My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 226

Zhao Guihua truly didn’t expect that someone would come to break into her house in the dead of night, but such was the way of the world. If her family let it slide, others would only think they were easy to push around.

Without a second thought, she started hitting them, leaving the two intruders looking like swollen pigs.

Truth be told, everyone despised such behavior. After all, they were all poor folks. Stealing wasn’t just stealing—it was practically a matter of life and death. Still, since they were neighbors, the family of the thieves was called over. The old woman from that family arrived crying, “My dear grandson! Who did this to you?”

Zhao Guihua didn’t hold back. “I did it. So what? Sneaking around and breaking into houses—they’re lucky I didn’t kill them!”

She stood with her hands on her hips, her wooden stick thudding heavily against the thieves’ bodies. “You think stealing is justified? How dare you raise your voice here! Think you can bully us just because we’re young? Well, I’m not afraid of you!”

She was fierce, showing no mercy.

Old Man Zhuang, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Breaking in at this hour—who knows if they’re just after money or planning something worse?” He pointed at one of them. “This guy teamed up with others to rob me just yesterday. This isn’t the first time. If they can steal from me today, they’ll steal from you tomorrow. If you’re siding with them, think about how much you can afford to lose.”

The crowd murmured in agreement.

“Stealing is definitely wrong.”

“I always thought that guy looked shifty, always loitering around. He must’ve been eyeing the neighbors. What this young man says is right—if they can steal from the newcomers, they can steal from us too.”

“My jar of pickled cabbage went missing the other day. I wonder if it was them…”

“Hard to say.”

The old woman, who had come to “rescue” her grandson, was now at a loss. She had thought the victims were just two young people she could intimidate, but she hadn’t expected them to be so tough.

As Zhao Guihua raised her stick again, the old woman cried out, “Stop! Please stop! He’s my only grandson. If you keep hitting him, he’ll be ruined! How can you be so ruthless, young lady?”

Zhao Guihua shot back, “What’s it to you? I’ve never heard of anyone going easy on thieves. And don’t talk about me being ruthless—what about you when you’re doing bad things? Look at my cousin—they didn’t hold back when they robbed him. Now you’re playing the victim?”

When the old woman lunged forward to grab her, Zhao Guihua pushed her back with the stick, her voice icy. “Listen here, I don’t care how old you are. This world doesn’t tolerate troublemakers. If you dare come at me, I’ll hit you too. I’m not afraid of you. I’ve been training for years—bring your whole family if you want, and I’ll take you all on!”

Zhao Guihua’s boldness was convincing. She looked every bit like a seasoned fighter.

The men who had gone to fetch the family earlier now looked uncomfortable—not at Zhao Guihua and her companion, but at the old woman. They were decent folk and couldn’t side with thieves. They thought, “If it were our house being robbed, would she be just as unreasonable?” What had started as an attempt to mediate now felt like a slap in the face.

The atmosphere grew tense, and some of the hot-tempered ones began cursing.

The man from the thieves’ family quickly pulled his mother back and apologized profusely. He kicked his son and scolded, “You little brat! Look at the mess you’ve made!” After berating the two boys, he turned to Zhao Guihua and said, “Miss, this is our fault.”

“It’s our fault, all our fault. Please stop hitting them,” the two thieves sobbed.

Zhao Guihua snorted, while Old Man Zhuang said, “I don’t get it. There are plenty of rich villains out there. Why not go after them instead of picking on a poor man like me over and over again? Does that seem fair?”

Zhao Guihua added fiercely, “Tell us! Why keep targeting him?”

The two thieves, neither of whom were particularly brave, were thoroughly intimidated by Zhao Guihua. One of them whimpered, “We thought you looked weak and easy to handle…”

The crowd grew even angrier.

“How could you do such a thing?”

“Exactly!”

“You’re really something.”

“This young man’s right. If you’ve got the guts, go after the corrupt rich people. What’s the point of bullying the poor and sick?”

