My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Three cobblers with their wits combined surpass Zhuge Liang.

Zhao Guihua, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Zhou—these three women were far more than just three cobblers.

Oh, and there’s also Ming Mei, who’s not officially part of the group.

Li Fang usually didn’t get involved in such matters; she had always kept a low profile in the neighborhood. The others were either busy with work or school. Ming Mei, who was on maternity leave at home, had the time to watch the excitement unfold.

Both parties were interested, so Wang Zhaodi and Ye Qiang decided to arrange a formal blind date. Although they already knew each other, they still wanted to follow the proper procedures. Zhao Guihua acted as the matchmaker, and the meeting was set to take place at the Zhuang family’s home.

Zhao Guihua prepared a plate of roasted peanuts, a plate of sunflower seeds, a plate of candies, and a box of pastries—four dishes in total. That would do.

Early in the morning, Wang Zhaodi put on a relatively new outfit. She only had two sets of clothes, both patched up and shabby. The two sets she usually wore were hand-me-downs from Jiang Lu. Even Jiang Lu’s old clothes were better than Wang Zhaodi’s newest ones.

This particular outfit was something Jiang Lu had dug out specifically for Wang Zhaodi’s blind date—a dark red plaid blouse and a pair of grayish-blue pants. Wang Zhaodi also dabbed on some “Da Youyi” perfume, making her face smell sweet. After tidying up, she looked quite pretty.

It was her first blind date, and she was a little nervous. She asked, “Does this look okay?”

Aunt Zhou replied, “It’s fine. You’re more than good enough for anyone.”

Wang Zhaodi smiled shyly and followed Aunt Zhou to the Zhuang family’s home. By then, Da Qiang had already arrived. He was dressed neatly and had even gotten a haircut before coming, looking sharp and tidy.

Because of his physically demanding job, he looked a bit older than his actual age. But even so, he appeared to be in his early thirties, not far off from his real age of twenty-eight. This was quite different from Bai Fendou, who was in his early thirties but looked like he was in his forties. Da Qiang wasn’t that exaggerated.

When Wang Zhaodi walked in, Da Qiang’s eyes lit up. He had always thought she was pretty, but now she looked even more beautiful.

Zhao Guihua stood up immediately and said, “Let me introduce you two…”

She paused and laughed, “Look at me, you’re not nervous, but I am!”

Her little joke helped everyone relax a bit. Zhao Guihua continued, “I don’t even need to introduce you. You’re neighbors and already know each other. This is Ye Qiang, and this is Wang Zhaodi. Please, have a seat.”

The two of them sat down, and Zhao Guihua said with a smile, “I’ve already told you both about each other’s family and personal situations, so you should have a good idea, right?”

They both nodded.

In truth, they both knew this was just a formality. They were already acquainted and aware of each other’s circumstances. There wasn’t much left to say. Besides, Da Qiang had sought out the matchmaker knowing Wang Zhaodi’s situation, so there wasn’t much suspense about the outcome.

Zhao Guihua said, “Da Qiang, Wang Zhaodi is a good girl. She’s stronger than most girls and has a bigger appetite. But having a good appetite is a blessing, and her strength makes her very efficient at work. You know how we were always going up the mountain last autumn, right? She worked harder than us old ladies and even helped us out. She’s a practical girl who knows how to live well.”

It was important to mention her appetite upfront; otherwise, it might cause issues later.

Blind dates nowadays weren’t like they would be decades later, where things were left vague and only clarified after getting to know each other. Back then, most proper blind dates required full transparency. Those who tried to hide things or deceive others would be harshly criticized.

Da Qiang nodded. He knew about this. They had missed out on the fishing at the mountain pond, but he had heard that they had gathered a lot of wild produce in the autumn.

He said earnestly, “I know she’s very capable.”

Zhao Guihua smiled, “You’re capable too. The loading and unloading work is tougher than most jobs, but you handle it with ease. That definitely puts you ahead of most people.”

Da Qiang replied, “I’m alright. I’m strong, so this kind of work doesn’t bother me much.”

Wang Zhaodi chimed in brightly, “I’m strong too.”

The two of them exchanged a smile.

This was looking promising!

Zhao Guihua chuckled and said, “Alright then, let’s eat something.”

Knock, knock.

Someone was at the door. Ming Mei peeked in and said, “Mom, could you help me change the baby’s diaper?”

Zhao Guihua replied, “You really can’t handle such a simple task? I’ll be right there. Aunt Zhou, come and help me.”

Aunt Zhou said, “Sure.”

In reality, the diaper change was just an excuse to give the young couple some time alone.

Zhao Guihua and Aunt Zhou left the room and followed Ming Mei into the neighboring house. The two little ones were sleeping soundly on the kang, so there was nothing to worry about. Aunt Zhou kept glancing toward the door, and Zhao Guihua said, “Don’t worry too much. They’ll probably hit it off.”

Aunt Zhou snorted, “I can’t help it. She’s my goddaughter, after all.”

Zhao Guihua teased, “Oh, come on.”

Aunt Zhou retorted, “What are you ‘oh-ing’ about? I’m always fair and square.”

Ming Mei watched their banter with amusement, resting her chin on her hand.

