Zhao Guihua grumbled all the way ho, her mood sour.
Although she had disciplined the naughty kids, it didn't an she wasn't angry. Zhao Guihua had a fiery temper.
Ming i stealthily glanced at her mother-in-law and quickly stepped forward to soothe her, saying, "Mom, don't be angry. We've already punished those three kids to sweep the courtyard. Let's see how they behave next ti. If they dare to misbehave again, we won't go easy on those little rascals."
She continued, "Mom, look, my mom brought us a hen. Let's feed it for a couple of days and have it stewed for the New Year, okay?"
Zhuang Zhixi quickly stepped forward, proudly displaying the plump hen, and said, "Look, how plump and delicious it looks. It must taste great."
The hen: "Cluck cluck cluck~"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Hear that? It's saying, 'Eat , eat .'"
Zhao Guihua's mouth twitched: "..."
You're just picking on the fact that the chicken can't talk? Even if it were stupid, it wouldn't make such a request. She gave her son a sidelong glance and said, "Alright, stop fooling around. Go make a cage for the hen. We'll keep it for now."
"Okay."
As the evening approached, Zhao Guihua muttered, "Liang ifen, she's been out all afternoon. We can't rely on her at ho."
Isn't it just like fate to have such coincidences? Liang ifen just returned and heard her mother-in-law talking about her. She felt a pang of guilt and quickly walked in, calling, "Mom, I'm back." Her eyes fell on the hen, and she was instantly delighted; this was a good thing.
Zhuang Zhixi imdiately bragged, "Sister-in-law, this is from my mother-in-law. She really likes . You can tell how much a son-in-law is valued by visiting his in-laws. Look at , coming back with a hen in hand. Now look at my brother... Uh, never mind."
Zhao Guihua gave him a death stare, and Zhuang Zhixi imdiately stopped bragging. He quickly said, "I'll go make a hen cage."
Liang ifen awkwardly lowered her head.
Zhao Guihua: "Your dad and the others will be ho soon. Let's make so sour cabbage for dinner, with sour cabbage and vermicelli."
Liang ifen imdiately went to the small sour cabbage jar at the door to scoop so out. They didn't eat much sour cabbage locally, but Aunt Wang from the northeast knew how to make it. So, the won in the courtyard all learned from her. Now that they have sour cabbage, it adds another dish to their winter als, which is quite nice.
Zhao Guihua muttered, "If we could add so streaky pork to the sour cabbage, that would be perfect."
Both Liang ifen and Ming i, the two daughters-in-law, simultaneously swallowed their saliva at the thought, feeling it would be incredibly delicious.
However, they knew that was just a fantasy. They couldn't afford to have at every day; that was for what kind of family? They could only dream. But Ming i slyly approached Zhao Guihua and boasted, "Mom, our bus station usually issues two pounds of at coupons during the New Year."
Zhao Guihua's eyes lit up and said, "That's great. We can put more at in our dumplings this year and have a hearty at dumpling feast."
"Gulp," Ming i swallowed her saliva.
Liang ifen also looked at Ming i enviously. Although she had also worked in a factory, their textile factory's benefits were far inferior to the bus station. Not to ntion two pounds of at, they wouldn't even get two ounces.
Liang ifen: "The bus station is really good. The benefits are great, and the holidays are plenty."
Ming i had taken so many days off recently. If it were their factory, that would be impossible.
Ming i was taken aback and quickly explained, "Oh no, we don't have many holidays. I took leave for a reason." She elaborated, "Our bus station is different from regular factories. There are no fixed holidays during the New Year. Although the bus schedule is reduced, there are still services. We attendants work in shifts. Since I took many days off for my wedding, I'll be working on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day this year."
She rubbed her hands together, "It looks like I'll be working on New Year's Eve this year."
Zhao Guihua already knew this from her previous life and wasn't surprised. She nodded and said, "Alright, I understand. It's okay to work. We'll wait for you to co back for dumplings in the evening."
Ming i smiled and said, "Okay."
She happily added, "Although I'm working on New Year's Eve, our boss was considerate of my recent marriage and didn't schedule for New Year's Day. Hehe."
Zhao Guihua glanced at her youngest daughter-in-law. She had to admit that this daughter-in-law was an optimist, easily delighted by small things. She said, "That's nice of your boss. Go scoop so cornal."
