Chapter 93

Chapter 93

The morning sun rose as usual, and the courtyard was much like any other morning, yet also different. After all, there was now one more person in their courtyard.

Ming Mei yawned and stepped out early in the morning, only to freeze in surprise. After a brief moment of hesitation, she recognized the girl as the "relative" from the Zhou family. Everyone knew what kind of relative she was, even if they didn't say it out loud.

What surprised Ming Mei even more was that the girl was sweeping the courtyard. In their courtyard, the cleaning was rotated among the households, one family per day. Previously, it was nine families, now it was ten, rotating three times a month, which wasn't too troublesome.

However, today was supposed to be her family's turn to clean.

Ming Mei smiled and greeted, "Good morning."

She then explained the cleaning schedule to Wang Zhaodi, who smiled humbly and said, "I didn't know about this. It's okay, I'm used to working in the countryside. This little bit of work is nothing."

Just as Ming Mei was about to say something, Aunt Zhou stormed out, scolding, "You stupid girl, what are you doing? Who told you to sweep the courtyard this early in the morning? Is this your job? You do what you're not supposed to and don't do what you should. You have no sense at all. What am I supposed to say to you?"

Her tone was harsh and critical as she scolded Wang Zhaodi, then turned to Ming Mei and said, "Xiao Zhuang's wife, we'll clean today. Let's swap days, shall we?"

Ming Mei raised an eyebrow and said, "Sure."

There was no need to take advantage of such a situation, it would only be unpleasant.

She went to the water basin to wash up, watching as Wang Zhaodi, without any complaints, continued diligently sweeping the courtyard. She quickly finished and then moved on to preparing breakfast, her movements swift and efficient.

Ming Mei's big, watery eyes glanced at Wang Zhaodi, and when the girl turned around, Ming Mei smiled at her, to which Wang Zhaodi responded with a smile.

Aunt Zhou saw this and wanted to say something sarcastic, but thinking of the girl's reputation for being quick-tempered, she swallowed her words and muttered under her breath, "I tell you, you're here to live a good life, to eat and drink, and to give us a grandson. Don't you dare learn from those lazy wives. They're not good examples. I've never seen a wife so lazy, not doing any housework at all."

Aunt Zhou's words were harsh. Ming Mei just didn't cook; she handled her own household chores without passing them to her mother-in-law or sister-in-law. Only during seasonal deep cleaning did Liang Meifen help wash the curtains.

Other small chores were done by Ming Mei herself.

However, the communal cooking was indeed done by Zhao Guihua and her daughter-in-law, as they couldn't wait for Ming Mei, who worked late and returned home tired. Zhao Guihua and Liang Meifen didn't work outside the home.

As for other communal tasks like buying coal or winter vegetables, that hadn't come up yet.

So Aunt Zhou's words were indeed a bit sharp. But people tend to see what they want to see, and Aunt Zhou believed Ming Mei did nothing, that a woman who didn't even cook couldn't be a good wife.

She said, "Some people, you must never learn from. You won't pick up any good habits."

Wang Zhaodi hummed in acknowledgment, and Aunt Zhou continued, "Don't make too much breakfast. Just put this much."

Wang Zhaodi: "Okay."

Living under someone else's roof, she did as she was told. She knew her place and had no status or position. If she went back home, her father might break her legs. Her family had nine daughters, which was their greatest pain.

She was the third daughter, unloved by her parents. But even if she were the eldest, it would be the same. Her family only wanted sons, and they were still trying.

This time, Wang Zhaodi was sent out for this very purpose. The family agreed that if she could get pregnant, they would give her fifty yuan, and if she gave birth to a boy, another fifty would be added. That would be a hundred yuan.

Her family was always in debt, and this money would be a big deal. They were counting on this.

Even if she couldn't get pregnant, she could return after a year, as both sides had agreed. But without earning the money, her parents wouldn't be happy. Still, her parents thought the deal wasn't bad. She was the biggest eater in the family, and not having her around for a year would save a lot on food.

As for work, there were plenty of girls at home to do the chores, so her absence wouldn't matter. Despite all the speculation in the courtyard, for Wang Zhaodi, this was just how things were. Her family was like this, and as a girl, what could she do?

Moreover, what work was there in the city?

Back home, she had to get up before dawn to work in the fields, chop wood, dig vegetables—endless tasks, yet she only got a small bowl of coarse porridge or sweet potato gruel. She never got to eat anything substantial.

With so many people in the family—grandparents, sisters—her father always got the best food because he was trying for a son.

So this time, when she was allowed to leave, her sisters were actually envious. They didn't know what she was really doing here, as her parents hoped to "marry" her off properly later.

Her sisters thought she was going to the city to work as a maid, though that didn't exist in the new society. Still, they envied her. Wang Zhaodi knew it was wrong, but she had no choice.

She pursed her lips and worked diligently. Fortunately, the eldest son in this family seemed decent. Last night, Aunt Zhou had tried to push them together, but Zhou Qun refused firmly.

