My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Aunt Zhou was away from home, leaving her daughter-in-law, Jiang Lu, in the care of Zhao Guihua and Aunt Wang.

The two older women would visit every day, but Jiang Lu seemed perfectly fine. She knew that her due date wasn't actually close, as the time they thought she was due was nearly a month off from what she had calculated.

This was also why she was happy to let Aunt Zhou leave.

In truth, Aunt Zhou felt a bit uneasy about leaving, especially since Jiang Lu was carrying the Zhou family's only heir. But Jiang Lu had been very careful, and she planned to give birth in the hospital, so Aunt Zhou wasn't too worried. Even if she were there, there wasn’t much she could do.

Another reason was that Wang Zhaodi's situation reminded Aunt Zhou of her own past. She wasn’t sure if she was helping Wang Zhaodi because of Wang Zhaodi herself or because she saw her younger self in her—a girl who had lived in constant fear that her parents might sell her off to some shady place.

Of course, this was a new era, and such things didn’t happen anymore.

But marrying someone off for the sake of a dowry, even if it was to someone unworthy, wasn’t entirely impossible. Although Da Qiang and Wang Zhaodi had already taken a liking to each other, there were bound to be some complications in the village. The more remote and less educated a place was, the more ignorant and backward its customs could be. So, Aunt Zhou went with them to help Wang Zhaodi break free from her family once and for all.

As for Wang Zhaodi and Da Qiang, Aunt Zhou wasn’t entirely confident in them. Sometimes, being too concerned about face could lead to trouble. You had to be shameless, like her, to really have a chance at success.

Even though this was Wang Zhaodi and Da Qiang’s business, Aunt Zhou was determined to see it through to the end.

The three of them took a bus to Wang Zhaodi’s hometown. With Aunt Zhou and Wang Zhaodi both away, both the Zhou and Zhuang households were thrown into chaos. Wang Zhaodi had been handling most of the chores for both families, and now everyone had to fend for themselves.

Although it was inconvenient, no one complained. Compared to their temporary inconvenience, someone else’s lifelong happiness was far more important. At home, Jiang Lu was training Zhou Qun to do chores, and Zhou Qun didn’t complain.

It wasn’t that he enjoyed kitchen work—no one really does.

But he did it anyway, especially since Jiang Lu was close to giving birth. Zhou Qun was very cautious about this.

After all, this would likely be his only child.

There was another reason Zhou Qun didn’t mind the work: his reputation in the neighborhood had improved significantly. Compared to Bai Fendou, who was unreliable, and Chen Yuan, who beat his wife, Zhou Qun was now seen as a decent man.

His previously tarnished reputation had been somewhat restored, so Zhou Qun was happy to do the chores.

Zhou Qun wasn’t much of a cook, so the older women in the neighborhood would come by to give him tips. Naturally, they’d end up chatting about gossip, and Zhou Qun found it enjoyable. It was a win-win situation.

With Wang Zhaodi gone, the Zhou household was much busier, and the same was true for the Zhuang family.

Zhao Guihua had relied on Wang Zhaodi’s help before, but now she had to manage on her own. However, she wasn’t the type to shoulder all the work without complaint. She made sure her sons pitched in as well.

After all, this wasn’t just her home.

Ming Mei had already finished her postpartum confinement, but Zhuang Zhixi still took on some of the household chores.

With two babies to care for, things were naturally more hectic. Even if the babies were well-behaved, managing two was still twice the work. If one woke up, the other would too; if one cried, the other would join in; and when it came to feeding, both would demand attention at the same time.

Ming Mei found taking care of the babies to be quite the challenge.

It was mid-March, nearing the end of the month.

Spring had officially started in early February, but the weather was still far from warm. The family kept the stove burning every day, and in the mornings, no one wanted to leave the warmth of their blankets. They’d stay in bed as long as possible. The two little ones, wrapped in blankets, lay beside their mother, wiggling like little caterpillars on the heated bed.

The babies were less than two months old and couldn’t roll over yet.

The older one, Tuantuan, was more active. In a moment of distraction, he started nibbling on his sister Yuanyuan’s tiny foot. Yuanyuan seemed puzzled by this and, with a pout, burst into tears. Ming Mei, who had hoped to sleep in a little longer, had no choice but to wake up. She rubbed her eyes and gently patted the two little ones, saying, “Don’t cry, okay?”

She pulled Tuantuan’s little hand away, rescuing Yuanyuan’s foot. Then she poked Tuantuan lightly and said, “You’re the older brother. You can’t eat your sister’s foot. Look, Yuanyuan’s crying because she’s upset. We can’t do that.”

She then turned to Yuanyuan and said, “Don’t cry, sweetie. Don’t you remember? You’ve nibbled on your brother’s hand before, and he didn’t cry. Tuantuan wouldn’t really bite you, so don’t be scared.”

Perhaps because Ming Mei had often talked to them during her pregnancy, the babies seemed to recognize her voice. Even though they couldn’t understand her words, Yuanyuan stopped crying, and Tuantuan started blowing bubbles.

Yuanyuan was a little glutton. Hearing her mother’s voice, she pursed her lips and nuzzled against Ming Mei. Ming Mei sighed, “I haven’t even eaten yet, and you’re already demanding food.”

