Chapter 88

When Zhao Guihua returned, the meal was almost ready. She carried a bucket, her face beaming with joy.0

Seeing her in-laws, she greeted them with a hearty laugh, "So, the in-laws are here! You're in for a treat today, I had a great catch!"0

She instructed her daughter-in-law, Liang Meifen, to stew two more fish. Liang Meifen quickly got to work, while Zhuang Zhixi peeked in, exclaiming, "Wow, Mom! You're on fire today! This is a first!"0

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍Guihua was notoriously the worst fisherman in the family, usually coming back empty-handed. This sudden success was indeed rare. Zhuang Zhixi joked, "If I didn't know better, I'd think you bought the fish and pretended to have caught them yourself..."0

Zhao Guihua shot him a look, "If you keep quiet, no one will mistake you for a mute."0

Zhuang Zhixi scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly.0

Zhao Guihua waved him off, "Go on, get out of here. In-laws, you really didn't have to bring so much stuff." She was well aware of what was in the house and knew what the in-laws had brought.0

She glanced around and asked, "Isn't Meimei's sister-in-law coming?"0

Lan Ling replied, "She's at home taking care of the two kids. Our youngest, you know, can't take a step without being carried."0

Babies required so much care, and the slightest thing could set them off crying. Lan Ling wouldn't dare take the little one out unless absolutely necessary.0

Zhao Guihua nodded, "Kids grow up fast. One day they're crawling, the next they're climbing roofs. Don't you think so?"0

She ruffled the hair of her grandson, Hutou, who was happily munching on an ice pop. He looked up, his voice clear and bright, "Grandma, I'm a good boy!"0

He wasn't just a good boy; he was the best one.0

He offered, "Grandma, have an ice pop. There's more."0

Zhao Guihua smiled, "Alright, I'll have one to cool off too."0

The Ming family of three had come to visit their daughter, Ming Mei. Ming Xiangdong, Ming Mei's brother, and Zhuang Zhiyuan were old classmates and good friends. They had plenty to talk about, but Old Man Zhuang and Ming Mei's father didn't have much in common. Old Man Zhuang had spent his whole life working in the factory, not much of a talker. As for Ming Mei's father, he was a rugged man who spent his days driving big trucks, traveling far and wide. The two of them sitting together didn't have much to say.0

Luckily, Zhao Guihua and Lan Ling hit it off. They exchanged polite compliments and then delved into the nitty-gritty of pregnancy. Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei, the newlywed couple, listened intently.0

They were both new to this and eager to learn from others' experiences.0

The dinner was a grand affair, with eight dishes on the table. Despite the extra guests, everyone ate heartily, their mouths greasy with satisfaction. Surprisingly, Ming Mei, who had been nauseous from the smell of snake soup the day before, seemed fine today.0

Lan Ling advised, "Don't eat rabbit meat during pregnancy. They say if you do, the baby will be born with a cleft lip."0

Ming Mei: "..."0

Zhao Guihua bit her lip, wanting to argue that there was no logic to such superstitions. But she held her tongue, knowing that such beliefs were common. As a mother-in-law, she didn't want to undermine the mother's concerns, lest she be seen as malicious.0

The meal was rich, with a rabbit, a fish dish, and lamb as the main courses. The Ming family had brought four more hearty dishes, making the table almost entirely meat except for a lone green vegetable.0

People back then were always short on meat, so such a feast was a rare treat. The dishes were quickly devoured, with several hearty men around the table.0

After dinner, no one rushed to clear the table. Zhuang Zhixi got up to brew some tea. He glanced outside and said, "Grandpa hasn't come back yet."0

Lan Ling was unfazed, "Probably went to watch a movie after dinner."0

There was a late-night show that evening.0

Ming Xiangdong remarked, "Grandpa sure knows how to enjoy life."0

Zhao Guihua chimed in, "At his age, happiness is what matters most." Her words earned a thumbs-up from Lan Ling, who agreed, "Exactly. At this age, living life on your own terms is what makes it all worth it."0

