My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 227

*Click, click.*

Two red stamps were pressed onto the marriage certificate.

Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang, both young and flushed with excitement, carefully received the marriage certificate and tucked it away with great care.

In those days, marriage certificates were a thing. Some couples formally obtained them, while others simply held a wedding ceremony and called it a day. Since the young couple had no living relatives, even a wedding ceremony would have been without witnesses. By obtaining the marriage certificate, they finally felt truly married.

Old Man Zhuang grinned from ear to ear, saying, “We’re married now. It’s wonderful. We’re finally married!”

Now he had a family of his own. Zhao Guihua also smiled, her joy uncontainable. “Let’s go. We’ll move our things today,” she said.

Old Man Zhuang hesitated. “Are we really moving today? It’s our wedding day. Won’t it be too tiring?”

He had applied for housing at the factory, and after waiting for over half a year, he was finally assigned a place—a small courtyard house in Xinghua Lane. He had just received the keys the day before. “We could move tomorrow…” he suggested.

Zhao Guihua shook her head. “I asked Blind Li from the alley. He said today is an auspicious day—perfect for both marriage and moving. Besides, we don’t have much else to do. Let’s move today and settle in early. It’ll save us trouble later.”

Seeing her determination, Old Man Zhuang nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

The newlyweds didn’t linger. They quickly returned to their rented place to gather their belongings. Their possessions were few, so they rented a flatbed cart and loaded everything onto it. Two trips would be enough to move everything. Together, they pushed the cart and soon arrived at No. 44 Xinghua Lane.

At the entrance, Zhao Guihua took a deep breath as she looked at their new home. It was far better than their rented room. The house was larger and more comfortable, yet thanks to Old Man Zhuang’s position at the machinery factory, the rent was even cheaper.

Overwhelmed with joy, Zhao Guihua said, “Let’s go.”

As they pushed the cart into the courtyard, a sharp voice called out, “Who are you looking for?”

A woman holding a baby stood there, eyeing Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang. Zhao Guihua glanced back, taking in the woman’s fiery demeanor. She replied crisply, “We’re the new tenants. This is my husband.”

Old Man Zhuang, far from the old man he would become decades later, was a clean-cut young man. Though age would later take its toll, in his youth, he and Zhao Guihua were quite a handsome pair. Not stunningly beautiful, but certainly pleasant-looking.

It made sense, as the Zhuang family’s three children were all good-looking, clearly taking after their parents. Despite their attractive appearances, Zhao Guihua’s sharp gaze hinted that she was not someone to be trifled with.

As Zhao Guihua observed the woman, the woman did the same. After a moment, the woman introduced herself, “My husband’s surname is Zhou. He works at the machinery factory too. My name is Li. Some call me Sister-in-law Zhou, others Madam Li or Madam Zhou Li. This is my son. He’s seven months old.”

Zhao Guihua nodded. “Sister-in-law Zhou, we’ll catch up later. We’re still in the middle of moving.”

They found their new home—a side room in the front courtyard. It was a single room, but larger than their previous rental. Zhao Guihua stepped inside, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction. “This is great. We can even divide this into two rooms,” she said.

Old Man Zhuang nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely. We can build a partition here and add a door. The inner room can be for sleeping, and the outer one for cooking and eating. It’ll be perfect.”

He looked at his wife with bright eyes. “What do you think? We can start working on it today.”

Zhao Guihua agreed. “Sounds good.”

Old Man Zhuang said, “Then I’ll go get the rest of our things. You stay here and rest.”

Zhao Guihua shot him a look. “Don’t talk nonsense. Of course, I’ll go with you.”

They had known each other for a year now. Though they hadn’t been married before, they had lived together under the same roof, relying on each other. He had always been good to her, and she wasn’t the type to take advantage of his kindness. She wouldn’t let him shoulder the heavy work alone.

“Pushing the cart alone is too much for you. I’ll help. It’ll be easier for both of us. Let’s go,” she said decisively.

