My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 211

Old Cai finally crawled out of the sewer, stumbling and staggering.

That sewer was no place to be. He was covered from head to toe in black, slimy grime, and it had taken every ounce of his strength just to get out. He lay by the manhole cover, tears streaming down his face as he dry-heaved.

If you looked closely, you might have mistaken him for an African brother.

Furious, he cursed, "I swear I'll get revenge for this!"

Old Cai was seething, blaming the whole ordeal on those two old women. Who did they think they were, daring to hit him? He pounded the ground in anger, about to get up, when he heard a commotion approaching.

The voice sounded familiar—it was none other than that Alcoholic.

The man was wailing, "I told you there was a ghost! A real ghost! A sewer ghost! Waaah..."

Old Cai looked up in panic. To his horror, the Alcoholic had brought a crowd with him, including a few familiar faces—young men who had chased him before. Old Cai's heart raced. He couldn't let them catch him. Without a second thought, he jumped back into the sewer, yanking the manhole cover shut behind him.

He landed with a thud, his buttocks feeling like they'd split into four pieces.

"Ahhh! Did you see that? That black ghost just vanished!" the Alcoholic screamed. He wasn't a young man anymore, but he'd seen too much. The ghosts of Xinghua Lane had all made their appearances to him.

"That's no ghost! It's a manhole cover thief!" someone shouted.

"Yeah, he was definitely trying to steal the cover. That's a thief for sure!"

The Alcoholic hesitated, "But... he disappeared in a flash..."

"He jumped down! Let's go after him!"

The crowd rushed over. Old Cai, hearing their voices, knew he'd been spotted. If he didn't run, he'd be caught and branded a thief. He couldn't bear that humiliation. Without a second thought, he groped his way forward in the pitch-black sewer, ignoring the slimy, sticky ground beneath his feet.

The city's sewer system was a labyrinth. Old Cai kept moving, his heart pounding as he heard the sound of the manhole cover being lifted. Terrified, he ran faster. If he got caught now, his reputation would be ruined forever. He stumbled in the dark, falling hard and feeling every inch of his body scream in pain.

But the voices sounded closer than ever.

"That old man's a thief, alright. Look how fast he's running!"

"Did you hear that? He's running deeper inside!"

"Should we chase him?"

"How? It's a maze down there. Who knows where he went? It's pitch black, and it's nighttime. If we go down, we might get lost ourselves."

"Yeah, you're right."

Their voices were so close it felt like they were about to catch up. Old Cai scrambled to his feet and kept running, his heart ready to burst. By now, he couldn't hear anything but his own ragged breathing.

He was terrified.

The narrow path ahead offered no light. Clenching his fists, he pressed on, too scared to turn back. He had no idea if he could even find his way out.

Old Cai walked for what felt like an eternity, his anxiety growing with every step. He fell several times, his body battered and bruised. Finally, alone in the darkness, he broke down and cried, "Heaven, why are you treating me like this? I'm a good man, Old Cai! Why are you doing this to me?"

Tears streaming down his face, he vented his grievances, "I come from a working-class family. I've never done anything truly evil—no murder, no arson, no scams. Sure, when I was a deputy director, I took revenge on a few enemies, but I didn't kill them! And yes, I embezzled some money during the confiscation campaigns, but I didn't spend it on myself! And okay, I might have peeked into the women's restroom a few times, but did I really do anything that bad? I didn't! Waaah! Why are you picking on me? I'm so wronged, so bitter, so miserable! Why am I so unlucky?"

His sobs echoed in the sewer, amplifying his despair. As he stumbled forward in the dark, he felt like there was no end in sight. Wiping his nose, he smeared snot on the wall and muttered, "I was in my prime when they made me a eunuch. I can't even find a woman now. What's wrong with taking a peek? What's wrong with that? I didn't hurt anyone! Waaah! Every time I got caught, I paid compensation! I paid so much money! Why are you still targeting me? Waaah!"

The more he walked, the more scared he became. Finally, he sat down, only to plop right into a puddle. "Damn it!"

He scrambled to his feet, now not just scared but freezing cold. A wind had picked up in the sewer, and he shivered uncontrollably. He had to find an exit soon, or he'd freeze to death.

Gritting his teeth, he stood up and kept walking.

Meanwhile, the people above had no idea of Old Cai's plight. They were discussing, "That thief must know the sewers well. Even if we go down, we probably won't catch him."

"So we just let him go?"

They debated, but no one was eager to venture into the sewers. It wasn't that they didn't want to do the right thing—if it were a real criminal, they'd step up. But a manhole cover thief? He probably knew the sewers like the back of his hand. Without flashlights or familiarity with the area, it was too risky.

The leader said, "Let's just leave. But I'll report this to the police station. That thief must be stealing covers to sell as scrap metal."

"Those people have no morals. They make money by destroying public property. What if someone falls in? That's just evil."

"Yeah, totally."

After some discussion, the leader headed to the police station while the others went home. Among them was Da Qiang, who had joined the group after stepping out to use the restroom. Since they hadn't caught the thief, they comforted the Alcoholic before dispersing.

