My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 165

"Here she comes, here she comes! Everyone, come outside, she's here again!"

Recently, the people in the courtyard have been spending quite a bit, but no one seems to mind. In fact, the more they spend, the happier they are, almost as if it's already the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year. Despite the ban on speculation and profiteering, there are still many people who sneak around selling goods.

With the New Year approaching, who wouldn't want to have a good celebration? The supply and marketing cooperatives, as well as the grocery stores, require tickets for everything, whereas the black market or those who secretly sell goods become the preferred choice.

"Hurry up."

Zhao Guihua quickly came out, and upon hearing this, she knew that Aunt Shuihua was here. Aunt Shuihua has recently become the most popular person in this area. She comes often and usually brings some meat and eggs, which are quite good. Zhao Guihua always buys some whenever she comes.

Upon hearing the call from the courtyard, Zhao Guihua immediately handed the child to Ming Mei.

Ming Mei had just returned to breastfeed the baby. This was her first time encountering this situation. Although the family had bought things several times, they were always on weekdays, so Ming Mei, who was working, hadn’t seen it before.

But today, it just so happened that she was here, and she peeked out curiously, saying, "I want to go out and take a look too."

Realizing this, Zhao Guihua understood and said, "Then take the child to Li Fang."

Ming Mei: "Okay."

She quickly handed the baby to Li Fang and then followed Zhao Guihua out. As they walked out, they met He Lan, and the three of them headed outside together. The donkey cart was parked at the corner of the alley, right next to the public restroom, which blocked the view from the main road. On the cart sat an old lady, accompanied by two men who could be described as her bodyguards.

It's said that these are her sons.

The eldest son is Song Shu, and the second son is Shan Mao.

When the three arrived, Aunt Zhou was already there. Upon seeing Zhao Guihua, Aunt Zhou quickly waved her hand, "Come over quickly."

Zhao Guihua: "What good things do you have today?"

Aunt Shuihua's eyes were filled with joy as she said, "Today, it's really good stuff—old hens! Look, they're all big, fat chickens. Perfect for making a soup."

As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Ming Mei, quickly sweeping over her before moving away. However, her second son, Shan Mao, couldn't take his eyes off Ming Mei, his gaze almost glued to her.

Ming Mei is indeed beautiful, though not in the current popular style of being plump with big, wide eyes. Instead, she has an oval face and a delicate, charming appearance. While not the mainstream beauty standard, anyone would be dishonest if they said she wasn’t attractive.

Shan Mao's gaze was very obvious. Ming Mei slightly frowned, sensing his disapproval. Aunt Shuihua quickly pinched her son and gave him a stern look. Shan Mao immediately turned away, chuckling awkwardly.

Ming Mei looked at him for a moment, then glanced at Aunt Shuihua and her elder son.

Neither of them were as blatant as the young man. They only glanced briefly before looking away. However, their stares still made Ming Mei feel uneasy. Sometimes, don’t underestimate the power of intuition. A woman’s intuition can be very accurate. Although there’s no term for intuition right now, Ming Mei felt uncomfortable.

However, she didn’t say anything. She just stayed by Zhao Guihua’s side. Zhao Guihua asked, "How much for the old hens?"

"Two yuan and fifty cents each, the same price as at the grocery store."

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‍price of old hens at the grocery store isn't fixed. Most of the time, they’re two yuan, but recently, the price has gone up to two yuan and fifty cents. Since the grocery store sells them at that price, Aunt Shuihua sells them for the same, but here, you can choose the ones you want.

At the grocery store, you can’t pick and choose—whatever they give you, you take. Want to choose? Dream on!

As for why a fish is two yuan and an old hen is sometimes also two yuan, though the prices are the same, the sizes differ. A big fish costs two yuan, but a small fish the size of a palm would be ridiculous to sell for two yuan. Someone with a short temper might even slap you.

The critical factor is size—the bigger the better.

The same goes for old hens. The difference between being fat or skinny determines the price.

Zhao Guihua wasn't surprised by the price. She nodded and said, "Let me have a look."

She carefully examined the selection. Although there were several baskets of old hens on the cart, their sizes varied. Some were lean, while others looked plump and hefty. Strangely, all of them were sold at the same price.

This made Zhao Guihua wonder whether Aunt Shuihua was good at business or not.

Zhao Guihua didn’t believe that someone who goes door-to-door in such a big way wouldn’t know how to do business. She felt there must be something fishy going on. But regardless of what was going on, since the chance to get a good deal presented itself, she couldn’t let it go.

"I'll take two. Sister, since we’re regulars, can you give us a discount?"

Aunt Shuihua hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded and said, "Sure, since you’re a regular customer. If you buy ten chickens, I’ll give you one free."

"Oh, come on, that’s not fair," Aunt Zhou retorted. "Who’s going to buy ten chickens in one go? Besides, if someone found out we had so many chickens and reported us, we’d be in trouble."

Zhao Guihua stepped in, "Buy ten, get one free—that’s not bad. We can buy together."

She suggested, "We can buy a total of eleven chickens, pay for ten, and split the cost of eleven evenly."

Aunt Zhou: "That makes sense."