Though the family had only moved in two days ago, everyone knew they were dealing with illness. The strong smell of medicine wafted through the air three times a day, which was why none of the neighbors had come to greet them. Who wanted to risk getting involved with a sick household? What if they needed to borrow money for treatment?

With that in mind, though everyone knew new neighbors had arrived, no one had made an effort to reach out.

“We’ll never do it again! Waaah!”

“That’s right, we’ll never do it again! If you catch us stealing nearby, you can break our legs! Waaah…”

Zhao Guihua’s lips twitched. “Not stealing nearby? So you’ll go farther away?” She rolled her eyes but said nothing more as the two cousins continued wailing.

The man from the family stepped forward and said, “Miss, I know this is my boys’ fault. They’re young and foolish, but I promise this is the first and last time. If anything like this happens again, I’ll break their legs myself! Please, I beg you.”

The middle-aged man knelt down. He could tell that, while men usually took charge in families, this young woman was clearly the one calling the shots here.

“Dad!”

“Uncle!”

The man spoke earnestly, “I also promise our neighbors that I’ll keep a close eye on these two troublemakers. I won’t let you down or cause you any more trouble.”

Zhao Guihua paused and glanced at Old Man Zhuang.

Old Man Zhuang sighed and said, “Let it go this time.”

He looked at the kneeling man and added, “This is the only chance.”

“Thank you, thank you so much. I’ll make sure these brats behave…”

Zhao Guihua snorted and lowered her stick. The old woman hurried to help the two thieves to their feet.

Zhao Guihua turned to Old Man Zhuang and muttered, “You’re too kind…”

Old Man Zhuang was silent for a moment before saying softly, “I was thinking of my father. If he were still here, he’d have stood up for me like this too.”

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Guihua fell silent upon hearing these words. If her father were still alive, he would have stood up for her. Despite being a girl, her father had treated her and her brother equally well. Zhao Guihua sighed and said, "Forget it."

The middle-aged man was genuinely afraid of this little nun losing her temper. Seeing her let it go, he quickly stepped forward to help the two young men, both of whom had been beaten black and blue. They wouldn’t recover without resting for at least a month.

Still, he felt a sense of relief. Fortunately, he had acted decisively; otherwise, this little nun might have killed someone. She was truly fierce.

They apologized repeatedly and hurriedly left.

After the others had gone, the people in the courtyard also dispersed. They had work to do the next day and couldn’t afford to waste more energy. Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang went inside the house. Zhao Guihua lit a candle and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Old Man Zhuang coughed and said, "I’m fine."

In fact, he found it quite strange. Just a few days ago, he had felt so ill that he thought he wouldn’t make it, his mind foggy and dizzy. But ever since she came back to find him, he felt like he was recovering much faster.

He believed that Zhao Guihua was his lucky star, the best thing that had ever happened to him.

He had never met such a wonderful girl before.

He sat down on the kang, still a bit uneasy, and asked, "Do you think they’ll come back for revenge?"

Zhao Guihua thought for a moment and said, "Probably not. Those two don’t seem like the bold type. Besides, that man seemed reasonable—though, of course, he might have been pretending. But since they’re living in this area, even if he’s faking it, he wouldn’t go too far. So we don’t need to worry too much."

Old Man Zhuang nodded. "I think so too. It’s just that old lady in their family who’s a bit troublesome."

Zhao Guihua snorted. "I’m not afraid of her. There are plenty of unreasonable old ladies like that in our village. My grandma always said not to give them any face. If it comes to a fight, so be it. Who’s afraid of whom?"

Old Man Zhuang chuckled softly.

Zhao Guihua felt a little embarrassed by his laughter but tried to play it off. "Let’s sleep early. We won’t get up too early tomorrow. We’ll go deal with that restaurant in a few days."

Old Man Zhuang laughed again, though he wasn’t sure why he was so happy. He just kept grinning foolishly. "Alright," he said.

He glanced at Zhao Guihua, then at her shaved head, and whispered, "You sure know how to talk big."

