The Lan family's traditional way of speaking.
This is only for you, no one else has it.
Whether it's true or not is hard to say, but everyone says it so sincerely.
Ming Mei's mouth twitched as she deeply doubted this claim, but she still nodded silently. Whether it was true or false, receiving it was always good. After all, her main task was to guide the way, bringing this seemingly sincere but unreliable cousin to the courtyard and dropping him off at her grandfather's house.
Luckily, her grandfather wasn't out for dinner and a movie today, or she would have missed him again.
But it seemed her grandfather wasn't exactly thrilled to see this eldest grandson. Old Man Lan and his wife were preparing dinner when they heard a knock at the door. Old Man Lan was quite surprised: "Who is it?"
Although they lived here, due to their age and being relatively new to the neighborhood, they didn't interact much with others. He got up to open the door and saw Ming Mei's smiling face. Just as he was about to speak, a spirited young man popped out from the side with a bright smile: "Ding dong, Grandpa, did you miss me?"
Old Man Lan was not at all surprised and pursed his lips, saying: "I figured you'd be here in the next couple of days."
He stepped aside and said: "Come in."
Ming Mei chirped: "Grandpa, did you know Cousin Lan Xiang was coming?"
Old Man Lan: "Your uncle contacted me."
Lan Xiang complained: "Look at my dad, he really ruins the mood. I wanted to give Grandpa a surprise."
Old Man Lan glanced at him and said: "Because your dad knows that coming here isn't much of a surprise. Let me introduce you, this is your Grandma Luo."
Luo Xiaohe was not young, and in most families, she would indeed be called grandma. However, she never married, her younger sister's children hadn't grown up, and her younger brother had just gotten married without any children. Moreover, their family didn't have many relatives in the area, so her generational status wasn't that high.
Being suddenly called grandma by a young man, Luo Xiaohe felt uncomfortable everywhere, but she still said: "Sit down quickly."
Lan Xiang: "I brought some cooked food, Cousin Ming Mei, stay and eat with us. Look, I bought enough."
Zhuang Zhixi thought that the Lan family's personalities were indeed quite similar. Ming Mei's mother was like this, and now Lan Xiang was the same. Even the things they bought were similar. It really showed they were one family. Lan Sihai: "That's more like it."
Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "I'll go home and tell my parents."
Since they lived in the same courtyard, he was practically home as soon as he stepped out.
Zhao Guihua didn't care where he ate, not eating at home was even better, saving food.
However, she also said: "Take a fish over to add to the dish."
Because of their secret stash, their family never lacked fish. Taking a fish as a gift was just right. Zhuang Zhixi: "Alright."
She wrinkled her nose: "What's that smell?"
It smelled kind of fishy.
He turned around and saw Jiang Lu sitting at the door washing something that looked suspiciously like... well, men knew what it was. Zhuang Zhixi's mouth twitched slightly. He really didn't understand. With Zhou Qun's... well, you know, did he really need to be so thorough?
Speaking of which, the Zhou family was really big on tonics for kidney and yang strengthening. Whenever it came to such things, they immediately started consuming them.
It was really quite ridiculous, not afraid of over-supplementing at all.
Zhuang Zhixi covered his nose and silently returned to the Lan house. Old Man Lan looked utterly resigned. As neighbors living next door, they were very much aware of the smell. Old Man Lan truly felt that this family's obsession with supplements was really not good.
Didn't they fear the body couldn't handle such strong supplements?
He was speechless.
At this moment, Lan Xiang pulled out a small red velvet bag, and Zhuang Zhixi blinked: "..."
Ming Mei also blinked.
Here it comes, the family's traditional move.
Lan Xiang: "When I came, my dad, your uncle, this old fellow, asked me to give this to you. He said it's for your child, look, it's a longevity lock, made of silver."
He proudly showed it to Ming Mei, saying: "Cute, right?"
Ming Mei opened the bag and looked at the small longevity lock. It wasn't too big, but not small either, about the size of a large apricot. The carving on it was very delicate, and one could imagine how adorable a chubby baby would look wearing it.
Old Man Lan: "Let me see."
He nodded slightly and said: "Hmm, your dad's craftsmanship has improved a bit."
Ming Mei was surprised: "Ah, did Uncle make this himself?"
"Of course."
Ming Mei gave a thumbs up, saying: "What skillful hands."
Lan Sihai immediately snorted and said: "His craftsmanship is just ordinary, much worse than mine."
Ming Mei immediately understood her grandfather's meaning and quickly said: "That's right, Grandpa is Uncle's father, so naturally he's more skilled."
She held the longevity lock, smiling sweetly: "Cousin, please thank Uncle for me."
Lan Xiang: "No problem, leave it to me. And don't tell anyone else about this."
Ming Mei: "Oh."
She happily nodded. She was indeed the most favored in the family.
It wasn't surprising though. She was the youngest child in the family. Her cousins were all older than her. Among her mother's relatives, Ming Mei was the youngest. Her father's side of the family... well, there weren't many left. The direct relatives were almost gone, and the more distant ones weren't very close. Like her paternal uncle, who was her master, but he had no children.