Zhao Guihua: "I need two for the New Year, and I need to prepare one for my in-laws. So, I’ll take three."

Aunt Zhou raised an eyebrow and said, "You have two sets of in-laws, but you’re only giving one a chicken?"

Zhao Guihua replied matter-of-factly, "I believe in reciprocity. The Ming family gave me gifts, so naturally, I should return the favor. But when it comes to my eldest daughter-in-law’s family, they’re like a bottomless pit—always taking but never giving back. They love to take advantage, so forget about them. I’m not about to spend my money on them. They can forget about getting any gifts from me. They’d better not even think about it."

Aunt Zhou: "Aren’t you afraid your eldest daughter-in-law will be upset?"

Zhao Guihua: "Am I scared of her? If she doesn’t like it, she can leave. I don’t rely on them, and they rely on us for support. If they don’t behave properly, then I’ll stop helping them."

Aunt Zhou: "..."

Zhao Guihua is getting more and more arrogant these days. I wonder if she’s been drinking fake wine.

She continued, "Then I’ll take three as well. I’ll keep two for the New Year and give one to my in-laws."

The Jiang family despises Aunt Zhou, which is understandable. After all, she’s so calculating when it comes to Jiang Lu’s father, so the Jiang family would rather see her buried than be on good terms with her. However, Jiang Lu still keeps in touch with her family, so Aunt Zhou needs to prepare a gift.

He Lan: "I’ll take two."

At this moment, Wang Zizhen also came out, raising her hand, "Three chickens, please!"

They quickly calculated, and it turned out they needed even more.

Zhao Guihua: "I’ll go ask. Let’s aim for twenty chickens. Daughter-in-law, go to the courtyard and call more people. Aunt Zhou and I will stay here to pick out twenty-two chickens."

Ming Mei: "Okay!"

Aunt Shuihua: "..."

They had hoped to sell a bit more slowly and chat with the customers to buy time, but these people acted like a pack of wolves. As soon as they saw Aunt Shuihua coming to sell goods, they went crazy buying. How much money do they have to spend like this!

The workers in the city—do they really make that much money? They used to see workers before, but maybe these big state-owned enterprises are different? Aunt Shuihua felt a headache coming on. Ming Mei quickly ran back to the courtyard.

Shan Mao couldn't help but look at her again. He gazed at Ming Mei’s retreating figure, thinking how beautiful she was.

He shamelessly ogled her, and just as Ming Mei reached the courtyard gate, she felt someone watching her. She turned around and saw that man grinning at her with his yellow teeth. Though he had a seemingly honest appearance, Ming Mei didn’t think he was really that simple.

She felt very uncomfortable but focused on the task at hand.

Aunt Wang was about to leave and said, "I’ll take three chickens."

Though the son-in-law is technically a member of the household, it doesn't mean he should be treated as a non-relative. Their family is relatively considerate in this regard. As the two stood talking in the courtyard, Luo Xiaohe pushed the door open and asked, "Are there people selling hen here?"

Ming Mei replied, "Yes, yes."

Luo Xiaohe said, "I'll take three as well."

Under normal circumstances, it would be quite difficult to gather eleven hens, but now, with twenty-two available, it's easy. After all, it's the New Year; who wouldn't want to indulge in some good food during this time? Moreover, they are all from working-class families.

The machinery factory, being a large state-owned enterprise, towers over most ordinary people.

Even Yinlai came out, bundled up tightly, and said, "I'll take two."

Auntie Sui added, "And me too."

Zhao Guihua and Aunt Zhou are both seasoned homemakers, and with Aunt Wang hurrying to help, they quickly selected the fattest hens. Aunt Shuihua and her group had only about fifty hens, and Zhao Guihua and her associates bought nearly half of them.

Aunt Shuihua was left speechless.

Zhao Guihua and the others quickly returned to divide the hens. Zhao Guihua calculated, "There are twenty-two hens in total. Though the price is two yuan and fifty fen each, since two were given for free, that averages out to..."

Before she could even count on her fingers, Ming Mei quickly said, "Each hen costs two yuan and twenty-seven fen. But there's a six-fen discrepancy, and since our family paid first, we lost six fen."

Ming Mei calculated very quickly.

Zhao Guihua continued, "You all collectively owe me six fen. Since there are seven households, each should give me one fen. No problem, right? I'll pocket an extra fen from you but won't take it for free. I'll give this fen to Aunt Wang, and it can be used when the entire neighborhood chips in for sanitation fees later."

"Sure, no problem with that," everyone agreed.

Although it's just one fen, with a monthly salary of around thirty yuan, every fen counts. Zhao Guihua's approach was spot-on. They divided the hens, and everyone was elated. Aunt Wang remarked, "These hens must weigh about seven or eight jin, right?"

"Definitely."

"That's quite good. A colleague from our unit bought a hen recently, and it was only four jin, also for two yuan and fifty fen."

Ming Mei thought that at four yuan, these hens would still be a great deal.

Zhao Guihua nodded in agreement.

Ming Mei said, "That's really a steal."

"That’s for sure," they all concurred.

