Chapter 78

Ming Mei was really caught off guard. This person had such a scheme in mind.0

What a cunning and treacherous person, using the information from Aunt Zhou to rob Jiang Lu's Father; then using the robbery incident to prove that their methods were effective, truly a two-bird-one-stone strategy.0

But wouldn't anyone notice something fishy about this?0

Well, maybe Aunt Zhou isn't exactly normal, and she just enjoys believing in what these con artists say.0

She furrowed her brow, held her breath, and continued to listen. However, the people inside the house seemed to have run out of things to talk about and instead went out together. They sat in the courtyard to eat, ignoring the impending rain, and no longer discussed Aunt Zhou's topic.0

Seeing this, Ming Mei didn't waste any time. She quickly jumped off the wall and returned to the spot where Zhao Guihua had been hiding. Zhao Guihua waved at her, and Ming Mei hurried over. Zhao Guihua said, "It's going to rain soon, let's head home."0

Ming Mei looked up and saw dark, heavy clouds gathering. She said, "I ride really fast, Mom. Keep up with me."0

Zhao Guihua chuckled and said, "Do you think I'm slow?"0

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quickly pedaled their bikes. Ming Mei rode swiftly, and Zhao Guihua was no less impressive, almost like a bike god in the city. Their fast movements caught the attention of passersby, but most just glanced and hurried home, as the rain was about to start.0

No one wanted to experience the feeling of being drenched in a downpour.0

Ming Mei said, "Mom, guess what they were doing in that courtyard? They were involved in superstitious practices. Aunt Zhou went there to ask for help with her daughter-in-law's pregnancy and to deal with Jiang Lu's Father. You know, because Jiang Lu's Father insists on Jiang Lu getting a divorce."0

Zhao Guihua asked, "Superstitious practices?"0

Ming Mei nodded and detailed what she had just witnessed, still feeling a bit shaken. "They're so wicked, aren't they?"0

Zhao Guihua asked, "How many people were there?"0

Ming Mei replied, "There were two old ladies, one of them a charlatan, and the other didn't say much. There were also four men, and the one with a mole on his face seemed to be their leader."0

Zhao Guihua compared the details and quickly concluded that this group was the same gang that had tried to pull a heist at the fabric factory by buying leftover cloth.0

Damn, this gang really had no morals, making money any way they could.0

Ming Mei continued, "They mentioned doing some reconnaissance, but I don't think they need to. Aunt Zhou gave them such a detailed description of the place. Do you think she's brainless? How can she believe in such people?"0

Zhao Guihua pedaled her bike in silence for a while before saying, "Maybe she never really believed them. Whether she believed or not, the outcome was what she wanted, so why would she care about the process? If things go south, she can just claim she was deceived by the charlatans, not that she had malicious intentions."0

With Zhao Guihua being older and more experienced, her explanation made Ming Mei understand.0

"So, you mean Aunt Zhou didn't really believe these people could use rituals to deal with Jiang Lu's Father. She probably knew they would take matters into their own hands. But she pretended to believe them, as she just wanted to teach Jiang Lu's Father a lesson. Even if she's exposed, she can just say she was naively deceived, not that she had ill intentions."0

Zhao Guihua said, "That's exactly what I mean."0

Ming Mei exclaimed, "Oh my... that's so wicked!"0

She had always thought Aunt Zhou was a foolish and brainless person, which was why she had managed to offend everyone in the neighborhood and wasn't well-liked. Thinking this, Ming Mei blurted it out.0

Zhao Guihua sneered, "She may not think of it, but she has a good son."0

She added seriously, "Zhou Qun is ruthless and vicious, a true villain at heart. You see how he's been down lately after suffering some losses, but that doesn't mean he's a toothless tiger."0

Ming Mei nodded, taking her mother-in-law's words to heart.0

She trusted every word her mother-in-law said. After all, Zhao Guihua had experienced a rebirth and had the wisdom that came with it.0

Ming Mei asked, "Should we try to tell Jiang Lu about this?"0

If they didn't know, it would be one thing, but if they knew and didn't say anything, it would feel too... Ming Mei felt a bit guilty. Who knew how those people would act? What if they ended up seriously hurting someone?0

Although she didn't know Jiang Lu personally, Ming Mei wasn't heartless.0

Zhao Guihua replied, "Don't tell Jiang Lu. If you do, she'll immediately tell her husband."0

This was something Zhao Guihua had learned from her past life.0

Jiang Lu, after being "trained" by Zhou Qun for over a decade, had deeply believed in him and was completely under his control. Even if they wanted to help Jiang Lu escape from this mess, she would only think they were jealous of her happiness and trying to ruin it.0

In her previous life, around this time, due to a theft incident, Zhuang Zhixi was framed by Zhou Qun. They already knew Zhou Qun wasn't a good person. Zhou Qun's relationship with Wang Xiangxiu was also exposed, but, just like in this life, Jiang Lu still believed in Zhou Qun.0