Calculating it out, her father's generation had many distant siblings, but it was strange that the younger generation wasn't very prosperous, with few people and little interaction. Ming Mei felt that she was favored for a reason.
She happily rubbed the longevity lock. Lan Xiang babbled on: "My dad did a decent job on this. He asked me to give it to you, and I thought he was overthinking it, but it turns out you're really pregnant."
At this point, Old Man Lan snorted again and said: "Are you a pig's brain?"
Lan Xiang: "???"
Ming Mei was also puzzled.
Zhuang Zhixi suddenly figured it out: "Grandpa told Uncle about your pregnancy."
Everyone suddenly understood, even Lan Xiang was surprised: "So that's how it was."
Ming Mei: "But... if it was by letter, the timing..."
Before she could finish, she was interrupted: "Who said I wrote a letter? Couldn't I call?"
"Ah this..." Ming Mei looked at her grandfather, trying to see if he was joking, but he wasn't. Ming Mei fell into deep silence, then sincerely exclaimed: "I really am very important."
You know, making a phone call these days isn't easy. The factory's phone wasn't something just anyone could use. I guess only someone as skilled as my grandfather could handle it; anyone else would have no chance. As for my uncle's side, it's also quite difficult to get a call through there.
Ming Mei rubbed her face and said: "You guys are making me feel embarrassed."
Old Man Lan: "Life needs a little bit of romance. Receiving gifts is also a kind of romance."
Ming Mei: "..."
However, receiving gifts was always a happy thing. Ming Mei was very pleased. This pregnancy had brought her many gains, making her feel like a "big shot." She chuckled softly. Zhuang Zhixi: "Aunt Luo, let me help you with the cooking."
Luo Xiaohe: "No need, no need, you do your own thing."
Lan Xiang: "What's that smell?"
He turned to look at Luo Xiaohe. Uh, scrambled eggs with chives, isn't that the smell coming from here?
Zhuang Zhixi: "The smell from next door. I just saw them dealing with it. They have to replenish their kidneys 300 days out of the year."
"Ah~ How bad must their kidneys be to need so much supplementation?"
"Who knows."
"Ah, this smell is really strong."
Speaking of which, these things really shouldn't have such a strong smell, but the Zhou family seemed to have no idea how to cook them properly. Every time they messed up, the smell intensified.
It really made people feel overwhelmed.
If you don't know how to do something, ask a professional, right? Look at Chef Li and Yang Lixin, they're both chefs and very skilled, but the Zhou family just won't ask. They're that confident. This has led to everyone smelling strange odors every now and then.
It's extremely frustrating.
No wonder it's Beijing, things are really different here. They really emphasize nourishing and tonifying. We don't do that back home.
Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei exchanged a glance, saying, "We don't do that either..."
The Zhou family's behavior is an exception.
Just an exception.
"Bai Fendou, get out here!" A woman's furious scream echoed through the air. Zhuang Zhixi jumped, quickly darting to the door. Peering out the window, he said, "It's the Yu family from the alley."
Madam Yu, along with her husband and four sons, arrived in full force, accompanied by a few daughters-in-law.
The whole family, a formidable group, marched in with great momentum: "Bai Fendou, come out! You heartless, childless scoundrel, you pulled some dirty tricks on my son, even using the child-ending move. Don't think that just because the factory mediated, this matter is over. Come out, get out here."
Madam Yu's tirade echoed, and everyone immediately rushed out.
After all, when it comes to gossip, you have to be in the front line to enjoy the fun, right?
Everyone came out, including Ming Mei and the others. They saw that each person was holding a wooden stick, clearly ready for a fight.
But Bai Fendou wasn't backing down. He shuffled out with small steps, holding his legs together, and shouted, "What! You think you can bully me just because you're in numbers?"
He wasn't afraid at all, raising his voice: "I'll tell you, don't think that just because there are more of you, I'll be scared. I, Bai Fendou, am still a man. If I say I'm afraid, then I'm this!"
He gestured with his little finger.
"You're still being tough? You bullied my youngest son! Do you think you're in the right?" Madam Yu was furious, but whether she was angry or not, the important thing was to squeeze out some compensation. Medical expenses were already covered, but compensation was a must.
She roared, "Pay up!"
Everyone exclaimed, now understanding why Madam Yu had brought her family over.
So it was for money.
"Your son started it first, look at my head, look at my forehead, I haven't asked for compensation yet! Do you have any shame?"
Bai Fendou shuffled forward a bit more, saying, "Even though I'm alone, I'm not afraid of you!"
Lan Xiang was puzzled: "Why is he walking like that?"
It just felt... off.
Zhuang Zhixi whispered something in his ear, and Lan Xiang exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
He was truly enlightened.
Although Bai Fendou was shouting, Madam Yu wasn't easy to deal with either. "Your head can compare to my son's testicles? My son's are crucial for having children. If you don't pay up, don't blame me for smashing your windows... uh! Where are your windows? Uh, never mind that, if you don't pay up, I'll smash your door... uh, why is your door like this too?"