This made Aunt Zhou feel a bit awkward. She hadn’t been to Ming Mei’s room much, as Ming Mei wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. Compared to those who looked fierce, Aunt Zhou thought Ming Mei, with her youthful appearance, seemed easy to bully. But in reality, Ming Mei’s no-nonsense attitude made her even more intimidating.

Since she hadn’t been here often, Aunt Zhou took the opportunity to look around and said, “Your kang is really nice.”

The kang provided more space, and once the child grew a bit older, they could crawl around. It was also warm in the winter.

Looking around, the room was tidy, with a biscuit box and a can of powdered milk on the cabinet. Aunt Zhou pursed her lips and said, “You’re living quite well. Zhao Guihua, your daughter-in-law is living better than you, huh?”

Zhao Guihua chuckled, “Are you suggesting I should compete with a nursing mother for food? Have some decency.”

“What kind of talk is that?”

“If you don’t like what I say, don’t stir the pot.”

Aunt Zhou snorted.

Ming Mei, having had her fill of their bickering, asked, “What do you think Wang Zhaodi’s family will do if they find out she’s found a partner, especially a city worker?”

Zhao Guihua replied, “Nothing good. They’ll definitely try to leech off her.”

Aunt Zhou said, “I’ve thought about it. Da Qiang doesn’t seem like a pushover. Let him deal with Wang Zhaodi’s family and play the bad guy.”

Zhao Guihua nodded in agreement, “That’s a good idea. If he acts tough and takes charge at home, even if Wang Zhaodi marries well, her family won’t dare to cause trouble. Plus, the two families live far apart, so they probably won’t know the details.”

Just then, Aunt Wang knocked and came in. The three big shots gathered, and Aunt Wang asked eagerly, “How’s it going?”

Zhao Guihua said, “It’s going well. We were just discussing Wang Zhaodi’s family.”

Aunt Wang said, “Let’s just keep them in the dark. They live far away and won’t be in contact much, so it won’t affect the young couple’s life.”

Ming Mei looked at them and said, “Have you forgotten how Wang Zhaodi came here in the first place?”

Everyone turned to look at her. Ming Mei, being sharper, said, “Wang Zhaodi was introduced by Su Zhaodi, who said she was the daughter of Su Zhaodi’s mother-in-law’s sister. That makes her Su Zhaodi’s husband’s cousin. Regardless of whether Su Zhaodi’s in-laws are good people, the two families are still related. If they find out about Wang Zhaodi’s situation, they might gossip to her family. If Wang Zhaodi’s parents come knocking, can we really ignore them? Filial piety is highly valued nowadays.”

Ming Mei’s point was quite valid.

“You’re right about that.”

“Ming Mei, we really did forget about that.”

Zhao Guihua said firmly, “Even so, what does it matter? Da Qiang is a grown man and a laborer. His loading and unloading team is full of tough guys. Can’t they handle a little confrontation? In this day and age, the soft fear the tough, the tough fear the ruthless, and the ruthless fear the reckless. As long as Da Qiang and Wang Zhaodi stand their ground, no one will dare to bully them.”

Zhao Guihua paused for a moment and said, "No matter how much we plan, we can't map out every detail of the young couple's life. Many things are for them to face on their own. If they are weak, they’ll only be bullied. But if they stand their ground, Wang Zhaodi's family won’t be able to cause any trouble. As for Su Zhaodi's in-laws, they’re just distant relatives, nothing more than a fart in the wind. They didn’t lift a finger when times were tough. If things get better, don’t let them come around looking for handouts!"

Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhou thought about it and agreed with Zhao Guihua's reasoning.

Ming Mei, standing nearby, was eager to chime in. "If I weren’t so busy with the baby, I’d take time off to accompany Wang Zhaodi back to her family. If anyone dared to talk nonsense, I wouldn’t hold back. It’d be a good chance to practice my skills."

The three elderly women exchanged glances.

"You just want to pick a fight, don’t you?"

"Come on, give it a rest," Zhao Guihua said. "Stay home and take care of the baby."

Ming Mei shrugged. "I know, I know."

"Mm-mm…" A soft, cooing sound came from the bed. Ming Mei turned around and saw that her little boy had woken up. The moment he opened his eyes, he started looking for his mom, wriggling and puckering his lips.

Ming Mei immediately climbed onto the bed, turning her back to the others, and began nursing the baby.

As soon as she put Little Tuan Tuan down, Little Yuan Yuan started waving her tiny hands impatiently.

The two chubby babies, now full and content, gently swayed their little hands. Tuan Tuan, for some reason, suddenly grabbed his sister’s hand. He tilted his head, looking puzzled, as if wondering why there was another little creature just like him. Or maybe he simply thought his sister was a big stuffed doll, holding onto her hand tightly.

Even though Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were less than two months old, their personalities were already distinct.

Tuan Tuan, the older brother, was lively and active. Despite being so young, he already loved kicking his little feet. Yuan Yuan, on the other hand, was a bit of a lazy baby. She was all about eating and didn’t mind her brother tugging at her. When he kicked off the blanket, she’d just curl up into a tiny ball.

But neither of the babies was prone to crying.

On the contrary, they were cheerful and happy babies.