The Alcoholic sighed, "I've endured so much alone."

He really had it rough. How could he keep running into these kinds of things?

As everyone went their separate ways, Da Qiang returned home to find his wife, Wang Zizhen, doing the accounts. Their three children had finished their homework and were already asleep. He walked over and asked, "How's it going?"

Wang Zizhen smiled, "It's good."

She said, "Look, our income this year is better than last year."

Life was getting better for them, and she was full of hope. She suggested, "If things go well by the end of the year, maybe we can buy a TV."

Da Qiang nodded, "Whatever you say."

He usually left household decisions to his wife.

He smiled, "A TV would be nice. The kids have been wanting one for a while."

Wang Zizhen nodded, "I know."

She had noticed the kids' excitement and thought a TV, though expensive, would be a worthwhile investment. She got up to fetch hot water for foot washing, and Da Qiang joined her, their feet soaking together.

It was then that Wang Zizhen remembered, "You were gone for a while when you went to the restroom earlier. What happened?"

Da Qiang: "Earlier, the Alcoholic said there was a ghost, so I went to catch it. Turns out, it wasn’t a ghost at all—it was a thief stealing manhole covers. These scoundrels are getting more and more brazen. First, there was the one who dared to sneak into the restroom, and now this guy stealing manhole covers. What kind of people are these?"

Wang Zizhen: "Stealing manhole covers?"

She was utterly disgusted: "Such lowlifes."

"Exactly, these lazy good-for-nothings," Da Qiang replied.

After washing their feet, Da Qiang went out to dump the water. The couple had a good relationship. Though Da Qiang wasn’t much of a talker and was a bit reckless, he truly cared for his wife. After dumping the water, he came back and started kneading dough, saying, "I’ll make you noodles for breakfast tomorrow."

Wang Zizhen: "Alright."

Soon, they turned off the lights and went to bed.

Meanwhile, the thief was still rummaging around in the sewer, looking for a way out.

Over at the Cai household, Jiang Baohong was pacing anxiously. It was already 10 p.m., and Old Cai still hadn’t returned.

"Your dad’s not back yet. Shouldn’t you go out and look for him?" she asked.

Little Cai, however, was indifferent. He was already half-asleep and said, "Why bother? He’s a grown man, not a child. He’s not going to get lost."

"But he hasn’t eaten yet," Jiang Baohong fretted.

She was worried about her husband. Even though they had divorced, it had been a temporary arrangement.

"Your dad has nowhere else to go. He’s been away from the capital for over a decade. What if he got lost?" she said.

Little Cai couldn’t help but laugh. "Are you out of your mind? He’s not a three-year-old. How could he get lost? He’s probably sleeping with some shady woman. Stop worrying so much."

This comment made Jiang Baohong’s face darken. Everyone knew what "shady women" were, and she despised such people.

Despite her displeasure, she still defended her husband. "Don’t talk nonsense and ruin your dad’s reputation," she said.

Little Cai sneered. "Ruining his reputation? If he hadn’t slept with Wang Xiangxiu and gotten caught in that honey trap, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Now he acts like some innocent saint. It’s no surprise he’d visit those shady places."

Little Cai was blunt.

He felt that losing his privileged status as a "second-generation" elite, unable to flaunt his wealth like the other spoiled kids in the capital, was all because his father had fallen for the honey trap. Otherwise, the money they could’ve made would’ve been endless. But instead, his father had to use most of the money he’d earned to settle the scandal, leaving them penniless now.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He glared at his mother and said, "If it weren’t for you, none of this would’ve happened."

He blamed Jiang Baohong too.

Jiang Baohong stammered, "I’m innocent too. Who could’ve known that woman was so shameless? Son, please go look for your dad. He really wouldn’t go to those shady places. After what that Bai guy did to him, he’s… he’s not capable of that anymore."

This was why she was certain Old Cai wouldn’t visit such places.

Little Cai: "I’m not going. Even if he didn’t go there, he could’ve gone somewhere else. Stop bothering me, or I won’t be nice."

He turned over, feeling restless and lonely in the middle of the night.

He sat up abruptly.

Jiang Baohong’s eyes lit up. "Are you going to look for your dad?"

Little Cai didn’t answer. He got up, put on his coat, and left. Since the old man was useless, he might as well go find some "shady women" himself. He knew a few women who secretly offered such services. With Zhang Lanhua gone, it was the perfect time for some fun.

Jiang Baohong: "Should I come with you?"

Little Cai: "Get lost!"

He had no patience for his mother and didn’t bother explaining where he was really going. He left without another word.

Jiang Baohong was moved to tears. "I knew it. I knew you still cared about your dad."

Her child couldn’t possibly be bad. She knew her son better than anyone. He might have a sharp tongue, but he had a kind heart.

Finally at ease, she went back to her room to sleep. She could rest peacefully now.

The autumn night was particularly cold, and the early morning temperature hadn’t risen. Instead, the wind had picked up, making the courtyard feel even chillier. But everyone was already up and busy, the sounds of pots and pans clanging filling the air.