Wang Zhaodi breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

She bent down to tend the fire, swallowing hard. The breakfast here was much better than at her home. At her house, a handful of wild greens and a bowl of coarse porridge were shared by several people. Here, at least everyone had a bowl of breakfast.

And there were even bread rolls.

Wang Zhaodi worked with gusto, though the morning atmosphere at the Zhou household was somewhat strained. Jiang Lu, however, was elated. She felt even more fortunate to have found such a man. Her husband was truly the best in the world. She hadn't expected Zhou Qun to refuse Wang Zhaodi so resolutely yesterday.

When Aunt Zhou pushed too hard, Zhou Qun even said, "If you keep this up, I'll just sleep at Bai Fendou's place. I will never get involved with a girl I just met. I'm not that kind of person."

Hearing this, Jiang Lu was moved to tears. With such a husband, how lucky she was.

Because of this, Aunt Zhou's face had been tense since last night, and it hadn't improved by morning. The breakfast atmosphere was awkward, with everyone lost in thought.

Only Wang Zhaodi continued eating, seemingly oblivious, quickly finishing a second bread roll.

The feeling of being six-tenths full was wonderful.

She ate quickly and quietly, then asked, "Auntie, what should I do at home today?"

Living under someone else's roof, she was very aware of her place.

Aunt Zhou said, "You go out this morning and gather some wood. We need to build a chicken coop. In the afternoon, help me fix the toilet."

"Okay!"

Wang Zhaodi didn't talk much, but she worked right away, which earned a few points of satisfaction from Aunt Zhou. However, there were still things she wasn't happy about. She wanted someone like Wang Xiangxiu, plump and fertile-looking, not this thin girl. But at least this one didn't cost anything.

As long as she ate, it wasn't a burden for the family.

In the morning, the Zhou household went to work, and Aunt Zhou took Wang Zhaodi out. They ran into Zhao Guihua, who glanced at her equipment and asked, "Are you going fishing again?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Yes. The doctor said pregnant women need to eat more fish."

Aunt Zhou snorted coldly, clearly jealous. Did she have to show off that her daughter-in-law was pregnant? Zhao Guihua hadn't meant anything by it; it was just casual conversation. But Aunt Zhou always overthought things.

She snorted coldly and led Wang Zhaodi away, saying, "In the future, stay away from that old hag. She's a mean one. You might think she's nice to her daughter-in-law, but she's biased."

Wang Zhaodi nodded.

Aunt Zhou led Wang Zhaodi away, while Zhao Guihua rode her bike to the outskirts police station.

After the last incident, she had thought long and hard and decided she should report it. Although she didn't know Jiang Lu's family, she couldn't just stand by and watch someone get into trouble. Zhao Guihua found a handkerchief to cover her face and headed to the police station.

It wasn't the station for their neighborhood, but the one from the area where that gang was discovered.

Zhao Guihua entered the station, drawing everyone's attention. Mainly because she was covering her face. Who covers their face unless they have something to hide?

Zhao Guihua: "I want to report a crime."

"You..."

Seeing the officer's gaze fall on the handkerchief covering her face, Zhao Guihua spoke boldly, "I don't dare show my face. I'm afraid of retaliation later."

Everyone: "..."

Zhao Guihua continued nonchalantly, "A few days ago, on my way back from fishing near Zhima Hutong seventy-seven, I overheard a group of young men planning a robbery."

"What!"

Everyone turned to look at her in unison.

Zhao Guihua took a step back, pursing her lips and said, "I was initially afraid of getting involved and being targeted, so I didn't report it. But after thinking it over, I felt it was wrong to stay silent. If they actually go through with something terrible, I'd be complicit in not helping. So, after much thought, I decided to come here..."

She continued, covering her face, "I heard they plan to rob the Supply and Marketing Cooperative director. They have an insider and have been staking out for days. I don't know the specifics. At the time, it was a few men talking, and I didn't see their faces, but I saw them enter Zhimahu Tong seventy-seven."

After finishing her statement, she took a few steps back and said, "You can investigate the details yourselves."

With that, she turned to leave... "Hey, Auntie, wait."

Zhao Guihua: "Don't involve me. I don't want to get mixed up in this..."

She bolted away quickly.

In truth, she wasn't afraid of being found. After all, she wasn't worried about being investigated.

She just didn't want to get more involved, in case it led back to Aunt Zhou, and then linked her to the report. She wasn't afraid of the Zhou family, but she simply didn't want to stir up trouble. Besides, who knew if those men had accomplices.

Zhao Guihua felt that coming here to report was already quite commendable. She could have written a note, but... she wasn't very good at writing!

Lack of education is truly frightening.

She recognized some characters, having attended a literacy class and having some life experience. But when it came to writing, she knew very few characters.

She didn't want to involve other family members, so she didn't plan to ask for help, even from Ming Mei, who also knew about it. Ming Mei was currently pregnant and didn't need to provoke any trouble.

As for why she dared to come and report directly, then leave immediately, it was because this was a common practice during this era. Each era has its own characteristics. Not to mention this, even neighbors reporting someone for hiding a foreign novel wasn't uncommon.

