We workers have power...
The daily off-work song rang out, and the people from the machinery factory were gradually leaving, but... "Huh?"
Everyone saw Zhuang Zhixi, who was sticking close to a female comrade. Although he had a bicycle, he didn't ride it but pushed it instead. Zhuang Zhixi pushed the bike, with a female comrade with two pigtails sitting on the back seat.
This guy, isn't he married already?
You with those thick eyebrows and big eyes, you actually dare to cheat openly and brazenly!
Their machinery factory has many male workers, especially unmarried ones, who were staring at the two of them with envy.
"Isn't there anyone to manage this? It's too blatant."
"It shouldn't be, he wouldn't be so showy."
"I think so..."
Everyone was discussing, and when they reached the gate, the guard heard and muttered, "That's his wife, coming to pick him up from work..."
This statement caused a slight silence in the previously bustling environment, but soon, everyone started discussing again: "Pfft, really showing off. Making his wife pick him up from work."
"Tomorrow I'll find a partner, and I'll have my wife pick me up too."
"First find one, then talk."
"Hey, this is the first time I've seen Zhuang Zhixi's wife, not bad, really pretty."
"Don't let anyone hear that, is that something you should say? They might charge you with something."
With that kind of crime.
"I won't say it."
Zhuang Zhixi, with his wife on the back, didn't ride the bike but walked instead.
Why? Isn't it just to show off?
How loving they are, huh!
Ming Mei sighed: "You're really something. Why don't you ride around the factory a couple of times to show off?"
See, the couple understands each other well. Ming Mei knows that Zhuang Zhixi is just showing off. But she doesn't mind.
Showing off their love!
Very good.
Zhuang Zhixi: "Riding around would be too obvious? We're just leaving work normally."
Ming Mei: "Do you think this isn't obvious?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Not very obvious."
Ming Mei couldn't argue with that, she thought it was super obvious.
Zhuang Zhixi: "By the way, how did it go at the Public Security Bureau today?"
Ming Mei scratched her head and said: "Today, our section chief went with me. You know our boss, they've watched me grow up and are worried I'll be retaliated against, so they went to inquire about the details."
Zhuang Zhixi was also worried about this and asked: "Then what?"
Ming Mei: "Then nothing happened. Yesterday, that person was a small fish, following others to loot a house, then found some hidden gold, and didn't report it, deliberately hiding it. But he knew the family wouldn't keep quiet, so he pretended to be unwell and left immediately, returning to the scene. Anyway, he had no one else at home, so he planned to flee with the gold bars. He was supposed to escape to Hong Kong."
She sincerely sighed: "Truly, money moves the heart. If he wasn't so nervous and that old woman wasn't so unreasonable, he wouldn't have continued the conflict and would have left quickly. He even planned to have a wonderful new life in Hong Kong."
Zhuang Zhixi snorted at this, saying: "This guy clearly doesn't have much sense. Is he a pig? Does he think he can escape just because he has money? He doesn't think about it, going there requires a letter of introduction, and we're not close to Hong Kong. He's flying there! On the way, he has no identity papers, no letter of introduction. Once people report it, combined with his disappearance, they'll know he's carrying gold. They'll definitely issue a wanted order for so many gold bars, no one can ignore that."
Ming Mei: "Who says not, maybe he was blinded by the gold? They didn't say it directly, but I heard the hint, there's definitely more than what was lost, he had some on him, tied to his body. No wonder when I kicked him out, he spat blood, clearly because of the gold bars on him. People might think I practiced some powerful leg technique."
The couple couldn't understand this person's thought process, why give up a good life for gold bars?
Gold bars are good, but you can't just swim across, there's a long way to go. Also blinded by gold.
Ming Mei: "I was also a coincidence this time, helping them recover the loss."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Really..."
In recent years, there have been many incidents, like Teacher Xiang, who due to poor background, hid in the hospital morgue. Although it's a bit eerie, it's really hassle-free. But didn't expect, after so many years of turmoil, there are still people with poor backgrounds hiding so much gold.
