To put it bluntly, their courtyard had seen its fair share of battles.
After all, there were plenty of capable people around, and they had witnessed more than the average person. But the mont they saw this man’s terrifying appearance, they didn’t dare to get too close.
His face was dark with rage, so much so that you could practically see the red of his fury. His eyes seed to be blazing with fire. They had always heard that people’s eyes could burn with anger when they were pushed to the limit, but it was just sothing they’d heard—until now, when they saw it with their own eyes.
Yuan Jun grabbed Su Pandi by the collar, choking her so hard that her eyes rolled back. She struggled fiercely, cursing, “Yuan Jun, you bastard! Let go! How dare you—”
At this mont, she was still berating her husband. In her eyes, he had always been weak and submissive, always listening to her. How could he dare to act like this now?
Even if—even if she had made a mistake, wasn’t it for the sake of saving soone?
Why couldn’t he forgive her?
If he were a real man, he should be magnanimous!
Su Pandi: “You think you’re sothing, huh? Let go! You’re choking , you bastard… Ah!”
Yuan Jun slapped Su Pandi across the face so hard that one of her teeth flew out.
“Ah! My tooth!”
Su Pandi’s face swelled up instantly.
At this mont, Aunt Su, Su Zhaodi, and Wang Xiangxiu returned. Wang Xiangxiu looked even more disheveled than Aunt Su, limping as she walked.
Behind them were Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun, trailing along to watch the spectacle. The two of them were holding hands, looking utterly shocked, as if they had just witnessed sothing earth-shattering. Jiang Lu’s gaze fell on their intertwined hands, and she frowned slightly.
Zhou Qun didn’t even notice Jiang Lu’s look, clinging tightly to Bai Fendou. Aunt Zhou caught a glimpse of this and nearly fainted from shock.
She glanced cautiously at Jiang Lu, forcing a flattering smile, and quickly yanked Zhou Qun over, saying, “Co here, you!”
She glared at Bai Fendou, thinking to herself that she couldn’t let these two stand together anymore—it was too dangerous.
If these two really got involved, and Jiang Lu took the child and left, it would be the end of the Zhou family.
Aunt Zhou was old-fashioned, and her greatest fear was that the Zhou family line would end with her son.
Her son was already useless, and now the family’s hopes rested entirely on Jiang Lu. She absolutely couldn’t afford to upset Jiang Lu. Besides, even if Jiang Lu didn’t care, she, as a mother, couldn’t stand the thought of her son being tangled up with another man.
Was this any way to honor their ancestors?
She held onto Zhou Qun tightly, not letting him get near Bai Fendou.
Zhou Qun didn’t notice his mother’s subtle actions. As Aunt Zhou pulled him over, he instinctively supported her, trembling as he said, “I’ve really seen it all now, I’ve really seen it all…”
Aunt Zhou: “???”
Without Zhou Qun to lean on, Bai Fendou steadied himself against the wall.
Honestly, Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun couldn’t stand each other, but at this mont, they were leaning on each other purely because they were so shocked. They had never seen anything like this before. Even with all their worldly experience, they were as stunned as if they’d seen a ghost.
They were so shaken that they could barely stand, relying on each other for support.
Of course, no one cared about Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou right now.
Everyone’s attention was fixed on Yuan Jun, whose hair was standing on end like an explosion.
Su Pandi had always been the dominant one in their marriage, so she still refused to back down: “You hit ? How dare you hit … Ah!”
The mont she spoke, Yuan Jun lunged at her like a madman, grabbing her hair and slapping her repeatedly. The won in the crowd silently stepped back. It was wrong to hit one’s wife, but none of them dared to intervene.
The man before them looked like he was capable of murder.
Just as Zhao Guihua was about to signal her son to go fetch the police, Aunt Su suddenly knelt down. She cried, “Yuan Jun, I’m sorry. It’s my fault, it’s the Su family’s fault. But please, forgive Pandi. We had no choice. If there had been any other way, we wouldn’t have done this. We did it for the sake of the children. Please, stop hitting her. If you keep going, you’ll kill her. Do you want your child to grow up without a mother? We were wrong, but please, for the sake of all the years you’ve been married, forgive Pandi.”
She sobbed, “Bla . It’s all my fault. I’ll take the bla for this mistake, but you can’t keep hitting her like this…”
“Mom…” Su Pandi, her face bruised and swollen, no longer dared to provoke Yuan Jun. She crawled toward her mother, crying. In her mont of desperation, only her mother could be relied on.
Yuan Jun turned to the disgusting old woman and kicked her, followed by several hard slaps. He hit Aunt Su even harder than he had hit Su Pandi, his eyes burning with hatred as if he were looking at the murderer of his father.
“Oh my God!”
“What’s going on…”
“He’s going to kill soone.”
Though they said this, no one dared to step in. They all stood frozen in place.
Everyone was terrified. Yuan Jun was truly out of control, showing no rcy in his attacks. Aunt Su was bleeding, and even her teeth had been knocked out.
“Stop hitting my mom!”
“Stop hitting my mother-in-law…”
Su Zhaodi and Wang Xiangxiu rushed forward. Wang Xiangxiu, already limping, stumbled and fell as she lunged.
Yuan Jun didn’t care. He kicked her a few more tis.
