My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 189

Wang Xiangxiu was thoroughly exasperated by Su Jinlai.

However, no matter how angry she was, he was still her own son. Seeing him in such a drained state, as a mother, she couldn't bear to be harsh.

It was a rare weekend, and early in the morning, Wang Xiangxiu headed to the local market. She knew her way around and quickly found the lamb vendor. As the stall had just opened, Wang Xiangxiu asked, "Do you have any eggs?"

The vendor waved his hand dismissively. "Go, go, go! Why are you asking for eggs at a meat stall? That's just nonsense."

Wang Xiangxiu: "..."

After a moment of silence, she said, "Lamb-eggs."

The vendor: "..."

This time, it was his turn to be speechless.

Wang Xiangxiu pressed on, "Do you have any?" Surely they couldn't have sold out so early, could they?

The vendor gave Wang Xiangxiu a long, hard look before saying, "Yes, we do."

Wang Xiangxiu: "Give me a pair."

The vendor muttered, "A lamb only has one pair. There are no extras."

Wang Xiangxiu: "Do you have any lamb-whips?"

The vendor took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

Then Wang Xiangxiu asked, "Do you have any lamb kidneys?"

The vendor's expression grew even more difficult to read as he silently took out the items and handed them all to Wang Xiangxiu. He couldn't help but wonder, "How depleted must someone be to need so much strengthening food? Don't they worry about being overwhelmed by the potency?"

Wang Xiangxiu paid and put the items in her basket before heading home.

Although it was the weekend, Tonglai wasn't home. He had extra lessons and wouldn't be back for lunch. So, it would just be Wang Xiangxiu and Jinlai at home during the midday meal. As soon as she got back, Wang Xiangxiu started cleaning the items she had bought by the sink.

Jiang Lu came out to do her laundry and saw what Wang Xiangxiu was doing, taking a step back in disgust.

Wang Xiangxiu said, "I'll take these home to clean."

Jiang Lu quickly responded, "No need. You go ahead and clean first. I'm not in a rush."

As she watched Wang Xiangxiu handle the items, Jiang Lu thought back to a time when she had bought similar things. Back then... She pursed her lips and said, "If these aren't cooked properly, the smell can be really bad."

Wang Xiangxiu: "It's okay. I'm not the one eating them anyway."

Jiang Lu was left speechless.

She thought for a moment, then quietly walked away, going straight to her son.

Zhou Qun: "You should know your son by now. He's probably out playing with the kids."

Jiang Lu insisted, "Let's go out to eat for lunch."

Zhou Qun: "Sure, I'm fine with whatever."

Jiang Lu thought again and said, "I'll bring the kids in the courtyard along too."

Such young kids, only around ten years old, shouldn't be exposed to such foul odors. They might end up getting a brain cloud or something.

Zhou Qun smirked and said, "You're just too kind. Wasting money on other people's kids. I think you're just bored."

Jiang Lu: "What about Qijin? Doesn't he go from house to house begging for food all the time? Why are you being so stingy?"

She rolled her eyes and said, "If you don't want to come, then don't. I never wanted you to come with us anyway. You can stay home!"

"Hey, you crazy woman..."

Jiang Lu didn't pay any attention to what Zhou Qun was saying. She quickly went to the Zhuang household, and sure enough, soon the kids started shouting and playing. Before long, Jiang Lu was leading a group of kids out, leaving Zhou Qun behind.

The kids chattered away excitedly.

Tuan Tuan asked, "Aunt Jiang, are we going to eat roast duck?"

Jiang Lu: "Yes, we're going to eat roast duck. Am I nice?"

"Yes!"

The kids chimed in with enthusiasm.

"Aunt Jiang is the best!"

"Aunt Jiang, aren't we taking Uncle Zhou?"

Jiang Lu chuckled coldly, "He's staying home to eat steamed buns."

Little Qijin blinked innocently and said with certainty, "Mom, did you have a fight with dad?"

Jiang Lu: "No."

Meaning, yes.

Adults always say the opposite of what they mean.

Little Qijin sighed, but quickly added, "Mom, don't be mad at dad."

Jiang Lu: "You talk too much. I'm not mad at your dad. Let's just go."

Little Qijin puffed out his cheeks.

Jiang Lu: "After lunch, I'll take you to the movies!"

"Ah, great!"

Jiang Lu took the kids away, and the courtyard quickly became much quieter. Usually, with kids around, the place always felt lively, but now, with the kids gone and the neighborhood aunties absent, the courtyard was eerily quiet.

Wang Xiangxiu was busy cleaning the eggs when Zheng Huimin from the back courtyard came over. She approached and offered, "Mother-in-law, let me do that. I know how to handle these things."

Wang Xiangxiu was cold: "No need. And don't call me mother-in-law. I'm not your mother-in-law."

After finishing the cleaning, Wang Xiangxiu went straight home and put the items in a pot to boil. It wasn't that she didn't want to cook them properly; it was just that she didn't know how. As a woman, she couldn't exactly go ask Li the Cook or Yang Lixin for advice on handling such items.

What if Li Fang got the wrong idea?

So, she decided to boil them directly. They could be sliced and dipped in sauce later, and it could still be considered meat. There was no issue with that approach.

Zheng Huimin followed Wang Xiangxiu inside, but Wang Xiangxiu quickly ushered her out, saying, "Go, go, go! Don't get in my way. And don't come looking for Jinlai. You two aren't a good match."