Zhao Guihua’s face turned slightly red. "If I talk big, people won’t dare to cause trouble. Isn’t that good?"

She lay down on the kang as well. Last night, there had been a bit of tension between them, but after the fight today, she felt more relaxed and at ease. She said, "My reputation for being fierce is going to spread now."

Old Man Zhuang smiled. "I know. You’re actually really kind-hearted."

Zhao Guihua pouted but soon asked curiously, "Is it just you and your dad in your family? I’ve never heard you mention your mom."

Old Man Zhuang replied, "She passed away when I was little. She lost a lot of blood giving birth to me, and her health was never good after that. She didn’t last more than a couple of years. I was too young to remember much. I grew up with my dad. There’s no one else in our family."

Zhao Guihua softly said, "Oh."

Old Man Zhuang continued, "I need to rest and recover these next few days, then find a job. We can’t just sit around and do nothing."

Zhao Guihua twitched her lips, wanting to say something but holding back.

Old Man Zhuang added, "I’ve been thinking. I can’t keep working as a waiter. It’s not a long-term solution. I need to find something more stable, something I can do for a long time." Originally, he had thought any job would do, but now he had bigger plans. Being a waiter was too unstable.

In the future... he couldn’t help stealing a glance at Zhao Guihua. If they were to start a family, having a proper skill would be much better. Otherwise, he could be fired at any moment, and how would he support a wife and children?

A man had to be able to provide for his family.

He blew out the candle, and the room fell quiet, but Old Man Zhuang could still feel Zhao Guihua’s gaze.

Zhao Guihua blinked at him. He said, "When I earn money, I’ll give it to you." As he spoke, he glanced at her, his face burning hot. He was glad he had blown out the candle; otherwise, she would have seen how red his face was. He didn’t need a mirror to know he was blushing furiously.

Zhao Guihua tilted her head. "Why would you give me your money?"

Old Man Zhuang mumbled something incoherent. Zhao Guihua raised her voice slightly. "I can’t hear what you’re saying."

Old Man Zhuang looked at her again and, after some thought, found an excuse. "You paid for my treatment and rented this place for us to live. I need to pay you back."

Zhao Guihua said, "Oh."

Old Man Zhuang thought for another moment and added, "I should pay you back double. You’ve also been cooking for me, all those good meals I haven’t had in years."

Zhao Guihua said, "Oh, oh."

Seeing that she didn’t object, Old Man Zhuang laughed, feeling extremely happy. "I’ll definitely recover quickly."

Zhao Guihua said, "Mm."

She glanced at him, noticing how his joy was written all over his face. Even without the candle, the moonlight revealed his happiness. Zhao Guihua pursed her lips and, for some reason, smiled softly too. Then she scratched her head, feeling a strange, indescribable emotion, and closed her eyes.

Perhaps because they had slept late, it was already noon when they woke up the next day. Zhao Guihua, with her shaved head, came out to cook and prepare medicine. By then, the neighbors in the courtyard had come over to greet them. After last night’s events, they were all acquainted now.

"Miss, what’s your name?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "I’m Zhao Guihua, and that’s my cousin, Zhuang Haoren. He’s got a nickname—Old Man Zhuang."

Since they were bound to ask, Zhao Guihua decided to volunteer the information.

"What’s wrong with your cousin?"

Zhao Guihua said, "It’s just a cold, but it got worse after being neglected for a few days. It’s nothing serious, though. He’s been taking medicine and is already feeling much better."

In no time, Zhao Guihua had struck up a rapport with the neighbors, and she managed to gather quite a bit of information about the area. As the eldest in her family, Zhao Guihua had a natural knack for dealing with people, her straightforwardness shining through.

She asked about others but also shared a bit about her own family.

She didn’t say much, but the neighbors learned that Old Man Zhuang had been working as a waiter but was fired because of his illness and even lost his place to live. This led to some sympathetic grumbling.

These were the kinds of hardships poor families like theirs often faced.

