Chapter 84

Early in the morning, Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zhixi climbed up to the roof, looking quite miserable, and spread out a plastic tarp to dry salted fish.

These days, plastic tarps were not easy to come by. It was thanks to Zhuang Zhixi's acquaintance with Old Huang that he managed to find this one. Although it was second-hand, it was cleaned thoroughly and worked just fine. Such a thing was hard to find.

Indeed, it was a good item.

After the brothers finished drying the salted fish, they climbed down the ladder and stored it in the basement. The courtyard was quiet at this early hour, though there was some commotion in the back courtyard, while the front courtyard remained silent.

By the time the brothers started washing up, Wang Xiangxiu had already gotten up. The weather was getting warmer day by day. Yesterday had been overcast all day without rain, but this morning it was clear, and it was certain to be a hot day.

Wang Xiangxiu was dressed very lightly, wearing only a sleeveless top that exposed her snow-white neck and arms. She came out with a toothbrush in hand, speaking softly, "You two brothers are up early."

Zhuang Zhiyuan nodded but didn't say anything. To be honest, if you were to describe Zhuang Zhiyuan, he was somewhat similar to Zhou Qun in that he could be a bit pretentious, always putting on the airs of a cultured person. However, Zhuang Zhiyuan was a bona fide high school graduate, while Zhou Qun only finished elementary school. So, it couldn't be said that Zhuang Zhiyuan was pretending.

Due to his job at the railway and his self-perception of being a cut above others, Zhuang Zhiyuan often had a slightly aloof demeanor. Nowadays, people would just think he was distant and quiet, with a scholarly air.

Whenever he spoke, he always had a lot of lofty principles to share.

When Wang Xiangxiu greeted them, she was addressing Zhuang Zhixi, not Zhuang Zhiyuan. Sure enough, Zhuang Zhiyuan didn't respond, disapprovingly glancing at Wang Xiangxiu's attire before turning away, holding his tongue.

Decent people couldn't stand to see such things.

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and responded, "Sister-in-law Su, you're not late either. Are you heading to the hospital first thing in the morning? I heard your family was refused admission yesterday? What happened? How did you manage to offend the hospital? I mean, causing trouble all the time isn't good."

This was truly bringing up something best left untouched. Wang Xiangxiu's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly sighed and said mournfully, "How can this be our fault? We are truly innocent. Unexpected expenses have just cropped up. Our finances were already tight, and now we're just waiting for our paychecks. Little Zhuang, can you lend me some money? I promise to repay you as soon as I get paid."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled innocently and said, "Sister-in-law Su, I can't believe you. Your family usually saves quite a bit."

He pointed to the pitiful window of the Bai family and laughed, "Look. They can't even afford to fix their window."

Wang Xiangxiu, unabashed, said, "What does their family have to do with me? Actually, it's just getting hot, and Uncle Bai thinks it's cooler this way."

Zhuang Zhixi drew out an exaggerated "Oh" and then laughed, saying, "Sister-in-law Su, you really know how to talk, hehe."

Wang Xiangxiu blinked, her eyes carrying a hint of coquetry, "Then, lend your sister some money, huh? I won't borrow much, just ten yuan. That's not much for you, right?"

She blurted it out without hesitation, a significant sum.

Yet, she could still claim it wasn't much.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He had truly witnessed her shamelessness. However, Zhuang Zhixi was no less shameless himself and remained calm, "I don't have any! My salary has to support my wife. My wife is pregnant now, and there are so many expenses."

As he turned to leave, he heard Wang Xiangxiu, still unwilling, say, "Eight yuan, just lend me eight! Five yuan, five yuan isn't enough? Three yuan!"

Zhuang Zhixi turned back, "Sister-in-law Su, ten yuan is considered a small amount in your eyes, but we can't afford to deal with you. You're so capable, where would you need to borrow from me? Isn't that a joke?"

He smiled, his words carrying a double meaning, "You have plenty of connections, don't cling to me."

He turned and went home, only to see Ming Mei glaring at him with her arms crossed. Zhuang Zhixi immediately defended himself, "I'm a good person, just making small talk."

Ming Mei: "Then why could Brother leave immediately? You just kept talking non-stop, trying to show off your eloquence, huh?"

Ming Mei glared at Zhuang Zhixi, perfectly portraying the image of a jealous little wife. Zhuang Zhixi quickly said, "I promise, I won't talk to her anymore."

Ming Mei: "Hmph."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh, wife, don't be mad at me. I just have a big mouth, I assure you there's no bad intention."

Ming Mei chuckled, staring at him. Zhuang Zhixi reaffirmed, "Really, I'm not blind. With such a beautiful wife like you, why would I look at her?"

Ming Mei: "So, if she's prettier than me, you'd have ideas?"

She widened her eyes, and Zhuang Zhixi quickly replied, "No!"

He was truly wronged!

He said sincerely, "Look into my eyes, look into my eyes. They are filled with love for you. I really am not that kind of person. No matter how good others are, I'm not interested. Really."