She shut the door behind her and quickly added water to the pot to start boiling everything. Every single item went into the pot, as the weather wasn't too hot yet, so they could keep for a few days. No need to prepare them every time.

Truthfully, she didn't have the time for that anyway.

Wang Xiangxiu quickly started the fire to boil the items.

Meanwhile, Su Jinlai was still lying in bed. He just couldn't muster the energy to get up. It wasn't due to any beating from his mother; it was because he was completely drained. He thought to himself, "Women in their thirties and forties are like wolves and tigers—it's no joke."

The woman he had encountered was well into her forties.

He just couldn't keep up—it was too much!

Su Jinlai lay in bed, feeling lazy, when he suddenly caught a whiff of an indescribable smell. The smell seemed... pungent?

He rubbed his nose and looked under the blanket. He hadn't wet the bed, of course!

He scoffed at the thought. He wasn't a three-year-old anymore, after all.

So, where was this smell coming from?

It only grew stronger.

Su Jinlai couldn't handle it anymore and called out, "Mom, what are you doing?"

Wang Xiangxiu opened the door, and the pungent smell hit Su Jinlai like a wave, nearly knocking him over.

Realizing where the smell was coming from, he exclaimed indignantly, "Mom, I know you're angry with me, but you already hit me. Isn't that enough? Why are you still tormenting me? Are you boiling... pee?"

He looked at the bowl his mother was holding and was even more certain of his assumption. In a fit of outrage, he yelled, "You're actually boiling pee to feed me???"

Wang Xiangxiu's mouth twitched as she said flatly, "Are you crazy?"

She continued, "Look at this. It's a perfectly good delicacy. The smell might not be great, but it tastes good. If you weren't my son, would I spend money on this for you? Do you think this stuff is cheap? You ungrateful brat."

She felt that Jinlai was completely undeserving of her motherly love. If it weren't for him being so drained after his escapades, she wouldn't have stooped to buying such things, let alone endure the awkward looks from others.

She glared at her son and said, "Hu Huihui hooked you up with women who could drain the life out of you. If you don't start replenishing yourself, you'll be completely spent in no time. What kind of man are you? Doing nothing and eating everything. If you can't even make money like this, what can you do in the future? Are you really going to end up stealing and petty thieving? Let me tell you, the Black Gang has been busted. If you're not afraid of dying, keep hanging out with them."

Su Jinlai: "!!!"

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He hurriedly asked, "Something happened to the Black Gang?"

Wang Xiangxiu: "Of course. You were lucky this time and didn't get involved. Otherwise, you wouldn't even know how you died. Let me tell you, criminals don't end well. You better start thinking about how to live your life."

Wang Xiangxiu went on and on, and Su Jinlai's head was spinning, but the news left him stunned. This time, he really calmed down. Quietly, he picked up the bowl. After all, this was the way to make money.

He needed to recover.

Wang Xiangxiu saw him holding the bowl and said, "Wait, I'll get you some soy sauce."

Su Jinlai: "..."

This is just the smell of boiled urine, stinky and foul, and you want to add soy sauce to it? Isn't that going to make the smell even worse?

But despite this, Su Jinlai didn't dare to utter a peep, after all, he didn't dare to provoke his mother. Moreover, Brother Hei had been arrested, and he had no backup plan left. Sob!

Wang Xiangxiu poured some soy sauce into the bowl and said, "Eat it all, and I also bought lamb kidneys, which aren’t cheap, you know."

There's no helping it, because men need to be fortified, and the prices of such things have gone up.

There are just too many useless men around these days.

Wang Xiangxiu: "Recently, you better stay honest at home. I’m warning you, with your current drained state, you need a big boost. Stay away from outsiders and don’t mess around with anyone, whether it’s Guan Hong or Zheng Huimin. If you want to marry them, fine, but if you don’t marry them and still remain entangled, don’t blame me as your mother for being tough on you."

Su Jinlai shivered, thinking of his mother's deadly claws, and lowered his head to devour the food even faster.

Ugh!

So disgusting!

Ugh, ugh!

Terribly disgusting!

But he can't not eat it.

The magical smell filled their home, and the people in the courtyard were also sniffing, barely holding up.

Jiang Lu went out without Zhou Qun, who was grumbling at home: "Damn, who’s boiling shit somewhere? Though this smell seems a bit familiar..."

He went out and saw that the source of the smell was Wang Xiangxiu’s house. Yep, no mistake, it could only be her.

At this moment, Zhou Qun was quite envious of Bai Fengdou. Sure, it’s Sunday, but the guy can go out and earn some extra cash, avoiding the torment of this smell in the courtyard. Zhou Qun looked sadly at the Su residence and sighed, "When Jinlai comes back, I’ll have to tell him, this smell is unbearable."

As he sighed, he saw Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei come out, both covering their noses and heading straight to the back courtyard.

Well, at least someone else is suffering like he is.

Not bad!

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei quickly called Old Man Zhuang, and the three of them rushed out together.

Such a smell, better not endure it.

Zhou Qun: "Why are you leaving too??"

Sob, couldn't bear it, let's retreat.

As he went out, he saw that Zhuang Zhixi and the others had already disappeared. The trio quickly left, only relaxing their noses after walking far away. Zhuang Zhixi sincerely commented, "Whose place is this again?"

Back in the day, Jiang Lu used to do this, but clearly, it’s not her now.

Ming Mei: "It’s Wang Xiangxiu cooking for Su Jinlai."

The couple was somewhat speechless.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I’m truly impressed."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Ah, no wonder Jiang Lu mentioned inviting the kids out to eat and took them all away. She ran fast enough, that one."