There were even more disgusting things that followed, but Zhao Guihua didn't even want to mention them.0

Thinking about her innocent daughter-in-law, she knew Ming Mei would probably feel sick hearing about such things. Jiang Lu, unable to conceive, had brought a girl from the countryside to have a child for Zhou Qun. They claimed she was a distant cousin of Aunt Zhou, staying for a while. But come on, no one outside knew, but they, as old neighbors, knew Aunt Zhou hadn't been in touch with her hometown for decades.0

How could she suddenly have a cousin from her hometown stay with her? Aunt Zhou, being so stingy and petty, would never do such a thing.0

Everyone knew what this girl was there for.0

Even Jinlai and the other kids had seen the girl sleeping in the same bed as Zhou Qun, while Jiang Lu stayed with Aunt Zhou. Despite this, there was still no news of a pregnancy. At that point, they had already suspected it was Zhou Qun's problem. Jiang Lu probably had her suspicions too, as Zhao Guihua had once seen Jiang Lu in the hospital, looking panicked and having a medical report knocked out of her hand. It was said the report stated infertility.0

Later, Jiang Lu became pregnant.0

She had schemed against the girl who was supposed to have the child and sent her away.0

Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu eventually had a child, but Jiang Lu's child was definitely not Zhou Qun's. Zhao Guihua was certain of this. The infertility report Jiang Lu had wasn't hers, so it must have been Zhou Qun's. Since Jiang Lu had confirmed her pregnancy and given birth in the hospital, the report couldn't have been hers. As for who Jiang Lu had the child with and passed it off as Zhou Qun's to continue the Zhou family line, that was unknown.0

But it was clear that Jiang Lu had "borrowed" a child from someone else.0

Zhao Guihua didn't know if Zhou Qun ever found out.0

Thinking about these past disgusting things, Zhao Guihua shook her head vigorously, almost as if she wanted to shake off the thoughts.0

Why didn't Zhao Guihua, after being reborn, ever try to warn Jiang Lu? Because in her previous life, around the same time, no matter how much they tried to wake Jiang Lu up, she always thought they were jealous and didn't want her to be happy.0

So what chance was there this time?0

Besides, Zhao Guihua wasn't close to Jiang Lu. She was the type of person who didn't want to waste her time on irrelevant people, especially when her own family matters weren't in order.0

"Mom, Mom, oh my, watch out!"0

Ming Mei saw her mother-in-law zoning out on her bike and almost falling into a ditch. She quickly stopped her bike and pulled Zhao Guihua's bike back just in time. It was a close call.0

Zhao Guihua snapped back to reality, startled, and patted her chest. "Oh my heavens!"0

Ming Mei carefully examined Zhao Guihua. "Mom, are you okay?"0

Zhao Guihua wiped her face and said, "I'm fine, I just got lost in thought. You must have been scared too. Let's go home and talk."0

Ming Mei nodded softly. "Are you really okay?"0

It was unclear what had triggered Aunt Su's sudden change in expression, but her face had turned ashen.0

Zhao Guihua: "I'm really fine, let's go. This rain... oh no!"0

As she spoke, large raindrops began to fall, and Zhao Guihua grew anxious, urging, "Quick, quick, let's go!"0

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dared not delay any further, pedaling their bikes home at breakneck speed, as if they were racing with sparks and lightning. Zhao Guihua exclaimed, "Oh my, this rain is really coming down hard!"0

Ming Mei: "Faster, faster!"0

They raced home, entering the alley just as they heard commotion coming from their courtyard. Zhao Guihua was exasperated—it seemed these people couldn't go a day without causing trouble, or they'd feel uneasy sleeping at night.0

She quickly parked her bike and saw that the argument was between Liang Meifen and Wang Xiangxiu.0

Talk about drama hitting close to home.0

Liang Meifen, hands on her hips, was shouting at Wang Xiangxiu despite the pouring rain: "If you don't discipline your kids, I'll go to the security office, I'll call the police! Someone will definitely know how to deal with these little thieves. You, as a mother, set a bad example, and your kids are just as crooked. Look at your brats—what do they do all day except climb walls and windows? They're nothing but a bunch of thieves!"0

Zhao Guihua: "What's going on?"0

Ming Mei also stepped forward: "What's happening, what's happening?"0

Seeing her mother-in-law return, Liang Meifen felt reinforcements had arrived and quickly began to complain loudly: "Mom, you have no idea how outrageous this family is. I've never seen such shameless people. We went on a spring outing, caught a wild chicken, and they actually had the nerve to try and steal from us. How can people be so shameless?"0

Wang Xiangxiu retorted: "Liang Meifen, how dare you speak to me like that! My kids were just playing around, and you're calling them thieves? How can you slander them like this? You're an adult, aren't you ashamed?"0