“Stop! Wang Xiangxiu is already injured.”
Soone shouted this, and upon hearing it, Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou exchanged awkward glances. Yuan Jun, however, burst into laughter, a harsh, bitter sound. “Injured? Bullshit! She’s just weak from selling herself too much!”
“Ah!”
The crowd was stunned.
“You—you’re lying!”
“Lying? Am I lying? Bai Fendou, Zhou Qun, you saw it, didn’t you? You saw what they did, right? Tell , am I lying?”
Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou shook their heads quickly, muttering, “No…”
They didn’t dare say more.
“Huh???” Everyone was baffled.
But Yuan Jun wasn’t targeting Wang Xiangxiu. He pointed at Aunt Su and shouted, “You’re nothing but a filthy old pimp! Anyone who gets involved with you is cursed for eight lifetis. Look at what you’ve done to your daughter-in-law. Look at what you’ve done to your daughter. You’re a disgrace to humanity! You deserve to die! If there’s any justice in this world, you should have been struck down long ago. You’re nothing but a plague on this earth!”
Unable to contain his rage, he kicked her several more tis.
“Stop, please stop…”
Su Pandi cried hysterically, “If you want to hit soone, hit ! Don’t hit my mom!”
“Your mom? Is she even your mom? She’s a demon! She’s ruined so many lives, yet she’s still alive. This old hag deserves to die a thousand deaths. Do you know how your brother died? She killed him! She’s the one who killed him!” Yuan Jun roared.
“What?!”
“What are you saying?”
Wang Xiangxiu was stunned, and everyone else stared at Yuan Jun in disbelief. Wasn’t the Su family’s son supposed to have died in a workplace accident? How could this be tied to Aunt Su?
Aunt Su: “You’re lying! What are you talking about? That was my own son. I’d die before I’d harm him. Don’t you dare…”
Yuan Jun’s voice grew even louder: “Lying? You didn’t kill him directly, but if you hadn’t pressured your son into convincing his wife to sell herself because you said the family couldn’t survive on one inco, would he have been so distraught that he lost focus and had that accident at work? Did you think no one knew? Well, I know. I know everything. That’s why I haven’t set foot in your house since my brother-in-law died. I couldn’t stand to look at your fake, kind face. I couldn’t bear to think about the filth hidden behind your caring smile.”
The scene fell into complete silence.
The people who had just been breathing heavily from the fight and feeling terrified now felt as if the cold wind carried shards of ice. Though it was only early autumn, the perfect ti for short sleeves, everyone felt as though they were in an ice cellar, as if it were the depths of winter. No one dared to touch their arms, feeling as if the hairs on their arms were standing on end.
At this mont, Aunt Su’s face had turned deathly pale.
Yuan Jun was still roaring, “You didn’t expect this, did you? Your brother-in-law didn’t want this. He was so upset that he ca to for a al. At first, he didn’t say anything, but after getting drunk, he finally told everything. He didn’t want this. He’d rather work hard than let his wife do that kind of work. But you raised him since he was a child. You loved him the most, treated him the best. He didn’t dare to defy you. Do you know how much he suffered? Do you know he died the day after he told all this?”
“No, that’s not true…”
“Stop lying! You picked Wang Xiangxiu, who had no good prospects, because she was pretty and easy to manipulate. You didn’t start this earlier because you were afraid the children wouldn’t be your family’s. After she gave birth to three sons, you thought it was ti to start your plan! Right after she had her third child, you tricked her into getting an IUD, saying you couldn’t afford more children. But that wasn’t the reason. You were already planning to make Wang Xiangxiu earn money through that line of work! You killed your son. You’re the one who killed him. But killing your son wasn’t enough. You pretended to be weak to deceive your daughter-in-law, to deceive your daughter. You deceived them one after another. You’re evil, you old hag. I’ll kill you…”
The more he thought about it, the angrier he beca. Spotting the wooden stick by the window, he grabbed it and was about to charge at Aunt Su.
At this mont, Zhao Guihua was the bravest, shouting, “Stop! Don’t hit her. If you kill soone, you’ll end up in jail. What will happen to your children? Is it worth it for soone like her?”
Seeing Yuan Jun hesitate, she quickly added, “You can’t ruin yourself and your children for soone like this!”
Being old friends who had worked together for years, Aunt Wang chid in, “It’s not worth it, really not worth it.”
The two exchanged a glance, and Zhao Guihua continued to persuade him, “People like her, once their true colors are revealed, will get what they deserve. You don’t need to throw your life away for her. If sothing happens to you, your children will end up in Su Pandi’s hands. Think about what that would an. Do you think she’d treat them well?”
Aunt Wang added, “She definitely wouldn’t. She learned from Aunt Su. She wouldn’t truly care for her own children. She might even treat her nephews better than her own kids.”
Yuan Jun’s face twisted in unbearable anger. Suddenly, he let out a long, anguished cry, “Ah…!!!”
Then, he swung the wooden stick, smashing the windows of the Su family’s house, one after another, without hesitation.
The sound of glass shattering echoed with his roar, leaving everyone terrified. Yet, they could sowhat understand his rage. No one wanted to imagine themselves in such a situation—it was too horrifying to even think about.
Everyone looked at Yuan Jun with sympathy, or perhaps more sympathy for the late Su family’s son.
