My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

"Chen Yuan, do you like me?" Bai Fendou asked with a serious expression, his eyes wide open, looking completely earnest.

However, the more serious he appeared, the more shocked everyone else became. His words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere, leaving everyone stunned. Even someone as composed as Chen Yuan stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face.

"What... what did you just say?"

Chen Yuan almost doubted his own ears. If his ears weren’t playing tricks on him, what kind of nonsense had he just heard?

Bai Fendou, however, didn’t back down at all. He shouted, "If you weren’t interested in me, why would you keep staring at me? Admit it, you’re in love with me, aren’t you?"

"Oh my!"

"Goodness gracious!"

"How embarrassing!"

In this era, no one casually threw around words like "love" or "like." At most, you’d hear something like "I fancy you." But to declare love so boldly? That was unheard of. Bai Fendou’s outburst instantly turned Chen Yuan’s face bright red, as if it could drip blood.

Chen Yuan felt like he was about to explode. He shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

He was both embarrassed and nervous, raising his voice as well. "Don’t just say whatever comes to mind! How could I possibly be interested in you? Do you think I’m blind? You, the infamous Bai Fendou, the so-called 'eunuch' of the city? Don’t flatter yourself! If you keep talking like this, don’t blame me for being rude!"

Bai Fendou wanted to shout back, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he noticed Zhuang Zhixi raising an eyebrow at him from a distance. Summoning wisdom he hadn’t used in over thirty years, Bai Fendou took a deep breath and continued his calm assault. Zhuang Zhixi had coached him last night on how to handle this situation, and he couldn’t mess it up now.

He tightened his grip on He Lan’s hand, drawing strength from her, and continued, "Don’t deny it. This isn’t about whether you admit it or not. Actions speak louder than words. What you’re saying now doesn’t match what you’ve done. You’re cursing at me, but why did you kiss me during our last fight?"

Chen Yuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. He was so angry he could barely breathe. What the hell? Wasn’t it you who kissed me? Are you twisting the facts?

Before he could retort, Bai Fendou pressed on, "I admit I bit you, but I had no choice. It was two against one—you and your wife against me. I had to do whatever I could to survive! But you, even though you had the upper hand, why did you kiss me? Why? Admit it, you’re into me!"

Chen Yuan was utterly baffled. Two against one? At the start, Tao Yuyue hadn’t even joined the fight!

But Bai Fendou didn’t give him a chance to explain. He continued, "And if you weren’t interested in me, why have you always targeted me? We’re all adults here. Everyone knows that when a boy wants to get a girl’s attention, he’ll do things like this, right?"

Chen Yuan was on the verge of passing out from anger but found himself unable to get a word in. Bai Fendou was speaking so quickly today, and he seemed so composed, unlike his usual hot-headed self. Bai Fendou kept going, "And most importantly, when I was about to marry Guan Guiling, you sabotaged it behind the scenes. Don’t deny it. Why did Guan Guiling’s ex-husband end up as a security guard at the food factory? It was your family’s doing, wasn’t it? In a city with so many unemployed people, how did her ex, who’s in such poor health, manage to get a job? Don’t tell me your family didn’t pull strings. You deliberately ruined my wedding plans and even fought with me on my wedding day, causing the whole thing to fall apart. And you dare say you’re innocent? I think you’re just obsessed with me, Chen Yuan. Admit it, you’re secretly in love with me, aren’t you? Aren’t you?"

Bai Fendou glanced at Zhuang Zhixi again, who gave him a subtle nod. Taking a deep breath, Bai Fendou shouted, "Give it up! I’ll never like you! You’re just a man consumed by unrequited love. You’ll never have me!"

He grabbed Chen Yuan’s hand and said, "Come on! Let’s go to the factory and settle this once and for all! Last time, you ruined my marriage. Now that I’m getting married again, are you going to cause trouble for my wife? Are you going to try to break us up? How can you deny that you’re into me?"

Noticing Zhuang Zhixi’s encouraging look, Bai Fendou suppressed his disgust and lightly scratched Chen Yuan’s palm. "Let’s go~"

Chen Yuan, already furious, felt Bai Fendou’s little gesture and suddenly remembered what Bai Fendou had said earlier: "Don’t just listen to what someone says; watch what they do."

What had Bai Fendou done?

He had grabbed Chen Yuan’s hand and scratched his palm... his palm?!

Chen Yuan was instantly terrified. He violently shook off Bai Fendou’s hand and yelled, "Let go of me, you pervert!"

When he looked at Bai Fendou again, he noticed that Bai Fendou wasn’t angry at all. Not even a little bit. This made Chen Yuan even more uneasy. Everyone at the factory knew Bai Fendou was impulsive and hot-headed.

If he were really angry, it would be normal for him to smash windows, stomp his feet, or even start throwing punches.

But now? He wasn’t showing any anger at all.

Sure, he was picking a fight, but he didn’t seem mad.

Not at all!

And he had even secretly scratched Chen Yuan’s palm!

Suddenly, Chen Yuan felt as if he had been plunged into the coldest depths of winter, as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

Thump, thump!

Damn it, this guy even scratched my palm... Ahhh!

Chen Yuan forcefully pushed Bai Fendou away and shouted, "Bai Fendou, get away from me!"

