Chapter 86

Ming Mei never expected to get pregnant so quickly, but now that she was, she was determined to receive the treatment a pregnant woman deserved. Whether others valued her or not, she certainly valued herself. Her mother had once said, "A woman, when pregnant, needs to be well-nurtured. Normally, whatever nutrients you consume are for yourself, but now there's a child competing for them."0

Ming Mei found this reasoning quite sensible, so late at night, she decided to treat herself to a late-night snack, munching on two biscuits.0

As Zhuang Zhixi returned with water, he noticed her eating again but didn't say anything. Instead, he poured her a cup of water and dropped a White Rabbit candy into it. Ming Mei looked at the cup and commented, "They say White Rabbit candies are like milk, but even if you put one in a cup, it doesn't really dissolve."0

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Just leave it there."0

He continued, "If it doesn't dissolve tonight, drink it in the morning. I'll try to find some connections to get a milk powder coupon so you can buy some milk powder and supplement your nutrition."0

Even though they lived in Beijing, buying milk powder wasn't easy. Things like malted milk were more accessible, but milk powder, especially adult milk powder, was quite rare. Their jobs didn't come with such coupons.0

Zhuang Zhixi started thinking about who he could ask for a coupon. If he couldn't get one, he might have to go to the black market. Despite the rarity of such coupons, ticket sellers usually had them, as that was their business.0

Ming Mei nodded and agreed. She was very conscious of her pregnancy.0

She thought for a moment and said, "You should go to my house tomorrow and ask my mom. She might have some connections."0

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow. Ming Mei pouted, "My older sister-in-law has had two kids, and my nephew has had milk powder. Even if my mom doesn't have connections, she knows where to get them."0

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Alright."0

He said, "I've heated some water. Even though it's getting warmer, you should still soak your feet to relax."0

He fetched a footbath and poured hot water into it for his wife. Ming Mei watched him with a smile, giggling and teasing, "I'm only a month pregnant. You're already taking such good care of me. How long are you planning to do this? And aren't you afraid of people laughing at you?"0

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "What's there to be afraid of? You're my wife, not a stranger."0

He continued, "I'm just getting used to it. That way, when the baby comes, I won't be too overwhelmed. I'll be able to help take care of the baby."0

Zhuang Zhixi added, "When Tiger Head and Little Swallow were young, my mom took care of them during the day, and my brother and sister-in-law took over at night. I guess we'll do the same."0

Though the baby wasn't born yet, the father was already feeling the stress. He said, "I can already imagine how tiring it will be."0

Ming Mei replied, "It's still a long way off. By the way, I have something to show you."0

She proudly extended her hand, opening her clenched palm and lifting her chin. "What do you think?"0

Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed, "Wow!"0

He was stunned and looked up at Ming Mei, stammering, "This... this..."0

Ming Mei whispered, "My grandpa gave this to me, just me."0

She added with a hint of pride, "My grandpa loves me the most."0

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "That's really nice."0

Ming Mei said, "Isn't it?"0

She hummed a little tune, clearly pleased, and said, "Grandpa told me to wear it, but with summer coming and fewer clothes, it might be a bit noticeable."0

Zhuang Zhixi suggested, "Don't wear it around your neck. If the car jostles and it shows, someone might get bad ideas. Put it in a hidden pocket and pin it in place. That way, no one will see it, and it won't fall out."0

Ming Mei thought it made sense and nodded seriously. "That's a good idea."0

She shook the little golden Buddha in her hand and smiled, "I didn't expect to start making money as soon as I got pregnant."0

Zhuang Zhixi joked, "Then when we have a baby, whether it's a boy or a girl, let's name them Zhaocai."0

Ming Mei immediately frowned, snapping, "Get lost."0

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, and Ming Mei rolled her eyes at him. "Stop talking nonsense."0

Zhuang Zhixi teased, "You're so fierce. A fierce mom like you will have a baby with a big temper."0

Ming Mei clenched her fists, saying, "Are you looking for a fight? Don't think just because I'm pregnant I won't hit you. My baby will be the sweetest and cutest."0

Zhuang Zhixi's smile widened.0

Ming Mei demanded, "Stop laughing and apologize."0

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Alright, alright, I'm sorry. It was just a slip of the tongue."0

Ming Mei nodded, "That's more like it."0

She then asked, "By the way, why did it take you so long to boil the water?"0

Zhuang Zhixi leaned in with a gossipy tone, "Well, I happened to overhear my sister-in-law talking about some gossip, so I listened for a bit. Guess what? The Zhou family has decided not to pursue the matter with Bai Fendou and his father."0

This was both surprising and somewhat expected.0

Ming Mei exclaimed, "What?!"0

She widened her eyes in disbelief and asked, "But why? They were so angry. How could they just let it go? Did Bai Fendou threaten to jump off a building or something? I can't believe they'd just drop it like that."0

Zhuang Zhixi smiled enigmatically.0

Ming Mei poked him, "Don't just smile like that. Tell me!"0

Zhuang Zhixi explained, "The Zhou family certainly doesn't want to see others happy, so they wouldn't let Bai Fendou off easily. But I think Aunt Su and her daughter-in-law must have done something to appease them. It's hard to say exactly what, but it probably has something to do with the Zhou family's desire for a child. They're the only ones who know the details, so we can only guess."0

