My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 217

The "Meal Robbery" gang of four was finally apprehended.

The last to be caught was Jiang Baohong, who was beaten with a broom by Li Weiwei before being subdued and taken away. The incident was significant enough to shock the entire city, but the shock was quickly replaced by fear. Petty theft was something people had heard of, but such a brazen home invasion robbery was unheard of.

Families with children left alone at home were particularly anxious. Whether living in apartment buildings or courtyard homes, neighbors banded together. This was when the value of good neighbors truly shone.

As the saying goes, "Distant relatives are not as helpful as close neighbors." Everyone kept an eye out for one another, making it difficult for criminals to strike.

That year, the public security in the city improved significantly.

Given the ongoing crackdown on crime, it was no surprise that such audacious behavior would be met with severe punishment. Jiang Baohong had hoped to feign insanity to escape legal consequences, but she was out of luck.

Her plan was well thought out, but it was unlikely to succeed.

As for her accomplices, they were no different. Just like her, they would face harsh penalties. None of them were particularly tough, and once inside, they quickly spilled all the details.

Besides the robbery, there was also a revenge plot.

Wang Xiangxiu, Bai Fendou, and Hu Huihui's family were all targets.

Hu Huihui was particularly shaken when she learned of the plot. Her husband was equally terrified, his legs going weak at the thought. Fortunately, the gang had been caught in Xinghua Lane before they could act.

He admitted that he wouldn't have been able to handle the situation on his own.

After returning home from the police station, the couple sat in silence. Old Zheng pondered for a while before saying, "Buy something and go visit your cousin."

Hu Huihui pursed her lips and agreed.

This time, they truly owed their safety to their neighbors.

Hu Huihui wasted no time. She soon arrived at the courtyard house, this time not by taxi but by a tricycle loaded with goods. The tricycle pulled up to the entrance of No. 44 Xinghua Lane, where children were setting off firecrackers. A little girl named Yuanyuan asked, "Auntie, who are you looking for?"

Hu Huihui replied, "I'm looking for the adults. Third Brother, bring the apples in."

A burly man accompanying her began unloading the goods, drawing the attention of the children. It was a Sunday, and the courtyard was unusually lively. Hu Huihui's arrival caused quite a stir. Wang Xiangxiu was surprised. "What brings you here?"

Although the two families were related, they hadn't interacted much.

Now that Jinlai was trying to turn over a new leaf, Wang Xiangxiu was wary of Hu Huihui trying to influence him again. Her eyes showed a hint of suspicion.

Hu Huihui, being a businesswoman, noticed this immediately. She chuckled softly and said, "Cousin, I heard about the incident in your courtyard and came to check on you."

She got straight to the point. "The police contacted me. The gang had planned to rob me after they were done with you. Thankfully, they were caught here first. Otherwise, I would have been..."

She shrugged and continued, "I brought some gifts for the courtyard. Could you help me distribute them?"

Wang Xiangxiu hesitated, but Hu Huihui crossed her arms and said, "What? Do you look down on family now?"

Wang Xiangxiu quickly denied it.

Hu Huihui smiled. "Then help me out. To thank the courtyard for catching the thieves, I've brought gifts for everyone. Each household gets a box of apples, a box of pears, a box of peach cakes, and a tin of malted milk. It's not much, but it's my way of showing gratitude."

Such gifts were rare, even for families that had recently improved their financial situation. Wang Xiangxiu was stunned by Hu Huihui's generosity, but Hu Huihui knew that while the gifts were substantial, they were nothing compared to the potential danger they had avoided.

She understood the value of what she was giving and saw it as a small price to pay for safety. "Cousin, please help me out!"

Wang Xiangxiu replied, "Honestly, this isn't necessary. We caught the thieves for our own sake. Since nothing happened to you, there's no need to go to such lengths."

Hu Huihui insisted, "It's the least I can do!"

Ignoring Wang Xiangxiu's protests, Hu Huihui headed straight to Aunt Wang's house. Aunt Wang was still the courtyard manager and had interacted with Hu Huihui during her time living there. After a brief exchange, Hu Huihui moved on to the Zhuang family, the Zhou family, the Sui family—essentially every household in the courtyard.

No one was left out.

The families were embarrassed to accept the gifts, but Hu Huihui was persistent. They couldn't refuse, especially since the goods had already been delivered.

Hu Huihui explained earnestly, "I know you don't like accepting things for no reason, but to me, you've done me a huge favor—possibly even saved my life. What might seem insignificant to you is a great kindness to me. Old Cai and his gang may seem like foolish thieves, but they were armed and had a grudge against me. The police told me Old Cai intended to kill me. So, I truly benefited from your actions. Please don't refuse these gifts. If you don't accept them, I won't feel at ease."

Her words were sincere and well-received. After some thought, each household accepted the gifts.

Wang Xiangxiu and Bai Fendou's families were particularly relieved. According to Old Cai's confession, the gang had planned to seek revenge after the robbery. The targets included those involved in a past incident.

With the gang apprehended, they could finally breathe easy.

Hu Huihui's visit brought everyone together at Wang Xiangxiu's house, where they discussed the recent events. Zhao Guihua and her daughter-in-law were among them. Unlike in later decades, investigations at the time were less confidential, and as involved parties, they had the right to know the details.

Hu Huihui shared, "When the police called me in, I was completely stunned. If they hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten about Old Cai entirely."