He took several steps back, clutching his clothes defensively, like a frightened little wife facing a bully. He glared at Bai Fendou and yelled, "Who’s interested in you? I’m not like that! Stop talking nonsense! Who you marry has nothing to do with me. I don’t even know Guan Guiling. Don’t drag me into this!"

Bai Fendou smirked and said, "Your reaction is practically an admission of guilt."

Everyone else, seeing Chen Yuan’s over-the-top reaction, nodded in agreement. It did seem like there was something unnatural about Chen Yuan’s behavior. Even those who had initially thought Bai Fendou was talking nonsense now felt that Chen Yuan’s nervousness suggested Bai Fendou might be onto something.

"Do you think Chen Yuan really has a thing for Bai Fendou?"

"Who knows? But ever since Chen Yuan moved into this courtyard, he’s always been at odds with Bai Fendou. It’s kind of strange."

"Men, no matter how old they get, can be a bit childish. My son, when he was in middle school, used to pull girls’ pigtails to get their attention. He even got beaten up by one of the girls’ older brothers. When I asked him why he did it, you know what that little rascal said? He said he thought the girl was pretty and wanted her to notice him. Doesn’t that sound like what Chen Yuan’s doing?"

"It really does!"

"Wait, but Chen Yuan’s taste is... not great."

"Not great? I think it’s entirely possible. Remember what happened with Zhou Qun last year?"

This brought back memories of the previous year when Zhou Qun had also schemed against Bai Fendou.

Perhaps in their eyes, Bai Fendou wasn’t much to look at—a man with little to offer. But maybe men see other men differently than women do? After all, men and women have different standards.

Someone chimed in, "Maybe among men, Bai Fendou is seen as very masculine? Maybe that’s why he’s so appealing?"

"Could be, could be."

No one was trying to gossip behind anyone’s back. These people preferred to say things to your face.

Well, it wasn’t exactly gossip. They were just discussing the situation openly.

"You—you—you!" Chen Yuan was on the verge of losing his mind. "Am I an idiot? Would I be interested in him? Stop talking nonsense!"

"He’s getting worked up. He’s upset because we’ve hit a nerve," Zhuang Zhixi chimed in, clearly enjoying the drama. After all, the more the merrier.

Chen Yuan snapped, "Shut up!"

"Chen Yuan, it wouldn't be surprising if you had a thing for Bai Fendou. A lot of people have their eyes on Bai Fendou."

Zhou Qun felt like this comment was indirectly aimed at him and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! I don't have a thing for Bai Fendou. Why don't you say that Bai Fendou is the one who always has his eyes on men?"

Zhuang Zhixi had been waiting for him to say exactly that and chuckled, "Who knows?"

This subtle remark caught Chen Yuan's attention, and he exclaimed, "Yes, yes, it's Bai Fendou! Bai Fendou is always trying to pin things on others!"

This was the first time Chen Yuan had encountered something like this. The memory of Bai Fendou scratching his palm earlier made him feel nauseated. He was starting to suspect that the reason Bai Fendou hadn't married at his age wasn't because he couldn't find the right person.

Maybe, just maybe, Bai Fendou was into men. But this guy was pretending to be the one being pursued.

That had to be it. It had to be.

Otherwise, why would he have scratched his palm earlier? That guy was definitely up to no good. Absolutely!

All those reasons Bai Fendou gave for not getting married were probably just excuses.

Chen Yuan glanced at Bai Fendou's wife, whose face was bruised and swollen. He couldn't believe Bai Fendou would actually be interested in someone like her. She was probably just a shield. Bai Fendou was probably hoping Chen Yuan would come and stir up trouble.

Then, Bai Fendou could play the victim.

That way, he could stay unmarried and keep his eyes on other men.

Like Chen Yuan himself!

The more Chen Yuan thought about it, the more convinced he became that he had uncovered the truth. Trembling, he shouted, "Ahhh! Bai Fendou, you jerk! Get away from me! Get away!"

Bai Fendou, looking completely innocent, said, "I just came over to share some wedding sweets. Your reaction is way over the top."

Chen Yuan yelled, "Ahhh! Get out!"

Tao Yuyue, who had been watching the whole scene, eyed Chen Yuan suspiciously. His reaction was just too extreme. She stepped forward and said, "What's wrong with you?"

Chen Yuan pushed Tao Yuyue aside and snapped, "Go cook or something. What can a woman even do?"

But then, in a sudden change of heart, he grabbed Tao Yuyue and pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I have my own wife, the factory beauty. Why would I be interested in you? Bai Fendou, don't flatter yourself. You're nothing. Stay away from me. We have nothing to do with each other. And as for your claim that I tried to sabotage your marriage, that's nonsense. You're married now, aren't you? If I had really tried to ruin it, would you be married? I wish you a long and happy life, but don't show your face around me again. Get out!"

He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly, using Tao Yuyue as a shield to make sure Bai Fendou couldn't touch him again. The memory of Bai Fendou scratching his palm made him feel sick to his stomach.

"Wishing you happiness! Wife, close the door!"

He backed into the house and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Bai Fendou scratched his head. "Why is he so worked up?"

"Who knows?"

"Maybe someone hit a nerve?"

Bai Fendou was feeling pretty pleased with himself. For the first time, he had won without resorting to violence. He was about to boast when he noticed Zhuang Zhixi frowning at him. Bai Fendou quickly sobered up and said, "Don't misunderstand Chen Yuan. It's not what you think."