After feeding the two little ones, Ming Mei played with them, eliciting giggles and coos.

Aunt Wang watched and said, "Your babies are so easy to soothe. My little one is a night crier. He can’t stand any discomfort and cries the moment he’s not held."

Zhao Guihua smiled. "Our family has agreed not to carry the babies around too much. Right now, Ming Mei and I are at home, but once she goes back to work, it’ll just be me. I can’t carry two babies at once, so we’re trying not to let them get used to being held all the time. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to manage."

Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhou nodded in agreement. While having twins was a blessing, it could be challenging if there weren’t enough hands to help.

"What about in the summer?"

At this, Zhao Guihua smiled. "My husband plans to make a little stroller for each of them. That way, we can take them out for walks."

"That’s a great idea."

Zhao Guihua beamed with pride. "My husband is quite handy with his hands."

Ming Mei, still playing with the babies, said, "Once the weather warms up, the babies can go outside."

Tuan Tuan wriggled excitedly, babbling away.

Yuan Yuan, holding her brother’s hand, suddenly stuck his little fingers into her mouth. She quickly spat them out, making a face that Ming Mei immediately understood: "Yuck, not tasty."

Tuan Tuan, annoyed that his sister had tried to chew on his hand, waved his little fist at her, scolding her in baby talk.

Yuan Yuan just grinned innocently at him, drool dripping down her chin.

Ming Mei couldn’t help but laugh. "Pfft."

Her own children were endlessly amusing.

While they were passing the time in the room, Da Qiang and Wang Zhaodi were having a productive conversation.

Da Qiang said, "You know about my family situation, right? I only have my mom, and she lives with my older brother. She’s not as strong-willed as Zhao Guihua or the others, but regardless, we only see each other during holidays. We don’t interact much otherwise."

His mother was old-fashioned, believing that the eldest son should take care of her. She also helped out with the household. She had always favored his older brother, and after Da Qiang’s previous marriage ended in a scam, she became even more distant.

Though she wasn’t particularly fond of him, she didn’t mistreat him either. They maintained a polite relationship—she didn’t help him much, but she didn’t take advantage of him either.

After all, he was still her son.

This was Da Qiang’s weakness. If he got married, his wife wouldn’t have a mother-in-law to rely on. But what Da Qiang saw as a disadvantage was actually a plus for Wang Zhaodi. Without a meddling mother-in-law, she could run the household as she pleased.

Both of them were straightforward people. After sharing their personal situations, they understood each other well.

When Zhao Guihua, Aunt Zhou, and the others returned, the two of them were already getting along famously.

The women exchanged glances and smiled. "How’s it going between you two?"

Da Qiang, being honest, said, "I already liked Zhaodi."

Zhaodi blushed but said firmly, "I like him too."

Since both were willing, there was nothing more to say!

The initial concern wasn’t whether they’d like each other but what would happen when they returned to Zhaodi’s hometown. Zhao Guihua said, "You’ll need to go back and get the necessary documents."

Wang Zhaodi took a deep breath and said, "I can do it."

Da Qiang added, "We’ll go back together and discuss things properly…"

"Discuss nothing! You can’t be too nice about it," Zhao Guihua interjected, thinking Da Qiang was too naive. "You can’t be soft-spoken. Some people only understand strength. If you’re too polite, they’ll walk all over you. When you go to Zhaodi’s family, you need to be bold and assertive, even a little stingy."

Da Qiang: "???"

Zhao Guihua continued, "You’re too nice for your own good. At home, you can be gentle, but outside, you need to be tough."

He thought about it and realized she had a point. "Alright!"

After a moment, Da Qiang said, "Would you be willing to come with me to Zhaodi’s hometown? I won’t let you go for nothing."

He explained, "I can act tough, and I’m not a pushover. But I’m worried I might not strike the right balance. After all, I’m marrying their daughter."

"So what?"

Aunt Zhou spat out, "A family that sells their daughter deserves to be cut off."

She had no patience for such behavior.

"Ah, if Jiang Lu weren’t pregnant, I’d go with you. I’m better at dealing with people like that than Zhao Guihua."

Zhao Guihua frowned. "I just had the babies. Ming Mei can’t handle both of them alone. I can’t leave right now."

"Maybe wait two months until Jiang Lu gives birth?"

"That won’t work either. I’ll be busy taking care of Jiang Lu during her postpartum period. I won’t have the time," Wang Zhaodi said.

"Mom, you should go."

As they were discussing, Jiang Lu walked in, calm and composed. "You should accompany Wang Zhaodi back. You’re more suited for this than Zhao Guihua. Besides, we had an agreement to compensate Zhaodi with some money. But now that you’ve taken her as your goddaughter, things are different. I think you’ll handle it better than Zhao Guihua. Just make it a quick trip."

She added, "Even if you’re not here, Zhao Guihua and Aunt Wang can help me if I need anything."

Zhao Guihua nodded. "That’s true. Aunt Zhou, I can help look after Jiang Lu."

Aunt Wang chimed in, "I can too."

Zhao Guihua really wanted to go to the countryside with them, but she simply couldn’t leave at the moment.

Aunt Zhou looked at Jiang Lu's bulging belly, and Jiang Lu smiled, "I'm doing quite well now, and besides, Zhou Qun is at home."

