Chapter 87

Strange things happen every year, but this year seems particularly abundant.0

The actions of Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu truly shocked a lot of people, including even Section Chief Liu.0

This really proves the old saying: when the forest is big, all kinds of birds can be found. Section Chief Liu had always looked down on Zhou Qun and his wife, and now he looked down on them even more. It wasn't that he necessarily wanted to do something to Bai Fendou and his father, but this situation was certainly not a trivial matter.0

They were desperately trying to absolve Bai Fendou and his father of any wrongdoing, and since Bai Fendou and his father were not punished this time, what if they didn't change their ways?0

Section Chief Liu was utterly disgusted. He banged the table and cursed, and the security department all cowered, but under the insistence of Zhou Qun and his wife, the security department ultimately did not seriously pursue the responsibility of Bai Fendou and his father.0

By rights, they should have been sent to prison to sew clothes.0

However, this time, these things were avoided. Even so, Section Chief Liu was unyielding at the factory internal meeting, firmly stating: "Our security department absolutely cannot tolerate the presence of someone like Bai Fendou. The security department is here to ensure the safety of the factory and its workers. If we have a black sheep among us, how can we command respect? How will others view our security department, and how will they view the authority of the factory? Moreover, we all know what happened. Does a joke from Zhou Qun and his wife make this matter completely resolved? What are we supposed to do? Pretend everyone is blind? Does Zhou Qun's family not care about this, but will others not care? What if they offend again? Who can guarantee they won't offend again? Who can guarantee that!"0

These words left the entire room in silence.0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang, who had seen many interesting situations, also disliked this family quite a bit. People, after all, have both good and bad qualities, but what kind of people are they? He coughed and said, "I also support Section Chief Liu. Bai Fendou absolutely cannot continue to stay in the security department."0

"Our logistics department also cannot keep Old Bai working in the boiler room. We cannot afford to have such a morally corrupt person.” He said, "Everyone should not think that working in the boiler room is a trivial matter. This is not a small matter. If Old Bai takes revenge on society and makes a big move, this will not be a small matter. In short, this job is not suitable for Old Bai."0

Actually, this matter could have been handled quite easily. Although it was a loss of face for the factory, sending them to prison would have been enough. But since the victims, Zhou Qun and his wife, insisted it was a joke, some things couldn't be handled that way.0

But certainly, they couldn't leave it without any explanation, or else with over ten thousand people in the factory, what credibility would they have?0

The factory director pondered for a moment and said, "How about we remove both of them from their positions?"0

He hesitated for a while and said, "Other departments..."0

"We don't want them."0

"We don't want them either."0

Why should they bear the burden for Bai Fendou and his father? If it were Jiang Lu, maybe there would be some possibility because of her father, but Bai Fendou... Who even knows who he is? With such poor character, what if something happens in the workshop?0

"Isn't Old Fan, who cleans the toilets and carries manure, getting old and planning to let his son take over?" As the deputy director in charge of logistics, Deputy Factory Director Zhang knew some small details about the factory that other leaders didn't.0

The logistics director immediately nodded: "Yes, Old Fan's son is going to take over."0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang: "Then how about this, let's directly assign both Bai Fendou and his father to clean the toilets and carry manure. Old Fan's son is definitely a young man, and young men are strong. It's better to let him directly enter the workshop."0

The logistics director's eyes lit up and he nodded: "That works."0

He thought this was quite good. Although it's a formal job, who would want to clean toilets and carry manure at a young age? Everyone in Beijing wants face. If they can enter the workshop, no one would be willing to carry manure.0

Like Old Fan, he had privately approached him, wanting to switch his son's job, but how could that be easy? After all, this kind of work is not something everyone is willing to do. He didn't take it seriously, but he didn't expect this to turn out unexpectedly well.0

Thinking about it, he was quite happy. If he could arrange for Bai Fendou and his father to take over, then Old Fan's son could go to the workshop. He wouldn't have taken the things from Old Fan for nothing. Moreover, there's Old Tian, who has always been diligent and hardworking. Previously, there was no opportunity to switch jobs, but this time it just so happens to give him a chance to switch out.0

After thinking about it, the logistics director's eyes were full of joy and he said, "I think this is a good idea, really not bad."0

"Then it's settled."0

Usually, meetings are for discussing important matters, but this was the first time they were discussing something like this. Even the big men present had a bit of gossip in them. The factory director curiously asked, "Is it really... broken?"0

"Broken for sure."0

Everyone clicked their tongues, sighing that it was deserved.0

But they also more so felt the fragility of men. This really breaks easily, really not durable at all.0

"When can they come back to work? It's not good for them to stay in the hospital forever. The factory can't let them come and go as they please, wanting to rest whenever they want."0

Section Chief Liu: "Besides being broken, they don't have other major issues. Being broken, it'll take about a week to recover. Carrying manure won't affect that."0

"Alright, since that's the case, you can convey this."0

"Okay."0

Bai Fendou and his father, who were in the hospital, didn't know anything yet. The factory office had already issued a notice, and a big notice was posted on the wall, detailing the results of this punishment. As soon as work was over, many people gathered around it, pointing and talking about the announcement.0