The crowd murmured, "Huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you changing your story now?"

Bai Fendou explained, "I just didn't want everyone to get the wrong idea about Chen Yuan. I only said those things to scare him because I was worried he might try to ruin my marriage. But there's nothing to it. Chen Yuan and I are both men. There's no 'liking' or anything like that. I just wanted to get back at him for what happened last time. So don't spread any rumors. It would ruin our reputations. Chen Yuan and I aren't like that."

"Wow, Bai Fendou, you're really something."

"Yeah, I thought it was real for a second."

"You're really something else."

"Aren't you afraid Chen Yuan might slap you for this?"

"Are you telling the truth?"

Bai Fendou raised his hand. "As true as pearls."

"Ugh, I was hoping for some drama."

"You're really..."

"Your wife's face... Bai Fendou, now that you're married, you better treat her well. We won't tolerate wife-beaters in this neighborhood."

The crowd exchanged knowing glances. After all, hadn't Chen Yuan hit his wife plenty of times? And he was still living here just fine.

"A married couple needs to communicate and work things out together. You're not alone anymore; you have a family now. You need to take care of your wife and child."

"I understand."

Zhao Guihua chimed in, "Bai Fendou's wife, we're all neighbors here. If you need any help, just ask me. I live right across from you in the front yard. You came by earlier, so you know where I live."

He Lan nodded quickly. "I understand."

"Everyone in this neighborhood is pretty easy to get along with."

"Don't kid yourself. You're not exactly easy to get along with either."

Zhao Guihua glared. "Say that again!"

The man who had spoken up immediately shrunk back, not daring to say another word.

The crowd burst into laughter, and the atmosphere lightened up...

Meanwhile, inside the house, Chen Yuan and Tao Yuyue sat in silence. Tao Yuyue, having heard the conversation outside, let out a sigh of relief. "Don't overthink it. Bai Fendou said he was just making things up."

Chen Yuan looked up and cursed, "Idiot!"

He said, "Do you really think Bai Fendou is that kind-hearted? That he would go out of his way to clear my name? Do you believe that?"

Tao Yuyue replied, "Why wouldn't I believe it?"

Chen Yuan cursed again, "Utterly stupid."

He flopped down on the bed, covering his face with his hands. He didn't believe Bai Fendou's words. In fact, Bai Fendou's explanation only made him more convinced that Bai Fendou was secretly infatuated with him. Bai Fendou's claim that Chen Yuan was the one with feelings was nonsense.

But Bai Fendou's interest in him? That was something Chen Yuan could trace back.

When he thought about it carefully, there were signs!

Chen Yuan was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. He was a sharp man, not easily fooled by appearances.

He was sure Bai Fendou had his eyes on him. Hadn't Bai Fendou been showing off in front of him ever since he moved into the neighborhood? The earlier comments could easily apply to Bai Fendou too. Wasn't Bai Fendou trying to get his attention? It was entirely possible!

And then there was Bai Fendou's relationship. That woman, Guan Guiling, who would even look at someone like her? She was pregnant with someone else's child when she married Bai Fendou. Most people wouldn't touch her, but Bai Fendou did.

Maybe Bai Fendou was hoping Chen Yuan would cause trouble, deepening the bond between them. Yes, that had to be it.

Now Bai Fendou was at it again, marrying another woman and bringing her home, all in the hopes that Chen Yuan would interfere. Bai Fendou wanted Chen Yuan to ruin his marriage so he could latch onto Chen Yuan again.

Yes, using the excuse that Chen Yuan had ruined his marriage to get closer to him.

That was it. That had to be it.

Heh, Chen Yuan wasn't going to fall for it. Maybe he had been tricked last time, but he wasn't going to let it happen again. No way.

Bai Fendou had even scratched his palm earlier... The thought made Chen Yuan feel sick again. He jumped up and rushed to the water basin, plunging his hands in and scrubbing furiously.

Tao Yuyue, seeing this, was furious. "Chen Yuan, what's wrong with you? If you want to wash your hands, use the outdoor faucet! You're wasting all this water. Do you know how hard it is for me to fetch this much water? And you're being so disgusting! You..."

Chen Yuan turned around and slapped her. "Shut up! Who do you think you are? When Bai Fendou was harassing me, you just stood there and watched! And now you dare to lecture me? If he hadn't grabbed me, would I be washing my hands like this?"

Tao Yuyue bit her lip, her heart filled with resentment. How had she misjudged him so badly? She had just wanted a better life. How had she ended up with someone like this? When he was pursuing her, he had been completely different. But as soon as they got married, his true colors showed.

Unable to hold back any longer, Tao Yuyue grabbed a frying pan and swung it at him. Bang! Bang! Bang!

"You do nothing at home, and now you're wasting water and hitting me! What right do you have, what right? Marrying you was the worst mistake of my life! So many people pursued me back then, and you acted all proper, but now your true colors are showing. You're a scoundrel!!!"

Chen Yuan, seeing stars from Tao Yuyue's blows, also flared up: "You say I was pretending? Weren't you pretending too? Acting all gentle and virtuous, but after marriage, you can't do anything right, all you know is how to pinch pennies! A woman should know her place and serve her husband, yet you dare raise a hand against me! What kind of good person are you?"

"You're the scoundrel!"

"No, you are!"

Crash! Bang!

The sound of shouting and objects being thrown echoed from inside the house.