She fed Yuanyuan first, while Tuantuan fussed impatiently. Fortunately, Ming Mei quickly finished feeding Yuanyuan and then gave Tuantuan his fill. Once both babies were fed, they started grabbing at each other, treating each other like big dolls.

After settling the little ones, Ming Mei wrapped herself in a padded jacket and sat up. Her hair had grown a bit, and she tied it into a small bun. She sat on the bed, feeling too lazy to move. When Zhuang Zhixi came in, he found Ming Mei sitting there in a daze. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Ming Mei looked up and said, “They woke me up.”

“Oh, that’s just terrible! How dare they disturb our lovely Ming Mei?” he said in an exaggerated tone. Ming Mei pushed him lightly, saying, “You’re making fun of me.”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “I’d never make fun of you. Why don’t you lie down a bit longer? I’ll take care of them today.”

It was Sunday, and Zhuang Zhixi wanted Ming Mei to have a break.

Ming Mei shook her head. “I’m already awake. I can’t go back to sleep now.”

She pouted and said, “I’m hungry~”

Zhuang Zhixi patted her seriously and said, “Not now, sweetie. Tonight…”

Ming Mei playfully hit him a few times, saying, “I mean I’m hungry for food! What are you thinking? You’re being so naughty.”

Zhuang Zhixi pretended to be hurt and collapsed onto the bed, saying, “Oh no, I’m not feeling well, I…”

Ming Mei leaned over, but before she could react, Zhuang Zhixi pulled her down. Ming Mei wrapped her arms around his waist, and Zhuang Zhixi flipped her over, looking down at her face before planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

Ming Mei let go for a moment but quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, saying, “You’re being so mean.”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed. “Am I?”

Ming Mei nodded seriously. “Yes, you are.”

Their eyes met, both filled with affection.

No matter what they said or did, their eyes couldn’t lie.

Ming Mei couldn’t help but bite her lip lightly, and Zhuang Zhixi leaned down to kiss her…

“Zhuang Zhixi! Xiao Zhuang!”

A man’s voice called out, and Zhuang Zhixi clenched his fist, hitting the bed in frustration. “That idiot Bai Fendou!”

Ming Mei laughed even harder, pulling the blanket over her face.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, thinking their mother was playing with them, kicked their little legs and giggled, drooling all over the place. Zhuang Zhixi sighed, “Oh, for heaven’s sake…”

“Xiao Zhuang!”

Zhuang Zhixi reluctantly got up and said, “Coming! What is it?”

He went to the door, closing it behind him. “What’s so urgent this early in the morning?”

Bai Fendou, wearing a tattered padded jacket, stood at the door and said, “I’m planning to go to the countryside with Yang Lixin. You coming?”

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow, "Going to the countryside?"

Bai Fendou nodded, visibly excited, and said, "Yang Lixin is going back to his hometown to exchange eggs with relatives. I’m tagging along to get some too. Are you coming?"

Zhuang Zhixi gave him a meaningful look, "You're going too?"

He glanced at Bai Fendou and asked again, "You're going with Yang Lixin?"

He couldn't help but wonder—weren't these two on bad terms?

It was no secret that Yang Lixin and Bai Fendou didn’t get along. While they hadn’t had any loud, public arguments that the whole courtyard knew about, their mutual dislike was obvious. They barely spoke to each other, and everyone could see it.

Zhuang Zhixi was well aware of this situation, and he even knew the details behind it. His mother had filled him in, so he was in the loop.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "You're exchanging eggs?"

Bai Fendou replied, "Not for me. I’m helping Jiang Lu get some."

Zhuang Zhixi: "……………………"

Silence. An endless silence.

So, Bai Fendou and Jiang Lu were on... good terms?

Perhaps sensing Zhuang Zhixi’s prolonged silence, Bai Fendou leaned in closer and whispered, "Jiang Lu gave me a dollar for running this errand."

Since he had nothing else to do this Sunday, and a dollar wasn’t a small amount, he figured why not? It was a pretty generous offer, after all. Not many people would be that open-handed.

That’s why, even though he wasn’t exactly close with Yang Lixin, he swallowed his pride and tagged along. Money was money!

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Alright, I’ll go. When are we leaving? Let me grab some breakfast first."

"We’re heading out soon, so hurry up," Bai Fendou urged.

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Got it."

Since the weather had turned cold, the two hens at his home hadn’t been laying eggs as frequently, and eggs were hard to come by. Zhuang Zhixi was more than willing to make the trip. When he mentioned it to Zhao Guihua, she approved and reminded him, "Exchange for as many as you can. We need a good stock."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I know."

"Take some candy with you. It’s your first time visiting, so it’s polite to bring something. You’re going to the Yang family, after all."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Alright."

He had never been to Yang Lixin’s hometown before. While it wasn’t as far from the city as Wang Zhaodi’s place, Yang Lixin rarely went back. Perhaps because he was a live-in son-in-law, his parents seldom visited their courtyard either.