After smashing all the windows, Yuan Jun seed to finally calm down. He looked at Su Pandi, who was bruised and battered, and said coldly, “We’ll get a divorce tomorrow. You’ll leave with nothing.”
Su Pandi stamred, “I…”
“If you don’t agree to the divorce, I’ll make you a widow!” He grinned nacingly at her, suddenly moving closer. Su Pandi scread, “Ah!”
Yuan Jun grabbed her, pulling her close and whispering in her ear, “Murder is illegal. I won’t kill you in public, but accidents happen, don’t they? Your nephew might have an accident. Your mother might have an accident. You might have an accident. I’ll make sure your whole family dies!”
Su Pandi stared at her husband in terror. She had always thought he was a gentle, honest man.
Suddenly, she realized that even honest n could be terrifying. She trembled, “I… I’ll agree…”
Yuan Jun didn’t care anymore. He simply sat down at the entrance of the Su family’s house and said, “We’ll wait until dawn!”
Su Pandi stamred, “You…”
She had never seen him like this before and was trembling with fear.
Aunt Su didn’t dare to speak either. She covered her face, sobbing, “I didn’t… I really didn’t…”
Whether she did or didn’t, only she knew for sure. As for the others, they had their own judgnts.
Yuan Jun’s furious state certainly didn’t seem like a lie.
Everyone watched quietly.
At this mont, Wang Xiangxiu suddenly spoke, her voice faint and ghostly, “Mom… is what he said true?”
Aunt Su’s heart skipped a beat, and she cried even louder, looking up and accusing, “You don’t believe either? How could you not believe ? Others might not know , but we’ve lived together for so long. How could you doubt because of so outsider’s angry words…”
“Answer !” Wang Xiangxiu suddenly exploded, shouting, “Answer ! Is what he said true?”
“No, no… How could I? He misunderstood. He really misunderstood. Think about it, ever since you married my son, we’ve been like mother and daughter. How could I ever sche against you like that?”
Aunt Su put on a heartbroken expression, saying, “Others might not understand , but you should…”
“I don’t understand you at all!”
Wang Xiangxiu burst into tears, staring at Aunt Su, “I don’t understand you. I really don’t!”
Though she was a simple woman, she wasn’t completely foolish. She recalled the days before her husband’s death. He had been troubled, sighing all the ti, and seed to have sothing he wanted to say but couldn’t.
She had pressed him to tell her what was wrong, but at the ti, he had only said, “I won’t let you do that kind of work.”
She hadn’t understood what he ant at all.
She had just given birth and thought he was worried about the added burden of another son.
But now…
What if it wasn’t that?
Now, she realized she believed Yuan Jun.
Even after all these years of relying on Aunt Su, she believed Yuan Jun at this mont.
She clearly understood that Yuan Jun had no reason to lie about this.
And the circumstances at the ti… everything pointed to Yuan Jun telling the truth. Her husband had been distressed and unwilling.
Wang Xiangxiu bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. It had been so many years, and she could barely rember her husband’s face. But when they got married, he had treated her so well. That was why she had stayed in the Su family, why she had raised their children.
She kept crying, saying coldly, “So his hesitation back then was because of you. It was all because of you!”
Suddenly, she lashed out, slapping Aunt Su across the face.
The Su sisters shouted, “What are you doing?”
Wang Xiangxiu scread, “What am I doing? I’m going to kill her. I’m going to kill this old woman!”
She grabbed Aunt Su by the neck, crying, “Give back my husband. Give him back to … Sob, sob… Why did you do this? Why?”
“Let go! Let go!”
Aunt Su’s eyes rolled back as she was choked. The Su sisters imdiately rushed to pull Wang Xiangxiu away.
“Are you insane?”
The two of them tried to drag Wang Xiangxiu away, but she refused to let go, “Give him back to … Sob, sob…”
No one in her life had ever treated her as well as he had.
But he had been killed, all because he wanted to protect her.
Wang Xiangxiu was overwheld with grief, and her grip tightened.
Zhao Guihua shouted, “Quick, help!”
“Hurry!”
The old ladies in the yard, who hadn’t dared to confront Yuan Jun with his wooden stick, weren’t afraid to deal with the Su sisters. They pulled the two won away from Wang Xiangxiu. Zhao Guihua also pulled Wang Xiangxiu back, saying, “Your son is still in the hospital. You can’t go to jail.”
Children were always a parent’s weak spot—Yuan Jun’s, and Wang Xiangxiu’s too.
Wang Xiangxiu finally let go, breaking down into loud sobs.
Whether Yuan Jun’s words were true or not, others might only speculate, but Wang Xiangxiu knew the truth better than anyone.
She cried hysterically, on the verge of fainting, screaming, “Get out! Get out! I never want to see you again in my life! You’re a monster!”
“What are you saying? How can you kick my mom out…”
"Get out, all of you, get out!" Wang Xiangxiu had completely lost her mind. She scread, "All of you, get out! Get out!!!"
"This house belongs to my mother. If anyone should leave, it's you!" Su Pandi, who was slightly more combative than her sister Su Zhaodi, still had the strength to stand up for her mother, even after being beaten to a pulp.
Wang Xiangxiu retorted, "Your mother? This is my husband's house! She killed my husband. What right does she have to live here? What face does she have to show us?"