Zhao Guihua smiled. Ming Mei added, "Maybe Grandpa's just watching the commotion outside. Mom, didn't you see? The outdoor toilet collapsed."0

Zhao Guihua had indeed seen it. She had been carrying her fish basket and didn't bother to investigate, but she had noticed the street officials gathering, making a ruckus. She pretended to be curious, "What happened outside?"0

Ming Mei explained, "Some guy went crazy in the toilet and fell from the beam. Who knows why he was climbing up there."0

Zhuang Zhixi added, "It's Yu Baoshan from the end of the alley. He claims to have hidden some valuables in the toilet, but now they're gone. He went nuts and ended up falling, bleeding all over. He's been sent to the hospital."0

Zhao Guihua's lips twitched. She knew it was her fault—she had taken Yu Baoshan's valuables. But at her age, she had seen it all and wasn't about to show any cracks.0

She calmly remarked, "Who in their right mind would stash valuable things in a public toilet instead of their own home? Doesn't that defy common sense?"0

Zhuang Zhiyuan speculated, "Maybe the stuff wasn't legit. Maybe he stole it during some raid and was afraid to keep it at home with all his brothers and sisters-in-law around."0

"Even so, hiding it outside is just as strange. Afraid of his own family but not others? Doesn't make sense."0

"Who knows."0

The group chatted away, with Lan Ling remarking, "I've always heard about the excitement here. Now I see it for myself. It's quite the spectacle."0

Zhao Guihua sighed, "Sometimes it's just embarrassing to talk about."0

Her words brought laughter to everyone.0

Zhao Guihua left a good impression on Lan Ling. Before the wedding, Lan Ling had found Zhao Guihua a bit too assertive, worrying about her daughter. But she had been drawn to Zhuang Zhixi as a son-in-law, believing his personality matched Ming Mei's well. After hearing about the family dynamics from her daughter, Lan Ling realized Zhao Guihua, though strong-willed, was a reasonable woman.0

Still, a mother's worries never fully fade. This visit reassured Lan Ling, and she found the family quite agreeable. Even the usually calculating sister-in-law wasn't so bad.0

People have their quirks, and as long as they're not completely unreasonable, they can coexist.0

Lan Ling advised, "Mei, it's lively here, but don't get too involved in the chaos. You're not the same as before."0

Ming Mei chuckled softly, "Mom, you sound just like Zhixi. You're both so nagging. Don't worry." She wasn't as impulsive as she seemed; everyone's concerns were unnecessary.0

She smiled, "Even if they tear the place apart, I won't get involved. Alright?"0

She gestured, "I'll stay five meters away."0

Lan Ling nodded, "That's more like it."0

Ming Xiangdong added, "Stay in a good mood during pregnancy. If anyone dares to bully you, tell your dad. I'll make them regret it."0

With his towering frame, he was quite intimidating.0

Ming Mei laughed, waving her hand, "No one would dare, Dad. You know me, I'm not one to be bullied."0

It was true; Ming Mei had always been tough.0

Lan Ling smiled, "I see Zhixi takes good care of Mei. We were just worrying for nothing. You two take care of each other."0

“Got it.” The young couple responded.0

The two families sat together, still quite harmonious. The two older brothers discussed their recent work situations, both facing promotions, which naturally led to a lot of experience sharing. As they chatted, they heard a commotion in the courtyard.0

Ming Mei immediately moved her chair to take a look outside, only to see Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su being scolded.0

“Who’s that?” It’s quite something to be able to scold both Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su like that. Impressive!0

You see, one of them is a shrew, and the other is a master of playing the victim—neither is easy to deal with.0

Zhao Guihua: “The neighborhood director.”0

Ming Mei suddenly understood. No wonder.0

This drama unfolded, and the whole family came out to watch. It turned out that they were being scolded for leading the destruction of the public restroom.0