"Why should I be ashamed?" Liang Meifen shot back.0

She thought to herself: I dare not provoke my mother-in-law, nor my sister-in-law who's a force to be reckoned with, but I sure as hell can handle you!0

"Stop spouting nonsense and playing the victim! Everyone knows your kids are nothing but thieves. You say they were just playing? Come on! Our kids don't even play together, do they? Go ask around—who on this street lets their kids play with yours? Every time they do, your kids end up stealing food from them. Who can afford to keep losing stuff to your family? People only tolerate you because you're a widow with kids. Don't get too full of yourself. Do you really want me to rip off your veil of shame?"0

Liang Meifen was unleashing a torrent of words, determined not to let these kids steal their hard-earned goods. Who didn't want a bit of meat to eat?0

What a bunch of scoundrels.0

Wang Xiangxiu was caught off guard by Liang Meifen's fiery outburst. She had always seen her meekly obeying her mother-in-law, but now she realized she could be quite fierce. It seemed all the wives in this courtyard were like that—submissive to their mothers-in-law but ready to throw punches outside.0

"How dare you speak to me like that? Are you trying to bully me?" Wang Xiangxiu cried. Bai Fendou, who had been trying to stay out of it but couldn't bear to see Wang Xiangxiu being scolded, finally stepped in: "Jinlai is a good kid, you have no right to talk about him like that!"0

Liang Meifen snapped: "Get out of here, you shameless man who sneaks into widows' beds! Stay far away from me, or I'll beat you up!"0

Normally, Liang Meifen wouldn't dare to provoke a man, especially someone like Bai Fendou, who had no qualms about hitting women. But now, she felt emboldened. She had seen her mother-in-law stand up to Aunt Zhou, and her sister-in-law was a force to be reckoned with. She knew she wouldn't be the one to suffer. So, even facing a man, she didn't flinch: "This is between me and the Su family. What business is it of yours? If you've got the guts, marry Wang Xiangxiu! Then I'll respect you. Otherwise, stay out of it!"0

Bai Fendou was trembling with rage: "You... you shrew!"0

Liang Meifen: "And I'm proud of it! My husband is fine with it, so what's it to you? You're sticking your nose into something you have no right to. Disgusting!"0

Oh, the crowd thought, this woman really knows how to throw shade.0

Ming Mei: Learned something new today!0

Despite the rain, the onlookers were undeterred, each holding an umbrella as they watched the drama unfold.0

"You... you!" Bai Fendou raised his hand to strike, but Ming Mei quickly stepped in, grabbing his wrist and throwing him back with a skillful twist. Bai Fendou stumbled several steps.0

Ming Mei glared: "Try hitting someone, why don't you? I have zero tolerance for men who beat women. Touch my sister-in-law, and I'll make you regret it!"0

She rolled up her sleeves, ready for action: "If this is our fault, I won't say a word. But what's your excuse? Trying to break in and steal, and you think you're in the right? I don't care if you're involved with a widow or if you're just confused. If you dare to act tough here, I'll beat you until you're searching for your teeth. Maybe then you'll remember the Three-Eyed King of Horses!"0

Zhuang Zhixi quickly stepped forward with an umbrella, saying, "Wife, fight all you want, but don't get wet."0

Seeing Zhuang Zhixi's sycophantic behavior, Bai Fendou pointed at him and cursed: "Zhuang Zhixi, you spineless coward, let your wife... ah!!!"0

Ming Mei slapped him across the face without hesitation: "I'll teach you to talk trash! You think you can bully people all you want?"0

She followed up with a kick, sending Bai Fendou sprawling into a puddle.0

"You... you shrew! All of Zhuang's wives are shrews!"0

Ming Mei sneered: "Shrew? We don't need to be polite to scumbags like you."0

"Yeah, look at yourself—you think you're such a big shot, but you're just a fool who sneaks into widows' beds and gets cuckolded. You look like you're aging prematurely, always strutting around like you're something special. You don't even know your own worth!"0

Liang Meifen continued her verbal assault, her words cutting through the wind and rain.0

Zhao Guihua watched her two daughters-in-law, one fierce and the other strong, and decided to stay on the sidelines, arms crossed, enjoying the show. Liang Meifen finished her tirade and turned back to Wang Xiangxiu: "If you can't control your kids, and this happens again, I'll go to their school, the neighborhood committee, the police, the factory security office. I'll put up posters everywhere, letting everyone know your son is a thief!"0

Wang Xiangxiu trembled: "You... you're going too far."0

Aunt Su also came out, tears streaming down her face, softly saying: "My children... they're not like that... they were just curious, just hungry... it's not their fault, it's ours... we're widows, we haven't managed our lives well..."0

"It's a bit much, really. A widow with kids has it hard enough." This was the first of the "peacemakers."0

"Exactly, kids will be kids—they get curious. And nothing was actually stolen, so why bully a widow?" This was the second "peacemaker."0