They were genuinely thrilled with the deal, eagerly anticipating more from Aunt Shuihua. While the prices were not drastically lower, the quality of the goods made it feel like a significant discount. Take these hens, for instance; if calculated honestly, it was almost half the price due to their fatness.

However, the better the deal, the more suspicious they became.

Aunt Shuihua seemed sharp and not like someone naive enough to sell at such low prices. This made everyone wonder. Despite their suspicions, Zhao Guihua and the others still bought the hens; such a bargain was too good to pass up.

But buying didn't stop them from being wary of the situation.

Zhao Guihua said, "I'm going out to see what's happening and have a chat."

Ming Mei added, "I also feel like they're not good people. Their looks are really off-putting."

He Lan exclaimed, "You feel that too? Every time they look at me, I get really uncomfortable. It's like they're staring straight through me, inspecting like I'm a commodity."

Ming Mei nodded, "Exactly, that's the feeling."

Zhao Guihua frowned and said, "You all should stay indoors."

Ming Mei laughed and said, "He Lan should definitely stay in, but as for me... Do I look like I'm afraid of them?"

Zhao Guihua was momentarily stumped but then nodded, "That's true."

If those people had ulterior motives, it was unclear who would come out on top.

Zhao Guihua said, "Then come with me."

Ming Mei immediately rolled up her sleeves and said, "Let's go!"

Aunt Wang chimed in, "No, no, Ming Mei, don’t look like you're about to fight. Seeing you like that makes me a bit nervous."

She continued, "We might end up arguing and fighting. I'll come along to keep an eye on things."

Zhao Guihua agreed, "Sounds good to me."

The two elderly women then stepped out together, and Ming Mei suddenly asked, "Aunt Luo, why are you at home?"

Luo Xiaohe replied, "I'm not working anymore."

She explained, "I've been doing temporary work at the library, not a permanent position. Since I've reached the appropriate age, the leaders there suggested I retire to make room for younger people. While I wasn't a full-time employee, it's essentially akin to being asked to leave."

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Luo Xiaohe had worked as a temporary employee for many years, but positions for full-time workers were scarce. These positions were often inherited within families, and even if someone wanted to buy one, they couldn't.

With more young people in the workforce, those of her age were naturally asked to step aside. In fact, there were virtually no one of her age working at their unit. Many families had multiple children, and those of her generation were dealing with the prospect of their children going to the countryside. Parents often passed their jobs to their children to keep them from the countryside. This is why the workforce was very young, making her somewhat out of place.

If circumstances were still like before, Luo Xiaohe would have felt quite troubled. But perhaps because she now had a supportive companion, stepping away from the library didn’t weigh too heavily on her. It’s true that she earns less money, but Lan Sihai’s counsel soothes her, and she’s inclined to listen. After a lifetime of labor, it’s time to rest properly. Moreover, there’s still a lot of work to be done at home, and she finds solace in Lan Sihai’s words.

Thus, her emotions remained relatively steady.

She said, "In fact, the leaders had this idea for a while. They allowed me to finish the year, and I officially handed over the position at the end of December."

Ming Mei said, "That’s good. Take some time to rest at home."

Seeing that Ming Mei wasn't unhappy, Luo Xiaohe felt better.

As a remarried couple, they were also concerned about whether their children and young family members might feel uncomfortable regarding her not working, as it meant Lan Sihai was now the sole breadwinner. However, their situation was different from most families. With her spirits lifted, Luo Xiaohe felt more at ease.

"Now that I'm not working, I’ll have to follow your mother-in-law around," she said.

Ming Mei smiled and said, "Then you’d better learn from my mother-in-law, she’s quite capable."

Luo Xiaohe also laughed.

Ming Mei stood in the courtyard, chit-chatting with the neighbors, when she noticed Shan Mao peeking his head in the doorway. She immediately frowned and scolded, "What are you looking at?"

Shan Mao had come to scope out the place; he was accustomed to this kind of mission. Usually, he would sneak around quietly, but unexpectedly, he was caught right away. He quickly said, "Oh, I just came by for a drink of water."

He grinned at Ming Mei, showing clear interest.

Ming Mei said, "Why are you acting all sneaky?"

She sized up Shan Mao, feeling that he wasn’t a good person at all. Shan Mao chuckled, and Ming Mei added, "The water taps are all outside. Get a bowl yourself and fill it."

Shan Mao stared at Ming Mei and leered, "Oh, I didn't bring a… maybe you could lend me a bowl?"

Just as Ming Mei was about to get angry, Aunt Zhou spat out, "Who’s this little punk? Smirking like a fool! Coming here with your brazen grin, thinking you’re something special! What a senseless nuisance. I think you’re begging for a beating. Didn’t even bother to check who you’re here to mess with! You think this place is soft? Dare to throw your weight around here."

Aunt Zhou’s outburst startled Shan Mao instantly. His mission was to gather information, not to stir up trouble. He quickly said, "Don’t get mad, I won’t take water, okay?"

With that, he quickly left. Shan Mao had a penchant for lust and had taken advantage of many young women. Because he couldn’t control his urges, his mother usually didn’t bring him along on such missions.