He added, "But as time passes, we'll probably find out. Such things are hard to keep secret."0

Ming Mei rolled her eyes, "What a mess. Do you think Aunt Su might be offering one of her children to the Zhou family? After all, she has so many sons."0

Ming Mei's imagination was running wild, but Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "I wouldn't dream of something so absurd. Aunt Zhou wouldn't want someone else's child. If she were satisfied with just any child, she wouldn't have waited until Zhou Qun was over thirty. They want their own biological child."0

Ming Mei nodded, "True."0

Despite her curiosity, she found the situation a bit confusing.0

Ming Mei commented, "They're really something. To let such a thing go, the Su family must be quite resourceful."0

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "That's what I think. They're quite daring."0

After washing up, the couple went to bed together. Zhuang Zhixi said, "Get some rest. You're carrying two now."0

Ming Mei replied, "I know, I know. But tell me more."0

Zhuang Zhixi said, "At this point, it's all speculation. Wait a few days. Since we live in the same courtyard, we'll find out sooner or later. Big news can't be hidden."0

Ming Mei said, "That Bai Fendou is so despicable, trying to scheme against you. If there's no punishment this time, I'll beat him up myself."0

Zhuang Zhixi explained, "Even if the Zhou family lets it go, the factory will still have to punish him. But if Zhou Qun, Jiang Lu, and Bai Fendou and his father all insist it was just a joke and nothing really happened, it might not be treated too seriously."0

He paused and added, "I don't think the punishment will be too harsh, but there will be some. Section Chief Liu isn't the type to let things slide. Not only did Bai Fendou embarrass the security department, but today's stunt of threatening to jump off a building was ridiculous. Section Chief Liu has his position for a reason. You'll see, Bai Fendou will definitely be kicked out of the security department."0

Ming Mei still felt unsatisfied and said, "This is already letting them off easy. If it weren't for Aunt Zhou already smashing the Bai family's things, I would have gone to break their windows! I've never seen such shameless, despicable scoundrels."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh, my dear wife, you're so wonderful. Don't be angry, it's not worth getting upset over such fools. Just wait, as the saying goes, 'When the mountain doesn't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain.' This matter isn't over yet. I, Zhuang Zhixi, am not someone to be trifled with."0

Do you think that's the end of it?0

Not a chance!0

Ming Mei immediately perked up and said, "If you want to deal with him, you must tell me, and I'll join you."0

Zhuang Zhixi gently patted his wife's back and said, "We are gentlemen, and gentlemen use words, not fists."0

Ming Mei: "Tch~"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Alright, let's sleep. I promise, I'll report everything to our Ming Mei, okay?"0

Ming Mei: "Alright, I guess."0

She pulled the blanket and said, "Move closer, I want to rest my head on your arm."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Sure."0

He chuckled softly and moved closer to Ming Mei.0

The couple cuddled together, and Ming Mei said, "Goodnight."0

Zhuang Zhixi lowered his head and kissed her forehead, saying, "Goodnight, sleep well."0

After their night conversation, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei fell asleep, but many others couldn't sleep that night. It seemed like everyone's sleep quality had been poor lately. Zhao Guihua was talking to Old Man Zhuang: "I want to raise two chickens in the yard."0

In fact, although there were restrictions on many things, raising chickens was still allowed. However, there was a limit—each household could raise a maximum of two chickens. In many rural families, two chickens were often raised, as eggs were a valuable commodity that could be exchanged for money.0

There were no other sources of income in the village, so they had to rely on this to make money.0

However, city dwellers rarely raised chickens, not because they didn't know how, but because the conditions didn't allow it. For those living in apartments, it was out of the question, as there was simply no space. Even in their compound, while it was possible to raise chickens, you couldn't let them roam freely. Otherwise, the chicken droppings would be everywhere, not only ruining the environment but also annoying the neighbors. Moreover, if the compound's collective reputation was damaged due to the mess, it would lead to gossip and criticism.0

Of course, one could build a small fence in front of their own door to raise chickens, but the yard belonged to everyone. Even if you could raise chickens, the space would be very limited, and the chickens wouldn't have enough room to move around. If they were cooped up and didn't lay eggs, it would be a loss. Additionally, once you started raising chickens, you would inevitably attract the attention of your neighbors, leading to endless requests for egg exchanges, which would be quite troublesome.0

So, although their courtyard had better conditions than apartment buildings, people weren't very keen on raising chickens.0

There was another reason for this in their compound: there was a petty thief.0

If you weren't careful and he stole your eggs, all your efforts would be in vain.0

Old Man Zhuang thought of this and said, "Jin Lai is a pickpocket. If we raise chickens and he steals our eggs, what can we do? Can we go to their house and start a fight? They would just cry and make a scene, and we'd end up getting angry for nothing."0

Zhao Guihua: "I know, but both my eldest daughter-in-law and I are at home. Can't we two watch over the chickens and prevent the thief and his brothers from stealing? That would make us too useless, wouldn't it? Besides, I'm raising chickens for our youngest daughter-in-law to recuperate. If anyone wants to exchange eggs with me, I have a reason to refuse. Once she gives birth and finishes her 'month of confinement', I won't raise them anymore."0