Zhao Guihua said, "He had nowhere to go. The inn thought his illness was bad luck, so they kicked him out. He ended up staying at a porter’s lodge, but because he was so sickly, he got targeted. Honestly, families like ours don’t have much money. It’s the landlords who are truly rich."

"Exactly," someone agreed.

After Zhao Guihua finished preparing the medicine and brought it inside, the others went about making lunch, and the gathering dispersed.

Zhao Guihua had prepared a meat porridge, but fortunately, the strong medicinal smell masked the aroma of the porridge. She took out some steamed buns she had made a few days earlier and ate them with the porridge. Old Man Zhuang asked, "Are the people in this courtyard easy to get along with?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "It's fine. Everyone minds their own business."

Old Man Zhuang sipped the porridge carefully and said, "You're right."

After a pause, he added, "This porridge is really delicious."

Zhao Guihua responded, "Of course it's delicious. It's made with white rice and has meat in it. Back in my family, we could only have this kind of porridge on New Year's mornings, and even then, there wasn’t as much rice as this."

Old Man Zhuang nodded, "Indeed, rice that’s not good doesn’t taste nice."

Truth be told, both Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang felt a pang of guilt. This was fine grain, after all. But Zhao Guihua knew that Old Man Zhuang was ill and needed good food to recover. If he was eating well, how could she settle for anything less?

She believed that she, too, needed to nourish herself. Being strong and healthy would allow her to live a better life. Without strength, what could she possibly achieve?

As a young woman, she had to be able to protect herself. She had always acted tough and fierce, which was her way of self-preservation. Otherwise, as a lone girl, anyone could take advantage of her.

Now, things were different. Because of her tough demeanor, people spoke to her with a certain level of respect.

After lunch, Old Man Zhuang dutifully took his medicine.

As the old saying goes, "Illness strikes like a landslide, but recovery is as slow as pulling silk." This was certainly true for Old Man Zhuang. Previously, he had been lethargic and weak every day, but after taking his medicine seriously for three to five days, he quickly improved.

Although he had recovered, their meals remained hearty. Zhao Guihua earnestly said, "The doctor mentioned that both you and I are physically depleted. If conditions allow, we should eat well and nourish ourselves."

Since Old Man Zhuang had recovered, it was time to check his pulse again. Zhao Guihua also had her condition examined, and unsurprisingly, she too was physically depleted.

In these times, who wasn’t depleted?

But Zhao Guihua decided to focus on nourishing herself. Since she hadn’t brought up the topic of him leaving, Old Man Zhuang was quite pleased.

Once he recovered, he immediately started looking for work. Jobs were hard to come by these days, and after several days of fruitless searching, Old Man Zhuang felt disheartened. He said, "If nothing else, I’ll go back to being a shop assistant."

Such jobs were relatively easier to find, especially since he had experience.

Zhao Guihua said, "Let’s wait a bit longer."

After a pause, she looked at Old Man Zhuang and asked, "When are you planning to leave?"

Old Man Zhuang froze, pursed his lips, and lowered his head like a forsaken dog. Seeing him so dejected, Zhao Guihua felt a bit uneasy. But… they were merely strangers who happened to cross paths, not real relatives.

She poked at her food, her mind in turmoil.

If she didn’t bring it up, he would still have to leave eventually.

Zhao Guihua remained silent, and Old Man Zhuang felt a chill in his heart. He pursed his lips and said, "I… I still owe you money. I need to repay you before I leave. Can I stay until then?"

He had finally found an excuse.

Zhao Guihua was silent for a long time before softly murmuring in agreement. Although she had initiated the conversation, she too felt uncomfortable. Hearing that he had a "reason" to stay a little longer, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then let’s wait a bit longer."

Old Man Zhuang immediately nodded, also relieved.

He lowered his head and continued eating, saying, "I’ve been eating so well every day. I should pay for my share of the meals. I owe you so much money, so much."

He hoped it would be an amount he could never fully repay, so he wouldn’t have to leave.

Zhao Guihua grunted softly, "Well, alright then."