Ming i: "Sure."
While chatting, Zhao Guihua didn't neglect her work. She kneaded the cornal into oval-shaped cakes and stuck them on the sour cabbage pot, saying, "If only we had a copper hot pot, eating sour cabbage pot in winter would be delightful."
"Gulp," Ming i swallowed her saliva again.
Zhao Guihua chuckled. Indeed, Zhao Guihua had planned well. By the ti dinner was ready, the family mbers had all returned. They sat around the table to eat. Old Man Zhuang asked, "I heard you had a quarrel with soone today."
Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes: "What quarrel? I scolded him. That little brat, trying to sche against ."
Old Man Zhuang: "They must have slled sothing yesterday."
Zhao Guihua snorted and said, "So what if they slled it? Do I owe them anything? I'm telling you all, stay away from the Su family. If I find out, I'll break your dog legs."
The three Zhuang n quickly said, "Understood, understood."
This old lady, they couldn't afford to offend her.
Zhao Guihua, seeing they had taken her words to heart, nodded in satisfaction. She knew the Su family better than anyone else. Once entangled, it would be endless. She didn't want her family to be involved with them.
Their family hadn't yet reached the point of thriving; why bother with others?
Zhao Guihua lectured her family and then pondered. The New Year was approaching, and every family wanted to have a good year-end. After a year of hard work, if they didn't have a good al during the New Year, it would be too unfair.
However, Zhao Guihua knew that the at coupons they had saved were all used up during her youngest son's wedding. Even if Ming i could get two pounds of at, with their family of eight, it would be enough to eat, but not enough to eat well.
If it were Zhao Guihua a week ago, she might have saved a pound and a half of at, just tasting a bit of at. But since she had been reborn, she could quickly adapt to her current life and wanted to eat a little better within her ans.
Not to ntion, her husband had worked hard all his life, but hadn't enjoyed many good days before passing away. Now that she had another chance, Zhao Guihua didn't want her husband to suffer.
But to eat well, they needed resources. Even if they had workers in the family, it might not be enough. Everything was rationed now; even if they had money, they couldn't buy it. There used to be a pigeon market where they could trade for food, but now it was abolished.
Although the pigeon market was abolished, a black market erged.
But these two were different. The pigeon market was unregulated, with nearby farrs coming to trade; now the black market was monitored, and one could get caught. It was risky. But despite the risk, people still went.
With the New Year approaching, every household would prepare fish, as it symbolized "surplus year after year." If they could trade a batch of fish for at... I think it's feasible!
"Mom, why aren't you eating? What are you thinking about? You're spacing out," Zhuang Zhixi noticed his mother's distracted state. "Are you okay?"
Zhao Guihua: "What could be wrong with ?"
She wasn't the type to dawdle. Once she made up her mind, she imdiately decided. She asked, "Which of you n can take a day off tomorrow?"
Taking a day off?
The family mbers were puzzled but still answered honestly.
Old Man Zhuang: "I definitely can't. It's the end of the year, and there's a lot of work. I'm indispensable." He was a level-five riveter, and riveters were fewer than welders, so taking leave was out of the question.
Zhuang Zhixi raised his hand: "I can't either. I've taken a lot of leave recently because of my wedding. Although our clinic doesn't have much work, they are all more senior than , and they all have families. With the New Year approaching, they will definitely need to take leave to prepare for the festivities. It won't be my turn."
Ming i: "I'm even less likely to get leave. If I take leave, our leader will go crazy."
Zhao Guihua: "I never even considered you!"
Ming i: "Oh."
At this mont, everyone turned their eyes to Zhuang Zhiyuan, who gave a wry smile and said, "I can't either. I haven't ntioned it yet, but I have to go on a trip tomorrow. I've been assigned to a trip to Fengtian, which will take about six days round trip."
It won't interfere with the New Year celebrations, but taking leave tomorrow is definitely out of the question.
Seeing that everyone was unavailable, Zhao Guihua cursed, "Useless things! Alright then, tomorrow it's still just the two of us."
She looked at Liang ifen, who was puzzled: "???"
Liang ifen didn't understand what her mother-in-law was planning, and Zhao Guihua didn't intend to explain.
Old Man Zhuang: "Guihua, what are you up to..."
Zhao Guihua glared at him: "Don't ask what you shouldn't."
