New Year's Day, early in the morning, the courtyard was already bustling with activity.
People came and went, exchanging New Year greetings, and the children were especially lively, running around energetically.
The first words everyone said upon meeting were always "Happy New Year," and Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei had woken up a bit late, rushing around. The young couple both wore red sweaters and black trousers, the same outfits they had worn for their wedding half a month ago. Ming Mei had changed into the new cotton shoes her mother-in-law had bought for her. She stretched her feet out for Zhuang Zhixi to see and said, "Look, they fit pretty well."
Although the cotton shoes were plain and couldn't compare to leather shoes, Ming Mei didn't usually buy small leather shoes. She cared about the appearance of her clothes but always prioritized comfort for her feet, knowing that she spent most of her day on the bus.
Zhuang Zhixi watched her comb her hair, his fingers mischievous on her shoulder, saying, "Shall I help you?"
Ming Mei looked at him through the mirror and teased, "Do you know how?"
Zhuang Zhixi was very confident: "Of course I know how."
His fingers ran through her hair, pulling out a strand, and Ming Mei exclaimed, "Ouch!"
She turned around, glaring, "That hurts, you know! These are my hair, not a ball of yarn."
Well, he was good at boasting, but not so good at the actual task. Ming Mei pushed him away, saying, "Alright, I'll do it myself."
She tied her hair into a high bun, which was called a "monk's head" at the time, making Ming Mei look even more fresh and bright. Zhuang Zhixi watched her finish her hair and then apply Bai Qiao Ling cream, leaning in to smell it and saying, "Mmm, it's fragrant."
Ming Mei reached out and smeared some on his face, catching him off guard: "Oh, come on!"
He said, "That's a waste on me."
Ming Mei retorted, "I'm just looking out for your dry skin," and she helped him apply the cream. Zhuang Zhixi gave Ming Mei a suggestive smile. Their eyes met, and Ming Mei let out a soft hum.
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled softly, his forehead touching hers, and said, "Wife, how can you be so good?"
Ming Mei proudly patted her chest, boasting, "My character is beyond reproach."
Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh again, saying, "You're quite the braggart!"
Ming Mei pointed at her hair and said, "Am I bragging? Is it worse than you? Look at what you did to my hair, and I'm still repaying you with kindness, applying Bai Qiao Ling for you. You know, men using clam oil is already a waste."
Zhuang Zhixi: "You're right, so my wife is the best."
He had never used such things before, but in the winter, his skin felt dry, and the cream was quite comfortable. He curiously looked at himself in the mirror, saying, "It does seem to make my skin look more hydrated."
Ming Mei gave him a playful look, pouting, and Zhuang Zhixi couldn't resist leaning down...
"Knock knock knock! Knock knock!" The sound of knocking came from the door, and outside was Hutou, the little matchmaker, shouting, "Uncle Zhuang, Auntie Ming, Happy New Year, get up, Happy New Year!"
Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei looked at each other: "..."
They both burst out laughing simultaneously. Zhuang Zhixi got up to open the door: "Happy New Year, little rascal."
"Breakfast is ready!" Hutou said, hands on his hips. He was wearing a new hat and a new padded jacket today, looking quite proud, and he shouted loudly, "Time to eat!"
The young couple went to the main house to greet Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua, and then greeted their brothers and sisters-in-law. Xiao Yanzi kept trying to get close to them, saying, "Auntie is so fragrant." Little girls were always attentive to such details.
She sniffed her little nose: "Uncle is also fragrant."
Liang Meifen reminded with a smile, "Why don't you wish your uncle and aunt a Happy New Year?"
After all, they might give out some lucky money, and Liang Meifen was hoping for that.
Xiao Yanzi said in a baby voice, "Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie."
Hutou had already wished them a Happy New Year earlier but came up again: "Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie~"
Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei exchanged a smile, and Ming Mei took out red envelopes, placing them in the children's hands, saying, "Here, take your red envelopes."
Hutou eagerly opened his, finding a dollar inside, his eyes widening: "Wow~"
At this time, children usually received red envelopes with a penny, and even a dime was considered generous. A whole dollar was exceptionally generous. Hutou was excited: "I have two dollars now!" Hearing this, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei realized that Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua had also given each child a dollar.
The kids were thrilled, and Liang Meifen was the happiest, as she had two children and each received a dollar from her in-laws and her brother-in-law's family, totaling four dollars. She had already planned to take the money from the kids later, as she didn't want them to spend it recklessly.