This time, he was brought along because they were targeting children, and Aunt Shuihua figured that targeting kids would keep him from causing trouble. Yet, they didn’t expect to encounter Ming Mei.

Ming Mei was undeniably beautiful, standing out even among a crowd.

This made Shan Mao particularly intrigued.

However, Zhou Dama’s sudden shout startled him, and he feared things might go south, so he quickly left. He returned to the donkey cart and found that the chicken had nearly sold out. Feeling unlucky, he muttered a curse under his breath. He looked toward Aunt Shuihua, who, though she hadn’t heard Zhou Dama’s reprimand, could tell from her son’s dejected and submissive demeanor that he had likely caused trouble again. She quickly said, “We’ve sold most of our wares, let’s head out.”

Zhao Guihua immediately smiled and said, “Next time you come, call me! My place is in courtyard number 44 over there.”

Aunt Shuihua responded warmly, “Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll definitely find you next time.”

Her heart swelled with pride. Nothing made her happier than dealing with people who were greedy for small gains. After all, such greed often led to larger losses—something these folks would eventually come to understand. She glanced at her son and said, “Let’s go.”

The group swiftly departed.

As soon as the donkey cart left, Aunt Shuihua immediately asked, “What happened?”

She glared at her younger son. “Did you cause trouble again?”

Shan Mao responded gloomily, “I just asked for some water to drink. They were awfully mean about it.”

Aunt Shuihua knew her son well enough to recognize that his version of events was far from the truth. “Don’t think I don’t know what kind of person you are. You probably just saw how pretty the lady was and got ideas. Let me tell you, we’re in the business of making money, not chasing women. If you had money, you could have any woman you wanted, but without it, you have nothing. Don’t you dare mess things up for us. Control your bad habits.”

Shan Mao hung his head in resignation. “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t cause any trouble.”

Aunt Shuihua shot her son a stern look and said, “If you cause trouble, I won’t spare you.”

Shan Mao quickly replied, “I know, I know.”

As he was speaking, he noticed the young woman he had seen earlier riding a bicycle across the street and turning onto the main road. His eyes darted, and he exclaimed, “Ouch, my stomach hurts.”

Aunt Shuihua retorted, “Lazy donkey can’t work without shitting! What are you up to?”

Shan Mao replied, “I need to go to the latrine. You all go ahead without me.”

Aunt Shuihua stared deeply into her son’s eyes and said, “You should know what kind of person I am.”

Shan Mao quickly reassured her. “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t do anything reckless.”

Aunt Shuihua nodded slightly. “Good, if you cause trouble, I won’t let you off easy.”

Shan Mao jumped off the donkey cart. As soon as the cart moved away, he looked toward the direction the young woman had gone, though he no longer saw her. Still, he hurried after her, chuckling to himself. “Heh heh, heh.” He wasn’t afraid of being discovered. If caught, he’d just kidnap her. After he had his fun, he could even sell her. A catch like her would fetch a good price.

He quickly followed the direction she had gone. Was it this way?

Ming Mei rode her bicycle back to work, zipping along the road. Though she seemed soft and gentle on the outside, she had a fiery temperament. This was evident in how she rode her bike—it wasn’t a matter of speed, but rather of daring.

Ming Mei quickly arrived at her workplace. As she approached the entrance, she noticed Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong arguing in the alley near the office.

Ming Mei exclaimed, “Oh ho!”

Last time, Jiang Baohong had slapped Guan Guiling, causing her to faint on the spot and demand a small payment of thirty yuan.

Jiang Baohn, unable to pay, had her salary docked for three consecutive months, ten yuan each month, to compensate Guan Guiling. Jiang Baohong now harbored a seething hatred for Guan Guiling. If there was one person in the world she hated most, it was Guan Guiling.

Now, even looking at Ming Mei was too much for Jiang Baohong. Her sole focus was on Guan Guiling, her anger bubbling over, yet she couldn’t do anything to her rival. Ming Mei crept closer, eavesdropping on their argument.

Guan Guiling sneered, “It’s freezing out, and you dragged me here just to threaten me? Jiang Baohong, you underestimate me too much. Take a good look at yourself—do you really think you’re so powerful? Coming here to strut around like a peacock, do you think I’ll just let you off? Believe me, I’ll make you bankrupt.”

Jiang Baohong retorted, “So, you finally show your true colors! I knew you were the most vicious woman out there. It turns out you’ve been scheming against me from the start. Tell me, did you sell my bicycle?”

Guan Guiling shrugged, “If it’s lost, it’s lost. That’s your luck, not my problem.”

“You!”

Jiang Baohong was furious, but she didn’t dare lay a finger on Guan Guiling. After all, if she touched her, she’d likely have to pay up again. Yet, she couldn’t swallow her anger. She cursed, “You filthy bitch…”

Ming Mei watched the growing conflict, feeling that these two were just a pair of quarrelsome dogs.

She rolled her eyes and rode her bike back to the office. The fight wasn’t worth watching—it was all too predictable. But what Ming Mei didn’t know was that after she left, things took a new turn. Shan Mao, following the road in search of Ming Mei, was delayed and missed her because she had been riding so fast.

Unable to find Ming Mei, he began looking around frantically. Then he spotted the arguing pair of Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling in the alley.