It had been over a decade since Old Cai left, and his son was no threat, so Hu Huihui had no idea about their return. But Old Cai hadn't forgotten them and had come back seeking revenge.

She sighed, "Honestly, wasn't it his own lack of self-control that caused all this? If he couldn't keep himself in check, they were bound to exploit it."

She added, "Old Cai is completely deranged."

Speaking of derangement, she quickly mentioned, "I heard Jiang Baohong tried to feign insanity to avoid punishment, but experts evaluated her twice and confirmed she's sane. It's not easy to get into a mental hospital."

Even mental hospitals aren't places you can just check into.

Zheng Huimin chimed in, "When she visited my mother a few months ago, she must have been gathering information about the mental hospital. She had ulterior motives."

As a recent tenant, Zheng Huimin wasn't very familiar with the courtyard residents or Hu Huihui, having only seen her a couple of times when she visited Jinlai. But this time, she also received a gift. She felt awkward accepting it, but Hu Huihui was thorough and ensured no one was left out—whether it was tenants like Zheng Huimin, elderly residents like Lan Sihai, or families like the Sui's who hadn't contributed much.

Regarding the mental hospital, Zheng Huimin had more to say. She remembered Jiang Baohong visiting her mother there months ago, likely preparing to feign insanity if things went south.

Despite Jiang Baohong's denials, the facts spoke for themselves.

Similarly, Old Cai and his son denied scouting the area through the sewers, but the evidence was clear. Their denials were irrelevant, as these details played a minor role in the case.

Everyone shared the same thoughts as Zheng Huimin. You say it was a coincidence, but how could it be so coincidental? No one believed it, no matter how you spun it. Such a coincidence just didn’t seem possible.

In reality, however, both incidents were indeed coincidences.

But did anyone believe that? No!

In the end, it wasn’t even that important anymore.

Zhao Guihua said, “Whether it was a coincidence or not, they won’t be able to escape this time. This year has been particularly strict, and they’ve made such a big scene. They’ll definitely face severe consequences.”

Although they didn’t actually harm anyone, the social impact was extremely negative.

Moreover, this wasn’t just petty theft—it involved attempted injury and even attempted murder.

This wasn’t an exaggeration. Fan Debiao had stabbed Jiang Baohong in the heart with a knife. This wasn’t something that could be brushed off as an “accident.” If Su Jinlai hadn’t pushed Jiang Baohong out of the way, she might already be dead.

Everyone who spoke about these people was filled with disgust.

Hu Huihui said, “They’re too bold. What era do they think this is? Thinking they can get away with violent robbery—they must be out of their minds.”

Zhao Guihua nodded in agreement, saying, “It’s like a mouse trying to be a cat’s companion—risking their lives for money.”

“Pfft!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Zhao Guihua glared at them. “What are you all laughing at? Am I wrong?”

“No, no, you’re absolutely right, ma’am,” they replied.

Hu Huihui chuckled and asked, “By the way, where are my nephews? Why aren’t Jinlai and the others at home?”

Wang Xiangxiu explained, “All the men in the compound went out to buy New Year’s supplies. An old friend of Uncle Lan introduced a place in the suburbs, and Ming Xiangdong helped by driving them there. As soon as the boys heard they’d be riding in a car, they all jumped at the chance.”

Hu Huihui suddenly understood. “No wonder,” she said.

Hearing this, the children who had been crouching under the window eavesdropping and watching the commotion felt a wave of disappointment. They wanted to go too, but the adults didn’t take them. It was so unfair! They were really bummed out.

But no matter how much they sulked, they had to stay home. Ever since the big incident a few days ago, their families had been keeping a close eye on them. It wasn’t just their household—when they went to the children’s center, they noticed that other kids were in the same situation.

Parents all over the city had become much stricter, terrified that their children might encounter bad people. Recently, the kids had even been picked up by adults everywhere they went. It was frustrating.

With adults around, they couldn’t sneak off to do anything fun.

Oh, and their secret purchase of firecrackers had been discovered.

After all, they had used firecrackers to prank people, and that kind of thing couldn’t stay hidden for long. Since the family hadn’t started buying firecrackers yet, well… it was obvious where they came from.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, both twelve years old, almost got spanked by their parents. It was pitiful.

The group of kids crouched under the window for a while, but when they realized there wasn’t much going on inside, they decided to go outside and play. They gestured to each other and ran to the front gate. Although the incident had happened a few days ago, life had mostly returned to normal.

However, they still couldn’t venture too far. The kids didn’t mind the cold, but going to distant places to play was out of the question.

The last snowfall had mostly melted, so they couldn’t build snowmen anymore. Instead, they braved the strong north wind to play hopscotch by the gate. Kids really don’t feel the cold, do they?

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixi and his group, along with Lan Sihai and Ming Xiangdong, drove a truck to the outskirts. The village Lan Sihai had mentioned was quite far. It would have taken a long time to bike there, but driving made the trip much easier.

They were in good spirits as they traveled.

Although it was the end of the year and everyone was busy preparing for the New Year, some families were also selling their goods. The village they were visiting was one such place. Almost every household raised chickens and pigs, and by the end of the year, they needed to clear out their stock.

Selling in the city wasn’t easy for them, so they mostly set up stalls at nearby markets. Having buyers come to them saved a lot of trouble—they didn’t have to brave the cold at the market, and if they sold more, they could save time too. Similarly, Zhuang Zhixi and his group benefited from coming here.