Zhao Guihua whispered: "I know raising chickens is troublesome, but meat, eggs, and milk are the most nutritious. We have a limited amount of meat to buy, and there's no way to get milk. We can only rely on eggs to boost the nutrition for pregnant women."0

If this were ten years later, they could have arranged for milk or goat's milk to supplement Ming Mei's diet, but now, such channels were almost non-existent. These resources were mostly reserved for veteran cadres, and even ordinary cadre families might struggle to get them.0

Old Man Zhuang: "You're right about that."0

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍Guihua: "Exactly. When our eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant with Hutou, we could still go to the market and the pigeon market to buy things. We could supplement her diet with eggs every few days. Later, when she gave birth to Xiaoyan, it was a bit tighter, but we could still manage. But now, with the rationing system, it's different. Now, both our daughter-in-laws are our family. If the eldest daughter-in-law could get such treatment, shouldn't the youngest one also be taken care of? The youngest daughter-in-law is new to the family and doesn't know much, but Zhixi knows. I don't want the children to feel too much of a gap. After all, they are all our grandchildren, right?"0

Old Man Zhuang: "Then, listen to you."0

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, I'll look around. You know how hard it is to find an old hen that can lay eggs right away. It's not easy to find one."0

Old Man Zhuang nodded, fully agreeing.0

Nowadays, no matter what you buy, everything is in short supply. Take sewing machine tickets, for example. They had been looking for one for a long time, but they just couldn't find one. Of course, they could go to the black market and find a ticket seller, but that wasn't a place you could frequent.0

"These matters, you decide."0

Zhao Guihua: "Of course, it's up to me. Who else would it be?"0

She turned over and said, "Move over a bit. As you get older, sleeping on a warm kang is really comfortable."0

Then sleep at the kangtou.0

Zhao Guihua's mouth twitched, "The days are getting warmer, and you want me to sleep at the kang? Why didn't you let me sleep at the kang during the cold winter? You really want to heat me to death."0

Old Man Zhuang was innocent: "Didn't you just say you wanted to sleep at the kang head..."0

Zhao Guihua: "It's cold today."0

Old Man Zhuang: "Alright, alright, whenever you want to sleep there, just do it. I'll listen to you, okay?"0

Zhao Guihua laughed: "You're a good man."0

She said, "Didn't I say I'd make you a cotton shirt? I've finished it, and as soon as I buy the buttons tomorrow, I can sew them on."0

Old Man Zhuang: "Ah, so fast? What does it look like..."0

He had rarely had the chance to wear new clothes in his life.0

In the old society, they were poor, and when the new society came, life stabilized, but the children grew up one after another. As parents, they couldn't bear to spend everything on themselves, so he and his wife only made new clothes every few years.0

Since their youngest son's wedding was in the winter, the last time he had made new clothes was for a thick coat. He hadn't made a new summer short-sleeved shirt in four or five years.0

He said, "Old lady, you're so good to me."0

Zhao Guihua: "Who else would I be good to if not you? The children have their own families, and they can't always focus on us. We are the ones who support each other."0

Speaking of the past life, although her two sons had some disagreements, they were still on good terms. They were also quite filial. But Zhao Guihua knew that expecting children to be by your side all the time was unrealistic.0

They all had their own work and lives, and she mostly spent her time alone.0

"Let's take good care of each other."0

Zhao Guihua spoke seriously, and Old Man Zhuang understood the gravity of her words. He nodded and said, "Alright."0

He grinned, showing his eight teeth.0

Clearly, his old lady favored him the most!0

The old couple chatted late into the night, and the Su family next door was also still awake.0

Aunt Su instructed Wang Xiangxiu: "You go to Zhaodi's place tomorrow after work and have Zhaodi come back to see me. Forget it, I'll go myself. I'll go in the morning and make the necessary gestures. We can't delay. I've thought about finding someone for the Zhou family to have a child, but my family hasn't been in touch for decades, so that's out of the question. Your family, though poor, is in the city, so that's not an option either. But Zhaodi's in-laws might have someone suitable. Anyway, I must get to the bottom of this today. We need to show the Zhou family our actions, or that old witch Zhou might not let this go."0

"I understand, Mom. But Mom, dealing with her is easy for you, right? We can just bluff them, and when Bai Fendou and the others come out, what can she do to us?"0

Upon hearing this, Aunt Su quickly shook her head, saying, "No, you can't mess around with the Zhou family on this matter. I know Sister Zhou well, and this child issue is her bottom line. If we dare to use this to deceive her, they might even resort to violence."0

Aunt Su saw clearly: "Sister Zhou Li has been longing for a child for over ten years. This matter is no laughing matter."0

Wang Xiangxiu: "I understand now."0

"Tomorrow, you should urge the Zhou Qun couple to speak up for Bai Fendou and his father at the security department."0

"Okay."0

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a good plan. Aunt Su looked at Wang Xiangxiu with heartfelt words: "This time, although it's a crisis, it might also be an opportunity. Perhaps we can find someone easy to manipulate. Then we can use this person to get some benefits from the Zhou family."0

Aunt Su's eyes gleamed with calculation as she said proudly, "I don't believe they can stay calm when it comes to their child."0