She was going back to her parents' house on the third day of the New Year, and with an extra four dollars, she could buy a lot of things, sure to earn her parents' praise and admiration.
Hmm, exchanging a penny for a red envelope, worth it.
Liang Meifen was lost in her happy thoughts when she heard Zhuang Zhixi ruffle Hutou's hair and say, "After I finish greeting everyone, let's go to the store, shall we? We can buy some firecrackers and candies. If you don't spend the money, your mom will take it away."
As soon as he said that, Hutou and Xiao Yanzi looked at Liang Meifen with suspicion.
Uncle Zhuang was right!
Liang Meifen: "..."
Zhuang Zhixi, you scoundrel, why are you so mean?
Zhuang Zhixi was still laughing: "Wouldn't it be better to buy some snacks to hide and eat slowly, or some fun firecrackers to play with? Don't let your mom trick you out of your lucky money."
Xiao Yanzi was too young to remember, but Hutou immediately recalled that his mom had taken his lucky money last year. Adults were the best at fooling kids. The child became alert and quickly said loudly, "Let's go buy things now!"
What you eat is what's truly yours.
Liang Meifen was so embarrassed she felt like fainting, but she managed to say, "It's not good for kids to spend money recklessly. I'm holding onto it for them, to save up. It's not good for such young children to develop extravagant habits."
Zhuang Zhixi flicked his nephew's forehead and said, "See, your mom wants it, doesn't she?"
Hutou immediately shouted, "This is my lucky money, it's mine!"
Xiao Yanzi echoed, "It's mine, it's mine!" She always followed her brother.
Zhuang Zhixi laughed heartily.
Zhao Guihua: "..."
She glared at her son and said, "You really are stirring up trouble."
However, she didn't interfere with how they spent the money, as it was already given out. Zhuang Zhixi leaned in: "Mom, my wife and I didn't get red envelopes. We're still kids too."
Zhao Guihua's mouth twitched as she stared at her son. If it weren't New Year's, she would have scolded him. How thick-skinned can you be? You can already make kids, yet you call yourself a kid. Have some shame.
Zhao Guihua looked away, snorting, and said, "No red envelopes! Eat breakfast."
Zhuang Zhixi was about to grumble a bit more when he saw the breakfast table and couldn't help but forget his complaints. The breakfast looked good!
"Oh, this is really nice!"
Besides the leftover dumplings from last night, there were tofu brains, fried dough sticks, and tea eggs, quite a variety. Although it was 1970, most places were state-owned, and service-oriented jobs didn't take holidays.
So even on New Year's Day morning, you could still buy fried dough sticks and soy milk.
Before the family finished breakfast, someone came to pay their New Year's greetings. Li Fang and Yang Lixin from the back courtyard brought their kids to visit, and Zhao Guihua gave red envelopes to the two boys, each containing five cents. It wasn't that she was stingy; among neighbors, this amount was already generous.
They had prepared various red envelopes; for those in the same courtyard or familiar neighbors, they usually gave five cents, and for less familiar children from outside, they gave a penny, just for good luck.
This was already quite a lot, as times were tough for everyone.
Their neighborhood consisted mainly of worker families, which was better than most of the country.
Li Junjun and Li Weiwei received their red envelopes and happily called out, "Thank you, Grandpa Zhuang and Grandma Zhao."
It was unnecessary to give New Year's money to the younger generation like the Zhuang brothers. If everyone were to give, which family could afford it? It was usually reserved for those of higher seniority. Yang Lixin, seeing they had finished eating, asked, "Shall we go out to pay New Year calls together?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Sure, let's go."
He put on his coat and handed a jacket to Ming Mei, saying, "Let's go, wife."
A group of young people, trailed by a few little ones, went door to door to pay their respects. The nearest was the Su family. Aunt Su had prepared red envelopes, which she distributed to the children. When the little ones saw they contained only one cent, they pouted.
Wang Xiangxiu also joined them with her children, making the group even larger.
Among the families in the front courtyard, the Zhou family was the best off, but Madam Zhou Li didn't give out a single red envelope. The children pouted unhappily. Madam Zhou Li didn't care at all; her family had no children, so why should she distribute red envelopes? There was no return on that investment, and Madam Zhou Li was absolutely unwilling to suffer a loss.
She was the kind of person who would rather eat shit than lose out!
Jinlai muttered softly, "Doesn't give every year, so stingy."