Ming Mei huffed, "I'll take your word for it, for now."

Zhuang Zhixi: "You have to believe me, I'm so sincere."

Ming Mei rolled her eyes. Zhuang Zhixi grinned, "Wife, don't be so angry. Being too angry can easily cause you to get upset. My dear wife..."

Ming Mei: "Heh."

After much persuasion, Zhuang Zhixi finally managed to soften Ming Mei's stern expression. He made a silly face, saying, "Look at me, look at my pitiful face..."

Ming Mei couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Stop making silly faces."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm just trying to make you laugh."

The young couple finally went out, and Zhao Guihua had already prepared breakfast early in the morning. Ming Mei, who had just been angry with Zhuang Zhixi, now transformed into an affectionate little wife, immediately went up to her mother-in-law to flirt, "Mom, your cooking is too good. I could smell the aroma from outside."

Since becoming pregnant, her sense of smell had become more acute.

Zhao Guihua glanced at her and said, "Stop flattering me, sit down and eat."

Ming Mei: "Okay."

Her breakfast included an extra egg, with two eggs in total. Xiao Yanzi and Hutou shared one, while Ming Mei, being pregnant, had one to herself. Others didn't get any, but Zhao Guihua occasionally cooked an egg or made an egg soup to improve everyone's meals.

After all, one's health is the most important thing.

If your health isn't good, you can't do anything. As long as you're healthy, that's what matters most.

Moreover, Zhao Guihua felt that saving money at this time wasn't particularly meaningful. After all, there wasn't much to buy, and everything required tickets. Her sewing machine, for example, had been awaited for ages without arriving.

It was better to try to eat well and stay healthy, living a few more good years.

Zhao Guihua: "Will everyone be back for dinner tonight?"

"Yes."

Zhao Guihua nodded and said, "Then I'll cook lamb tonight."

Slurp...

The kids started drooling.

Their family's standard of living had been steadily improving recently. However, Zhao Guihua still felt it wasn't enough. It's true that it's easy to get used to luxury, but hard to go back to frugality. Her decades of life experience before her rebirth really made it difficult for her to adapt to such a simple life, even after nearly half a year.

But no matter how difficult, one has to adapt.

Hutou looked at his grandma happily and said, "Grandma, Hutou loves you the most. Your cooking is the best. A million times better than my mom's."

Liang Meifen: "..." What a naughty kid, but he's right.

Her mother-in-law had been cooking more generously over the past half year, and her cooking was indeed better than hers. She really couldn't compare.

However, her mother-in-law's cooking did use a lot of oil, which was true.

Zhao Guihua added, "Two dishes, and another fish. I'll go fishing today."

The children immediately cheered up. Xiao Yanzi said in a cute voice, "My grandma is the most amazing grandma in the world."

Other families didn't have it as good as theirs. Xiao Yanzi knew she would soon be able to wear her new dress. Her mom said she could wear it on Children's Day. The little girl thought about it and giggled.

"Why is this child laughing like a fool?"

Xiao Yanzi: "I can wear my new dress."

Zhao Guihua: "Mm, if it's warm, I'll let you wear it."

Xiao Yanzi patted her chest and assured, "I'm not cold."

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, you're not cold."

What did she not know about kids? They just wanted to wear new clothes.

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, finish eating and take the kids to school. By the way, has Hutou's enrollment at Tiger Head Elementary School been taken care of?"

Liang Meifen nodded: "It's already done. He'll start as a primary school student in the second half of the year."

Zhao Guihua nodded.

She sighed: "How do kids grow so fast?"

Hutou quickly said, "I want to grow up fast, make a lot of money, and then buy meat to eat."

Xiao Yanzi added, "And buy new clothes to wear."

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, buy, buy, buy."

Zhuang Zhixi: "We won't keep you guys talking. It's getting late. Come on, wife, I'll walk you out."

Ming Mei: "Okay."

The couple stood up. In the morning, people usually didn't have much time for idle chit-chat. Most of the family talk happened during dinner, discussing work and household matters. Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei stepped out together. As soon as they exited, they saw a few police officers entering the courtyard. They exchanged glances.

The lead officer asked, "Comrade, may I ask if there is a Madam Zhou Li in your courtyard?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yes, she lives in that house, but she's not at home right now."

The police officer: "Out so early? Isn't she a homemaker who doesn't work?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh, she got into a fight yesterday and was injured, so she's in the hospital."

The police officer: "..."

Clearly, she's quite a troublemaker.

He said, "Thank you."

Zhuang Zhixi, curious, asked, "Did she get into some trouble again?"

The police officer: "Yes, there's a robbery case that requires her assistance in the investigation."

They stepped forward to knock on the door and then turned back to ask, "Is there anyone at home?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Definitely, her son and daughter-in-law are both at home."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened. Wang Zhaodi, looking timid, stood there. She had never seen such a scene before and quickly turned back to call out, "Brother Zhou, Sister Jiang Lu, come quickly."