Ming Mei had gone out early to buy soy milk and fried dough sticks. On her way back, she ran into Jiang Lu heading the same way.

Nowadays, few people in the courtyard made their own breakfast. What used to be a luxury—eating soy milk and fried dough sticks—was now something every household could afford.

Jiang Lu: "How’s the fried dough today?"

Ming Mei: "Pretty good."

She headed home, warning her kids, "When you’re out playing after school, watch your step. There’s been a thief stealing manhole covers around here. If you accidentally fall into a sewer, not only will you be scared, but you’ll definitely get hurt. Be careful."

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan nodded. "Got it, Mom."

The two kids started washing their hands and getting ready for breakfast. Zhuang Zhixi came over and asked, "What’s this about a manhole cover thief?"

Ming Mei: "I heard about it when I went out to buy breakfast. Apparently, they caught someone last night trying to steal a manhole cover nearby. It was close—they almost got away with it."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Nearby? Could it be the next alley over?"

Ming Mei nodded. "Yeah, why?"

Zhuang Zhixi rubbed his chin. "Yesterday, when we caught that peeping Tom in the restroom, he ran off toward that alley. I thought he’d hidden in one of the courtyards, but now I’m thinking—there’s a sewer there. Maybe he hid down there. It’s possible the manhole cover thief is the same guy."

Ming Mei: "Whoa!"

She said, "If it’s the same guy, he’s in for it. I heard he escaped through the sewer. It’s pitch black down there. He’s going to suffer."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Doubt it. Someone like him, doing dirty work, wouldn’t go without a flashlight. It was already getting dark when he was peeping in the restroom. He’d have come prepared. These scoundrels don’t half-ass their tools."

"That’s true," Ming Mei said. "They say the wicked live long. He’s probably already escaped. If only karma would strike and trap him in the sewer. He deserves to suffer."

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled. "Wishful thinking."

The family ate breakfast together, and Zhuang Zhixi reminded the kids, "When you’re using the restroom in the alley, keep an eye out for each other. There are a lot of creeps around lately. Be careful."

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan nodded. "Got it."

It was still early, and the kids were getting ready for school. Today’s hot topic was the "Restroom Pervert."

Whether male or female, the term wasn’t flattering, but by that morning, they’d all settled on calling him the "Restroom Pervert."

Tuantuan said, "From now on, when you girls go to the restroom, call us. We’ll keep watch for each other. It’s safer that way."

Yuanyuan nodded solemnly, and the other kids agreed. Whether boys or girls, everyone was on edge. After all, no one wanted to run into the Restroom Pervert.

Li Zhenzhen clenched her fists in anger. "If I catch that scoundrel, I’ll teach him a lesson. My brother came home crying yesterday. He even lost a pair of underpants worth fifty cents!"

Yuanyuan chimed in, "My brother too."

She was fuming. "My brother, Hutou, was so mad he kept cursing when he got home. He said he’s a decent young man, and yet an old lady saw him like that. He’s never been so humiliated in his life!"

The kids were all very serious. Xing'er said, "My grandma said the pervert deserves to die. He even peeked at her, but my grandma’s tough. She beat him up. My dad said he’s joining the patrol to catch that troublemaker as soon as possible, so we don’t have to live in fear."

"Exactly," someone agreed.

"My dad said there’s also a manhole cover thief around lately. It seems like there are more bad guys popping up these days," Ye Siyuan added.

Yuanyuan immediately exclaimed, "I know this! My dad said the toilet maniac and the manhole cover thief are probably the same person because yesterday the toilet maniac disappeared right around there."

"Ah! So the toilet maniac also steals manhole covers?"

"Bad guys do all kinds of things."

"Exactly."

"Huh?" Yuanyuan suddenly stopped in her tracks. She pointed at a manhole cover in the distance that seemed to be moving. "Look, that manhole cover seems to be moving."

"Huh? It really does seem like it."

The kids quickly ran over.

By this time, Old Cai had been freezing all night, cold and miserable, feeling like life had no hope left. He cursed the old lady who had beaten him, the strong men who had chased him, and finally his wife and son for not coming to look for him. "No conscience at all, leaving me out here like this," he muttered.

All night, he had been hungry and cold, feeling like his life was falling apart. He kept walking, unable to find an exit, utterly exhausted and on the verge of collapse. Finally, he saw a glimmer of light—it was coming from a loose manhole cover.

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Overjoyed, he rushed over and pushed against the manhole cover. Fortunately, it wasn't too high, and with a bit of effort, he managed to push it open. He was finally going to get out!

"Look, this manhole cover is moving!"

"Is there someone underneath?" Bai Qingqing spoke up.

The kids all froze for a moment, then quickly focused on the manhole cover. Xing'er said, "Could it... could it be the manhole cover thief down there?"

They all took a step back. Just then, Tuantuan quickly called out, "Uncle, Uncle! The manhole cover is moving. Could there be a thief down there?"