Madam Zhou Li was smug, thinking she wouldn't give, to the point of angering monkeys!
The children were dispirited, but soon perked up again. Bai Laoer had prepared something for the kids, but even among children, red envelopes differed. Seeing that other kids' envelopes were thin, while the Su family's three boys had thick ones, Jinlai glanced triumphantly at the other children, making them pout even more.
They had visited all the households in the back courtyard and naturally moved on to the surrounding courtyards, which were also home to many people, mostly from their factory and familiar to them. Ming Mei followed Zhuang Zhixi, held by his hand.
This wouldn't usually be acceptable, even for a married couple, but today was New Year's Day! No one was going to nitpick about this. Zhuang Zhixi was sweet-talking and, being good-looking, was even more popular. Handsome and sweet-talking, he was even more so. After a big loop, it was clear Zhuang Zhixi was more popular than even Yang Lixin, the cook.
As Zhuang Zhixi's wife, Ming Mei was also well-liked. It was clear they were well-matched, both good at saying nice things. After a big loop, they had paid their respects to almost everyone.
Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Hutou, shall we go to the commissary?"
He hadn't forgotten about this.
Liang Meifen's face changed, and Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "Forget it, don't take them. If you go, they'll definitely buy snacks. Hutou, Dad will take you, and we'll get you some pencils or something."
Hutou: "Ah??"
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Hutou, Xiao Yanzi, follow Dad."
Liang Meifen hesitated for a moment, then stomped her foot and followed.
With the New Year visits concluded, the group dispersed. Ming Mei and Zhuang Zhixi walked hand in hand back home. She teased, "You did that on purpose, didn't you? Your sister-in-law's face must be green."
Zhuang Zhixi said with righteous indignation, "Isn't that for the kids' good?"
Ming Mei: "Look at you smiling."
Clearly, he had ulterior motives.
Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh and said, "She tried to make me uncomfortable when I was about to get married, so it's only fair I make her uncomfortable, right? Besides, I didn't do anything. I'm very innocent. We even gave two yuan as New Year's money. Ask around, which family has an uncle as good as me?"
Ming Mei: "Hehe."
She was beginning to understand Zhuang Zhixi.
Zhuang Zhixi shook his wife's hand and said, "Let's go see a movie this afternoon?"
Ming Mei: "Huh?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "What do you say?"
Ming Mei: "Sure! I don't know what's playing now. It's been a long time since I last went to the movies."
Zhuang Zhixi: "I don't know either. Let's go check it out, whatever's playing, how about it?"
Ming Mei: "Okay."
The young couple walked hand in hand back home. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Zhao Guihua chatting with Aunt Wang, gossiping about someone. Ming Mei whispered, "I wonder what Mother is talking about."
Zhuang Zhixi: "It must be about the red envelopes. Our mom gave out the standard amount for this area. Everyone gives about the same, but Aunt Su only gives one cent every year, making the others feel cheated. So they always complain about it."
Ming Mei: "And Madam Zhou Li doesn't give at all."
Zhuang Zhixi: "She has no kids. The Su family, though..."
The three Su boys, led by Su Jinlai, would visit every household they knew or didn't know, trying to squeeze out every bit of New Year's money or snacks they could. Some families only recognized them vaguely and didn't interact much, yet the three boys still went knocking, hoping for even a handful of peanuts or a piece of candy if no red envelope was forthcoming. Thus, they were quite shameless and not well-liked in the neighborhood.
Ming Mei: "Don't their parents care?"
"What's there to care about! It might even be their parents who encourage it."
Zhuang Zhixi: "I've long been used to their ways."
Ming Mei couldn't help but laugh. Zhao Guihua saw them return and called, "Zhuang Zhixi!"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Present."
Zhao Guihua: "Make some steamed pork ribs for lunch. Start chopping the ribs now."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Sure, I'll get right on it!"
He pulled his wife and said, "We had ribs for lunch yesterday, and you missed out. You have to eat more today."
Ming Mei smiled sweetly: "Mm-hmm."
She loved ribs, finding the meat on them even more flavorful than regular meat. Zhao Guihua, after gossiping with others, came home to see her son chopping all the ribs. She didn't say anything but took out a small half to save for another time.
Having so many at once would mean no leftovers for future enjoyment.