The environment changes with the times, and doing this was quite normal.

Saying she was afraid of retaliation and covering her face was also quite normal.

Zhao Guihua rode away as soon as she left the station. The police officers who chased out to ask more questions saw this old lady running faster than a monkey. However, they didn't take the matter lightly. The old lady's information was so detailed; they couldn't ignore it.

This was a merit, and if true, it was a clear opportunity for promotion. Who would pass that up?

Moreover, they had caught a key detail: "Supply and Marketing Cooperative director."

If it was true that they were planning to rob someone of such status, and they caught them in the act, it would be a significant achievement. And, the victim would owe them a favor. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative director was a crucial connection. This was a win-win situation of merit and favors. They wouldn't take it lightly.

The station chief immediately arranged, "Alright, everyone, gather for a meeting right away."

There was no delay.

The information was clear, and they quickly deployed their plan. As for Zhao Guihua, she rode her bike to the outskirts and climbed the mountain. Recently, the mountain had indeed become more crowded. Just like the last time, when a few young men carried a wild boar down the mountain, it couldn't help but attract attention.

Indeed, there were more people on the mountain recently. Zhao Guihua herself was getting anxious.

Logically, she should have brought Liang Meifen along, but recently, they had added two old hens to the household. She was really worried that the kid next door, Xiao Mao Thief, might make a move. This child, when faced with trouble, could be quiet for a few days, but after a while, when the incident faded and the fear disappeared, he would continue his antics.

Zhao Guihua wasn't surprised. After all, in the last life, Jin Lai had been in and out of the detention center like it was a revolving door. It was clear that this guy wasn't easy to reform. Although he was still a child now, that didn't mean he was inherently good.

If his family didn't educate him properly, a few words from the neighbors wouldn't make a difference.

She didn't want to come back after a day's work to find her home robbed. If that happened, it would be a real pain. So Zhao Guihua was quite resistant.

Zhao Guihua snapped back to reality and quickly climbed the mountain. She didn't encounter anyone on the way, but there were definitely others on the mountain. Fortunately, most were on the other side, and this side wasn't too crowded.

Probably because the wild boar was caught on that side.

Zhao Guihua didn't care about that. She charged up the mountain with determination. Recently, she had figured out a good way to net fish. Although she wasn't good at fishing, netting fish was doable. And here, the overall environment was quite suitable for this. If it were at Houhai or other places, it wouldn't work.

Zhao Guihua parked her bike and quickly got to work.

She had been climbing the mountain quite a bit these last few days, all for the fish. As for wild chickens or rabbits, to be honest, they rarely caught any unless Ming Mei went up the mountain. She had been lucky to find a wild rabbit's nest before.

But after catching one there, the rabbits wouldn't return, so Zhao Guihua had no more leads.

She had set up a couple of small traps for catching wild animals on the mountain, but they weren't always successful. These creatures, having lived in the wild for so long, were quite cunning.

Zhao Guihua focused on netting fish. To be honest, one needs to have some experience. Look at her—she wasn't good at fishing, but through thinking and experimenting, she had finally figured out a good method, inspired by something she had seen online.

She had tried many times before finding the right approach.

Zhao Guihua worked diligently, and as the weather gradually darkened, she calculated that it was past noon. She had already caught a basketful. Coming to this place from the city wasn't easy, so she sat by the pond to catch her breath. At that moment, she heard footsteps.

In addition to the footsteps, there were the voices of a few young boys, their loud chatter filling the air.

Oh no!

Zhao Guihua immediately knew who it was!

Although the timing was different, it seemed like it was still that group of teenagers.

Zhao Guihua sighed quietly, feeling that some things, even if they seemed to pass at the time, would still happen again. As for hiding, Zhao Guihua didn't consider it. She wasn't crazy—where could she hide in this area?

Even if she could hide herself, what about her bike?

Even if she could hide the bike, this was clearly a pond. Wouldn't they come to catch fish? She couldn't just hide all day, and even if she did, there was no guarantee she could avoid them. Zhao Guihua sighed and stopped doing anything.

She sat there, gazing in the direction of the approaching footsteps.

The group of teenagers were around fourteen or fifteen years old. After their last successful hunt on the mountain, they had been quite proud. However... pride aside, their tools had been taken away by their grandfathers, who were afraid they might hurt someone without thinking. So, these few times up the mountain, they had to bring sickles.

It was really tough.

Everyone was complaining along the way, feeling deeply that their lack of success in recent times was due to their inadequate tools. A sickle, what good is that? Although they had managed to catch a wild boar on the other side of the mountain, since they hadn't had any luck, they had moved to this side, hadn't they?

As they grumbled about their lack of tools and the scarcity of game on the mountain, Zhao Guihua could hear them clearly from a distance. She couldn't help but admit, when it came to luck, she really admired Ming Mei.

For most people, finding a single prey on the mountain was already quite an accomplishment. Take herself, for example, she had been coming up here so frequently over the past few months, yet she had only managed to catch two rabbits. The first time was by chance, and the second time was by raiding a rabbit's home.

