Good news brings a cheerful spirit.
This saying couldn't be more fitting for the Zhuang family.
Recently, there has been a string of good news. Not only did Hutou get accepted into university, but Zhuang Zhixi also encountered a stroke of luck. Initially, he had only intended to write something to raise awareness, but unexpectedly, his work caught someone's attention.
Zhuang Zhixi was in a daze, but he still agreed to Teacher Zou's proposal. Although the payment wasn't much, it was an honor, and such opportunities didn't come often. As the original author, Zhuang Zhixi was also invited to join the adaptation process. Teacher Zou enthusiastically extended the invitation, believing that the author's involvement would add depth and appeal to the story.
Every time Teacher Zou brought this up, Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but think, "You understand it better than I do."
But he quickly swallowed those words. It wouldn't be right to dampen Teacher Zou's enthusiasm, would it?
To be honest, Zhuang Zhixi hadn't expected much from Teacher Zou, who seemed rather ordinary at first glance. But it turned out he was quite impressive. Not only was he the deputy director of the film academy, but he also held a position as a section chief at the television production center.
Even though there was a shortage of talent at the time, holding such dual leadership roles was no small feat.
Despite being a leader, Teacher Zou preferred to be addressed as "Teacher Zou."
Although this was Zhuang Zhixi's personal matter, the machinery factory was very cooperative. When the production center requested to borrow Zhuang Zhixi for a period of time, the factory didn't hesitate and quickly arranged it. Before Hutou's college celebration banquet could even be held, Zhuang Zhixi had already started working at the television production center.
He arrived early in the morning to report, but Teacher Zou was already there, waiting for him. Teacher Zou guided him through the necessary procedures. Although Zhuang Zhixi wasn't a permanent employee, he still needed a work pass for convenience, especially for entering and exiting the premises and using the cafeteria.
After completing the formalities, Zhuang Zhixi was introduced to many of the staff members. Regardless of what people might have been thinking internally, everyone greeted him warmly on the surface.
Zhuang Zhixi was assigned to a small office with five other people.
After observing his surroundings, Zhuang Zhixi noticed that the staff in this office were relatively young, which gave him a rough idea of the situation. It was clear that Teacher Zou had been thoughtful in his arrangements.
Sure enough, as soon as Zhuang Zhixi sat down, Xiao Ma, who was sitting across from him, struck up a conversation. "So, brother, you're here mainly for the 'Erhua' project, right?"
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Yes, since I'm the original author, Teacher Zou thought it would be helpful for me to contribute and bring out more depth in the story."
Since Zhuang Zhixi was on loan and didn't seem to be staying permanently, his colleagues didn't feel threatened by him. Xiao Ma smiled and said, "Well, when this project kicks off, I definitely want to be part of it. I read the content, and it's really well-written. You've got so much material here—I could never come up with so many deceptive tactics."
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "Actually, I gathered a lot of this information and consulted some older folks. By the way, what do you usually work on here?"
"Ah, just organizing materials. It's all about accumulating knowledge," Xiao Ma replied. Then he asked, "How old are you, by the way? You look really young."
Zhuang Zhixi answered, "I'm thirty-two."
Xiao Ma was stunned. "What? Then why did I call you 'brother'? You're seven years older than me!"
Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh.
Xiao Ma sighed, "You really do look young. Oh, right, you're from the machinery factory. I heard someone from your factory recently ran off?"
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Yeah, it's common knowledge in the city. There was indeed someone like that."
"Speaking of which, your factory has had its share of drama. I remember years ago there was a guy named Bai Fendou, also from your factory. I was just a kid back then, but I still remember the stories. Wait—do you know him?"
Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "He's my neighbor."
Xiao Ma was speechless.
Another colleague, Xiao Zhao, chimed in, "Wait, so you're from the same compound? Do you also know someone named Zhou Qun?"
Zhuang Zhixi nodded again, "Also my neighbor."
The room fell silent for a moment. It was undeniable that these were some remarkable people. Even though things had calmed down over the years, the legends from that compound in the city were still unmatched. Xiao Ma couldn't help but ask, "Is that infamous toilet near your place still there?"
Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, "Do you want to go see it?"
Xiao Ma quickly shook his head, "No, no, that's not necessary."
Then he added sincerely, "Now I understand why your writing is so vivid. You've got real-life experience. Not many people have that kind of insight."
Zhuang Zhixi shrugged, "That was all so long ago."
"Doesn't matter how long ago it was—it was still a big deal. Nothing like that has happened anywhere else since. It's legendary."
"My relative works at the hospital near your compound. Every time your place is mentioned, they just shake their heads!"
Zhuang Zhixi protested, "That's not fair! It's not like there's that much going on."
When Teacher Zou walked in, he found everyone gathered around Zhuang Zhixi, fascinated by the stories from his compound. They joked that there was enough material there for a 500-episode TV drama.
Zhuang Zhixi was at a loss for words.
Teacher Zou remarked, "You're quite popular."
Zhuang Zhixi could only smile awkwardly.
Teacher Zou seemed to have misunderstood the situation entirely.
Zhuang Zhixi quickly settled into his new role. Although the work was quite different from his previous job in the publicity department, he found it interesting and felt he was learning a lot. Even if he might not use this knowledge in the future, it was still valuable.
As Zhuang Zhixi adapted to his new environment, the weekend arrived, and with it, Hutou's college celebration banquet.