She then comforted Wang Xiangxiu: "Xiu'er, in this courtyard, there's no daughter-in-law as good as you. You've given our old Su family three sons, making you a hero of our family. No one can compare."0

Wang Xiangxiu smiled softly, a touch of pride in her expression.0

"Our current life may be tough and full of calculations, but better days are ahead. They can't compare to us."0

"Mm-hmm."0

Although every family has its own set of difficult scriptures to chant, it's undeniable that everyone is quite satisfied with their current lives.0

******0

Early in the morning, the sounds of the day began to rise and fall, marking the start of another busy day.0

Zhuang Zhixi left home earlier than usual, specifically to see his wife off.0

In the morning, Zhao Guihua boiled two eggs. Ming Mei had one, and Huttou and Xiaoyan shared the other. This was thanks to her foresight. After buying eggs once at the hospital gate, she went back a few more times and managed to buy some again.0

Otherwise, relying solely on the quota, how could they have so many eggs?0

She wanted to raise chickens partly because of this. If anyone questioned why their family ate so many eggs, she would have an explanation.0

Today, Zhao Guihua was very busy. She left home early in the morning and headed straight to Back Street to find Auntie Lian.0

Yes, that Auntie Lian who took on various tasks. Zhao Guihua knew that such a job would definitely be within her scope. Zhao Guihua actually knew some people, but finding a chick was easy. However, finding an old hen that was laying eggs was not easy. She needed it urgently, so naturally, she had to turn to a "professional."0

When Zhao Guihua arrived at Auntie Lian's courtyard, she was stopped by a neighbor: "Auntie, who are you looking for?"0

These days, if you were a stranger, even entering an alley would attract the attention of neighborhood watchmen. Don't even think about doing anything bad.0

Zhao Guihua: "Is Auntie Lian here?"0

"You're looking for Auntie Lian?" The neighbor seemed a bit surprised, then shouted loudly: "Auntie Lian!"0

As soon as the voice fell, Auntie Lian came out, dragging her shoes. She was quite surprised to see Zhao Guihua: "Huh? Why are you here?"0

Although her business was extensive, most people didn't like to associate with her. On one hand, they were afraid of being implicated, and on the other, they felt it was shameful. Nowadays, only formal factory workers were considered respectable. Anything else was beneath consideration.0

If this were a few decades later, an old lady supporting herself by doing various activities would be praised: "Earning money, no shame in that."0

But not now. Without a formal job and engaging in all sorts of miscellaneous activities was indeed quite shameful. Auntie Lian didn't interact much with her neighbors.0

Auntie Lian: "Come in, come in. Why are you here, sister?"0

Zhao Guihua entered and saw some cardboard boxes piled up in the house, indicating she also did work for the neighborhood cardboard box assembly.0

Zhao Guihua: "Auntie Lian, since you know a lot of people and have wide connections, I want to ask you to find two old hens, the kind that lay eggs immediately."0

Auntie Lian: "Old hens?"0

Zhao Guihua nodded: "Yes, I need them urgently. I don't know how long it will take to find them, so I thought of you, the all-knowing one."0

Upon hearing this, Auntie Lian smiled slightly, saying, "You've come to the right person. If you ask someone else, it might not work, but if you ask me, I'll arrange it perfectly. Just wait and see, I'll have it sorted out in two or three days."0

Zhao Guihua: "About the money..."0

Auntie Lian gestured with a finger, and Zhao Guihua immediately agreed: "Okay!"0

Although Auntie Lian engaged in various money-making activities, this was also within her scope. Whether it was a big job or a small one, as long as there was money to be made.0

Zhao Guihua settled the matter and felt relieved. She whispered: "Auntie Lian, what about the clothing factory...?"0

Auntie Lian quickly waved her hand: "No way, no way!"0

She cursed: "These people must be crazy. They had a good income, yet they went mad? They dared to collude internally and externally. Sister, I have to thank you for warning me last time. If not for your reminder, I would have ended up in jail. I was lucky. I didn't go back, so I escaped that disaster. During that period, several people who often went there were caught red-handed. Even that gatekeeper, Old Brother, you've met him, an old man, ended up in labor reform."0

If it were someone else, she definitely wouldn't have said this, but Zhao Guihua had warned her, saving her from being caught. So, she felt comfortable sharing this with her.0

"The factory leadership changed, and the warehouse keepers needed to be replaced. Previously, we just bought some scraps, and even the leaders turned a blind eye; after all, if we didn't buy them, these scraps would be sold cheaply to various factories, sewn into small rags to clean machines, not worth much. But you see, aren't they crazy? Just because there was a change in leadership, they wanted to make a big profit. They cut good fabrics into pieces and stuffed them into the waste, then colluded to smuggle them out. And it was several batches a day, a huge operation. How could it not leak out? After you told me, I didn't dare go back. Not long after, about half a month, they were busted. I almost ended up inside, luckily, I only went once, and they didn't catch me on the spot. Plus, they confessed that they colluded with each other, so these matters had nothing to do with me. No one bothered me."0

If she had gone more often and been caught on the spot, it would have been over.0

She sighed: "What a great situation I had, such a lucrative business, and it's all gone."0