While Old Man Zhuang diligently searched for work, Zhao Guihua quietly wandered near Wang Er’s house. There, she noticed that the door had been sealed. She lowered her eyes, realizing that the place had been discovered.

It wasn’t surprising, though. It had been kept hidden for long enough.

It was impossible to keep it completely under wraps.

Although people died every day in the city, this incident had caused quite a stir in the neighborhood. The family had been notorious for their cruelty, and everyone knew they were no good. Now that they had been dealt with, it brought a sense of justice to many.

People chatted about it with glee. Who wouldn’t be happy when a menace was removed?

The brothers had been truly wicked. It was said that a body had even been dug up from their courtyard.

Zhao Guihua thought, "...So Aunt Tooth was buried in the courtyard after all."

But Zhao Guihua could only say they deserved it. When they were scheming against others, they probably never imagined they’d be silenced like this.

There were all sorts of rumors about what had happened—some said it was revenge, others claimed it was a robbery, and some even believed it was the work of vengeful spirits. But the most popular theory was robbery, as the house had been ransacked.

Zhao Guihua thought to herself, "...It was me."

She had many thoughts, but since the place had been discovered, she would never return. After buying groceries, she headed home and found Old Man Zhuang waiting for her, his face beaming with joy. "Guihua, I found a job!" he exclaimed excitedly.

He was overjoyed and said, "I heard that the machinery factory is hiring apprentices, and I got accepted!"

Zhao Guihua was curious, "What does the machinery factory do?"

Old Man Zhuang explained, "They make mechanical parts. I don’t really know the specifics yet, but as an apprentice, they’ll teach me everything from the start."

Zhao Guihua, being from the countryside, wasn’t familiar with such things, but Old Man Zhuang, being a city dweller, knew about the factory. He said, "The factory is owned by Master Zhang. He’s a good man, well-known in the city for his kindness and fair treatment of workers. Getting accepted there is really lucky."

Zhao Guihua was infected by his joy and said, "That’s wonderful."

Old Man Zhuang nodded, "Absolutely. The conditions there aren’t harsh either. As an apprentice, I’ll earn ten copper coins a month, and they’ll provide three meals a day. Once I’ve learned the trade, not only will my salary increase, but I’ll also be able to rent factory housing at a discount."

Ten copper coins were very little, but for an apprentice, it was already fortunate to receive any payment, let alone three meals a day. In many places, apprentices weren’t paid at all and had to work for their masters for three years before earning anything.

So this was truly a great opportunity.

However, some poorer families couldn’t afford to take the risk, as they couldn’t predict how long it would take to become a full-time worker. Going months without contributing to the household income was untenable for them. Fortunately, Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang were in a position to manage.

Many households have fixed monthly incomes, barely making ends meet, with no room for error. Only those with relatively stable conditions, or families with other breadwinners, could afford to send someone to become an apprentice.

Being an apprentice is a good opportunity, but not everyone has the chance.

Old Man Zhuang was willing to take this step, almost as a last resort. He believed that enduring a period of hardship would lead to a better life in the future, and that was all he hoped for. Moreover, he had already thought about finding ways to supplement the family income.

He said earnestly, "I will work hard as an apprentice and strive to become a full-time worker as soon as possible."

Zhao Guihua replied, "Good."

Old Man Zhuang continued, "This apprenticeship doesn’t pay much. I’ve thought about it, and I’ll go to the outskirts of the city after work every day to help carry manure. There’s always work like that, so we can earn a bit more." His eyes sparkled as he said, "I can support… support the family."

Hearing this, Zhao Guihua’s face flushed slightly. "What are you talking about? Supporting the family?"

Old Man Zhuang looked at her rosy cheeks and couldn’t help but say, "We’re a family."

Zhao Guihua’s face turned even redder as she retorted, "Who’s a family with you?"

For once, the usually bold Zhao Guihua displayed a hint of girlish shyness.

Old Man Zhuang lowered his head, embarrassed, and stammered, "I… I… I…"

He gathered his courage and blurted out, "I like you."