There was a big hole in the door, which was caused by Aunt Zhou. To be fair, Aunt Zhou only made a small hole, but the three little rascals wanted to sneak in, and they were afraid of getting cut by the glass, so they decided to crawl through the hole. The hole was too small, so they expanded it a bit. And that's how it ended up...
Madam Yu's threats fell flat, so she finally said, "If you don't compensate, I'll make sure you shatter your eggs too..."
"Madam Yu, didn't you forget? His eggs are already shattered..." Zhuang Zhixi kindly reminded her.
Bai Fendou glared back at Zhuang Zhixi, thinking, why are you always sticking your nose in?
Zhuang Zhixi innocently shrugged, it's already shattered, why can't I say it?
It's pretty normal, isn't it?
He smiled, feeling purely helpful.
Madam Yu was so angry she was panting. It seemed her threats weren't working on Bai Fendou. She pointed at him and cursed, "You despicable wretch, everyone hates you! There's nothing decent left in your house. Look at what you've become."
Bai Fendou retorted, "You're the one who's become something. Your whole family is something."
"Who are you calling something!" Yu Baoshan's older brother charged forward, and Bai Fendou shot back, "What, you want me to slap you?"
The two immediately got into a scuffle.
Zhuang Zhixi quickly pulled his wife back tactically, saying, "Let's keep our distance."
Ming Mei sighed, "Ah, it's good that Bai Fendou is back. Without him, our courtyard wouldn't have any big events, we'd only get to watch the drama from other courtyards. But with Bai Fendou back, our courtyard has become much livelier."
Bai Fendou was truly a master at stirring up trouble.
Bai Fendou could only shuffle with small steps, so he wasn't a match for the Yu brothers in a fight. They had several people, and in an instant, they surrounded him. Bai Fendou shouted, "Come help me!"
But no one stepped forward.
Who cares who you are? Are we that close?
Helping was out of the question. If they got beaten up, whose fault would it be? Bai Fendou wasn't exactly a reputable guy. Everyone stayed where they were, watching the drama unfold, not moving a muscle. Zhou Qun clicked his tongue, saying, "Bai Fendou, you think you can take on four by yourself?"
He taunted.
Bai Fendou roared back, "Do you think I can't?"
Several kicks landed on him, and he protected his vital area fiercely, not caring about the rest of his body. This area was absolutely untouchable. He was very determined, holding on tightly, feeling that these people were truly heartless, kicking him like they wanted to kill him...
"That's enough, don't push me!"
Bai Fendou bellowed, and Madam Yu was smug, shouting, "Don't push you? When you bullied my youngest son, why didn't you show mercy? I see you..."
Before she could finish her bragging, she heard her fourth son let out a blood-curdling scream: "Ah..."
He clutched a certain part of his body and crouched down.
Then came the third son: "Ah..."
Followed by the second and the first...
The four previously formidable men were now all clutching themselves and crouching on the ground: "Ahhh!"
The Dragon Claw!
Bai Fendou's face showed a sense of victory in the fight, and he shouted, "I'll let you guys lay a hand on me! Now you know my power!"
"Holy crap!"
"He really can't stand to see others doing well."
"My goodness, this guy is a killer of men!"
"Keep your voice down, you think he didn't get you, huh?"
The events unfolded too quickly, leaving everyone in a daze. But soon, they all erupted in exclamations. This move, this technique, was just too outrageous. How did Bai Fendou always manage to pull off such things?
It was truly incomprehensible.
Bai Fendou grinned triumphantly, saying, "Still want to fight me?"
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up, looking like a king.
He pointed at Madam Yu and shouted, "Get out of here! Or else I'll come to your house and settle the score!"
His voice was loud, filled with arrogance. Madam Yu immediately took a few steps back. This kind of old woman was a bully to the weak and afraid of the strong, relying on her many sons to be ruthless. But when she encountered a tough guy and her sons couldn't handle it, she immediately became docile.
Bai Fendou: "Anyone else! I ask, anyone else! Damn it, do you think I, Bai Fendou, is someone easy to bully?"
He sneered, saying, "Impossible!"
His arrogance was so extreme that everyone shook their heads. But when it came to provoking him, no one dared. After all, this guy fought dirty, going for the lower half of the body. Most people couldn't handle that! They couldn't stoop to his level.
They could only endure.
Bai Fendou surveyed the crowd, smiling faintly, as if he was the most dazzling guy on this street, in this courtyard. Even Lan Xiang, who was a newcomer and just visiting, took a step back, feeling he might not be able to handle this guy. After all, this kind of person just seemed off!
The only one in the courtyard who wasn't looking at Bai Fendou with fear or caution was Zhou Qun.
Zhou Qun had come out to watch Bai Fendou's joke, as their relationship was quite poor. He had even made a sarcastic remark earlier. Normally, Zhou Qun didn't take Bai Fendou seriously, but in the past half year, Bai Fendou had repeatedly challenged his authority and caused several conflicts with his family. Zhou Qun had immediately elevated Bai Fendou to his top enemy.