The prices in this village were slightly lower than those in the city’s markets, and they might even come across some rare mountain goods that could be bought on the spot. Some of these rare items sold out before they even reached the city, making them hard to find in the markets.

With the New Year approaching, everyone was in a buying frenzy.

As they drove into the village, the local children came running out to see the commotion, and even the adults came out to take a look. In those days, a car was a rare sight. Ming Xiangdong drove straight to the village committee.

The truck’s cabin only had four seats, but somehow thirteen or fourteen people had squeezed in. As they jumped out of the truck, Lan Sihai grumbled, “Who stepped on my foot just now? You rascals.”

Zhuang Zhixi and the others scratched their noses, none of them willing to admit it.

The village head came out, looking puzzled. “What brings you all here?” he asked.

Lan Sihai explained, “We’re from the city. Chen Baoguo recommended your village to us. He’s an old friend of mine and mentioned that your village raises a lot of chickens and pigs. Since it’s almost New Year, we came to buy some supplies.”

The village head’s face lit up with understanding. “Ah, so you’re Uncle Lan! Old Chen told me about you. Thank you so much for coming.”

He was thrilled. Although this wasn’t a bulk purchase from a factory, any sales were good news—it saved the villagers a lot of trouble. He was quick to offer his assistance, ushering them inside. Lan Sihai waved his hand and said, “No need for that. We’ll need your help to figure out who’s selling what…”

The village head replied, “It’s no trouble at all. You’re saving us a lot of work, and we’re grateful for that.”

Curious, he asked, “Are you looking to buy chickens or pork? We have people slaughtering pigs every morning. If you’re interested, we can help you with that.”

Lan Sihai glanced at the others, and Zhuang Zhixi quickly spoke up. “Uncle Village Head, we’re planning to buy three pigs and take them back to slaughter ourselves. We’ll make some pork dishes, and the kids will be thrilled.”

The village head chuckled. “You’re going to slaughter them yourselves? That’s fine. Do you know how? We have a butcher in the village who can come along to help. Actually…” He paused mid-sentence and asked, “How many did you say you wanted?”

Zhuang Zhixi replied, “Three. We want three, preferably fattier ones with more meat.”

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

The village head was surprised. “That many!”

He hadn’t expected them to buy three pigs. This was a big deal for the village.

He assured them, “I’ll make sure to pick the best ones for you. You’re here on Old Chen’s recommendation, and we’re grateful for your support. Come, I’ll take you to see the pigs. Almost every household in the village raises pigs, but my in-law’s family raises the best ones. They have about seven or eight pigs, and you’ll see—they’re all big and fat…”

As he boasted, the group followed him, looking around curiously. The village was relatively prosperous, especially for one near the city. Its geographical location gave it an advantage.

Moreover, the villagers were hardworking. As they walked through the village, they saw chickens, ducks, and pigs in almost every household, a clear sign of their diligence.

Even so, this relatively prosperous village still couldn’t compare to life in the city.

Jinlai, who had been sent to the countryside before, had lived in a much poorer area. He explained to the younger ones in the group, “This village is actually quite well-off for a rural area.”

“Well-off?” Yinlai was surprised.

Jinlai glanced at him. “What did you expect? This place is considered wealthy. The village I was sent to was much poorer than this.”

Hutou, who was on winter break, nodded in agreement. Although he was a city boy and had never been to the countryside, he had classmates from all over the country. He knew firsthand that some places were very poor—some of his classmates couldn’t even afford to eat their fill.

Unlike his family, where food was always plentiful, some of his classmates didn’t dare to eat their fill, even when it came to simple cornbread. He knew that much.

In their compound, because of age, Jinlai was the only one who had actually gone to the countryside, so he had a lot of say in the matter. The others could only rely on hearsay or indirect knowledge, which was quite different from firsthand experience.

Jinlai: "Back when I was in the countryside, many people couldn’t even eat meat once a year. The houses were made of mud bricks, and so were the dormitories for us educated youth. Every time it rained heavily, I was worried the roof would collapse."

Yinlai and Tonglai glanced at their older brother, finally understanding why he never talked about his time in the countryside and why he never wanted to go back.

Those days were just too harsh.

However, Yinlai and Tonglai were overthinking it. Jinlai didn’t want to go back not because of the hardships, but because... it was embarrassing. During his time in the countryside, he had been involved in petty theft and shirking responsibilities. Thinking back on it now, it was shameful. No, he absolutely couldn’t go back.

Those were dark chapters of his life.

Hutou: "I have a classmate who also said his family lived in a mud-brick house. They had eight children."

Truthfully, he didn’t understand why they kept having children when they were so poor, but his confusion didn’t matter—that’s just how it was. Hutou, however, firmly believed that having too many kids was pointless. From what he had seen growing up, families with fewer children lived more comfortably, while those with more kids struggled more.

"Zhuang Yang?"

Hutou heard someone call his name and turned around to see a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes smiling at him. Hutou was momentarily stunned, then exclaimed in delight, "Lan Yu? Do you live in this village?"

The young man was indeed Hutou’s classmate. Though they weren’t in the same department, they were in the same school and lived on the same dormitory floor, so they knew each other. He smiled and said, "Yeah, my family lives here. What are you doing here?"

Hutou: "I’m here with my family to buy some things."