Hutou had spent the week helping his grandmother at her stall, which left him tanned and a bit thinner. The Zhuang family had good genes, and Hutou's sharper features made him even more handsome after losing some weight.
Somehow, Teacher Zou had heard about Zhuang Zhixi's nephew's celebration and offered to come along to soak up some of the festive atmosphere, as his own child would be taking the college entrance exam the following year. Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao, like two eager sidekicks, immediately volunteered to help out as well.
Zhuang Zhixi wasn't blind—it was clear that Teacher Zou had some influence, or else why would these two be so eager to tag along?
But Zhuang Zhixi didn't mind. After all, he wasn't a permanent employee at the production center.
Early in the morning, Teacher Zou arrived on his bicycle, flanked by his two loyal companions, heading toward Xinghua Lane.
When Teacher Zou learned that Zhuang Zhixi was from Xinghua Lane, specifically the infamous Compound 44, he was genuinely surprised. It seemed that life experience truly enriched one's ability to depict reality. As for attending the celebration banquet, he wasn't just curious about the compound's residents—he was simply eager to bond with his new colleague. Riding their bicycles into the lane, they immediately spotted the legendary public toilet, the site of the infamous "falling into the pit" incident.
Teacher Zou quickly stopped his bike, put on his glasses, and circled the toilet twice, nodding thoughtfully. "This toilet has clearly been renovated. It must have collapsed back then."
"Your eyes are sharp! You noticed it right away," Xiao Ma praised.
Xiao Zhao added, "Of course! Teacher Zou is very observant."
As the three of them stood there inspecting the toilet, Little Sister Yu emerged from it, eyeing them suspiciously. She glared at them, clearly suspecting they were up to no good. Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao forced awkward smiles, trying to appear friendly.
Little Sister Yu snapped, "Are you trying to be perverts?"
They were taken aback.
Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao protested, "No, no, we were just being polite!"
But Little Sister Yu wasn't convinced. "You don't look like decent people."
Teacher Zou tried to intervene, "Comrade, you've misunderstood them."
Little Sister Yu scoffed, "And you're no better."
This wasn’t Little Sister Yu picking a fight. Anyone coming out of a restroom to find three grown men loitering around it, grinning oddly, would naturally feel uneasy. After all, Little Sister Yu had no idea about the rich history tied to that restroom.
All three men were scolded by Little Sister Yu, and Xiao Ma naturally felt the need to explain quickly: "Comrade, we really mean no harm. It’s just that there are a lot of rumors about this restroom, so we were curious and came to take a look."
Little Sister Yu frowned, about to say more, when Wang Zizhen arrived. Wang Zizhen had also come out to use the restroom and, seeing the standoff, asked in confusion, "What’s going on here?"
She glanced at the three men—complete strangers. In these times, one couldn’t afford to let their guard down around strangers.
Xiao Ma said, "We’re here for a college celebration banquet. As we were passing by the alley, we remembered the stories about this restroom and stopped to take a look. We really mean no harm."
Little Sister Yu retorted, "What stories could a restroom possibly have? It’s just—"
Wang Zizhen tugged at Little Sister Yu’s sleeve and whispered, "You don’t know, but this restroom really does have a history."
She added in a hushed tone, "Your younger brother, Yu Baoshan, once stomped so hard on it that it collapsed."
Little Sister Yu: "……………………"
After a long pause, she finally said, "I’m sorry, I misunderstood. I just got back from the countryside and didn’t know about all this."
"It’s alright, as long as we’ve cleared things up."
Once everything was settled, Wang Zizhen pointed to a courtyard in the middle of the alley and said, "Are you heading to the Zhuang family’s place? The one with a bunch of kids at the entrance is theirs."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Xiao Zhao chuckled and said, "The women around here seem quite fierce. I’ve heard…"
He trailed off, prompting the other two to look at him. He continued, "I’ve heard that Zhuang Zhixi is also afraid of his wife. It’s quite famous in their machinery factory."
"I’ve heard that too."
"I wonder if she’s really that tough or if it’s just rumors."
Teacher Zou interjected, "Don’t listen to such baseless gossip. Spreading rumors like that is no different from being a gossipmonger. Besides, I think being afraid of one’s wife isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If the relationship isn’t strong, why would there be any need to fear?"
"Right, right."
The three of them entered the main gate together. At the entrance, Jiang Lu was seated at a table collecting gifts. Since they were here to join the festivities, they naturally handed over their gifts and signed their names. Jiang Lu could tell at a glance that they weren’t neighbors or factory workers.
But she wasn’t worried. Instead, she said warmly, "Feel free to take a seat inside."
They were relatively early, arriving just as the neighbors had finished setting up the tables. Even the children had their own seats. Each table seated ten people, and there were a total of sixteen tables. Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Teacher Zou, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."
Since they were early, most of the adults hadn’t arrived yet. A group of kids was already seated at the tables, playing Go, chattering away.
"Do you have kids here?"
Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "Yes, those two who look alike—they’re my twins."
Teacher Zou glanced over and marveled at how adorable the two kids were. They were around ten years old but already quite tall, clearly destined to be tall adults.
"Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, bring your friends over to say hello."
The kids chirped in unison, "Hello, uncles!"
Teacher Zou smiled, "Hello."
"What are you playing?"
"Go!"
Teacher Zou said, "How about I play a round with you?"
"Sure!"