Ming Mei: "We were just a step behind."

She deeply lamented, but soon suggested, "What about we have some mutton hot pot? How about that?"

"Sounds good!"

As they walked together, not far away, Zhuang Zhixi said, "Eh, isn’t that Guan Guiling?"

Speaking of which, Zhuang Zhixi hadn’t seen Guan Guiling in quite some time.

Ming Mei peered ahead and nodded, "It is her."

After all, they had been colleagues for over a decade, so she recognized her. Guan Guiling was standing on the roadside, crying and clutching a man tightly.

Ming Mei: "Hmph, she’s at it again, preying on someone."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Let’s go and take a look."

Old Man Zhuang quickly pulled his son and daughter-in-law back, saying, "You two, just stay away, that woman isn’t good news. What if she turns around and tries to scam you? It’s not worth it."

Ming Mei: "We won’t get too close, just pretend to pass by."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Dad, don’t worry, if anyone tries to scam me, no way. But me scamming others? I might not disappoint them."

Old Man Zhuang: "……"

Seems legit.

As they walked towards Guan Guiling, it turned out she wasn’t trying to scam someone. The man she was clinging to was her eldest son. She was crying uncontrollably, saying, "Why won’t you listen to me? A stable job is the best. Why go gamble? Is that a place for you?"

The eldest son of the Zheng family threw off his mother’s grip and said, "Mind your own business! I won money gambling, and you didn’t eat the meat I bought? Stop acting! No wonder my two sisters ran away, with a mom like you, I’m done for. Move aside!"

He didn’t care about Guan Guiling’s well-being, shoving her hard and walking away.

Guan Guiling fell to the ground, crying loudly. She bit her lip and called out, "My son, my boy……"

Her son acted as if he didn’t hear, quickly disappearing around the corner.

Guan Guiling wiped her tears, and as she lifted her head, she saw Ming Mei passing by. She was a bit embarrassed, as she hated being looked down upon, especially by people she envied. She quickly got up, wiped her eyes, and said, "What a coincidence."

Ming Mei gave a fake smile and said flatly, "Yes."

Then she pulled her husband and left.

She had no desire to chit-chat with Guan Guiling. As she watched the loving couple, Guan Guiling grew even more jealous. She felt terrible, but she had no time to dwell on Ming Mei, instead, she crossed the street and got on a bus to go home.

With both her daughters gone, there was no one to do the housework, and she was overwhelmed. Previously, these chores were shared between her two daughters, with the older one being a bit cunning and lazy, and the younger one doing most of the work.

Thinking of these two daughters, she gritted her teeth, feeling like her life had been a waste.

She had treated her daughters so well, yet none of them were dependable. Especially her younger daughter—that girl was the epitome of insidious, always pretending to be honest, but in truth, she was the sneakiest. Before leaving, she even set them up.

Because Zheng Huifang claimed she was going to the Soviet Union, their family was investigated, and it took them a whole day of interrogation before they were let go. But those police officers, with their brains probably fried, actually believed that brat’s story, looking at them with disdain.

The thought made Guan Guiling seethe with anger. Back in the day, she used to be quite cheerful, always smiling and approachable, but over the years, not only had she aged, but her temper had also grown worse. A small matter was enough to set her off.

Even her menstruation had stopped, and she didn’t know if that had anything to do with it.

Thinking of her daughters, her expression turned savage, so much so that people around her quietly moved away, not wanting to get close to this scary woman. Guan Guiling got off the bus and made her way home. Just as she reached the alley, she was stopped.

The one who stopped her was none other than Fan Debiao.

Fan Debiao snorted coldly and immediately asked, "Guan, Guan-sister, where exactly has your daughter Zheng Huimin gone?"

He had heard that Zheng Huimin had run away, and not only her, but Zheng Huifang had as well. It was all a matter of coincidences. The day Fan Debiao met Zheng Huimin, he happened to be heading to the countryside to collect goods, a trip that took two or three days.

Only today had he returned, only to hear that something had happened at the Zheng household the day after he left.

He was furious and demanded, "What’s all this about her going outside to work? Is that all a lie?"

Guan Guiling’s face stiffened, and she quickly plastered on a smile, saying, "Debrear Fan, I know there have been some rumors out there, but can’t we marry off a daughter without any tricks? As long as you prepare the betrothal gift, I guarantee my daughter will enter your household. I, as her mother, still hold that authority."

She didn’t dare offend Fan Debiao, as he had provided quite a bit of gifts to their family. If he got mad and wanted them back, the losses would be too great.

She said, "Which family doesn’t arrange marriages through their parents? Can a woman really make her own decisions? Isn’t that right?"

She thought she could easily hoodwink Fan Debiao, but he wasn’t having any of it, saying, "Pah, don’t give me, give me this crap. If your daughter runs off with someone, she’ll come back a broken shoe. If she’s not a virgin, I, I, I won’t take her. How could I, someone like me, stoop to picking up secondhand goods?"

Besides, with Zheng Huifang gone, why would he marry Zheng Huimin?

He wanted to marry Zheng Huimin, that was true, but once he married her, Zheng Huifang would become his sister-in-law. Then he would have a way to get his hands on both sisters. Now that both of them had run away and still expected him to fork out a massive dowry?

That was a dream.

Besides, girls who ran away, could they still be considered pure and innocent when they returned?

He said viciously, "You think you can play me for a fool, but I won't let this go."

These words startled Guan Guiling, and she quickly said, "DeBiao, why would you say that? You're misunderstanding our family..."