Tuantuan grabbed a passing worker, who paused and said, "A thief?"

Tuantan wasn't sure but said, "There was a thief in our area yesterday."

The worker chuckled, "Kids, thieves don't usually operate in broad daylight like this. I think you might be imagining things. Let me check—it's probably just a big rat." As he spoke, he walked over and lifted the manhole cover—"Ahhh!"

He screamed.

Who would have thought there really was someone under the manhole cover? A grimy figure, so dirty you couldn't make out his face, just a pair of eyes that looked terrifying.

The worker's scream scared Old Cai too.

He yelped, turned around, and ran.

At this point, getting out didn't matter—survival was the priority.

"Damn, there really was someone down there!"

"What's going on? What's happening here?"

"Someone was down there just now. Oh my god, I nearly had a heart attack..."

Tuantuan said, "There really was someone down there."

"No kidding!"

The kids gasped, "Oh my goodness!"

This was genuinely a bit scary.

Everyone exchanged glances, wide-eyed. A concerned onlooker said, "Kids, don't hang around here. Hurry up and go to school. Leave catching the bad guys to us adults."

The kids nodded solemnly.

The crowd discussed the situation. "Did he get away again?"

"Yep, like a rat, scurrying away so fast, as if the sewers were his home."

"I'll stay here and keep watch. You go call the police. That old guy's probably running around down there, waiting for a chance to steal another manhole cover."

"Right."

"Call the cops."

Once they had a plan, they noticed the kids were still lingering. "Kids, hurry up and go to school."

The kids finally left, though they walked away with a sense of pride. They had discovered the bad guy, even if they hadn't caught him. But it was clear he was still lurking around.

"Next time, we'll catch him for sure."

"Our teacher always describes bad guys as rats in the gutter. Now I see it's true," Xiao Qijin remarked.

The other kids nodded in agreement. It really was like a big rat.

Meanwhile, the "big rat" they were talking about continued to flee through the sewers. Old Cai's stomach growled from hunger, and he felt cold and sore all over. He thought he might die trapped in the sewers.

Why hadn't he realized how complicated the sewer system was before?

Someone, please save him!

He'd even be willing to offer himself in marriage!

Blindly stumbling forward in the darkness, he started singing, "Little cabbage, wilted and yellow, your name is Old Cai..."

He was so miserable, overwhelmed by the endless hardships of life. He felt like the heavens were testing him. Why else would he be the only one going through all this?

"Heaven assigns great tasks to those it favors, but first..."

Old Cai wiped his tears, singing and walking, hoping to find another way out.

Meanwhile, Zhao Guihua, Aunt Wang, and the other elders had gone to the neighborhood committee. With all the recent incidents, bad guys were starting to show up more frequently. They were discussing forming a patrol team. Fortunately, the committee supported the idea but reminded them, "You can organize a patrol team to catch thieves, but make sure it's voluntary. Don't force anyone to join, or it could cause problems."

All the elders nodded in agreement. Zhao Guihua spoke up first, "We don't necessarily need the men to patrol. What's wrong with us old ladies? Back in the day, we were just as good at catching thieves. Even if it's been a while, you haven't forgotten, have you? When it came to catching thieves, those young folks weren't always better than us."

Aunt Wang chimed in, "Exactly. We were top-notch back then, and we're still just as capable now."

"Absolutely. As modern elderly women, we're both cultured and skilled."

The committee director couldn't help but laugh at their confidence. "If you all feel this way, I trust you. After all, you're seasoned veterans. You probably have better judgment and observation skills than the younger folks."

"That's definitely true."

The director also wondered, "It's strange, though. Why do these petty thieves keep targeting the toilets in your area? What's so magical about the toilets?"

Zhao Guihua quipped, "Maybe they just have a deep love for toilets."

The director was speechless but nodded silently.

It did seem that way. Every thief seemed to get caught up in toilet-related incidents.

Still, she reminded them, "Whether you're patrolling or just going about your day, be careful. I know you're all capable, but safety comes first. We can't let anyone get hurt trying to catch a thief."

"We know. We're not stupid."

"Good."

With that settled, everyone headed back. The adults weren't too worried about encountering the toilet maniac themselves, but they were concerned about scaring the kids.

"That guy needs to be caught soon."

"Absolutely!"

As they walked back, they discussed their plans. "We can set up stalls during the day, but the real issue is at night."

"Right."

Zhao Guihua asked, "Can everyone contribute someone to patrol?"

"Of course. My family has plenty of people. We can take turns patrolling," Aunt Wang said confidently. Aunt Zhou added, "My son Zhou Qun has nothing better to do. I'll send him too."

As the elders walked back, Zhao Guihua muttered, "Our alley is famous far and wide. How dare anyone come here to cause trouble? They must not know who they're messing with."

"Exactly. They're just asking for trouble."

"Zhao Guihua!"

A young man hurried over from the alley, calling out, "Zhao Guihua!"

Zhao Guihua stopped. "What's going on?"