Aunt Wang quietly stepped outside, glancing at the closed door of the house where the commotion was coming from. She shook her head slightly.

These two, is this any way to live as a couple?

As she stood there, Zhang San also came out and squatted under the window, quietly listening to the drama.

Aunt Wang: "..."

Well, aren’t you just here to enjoy the show?

Zhang San felt that coming back today was the right decision. His wife, Pan Pan, was pregnant, and during the first few months, they had to be cautious, so she had gone to stay with her parents for extra care. But today, as soon as Zhang San heard at the factory that Bai Fendou was getting a marriage certificate, he rushed back home without a second thought.

He had to persuade his wife repeatedly to stay put, or else Pan Pan would have come back with him to watch the excitement.

He was worried that if things got physical, his wife might accidentally get hurt. Who knew what could happen? Thankfully, he managed to convince Pan Pan to stay. And sure enough, as soon as he got back, the drama started. This level of excitement was almost like celebrating the New Year.

One scene after another.

Even though the earlier commotion had died down, there was no way he was going to miss the new one.

Zhang San squatted under Chen Yuan's window, arms crossed, thinking that the more he saw, the more he could tell his wife about later.

Hey, not bad!

While the backyard was in chaos, the front yard was filled with joy.

Bai Fendou had introduced his new wife, He Lan, to everyone and brought her home. Honestly, He Lan had lived both in the city and the countryside, but this was the first time she had experienced something like this. She was even one of the main characters in this drama.

She didn’t quite understand it all. He Lan whispered, "Aren’t you worried about your reputation?"

Bai Fendou shrugged, "My reputation wasn’t great to begin with. Besides, by making a scene today, everyone’s attention will be on me, and they won’t focus on you. That’s good for you."

He Lan was taken aback. She hadn’t thought of it that way.

But upon reflection, it made sense. With Bai Fendou and Chen Yuan going back and forth like that, who would pay attention to her, the new bride? They probably wouldn’t even bother inquiring about her background.

She bit her lip, looking at Bai Fendou with gratitude.

She knew all too well what her identity meant, and in such a difficult time, he still cared for her. He Lan knew Bai Fendou was a good person. No matter what others thought of him, to her, he was her savior.

He didn’t even want her body.

How could someone like that be a bad person?

She spoke with utmost seriousness, "I’ll be a good wife from now on."

Bai Fendou nodded, "Alright."

He added, "We’re officially married now. Starting this month, I’ll hand my salary over to you."

He Lan was stunned and quickly waved her hands, "No, no, no. I can’t handle money. I don’t know how to manage it..."

For years, she hadn’t had control over any money. Although she had some dowry, most of it had been taken by the Fan family, and she had hidden away what little was left. If it weren’t for that hidden money, she wouldn’t have been able to pay for her medical bills when she hemorrhaged after giving birth. Without that money, both she and her child would have died.

That was the only time she had spent money in all those years. Otherwise, she had no idea how to manage it.

She bit her lip, "I... I don’t know how..."

Bai Fendou reassured her, "What’s there to know? If you’re unsure, just ask Aunt Zhao. She’s a bit sharp-tongued, but she knows how to manage a household. Her family lives well because of her. Old Man Zhuang? He’s no good."

Bai Fendou had a good eye for these things. He believed the Zhuang family’s prosperity was all thanks to Aunt Zhao Guihua’s leadership. Otherwise, with Old Man Zhuang, who was as timid as a mouse, or Liang Meifen, who mindlessly gave money to her family, or Zhuang Zhixi and his wife, who were all about enjoying life?

No, it was definitely Aunt Zhao who kept things running.

"In this courtyard, she’s the one who knows how to live well. Aunt Wang might be the courtyard manager, but it’s Li the Cook who really manages their household. Always skimming from the public, carrying his little lunchbox. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a new bride like you to ask an old man like him about these things. Just ask Aunt Zhao Guihua."

He Lan hesitated, "But... it’s your hard-earned money. Isn’t it usually the man who manages the finances?"

Years of marriage had made He Lan timid.

She had always been the middle child in her family, often overlooked by her parents. Her personality had never been strong, and after marrying into a bad situation, she had become even more submissive. Even though Bai Fendou wanted her to take charge, she didn’t dare.

Bai Fendou didn’t fully understand her thoughts, but he cut her off, "What are you talking about? Who doesn’t let the woman manage the household? Look, Zhuang Zhixi’s wife, Ming Mei, handles their money. Next door, Jiang Lu manages the Zhou family’s finances. Li Fang and Yang Lixin? Li Fang controls the purse strings. What makes me any less than them? If they all hand their money to their wives, and I keep mine, doesn’t that make me look bad?"

He Lan: "......?"

Is that how it works?

Bai Fendou declared, "It’s settled then."

Seeing He Lan’s nervous expression, he added, "Our child is still young, and there’s a lot to spend on. You’ll need money to buy things, so it’s easier for you to handle it."

He Lan, touched by his sincerity, teared up and nodded firmly, "Alright."

Bai Fendou chuckled awkwardly, "Why are you crying?"

He Lan whispered, "No one has ever treated me so well..."

Bai Fendou reassured her, "You’ve got me now."

He Lan nodded heavily. After a moment, she said, "I’ll keep accounts. I’ll manage the household expenses, and we’ll record everything we spend."

Bai Fendou was surprised, "You can read and write?"