Old Man Zhuang was touched but didn’t know how to express it. He simply nodded and followed her out. As they left, they encountered a pregnant woman stepping out of her house. Her belly was large, and she looked as though she could give birth any day. She had a delicate, almost timid demeanor. Seeing them, she offered a soft, shy smile and asked in a gentle voice, “Are you the new neighbors?”

Zhao Guihua nodded and introduced herself again. The pregnant woman, Sister-in-law Su, said softly, "My husband's surname is Su, so you can call me Sister-in-law Su." She didn’t mention her own name at all.

The two of them didn’t linger to chat with others and soon headed out again. Meanwhile, Sister-in-law Zhou and Sister-in-law Su gathered together to discuss the new neighbors. However, what they talked about, Zhao Guihua didn’t know, and even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared much.

They quickly finished their second trip moving and handed the house keys to the landlord, who happened to be the old doctor from Huichun Hall. His house was always in demand, so he happily congratulated the young couple and accepted their wedding candies.

Nowadays, candies were quite expensive. Even for their wedding, the couple had bought only a small amount, distributing them sparingly to a few acquaintances. As they pushed their cart back, they noticed that more people had gathered in the Apricot Blossom Courtyard. Among them, a tall, cheerful woman with a big smile said, "I live in the backyard. My husband’s surname is Li, and my surname is Wang. My name is Wang Xiaocao."

She was also pregnant, though not as far along as Sister-in-law Su, likely a few months behind.

Zhao Guihua smiled and greeted her, preparing to leave, when suddenly there was a loud clatter—something had fallen and shattered.

Everyone turned to look and saw Sister-in-law Zhou standing by the cart, rummaging through their belongings. She hadn’t broken anything herself, but her son, whom she was carrying, had knocked over a box with his little hands, causing a bowl to fall to the ground and shatter.

The scene fell silent instantly. Zhao Guihua immediately turned her gaze to Sister-in-law Zhou.

Sister-in-law Zhou looked somewhat embarrassed but tried to play it off casually, saying, "Look at how carelessly these things are placed. It just fell on its own—what a fright!"

She was quick to shift the blame.

But Zhao Guihua wasn’t one to be trifled with. If she let herself be pushed around right after moving in, it would never end.

She sneered and said, "A fright? That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? Are you trying to bully us just because we’re new here? My things were perfectly fine on the cart—what business did you have touching them? You’re the one who caused this mess, and now you’re trying to play the victim? Look at this bowl—it’s practically brand new, not a single chip on it, and you’ve gone and ruined it. I don’t want to make a big deal out of this since I’m new here, but you owe me the cost of this bowl."

Sister-in-law Zhou’s face turned pale, then red with anger. She snorted sharply and retorted, "What’s wrong with you? Accusing me right off the bat? You’re so unreasonable!"

Zhao Guihua didn’t back down. "You broke my things, and now you’re calling me unreasonable? Do you think being loud makes you right?"

She rolled up her sleeves and said, "It’s true that I’m new here, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let anyone push me around."

"You—!"

At this point, Sister-in-law Li, Wang Xiaocao, stepped in. "Sister-in-law Zhou, I saw it all. It was your Little Zhouqun who knocked over the bowl. Just pay up and be done with it. Times are tough for everyone—you can’t just damage someone’s things and not make it right."

Sister-in-law Zhou was furious. "Whose side are you on? We’re neighbors! And besides, what does a child know?"

"Children may not know better, but it’s the adults who set the example. If the adults had any sense, they wouldn’t be causing trouble like this," Zhao Guihua shot back without hesitation.

Wang Xiaocao also chimed in, "You’re my neighbor, and so is Zhao Guihua. I’m just speaking the truth. Fair is fair."

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Sister-in-law Zhou was seething. She had hoped to rally the other women in the courtyard to put the newcomers in their place, but before she could even get started, Wang Xiaocao had already switched sides.