Zhao Guihua looked up abruptly and saw his bright eyes, his face red with anticipation. He seemed to be holding his breath, as if he might faint at any moment.

Zhao Guihua mumbled, "What do you like about me? I’m so fierce."

"I just like you. I don’t even know why, but I just think you’re great. I like how capable you are, even when you’re fierce. I like how kind-hearted you are, always helping me. And I like how… how pretty you are." Old Man Zhuang felt like he was burning up, but he kept his gaze fixed on Zhao Guihua.

Though he was usually timid, he was resolute when it came to important matters. He repeated earnestly, "I really like you. You’re so beautiful and so kind."

Zhao Guihua twisted her fingers together and said, "How do I know if you’re telling the truth?"

"It’s true!" Old Man Zhuang quickly replied. "If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning. I’m not lying to you. I mean every word."

Zhao Guihua looked into his eyes and said, "I… I need to think about it…"

She was actually quite flustered.

This was the first time someone had said such things to her. Was she… really pretty?

She bit her lip, her heart a mess of emotions—nervousness and a small, secret joy. She didn’t know why she felt this joy, but she couldn’t help smiling. She bit her lip harder to suppress the grin.

Old Man Zhuang nodded seriously. "Okay, take your time. I won’t pressure you. But… but you know how I feel."

He gave a silly smile and added, "I’ll work hard."

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Guihua looked up. "Don’t go to the outskirts to carry manure anymore."

She said, "You’ve just recovered from your illness. Don’t overwork yourself."

Old Man Zhuang grew anxious. "If I don’t go, we won’t have enough for the rent each month. It’s hard for you to find work, and I…"

Before he could finish, Zhao Guihua interrupted, "Didn’t you give me a silver dollar? I still have some savings. The rent is covered for a few months. As for food, we have enough at home. You also get three meals at the factory. If we calculate carefully, our expenses are minimal. It’s not that I’m worried about you, but… but if you push yourself too hard and get sick again, what then? Medical treatment is expensive. Besides, if you’re exhausted after work, you won’t be able to focus on your studies, and that will slow down your promotion. It’s better to put all your energy into learning and aim for an early promotion. Once you’re promoted, you’ll earn more."

She twisted her fingers even more tightly, her hands entwined. "If your health fails, I won’t marry you."

Old Man Zhuang was stunned for a moment, then immediately beamed with joy. "I knew it! I knew you liked me too. You’re even thinking about marriage."

Zhao Guihua: "…"

Her face turned red as she spat out, "Who’s thinking about that? Stop talking nonsense."

She waved her fist. "If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll hit you."

Old Man Zhuang chuckled, his laughter filled with delight. When he finally stopped, he said seriously, "I’ll work hard and strive for an early promotion."

Zhao Guihua: "Hmm."

She added firmly, "Don’t go carrying manure. Focus on your studies. That’s what really matters."

Old Man Zhuang thought for a moment and nodded vigorously. "Okay."

He did the math. Although skipping odd jobs while being an apprentice would make things tighter, Zhao Guihua was right. If he ruined his health, it would all be for nothing. He knew how important a healthy body was.

After all, he had been fired from his previous job because of his illness.

So he found Zhao Guihua’s reasoning very sound.

She was really smart.

Though he had some education, he felt Zhao Guihua was even smarter.

Zhao Guihua said, "We have enough grain at home, and we can cut back on buying vegetables. I can gather some wild greens. Other than that, the main expense is the rent. It’s not too bad, actually."

She didn’t mention the small gold bars and silver dollars she had stashed away.

Though she trusted Old Man Zhuang, they hadn’t known each other for long. It was better to be cautious. Those were her safety nets, to be used only in desperate times.

Old Man Zhuang said, "Then I’ll start gathering firewood when I have time. We can stockpile it slowly, so we won’t have to worry in winter."

Zhao Guihua: "Good."