Fan Debiao grabbed Guan Guiling by the arm and said, "I'll give you three days—three days to bring them back! Not just Zheng Huimin, but you'd better make sure HuiFang keeps me company too. Or else, you won't like what happens next. You think you can fleece me like a sheep, but you better check your own capabilities first!"

With that, he flung her to the ground with a forceful shove.

Guan Guiling: "Ah!"

She looked at Fan Debiao in disbelief, stammering, "You, you, you want both of them? How could you do this? We only agreed on HuiMin's marriage!"

Fan Debiao said coldly, "I don't care!"

He said, "Since you've taken my favors, you’d better deliver. This is what you owe me."

Guan Guiling: "You! You can’t just say that! We never even exchanged betrothal gifts, how could we owe you anything?"

Fan Debiao: "Your husband, Zheng Yufeng, has been taking money from me in bits and pieces—nearly five hundred small yuan in total. What? Do you think I’m a pushover, Fan Debiao?"

Guan Guiling: "!!!"

She had no idea about this, and she stammered, "You, you, you're lying! That's impossible!"

Fan Debiao: "Get lost, you crazy damn liar! I’m demanding what’s mine back!"

Although he stammered, it didn’t hinder his harsh tone. He stepped forward without hesitation and kicked Guan Guiling, saying, "I'm giving you three days!"

Guan Guiling trembled as he kicked her. Fan Debiao, who had been gentle earlier, now exuded viciousness. She was terrified and quickly got up to run home. As she stumbled, she saw Wang Ju, her niece, arrive.

Wang Ju wasn’t actually her niece; she was her eldest sister’s stepdaughter and had no blood relation to them.

Guan Guiling's face changed, and she snapped, "What are you doing here?"

Wang Ju looked at this woman disdainfully and giggled, "Second Aunt, what kind of talk is that? Can't I come to visit you?"

She pouted, pretending to be wronged, "I’ve suffered a lot because of your daughter HuiFang. How can she slander me like that? If I don’t come to seek justice, what will others think of me?"

Guan Guiling stiffened and said coldly, "You’re being overly sensitive; others won’t think too much."

Wang Ju: "Look at this. Look at how cold and indifferent you are. Before, when I brought gifts, you’d praise me, but now you’re scared I’ll seduce your husband, so you don’t want me around. You’ve ruined my reputation, and you need to compensate me, or I won’t leave. No one can persuade me otherwise."

Guan Guiling: "You little slut, you..."

Zheng Yufeng couldn’t stand it anymore. He could accept the name-calling, but hearing Wang Ju addressed that way made him unhappy. He said, "Give her some money and send her away. There’s no need to insult her. After all, our family’s actions have damaged her reputation."

"But..."

"Just do as I say. Give her a hundred yuan!"

"What! Dear, where would we get that kind of money? You know I don’t have any money in my hands! I..."

The family’s finances were entirely in Zheng Yufeng’s hands.

Zheng Yufeng pulled Guan Guiling close and said meaningfully, "Find a way yourself. Fan Debiao has money, right? Go borrow from him. After all, we’ll be family soon, and you won’t need to return it."

"But..."

"I know you don’t love me as much as before." Zheng Yufeng pressed his advantage: "Wang Ju was slandered because of our daughter, and I’ve been slandered too. I can’t face people here anymore. I think I need to leave for a while. I feel..."

"I’ll go borrow the money!"

Guan Guiling grabbed Zheng Yufeng tightly and said, "It’s all my fault. I didn’t raise our daughters properly, and that’s why we’re in this mess. I’ll take care of it."

Guan Guiling rushed out quickly, and Zheng Yufeng slowly smirked.

Wang Ju spat, "What a fool."

Zheng Yufeng, however, whispered, "I think things are getting messy."

Wang Ju: "Huh?"

Zheng Yufeng: "Although I’ve tried to explain, my reputation is already tarnished. Many people choose to believe the girls’ flyers over me. Both of them ran away, and even if they come back, it’ll be hard to marry them off for the time being. People will be watching our family closely. If I try to marry them off now, someone might call the police, suspecting we’re selling our daughters. I’ve thought about it. In this situation, it’s better to take advantage of it and make some money."

Wang Ju: "What!"

She hadn’t expected Zheng Yufeng to want to leave.

Surprised, she said, "But, but we won’t have any money if we leave..."

Zheng Yufeng: "That’s not a problem. I’ll sell the house. The property deed is in my name, so it’ll be easy. Then I’ll find a way to sell Guan Guiling’s job. That woman is incredibly foolish; it won’t be hard to fool her."

Wang Ju: "But moving away, even with some money, it’s not as secure as having a stable job..."

Zheng Yufeng: "Before leaving, I’ll make sure Guan Guiling scams Fan Debiao for a sum of money. If we can get several thousand yuan, why can’t we go? Anywhere we go, we can live comfortably." The three thousand yuan they had scammed from Fan Jianguo’s family had afforded them a pleasant life for a long time.

He gripped Wang Ju’s hand and said, "Come with me. We’ve been sneaking around for so long; once we leave, we can have a proper life."

Wang Ju’s heart trembled. She wanted to be with Zheng Yufeng but hadn’t thought about leaving home. She stammered, "But, but once we leave, we’ll have to change our names?"

"So what? We’ll have money!"

Zheng Yufeng smiled. "This time, I can take at least five thousand yuan with me."

Wang Ju’s breathing quickened!

Her eyes lit up with excitement: "Really? Can you really get that much money?"