In the past, it wasn't like that.
It was Bai Fendou who was single-handedly jealous of Zhou Qun.
If Zhou Qun were to describe the past half year, he would say that there wasn't really any conflict between the two families; it was all due to Aunt Su and her daughter-in-law stirring up trouble, which made their relationship worse and worse.
But if you think about it carefully, was there really any conflict? No, there wasn't.
They almost became brothers. If his mother had really gotten together with Old Man Lan back then, wouldn't they have been brothers?
Zhou Qun thought that Bai Fendou wasn't that bad. Under the circumstances of being outnumbered four to one, and being injured himself, he still managed to turn the tide and win. That showed some real manliness.
If it were someone else, like Zhuang Zhixi, who always talks too much without realizing it, he probably would have already surrendered. Or he would have hidden behind his wife, but Bai Fendou didn't. He didn't back down at all, standing his ground firmly. That's what a real man does.
A seriously injured man defeating four other men? That definitely shows his strength.
He pursed his lips, looking at Bai Fendou with a hint of admiration. That's what a real man is!
Zhou Qun said, "Bai Fendou, you should go home and tend to your wounds."
Bai Fendou looked at Zhou Qun in surprise, as did the others. Zhuang Zhixi even opened his mouth wide in shock. Yes, it was that embarrassing. But don't blame Zhuang Zhixi for reacting so strongly.
It was because that feeling of his hair standing on end had come back.
What was Zhou Qun saying in that overly sweet tone?
Bai Fendou cautiously stared at Zhou Qun and said, "Zhou Qun, you're not up to something good, are you?"
Zhou Qun paused, then said, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you. We're neighbors, so I can't just stand by and watch outsiders bully you."
Madam Yu: "What are you talking about? Do you think you're some kind of saint?"
"Who are you cursing? Everyone knows how good my son is. You think everyone's like your son, producing kids left and right but useless."
"You, you, you..."
The two old ladies started arguing, and Zhou Qun spoke up again: "Enough! What are you doing? Madam Yu, I suggest you take your sons and leave. Don't think everyone in our courtyard is a pushover. You're bullying Bai Fendou, and as neighbors, we can't just ignore it. You causing trouble in the hospital is one thing, but do you really think you can come here and extort money? If you keep this up, we'll have to call the police!"
"You, you, you..."
Zhou Qun: "This is clearly your family's problem, yet you're picking on Bai Fendou, who's already injured. In my opinion, that's going too far."
Bai Fendou: "Exactly, don't think you can extort me! See? The masses have bright eyes."
Madam Yu was furious, thinking Zhou Qun must be out of his mind. She had a conflict with Bai Fendou, so what business was it of Zhou Qun's? She sneered, "You're such a spineless wretch. Someone's bullying your wife, and you're running to help them. Pathetic! Pfft!"
"I'll let you talk nonsense!"
Aunt Zhou rushed forward and scratched Madam Yu's face. The two old ladies immediately rolled on the ground, punching and scratching each other, fighting with all their might. After all, cursing her son like that, Aunt Zhou couldn't just let it go.
The Yu family's daughters-in-law, seeing their mother-in-law fighting, all supported their own men and didn't step forward to help. Such a terrible mother-in-law, it would be better if she died. Besides, Old Fifth didn't treat them as family anyway. They had to come out and support Old Fifth, but they knew that even if there was compensation, the money wouldn't be theirs. That's why the daughters-in-law all agreed not to get involved. After all, their own men had already been beaten, so they couldn't go looking for trouble themselves.
They weren't going to take that kind of loss.
The two old ladies rolled on the ground, but Zhou Qun didn't even look at his own mother. Instead, he said, "You should go to the clinic and get checked out."
This was directed at Bai Fendou, who was watching Zhou Qun warily: "Why are you acting so strange today?"
Zhou Qun: "I've always been like this."
He said seriously, "It's just that you've misunderstood me before."
Bai Fendou felt something was off, but Zhou Qun hadn't said anything bad, so he couldn't be too cold. Besides, Zhou Qun had spoken up for him, which was why he was able to return. Bai Fendou hesitated for a moment and said, "You..."
He felt a bit awkward but still said, "Well, I'll head back first."
"Let me help you."
"Don't come near me. Are you trying to do something to me? Are you trying to take revenge? Zhou Qun, you've really learned how to play dirty tricks now!" Bai Fendou still didn't believe that Zhou Qun had any good intentions toward him. After all, it was completely impossible.
Zhou Qun sighed and said, "You really underestimate me."
He took a step forward, grabbed Bai Fendou's arm forcefully, and said, "Come on, let me take you home."
Bai Fendou: "???"
Although he was very puzzled, he didn't resist Zhou Qun and let him help him into the house.
Ming Mei's head was almost scratching like a chicken coop. She really couldn't understand what was going on. The fight between Madam Yu and Aunt Zhou was no longer surprising to her. What she was curious about was why Zhou Qun was being so nice to Bai Fendou.
This... The sun wasn't even rising from the west today.
This was really strange.