Tuantuan added confidently, "Don’t feel bad if you lose."
Xiao Ma, amused by the kid’s confidence, asked, "What makes you so sure you’ll win?"
Tuantuan nodded with absolute certainty, "I’m a pro."
This made everyone laugh.
Sure enough, the kid wasn’t exaggerating. He was genuinely skilled, and Teacher Zou lost.
Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao tried to avenge Teacher Zou’s honor but also lost.
The three men fell into an awkward silence…
Jiang Lu, who had been watching the whole scene from the entrance while collecting money, tried to stifle her laughter, pretending to mind her own business. Oh, this was too funny—they couldn’t even beat a bunch of kids.
But then again, were the kids in their courtyard just ordinary kids?
Fortunately, the silence didn’t last long. People began trickling in. This banquet was quite large, with three generations of the Li family working in the kitchen. Chef Li led Yang Lixin and Li Weiwei, who were all busy preparing the feast.
The women, meanwhile, were helping out with the side tasks.
Auntie Sui remarked, "This banquet is even better than my family’s New Year’s feast."
Auntie Wang replied, "Well, the New Year’s feast happens every year, but a college celebration banquet only happens once."
"True, true."
Such a joyous occasion was rare in their alley, so everyone had come early to join in the festivities. Soon, more people arrived, and the kids immediately ran out the door. Teacher Zou noticed Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun helping to greet the guests and couldn’t help but stare curiously.
The courtyard residents were used to them, but outsiders like Teacher Zou and his companions weren’t.
This was their first time meeting Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou, both of whom were quite famous in their own right.
And indeed, they were… unusual.
That Zhou Qun—wasn’t he a bit too effeminate?
Why did he keep raising his pinky finger while talking?
It was unsettling. And Bai Fendou—why did he keep slinging his arm over people’s shoulders while talking?
With their preconceived notions, everything about them seemed off. They couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable, yet they were also oddly fascinated… and wanted to keep watching.
At that moment, Hutou also came out to greet everyone. He was wearing a clean white T-shirt with a cute panda design and a pair of jeans—a rare sight in those days.
Even in Beijing, jeans weren’t common, but with the recent airing of *The Man from the Bottom of the Atlantic*, they weren’t entirely unfamiliar.
Teacher Zou’s eyes lit up when he saw Hutou. He wasn’t opposed to new trends and, appreciating the aesthetic, nodded approvingly. "Your nephew is quite handsome. I haven’t asked yet—which university did he get into?"
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "The Film Academy. He’s studying photography."
Because Hutou was studying photography, Zhao Guihua had gifted him a camera as a reward for getting into college. Hutou had been over the moon these past few days. But on such an important day, he didn’t dare get too carried away—if he embarrassed the family, his grandma would give him a good scolding.
He politely greeted, "Hello, Uncle."
Teacher Zou was genuinely surprised, "You’re from our school? You know, with your looks, you could even be an actor."
Hutou was a humble kid. Though he was momentarily stunned to meet a teacher from his school, he quickly replied, "I’m not cut out for acting. When I first decided to pursue the arts, I wanted to study performance. I even found a retired Teacher Wen to coach me, but he almost cried trying to teach me. I really had no talent. But he noticed that I had a knack for photography—I could take decent photos just by fiddling with his camera. He thought I had a better sense for lighting and composition."
Teacher Zou nodded, "Teacher Wen, yes, I know him. He just retired last year. He’s a veteran performer and still occasionally takes on roles. But I’ve rarely heard him say someone has no talent."
Hutou scratched his head and laughed.
He was so earnest that he offered, "Want me to act something out for you?"
"Sure!"
Hutou immediately launched into a performance, and within moments, Teacher Zou spat out his drink.
Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao, who were also drinking tea, started coughing uncontrollably.
Teacher Zou said, "I get it now."
He asked, "Do you regret not pursuing acting?"
"Not at all. I’m not good at acting, but I’m good at other things. No one can be perfect at everything."
Hutou’s optimistic outlook earned him some admiration. Teacher Zou nodded, then glanced around and said, "You know, your family seems to have great genes. Everyone here is so good-looking. That young lady over there is quite pretty too."
Zhuang Zhixi looked over and said, "That’s my wife."
Teacher Zou: "…"
Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao: "…"
Wait, what? The rumors were completely off!
The rumors painted Zhuang Zhixi’s wife as a fierce, domineering woman—a real battle-axe. But who could have imagined she’d be this beautiful? With her oval face, big eyes, and youthful appearance, she looked nothing like the rumors suggested. If anything, it seemed like Zhuang Zhixi and his wife must have a pretty stress-free life.
If life were stressful and filled with hardships, one wouldn’t look so youthful, but the couple appeared young and vibrant, clearly indicating that their life wasn’t too taxing.
Ming Mei was also helping out, but since there were so many people, she was tasked with looking after the children. After all, though she seemed the most easygoing, she was the most effective at managing the kids. Children, after all, know who has the upper hand in terms of authority.
Ming Mei greeted everyone with a smile and said, “You must be Zhuang Zhixi’s colleagues. I’m Ming Mei, his wife. You can call me Xiao Ming.”
Xiao Ming…
It sounded a bit odd.
“Xiao Ming, you work at the bus station, right? I’ve heard about you.”
She was quite well-known in the city, to the point where petty thieves would steer clear of her.