Zheng Yufeng said meaningfully, "I still have Guan Guiling, that foolish woman."

He had originally planned to squeeze her dry, but with the change in plans, he had to adapt. He said, "Do you want to come with me? I told you about this before you even agreed because I love you. Now it’s time for you to tell me your decision."

Thinking about the money and the better life ahead, Wang Ju, considering her family burdens, was firm: "I’ll go with you."

Zheng Yufeng: "Good!"

He smiled meaningfully.

Guan Guiling was old, useless, and couldn’t earn money anymore. It was time for him to find a new woman to rely on.

He hugged Wang Ju and said, "I knew you were the best."

The Zheng family’s affairs were unknown to Zheng Huifang, who was far away in Guangzhou. They had just arrived by train. Though it was only April, the weather was already sweltering, much different from the climate in northern cities like Beijing.

Zheng Huifang, wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket, was sweating profusely, as were others around her, also dressed in northern styles.

Unlike Zhuang Zhixi and company, who were met as soon as they arrived, the older women in the group had no such luck. As they left the station, they were immediately surrounded by locals trying to solicit their business.

"Sister, are you from out of town? Need a place to stay?"

"Our place is nearby, really cheap, and you’ll know it’s the best deal once you stay."

"We offer reasonable prices, cheaper than hotels..."

Compared to the others’ nervousness, Zhao Guihua remained calm. She waved her hand dismissively, saying, "No, no, thanks. Move aside."

She led the group out of the crowd, saying, "Everyone, follow me."

The 1980s Guangzhou Railway Station was different from what she remembered, but there were still some familiar traces. Seeing they were a large group, some locals continued to approach, "Big sister, our inn is quite good, with twenty-four-hour hot water. I’m a local, so if you have any needs, I can help."

Zhao Guihua: "We have acquaintances here; we really don’t need it. Move aside."

At that moment, a man grabbed Su Yinlai and said, "Little brother, come and stay with us. We have a great place here, not expensive, and there are even girls... As long as you..."

Before he could finish, Su Yinlai's face turned bright red.

Zhao Guihua immediately stopped in her tracks and scolded, "Su Yinlai, why are you dawdling? Do you think I won't punish you? I brought you out to work, not to play around. What are you hesitating for? Do you believe I'll beat you? Move faster! If you don't work hard, I'll tell your parents when we get home and let them deal with you!"

She was fierce and harsh, and Su Yinlai immediately shrank like a quail—it was a family trait.

Su Yinlai quickly scurried to Zhao Guihua's side. He knew deep down that Aunt Zhao was deliberately saying these things on purpose. Though her words sounded harsh, they were indeed very effective!

The man who had been holding onto Su Yinlai immediately let go. They were there to make money, and people without money were of no interest to them. Zhao Guihua led the group away, finally leaving the area around the train station.

Aunt Zhou, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up, "Why is it so aggressive here?"

The train station in their hometown, the Fourth Nine City, wasn't like this at all.

Zhao Guihua explained, "This area is close to the special economic zone, and many people who don't go there for goods come here instead. There are many factories, and businesspeople from all over the country flock here, so it's naturally very lively. Those who were pulling customers to stay were likely from self-built houses in the urban villages. You can't trust them. If you're alone, they might try to scam you. And those offering to find you girls? Definitely don't trust that. It could be a setup to rob you. Even if it's not, they won't let you off cheap. When you're traveling, take care of yourself. Don't assume these people are any good."

Aunt Zhou and the others nodded seriously.

Aunt Wang said, "I'll walk in front. My broad shoulders and burly build will scare anyone off."

Su Yinlai quickly agreed, "I'm here to make money, not to cause trouble."

Honestly, he thought dating was much less interesting than making money.

Zhao Guihua smiled, "That's good to hear. Let's go."

She led the group across the street to find a bus stop and said, "Follow me."

Aunt Wang praised, "Guihua, you really know your stuff."

Zhao Guihua smiled, "It's all thanks to my third son, Zhuang Zhixi, who told me about this."

She added, "That's why I think he succeeded later on—he pays attention to details others overlook. Many people wouldn't notice these things when traveling, but Zhuang Zhixi does. She continued, "There's a bus stop not far from the train station, but everyone takes that route, so it's always crowded. By walking a bit further, this route is less popular, less crowded, and we might even get a seat. This bus only overlaps with the busy route at one stop, and we'll get off there."

This was Zhuang Zhixi's experience. He had spent several days traveling by bus, mapping out the routes, and even drew a diagram for her before leaving.

Zhao Guihua pointed, "The bus is here."

The group boarded the bus together. Indeed, this route had more locals, and there were still seats available. Everyone found a seat and looked out the window at the street scenes, feeling incredibly curious.

It was undeniable that the south and the north had essential differences, not just in climate but in the overall atmosphere. In the Fourth Nine City, business wasn't as prevalent; people preferred to work regular jobs, and having a stable job was the most important thing. Especially during commuting hours, you could see many workers or cadres dressed in their uniforms.

But here, it was different. People's attire was more casual, even trendy, and they could see many men carrying woven sacks. No doubt, these were people coming to buy goods.

Zhao Guihua watched the scenes pass by, deeply sighed at the unique characteristics of the times.

As the bus announced the stop, Zhao Guihua said, "Time to get off."

The group quickly followed Zhao Guihua's lead. When traveling, they all felt like headless flies, relying entirely on Zhao Guihua for direction.

Zhao Guihua led them off the bus and looked around. "Let's go right."