"Zhixi Ge, do you think Zhou Qun is possessed by a ghost?" Ming Mei whispered.
Zhuang Zhixi: "I... I don't know."
He really didn't understand. He said, "Actually, Zhou Qun has been a bit strange lately."
But what was strange about him, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Anyway, it was just strange.
They felt puzzled, and others did too. It was really hard to understand!
At this moment, Zhou Qun came out and called, "Jiang Lu, you made donkey-whip soup tonight. Bring a bowl to Bai Fendou."
Jiang Lu: "What?"
Everyone fell into a deathly silence.
What kind of soup did you make at home?
Everyone was just ordinary people, but what kind of "high-end" tonic did you have at home?
Besides, wasn't that stuff supposed to be a big boost? Did you really need to supplement it so often?
And even more surprisingly, Zhou Qun wanted to give a bowl to Bai Fendou?
Why?
Was it to poison Bai Fendou?
Well, that didn't seem likely.
In short, everyone was deeply confused. It wasn't that they lacked experience, but these events were really hard to understand. There were just too many things happening in their courtyard. One after another, it was really hard to keep up.
"So what's going on now?"
"How would I know? How did those two become friends?"
They didn't understand, and Jiang Lu didn't either.
She bit her lip, looking at Zhou Qun. However, she was a good wife. Since Zhou Qun had spoken, she nodded, "I understand."
While her mother-in-law was fighting outside, she could still calmly cook. It must be said that she was indeed a "good daughter-in-law." Jiang Lu didn't understand, but she thought and thought, feeling that this must be Zhou Qun's scheme. Although she didn't know what the scheme was, as a wife, she just needed to cooperate.
Anyway, just listen to Zhou Qun, and there wouldn't be any mistakes.
She pursed her lips, smiled faintly, but then felt a bit upset. Although she desperately wanted a child, she still felt very sad. If Aunt Su brought someone over, then Zhou Qun would have another woman.
Thinking of this, she bit her lip sadly, but she also knew that this step had to be taken.
If she didn't do this, when would she ever have a child?
The courtyard was very lively. There were fights here, people watching the excitement there, and even some martial arts action.
Everyone had their own bustle, and at that moment, a woman in a shabby patched jacket entered. She had a short haircut and was followed by a girl with a long braid. The girl was skinny, like a skeleton, with a face that had only big eyes, and her long braid was yellowish. Her clothes were patched together, and she wore straw sandals, with her feet exposed.
The two of them were stunned as soon as they entered the courtyard: "This..."
Who would have expected that as soon as they entered, they would see such a scene.
The arrival of the two women didn't affect the fight between the two old ladies at all. After all, they were thick-skinned and had to fight to the end. Madam Yu was still scolding her daughters-in-law while fighting, asking why they weren't helping. But the daughters-in-law were all crying and supporting their own men, not moving at all.
The short-haired middle-aged woman who entered the door only paused briefly before calling out naturally, "Mom."
Aunt Su: "Zhaodi, you're back?"
Su Zhaodi said, "I met this girl on the way. She said she's a relative of Aunt Zhou's and got lost. So I brought her here. Aunt Zhou, come and take a look. Is she your relative?"
Aunt Zhou, who was originally in a scuffle, suddenly snapped to attention. She kicked Madam Yu away and quickly got up, looking at the skinny girl. How could she be so thin?
She examined the girl from head to toe. The girl's looks were passable, but her body was too thin, making her seem unfit for childbearing. To be honest, Aunt Zhou wasn't too pleased with her appearance. However, she knew it was a new society now, and finding someone to bear children wasn't going to be easy. Just finding someone was good enough.
At least, her face was pretty, and her future grandchildren would be good-looking.
She pursed her lips and asked, "What's your name?"
The long-braided girl was a bit nervous. To others, she was just an unfamiliar girl, but she knew why she was here. Despite her hundred and twenty thousand reluctances, her parents had agreed, and she had no say in the matter.
She whispered, "I'm called Zhaodi."
Uh... another Zhaodi.
This overlapped with Aunt Su's eldest daughter, Su Zhaodi, but that wasn't surprising. In this era, people with the same names were common. Like the thief they caught earlier this year named Zhang San, there was also a Zhang San in their security department.
Names like Weiguo (defending the country), Weimin (serving the people), and Guoqing (National Day) were very popular.
Simple names like Zhang San and Li Si were also common.
As for girls, names like Zhaodi (begging for a son), Pandi (hoping for a son), and Laidi (waiting for a son) were also abundant.
There were also names like Pan'er (hoping for a child) and Sheng'er (giving birth to a son).
Wang Zhaodi cautiously looked at the aunt in front of her. The aunt slapped her thigh and said, "Oh, isn't this my distant cousin from my great-grandfather's third aunt's second son's wife's side? Why are you here? Quick, come inside with me, Auntie."
Madam Yu: "I f*** you..."
She put her hands on her hips and cursed, "You think you can just leave after hitting someone?"
Aunt Zhou: "Don't you dare bully people. Get lost now!"