Zhuang Zhixi didn't know how to describe it.
Of course, their family, with three generations of poor farmers, is just a small grain of sand in this big wave, unrelated to them.
"Then this time you also helped them recover a huge loss, won't they give some reward?" Zhuang Zhixi joked, thinking it's unlikely. Those people's way of doing things, tsk tsk.
Ming Mei's eyes lit up: "I can get a raise this time."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Huh?"
He was really surprised: "Isn't your seniority not enough?"
Ming Mei proudly raised her chin, saying: "Special approval, didn't you say? I recovered a huge loss, otherwise, this person with so many gold bars escaping to Hong Kong, wouldn't that cause a major loss?"
She said with a bit of pride: "Comrade Zhuang Zhixi, you also have to work hard! Look at me, how amazing."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Okay, okay, you're the best."
He said: "I want to get a raise here, can only rely on seniority, hard."
But he added: "This time Director Li recommended me to the propaganda department to help, I'll work hard and see if there's a chance to get a formal transfer. The propaganda department is more suitable for me than the medical room."
Their medical room's charges are basically just addition and subtraction within ten.
He sat there prematurely aging.
Although Ming Mei looks simple, she grew up in a worker's family and understands a bit.
She said: "I guess it's not easy to transfer, now it's one person per position, and those with connections and background are rushing in. You have no connections at all, can it work? Should we find someone?"
Ming Mei scratched her head, her neatly braided pigtails a bit messy, she frowned and said: "My family has no connections in the machinery factory, hard to find someone."
This time is not decades later, the circle is still very fixed now.
Her family has connections, but can't find this kind of connection.
Zhuang Zhixi laughed, saying: "Am I the kind of person who relies on his wife? My wife is so capable, if I don't work hard, it's too embarrassing! Don't worry, I have a sense of proportion, if it's successful at once, I don't think it's possible. But people, when they can perform, they should perform more, maybe there's a chance. This time I plan to seize the opportunity and work hard, also flatter a bit. It should be useful. If it doesn't work this time, there's next time, every opportunity I grasp, let the leaders remember me."
Ming Mei coquettishly said: "Oh, the little pitiful who has to flatter."
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, saying: "For the future, for money, it's not embarrassing."
Ming Mei also smiled, nodding: "Right."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Let's go home!"
Ming Mei giggled, the two left early, but didn't ride the bike, just walked, and ended up being late. The couple reached the alley, meeting Jiang Lu, who was also a bit late.
Jiang Lu: "..."
Just annoying!
She suspiciously looked at the couple, thinking they followed her, otherwise, how could they meet again so coincidentally. Zhuang Zhixi greeted warmly: "Sister-in-law Zhou, off work?"
He glanced at Jiang Lu, whose bicycle basket was filled with something of unknown origin.
Zhuang Zhixi: "..."
Although he didn't know what it was, from the looks of it, it seemed vaguely like some kind of meat.
He chuckled and said, "Your family's living conditions are really good, eating meat yesterday and today too."
Jiang Lu felt a bit awkward, but seeing the curiosity on the faces of the young couple, she awkwardly gathered the bag in the basket, saying, "Everyone's life is the same, isn't it?"
She forced a smile and said, "I'm in a hurry to cook, I'll be off first."
She quickly walked a few steps, and Zhuang Zhixi and his wife exchanged puzzled glances, shrugging their shoulders at each other.
"Why does she seem so strange?"
"Who knows what she bought."
Jiang Lu was indeed a bit nervous today. Could she not be nervous? What she bought today was not just lamb kidneys but also testicles. They say you are what you eat, and Jiang Lu was wholeheartedly considering Zhou Qun's well-being.
Who let that scoundrel Bai Fendou harm her husband?
Thinking of this, Jiang Lu felt even more distressed, hating Bai Fendou's despicable character.
Madam Zhou Li watched Jiang Lu hurry back and snorted coldly, saying, "Why are you back so late?"