Aunt Su spoke softly but with a chilling tone, "Do you want to expose your secrets?"
Though she appeared frail, her eyes locked onto Wang Xiangxiu, and she sneered inwardly. Did she really think she couldn't find Wang Xiangxiu's weak spot?
However, she underestimated Wang Xiangxiu's state of madness. Wang Xiangxiu spat, "Go ahead! Say it! Say whatever you want! Even if I die, I won't let you stay here! If it cos to it, we’ll all perish together!"
The Su family was truly fortunate.
First, the son-in-law went mad, and now the daughter-in-law was losing her mind.
Wang Xiangxiu muttered venomously, "Let’s all die together, then!"
Aunt Su hadn’t expected her to react like this and was montarily flustered. Just as she was about to try to placate Wang Xiangxiu with sweet words, Aunt Wang spoke up. "We’ve all seen what happened today. I’ll report this to the neighborhood committee. Our courtyard won’t tolerate soone like you."
"Get out!"
"Leave!"
"You evil old hag, get out!"
"You’re rotten to the core!"
The crowd erupted in anger, their voices rising in unison.
Though Wang Xiangxiu wasn’t well-liked either, at this mont, everyone found the hypocritical old woman even more intolerable. She had been putting on an act for years, pretending to be a decent person, but look how vile her heart was!
Su Pandi shouted, "You slut, you should be arrested for your promiscuity!"
Wang Xiangxiu coldly stared at Su Pandi and demanded, "Do you have proof? Do you have any evidence that I’ve been promiscuous? Widows are always the target of gossip. I could say you’re slandering . Do you have proof? Did you catch doing anything? Ask around—do people admit to having affairs with ? Unlike you, who was just caught in bed with soone!"
Oh!
The crowd gasped, but thinking back to Yuan Jun’s earlier outburst, it wasn’t surprising. If there hadn’t been sothing going on, why would he have gone so mad?
Wang Xiangxiu continued, "Dare you deny it? You’re no saint either. Don’t talk to . Get out!"
Su Pandi stamred, "You—!"
Wang Xiangxiu took a deep breath, pushed aside those who had been trying to hold her back, and went back into the house. In the silence, she packed her things and ca out again, announcing, "I’m going to the hospital."
She paused, pointing at Aunt Su, "Don’t follow !"
Bruised and battered, she stumbled out of the house.
Aunt Wang said, "Yang Lixin, you and Bai Fendou follow her. It’s late, and it’s dark outside. Make sure nothing happens to her. Take her to the hospital and then co back."
Even Bai Fendou didn’t utter a word this ti. He silently followed Wang Xiangxiu out the door.
Yang Lixin also set aside his petty grievances with Bai Fendou.
The two n quietly trailed behind Wang Xiangxiu.
Seeing them leave, Aunt Su’s eyes flickered, and she moaned, "Oh, oh, I’m not feeling well..."
Su Pandi said, "I’ll help you inside."
Yuan Jun barked, "Everyone stays outside! No one moves!"
His voice was icy and nacing. "You think you can go inside and rest? Not a chance! Everyone stays right here. I don’t care about your family’s dirty little secrets, but whatever’s going on, we’ll settle it after the divorce!"
"You..." Su Pandi, still shaken from the earlier beating, didn’t dare raise her voice but glared at Yuan Jun with hatred.
Aunt Su whimpered, "At my age, spending the whole night outside will ruin my health. How can you treat an elderly person like this?"
"Elderly people are still people, not animals."
The standoff continued. Truthfully, the Su family—mother and daughters—didn’t dare force their way inside. They rembered how Yuan Jun had gone berserk earlier, beating both Su Pandi and Aunt Su without rcy.
Su Zhaodi whispered, "Mom, it’s getting late. I need to go ho."
She fiddled with the hem of her clothes and said softly, "If I don’t go back soon, my husband will get angry."
Her husband was the head of the household.
He had a hot temper and strongly disapproved of her helping her family. Whenever he found out, she would get a beating. Spending the night away from ho was out of the question.
She stamred, "I’ll co back tomorrow."
Su Pandi fud, "You’re so useless. Can’t even control your own husband."
Tonight, it seed everyone was shouting as if volu alone could justify their argunts.
Su Zhaodi, however, didn’t dare raise her voice. She was timid by nature and muttered, "You’re the one who can’t control yours, and now you’re getting divorced."
She hunched her shoulders and said firmly, "I won’t get divorced!"
Her life might be hard, but she was determined not to divorce.
If she did...
She bit her lip, not daring to think about whether her mother would force her into prostitution.
The cold wind seed to clear so of Wang Xiangxiu’s rage, and Su Zhaodi’s mind also felt a bit clearer. She wanted to protect her mother, but deep down, she knew her mother couldn’t be relied on. Just one night had shown her that. She was closest to her younger brother.
She bit her lip and said, "I have to go ho."
As long as her family wasn’t involved, her husband wouldn’t hit her.
Life was tough and poor, but it was still a life. She didn’t want her family to fall apart.
She didn’t dare look at her mother or sister but still said, "I have to go. If I don’t, I’ll get beaten when I get ho."
"You... you... fine, you’re so great, you have a ho. Just wait and see. When you get beaten, no one will care!" Su Pandi hadn’t expected her sister to undermine her. She glanced at Yuan Jun, who was glaring at her with hatred.