However, Zhuang Zhixi didn't know about this. He had taken the afternoon off and rushed straight to his mother-in-law's house. Since Ming Mei was pregnant, of course, the first thing was to inform the family elders. Ming Mei's mother, Lan Ling, was at home taking care of the children.0

Ming Mei's older brother had two children, also a brother and sister combination. The older brother had already gone to kindergarten, and the younger sister was still a baby, just learning to crawl, not yet knowing the difference between four, five, and six. Ming Mei's older brother and sister-in-law were both at work, and Lan Ling was at home preparing milk powder for the baby when she heard a knock on the door. She was puzzled and opened the door to see her son-in-law.0

Looking around, she didn't see her own daughter. Lan Ling: "Xiao Zhuang, come in. Why are you here at this time?"0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded happily. He entered the house and couldn't wait to say, "Mom, I'm here to share some good news. Ming Mei is pregnant."0

He blurted out the whole story, and Lan Ling's eyes lit up with joy. As a mother, she was so happy she didn't know what to say, but soon she snapped back to reality and started giving advice. Her daughter-in-law had given birth not long ago, so she still remembered the details of pregnancy very clearly.0

Zhuang Zhixi listened carefully, really wishing he could find a notebook and write it all down, not missing a single word.0

Lan Ling was very satisfied with her son-in-law's attitude. As the saying goes, a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law and likes him more and more. Lan Ling was no exception. She knew her own daughter well, and after interacting with Zhuang Zhixi for a while, she felt that the two of them were quite compatible. Naturally, as a mother, she was happy.0

She said, "I can't go over right now because I'm taking care of the kids. We'll go over after they get off work in the evening. Ming Mei is now a pregnant woman, and her mood might be a bit unpredictable. You, as her husband, have to be more tolerant. This is the most fragile time for her."0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded: "I understand."0

Lan Ling: "Ming Mei's personality is a bit lively and she can't stand any injustice. If something happens, don't let her rush into things. I don't care how she was before, but now that she has a child, it's not okay."0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded again: "Mom, don't worry, I'll definitely watch out for her."0

Lan Ling: "That's right. The matters between you two as a couple, we elders don't interfere much, but this period is special, so you have to be more accommodating."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Mom, I know these principles. Ming Mei is the most difficult at this time, and I won't be insensible."0

Lan Ling showed a happy expression.0

Zhuang Zhixi: "By the way, Mom, I want to ask you, do you know how to buy adult milk powder? I want to buy some for Ming Mei. Pregnancy still requires some supplements."0

Lan Ling: "This... don't worry about it. I'll prepare it for you."0

Zhuang Zhixi quickly waved his hands, "No need, no need, Mom. We're fine on our own. I've been transferred to the propaganda department, now in an administrative position, and my salary has increased by five yuan per month. Ming Mei earns even more than I do. Between the two of us, we make quite a bit each month. My parents only need ten yuan for their living expenses, so we're quite comfortable."0

Lan Ling understood that her son-in-law didn't want to take advantage too much, so she directly said, "What you have is yours, but what we elders choose to give is our business. Don't think you're rich just because you have a little money. There will be plenty of expenses when raising a child. Besides, what the elders give you is yours. I don't like it when you're too formal."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Then, thank you, Mom."0

Lan Ling: "Oh right. Wait a moment."0

She quickly got up and went into the room, returning shortly with a serious expression. Zhuang Zhixi looked at her curiously. Lan Ling handed him a small velvet bag and said, "You're a man, so you don't know. When a woman is pregnant, it's extremely difficult. If the baby in the womb behaves, it's fine, but if it's a bit mischievous, the pregnant woman suffers terribly. Don't think giving birth is easy; it's actually very taxing on the body. We won't even talk about the postpartum confinement period; just the morning sickness in the early stages is unbearable. So..."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Do you have a solution?"0

His eyes lit up.0

Even the doctors only suggested eating something sour to alleviate it.0

Maybe his mother-in-law had a better method?0

Lan Ling: "This is the time to trust old sayings. Here, take this and keep it. Give it to Ming Mei when you get home and tell her to put it under her pillow. Actually, wearing it would be better. But with all the chaos outside, it's better not to attract attention. Have her hide it in her pillow. This jade is very good at calming emotions, helping her stay peaceful. And this is a lucky bean. Lucky bean, lucky bean, meaning lots of luck. It's the best. Ming Mei sleeping with the lucky bean every night, how can she not be well?"0

Zhuang Zhixi took the small velvet bag, inside which was a green jade lucky bean with a fresh red string attached.0

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."0

He scratched his head.0

Lan Ling: "Don't underestimate this. It's not some feudal superstition; it's very logical. Think about it, if it weren't good, why would so-and-so and so-and-so wear it back then? It's very beneficial for women."0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded seriously, "Alright, I'll keep it. I'll give it to Ming Mei as soon as I get home."0

Lan Ling also reminded him, "Don't show it around, okay?"0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded solemnly. He looked down at the emerald green jade, which seemed very rich in color. He held it up to the sunlight and saw that it appeared flawless. He said, "It looks very good."0