"Fine! I won’t pay a single cent! What are you going to do about it? You shouldn’t have left your things in the courtyard anyway!" Sister-in-law Zhou sneered, glaring at Zhao Guihua.

Without a second thought, Zhao Guihua marched straight to Sister-in-law Zhou’s house and smashed a window with a loud crash.

Sister-in-law Zhou stared in disbelief, then flew into a rage. She set her son down and charged at Zhao Guihua, screaming, "How dare you break my window!"

She lunged forward, trying to scratch Zhao Guihua, but Zhao Guihua grabbed her by the hair and punched her squarely.

"Damn!"

"Stop fighting!"

"Oh my goodness!"

"What are you doing?!"

"You can’t just hit people! That’s not right!"

"Yeah, people like this shouldn’t be allowed in our courtyard!"

The commotion drew the attention of the entire courtyard. A dark-skinned woman from the house next to the Zhou family peeked out, saw the fight, and quickly ducked back inside.

Zhao Guihua stood in the courtyard, neither submissive nor overbearing, her voice clear and crisp: "We moved here with the factory's permission. It's our first day moving in, and you all are already ganging up to bully us? So this is how the old-timers treat newcomers, huh? What? She smashed our family's rice bowl, refused to compensate, and now I can't even retaliate? Is it fair that the officials can set fires while the common folk aren't even allowed to light a lamp? She just yelled at me and bullied me, and you all turned a blind eye. Well, I won't let it slide. I don't need her to compensate for the rice bowl anymore. But I’m making it clear: whoever breaks my rice bowl, I’ll break their window. Tit for tat. As for hitting people… she threw the first punch. Am I just supposed to take it? Is that how the world works?"

Old Man Zhuang nodded beside her and said, "My wife is right. Everyone knows moving day is carefully chosen. Smashing our rice bowl on the very first day? Is that a good omen? If this happened to you, would you be okay with it? Even if my wife hadn’t hit her, I wouldn’t have let it go. We moved into the workers' compound, not a den of bandits. What, you all want to gang up and bully the new neighbors? That’s not how it works."

"You…" Sister-in-law Zhou, who had taken a punch and had her window smashed, could see that this young couple wasn’t the type to be pushed around. She was so angry she started crying.

Wang Xiaocao chimed in, "Why are you crying? Who smashes someone’s rice bowl on moving day? That’s just bad luck."

Her words struck a chord with everyone, and they all agreed it was indeed an unlucky thing to do.

Wang Xiaocao continued, "You’re the type to stir up trouble but can’t handle the fallout. I see both sides are heated, but we’re neighbors, after all. We’ll be living in the same compound, so let’s not make a big deal out of this. Let’s just call it even—you broke their rice bowl, they broke your window. We’re all from the same factory, coworkers who’ll see each other every day. There’s no need for this. Can’t we just take a step back?"

It had to be said, Wang Xiaocao was already showing signs of being a natural mediator. She managed to calm everyone down, saying, "Distant relatives aren’t as helpful as close neighbors. Who knows when we might need to rely on each other? Let’s not ruin the mood over something like this. Zhao Guihua, right? Moving is supposed to be a happy occasion. Sure, the bowl’s broken, but it’s a small thing. Let’s not turn a joyful event into a fight. Don’t take it to heart with Sister-in-law Zhou. She’s always been like this."

Then she turned to Sister-in-law Zhou and said, "You were in the wrong first. What’s the point of denying it when everyone saw what happened? You can’t just argue your way out of it. Look at you, arguing and ignoring your child. What’s more important than your kid? I’ll watch your child for you. Go get your window fixed. You can’t leave it like that overnight. It’s cold, and you’ll just end up spending more money if someone gets sick."

It was May, but the nights were still chilly.

Sister-in-law Zhou stomped her foot, snorted, and said, "Fine, I’ll go buy a new pane of glass."

Zhao Guihua also snorted. At this time, Zhao Guihua was still a young woman, full of youthful vigor. She retorted and then started moving their belongings inside. Old Man Zhuang whispered, "Do you think we made too big a deal out of this?"