Just two solid catches, but when Ming Mei went up the mountain, it felt like she simply couldn't carry everything. If only she had the time, she could probably wipe out all the game on the entire mountain. Those animals seemed to flock to her.

Her luck was simply off the charts.

Of course, she also had the ability. If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't be as quick and nimble as she was. This girl, despite learning Wing Chun, didn't quite fit the stereotype. She was more like a tiger, full of energy and strength.

But it really worked.

And when you got to know Ming Mei, you'd feel that some people are just born lucky. Their luck is so good, it's something you simply can't compete with. It's truly enviable. Zhao Guihua sighed, feeling that this was something innate.

A few young lads approached the area, though due to the dense trees, they didn't notice the pond nearby. However, their direction was towards it. The group muttered, "There aren't many pheasants around here either. We… whoa!"

Just as they were about to walk over and see Zhao Guihua, a wild rabbit suddenly darted out.

"Ah! Chase it!"

The rabbit ran fast, incredibly fast, but the young lads weren't far behind. Full of energy, they chased after it without slowing down. Zhao Guihua was waiting for them to come over, but the sudden commotion made her turn around. Oh boy… they had already sprinted far away.

She could barely see them anymore.

Zhao Guihua: "Ah, this…"

She scratched her head in confusion, feeling that this was… too much of a coincidence. They were so close to the pond, yet they missed it?

By the time she regained her focus, they were already out of sight.

Zhao Guihua: "…I really am."

She suddenly thought of something and quickly walked over to a basket trap they had set up nearby. It wasn't too far from the pond. Zhao Guihua quickly reached it and saw that the basket had been overturned, with a few rabbit hairs stuck on it.

Zhao Guihua fell silent, not knowing what to say.

There must have been a rabbit that fell into the trap, but it had managed to escape quickly.

She guessed that the boys were chasing this very rabbit.

Zhao Guihua felt a bit absurd. She scratched her head again and returned to the pond, still puzzled. Sometimes, coincidences were just that strange. She wasn't good at catching rabbits, despite boasting about being a rabbit killer. These wild rabbits were incredibly fast, and without some luck, it was nearly impossible.

She sighed quietly and decided to focus on catching fish. Nothing was more important than catching fish.

If those boys came back, she could catch more. Although this season wasn't ideal for keeping fish fresh, making salted fish and drying them would be quick. Zhao Guihua thought this was a top-notch idea.

Even if the smell was noticeable, Zhao Guihua decided to go for it.

If she didn't act now, there might be no chance later.

However, as the clouds gathered and the sky darkened, Zhao Guihua hesitated whether to head down the mountain or continue. But soon, she decided to keep catching fish. With the dark clouds, if it rained, she'd still get wet on her way down, so it was better to keep working.

Generally, rainy days were actually better for fishing.

Zhao Guihua quickly waded into the water. However, even after catching two baskets of fish, she didn't see the boys return, nor did it rain. Zhao Guihua marveled at her good luck and pushed her cart down the mountain. With so many fish, she didn't dare to ride her bike on the way down. If she fell, it would be a disaster.

As Zhao Guihua made her way down the mountain, she wiped the sweat from her face. To be honest, she was quite disheveled, but she didn't care. She quickly rode home. Little did she know, the courtyard had seen quite a commotion today in her absence.

Due to the destruction of the public restroom, those involved had to do community service. However, to make things easier, it was divided into morning and afternoon shifts. This way, there wasn't too much chaos, and it also left some time for families.

Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su were scheduled for the afternoon. Aunt Zhou wasn't happy about it, but she wasn't worried. Her family had someone who could work for her. She didn't have to do the labor; Wang Zhaodi could. But Aunt Su didn't have anyone.

Usually, she would hope that the Bai family could take her place, but the Bai father and son were unreliable. They moved with tiny steps, like ancient noblewomen, so naturally, they couldn't go. Besides, their IVs were scheduled for the afternoon, so they were definitely unable to help.

Aunt Su turned her attention to Wang Zhaodi, thinking that since she was under her care, she should help with the work. But who would have thought that Wang Zhaodi had a mind of her own? After Aunt Su asked her, she immediately told Aunt Zhou.

It wasn't that Wang Zhaodi was cunning; she just needed to inform Aunt Zhou since she was staying at her place and eating her food.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou was furious. She wasn't afraid of Aunt Su anymore. With the Bai men being weak, what was there to fear from a frail widow like Aunt Su? Her family didn't have any men, and she had all the tricks up her sleeve—breaking windows, kicking doors, pulling hair—she had it all!

Would Old Man Bai be willing? He had always been protective of Aunt Su. This time, when the Bai family was in trouble, it was Aunt Su and Wang Xiangxiu who had worked hard to help. He remembered that… even though his health wasn't great, he still dragged his tiny steps out to demand justice for Aunt Su. But…

When Zhao Guihua returned, the courtyard was eerily quiet. Zhao Guihua was puzzled. She had already prepared an excuse to deal with everyone, but as soon as she entered the courtyard, it was so quiet that no one was sitting at the gate watching the lively scene.