Lan Ling raised an eyebrow, "You know about this?"0

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "How would I know? I just think it looks pretty nice."0

Lan Ling: "That's how these things are. People who like them think they're priceless, while those who don't think they're just ordinary. It's all about personal preference. For families like ours, we can't afford the absolute best, but this is pretty good without being extraordinary. Of course, it's not worthless either. You should keep it well."0

She added, "Save it for your child later."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Okay."0

His smile brightened a bit.0

Lan Ling asked a few more questions about Ming Mei, then said, "Alright, you can go now. Your father and I will come over tonight."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Okay."0

After delivering the message, he looked at the time and found it was still early, so he went straight to the supply and marketing cooperative, buying a pound of sesame cakes. There were still some sweets at home, and he didn't dare buy too much of other things since the weather was getting hotter and things wouldn't keep well.0

He'd buy more as needed.0

Due to the leave, Zhuang Zhixi had more time and returned earlier than others in the afternoon. Since the weather had warmed up, women who didn't work had taken to sitting in the courtyard chatting while doing small tasks like picking vegetables or mending clothes, not wasting any time.0

Zhuang Zhixi entered the house and saw only his sister-in-law, not his mother, so he asked, "Sister-in-law, where's Mom?"0

Liang Meifen: "She went fishing."0

Liang Meifen felt a bit sour inside. She thought her mother-in-law favored Ming Mei more, but she couldn't say this in front of others. If she did, it might reach her mother-in-law's ears and cause trouble. Liang Meifen wasn't very decisive, but her mouth was tight.0

And there was a fundamental difference between educated and uneducated people.0

Liang Meifen wasn't the sharpest, but her mother-in-law treated her children well and never skimped on food, which was rare. Although there were also mild mother-in-laws like Aunt Su in their courtyard, Wang Xiangxiu's life wasn't easy.0

Zhao Guihua's temper was a bit bad, but they didn't have to support the family like Wang Xiangxiu.0

So while Liang Meifen felt a bit jealous of her sister-in-law, she didn't complain to the neighbors. Besides, her mother-in-law wasn't easy to deal with, and her sister-in-law wasn't either.0

She didn't want to get beaten up.0

After all, they were all family, and getting beaten was just part of the deal.0

She volunteered, "Mom said pregnant women need to eat more fish, so after lunch, she took the fishing rod and basket and left."0

She then pointed to the small fenced-off area in the courtyard, "Mom said we're going to raise chickens."0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "That's great. It'll be convenient to have eggs later."0

He brought the sesame cakes inside and stored them, then quickly went to the main house to boil water. In winter, they had a stove in their room and boiled water there, but after winter, they boiled water in the main house. Not giving individual rooms their own stoves. As he boiled water, his gaze fell on the newly added stove in front of their house, and he raised an eyebrow.0

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about it.0

Zhuang Zhixi looked at it a few more times but couldn't figure out what was wrong.0

Could his mother be hiding good stuff here?0

He shook his head with a chuckle; his family, born into a poor farming background, had managed to become factory workers, a significant improvement. Where could they have any good stuff? But Zhuang Zhixi knew that his parents were hardworking, otherwise, his siblings and he wouldn't have had it so easy.0

If they were still farming in the village, life would be truly hard.0

He lowered his head to boil water and called out through the window, "Sister-in-law."0

Liang Meifen: "What is it?"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Come here for a moment."0

Liang Meifen got up and walked to the kitchen window in confusion, asking, "What’s the matter?"0

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Mom doesn't know when she'll be back. If she comes back late, sister-in-law, could you make something good for dinner?" He explained, "I went to my mother-in-law's house this afternoon. They are planning to come over to see Mingmei in the evening. Although they didn't say whether they would come over for dinner, I thought it would be good to prepare in advance. Even if they don't come to eat, if we don't prepare at all, it would be a mess."0

This matter was not handled smoothly by him; he should have asked about it. However, he was just too excited about his wife being pregnant, which made him a bit oblivious.0

Liang Meifen furrowed her brows and said, "It can be done, but all our food, clothing, and daily necessities are controlled by my mother-in-law..."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "If Mom asks, I will tell her."0

Liang Meifen: "Okay."0

She felt a surge of resentment again. Both were doing the same thing, but her brother-in-law could take on that role, while her own man was cold and indifferent towards her family. She was uncomfortable with it, but there was nothing she could say.0

Are you blaming your man?0

Then she is also reluctant.0

However, speaking of which, his parents and younger brother seem to have not contacted her for a while recently. Initially, they wanted to borrow money from her to buy a three-wheeled vehicle, which costs thirty-six legs. She didn’t have a penny to spare, but she couldn't miss her younger brother's wedding either.0

She should do more for her brother; there aren’t many women like her sister-in-law. When she went back to her family to "fight for her brother's rights," it unexpectedly caused unhappiness for the whole family. Not only was her future sister-in-law unhappy, but her brother was also displeased, subtly complaining about her in his words.0