He Lan nodded, "I graduated from high school."

Bai Fendou’s face lit up, "That’s fantastic! I only finished elementary school. I’ve always admired educated people."

He felt like he had struck gold.

In their courtyard, not many women had graduated from high school. He wasn’t falling behind either!

He had always compared himself to Zhou Qun, but now he felt he wasn’t lacking at all. Jiang Lu was a high school graduate, and so was his wife, He Lan. Both were educated. He couldn’t help but grin.

He Lan also felt a surge of happiness.

Many people didn’t value education these days, but Bai Fendou thought it was important. He Lan felt that Bai Fendou was a man of insight.

"Waaah..." A soft, kitten-like cry suddenly broke the silence. He Lan quickly picked up the baby to feed her. She felt that her life had taken a turn for the better. In the Fan family, she had suffered so much, never having a full meal.

After giving birth, she had endured even more hardship, but she was grateful that she still had a little milk. If it weren’t for that, her baby might not have survived. After feeding the baby, the little one stopped crying.

The baby had a small appetite, probably because she had never had much to begin with. She had already gotten used to it.

Bai Fendou didn’t know much about raising children, but many families in their courtyard had babies, so he had seen a thing or two. He said, "I’ll take another day off tomorrow, and we’ll go to the hospital together. We need to check on your injuries, and the baby needs a check-up too."

He Lan nodded softly.

She looked up and asked seriously, "What should we name the baby?"

She said firmly, "I don’t want to call her ‘Little Ya’ anymore. Names like ‘Big Ya’ or ‘Little Ya’—I don’t want that. Fan Jianguo came up with that name, and it makes me sick."

Her daughter was almost two months old and still didn’t have a proper name. Fan Jianguo had given her the nickname "Little Ya," but He Lan hated it. Bai Fendou scratched his head, "Well... I’m not exactly educated either!"

He pondered for a while, scratching his head, and said, "This name, it's not easy to come up with."

He explained, "It's not that I can't come up with a name, but it's mainly because of my family name..."

Nowadays, people like to name their children things like "Jianguo" (Building the Nation), "Jianye" (Building the Career), "Baoguo" (Protecting the Nation), or "Weiguo" (Defending the Nation). When people of his generation were born, it was still the old society, and it wasn't so obvious. Take Zhuang Zhixi, for example—he was born in 1949. Among his classmates, eight out of ten boys had names like that.

But such names really don't work for the Bai family. These names are good names, but when you pair them with the surname, it just doesn't feel right.

Take his own name, for instance. His name is Fendou (Struggle), which is a great name.

But his surname is Bai.

Bai Fendou.

It sounds like "struggling in vain." No wonder he's been struggling all these years without much success.

The name itself is a burden. Being called "Bai Fendou" all the time, even if you have a bit of good luck, it just gets called away.

He sighed, "It's really hard to come up with a good name!"

He Lan said, "You still have to come up with one."

Without Bai Fendou, the two of them wouldn't have had a stable life.

Bai Fendou said, "Then wait for me. I'll go ask Little Zhuang. That kid, he's really sharp."

He had figured it out—ordinary people really couldn't outsmart that little rascal. Just today, he had forced himself to endure the disgust and put on a big act. Didn't you see? Usually, it would end in mutual destruction, but today, before he even had a chance to act, Chen Yuan had already fled with his tail between his legs.

It just goes to show that when educated people scheme, they're even more cunning.

It's scary when a thug has brains!

Although he didn't know the full extent of the aftermath yet, Bai Fendou himself felt that it was quite effective just thinking about it. He said, "I'll go to the Zhuang family."

He Lan nodded.

She wasn't familiar with the Zhuang family, but she had run into them at the hospital and knew that they were careful and meticulous in their dealings. So she wasn't worried. She said, "Then I'll tidy up the house. Let's make it clean and neat!"

Bai Fendou, being a bachelor, had a house that was a mess everywhere, with bedding that hadn't been washed in ages. He Lan wanted to find something to do to make herself feel more at ease.

"Alright, you handle it. I'll go over there."

He arrived at the Zhuang family's place again and saw that they had just finished dinner and were chatting.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Brother Fendou, what brings you here?"

Bai Fendou chuckled, "I came to thank you. Thanks for the advice."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "Usually, when people come to thank someone, they don't come empty-handed..."

Bai Fendou: "..."

His mouth twitched, and he said, "I just got married, and there are so many expenses. Can't you let it slide?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Hmph!"

Bai Fendou leaned closer to Zhuang Zhixi and asked, "Do you think... Chen Yuan really won't cause trouble for me?"

He wondered aloud, "I even explained later that I was just talking nonsense."

The Zhuang family finally realized that Bai Fendou's little act today had a mastermind behind it, and it was one of their own.

However, Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei, being the two who knew Zhuang Zhixi best, remained completely unfazed, having already guessed as much.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Chen Yuan considers himself a smart person. The smarter someone is, the more they overthink things. The more you explain, the more he'll think you're interested in him."

Bai Fendou: "Ugh! I'm not blind."

Zhuang Zhixi: "In his mind, you being interested in him might not be blindness, but rather good judgment. But he definitely wouldn't be interested in you. I bet he'll avoid you from now on. As for trying to break up your marriage, that's even less likely... He'd probably prefer that you stay married and stable so you don't bother him. Just wait and see, he'll definitely avoid you in the future."