She didn't know what was going on but assumed it was related to yesterday's incident. Her face turned pale.

Despite being a dark-skinned girl, her pallor was now quite noticeable.

Zhou Qun hadn't slept well. His mother had gotten into yet another mess, and his mood was far from good. He no longer needed external pressures; his mother's constant troublemaking was enough to keep him teetering on the edge of humiliation.

He said irritably, "What's all the shouting about so early in the morning?"

Wang Zhaodi whispered, "It's... it's the police officers."

Zhou Qun was startled and immediately perked up. He quickly came out and said, "Officers, hello. I'm Zhou Qun. May I ask what brings you here?"

Yesterday's incident hadn't involved the police. Neighborhood disputes rarely called for the police. If they did, it would be impossible to live peacefully among the neighbors. So he was very puzzled as to why the police had come. The three officers looked at Zhou Qun and said, "You are..."

One of them glanced at his notebook and said, "The son of Li Xiulian, right?"

Initially, they hadn't mentioned Li Xiulian's full name, guessing that people might not know it, especially for an old lady. Now that they had met her son, they used her formal name.

He continued, "Jiang Lu is your wife, correct?"

Zhou Qun nodded, "Yes, is something wrong? Please, come in and sit."

The officers entered, and Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei immediately moved closer.

Just a few simple exchanges, and other neighbors had already come out. Bai Fendou, Wang Xiangxiu, Aunt Wang, and even Uncle Lan and his wife had gathered around.

What was going on now?

This was a police visit.

Zhou Qun awkwardly said, "My mother is still in the hospital. May I ask what this is about? If it's about yesterday, I think there's been a misunderstanding. It was just some old folks messing around, but they've been like that since they were young. They're used to it. It's not really a case of fighting."

At that moment, Jiang Lu also came out from the inner room and stood beside Zhou Qun.

The police officer glanced at Jiang Lu and said, "We're not here about yesterday's fight. We're here because Madam Li Xiulian is suspected of involvement in a robbery case related to feudal superstition. We need her to come with us to assist in the investigation."

"Feudal superstition?"

Windows were filled with curious eyes, peering inside!

"Yes, feudal superstition. Madam Li Xiulian is suspected of hiring a witch to curse..." The police officer glanced at Jiang Lu again and continued, "Your father, Jiang Jianshe."

"What?!" Jiang Lu looked at the police in shock, unable to believe it. "That's impossible! You must be mistaken, officer. Jiang Jianshe is my father. How could my mother-in-law scheme against my father? We're family! There's no need for that, and our relationship is very good. I think there must be some misunderstanding. My mother-in-law may have a sharp tongue and doesn't back down when she's right, but she's not a bad person. She would never do something like this. You must be mistaken. Definitely mistaken."

The police officer, seeing her emotional state, could understand. Such news is always hard to accept. The police station deals with these kinds of family disputes all the time, and this wasn't even the most severe case they've seen.

The officer said, "The witch Madam Li Xiulian hired was a fraud. They are a robbery gang who pose as successful curses to rob their victims. According to their confession, Madam Li Xiulian provided detailed descriptions of your father's situation. So they easily found him and conducted a week-long surveillance. Their plan wasn't just to rob your father but also to break his arm to 'prove' the curse's success and extort more money from your mother-in-law."

Jiang Lu: "..."

The officer continued, "It's said that your mother-in-law is a regular customer of theirs, not the first time. Given the complexity of this case, we can't yet determine if your mother-in-law truly believes in feudal superstition or if she knew these people were robbers and used them for her own purposes. Either way, we need to verify this with her. Additionally, both of you need to come to the police station to assist in the investigation."

"What?"

Jiang Lu was agitated: "Assist in the investigation? What kind of investigation? Do you suspect I knew about this? That's outrageous! That's my father! How could I possibly do something like this? I..."

"Calm down. We're not saying you were involved. We just need you to come and help clarify some issues."

The officer then looked at Zhou Qun, his gaze fixed on him. Zhou Qun knew that while the police might not suspect Jiang Lu, they definitely suspected him. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and then said firmly, "I don't know exactly what happened, but I am innocent, and I believe my mother wouldn't do something like this."

"Then, both of you, come with us. We also need you to take us to the hospital."

Zhou Qun: "My mother is still injured..."

"We won't harm her, but as a party involved, she needs to cooperate with our investigation."

At this moment, Zhou Qun's mind was in turmoil. He hated those people for being so incompetent and his mother for not cleaning up her tracks. How could she reveal her identity like that? It was as if she was waiting for trouble to surface so she could take the blame. If she wanted to die, she should do it herself, not drag him into it.

In the past, Zhou Qun thought his mother was quite useful. He could rely on her to handle things he didn't like, as she was used to being unreasonable. His family never lost out because of her. But now, it seemed his mother was utterly useless. Not only did she fail to act as a shield, but she was also becoming more and more of a liability.