At this moment, Zhou Qun appeared again and said, "Madam Yu, if you don't leave, I'll have to call the police and see if we can charge you with causing a public disturbance."
"You!"
"Mom, let's go. I don't feel well."
"Yeah, maybe she kicked me too hard. Honestly, don't involve me in such things again."
"We're all doing this for you."
"Oh, so you dare raise your voice to me? Is this what your wives taught you?" Madam Yu cursed and shouted, but seeing her sons not backing her up, she could only swallow her anger and leave after threatening.
The farce ended just like that.
Everyone who witnessed this felt it was quite entertaining.
However, some found it strange that Aunt Zhou's family would have a relative visiting. Aunt Zhou, who was usually stingy, didn't seem annoyed. It was quite unusual. She was wealthy but also very frugal. It was hard to believe she would welcome a relative.
Moreover, why was it Su Zhaodi who brought the girl here?
Regardless, it all seemed odd. Zhuang Zhixi narrowed his eyes and said to his wife, "There's something fishy about this."
Ming Mei agreed. Lan Sihai, who had seen a lot in his life, understood the situation. He said, "When I was young, I worked as a master craftsman in a gold shop in Shanghai City. You know that, right?"
The younger generation, including Luo Xiaohe, knew this.
She brought out the dishes, which were a bit cold but still good since the weather was warm. They sat down, and Lan Sihai continued, "My boss had seven or eight wives and over ten children. But out of those ten children, only one was a legitimate son, the one who inherited the business and was very precious. He married a famous lady from Shanghai."
Luo Xiaohe wondered why he was talking about this when they were discussing Aunt Zhou. But seeing others were interested, she stayed silent.
Lan Sihai continued, "This famous lady from Shanghai was much wealthier than my boss, the gold shop owner. The reason she married into a lower-status family was because she couldn't have children. By marrying someone of lower status, they could control the situation. But since the family needed an heir, my boss brought in a young woman from outside to bear children..."
He paused here and said, "Eat."
Ming Mei: "And then? Is that the end of the story?"
Lan Sihai sighed, "You really have no brains, girl. Very simple-minded."
Ming Mei pouted, "Grandpa, why are you saying that? I'll be sad."
She said coquettishly, "I was just listening... Ah, you mean, you mean Aunt Zhou's..."
She couldn't believe it, "But this is the new society!"
Lan Sihai: "But some people's nature is just bad. Whether in any society, there are good and bad people."
Ming Mei: "What the hell is this?"
Luo Xiaohe also couldn't understand, thinking of her own experiences and feeling a bit upset.
Lan Sihai: "Look, I tell the truth, and you all get upset. People shouldn't be like that. Being unhappy leads to illness, and illness leads to an early death. Nothing is more important than yourself. So why be upset over others? If I knew you'd react like this, I wouldn't say anything next time."
"Please, don't."
Ming Mei quickly said, "I'm not angry, I'm not angry, okay?"
Luo Xiaohe also added, "I just thought about the struggles of women and sighed. It's not a big deal."
Lan Sihai: "Many things are personal choices. You can't control others. Besides, why bother controlling others? In this day and age, the most important thing is to take care of yourself."
Zhuang Zhixi raised his cup, "I agree with Grandpa."
Lan Sihai: "You're really bad at flattering."
Zhuang Zhixi blinked and said, "That's right, which is why Grandpa understands me so well. I'm very sincere and always tell the truth, never flattering."
Lan Xiang almost burst out laughing, "Hahaha, brother-in-law, you're really good at getting along with Grandpa."
Zhuang Zhixi: Smiling.
He said, "I'm also good at getting along with you."
Lan Xiang laughed, "True, but I get along well with anyone, so it's me, not you."
Ming Mei: "Stop talking nonsense and eat. Talking too much while eating can cause indigestion."
Luo Xiaohe: "Eat slowly. Eating too fast can make you uncomfortable."
"Okay!" Ming Mei confidently instructed Zhuang Zhixi, "Help me bite off the fat on this piece of meat. It's a bit greasy."
Since Ming Mei got pregnant, overly greasy food made her nauseous.
Luo Xiaohe looked at Ming Mei with a bit of a maternal gaze. After all, Ming Mei was her junior, and if they were to be formal, Ming Mei should call her Grandma Luo. But Ming Mei always called her Aunt Luo, which was more appropriate since Luo Xiaohe wasn't that old.
In fact, Luo Xiaohe hadn't interacted much with girls like Ming Mei. She and her sister were quite different in age. When their father passed away, her sister was still young. Their family struggled, and their mother had to act crazy at times to protect the children. So their household wasn't very harmonious.
From a young age, the siblings knew their family was poor and had to be frugal. They lived a tight life, and most families in their neighborhood were the same. Even if a family had decent conditions, they prioritized their sons.
Girls were often introverted.
Even if not introverted, the family's financial situation made them less outgoing.
Ming Mei was different from anyone she had ever met before. She marveled at how one's upbringing could have such a profound impact on their personality. She herself had grown up in a well-off family with both parents present, and her love life had been smooth. Back then, she had been particularly optimistic.