Young Man: "The kids from your compound spotted a thief this morning while heading to school. It's the same guy who stole the manhole cover last night. Unfortunately, we didn't catch him. As soon as he noticed any movement, he bolted and disappeared again."

Zhao Guihua: "!!!"

She was shocked: "Is that guy still down there?"

"Exactly."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Aunt Wang: "What a shame we didn't catch him!"

Zhao Guihua: "Wait, if he's been down there all night, could he have gotten lost?"

"Well..." No one could say for sure, but it did seem plausible. After all, who would spend an entire night wandering around down there? For a moment, everyone began to deeply question the thief's intelligence.

As expected, a foolish thief is bound to be incompetent.

Aunt Zhou: "I've never seen someone so dumb."

Zhao Guihua: "Well, now you have."

Everyone burst into laughter.

"By the way, are you setting up your stalls today?" Aunt Zhou asked.

While catching the thief was important, making money was equally crucial. They were seasoned stall owners now, and quite skilled at it too.

Zhao Guihua: "Not this morning. The lease on my place is up, so I need to go collect the rent."

Aunt Zhou: "That's really nice."

She genuinely envied Zhao Guihua. While the income might not be huge, it was stable, and the property was hers. It further solidified her determination to buy a house. After all, when she got too old to run a stall, this would be a reliable source of income. It was far better than having to rely on her son and daughter-in-law for money.

"I ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‍should start looking into it more seriously too," she said.

Soon, they put the manhole cover thief out of their minds.

Meanwhile, the foolish thief was still scurrying through the sewer, tears nearly dried up, feeling utterly hopeless. He continued to trudge forward in the darkness. The morning sun was shining brightly outside, but down in the sewer, he couldn't see a thing.

Little Cai had enjoyed himself the previous night and was humming a tune as he walked home. When he arrived, he found his mother, Jiang Baohong, still in bed. He immediately got angry and started banging on the door. "Mom, get up! It's already past nine. How can you be so lazy? Get up now!"

He glanced at the clock and added, "It's almost ten, and you're still sleeping. I've never seen a woman lazier than you."

Jiang Baohong sat up groggily, feeling a headache coming on. She stood up weakly and walked to the door, saying, "I might be sick. I don't feel well."

The previous day's chaos had drained her energy, and the shock combined with the beating she received had left her feeling like she'd been hit by a sudden illness.

She asked, "Where's your dad?"

Little Cai rolled his eyes. "How should I know? He's always up to something. Do I look like I keep track of his whereabouts? I'm hungry. Make me something to eat."

Jiang Baohong leaned against the door and said, "I really don't feel well."

"What does that have to do with me? Did I make you sick? I told you, you're always running around doing who-knows-what, and now you're sick. Don't expect me to pay for your medicine. I don't have the money," Little Cai retorted harshly.

Jiang Baohong felt miserable. "How can you talk to me like that? I know you're just harsh on the outside but soft on the inside. But..."

"Enough already. Are you going to cook or not? If not, I'll just eat out."

Jiang Baohong didn't blame her son. Instead, she was upset with herself for being a burden. She said, "Go ahead. I really don't have the energy. By the way, didn't you go looking for your dad last night?"

Little Cai: "Who knows where he went to have fun? Even though he can't do much, that doesn't stop him from trying."

Though he knew his father wasn't capable of much, Little Cai didn't hesitate to make such comments. He impatiently said, "I'm leaving."

Little Cai had just returned home and was already heading out again, showing no concern for his father. Jiang Baohong called after him, "You should at least try to find out where your dad is..."

Before she could finish, Little Cai interrupted, "Dad's a grown man. Does he need me to look after him? He'll be fine. You're the one who's always worrying for no reason. I need to go find Fan Debiao. I don't have time for this."

Jiang Baohong: "Alright, go ahead."

Little Cai went to find Fan Debiao with the intention of winning him over. He had been gathering information about Fan Debiao over the past few days. Under the circumstances, it was clear to everyone that Fan Debiao had been an innocent victim, and the Zheng family had been at fault initially, which was why he had received a light sentence.

However, even with a light sentence, he had still lost money and spent time in jail. Little Cai was certain that Fan Debiao harbored resentment, and as long as there was resentment, they could work together.

Little Cai didn't care about grudges or revenge; all he wanted was money.

But he had no problem using someone else's hatred to his advantage. That was just how things worked.

Little Cai stopped at a small shop to eat some steamed buns. As for his sick mother back home? He didn't give her a second thought. After all, skipping one meal wouldn't kill her. After breakfast, he headed straight to Fan Debiao's place. Fan Debiao had only returned a few days ago and was still in a slump. When Little Cai entered the courtyard, an old woman stopped him. "Who are you looking for?"

Little Cai thought to himself how nosy these old ladies were. Who he was looking for was none of their business.

But to avoid trouble, he simply said, "I'm looking for Fan Debiao."

The old woman gave him a suspicious once-over and then gestured with her chin. "He's over there."

Little Cai didn't bother responding and went straight to knock on the door. "Fan Debiao, are you home?"