And her parents... how could her parents say she is a troublemaker?0

Thinking about all this, Liang Meifen felt a wave of sadness. Ever since their last argument, they hadn't come looking for her. She hadn't returned to her parents' home either, as she only went back when there was something to do. There was no need to go otherwise.0

As the saying goes, "Once a daughter is married, she's like water spilled on the ground." She had her own life to live, but deep down, she still felt a bit unsettled.0

"What's wrong?" someone noticed Liang Meifen's troubled expression and quickly asked.0

Aunt Zhou's eyes darted around, eager to catch a glimpse of someone else's misfortune.0

Liang Meifen replied, "I suddenly thought about my family. My younger brother's wife…"0

She started talking nonstop. Naturally, she wouldn't say anything bad about her parents or brother, but her sister-in-law? That was a different story. She had to talk about her shortcomings, and she did so in great detail.0

"Oh, that's a lot! Is she made of gold or something?"0

"Hai, maybe she thinks she's quite something…"0

Although they didn't know the person at all, the women quickly got into the gossip. Zhuang Zhixi finished boiling water and filled the thermos before heading out on his bike. Aunt Wang asked, "Zhuang Zhixi, are you heading out again?"0

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I'm going to pick up my wife after work."0

Zhuang Zhixi went to pick up Ming Mei after her shift, just in time to miss the usual crowd of people getting off work. He had taken the afternoon off and wasn't at the factory, so he hadn't seen the notice. However, almost every household in their courtyard had someone working at the factory. For example, both Li the Cook and his son-in-law got off work earlier. Being in the logistics department was less demanding than other workshops, so they finished earlier. As soon as Yang Lixin returned, he announced loudly, "I have news about the Bai family's punishment!"0

This statement caught everyone's attention. "What happened?"0

"How were they dealt with?"0

Everyone was eager to know the outcome, especially after hearing about Aunt Zhou's fake "forgiveness" the day before. Some believed it, others didn't. They were all waiting to see the result.0

Yang Lixin's voice was loud and clear. "Bai Fendou and his father are off the hook. They just got transferred to a different position."0

Everyone was shocked and looked at Aunt Zhou, wondering what kind of benefits the Zhou family had received to let the Bai family off so easily. If it was just neighborly kindness, no one believed it. Aunt Zhou wasn't the type to be so forgiving.0

"Aunt Zhou, you really forgave the Bai family? You're quite something."0

"Oh my, I never expected that."0

"Aunt Zhou, are you still holding a torch for Old Bai?"0

Aunt Zhou was extremely unhappy with these comments and snapped, "You bunch of gossipy busybodies, stop talking nonsense! Can't I just let it go for the sake of being neighbors? Bai Fendou and his father have already been humiliated enough. We live in the same courtyard; can't we just let bygones be bygones? We're not that heartless."0

She had her own calculations. Although there was some backroom dealing, she also wanted to paint a good picture of herself.0

Everyone rolled their eyes, not believing Aunt Zhou's kindness for a second.0

"So, they got transferred? To where?"0

Yang Lixin nodded, struggling to hide his smile. "Yes, transferred. Now Bai Fendou and his father are in the same position."0

"Oh, did Old Bai get transferred to the security department too?"0

"Don't be silly. Security isn't something just anyone can get into. And with what they did, do you really think they'd get a better position? Plus, Old Bai's too old to be in security! He'd be useless even if he ran into a thief."0

"Probably Bai Fendou and his dad are both cleaning boilers now. Guess it's a family business."0

Yang Lixin casually said, "Nope, you're all wrong. Bai Fendou and his dad were both transferred. They're now in the logistics department, cleaning toilets and emptying latrines."0

"Pfft!"0

"What?!"0

"Ahahahahahaha!"0

The sharp laughter came from Aunt Zhou. Although she had let the Bai family off, seeing them suffer still brought her great joy.0

"Emptying latrines? How could they be assigned to that?" Aunt Su, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly spoke up in a panic. "What's going on? They didn't do anything wrong. How could they be transferred to such a job?"0

Yang Lixin, who harbored a deep grudge against the Bai family over the "antiques" incident, didn't hold back. Nor did he have a good attitude toward the Su family, who always sided with the Bai family. He smirked and said, "Who said they were transferred because of a mistake? If they had really done something wrong, they'd be fired. Since nothing happened, this is just a normal work transfer. There's no such thing as a high or low job. Every job is for serving the people. What's wrong with cleaning toilets? It's all the same. Serving the people. Aunt Su, your attitude is problematic. I think they're doing just fine. At least father and son can help each other out."0

Aunt Su's face turned pale. She hadn't expected that even though the Zhou family had let it go, the factory hadn't. Although she was known for being able to make a scene, this time it wouldn't work. She had no legitimate reason to go to the factory and cause a fuss.0

She wasn't Old Bai's wife or anything.0

Taking a deep breath, she struggled to control her anxiety.0

It was clear that working in security and cleaning latrines were two very different things. Not only was the latter undignified, but the pay was likely to be lower too. Her face darkened with resentment.0

Aunt Zhou looked at Aunt Su, her eyes filled with glee. Regardless of how others felt, she was truly in a good mood. She hummed a tune and said, "Today is such a good day."0