"Aunt Su and Wang Xiangxiu have it tough."0

Liang Meifen found herself momentarily at a disadvantage.0

Ming Mei sneered, "What do you mean by 'going too far'? The premise of that statement is that her son is definitely going to steal. If her son doesn't steal, none of this would happen, so how is that 'going too far'? Wang Xiangxiu, I don't think even you can guarantee that your son won't steal, can you? That's why you're saying it's 'going too far'. You feel like you're being bullied because, in your heart, you know your son is a thief! And you say all kids are greedy, so why don't you let them come to your house every day? Since you're so kind, you certainly wouldn't refuse, right? My family has a lot of mouths to feed, and we can't afford to be stolen from. Oh, and by the way, whoever spoke just now must be brave, so remember that."0

Ming Mei might seem soft-spoken, but when it's time to be tough, she can be very tough. After she spoke, everyone felt deflated, and some quickly changed their tune.0

"Uh... well, you can't say it like that."0

"Right, if their kid doesn't steal, none of this would exist."0

"Exactly. If you ask me, their kid has done this so many times. Every time, it's all noise but no action. Everyone just overlooks it because he's a kid, but their family just keeps doing it over and over again. What are we supposed to do?"0

"I think we should beat them once, so they know what the consequences of stealing are."0

"That's right, that's right."0

When it comes to their own interests, people's attitudes change quickly.0

Ming Mei gave a cold smile.0

Liang Meifen immediately gained confidence again and declared, "This is the last time. If there's another time, we won't care about being neighbors. Don't blame me for beating them up and sending them to the police!"0

"I think that's a good idea."0

"Xiangxiu, you should really discipline your kids. If you don't, they'll end up in jail."0

"Yes, we know your family is struggling, but you can't let the kids run wild like this. Every time you explain, but do you ever apologize effectively? You just keep saying the same thing and never change."0

"Exactly, it's always the same routine. Get caught, apologize, and then do it again next time. Occasionally, you even bring out Bai Fendou... your family is really over the top."0

Zhao Guihua chimed in, "If you don't discipline your kids, I don't think the factory will let him take over your job in the future. A notorious thief? The factory still has to save face. Besides, bringing a thief into the factory is like putting a rat in a rice jar."0

This comment hit Wang Xiangxiu hard.0

She didn't care about the other remarks, but this one struck a nerve.0

After all, this was about her son's future!0

Hearing everyone's words, Wang Xiangxiu felt utterly miserable. Suddenly, she exploded, grabbing a broom and slamming it onto Jinlai, shouting, "Stealing, stealing, all you do is steal! Will you die if you don't steal?! We're poor, but you can't be so spineless just because we're poor. Look at how people see us! Do you even want to save face? Does our family even have any dignity left? Do you know how hard your grandmother and I have worked to keep this family together? You're ruining our reputation! I'll beat you to death, you little brat! Let's see if you dare do it again!"0

Jinlai and his two brothers had been standing under the eaves of the doorway, confident that nothing would happen. After all, whenever there was a problem, their mother would always find a way to fix it. If their mother couldn't, their grandmother or Bai Fendou would step in.0

As long as they kept their heads down and didn't say anything, the issue would quickly blow over.0

But they didn't expect their mother to suddenly explode, hitting Jinlai hard. He looked at his mother in disbelief and then burst into tears. Yinlai and Tonglai also got hit a few times and started crying.0

The three kids were wailing, and Wang Xiangxiu was crying too. She rarely beat her children, and although she had managed to smooth things over a few times before, this time was different.0

Although the incident itself wasn't that big, their son had done this so many times that people were fed up. If it had been the first time, people might have let it slide, but with repeated offenses, their son had become isolated. Not just in their courtyard, but throughout the whole alley and street, no other kids wanted to play with them.0

The reputation of being a thief had spread far and wide.0

If this continued, their son's reputation would be ruined, and even when he grew up, he wouldn't be able to take over his mother's job at the factory. With such a reputation, the factory wouldn't want a thief working there.0

The rain poured down heavily as everyone watched Wang Xiangxiu cry and beat her children. Aunt Su rushed over, crying and trying to shield the kids, "It's my fault for not teaching them properly, but you can't beat them like this... they're still so young!"0

Everyone watched the scene, some feeling moved.0

Bai Fendou felt a pang of guilt and suddenly shouted, "Are you happy now? Seeing them suffer like this, are you satisfied?"0

The rain was pouring heavily, and everyone fell silent.0

Zhao Guihua stood up and said, word by word, "Who are you putting on this act for?"0

She retorted, "And you, what right do you have to question us? It's ridiculous."0

Zhao Guihua didn't want to watch this drama anymore. She knew it would just be more crying and complaining. She said, "You all come back inside. If they want to act, we don't have to watch. From now on, someone from our family will always stay home to make sure nothing gets stolen. We don't need to be accused of being unforgiving. If anyone wants to be kind, let them be the ones to sacrifice."0