Ming Mei: “???”0

She whispered to Zhuang Zhixi: “Didn’t they only go there after it collapsed?”0

Zhuang Zhixi: “Maybe they caused secondary damage to the restroom?”0

Indeed, the neighborhood director was hopping mad: “You’re not young anymore, so how can you have such poor manners? Just because you heard some nonsense, you went and trampled the restroom! Now, do you know how much it costs to rebuild a restroom? How could you do something like this!”0

She was truly furious: “Even if there was something there, you can’t just go and grab it! This kind of behavior is a disgrace to our neighborhood. I’m telling you, what’s wrong with your courtyard? This keeps happening over and over again. I’m really disappointed in you. Look at what you’ve done—originally, your courtyard had a sure shot at being awarded the title of Outstanding Courtyard for catching thieves, but now, it’s not looking good. You lot are troublemakers. If I were to give the Outstanding Courtyard award to you, no one would be convinced. You can’t do anything good, and now you’re tarnishing other people’s honors.”0

Speaking of this, even Aunt Wang was extremely indignant.0

She had led the crowd to catch a thief, which was such a good deed, but now, because of these people, their chances of winning the Outstanding Courtyard award were ruined. She looked at the neighborhood director, almost on the verge of tears. The good deeds were theirs, and the bad deeds were done by others, but since they were all in the same courtyard, they had to suffer the consequences together.0

Aunt Wang: “Director, are we out of the running for the Outstanding Courtyard award?”0

The director sighed: “It’s unlikely. I was almost certain we’d give it to you, but then Zhou Qun did that…” Before she could finish, Aunt Zhou tried to argue, but the director cut her off: “Shut up! Don’t think that just because the factory didn’t catch him in the act, your son is innocent. And Bai Fendou and his father—how can they be so shameless? I’m already stressed out, and they’re both old enough to know better… I must have done something terrible in my past life to end up dealing with all of you.”0

Aunt Wang almost burst into tears: “I must have done something terrible in my past life to have such neighbors.”0

Aunt Wang was even more furious.0

Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su were sullen. They wanted to argue, but with everyone in the courtyard glaring at them, it was clear how angry they were.0

After all, they had tarnished the collective honor.0

The director looked at the broken window of the Bai family’s house and asked: “When will those two shameless ones be discharged from the hospital?”0

Aunt Wang: “Probably soon. The factory gave them only a week’s leave, and it’s been three days already.”0

“What a bunch of unlucky people, truly unlucky.”0

Some curious onlookers asked: “Director, what about Yu Baoshan’s story about the gold and silver treasures?”0

Everyone was curious about that.0

“There are no gold and silver treasures. Where would such things come from?” the neighborhood director said: “He said he fell asleep while squatting and was dreaming.”0

“Ah, this…”0

Such a ridiculous excuse. Would anyone believe that?0

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei exchanged a glance, finding it too absurd.0

Could it really be that simple?0

They didn’t believe it, and neither did the others. Everyone chuckled with mocking laughter: “That’s impossible.”0

“We heard it clearly. Besides, I’ve never heard of anyone falling asleep and talking in their dreams while squatting.”0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Well, now we’ve seen it. Not only did he talk in his dreams while squatting, but he also climbed onto the beam. How do you explain that? Was he sleepwalking?”0

The neighborhood director remained unfazed: “Exactly.”0

Everyone: “……”0

Indeed, the world is full of all kinds of people.0

The neighborhood director: “Alright, you’re all old enough to know better. Don’t just grow old without growing wiser. Think before you speak and act. Don’t always bring shame to your families, your courtyard, and the neighborhood. Reflect on yourselves. Also, starting tomorrow, each of you must send someone to help repair the restroom.”0

She pointed out a few people who had been messing around earlier.0

Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su’s faces were grim, but they helplessly nodded, this time not objecting.0

In addition to them, a few others who had been watching the commotion and also messed with the restroom were assigned the task. Everyone looked miserable. This was just adding more work to their plates for no reason. If it weren’t for Aunt Zhou and Aunt Su rummaging around, they wouldn’t have done the same.0