Zhao Guihua thought for a moment and shook her head. "No, she was in the wrong from the start. She had no right to blame us. If we’d backed down, it would’ve never ended. But now that I’ve fought back, they’ll think twice before messing with us again. At least they’ll know we’re not easy to bully, even if we’re young."

Old Man Zhuang nodded, agreeing with his wife.

That’s just how it was. If you showed any weakness, countless leeches would swarm you. That was the harsh reality of the old society.

Even if making a scene didn’t look good, it was better than being a pushover.

Old Man Zhuang said, "I’ll go buy some bricks and divide the room into two sections."

Zhao Guihua replied, "Good. I’ll stay here and tidy up."

The two quickly divided the tasks. Wang Xiaocao, holding her belly, came over and said, "We’re all neighbors, not unreasonable people. If you need anything in the future, just call me. My husband works as a cook in the machinery factory. Your husband’s in the workshop, right?"

Zhao Guihua nodded. "Yes, he’s a riveter in the workshop."

She looked at Wang Xiaocao curiously and asked, "How far along are you?"

Wang Xiaocao smiled. "I’m six months pregnant."

Zhao Guihua said, "I see there’s another pregnant woman in the courtyard…"

"Oh, she’s almost due. She’ll give birth in less than a month. Be careful not to bump into her."

Zhao Guihua replied, "Got it."

She smiled and said, "Am I really that impulsive?"

"You? Impulsive? You're the most impulsive little wife I've ever met," Wang Xiaocao said with genuine sincerity. "You're something else."

Zhao Guihua scratched her head. "Do I come off like a shrew?"

"Not at all. Since when do shrews look as good as you?"

Zhao Guihua burst into laughter, and Wang Xiaocao joined in. Though it was their first meeting, their straightforward personalities made them feel like old friends. From that day on, their friendship lasted for decades.

"Honestly, being a bit fierce is the right move. Sister-in-law Zhou is the type who bullies the weak but fears the strong. If you show her you're not to be messed with, she won't dare bother you again. But if she senses weakness, she'll never let up."

As neighbors, Wang Xiaocao was well aware of Sister-in-law Zhou's temperament.

Zhao Guihua asked, "So, I did the right thing?"

"Absolutely."

The two quickly fell into conversation, and before long, Zhao Guihua had a good grasp of the courtyard's dynamics. It turned out that almost everyone in the courtyard worked at the machinery factory. Next door to her was an elderly master craftsman and his family.

Next to them was the Su family, who had gotten married the previous year. It was said that the young wife had fled from famine.

Then there was the Zhou family, a household of three, and next to them was another family with a three-month-old son named Bai Fendou. The backyard was also home to several families, though none of them were particularly large.

In these chaotic times, it was common for families to lose loved ones. Even Wang Xiaocao's family had suffered losses.

With a better understanding of the courtyard, Zhao Guihua felt more at ease. Compared to the chaotic large compound they had lived in before, this place was less complicated. Although there were more households here, with both front and back courtyards, the situation was simpler.

Most families here were workers at the machinery factory. Though they were poor, having a stable income made a big difference.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍poorer the place, the more disorderly it tended to be—that was inevitable.

In her previous courtyard, there had been incidents of stolen vegetables. Zhao Guihua never left her belongings outside, and her fierce reputation had kept her safe. Others weren't so lucky. She had heard of families losing their dried vegetables.

She could only hope things would be better here.

As they talked, Old Man Zhuang returned with a cart of bricks. Not wanting to get in the way, Wang Xiaocao excused herself, and the couple immediately set to work. With their combined effort, they quickly tidied up the house.

Zhao Guihua folded the quilts and placed them neatly in a corner of the kang (a heated brick bed). Truth be told, they weren't short on bedding, thanks to Zhao Guihua's "raid" on the Wang family. With four men in that household, there were plenty of quilts, all thick and well-stuffed.