Not only that, but the people repairing the public restroom had also dispersed.

This was very strange.

Zhao Guihua called out, "Liang Meifen."

Liang Meifen hurried out of the house, saying, "Mother-in-law, I'm here."

With no one in the courtyard, she had been sleeping comfortably at home.

She quickly came over to help, saying, "Mom, let me do it, you rest."

She tried to lift the basket but couldn't, then happily said, "There's so much!"

Zhao Guihua: "Take them all home, process them, and salt them to make dried fish."

Liang Meifen: "Where should we dry them?"

Drying them in the courtyard would be too obvious.

Zhao Guihua: "I've talked to Lao San, and he's getting a plastic sheet. We'll dry them on the roof."

The roof had plenty of sunlight and would dry quickly.

And no one usually went up there, so although the smell might be noticeable or there might be flies, it would only be for a couple of days. They could just say they were drying a few fish, no big deal. Zhao Guihua: "Alright, let's get to work."

She rubbed her back, saying, "I've really given so much for this family."

Liang Meifen nodded, fully agreeing.

She said, "Mom, next time I'll go with you."

She wasn't lazy when it came to work.

Zhao Guihua: "We'll have to make sure someone's at home, or else all our hard work could be stolen by some petty thief."

She really despised that family. She pursed her lips, saying, "I haven't asked you yet, why was it so quiet today?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Meifen perked up and quickly recounted the drama of the afternoon, shrugging, "They all went to the hospital. Aunt Zhou claimed she was injured, Old Man Bai said he was injured, and Aunt Su was even more injured…"

She said with a hint of amusement, "Aunt Wang led a group of people to send someone to the hospital, but when the hospital saw it was Old Man Bai, they advised him to transfer to another hospital. Then, when they saw Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su, who had caused trouble at the hospital before, the hospital strongly urged them to transfer as well, saying they couldn't keep getting scammed by the same people. Every time they get admitted, they destroy a bunch of stuff. The hospital just can't handle it. So, they were sent to a farther hospital, and they still haven't come back yet."

Zhao Guihua: "……"

Truly, it was just speechless.

She asked, "How do you know all this? You didn't go, did you?"

Liang Meifen: "Jiang Lu told me. She went to the hospital but wasn't admitted, so she didn't go to the next one."

Liang Meifen sighed, "An attending physician at the hospital even got teary-eyed, almost crying, saying their injuries weren't serious and there was nothing major to worry about. He begged them to go to another hospital. I've never heard of such a thing before."

Zhao Guihua: "……"

Today, she was full of ellipses.

Liang Meifen worked quickly, her mouth never idle. She said, "This whole situation, Yu Baoshan is also to blame."

Zhao Guihua's eyes flickered as she asked, "How is he involved?"

"How isn't he? He caused trouble at the hospital again! He smashed the toilet, the hospital's toilet. It happened last night, and they're still repairing it. The hospital is really at its wit's end with these violent patients. They really can't take in any more of them. None of these people are easy to deal with."

Liang Meifen sighed, "I've lived this long and never encountered such a thing."

Zhao Guihua: "You'll get used to it."

But how could you get used to such things!

You get used to one incident today, and tomorrow they'll come up with a new one, something even more bizarre.

Zhao Guihua: "Oh, what about Bai Fendou? Did he go too?"

She said, "I didn't hear any commotion when I came back."

Liang Meifen's mouth twitched as she said, "Bai Fendou didn't go. He went to see off Miss Tao. She said she didn't need him to, but he insisted on escorting her. He left and still hasn't come back."

Zhao Guihua: "……" Quick steps, but still not fast enough.

She said, "Alright then."

Liang Meifen: "But Zhou Qun has someone at home, Wang Zhaodi is there."

Zhao Guihua asked in surprise, "She didn't go?"

"No. Aunt Zhou didn't let her go. Aunt Zhou said that Su Jinlai's kids are thieves. If there's no one at home, those three kids will definitely come to steal from them. They've had such an experience before, and this time it can't happen. She told Wang Zhaodi to stay and guard the house."

Zhao Guihua: "What kind of situation is this…"

The dramas in their courtyard are just too much.

"I also heard that in the inner courtyard, the Yu family is causing trouble too. It seems that the Yu family's daughters-in-law are fighting with the old lady, saying she's biased. Now that Yu Baoshan is hospitalized, his room is empty, and the sisters-in-law want to move in. But the old lady won't allow it, so it's a complete mess."

Zhao Guihua breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Luckily, it's not just our courtyard with embarrassing situations. If it were only us, we'd be too ashamed to go out."

Liang Meifen: "Exactly."

She cut open the fish belly, removed the innards, salted them one by one, and placed them in a basin. She worked quickly and efficiently. She said happily, "Mom, we have a lot of fish this time."

Zhao Guihua: "It's been raining for the past few days, and there's been a lot of commotion in the courtyard, so we haven't gone out."

She said, "But today, it seems easier to catch them."

Liang Meifen: "The weather is so muggy, I wonder if it's going to rain."