The neighborhood director finally left.0

The Ming family of three didn’t stay much longer. It was already dark, and with only one woman and two children at home, they weren’t at ease. Zhao Guihua said: “Here, take two fish back with you. We don’t have much here, but luckily, we caught a lot of fish this time. Don’t be polite, in-laws.”0

What they brought wasn’t just a few fish.0

Lan Ling declined: “No, no, you have a big family. Keep them for yourselves. My family doesn’t eat much, so we don’t need…”0

“No, when you’re a guest, you follow the host’s lead. You have to listen to me. We’ll go fishing again next time.”0

She said two, but actually packed four fish, and then added a dried rabbit: “Your family has kids, and kids need to eat meat.”0

Lan Ling and Zhao Guihua went back and forth, but ultimately, Lan Ling couldn’t outdo Zhao Guihua and accepted the items. She felt a bit embarrassed: “Look at us, coming to your house to eat and then taking things away. I really feel a bit embarrassed.”0

Zhao Guihua: “We’re in-laws, it’s all about give and take.”0

She smiled and said: "We also ate the roast duck you brought. Little swallow with a tiger head, was the roast duck delicious?"0

The two kids, though already full, couldn’t help but swallow and nodded: “Delicious.”0

So fragrant!0

The pork knuckle was also delicious.0

The popsicle was also delicious.0

And everything else was delicious too.0

Zhao Guihua: “See, even the kids know. Don’t be polite. My in-laws, you can rest assured. Ming Mei is married into our family, and I’ll make sure to treat her well. She’s pregnant now, so I’ll definitely ensure she gets the nutrients she needs. Look at the little fence in the yard—I plan to raise two laying hens so we can have fresh eggs.”0

Lan Ling nodded, and everything she saw reassured her.0

“Anyone who has a family member-in-law like you must have done something good in their past life to deserve such luck.”0

The two exchanged more compliments, and it was finally time to leave. As Lan Ling walked out, she glanced back—her dad still hadn’t returned. So, it wasn’t that he was watching the excitement outside; he had just gone to the movies.0

Lan Ling muttered softly: “This old man, so carefree.”0

Ming Xiangdong laughed: “You should be used to it by now. Isn’t Dad always like this?”0

Lan Ling nodded: “True.”0

Ming Cheng: “Grandpa is more fashionable than us young people.”0

Lan Ling: “……”0

Although she didn’t see her father today, Lan Ling’s mood was still good. Seeing is believing, and her daughter’s in-laws seemed reliable, which gave her a lot of reassurance. She said: “I really didn’t expect…”0

The family chatted as they walked, and soon they left.0

However, even though they had left, the people in the courtyard didn’t disperse. They were still discussing the matter.0

Someone said: “Yu Baoshan must have hidden something in the restroom and then lost it, which made him go crazy…”0

There were also those who didn't believe it, saying, "The Yu family is so poor, what good stuff could they possibly have? I think it's still the ghost in the toilet. He was bewitched."0

Neither of these speculations sounded good, so Aunt Wang said, "Didn't they say he was sleepwalking while asleep?"0

"Heh, who would believe that? Falling asleep in the toilet, that's something I've never even heard of. I think it's still a ghost..."0

"What are you talking about? It must be something good he got from raiding someone's home. His brothers are fighting over it, that's why he didn't dare to keep it at home."0

This inevitably led to more gossip about family matters. Ming Mei and the others weren't sleeping yet, so they gathered in the courtyard listening to the gossip. Stories like "The old couple clearly favors the youngest, giving him a room to himself while the older siblings have to share with partitions," and "The third daughter-in-law is scheming to take over the youngest son's room," and "Yu forced his sister to go to the countryside and even took her savings for marriage"...0

All sorts of gossip filled their heads.0

Then someone suddenly realized and asked, "Aunt Zhou, your son and daughter-in-law aren't home tonight?"0