Ming Mei: “Not anymore. I don’t work at the bus station now. I’ve moved to the Police Academy.”
Xiao Ma and Xiao Zhao: “…”
Oh, no wonder Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t compete with her. It would’ve been strange if he could.
Teacher Zou: “Then we’re colleagues. I’m also a teacher.”
Ming Mei chuckled and nodded, “Yes, that’s right.”
“By the way, what do you teach?”
Ming Mei: “I teach martial arts.”
The three male colleagues immediately nodded and fell silent. They wouldn’t dare underestimate her or assume she was all talk. The fact that she was so capable only proved she was the real deal.
Better not say anything wrong and risk getting punched. Best to stay quiet.
Noticing their sudden restraint, Ming Mei said, “I’ll go check on the kids.”
Zhuang Zhixi: “Go ahead.”
Teacher Zou: “Zhuang Zhixi, you go on too. We’ll be fine here. No need to fuss over us.”
Zhuang Zhixi: “Alright then. I won’t treat you like outsiders. Make yourselves at home.”
“Sure.”
There were quite a few people around, and the children were all playing outside. The kids from their compound, along with some from the neighborhood, would all have lunch here together. The little ones were having a blast.
The boys were running around, pretending to shoot, while the girls were jumping rope. Ming Mei stepped out to take a quick look, confirmed everything was fine, and then headed back inside.
Yuanyuan: “Mom!”
Ming Mei turned around: “What’s up?”
Yuanyuan: “Is it time to eat?”
Ming Mei: “Not yet. We’ll call you when it’s ready. Don’t worry.”
Yuanyuan nodded immediately: “Okay!”
After Ming Mei left, she told her friends, “We kids have our own table. We don’t have to sit with the adults.”
“Really? Will there be enough space?”
Yuanyuan nodded: “If there isn’t, we can have two tables. I know how it works.”
“That’s great! I love eating with other kids. When I eat with adults, my mom always nags me about this and that.”
“Same here.”
While the kids were chattering, a little boy was quietly watching from a distance, his eyes filled with envy. This was Erlin, Little Sister Yu’s second child. Erlin had been born with an illness. It wasn’t untreatable, but a full cure required a lot of money. Coming from a poor village, they didn’t have much, so they could only afford basic treatment. Even so, it had drained their savings, and his condition had worsened over time.
Earlier this year, the hospital had even issued a critical condition notice. That was when Little Sister Yu decided to borrow money and return to the capital for treatment.
Erlin, having been sick since childhood, didn’t have many friends. His only companion was his older sister, but she was often busy with chores. Most of the time, he was alone. Now that they were in the capital, the adults felt out of place, but Erlin didn’t feel much different.
Back home, he was often confined indoors, so being here wasn’t all that new. He was supposed to be hospitalized, but to save money, they were allowed to return home after initial treatments, which helped cut down on hospital fees. This was a small mercy for their family, as it was clear they were struggling financially.
Despite his illness, Erlin was still a curious child. Hearing the laughter and chatter of the other kids, he couldn’t help but peek out from behind the door. Back home, no one wanted to play with him.
He wanted to reach out, but no one was willing to play with him.
It wasn’t because they were afraid of catching his illness—they knew it wasn’t contagious. It was more about the fear of accidentally bumping into him or causing him harm. He was, after all, a fragile child. If something happened, who could take responsibility?
So naturally, no one played with him.
Erlin watched the other kids with longing but didn’t dare approach. He knew they didn’t like playing with him. As he rubbed his eyes, he missed his sister terribly.
“Hey, kid, come play with us!”
Yuanyuan spotted the little boy peeking from behind the door and noticed he was crying.
She waved: “Do you want to join us?”
Erlin froze, then quickly ducked back inside.
Li Zhenzhen laughed loudly: “Yuanyuan, he’s scared of you. He doesn’t want to play.”
Yuanyuan: “That’s not it. He’s just shy because he doesn’t know us.”
“Oh, right.”
“Of course.”
As the two girls chattered, Erlin peeked out again. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped out of the yard. Yuanyuan grinned triumphantly: “See? He does want to play with us.”
She asked, “Do you know how to jump rope?”
Erlin shook his head softly: “No, I don’t.”
He shuffled over to them, biting his lip, and said, “I don’t know how. Can I just watch?”
“Of course!”
“You can watch us play, or you can join the boys playing cops and robbers.”
Erlin whispered: “My mom said I can’t run around. I might faint.”
Yuanyuan: “Oh?”
Bai Qingqing leaned in and whispered: “He’s telling the truth. I heard my parents say his name is Erlin, and he’s here for treatment.”
Yuanyuan: “Oh, right! I remember my grandma mentioning it too.”
She immediately put on a serious face and asked, “Your name is Erlin, right?”
Erlin nodded.
Yuanyuan: “Then don’t run around. Just watch us jump rope. When you’re better, we’ll play together.”
Erlin quickly agreed: “Okay.”
Yuanyuan, noticing how thin he was, said, “Everyone’s coming to my place for lunch today. My brother got into university. You should come too, okay?”
Erlin: “Me? I… I can come?”
Yuanyuan wasn’t sure, but she said, “If you want to come, then come. We kids stick together. The adults don’t bother us.”
Erlin didn’t fully understand, but he nodded eagerly, a smile breaking out on his face. He said, “My sister knows how to jump rope too.”
“You have a sister?”