In the decade or so since Yang Lixin and Li Fang had been married, Zhuang Zhixi, as a neighbor, had only seen Yang Lixin’s parents a handful of times. He could barely remember what they looked like. As he wheeled his bike out, he saw Yang Lixin and Bai Fendou already waiting for him.

To be honest, if it were anyone else, they probably wouldn’t have invited Zhuang Zhixi along.

But since Bai Fendou was going with Yang Lixin, and their relationship was strained, they needed someone to ease the tension. That’s why Zhuang Zhixi was invited. The three men set off on their bikes, with Yang Lixin carrying a slab of meat tied to his handlebars.

Zhuang Zhixi couldn’t help but ask, "Bai Fendou, you’re well-informed. How did you know Yang Lixin was going to exchange eggs?"

Bai Fendou glanced at Yang Lixin, who pursed his lips and explained, "My mom told Jiang Lu. Zhou Qun is busy taking care of Jiang Lu and couldn’t go, so she asked Bai Fendou to help instead."

If they had known Jiang Lu would ask Bai Fendou, they wouldn’t have said anything in the first place.

But since Bai Fendou was coming along, Yang Lixin felt it was better to bring someone else too. Truth be told, Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t exactly close with Bai Fendou either, but there wasn’t anyone else available.

It was a tough situation.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Brother Yang, is it far?"

Yang Lixin replied, "We’ll bike to the bus station, leave our bikes there, and take a bus to my hometown."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Got it."

Bai Fendou chimed in, "This is my first time going to Yang Lixin’s hometown. What’s it like?"

Yang Lixin felt a bit awkward but answered anyway, "It’s a village."

He rarely talked about his family. Being a live-in son-in-law, he always felt a step behind. After a moment of hesitation, he added, "I have two older brothers, one older sister, and a younger brother and sister."

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised, "That’s quite a big family. You’ve got a full house."

Yang Lixin nodded, "Yeah, except for my youngest sister, who’s still unmarried, everyone else is married."

With so many children in the family, and several sons, Yang Lixin, being in the middle, didn’t get much attention. However, his uncle was doing well, and since Yang Lixin had once saved his cousin’s life, his uncle had been kind to him. He even helped Yang Lixin land an apprenticeship with Chef Li, learning the culinary trade.

Later, to secure a better life, Yang Lixin became a live-in son-in-law.

Perhaps because his children didn’t carry the family name, his parents were rather distant with him. Whenever he returned home, they treated him more like a guest. In fact, he felt more at ease with his uncle than with his own parents.

Yang Lixin looked out the window and said, "We’re almost there."

Zhuang Zhixi remarked, "We could’ve biked the whole way, but it would’ve taken longer."

Yang Lixin nodded, "True, but we’re planning to return the same day, so biking wouldn’t have worked."

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "That makes sense."

Returning the same day by bike just wasn’t feasible.

The bus came to a stop, and the three of them got off.

Yang Lixin said, "Follow me."

The bus had stopped near the village entrance, and they didn’t have to walk far before they ran into some villagers. One of them called out, "Xiao Sanzi, you’re back?"

Yang Lixin acknowledged the greeting and explained to Zhuang Zhixi, "I’m the third son in my family."

As they entered the village, despite Ming Mei feeling that the weather was still quite cold, the villagers were already out working in the fields. Yang Lixin walked over to the edge of a field and called out, "Mom!"

An older woman turned around, her face lighting up with joy, "You’re back! I knew you’d be coming around this time."

She quickly informed the team leader, "My son’s back. I’m heading home for a bit."

"Go ahead," the leader replied.

The villagers curiously eyed the three newcomers, particularly Zhuang Zhixi and Bai Fendou. Yang Lixin, having grown up in the village, didn’t draw much attention.

Yang’s mother led the group home, and Yang Lixin introduced them, "They’re here to exchange some eggs. This is Xiao Zhuang. His wife just had a baby this year. And this is Bai Fendou. He’s helping a relative who’s also expecting."

Yang’s mother smiled, "I know. You mentioned it in your letter, and I’ve been saving eggs for you."

In their village, where income was scarce, eggs were a valuable commodity.

Almost every household kept a couple of chickens, collecting eggs to sell at the purchasing station. The money earned was used to buy daily necessities like needles, thread, oil, and salt. Life was all about careful planning. So, when Yang Lixin returned to exchange eggs, the villagers were more than happy to oblige.

While Yang Lixin paid the same price as the purchasing station, it saved the villagers the trouble of going to town. Plus, he wasn’t picky about the size of the eggs. Going to town meant losing a day’s work, and there was always the risk of eggs breaking during the journey.

So, when Yang Lixin brought people to exchange eggs, the villagers were more than willing to trade with him.

Even though buying and selling wasn’t technically allowed, this was considered a form of mutual aid among relatives. As long as no one reported it and the quantities weren’t excessive, it was generally overlooked. In fact, it wasn’t just them—other city folks also relied on rural relatives to get eggs.

It wasn’t something they did often, but when there was a special occasion at home, it became essential.

Yang Lixin asked, "Where’s Dad?"

Yang’s mother replied, "He’s with your brothers in the east. They’re working on a big project that’s worth ten work points."

Yang Lixin nodded, "Oh, right. I brought some meat. My mother-in-law prepared it. You should have it—spring plowing is hard work, and you need to keep your strength up."