The two quickly came to an agreement, and Old Man Zhuang soon started his apprenticeship. He was assigned to riveting work. He was diligent and learned quickly. In most places, becoming an apprentice required currying favor with the master.

Without offering cigarettes or alcohol, one wouldn’t learn much.

Fortunately, Master Zhang’s workshop had a good atmosphere. He wouldn’t tolerate anyone withholding knowledge, as skilled workers were essential for high productivity. If a senior worker tried to play games, Master Zhang would make sure they regretted it.

Though Master Zhang was known as a kind man, he was still a businessman.

In these times, those who made big money were no saints.

Old Man Zhuang seized this opportunity and became a skilled worker in just three months. As for finer skills, those would come with time and practice. But as a first-level worker, Old Man Zhuang had achieved that in three months.

Among those who joined the factory at the same time, he was the fastest learner and the first to be promoted. Now that he was no longer an apprentice, his income increased significantly. He truly realized how right Zhao Guihua had been. His new salary was double what he had earned as a waiter.

He received the news of his early promotion and was so overjoyed that he couldn’t help but dance around, a rare moment of losing his composure. After finishing work, he immediately rushed back home. Zhao Guihua had gone out during the day to forage for vegetables, as she had truly come to understand the hardships women faced after moving to the city.

She had always heard that there were plenty of jobs in the city, but in reality, there were hardly any opportunities for women.

The next day, she busied herself with household chores. After gathering the vegetables, she dried some of them to prepare for the winter.

“Guihua, Guihua, I’m back!”

Old Man Zhuang rushed in, brimming with excitement. “Listen, I’ve been promoted! From now on, I’ll have a steady income. I’ll have money!!!”

Zhao Guihua was overjoyed to hear this. “Ah, that’s wonderful!”

Old Man Zhuang nodded vigorously. “We won’t have to struggle so much anymore.”

Heaven knew how anxious he had been, but now, everything was finally looking up.

Zhao Guihua was infected by his joy and began to bounce around with him. “You’re really amazing.”

Old Man Zhuang: “I only got promoted so quickly because I listened to you!”

Zhao Guihua: “You’re the one who’s capable. What did I have to do with it?”

“Of course you did! You’re the one who told me to focus all my energy…”

He rambled on, and Zhao Guihua couldn’t help but smile. Old Man Zhuang was speaking with great enthusiasm, but suddenly, he became a bit shy. He seemed embarrassed yet earnest as he said, “Now that I’ve been promoted, what about… what about us?”

Zhao Guihua was a straightforward girl. Truth be told, she had long held feelings for Old Man Zhuang.

Old Man Zhuang thought she was kind and wonderful, but she felt the same way about him.

She had been in the city for many days, and he was the only one who had extended a helping hand to her. Even when the situation was unclear, he had let her into his home despite her being covered in blood. When he was fired from his job because she had fallen ill with typhoid, he never complained.

If anyone was kind, she believed it was Old Man Zhuang.

She looked up at him, noticing how nervous he was. For some reason, his nervousness made her feel calm. She smiled softly and said, “You won’t regret it, will you?”

Old Man Zhuang: “Only a fool would regret it.”

Then he quickly realized what she meant and stammered, “Y-you… you’re saying yes, aren’t you? You’re agreeing, right?”

Zhao Guihua burst into laughter. When she finally stopped, she said softly, “I agree.”

Old Man Zhuang was ecstatic, almost running out the door in his excitement. He babbled incoherently, “This is amazing, truly amazing! I knew it, I knew you liked me. I like you too. We’ll have a good life together. We… we’ll…”

His words were a jumbled mess, but his joy made his feelings clear.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Zhao Guihua was also incredibly happy. Now that everything was out in the open, she felt a sense of clarity and relief.

She hadn’t expected to find a man to marry so soon, but meeting Old Man Zhuang had brought her unexpected happiness. She smiled, her heart and eyes filled with joy.

However, she soon thought of something and spoke up.

She said seriously, “It hasn’t even been a year since my parents passed away. I need to observe the mourning period for a full year. Even if we marry, it will have to be next year.”