Jiang Lu quickly replied, "Mom, I went to buy this, it was specially reserved for us yesterday."
Madam Zhou Li looked and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Xiao Qun should indeed be nourished, but he was injured before, so he needs more rest. A hundred days to heal a bone, he's about there. Even if you're his wife, you can't always cling to him. A woman who always thinks about those things is too lowly. It's good for you to take a break, and for him to recuperate well. After some time, you can think about having a child."
Although she was eager for her son and daughter-in-law to have a child, she couldn't stand to see them too affectionate. After all, he was her son.
Jiang Lu blushed and nodded.
Madam Zhou Li coughed and said, "Didn't Xiao Qun come back with you?"
Jiang Lu quickly explained, "Qun Ge took too many leave days before, and... he's been working overtime recently. It's to gain some favor with his superiors and make up for it."
Mentioning this, Jiang Lu felt unhappy too. If it weren't for her wicked mother-in-law dragging them down, her husband Zhou Qun wouldn't have been in such a predicament. But to rebel against her mother-in-law, she didn't dare.
Jiang Lu softly said, "Let's start cooking, so Qun Ge can eat when he comes back."
"How do we cook this thing?"
To be honest, this stumped Madam Zhou Li.
She had never cooked such things in her life, and she had no idea how to handle them. But just hearing the name, she knew it was a good thing, very nourishing. She asked, "Is it cooked the same way as stir-fried kidney slices?"
Jiang Lu didn't know either.
But she was more knowledgeable than Madam Zhou Li, the homemaker, saying, "Let's wash it first and boil it, then see if we should dip it in sauce or slice it and stir-fry it again."
"Alright."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quickly got busy. At the same time, Zhuang Zhixi and his wife returned home, seeing Zhao Guihua frying vegetables. Ming Mei eagerly approached and asked, "Mom, what are we having tonight?"
Zhao Guihua: "Stir-fried mushrooms."
Ming Mei: "Yay!"
Liang Meifen proudly said, "Mom and I had quite a harvest today."
They had ridden out to the suburbs, so the competition was less fierce than in the city, resulting in a bigger haul. She pointed to the small basket and said, "Look, it's full."
Mushroom picking in the city wouldn't yield so much.
Ming Mei: "So many!"
"That's right."
"I'll be off work in a few days, let's go together, I also want to go up the mountain." Ming Mei was eager to go mushroom picking.
Zhao Guihua: "Sure, when you're off, you two come with me. Let's show them that women can hold up half the sky."
"Okay." Ming Mei's laughter rang out clearly.
Liang Meifen also nodded in agreement.
"Xiao Zhuang."
Zhuang Zhixi turned around and quickly greeted, "Aunt Wang, what brings you here? Please, sit down."
Aunt Wang smiled and said, "Why can't I come?"
She straightforwardly said, "Coming to your house is as easy as walking through a city gate."
Zhuang Zhixi: "True."
Everyone laughed, and Aunt Wang picked up a small stool and sat down, saying, "I came to talk to you about your grandfather's matter."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Let's go over to Grandpa's place, we can discuss it face to face."
Aunt Wang: "Alright."
Earlier, Zhuang Zhixi had asked Aunt Wang to inquire about Teacher Xiang's elder sister. Now that there was some progress, Aunt Wang naturally hurried over.
Ming Mei: "I'll go too."
She naturally had to be present for her grandfather's affairs.
At this moment, Lan Sihai just got off work and saw them coming together, saying, "Come in."
Aunt Wang didn't wait for him to sit down and directly said, "Last time Xiao Zhuang mentioned that woman to me, I asked my old friend. Her name is Luo Xiaohe, she has an old mother, a younger sister, and a younger brother. Her mother went a bit crazy after her husband passed away, sometimes even brandishing a knife. Her younger sister divorced because of her mother's madness, and the husband, to express his regret, left everything behind. Her younger sister lives with her family, with her child. The youngest in the family is a brother who works at a food factory and is currently single, unmarried. Now, about Luo Xiaohe, she never married, but she was once engaged. Due to a miscarriage after falling into the water, she could no longer have children. Her situation was somewhat unfortunate. I inquired about her character, and everyone said she was a good person, not immoral. Her pregnancy was also due to circumstances. She just had bad luck. Their family had one misfortune after another, which delayed her becoming an old maid."