Fan Debiao had been lying in bed, motionless. Hearing the noise, he got up and saw someone he didn't quite recognize. "You are...?"

"I'm Little Cai. Remember me?"

Fan Debiao thought for a moment and finally recalled who he was. "Ah, it's you. It's been a while." Since his time in jail, his old friends had stopped coming around. Even though they were all small-time troublemakers, there was still a difference between those who had been in jail and those who hadn't.

He asked, "What brings you here?"

Little Cai: "Can we talk inside?"

Fan Debiao nodded, and they went in. As soon as Little Cai entered, he was struck by how bleak the place looked. The house wasn't small, but aside from a bed, there was practically nothing else. The emptiness was almost pitiful.

Fan Debiao: "You can sit on the bed. There's nowhere else to sit."

He didn't seem to care about appearances and just sprawled on the bed. "So, what's up?"

Seeing Fan Debiao's defeated state, Little Cai couldn't help but say, "Brother Fan, are you just going to stay like this?"

Fan Debiao gave Little Cai a wary look. "What else am I supposed to do?"

He narrowed his eyes slightly, waiting to hear what Little Cai had to say. They weren't close, and they hadn't interacted much in the past. But now, here was Little Cai showing up and saying such things. Clearly, he had an agenda. Fan Debiao had been involved in the black market and had done business before.

He knew how to play this game. He had to stay calm and maintain control of the situation, waiting to see what this guy was really after.

Little Cai: "Brother Fan, of course you should seek revenge and make a comeback. Otherwise, how can you make up for everything you've suffered this past year?"

Now Fan Debiao understood. He smiled meaningfully and said, "Revenge? Who am I supposed to take revenge on? Zheng Yufeng is dead, and the Zheng family was decent enough not to push for a harsher punishment. Who should I go after now? Guan Guiling? She's already gone mad."

He wasn't without resentment, but he wasn't foolish enough to let someone else use him as a pawn. Besides, this guy showing up out of the blue with such talk—he couldn't trust him. Who knew what Little Cai was really up to?

Fan Debiao pretended to have turned over a new leaf and said indifferently, "I was at fault back then too. Otherwise, things wouldn't have escalated so much. While I feel wronged, the Zheng family has already fallen apart. What's the point of holding onto a grudge?"

Little Cai cursed in his heart but put on a pained expression, saying, "Brother Fan, you're being foolish. How can you just let these things slide? They've done so much to you; you should make them understand you're not to be trifled with. If you let it go, won’t others think they can walk all over you too? Besides, who has it easy making money these days? Look at your home—it’s so empty even the rats don’t bother coming. All of this is thanks to the Zheng family. Even though the Zheng family is ruined, Zheng Huimin is still living well in the city. She’s taken over her mother’s job at the bus station and even runs a stall on the side. She’s living comfortably, stepping over you to get ahead. Are you really going to let that slide? If you can truly tolerate this, then fine, but forgive me for saying so—this makes you seem spineless, not a real man at all."

Fan Debiao had already figured out that this guy wanted him to go after Zheng Huimin. But why? They shouldn’t even know each other, right?

Fan Debiao pretended to be utterly defeated and said, "Say what you want. I don’t want to deal with Zheng Huimin."

In truth, he hated Zheng Huimin to the core. If she had just married him back then, none of this would have happened. Even though Zheng Huimin had written a letter of forgiveness, he believed it was only because he had been quick to part with his money. Otherwise, the Zheng family might not have forgiven him.

As for Zheng Huimin claiming she understood the root of the problem lay with her parents, Fan Debiao dismissed it as nonsense. Zheng Huimin, deep and righteous? She was just a foolish woman. He was convinced it was his money that had saved him. But why did Little Cai care so much about his hatred for the Zheng family?

Fan Debiao wasn’t biting, and Little Cai was growing impatient. He couldn’t understand why this guy was so useless.

Taking a deep breath, Little Cai spoke earnestly, "Do you still have feelings for her? I know she used to chase after Su Jinlai, and now she’s after Li Junjun. She never once thought about being faithful to you. And if it weren’t for your detention, your family wouldn’t have been stripped bare. Whose fault is that? Can you really forgive the people who put you in there?"

Fan Debiao asked, "Are you hoping I’ll go after the people in that compound?"

He laughed, "Little Cai, we’re both old foxes. Let’s skip the theatrics. Just say what you mean. I’m not easily manipulated. I’ll decide for myself whether to agree or not, but I won’t let someone use me as a pawn."

After some probing, Little Cai realized he couldn’t hide his intentions from Fan Debiao and finally admitted, "Actually, I have some grievances with that compound too. My family has a score to settle with Guan Guiling. She swindled my mother several times in the past."

Fan Debiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

"My parents came back from out of town this time to seek revenge."

Fan Debiao said, "Guan Guiling is already in a mental hospital. What more do you want to do? Besides, the hospital won’t just let strangers see her."

Little Cai replied, "Guan Guiling has already gotten her comeuppance. I don’t plan to do anything more to her, but..."