Erlin nodded quickly: “Yes, my sister is amazing. She can pick flowers, dig up vegetables, and jump rope. She knows so much.” His voice grew softer, and he rubbed his eyes: “I miss her.”
Yuanyuan suddenly understood—this little boy missed his sister.
“Then get better soon. Once you’re cured, you can go home and see her.”
“Yeah.”
The kids decided to stop jumping rope and sat together, chattering away.
When Little Sister Yu realized her son had wandered off, she panicked and rushed out to find him. She saw him sitting with a group of children, big and small, laughing happily.
It had been a long time since she’d seen her son laugh like that.
She watched for a while as Li Zhenzhen skillfully made a flower crown and placed it around Erlin’s neck. The little boy clapped his hands in delight.
After all, he was just a four-year-old child.
Little Sister Yu watched for a while, reassured, and then returned home to continue her busy work. Their family had started a small street food stall. The first couple of days were slow, and they had to bring home unsold food, which made her cry at night.
But things quickly improved. Their rolled pancakes, filled with rice, vegetables, and optional eggs, were convenient and popular, especially near the hospital. Others were selling food nearby, but it didn’t affect their business at all.
After selling for just a few days, the couple felt full of energy. To earn money, they decided to sell twice a day, at noon and in the evening. If it weren’t for the fact that no one would eat pancakes three times a day, they would have sold three times. They were even considering it.
Little Sister Yu went home and continued working, kneading the dough with force, saying, “Once we save up some money, we’ll bring our daughter here.”
“Good!”
This time, they had come for medical treatment, and it wasn’t convenient, but Little Sister Yu had already made up her mind. She could apply for a temporary residence permit and stay here to earn money. If they went back home, she didn’t know when they’d be able to save enough to repay her parents. She had to stay.
She also wanted her daughter to study here. All the children in this area went to school, even her brother and sister-in-law’s child was studying. Her child couldn’t fall behind.
“Let’s work hard!”
“Good!”
The couple busied themselves, unaware that Erlin had already followed some older kids into the No. 44 courtyard. He was unfamiliar with the place but curiously looked around. It wasn’t mealtime yet, but the children came over to grab some candy. No child could resist the temptation of candy.
If they could resist one piece, they’d take two.
Yuanyuan handed Erlin some candy, and Erlin smiled shyly, saying, “I’ll save this for my sister.”
“You’re such a good little brother.”
Erlin immediately puffed out his chest proudly.
Zheng Huimin came out of the house and saw the children gathered together like little hamsters, stuffing candy into their pockets. She smiled and said, “Yuanyuan, you’re eating candy again. Have you forgotten about your toothache?”
Yuanyuan had mostly lost her baby teeth, but there were still one or two left, and her little cavity would ache from time to time. Ming Mei had been keeping an eye on her, not letting her eat too much candy. But the little girl couldn’t help herself.
Yuanyuan pursed her lips and quickly defended herself, “I’m getting candy for my brother, not for me. Besides, my name is Yuanyuan, not Zhuang Yuanyuan. My name is Zhuang Chen.”
“You’re Zhuang Yuanyuan.”
Yuanyuan pouted. This Sister Zheng was really a bit annoying, always picking on kids. She stuck out her tongue at Zheng Huimin, who retorted, “If you eat too much candy, I’ll tell your mom. Then, hehe, it’ll be bamboo shoots and pork for you.”
Yuanyuan: “!!!”
See, there are always these kinds of older sisters.
Yuanyuan muttered, “Then I’ll tell Brother Li Junjun.”
As if she didn’t know how to tattle either.
Hmph!
Zheng Huimin blushed and said, “You little troublemaker, there’s nothing between us.”
Little Yuanyuan put her hands on her hips. “Then why are you blushing? Hmph.”
Even though she was just a child, she wasn’t stupid. She could see what was going on.
Zheng Huimin muttered, “Kids these days are all so sharp.”
She peeked around, looking for Li Junjun, and saw him helping out in the kitchen.
Zheng Huimin immediately asked, “Where’s your sister? Where’s your sister Xiao Yanzi?”
Yuanyuan replied, “She went out to get the roast duck.”
They had ordered a roast duck dish from outside, and Xiao Yanzi had gone to pick it up that morning.
Zheng Huimin breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, okay.”
As long as Li Junjun wasn’t with Xiao Yanzi, it was fine. Even though she was too busy making money to focus on romance, Zheng Huimin still liked Li Junjun. What girl wouldn’t be moved by a hero saving the damsel?
Though she wasn’t as obvious about it as before, she still liked Li Junjun a lot.
When she had liked Su Jinlai in the past, she had nothing, so she had clung to him desperately. But now, she liked Li Junjun differently. She had a job and could earn money, so she wasn’t going to chase after him obsessively.
She wanted Li Junjun to see how good she was.
Of course, she was also too busy to bother with him right now.
Li Junjun was important, but making money was even more important.
Zheng Huimin rested her chin on her hand, watching Li Junjun. He really was great—not the most handsome, but definitely the most manly. No one else could compare to him. No one at all.
Guan Hong came out and saw Zheng Huimin surrounded by pink bubbles. She scoffed and said, “It’s no use looking. He doesn’t like you.”
After living in the courtyard for a while, they could all see that Li Junjun had feelings for Xiao Yanzi. Thankfully, Xiao Yanzi didn’t seem to feel the same way—she hadn’t even noticed.