Zhao Guihua, after gossiping and feeling parched, poured herself a cup of water and gulped it down. If it weren't for the awkwardness, she would have shared the gossip she saw last night. Jiang Lu was a real tough one, daring to drink raw chicken blood for having a baby. And it was at midnight, which made her scalp tingle just thinking about it.
However, the old lady who gave Jiang Lu the chicken blood seemed familiar. Normally, Zhao Guihua would recognize someone from the neighborhood, but this time, she felt the familiarity wasn't just because they were neighbors.
"Mom, what are you thinking about?"
"What's it to you?" Zhao Guihua asked: "Where are your brother and sister-in-law?"
"Taking the kids shopping," Zhuang Zhixi replied. "Look, you still need your youngest son. I can do anything, unlike my elder brother and sister-in-law who are slacking off." Zhao Guihua didn't believe a word of it, giving a cold laugh and saying, "Don't pretend with me. Can you really do anything? Even a three-year-old wouldn't believe that."
With that, she turned and went out.
Zhuang Zhixi shrugged and said, "I'll definitely grab all the good stuff for lunch."
Ming Mei: "Pfft!"
Lunch was still quite good, as it is with most families during the New Year, regardless of wealth. Those who could afford it would not skimp on these days, and their family was no exception.
Hearing that Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei were going to the movies in the afternoon, Hutou and Xiao Yanzi's eyes lit up. Zhuang Zhixi firmly said, "Don't look at me. I absolutely won't take you. I want some alone time with my wife. If you want to go, let your parents take you."
Hutou and Xiao Yanzi immediately looked at Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen.
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "What's there to see in a movie? Wait for the machinery factory to show one, then you can go. I need a break too. Always on the long-distance train, I feel tired. Staying healthy is essential for better contributing to society. Movies are just for pleasure; we don't need that."
The family: "..."
Zhao Guihua sincerely said, "Zhiyuan, no one cares what you say at work, but at home, speak like a human."
Zhuang Zhiyuan felt wronged; he thought he was saying something profound, but his mother just didn't get it.
Zhuang Zhiyuan wasn't happy, so Hutou and Xiao Yanzi, the two siblings, could only set off firecrackers at their doorstep. These were the ones they bought with their New Year's money. However, setting off firecrackers was still a lot of fun. If their mother had taken them away, they wouldn't have even had a single firecracker left! After dinner, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei rode their bikes out together, which made Liang Meifen envious. But spending a dime on a movie ticket was something she just couldn't bring herself to do.
She also felt a vague resentment towards Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei for not being considerate enough. What's the big deal about taking kids along? Such young children, if accompanied by an adult, wouldn't need a ticket. But if they go alone without an adult, they'd be required to buy a half-price ticket.
Although the half-price ticket was only five cents, Liang Meifen still couldn't bear to spend it. She felt like crying, but she forced herself to look up, as it was New Year's Day. Crying on this day would bring bad luck for the entire year.
She couldn't afford to be unlucky.
Liang Meifen harbored a bundle of complaints in her heart, while Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei remained oblivious, even if they knew, they wouldn't care. Zhuang Zhixi rode with Ming Mei on the back, her arms around his waist, saying, "It would be nice if we had some roasted melon seeds."
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, and Ming Mei immediately asked, "Did you prepare some?"
Zhuang Zhixi said, "Feel in my pocket."
Ming Mei reached in and found a handful of melon seeds. She sincerely praised, "You're good, thinking of this."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "They were roasted at home the day before yesterday. I originally planned to eat them while watching the festivities, but the meeting delayed, and I forgot. Today, as we were heading out to the movies, I quickly grabbed a handful, hehe."
Ming Mei said, "Not bad!"
Watching a movie without something to munch on always felt like something was missing.
"Let's buy some candy balls too," she suggested.
Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Sure."
The movie wasn't new, but there weren't many options anyway, and the cinema played the same ones repeatedly. During the New Year, they played the more popular ones. Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Have you seen it before?"
Ming Mei nodded but also said, "Let's watch it again. I think it's really good."
Zhuang Zhixi said, "Alright."
Ming Mei tilted her head and asked, "Do they show movies at your factory often?"
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Yes, we're a large factory with over ten thousand employees, so we have a dedicated movie projectionist. There are screenings about once or twice a month."
Ming Mei exclaimed, "Wow, that's quite frequent. Let me know next time there's a movie, I want to go too."
She usually had to pay to watch movies and hadn't experienced many free ones.