After walking not too far, they arrived at a guesthouse. When they left home, Zhao Guihua and the others had brought letters of introduction, just in case. However, she had also heard from Zhuang Zhixi that this area didn't strictly check letters of introduction. Some places didn't even look at them, and others could be bribed with a bit of money.

After all, many businesspeople didn't bother with introduction letters, as it wasted time and required dealing with bureaucratic hassle. As more and more people traveled without introduction letters, the system here had loosened.

Zhao Guihua held all the introductions together, making it unclear if there were six or seven papers in her hand. She asked, "Do you have a 6-person room for 7 people?"

The woman at the counter glanced at the letter of introduction without taking it and said, "Yes, but the male guests can't stay together."

Zhao Guihua turned to Su Yinlai, "You'll stay separately. Do you want a six-person room too?"

Su Yinlai nodded, "Yes, a six-person room is fine with me."

During the journey, Aunt Zhao had explained to them that the more people sharing a room, the cheaper it was. Since it was just for sleeping, he didn't mind. As a straightforward man, he didn't need to be overly particular.

They quickly arranged the rooms. The six women took a six-person room, while Su Yinlai stayed in a male six-person room downstairs. He carried a small bundle and followed the women upstairs, secretly handing over all his valuables to Zhao Guihua. "Aunt Zhao, could you keep this for me? It's full of strangers downstairs, and I'm worried about thieves. Keeping it here makes me feel safer."

Zhao Guihua nodded, "Sure, I'll hold onto it for you."

Since everyone here was familiar and there were no outsiders, it was certainly safer than the chaotic environment downstairs.

The room had a musty smell, likely due to the humidity here, which was different from the dryness of the north. Aunt Wang opened the window and said, "This is my first time staying in a hotel. Everything is so curious."

Su Yinlai said, "The water room is to the left in the corridor, and the toilet is to the right. I'll go fetch some water."

There was a thermos on the room's table.

"Alright, go ahead."

Although everyone was visiting Guangzhou for the first time and their hearts raced with excitement, Zhao Guihua's confident demeanor, as if she knew everything, made them feel much more at ease.

Aunt Wang sat on the bed and asked, "Is this the center of the city?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Not really. After we finalize our business, we can explore around."

Aunt Wang quickly shook her head, "No need to waste that money."

Zhao Guihua smiled, "It won't cost much. Since we're here, we might as well see the sights. It feels like a waste not to explore a bit."

"That makes sense."

Wang Zizhen leaned against the windowsill, watching the traffic outside, and said, "I never imagined I'd come so far."

"And now you're here, seeing it for yourself."

Wang Zizhen smiled gently, waving He Lan and Zheng Huifang over. The group was so engrossed in the bustling street outside that they couldn't tear their eyes away. It wasn't that Guangzhou was necessarily more prosperous than the Fourth Nine City, but the customs were distinctly different.

Moreover, at this odd time of day, the streets were still teeming with people.

"Aunt Zhao, you're amazing. You managed to find this guesthouse so smoothly. I saw someone asking for directions at the intersection to get here."

Zhao Guihua explained, "See that big hotel diagonally across the street? My third son and his colleagues stayed there during their last business trip. I heard from him that this guesthouse isn't too strict with rules but has a good location. That's why we came straight here."

"Your third son's business trips are like sending scouts in advance for you," Aunt Wang commented with a sigh. She continued, "Living in the same courtyard, it's easy to see who's the most capable. Zhuang Zhixi is incredibly quick-witted, and he has a system to his actions."

Looking at their smooth start on this trip, it was clear that his previous trip had prepared the ground for them.

"If only my sons, Junjun and Weiwei, could be as capable."

"They're already very good. Don't ask for too much."

Zhao Guihua said, "Let's tidy up quickly and then go out for dinner."

"Sounds good."

Actually, there wasn't much to tidy up, but after the long journey, everyone was dusty and tired. They all washed their faces to freshen up. Su Yinlai didn't rush to their room either; instead, he washed his face with everyone else before they headed out to eat together.

Despite being newcomers, Zhao Guihua exuded a certain "the world is vast, but I am the greatest" aura, radiating confidence. They found a beef offal noodle shop, and Wang Zizhen whispered, "This is my first time eating beef offal."

The others nodded along.

Among them, only the three older women had eaten beef offal before. Even He Lan hadn't tried it. However, Su Yinlai was quick to exclaim, "This is delicious!"

"This beef offal noodle shop is very authentic. It's really good. Even though both serve beef offal noodles, some places just don't compare to this one," Zhao Guihua explained. She had traveled to Guangzhou around the turn of the millennium, almost two decades ago. Back then, this noodle shop was still in business and was quite famous locally.

Knowing that this shop had stood the test of time and served delicious food, Zhao Guihua chose to dine here. Her praise made the owner delighted, saying, "Ma'am, you really know your stuff."

He could tell from the way she spoke that she had been here before, though her face seemed unfamiliar. Perhaps she had visited when he wasn't around. The owner began to brag, "This shop has been run by my father..."

And so on, boasting endlessly.

The conversation between them was amicable. The owner was curious, "Are you here for tourism or to stock up on goods? I can't quite tell."

Normally, they seemed like businesspeople, but given their age, it was hard to say.

Zhao Guihua replied, "I'm here to stock up on goods. Your sharp eyes should have noticed that."

"Well, you're right. So, what brings you here this time..."

Although it was casual chitchat, Zhao Guihua managed to gather a lot of useful information. Some of it, even her son had inquired about, but not everything was accurate. She never turned down extra information, as it was always valuable.

