wang Zizhen at the station square, surrounded by a few customers. Her business seemed to be thriving.
He walked over and greeted her, "Hey, sis, your business is booming! What brought you here?"
Wang Zizhen replied, "I learned from Brother Zhuang."
Even though Wang Zizhen was closest to Aunt Zhou, she also admired the Zhuang family. She figured that even if she wasn’t the smartest, she could learn from those who were. Since Zhuang Zhixi thought the train station was a good place to sell, Wang Zizhen decided to give it a try. Unlike Yinlai, who had to work during the day and could only sell things after work, Wang Zizhen had time during the day. However, selling near the factory during work hours wasn’t ideal, so the train station, with its constant flow of people, was a better choice.
Even though most people were in a hurry, those who stopped by usually bought in bulk. Her "buy ten, get one free" deal made customers feel like they were getting a bargain, so they often bought more than they needed.
Whether it was underwear or socks, these items didn’t spoil, so it made sense to stock up. Plus, many travelers were either visiting family or on business trips, and those who could afford to travel usually had decent incomes. It was normal for them to buy extra to save for later.
Wang Zizhen had been selling for two days, and sales were going well.
Bai Fendou said, "Not bad at all."
"Rickshaw?"
Bai Fendou immediately responded, "Coming!"
He didn’t have time to chat further and quickly left.
Wang Zizhen glanced after him and then continued selling. It was surprising how such small items like underwear and socks could have such a huge market. When they first stocked up, they had pooled together nine thousand yuan, and Wang Zizhen had been nervous about whether they’d sell. But to her amazement, they sold out in just a few days.
The market was far bigger than they had imagined. Now, on their third round of restocking, they were still selling well every day.
Wang Zizhen couldn’t help but marvel: "This city is just too big, way too big. We’ve restocked three times with tens of thousands of yuan worth of goods, and none of it has been left unsold. Just how many people are there in this city? And how many are constantly coming and going?"
The thought made her head spin.
As she pondered this, a young man approached her. "Boss, I’m buying a lot. Can you give me a better deal?"
Wang Zizhen replied, "This is already a discounted price. I can’t go lower."
"I want fifty pairs of men’s underwear and a hundred pairs of men’s socks. Can you give me a discount?"
Wang Zizhen: "Deal!"
She was decisive.
She remarked, "You’re buying so much."
The young man explained, "I don’t get to travel often, so I always bring back gifts. I’m from a sports school, and I’m here to collect an award on behalf of my classmate. Our teacher said everyone should buy a gift, and the school will reimburse us. Pretty cool, right?"
Wang Zizhen: "..."
She nodded seriously. "Your school is really something."
But...
She kept the rest of her thoughts to herself. After all, she was here to make money.
Bringing back underwear and socks as gifts was unheard of—it was downright bizarre.
But in business, you couldn’t afford to be picky. They quickly settled on a price, the young man paid, stuffed the items into his bag, and happily headed to the train station.
Wang Zizhen muttered to herself, "Young guys really don’t know how to shop."
While these items were practical, they were also just... weird.
If someone told her they’d brought her a gift from a trip, and she opened it to find underwear, she’d be stunned too.
Of course, practicality was good, but bringing back underwear as a souvenir was just... Wang Zizhen scratched her head. At least the young man had bought something useful.
Many years later, when Wang Zizhen sent her son Siyuan off to university, she ran into the same young man again. He was there to drop off his younger brother, and coincidentally, the two boys ended up as roommates. The young man recognized Wang Zizhen and was thrilled to see her.
He said, "Big sister, you have no idea, back when I came to Sijiu City to buy underwear, on average, each pair was nearly ten cents cheaper than back home. Socks were three cents cheaper per pair too. My teacher and all my classmates said I was really good at bargaining. Everyone was so happy, and ever since then, I’ve been the one in charge of negotiating prices for our class purchases. Hehe."
At that moment, Wang Zizhen was deeply moved. Indeed, the thought process of a lively, sporty young boy was always different from that of a housewife like her.
But this wasn’t many years later. Wang Zizhen was still marveling at the surprising incident of underwear being given as a gift.
Because she had encountered a big customer, her stock was almost gone. Wang Zizhen planned to clear out the remaining items and then head home to restock. Suddenly, she spotted two familiar figures in the crowd exiting the station.