He dragged out his words and smiled, "They should compensate us for our financial losses. I know that many people in the compound where Guan Guiling’s daughter lives run stalls. They’re doing quite well. Besides Guan Guiling’s daughter, there are a few others in that compound who’ve wronged my family. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Since they’re so well-off, why not take some of their money for ourselves?"

Fan Debiao remained silent.

He could see right through this. All this talk of revenge was just a smokescreen. At the end of the day, Little Cai just wanted money.

"What do you plan to do?"

Little Cai said, "I want to target their compound. We’ll scout it out first, then wait for a time when most of them are away and raid the place."

He spoke with excitement, "Besides this target, I have another one. If we work together, we’re guaranteed to strike it rich."

Fan Debiao asked, "...Do you know how serious the crime of robbery is?"

Little Cai chuckled, "We’ll take the money and leave. Are we going to wait around to get caught? And don’t you want revenge?"

He added seriously, "Think about how much money you’ve lost this time. If we can get it all back at once, we can just leave town. Honestly, I want to get out of here too. You see, even a woman from the machinery factory managed to run away. Why can’t we?"

Fan Debiao’s eyes widened.

Little Cai continued, "You’ve been inside for a year, so you don’t know how well their business is doing. Even Zheng Huimin is making money now. Do you really want to watch them live comfortably? Whether you have a grudge against Zheng Huimin or the people in that compound, it doesn’t matter. They’re loaded. If we take some of their money, isn’t that a good thing?"

Fan Debiao might not care much about other things, but this idea struck a chord with him.

He really did want to make some quick cash.

Little Cai said, "I’ll be honest with you. I’ve been watching that compound for a while now. Almost every household there runs a stall. You used to be in business yourself, so you know how profitable that can be. Forget about old grudges for a moment—why not just go for it? Besides them, I have another target in mind. He’s a former committee director who’s made a lot of shady money and is still working as a middleman. If we hit both targets, the money will be ours for the taking."

Fan Debiao said, "I’ll think about it."

"What’s there to think about? Do you even have the capital to start a stall now? Even if you did, how long would it take to save up? But if we do this, we could make years’ worth of money in one go. At the very least, we’d be living the high life for a long time."

Fan Debiao hesitated, "But robbery isn’t that easy."

Little Cai replied, "We don’t have to wait for the compound to be completely empty. If there’s one or two people around, we can just tie them up. As long as we don’t kill anyone, it’s not a big deal."

He spoke with the confidence of someone who knew nothing about the law, "You killed someone and only got a year. We’re just taking some money—it’s not a big deal."

Fan Debiao: "..."

Honestly, this guy didn’t seem reliable at all.

But he couldn’t deny that the idea was tempting.

Little Cai had hit a nerve. Fan Debiao didn’t have much capital to start anything now. If only... He pursed his lips and said, "I need to think it over carefully."

Little Cai said, "Fine, take your time. But don’t take too long. If you’re not interested, I’ll find someone else. I’m sure plenty of people would jump at the chance to make some money. The only reason I came to you is because we both have a score to settle with them. That makes our partnership more solid."

Fan Debiao nodded, "I understand."

He added, "I’ll give it serious thought."

Little Cai said earnestly, "Come find me at my place when you’ve made up your mind."

"Alright."

Little Cai didn’t stick around much longer. It was almost noon, and he certainly wasn’t going to have lunch with this guy. Who would pay for it? So he left without hesitation. He wasn’t about to spend his money on this.

Besides, he was confident that someone like Fan Debiao would see reason. With his hands in his pockets, he walked out, feeling a bit more relaxed, and began to daydream about a brighter future.

With money, he could do anything.

Hands in his pockets, he strolled leisurely down the street when suddenly, his expression changed. He caught sight of a familiar figure—oh no, it was Zhao Guihua!

Having kept an eye on the Xing’er Lane compound for a while, he recognized most of the people there. This one was unmistakable—Zhao Guihua, the legendary stall-running expert known as the "West Gate Auntie."

She was the mother-in-law of Ming Mei, the woman his mother envied the most.

The moment he saw the old lady, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. This was bad, really bad! Why was Zhao Guihua here?

Was she... following him?

Had she already caught onto him?

Why would she be onto him?

Had his mother slipped up yesterday?

His dad?

His dad hadn’t come back yet. Could it be that after being caught, he had spilled the beans on him?

It was possible, really possible.

After all, he couldn’t count on his father to be reliable. If his parents were reliable, pigs could climb trees.

He couldn’t trust them!

Even though the weather was cold, he was already sweating profusely.

An endless sense of unease washed over him, especially when he saw the sharp-eyed old lady staring at him. She was a cunning one!

No, he had to escape!

This old lady had followed him here, and he had to shake her off!

He took off running.

Zhao Guihua: “Huh?”

She had come to collect rent, but as soon as she entered the alley, she saw a young man staring at her with a pale, ghostly expression. He looked absolutely terrified, as if he had seen a ghost. Naturally, she was confused and couldn’t help but take a closer look.

It was broad daylight—could he really have seen a ghost?

Who would have thought the guy would just bolt like that!