Aunt Zhou hesitated, "But..."

By all accounts, Jiang Lu was about to give birth.

Jiang Lu said, "I think the baby might know his grandma is off doing a good deed and will hold on until you return."

Aunt Zhou pondered, "Let me think about it."

Zhao Guihua glanced at Jiang Lu, then at Aunt Zhou.

For some reason, Zhao Guihua felt that Jiang Lu actually wanted Aunt Zhou to leave. She lowered her gaze. If she hadn't been reborn, she wouldn't have thought much of it, but because she had been reborn, she knew that Zhou Qun was actually infertile.

Therefore, the timing of Jiang Lu's pregnancy might be a bit off.

Zhao Guihua glanced at Aunt Zhou but said nothing.

After a long pause, Aunt Zhou said, "Alright, I'll go back with Wang Zhaodi for a while."

Both Da Qiang and Wang Zhaodi were extremely grateful.

Aunt Zhou's willingness to accompany them gave them a sense of security. At this moment, Jiang Lu also breathed a quiet sigh of relief. If she had gotten pregnant first and then claimed to be pregnant, she could still attribute it to premature birth.

But if she had claimed to be pregnant first and then announced the pregnancy, things would have been different.

That would have been much harder to manage.

Jiang Lu hoped that Aunt Zhou wouldn't be around when she gave birth. That way, she could handle things more smoothly. Although the explanation might be the same, her mental state would be different depending on whether Aunt Zhou was present or not.

Lying while nervous and lying while calm were two entirely different things.

Over the past two months, Jiang Lu had appeared calm on the surface, but internally, she had grown increasingly tense.

Now, her heart felt much lighter.

Aunt Zhou calculated that there were still a few days left. A round trip, if done quickly, wouldn't cause any delays. She made up her mind and said, "Alright, we'll set off tomorrow."

Da Qiang and Wang Zhaodi nodded in agreement.

Although everything seemed to be happening at once, it was always better to deal with things sooner rather than later. Zhao Guihua was happy for Wang Zhaodi and also for Da Qiang. Both of them were hardworking, and their future would undoubtedly be bright.

The news of Da Qiang from the neighboring courtyard and Wang Zhaodi from their own courtyard successfully matching up quickly spread throughout the compound. The person most surprised and heartbroken by this news was Bai Fendou. It wasn't that Bai Fendou had feelings for Wang Zhaodi.

He was jealous of Da Qiang.

He had always considered himself an outstanding young man, far superior to most.

But now, Da Qiang, a laborer, had already been married twice, while he hadn't even been married once. How could he not feel heartbroken?

This was truly unjust!

Why did someone as good as him always have to suffer like this?

Life was full of hardships. Why did a good man like him always have to face such cruel twists of fate? He couldn't understand why Aunt Zhou, such a spiteful old woman, would go out of her way to help Wang Zhaodi so much.

When Bai Fendou heard that Zhao Guihua had been the one to introduce them, he took the initiative to visit the Zhuang family. The Zhuang family had just finished dinner, and Zhao Guihua and her husband were discussing plans to build a children's cart. Despite not having much formal education, Old Zhuang was quite skilled with his hands, far more so than his two sons.

He handled the practical work, while Zhao Guihua took charge of the design, given her extensive knowledge.

As they were discussing, Bai Fendou arrived.

Zhao Guihua was quite surprised, "Fendou, what brings you here? Have you eaten?"

Bai Fendou replied, "I've eaten."

He looked at Zhao Guihua with a pitiful expression and said, "Aunt Zhao, we're all from the same compound. You introduced someone to Da Qiang from the neighboring courtyard, so why can't you introduce someone to me? I'm single too!"

He felt wronged and got straight to the point.

Zhao Guihua raised an eyebrow and said, "Introductions depend on compatibility. They were a good match, so I introduced them. You and Wang Zhaodi weren't a good match, so I didn't. If I were to introduce someone else to you, who would it be? I don't know many people."

She added bluntly, "I'm not a professional matchmaker. Even the professional matchmakers haven't found anyone suitable for you. Who else could I introduce?"

Zhao Guihua was even more direct, "In your current state, it's already hard to find a good match. By the way, how are things with Guan Guiling?"

They all knew that Bai Fendou had never given up on Guan Guiling.

At the mention of Guan Guiling, Bai Fendou's expression turned awkward.

Zhao Guihua didn't care about his feelings and said bluntly, "If you're still hung up on Guan Guiling, how can you expect others to introduce someone to you? Even if they did, it wouldn't work out. Fendou, you're not a bad person at heart. But the way you handle things isn't very appropriate. Do you understand what I mean?"

Bai Fendou stammered, "I..."

He wanted to explain that he no longer wanted to be with Guan Guiling, but before he could speak, he felt his heart bleeding.

He hung his head dejectedly and said, "How did things between me and Guiling come to this?"

The more he thought about it, the more he resented Chen Yuan. If it weren't for Chen Yuan's underhanded schemes to retaliate against him, he and Guan Guiling would have been married by now, living happily as a family. Unable to continue the conversation with Zhao Guihua, he turned and left the house.