Although it had been over a decade since she last saw them, Wang Zizhen recognized them immediately.
They were the son and daughter-in-law of her former neighbors from her hometown. They were from the same village as Wang Zizhen. Back when she left the village, they had been married for two or three years, just a couple of years older than her eldest brother. But now, they looked well into their forties.
Both of them were carrying woven plastic sacks, and Wang Zizhen wondered what had brought them to Sijiu City.
After so many years apart, instead of feeling moved at the sight of people from her hometown, Wang Zizhen felt a pang of wary caution.
However, her worry quickly faded when she realized that the couple didn’t recognize her at all. Perhaps because she was running a stall, they glanced at her curiously, but the train station was crowded with vendors, and their eyes wandered from stall to stall before they finally found a spot to squat down, seemingly waiting for someone.
Their gaze didn’t linger on her, and they looked at her as if she were a complete stranger. They hadn’t recognized her at all.
The spot they chose to squat was quite close to Wang Zizhen, but they still didn’t recognize her.
Wang Zizhen pursed her lips and then understood.
When she first left home, she had just come of age. Malnourished and constantly running around the mountains looking for food, she had been dark, skinny, and frail, with dry, yellowish hair. She looked like a wild child. But now, her hair was thick and black, cut short and permed.
Having worked as a temporary worker in a clothing factory for several years, she had spent most of her time indoors, which had lightened her complexion and added some weight to her frame.
Moreover, she had been young back then, and now she had matured. Since coming to Sijiu City, perhaps because she was eating better, she had even grown a bit taller. She looked quite different from before.
But to say she was completely unrecognizable would be an exaggeration. It was just that after more than a decade, memories had faded, and Wang Zizhen had changed so much that it was only natural they saw her as a stranger.
After all, in their minds, Wang Zhaodi had been practically sold off, and she had cut ties with her family. How could she possibly be doing well?
Wang Zizhen continued selling her goods as usual, unbothered. Since they hadn’t recognized her, it didn’t matter. Even if they had, as long as she didn’t admit it, it wouldn’t have been a problem.
After all, she had even changed her name.
Not long after, a woman hurried over and called out to the couple, "Brother, sister-in-law!"
"Whew! You’re finally here. We were so worried we’d miss you."
Wang Zizhen didn’t have a strong impression of this woman. She had left home just after coming of age. She kept her head down, continuing to sell her goods, but her ears perked up. She overheard the three of them exchanging pleasantries and, to her surprise, heard them mention her family.
It was the neighbor’s son who brought it up. He said, "I know you’re the best, little sister, always thinking of us. The girl next door, Wang Zhaodi, was said to have married someone in Sijiu City. She hasn’t been back home in over ten years, and there’s been no contact. Every time Auntie mentions her, she curses her as an ungrateful wretch, saying she wasted the family’s rice and grain."
The woman in worker’s clothes rolled her eyes and said, "Come on, what kind of marriage was that? They sold her off. How can they expect her to come back? Besides, even if she did marry, it’s unlikely she married someone in the city. With her background, who in the city would marry her? She probably ended up in some rural area nearby. Married to a divorced man, with her family treating her like a commodity, even if she wanted to come back, her in-laws probably wouldn’t allow it. Unlike me, I’m a worker, and I’ve given their family a grandson. That’s why I have a say in things."
"Exactly, little sister, you’re the best."
The woman said, "You know it. When you go back, tell Mom and Dad to stay away from that family. I can’t stand them."
The neighbor’s son quickly agreed, "I know. Our families don’t interact much anyway. They’ve become so arrogant since they had a son. It’s like they’re a completely different family now. Back then, they were humble because they didn’t have a son. But now that they do, they strut around like they own the place. Their son is only ten, but he’s already spoiled rotten. He even came into our yard and pulled up our vegetables. It drove Mom crazy."
"I heard about that last time I was home. That’s why I said to just ignore them."
"I know. It’s only because I came to Sijiu City that I remembered Wang Zhaodi was said to have married here. She’s the one who married the farthest away. Whether she’s doing well or not, at least she’s not burdened by her family. Her sisters are all supporting their parents and their brother, as if he’s their only hope. The whole village laughs at them. They’ve spoiled that boy so much, he’s already causing trouble at such a young age. He even bullied your nephew. I can’t stand him. What kind of future does a brat like that have? The whole family is a mess. The parents don’t even work anymore, just relying on their daughters. Who retires at fifty? Especially when they still have a ten-year-old son to raise. They want the benefits of being elders without putting in the work."