The two women had chosen to meet in secret, away from prying eyes, opting for the alley. Guan Guiling’s back was to Shan Mao as she sneered at Jiang Baohong, “You deserve every bit of your misfortune. You deserve to have nothing. Let me tell you, I’d love for you to hit me—if you touch me, I’ll make you pay. Right now, everyone is wary of me, but not you, Jiang Baohong. You don’t know how much I enjoy your foolishness…”

Jiang Baohong was trembling with rage. Though she had tried to remind herself not to hit Guan Guiling, knowing that even a slight touch could cost her more money, Guan Guiling’s taunts were too much to bear. She raised her hand, ready to strike, but before she could even land the blow, someone grabbed her wrist.

Shan Mao had caught Jiang Baohong’s hand, saving the day.

He furrowed his brow. “What’s wrong with you, woman? How dare you bully someone in broad daylight?”

He turned to look at Guan Guiling and said, “Don’t be afraid, Sis, I’m here now.”

He inspected Guan Guiling’s appearance, noting her pale, sickly complexion and unremarkable features, feeling slightly disappointed. Nevertheless, he still stood by her side, not wanting to miss an opportunity.

This situation was just a bonus, a ‘kill two birds with one stone’ scenario for him.

The alley was deserted, and if he played his cards right, this so-called “heroic rescue” could lead to abducting this frail looking woman. Though their main target this time was children, he wasn’t about to let a chance with such a woman slip by.

He consoled her softly, “Don’t be afraid.”

Guan Guiling, however, darkened in mood.

She had been eagerly anticipating Jiang Baohong’s slap, hoping that the slightest touch would allow her to extort more money. After all, her colleagues now treated her with extreme caution, limiting her opportunities. She planned to exploit her current fragile state to extract more money from those willing to take the risk.

Once she recovered, her chances would vanish.

But she had never anticipated this interloper’s interference that disrupted her plans. A truly infuriating nuisance.

She glared at the man, seething with displeasure at this meddling stranger.

Likewise, Jiang Baohong was livid. She had wanted to teach Guan Guiling a lesson, and now someone had the gall to interfere. Who did he think he was, daring to stop her!

Jiang Baohong was no one’s fool and definitely not one to be trifled with.

Fuming, she pointed at his nose and cursed, “You wretched fool, get out of here! What business is it of yours, anyway? Playing the hero, are you? You’re nothing but a clown! Scram!”

Shan Mao had been working with his mother in this line of business for years, raking in money, and he wasn’t used to being spoken to so rudely. The sight of this middle-aged woman, with her harsh and unpleasant appearance, further convinced him that she was no decent person. Such a woman would be hard to sell, anyway.

The fact that she dared to speak to him harshly made Shan Mao narrow his eyes, fixing his gaze intently on Jiang Baohong.

Jiang Baohong was already full of anger, feeling that this year had been especially unlucky. She didn't dare to hit Guan Guiling, that sickly woman, but she sure as hell dared to hit this meddling little man! She spat and shouted, pointing her finger right in his face.

Shan Mao instantly erupted in anger and slapped her across the face with a resounding blow.

Men are always stronger than women. Jiang Baohong was knocked to the ground in an instant, completely dazed.

Shan Mao: "You're out of line trying to bully people, aren't you?"

He turned his head and spoke softly to Guan Guiling: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Guan Guiling: "..."

Who the hell are you!

And I was hoping to extort some money!

But seeing how fierce this man was, Guan Guiling didn't dare say anything unpleasant. She had a good sense of judgment and immediately said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do."

Shan Mao: "It's nothing, I've got you."

Jiang Baohong, still seeing stars from the slap, was livid. "Well, Guan Guiling, I see you're not a decent woman either, bringing your lover to fight your battles! Let me tell you, even if you beat me, I won't let you get away with this. I'll spread it far and wide, let everyone know what kind of person you are. And you, I'll call the cops, let them see how you bully a woman. You've got no morals, you're an adulterer, you..."

Before she could finish her rant, Shan Mao kicked her hard.

He was most afraid of dealing with the police, and this woman kept threatening to call them. He naturally wouldn't let it go and immediately delivered another kick: "I'll kick you to death for being so mouthy!"

He had previously abducted girls, and some would be stubborn. In such cases, they always had to teach them a lesson. Beating women was something he was accustomed to. He yanked Jiang Baohong up and delivered several hard slaps: "Keep talking, keep talking!"

With blows like that, Jiang Baohong couldn't take it. Blood gushed from her nostrils and the corner of her mouth, and her face became swollen and disfigured.

Guan Guiling, seeing this, took a frightened step back.

What was wrong with this guy? Was he crazy?

With her frail body, she certainly couldn't withstand such beatings.

Though she had dared to jump from a building before—only because they had planned it out carefully and calculated every move—she certainly didn't dare take such risks now. Guan Guiling took another cautious step back, planning to make a slow escape.

But before she could react, Shan Mao turned around and said, "Where do you think you're going?"

Guan Guiling immediately forced a smile: "I have to get back to work..."

Shan Mao: "You're not going anywhere. If you leave, this woman will try to pin it all on me. Stay here and be my witness, show that I was helping you."