Yang’s mother’s eyes lit up when she saw the slab of meat, which weighed about a pound, with most of it being fatty. She smiled broadly and said, "Oh, you shouldn’t have brought anything."

"You guys rarely get to eat meat, only during the New Year. This is a treat."

"Thank you so much."

"You’re welcome."

Though mother and son seemed to get along well, there was an undeniable formality between them, making their relationship feel more like that of acquaintances than family.

Zhuang Zhixi, standing nearby, took the initiative to say, "Aunt Yang, since this is our first visit, we didn’t bring much, but here’s a bag of candies as a small token of our appreciation." He handed over the bag of candies his mother had prepared.

Aunt Yang’s smile widened even more.

Bai Fendou: "..."

He nudged Zhuang Zhixi and said, "It’s from both of us."

Zhuang Zhixi rolled his eyes and smiled, "Yes, from both of us."

Aunt Yang, now in an even better mood, urged them, "Oh, you shouldn’t have brought anything! Come, sit down. You must stay for lunch..."

Yang Lixin shook his head, "No, Mom, we need to exchange the eggs first. We’re in a hurry to catch the bus back, so we won’t stay for lunch. I have to help my father-in-law with a banquet tonight, so we can’t afford to delay."

Aunt Yang: "Oh, I see... Alright then, I won’t keep you."

She added, "You sit here, I’ll go find someone..."

Aunt Yang hurried out, and Bai Fendou whispered, "Why didn’t you tell me you secretly prepared a gift?"

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at him, "You didn’t think of bringing something for your first visit?"

Bai Fendou was momentarily speechless, "How was I supposed to think of that?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Since you said it’s from both of us, you owe me half the cost when we get back."

Bai Fendou was stunned, "Why are you so calculative?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "If you didn’t want to chip in, you shouldn’t have spoken up earlier. What, you want the credit but don’t want to pay?"

Bai Fendou: "Really..."

He wanted to say more, but seeing someone enter the courtyard, he swallowed his words and said, "Fine, fine, I’ll pay, alright?"

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled.

This time, it was Yang Lixin’s younger sister who came in. She had long braids, and as soon as she entered, her eyes locked onto Zhuang Zhixi, her cheeks turning slightly red. Ever since her third brother got married, he had always been in a rush whenever he came back, never bringing friends along. But this time, he had brought two people.

As soon as she heard that one of them was a handsome young man, she hurried back.

Maybe this was her chance to move to the city?

She quickly returned, her demeanor a bit shy, "Third Brother."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Little Sister, why aren’t you at work? What brought you back?"

He didn’t have much of a connection with this younger sister. It wasn’t that he was cold-hearted, but the age gap was too big—about fourteen or fifteen years. By the time he became an apprentice in the city, she was only two or three years old, so they hadn’t spent much time together.

Seeing her gaze linger on Zhuang Zhixi, Yang Lixin felt a pang of worry.

He quickly interjected, "This is my neighbor. His wife just had a baby, so he came with me to exchange some eggs."

Yang’s younger sister nodded, "Mom told me." She looked at Zhuang Zhixi and said, "So this older brother is helping a relative exchange eggs?"

Turns out, she had it all mixed up, thinking Bai Fendou was the one buying eggs for his wife, and Zhuang Zhixi was helping a relative.

Yang Lixin frowned, "No, he’s the one buying eggs for his wife. Bai Fendou here is the one helping a relative."

Afraid that his sister might get the wrong idea, he quickly added, "You should go back to work. We don’t need you here."

Yang’s younger sister was taken aback. The rosy hue on her cheeks faded, replaced by a pale complexion. The city man she had just set her eyes on was already married? She pursed her lips and glanced at Bai Fendou. Ugh, this uncle was really not worth looking at.

She turned her gaze back to Zhuang Zhixi, feeling a bit resentful. How could someone so young already be married?

She bit her lip, knowing that since he was married, there was no hope. She sighed softly and said, "Then I’ll go back to work."

Her enthusiasm for entertaining the guests had completely vanished.

Yang Lixin muttered under his breath, "Such a little schemer."

Zhuang Zhixi remained silent, as it had nothing to do with him. Bai Fendou, however, was suddenly intrigued, "How old is your sister?"

At this question, Yang Lixin immediately became alert, "My sister is only seventeen. Don’t you dare get any funny ideas. If you try anything, I won’t go easy on you. If this were the old society, you’d be old enough to have a child her age. Don’t even think about being a cradle-snatcher. Besides, I don’t want my sister to end up as a young widow. You better behave."

Bai Fendou was fuming at his words, but hearing her age, he knew it was a no-go.

He was already thirty-two, and seventeen was just too young.

He shook his head, "What are you even saying? I wasn’t interested in your sister in the first place."

In terms of his preferences, he liked mature, curvy women.

This little girl was definitely not his type.

He said, "I wouldn’t go for someone like that."

Yang Lixin was so angry his face twisted, and he wanted to punch Bai Fendou right then and there. He said coldly, "Just shut up. Who do you think you are, acting all picky? Let me tell you, you’re just here to exchange eggs. Don’t cause any trouble, or I’ll make sure you regret it. This is our village, and half the people here are related to me. If I shout, there’ll be people lining up to beat you up."