This was… perfect.
Zheng Huimin said confidently, “So what if he doesn’t like me now? He’ll come around eventually. As long as I keep improving myself, he’ll see how great I am.” She glanced at Guan Hong and added, “As for you, stop causing trouble for me.”
Guan Hong shot back, “What are you talking about? We’re competing fairly.”
“Of course, it’s fair. But if you play dirty, you’re a dog.”
“And if you play dirty, you’re a pig.”
The two of them glared at each other like fighting roosters.
The three bystanders who had overheard the whole exchange: “…”
Are young people’s relationships always this complicated these days?
Today was particularly lively. Wang Xiangxiu had brought her son along to help. Su Jinlai didn’t want to work, but his mom was a tyrant, so he was forced to come and tend the fire. He felt like Yang Paifeng—full of talent but reduced to a fire-tender.
He was miserable.
Just then, Li Junjun came out carrying a big pot of food. Both Zheng Huimin and Guan Hong rushed over, saying, “Let me help!”
Li Junjun: “…No need!”
Su Jinlai looked on with envy. Ugh, hadn’t these two women given up on Li Junjun already? Why were they fawning over him again? His greatest wish was for them to focus on making money so they wouldn’t have time to be Li Junjun’s groupies.
Su Jinlai sighed gloomily, feeling that life was particularly bleak.
Tonglai glanced at him and warned, “Don’t cause any trouble, okay?”
Su Jinlai: “!!!”
He protested, “What kind of person do you think I am?”
Tonglai replied, “Whether you are or not, I’m just reminding you. If you cause trouble here, Mom won’t let it slide.”
Su Jinlai sighed again. “I get it!”
The three bystanders, once again witnessing the drama: “…”
What on earth is going on here?
The love and hate in this courtyard are a bit hard to follow.
Their bewildered expressions were so obvious that Li Weiwei, who had just come out, kindly explained, “It’s pretty complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”
Xiao Ma quickly asked, “So those two girls live together and like that burly guy?”
Li Weiwei nodded. “Yep.”
That’s right, they both like my brother!
Though he figured they liked money the most. His brother was just second place.
Xiao Ma asked again, “What about the one tending the fire?”
He’s not bad-looking.
Li Weiwei replied, “Oh, Su Jinlai? Haven’t you heard of him? His nickname is ‘Big Bird.’”
The three bystanders: “…”
They’d vaguely heard of it.
Li Weiwei got excited. Though he was a young man, he had a soft spot for gossip. He said, “So, these two ladies originally liked Su Jinlai, but then someone came looking for trouble, and Su Jinlai wasn’t manly about it… blah blah blah… Then my brother, this guy here, he saved the day… blah blah blah… So the two ladies switched targets… blah blah blah… But my brother doesn’t actually like either of them. He likes someone else, but that person doesn’t like him… blah blah blah…”
Teacher Zou sighed, “I should’ve brought a pen and paper.”
What great material! It’s a shame not to write it down.
He said, “Go over it again, and I’ll take notes.”
Li Weiwei grinned. “Oh, and I’m part of the story too. I went on a date with her, but during the date, she ended up liking Su Jinlai…”
Guan Hong couldn’t take it anymore. “Li Weiwei, you gossipy fool! Why are you blabbing about something that happened ages ago? Do you have to tell everyone? What, you think you’re so special? No wonder you can’t find a wife!”
Li Weiwei shot back, “If I married someone like you, I’d be doomed. That’s why I’m careful about finding a wife. I’d hate to end up with someone like you.”
Guan Hong was furious. “And I don’t want to end up with someone like you either! You’re useless, not even as bold as a woman. Frankly, men without courage are trash!”
The three bystanders: “…”
Everyone else who had been eavesdropping: “…”
Guan Hong shouted loudly, "All men are the same, useless and only good at boasting. They're all trash!"
Everyone: "..."
This female comrade is quite fierce.
Guan Hong didn't seem to care at all. She glared at Li Weiwei, who couldn't help but take a step back. Guan Hong snorted heavily, tossed her head, and walked inside.
Li Weiwei: "Phew~"
Zheng Huimin: "Big mouth!"
Li Weiwei: "..."
He stood pitifully in place as his grandmother called out, "Li Weiwei, have you lost your mind? A grown man gossiping about a female comrade outside, how shameless! Get back here now!"
Li Weiwei scurried back without a moment's delay.
Once inside, the old lady didn't hold back and smacked him twice on the back. Li Weiwei looked miserable but didn't dare to say a word.
He paid the price for his big mouth. Wuwu.
The trio: "..."
This courtyard is indeed unique.
Teacher Zou: "Material, all material for storytelling."
Su Jinlai lowered his head to tend to the fire, chuckling to himself. He felt balanced now, as long as someone was more pitiful than him, he could be happy.
The joy of being human is just that simple.
This little episode seemed intense to the trio, but to others, it was as ordinary as eating or drinking. Getting smacked or scolded a couple of times? No big deal.
Totally normal.
Even the children were calm. Yuanyuan and the other kids, seeing that the meal was almost ready, had already taken their seats at the table.
Meanwhile, Little Sister Yu was at home, waiting and waiting for her child. She suddenly realized something and said, "Erlin couldn't have gone to the Zhuang family's place, could he?"
Her husband, Yang Shulin, said, "I'll go bring the child back. We didn't bring a gift, so it's not right for him to eat at their place."