"So, why did she suddenly decide to get married...?" Zhuang Zhixi didn't quite believe that someone could change their mind so easily. A person who had been single for fifty years and had gotten used to that lifestyle suddenly deciding to marry seemed odd.
Although Teacher Xiang hadn't mentioned it, Zhuang Zhixi felt that the matter might not be that simple.
Aunt Wang: "There's actually a reason behind this."
"Please tell us."
Aunt Wang: "Luo Xiaohe has an old mother, the one who went crazy, and this old lady is quite something. She favors her second daughter and youngest son, but doesn't care for her eldest daughter. Although it's the eldest daughter who has contributed the most to the family, the old lady takes it for granted. She even blames her eldest daughter in conversations with neighbors, thinking that if it weren't for the eldest daughter's failed engagement that brought shame to the family, her husband wouldn't have been so heartbroken and passed away early. In short, this old lady holds some resentment towards her eldest daughter. But even though she doesn't like her eldest daughter, she doesn't want her to marry. In the past, she hoped the eldest daughter would sacrifice for the family. Now that Luo Xiaohe is older, the old lady still doesn't want her to marry because she's getting old herself and wants Luo Xiaohe to take care of her. And with her youngest son about to get married, they'll have children soon. Then Luo Xiaohe can take care of her brother's children. She hasn't considered what will happen to her eldest daughter in the future at all. It's just so coincidental. When she was gossiping with neighbors about this, her eldest daughter overheard. Oh, her face was as cold as ice. Then news spread that Luo Xiaohe was preparing to find another husband. The old lady reportedly made a scene at home, threatening to sever ties if she dared to marry. But Luo Xiaohe was determined to marry out."
Ming Mei, hearing this, said, "Anyone who has contributed to the family for decades and is still despised and calculated against would feel hurt."
Aunt Wang nodded, "That's the point. Luo Xiaohe was always fiery. Seeing her own mother trying to scheme against her, she was determined to leave home and get married. Fortunately, her two siblings are sensible. Luo Xiaolian and her brother Luo Xiaoou unconditionally supported their sister's decision. After all, when their father passed away, they were still young and it was Luo Xiaohe who raised them. They are not ungrateful. They all agreed with their sister's idea and felt that she had taken care of them for most of her life, so it's time for her to have her own life. Although she's older now, it's never too late as long as she's willing. Of course, I didn't say that, it's what the Luo family said themselves. It's said that there was a big argument at their house that day. Both siblings stood by Luo Xiaohe, and it was their neighbor eavesdropping at the wall who found out."
Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei exchanged glances. Indeed, where there are people, there are gossip and gossips.
Aunt Wang continued, "Mr. Lan, you see, this is the general situation of their family. The family relationships are not complicated. Although Luo Xiaohe's mother has some issues, their younger son Luo Xiaoou insists on taking care of her, so the two sisters don't have to worry. Luo Xiaohe herself has a job, collecting tickets at the cinema, but it's not a permanent position, just a temporary one. Her monthly salary is eleven yuan."
She went on, "But she doesn't have any dowry. However, you know, at your age, remarrying, you can't expect the woman to bring much. I think among the few I plan to introduce to you, she's the best. Mainly because she has a job."
Don't look down on it being a temporary job. At this age, having a job is still rare.
After listening, Zhuang Zhixi turned to look at Grandpa Lan Sihai and asked, "Grandpa, what do you think?"
Although they thought it was okay, it was ultimately Grandpa Lan looking for a partner, so they needed to seek his opinion. If he wasn't willing, then there was no need to discuss further. If Grandpa Lan wanted to see her, then they could proceed with the introduction.