Guan Guiling: "What?"

She had no desire to testify at all, but she feared this man's temper. "I, uh..."

She rolled her eyes, trying to think of an excuse.

"You adulterers! You..." Jiang Baohong, despite being beaten, was still shouting insults. Shan Mao slapped her again, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

"Shut up!"

Shan Mao: "Help me hold this woman."

Guan Guiling was reluctant—deeply reluctant.

But she didn't dare disobey. Such a short distance meant there was a risk of being caught by this violent man. She had called Bai Fendou a violent man before, but she wasn't afraid of him because she knew she was framing him.

But this stranger, despite being a stranger, genuinely terrified her.

She didn't dare resist and reluctantly stepped forward. As soon as she got close, Shan Mao suddenly struck with force, knocking her out before she even had time to react. She was already weak and, with that hit, she fainted immediately.

Shan Mao hadn't intended to strike her, but this woman behaved so defensively that he had no choice. This left him no option but to resort to force; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to deceive her away. With this move, Jiang Baohong sensed something was off.

Why did this man hit Guan Guiling too?

Seeing the malice in his eyes, Jiang Baohong suddenly sprang into action, delivering a powerful kick to his most sensitive spot. Shan Mao let out a deafening scream: "Ah!!!"

Jiang Baohong took off running, shouting, "Help! Help!"

Shan Mao: "Damn it!"

He clutched his injured area, collapsing to the ground, feeling his life was nearly over. But realizing people were already heading his way, he didn't dare waste time. Straining every muscle, he forced himself to his feet and staggered off in retreat.

Even an experienced criminal like him had stumbled today.

But as long as he could escape, that's all that mattered. He'd been too careless.

Fortunately, Shan Mao had good luck. Although Jiang Baohong had attracted people with her cries, his quick escape allowed him to avoid them.

Ming Mei was in her office when someone burst in, shouting, "Something's happened! Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling ran into a bad guy!"

Ming Mei: "Huh?"

Everyone immediately gathered, asking, "What happened?"

By then, someone had already brought Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong back. Guan Guiling was still conscious, though knocked out, while Jiang Baohong had been beaten into a bloody mess.

Sister Chen immediately arranged for someone to take them to the hospital while inquiring, "What happened here?"

Jiang Baohong, still trembling in fear, said, "It was a man, a man in a grey cotton-padded jacket. He pretended to help Guan Guiling, but then he suddenly started beating me. I thought he was Guan Guiling's lover, but then he tricked her over and knocked her out too. Thankfully, I was clever enough to run fast and call for help—otherwise, both Guan Guiling and I would have been in serious trouble. That man must be a psycho killer; absolutely must be!"

This time, she dared not blame everything on Guan Guiling, uncertain what that man was capable of.

She was truly terrified.

"All right, hurry up and take them to the hospital. The end of the year has people acting up. Who knows if he was trying to rob them. You guys go to the hospital quickly, and I'll report it to the police later."

"Hurry up and report it, that man wasn't very tall, just taller than me by a little, wore a cotton jacket and pants with patches on the knees..."

Jiang Baohong, despite being beaten, had a good memory and described the attacker clearly. It was precisely because she had been beaten that she remembered him vividly. Even though she was often arrogant, she really was terrified when faced with real danger. Having been mercilessly beaten, she was like a frightened bird, trembling uncontrollably.

"That guy looked like he wanted to kill, with his beady little eyes... terrifying."

Ming Mei also came over to check out the commotion. She never expected that something so big had happened just after she left. But the more she listened to Jiang Baohong's description, the more it seemed familiar. The man described sounded a lot like the one who had come to sell a hen earlier: Shan Mao.

Although she couldn't be sure, the resemblance was striking.

But wasn't that person in Xinghuali earlier? Why would he be here?

Seeing Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling being taken away.

Ming Mei asked: "Should we report it to the police?"

Sister Chen: "Absolutely, this has to be reported."

She was furious, displeased with Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling but completely opposed to such a public assault. If the attacker wasn't caught, who knows how many others might be harmed?

"Such people should be arrested."

Ming Mei: "If you report it to the police, let them know that this person seems familiar to me. There was a man with a donkey cart selling things in our Xinghuali today, and he seemed to match this description."

"Oh?" Sister Chen asked, immediately interested: "Are you sure?"

Ming Mei shook her head: "I'm not sure. I didn't see him either. I just thought the clothing description seemed familiar—but it's not that uncommon to see those old clothes."

Most people wore similar shades, so she couldn't be certain.

Sister Chen: “That’s true, but since you’re not even sure, maybe it’s better not to say anything. If you accuse those people of speculating and profiteering, you’re practically turning them in. What if they come back to retaliate against you later? Plus, it’s almost New Year, and everyone is rushing to buy New Year goods. If you suspect they’re up to no good, and the police hear about it, they’ll definitely arrest them. That could disrupt everyone else’s shopping, and the neighbors might end up blaming you.”

Ming Mei furrowed her brows. “But they could be bad people…”

Sister Chen: “We can’t always trust what Jiang Baohong says. She and Guan Guiling don’t usually tell the truth. Who knows what’s real or not?”

