Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei spent most of the day at her father's house. When they were about to leave, her mother gave them a hen. The old hen was clucking, looking so lovable. This old hen, with a little neck rub, a few plucks of feathers, a bit of mushrooms, and some dried bamboo shoots, stewed on high heat then simmered on low heat, would make a great dish.
Just thinking about it made their mouths water.
So, through this old hen, Zhuang Zhixi deeply felt the truth of the saying, "The more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more pleased she becomes."
You see, his elder brother has also taken his wife to visit their father-in-law countless times over the years, but never once received such treatment. But Zhuang Zhixi was different, he did! So, even in the cold winter with the north wind howling, Zhuang Zhixi pedaled his bicycle with all his might.
Ming Mei sat on the back seat, hugging Zhuang Zhixi's waist, feeling that riding a bike together was indeed better, a good wind blocker.
The couple rode their bike back to the alley. Before they reached home, they saw the alley crowded with people. Considering that it wasn't a holiday and everyone should be at work, this crowd must have gathered from both ends of the alley, otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people.
Zhuang Zhixi: "What's going on?"
Ming Mei immediately jumped off the bike, stood on tiptoe to see, and curiously asked, "What happened, what happened?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "I don't know, it seems they're gathered around our yard, I wonder whose family is in trouble..."
He shouted loudly: "Make way, make way, ladies and gentlemen, give me a path, I'm going home."
His shout immediately attracted attention, and an old lady recognized him and said, "Little Zhuang, you're back just in time, your mother is going ballistic again, you better go home and see if you can calm her down."
Zhuang Zhixi: "My mother?"
Oh, so it's our house?
He quickly made his way through the crowd and entered the yard where there were also quite a few people. Comrade Zhao Guihua was standing with her hands on her hips, spewing out words like a pro, her scolding skills no less than the continuous battles of Madam Zhou Li.
Without even taking a breath, she was yelling: "You little rascal, trying to take advantage of me, do you really think I'm a docile little kitty? You uneducated dog, you shameless thing, what's the matter? You think because your mother and grandmother spoil you, everyone in the world has to spoil you too? Am I your father? If I were your father, I'd kick you straight into the outhouse, you shameless thing. You still want to ask me for something? Pah, you really don't know the three-eyed horse king. Your family is having a hard time? Who isn't? How come other families can live well by saving and scrimping? But your family, time and time again! Not satisfied with taking advantage, huh? If I don't give in, you'll retaliate, right?"
"Aunt Su, don't play the frail woman with me. Who do you think you're fooling? Do I look like one of those old men? I'm not falling for your tricks. You better save it. If others are willing to cater to you, that's their business, but don't think you can skin me alive. Look at yourself, who do you think you are! Sending your kids to do your dirty work because you're too old to do it yourself? Planning some kind of revenge? How can your family be so shameless? Why hasn't a bolt of lightning struck you all down for your wickedness?"
Zhao Guihua spat out her words with a venomous satisfaction, her eyes boring into Aunt Su's family, as if she was ready to consume them whole.
Zhuang Zhixi: Oh my God~
He quickly stepped forward, asking, "Mom, what's wrong? Who's been bullying you?"
Ming Mei, rolling up her sleeves, chimed in, "Yes, Mom, who's been bullying you? I'll teach them a lesson!"
The onlooking crowd: "..."
Oh dear, who could possibly bully her? It would be a miracle if she didn't bully others!
Usually, in such situations, someone would step forward to defend justice, to mediate, but not today. Because today's issue was...
Well... it's complicated.
But to think that Zhao Guihua would be at a disadvantage, that was impossible. Absolutely impossible.
The story began at noon today. Yes, it's a bit of a long story, but not a complicated one...
Even though it was the end of the year, this day was like any other ordinary day. After lunch, Hutou, a little boy full of energy, was not interested in resting or afraid of the cold. He took his sister out to play on the streets.