For the past half year, it had been him cleaning up his mother's messes. She had indeed caused him no small amount of trouble, making him utterly disgusted to the extreme, yet he couldn't help but play the dutiful son. After all, filial piety was such a big deal these days, which left him feeling quite uncomfortable.

Zhou Qun's mind was in a chaotic state, unsure of what to do next. Nevertheless, he instinctively stood up and said, "I'll go with you."

Jiang Lu: "Everything was fine, how did such a thing happen? This can't be true! It simply can't be!"

"Let's go."

Zhou Qun took a deep breath and turned back, saying, "Wang Zhaodi, you watch the house. If anything happens, find Aunt Wang."

He didn't know what this "cooperation investigation" entailed, so he had to brief them first. Of course, he didn't trust Wang Zhaodi much, considering they had only met less than two days ago. He then found Aunt Wang in the crowd and said, "Aunt Wang, my mother has caused some trouble again, and we need to go and cooperate with the investigation. I'm not sure what's going on, but could you keep an eye on our place? There are some mischievous kids in our courtyard who aren't honest, and with so many people coming and going, I'm not at ease."

Aunt Wang: "I understand, you can rest assured."

Zhou Qun nodded, "Then... Zhuang Zhixi, could you please ask for a day off for me?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Sure."

He felt Zhou Qun's entire demeanor was heavy.

However, Zhou Qun wasn't exactly a good person. Just listening from outside for a while, Zhuang Zhixi felt that Zhou Qun was involved. Whether Madam Zhou Li would take the blame or not, Zhou Qun was definitely implicated.

He had that much insight.

After all, he had known Zhou Qun for over twenty years.

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, and just as Zhou Qun was about to leave, Bai Fendou jumped out: "Hey, why don't I go to the factory to ask for leave for you?"

Hehe, he was planning to spread the news far and wide, letting everyone know why Zhou Qun couldn't go to work. Zhou Qun would be humiliated, and he would be delighted. Zhou Qun gave Bai Fendou a deep look, stepped forward, and patted his shoulder, saying, "Brother, I know you still have some feelings for me, but you're injured, so don't trouble yourself. I appreciate your kindness. When I get back, I'll treat you to a drink. In this courtyard, you're the most righteous."

Aunt Wang: "???"

Zhuang Zhixi: "???"

So, we weren't being righteous just now?

Can you even speak properly?

Bai Fendou was also confused, genuinely confused. He didn't have good intentions, so why didn't Zhou Qun see through that? However, Zhou Qun had been acting a bit strange lately. It seemed like he suddenly wanted to be good friends with Bai Fendou, suddenly getting close.

Who knew if there was some scheme behind it.

Bai Fendou widened his eyes, staring intently at Zhou Qun, trying to see through his cunning mind. But Zhou Qun, seeing Bai Fendou so concerned, with his eyes wide open, felt his judgment wasn't bad.

Bai Fendou, though not particularly handsome, couldn't compare to Zhuang Zhixi and the others.

But he was brave and could fight, and he cared for Zhou Qun in critical moments, which made him a decent person. He put his arm around Bai Fendou's shoulder and patted it, saying, "Good brother, wait for me to come back!"

Jiang Lu: "..."

What's wrong with Zhou Qun?

Why has he suddenly gotten close to Bai Fendou? She couldn't understand it.

Jiang Lu was utterly puzzled, but Zhou Qun had no intention of explaining, not letting go.

The police officer: "You two have a great relationship."

Bai Fendou was anxious: "Hey, no, it's not... hey this..."

He didn't know what to say for a moment, feeling that everything was strange.

At this moment, Zhuang Zhixi also helped his wife, Ming Mei, take a step back silently. That eerie feeling was back. He pursed his lips, feeling he didn't understand at all. At this moment, he silently looked at his mother...

Zhao Guihua was also standing at the door, watching the commotion intently.

She hadn't expected it to be so coincidental. She had reported the case yesterday, and the police had acted yesterday. Fortunately, she had called the police; otherwise, if she had delayed by one more day, the nature of the matter might have changed.

Normally, the police would catch the culprits in the act, with evidence.

So, it was quite a coincidence.

Zhao Guihua felt that there seemed to be some kind of divine will in everything, and fortunately, things turned out well.

Zhao Guihua sighed, meeting Zhuang Zhixi's gaze.

When he made eye contact with his mother, he then looked at his grandfather, Lan Sihai... Truth be told, if there was something he couldn't figure out, he didn't need to ask others. Asking these two would basically give him the answer.

He felt this discomfort intensely, his goosebumps rising.

Therefore, Zhuang Zhixi decided that when he got off work, he would definitely ask the elders about it. These elders had eaten more salt than they had walked roads, so they would certainly understand what was going on. At his age, he really couldn't grasp this situation.

Zhou Qun was somewhat reluctant to leave, but he couldn't help but follow. He sighed deeply, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, it all turned into an endless sigh. He could only say, "I'll go first."