Yang Lixin added, "The factory should be notifying them. They can't keep taking sick leave forever. The factory gave them a week off, and after that, they have to start their new jobs. I guess that's a promotion, right? From being security guards to becoming 'toilet managers.'"0

"Pfft!"0

Everyone burst out laughing, and the courtyard was filled with a lively atmosphere.0

Aunt Su was unhappy, but no one cared about her feelings.0

Everyone found it amusing.0

The Bai father and son really seemed destined to have a close relationship with toilets.0

Aunt Su awkwardly stood up and said, "I'm going to the toilet."0

"I'll come with you," Aunt Zhou quickly followed, and the two left the courtyard together. Once outside, seeing no one around, Aunt Zhou immediately said, "We've done our part as promised. We don't care if Bai Fendou and his father are cleaning toilets. If it weren't for my son Zhou Qun, they'd be in jail by now. You promised us, and you have to keep your word, not a single bit less."0

Aunt Su sighed softly and said, "Aunt Zhou, since I promised, I will definitely follow through. Don't doubt me. After so many years as neighbors, don't you know me?"0

Aunt Zhou pressed further, "So, have you found someone?"0

Aunt Su nodded. "If I hadn't found a suitable candidate, why would I have approached you? Aunt Zhou, you misunderstand me too much. I've already found the right person. You prepare a bit on your side, and I'll discuss it on mine. We'll take you to meet her in the next couple of days. She's the cousin of my eldest daughter's husband, the third daughter of her aunt's family. They're from a rural area, a family that had nine daughters and is still trying for a son. Such a family would be very willing to get rid of one more mouth to feed. You don't need to give them any money; just provide a place to stay and food. It's like having an extra maid. If she gets pregnant and gives you a grandson, you can decide whether to keep her or send her back to her family. Either way, it's fine."0

Aunt Zhou's eyes lit up with joy. "That sounds perfect."0

She hadn't expected that in her old age, she'd get to experience the life of a landlord, having an extra maid.0

"Make it quick. But won't this be a troublemaker?"0

Aunt Su: "You make it sound like she's some kind of troublemaker, just a country girl. What could she possibly stir up? She can't even stir her own family! You yourself came from the countryside, you know how naive country girls are. You tell her to go east, and she won't dare go west. This is my own relative, and if it weren't for the sake of helping Old Bai, I wouldn't be doing this."0

She sighed, "I'm not that heartless, but our family has been indebted to the Bai family for so many years, and we've never been able to repay them. Now that something's happened to the Bai family, how could we just turn a blind eye? People only realize the depth of their bonds during times of trouble. I don't have any romantic feelings for Old Bai, but we're like siblings."0

Aunt Zhou let out a cold laugh, not believing a single word, not even a punctuation mark. She knew exactly what kind of people this family was.0

Aunt Zhou: "Enough with the act, we all know each other. Just hurry up and bring that girl over."0

"Alright."0

The two women whispered in the restroom, which was empty at the moment, so they didn't bother to lower their voices. After all, they were just two uneducated housewives who didn't think much about the consequences. Little did they know, what they said could be heard next door!0

They thought the women's restroom was empty and they could talk freely, but they didn't realize that the men's restroom next door was occupied.0

And the person in the men's restroom wasn't just anyone; it was Yu Baoshan from the house at the end of the alley.0

Yes, the one who got swindled by Zhao Guihua.0

Yu Baoshan wasn't in the restroom by coincidence; he had hidden some things there, and he was feeling uneasy about it. So, he had been visiting the restroom frequently. This time, he came while most people were still at work, and the area was quiet.0

For some reason, he felt like his things were missing.0

In fact, from the ground, you couldn't see anything, but you had to climb onto the restroom partition to check. However, Yu Baoshan just had this feeling that his things were gone. He had sprained his ankle a few days ago and hadn't fully recovered, but today, he felt well enough to climb up and take a look.0

Before he could even start climbing, he overheard Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su's conversation.0

In this neighborhood, people had been living here for decades, some for over ten years. Although some residents weren't very distinctive and their voices might not be easily recognizable, it just so happened that the Zhou and Su families were well-known in the neighborhood.0

Despite the Zhuang family living quite well, they weren't the center of gossip in the alley.0

The real talk of the town were families like the Su's, with their distinctive characteristics, or the Zhou's, who were always stirring up trouble. So, Yu Baoshan immediately recognized their voices and knew who they were.0

The content of their conversation was quite explosive, and he listened intently, a malicious smile spreading across his face.0

Such a situation was a "goldmine," and if he could catch them in the act, he would have another "windfall." He didn't like working and preferred doing this kind of thing, not only for the sense of superiority it gave him but also for the potential profits.0

Of ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍course, he couldn't make much money directly, as most of the spoils were confiscated, and there were always higher-ups who took their share. He, as just a small fry, could only get a few measly benefits, but even that was enough to make it worthwhile.0

He used to be too scared to take any risks, as getting caught would have serious consequences. But over the past year, he had become bolder, and he wasn't the only one doing this secretly. He even knew someone who tried to steal gold bars and flee to Hong Kong.0