Lan Yu: "Preparing for the New Year?"

"Exactly."

Even though winter break had just started, running into a classmate was always a joyous occasion. Hutou chuckled and said, "Aren’t you supposed to be helping your family prepare for the New Year? What are you doing wandering around the village?"

Lan Yu: "I heard there were outsiders in the village, so I came out to see what was going on. I didn’t expect it to be you!"

Su Jinlai, who was never one to read the room, leaned over to Hutou and asked, "Is this the family with eight kids?"

Hutou: "..."

He was speechless for a moment, then quickly clarified, "No, I was talking about another classmate’s family with lots of kids, not his."

Su Jinlai: "Oh."

Lan Yu: "What are you buying? Come on, I’ll help you pick things out."

With a local guide, the group became even livelier. Despite the village head’s boasting, he wasn’t exaggerating—his in-laws’ family really did raise some impressively fat pigs, which were particularly eye-catching.

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t hold back and quickly settled on a price. Once the pig was tied up, it was loaded onto the truck.

"How many people are you splitting this among? You’re buying so much!" Lan Yu, Hutou’s classmate, was astonished.

Hutou: "Two of the pigs are for our compound to share, and one is for my grandfather."

The "grandfather" he referred to was Ming Xiangdong, whom he called that following his younger siblings’ lead.

"Is that your grandfather? He looks quite young, though a bit intimidating." In truth, he looked a bit shady, but Lan Yu didn’t say that outright.

Hutou: "He’s not my actual grandfather; he’s my cousins’ grandfather."

"Oh, I see."

No wonder he didn’t look that old—it was calculated that way.

"How many chickens are you getting?"

"We’re getting forty in total."

Lan Yu: "What? Are you guys a family of weasels? Specializing in eating chickens?"

Hutou: "There are a lot of us, so we need to split them."

When people came to the village to buy New Year’s goods, they naturally wanted a variety of items. While the village head didn’t concern himself with the finer details, Lan Yu was more knowledgeable. As soon as he heard Hutou’s uncle ask about dried mushrooms, he immediately said, "I know who has some. We live by the mountains, so while we don’t have fish or shrimp, we’ve got plenty of mountain goods. My family has some. Would you like to take a look? Don’t worry, we’ll charge the same as the market price—we won’t rip you off. Hutou and I are classmates, after all."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled: "That’s great. I love mushrooms, so bring as many as you can."

Lan Yu led the group around to collect mushrooms. Many villagers gathered mushrooms, dried them, and stored them—not only as a dish but also to sell for extra money. However, since everyone could gather mushrooms from the mountains, the price wasn’t very high.

But Zhuang Zhixi loved them. His favorite dish was chicken stewed with mushrooms.

Lan Yu naturally hoped they would buy from his family. In spring, summer, and autumn, the mountains were full of mushrooms, so selling them now was better—they could always gather more later. For rural families, opportunities to earn money were scarce.

Zhuang Zhixi could tell Lan Yu wanted to sell his goods, but he didn’t mind. As long as the price was fair and the quality good, it didn’t matter who they bought from.

The group split up, with Zhuang Zhixi going to check out the mushrooms. The younger ones eagerly followed him, happy to stick with Zhuang Zhixi. Lan Yu’s parents were honest folks. When they heard someone wanted to buy dried mushrooms, they happily brought out their stock. Zhuang Zhixi, being tall, spotted some dried wood ear mushrooms and immediately asked, "Do you sell these wood ears?"

Lan Yu’s father was delighted: "Yes, yes, we do!"

Of course, they’d sell them—it was all about making money. Lan Yu added with a smile, "We also have salted duck eggs. Do you want some? My sister made them, and they’re delicious."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yes, we’ll take them!"

Lan Yu hesitated for a moment, then said, "I’ll go get them."

He had only meant to offer, but he hadn’t expected Zhuang Yang’s uncle to want everything!

This was fantastic!

At the same time, Zhuang Zhixi was thinking: This is fantastic!

In previous years, these tasks would have been done at home. Everyone knew how to pickle salted duck eggs, but in the past couple of years, his family hadn’t been able to do these things themselves. Not just his family—the entire compound was the same.

Everyone was busy with business, and every household was swamped.

There simply wasn’t time for these things. Why waste time on such small tasks when you could be earning money?

So, being able to buy ready-made items was a relief for Zhuang Zhixi. His gaze fell on a large jar, and he asked, "Huh? Did your family pickle cabbage?"

Lan Yu: "...?"

He then nodded: "Yes, do you want some?"

Who buys pickled cabbage these days?

Zhuang Zhixi: "Pack some for me, and make it a lot."

Lan Yu hesitated and looked at his parents. Lan Yu’s parents were thrilled: "Sure, take as much as you want."

In fact, not every household in the city pickled cabbage—it was more of a northeastern Chinese habit. But in their compound, there was an Aunt Wang from the northeast who had gotten everyone hooked on it. Over the years, it had become a staple.

This year, however, everyone had been too busy with their stalls to pickle cabbage. They hadn’t seen much of it at the market either, so when Zhuang Zhixi spotted it today, he jumped at the opportunity. He said, "How about I take this whole jar? I’ll transfer it to my own containers and bring the empty jar back tomorrow."

"Sure!"

Lan Yu: "..."

Our family won’t have any left. What are we going to eat?