Zhao Guihua thought it might be true. The muggy weather, with low atmospheric pressure, might make the fish easier to catch. But she wasn't sure. Zhao Guihua looked at the sky and said, "It really looks like it's going to rain."

"Uh… rain?"

Liang Meifen looked at the fish with worry and said, "If it rains, we can't dry them right away. I hope it doesn't."

Zhao Guihua smiled and said, "There's someone who hopes even more that it doesn't."

She pointed at Bai Fendou's house and said, "He doesn't even have glass in his windows."

Liang Meifen: "…That's true. His family is really… after working for so many years, can't they even afford to replace the glass? What a weirdo."

Liang Meifen didn't understand. Like her, she didn't have much savings, but that was because she gave it to her parents, not outsiders. Supporting one's own parents can't be considered wrong. But this family… what did they spend their money on? They don't seem to eat or dress particularly well.

The Bai family eats and dresses normally, the only big item being a bicycle whose origin is unknown.

Despite saving like this, they still don't have money.

Zhao Guihua: "They're content with it."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted a bit more. Hearing noises in the courtyard, Zhao Guihua went out to see who it was. It wasn't someone else, but Ming Mei's cousin, Lan Xiang, sitting by Lan Sihai's door. Zhao Guihua: "Lan Xiang, come over? Your grandfather isn't home yet. Come sit at our place."

Lan Xiang shook his head and said, "No need, it's quite cool here. Auntie, your courtyard is pretty quiet today." He had come yesterday and witnessed quite a show.

Zhao Guihua: "Yeah, you came late. They got into a fight in the afternoon, and everyone went to the hospital. They haven't come back yet."

Lan Xiang slapped his thigh in regret: "I missed it!"

Zhao Guihua: "Exactly! If you want to see more excitement, you won't see it for a few days. They're probably going to be hospitalized."

Lan Xiang: "Ah…"

He made a face like he had a toothache and said, "I'm leaving in two days. Am I really never going to see it again?"

Zhao Guihua: "Really."

Lan Xiang made another toothache face and sighed, "I thought I could see another show."

Zhao Guihua: "Why don't you ask which hospital they're at? After all, they have a history of fighting in hospitals. This time, even the doctors advised them to leave. They switched to another hospital. Maybe you can go to the hospital and catch some excitement."

Lan Xiang: "Ah, really?!"

Zhao Guihua with a serious face: "Absolutely."

Lan Xiang: "Ah, ah, ah… I even thought about transferring to Beijing."

Zhao Guihua said objectively, "Even if you transfer to Beijing, you can't move in. The only vacant room in our courtyard is occupied by your grandfather. No one else has plans to move out."

Lan Xiang: "What a pity!"

Zhao Guihua: "You'd better stay in Jinling City. Beijing is deep waters, not easy to navigate. If you really had such neighbors, you wouldn't be able to handle it."

Lan Xiang: "…"

There's no way to argue with that. It might really be the case.

He sighed, "Auntie, well… oh, by the way, what's with this window?"

Zhao Guihua: "Art, they just pursue coolness."

Lan Xiang: "…"

Do you think I'll believe that!

The old and young chatted aimlessly when they saw Wang Zhaodi peeking her head out.

Zhao Guihua waved her hand, "Wang Zhaodi, why stay cooped up at home? Come out and sit."

Although it was late May, the weather in Beijing was already quite hot. Plus, it looked like it was going to rain, making the house stuffy. Wang Zhaodi hesitated. She was a quiet person, having grown up working in the countryside, with not many big ideas. Coming to the city and living with the Zhou family, she naturally still trusted Aunt Zhou a bit.

So, looking at Zhao Guihua, she was a bit afraid. She whispered, "No need."

She closed the door and obediently stayed at home.

Zhao Guihua didn't force the girl, as she wasn't her family. And the girl knew what she was here for.

Zhao Guihua: "Lan Xiang, what's your name? I haven't asked you yet."

Lan Xiang: "I'm Lan Xiang, the 'flying' xiang."

Zhao Guihua's mouth twitched. She wanted to ask why someone living in Jinling City would have such a name, which should be more fitting for someone in Jinan.

But she quickly thought of it. No wonder she always called him "Little Lan" in her previous life. His name was a bit odd. In her previous life, their interactions weren't frequent, as one was in Beijing and the other in Jinling City. Later, when life got better and traveling thousands of miles became quick and convenient, many people had heard of Jinan's Lan Xiang.

Having a name like Lan Xiang was a bit awkward, so they just didn't use his name.

Zhao Guihua: "Flying, pretty good."

"That's right."

Zhao Guihua: "You this..."

"Aunt Luo, you're back."

Luo Xiaohe, who could get off work a bit earlier, arrived first and quickly stepped forward: "Let me open the door."

She said: "Did you get impatient waiting?"

Lan Xiang honestly replied: "I came early just to see the excitement, but I didn't see anything; they said the excitement was over."

Luo Xiaohe: "What happened?"

She looked at Zhao Guihua and asked: "Did something happen again today?"

Although she usually doesn't engage in idle gossip and is quite quiet, she still makes sure to listen to the rumors. She may not talk much, but her ears are always sharp and attentive.