She had lost a major source of income, but Auntie Lian also said: "But don't worry, I understand these things. I'll communicate well in the future and still buy fabric scraps. I'll definitely tell you and invite you along."0

Zhao Guihua: "That would be great."0

“Oh, by the way. There was a ghost scare at the public toilet near your courtyard, right? Do you need a ghost exorcism?” Auntie Lian's eyes lit up, trying to drum up some business.0

Zhao Guihua: "No, I don't believe in that."0

Even though she had been reborn and, as an old lady, she was a bit superstitious, she completely didn't believe in the ghost scare at the toilet. If she believed it, she would be a fool. She knew exactly who was behind it.0

She said: "You should promote this service to others."0

Auntie Lian was disappointed: "Look at you, a person can't believe in nothing."0

Zhao Guihua smiled: "I also can't believe in everything. Alright, I won't chat with you anymore. I have to go back and work; there's a lot to do at home."0

"Okay."0

Auntie Lian didn't delay, saying: "I'll go ask around for those old hens right away."0

The two went out together. A neighbor peeked out: "Are you leaving?"0

Auntie Lian grabbed the neighbor and said: "Do you have relatives in the countryside? This sister wants to trade for two laying hens. Do you have any connections?"0

"I'll take you to ask, but I'm not sure about the details."0

Zhao Guihua: "Then I'll trouble you."0

Auntie Lian: "What's there to trouble about? Go back, I'll take care of this."0

Zhao Guihua nodded and was about to leave when Auntie Lian suddenly said, "Oh wait, isn't there someone in your courtyard who had an egg break?"0

Zhao Guihua: "…You mean Bai Fendou and his father."0

Auntie Lian perked up immediately: "Oh, wait, don't go yet! Tell us about it!"0

As soon as she said that, the entire courtyard came alive, and everyone gathered around Zhao Guihua.0

Zhao Guihua: "…"0

"What happened?"0

"Sister, tell us, please?"0

Zhao Guihua felt that Bai Fendou was really going to become famous.0

Although, he already had some reputation. After all, falling into a public toilet was quite rare, and the person involved was him, and only him.0

Zhao Guihua swallowed hard: "Although we're neighbors, I don't work at the machinery factory, so I didn't see the scene. He hasn't returned since the incident."0

"Ah, do you think he'll be released?"0

"I don't think so. This kind of person, a hooligan, definitely can't just let it go."0

"I wonder how desperate he was. The one who always gets entangled with older women is also from your courtyard, right? It's truly a hidden dragon in a crouching tiger, a hidden dragon in a crouching tiger!"0

Zhao Guihua: "…"0

How utterly disgraceful!0

She felt embarrassed just being a neighbor.0

Luckily, she had thick skin. If it were anyone else, they might have cried.0

Zhao Guihua silently complained a bit, then said, "I really don't know the specifics, but he was the one who fell into the toilet last time too."0

"Ah? That's really…"0

Zhao Guihua threw out a topic and quickly said, "I have things at home, so I'll be leaving first. If you're really curious, go to the hospital. He's still hospitalized."0

"He definitely won't be coming out…"0

"I think so too."0

"Not necessarily, right?"0

Seeing everyone discussing enthusiastically, Zhao Guihua quickly squeezed out and ran away from the alley, muttering curses as she walked home. Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun were really ruining the reputation of their courtyard. Poor the others living in Courtyard No. 44.0

As she walked back, feeling melancholy, she ran into Aunt Su at the alley entrance. She raised an eyebrow and said, "Old Su, what are you…?"0

You know, Aunt Su rarely left the alley. Her usual activity range was just their courtyard, and occasionally the public toilet. She rarely went anywhere else.0

Zhao Guihua was quite puzzled: "Are you going out?"0

Aunt Su smiled weakly and said, "I'm going to my eldest daughter's house."0

She also looked at Zhao Guihua: "You're out so early in the morning. Where did you come from?"0

Zhao Guihua: "I went to Back Street. I asked someone from the countryside to find me two old hens that can lay eggs. I plan to raise chickens. My daughter-in-law is pregnant, so she should be nourished."0

Aunt Su smiled softly, saying, "You're such a good mother-in-law. Starting to nourish her as soon as she's pregnant. Any girl who marries into your family is fortunate. But Old Zhao, you also need to change your temper. Your temper might scare your daughter-in-law."0

Although she said that, her smile was faint. They were all old neighbors; who didn't know who?0

Zhao Guihua smiled: "Of course. I may have a bad temper, but I do things practically. I don't play those fake games."0

Aunt Su could tell this was sarcasm, but she didn't change her expression. After all, she also talked about Zhao Guihua.0

However, she didn't have much time to chat with Zhao Guihua, so she just said a few words: "I have to go to my daughter's place. Let's talk later."0

Aunt Su hurried off, and Zhao Guihua watched her back thoughtfully.0

But did Aunt Su matter? Not at all. Zhao Guihua quickly went home, planning to build a small chicken coop. Although people always say that children will have their own blessings, who is she as a mother?0

Really, she just couldn't help but worry about the whole family.0

The news of Zhao Guihua building a chicken coop to raise chickens quickly spread throughout the courtyard. When Aunt Zhou saw it, she immediately said, "Since you can raise chickens, we're going to raise chickens too."0