Old Man Zhuang understood her meaning immediately and said, “Then I’ll wait for you. Once the mourning period is over, we’ll get married. We’ll get married, okay?”

Now that their feelings were out in the open, marriage was the natural next step.

He looked at Zhao Guihua carefully, afraid she might refuse, and assured her, “I’ll work hard to improve my skills, earn more money, and take good care of our family.”

Zhao Guihua puffed out her cheeks and nodded firmly.

“Okay.”

She said resolutely, “Okay.”

Old Man Zhuang immediately broke into a wide smile.

Both of them were ordinary, hardworking people, struggling to make ends meet. Yet, they both felt a renewed sense of purpose in life. Old Man Zhuang had been alone for many years, his days monotonous and without much hope. It felt like he was just counting the days, unsure of the future. But after meeting Zhao Guihua, his life suddenly became vibrant. He began to imagine a better future and looked forward to it.

As for Zhao Guihua… she was the same. Her family had suffered a great tragedy, and for a long time, her desire for revenge had kept her going. In her most desperate moments, it was Old Man Zhuang who had extended a helping hand. She had never said it out loud, but she had always been moved by him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so determined to return to him.

In this era, there wasn’t much room for grand romances. Both of them were alone, and their mutual affection quickly blossomed into love. They leaned on each other and found solace in their companionship. Though there weren’t many sweet words exchanged, both of them felt a deep sense of security.

Old Man Zhuang: “The factory also has housing for rent, but there’s a waiting list. Now that I’ve been promoted, I can sign up. Once it’s our turn, we can rent a cheaper place.”

Old Man Zhuang continued, “From now on, I’ll earn half a silver dollar a month. We’ll be able to live comfortably and have enough to eat.”

He added, “Once the mourning period is over next year, we’ll get married. We’ll buy some red fabric to make our wedding clothes.”

Zhao Guihua listened to his endless chatter without feeling annoyed. Instead, she smiled and said, “I understand. We’ll need to save some money and stock up on food. Even the bad guys know to store grain. We should have some too, just in case.”

“You’re right,” Old Man Zhuang said. “When I have time off, I’ll go with you to the countryside. We’ll pay our respects to your parents and your family.”

Zhao Guihua nodded. “Okay, and I’ll go with you to visit your parents’ graves too.”

Old Man Zhuang looked at Zhao Guihua, mustered his courage, and reached out to hold her hand. He said, “From now on, as long as we’re together, we’ll be able to build a good life.”

Zhao Guihua looked up at Old Man Zhuang. Instead of pulling her hand away, she smiled and nodded firmly. She looked at the man before her and said, “Okay.”

With a smile, she said resolutely, “I’ll follow your lead.”

Old Man Zhuang: “Our home will follow your lead. I’m not very capable, so you’ll be in charge. You point, and I’ll follow. I’ll listen to you.”

Zhao Guihua burst out laughing, and Old Man Zhuang raised his eyebrows innocently.

Zhao Guihua teased, “So you’ll listen to me in everything? I’ll be the one making all the decisions?”

Old Man Zhuang was completely serious. “I’ll listen to you in everything!”

Zhao Guihua: “What if I ask you to give me all your wages?”

Old Man Zhuang looked at her strangely. “Didn’t we already agree on that? I don’t know how to spend money anyway. It’s all yours! From now on, I’ll earn the money, and you’ll manage our lives.”

He said, "I wasn’t joking before, nor was I saying it just to be nice. I meant it sincerely. I’m willing to give you all my money."

After a pause, he scratched his head, speaking with a mix of shyness and sincerity, "You… you don’t mind if I don’t earn much, do you…?" At this point, he couldn’t help but glance up quickly, adding in defense, "But I’ll work hard, I promise I’ll earn more in the future…"

Zhao Guihua bit her lip, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She replied, "Then I’ll take good care of our home."

Her voice was clear and bright as she added, "From now on, we’ll live a good life together."

"Yes, a good life together!"