Lan Yu’s father, seeing his son’s expression, pulled him aside and said, "We’ll just eat regular cabbage. It’s not like we can’t eat that. Making money is more important."

Lan Yu: "..."

The group bought quite a lot in the village. Ming Xiangdong had driven a large truck, and it was now packed to the brim. Just from Lan Yu’s family alone, they had spent nearly a hundred yuan.

This would definitely help their family have a good New Year.

In the city, this amount would be two or three months’ salary for a worker.

It was a significant sum.

Zhuang Zhixi and his group were also pleased. They had bought so much that they even got some discounts and had the prices rounded down. Most importantly, it saved them a lot of hassle at home. Otherwise, pickling cabbage and gathering dried mushrooms would have taken up a lot of time.

In the past, when supplies were tight, they had no choice but to gather mushrooms themselves. But now, with everyone so busy, it wasn’t worth the effort. It was better to spend a little money and save time. Both sides felt they had gotten a good deal, and it was a win-win situation.

As they were loading the truck and preparing to leave, Zhuang Zhixi’s gaze suddenly paused. He looked toward someone hiding behind a tree in the distance, peeking in their direction, and his lips tightened.

"What’s wrong?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan, his elder brother, asked curiously.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Do you see that woman over there? Is that Su Pandi?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan followed his brother's gaze and saw the woman quickly dart away and hide. However, he caught a glimpse of her and said, "It really is her."

Neither of them had expected to run into Su Pandi here. Their conversation caught the attention of Zhou Qun, who exclaimed in surprise, "You saw Su Pandi? Where is she?"

He looked around and just as he did, his eyes met Su Pandi's. "Damn, it really is her. Wasn't she in prison?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "If you calculate the time, she should have been released by now, right?"

"But why hasn’t she gone home?" Zhuang Zhiyuan wondered.

Zhuang Zhixi and Zhou Qun both looked at him, thinking he was being a bit naive. Zhuang Zhixi said, "Where would she go? She’s divorced. Her ex-husband left Si Jiu City to avoid the gossip. Even if he hadn’t left, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her."

Zhou Qun: "Exactly. Back then, to get a lighter sentence for her mother, she took all the blame herself. Her children knew about it too. The whole of Si Jiu City was buzzing with the news. How could they not have heard?"

Zhuang Zhixi thought for a moment and called over Lan Yu, asking, "Lan Yu, who is that woman over there? She looks familiar."

Lan Yu glanced over and said, "Oh, that’s Old Song’s wife from our village. She’s been married to him for about five or six years now."

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow as Lan Yu continued, "I heard she came here as a refugee, just looking for a place to settle. When she arrived in our village, Old Song took her in. They have a child together, a four-year-old boy. Do you know her?"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "She just looks familiar, but I must be mistaken."

Lan Yu didn’t think much of it either. He figured it was just a case of mistaken identity. After all, Aunt Song was a refugee, while the Zhuang family were locals. It must have been a mix-up. He then joined Hutou and the other young men, chatting idly with them.

Zhuang Zhixi noticed that the car was almost fully loaded and said, "I’m going to use the restroom, and then we’ll leave."

"Alright."

Zhuang Zhixi headed to the village’s public restroom. It wasn’t used much and was a bit run-down, creaking as he entered. He quickly finished his business and as he stepped out, he saw Su Pandi waiting for him. It was clear she had been waiting there specifically for him.

Zhuang Zhixi thought to himself, *Why are you waiting for me? We don’t have any connection.*

Su Pandi wasn’t specifically waiting for Zhuang Zhixi. She would have approached anyone—Zhuang Zhiyuan or Zhou Qun—but it just happened to be Zhuang Zhixi who showed up.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Were you waiting for me?"

Su Pandi nodded.

From a distance, she had looked older, but up close, the years had taken an even greater toll on her. Her hair was streaked with gray, her face gaunt, and her features somewhat sharp, a far cry from the woman she had been over a decade ago. Back then, though thin, she had still carried a certain charm. Now, that was gone.

Her patched cotton jacket and anxious expression made her seem even more worn.

"Is there something you need?"

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t feel the need for small talk. They had never been close. Su Pandi took a deep breath and said, "I’m doing well now."

Zhuang Zhixi was puzzled.

Su Pandi spoke again, "I don’t want anyone to ruin my life."

She clenched her fists, took another deep breath, and said, "The people here don’t know I’ve been to prison."

Zhuang Zhixi suddenly understood. He said, "I won’t go around talking about your past. You can rest assured."

Su Pandi visibly relaxed. She had been terrified of being recognized, of having her life unraveled. She bit her lip and said, "But your brother and Zhou Qun… they seemed to have seen me…"

Zhuang Zhixi: "I can’t control what they do. I can only promise not to say anything myself. But you should know, my brother is always busy, often traveling for work. He probably won’t have the time or interest to bring up your past. And Zhou Qun is the same. We’re all just passing acquaintances. No one’s going to go out of their way to disrupt your life."

Su Pandi: "Zhou Qun isn’t a good person."

She trusted the Zhuang brothers, especially Zhuang Zhiyuan. In her younger days, she had even had a crush on him, though she knew her mother would never have approved. Back then, the Zhuang family wasn’t well-off, and they couldn’t afford a hefty dowry.

Regardless of whether it was good or not, she had to marry someone who could provide a substantial dowry.

Though nothing had come of it—Zhuang Zhiyuan had never even known—she still held a deep trust in his character.