The couple left with the police officers, and the neighbors immediately started murmuring. Although there were many incidents in their courtyard, this was the first time the police had come to their door. Everyone was astonished, looking at each other in confusion, unable to recover for a long time.

After who knows how long, Zhao Guihua was the first to speak, asking, "Aren't you going to work?"

Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed, looked at the time, and quickly said, "Wife, let's go, let's go."

They had been so engrossed in watching the commotion that they hadn't noticed the time. Today, they were bound to be late.

The young couple quickly left. Apart from Li the Cook and Yang Lixin, who had to get up early to prepare breakfast in the canteen, the others hadn't gone out much. Now, everyone was in a panic, rushing to leave. If they were late, they would be fined.

Watching the commotion was important, but definitely not at the cost of being fined.

At this moment, only those who weren't going to work had the mind to talk.

They started speculating with each other.

Aunt Wang was a bit puzzled but still said, "Is she colluding in robbery? Or is it feudal superstition?"

They had listened to the whole story and were really confused.

From what these neighbors saw, Madam Zhou Li was probably just involved in feudal superstition. If it was colluding in robbery, she wouldn't dare.

Zhao Guihua also believed that Madam Zhou Li wouldn't dare, or perhaps she didn't understand how these people could make the superstition more "real." But she didn't understand, Zhou Qun certainly did. Those people had made it so obvious, and Zhou Qun wasn't an ignorant housewife. He worked in the factory and must have seen more, and this man was inherently cunning, so he couldn't be unaware.

It all depended on how Madam Zhou Li would explain it.

But Zhao Guihua leaned towards Zhou Qun being fine, as Madam Zhou Li was very protective of her son. She wouldn't let Zhou Qun get involved in such matters, even if he was aware.

This woman was confused but utterly devoted to her son.

Zhao Guihua lightly sighed, "What is this all about?"

Aunt Wang suddenly thought of something and sighed deeply, saying, "This year's outstanding courtyard award, we definitely won't get it. It's a pity our merits from catching thieves. Now, they've ruined it completely for us."

She truly felt this was infuriating.

Others also felt indignant, as this outstanding courtyard award came with rewards. It was all ruined by these people, true troublemakers! Everyone spat.

Zhao Guihua sympathetically patted her old friend's shoulder. Aunt Wang tried to cheer up, saying, "I have to go to the neighborhood office. Something like this happened in our courtyard, I need to report it."

Zhao Guihua: "Go ahead."

Aunt Wang quickly left, and everyone continued talking among themselves.

“Madam Zhou Li is really vicious. Her in-laws helped her so much, and she repaid them with such heartless actions. She really is a snake in the grass.”

“That's right, during those three years, even having enough to eat was a struggle. It was Jiang Lu's family who gathered food for them. That was a huge favor, yet they don't seem to care at all...”

“What do you mean, is this her first time?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Bai Fendou was on vacation at home, mingling with a group of women, chattering away: “Maybe she's cursed others before, like going to a fortune-teller to curse people. If anyone has a conflict with her family, they should think carefully about whether they’ve fallen victim to her schemes.”

One of the older women laughed and said, “Well, aren’t you the one? Don’t you have a conflict with her?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Bai Fendou was stunned, then exclaimed loudly, “Damn!”

He hadn’t thought about it before, but now that he did, he realized he was indeed one of those who had a conflict with her.

As he thought more, his expression changed. He became even more convinced that everyone was right. This Madam Zhou Li must have found a fortune-teller to plot against him. Otherwise, why would he be so unlucky recently? Among the people in their courtyard, the ones who were most at odds with Madam Zhou were Aunt Su, and then his own family. Even Zhao Guihua was less of a target compared to them.

Look at Aunt Su, who was usually so mild-mannered, but she’s been hospitalized twice in a row.

And him, he’s been having one mishap after another lately... Thinking about it, Bai Fendou couldn’t stay calm anymore. He felt that Zhou Da Ma was the cause of all his troubles. He immediately said, “No wonder I’ve been so unlucky lately. It’s her, it must be her. I need to go to the police and sort this out. I... I’m so wronged...”

Bai Fendou, who had been muddling through his recent troubles, now blamed everything on someone else.

He firmly declared, “I need to go to the police station.”

With that said, he didn’t hesitate any longer and quickly shuffled out with small steps.

Some nosy onlookers said, “I’ll walk you there. You know...”

They just wanted to tag along and watch the drama unfold.

In a flurry, several more people followed him out. Zhao Guihua, seeing Liang Meifen also wanting to go, said, “You should take the kids to school.”

Liang Meifen: “Oh, right.”

She sighed wistfully and left.

She couldn’t go watch the gossip, which was a real pity.

Zhao Guihua watched as almost everyone left—those going to work, those going to school, those heading to the neighborhood committee, and those going to the police station. She then returned to the gate, chopped some vegetables, and fed the chickens.