In their village, some families hosting banquets didn't allow children to attend. Times were tough, and people were very particular about such things. The couple felt it was inappropriate and quickly got up. However, Old Lady Yu glanced at Little Sister Yu and said, "Go and give a gift. Just one mao will do."
Little Sister Yu: "Huh?"
She was confused. The two families hadn't interacted much.
Old Lady Yu: "I've cursed their family before, so they probably don't like me. If I go, I might not get a warm welcome, and others might chase me away. I've cursed too many people; enemies are everywhere. But it's different for you. You've been gone for over a decade, so there's no awkwardness. Go ahead. Since we all live in the same alley, you should go and give a gift. Then you can take the child and eat there."
Little Sister Yu: "Huh?"
It wasn't that she wanted to be surprised, but her mother had never participated in such events before because they required giving gifts. Her mother always thought it was a waste of money.
Seeing her daughter's shocked expression, Old Lady Yu smiled smugly and said, "For ordinary families, one mao is enough. I've seen their dishes; they're really good. With one mao and bringing your child, you're definitely getting a good deal. You won't lose out. Go and eat! Besides, you can soak up some good luck. Who knows, maybe your two kids will also go to university someday."
Little Sister Yu: "..."
She knew her mother wasn't the type to take a loss.
Old Lady Yu: "Go on."
Little Sister Yu: "But..."
Old Lady Yu: "No buts. We're not losing out by giving one mao, and they might not be completely losing out either. Besides, it's rare for the child to play outside. Dragging him home wouldn't be good. Kids need to interact with other kids, or they'll get stifled. Go on, go on."
Little Sister Yu felt extremely awkward, but Old Lady Yu quickly pushed her out the door.
After hesitating for a moment, Little Sister Yu finally headed toward the Zhuang family's place. She wondered how to bring up taking her child away. It felt inappropriate to just show up and join the feast when they weren't familiar. She bit her lip, hesitating at the door.
He Lan didn't recognize Little Sister Yu and wasn't familiar with her. She simply said, "Come in, come in, find a seat. The feast is about to start."
Although there were many unfamiliar faces, He Lan assumed everyone coming was there for the celebration. Little Sister Yu, called in by He Lan, finally entered. Now it was even harder to leave, so she quickly went to register her gift.
He Lan seated her at the women's table. Little Sister Yu felt extremely awkward. She looked around but didn't see her son. She quickly asked, "Comrade, have you seen a little boy? He's thin, about three or four years old, wearing..."
He Lan: "You mean Erlin?"
She said, "He's in the backyard with the other kids. If you're worried, you can go check on him."
Little Sister Yu thanked her, deeply impressed that her son had become so well-known in such a short time. She walked to the connecting area between the front and back yards and looked out. The kids were busy picking peanuts, chattering about school.
Her son was among them, his little hands busy as he ate and asked questions. He said seriously, "I overheard my mom saying that when my sister comes, she'll also go to school."
His sister wasn't in school yet.
But all the older kids went to school, so his sister should too.
Li Zhenzhen immediately said, "When your sister comes, I'll take care of her. If anyone bullies her, I'll gather the gang and beat them up."
Erlin: "Ah, great!"
He was overjoyed, feeling like he'd accomplished something big. He'd found a protector for his sister.
"Is school fun?"
"Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. But when kids get older, they all have to go to school. If you don't go, you won't understand anything and will be illiterate," Yuanyuan said gloomily. "What I hate the most is that the PE teacher is always sick. If he's always sick, why is he a PE teacher? But our Chinese and math teachers are always healthy and take over his classes."
"Ugh!"
All the kids shared the same lament.
Erlin: "Oh, okay."
He didn't quite understand, but he made a mental note to tell his sister later.
Little Sister Yu watched for a while, feeling reassured. Her heart warmed, and she became even more determined to bring her daughter over soon.
But what she didn't know was that at that moment, a skinny little girl of about seven or eight, with unevenly cut hair like it had been chewed by a dog, was sneaking onto a train, blending in with the crowd as if she were with an adult.
She was thin and small, her clothes tattered, and her face bore red marks from scratches. But her eyes were bright and alert as she squeezed onto the train and tucked herself into a corner, warily watching the people around her.
She listened carefully to the conversations. Someone asked, "Fellow villager, where are you headed?"
"I'm going to the capital. My child is serving in the military there. I haven't seen him in years, so he asked me to come."
"Me too, I'm also going..."
The little girl breathed a small sigh of relief.
That's right, this train was heading to the capital. She hadn't boarded the wrong one.
She was going to find her parents and her little brother.
She didn't want to stay here anymore!
This was Little Sister Yu's daughter, Xing'er. Though she had been left with her grandparents, they lived with her uncle's family, who treated her poorly. She had to do endless chores and was often beaten.
Her older cousin even deliberately scratched her face with a branch because she hated how Xing'er was prettier than her.
Her aunt refused to feed her, saying she was no better than a beggar, and would secretly pinch her. Her grandparents saw it all but could only sigh helplessly. They told her that her mother, being an educated youth, would surely abandon her and her brother, never returning to the countryside.
They also said her brother was sickly and wouldn't live long, so she'd never see him again because sickly children were doomed to die.