"Times have changed. Zhou Qun is busy with his own life now. He won’t have time to meddle in your affairs. But you should know, there are no secrets that stay buried forever. We may not say anything, but you’re living relatively close to Si Jiu City. The scandal back then was huge. Sooner or later, someone will find out."

Su Pandi: "I know. But I’ll take it one day at a time."

She said, "You don’t know what it’s like to be pointed at and whispered about. I just want a stable life now. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I don’t want it ruined."

Though she now lived in the countryside, working hard for little pay, her life was actually better than before. Back then, she had always been supporting her family, saving every scrap to send back to them, leaving herself with nothing. Even though her husband had been a factory worker, their life had been so poor that even the rats avoided their home.

Now, though they were farmers with little income, they no longer had to send money back to her family, and their situation had improved slightly. Su Pandi cherished this stability and didn’t want it disrupted.

Zhuang Zhixi: "If you’re happy, that’s all that matters."

He turned to leave, but Su Pandi quickly stopped him, asking, "How is the Su family doing?"

Zhuang Zhixi was surprised. He suddenly realized that Su Pandi hadn’t recognized the three Jinlai brothers, who had also come along. She hadn’t recognized them at all. Zhuang Zhixi decided not to mention it and simply said, "The children have all straightened out."

Su Pandi breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of joy in her voice. "That’s good. My brother would be at peace knowing that."

Zhuang Zhixi had seen people who were overly devoted to their families, but someone like Su Pandi was rare. His sister-in-law, Liang Meifen, had also been overly attached to her family, but she had eventually come to her senses. Su Pandi, however, seemed to still be stuck in the past.

If Su’s mother were still alive, and if she hadn’t had a falling out with Wang Xiangxiu, things might have been different.

Thinking of Su’s mother, Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Is Su’s mother still in prison?"

It had been years since anyone had mentioned her.

Su Pandi’s expression darkened. "My mother passed away."

Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t surprised. Su’s mother had been quite old when she went to prison, and over a decade had passed since then. His own child was already twelve. It was only natural that she had passed away. He said, "My condolences."

Su Pandi gave a bitter smile. "She’s been gone for years. I didn’t tell the Su family."

She paused, then added, "Wang Xiangxiu hated my mother so much. I don’t trust her."

She was terrified that Wang Xiangxiu might desecrate her mother’s grave, scattering her ashes.

So even when her mother died, she hadn’t dared to tell the Su family or reach out to Wang Xiangxiu.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He understood Su Pandi’s fears but thought she was overreacting. Even if there was hatred, it wouldn’t go that far. But Su Pandi was a stubborn person. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t budge.

She whispered, "This is for the best. We’ll each live our own lives and not interfere with each other. By the way, has Wang Xiangxiu remarried?"

Zhuang Zhixi shook his head. "No, she hasn’t remarried. She gave her job to her son."

Su Pandi was taken aback, her eyes welling up with tears. She rubbed her eyes and said, "At least she has some conscience, knowing she should leave the job to someone from the Su family. My mother… she wasn’t wrong about her. Wang Xiangxiu has always been loyal to the Su family."

She added softly, "When you go back, don’t tell the Su family you saw me. It’s better if we all live our lives separately."

Zhuang Zhixi truly couldn’t understand Su Pandi anymore.

He said, "Alright."

He added, "Is there anything else? I should get going."

Su Pandi: "No, that’s all."

As Zhuang Zhixi walked away, Su Pandi suddenly remembered something and asked, "How are my ex-husband and his children doing?"

She had finally remembered. She had children of her own, yet she cared more about the Su family's children than her own. Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but feel that the two children she had previously given birth to were undervalued. He turned back and gave Su Pandi a deep look, saying, "They left long ago. The year after you were sentenced, your ex-husband applied for a transfer. They moved to another city, and it's said they've never returned since."

Su Pandi's gaze grew distant, and she murmured softly, "They left... they left..."

She could barely remember those days now, but soon she rubbed her eyes and said, "It's better that they left."

She hung her head low. "Without my reputation dragging them down, they can live a little more freely."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Just focus on living your life well. Whether it's the Su family or your ex-husband's family, they have nothing to do with you anymore."

Su Pandi was quite a bit older than Zhuang Zhixi. To put it bluntly, if she had married earlier, she could have had a child as old as him. Although they lived in the same compound, they rarely interacted. This was the most they had ever spoken.

But she knew Zhuang Zhixi was right.

Her eyes grew distant again, but she quickly regained her composure and said earnestly, "Yes, they have their own lives, and I have mine. I need to focus on living well with my husband and children."

Zhuang Zhixi said nothing more and turned to leave.

He soon returned home, and on his way back, he quietly reminded Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhou Qun not to spread any rumors. Both promised they wouldn't. In the past, it might have been hard to say, but now, Zhou Qun didn't have the time for such things.

Although he loved to gossip, he knew better than to stir up trouble. If he messed with Su Pandi's life, what if she came after him? Now, he was like a porcelain vase—fragile and valuable.

She, on the other hand, was like a clay pot—nothing to lose.

As the saying goes, those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those who do. Now, he was the one with something to lose.

It wasn't worth it, truly not worth it.

Besides, wouldn't it be better to spend that time earning money?

After helping his mother at her stall for a while, though he wasn't paid, he had learned a lot. And he had realized just how profitable it could be. The money came in so quickly.