In addition, Old Man Zhuang had his own quilt. After re-fluffing the cotton, they even managed to make two padded jackets and pants. Both Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang had their share. Thankfully, the Wang family had plenty to spare.

Once everything was in order, Zhao Guihua turned to see Old Man Zhuang shyly placing two red candles on the table. Catching her gaze, he quickly explained, "I didn't waste anything. I just thought, today's our wedding day—we can't do without red candles."

He pursed his lips, and Zhao Guihua couldn't help but laugh. "You're so thoughtful," she said.

Old Man Zhuang's face lit up with pride. "I asked around and made sure we had everything we needed for the wedding. Even though we don't have family here, we shouldn't miss out on the essentials."

Zhao Guihua nodded firmly. "Mm."

Old Man Zhuang continued, "From now on, this is our home."

Zhao Guihua nodded even more emphatically. Seeing that her hair was a mess, Old Man Zhuang stepped forward to fix it. Zhao Guihua had shaved her head the previous year, and now her hair was only long enough to tie into two little bunny tails below her ears.

Old Man Zhuang said, "The wall's done, but I couldn't find a door. For now, we can use some old clothes as a curtain. What do you think?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "I'll take care of it. Leave the windows and doors open so the wall dries faster."

"Alright."

As they busied themselves, Sister-in-law Zhou returned with someone to replace the broken glass. She was beside herself with regret—glass was far more expensive than a bowl. She considered demanding compensation but hesitated. The saying "bullies fear the strong" rang true.

This young wife had just arrived and already dared to stir up trouble. Sister-in-law Zhou wasn't sure she could handle a direct confrontation. Earlier, she had gone to their old neighborhood to ask around.

As expected, Zhao Guihua had a reputation as a shrew.

Rumors said she and her husband had nearly beaten a thief to death, and the woman wasn't afraid to wield a kitchen knife. The more Sister-in-law Zhou thought about it, the more she realized she was out of her depth. People called her feisty, but this level of ferocity was beyond her.

Moreover, it was said that this young woman was even fiercer than her husband, as she had trained specifically for it. After Sister-in-law Zhou heard all this, she truly didn’t dare offend them anymore. She gritted her teeth, feeling that she had handled things poorly today and had come out at a loss.

She was someone who couldn’t keep things to herself, and soon everyone in the compound knew about it—the newly arrived couple was quite formidable. That Zhao Guihua, she was even trained in martial arts.

Who would have known that Zhao Guihua shaved her head just to get rid of lice? No one knew. But under her own misleading, she had turned into a legendary master. Well, you know how it goes…

After all, bragging isn’t against the law!

Before the day was over, the entire compound knew their “secrets,” and Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang had bought some pork head meat and a roasted chicken. Zhao Guihua also made dumplings.

Today wasn’t just their housewarming celebration; it was also their wedding day. Both of them dressed up in their finest clothes. Zhao Guihua wore a red blouse, and Old Man Zhuang put on his newly tailored outfit.

Old Man Zhuang happily touched his new clothes and said, “Wife, you’re so good to me.”

Zhao Guihua smirked slightly. Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua made dumplings together. The flour they used was what Zhao Guihua had brought back last year. Except for the time when she was sick, they didn’t eat it every day. Apart from festivals and special occasions, they only improved their meals two or three times a month.

Now, they still had a bag and a half left.

They had a bag and a half of rice and flour each, but they had eaten quite a bit of mixed grain flour.

Zhao Guihua said, “Put the grain under the kitchen stove.”

“Alright.”

This was a small hidden compartment they had built while repairing the wall. It wasn’t big enough to hide a person, but it was perfect for storing a few bags of grain. Zhao Guihua had learned this from her grandmother. Those who had lived through hard times knew how to hide food. It could save lives.

Not just her family, even troublemakers like Wang Er knew to stash some grain for emergencies.

When Zhao Guihua gave the order, Old Man Zhuang understood immediately.

Back when his father was raising him, they had done similar things. He stored the grain and locked the small cabinet, with the key hidden in a corner. Unless someone dug it out, it would be hard to find.