These two old hens had seemed a bit listless when they first arrived, but now they looked much more lively. Zhao Guihua thought that in another day or two, they might fully recover. She just didn’t know when they would start laying eggs.

She quickly began sweeping and tidying up. Despite what some men said about how tired they were from work, the women at home had plenty of chores to do as well. The worst part was that these tasks were often invisible—no matter how much you did, it wasn’t noticeable.

Like Zhao Guihua, she got up early to cook, feed the chickens, sweep, and after everything was done, she took out some fabric scraps to sew small cleaning cloths.

These were leftover pieces from the fabric she bought last time. She picked out the unusable small bits and sewed them into cleaning cloths, which were always useful around the house. Speaking of which, Zhao Guihua felt a bit embarrassed for the “time-traveling army” (a popular trope in Chinese novels where characters travel back in time). In those stories, the protagonists were always incredibly capable, even within the limitations of their era. They could navigate the black market, amass wealth, and enjoy the good life, only to soar to even greater heights with the reform and opening up. But here she was, back again, still dealing with the same mundane family matters, unable to enjoy meat every day.

Although her quality of life had improved a bit, it wasn’t anything exceptional. She felt like she didn’t quite measure up to the caliber of a leading lady. Zhao Guihua sighed deeply for herself, but despite her grumbling, her hands didn’t stop. She picked up a stool and sat in the courtyard, where it was cooler than inside the house.

As she worked, she heard a series of retching sounds. Zhao Guihua: “???”

The sounds were coming from the back courtyard. Zhao Guihua got up and walked over, only to see Li Fang about to leave. Zhao Guihua quickly asked, “Are you okay?”

Li Fang: “I think I might be pregnant. I can’t stand any strange smells lately.”

For some reason, early that morning, she felt like there was a faint, fishy smell in the courtyard. Recently, only Zhao Guihua had been fishing, so Li Fang didn’t directly say it was the fish smell that was bothering her.

After all, even though they lived in the same courtyard, no one really cared about such things. With such limited resources, any extra source of protein was a blessing. She didn’t say it outright but instead smiled and said, “I’m going to the hospital to check it out.”

Zhao Guihua: “Oh, you’re pregnant? You should go check it out right away.”

Li Fang: “I’m just so disorganized. I actually felt unwell yesterday when I went to the hospital, but I didn’t think to check then and just went home. Can you imagine…” She even felt a bit worried about herself.

She said, “If my mom comes back, could you let her know I’m going to the hospital to see if it’s just a summer stomach bug or if I’m pregnant?”

Li Fang had already had children before, so she felt this symptom was very likely pregnancy.

Zhao Guihua: “Sure, I’ll let your mom know.”

Li Fang nodded and then left.

Zhao Guihua patted her head, remembering that Li Fang had indeed given birth to her third child around this time. This time, she had a daughter, completing the family with a “good” (a son and a daughter). This made the Li family overjoyed. In those days, if your first child was a daughter, you really wanted a son. It seemed like only having a son could make your family feel complete. But if you already had a son, things were different.

Li the Cook loved his grandsons and wanted more grandsons. But since they already had two, this time, having a granddaughter was also something they cherished.

Despite his traditional preference for boys, he doted on his little granddaughter more than his two grandsons.

So, it’s hard to say what kind of person someone really is.

Zhao Guihua also thought of Ming Mei. In fact, she knew whether Ming Mei was having a boy or a girl, but Zhao Guihua didn’t reveal anything. She still wanted to keep it a surprise. However, knowing the inside story and not being able to share it was a bit frustrating.

She had already started making little clothes… two of them!

Yes, as a reincarnated person, she knew that her daughter-in-law Ming Mei was actually carrying twins.

Actually, Li Fang’s pregnancy was a bit further along than Ming Mei’s, but why was Ming Mei’s reaction so obvious and discovered so early? Because Ming Mei was carrying twins. She gave birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, born early on New Year’s Day.

Two babies.

This wasn’t surprising, though. Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei having twins followed a family pattern. Their second child, Zhuang Zhixin, had also given birth to twins. She had two boys, and in every letter, Zhuang Zhixin would complain about how her sons were always getting into trouble.

So, Zhao Guihua thought maybe there was a generational pattern in their family, a kind of intergenerational inheritance.

Otherwise, why would it be so coincidental that Zhuang Zhixin had twins, and now Zhuang Zhixi was having twins?

Next year, their courtyard would welcome four new babies: their own twins, Li Xiaoting (Li Fang’s daughter), and Jiang Lu’s son, who was a bit younger than the twins.

Oh, no, actually, Li Fang’s daughter was also born in January, but according to the lunar calendar, the new year hadn’t arrived yet.

Their daughter was born on the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, just a few days before the twins.

Strictly speaking, only three babies would be considered born in the new year.

Li Xiaoting didn’t count; she was still considered a baby born this year.