No wonder the old ladies and women in the compound were becoming more assertive. Money gives you confidence.

No matter the era, whoever earns the money holds the power at home.

So he decided that after the New Year, he would start his own stall, starting small but believing it would grow. After all, even Aunt Zhao Guihua was planning to buy a shop.

And that little rascal Zhuang Zhixi was also buying a shop—proof that running a stall was lucrative.

He couldn't afford to miss out!

Even Bai Fendou was getting ahead now; he couldn't fall behind.

Zhou Qun was now fully focused on making money, and his wife, He Lan, approved. She thought it was good for him to have something to occupy his time, or else he'd be gossiping more than the women in the neighborhood. It was exhausting.

Zhou Qun didn't know it, but his wife was well aware of his nickname: "Auntie Zhou."

Just think about it—how embarrassing!

It was almost like he was on the same level as his mother-in-law.

Zhou Li, now referred to as "Auntie Zhou" in the new society, was slowly getting used to the modern way of addressing people. But Zhou Qun was called "Auntie Zhou," almost putting him on par with his mother. The reason was obvious.

It was truly frustrating.

So He Lan was happy to see Zhou Qun working. She didn't expect him to earn much—just enough to be like Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou, after work, would go to the station to run a pedicab, earning at least fifty yuan a month, almost matching his salary. Plus, being busy meant less time for gossip. That was a good thing.

Once he was busy, no one would talk about him anymore. Didn't they see? Bai Fendou's gossip had already decreased. Everyone was saying he was a reformed man.

Meanwhile, Bai Fendou was at home organizing things. They had bought quite a lot recently.

Bai Fendou had also bought three chickens. Instead of raising them, he slaughtered and cleaned them, hanging them from the rafters to prepare for the New Year. He also stored away some dried mushrooms and wood ears they had purchased.

Noticing the extra fruit at home, he asked in surprise, "Where did this come from?"

He Lan replied, "Hu Huihui brought it today. Every household got some as thanks for catching the thieves. You didn't know, but those scoundrels had also targeted Hu Huihui and her husband, planning to rob them after us."

Bai Fendou exclaimed, "Damn, those guys were insane!"

He Lan agreed, "Absolutely. They were ready to risk their lives for money."

Bai Fendou said, "Thank goodness they were caught. Otherwise, we'd always be on edge."

He couldn't afford to get into trouble; his wife and child depended on him. Although their family wasn't like most, lacking certain conventional aspects, their bond was strong, and they relied on each other deeply.

Neither he nor He Lan were particularly passionate about certain things, but they both wanted a family. This was the best they could hope for.

Bai Fendou knew He Lan wasn't the strongest, so he had to stay alive to take care of her and their child. Their daughter, Qingqing, was doing well in school, and he wanted to see her get into university. If those lunatics had sought revenge, it would have been disastrous.

He said, "Now that they're locked up, we don't have to worry anymore."

He Lan nodded gently and smiled softly. "By the way, did you know Aunt Wang is planning to buy a house?"

Bai Fendou was surprised. "What? Her family too? Where?"

It seemed like everyone was buying houses these days. He Lan explained, "It's on our street, in the compound where Xing'er lives. One family is selling, and Aunt Wang plans to buy it for her grandsons, Li Junjun or Li Weiwei, to use when they get married."

She paused and chuckled. "Aunt Wang said whoever gets married first gets the house. Neither Li Junjun nor Li Weiwei were interested, but Zhenzhen was. She asked Qijin if he would marry her."

She laughed even harder. "Qijin said he wanted to marry Qingqing."

Bai Fendou laughed and scolded, "That little rascal! He knows who's better. But if he thinks he can marry my daughter, he's got another thing coming. Just because of his father, I wouldn't allow it."

He Lan rolled her eyes. "What nonsense are you saying? The kids are just joking around. They don't understand love. Didn't Qijin turn Zhenzhen down? Then Zhenzhen asked Tuantuan, but Tuantuan refused. Now Zhenzhen has found Erlin. She gave Erlin an apple, and he agreed..."

Bai Fendou burst out laughing. "That kid's too cheap! An apple was enough to win him over?"

He Lan said, "They're just kids. Don't take it seriously. They don't understand these things."

Bai Fendou nodded. "I know."

He Lan added, "Oh, and today Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao suggested that we all get together for New Year's Eve. Each family could prepare a few dishes, and we'd all eat together while watching the Spring Festival Gala. What do you think?"

Bai Fendou's eyes lit up. "Of course! That sounds great!"

He was excited. "Our family is just three people. It's much more fun with everyone together. The kids can play, and it'll be lively."

They both enjoyed the hustle and bustle. That was what made the New Year feel special—being surrounded by family and friends.

"I'll agree to it then!"

"Sure."

Actually, He Lan had already agreed, but she pretended to consult her husband. After all, he was the head of the household.

Bai Fendou asked, "Whose place will we gather at?"

He Lan replied, "We decided on Ming Mei's place. She has a color TV, so it'll be perfect for watching the Spring Festival Gala together."

Mentioning the TV, Bai Fendou slapped his forehead. "I promised Qingqing we'd buy a TV before the New Year. Should we go get one in the next few days?"

He Lan agreed readily. "Sure!"

Having a TV at home would make things livelier, but color TVs were too expensive. They planned to buy a black-and-white one first and upgrade in a couple of years. He Lan asked, "How about tomorrow?"