Zhao Guihua: "Go ahead? No need to ask me."0

Zhou Dama was choked, huffed, but she was in a good mood today and didn't argue with Zhao Guihua. Instead, she said, "When you go to pick up wood to build the coop, get some for me too. I'll need it."0

Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes: "Am I your mother? Should I take care of you? Go get it yourself."0

Zhou Aunt was furious: "How can you talk like that? Neighbors should help each other. How can you be so selfish?"0

Zhao Guihua: "Pfft. Who are you calling selfish? Who's more selfish than you in this courtyard? Am I obligated to prepare everything for you? Can you have some self-respect? Get lost, always trying to take advantage."0

Zhou Aunt: "Who are you saying takes advantage? Do you think my family needs to take advantage? Everyone knows we're the richest in the courtyard. Why would I need to?"0

She wasn't well-liked in the courtyard, and seeing everyone looking at her mockingly, Aunt Zhou felt even more unhappy. She huffed, turned around, and went back inside. After a while, she came out again, loudly saying, "With our family's conditions, we can afford to buy every day. We're not raising chickens anymore. Tomorrow, we'll buy a big rooster and kill it to nourish my son. Hopefully, it will help him have a son!"0

Most of the working people had already gone to work, and the housewives smiled meaningfully, not responding.0

Zhou Aunty was quite boastful, but who didn’t know who she was?0

If her family could so easily have a child, Aunt Su wouldn't have had an advantage over Aunt Zhou for over a decade. Even if Zhou Qun was great, and Aunt Zhou always emphasized that their family was the richest in the courtyard, the topic of children was still a sore spot.0

Previously, everyone thought it must be because Jiang Lu couldn't have children, and it couldn't be the man's fault. But recently, with some of Zhou Qun's affairs coming to light, people started to have some doubts.0

Being so young and messing around with older women, it was likely that he had ruined himself when he was young and reckless.0

Although the former mistress who had an affair with Zhou Qun had passed away, and others with names and identities firmly denied it, making Zhou Qun's affair end with a whimper after a lot of noise, everyone knew it must be true.0

So, why didn't the Zhou family have children became quite questionable.0

Seeing no one supporting her, Aunt Zhou continued, "If anyone has extra meat coupons, trade them with me. I need to nourish my son Zhou Qun."0

She added, "If anyone comes across pig kidneys when buying meat, let me know."0

Everyone: "…"0

Is there really a need for that?0

Zhao Guihua, while working, glanced at Aunt Zhou a couple of times. She suddenly said, "It's not a holiday. Why is Aunt Su going to her daughter's house?"0

Everyone knew that Aunt Su had a terrible relationship with her in-laws, and they never visited each other.0

Although Aunt Su was good at acting, her daughter exploited her husband's family, extracting every benefit from them to support her own family, and no amount of acting could change that, as it involved real interests. So, she had a bad relationship with both her in-laws and didn't visit them.0

Even during holidays, neither of the two sons-in-law nor the grandchildren visited.0

Even Aunt Su's two daughters rush back and forth every time they come, dropping off things and leaving quickly, sneaking back.0

Like Ming Mei, she had been married for several months, half a year, but hadn't seen Su Zhaodi and Su Pandi from this family.0

So, Aunt Su going to her daughter's house was quite surprising.0

When Zhao Guihua said this, she looked up and saw Zhou Da Ma's fleeting joy. Zhao Guihua raised an eyebrow slightly. She became even more certain that the Su family must have agreed to some condition with the Zhou family to "save" Bai Fendou and his father.0

The Su family had no money, and no one either. Zhou Qun and Wang Xiangxiu had long had an unusual relationship, so there was no reason for them to easily mediate.0

But she had heard yesterday that the Zhou family was willing to let go of Bai Fendou and his father... The child!0

Zhao Guihua analyzed it all and suddenly figured out the reason.0

She glanced back at Aunt Su and frowned, thinking to herself: Could it be that Aunt Su is arranging for someone to have a child for Zhou Qun?0

After all, in her previous life, a "distant relative" from Aunt Su's family had appeared.0

Could it be that this person was found by Aunt Su?0

Although this didn't happen in her previous life, there might be other triggers or perhaps Aunt Su took the initiative to help? Zhao Guihua thought of this and felt her stomach churning with nausea.0

These people are really something else.0

She quickly lowered her head and continued working on her fence.0

Aunt Su smiled and said, "I'll be going back to my hometown for a visit in a while."0

She started laying the groundwork for the topic.0

Aunt Wang was surprised and asked, "Are you feeling alright? You haven't had any contact with your family for decades!"0

Aunt Su replied, "As people get older, they tend to reminisce about the past."0

Aunt Wang: "..."0

She didn't believe it one bit.0

Zhao Guihua: "..." Confirmed, the Zhou family is looking for someone to have a child for Zhou Qun.0

However... Zhou Qun seems to be infertile!0

This is really...0

Zhao Guihua felt that these people were acting too recklessly.0

She often felt that her family didn't fit in with the others in the front yard because they weren't as outrageous.0