After saying that, she turned and went inside.0

Zhuang Zhixi looked at the scene and smiled, "Carry on."0

He held an umbrella in one hand and put his other arm around his wife's shoulders, heading home together. "Let's go, we haven't eaten yet."0

Zhuang Zhiyuan called from the doorway, "Wife, come home."0

Liang Meifen still wanted to keep yelling, but she suddenly felt that her mother-in-law's words and attitude were very impressive. That casual remark, "Who are you putting on this act for?" made her feel like Zhao Guihua was a formidable force to be reckoned with.0

She quickly went inside, not wanting to ruin her mother-in-law's momentum.0

Indeed, having a strong backing made a big difference. Her fighting ability in disputes was much higher than usual.0

Once inside, she awkwardly approached Ming Mei and fidgeted with her clothes, saying, "Um... just now..."0

Ming Mei: "Huh?"0

Liang Meifen was embarrassed, "Um..."0

She found it hard to say, but finally managed, "Thank you just now!"0

Ming Mei chuckled, "No need to thank me. We're all family. Since you stood up for the family, I naturally had to stand up for you too."0

Liang Meifen smiled. Although she often compared herself to this sister-in-law, she still knew who was on her side.0

"I have to thank you. You don't know, but Jinlai has been eyeing us ever since we got back. I felt something was off, and sure enough, the little brat tried to sneak into our house while Dad was in the bathroom. Luckily, I caught him in time. Otherwise, not only would he have stolen something, he might have discovered our day's haul."0

Zhao Guihua nodded, "You did well today."0

Liang Meifen smiled proudly.0

She couldn't even get any benefits to send to her family, and some little thief wanted to take advantage? Dream on!0

Zhao Guihua said, "Let's eat first. How about some lamb stew?"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Wow, Mom, you can make that?"0

Zhao Guihua: "What can't I do?"0

She proudly lifted her head and said, "There's a lot your old lady can do."0

Everyone laughed. At that moment, Zhao Guihua suddenly realized and asked, "Where are Hutou and Xiaoyanzi?"0

"They were so tired that they fell asleep as soon as they got home. We couldn't even wake them up."0

The adults were exhausted too, and even more so the kids. Fortunately, tomorrow was a day off, so they could rest. Those who had to work tomorrow wouldn't be so lucky.0

Zhao Guihua said, "Let's eat first, then come help me with the meat. It all needs to be marinated."0

"Got it."0

Zhao Guihua and her family quickly retreated from the main battlefield, leaving Wang Xiangxiu in a bit of a bind.0

She had thought that by causing such a scene, she would surely gain a lot of sympathy points. Even the Zhuang family would have to take a step back, lest they be labeled as bullies of widows and orphans. However, she hadn't expected Zhao Guihua to call her performance "acting," pinning her to the wall and leaving her unable to extricate herself.0

She wanted to explain, but with everyone else having left the scene, any further explanation would only be redundant and inappropriate.0

Wang Xiangxiu was caught between a rock and a hard place. She looked at the others, who were also looking at her, and even Aunt Su was at a loss. Normally, her tearful pleas were very effective. How to play the victim was something she was very skilled at, as her family was adept at exploiting others' kindness.0

But Zhao Guihua's dismissal of her as "acting" and her subsequent departure had left them all in an awkward position.0

The others, too, were feeling the same way, and seeing them like this, they couldn't help but feel it was all fake. Wang Xiangxiu bit her lip, her tears mingling with the rain, as she cried out, "I didn't, I really didn't. I wasn't acting. I... why is life so hard?"0

She seemed to suddenly break down and turned to run out... only to crash into Zhou Qun.0

Under normal circumstances, Zhou Qun wouldn't have come out to watch such a spectacle. He was always discerning about propriety and would never involve himself in such matters. But with so many things happening lately, his mood was not good, so he decided to come out and watch the commotion. Seeing others in distress made him happy.0

However, he hadn't expected to be run into by Wang Xiangxiu, who looked up at him pitifully, tears streaming down her face, and for a moment, she didn't leave his embrace.0

Zhou Qun: "Tsk!"0

Jiang Lu, seeing this posture, immediately felt her anger rise. She stepped forward and slapped Wang Xiangxiu across the face, scolding: "You slut, what are you looking at! This isn't your man."0

With a forceful push, Wang Xiangxiu fell into the rain, and Jinlai, who had been beaten, rushed up to protect his mother.0

"Don't bully my mom!"0

He immediately charged at Jiang Lu, punching and kicking, despite being just a child of ten or so. Jiang Lu took a few hits but wasn't about to take this lying down. After all, Jinlai wasn't her son, so she slapped him back, saying, "You little brat, get out of here!"0

"Ah, how dare you hit my son!"0

Wang Xiangxiu, who had been feeling sorry for herself, now rushed forward again. Zhou Qun: "That's enough, isn't it? Wang Xiangxiu, have some self-respect."0