After giving birth to a son, Jiang Lu seemed to gain confidence and walked with a swagger. Even when talking to Aunt Zhou, she was much more assertive. Aunt Zhou, too, doted on her grandson, attending to every little detail. Even at seven or eight years old, the child sometimes needed to be fed.

When the child first went to kindergarten, it was said that he didn’t know how to use the bathroom by himself.

This was, of course, a far cry from decades later.

At that time, children started kindergarten early, and it wasn't uncommon for two-year-old toddlers to be sent to kindergarten. However, their grandson was over six years old before he was finally sent to kindergarten... which was quite unusual. It's hard to say whether indulging children is right or wrong. After all, it's natural for parents to spoil their own kids, but excessive spoiling can be problematic.

In their neighborhood, there were families that set a "good example" of spoiling their children. The Su family's three kids were well-known for this. The Zhou family, on the other hand, indulged their child to an extreme degree. Unlike the Su family's kids, who would steal or act like gigolos, the Zhou family's child was purely selfish. Eventually, he even moved to a certain beautiful country and settled there.

Zhao Guihua thought about all this, her head shaking like a rattle drum...

"Guihua, what are you doing? Why are you shaking your head like that?"

Aunt Wang returned and saw Zhao Guihua in this state, curious and concerned. She quickly asked, "Why is the courtyard so quiet? Has something happened again?"

She had been through so much that she was constantly on edge, afraid of more trouble.

Zhao Guihua quickly replied, "They've gone to the police station."

She explained Bai Fendou's concerns and added, "You know Bai Fendou is currently in a fragile state, so everyone went with him for support."

Aunt Wang: "…I really can't believe… Can he just stop causing trouble?"

However, she understood that Bai Fendou's worries weren't unfounded, as he had been quite unlucky recently. She sighed and shook her head, mirroring Zhao Guihua's earlier action.

"Oh, by the way, Li Fang from your family went to the hospital. She's not feeling well and might be pregnant."

"What!"

Aunt Wang was instantly excited, asking, "Pregnant? When did she leave?"

Zhao Guihua: "She left a little while ago. You won't be able to catch up with her, so you might as well wait at home."

Aunt Wang began pacing in circles like a donkey pulling a mill, exclaiming, "That's wonderful, simply wonderful!"

Zhao Guihua: "Sit down and talk."

Aunt Wang: "Can you believe such good news? I never expected our Fang to be pregnant again. I wonder if it's a boy or a girl."

Zhao Guihua smiled: "So, do you want a boy or a girl?"

Aunt Wang: "A girl. We already have two boys, and if we had another boy, we wouldn't be able to afford to marry him off. Besides, we'd like to have a 'good' combination of a boy and a girl. With the two boys we already have, who are always causing trouble, we'd love to have a sweet little girl."

Zhao Guihua chuckled. Aunt Wang noticed Zhao Guihua's movements and moved her chair closer, whispering, "What's this…"

She pointed at Zhao Guihua's hands.

Recently, Zhao Guihua had been making clothes for her family. Although the materials weren't luxurious, the dresses were made from patchwork pieces, and she had managed to add some new clothes. Aunt Wang whispered, "Guihua, what's your secret? Can you share it?"

Zhao Guihua whispered back: "It's nothing special. I just traded for some fabric scraps."

The word "traded" was emphasized.

Aunt Wang immediately understood, but Zhao Guihua quickly added, "It's not that I'm hiding anything. I only managed to trade twice, and the second time it fell through. I can't trade anymore."

Aunt Wang: "Ah?"

She felt a bit disappointed.

Zhao Guihua: "If this were a stable source, I would definitely tell you. But I can't get it anymore, so there's no point. If I find another way, I'll let you know."

Aunt Wang: "Alright!"

Soon, Aunt Wang happily asked, "Do you want to make some money?"

Zhao Guihua: "Huh?"

Aunt Wang, with a hint of pride, said, "I've secured a money-making opportunity for everyone. We caught a thief, and that's a real good deed. The neighborhood committee promised to give us an award for being an outstanding courtyard, but due to some people's antics, we lost that chance. Even if they gave it to us, we wouldn't have the face to accept it. But our good deeds are real, and catching the thief was real. That can't be denied, right? So, I went to the neighborhood committee to voice our concerns. We may not get the outstanding courtyard award, but they should at least give us some part-time work! This way, those of us who caught the thief won't feel so bitter, and it'll give everyone something to do instead of bickering all day."

Zhao Guihua's eyes lit up: "Aunt Wang, you're amazing. This is a great idea."

Aunt Wang smiled proudly: "Of course! Who do you think I am? I've already secured the deal. Our courtyard can volunteer for this job: assembling matchboxes. Normally, such work is reserved for families in need, but we managed to get it, which is quite an achievement."

"What kind of work is it?"

Liang Meifen, returning from sending her child to school, overheard and quickly joined in.

Aunt Wang: "It's assembling matchboxes. You get a dime for every hundred."