Bai Fendou rubbed his hands together, "That's good, that's good."

Liang Meifen glanced at her brother-in-law and quietly moved closer to her husband. She thought about the events of the day and realized that this brother-in-law of hers was not someone to be trifled with.

Zhuang Zhixi didn't pay attention to Liang Meifen. He said, "You didn't come here just for this, did you? What's the matter now?"

Bai Fendou: "Oh, I want to give my child a name and register for the household registration, but I don't have much education. Can you help me come up with a bright and auspicious name?"

Although Zhuang Zhixi had helped Bai Fendou, he didn't want to take on this responsibility. He said, "Your own child should have a name you come up with. What's the point of asking someone else? Even if the name you come up with isn't great, it's still your own effort. Having someone else name your child feels distant."

Bai Fendou thought about it and realized there was some truth to that. He nodded silently.

At ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‍that moment, Zhao Guihua suddenly spoke up, "You want to register your child for household registration?"

Bai Fendou nodded, "Yes, she's my daughter!"

He said it loudly.

Zhao Guihua: "I actually suggest that you don't register her for household registration yet."

"What!" Bai Fendou was about to get angry when Zhao Guihua said, "You need to protect yourself from He Lan's ex-husband's family."

Bai Fendou instantly sobered up and quickly leaned in closer, "Auntie, can you explain? I don't really understand."

Zhao Guihua: "If you register your child now, it will confirm that this child is the one He Lan brought from her ex-husband. Right now, that family has no contact with you. They don't even know where He Lan is, let alone that you two are married, and they can't find you. But what about decades from now? What if that family falls on hard times and remembers this daughter, wanting her to support them in their old age?"

Bai Fendou: "Damn it, they wouldn't dare!"

Zhao Guihua smirked slightly. It wasn't a matter of daring or not—these things really happened.

She had seen it on TV before. There was a program where a seemingly righteous hostess helped a father track down his child to demand support, waving the banner of family love, completely ignoring the fact that this man had never cared for the child since birth and was a drug addict who would do anything for money.

And yet, they still waved the banner of family love, saying things like "blood is thicker than water."

In the end, it was just because they saw that the daughter had become a celebrity and could make money.

Zhao Guihua, being from her generation, had seen all kinds of people and experienced all kinds of things.

Watching such programs made her want to spit in their faces. They were all despicable creatures.

She said earnestly, "How can you be sure they won't do something like that in the future? By then, you'll be old, and you won't be able to fight them. Do you really want to deal with that kind of trouble?"

Bai Fendou: "Auntie, what do you think I should do?"

Zhuang Zhixi suddenly spoke up, "Delay the household registration. Make her your daughter later."

Bai Fendou: "Huh?"

He still didn't get it.

Zhuang Zhixi rubbed his temples. Talking to Bai Fendou was exhausting.

His brain was like a rock—it just didn't turn.

He said, "What my mom means is that you shouldn't register the child now. Wait until the end of the year to register her, and then you can register her as a newborn. That way, even if the Fan family comes looking for her in ten or twenty years, what evidence do they have to prove that this is their child?"

Bai Fendou: "But everyone knows..."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "So what if they know? The child's registered birth date won't match. As time goes on, many things will become unclear. And the household registration is the most important piece of evidence."

Zhao Guihua nodded, thinking that her youngest son's mind worked quickly. While others were still confused, he had already grasped her meaning. This kind of thing might seem unbelievable ten or twenty years from now.

But this was 1971.

Delaying the household registration wasn't a big deal, and many people didn't even give birth in hospitals—they gave birth at home, so there was no need to provide birth certificates or anything like that.

If the Fan family really came looking, they could deny that this child was the one born to He Lan and her ex-husband.

By then, the registered birth date would be the deciding factor, and it could help avoid a lot of trouble.

Of course, this wasn't a perfect solution, but it could essentially prevent many problems. Zhao Guihua broke it down for Bai Fendou, and he finally understood. He nodded, "You're right. This is about protecting ourselves in the future, protecting against them trying to take my child away."

Zhao Guihua: "Exactly, this kind of family is despicable. When the child grows up, they won't have to raise her, so it wouldn't be surprising if they tried to snatch her back. Taking the daughter back and marrying her off could fetch them a hefty dowry. Do you think this family is made up of good people? Is there anything they wouldn't do? Or maybe they’d make the little girl take care of them in their old age—that’s not impossible either! But if they can’t prove the child is theirs, then it’s a different story. Of course, maybe I’m overthinking it, being overly cautious. But it’s always wise to be on guard. You understand that, right?"

Bai Fendou: "I understand!"

He scratched his head: "But I can’t have children, everyone knows that… and He Lan can’t either…"

Zhao Guihua: "He Lan’s infertility isn’t common knowledge. You could say she’s been cured, and so have you. Can’t have children? That’s not necessarily true. Medical science has advanced. Maybe you couldn’t have children at that moment you were kicked, but that doesn’t mean it’s permanent! Just say you’ve been cured. Who’s going to come and test whether you’re really cured or not?"

Her words were shockingly bold.

Bai Fendou clenched his legs and blushed, lowering his head.

Zhao Guihua: "Go out and spread the word that you’ve both been cured. Whether people believe it or not, as long as the rumor gets around, that’s enough. Then you can confidently claim she’s your daughter. As for the neighbors knowing she’s not yours, who cares?..."