When there were outsiders present, he would always protect his wife, Jiang Lu, and not let her suffer any grievances. If he couldn't do that, Jiang Lu wouldn't be so devoted to him. He roared, "Wang Xiangxiu, keep your son in check. What kind of undisciplined thief is he?"0

"You!"0

Wang Xiangxiu glared at Zhou Qun with hatred. In that moment, the Zhuang family, who had started the whole thing, was pushed to second place. The person she hated the most was Zhou Qun. Once, they had been husband and wife with a hundred days of kindness, but now he was treating her like this. What a heartless man.0

Zhou Qun didn't know what she was thinking, and even if he did, he wouldn't care. They were just a transaction, with no emotions involved. If they wanted to talk about affection and righteousness, they shouldn't have taken the money in the first place.0

Wang Xiangxiu stood in the pouring rain, the rain sliding down her face, making it impossible to tell whether it was tears or rain. With the warm weather, she was only wearing a thin top, and the rain outlined her curves.0

The men in the courtyard couldn't help but stare, but Zhou Qun pretended to be quite the gentleman. He had seen more than anyone else, so he didn't bother looking. He kept his eyes straight ahead: "If your son dares to lay a hand on my wife again, don't blame me for being rude!"0

Wang Xiangxiu clenched her teeth in hatred. Suddenly, she let out a bitter laugh and said, "Fine, you all look down on me, you all push me. You want to drive me to death, so I'll die for you all to see."0

With a howl, she turned and ran out, shouting, "I'll die for you all to see."0

Bai Fendou quickly wrapped his arms around Wang Xiangxiu's waist, saying, "Sister Xiangxiu, don't be sad. No one understands you, but I do. I know your suffering."0

Wang Xiangxiu turned around and hugged Bai Fendou, crying loudly: "Fendou, it's not easy for your sister. It's not easy for me to raise three sons."0

The two of them hugged each other openly, and everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Jiang Lu spat and scolded: "Slut."0

Jinlai looked gloomy at Bai Fendou, Yinlai's expression wasn't great either, and only Tonglai, who didn't understand much, could still sniff and wonder who was cooking something delicious.0

Bai Fendou held Wang Xiangxiu protectively in his arms and declared loudly: "Wang Xiangxiu is my sister, my own flesh and blood. From now on, anyone who bullies her is my enemy. I will not let it go!"0

The crowd: "Oh ho!"0

Bai Fendou: "Jinlai, if you boys want anything to eat in the future, come to my house. Uncle Fendou will buy it for you! We won't take from these people, who have no sympathy at all! Small-minded people drink cold water!"0

"Hey, how are you talking?"0

"Yeah, you're willing to be stolen from and taken advantage of because you have other intentions. We don't."0

Exactly, we're all old foxes, what's the point of playing ghost stories? Stop pretending to be good.0

Hmph, he's obviously unclear with Wang Xiangxiu...0

Bai Fendou: "Enough. What are you talking about, all over the place? We're as clear as green onion and tofu."0

He waved his fists: "Want to fight?"0

The crowd chuckled.0

Most people were like fence-sitters, swaying with the wind. Just a moment ago, they felt that the Su family's life was indeed a bit difficult, but now they were full of disgust. As for Aunt Wang, who hadn't said much the whole time, she looked at one person and then another, saying, "Li Fang, take the kids home. Don't watch this, or the kids might learn bad things."0

She looked at Bai Fendou with disgust, as if seeing something in a cesspool.0

The Li family also left.0

Everyone looked at each other, and seeing that Bai Fendou still wouldn't let go of Wang Xiangxiu, they all exchanged ambiguous smiles and then dispersed. It wasn't that they didn't want to watch the gossip, but they knew that there wouldn't be much more to see. As for whether they were clear and innocent, who would believe that?0

With everyone gone, Bai Fendou boasted, "See, I still have some prestige in the courtyard."0

He didn't let go of Wang Xiangxiu, saying, "Come on, let's go home. It's raining so hard, you're all soaked. Let's go back and change into clean clothes, take a hot bath. By the way, do you have ginger at home? Drink some ginger soup."0

Wang Xiangxiu gently shook her head: "No more..."0

She didn't mind being held by Bai Fendou like this, looking utterly despondent as she said, "Fendou, don't bother with your sister. I'm in pain."0

"That won't do."0

Wang Xiangxiu didn't say anything, and Aunt Su stepped forward: "Let's go home first, let's go home."0

The whole family was soaked, each looking wretched. Jinlai and his brothers, especially Jinlai, had been beaten and rained on, looking utterly miserable. Wang Xiangxiu looked at her children and wept softly, saying, "It's my fault, it's Mom's fault. I couldn't give you a good life, so you had to sneak around, despised by others. It's all my fault..."0

Her face was pale, and she looked like she was about to faint.0

Wang Xiangxiu quickly helped her onto the kang (a type of heated bed), saying, "Lie down for a bit?"0