"Stay far away from people like that."
"I know."
"Let’s go."
"Little sister, this place is so lively…"
By now, Wang Zizhen had almost sold out. As she watched the three of them walk away, chatting, she felt a strange mix of emotions. She never expected to run into her old neighbors by chance, let alone hear about her family’s situation.
Wang Zizhen felt a bit dazed, but she quickly steadied herself.
She was no longer Wang Zhaodi. Since she had left, she would never go back. What happened to others was their business. She had her own life to live, and she refused to let her life be controlled by the word "brother."
She had three children of her own. She couldn’t afford to sacrifice their future for the sake of a brother.
She thought back to her childhood, remembering how she and her sisters used to sleep crowded together, all hoping for a brother. They believed that with a brother, their parents would stop having children, and there would be one less mouth to feed.
Plus, they thought having a brother would give them "backing" when they got married.
Back then, Wang Zizhen had been too preoccupied with her empty stomach to think much about it. But now she realized that her sisters had remained the same from childhood to adulthood. As kids, they had wanted a brother, and now that they had one, they were willing to sacrifice everything for him.
Only she was different.
But Wang Zizhen shrugged and strode home.
She wasn’t the odd one out. She was the normal one.
She didn’t have much life experience, but she believed the aunties in her neighborhood wouldn’t steer her wrong. They had taught her many things, and she had taken their advice to heart. Some people just aren’t destined to have strong bonds with their parents or siblings, and that’s okay. What mattered was living her life well.
She carried her bag home. Every evening, she studied with her eldest son.
Before, she had known that education was important, but as a housewife, she hadn’t thought it was necessary for her. She’d rather spend her time doing something else that could earn money for the family. But since starting her business, she had realized that not being able to read or do basic math was a real disadvantage.
It wasn’t that she didn’t know anything at all. Even the dullest person could manage basic arithmetic.
But learning more had proven useful.
When it comes to using knowledge, one realizes how little they have.
She quickly took the bus home. Since she sold out early today, she returned home earlier than usual. After getting off the bus, she wasn’t in a rush to go home. Instead, she stopped by the street corner to buy some fresh vegetables. Nowadays, life had improved, and many farmers from the countryside would come to the city to sell their produce, which was quite fresh. She bought a bunch of chives, planning to make chive pancakes at home. Then, thinking about it, she decided to bring some to her godmother and Jiang Lu as well, so she bought two more bunches.
“Wang Zizhen.”
Wang Zizhen turned around and saw Ming Mei. She smiled in surprise and said, “You’re off work early today.”
Ming Mei replied, “Yeah, things have been slow lately. What are you buying?”
She glanced over and said, “I’ll get some too. I’m craving chive pancakes.”
Wang Zizhen smiled and said, “What a coincidence, I’m making those today too.”
Looking at Ming Mei’s demeanor, she added, “Just by your energy, I can tell your new job is going well.”
Ming Mei chuckled, “If I’m this enthusiastic, of course it’s going well.”
Although she had changed jobs, she didn’t feel any discomfort adjusting to the new environment. During her first class, Ming Mei showcased her skills, and everyone treated her with respect. This kind of place suited her perfectly.
In such environments, ability was highly valued, and with Ming Mei’s dedication, she easily earned her place.
In truth, she felt she was more suited to a place like the Shichahai Sports School, but sometimes luck was hard to predict. In the end, she ended up at the Police University. Compared to her previous job, she actually preferred her current one.
She even regretted not switching jobs earlier.
In the past, her work mainly involved trivial tasks and chatting with colleagues about mundane matters. There wasn’t much meaningful work, and it felt like she was just passing the days. But now, things were different.
Although her current workload wasn’t heavy, the environment made her feel fulfilled. Sometimes, when there were major lectures by experts, Ming Mei, as a teacher, would even attend as an observer.
Compared to before, she felt her current work had more purpose. She taught her students diligently, knowing that what they learned might be useful in their future careers. After all, her students would eventually join the police force.
They might face dangerous situations, and having more skills could mean the difference between life and death in critical moments. It could also help them catch criminals. Thinking about this, Ming Mei taught with extra care and felt her work was truly meaningful. Every day, she was full of energy.