Lan Sihai replied, "It's okay. You can also tell them about my situation. I'm old and have been married several times."
Aunt Wang said, "I will definitely mention that. In our line of work as matchmakers, the worst thing is to deceive people. That would ruin my reputation. You can rest assured. If you agree to the introduction, I'll contact the other party."
Grandpa Lan Sihai nodded.
He said, "Then I'll trouble you."
Aunt Wang replied, "Hey, no trouble at all. You two just see if you hit it off. If you like each other, it's a great thing. If you don't, I'll introduce someone else. With your conditions, it's not hard to find someone."
This is how the world works. Of course, it's not that men are easier to find than women, but because of... work.
A worker with a permanent job is very easy to find.
This is what she sees in the city. If she looked at the countryside, despite Grandpa Lan being in his seventies, finding someone in their forties wouldn't be difficult. Who wouldn't want a man with a permanent job and a good income? In this era, having a permanent job is everything.
"Since you agree, I'll arrange it."
Zhuang Zhixi laughed and said, "Thank you, Aunt Wang. Don't worry, if you succeed in introducing my grandpa, he definitely won't skimp on the matchmaker's fee."
Grandpa Lan glanced at him and said, "You know that already?"
Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "Of course, I'm your granddaughter's husband. I know you well."
Grandpa Lan said, "Oh, so you know me. Really know me well. I've never met someone who knows me so well."
Aunt Wang thought, "Here he comes again with his sarcastic remarks."
She decisively stood up, "Then I'll go home to cook. You just wait for good news."
But before she could leave, she frowned, "Huh, what's this strange smell?"
At that moment, not only Aunt Wang but also Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei quickly covered their noses. The smell was quite pungent.
It was much stronger than the smell of pig intestines they had cooked yesterday.
The air today was filled with a pungent, fishy odor. If one's nose was sharp, they could even detect a slight mutton smell.
It was an overwhelming stench.
The few of them quickly covered their noses. Aunt Wang cursed, "Did someone wet their pants?"
Ming Mei reminded her, "Wetting pants wouldn't smell this bad."
Aunt Wang's face darkened with anger, "Then did someone fall into the toilet again?"
This statement didn't seem quite right either, as the toilet was just smelly, not this kind of odor.
They should know, after all, someone in their courtyard had once "enjoyed" a swim in the public toilet. So, Ming Mei whispered, "It doesn't seem like that smell either."
Grandpa Lan also covered his nose and said, "Oh, this stench! Don't guess what they did. Let's quickly find out who did it!"
At this moment, even his speech returned to normal. There was no way, the smell was too strong, unbearable!
The few of them quickly went outside. Once outside, they almost fell. Why?
Because the smell outside was even more intense. The entire courtyard was enveloped in an indescribable odor. It felt like being in a public toilet, no, even worse!
It was beyond their expectations that they would face such a smell one day.
Not just them, the smell was so overpowering that it drove everyone out.
Zhao Guihua had already led her family out, frowning and covering her nose, looking utterly defeated. The Su family next door, with Madam Su and her daughter-in-law and three children, also came out, their expressions no better.
Tonglai even asked soul-searchingly, "Did someone fall into the toilet again?"
As a former "toilet expert," Jinlai mumbled, "It's not that smell."
The Bai father and son looked as if they were about to faint from the stench. Bai Fendou cursed, "Which bastard did this!"
People from the back courtyard also came out, everyone converging towards the front courtyard. Clearly, the smell came from the front courtyard.
They looked at each other, then quickly turned their eyes to the Zhou family.
Not only was the smell obviously coming from their house, but it was also definitely related to them. After all, Madam Zhou Li, who was always nosy, didn't come out in such a situation, which spoke volumes.
"Did the Zhou family do this?"
"No doubt about it. Didn't you see they didn't come out?"
"But what did they do? Did they try some fertility potion again?"
Because of their inability to have children, Madam Zhou Li and Jiang Lu were keen on trying all kinds of folk remedies. In their view, the hospital was unreliable, and folk remedies could cure serious illnesses. They hadn't been scammed out of their life savings, which was already a testament to the simplicity of the current social environment.