Wang Xiangxiu looked drained.0

At that moment, Tonglai suddenly spoke up: "What's that smell?"0

He sniffed, saying, "It smells like something delicious, like meat."0

“What are you thinking about eating at a time like this?” Aunt Su complained, then blinked her eyes and gave Wang Xiangxiu a meaningful look. Wang Xiangxiu closed her eyes slightly, and Aunt Su exclaimed, “Xiangxiu, Xiangxiu, what’s wrong with you?”0

Wang Xiangxiu curled up, saying, "I'm cold..."0

"Mom..." The three kids were also scared.0

Bai Fendou was even more anxious: "What's wrong?"0

Wang Xiangxiu: "Cold, so cold..."0

Aunt Su: "She's caught a chill, she's caught a chill..."0

She cried out, "You can't collapse, you absolutely can't! If you do, this family will really fall apart. Yes, have some soup to warm up, to sweat it out. This cold needs nourishment. Chicken soup, I'll go buy you a bowl of chicken soup..."0

As Aunt Su spoke, she started to head out, her expression blank.0

Bai Fendou saw this and quickly grabbed her, saying, "Aunt Su, where are you going to buy it from? It's pouring outside, where could you possibly go?"0

Aunt Su: "But Xiangxiu, my Xiangxiu... she's the rarest, most precious daughter-in-law in the world. I can't let her suffer..."0

"Mom, Mom, don't die..."0

Bai Fendou: "You all stay here, I'll figure something out."0n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

In such circumstances, he suddenly felt a surge of determination.0

"I'll take care of it, I'll go out and buy it. You don't need to worry."0

He immediately stepped out the door, despite the torrential rain. The rain was pouring even harder, but Bai Fendou still caught a whiff of the aroma of meat broth. Without a second thought, he dashed to the Zhuang household, where they were making lamb stew. Zhuang Zhixi opened the door, his expression cold: "What do you want?"0

Bai Fendou: "The Su family is suffering because of your family. You need to take responsibility. Give me a bowl of meat broth."0

His tone was so brazen that one might wonder if his brain was smoking.0

Zhuang Zhixi gave a cold chuckle, then slammed the door shut with a loud bang.0

"Ah, you..."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "What a piece of trash."0

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Guihua was indifferent: "Why bother with such a fool?"0

"Knock, knock, knock!" The knocking sounded again. Zhao Guihua didn't open the door, instead, she opened the kitchen window and shouted out, "Bai Fendou, are you looking for a beating?"0

Bai Fendou: "You're the ones who..."0

Zhao Guihua narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice cold: "Do you believe I'll slap you to death?"0

Bai Fendou gulped, feeling that the people in their courtyard were truly unkind.0

Each and every one of them lacked any goodness.0

He suppressed his complaints and said, "Well, I'll buy one."0

Zhao Guihua sneered, "Do you think I'll sell just because you want to buy? We're just fine as we are, we're not selling!"0

Bai Fendou: "Do you really want to watch them suffer like this?"0

Thinking of Wang Xiangxiu's frail, almost lifeless state, he pleaded, "Please, let me buy some. Sister Xiangxiu really needs some nourishing food, some soup."0

Zhao Guihua felt that despite her two lifetimes of experience, she hadn't learned much, but she had learned this: when someone insists on going down the wrong path, it's best not to meddle. And such people should be kept at a distance, especially on a rainy day.0

Lest they get struck by lightning while standing next to a fool.0

She looked at Bai Fendou, no longer wanting to speak to him, but then... her eyes flickered and she said, "We went to the mountain today and set traps, catching a wild chicken. If you want it, we can let you have it."0

"Ah!" Bai Fendou was stunned, then overjoyed.0

Zhao Guihua silently held up three fingers.0

Bai Fendou: "..."0

His face fell: "You want money?"0

Zhao Guihua sneered, "What else?"0

Bai Fendou: "But a farm-raised chicken only costs two yuan, and it's more meaty and fat. A wild chicken, at most, would be one and a half yuan, maybe even one yuan for a lean one."0

That was the normal price.0

Three yuan was unheard of, unless supplies were extremely tight... He felt Zhao Guihua was being overly greedy.0

Zhao Guihua didn't care: "If you think it's not worth it, then forget it."0

She smiled, "After all, it's a rainy day, and scarcity drives up the price. Go find that one-yuan wild chicken elsewhere."0

Bai Fendou: "Uh..."0

On such a day, even the black market would be empty. And besides, with Sister Xiangxiu in such a state, he couldn't afford to wait. Hesitating for a moment, he said, "Alright, wait a moment, I'll go get the money."0

He hurried home, then rushed back.0

Their two wild chickens were about the same in size and condition. Zhuang Zhixi casually grabbed one and handed it to him, exchanging money with one hand while delivering it with the other.0