She spoke calmly: "No one’s going to check your household registration anyway. They won’t know the exact birth date you report. As long as you keep it within this year, the age won’t change, and the neighbors won’t think too much about it. Just stick to your story, insist she’s your biological daughter, and keep saying it for decades. Over time, things will get muddled. At the very least, people won’t be sure their memories are accurate. If someone tries to help that family prove she’s He Lan’s daughter, you can just deny it."

Bai Fendou nodded repeatedly: "I understand. Thank you, Aunt Zhao."

Zhao Guihua: "It’s just a suggestion. Go home and discuss it with your wife. If you two don’t feel the need to take precautions, then just report it normally."

After all, she couldn’t say for sure whether He Lan still had feelings for her ex-husband or if she wanted the child to return to her roots. Or maybe the child would grow up ungrateful and side with her biological father.

It was hard to say.

But since Bai Fendou had grown up under her watch and they’d been neighbors for decades, Zhao Guihua naturally sided with him and wanted to clear any obstacles for the child’s future.

Their assumption was that the child would turn out well, and they needed to guard against the Fan family.

After all, no one would assume the child would grow up ungrateful and side with a wicked biological father.

No one would speculate that about a baby.

This plan might not be perfect, but as long as it works on the surface, it’ll save a lot of trouble. Ten years from now, this might not fly, but in these chaotic times, with all the movements and upheavals, people don’t pay attention to such small details.

It’s not just intentional mistakes—sometimes people accidentally write the wrong birth dates too.

Bai Fendou left excitedly after receiving so much advice.

Zhao Guihua glared at her family and said, "Don’t go spreading this around."

She especially looked at Liang Meifen: "If you go blabbing, I won’t go easy on you."

Liang Meifen immediately shook her head like a rattle drum. She wouldn’t dare! Her mother-in-law was scheming decades ahead—this old lady was not someone to mess with. Otherwise, who knows what she might do to her.

Liang Meifen: "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything."

Zhao Guihua nodded slightly.

She said, "Good, you understand."

Zhuang Zhiyuan was puzzled: "Mom, and you too, third brother, didn’t you all dislike Bai Fendou? Why are you helping him now, even planning things for his future?"

Zhao Guihua: "I still don’t think much of him, but I just want to do what’s right."

She thought for a moment and said, "I’m thinking of that poor little girl, trying to give her an extra layer of protection."

Though it might seem like a small change, it’s very important for the little girl. As long as her birth date is changed, she won’t have to acknowledge any connection to the Fan family. After all, she’ll be “born” ten months after her parents’ marriage.

As for the rumors about her father being infertile and her mother unable to conceive—rumors are just rumors. Is there any evidence? No, right?

As long as enough time passes, even the most flawed lie will hold up.

After all, this isn’t about some criminal case—it’s just a family dispute.

Zhao Guihua: "Actually, this matter has nothing to do with us, but I still want to lend a hand at the start. It’s not about gaining gratitude—it’s just about doing a good deed."

If the little girl grows up confused and wants to recognize her biological father, even if the birth date is off, she still can.

But if she doesn’t want to, then the birth date will be a big help.

So this approach gives her more security.

After Zhao Guihua raised this issue, Bai Fendou went home and discussed it with He Lan. He Lan was stunned but firmly said, "I think Aunt Zhao is really smart. We should do this."

She didn’t want her daughter to be entangled with the Fan family in the future. If they tried to claim her based on blood ties… He Lan shuddered at the thought.

If the Fan family tried to take her daughter back, it wouldn’t be surprising.

After all, marrying off a girl could bring in a hefty dowry.

She even knew that Fan Jianguo’s sister had been married off to another region by her ex-mother-in-law, simply because that family offered the highest dowry.

He Lan: "Let’s listen to Aunt Zhao, let’s do as she says…"

She counted on her fingers: "It’s late March now. Let’s register the child’s birth in December, on the 31st. What do you think? It’s still within the same year. I gave birth early this year, and we’ll register her at the end of the year. That way, there’s a year’s difference, and they won’t have any grounds to claim the child is related to the Fan family."

Bai Fendou: "That sounds good!"

He Lan was afraid the shameless Fan family would try to take the child, and honestly, he was too. He could never have children of his own. He was determined to raise this child and have her see him as her real father. Anyone who tried to take his wife or child deserved to go to hell.

He held He Lan’s hand and said, "I’ll take good care of you."

He Lan looked up, her eyes firm: "I know."

She whispered, "I’m so glad I’ve met so many good people like you."

Bai Fendou was a good man, and so were his neighbors. They thought of things she hadn’t even considered.

"Then, what should we name our daughter?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Bai Fendou pondered for a while and said, "We’ll think more about her formal name, but for her nickname, let’s not call her ‘Little Ya.’ How about ‘Little Treasure’? Look, the Zhuang family’s kids are called ‘Tuan Tuan’ and ‘Yuan Yuan,’ and the Li family’s kid is called ‘Zhen Zhen,’ meaning ‘precious pearl.’ Everyone gives their kids nice names. If we call her ‘Little Ya,’ it’ll seem like we don’t value her. That won’t do."

He Lan chuckled softly and said, "Alright."

Bai Fendou: "Actually, you should be the one to name her. You’re more educated than I am. I’m not very cultured—I’d just give her a name like ‘Flower’ or ‘Grass.’ But if we did that, I wouldn’t feel right. Why should other families have nice names while ours gets something so plain? No way!"