Bai Fendou: "Oh, come on. You think you’re so tough? Go ahead, try it! I, Bai Fendou, have never backed down from a fight. If I ever cry out in fear, I’ll eat my words."

"You think I won’t hit you? You..."

Zhuang Zhixi, seeing the two of them glaring at each other, couldn’t help but think that Jiang Lu really knew how to pick the right people.

He said, "That’s enough. We’re out here representing the city. The three of us are on the same side. Let’s not embarrass ourselves and make people think city folks have no manners. We’re supposed to be better than the villagers, right? Bai Fendou, stop talking nonsense. If people hear you, they’ll think you’re here to propose. That’ll ruin Yang’s younger sister’s reputation. She’s just a young girl, and we shouldn’t treat her like that. Brother Yang, you know Bai Fendou has a big mouth. Why bother arguing with him? You were worried he’d take a liking to your sister, but now that he’s not interested, isn’t that better? Let me remind you both—we’re here to exchange eggs, not to arrange a marriage. You’re getting way too worked up over nothing..."

Bai Fendou: "..."

Yang Lixin: "..."

Well, he had a point.

Zhuang Zhixi, seeing that everyone had calmed down, took a moment to look around the Yang household. He had to admit, while the countryside might not be as developed as the city, the living space was much more spacious. Back in the city, his family’s three-and-a-half rooms were considered generous, but they were still cramped, with chickens cooped up in the yard and peppers grown in boxes. But here, everything was wide and open.

The courtyard was large, with plenty of space for growing vegetables and raising chickens.

Two old hens were wandering around freely.

The three of them were waiting for Aunt Yang to arrange the egg exchange when Yang’s younger sister returned to the fields. Her friends quickly gathered around, asking, "Did your brother bring someone back to arrange a marriage?"

"That young one is so handsome."

Zhuang Zhixi’s looks were indeed striking.

Yang’s younger sister pursed her lips and said firmly, "No, it’s not for a marriage arrangement."

She added, "He’s already married."

"What?"

She added again, "And he has a child."

"Oh!"

The girls immediately lost interest. While the man was good-looking and from the city, being married with a child meant he was off-limits.

"Yang’s younger sister, your brother is a city man now. Why doesn’t he introduce you to someone from the city?"

"My mom said Third Brother is married into his wife’s family, so he doesn’t have much say."

"A man marrying into his wife’s family is so spineless."

Yang’s younger sister was upset and retorted loudly, "He’s still my brother, and he’s good to our family. He even brought meat when he came back this time."

She looked at her friends proudly, "A big piece too. I saw it. He never comes back empty-handed."

"But it’s not for you..."

"It’s for the whole family." Yang’s younger sister straightened up and said, "And my sister-in-law bought me snow cream once."

Actually, it was for her mother, who gave it to her every winter. Thinking of this, Yang’s younger sister felt proud again, "My brother is a chef too. In times like these, no one goes hungry, especially not chefs."

Her friends fell silent.

It was true. Even though Yang’s younger sister’s brother had married into his wife’s family, he was still a city man.

Their own brothers would never buy them snow cream.

Yang Xiaomei cheered up again and said, "Hehe, we're having meat for lunch."

"Ah, I wonder when my family will get to eat meat..."

"By the way, Fan Yun, didn’t your brother come back too? Didn’t he buy any meat?" Everyone turned to look at another girl. She had single eyelids and a somewhat sharp appearance. She replied, "Of course, my brother bought some too."

"I saw that your brother didn’t buy any. I even heard your family fighting last night. Wasn’t it your sister-in-law who called your brother back?"

At this, the single-eyelid girl grew visibly upset. "Exactly. She should count herself lucky to have married into our family. In this village, how many families can afford to go to the city to give birth? She got to go to a big city hospital, and she’s still not satisfied? She even wanted my brother to come back and support her. Who does she think she is?"

"You’re just making things up. I heard it was you who pushed her, causing her to have a miscarriage and severe bleeding. The local clinic couldn’t handle it, so they had to send her to the city. Your family didn’t spend a dime! It was her dowry that covered the expenses."

"I did no such thing!"

"Yes, you did!"

The girls began to argue.

Fan Yun, realizing she couldn’t win against so many, threw down her shovel in frustration and ran home crying.

The other girls, however, didn’t back down.

"She’s always been mean."

"That’s right. I heard if her sister-in-law hadn’t been sent to the city hospital, it would’ve been a tragedy—both mother and child. They say Fan Yun tried to steal her sister-in-law’s cotton-padded jacket."

"Her family is awful. Her sister-in-law’s clothes were taken by others in the family. She had to wash clothes in the river before even finishing her postpartum recovery."

"My mom says if you don’t take care of yourself after childbirth, you’ll suffer for it."

"Exactly."

Though they lived in a rural area, being close to the capital meant they were a bit more worldly. Some of the girls had been influenced by modern ideas and spoke with disdain about such backward practices.

Meanwhile, Fan Yun, after arguing with her friends, ran home. Before she even got there, she saw the "culprit"—her sister-in-law, He Lan, carrying her child and walking home. Fan Yun immediately charged at her, grabbing and hitting her. "It’s all your fault! You’ve ruined my reputation!"