She shrank back, genuinely afraid.
For all her bluster, she was just putting on a brave face.
Deep down, she was starting to feel uneasy.
Su Zhaodi whispered, "I’m leaving now."
She hesitated, wanting to say more, but finally just said, "I’ll co back tomorrow."
Then she hurried out the door.
Aunt Wang called after her, "Su Zhaodi."
Su Zhaodi turned, "Huh?"
Aunt Wang said, "Old man, you take Zhou Qun and Zhuang Zhiyuan to escort her. It’s a long way. You can keep each other company on the way back."
Li the Cook nodded, "Alright."
It was no wonder being the courtyard manager was so difficult. There was always sothing happening.
Fortunately, the courtyard residents followed orders. Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhou Qun silently followed Li the Cook as they escorted Su Zhaodi.
Su Zhaodi was taken aback but then softly said, "Thank you."
Unlike her sister Su Pandi, who was loud and aggressive, Su Zhaodi was ek and timid.
But having soone accompany her at night made her feel much safer. She walked ahead quietly, with the n following behind.
With several people gone, the remaining crowd wasn’t in a hurry to sleep. They stood in the courtyard, silently observing, as if waiting for so impending showdown. The atmosphere was eerily calm, like the quiet before a storm. On one side stood Yuan Jun, holding a wooden stick and glaring furiously at Aunt Su and Su Pandi.
On the other side were the pitiful mother and daughter.
Neither side moved. Yuan Jun wasn’t defending Wang Xiangxiu—he didn’t like her either. He simply didn’t want to freeze outside while the two won got to rest indoors. That wasn’t going to happen.
Usually, the courtyard had its lively figures, like Zhao Guihua, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Zhou.
But even Zhao Guihua, who had been reborn, didn’t dare get involved in such a major incident.
This hadn’t happened in her previous life!
She didn’t have the privilege of witnessing such a scene.
Aunt Wang, as the courtyard manager, tried to maintain order but didn’t dare move either. After all, Yuan Jun was holding a wooden stick, and who knew if he’d start swinging it again? The shattered glass in the Su household was proof enough.
Better not provoke him.
Aunt Zhou was quite timid, despite her previous boldness. After being "re-educated," she had beco much more subdued. After all, she couldn't afford to go through that again. The experience had left its mark. While it might not have worked on so people, it had definitely had an effect on soone like Aunt Zhou, who wasn't particularly educated.
Moreover, since her return, she had started to notice sothing strange about her son, Zhou Qun—he didn't seem very manly. This realization had dampened her spirits considerably. Though she still occasionally acted out, she no longer dared to make a scene.
Didn't you notice?
Now, she didn't even dare to provoke Jiang Lu.
Many people had expected Aunt Zhou to engage in a fierce battle of wills with Jiang Lu, but given Zhou Qun's effeminate nature, Aunt Zhou had no chance of winning. At this point, she was as docile as a kitten, not daring to raise her voice or glare at anyone.
Even the three capable elderly won in the neighborhood didn't dare to act impulsively, and neither did anyone else. Everyone was quiet, so simply waiting to see if anything new would happen, others reflecting on the brief but intense confrontation that had just taken place, and still others pondering the bombshell that Yuan Jun had dropped.
Indeed, insiders know insiders best.
If Yuan Jun hadn't spoken up, they would never have known how capable Aunt Su was.
Yes, her son's death wasn't directly her fault, but Yuan Jun's claim that she was involved wasn't entirely baseless.
Without her sinister sches, her son might not have died.
It was chilling how soone could know the truth yet act as if nothing had happened.
A gentle breeze swept through the scene. The key players remained still, and the onlookers didn't dare to move either.
"Ah-choo!" A clear sneeze broke the silence. Ming i rubbed her nose and said, "Zhixi, I'm sleepy. Let's go ho."
Zhuang Louloo imdiately supported his wife, saying, "Let's go. Be careful."
Ming i chuckled, "We're just in our own courtyard. What do I need to be careful about?"
Who would dare to lay a hand on her?
Even if soone did, even as a pregnant woman, she could easily take them down.
At this point, the onlookers rembered that Ming i wasn't one to be trifled with. She had once kicked a door off its hinges. Just because she was pregnant didn't an that record no longer existed. She still had her strength.
Seeing how calm Ming i was, everyone quickly took the opportunity to leave, saying, "It's getting late. We have work tomorrow."
"Exactly, we can't be late. We'll get docked pay." No matter what, they couldn't afford to lose wages. Even if they had to crawl, they'd make it to work.
"It's getting a bit chilly. The wind's picking up."
"Where's the wind? Oh, you an the weather. I thought you ant... never mind."
"Let's hurry ho and get so sleep."
"Right, let's go ho and sleep."
As they exchanged these aningless pleasantries, everyone hurried ho.
But deep down, they all knew there was no way they could sleep.
The drama of the day had been too much.
Who knew what ripple effects it would have?
As firsthand witnesses, none of them could claim to fully understand or grasp the situation.
Everyone felt the sa way, including the Zhuang family. They weren't any wiser than the others in this matter. They were all just spectators, too afraid to speak up.