But he wasn't as foolish as that guy; he had his own plans. Even if he wanted to run away, it wouldn't be in a hurry; he would do it slowly. Otherwise, he might not even make it out of Beijing.0

How utterly stupid.0

The arrest of that guy had caused quite a stir, and now they were much more cautious when confiscating property, usually working in groups to prevent anyone from pocketing anything.0

Fortunately, he had managed to pull off a big heist before all this.0

Otherwise, he would have been at a loss.0

The steady accumulation of small gains wasn't bad, as it was certainly better than working.0

But who would want less when they could have more?0

Working was hard and had its limits, but now that he had a position, they couldn't stop paying him. If they didn't, it would be hindering his progress. He hadn't learned much, but he had mastered the art of throwing around big words.0

Hearing this conversation, he knew there was money to be made.0

He grinned sinisterly, deciding not to jump out just yet. If he did, they might deny everything, and he would gain nothing. He would wait, wait for the girl to move in, and maybe even catch them in the act. That way, he would have leverage over the Zhou family, and he didn't believe he couldn't squeeze some money out of them.0

Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu both had decent salaries; surely they could spare some for him.0

But now wasn't the right time to make his move. He was... "Damn it!!!"0

Just as he was reveling in his newfound opportunity to make money, he suddenly froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. He looked around the empty beams, completely panicked. "Where are my things? Who took my things?"0

At this moment, he couldn't control his volume, and he was practically frothing at the mouth, his eyes bloodshot.0

"Where are my gold bars? Who took my gold bars?!"0

Yu Baoshan's desperate screams scared the two elderly ladies in the restroom so much that they nearly fell into the toilet. Fortunately, the recent rumors of ghosts in the restroom had made everyone extra cautious, and the two ladies quickly grabbed the wall, narrowly avoiding a fall.0

Aunt Su reacted quickly, pulling up her pants and running out, while Aunt Zhou wasn't far behind. They both scrambled out, tripping over each other and falling to the ground, but they kept crawling away.0

They couldn't help but be terrified, both looking towards the men's restroom.0

Luckily, it was broad daylight, and people were starting to return from work, so the eerie screams from the restroom, though frightening, were clearly not the work of a ghost.0

The ghost rumors had indeed affected everyone.0

People gathered outside the restroom, not daring to go in. Meanwhile, Yu Baoshan had climbed onto the beams, his eyes bloodshot, unable to believe what he saw. "Where are my things?!"0

The restroom wasn't very complicated, and even though the beams were a bit dark, it was still clear enough in the daylight. Yu Baoshan was in a frenzy. "Who took my things?"0

At this point, Yu Baoshan was completely losing it. He was usually a very composed person, but no one could stay calm when faced with losing a fortune. After all, what he had lost was a treasure that many people could never earn in a lifetime.0

How could he not go mad? He knew it would be nearly impossible to find another chance like this. In the past, there were capitalists, but in recent years, they had become scarce. Even if they found someone with issues, most were just ordinary people with bad backgrounds, making it hard to get any money.0

"Who took it? Who took my things?"0

Yu Baoshan was going crazy in the restroom, and by now, people were returning from work. Even Zhuang Zhixi had picked up Ming Mei, and the couple was curious about the crowd gathered at the restroom entrance. Zhuang Zhixi pulled his wife back, saying, "Let's step back a bit; you don't want to get pushed."0

He then added in a "quiet" voice, "If someone falls in, we don't want to get splashed."0

"You're so right."0

Others also quietly stepped back.0

But there were always those with bigger guts, like their neighbor from the next courtyard. When the ghost rumors started, he was the first to open his door, though he did get a scare. But such boldness was hard to change.0

Strong-Willed stepped forward and peered into the restroom, only to hear someone in a frenzy: "Who took my gold and silver jewelry!"0

Oh boy, he heard it loud and clear.0

So did everyone else.0

Yu Baoshan was completely unable to calm down. He pounded heavily on the beam and cursed, "You bastard, damn it! If I catch you, I'll kill you!"0

He pounded with all his might, thudding loudly. Suddenly, there was a click... thud!0

Everyone watched as the restroom made a noise, and a long-neglected wooden beam couldn't take it anymore. With a loud crash, it broke, right where Yu Baoshan was sitting. There was a loud clatter... "Ahhhhh!!!"0

Screams echoed as he reached out and grabbed something, feeling the restroom about to collapse.0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Holy crap!"0

He quickly pulled his wife and quickly moved a few steps toward their home, staying as far away as possible. This public restroom had been around for quite some time. With that pull, a large section of the roof instantly collapsed.0

"Someone's trapped under there."0

"Holy crap, good thing we got away."0

"My goodness, thank heavens..."0

Zhuang Zhixi sighed, "Many old restrooms in other streets have been renovated, but we're still using the old one from twenty years ago. The beams are wooden, and it's clear that long neglect just doesn't work..."0

"Exactly, this time the street office will have to renovate ours. Others have concrete ones, which are much more durable."0