He Lan, trying to protect her child, struggled and finally managed to push Fan Yun away. "What are you doing?" she cried.

Fan Yun shouted, "You dare fight back? I’ll have my brother divorce you!"

She yelled, "Mom! Mom, come see! Your daughter-in-law is bullying me!"

The scene quickly descended into chaos...

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixi and the others were waiting at the Yang family’s house to exchange eggs when they heard the commotion outside.

Bai Fendou stood up immediately. "Sounds like a fight."

Always one for excitement, he rushed out the door.

Zhuang Zhixi and Yang Lixin exchanged glances and followed. By the time they arrived, the fight had drawn a large crowd. A sharp-tongued old woman was slapping her daughter-in-law. "I’ve spoiled you! How dare you lay a hand on my Fan Yun! Do you even know your place?"

"That’s right, Second Sister-in-law. I’m not one to meddle, but you’ve gone too far. Fan Yun is just a child."

"Exactly. As your sister-in-law, I can’t stand to see you act like this."

The mother-in-law continued to hit her, while the other sisters-in-law joined in, ganging up on the woman.

He Lan, bruised and battered, shielded her child and cried out to a man, "Fan Jianguo! Are you just going to stand there and let them bully your wife? Are you going to let them hit me?"

She had hoped her husband would stand up for her, but since his return, he had only lectured her about filial piety. He often spoke of how hard it was for parents to raise children and how she should be grateful and obedient.

Fan Jianguo said, "He Lan, why are you so stubborn? Just apologize to Mom. We’re the younger generation. We can’t argue with our elders. We should be filial."

He Lan stared at her husband in disbelief, her mind reeling. She was the victim, yet she was the one being beaten and scolded.

"Fan Jianguo..."

*Slap!* The old woman struck her again. "How dare you call him by his name! He’s your husband! Do you even know your place? You should be grateful to have married into our family. You’re just a useless woman who can’t even bear a son. What good are you?"

She grew angrier and grabbed He Lan to hit her again.

But after a couple of strikes, someone grabbed her arm. It was Zhuang Zhixi. "Auntie, if the Women’s Federation finds out about this, they’ll hold you accountable. Let’s talk this out. If you keep hitting her, something bad might happen. She’s holding a child. At least think of the baby."

The old woman glared at him. "What’s it to you? Who do you think you are? Are you this little slut’s lover or something? You..."

"I can’t take this anymore! You old hag, you’re disgusting! I’ve never seen anyone as vile as you!" Bai Fendou couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward and punched the old woman square in the eye.

Bai Fendou’s outbursts were always unpredictable.

He didn’t hold back, slapping the old woman several times.

"I’m doing this for justice today. You’re a bully who picks on your daughter-in-law, and someone needs to teach you a lesson. I’m going to do the right thing and put you in your place!"

Bai Fendou wasn’t afraid of a fight.

His actions stunned everyone, even the old woman’s son. No one expected an outsider to step in so boldly, especially over something that had nothing to do with him.

"Murder! So you’re the little slut’s lover! You..."

"Shut up, or I won’t be so polite!"

At this point, the Fan family men rushed forward. "How dare you hit our mother!"

Bai Fendou didn’t hesitate. He aimed a kick at one of them. "Ah!!!"

The scream was ear-piercing.

The scene erupted into chaos again. Zhuang Zhixi and Yang Lixin had no choice but to step in. They couldn’t just let Bai Fendou take on the whole family alone. Besides, even if it was meddling in someone else’s family business, Bai Fendou’s heart was in the right place.

"Oh my god, this is getting out of hand... Someone help our guys... Don’t let the Fan family bully us!"

The fight quickly escalated from a domestic dispute to a full-blown brawl.

"Stop! Stop it!"

"Who should we help?"

"Don’t get involved. Both the Yang and Fan families have a lot of people..."

"Oh my god... This guy’s aiming for the crotch!"

"Stop! Everyone stop!"

After the chaos subsided, everyone was taken to the village committee.

The village head was so angry he could barely catch his breath. He glared at Bai Fendou and the others. "You outsiders..."

Before he could finish, Zhuang Zhixi spoke up. "We may be outsiders, but everyone saw why we got involved. Right and wrong don’t depend on whether you’re a local or not. If that were the case, what’s the point of having laws? Anyone with even a little education knows that mistreating women and children is wrong. What they did in public today was a blatant disregard for the law. We know this is a family matter, and the victim might even resent us for meddling. But we did what we thought was right. Even if we have to take this to higher authorities, we can stand by our actions. I work in the propaganda department and have published articles in the newspaper. I know what’s right and what’s wrong."

After his speech, the village head fell silent.

It is often said that old people become cunning and old horses become slippery. He could tell what this young man was implying. If the brigade wanted to make a big deal out of the fight or show favoritism, they weren’t afraid. Moreover, this person knew how to wield a pen and might even submit an article, making their entire brigade "famous."

He didn’t explicitly threaten, but the meaning was crystal clear.

If things were to escalate, it might even affect his position as the brigade leader.