"Aunt Wang, go ask them."
"Yes, you're the courtyard supervisor, you can't ignore this. I feel like vomiting..."
"Don't mention it, my son is already dry heaving..."
Everyone expressed great anger. It was fine to cook, but one couldn't create such a strong smell. This not only reminded them of the incident of falling into the cesspool. At that time, the hot water washing down, oh, that smell!
They hadn't been able to eat properly for days and didn't dare stay at home.
In short, it was a big disaster.
Today, they felt this kind of suffering again.
Although slightly different, this bone-deep stench was also unbearable.
"Hey, did Madam Zhou wet her pants?"
"Impossible, the smell wouldn't be this strong. She's not a weasel."
"Ugh..."
"Don't vomit."
Zhao Guihua watched everyone's miserable state and was also puzzled about what the Zhou family was up to this time. This smell was really unbearable for ordinary people. She covered her nose and mouth tightly, her voice muffled: "Hutou, Xiaoyanzi, cover your mouths and don't speak, and if you can't stand it, go inside quickly. Kids can't handle this smell; they might get poisoned."
Hutou and Xiaoyanzi nodded seriously, their four big eyes wide open.
They didn't leave; they didn't want to miss out.
Zhao Guihua's words affected others. Aunt Su quickly pushed her children inside: "You all go in quickly."
Jinlai, Yinlai, and Tonglai all shook their heads, firmly rejecting their elders' good intentions. They didn't want to miss this occasion either.
Speaking of which, the children in their courtyard had seen quite a lot for their young age, witnessing many things that others hadn't. It was truly enviable.
Everyone stared at the Zhou house. Aunt Wang sighed, as the courtyard manager, she couldn't avoid going, but she really couldn't bring herself to take that step. She couldn't be knocked out by the smell as soon as she entered, could she?
She deeply doubted it. She looked left and right and said, "Lao Zhao, come with me, will you?"
Zhao Guihua's eyes widened in disbelief. What grudge did we have that you want to drag me into this!
Aunt Wang, seeing Zhao Guihua's expression, said helplessly, "You don't have to go in, wait for me at the door. If I get knocked out by the smell, drag me out quickly."
Zhuang Zhixi, with a mischievous tone, said something quite reasonable: "Of course, it won't knock you out. Look, Madam Zhou Li and Jiang Lu can withstand it inside their house, so the smell is just strong, not enough to knock anyone out. If they couldn't handle it, they would have come out already, so... it's okay?"
Aunt Wang: "That's not how it works. What if they've already fainted inside?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh, right, that's true."
He said, "Then, why don't we call out to them and ask them to come out?"
Whether it's right or wrong, calling out first is always a good idea.
This way, they would know if the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had fainted inside.
Aunt Wang: "Right!"
She quickly called out: "Lao Zhou, Madam Zhou Li, if you're home, make a sound."
She added: "Jiang Lu, come out for a moment!"
Everyone in the courtyard speculated that the smell was like a skunk's den exploded, truly unbearable. Inside the house, the Zhou family, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, hadn't fainted. It wasn't poison gas, so how could they faint?
They covered their noses with difficulty, feeling quite helpless.
Jiang Lu whispered: "Mother-in-law, everyone has come... shall we go out?"
Madam Zhou Li was also suffocating, furious, she scolded: "It's all because of you, you little wretch, what did you bring back? And you said it's a great tonic, but before it even starts to work, we're already done for. Did you do this on purpose? Answer me!"
Jiang Lu's eyes turned red with grievance: "Mom, how can you think that of me? You know me, I just wanted to give Qun a good tonic."
Madam Zhou Li's loud voice, even lowered, wasn't small. Everyone immediately heard her scolding Jiang Lu inside. Aunt Wang was a bit speechless. She shouted loudly: "Madam Zhou Li, Jiang Lu, come out!"
As for why Zhou Qun wasn't called.