It was quite late, and they still hadn't returned. That wasn't normal.0

Aunt Zhou replied, "They went to their in-laws' place."0

Her tone wasn't great. Her in-laws were the ones pushing for a divorce, which was quite unpleasant.0

However, thinking about the grandchild she would soon have, her mood improved slightly. She pursed her lips and said, "Bai Fendou's incident made my son worry that his father-in-law wouldn't feel reassured, so he went over specially to explain. You know, his in-laws are from an official family, they eat better, so they stayed for dinner."0

Mentioning this, she glanced at Aunt Su. Aunt Su gave a weak smile and said, "You have good in-laws."0

She wasn't in a good mood today. Although they were busy digging through the toilet, they later heard that Ming Mei's parents and brother had come over, bringing a thermos of ice cream and roast duck.0

Her grandson Jinlai and the other two kids smelled it and were drooling, practically rolling on the ground wanting some.0

Then hearing that Zhou Qun and his wife had also gone to their in-laws', her mood soured even more. Other people's in-laws could benefit them, but not her daughter-in-law Wang Xiangxiu. This made her quite unhappy.0

Wang Xiangxiu's family was from the city, but they were also very poor and couldn't help at all. Both sides were hoping to benefit from each other, but so far, they hadn't gained anything. And today, when she went to her eldest daughter Zhaodi's place, they didn't even offer her a meal, which also made her unhappy.0

It seemed like all the bad things had come together. Tomorrow they had to repair the toilet, and thinking about all this, she couldn't help but feel bad. All the older women in the courtyard seemed to be living better than her. Why?0

Aunt Su thought about these things and her face darkened.0

But when they mentioned Jiang Lu's family, Zhao Guihua thought of something. Earlier, she had heard that Aunt Zhou was planning to deal with that family. She frowned, feeling someone watching her, and looked up to see Ming Mei.0

Yes, Ming Mei also knew about this and seemed worried.0

Zhao Guihua didn't say anything but gave Ming Mei a reassuring look. Ming Mei breathed a sigh of relief. Although she didn't know those people, she couldn't just pretend she didn't know if someone was planning something bad.0

Zhao Guihua also felt the same. Although she didn't want to meddle, she still thought she should try to do something.0

She couldn't just stand by and watch something happen.0

As she pondered this, the conversation shifted to the Yu family's affairs. This wasn't surprising, as the Yu family's incident was the biggest news today, and everyone was naturally discussing it a lot.0

After listening for a while and not hearing anything special, Zhao Guihua got up and went back to her room.0

Old Man Zhuang hadn't gone out. They had guests today, so he had a little drink and wasn't very energetic. He was already lying down. Hearing Zhao Guihua return, he couldn't help but whisper, "Do you think this matter is serious?"0

It had caused quite a stir, and he hadn't expected it, so he was a bit uneasy.0

Zhao Guihua reassured him, "It's nothing. It has nothing to do with you. He didn't even dare to keep it at home, so what good could it be? Don't think too much about it."0

She continued, "I didn't plan to use it either, so there's no need to worry. Just pretend you don't know anything. Let's keep it for ten more years, and then you can completely forget about it."0

She smiled and said, "You should praise me today. I actually managed to catch a fish."0

Mentioning this, Old Man Zhuang perked up a bit and said, "You did? That's great. Seems like practice really does make perfect."0

Zhao Guihua looked at her old man and chuckled, saying, "You really believe I caught it with a fishing rod?"0

Old Man Zhuang: "???"0

Zhao Guihua: "I caught it with a net."0

This was quite exaggerated. She caught it with a net but couldn't with a fishing rod. Wasn't that ridiculous? She sighed, "I guess I'm just not meant to fish with a rod. Next time I go out, I won't bring one."0

Old Man Zhuang couldn't help but laugh.0

Zhao Guihua: "What are you laughing at?"0

She took a towel and went out to wash up, saying, "If you keep laughing at me, I won't be polite..."0

As Zhao Guihua went out, she heard Ming Mei say, "Let's go to the toilet. I don't dare to go at night..."0