After buying the chives and paying, the two of them walked back together.
Ming Mei said, “You sold out pretty quickly today too.”
Wang Zizhen smiled proudly, “Of course, I’m quite capable.”
After saying this, she paused for a moment. In the past, she would never have said something like that.
Before she got married, her family would always say things like—
“You’re just a girl. Only having a brother will give you any real support.”
“Girls don’t need to study. Girls are naturally less intelligent and can’t learn.”
“Look at you, you can’t do anything right. How are you going to get married? Cooking, washing clothes, chopping firewood, sewing, and cleaning—these are all things you need to do. You can’t expect a man to do them. You need to be efficient.”
“You eat so much, you’re useless. Only we, as your parents, would put up with you. Go out and see for yourself—everyone says you eat like a pig.”
“You’re good for nothing…”
Perhaps because she had run into an old neighbor today, she kept recalling her parents’ words.
Ming Mei noticed Wang Zizhen’s change in expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Wang Zizhen replied, “I ran into…”
She didn’t hide it from Ming Mei. If there was anyone Wang Zizhen admired, it was Ming Mei. Not because Ming Mei had a good life, but because she seemed so clear-headed and in control of her life.
Besides, could just anyone become a teacher at the Police University?
As her neighbor, Wang Zizhen knew that the city bureau had tried to recruit Ming Mei multiple times.
So, Wang Zizhen always thought Ming Mei was clever—not in an obvious way, but in a subtle, endearing manner.
She rambled on about her family, sighing, “I don’t know why, but I suddenly remembered all the things my parents used to say to me. Even though I don’t want to believe them, the words just popped into my head, and it made me feel down.”
Ming Mei listened to her and held her hand, saying earnestly, “I think the reason you remember these things so clearly is because they’ve always bothered you. Even the smallest thing can bring them back. It’s because you’re still unsettled that you feel this way. But you don’t need to care about what they said. Whether your parents had a son or your sisters became ‘brother-reliant’—as my mother-in-law aptly puts it—none of that is your fault. It’s already hard enough for you to break away from that, and you wanted to. They didn’t. So, you don’t need to worry about your sisters. You’re not them—how can you know what makes them happy? Your goals are different. As for what your parents said, think about it—they’ve never left the village. Their worldview is limited to their small corner of the world. Does that mean what they say is right? I don’t think so. Their perspective is narrower than yours, so why should you take their words to heart? Their shallow understanding can’t guide you, so there’s no need to dwell on their words. Trust yourself. You know what’s right and wrong, don’t you?”
Wang Zizhen laughed and said, “You make so much sense.”
She linked arms with Ming Mei and said, “I never knew you were so good at giving advice, but I know you’re right.”
Ming Mei said, “Don’t think about them anymore. Don’t let unimportant people drain your emotions. It’s not worth it! You should focus your energy on the people who care about you—Da Qiang and Siyuan are the ones who matter. If you’re unhappy, they’ll be upset too. They care about you a lot.”
“That’s true.”
She took a deep breath and said loudly, “To hell with that brother of mine! He has nothing to do with me!”
“That’s the spirit!”
Ming Mei always believed that as long as a person could stay strong, they could overcome anything. And although Wang Zizhen was feeling down now, Ming Mei was sure she’d bounce back soon. After all, Wang Zizhen had a resilient personality.
The two of them quickly returned to their usual selves, and Wang Zizhen’s mood improved. She said, “Come on, I’ll help you make the chive pancakes.”
Ming Mei exclaimed, “Ah! That’s perfect!”
She wasn’t good at these things at all.
Having someone to help was always a blessing.
Ming Mei said cheerfully, “I knew you were the best.”
Wang Zizhen smiled and said, “Of course, I’ve always been great.”
She thought to herself, maybe running into her old neighbor was fate’s way of reminding her how right her decision had been. If she hadn’t decisively left home, if she hadn’t listened to Aunt Zhou’s advice to cut ties with her family, she might have ended up like her sisters—sacrificing herself to support her brother, letting that family of leeches suck her dry.
She had no doubt that would have been the outcome.
This chance encounter made her realize that her choice had been the right one!
Wang Zizhen regained her energy and said with determination, “When I changed my name, I said I would cherish myself. Now, I’m going to make sure I do!”
Ming Mei smiled and gave her a thumbs up.