They hadn't seen Zhou Qun come home after work.
Bai Fendou couldn't take it anymore, saying: "Aunt Wang, move aside, I'll kick the door open. Otherwise, they'll think they can get away with this? They've done something so outrageous, thinking they can hide it? We were just about to have dinner, did we really have to suffer this bad luck?"
Bai Fendou was particularly angry. He had earned some extra money and bought a piece of braised meat to eat secretly.
This was even kept from his sweetheart Wang Xiangxiu, planning to eat it secretly with his dad. The meat that smelled so good hadn't even reached his mouth, and now he felt like the smell was overwhelming. How could he not be angry?
"This is truly outrageous, inhumane, and... and whatever! It's just too much!" Bai Fendou couldn't stand it and was about to rush up to kick the door.
Aunt Wang: "Don't be impulsive..."
If the door was kicked open, there would surely be endless arguments. Aunt Wang didn't want to see such a situation.
Fortunately, the sound of the door being kicked was heard inside.
Madam Zhou Li still valued her own door, which had just been repaired not long ago. If it was kicked down again, it would need to be repaired again!
Although, she could still extort Bai Fendou for it, her son was right, it was not a good time to be too conspicuous. It was a crucial moment to fade away from recent events, and she couldn't ruin it. So she took a deep breath and opened the door with a creak.
This arrogant and mean old lady opened the door with a bit of a domineering air.
Madam Zhou Li shouted: "What are all of you doing gathered at my door! Want to pick a fight and bully someone?"
She took the initiative.
Zhao Guihua and the other "victims": "..."
They truly felt more wronged than Dou E.
Speaking of chatting, it was still Grandpa Lan who took the lead: "Sister, I know we have grievances. But if you have something, come out and face it directly. I respect you as a man if you do it directly, but to try to suffocate me, isn't that a bit too much?"
"Pfft!" Someone laughed.
Bai Fendou followed suit: "Grandpa Lan is right, have the guts to come out directly! What kind of skill is boiling skunk's urine at home?"
Everyone agreed that even the toilet didn't smell this bad.
This pungent smell had been smelled on skunks in the past...
It was likely that this family was really up to something.
Madam Zhou Li was trembling with anger, these people really didn't know how to speak, why were they so infuriating?
She shouted loudly: "What do you mean? What's the matter? I'm cooking in my own home, what's it to you? Are you really so bored that you have to manage everything? What I cook and eat in my home has nothing to do with you! Do you come to my door to pick a fight because you're jealous? Jealous that my family lives well, jealous that we can afford to eat meat, so you're so angry that you come to find fault over a little smell. I don't even think there's any smell, we're making meat, isn't this smell very fragrant?"
She was lying through her teeth, trying to turn the dead into the living, the stinky into the fragrant.
Zhuang Zhixi: "Madam Zhou, if you say that, we really have to be sad. It's said that the eyes of the masses are sharp. In my opinion, the noses of the masses are sharp too. How can you say this smell is fragrant?"
"Yes, this smell is about to send people away."
"I say Madam Zhou, can you calm down? Someone in our courtyard fell into the toilet not long ago. We just got rid of the shadow of that incident, don't create new topics for others, okay? Look..."
This passerby pointed his finger, and everyone followed his finger to see a group of onlookers.
The smell was indeed strong, but it didn't spread to other courtyards. However, it was clearly smelled in their courtyard. Everyone gathered in the courtyard, their voices loud, and naturally attracted a crowd of onlookers.
When they reached the gate, oh, the smell immediately hit them!
This immediately explained why these people were gathered in the courtyard chattering. This smell was really overwhelming!
Everyone pointed and whispered.
Aunt Wang almost couldn't catch her breath, their courtyard's reputation...
She quickly said: "Everyone, don't watch the hustle and bustle, disperse, disperse."
"Aunt Wang, what's going on in your courtyard?"
"This smell, oh."
"Is it the Zhou family? Did someone else fall into the pit again?"
"But didn't they write that swimming is not allowed there?"