Sister Chen didn’t think it was likely. She said, “Just don’t get involved.”

Ming Mei: “Huh?”

Sister Chen: “Listen to me; I’m not going to steer you wrong. Don’t get involved with Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong’s business. They won’t be grateful. If you’re worried, just mention it to your neighborhood caretaker so they can keep an eye on those speculators, but don’t get involved with Jiang Baohong.”

Ming Mei: “Alright, then.”

Sister Chen: “Jiang Baohong and Guan Guiling sneaking out together, no one knows what they’re up to.”

Ming Mei: “…”

She knew better than to comment.

Sister Chen: “I’m still worried you’ll end up getting involved and getting yourself into trouble.”

Ming Mei nodded faintly, realizing that Sister Chen was only looking out for her.

It turned out that Sister Chen was indeed very sharp. Despite Jiang Baohong reporting that a man had attacked them, once Guan Guiling woke up, she said something completely different. She claimed that Jiang Baohong had beaten her, and she had no idea how Jiang Baohong had been injured. Of course, Guan Guiling knew exactly what had happened, but the man had been so fierce that she didn’t want to implicate him, fearing he might come back. Besides, if she admitted there was another man, how could she explain how Jiang Baohong had knocked her out?

It was clear that Guan Guiling was trying to pin the blame on Jiang Baohong again.

This time, however, her plan didn’t work. Although Guan Guiling’s story seemed plausible, it didn’t hold up under scrutiny. If Jiang Baohong had beaten her, how could she not know how Jiang Baohong got hurt?

In the past, Jiang Baohong had really attacked her in front of everyone, but this time, no one believed Guan Guiling.

She wasn’t always able to extort money.

When Sister Chen heard Guan Guiling’s version, she gave Ming Mei a knowing look, as if to say, “See?” Ming Mei was truly amazed by Guan Guiling’s audacity. She really cared more about money than her own safety.

Although Ming Mei didn’t mention her suspicions at work, she immediately brought up the incident when she got home. Zhao Guihua said, “It sounds like this person might have been following you secretly.”

Ming Mei was startled. After thinking about it, she said, “That’s very likely.”

At that time, the man had been intently staring at her. It was possible he had sinister intentions.

Zhuang Zhixi immediately grew alert. “Could it be a human trafficker?”

His words caught everyone’s attention. Zhuang Zhixi explained, “Think about it. Why else would he knock Guan Guiling unconscious? Maybe he wanted to abduct her. If Jiang Baohong hadn’t managed to escape and shout for help, both of them might have been taken.”

He continued, “And maybe they’ve been coming around frequently to case the place.”

Zhao Guihua: “Could be, but usually, abducting women is done through deception. It wouldn’t be easy to forcibly take someone.”

Zhuang Zhixi: “But if they become familiar with the area? Then tricking someone becomes much easier.”

“Exactly.”

“In our alley, there are a few young married women. If these guys get familiar with the area, it wouldn’t be hard for them to abduct someone.”

After analyzing the situation, Zhao Guihua said, “I’m feeling more and more uneasy. I’ll go get Aunt Wang and a few others to come over so we can discuss this.”

If these people are truly evil, we can’t stand by and do nothing.

“Go ahead and call them. We should all talk about this. Maybe we should hold a general meeting of the entire complex.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Unlike other neighborhoods, they rarely held general meetings. Things were already chaotic enough without adding more meetings. But this time, everyone felt uneasy, and they quickly gathered together.

Zhao Guihua detailed the situation, adding, “I’m not sure about all this, maybe I’m wrong, but I think we can’t afford to be careless.”

“We should definitely be more careful!”

At the general meeting, everyone was present. Bai Fendou was furious. “If these guys try to abduct women, I’ll beat them within an inch of their lives!”

He had finally found a wife who didn’t mind his shortcomings. She was good to him and had even adopted his surname with her child. If anyone dared to harm his wife, Bai Fendou would make sure they regretted it.

He declared firmly, “I won’t let anyone get away with this.”

“Me neither!” Zhou Qun clenched his fists, equally angry. If Jiang Lu were taken away, he’d never find another wife like her. Even a less desirable woman would be hard to come by.

Aunt Wang: “We’re just speculating here, and it’s not certain that they’re involved in anything bad. But an old saying goes, ‘Don’t have evil intent, but don’t let your guard down.’ If we’ve already felt something was off, we should be more vigilant.”

“That’s right.”

Aunt Wang: “If they come around our alley again, we need to be on high alert.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

At this point, Lan Sihai spoke up. “Let me add a few words.”

“Go ahead, Uncle Lan.”

Lan Sihai: “I’ve seen a lot in my time. When I was an apprentice in Shanghai, I experienced the chaos of the big city firsthand. These kinds of incidents weren’t rare. But based on my experience, when it comes to human trafficking, it’s not limited to just women. If someone is involved in this kind of thing, it usually involves both women and children.”

“Oh, so you mean they might be targeting kids too?”

Lan Sihai: “Exactly. You see, children are easier to manipulate. If someone wants to abduct an adult, they have to rely on deception. But with kids, all it takes is knocking them out, and they can just pick them up and walk away. Much easier.”