She glanced at the two children who were eating noisily and didn't want to discuss it in front of them.
Old Man Zhuang nodded and, after dinner, sent the two children to their room. Only then did Zhao Guihua say, "I plan to catch so fish to sell in the black market and buy so at."
This almost scared the rest of the family half to death. Old Man Zhuang quickly tried to stop her: "Whoa! Your guts are too big. The black market is not a place for us to go. Even buying things requires extre caution, let alone selling?"
Zhuang Zhiyuan, whose eyebrows could almost pinch a fly to death, nodded and said, "No, this is definitely not possible. It's too dangerous."
Zhuang Zhixi also nodded, incredulously saying, "Mom, you're quite wild now, even thinking about dabbling in the black market."
Ming i blinked: My mother-in-law is indeed formidable!
Zhao Guihua shot a sharp glance at the n in the family and said, "I'm not doing this for the family's sake? That pond on the mountain, is it exclusively ours? Today we can find it, tomorrow others can too. While no one else has noticed, there are plenty of big fish in there. Wouldn't it be better to catch so now? Otherwise, when more people find out, we won't even see fish bones."
Zhao Guihua wasn't lying. How did she know there was a pond with fish on the mountain? It was because it happened in her previous life. About a few months later, after the New Year in the sumr, a group of teenagers from the compound went up the mountain to play and discovered the pond.
These fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys couldn't compare to her, an old bird from Dongting Lake.
These boys had no sense of discretion, each taking a bucket of fish ho, making a big show of it. The news spread quickly. Within two or three days, there wasn't a single fish left in the pond, not even fry.
They caught them all.
Zhao Guihua, living in the courtyard, heard about it. When they went there, there was nothing left. She was so regretful and heartbroken. She had rembered this missed opportunity for decades.
That's why she imdiately went up the mountain to find the pond after being reborn.
It's strange, the pond wasn't exactly hidden, but no one had noticed it before, nor did they know there were fish in it. So things really depend on fate. But this ti, Zhao Guihua didn't want to miss out.
She said, "Let's sell so while the market is good before the New Year."
Zhao Guihua was full of ambition, but the rest of the Zhuang family was grimacing and scratching their heads. This was dangerous, who could handle it? Zhuang Zhiyuan tried to persuade his mother, saying, "Mom, if you get caught..."
Zhao Guihua: "Pfft, can't I run?"
She said, "Besides, at that ti, you need to have the determination to break the boat. If things go south, I'll just throw the fish at them. Then you guess, will they catch the fish or chase ? You n, you really lack guts."
The Zhuang n felt criticized, but they still looked miserable, genuinely not wanting their mother to take risks.
Zhao Guihua, stubborn as eight oxen: "This is settled!"
"Hey, not so fast, Mom..."
"Old lady, wait a minute..."
Zhao Guihua: "Who are you calling old lady? I'm still young. If you can't help, don't add to my troubles. Go away."
Zhao Guihua felt that a family shouldn't listen to n. n always overthink things. By the ti they figure it out, the opportunity is gone.
They can't even catch up to a hot al.
At this ti, Liang ifen and Ming i, the two daughters-in-law, couldn't get a word in, nor did they dare to.
With the three Zhuang n unable to persuade, let alone the two daughters-in-law, who were one level lower. The three n were so worried their eyebrows were knitted together.
"Mom, if sothing goes wrong..."
"Don't jinx it." Zhao Guihua was resolute. She sighed, seeing everyone's worried looks, and said, "Alright, I promise you, we'll just sell this batch before the New Year. After that, I won't go to the black market. Is that a compromise?"
Compromise?
Where did you compromise?
But seeing this, everyone knew they couldn't persuade Zhao Guihua. Zhuang Zhixi sighed, saying, "Mom, you're really sothing. Are you planning to move the family to the Forbidden City next?"
Zhao Guihua: "..."
Death glare.
Zhuang Zhixi: "Then you promise us, just this batch before the New Year."
Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes: "What's there to promise? Alright, I promise!" What happens next is next's problem, for now, the promise is made.
Because Zhao Guihua was so stubborn, the n left with heavy hearts. The two couples departed, and Old Man Zhuang was so worried his hair seed to be greasing up. He said, "You old lady, why are you so stubborn?"