Zhao Guihua: "Hey, I wasn't here in the afternoon, but I heard..."

Although she wasn't present, Zhao Guihua, who heard the details from Liang Meifen, described the events quite vividly. However, towards the end, she scratched her head in confusion and said: "I wonder why the outside toilet repair ended early today."

Just as she was about to turn around and ask Liang Meifen, she saw the Zhou family's door open, and Wang Zhaodi whispered to them: "The neighborhood committee said they should rest early today."

She added in a whisper: "Everyone was watching the fight and accidentally knocked over a few people, who got injured and went to the hospital. The neighborhood committee decided to rest today."

She asked very softly: "Are city folks like this, so wild?"

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Luo Xiaohe: "..."

They felt misunderstood.

They were all very well-behaved people, but the truly wild ones had already gone to the hospital. It was really frustrating to live in the same courtyard as such people, as their reputation became strange and peculiar.

Zhao Guihua: "Actually..." She forced a smile and said: "We city folks aren't like this. Most of us are diligent and hardworking comrades."

Wang Zhaodi looked at Zhao Guihua's distorted smile and found it hard to believe.

She "oh"ed and hesitated for a moment before finally taking a stool and sitting by the door.

Seeing that many of the troublemakers were absent, even Luo Xiaohe sincerely asked: "Guihua, before I got married, I heard that someone here fell into a pit latrine. Is that true?"

She addressed Zhao Guihua as "Guihua" following Aunt Wang's way of calling her. Although their family had kinship with the Zhuangs, due to age differences, it was sometimes awkward to address each other, so they simply called each other by their names.

Luo Xiaohe: "I was too embarrassed to ask my husband, Lao Lan, about this."

Zhao Guihua: "Hey, even if you asked him, he wouldn't know. That happened before he moved here. It was Aunt Su's son, Su Jinlai, along with Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou, who all fell into the pit latrine together. Then, that day, the entire street was... blah blah blah..."

Zhao Guihua was quite adept at storytelling, painting a vivid picture.

Since the people involved weren't present, she could freely recount the events. Zhao Guihua was in full swing, spitting and gesturing, and finally concluded sincerely: "Luckily, it was still cold weather then. If it had been now, I really don't even want to imagine..."

The three audience members were left speechless, their eyes wide.

Luo Xiaohe: "I guess I really am naive and inexperienced."

Lan Xiang swallowed hard and said: "This is really... I've never seen anything like it, truly never seen it."

Wang Zhaodi, however, had her own perspective. She said: "After such a big incident, they must not have been able to eat for days. That would save a lot of food."

Her focus was a bit peculiar, but it made some sense.

Zhao Guihua: "But people can't withstand not eating for days."

Wang Zhaodi fully agreed with this statement, nodding vigorously. She had always been most afraid of going hungry, as she had never been fully satisfied. Sitting on the stool, she pondered what to eat tonight. With Aunt Zhou not around, she wondered how Jiang Lu and Brother Zhou would decide.

Regardless of the decision, she would have to follow it.

Wang Zhaodi propped her chin up...

Zhao Guihua had returned home late, and it had been a while since she got back. People were gradually returning from work, but those who went to the hospital hadn't come back yet. Zhao Guihua: "How far did they go? Why aren't they back yet? Besides, why did everyone go along? I didn't see everyone being so caring before."

As an eyewitness on the scene, Wang Zhaodi spoke up again: "Everyone wanted to see if the hospital would admit Uncle Bai."

Wow, just wow.

As people returned from work, the courtyard became lively. However, many who entered noticed a fishy smell and asked: "Aunt Zhao, what are you cooking? It smells so fishy."

Zhao Guihua remained unfazed: "I went fishing and had good luck, catching a couple of fish."

Everyone laughed: "Congratulations to you then."

They all knew Zhao Guihua wasn't very lucky when it came to fishing, so they didn't ask further.

At this time, Liang Meifen had already cleaned the fish. She arranged the fish innards neatly and called out: "Mom, should we buy a block of tofu tonight?"

She knew her mother-in-law's preferences. Her mother-in-law loved tofu stewed with fish, and tofu stewed with fish innards was also a favorite.

Zhao Guihua: "Sure. Go ahead."

Liang Meifen washed her hands and felt that her whole body smelled, but she still clenched the money and went out.

By the way, she had gained some weight these days.

Eating well was really nice.

Liang Meifen happily stepped out, but just as she reached the alley entrance, she met a few people with red armbands. One of them stopped Liang Meifen and asked: "Comrade, do you know where Yu Baoshan lives?"

Liang Meifen was taken aback and said: "Yu Baoshan? Who's that? I don't know this person."

"Yu Baoshan, he should have many brothers, five of them..."

Liang Meifen: "Oh oh oh, you mean the Yu boys. They live on this street, the very last house. But if you want to find him, you can't go there. You have to go to the hospital. He fell from the rafters while sleepwalking in the bathroom during the day two days ago and even smashed the toilet."

"What?"

The few people with red armbands were stunned.

How could such a thing happen?