Silently, he made his way to Chen Yuan's doorstep. Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue had moved back in.

They had spent the New Year at Chen Yuan's parents' place and only returned after the Lantern Festival. However, due to Bai Fendou's antics, Chen Yuan felt he had lost face and had been avoiding Bai Fendou ever since.

In truth, Chen Yuan wasn't really trying to avoid Bai Fendou. From a young age, Chen Yuan had been the apple of his family's eye, used to getting his way and never letting any slight go unpunished. In his mind, he wanted to retaliate against Bai Fendou. Bai Fendou had caused him to lose face and spread all sorts of unpleasant rumors. How could he let that slide?

But his parents had advised him to hold off for now. If he retaliated immediately, it would only draw more attention, and the two of them would be dragged into the spotlight again, which would be even more humiliating. Chen Yuan's reputation couldn't afford to get any worse.

With this in mind, Chen Yuan's parents held him back.

Though proud, Chen Yuan agreed with his parents' reasoning and had been keeping a low profile lately. Even though they had moved back, they kept to themselves, rarely making a fuss. Tao Yuyue was the same.

In her previous life, Tao Yuyue had been the envy of her friends. No matter how things were behind closed doors, whether her husband was abusive or not, her in-laws never shorted her financially. She had been quite popular among her circle of friends.

But this life was different. They had moved into the courtyard, where even the smallest matters became public knowledge, let alone the several conflicts between Chen Yuan and Bai Fendou. Tao Yuyue had no face left. She went to work every day with a stiff expression.

Of course, that wasn't the main issue. The main issue was that their family was now very quiet, almost invisible.

Among the newlyweds in the courtyard, Zhang San and his wife had integrated much better with everyone, while Chen Yuan and his wife kept to themselves.

But even so, Bai Fendou, thinking of his own misery, silently made his way to the backyard and squatted in the corridor, staring at Chen Yuan's house. He did nothing, just kept his eyes fixed on their home.

Tao Yuyue came out to dump water after washing rice and, upon opening the door, saw Bai Fendou squatting in the corner, staring at their house.

She was instantly startled and frowned, "What are you looking at?"

Bai Fendou didn't respond, just continued to glare at their house with resentment.

Tao Yuyue felt a chill down her spine and quickly went back inside, pulling Chen Yuan aside. Chen Yuan was lying on his side, listening to the radio and tapping along to the music. Seeing Tao Yuyue rush in, he immediately slapped her and said, "What are you doing? Can't you see I'm listening to the opera?"

Tao Yuyue bit her lip, her heart aching. She was her parents' child too. Did she deserve to be treated like this?

She took a deep breath and said, "Bai Fendou is at the door."

"What!"

Chen Yuan sat up abruptly, "He's at the door? What's he doing there? Is he here to cause trouble again?"

Tao Yuyue replied, "I don't know. He's not saying anything, just staring at our house. Chen Yuan, I'm scared."

Chen Yuan scoffed and said, "What's there to be afraid of? When did you become so timid? Who do you think I am? Would he dare to offend me so casually? He must be tired of living, huh?"

He stood up, "I'll go take a look."

As he walked to the door, he felt a bit uneasy inside, but his face still wore an arrogant expression. That was just how he was—not particularly impressive, but always putting on a show. When he looked outside, he saw Bai Fendou staring right at him.

Chen ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍Yuan's heart skipped a beat. "What are you looking at?" he snapped.

Truly a married couple, their words were exactly the same.

Bai Fendou remained silent, still staring at their house, which made Chen Yuan feel even more uneasy.

"Bai Fendou, are you up to no good? Why are you standing at my doorstep?" Chen Yuan shouted.

Bai Fendou still didn't say a word, just kept staring at Chen Yuan with those piercing eyes.

Chen Yuan sneered, "You’re nothing but trash!"

Suddenly, Bai Fendou stood up, and Chen Yuan let out a scream, quickly slamming the door shut.

Bai Fendou chuckled mockingly, "What a coward."

He walked over to the window of Chen Yuan's house and sat down right beneath it. He wasn’t sure what he was doing there, but he was in a bad mood, and when he was in a bad mood, he wanted to cause trouble for Chen Yuan. After all, who else could he bother?

Chen Yuan was the one who had ruined his true love.

Chen Yuan peeked through the window and saw Bai Fendou sitting right under his window. Panicking, he started pacing around the room, unsure of what to do. He had lived his whole life being pampered. Even when something happened, someone else would always handle it for him.

His grandparents, his parents, and even his eldest sister—they all took care of things for him.

But now?

He was living in this shabby courtyard, facing off against a lunatic like Bai Fendou. For a moment, he felt utterly desolate. How had his life come to this? He glanced out the window again and barked at Tao Yuyue, "Go chase him away."

Tao Yuyue was currently looking at herself in the mirror. One side of her face was swollen from being hit by him.

Without turning around, she looked at Chen Yuan through the mirror and said nothing.

She hadn’t understood before why Chen Yuan, who always seemed so gentle, would hit people. But after spending the New Year at the Chen family home, she had figured it out. The whole family was like that. Chen Yuan’s grandfather, despite his age, would still hit his wife. A single disagreement would earn her a slap.