Seeing the wild chicken, Bai Fendou finally showed a few smiles. He didn't waste any time and quickly returned to the Su household, beaming: "Aunt Su, Sister Xiangxiu, look what I brought for you."0

Aunt Su had been peeking out the window earlier, so she already knew.0

Her eyes were filled with joy, but she quickly put on a sorrowful expression, saying, "Let me, let me make some chicken soup for Xiangxiu."0

Bai Fendou: "I'll do it, Aunt Su. You all change your clothes, it's too cold like this."0

"Alright, thank you."0

Aunt Su looked at Bai Fendou and said, "Fendou, if any girl marries you in the future, she'll truly be blessed. A man like you, so rare. Generous, straightforward, loyal, always ready to help, with a good job, no family burdens, and a house. You could find any kind of wife you want, even a fairy. Aunt Su thinks any woman who marries you will have had good fortune built up over several lifetimes."0

Bai Fendou was flattered, feeling quite proud.0

"Aunt Su, in this courtyard, you have the sharpest eyes."0

"That's right. Back then, I chose Xiangxiu at a glance, didn't I? She's such a good daughter-in-law."0

"Exactly." Bai Fendou agreed.0

The chicken at the Su household was quickly plucked and put into a pot to cook. The aroma of the chicken soup filled the air.0

Many households in the courtyard caught the scent and started murmuring among themselves.0

"Whose house is that? They're making chicken soup?"0

"Seems like it's the front courtyard."0

"Must be the Zhou family, they're well-off."0

"Not necessarily, maybe the Zhuang family. They went on a picnic to the outskirts today, maybe they caught some game."0

"Could be Bai Fendou, the father and son duo, they've got no one to spend their money on, so they eat well..."0

"No way, I think it's Uncle Lan, he's the one who really eats well."0

"That can't be, the Lan family usually eats lightly in the evening. He mostly eats well in the morning and at noon."0

"Right."0

No matter when, there are always curious ones. Soon, someone wandered to the front courtyard and came back with a mysterious expression, exclaiming in disbelief, "It's the Su family, they're making chicken soup."0

"Oh my~ Didn't they just act pitiful? Now they're eating chicken soup?"0

"What kind of situation is this?"0

"We better not be too kind-hearted. Look at how they live, we haven't even had chicken soup yet."0

Normally, the smell of chicken soup isn't as strong as lamb stew, but Zhao Guihua had closed all the doors and windows, and their family had already started eating, so the smell wasn't that noticeable. Meanwhile, the Su family had just started cooking and had their kitchen window open, so the smell naturally spread. Plus, their kitchen was close to the passageway between the front and back courtyards, so one could tell it was their house just by walking past.0

Bai Fendou was fanning the fire, grumbling with satisfaction, "Let you all look down on people. You look down on people, and all you get is coarse grains and porridge, while Sister Xiangxiu gets to drink chicken soup."0

Little did he know, he had just stirred up another wave of jealousy.0

Because of the rain, Aunt Zhou didn't have an umbrella and had to wait for a while after getting off the bus. Seeing the rain getting heavier and not stopping, she had no choice but to return. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she caught the smell from the Su household and saw Bai Fendou busy in their kitchen. She spat on the ground and cursed, "Scandalous couple!"0

Bai Fendou didn't back down: "Oh? Who's this? Isn't this Aunt Zhou, the one who seduced my father?"0

Aunt Zhou shouted angrily, "I'll tear your mouth apart!"0

Bai Fendou: "Hehe, what you do, you can't say?"0

Aunt Zhou charged forward to fight, but Zhou Qun timely stopped her at the door, saying, "Mom, come back. What's the point of talking to such people? Every word is a disgrace."0

Aunt Zhou: "Right."0

She glared viciously at Bai Fendou.0

Bai Fendou called out, "I'd rather be shameless than like you, desperate for anything."0

Zhou Qun: "You!!!"0

Zhou Qun took a deep breath to calm himself, saying, "Mom, come back. Such people spew filth, it's not worth our time. The pure are pure, we don't need to pay attention to these petty people." Though he said that, Zhou Qun was filled with resentment, giving Bai Fendou a venomous look.0

He thought to himself that if he ever got the chance, he definitely wouldn't let it go.0

However, Bai Fendou didn't dwell on it, feeling triumphant as if he had emerged victorious. Despite the others putting up a tough front, they were all retreating one by one.0

He let out a hearty laugh, but soon, he scratched his head in confusion: Come to think of it, where was his father? Why hadn't he come back yet?0

Oh well, never mind.0

*******0

The savory aroma of chicken soup filled the entire courtyard. Zhao Guihua was in the process of butchering a rabbit. If you weren't close to her house, you wouldn't even notice the scent.0

The heavy rain had dispersed the smells, and with the rich fragrance of the chicken soup wafting around, no one paid any attention to her side of the yard.0

Zhao Guihua thought to herself, "I'm such a genius."0

Selling that wild chicken was the right move!