Truly, they were completely out of place.0

These three families each had their own quirks!0

Jiang Lu too, how could she agree to this?0

Zhao Guihua found herself utterly confused.0

She really didn't understand Jiang Lu, but Jiang Lu was also lost in thought, pondering the same matter. It all started last night when Aunt Su came to their house. They were completely unprepared for what Aunt Su was about to propose.0

She offered to find someone to help Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu have a child, in exchange for Bai Fendou and his father.0

This deal, whether from Aunt Su or Zhou Qun, and even from her perspective, seemed very worthwhile.0

That Bai Fendou, a man whose manhood had been crushed, whether he was in jail or not wouldn't affect her, but a child... that was an irresistible temptation. She desperately wanted to have a child for Zhou Qun.0

She had been married for over a decade and had been ridiculed countless times because of her inability to conceive.0

Now, this was an irresistible temptation. She couldn't let the Zhou family die out. If there was such an opportunity, she felt she really wanted to seize it. By then, she would send the woman away and raise the child herself. Wouldn't that be the same as having a child of her own?0

She couldn't let the Zhou family die out, nor could she let Zhou Qun die out.0

Zhou Qun was such a good man, never despised her, and didn't deserve this fate.0

Zhao Guihua couldn't understand why Jiang Lu agreed, in fact, Jiang Lu hadn't objected from the start. She had recently tried all sorts of absurd remedies, from drinking dog's blood to swallowing children's urine, and even more disgusting folk remedies, but still, her stomach showed no signs of life.0

What else could she do?0

So now, if someone else could have a child for Zhou Qun, she would be willing, as long as the child called her "mom," it would be her child. She was determined to continue the Zhou family line. Anyway, as long as they kept it hidden, no one would know, right?0

By the time the woman got pregnant, they would send her to the countryside to give birth, and Jiang Lu would pretend to be pregnant. When the time came, she would claim to have given birth, and no one would be able to gossip about her. She thought this plan was actually quite good.0

"Jiang Lu."0

Zhou Qun came over and said, "Let's go to the security office together."0

Jiang Lu: "Okay."0

He stood up.0

The couple left the office together. As soon as they were gone, the people in the office looked at each other and whispered, "What are they up to?"0

"Who knows?"0

"Jiang Lu has been spacing out all morning."0

"I can't figure it out."0

The two didn't pay attention to the gossip around them. As they walked down the corridor, which was empty, Jiang Lu wanted to hold Zhou Qun's arm, but Zhou Qun quickly moved away, a flash of disgust in his eyes. Jiang Lu didn't notice and thought he had just accidentally moved his arm. She took a step forward, grabbed Zhou Qun's arm, and said, "Qun Ge, no matter what, we'll be fine."0

Zhou Qun gave a soft "Hmm" and tried to pull his hand away but ultimately restrained himself.0

Although Aunt Su and Jiang Lu were quite willing to go along with this arrangement, Zhou Qun didn't express any opposition either. In reality, if you were to ask if he was particularly happy about it, Zhou Qun wasn't. He just wanted a son, and as for a new woman... ever since the ghost incident in the restroom, his interest in women had waned considerably.0

Not only had his interest diminished, but he now found women quite repulsive.0

He said, "Wife, do we really have to do this? I do want a son, but I find other women disgusting. I have no interest in them at all."0

Jiang Lu looked at him with emotion and said, "Qun Ge, I know you love me the most. Just bear with it for a while. Once we have a child, everything will be fine... we can't not have a child."0

Zhou Qun was silent for a moment before nodding, "You're right, I'm being selfish."0

"No, Qun Ge, I know you're like this because you love me."0

Zhou Qun gave a faint smile and then said seriously, "I swear to you, I have no interest in other women."0

Jiang Lu was even more moved, excitedly saying, "Qun Ge, we will definitely be happy in the future."0

Zhou Qun nodded. The couple went downstairs and just as they reached the second floor, they saw Zhuang Zhixi coming out of his director's office. Zhuang Zhixi was wearing a white shirt and dark blue trousers. Generally, this was the standard attire for male colleagues in the office.0

But with Zhuang Zhixi's tall stature, standing at over six feet, his straight back and long legs made him look like he belonged in a parade, exuding a very spirited aura.0

Zhou Qun: "Zhixi..."0n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He hadn't noticed before, but Zhuang Zhixi was really tall.0

Zhuang Zhixi politely greeted them and then returned to his office. Zhou Qun glanced in that direction and said, "Zhuang Zhixi married a woman who's not worthy of him."0

Jiang Lu nodded, "Zhuang Zhixi is indeed not worthy of his wife. His wife's conditions are quite good."0

Zhou Qun was speechless, "I was saying that Zhuang Zhixi's wife is not worthy of him, you got it backwards."0

Jiang Lu: "..."0

She disagreed but didn't say anything, instead quickly adding, "You're right, Zhuang Zhixi's wife is indeed not worthy of him."0

Zhou Qun: "Exactly. Ming Mei, she's not very handsome, her temper isn't good, she looks delicate but is quick to fight. A woman should be gentle and loving, not throwing punches at the slightest disagreement. It's crude!"0