Even after decades of hardship, although she had grown accustomed to being quiet and reserved, she still had more decisiveness than her younger siblings, a trait she had developed in her childhood. Now, seeing Ming Mei, this cheerful and confident young woman, she found her quite rare.
Luo Xiaohe didn't interact much with the people in the courtyard, but she thought Ming Mei had the best personality in the entire place, someone who was naturally likable. She said, "Next time you come to eat, I'll cut the meat a bit thinner for you."
Ming Mei smiled and replied, "That sounds great!"
Their family didn't have the old-fashioned rule of not speaking during meals. While eating, Lan Xiang briefly glanced around the room and thought it was quite simple. He said, "Grandpa, why don't you buy a radio? It would be so much less boring without one. That's not like your style."
His grandfather's motto was: "Enjoy life to the fullest."
He was the kind of person who would worry about "dying with money still in the bank."
Lan Sihai replied, "I was planning to buy one."
He paused and continued, "But this courtyard is so lively that I spend all day dealing with their petty disputes and find it quite entertaining. There's no need for a radio. Listening to a radio can't compare to watching the drama unfold here."
Lan Xiang: "…That's really…"
He was at a loss for words.
Lan Sihai: "Just wait, now that everyone is back, it's bound to get even more lively."
Luo Xiaohe nodded silently, agreeing: "I think so too."
Speaking of which, Luo Xiaohe felt that having people like them around wasn't a bad thing. She used to be very introverted and often felt depressed. It was inevitable, given how unsatisfactory her life had been.
This unhappiness wasn't just about her daily life but also her mental state.
But since marrying Lan Sihai, she had to admit that she felt like a more cheerful old lady now.
The courtyard was too lively, and outside the courtyard, there was plenty of excitement too. There were new gossip stories every day. She enjoyed watching the drama unfold so much that every night before bed, she and her husband would recap what antics the people in the courtyard had gotten up to that day.
It was true that even the most introverted and unhappy person would find something to enjoy here.
She would even go to her sister's workplace early after work to share these gossip stories, which made her mother, who had been unhappy about her marriage and not being able to support the family, approach her and suggest she come home occasionally to liven things up.
What her mother meant by "liven things up" was that once a daughter was married, she was like "water thrown out," as the old saying goes. Even though she had been constantly draining her daughter's resources before the marriage, once married, her mother wouldn't make things difficult for her.
Her mother was a contradictory old lady, with old-fashioned ideas. Despite not liking this daughter, she wouldn't go to her daughter's home to ask for favors. Once married, that was it.
Because of this, her mother rarely contacted her, and she rarely visited her family. However, recently, after sharing a few gossip stories with her younger sister, her mother's curiosity was piqued, and she even went out of her way to approach her.
Luo Xiaohe didn't know what to say.
The appeal of gossip was just too strong.
With so much excitement in their courtyard, every time she visited her family, her mother seemed to become a bit more cheerful. Luo Xiaohe was even more speechless. She, her younger sister, and her younger brother secretly went to the hospital to ask her brother-in-law about it, who then consulted with the doctor.
According to them, her mother was definitely biased, but there might also be some mental health issues, though not to the extent of her threatening to stab someone. But there were some mild issues.
At that time, there wasn't much talk about depression, but if there had been, the doctor might have mentioned it. However, the doctor's general opinion was that Luo Xiaohe's mother had been too repressed over the years, under too much pressure, and had some mental health problems. Luo Xiaohe herself might have had some too, so listening to these gossip stories could actually help relieve anxiety and might gradually make her more cheerful.
Luo Xiaohe was genuinely shocked at the time.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
So, despite the constant bickering in their courtyard, they might actually be entertaining many people and helping those with depression tendencies find joy and relieve their unhappiness.
It was quite absurd.
But they had done it!
Anyway, Luo Xiaohe herself was quite happy now. On one hand, her life with Lan Sihai was very smooth and more comfortable than she had imagined. On the other hand, there was so much excitement that she even said, "Their constant bickering is actually a blessing to those around us."
Zhuang Zhixi burst out laughing, saying, "I bet Aunt Wang doesn't see it that way."
Luo Xiaohe couldn't help but laugh either, knowing that as the courtyard manager, Aunt Wang had her hands full.
She said, "Even so, I think Aunt Wang enjoys watching the drama unfold too."
By this time, Ming Mei had finished eating. She found a cup, went to the wall, and pressed her ear against it to listen to the noises from the next room.
"Hey, does this even work?"
Ming Mei: "That's how you eavesdrop."
After listening for a while, she sighed, "I can't hear anything."
If there was a loud argument, she might hear it, but if not, then it was unlikely. Ming Mei was a bit disappointed, thinking, "I wanted to hear some gossip, but I can't hear anything."
"Don't worry, their drama will probably spread soon enough."
Some families, like the Sui family, keep their issues private and handle them internally without causing a scene. But when it came to the Zhou family, that was a different story.
Aunt Zhou was not one to keep quiet, as the old saying goes, "A dog can't hold two ounces of oil in its stomach." Anything she knew, she couldn't keep to herself.