The couple bought tickets and entered the cinema. Despite it being New Year's Day, the place was quite crowded. Normally, the afternoon shows were sparsely attended, but today the seats were almost full. They arrived late and ended up in the back row.
Ming Mei looked around and said, "Let's come earlier next time and sit in the front."
Zhuang Zhixi comforted her, "This is fine too."
He directly put his arm around Ming Mei, holding her shoulder. Ming Mei's face turned red instantly, and she shifted uncomfortably, saying, "What are you doing? What if someone sees?"
Zhuang Zhixi said, "How could that happen? The lights will dim soon, and no one will notice. Everyone's focused on the screen; who would look back? And there's no one behind us."
He sounded quite confident.
Ming Mei glared at him, and Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, pulling her closer again. This time, Ming Mei didn't dodge but whispered, "You're not a good person."
Zhuang Zhixi laughed softly, saying, "I think I'm pretty good."
His other hand also reached out to hold Ming Mei's small hand, which was soft and delicate. Zhuang Zhixi said, "It's really nice."
Ming Mei retorted, "Tch~"
Zhuang Zhixi laughed even more visibly. Just then, the cinema darkened, and the movie started... The young couple watched the film together. Zhuang Zhixi whispered, "Did you come here often before?"
Ming Mei nodded, "Yes."
She had been busy with wedding preparations and had less time to watch movies. She used to come quite often.
Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow and said, "Alone?"
Ming Mei replied, "I usually came with my mom. She loves movies, but my dad is often away, so I'd accompany her... " Here, she paused, realizing what Zhuang Zhixi was implying. She immediately reached out to pinch him, twisting his soft spot forcefully, causing Zhuang Zhixi to wince, "Ouch!
Pain intensified!
Ming Mei said, "What's your intention? Testing me?"
Zhuang Zhixi quickly admitted, "I was wrong!"
Ming Mei chided, "It's very annoying to talk like that. If you have something to ask, just ask directly. This roundabout way of speaking is really irritating. You don't talk like your parents at all!"
She found herself more comfortable with her mother-in-law Zhao Guihua's straightforward way of speaking, even if sometimes it wasn't pleasant. If everyone in the family spoke in such a roundabout manner, Ming Mei thought it would be quite problematic.
So she said directly, "Next time, ask whatever you want to know directly. Don't play these games with me, or I won't be polite."
Seeing that Ming Mei was genuinely upset, Zhuang Zhixi quickly explained, "I didn't mean it, I just got used to speaking like that. I'm sorry, I won't do it again. I'll ask you directly if I want to know something."
Ming Mei huffed, "Hmph!"
Zhuang Zhixi tried to appease her, "Baby, I'm sorry..."
Ming Mei: "Ugh!"
She looked at Zhuang Zhixi in disbelief, unable to imagine how a grown man could speak so disgustingly. She raised her arm slightly and showed him, "Look, I'm getting goosebumps. Can you speak normally? Ugh... Baby!"
Ming Mei thought even her three-year-old nephew at her maternal home wouldn't be called that. She shook herself, feeling really grossed out.
"If you talk like that, I want to hit you."
Zhuang Zhixi whispered and laughed, saying, "Then I won't call you that anymore. You don't understand my love at all."
Ming Mei immediately retorted, "If your love is calling me 'baby,' then I don't want to experience it. Ugh... More goosebumps, look!"
She was very straightforward; there was no way she'd be okay with such a nickname.
Zhuang Zhixi said, "Let me see, let me see... Oh, so white."
Ming Mei: "Shut up!"
Her face was flushed red, feeling that Zhuang Zhixi was really no good. At this moment, Ming Mei hadn't learned the term "oily," but if her mother-in-law Zhao Guihua saw this, she'd definitely label her son with that word.
This oily young man!
Fortunately, Zhuang Zhixi was also afraid of really angering Ming Mei and stopped after a couple of playful remarks. However, he still muttered, "When we get home, I'll properly apologize to you."
Ming Mei: "Shut up!"
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled softly. Due to Zhuang Zhixi's antics, Ming Mei barely watched any of the movie. By the time she snapped back to reality, the film was more than halfway through. She turned her head and glared at Zhuang Zhixi again. Zhuang Zhixi rubbed his nose, wanting to say he was innocent but also feeling somewhat guilty.
The movie was less than an hour and a half long, but since it started in the late afternoon and winter days get dark early, by the time the movie ended, it was already getting dusky outside. Ming Mei said, "Do you think mom will get upset if we get home late?"