"Exactly."0

"Hey, wasn't there someone in there? Let's hurry and save them."0

It's true that people are still warm-hearted. Everyone quickly moved over. Zhuang Zhixi kindly reminded, "Be careful, there are scattered wooden pieces, watch your step, and don't fall into the pit."0

"My goodness, can't you say something nice?"0

"But he's right, let's hurry and save the person."0

A few men at the front moved closer and finally managed to pull the person out. Yu Baoshan was now covered in blood. He had fallen from the roof and struggled, accidentally hitting his head. Blood covered his face, looking quite frightening.0

However, Yu Baoshan hadn't fainted. Instead, his teeth were clenched, but at this moment, his reason had returned somewhat, realizing that some things couldn't be said. But he had already blurted out too much.0

He tried hard to calm down, but his face was still ghastly pale.0

He looked gloomy like a demon from hell.0

"Uh... you... you..."0

"Oh, it's you, Xiao Yu. Are you alright? You're hurt pretty badly..."0

"Don't chit-chat, hurry and call his family, send him to the hospital."0

"Right, right."0

Yu Baoshan took deep breaths, trying to calm down.0

But losing so many things, he really couldn't calm down, only managing to say stiffly, "Thank you."0

Fortunately, there was only him in the restroom. If there had been others, he wouldn't have climbed onto the beam so recklessly. Now, not only had he lost his things, but he had also lost face. The Yu family soon arrived, wailing, "Son, what happened to you? How could you have ended up like this? This restroom should have been renovated long ago. The street office doesn't care, forcing us to make do. Look, look at what they've done to you. The street office has to take responsibility!"0

Truly, there's always someone worse off. Before anything was resolved, they were already planning to pin it on the street office.0

"Auntie Yu, don't talk anymore. Hurry and send him to the hospital. Look at all that blood."0

"Yes, no matter what, let's deal with it later. Hurry..."0

The Yu family had many brothers, and several came over. They didn't need help from outsiders, borrowing a small cart and quickly pushing him away, shouting. Yu Baoshan sat in the cart, emanating a gloomy aura.0

Perhaps it was due to excessive anger, but suddenly, he slumped in the cart and fainted.0

"My heavens!"0

"Oh my, hurry, let's go to the hospital!"0

Some also sighed.0

"How did it collapse so suddenly..."0

"Was it because he was pounding? I glanced at the door when I passed by, but it collapsed too quickly to be sure."0

Strong-Willed was the closest to the truth. He felt he had to speak up and not let the street office be blamed unjustly.0

"I'm just telling the truth. I walked to the door and saw him sitting on the beam, pounding away, and then the wood broke... luckily, I dodged in time."0

"I believe that. I also heard him mention gold and silver jewelry... what was he saying?"0

"He said someone took his gold and silver jewelry. How could he have such things? And how could he keep them in the restroom?"0

"Exactly."0

Everyone discussed, somewhat confused, but Aunt Wang, who was more responsible, actively said, "Everyone, don't use this restroom today. Go a bit further to the next alley. If it collapses again and hurts someone, it'll be bad."0

She didn't stay long, saying, "I'll go to the street office. I hope they haven't left yet."0

Her words didn't affect some people, like Aunt Zhou, who immediately rushed over and started rummaging through the fallen wood in the restroom, occasionally looking up. Aunt Su also quickly understood and rushed over.0

The two women started digging, and others with quick minds also moved in. Regardless of what was going on, they had heard about gold and silver jewelry.0

Zhuang Zhixi, holding Ming Mei, watched the commotion from the side. Seeing everyone rushing over and competing, he deeply felt that these people didn't bring their brains with them when they went out? If there were really valuables, would Yu Baoshan have gone crazy like that?0

Besides, if there really were valuables, he wouldn't have let his family take him away.0

These people were truly blinded by the thought of gold and silver.0

"Hey, what are you doing? Move aside."0

"Why should I move aside? Is this your place?"0

"What do you mean? Is it yours if it's not mine?"0

Seeing the situation about to escalate, Zhuang Zhixi decisively said, "Wife, let's go home."0

He put his arm around Ming Mei's shoulder and prepared to leave.0

"Ming Mei."0

Ming Mei heard someone calling her. Turning back, she saw her parents and older brother.0

Ming Mei immediately exclaimed with joy, "Mom, Dad!"0

Ming Xiangdong looked at the dense crowd and the obviously collapsed restroom in surprise, saying, "What's going on here again?" They saw everyone rummaging through the restroom, quite a few people.0

Ming Mei's father sighed, "Do you guys have a problem with restrooms?"0

"Who knows, let's go home and avoid Ming Mei getting squeezed."0

The Ming family quickly moved forward. Ming Mei's older brother was still looking back at the commotion, saying, "Hey, you guys really know how to make things lively."0

They returned to the courtyard, and from the right side, someone said, "What are you all doing? Stop messing around. What could be in the restroom?"0

There were also those who were upright and selfless.0

Zhuang Zhixi peeked out again and saw the courtyard manager from the next door scolding people.0

He sighed, "What a mess."0

He led everyone back. His father and older brother were already at home. Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Hey, when did you guys get back?"0