He felt some resentment toward the Yang family for bringing such a person into the mix, but he also blamed the Fan family for being so ruthless. Their mistreatment of their daughter-in-law was well-known throughout the brigade. If it weren’t for the fact that their other children were already married, no one would dare marry into their family.

As for their daughter… a young woman who nearly caused her sister-in-law’s death and now attacked people without reason—who would want such a woman in their family?

The brigade leader said, "Both sides are at fault here, but I know your intentions were good. However, this is our village. Acting so impulsively makes it hard for the Yang family to live here…"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "I believe no one will gossip about the Yang family. Whether educated or not, most people understand right from wrong. If anyone talks, it’ll be to criticize those who bully women and act arrogantly. If standing up for what’s right is slandered, then there’s no justice in this world. Brigade leader, even ordinary folks know right from wrong. I’ve heard Brother Yang talk about the village before, and I know many here are reasonable people. That’s why we dared to speak up when we saw injustice…"

"That’s right, we understand too."

"Exactly, we’re not blind…"

"Our village is full of good people."

…

"Nonsense, this is our family matter!"

The sharp-tongued old lady had lost a tooth in the scuffle.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "No family matter is above the law. Abuse is wrong. Maybe your daughter-in-law doesn’t want us meddling, but that doesn’t mean we’re wrong. Our methods might have been impulsive, but in that situation, should we have waited for you to strike again? Auntie, I’m not afraid of trouble. If needed, we can take this to the police station."

"You!"

"That’s unnecessary, really unnecessary…" The brigade leader didn’t want to involve the authorities. Unlike Zhuang Zhixi and his group, who were familiar with the police station, most villagers preferred to avoid official involvement. The brigade leader especially didn’t want things to escalate, as it would reflect poorly on his leadership.

"Let’s not go that far. Both sides should calm down. I’ll make the call—let’s drop it."

"Brigade leader, my tooth…" the old lady protested.

The brigade leader glared at her, "Enough! If you hadn’t stirred up trouble, none of this would’ve happened. This is a new society—stop using old ways to bully people. Abuse has no place here. And as for your daughter, if you don’t rein her in, no one will want to marry her. Who’d want such a venomous woman?"

"Brigade leader, how can you say that…"

"Shut up!"

The brigade leader’s authority silenced her.

Fan Jianguo frowned, looking at his battered wife, and said, "Are you happy now? Letting outsiders gossip about our family and criticize my sister? Is that what you wanted? How selfish can you be?"

He Lan stood there, dazed, biting her lip. Finally, she looked up, "What do you mean? Before we married, you promised to treat me well."

Fan Jianguo snapped, "Hasn’t my family treated you well? You’ve never gone hungry or lacked clothes. You just have to do some work—what daughter-in-law doesn’t? You can’t even have children anymore, and I haven’t said a word about it."

Bai Fendou glanced over, feeling a sense of kinship.

He couldn’t have children either.

Sob!

He Lan was incredulous, "If your sister hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t have hemorrhaged and lost the ability to have children. And now you’re blaming me?"

"Yes, I’m blaming you. So what?" The Fan family matriarch stepped forward, pointing at He Lan’s nose, "Divorce! You must divorce! My son can find someone better. Take your sickly, barely-alive daughter and get out. Let’s see who’d want a capitalist’s daughter who can’t bear children!"

He Lan ignored the old woman, looking only at her husband. But soon, the light in her eyes faded…

He averted his gaze.

He Lan trembled, "Divorce? You want a divorce?"

Fan Jianguo’s expression darkened, but he said nothing.

He thought his mother was right. He couldn’t be without a son, and He Lan couldn’t have more children. He had once liked He Lan for her beauty, grace, and education, overlooking her flaws.

But now, he felt her background was holding him back.

Her once radiant appearance had faded—her skin was sallow, her hair like straw, and she looked unkempt, worse than any village girl. And she couldn’t bear children anymore.

He wanted a divorce, and he didn’t think he was wrong.

His mother had also mentioned that He Lan had no money left. She had thought He Lan might still have some savings, but seeing her eat nothing but cornbread in the hospital, unwilling to spend on vegetables, she knew He Lan was broke.

Even without today’s incident, his mother had planned to mistreat He Lan to provoke her into resisting, giving them a reason to divorce.

It wasn’t their fault.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He Lan, with her frail, premature daughter, was no longer worth his attachment.

But he couldn’t say these things—he still had some pride.

His mother could play the villain.

"Divorce! We don’t want this kind of daughter-in-law!"

He Lan wept, wiping her tears, "Divorce it is, then. My dowry…"

"What dowry? You brought nothing! What do you have to claim?" A capitalist’s daughter dared to speak up?

He Lan fell silent, crying quietly.

But even so, she didn’t refuse the divorce.

The brigade leader, seeing the focus shift from the fight to the divorce, said, "Alright, everyone, let’s disperse. Go home."

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t press further, though Bai Fendou wanted to say more. Yang Lixin nudged him to leave. When it came to divorce, it wasn’t their place to interfere. They followed the Yang family back, and Zhuang Zhixi apologized, "Auntie, I’m sorry. Our visit caused so much trouble."