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "It's New Year's, it shouldn't be a problem."
He turned to look at Ming Mei and said, "If you're in a hurry, I'll take you through a shortcut."
Ming Mei, unfamiliar with the area, quickly asked, "Is there a shortcut here?"
Zhuang Zhixi said, "Of course."
He patted the bike seat and said, "Get on!"
Zhuang Zhixi rode with Ming Mei and soon turned into a nearby alley. He grew up in this neighborhood and knew every nook and cranny. He pedaled and said, "Taking the shortcut can save us over ten minutes compared to the main road. When I was a kid, I loved following my older brother around, but he didn't like taking me with him. Every time he sneaked out, I could catch up with him because of my shortcut skills."
Ming Mei chuckled.
Zhuang Zhixi said, "Let me tell you, I..." Before he could finish, a screech sounded, and their bike was blocked!
Two young men suddenly emerged from the alley, unexpectedly darting out from the shadows. One of them immediately lay down and said, "You hit my brother, pay up!"
Zhuang Zhixi: "???"
Before he could speak, two more young men appeared from behind, all four of them eyeing Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei with malicious intent, as if they were looking at easy prey. This was clearly a robbery, with no real connection to hitting anyone. And seeing how they coordinated their ambush from both ends, it was clear they had done this before.
Zhuang Zhixi furrowed his brow, ready to speak, when suddenly he felt Ming Mei's hand grasp his, gently scratching his palm.
Zhuang Zhixi steadied himself and said, "My bike didn't hit anyone. What compensation are you talking about? This is just a robbery. Why play these pointless games?"
The leader, a man with a square face, let out a cold chuckle. "What if it is a robbery? Smarten up and hand over the money. Don't make us come and take it ourselves." His gaze swept over Ming Mei, a flicker of admiration in his eyes before he leered, "Oh, you two are dating? Your girlfriend is quite a looker. Why not keep her company for a while?"
He addressed Ming Mei directly, "Little lady, why stick with this pretty boy? He's useless, not worth a damn. Why not come with me? I'll show you a good time."
The one who had pretended to be hit got up, grinning slyly. "Boss, I haven't had a woman yet. Don't forget about me!"
The four robbers cackled maliciously.
"Don't worry, everyone will get their turn. Pretty boy, hand over all your money if you know what's good for you. We'll take care of the girl, and you can get lost!"
Hearing their vile words, Zhuang Zhixi's demeanor turned icy. He had initially intended to cooperate with Ming Mei, but now, fueled by anger, he stepped forward and delivered a swift kick.
The pretend-injured henchman, the closest, was sent sprawling.
"Damn it, you dare resist? You're asking for it! Guys, teach him a lesson!"
The group lunged forward. Zhuang Zhixi was about to charge when Ming Mei pulled him back, saying, "Get out of the way."
"Oh, little lady wants to join in..."
Zhuang Zhixi turned to see Ming Mei's face, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, giving her an eerie look. Ming Mei: "You want to play with me, huh?"
With a sudden sprint, she leapt into the air, delivering a powerful kick that sent the square-faced leader sliding several meters before crashing into a wall.
Ming Mei followed up with two swift punches to his chest, forcing him to his knees with a howl.
"You... you..."
The other two, seeing the situation, rushed forward, but Ming Mei turned and delivered a punch and a kick, taking them down in an instant. In a matter of moments, all four were defeated.
Ming Mei proceeded to beat them, taunting, "Want to play?"
"Want to rob?"
"Haven't seen a woman?"
"Pretty boy?"
With each question, she landed a punch, the four men howling in pain. Ming Mei: "You really don't know who you're messing with. Trying to bully me? You should have checked who I am before picking a fight!"
Ming Mei showed no mercy. Zhuang Zhixi stood silently behind her, his eyes filled with admiration. His wife was indeed formidable! He almost had stars in his eyes, truly understanding now that rumors didn't do her justice.
The commotion finally drew attention, and someone peeked out to see what was happening. Zhuang Zhixi, still in awe of Ming Mei's prowess, finally snapped back to reality. "Buddy, could you please call the police? We've caught some robbers."
"Uh..."
The onlooker glanced at Zhuang Zhixi, then at the girl still beating the men, and quickly nodded. "Sure!"
Those criminals deserved whatever they got.
He ran off to call the police, and soon, a few officers arrived. The informant wasn't entirely clear on the details, but the police quickly followed him back. They found Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei standing aside, with the four men piled up, beaten and bruised, crying out in pain.