Zhao Guihua glanced at him and said, "What else can I do for this family? I don't want to take any risks and just keep the fish for us to eat, but look, just a whiff of fishy sll, and the greedy cats are already sniffing around. If this goes on, sooner or later soone will notice, and that pond on the mountain will have nothing to do with us. We can go, others can too. Besides, even if it's not from us, what if soone else finds out? There's no reason we shouldn't seize an opportunity when we encounter one."
For her, going to the black market wasn't a big deal, but seeing how worried the family was, she had to reassure them.
"The older and younger sons don't understand, but you do, right? I'm not careless. If I'm going to the black market, I'll be cautious and disguised. No matter what, let's make so money first." Zhao Guihua sighed, "You do physical labor every day, with no oil or fat, how can you endure? Tiger and Little Swallow also lack nutrition."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Zhuang was moved. He whispered, "I know, I know you're doing this for the family, for ."
His eyes reddened, and he started wiping away tears. His old lady was so good to him, better than any other family's wife. He must have done good deeds in his past life to have such fortune.
This ti, he couldn't bring himself to stop her.
Zhao Guihua: "You understand that's good!"
Zhao Guihua saw that Old Man Zhuang didn't object, so she opened the drawer and took out the money box. She said, "All our savings right now amount to six hundred and fifty yuan. I've thought about it, and since they won't be handing over their salaries anymore, our savings will slow down. They used to give us ten or twenty yuan a month, but with eight people in the family, thirty yuan isn't enough to eat well, let alone twenty. In the future, we'll probably have to subsidize the kids. Just now, we talked about how you're not young anymore and can't keep enduring like before; you need to eat better. The kids are growing too, so we should at least spend twenty yuan a month on them. With forty yuan covering the food expenses for eight people, we should be able to eat decently. Even if we can't eat well, we must at least eat enough. I'll figure out the rest. I don't care about wearing nice clothes, but in this cold weather, if our cotton-padded jackets aren't warm enough, we need to add so cotton or make new ones. That's a necessary expense; otherwise, we might end up with arthritis. There are also other living expenses, so we won't be able to save much in the future."
Old Man Zhuang: "A little savings is enough."
He was content, saying, "More money ans more expenses, less ans less. Our kids aren't ungrateful; they won't abandon us."
Zhao Guihua nodded, saying, "I know that."
While the older couple was counting their "assets" in the room, the younger couple was doing the sa. This referred to Zhuang Zhixi and his wife, Ming i, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, counting money carefully while Zhuang Zhixi was tending to the stove.
To save on coal, their house didn't have stoves in every room during the day; only the main room where the parents stayed had a stove. If they weren't working, they would stay there. They only lit their own stove at night. Zhuang Zhixi was busy, while Ming i focused on her task: "Don't peek, okay?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh, wife, you're so smug. You think I wouldn't dare to snatch it?"
Ming i: "Co on, co on, see if I'll be polite."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Oops, forgot you're a pro."
He had learned from Ming i why her salary was higher. He had always known her salary was higher than his, thinking it was due to her taking over her job, but he didn't realize it was because she had once caught a thief and received a promotion.
"Hey, wife, were you scared when you caught the thief?"
Ming i: "What's there to be scared of? Of course not. You don't know, I was hoping for another fool to show up so I could get another promotion. Catching thieves is way faster than waiting for seniority to increase my salary. I've been waiting for them to co and boost my performance. Alas!" She sighed, saying, "Who knew there wouldn't be any thieves? They've gotten smart and don't co near my bus route anymore."
She had missed out on another great opportunity to raise her salary!
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled: "You're really sothing!"
Ming i looked up: "Of course, I'm very capable."
At this point, she suddenly slapped her thigh, unhappy: "Zhuang Zhixi, you're so annoying! Why did you talk to ? I counted wrong!"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Pfft!"
He teased: "Do you want to help you count?"
Ming i imdiately looked wary: "Get lost."
She moved to the head of the bed, turned her back to Zhuang Zhixi, and continued counting. Seeing her money-loving ways, Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh even more. His wife looked smart, but she really had no guile.
Any shrewd wife wouldn't count her private money in front of her husband.
But Zhuang Zhixi didn't realize that Ming i dared to do this because she was confident he wasn't a match for her. Actually, Ming i hadn't planned to count her money today; it was just... they had gone to her parents' house today!