He said, “From now on, I’ll work harder and earn more money to fill this hidden compartment to the brim.”

Zhao Guihua gave him a look that was both amused and reproachful. Old Man Zhuang muttered, “Even though we spent some money this time, don’t feel bad about it. I’ll work even harder to earn more. We only get married once, so we should celebrate properly. Otherwise, we’d regret it later.”

He was worried that Zhao Guihua might feel sorry about spending the money.

Zhao Guihua glanced at him and said, “Oh, you.”

By then, she had finished making the dumplings. She wiped her hands and reached into the pillow, pulling out a small bag. “Take a look,” she said.

Old Man Zhuang opened it curiously and looked inside. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Th-this… this…”

He stammered, lowering his voice. “H-how do you have so much money?”

Zhao Guihua took the bag and counted it out for him. “There are thirty-one silver coins and four small gold bars here. One of the silver coins is the one you gave me before. The rest I took from my enemy’s house.”

By now, Old Man Zhuang knew the full story of what had happened to Zhao Guihua’s family. He didn’t think his wife’s actions were too harsh. Despite being a quiet and unassuming man, he had a strong sense of justice.

He wouldn’t feel the slightest bit of pity if bad people died a thousand times. On the contrary, he believed that the death of such people gave good folks a better chance at life. So, he fully supported Zhao Guihua’s actions. The only thing that worried him was that she hadn’t been caught.

But he hadn’t expected her to bring out so much money.

Zhao Guihua didn’t feel embarrassed about it. She said straightforwardly, “I didn’t fully trust you before, so I never mentioned it. I didn’t spend a single coin of this money. It’s all here. Now that we’re married, I should tell you.”

Old Man Zhuang nodded seriously. “You did the right thing.”

Zhao Guihua smirked. “Of course I did.”

She added, “I’m very good at managing our life. All our daily expenses and living costs have been covered by your wages. There’s even some left over. So, I didn’t touch this money. It’s for emergencies.”

Old Man Zhuang nodded again. “You’re absolutely right.”

He looked curiously at the gold bars. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen gold bars.”

Even though each bar was only about the thickness of a finger, it was still something ordinary folks like them had never owned.

Four of them!

This was really something.

Zhao Guihua said, “I’ll put them away for now. If we ever run short of money or food, we can exchange them. They’ll be very useful in critical times.”

Old Man Zhuang quickly agreed. “You’re in charge of this. Go ahead and put them away.”

Neither of them had expected that the saved silver dollars and small gold bars would play such a crucial role. During the famine around the 1960s, and the fact that all three of their children were able to graduate from high school, it was all thanks to this little nest egg.

Of course, no one could have foreseen the future, but that’s a story for later.

He whispered, “Let’s not get caught. Be careful.”

Zhao Guihua replied, “Of course, I know.”

Old Man Zhuang had no idea that their “family savings” were so substantial, but he was well aware of the importance of not flaunting wealth. He said softly, “We don’t know our neighbors well yet, and we’re not sure what kind of people they are. Since we’ve just moved here, don’t go digging for vegetables. Stay at home more.”

Zhao Guihua nodded, “I understand.”

She had her own plans. She said, “I’ll take on some work from the match factory, like pasting matchboxes, to earn a little extra money for the household.”

In the past, it had been incredibly difficult for women to find work, but now that life was settling down, some odd jobs were becoming available. Even though it was mostly home-based work, it still helped with the family’s expenses.

Old Man Zhuang agreed, “That’s fine, but don’t overwork yourself.”

Zhao Guihua shot him a look and said, “I used to do a lot of work in the countryside. I’m not afraid of hard work. We’re common folks, and if we want to live well, we have to be diligent. Otherwise, how would we survive without food or drink?”

Old Man Zhuang smiled, “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Zhao Guihua put the money away and then got up to cook dumplings. The couple had also bought a small bottle of wine, a tiny one. Old Man Zhuang poured two cups, closed the doors and windows, and lit two large red candles.