Bai Fendou: "Alright, then I'll head over early tomorrow morning to request leave first."

"Okay."

While their family was discussing this matter, others were also making plans. Wang Zizhen from the neighboring courtyard was talking to Da Qiang: "This year, let's spend New Year's Eve next door. Everyone will gather together, and it'll be lively."

Da Qiang: "We’re not going to my mom’s place?"

Wang Zizhen: "We’ll send over New Year gifts. We’ll fulfill all the proper etiquette, and your mom won’t complain. After all, our neighborhood just wants to have some fun. Your mom understands."

Truth be told, Da Qiang’s mother and his elder brother were actually relieved they weren’t coming. With too many people, the place would be cramped, and they wouldn’t have enough room to sit or manage everything. They only saw each other a few times a year during holidays, so they weren’t close and didn’t have much to talk about. There wasn’t any animosity, but there just wasn’t much common ground.

Da Qiang’s elder brother’s family still looked down a bit on their small business. So, not being together was actually better for everyone. As long as everyone maintained face, it was a win-win situation.

As for Da Qiang’s mother, the old lady was very clear about her preference for her eldest son. She gave more to her eldest son and lived with him too. She gave less to her second son, Da Qiang, and also didn’t burden him with tasks.

It was a simple principle: I give as much as I receive. If I don’t give much, I won’t ask for much either. She was a clear-headed old lady.

Wang Zizhen felt she must have been a great philanthropist in her past life to be so lucky in this one. Although her own parents weren’t reliable, she had encountered good people after leaving home, including her godmother and her mother-in-law, who was also kind. At least, she thought her mother-in-law was good.

This somewhat distant family relationship was exactly what Wang Zizhen preferred. She didn’t want a mother-in-law hovering over her. Others might think her mother-in-law wasn’t helpful enough, but Wang Zizhen was genuinely happy with the arrangement.

She’d rather work a bit harder herself than have her mother-in-law meddling in everything.

She said, "Look, this year I bought a set of clothes for your mom and a scarf for your sister-in-law. We’ll also add a chicken and a fish. That’s not bad, right?"

Da Qiang nodded: "That’s more than enough."

Wang Zizhen smiled: "I also bought a pair of leather gloves for each of your brother’s kids."

Doing this once a year during the New Year saved her a lot of trouble, and Wang Zizhen was more than happy with it. Moreover, Da Qiang was deeply moved by her efforts.

"Wife, you’re really amazing."

Wang Zizhen chuckled softly: "You’re good to me too. It’s mutual. You treat me well, so I’m naturally happy to treat your family well."

Although Da Qiang’s elder brother and sister-in-law looked down on their small business, they never said it out loud. When they received gifts, they would reciprocate. So, the relationship was harmonious, albeit distant. It wasn’t like the lively atmosphere of their own courtyard.

She said, "Since it’s settled, let’s stick to the plan. Also, we have enough money. I’m thinking of buying a TV. What do you think?"

Da Qiang was thrilled: "That’s a great idea. Let’s do it."

Nowadays, anyone with a bit of savings was trying to buy a TV, and they were no exception.

"I’ll ask He Lan. Their family is also planning to buy a TV soon. If we both go, we can help each other make a better decision."

"Sounds good to me."

The three children, hearing their parents discuss this, couldn’t hide their excitement. Their family was going to buy a TV! What kid wouldn’t love that? They exchanged glances, and Ye Siyuan cleared his throat, asking, "Mom, can we go with you tomorrow to buy the TV?"

Wang Zizhen: "No, you’ll stay home and play. The malls are crowded during the holidays, and I can’t keep an eye on all of you. What if you run into trouble? I wouldn’t be able to handle it."

Ye Siyuan: "We’ll be careful."

Wang Zizhen: "You’re still kids. Go play next door. When the TV arrives and we set it up, I’ll call you."

Seeing the kids’ disappointed faces, Wang Zizhen thought for a moment and added, "You can have the TV’s packaging. You can sell it for scrap paper and keep the money for yourselves."

"Yay!"

Wang Zizhen laughed, and Da Qiang gave her a thumbs-up. It only cost a few cents, but it made the kids so happy.

To the kids, though, it was a big deal. They loved earning even small amounts of money.

While everyone was preparing for the New Year, Zhuang Zhixi was at home whispering to his mother, Zhao Guihua. He wouldn’t spread rumors, but he did quietly tell her about Su Pandi’s situation.

Zhao Guihua was shocked: "Su Pandi passed away?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded: "Yeah, she wasn’t young anymore. It’s not surprising she couldn’t hold on in there."

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips. It was normal, but she was still surprised because, in her previous life, Su Pandi had lived a long time. They had been about the same age. But now, in the 1980s, Su Pandi had already been gone for several years.

It just showed how different environments could affect a person’s health.

But then again, her own husband was doing just fine now.

It really highlighted how important lifestyle and environment were.

Thinking this, Zhao Guihua said, "In life, we should focus on enjoying ourselves."

Zhuang Zhixi: "...?" Where did that come from?

Zhao Guihua: "Wang Zizhen and He Lan are going to buy a TV tomorrow. I’m planning to buy a washing machine. It’ll make life so much easier."

Zhuang Zhixi gave her a thumbs-up: "Mom, you’re so trendy."

Zhao Guihua smiled slightly. You don’t understand life!

I do!