Ming i had always kept her money at her parents' house and hadn't brought it back. She wasn't so naive little girl without any cunning.
But after having a "dream," Ming i had a good idea of what kind of person her mother-in-law was. At least her mother-in-law had good character, so there was nothing to worry about. Even if Zhuang Zhixi wasn't a good guy, her mother-in-law wouldn't let it slide. So she felt much more at ease.
Ming i had taken back the private money she had saved over the years when she visited her parents today. She had taken over her mother's job and had been working for about two and a half years. Her parents didn't take her salary, so all the money was in her hands. Ming i had saved a total of four hundred yuan.
When she got married, Zhuang's family gave her fifty yuan as a dowry, and her mother added another fifty yuan to her dowry, making it a hundred yuan for her private money. So now Ming i had five hundred yuan.
The full notes were these, and the rest were so loose change.
Altogether, it was forty-eight yuan.
Ming i took out eight yuan and put it in her small wallet, then put the remaining money in a wooden box, locked it, and still wasn't reassured. She then locked the wooden box to the bed, put on her slippers, and went to the ground, crossing her arms and looking at Zhuang Zhixi, asking, "Are you done yet? Is it lit?"
Zhuang Zhixi looked up: "It's been ready for a while; I was just waiting for you."
Ming i raised her chin, smiling coquettishly. Zhuang Zhixi felt his heart lt. His wife was so beautiful. He reached out to hold her hand and led her to the bed, but Ming i pulled back, pouting: "Go fill a kettle with water."
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled: "Okay."
He took the kettle to the yard, filled it quickly, and placed it on the stove before pulling his wife to "rest." As newlyweds, they were truly tireless, and soon the bed began creaking...
The biggest difference between newlyweds and old couples is that the forr are always eager to explore the mysteries of "life" and "birth," while the latter can argue for hours over trivial matters.
The old Zhuang family was no exception. While the young couple was testing the bed's endurance, Zhuang Zhiyuan and his wife were arguing over trivialities.
Zhuang Zhiyuan was leaving ho tomorrow, and Liang ifen couldn't help but feel sad. She nagged: "Why leave now, not earlier or later? It's so hard for to be alone at ho, you know..."
She was preparing clothes for Zhuang Zhiyuan to change into before he left.
"Your mom is also going to sell things, and I don't know if she'll drag along. What if sothing happens? Why is she so restless?"
She sighed again and said, "I went to the neighborhood office today to look for work, but they ignored . It must be because your mom has been talking behind my back. Otherwise, why would they look down on ? I even ran into her today, talking about with Old Three's wife. Do you know how hard it is for in this family? I work hard, I..."
"Are you done yet?" Zhuang Zhiyuan said seriously: "If you have ti, you should use it to study. Look at how you've beco so mundane, always talking about trivial matters. Don't always assu my mom treats you badly. I think she treats you quite well. Look around our neighborhood; who has a mom as honest as mine? You can't be ungrateful."
He turned over and continued reading the "Railway Weekly," saying, "Look at , always striving to learn."
Liang ifen: "..."
She took a deep breath and said, "What's the point of reading that? It doesn't fill your stomach or quench your thirst!"
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Life isn't just about eating and drinking; one should aspire to a broader spiritual level. You're too vulgar, too vulgar!"
Liang ifen: "Waaaah..."
Her husband just couldn't be down-to-earth, always so lofty!
She was so hard!
Being a wife was so hard.
"Why are you crying again? Look at you..."
Liang ifen couldn't take it anymore, saying, "I'm going to the bathroom!"
Afraid he might follow, she added, "For a big one!"
She rushed out the door and headed to the bathroom, where she couldn't hold back her suppressed tears. Waaaah, why couldn't he understand her? Her life was so hard, so difficult.
Liang ifen didn't dare to cry loudly, afraid soone would hear, so she covered her mouth and sobbed quietly. She felt so wronged. Only here could she cry freely. Her life was so hard!
Woohoo!
In the n's restroom, the drunkard Zhang San stumbled in, only to feel a chill as soon as he entered. It wasn't that he was easily startled. Last ti, he had encountered a ghost in the restroom and didn't even dare to tell anyone about it.
This ti, he thought he was finally... No, wait, the sound of sobbing echoed again.