Ming i calmly headed ho, prompting everyone else to disperse. However, many of them, though they had gone ho, were still peeking out their windows. Old Man Lan, who had arrived later, was no exception. He was just as eager to catch the latest gossip.
As soon as he got ho, he pressed his ear to the door, with his wife beside him.
For elderly couples like them, who had co together later in life, there was often a sense of distance or hidden agendas. But the two of them were different. They had gotten along harmoniously from the very beginning.
The real credit for this went to the lively atmosphere of their courtyard. There was always sothing new happening, so much so that the old couple didn't even need a radio. They were constantly busy watching the drama unfold and then discussing it afterward. Such close companionship in old age was rare.
"What do you think will happen? Will Wang Xiangxiu get in trouble for her affairs?" Such behavior was frowned upon these days. If she got caught, it would be a big deal.
Lan Sihai: "I don't think Wang Xiangxiu will face any consequences."
He continued, "In cases like this, you need concrete evidence. Without catching her in the act, it's hard to make a case. It could easily lead to accusations of slander. So, people are cautious. Even though Wang Xiangxiu has a reputation, no one has caught her red-handed. If you ask any man involved, they'd deny it. Who would admit to sothing like that? They'd be risking their own freedom. Unless Wang Xiangxiu gets caught in the future, Aunt Su can't do much to her."
Without solid proof, nothing could be done.
To convict soone, you needed to catch them in the act.
Luo Xiaohe: "I wonder what will happen to her. If she's smart, she'll know Aunt Su will be watching her closely."
Lan Sihai: "She may not be the brightest, but she's not a complete fool. She loves her children too much. I think she'll tread carefully. If she gets in trouble, her children will suffer even more. She understands that."
Luo Xiaohe: "What about Aunt Su?"
Lan Sihai: "She won't face any consequences either. As I said, the things she's accused of may sound bad, but she didn't directly cause her son's death. As for her daughter, Su Pandi, who knows what's going on with her?"
Luo Xiaohe: "I used to resent my mother for playing favorites. Even at my age, I still feel a bit bitter about it. But compared to Aunt Su, I realize my mother was at least normal. What kind of person could do sothing like this? I've never seen anything like it."
Lan Sihai: "You're in your fifties and haven't seen it. I'm in my seventies, and I haven't either."
The two of them clicked their tongues and continued to observe.
While the old couple discussed the situation, so did everyone else in the neighborhood. Those in the back courtyard didn't have the convenience of looking out their windows, but they were just as busy talking at ho. No one could sleep. The whole courtyard was in shock.
They had never seen anything like this before.
Though their courtyard was always full of drama, this was on a whole new level.
Not only was the drama escalating, but it was also getting more intense!
Everyone was stunned. As soon as Zhuang Zhixi entered the house, he comforted Ming i, saying, "Honey, today's events were intense, but don't let it affect you too much. Don't get too worked up and harm your health."
This wasn't just Zhuang Zhixi being overly concerned about the baby. During their hospital visits, the doctor had ntioned that carrying twins was more taxing than a single pregnancy. So, he wasn't just worried about the baby; he was also concerned about Ming i's well-being.
Too much excitent wasn't good for her.
Staying emotionally stable was better for her health.
Zhuang Zhixi: "Honey, I..."
Ming i looked at him curiously, "Why would I be worked up? The Su family has nothing to do with . I don't know the person who passed away, nor do I know the one involved in today's scandal. I'm just an outsider, here for the show."
Zhuang Zhixi: "..."
He was at a loss for words.
Ming i rested her chin on her hand, "You're shocked because you know everyone here. I don't."
That was true. Everyone in the courtyard was shocked because they knew the Su family's son and felt his death was a tragedy. They also sympathized with Wang Xiangxiu's plight.
During the day, people had been gossiping about her, looking down on her actions.
But everyone has a sense of compassion. Seeing her lose her husband and then being manipulated so cruelly, they couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
If it weren't for soone like Aunt Su, her life might have turned out very differently.
At that mont, Ming i also felt a pang of sympathy for Wang Xiangxiu's misfortune, but her emotions weren't as deeply stirred.
Because the Wang Xiangxiu she knew had always been like this—diocre in character, always stirring up trouble. She had never seen the Wang Xiangxiu from before her husband's death. So, while she felt so sympathy, she wasn't as deeply moved as others.
Others, precisely because they had seen the contrast, understood even more how despicable Aunt Su was.
Of course, everyone agreed on one thing: Aunt Su was a ruthless old hag who wouldn't hesitate to devour soone without leaving a trace.
Zhuang Zhixi fetched water for Ming i to wash her feet, saying, "Wife, co on, let's soak your feet and relax a bit."
Ming i smiled sweetly, "Zhixi, you're so good to ."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Who else would I be good to if not you?"
He continued, "We should strive to be even better in the future. It's actually quite rare for people to live together happily."
Ming i teased, "Oh, you're getting philosophical now."
Zhuang Zhixi sighed, "Yes, when you think about it, Brother Su and Wang Xiangxiu used to have a good relationship. But now... tis have changed, and so have people."
Ming i playfully pinched Zhuang Zhixi's face and said, "Now that everything has co to light, maybe it's a good thing for Wang Xiangxiu. At least she won't be living in a daze anymore."