Then there was Chen Yuan’s father, Director Chen. At the machinery factory, he was known as a kind and polite man, but at home, he was domineering. Even though Chen Yuan’s mother was the deputy director of the food factory, a position no less impressive than her husband’s, if not higher, she still had to obey Director Chen at home. And Director Chen was quick to resort to violence too. The entire family, from top to bottom, was like this.

So it was no surprise that Chen Yuan hit people.

"The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree," she thought bitterly.

"I’m talking to you! Did you hear me?" Chen Yuan was getting annoyed.

Tao Yuyue replied, "I heard you, but how am I supposed to chase him away?"

She looked at Chen Yuan helplessly. "Do you think Bai Fendou would listen to me? If he did, he wouldn’t have beaten you up so badly last time."

Chen Yuan pursed his lips. "You were pretty fierce last time. If you fight him, he wouldn’t hit a woman, right?"

The man had no shame. He didn’t dare to confront Bai Fendou himself, so he was pushing his wife to do it instead.

As for whether Tao Yuyue would get hurt, Chen Yuan didn’t care at all.

Tao Yuyue took a deep breath, watching Chen Yuan’s indifferent expression. "I’m not going," she said firmly.

Chen Yuan stared at her in disbelief. "You’re not going?"

He raised his hand to hit her. "You dare talk back to me? Who do you think you are?"

Tao Yuyue quickly dodged, which only made Chen Yuan angrier. "What’s wrong with you? Who’s in charge of this family? Do you not understand your place?"

He grabbed a broom and swung it at Tao Yuyue.

"Ah!" she cried out, dodging the broom. "If you hit me again, I’ll go to the Women’s Federation!"

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Why wouldn’t I? I don’t want to end up like your grandmother and mother, getting beaten for the rest of my life." Tao Yuyue didn’t want a divorce, but she also didn’t want to be beaten for the rest of her life. The thought of Chen Yuan’s grandmother, at her age, still being hit was chilling.

"What kind of family values do you have? A grown man who only knows how to hit his wife—you’re even worse than Bai Fendou."

"What did you say?!"

Chen Yuan was furious and lunged at her again. Tao Yuyue dodged desperately, grabbing a frying pan and swinging it at Chen Yuan.

"Ah!!!" Chen Yuan screamed.

Seeing that it worked, Tao Yuyue hit him a few more times. "You... you... you shrew!" Chen Yuan crouched down, clutching his head.

Tao Yuyue took a deep breath. "Don’t even think about hitting me. Don’t you dare!"

The frying pan was part of her dowry. The family already had a large pot, so they didn’t need a small one, but her mother had insisted on giving her one, saying it would be convenient for making porridge on the stove in winter.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Whether it was convenient for porridge was debatable, but it was certainly convenient for hitting people.

"Don’t even think about laying a hand on me!" Tao Yuyue waved the frying pan. "If you hit me, I’ll beat you to death."

"You... you shrew!" Chen Yuan stammered.

"You’re no better yourself. We’re even. If you dare hit me, I’ll hit you back."

Chen Yuan was seething. "You’re despicable!"

"Hmph!"

Despite his anger, Chen Yuan didn’t dare to hit her again. After all, Tao Yuyue wasn’t someone to be trifled with. She hadn’t fought back before, so he had become more aggressive, but now that she was standing up to him, he was hesitant.

After all, getting hit hurt, and Tao Yuyue was willing to hit back.

He let out a huff and reluctantly lay down on the bed. "One of these days, I’m going to divorce you."

Tao Yuyue didn’t respond and went back to cooking.

The two of them acted as if the fight had never happened.

Bai Fendou, who had been listening under the window, clicked his tongue. "That woman knows how to fight!"

He had always thought that Chen Yuan was the one hitting Tao Yuyue, but now he saw that Tao Yuyue fought back too.

In that moment, Bai Fendou felt like he didn’t understand women at all.

He had thought Wang Xiangxiu was a good person, but she had betrayed him.

He had thought Guan Guiling was a good person, but she had dumped him for her own gain.

He had thought Tao Yuyue was a gentle, bullied fool, but she fought back. She hit Chen Yuan too.

All of this left Bai Fendou feeling disoriented. He stood up and silently returned to the front courtyard, where he saw Zhuang Zhixi coming out. He immediately approached him.

"Zhuang Zhixi," he called out.

"What’s up?" Zhuang Zhixi asked.

"Do you understand women?" Bai Fendou asked.

"I don’t. I only understand my wife," Zhuang Zhixi replied.

Bai Fendou forced a smile. Zhuang Zhixi asked curiously, "What’s wrong? What were you doing in the backyard just now?"

"I went to Chen Yuan’s house. I wanted to see how evil someone could be to ruin my relationship with Guan Guiling, but instead, I saw him and his wife fighting. How is it that Tao Yuyue, who seems so gentle, is so hard to understand?"

"That’s his wife. You don’t need to understand her," Zhuang Zhixi said.

"But..."

"No buts!"

Bai Fendou sighed. "Good thing I didn’t go after her. Can you believe someone like that..."

Zhuang Zhixi thought Bai Fendou was delusional. Even if Tao Yuyue knew how to fight, she would never be interested in someone like Bai Fendou. Where did he get this inflated sense of self-worth?