Liang Meifen: "It's true. If you don't believe me, ask others. I have to hurry to the grocery store to buy tofu, so I won't explain further."

Worried that the store might close, Liang Meifen quickly left. The people with red armbands didn't stop her and instead stopped another female worker who had just returned from work, asking: "We heard about Yu Baoshan..."

The person stopped was none other than Wang Xiangxiu.

Wang Xiangxiu looked down on Yu Baoshan. After all, if it weren't for Yu Baoshan smashing the toilet and talking about gold and silver treasures, her mother-in-law wouldn't have gone to search, resulting in extra work to rebuild the toilet.

She was also hospitalized because of this today.

Her heart was filled with annoyance.

She knew she couldn't be rude to the people with red armbands, but she still said: "That's right. He sleepwalked into the bathroom, not sure how he could sleep there, and was talking about gold and silver treasures..."

The people with red armbands changed their expressions.

"Gold and silver treasures?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "He said that, and also mentioned gold bars. Who knows what kind of madness he was in."

One of the people with red armbands changed his expression and pressed: "He said gold and silver treasures and gold bars? Are you sure? If you're lying, that's no small matter!"

His eyes fixed on Wang Xiangxiu with a hint of coercion.

Wang Xiangxiu was unconvinced: "You're glaring at me, but I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, ask others."

The people with red armbands looked at each other and quickly said: "You can go then."

They didn't idle around and asked a few more people nearby. Indeed, everyone confirmed the story. Many had witnessed it, so there was no need to lie, as it could lead to trouble with the people with red armbands.

Although Yu Baoshan's excuse was a bit absurd, no one contradicted him, as it could be seen as spreading feudal superstitions or illegally hoarding.

There was no evidence, and Yu Baoshan was known to be vengeful. No one wanted to provoke him. So everyone acknowledged the incident, confirming that Yu Baoshan had mentioned gold and silver treasures, but it was just a dream, after all.

The details, they truly didn't know.

Having clarified the situation, the expressions of the people with red armbands were not very good.

One of them directly cursed: "Damn!"

They all understood what this implied.

The man at the front, with a face so grim it seemed almost sinister, sneered and said, "Let's go to the hospital and see what Yu Baoshan has to say."

"He definitely won't admit it," someone replied.

"No, we can't go to the hospital to confront him. Monkey's right; he won't admit anything. We need to keep a close eye on him. I don't believe he won't make a move. As soon as he does, we'll take him down. And we also need to watch where he hides his stuff. Damn it, he's trying to hog everything for himself. We agreed that we'd all get rich together. He's going too far."

The group began to murmur among themselves, their expressions darkening.

In these times, people naturally tended to be wary of individuals like them, and their reputation wasn't exactly stellar. When a group of them gathered together, whispering conspiratorially, it only reinforced the impression that they were plotting something underhanded. When Liang Meifen returned and saw these men still lingering, she quickly picked up her pace and hurried home without engaging with them.

The men didn't notice Liang Meifen; instead, they huddled together by the wall, plotting their next move.

Liang Meifen rushed home and let out a quiet sigh of relief. Zhao Guihua asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Liang Meifen quickly recounted what had happened outside that day in a hushed tone. Zhao Guihua fell silent for a moment before saying, "In the future, stay far away from people like that. You never know what kind of characters they are."

"I understand," Liang Meifen replied.

Zhao Guihua went back to preparing dinner. The reason she had taken such a risky step to take the goods wasn't just out of personal greed; it was also because she truly despised what Yu Baoshan and his gang were doing.

Their rapid rise to wealth had been fueled by the valuable items they had embezzled over the years. It was because they had such a large capital base—acquired at incredibly low prices—that they had been able to successfully set up stalls; and it was precisely because of their success in selling goods that they had been able to afford to lease illegal coal mines. They lured people into working for them, causing countless harm.

That was truly a malicious business.

Zhao Guihua could only hope that by taking away this man's capital, she would prevent him from developing further. If such a person were to succeed, it would only lead to more harm.

Yu Baoshan actually had a few accomplices, though Zhao Guihua wasn't sure if today's group was among them. Nevertheless, she hoped that people like him would never rise to power in this lifetime. What a scoundrel!

Zhao Guihua took a deep breath and said, "Why haven't they come home from work yet today?"

It was normal for Lao San (Old Third) not to be back; he had to pick up Ming Mei from her workplace after his shift. But why wasn't her husband back yet...

Liang Meifen said, "I'll go ask."

She wiped her hands and went to the back courtyard... As for why she didn't ask Wang Xiangxiu, Wang Xiangxiu had only come back briefly to pack some things before heading to the hospital, so naturally, she wasn't available to ask. Liang Meifen went to the back courtyard and quickly returned, reporting, "Dad's working overtime at the factory. He said there's a batch of urgent orders, and the work is quite demanding. Only the fifth-grade and above craftsmen are staying late."

Zhao Guihua felt relieved and said, "Whenever there's an urgent job, people get worn out."

She added, "Let's make more steamed buns tonight."

Liang Meifen responded, "Got it."