Zhuang Zhixi's face was squished by her hands, but he still managed to smile and say, "Back then, I was probably too young to understand relationships. I just rember their marriage seed fine. But Wang Xiangxiu isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. She's easily influenced by whoever she's around. Back when her husband was alive, their relationship was good, but after he passed, she beca more and more unreliable. Her mind seems to wander all the ti, and she's oddly self-absorbed. But maybe this incident will serve as a wake-up call for her. Sotis, even if things weren't that great in the past, and even if you've forgotten over the years, when soone dredges up old mories, all you can recall are the good tis. People tend to romanticize their mories. What might have been just okay back then becos perfect in hindsight."
Ming i looked at Zhuang Zhixi, puzzled, "What are you rambling about?"
She frowned, "I don't quite get it."
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled, "What I an is, even if she didn't love Brother Su that much back then, after this incident, she might look back and rember only the good and the love. Maybe it'll change her."
Ming i shrugged, "Who knows?"
She nudged Zhuang Zhixi's shoulder and said, "Could you massage my calves for ? I've been standing too long today, and they're sore."
Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Sure."
He couldn't help but think, pregnancy is really tough.
He noticed that Ming i's calves were slightly swollen, and it was only a few months in. It just showed how much she was going through.
He said, "From now on, no matter what you're doing, if you've been standing for too long, find a place to sit down. Don't just stand there."
Ming i mumbled softly, "I know, I just forgot today."
Zhuang Zhixi helped his wife with her nightly routine, and once they were both tucked into bed, Ming i let out a soft sigh. Zhuang Zhixi asked, "What's wrong?"
Ming i draped her arm over him and said, "I'm tired."
Zhuang Zhixi gently smoothed her hair and said, "Then let's get so sleep."
He softly patted Ming i. As the youngest in his family, Zhuang Zhixi was used to being taken care of, so he wasn't naturally skilled at caring for others. But when it ca to Ming i, he was ticulous. He used to think that childbirth was just a normal part of life, but ever since Ming i got pregnant, he realized it wasn't that simple. Although Ming i rarely complained—she was an optimistic and cheerful person—Zhuang Zhixi, as her husband, knew just how hard it was for her.
Even now, just a few months in, her legs and feet were already swelling from standing too long.
And yet, his mother and sister-in-law still said Ming i was one of the luckier pregnant won, with minimal symptoms. Compared to Jiang Lu, who was constantly vomiting, Zhuang Zhixi truly understood how difficult pregnancy could be.
He never paid much attention to other pregnant won before, so he never gave it much thought. But now, he was constantly on edge, worrying about every little thing.
Ming i, however, was oblivious to her husband's concerns. She was genuinely exhausted. While others in the neighborhood might be lying awake, Ming i had no trouble falling asleep. She was so tired that she couldn't stay awake any longer.
She found a comfortable position in Zhuang Zhixi's arms and, within monts, her soft breathing indicated she was fast asleep. Zhuang Zhixi looked down at her and chuckled. In the entire compound, apart from the children, his wife was probably the only one who could sleep so soundly.
Ming i slept deeply, worn out from the day. Zhuang Zhixi gently patted her back and listened carefully to the sounds outside. Soon, he heard Bai Fendou and Yang Lixin returning.
A little later, Li the Cook, his older brother, and Zhou Qun also ca back.
Zhuang Zhiyuan entered his room and was surprised to find Liang ifen still awake. He asked, "You're not asleep?"
Liang ifen replied, "How could I sleep? Who could sleep at a ti like this?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan was taken aback, "Then why didn't you turn on the light?"
Liang ifen had a perfectly good explanation, "I'm the only one at ho, and there's nothing to do. Why waste electricity by turning on the light? Do you think anyone in this compound is asleep? Everyone's lying in the dark."
After all, electricity wasn't free. Each household paid for their own usage, so no one wanted to waste it.
Zhuang Zhiyuan asked, "Why did you all disperse?"
"We didn't know what else to do. What's happening outside?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan explained, "When I ca back, the two Su won were sitting under the eaves, and Yuan Jun was keeping an eye on them. They wanted to leave, but Yuan Jun wouldn't let them."
Liang ifen clicked her tongue in disbelief.
Zhuang Zhiyuan seized the opportunity to say, "Look at Su Pandi. She ruined her marriage for the sake of a family that didn't truly care about her. Was it worth it? I'm not saying you should cut ties with your family, but you need to think carefully about what's right and what's wrong. If you go down a path of no return, it's all over. I think Yuan Jun is definitely going to divorce her."
This ti, Liang ifen didn't argue. She was genuinely shaken.
She had always thought Aunt Su was a wonderful mother-in-law. After all, in her experience—whether in the textile factory, the machinery factory, or among the neighbors—she had never t a more kind-hearted mother-in-law than Aunt Su.
The way she treated Wang Xiangxiu seed utterly selfless.
It was sothing everyone envied. Who wouldn't envy such a relationship?
Wang Xiangxiu ran the household, and her mother-in-law took care of the children and was always considerate. It seed like a dream.
But who could have imagined that the reality was so different?
The thought sent chills down Liang ifen's spine.
This woman had been scheming against her daughter-in-law even before her son had died. She had even planned to send her daughter-in-law down a dangerous path. In this new society, getting caught would an serious jail ti.
Yet, Aunt Su saw nothing wrong with it.