He glanced at Zhuang Zhixi's office again and said, "Zhuang Zhixi, although he's a bit talkative, can be considered a sunny young man, and is also smart. He just didn't get the chance to go to university, but if he had, he would definitely have passed. Both brothers in their family were good students. Look at Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua, they only finished elementary school, but their sons were both good at studying. I wonder who they take after. Although Zhuang Zhiyuan is not as good as Zhuang Zhixi, he did quite well when he took the college entrance exam. It's rare to get into university, and he did well enough to directly get a job in the railway department."0

Jiang Lu nodded, "You're right. Oh, but you don't like their family, why are you saying nice things about them?"0

Zhou Qun said with conviction, "I'm just being objective, one thing at a time."0

Jiang Lu looked at Zhou Qun with admiration, saying, "Qun Ge, you're such a wonderful person."0

Zhou Qun gave a forced smile.0

The couple continued on their way to the security office. Zhuang Zhixi stood by the window, watching them pass by, then returned to his seat. Although he was a newcomer in the propaganda department, his director hadn't treated him like one, already assigning him tasks.0

Old Huang: "The director asked you to write an article promoting our factory?"0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "I have no idea where to start."0

Sister Cui: "Who does, really?"0

In previous years, everyone had been anxious about this, as the praise for the factory was repetitive, and it was easy to read on the radio. But when it came to submitting articles to various journals, getting them published was difficult.0

In previous years, everyone had been scratching their heads over this, but this year, everyone was pretending to be dead and begging for mercy.0

Zhuang Zhixi, the new guy, was assigned to handle this task.0

Sister Cui is a nice person, and after getting to know Zhuang Zhixi over the past couple of days, she leaned in and whispered to him, "Just write it down. If it passes, great; if not, just return it. We've returned plenty in previous years. Don't push yourself too hard."0

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, taking her advice to heart.0

Sister Cui then continued, "Hey, have you guys heard? Bai Fendou tried to jump off a building at the hospital yesterday?"0

Everyone nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've heard."0

Old Cao chimed in, "The security department was talking about it this morning, telling everyone they met at the gate. Now the whole factory knows. It's such a disgrace to men. I've never seen such a cowardly man. He has the guts to do bad things but not to face the consequences."0

Zhuang Zhixi interjected, "Do you guys want to know the latest developments?"0

Everyone turned to him in unison, asking, "What? Is there more to this story?"0

"Zhuang Zhixi, don't hold out on us. Spit it out."0

"Yeah, you live in the same courtyard, you must have insider info. Tell us what's going on. But what more could there be? Isn't it just about how they're going to handle Bai Fendou and his father?"0

Zhuang Zhixi smiled calmly and said, "The latest news is that Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu have forgiven Bai Fendou. They should be at the security department right now, pleading for leniency for Bai Fendou and his father. I think they're probably already there by now."0

"What?!"0

"Holy crap!"0

Even Little Xu, who usually had a bit of a distaste for Zhuang Zhixi, came over to join the gossip, looking utterly confused. This situation was just beyond comprehension.0

Everyone let out shocked exclamations and then looked at each other, momentarily at a loss for words. Old Huang even scratched his hair, making it messy, and deeply lamented the complexity of society.0

As a tech-savvy introvert, he really wasn't cut out for such a complicated world, with its intricate human relationships.0

Such a big deal, and it's just going to be swept under the rug?0

Everyone was silent, utterly bewildered.0

But the most bewildered, the absolutely flabbergasted ones, were the security department. Section Chief Liu looked at Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu standing in front of him and couldn't help but dig his ear, saying, "What did you just say? Can you repeat that for me? Did I hear wrong? I must have heard wrong, right?"0

Zhou Qun was a bit embarrassed but repeated himself.0

This time, not just Section Chief Liu, but the entire security department was left in a state of shock.0

Zhang San asked the burning question, "He harassed your wife, and you're saying it was just a joke, and you're letting it go??"0

Zhou Qun, with sincerity shining through the awkwardness, said: "We're all neighbors, he didn't mean it. We have to allow people to make mistakes and give them a chance to correct themselves. Besides, he didn't really make a mistake. He had no bad intentions; it was just a joke. Actually, he's just too fond of joking around. We often joke like this."0

He nudged Jiang Lu, and she immediately nodded, "Yes, I overreacted a bit. It's really not a big deal."0

Section Chief Liu was at a loss for words, "He was joking? He joked and you kicked him?"0

Jiang Lu also felt awkward but held her ground, "Actually, at the time, I was too excited and misunderstood him, but when I thought about it later, I realized he's not that kind of person. The security department can't wrong an innocent man!"0

Section Chief Liu finally couldn't hold back, "Nonsense! Innocent? What kind of innocent person does something like that? All the things he's done, not a single one can be called innocent. I don't know what kind of benefits you've received to be willing to let them off the hook. But let me tell you, you're aiding and abetting evil! You're making a mistake. Think carefully before you speak! Is what you're doing right?"0

Jiang Lu panicked for a moment.0

Zhou Qun looked at Section Chief Liu and thought, he really has a manly aura!0

But he quickly snapped back to reality, holding his wife's hand, which immediately gave Jiang Lu courage. She said seriously, "I didn't take any benefits, and I'm not lying. I just can't stand to see an innocent person being wronged!"0

Section Chief Liu was speechless.0

He looked at the couple and pointed at them, shouting, "Get out of here!"