Little Xing'er was heartbroken. Last night, she was beaten again and cried alone outside. The Village Head's wife secretly gave her a steamed bun, but Xing'er didn't eat it. She saved it, and under the cover of night, she packed her small bundle and sneaked out, heading to the city. She was determined to make it to the capital on her own.
She walked into the town and then managed to board a bus heading to the city. She had thought she would be discovered, but the ticket seller assumed the woman in front of her was her mother and didn’t ask any questions. Just like that, Xing'er found a way to escape. No one would have imagined that such a young girl could be so bold, but she had done it. She made her way to the train station and, pretending to be a child traveling with her parents, followed some adults onto the train. As expected, no one questioned her.
She was determined to find her family. Her uncle and his family were terrible people, and she refused to stay with them any longer.
She had to go to the capital to find her parents. Only then would her little brother not die!
Huddled in a corner, small and unnoticed, she felt a mix of fear and determination.
As the train pulled away, she had no idea that back in her village, everyone was in an uproar searching for her.
The Village Head was pointing at her uncle and aunt, scolding them harshly: "If we find this child, fine. But if we don’t, you’ll be eating prison food! I’ve seen many cruel and heartless people, but none as bad as you two. Taking advantage of the parents’ absence to abuse their child. Are you even fit to call yourselves her uncle and aunt? You should hide when it rains—people as wicked as you deserve to be struck by lightning!"
"She ran away herself, and now you’re blaming us?" the old couple defended their son. "She’s just a girl. If she’s gone, she’s gone."
The old couple’s words were as cruel as ever.
"That girl and her sickly brother—their parents should’ve listened to me and had another child. Instead, they insisted on raising those two, and now look at the mess they’re in. A girl can’t carry on the family name, so what does it matter if she’s gone? I always said she was a waste of food, and that little brother of hers is nothing but bad luck. Sick from birth—no amount of money can fix that. Our son has his own life to live too."
Their son chimed in, "Exactly! Did you expect me to babysit for free? We have our own work to do. Don’t blame us."
The Village Head spat, "Don’t think I don’t know the truth. You weren’t babysitting for free—you took their food and supplies while abusing the child. You deserve divine punishment!"
A gossipy woman from the village added, "That girl of theirs is just as wicked. At such a young age, she’s already jealous and deliberately scratched someone’s face. Families with daughters better keep an eye on their kids. That girl is trouble—better stay away from their family."
Everyone looked at the family with disdain, their disgust evident.
"You... you..." the family stammered, unable to defend themselves further.
The Village Head cut in, "Enough! Let’s focus on finding the child!"
Deep down, he knew that even if they didn’t find her, they couldn’t have the police arrest the uncle’s family. Such things had never happened before, and the older generation in the village wouldn’t allow it.
Besides, the family was adamant they knew nothing, leaving everyone helpless.
But he was furious. How could people be so cruel, especially to their own relatives? It was despicable!
He spat again and ordered, "Let’s keep searching!"
As the crowd dispersed, only two people remained. The Village Head’s mother pulled him aside and said, "I saw Xing'er last night."
The Village Head immediately asked, "Where is she?"
The Old Lady replied, "They didn’t feed her again, so I gave her a piece of cornbread. But I saw her heading toward her own house."
"Her parents aren’t home, and the house is locked. Why would she go there?"
The Old Lady shook her head. "I don’t know. Later that night, when I went out to use the restroom, I saw her again. She seemed to be carrying something and heading toward the edge of the village. At the time, I thought I was mistaken, but now I think it was her. That tattered little outfit—it had to be her."
Their house was close to the village entrance.
The Village Head frowned. "If she left on her own, where could she go? They’re so poor, none of their relatives in the village even talk to them."
The Old Lady suggested, "Do you think she’s trying to find her parents? That older daughter of theirs is always saying her brother is dead, and every time Xing'er hears it, her eyes well up with tears. Maybe she’s heading to the capital?"
The Village Head was shocked. "Damn it, how would she get there? She has no money, no food. A child that small traveling alone—what if she runs into traffickers? Or gets lost? The more I think about it, the more worried I get."
The Old Lady was equally concerned. "Exactly. We should ask around."
"Alright."
Compared to the Yang family, these strangers seemed far more humane. They genuinely didn’t want anything bad to happen to the little girl. Meanwhile, the Yang family’s eldest son and his wife were cursing and complaining, unwilling to help with the search.
Boss Yang even said, "That damn girl. We should’ve broken her legs to stop her from running away!"
While the village was in chaos, the capital was bustling with excitement. It was Hutou’s celebration for getting into a good school, and the atmosphere was lively. Although it was Hutou’s party, the children were the ones being pushed to perform.
Fortunately, the kids in their neighborhood were outgoing and happily sang a group song.
Ming Mei sat in her chair, watching Tuantuan and Yuanyuan sing loudly and confidently. She gave them a thumbs-up, and the two children sang even louder, beaming with pride. They loved praise and wanted as much of it as they could get.
The group sang together, but there was one little imposter among them: Erlin.
Little Erlin stood among the children, happily humming along, even though he didn’t really know the song. But singing with everyone was fun!
When the song ended, all the children received enthusiastic applause and a small piece of cake. Their faces lit up with joy, each feeling like the most capable child in the world.
Suddenly, Erlin, as if sensing something, said, "My sister is coming to find me. I’m saving this cake for her."
The adults didn’t understand a child’s intuition and simply said, "When your sister comes, we’ll all play together."
Erlin shouted, "Okay!"