She didn't even spare her own daughter. Su Pandi had been caught in bed with another man by Yuan Jun, and everyone had heard about it.
There was no doubt that this was Aunt Su's idea. Su Pandi would never have co up with such a plan on her own.
This realization truly frightened Liang ifen.
Whether from Wang Xiangxiu's perspective or Su Pandi's, Liang ifen was thoroughly shaken.
She wasn't the most decisive person to begin with, and now, after Zhuang Zhiyuan's words, she was completely subdued, like a sickly chicken.
Zhuang Zhiyuan noticed that she seed to be taking his words to heart and said, "People should have the courage to say no to things that are wrong, even if it's their own parents. You need to be able to make your own judgnts."
Liang ifen nodded, "I understand."
Zhuang Zhiyuan glanced at her, "Don't just say you understand and then do nothing about it."
Liang ifen protested, "I'm not like that."
She took a deep breath and changed the subject, "How did it go with Su Zhaodi?"
Thinking about it still gave her chills, so she decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.
Zhuang Zhiyuan replied, "It went smoothly. We ran into the neighborhood patrol, and they stopped us to ask a few questions. But when they found out we were just concerned neighbors escorting her, they even praised us."
Liang ifen quickly asked, "Is there a reward?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan sighed, "What are you dreaming about? It's just verbal praise."
He continued, "We took Su Zhaodi ho. It was my first ti going there. Her family seems even poorer than the Su family. I really don't know how she manages to support her parents so much. Her husband, kids, in-laws, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law all live together in one big household. It doesn’t seem like an easy environnt, but it’s probably not as bad as it looks. Even though Su Zhaodi ca back late, her mother-in-law and husband complained, but they still saved her so food."
Liang ifen replied, "That’s good enough. I’ve co to realize that sotis being a little harsh isn’t necessarily bad. It’s not about what people say, but what they actually do. So people talk nicely but do terrible things."
On the other hand, so people might sound harsh, like her mother-in-law, who seems like a strict and an old woman.
But in reality, she treats everyone equally and doesn’t mistreat anyone.
You don’t even need to ask around to know this. Ten yuan a month? Oh, by the end of the month, it’s fifteen for the next month.
But even with fifteen yuan, you really can’t eat this well.
Her in-laws must be contributing to the living expenses too.
So, it really cos down to what people do, not what they say.
Most families don’t eat as well as theirs.
Liang ifen said, "Your mom is a good person."
Zhuang Zhiyuan gave her a strange look, then smiled with relief. "Of course, she is. If my mom weren’t good, you’d see what it’s like with other mothers-in-law. Whether it’s Aunt Zhou, Aunt Su, or even Aunt Wang, none of them would make life easy for you."
Liang ifen nodded, "I know."
She leaned against the window, looking outside. The two sides had stopped talking and were now sitting quietly in their respective corners.
Curious, she asked, "Why is Yuan Jun blocking the door?"
"Probably to make sure Aunt Su and the others don’t get too comfortable," Zhuang Zhiyuan replied.
He hesitated for a mont before adding, "I just ca back with Zhou Qun, and I heard that Su Pandi was caught sleeping with the deputy head of the slaughterhouse. Yuan Jun caught them red-handed. It was two won against one man—Su Pandi and Wang Xiangxiu with that guy."
Liang ifen exclaid, "What?!!"
She was shocked!
Zhuang Zhiyuan pursed his lips and said, "They were in a small room at the slaughterhouse. Yuan Jun beat that guy up so badly he was unrecognizable."
Liang ifen stamred, "Th-that’s... isn’t that... indecent? Didn’t he report it to the police?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan shook his head, "Who would report it? They’d be too ashad. Soone at the slaughterhouse heard the commotion and knew what had happened. They called the boss, who happens to be the father-in-law of the guy Su Pandi was ssing around with."
Liang ifen gasped, "Oh my God."
Zhuang Zhiyuan continued, "Apparently, the boss didn’t want the scandal to get out either. He’s a leader, so he cares about his reputation. He convinced Yuan Jun not to involve the police. But you can bet that guy won’t get off easy. Zhou Qun didn’t go into details, but he and Bai Fendou were following Yuan Jun and probably saw everything. He was shaking when he talked about it, so there must be more to the story."
Liang ifen’s mouth twitched, unsure of what to say. After a long pause, she finally muttered, "They’re really sothing."
But she also added, "Wang Xiangxiu is lucky too. It’s not the first ti she’s been caught, but she always manages to smooth things over."
Zhuang Zhiyuan nodded, "That’s because the people she’s involved with aren’t ordinary. Anyone with a bit of status wants to keep things quiet."
"That’s true," Liang ifen agreed.
The couple continued talking, and Zhuang Zhiyuan noticed his wife’s eyes were wide like lightbulbs. He said, "Aren’t you going to sleep? You have work tomorrow."
But how could she sleep after all this?
Almost no one in the neighborhood could sleep. It was nearly dawn before so people managed to doze off, but only for a short while before they had to get up and prepare for work. No matter how entertaining the drama was, work couldn’t be ignored.
After all, how else would they earn money?
As the sky began to lighten and everyone was still half-asleep, a piercing scream suddenly echoed through the courtyard: "...Ah!!!"
Almost everyone rushed out of their hos: "What happened now?"
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