He had only meant to mediate, but Bai Fendou had acted impulsively.

Still, he couldn’t blame Bai Fendou, who had stepped in when he saw Zhuang Zhixi being berated.

Zhuang Zhixi felt the village might not welcome them anymore, and he had caused trouble for Yang Lixin’s family.

"I’m truly sorry."

Yang’s ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‍mother remained calm, "It’s fine. I’ve wanted to beat that old hag from the Fan family for a long time. Our families have always had issues. Don’t worry about visiting us—we don’t care about them. This village is mostly Yangs anyway. Besides, their family is selfish and mean, disliked by everyone. They’re poor as dirt, spending their daughter-in-law’s money and still acting high and mighty. Shameless."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "Auntie, you’re really kind."

Bai Fendou chimed in, "Absolutely. Next time you’re in the city, stay at my place. I have two rooms—plenty of space."

Yang’s mother: "…"

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "You’re quite the forward one."

Bai Fendou insisted, "Auntie Yang, seriously, if their families won’t host you, you’d have to stay at an inn. But my place has room. When you visit the city, let Zhuang Zhixi show you around—he knows all the good spots. You can stay with me."

Yang’s mother smiled, "Alright, I’ll take you up on that."

"I mean it."

Even though they hadn't known each other before, after getting into a fight together, everyone became quite friendly.

Aunt Yang: "My fourth son's wife, she was originally set up on a blind date with Fan Jianguo, the second son of the Fan family—the same Fan Jianguo from today. But my daughter-in-law didn’t take a liking to their boy. Instead, she fell for my fourth son. Naturally, the Fan family has held a grudge against us ever since, always spreading rumors about our family. But since we’re all from the same village, it’s not like we can really throw hands over it. Even though there’s been tension between our families for a while, there was never a good reason to start a fight. Today, though, things just happened to align perfectly, and we got to give them a good beating to vent some frustration."

Fourth Yang chuckled: "I gave that loudmouth woman from their family a few good kicks."

"I also got in a few good pinches."

Little Yang: "I kicked Fan Yun too, hehe."

Zhuang Zhixi could tell that Aunt Yang was telling the truth. Their family really wasn’t angry, and he finally felt relieved. It wouldn’t have been good if they had caused any real trouble for them.

Aunt Yang: "You all feel guilty, but even without today’s fight, they would’ve gotten divorced anyway. Ever since they found out He Lan couldn’t have any more children, their family has been up to no good. The whole village knows they’ve been wanting a divorce. They just think they’ve been keeping it a secret."

"Still, it’s partly because of us…"

Bai Fendou: "They don’t know how to cherish such a good wife. What a disgrace. That older sister seems like a decent person. Their family keeps harping on about her background, but once you’re married, you follow your husband’s family. What kind of people are they?"

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou: "Even the leaders have said that having a son or a daughter is the same. Their family keeps making a fuss about having a daughter. They’re just not decent people."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at Bai Fendou again.

This time, even Yang Lixin looked at Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou: "That’s just how I am. I can’t stand seeing the weak being bullied."

Zhuang Zhixi: "...Oh."

Aunt Yang: "Oh right, I’ve almost finished exchanging the eggs for you all. Come take a look…"

Yang Lixin: "Yeah, I need to head back soon. I’ve got something to do tonight."

Aunt Yang: "Then hurry up."

Bai Fendou hesitantly moved closer, pursing his lips as if he wanted to say something but held back.

They didn’t stay in the village for long. Even though the Yang family said it was fine, as outsiders, they had been a bit too bold earlier. While the Yang family and Yang Lixin might not face any consequences in the village, it was better for them to leave early.

After they finished exchanging the eggs, they headed to the station together. Yang Lixin, seeing them off, quietly slipped over to his mother and handed her a roll of small change, whispering, "I’ve been saving this. Keep it."

His mother wanted to say something, but seeing the look in his eyes, she simply nodded.

Yang Lixin quickly left with Zhuang Zhixi and Bai Fendou. When they arrived at the station and saw the Yang family members who had come to see them off head back, Bai Fendou suddenly clutched his stomach and said, "Oh, my stomach hurts. You two go ahead. I’ll catch the next bus."

Zhuang Zhixi: "???"

Do you think I’m an idiot?

Yang Lixin also frowned.

Bai Fendou raised his hand: "I promise I won’t cause any trouble. You two go ahead. I’ll just use the restroom and catch the afternoon bus. Take the eggs with you. Go on, go on."

Zhuang Zhixi and Yang Lixin exchanged a look, unsure of what to say, but before they could respond, Bai Fendou pushed them onto the bus.

As the door creaked shut, Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Do you think he’ll get into trouble going back?"

Yang Lixin: "Can you stop him?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "No."

"Exactly."

Both of them knew Bai Fendou was worried about that young woman, He Lan, who had been beaten earlier. But what could they say? They had no right to interfere. They weren’t anyone to Bai Fendou.

After a long pause, Zhuang Zhixi said, "Maybe it’s not a bad thing. Maybe he can really help her."

Yang Lixin: "Let’s hope so."

Meanwhile, Bai Fendou was running back as fast as he could. He truly couldn’t stop worrying about that young woman who had been beaten.