It was winter vacation, and the children on the street buzzed like bees, in groups.
As soon as Hutou and his sister left, Liang Meifen changed her clothes and went out. She planned to visit the neighborhood committee. She used to work and it wasn't a problem, but now she had lost her job and one source of income.
She had originally planned well, thinking that they could all live together, with so many workers in the family, they wouldn't starve. But she never expected her mother-in-law to act so unusually. Although they hadn't separated households yet, what was the difference?
She couldn't profit, and lost one person's salary, so she had to think of more ways. If she wanted to find another formal job, it was out of the question. Even though she graduated from high school, it was a pipe dream.
The movement to the countryside was in full swing. Many families with a bit of power could not guarantee that each of their children could have a formal job in the city, let alone her situation. Although Liang Meifen was a bit confused, she understood this.
Because she understood, she wanted to register with the neighborhood committee to see if there were any odd jobs she could do to earn some extra pocket money. But she also knew that with their family's situation, eight people in the family, four workers, and two children, they were considered a pretty well-off family. Usually, the neighborhood committee arranges some odd jobs, but not for just anyone, they prioritize the needy households.
Their household was certainly not what you'd call impoverished. A family was considered poor if the average monthly income per person was less than five yuan. There were eight people in their home, which means if they made more than forty yuan, they weren't poor. Her father-in-law alone made fifty-five yuan. It was quite a situation!
It was impossible for their family to ever be considered poor, and it wasn't easy to make arrangements for them.
So, Liang Meifen spent the last few days frequently visiting the local government office whenever she had nothing else to do. She shamelessly hung around, hoping that her regular visits would earn her some small jobs, like pasting cardboard boxes or matchboxes. She was willing to do anything.
Because of this, Liang Meifen left home after lunch today. The large family was left to Zhao Guihua alone, who was pondering over the situation of her youngest son bringing home his wife. She remembered what happened in her past life. Because their family didn't handle things well, even though they gave their daughter-in-law five hundred yuan as private money, the Ming family was very dissatisfied.
Zhuang Zhixi didn't show any good face in the past. Thinking about these things, although Zhao Guihua was stubborn, she felt a twinge of regret in her heart. She hadn't handled this matter well in her past life.
While she was pondering, she heard a rustling noise outside the window. Zhao Guihua quickly stepped forward and opened the window. Sure enough, there were three "big rats" below the window.
The three guys were sneaking around. Zhao Guihua looked at the three children, Jinlai, Yinlai, and Tonglai, and asked with a smirk, "What are you doing here?"
Jinlai didn't expect to be caught. He awkwardly and reluctantly smiled, quickly thought of an excuse, and said, "We're playing hide and seek."
Zhao Guihua raised an eyebrow, not quite believing these three "big rats". However, she didn't give the children a hard time. She chuckled and said, "Who could hide here? Go play hide and seek somewhere else."
She was about to close the window, but she didn't mind. These three kids had no shame at all.
Jinlai woke up needing to pee last night, but he overheard his grandma and his mom talking. The Zhuang family had fish. His family had some too, but they were saving theirs for the New Year. The Zhuang family was so well-off, why couldn't they share a little with his family?
They were all neighbors, why should they hog all the food?
This kid had been spoiled by his family since he was a child, and his character was particularly selfish. Thinking about this, he quickly said, "Grandma Zhao, I want to eat fish."
Zhao Guihua's hand paused as she was closing the window, and she looked at this little brat. The brat looked up, taking it for granted as he said, "I smelled fish from your house, and I want to eat it too."
Zhao Guihua burst out laughing, finding it truly amusing. She said coldly, "What are you thinking about, you little rascal? Just because my house has fish, I should give it to you? How big is your face? Is this how your family teaches you? It's really funny. You're nine years old, not like your little brother, who's only five. If a five-year-old child said this, I could consider him ignorant. Don't you think it's shameless for a nine-year-old child to say this?"