Zhuang Zhixi looked at Bai Fendou seriously. "She wouldn’t be interested in you either. If you really want to find someone, you need to take a hard look at yourself. If you keep going like this, you’ll still be single at fifty."

With that, he turned and walked away.

"Wait..."

Zhuang Zhixi ignored Bai Fendou. He had better things to do than waste time chatting with him.

He went inside, and Ming Mei asked, "What was Bai Fendou whispering to you about?"

"Nothing important," Zhuang Zhixi replied.

He said, "I can't be bothered with him. Back then, he schemed against me for the sake of the Su family, and I haven't forgotten. Sure, it didn't work out, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I've been kind enough. When his father passed away, I even helped out. But that doesn't mean I have to be friends with him. I don't want to hear any of his messy emotional nonsense."

Zhuang Zhixi sat down and poked the baby's cheek with his finger. The cold touch made the little one frown and turn away in dissatisfaction.

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "My baby is so smart, already knows when it's cold."

Ming Mei said, "Of course, babies can sense things. If they couldn't tell hot from cold, wouldn't they be little fools?"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "Is this the older brother or the younger sister?"

The two babies were lying side by side on the heated brick bed, dressed in identical clothes, making it hard to tell them apart.

Ming Mei replied, "This is the older brother."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "No wonder Little Tuan is more active."

Ming Mei added, "It's normal for kids to have different personalities."

This was their first time raising a child, but they were doing a great job taking care of the baby. Zhuang Zhixi cooed, "Sweetie, smile for Daddy…"

Ming Mei teased, "What a silly dad."

...

Early the next morning, Aunt Zhou led Da Qiang and Wang Zhaodi out. Wang Zhaodi wasn’t wearing her nice clothes but had changed back into the outfit she had arrived in. Since she had gained some weight, the clothes were a bit tight, but with a thick coat layered over them to ward off the cold, it worked well enough.

The thick padded jacket she wore was one Aunt Zhou had passed down to her.

Da Qiang was similarly dressed in plain, patched-up clothes.

Zhao Guihua accompanied them to the bus station, offering advice along the way, "When you're out there, be careful. Don't say anything you shouldn't. Also, act poor if you need to. Zhaodi, your complexion looks a bit too good. Rub a little dirt on your face to make yourself look darker and more disheveled. It’ll be safer that way."

Aunt Zhou assured her, "Don't worry, Zhao Guihua, I've got everything under control."

She was ready for battle, treating Wang Zhaodi's family as if they were her own. Back in her youth, she hadn’t known how to fight back. All she could do was try to look better, hoping for a better future.

Later, she realized that looking better wasn’t enough. If you couldn’t stand up for yourself, people would sell you out once, and they’d do it again.

The old society was full of devils who preyed on others.

So she toughened up. She’d rather be a mean, selfish, and spiteful person everyone hated than be a puppet with a tragic ending. She channeled the spirit of Wu Song fighting the tiger and declared, "I’ll handle it!"

What was Wang Zhaodi’s family to her?

Just watch her!

Her ability to make a scene was no less than that of any rural old lady.

Da Qiang looked at the two elderly women and felt a warm sense of gratitude. Truly, you couldn’t judge people by appearances. All the rumors were nonsense.

Everyone said the old ladies in this courtyard were difficult to deal with, but he had experienced their tough exteriors and kind hearts firsthand. His own mother hadn’t been able to help in this matter, but they had stepped up.

He said earnestly, "I won’t hold you back. I’ve seen plenty of bad people, and this time, I’m determined to get Zhaodi out of this mess."

"That’s the right attitude," Zhao Guihua said.

She saw them onto the bus and then headed back home.

Truthfully, she wanted to go with them, but the household was too busy. Ming Mei, a first-time mother, couldn’t manage everything on her own. So, she had to leave the task entirely to Aunt Zhou.

But honestly, Zhao Guihua wasn’t too worried.

Aunt Zhou wasn’t your average elderly woman. She had been a troublemaker since her youth and was not someone to be trifled with. The people in their courtyard were used to her and could handle her, but outsiders might not fare so well.

Her ability to make a scene was quite effective when dealing with outsiders.

Zhao Guihua rode her bicycle back home, but suddenly she came to a halt. In the distance, she saw none other than Su Jinlai.

At the end of last year, Su Jinlai had been sent to a juvenile detention center. Three months wasn’t a long time, and he had returned after the New Year. Since it wasn’t something to be proud of, Wang Xiangxiu hadn’t made a big fuss about it. She brought him home, and after a few days, he went back to school.

But now…

It wasn’t the weekend, so why was the kid wandering around on the streets instead of being in school?

Skipping class?

Zhao Guihua couldn’t help but sigh. Children were harder to manage than adults, often lacking a sense of right and wrong.

Similarly, after Aunt Zhou had been in trouble and came out, she had changed. At the very least, she knew what was wrong and had become more restrained. She had learned from her mistakes and understood that some errors couldn’t be repeated.

But Su Jinlai, after his stint in juvenile detention, was exactly the same as before. It was as if nothing had changed.