He was determined to keep up with the Joneses!

Absolutely!

"How about ‘Shengnan’? What do you think?" He Lan suggested. She only had this one child, and she wanted her to be stronger than any boy.

But Bai Fendou shook his head: "I don’t think that’s good. ‘Shengnan’ sounds fine, but when you put it together with my surname—Bai Shengnan—it sounds like ‘vain victory.’ That’s no good!"

He Lan: "..."

He had a point.

"Then… what about ‘Qingqing’? Let’s name her ‘Qingqing.’"

He Lan thought for a moment and suggested, "I hope our little treasure will always have sunny days ahead. Bai Qingqing—even though the surname is ‘Bai,’ it doesn’t sound as obvious as ‘Bai Shengnan.’"

“Qingqing? From now on, every day we meet will be a sunny day. That’s a good meaning.”

Bai Fendou felt that coming up with names in their family wasn’t easy, but the name “Bai Qingqing” was quite nice. It had a good meaning and didn’t sound frivolous when spoken aloud.

He made the decision: “Let’s go with this name. But tomorrow we’ll go to the hospital, so let’s not call the child that just yet. We’ll officially use the name after registering it on the household register.”

He Lan nodded: “Alright.”

Bai Fendou boasted: “Tomorrow I’ll ask Zhuang Zhixi what his child’s formal name is. Hah, I’m sure it won’t be as good as ours.”

“Isn’t his child’s name Tuantuan and Yuanyuan?”

“That’s their nickname. Their formal name definitely can’t be Zhuang Yuanyuan. Hah, but honestly, with their surname, it’s not easy to come up with a good name.”

He happily shared some gossip with He Lan: “Do you know what Old Man Zhuang’s real name is?”

He Lan shook her head: “No, I don’t.”

“It’s Zhuang Haoren. Haha, just listen to that name. No wonder everyone calls him by his nickname, Old Man Zhuang. His real name is just too embarrassing to say out loud. ‘Pretending to be a good person’—can you believe it?”

He Lan couldn’t help but laugh along.

At that moment, Old Man Zhuang, who was being talked about, sneezed several times in a row and said, “Who’s talking about me behind my back?”

Zhao Guihua replied, “As long as you’re not catching a cold, it’s fine.”

Old Man Zhuang: “That’s not it.” He then muttered, “Tuantuan and Yuanyuan are almost two months old now, and your precious son still hasn’t given them formal names. You should really talk to him about it.”

The matter of naming the children was something the elderly couple didn’t interfere with. They weren’t well-educated and couldn’t come up with nice-sounding names. The names of the two older children, Zhuang Yang (nicknamed Hutou) and Zhuang Xue (nicknamed Xiaoyanzi), were decided by Zhuang Zhiyuan.

Now, with the two younger ones, it was up to Zhuang Zhixi and his wife to choose the names.

But they still hadn’t come up with anything yet.

“I wonder what names they’ll pick.”

Zhao Guihua: “I’ll remind them tomorrow. We can’t have Jiang Lu giving birth before they’ve even decided on names…”

*Knock knock knock knock!* A rapid knocking sound interrupted them. Zhao Guihua immediately stood up: “What’s wrong?”

She threw on a coat and went to the door. It was Zhou Qun.

Zhou Qun said anxiously, “Aunt Zhao, please come take a look at Jiang Lu. She just slipped while drinking water…”

Zhao Guihua’s face turned pale, and she rushed over. Jiang Lu was lying on the bed, drenched in sweat: “It hurts so much, it really hurts…”

She had been very careful, but sometimes accidents just happened.

“Wuwuwu…”

Zhao Guihua: “We can’t wait. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Jiang Lu’s due date was already close, and Zhao Guihua wasn’t taking any chances. She instructed Zhou Qun: “Go call Aunt Wang, and after that, borrow a handcart.”

“Alright!”

Zhou Qun, sweating profusely, dashed out the door. Soon, Aunt Wang arrived and asked, “How is she?”

Zhao Guihua: “We need to get her to the hospital.”

Aunt Zhou wasn’t home, but everyone acted quickly and rushed Jiang Lu to the hospital.

In theory, Jiang Lu’s due date was only a week away.

But in reality, it was a month and a week away.

Because Jiang Lu had lied about her due date by a month.

However, none of that mattered now. Jiang Lu had indeed gone into labor, and she was quickly wheeled into the delivery room.

Zhao Guihua looked anxiously at the delivery room door and said, “How could you let this happen?”

Zhou Qun was also upset. He hung his head and didn’t say a word.

Actually, Jiang Lu hadn’t slipped while drinking water. She had slipped while eavesdropping on gossip…

You see, Bai Fendou had just gotten married, and their houses were right next to each other. Curious, Jiang Lu had pressed her ear against the wall to listen to the commotion at Bai Fendou’s place. Normally, Jiang Lu wasn’t one for gossip, but this was Bai Fendou—the most notorious figure in their neighborhood! Who wouldn’t be curious?

They couldn’t really hear much, but curiosity got the better of them. Both Jiang Lu and Zhou Qun had been pressed against the wall, trying to catch some of the excitement.

And then, Jiang Lu accidentally slipped…

It was just one of those unlucky moments!

Zhou Qun: “Wuwu!”