When the dumplings were ready, Zhao Guihua brought out the sliced pig’s head meat and roast chicken she had prepared. The two of them sat on the kang, facing each other, and bowed three times to the heavens and earth under the glow of the red candles.

Then they bowed to each other as husband and wife. Old Man Zhuang looked up and took Zhao Guihua’s hand, smiling warmly. “From now on, we’re officially husband and wife.”

Zhao Guihua laughed, “We’ve always been husband and wife. We even went to the public office this morning to get our marriage certificate.”

It was all very official.

“Right, right,” Old Man Zhuang agreed.

Zhao Guihua said, “Come on, let’s eat.”

Old Man Zhuang replied, “Alright.”

The meal was a rare treat for them. Old Man Zhuang tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Zhao Guihua, saying, “Here, have this.”

Zhao Guihua smiled, “You eat too. There’s plenty…”

The two of them quickly dug in. Though they were tired from moving, their hearts were filled with joy. Despite the chaos of the world, they finally had each other to rely on. They were no longer alone.

Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua had officially become husband and wife, and though they already felt like an old married couple, Old Man Zhuang felt even more motivated.

Since they had moved to a new place, their rent was lower, and they were able to save more each month. On the day they moved in, Zhao Guihua had a disagreement with Sister-in-law Zhou, so the neighbors weren’t particularly warm toward her.

However, there weren’t any major conflicts either. Everyone was busy with their own lives and didn’t have time for petty squabbles or forming cliques.

Every day was a struggle just to put food on the table, so who had the energy for gossip?

Wang Xiaocao, however, got along well with Zhao Guihua, and the two of them spent more time together.

The couple quickly settled in and gradually integrated into the courtyard community. People came and went, some moved away, and others moved in, but Sister-in-law Zhou and a few others stayed, and over time, they began to get along.

Although Zhao Guihua and Sister-in-law Zhou had clashed on the first day, Sister-in-law Zhou’s husband didn’t say much, and as time went on, they managed to coexist peacefully. The men in the courtyard even went fishing together by the river to improve their meals, and things remained relatively harmonious.

It’s no wonder people in those days preferred having sons, and lots of them. There was strength in numbers.

If it were just one or two people, they might only manage to catch a few fish, and even then, there were always bullies trying to take advantage. But with a group of men casting nets together, they were sure to have a good catch. They could divide the fish among themselves, either to eat or sell for extra cash.

Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang weren’t very skilled at cooking freshwater fish, but luckily, Wang Xiaocao’s husband, Li the Cook, was a professional chef with excellent skills. He didn’t teach them how to cook, but at least he could give them tips on how to remove the fishy smell.

If all else failed, they could salt the fish and turn it into a hearty dish.

As the days went by, Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang hadn’t expected to stay in their new home for long, but before they knew it, several years had passed. Life had settled down, and perhaps because of that, their family began to thrive.

In the blink of an eye, many changes had taken place in the courtyard, and their family was no exception.

They had gone from two people to four, and from one room to two. They even rented the adjacent room for their children to live in.

Zhao Guihua had already given birth to her eldest son, Zhuang Zhiyuan, and her second daughter, Zhuang Zhixin. The two little ones were still too young for school and spent their days hopping and skipping around the courtyard. The compound was full of children, many of them around the same age.

The kids were playing hopscotch in the yard, including the three Su siblings, Little Zhouqun, Little Fendou, and Little Lifang. Lifang was teaching Zhuang Zhixin how to play cat's cradle. The children were lively and noisy, while the adults were all busy. Zhao Guihua was pasting paper boxes, as were the other women in the compound. After all, this was how they made money.

Though the weather was cold, no one minded. They gathered together to work, chatting about the latest gossip in the neighborhood and at the factory. Over the years, despite their underlying differences, they had grown outwardly harmonious. After all, they were neighbors who saw each other every day.