Zhang San shivered, nearly fainting from fright. He quickly leaned against the wall, trembling, thinking, "Ghosts... There really are ghosts! The ghost is crying again! I heard it, I really heard it!"
Zhang San covered his mouth again, "Woo!" He couldn't make a sound.
However, this ti he was bolder than last ti. Last ti, he didn't dare to move, but this ti, he slowly moved towards the exit while covering his mouth. As soon as he reached the door, he let out a scream and ran away, shouting, "Mommy...! There's a ghost!"
Liang ifen was crying when suddenly she heard soone scream. Her crying stopped, and she quickly left the restroom to see Zhang San from the neighboring courtyard running away in a panic. Liang ifen was puzzled, "What's wrong with him? What's he shouting about?"
She muttered to herself, "That drunkard must have had too much to drink and doesn't know what's what."
Feeling much better after crying, Liang ifen wiped her tears and hurried ho. Looking at the overcast sky, she thought, "It's going to snow!"
Liang ifen didn't know the ntal trauma she had caused others. She hurried back and said, "Husband, it's going to snow outside. Don't let the water pipes freeze. Fill up so water."
Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Okay!"
Although everyone used the water in the courtyard, almost every household had a water tank. The Zhuang family was no exception. The water tank was in the main room, usually filled with water. Sotis, when it was crowded in the morning or the water pipes froze in winter, they had a backup.
Fortunately, the pipes rarely froze, so most people still preferred to use the outdoor water source. Zhuang Zhiyuan got up to fetch water, and Old Man Zhuang ca out to help. It seed like it was indeed going to snow. Old Man Zhuang said, "It's usually not cold when it snows, but it gets cold after the snow."
Zhuang Zhiyuan quoted, "A tily snow promises a good harvest."
Old Man Zhuang glanced at him and said, "Stop showing off with your words. You have to go out tomorrow. Go back to your room and rest. I'll take care of it."
Zhuang Zhiyuan didn't refuse and chuckled, "Alright." He hadn't put on his outerwear and was feeling a bit cold.
As for the outside world, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming i were completely unaware. The young couple, after a tiring night of activity, were already soundly asleep. The next morning, they woke up to the sound of people talking in the courtyard and realized it had snowed.
Ming i added hot water to her washbasin and was just about to start her morning routine when she heard a distant sound of a pigeon whistle. In the past, many people raised pigeons, but these days, it was strictly prohibited. However, so still took the risk and did it secretly.
Ming i, being a native of Beijing, smiled when she heard the familiar sound. "There are still so brave ones," she said.
"That's right!"
Soone replied. Ming i looked over and saw it was Jiang Lu, the daughter-in-law of Madam Zhou Li. Jiang Lu smiled at Ming i and glanced at her water cup, saying, "Young couples really have good feelings. You even prepared hot water."
Ming i smiled and said, "I can't handle cold water."
Madam Zhou Li, coming out of her house, heard this and muttered softly, "Just pretentious."
Ming i didn't take it to heart. She knew her mother-in-law, Zhao Guihua, had a sharp tongue but a kind heart. Unlike Madam Zhou Li, who seed to have a grudge against everyone. Ming i rembered how Madam Zhou Li had said unpleasant things to her on her first day of marriage. Clearly, she had so kind of ntal issue.
It was early morning, and everyone was busy going to work. Ming i felt her mother-in-law was really good. In such cold weather, who wouldn't want to sleep in a bit longer? But every morning, Zhao Guihua would get up early to prepare breakfast, saving them a lot of trouble.
Like today, Zhao Guihua had even stead buns early in the morning.
Ming i ate the fragrant buns and mumbled, "Even without side dishes, I could eat a dozen of these buns!"
Zhao Guihua snorted and said, "You may be called Ming i, but don't get too carried away! A dozen? Do you think I'm a landlord? Even landlords don't have that much surplus!"
Ming i chuckled, not annoyed. She knew her mother-in-law was just blunt-spoken but had no ill intentions, unlike the wicked old lady outside. She happily finished her breakfast and said, "I'm off to work."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Can you leave the bike for Mom to use for a few days? I'll pick you up after work."
Ming i blinked and quickly agreed, "Sure."
She imdiately thought of what her mother-in-law might be planning to do in the suburbs and agreed without hesitation. She couldn't help with the work, but she could contribute her bicycle.