"Maybe they went down to bathe?"
Madam Zhou Li couldn't hold back any longer when she heard this, immediately jumping to her feet: "What are you people doing! Are you here just to watch the fun? My family is just boiling an egg, is that not allowed? The smell is a bit strong, but we're not affecting anyone else, are we? Doesn't everyone want to eat something with a bit of flavor? Haven't you all eaten pork intestines before? Why are you picking on us? Are you picking on us because our family is not large? Is that it! You can't do this to us!"
This time, Madam Zhou Li really felt wronged, even though their family had indeed created a strong smell.
But it wasn't intentional.
Besides, it was all Jiang Lu's fault for not doing it right!
She really felt wronged!
Madam Zhou Li's eyes turned red: "What did I, an old lady, do to you? I'm innocent!"
She looked genuinely innocent as she cried out: "Wanting to eat something good, what's wrong with that!"
"But eggs don't smell like that! Did you boil it in urine?"
"Hey, come to think of it, I've heard of such a dish."
"Ugh... that's disgusting, who invented that?"
"It's from a child, it's clean."
"Still disgusting..."
The conversation drifted off topic again.
Madam Zhou Li was trembling with anger: "It's not that kind of egg, don't spread rumors about me, my family boiled it with plain water, don't spread lies!"
"That's impossible!"
"Exactly, no matter how you boil chicken eggs, duck eggs, or goose eggs, they can't smell like that!"
Madam Zhou Li shouted: "None of those!"
"None of those? What kind of egg smells like that then?"
"You're still spreading lies!"
Madam Zhou Li: "What am I lying about? I'm telling the truth, may lightning strike me if I'm lying! My family boiled an egg!"
"Then tell us, what kind of egg!" Zhuang Zhixi interjected.
"Sheep!!!" Madam Zhou Li roared with vigor!
"Puhahahaahahaha."
Everyone burst into laughter, saying: "You're just making things up, sheep don't lay eggs, sheep are clearly..."
The words stopped abruptly.
At this moment, everyone finally realized, after the fact, that this "egg" was not the same as the "egg" they were talking about.
Ah, this...
This was quite embarrassing.
And, well, this was indeed something they couldn't stop her from doing.
After all, Zhou Qun had previously been injured in the kidneys by Bai Fendou. Everyone's accusatory gaze immediately turned to Bai Fendou, it was all your fault for pushing him.
Bai Fendou: "???"
Why is everyone suddenly looking at him?
So, what kind of egg is it?
This guy is still a bit slow, not catching on yet.
Zhuang Zhixi didn't wait for him to figure it out and spoke first: "Uh, people have the freedom to eat. Although, the smell is indeed a bit strong, but they need a big boost, as neighbors, we should respect their desire to seek medical treatment. Uh, anyway, I'm fine with it, you do you..."
He grabbed his wife, saying: "Let's go home to eat."
The couple was the first to leave the scene.
Old Master Lan looked sympathetically at Madam Zhou Li and her daughter-in-law, thinking that the men in this family, are they done for? He quietly closed the door too, well, he'll just have to endure it. After all, they're not in good shape.
Zhao Guihua: "Let's go home to eat."
Well, the Zhuang family all left.
And Li Fang also pulled her mother: "Mom, let's go home too, let's be understanding."
Aunt Wang was also dragged away by her daughter.
Wang Xiangxiu's eyes darted around, originally a five-second man, what if he becomes less than five seconds in the future? She pouted, feeling that this man was even more useless, she said: "Mom, let's go home."
Everyone quickly found excuses and left the scene.
Although the smell was indeed disgusting, they'll just have to endure it, after all, the man needs to boost his "egg."
This Zhou Qun, really isn't easy.
At this moment, Zhou Qun had already reached the entrance of the alley, almost home.
Hmm, as long as he works hard, it will be easy to build a good reputation...
This way, after working overtime for a few days, people won't bring up his mother's nonsense as much?
Not bad!
Huh?
Why are there so many people at the entrance of the courtyard?