As they chatted, a sudden burst of loud noises came from outside. Everyone was startled, but they quickly recovered. Having lived through many chaotic times, they knew what to do. Without hesitation, they gathered their things, called their children, and shut their doors and windows. Some even barricaded their doors in panic.

Zhao Guihua hurried her two children inside, warning them not to run around. She peered out the window, anxiously waiting for her husband, Old Man Zhuang, who was still at the factory.

"Mom..." the children called out.

Zhao Guihua replied, "Just play by yourselves."

After a moment of hesitation, she went out to close the gate but didn’t lock it. After all, none of the men had returned yet.

Back inside, Zhao Guihua felt a cold breeze and shivered. "I’ll light the stove," she said, trying to steady her nerves.

The two children looked up at her with wide eyes. Zhao Guihua forced a calm smile and said, "It’s okay. Mom’s here. Nothing bad will happen."

The children scooted closer to her, and she gently patted their heads. Though they were just ordinary folks, they knew that fighting was happening in Tianjin. Beyond that, they had no idea what was going on.

Everyone was filled with a mix of fear and anticipation. But no matter how scared they were, no one dared to visit their neighbors. They all stayed quietly at home, waiting for some kind of resolution.

The morning passed in a haze of anxiety for Zhao Guihua. She didn’t know how long this situation would last, only that ordinary people like them had no choice but to wait at home. Though she was nervous, she tried her best to appear calm for the sake of her children.

Her distraction was evident when she forgot to add salt to the lunch she prepared.

Just as the tension in the compound reached its peak, Zhao Guihua heard the sound of the gate opening. She rushed to the door and saw the men from the compound returning from work. They were visibly excited, shouting, "We’re liberated! Liberation has come! Everyone, come out!"

"The Xizhimen garrison has changed hands! Liberation is here!"

"The People’s Liberation Army will enter the city in a couple of days!"

Hearing this, the residents of the compound poured out of their homes, their faces flushed with excitement and disbelief. "Is it true? Is all of this really happening?" they asked.

"Are you sure? You didn’t mishear or missee anything?"

"No mistake at all! The streets are packed with people celebrating. It’s wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Old Man Zhuang ran to his wife, Zhao Guihua, and grabbed her hands, his voice trembling with emotion. "No one will oppress us anymore. We can finally live a good life... This nightmare is over. It’s all over."

Tears streamed down Zhao Guihua’s face, but she couldn’t stop smiling. "It’s so good, so good," she murmured, wiping her eyes.

Though her family members were no longer around to see this day, she vowed to live well on their behalf.

"It’s so good, so good," she repeated softly. Old Man Zhuang, overcome with emotion, picked her up in a tight embrace, not caring that they were outside. "From now on, our family will never have to be afraid again! We can live in peace and happiness!"

Zhao Guihua laughed, despite being squeezed tightly. "Yes, no more fear. Only good days ahead."

"Daddy, Daddy, pick me up too!" Zhuang Zhixin cried, running over. Old Man Zhuang lifted his daughter into his arms, then scooped up his son as well, holding both children high in the air. The kids, infected by their parents’ joy, squealed with delight.

Old Man Zhuang laughed heartily. "Tonight, we’ll have dumplings!"

"Yay!"

"I want some! I want some!"

"Our family will have them too!"

The children were exceptionally lively, and the adults in the courtyard were even more so. They understood better than the kids how this wonderful day had come to be, and they were so overwhelmed with emotion that they ran around, laughing and crying. Regardless of any past minor conflicts or disagreements, everyone could now embrace each other, celebrating with excitement and joy.

Old Man Zhuang held his wife and lifted their child, then suddenly turned to look at her. He spoke earnestly, "My dear, let’s have another child. If we have another, they’ll be born in the New China."

His voice was filled with hope and anticipation as he added, "We’ll name them Zhuang Zhixi—'Zhixi' meaning 'hope.' Whether it’s a boy or a girl, we’ll call them that, alright?"

Zhao Guihua’s eyes sparkled with delight, and she nodded vigorously. "Yes!" she replied.