“Uncle Lan makes a good point.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“Absolutely.”

While it wasn’t certain that these men were up to no good, being cautious wouldn’t hurt.

Things are different than the old days. Society is more regulated now, and there are fewer traffickers. But just because there are fewer doesn’t mean there are none. So everyone should stay alert.

Lan Sihai: “Even if the people selling things are truly just trying to make a quick buck and we’re wrong about them, being careful is always a good thing. New Year’s is coming, and everywhere is crowded with people, and kids are running around. There’s no harm in keeping an eye on things. Parents should remind their kids to be careful.”

“Right.”

After Lan Sihai’s speech, everyone became more vigilant.

After the meeting ended, parents like Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen reminded their children. Hutou and Xiao Yanzi nodded seriously, assuring their parents they understood.

Similarly, in households with children like Wang Xiangxiu, parents gave careful instructions. “Be careful not to wander off. I’m not worried about Yinlai since he hardly goes out. But Tonglai, if you go out, don’t do it alone. There are other kids in our courtyard; find someone to go with you.”

Tonglai: “Got it.”

Overall, while people didn’t necessarily think these sellers were definitely traffickers, Uncle Lan’s warning made sense. Regardless of whether they were innocent or not, with the year-end crowds and chaos, being careful was always a good idea.

The crooks, on the other hand, had no idea they were being watched. Shan Mao had taken a kick but wasn’t seriously hurt. Though it hurt, there were no serious injuries.

After all, Jiang Baohong was no ordinary person; skillful and virtuous, she had the ability to cut off someone's "root" as soon as she arrived.

As for him, things hadn't escalated yet. After fleeing and cooling off for a while, he had returned to normal. However, Shan Mao didn't mention this incident to the other members of his family, as it was both embarrassing and might upset his mother if she knew he had caused trouble outside.

Every time they had "work" to do, their mother was very strict. His older brother, Song Shu, always obeyed her orders, but Shan Mao, being the youngest and more spoiled, was less disciplined and often acted recklessly.

But after his father passed away, the family business required more hands, and he had been roped in. His mother began to demand more of him, and he was tired of her constant nagging. So, he chose not to say anything about the incident.

Moreover, he didn't think it was a big deal anyway. It was just a minor detour, nothing that would affect the bigger picture.

What he didn't know was that Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong were both colleagues of Ming Mei, and Ming Mei had already suspected him. With his shifty-eyed appearance, he was naturally suspicious, and now even more so.

However, Aunt Shuihua and her group had no idea about any of this.

They continued to sell their goods twice, but this time without Shan Mao. Last time, Shan Mao had been transfixed by Ming Mei, which made Aunt Shuihua uneasy. If it raised anyone's guard, it could be a problem.

So from then on, she never took her youngest son with her; instead, she only brought her eldest son.

This group of people sold a batch of duck eggs and then a batch of pork, both with great success.

Every time they went out to sell goods, they carefully inquired about the surroundings, especially about who had children and who had pretty young wives. Although the young wives were for later, their main focus now was on children.

But it was always good to gather this information in advance for future use.

This was akin to accumulating intelligence. Since they had already paid to gather information, they naturally collected as much as possible.

Time flew, and before they knew it, it was almost the end of the year. The machinery factory, having completed its tasks early, started its holiday ten days ahead of schedule. This year, the factory's performance was better than last year, and they distributed a lot of goods. Zhao Guihua had already purchased several batches of goods earlier, so their New Year supplies were abundant. Zhao Guihua didn't care about Liang Meifen's thoughts and directly prepared New Year gifts for the Ming family, but did not prepare any for the Liang family, showing a clear double standard.

Liang Meifen, seeing this, wisely chose not to ask or complain.

To be honest, the whole job affair had deeply hurt her, and she no longer wanted to meddle in her family's matters. After all, her brother already had a job as a worker, her father did odd jobs, and her mother also had some small tasks. So even if she didn't intervene, they wouldn't suffer.

Therefore, this time, Liang Meifen remained silent.

Zhao Guihua had been waiting for Liang Meifen to speak up, but the woman stayed quiet. Zhao Guihua actually felt a bit disappointed.

Why had she become so sensible all of a sudden?

This year, their courtyard had a prosperous New Year. Although everyone felt that Aunt Shuihua and her group were a bit suspicious, it didn't stop them from buying goods. Not taking advantage of a good deal was foolishness.

With savings, you might not be able to spend them due to a lack of tickets.

But if you found good goods, you could exchange anything, so people preferred to spend money on goods rather than save. As a result, everyone bought a lot. Whenever Aunt Shuihua and her group arrived, they were surrounded by eager buyers. You buy, I buy—it was worth spending all the money.

Under such lively circumstances, Aunt Shuihua and her group were always warmly welcomed. This sometimes delayed their gathering of intelligence, which infuriated her! But! Enduring hardship is the path to becoming a superior person!

Today's losses are for greater profits in the future!

Before they knew it, the day Aunt Shuihua and her group had been longing for, New Year's Eve, had arrived. This was the day they had planned to act.

The whole family was eager and prepared!