Old Man Zhuang: "Before the restroom collapsed, I didn't watch the excitement."0

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "I met Dad at the alley entrance. He said not to watch the commotion and go home, so we came back. I guess we were ahead of you. I heard some noise at the restroom and thought it wasn't interesting and might ruin my appetite, so I left. I didn't expect the follow-up to be even more exciting, with it collapsing..."0

Old Man Zhuang: "What are you talking about? Hurry and welcome the in-laws."0

He wasn't good at entertaining guests, saying, "Zhixi, make some tea for your in-laws."0

Ming Mei smiled, "Don't treat my parents like outsiders." She then noticed her mother-in-law wasn't home; it was her older sister-in-law making dinner.0

Liang Meifen had a painful expression. She also wanted to go out and enjoy the excitement, but instead, she had to cook. She didn't expect Ming Mei's parents to actually come over for dinner. It was truly unexpected; what kind of mindset would dare to casually eat at someone else's house?0

However, Liang Meifen didn't pick a fight in front of her mother-in-law. She wasn't that kind of person.0

She said, "My mother-in-law went fishing. She left after lunch and hasn't come back yet."0

"There's no need to prepare too many dishes," Lan Ling said with a smile, her voice gentle. "I bought a roasted duck and a pork hock, and..." She continued, "Since your mother-in-law isn't here, I'll help out."0

Liang Meifen was quick to refuse, "No, no, please sit down. You're a guest."0

Lan Ling chuckled, "Then I'll leave it to you."0

Liang Meifen replied, "It's no trouble at all."0

He was practically salivating.0

Tonight's meal looked really good.0

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi were already peeking at the door, their big eyes full of curiosity as they watched the guest. Lan Ling patted the children's heads and said, "I bought ice cream and put it in the thermos. Would you like to share it?"0

The children were shocked.0

Could they really have ice cream so early?0

Usually, they only got to eat it during the hottest days of summer!0

The last time they had it was last summer, and since it wasn't quite hot yet, their family hadn't bought any. But now... Hutou swallowed hard, "Me, me, me. Can I have some?"0

Lan Ling smiled, "Of course you can."0

"I also brought some for Grandpa Lan and the others. Would you like to take it to them?"0

Hutou nodded, then shook his head.0

Lan Ling: "???"0

Hutou: "No one's home there. They haven't come back yet."0

Old Man Zhuang: "Maybe they're watching the commotion outside."0Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Zhuang Zhixi: "No, they weren't there when we were watching the commotion."0

Ming Mei, being her father's daughter, knew him well. Lan Ling remained calm and said, "They must have gone out to eat. Since they're not here, that makes two extra sticks. You two can have one extra each."0

Hutou: "!!!"0

Xiao Yanzi: "!!!"0

Xiao Yanzi blinked her big eyes and said, "Thank you, pretty auntie."0

Lan Ling giggled, pinched her cheek, and said, "Oh, what a sweet little girl."0

Ming Mei: "Come on, give me one..."0

Lan Ling smiled, "There's no more left for you."0

Ming Mei: "Ah???"0

She stared at her mother in disbelief. No ice cream for her?0

Lan Ling: "What would a pregnant woman like you want with ice cream? Come, let's go to your room. I need to give you some advice."0

Ming Mei: "But I just found out I'm pregnant. What's wrong with having a little ice cream... There's no rule against it."0

The usually gentle Lan Ling turned stern with her daughter, "My word is the rule."0

Liang Meifen: "..."0

All mothers are the same.0

Lan Ling led Ming Mei to their room, carrying a bag. Ming Mei pouted, "Mom, you're being too strict. I'm married now, why are you still controlling me?"0

Lan Ling smiled, "Does getting married mean you're not my child anymore?"0

Ming Mei: "Of course not."0

Lan Ling: "Then what are you complaining about?"0

She said, "I brought you some food. Put it away."0

Ming Mei immediately leaned in, "What goodies did you bring?"0

Lan Ling: "I made you some black sesame oil tea this afternoon, with chopped walnuts in it. Have a bowl if you have no appetite, or as a snack at night. I also brought you a can of malted milk and a can of milk powder. Let me know when you finish them, and I'll prepare more."0

Ming Mei watched as her mother pulled out beef jerky and said, "This is what your dad bought for you at the black market this afternoon. It's not much, so keep it for yourself and don't share it."0

Ming Mei nodded seriously, then hugged her mother's arm and said, "Mom, I'm so happy."0

Lan Ling tapped her forehead and said, "Just take care of yourself, and that's all I ask. Now that you're married and not living with us, if the Zhuang family treats you badly, go to your grandfather. He won't let you suffer."0

Ming Mei's lips curled up with pride as she mentioned her grandfather, "Mom, Grandpa really loves me the most. You know that, right? He gave me something special."0

She closed the door, not worried about being seen, and quickly showed Lan Ling the small golden Buddha her grandfather had given her, "Look!"0

She was beaming, "No one else has one."0

Lan Ling's lips twitched, then she smiled faintly, "Yes, he loves you the most."0

What a joke. Everyone has one.0

That old man, so sly!0