However... Ming i looked at Zhao Guihua with pleading eyes and said, "Mom, my bike is brand new. Can you promise to treat it well? You must take good care of Little Red!"
Zhao Guihua was utterly speechless: "Can you stop naming your bike?"
Ming i innocently blinked and said, "It's called Little Red."
Having a na made it seem like sothing very important, sothing that should be cherished. She vaguely knew that her mother-in-law didn't think much of the bike, but she did. In her heart, the bike was very precious.
She shook Zhao Guihua's arm and said, "Anyway, please take good care of Little Red. I'm leaving now."
With that, she quickly dashed out the door.
Zhuang Zhixi: "Wait for ."
He stuffed the remaining buns into his mouth and said, "Let's go together. I'll walk you part of the way."
Ming i looked at his face and smiled softly, "Okay."
She shook her coat and said, "Put your hand in my pocket. My pocket is very warm."
Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Okay."
The young couple quickly held hands in their pockets and walked to work together.
Madam Zhou Li ca out to use the restroom and saw the distant figures of the two walking away. She spat and muttered, "So improper."
She spat again and said, "Neither of them are any good."
"Hey, Madam Zhou, don't go."
Madam Zhou stopped and asked, "What is it?"
It was Aunt Chen from the neighboring courtyard. Aunt Chen winked and said, "Have you heard? Our restroom is haunted!"
Madam Zhou: "What?!"
She was shocked and quickly said, "We shouldn't talk about this. It's not appropriate..."
"Just between us, don't tell anyone else. Don't disbelieve , it's true. A female ghost, Zhang San from our courtyard said so. He was so scared last night that he called for his mom... And don't disbelieve , he's not the first ti he's encountered it. He just didn't dare to say anything before, but last night he was so scared he blurted it all out..."
Madam Zhou's eyes lit up: "You have to tell more..."
In their courtyard, once Madam Zhou knew sothing, everyone in the courtyard would know it. As for keeping it between just the two of them, that was impossible.
Madam Zhou hurried back and couldn't wait to spread the news: "Ladies, have you heard? Our... "
And so on!
The young won, old ladies, and everyone in the courtyard were all amazed.
Liang ifen was startled and patted her chest, "That's so scary. I guess I really can't go to the restroom alone at night anymore." However, this story sounded familiar. Never mind, she thought, she would just avoid the restroom at night from now on!
"That's right!"
Zhao Guihua glanced at Liang ifen and turned away.
"You know, if it's about ghosts in the restroom, I believe Zhang San. Once, I also heard so strange sounds when I went there, and I didn't dare to go in..."
" too."
"But I haven't heard of any incidents around here. How could there be ghosts? Our place is..."
Everyone was chattering away when Aunt Wang quickly put a stop to the discussion, saying, "Alright, alright, enough of that. These are all feudal superstitions, don't believe in them, and don't spread them. What's wrong with you all? Spreading this nonsense, if soone catches you, you'll end up getting lectured during the New Year, is it worth it?"
She said, "Everyone, disperse now."
Madam Zhou Li pouted, clearly unconvinced.
Aunt Su chuckled softly and quickly followed Aunt Wang's footsteps, "Old sister, I'll co sit with you for a while."
Aliali: 673ebb7bc4f3f33ac4eea64cAunt Wang: "Sure, let's go. I'm winding yarn right now, give a hand."
"Alright."
Madam Zhou Li: "Pfft." She really couldn't stand Aunt Su in the courtyard. Well, she didn't like Aunt Wang either; um, Zhao Guihua wasn't any better, anyway, no one was as good as her!
With a huff, she turned and went ho.
Everyone quickly dispersed, which suited Zhao Guihua just fine, as she had her own important matters to attend to. She quickly locked the door and set off with Liang ifen on the back seat, who was carrying a bamboo basket on her back, singing woefully, "The north wind blows, the snowflakes flutter..."
She was miserable, so very miserable, just like Xi'er.
Zhao Guihua frowned, "Can you stop that wailing? What kind of song is that? If you can't sing, don't! It's so unpleasant to listen to!"
Liang ifen let out a long sigh, a mix of lancholy and sorrow, dissipating in the wind.
Zhao Guihua pedaled the bike with vigor, thinking, "If you're not proactive about making money, there's sothing wrong with your mindset."
This family, it still needs her to lead the way!
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