Ming Mei: "I'll try listening again."
She had just pressed her ear to the wall when she stood back up: "Oh, wait, today the person was brought by the Su family. So, they helped the Zhou family find someone…"
Even though they tried to cover it up by saying it was a distant relative, no one believed that.
Ming Mei suddenly understood: "So the Su family agreed to help the Zhou family with this, which is why the Zhou family let go of Bai Fendou and his father."
Ming Mei's mind was quick, and she quickly figured out what was going on.
Others could figure it out too. It wasn't a complicated matter, and only the Su or Zhou families might think no one could see through it. Anyone with a bit of experience would immediately understand.
Ming Mei: "That's just disgusting."
She said, "What's the difference between this and an old brothel madam?"
"None, and it's not surprising." Zhuang Zhixi was familiar with their family and said, "I just can't believe the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are willing to go this far just to keep draining the Bai family."
"Disgusting," Luo Xiaohe said, clearly disapproving. "These people will get their karma."
Although she hadn't lived there long, she had a good idea of what Wang Xiangxiu and Aunt Su were like. She herself didn't approve of such people. Speaking of her mother, when her father passed away, her mother wasn't that old. Although her mother had been unfair to her in many ways, Luo Xiaohe was still grateful to her. Her mother had done everything to protect the children, even pretending to be crazy.
Their family had been through a lot of hardship, but they never resorted to such means to make money.
And they had made it through.
Luo Xiaohe disapproved of such people.
She said, "They lack integrity and are immoral."
Lan Sihai: "You're getting angry again. It's not worth it; they're not our concern."
Luo Xiaohe: "I know, I just can't stand them."
Ming Mei: "That's normal. Who would approve of them?"
They gossiped about these two families, but others in the courtyard were gossiping about them too. Just as Lan Sihai could see through them, so could others. It wasn't hard to figure out; it wasn't complicated!
Aunt Wang went home, feeling more and more disgusted with each passing moment. She said, "No, I need to talk to Aunt Zhou tomorrow. If this is really happening, it's absolutely despicable. And that Aunt Su, as if anyone couldn't see through her. I can't believe her family is involved in such a thing. I really misjudged her. I thought she was just struggling with life, but now it seems her character is just rotten to the core."
Li Fang chimed in, "I knew he wasn't a good person from the start, but you didn't believe me."
She had seen the young Aunt Su sneaking into the woods with someone when she was in middle school. It was a shocking experience, like seeing a ghost. So, no matter how others talked about Aunt Su's plight, she had always been coldly indifferent to that family.
Aunt Wang thought about her daughter's words and sighed, "I truly didn't expect this..."
Meanwhile, at the Zhuang household, Liang Meifen didn't quite understand what was going on, but her husband, Zhuang Zhiyuan, did. Men are naturally more sensitive to such matters. Liang Meifen felt so disgusted that she almost vomited, exclaiming, "What kind of atmosphere is this in their family? Do they think it's the old society where men could take concubines?"
"They haven't admitted to anything yet," Zhuang Zhiyuan replied.
"Disgusting! Aunt Su is shameless too, playing matchmaker in all this," Liang Meifen declared firmly. "From now on, if you see Wang Xiangxiu, stay away from her. If you dare to get involved with her, I'll follow Bai Fendou's example and make you pay!"
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "…What are you talking about? Do you think I'm that kind of person? I'm firmly following the Party's call, striving to be…"
Here we go again, Zhuang "Great Principles" Zhiyuan.
Liang Meifen: "…"
Zhao Guihua: "Shut up."
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "…"
His mother, Zhao Guihua, had quite a temper.
He could blabber on all he wanted in front of his wife, but not in front of his mother.
"Mom, do you think Wang Zhaodi was willing?" Liang Meifen asked.
Zhao Guihua: "Whether she was willing or not, she's here now. Maybe she's not as weak as you think."
Zhao Guihua looked at the Zhou family across the way but didn't say much more. This matter, Wang Zhaodi had come here knowing exactly how to navigate this path. And Zhao Guihua clearly remembered that Wang Zhaodi wasn't some simple girl.
Of course, this "not simple" didn't mean she was bad; rather, Wang Zhaodi had her own ideas despite her apparent weakness.
In fact, she hadn't been taken advantage of at the Zhou household.
Zhao Guihua blinked and said, "Let's just watch and see."
At that moment, the Wang Zhaodi that Zhao Guihua deemed "not one to be taken advantage of" had already quickly prepared dinner and sat at the table, eagerly looking at Aunt Zhou. Aunt Zhou felt a sense of importance, pleased that this country girl showed her more respect than Jiang Lu ever did. She smiled slightly and said, "Alright, eat."
Eat hearty, so you can bear children.
Wang Zhaodi immediately picked up her bowl and started slurping down her food, her chopsticks flying toward the meat dishes… whatever part of the meat, she didn't care, as long as it was meat, she was happy.
Before Aunt Zhou and the others could react, Wang Zhaodi had already cleared half the plate and started on her second bowl of rice…