Zhao Guihua watched as Su Jinlai slipped into an alley. She quietly followed, not out of curiosity but to see what the boy was up to. She was worried he might bring people back to steal things. After all, this kid was no good.

Zhao Guihua trailed behind Su Jinlai and saw him loitering near a large courtyard. He made a subtle mark on the wall.

Zhao Guihua thought, "What’s this about?"

Before she could react, a few other boys appeared. None of them looked like adults; some were older than Su Jinlai, and some were younger. They gathered together, pointed at the courtyard, and then quickly left, arms slung over each other’s shoulders.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that these were likely the bad kids Su Jinlai had met during his time in detention.

In the past, Su Jinlai had always roamed around with his brothers, Su Yinlai and Su Tonglai. But Su Yinlai had been "taught a lesson" by a pig and had completely settled down. Su Tonglai, having witnessed a major family upheaval, had also calmed down. With his two sidekicks gone, Su Jinlai had found new companions, which wasn’t surprising.

Zhao Guihua shook her head and glanced at the courtyard. She figured these troublemakers had their eyes on one of the households.

Zhao Guihua wasn’t about to let these kids get away with it. Life was hard enough for everyone, and a theft could be devastating. Although she wasn’t sure if Su Jinlai and his gang would actually go through with it, she decided to report it to the police station.

Well…

The people from their courtyard were so familiar with the police station that it was like walking through a city gate.

As soon as Zhao Guihua arrived, she was recognized. She found the officer who had investigated the case of Yu Baoshan being struck by lightning and quietly explained what she had observed.

Was she an early version of the "Chaoyang Aunties," the vigilant citizens?

Whether or not, Zhao Guihua felt it was her duty to speak up. Officer Wang nodded and said, "We’ll keep an eye on it."

After a pause, he added, "Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone it was you who reported it."

Zhao Guihua nodded, "That’s good."

She said, "I’m not afraid of Wang Xiangxiu or anything, but I really don’t want to get tangled up with her family’s drama."

Officer Wang understood. Many people who reported crimes didn’t want to deal with the fallout, and that was why they remained anonymous. After a few more words, Zhao Guihua rode her bike home.

As she entered the courtyard, she ran into Aunt Sui, who asked, "Did you go to the bus station?"

Zhao Guihua nodded, "Yes, I went to see off Zhaodi and the others."

Aunt Sui said, "That’s good. Zhaodi is a lucky girl."

If she hadn’t come to this courtyard, she wouldn’t have had such an opportunity.

Zhao Guihua smiled, "It’s all fate, isn’t it?"

"That’s true," Aunt Sui agreed, then quickly added, "Oh, did you hear? Pan Pan is pregnant."

Zhao Guihua exclaimed, "Really? Pan Pan is pregnant? That’s wonderful news!"

"Indeed, she and her husband didn’t waste any time. They got married not long ago, and now she’s expecting. What a blessing."

Zhao Guihua said, "You’re always so well-informed."

Aunt Sui laughed, "Not really. Zhang San and Pan Pan told me themselves. They live next door, you know. Pan Pan is only about two months along, and both families are worried. Her parents are wonderful, so they’ve asked her to go home and rest, where they can take care of her. Since Zhang San’s wife is pregnant, he doesn’t want to live apart, so the young couple is staying with Pan Pan’s parents for now. They asked me to keep an eye on their place while they’re away."

Zhao Guihua nodded, "That’s a good arrangement. Sometimes having elders around to help makes things easier for the young ones."

"Who says it isn’t? Besides, I think they went to Pan Pan’s parents’ house because Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue, that couple, are just too much to handle."

"How so?" Zhao Guihua didn’t quite understand.

Aunt Sui explained, "Chen Yuan and his wife are always fighting, and it gets physical. The neighbors are afraid it might affect the baby, especially since the young couple next door just found out they’re expecting. You live in the front courtyard, so you wouldn’t know, but those two really know how to make a scene. It used to be just Chen Yuan hitting his wife, but now Tao Yuyue fights back too. Oh my, just yesterday evening, there was a huge commotion. That frying pan of hers sure comes in handy for more than just cooking—she uses it to fight back! With all that noise, how could the young couple next door not move out? They just want some peace and quiet."

Zhao Guihua sighed, "I think Tao Yuyue fighting back is the right thing to do. Otherwise, it would never end. Where did he learn such bad behavior? Hitting his wife—what a ‘real man’ he is, huh?"

"That’s true," Aunt Sui agreed.

Neither of them had any respect for Chen Yuan’s behavior. So, Tao Yuyue standing up for herself was perfectly justified.

"Maybe if Tao Yuyue keeps fighting back, Chen Yuan won’t dare to hit her anymore. Our courtyard has never had a history of men hitting their wives. He’s setting a terrible example. It’s good that he gets taught a lesson and put in his place. Let him learn that women aren’t to be messed with."

Hearing this, Aunt Sui chuckled, "That makes sense…"

Tao Yuyue didn’t want outsiders meddling in her affairs, so naturally, they couldn’t interfere too much. But even though she didn’t want others involved, she wasn’t the type to just take it lying down. When push came to shove, she knew how to fight back, and that was a good thing.

As for Chen Yuan’s character…

Hmph, he might not even be a match for Tao Yuyue.

Serves him right!