Liang Meifen was instantly excited. She had been to the neighborhood committee many times, hoping for such opportunities. Formal or temporary jobs were out of reach, so she was thrilled to have a chance at this. The neighborhood committee usually didn't offer such work to families like hers, given their circumstances.

She exclaimed, "I want to join!"

Aunt Wang: "Sure."

Liang Meifen was overjoyed. Finally, she had a source of income, a chance to earn money. When she was working, she didn't realize how important it was, but now that she wasn't, she occasionally felt a tinge of regret.

Just a little bit though.

But it was there.

When she was earning, her parents treated her with respect, and her brother always praised her, calling her the most successful sibling. In her in-laws' home, she stood tall because of her job, even though she still feared her mother-in-law. Among the neighbors, she had a sense of superiority.

She had a high school education, two children, and a dual-income family.

But now, everyone called her a foolish fool. This change was painful for Liang Meifen. She tried to convince herself not to feel bad, but she wasn't a machine; she couldn't help but feel sad.

Her family didn't value her anymore either.

After she gave up her job, everything changed. Even her father told her not to come back and cause trouble, calling her a troublemaker. This made Liang Meifen feel terrible.

She didn't say it out loud, but she felt it in her heart.

Now that she had no money, spending was inconvenient, and Zhuang Zhiyuan controlled the family finances. She had no money of her own, making her even more eager to earn some. She asked, "When do we start working?"

Aunt Wang: "It'll be the quickest this afternoon. The neighborhood committee needs to coordinate with the match factory today. Luckily, they need a lot of matchboxes recently, so we got this opportunity."

Liang Meifen nodded vigorously.

As the three women talked, they felt a gaze on them. They turned to see Wang Zhaodi peeking through a small crack in the door, looking timid.

Aunt Wang: "Wang Zhaodi, if you're bored alone, come out."

Wang Zhaodi bit her lip and said, "Okay."

At home, she was always busy with chores, so being outside with nothing to do made her even more nervous and awkward. If you gave her a piece of land to work on, she might feel more at ease, but now she looked hesitant and unsure.

Aunt Wang: "We've secured a job assembling matchboxes for our courtyard. If you want to join, come out this afternoon."

Wang Zhaodi's eyes widened in shock: "Me? I can join too?"

She had thought this was something for others, that they wouldn't include her.

But to her surprise, Aunt Wang invited her.

She eagerly asked, "Can I really join?"

Aunt Wang: "What's not possible about this? You may not be from the compound, but you're a working person, and I can see your conditions aren't great either. This job was originally meant for families with limited means. Joining in isn't a big deal."

Wang Zhaodi's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. Even though this job would be assigned to less affluent families, it wouldn't have been given to her family. This opportunity is unique to the people of Beijing; such a thing doesn't exist in the countryside.

She looked up, earnestly: "I will work hard."

Aunt Wang nodded.

Zhao Guihua: "I don't think the Zhou family will have time to care about you recently. Work hard and save some money for yourself. Even if the Zhou family kicks you out, at least you'll have some money to rely on."

Liang Meifen quickly nodded, chiming in: "Truly, the feeling of having no money is unbearable."

Wang Zhaodi fidgeted with her hands: "I... I've never had money."

She had never owned any, nor had she ever spent a single cent.

The women all looked at her, but Zhao Guihua remained calm: "This is quite normal. Many rural families are used to men controlling the money. In the village, sometimes things are just exchanged without using money. If something is needed, it has to be bought at the commune supply store, and if the journey is far, women usually don't go; it's mostly men who do these things. You also have parents above you, so naturally, you haven't had many opportunities to spend money."

Hearing this, Wang Zhaodi calmed down and wasn't as nervous and embarrassed as before.

She said: "That's how it is in our village. Many people haven't spent money."

Aunt Wang frowned: "Where is your home?"

This didn't sound like a village near Beijing. Villages near Beijing are much better off.

Wang Zhaodi: "My home is in Ci'ergou. It takes more than a day by bus, and you have to change buses twice."

Ci'ergou?

No one knew where that was.

Such place names are common, but the journey sounded far, probably beyond the Beijing area.

"That's quite far from here."

Wang Zhaodi nodded: "Yes, my home is quite far, but the city is so much better. In the countryside, every day is either working in the fields or working in the mountains; there's nothing else to do. But your city is so lively."

The others: "..."

Wang Zhaodi's idea of "lively" probably wasn't the same as theirs.

Zhao Guihua, though she thought those few families were indeed a bit too rowdy, also felt that, as someone from the compound, she should clarify. She said: "Actually... our compound is quite harmonious."

Wang Zhaodi's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but dig her ears, wondering if she had heard wrong.

She stammered: "H-h-h-harmonious?"

Then, realizing it wasn't appropriate, she quickly added: "Oh, harmonious!"

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips.

Seeing Wang Zhaodi's nervous expression, she couldn't help but laugh, a soft "pfft," and said: "Don't be nervous."

Wang Zhaodi scratched her head: "You city folks are... really strange."

Zhao Guihua: "..."