She also inquired about local job opportunities, which she was asking for Zheng Huifang.

After a satisfying meal, they bid farewell to the owner and left.

Aunt Zhou remarked, "That man was so enthusiastic."

Zhao Guihua said, "You could tell that this family takes great pride in their beef offal noodles. Complimenting their food works better than complimenting them personally. And look, we got some useful information out of it, didn't we?"

Aunt Zhou was astonished, "So, you were fishing for information?"

Zhao Guihua corrected her, "How rude! We were just having a friendly chat. Some things just come up naturally in conversation."

Aunt Wang offered a thumbs-up.

Being out in the world showed the difference between those with life experience and the younger generation. Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang could still keep up, but the younger ones were too nervous to speak much.

Beijing was the capital, a major city, but even so, coming to an unfamiliar place made them anxious.

Zhao Guihua hired an electric tricycle, and all seven of them piled onto it. A regular tricycle wouldn't have been able to accommodate so many people. They were heading straight to the clothing factory. In the early 1980s, the clothing industry was very lucrative.

While real estate was often mentioned as a moneymaker, housing prices didn't skyrocket until much later.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hainan saw a brief period of growth, but it crashed just as quickly, leaving many in shock. It took a long time for the market to recover. During this period, the most profitable industries were electronics and clothing.

If you had connections in electronics, you could make a fortune. However, such connections were rare.

On the other hand, the clothing industry had a low entry barrier and could generate decent income, making it a popular choice for those with a flexible mind.

So, at this time, there were quite a few clothing factories. Zhao Guihua and her group didn't head to the largest clothing factory in the area, even though they intended to purchase a significant amount of goods. Compared to some professional traders, they were still on the smaller side.

Zhao Guihua led everyone to visit four different factories, carefully comparing them. Her life experiences gave her an edge, allowing her to quickly decide on one. There were several reasons why she chose this particular factory.

First, its scale wasn't too large. Even if they purchased goods worth tens of thousands of yuan, they would still be considered moderate customers. The factory wouldn't ignore them, but they also wouldn't go out of their way to accommodate them. However, their volume made them a more significant customer at this factory, ensuring better service.

Secondly, this factory had a wide variety of products. In addition to the T-shirts Zhao Guihua wanted, they also offered undergarments and socks, which the others had requested. This meant they didn't have to visit multiple factories. Moreover, purchasing from the same place allowed them to negotiate a better overall price due to the larger quantity.

Lastly, this factory didn't have any major orders at the moment, so they could prioritize Zhao Guihua's order. This time, she wasn't ordering traditional T-shirts but had some specific requirements, which this factory could accommodate.

After discussing with the others, Zhao Guihua decisively chose this factory for their purchase. The three older women took turns negotiating, back and forth, until they settled on a reasonable price. They agreed to pay 4.5 yuan per T-shirt and ordered five thousand pieces in total, with ten different designs, each with five hundred pieces. The designs weren't too complicated, as the factory wouldn't accept complex designs at such a low price.

Thankfully, Zhao Guihua had brought extra money, so they had enough to cover the purchase.

Since Zhao Guihua's order included custom designs, they had to wait three days. This wasn't too long. The others had pooled together a total of nine thousand yuan.

Su Yinlai, Aunt Zhou, Aunt Wang, and He Lan each contributed two thousand, while Wang Zizhen contributed one thousand. They all went in together to purchase smaller items, including briefs, socks, and vests, both men's and women's.

Even though they were purchasing small items, the total quantity was considerable.

Fortunately, the factory had these items in stock, so they didn't have to wait. They paid upfront and took the goods, hiring a tricycle to transport them back to the guesthouse.

The negotiations and bargaining were all handled by the three older women. Wang Zizhen and the others learned a lot from this experience, deeply feeling the truth of the saying "old ginger is still spicier" (a Chinese idiom meaning that older people are more experienced and cunning). Even though they had spent money, seeing the goods filled them with excitement. After all, they were practical people who knew the prices of everything. For example, the cost of these briefs was only a sixth of what they paid at the supply and marketing cooperative store.

In short, the prices were unbelievably cheap.

Wang Zizhen muttered, "I can't help but think about how much money we've been losing by buying these at regular prices."

Zhao Guihua chuckled, "You can't buy these in bulk every day."

She added, "And don't forget, we also have travel and lodging expenses."

Wang Zizhen nodded, "I know, but I can't help but be amazed."

Everyone laughed, but Zheng Huifang's smile was rather forced. Everyone else was here to stock up on goods, and once they got their orders, they would leave. However, she had no intention of going back. During these past few days, she had inquired about job opportunities and knew that most companies required workers to be at least eighteen years old. Being only sixteen, she was considered underage, and few were willing to hire her.

Zheng Huifang felt overwhelming pressure. From accommodation to meals, the group didn't allow her to spend any money, knowing they were taking care of her. However, she was in a panic. She couldn't rely on others forever, and she couldn't afford to sit idle.

If everyone left, she would be completely on her own.

As the group chat heated up, they noticed Zheng Huifang zoning out. Zhao Guihua knew the young girl was under a lot of pressure. She patted Zheng Huifang's shoulder, and the girl looked up, "Aunt Zhao..."

Zhao Guihua said, "After these past few days, do you have any thoughts? Are you planning to stay here or return with us? I know you're worried about your family finding you, but we'll help you."

At sixteen, finding a job was difficult, and being alone in a strange place wasn't safe. It would be better to return to Beijing.