He didn’t even hesitate.

Zhao Guihua immediately gave chase.

If someone was this scared, they must be a thief. No decent person would act like this.

Without a second thought, Zhao Guihua started running after him. Little Cai was sprinting for his life.

Zhao Guihua shouted, “Stop the thief!”

“Where? Where?”

“That guy up ahead…”

Seeing the young man run even faster, Zhao Guihua was convinced: “This little thief ran as soon as he saw me. He’s definitely up to no good…”

At this time of day, most people were at work, but a few elderly ladies joined the chase. Despite their usual gossipy tendencies, when it came to doing the right thing and standing up for justice, they didn’t hold back.

They quickly closed in on the young man. Little Cai ran desperately, gritting his teeth: “I knew Zhao Guihua had found me out!”

He muttered, “Zhao Guihua really was following me.”

He cursed, “I don’t know if it was my dad or my mom who slipped up.”

He ran frantically, but the road ahead was running out. Sweat poured down his face.

What to do, what to do, what to do!

He had to escape. The high wall of some unit blocked his path, impossible to climb. He paced around anxiously, just as the old lady brigade was about to catch up. He glanced around and suddenly spotted a manhole cover.

Like father, like son.

When faced with a problem, they came up with the same solution.

He quickly lifted the manhole cover and slipped inside.

Zhao Guihua and the others arrived just in time to see this: “Holy crap!”

Why did all the little thieves these days have a thing for manholes?

Zhao Guihua shouted, “You’re not getting away!”

Little Cai wasn’t about to listen—only a fool would. He wasn’t stupid. He jumped into the sewer and, without a clear sense of direction, took off running. By the time Zhao Guihua and the others reached the manhole, it was empty. The young man had already escaped.

Zhao Guihua: “Damn it…”

“That thief ran way too fast.”

“We should report this to the neighborhood committee.”

“Right, right.”

“You know, I think that guy might be looking for Fan Debiao,” one of the old ladies said, feeling like the young man looked familiar.

“Fan Debiao?”

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips. She knew Fan Debiao.

“Was he looking for Fan Debiao?” Zhao Guihua felt like something had flashed through her mind, but it was too quick to grasp.

“I think so, but I’m not sure. These thieves are getting bold, daring to steal in broad daylight.”

“Let’s go to the neighborhood committee.”

Zhao Guihua: “This isn’t the first time. Last night, there was another one in our area, and another this morning. I wonder if it’s the same person.”

“What? Could it be a gang?”

“It’s hard to say.”

“We need to report this and take it seriously.”

“Right.”

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to chase him down into the sewers. Whether it was last night or now, it was just too difficult. The sewers were a maze, with countless paths. Once you went down, you might not end up on the same route, and it was pitch black down there. Without proper lighting, you could easily walk into an ambush.

It was hard enough to catch someone, and the risk of being ambushed was too high. So, no one considered going down after him.

Zhao Guihua: “Let’s go to the neighborhood committee. If this really is a gang, we need to take it seriously.”

“These thieves are scum.”

They agreed to report it to the police station. Meanwhile, Little Cai followed in his father’s footsteps, running wildly through the sewers.

No matter what, he couldn’t be caught. He had big plans.

If he got caught, what would happen? How would his future plans come together?

“Those two old fools couldn’t even save money for me, and now they’ve messed up the one thing I asked them to do. They’ve got Zhao Guihua on my tail. Damn it, they’re so useless.”

After running for a while, his legs started to feel weak. After all, he’d been “busy” the night before, and his legs were still sore. He leaned against the wall, feeling the sticky filth of the sewer.

Little Cai cursed, “Damn it!”

That Zhao Guihua was such a pain. She actually tried to corner him. Luckily, he was smart enough to escape in time.

He knew he was favored by the heavens. Look at how perfectly this sewer had appeared, allowing him to escape. Little Cai chuckled smugly, feeling like he had some luck on his side.

Thinking this, he snorted, “Trying to catch me? Not a chance!”

He lifted his head proudly, “I’m not someone who gets caught so easily.”

He walked through the sewer, but after a while, he started to feel tired. He cursed, “Damn it, why are all these manhole covers so tightly sealed? I can’t even tell where they are. How am I supposed to get out?”

Squeak, squeak, squeak!

A noise startled him. Little Cai: “What the hell?”

He kicked in the direction of the sound, then suddenly realized: “Ahhh! Rats!”

He had grown up pampered and couldn’t handle this. He screamed and ran, feeling utterly miserable: “Ahhh! Get away from me! Get away!”

Those filthy things were the worst.

Even poop wasn’t as disgusting as rats.

He ran wildly, not sure how long he’d been running. It felt like he’d finally shaken off the rats, but maybe he hadn’t. He shivered in fear, surrounded by darkness. He started to panic: “This damn place is like hell. It’s all Zhao Guihua’s fault. Why did she have to chase me?”

Suddenly, he stopped, his face freezing in realization.

“Wait, no… Zhao Guihua doesn’t even know me…”

So, why did I run?