A few curious onlookers pointed and whispered.
"What happened? Who was robbed?"
Zhuang Zhixi stepped forward: "Officers, my wife and I were riding home when we encountered these four trying to rob us."
The police officer: "..."
He looked down at the four men, beaten to a pulp, and asked, "You did this?"
Zhuang Zhixi hesitated, then shook his head. "No, my wife did."
The officer looked at Ming Mei, skeptical. "You did this?"
Ming Mei nodded. "These bastards tried to ambush us. It's New Year's, a time to be happy, and they had to go and rob people. I didn't even go all out."
The officer: "..."
An older officer looked at Ming Mei and suddenly said, "You look familiar."
A young girl taking down four men, and looking good while doing it...
He had a flash of recognition. "Aren't you Little Ming?"
He couldn't quite recall the full name, but the surname stood out. It seemed to fit.
Ming Mei nodded. "Yes."
The older officer smiled. "No wonder you're so capable. Thank you again for your help."
He was thrilled, as this was a significant achievement. Such brazen robberies were rare these days. "Alright, cuff them and take them in. You two, come with us to make a statement."
Ming Mei and Zhuang Zhixi exchanged glances. "Sure."
In this era, everyone despised robbers and thieves. Life was tough for everyone, and those who sought easy gains were deeply resented. Catching a thief was a cause for celebration, and even killing one wouldn't elicit sympathy.
The police station wasn't far, and soon they were there, with the four men sobbing and unable to defend themselves. They had no local identification, and it didn't take long to get them to confess. They were vagrants from out of town, having fled after committing a robbery and stabbing someone in their hometown. Without the necessary travel permits, they had stowed away on a coal train to the capital, hoping to survive there.
However, none of them were hardworking. They wanted easy money, so within a month of arriving, they had resorted to robbery several times.
They roamed the city, hitting different areas each time.
Their luck ran out when they targeted Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei, who had been buying sweets.
The square-faced leader had initially planned to steal the bike but found it too risky due to the serial numbers. He then decided to rob them instead, figuring they must have money if they could afford a movie.
But they never expected to run into such a formidable opponent.
The police were delighted to catch these dangerous individuals. Had they remained at large, their boldness might have led to more serious crimes. Fortunately, their bad luck led them to the wrong people, and they were swiftly taken down.
And now they've been caught, and they were already on the wanted list. This... is like a blessing from the heavens!
Although they didn't catch them directly, as the ones leading the scene, they still deserve credit. Just look at this young couple; their eyes are filled with joy.
They truly are two lucky stars.
Oh no, no, no, no! We mustn't promote feudal superstitions, we don't talk about that!
But, it's really great!
The veteran policeman shook Zhuang Zhixi's hand and said, "Thank you, thank you so much for what you and your wife have done. These guys were fugitives, and you've really helped us out. After the New Year, we'll definitely come to your workplace to express our gratitude."
Ming Mei's eyes lit up, and she said cheerfully, "This is all part of our duty."
Sniff, sniff, this time it wasn't on the bus, but could it mean a raise in her salary? If only she could get a raise!
She, an ordinary ticket collector on a bus, just wants a raise in her salary.
Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Actually, I didn't do much. It's mainly because my wife is amazing. Not only is she skilled in martial arts, but she's also full of a sense of justice. She alone could teach these guys a lesson. My wife has always been a stickler for justice. Since we encountered them, we couldn't just let them go. Besides, these scoundrels were just asking for it. How could they get away with such nonsense in our city!"
He went on and on about his wife, praising her to the skies. It was all true, so the compliments were well-deserved.
The veteran policeman smiled, "You're right."
He said, "It's getting late, how about I treat you to dinner to show my gratitude..."
He was sincere, but Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei quickly waved their hands in unison, "No need, no need. Our family must be waiting for us. If we don't get back soon, they might start to worry."
Ming Mei's face turned red with anxiety. She wondered if her mother-in-law would be upset if they got home late!
Zhuang Zhixi also thought of this and said, "We need to hurry home."
The veteran policeman: "Alright, then let me see you off..."
"No need!"
The young couple hopped onto their bike and said, "We'll ride fast!" And off they went, pedaling away.
The veteran policeman stroked his chin, "Why the rush?"
But then he thought about it and smiled. Who wouldn't be in a hurry to get home during the New Year?
He sighed, "Ming Mei is really a promising talent."