At least it's a place I'm familiar with.

However, Zheng Huifang shook her head firmly, saying, "Since I've left, I no longer wish to return."

She explained, "I plan to stay here and continue looking for work. If I can't find a proper job, I'll try some smaller factories that don't care about age. Now that I've taken the first step, I don't want to backtrack."

Her voice was soft but resolute: "My sister Guan Hong has helped me before, and I need to earn money to repay them."

Although her sister had offered to take care of the debt, Zheng Huifang felt that since she had used the money, she should be the one to repay it.

She added, "I see that there are quite a few factories hiring here, especially in the clothing industry, though my age is a bit of a hurdle."

If she had been an adult, finding a job would have been easier than it was in Beijing.

Zhao Guihua suggested, "Since we have three more days until our order is ready, I'll take you around to look for a factory with less strict requirements. If you're determined to stay, I think it's best to find a job in a factory first. Once you're settled, you can think about other options. Having a job in a factory at least solves your housing issue. Renting a place is an option, but as a single young girl, it's not the safest choice. Living in the factory dorms with other girls is much safer."

Zheng Huifang nodded, "That's exactly what I was thinking too."

Wang Zizhen chimed in, "I'll accompany you, and together we'll find something suitable."

Zheng Huifang nodded vigorously.

In fact, Zhao Guihua wasn't too worried about finding Zheng Huifang a job. In the early 1980s, there were fewer stringent requirements compared to the 1990s, where you needed to be an adult. Many people from less fortunate backgrounds were already venturing out to work, regardless of age.

"Let's go and ask at the factory where we placed our order," suggested Zhao Guihua.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Guihua continued, "I noticed a few young girls working there who looked underage. Let's ask if they're willing to hire Huifang. At least that would give her a temporary place to stay."

"Sounds good."

As expected, due to their business relations with the factory, the management was open to hiring Zheng Huifang. It turned out that the factory did employ girls under the age of eighteen, and Zheng Huifang was quickly hired as a new factory worker.

As an apprentice, she would earn ten yuan a month for the first three months, with accommodation provided but meals not included. However, there was a canteen where meals were relatively inexpensive. After her apprenticeship, she would earn thirty yuan a month, with overtime pay on top of that.

Zheng Huifang was so overjoyed she didn't know what to say.

Zhao Guihua, however, gave her some heartfelt advice: "Working in a factory may not be a long-term solution, but for now, it's the most suitable option for you. It's stable, and that's important. You're still young and very pretty, so stability is crucial for you. As long as you stay focused and don't let your guard down, you won't get taken advantage of. I wouldn't feel comfortable if you were to live alone. Even though you're in a factory now, don't trust everyone too easily. Be careful with your ID and don't let anyone take it from you, not even your superiors. If anyone tries anything inappropriate, don't stay silent. Remember, your safety is far more important than a meager salary. I won't say that everyone is bad, but you should always be cautious. Factory work may pay less compared to people who work in sales in this city, but at your age, you can take things slowly. Don't be swayed by promises of high-paying jobs either. Not to be harsh, but think about it—you have no education, no work experience, only your looks. What would someone gain by offering you such a job? Some people end up in bad situations because they're tempted by such offers."

Zhao Guihua's words were sincere, and Zheng Huifang listened carefully.

"We've come across each other by chance and hope you do well," Zhao Guihua added.

Zheng Huifang nodded again.

Zhao Guihua smiled and said, "I won't lecture you any further, as I'm sure it's getting a bit much. Just make sure you keep these things in mind."

Zheng Huifang replied, "I really appreciate you saying all of this."

She continued, "I don't know much about the outside world, so your advice helps me a lot."

Zhao Guihua asked, "By the way, do you want us to let your sister know that you've settled down here?"

Zheng Huifang quickly nodded and said, "Yes, just let her know I've settled here; there's no need to give her the address." She scratched her head and smiled sheepishly, "I'm worried about not being able to pass the apprenticeship and get a full-time position. If that happens, I'll have to look for another job, and the address won't be relevant anymore."

Zhao Guihua said, "Okay, no matter what happens, let me know if you need anything."

"I will."

Zheng Huifang declared, "I'm going to work really hard!"

Zhao Guihua looked at Zheng Huifang and suddenly had an idea. She said, "Oh, I just thought of something. Huifang, if our products sell well and we need to reorder, could we contact you directly?"

Zheng Huifang was surprised.

The others also looked at Zhao Guihua.

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍Guihua explained, "If our sales go well and we need to reorder, we could just write to you, send you the payment, and you could handle the order for us, then ship it back to Beijing. That way, we save on the logistics costs."

Zheng Huifang stammered, "Ah, me? Can I do that?"

Zhao Guihua reassured her, "Of course you can! And I won't ask you to do it for free either. I'll give you a commission."

Zheng Huifang was even more surprised. "Ah, I can't take money. I can't—"

Zhao Guihua interrupted, "We need to keep things separate. If you don't take payment, I can't ask you to handle it."

Zheng Huifang's eyes widened in astonishment. "You, you wouldn't be afraid I'd run off with the money?"

She knew that ordering goods involved quite a bit of money.

Zhao Guihua said, "Of course, I'm worried. But in business, there's always risk involved. Since I've chosen you, I have to take that risk."

Zheng Huifang became serious and declared loudly, "I will never run off with the money! I won't let you down!"

Zhao Guihua couldn't help but laugh at her serious expression.

[Subtext: Time for someone to pick up their boxed lunch~]