Not because of ghosts, but because of the fear of it collapsing.0

Fortunately, the women's toilet was still usable, while the men's was completely out of commission.0

But there was also good news: due to this collapse, the twenty-year-old toilet would be rebuilt. It probably wouldn't be in the original style but would be made into a regular house.0

There would be no more place to hide or play tricks.0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Let's go."0

The alley was particularly lively due to the toilet collapse. Meanwhile, others were not so fortunate. Yu Baoshan was like a man whose mother had just died. He had woken up by now, but his face was dark, his eyes lifeless, and he exuded an eerie aura.0

He lay in bed, silent.0

The Yu couple tended to their son, front and back. Bai Fendou saw this and glanced at his own father, saying, "Even though both are parents, the difference is so big."0

It just so happened that Yu Baoshan and Bai Fendou were in the same ward.0

Bai Fendou was still hurt by his father's indifference and spoke without holding back.0

"Parents are only good if their children are good; if the children are no good, then no matter how much the parents do, the children will still find fault," Old Bai retorted without hesitation.0

If this had been yesterday, they wouldn't have had the energy to argue, but since last night, they had learned that Aunt Su and Wang Xiangxiu had convinced the Zhou family. This really moved the two old bachelors to tears.0

What is true love? Only in times of trouble can you see the truth.0

Bai Fendou felt that Wang Xiangxiu was the best woman in the world, so virtuous, so selfless. Thinking about it made him sleepless. While Old Bai thought that Aunt Su must have come up with the plan.0

Wang Xiangxiu was a bit brainless, but Aunt Su was truly wise.0

However, after this incident, Old Bai's view of Wang Xiangxiu changed. Previously, he had looked down on her, being quite clear-headed about women other than Aunt Su. But this time, he truly saw her true colors.0

He felt that although Wang Xiangxiu had some flaws, she was still a good woman. If not for their efforts, he and his son would have been in big trouble. Thinking about it, although Wang Xiangxiu wasn't a pure woman, she was raising children and taking care of her mother-in-law.0

Fundamentally, she was still very good, something others couldn't compare to.0

He said, "You treat me worse than other people's daughters-in-law. I don't think I can rely on you in the future."0

Bai Fendou sneered, "Who else can you rely on if not me?"0

"Can I count on you? You're the kind of person who pushes your father out in critical moments and then blames me. Are you even human?"0

The two started arguing again. Aunt Zhou, who was unhappy, angrily said, "That's enough, aren't you? Is this ward your home? Don't you see my son needs to rest? If you keep shouting, get out of here."0

“How dare you talk to me like that? This isn't your home or my home. We paid for the hospital fees. We can talk, and if you don't like it, plug your ears. Who knows what you did to end up in the hospital.” Bai Fendou was as foul-mouthed as ever.0

These words infuriated Aunt Zhou. Her other children were already a bit resentful about the hospital expenses. Now, they had to endure Bai Fendou's ridicule. She completely lost her temper and screamed, "You eunuch, I'll make you pay for your mouth!"0

Bai Fendou: "What did you just call me?"0

Bai Fendou also completely lost his temper.0

He was a perfectly fine seven-foot man, even if he was injured, wasn't he already stitched up? Why call him a eunuch? Even his aunt couldn't tolerate this. He roared and charged forward, and the two quickly entered into a brawl.0

You yank my hair, I scratch your face.0

Uncle Yu: "How dare you bully my wife!"0

He quickly charged forward, and the elderly couple immediately pinned Bai Fendou down, slapping his face. Aunt Zhou, the vicious woman, was about to go for the lower half, and Old Man Bai knew it was bad. He quickly grabbed the thermos by the bed, not caring if it was filled with hot water, and smashed it towards Aunt Zhou.0

"Old hag, I'll make you pay for bullying my son!"0

Although he scolded his son, he could scold him, but others... others could scold him too.0

However, absolutely no one could go for the lower half!0

His son was already stitched up, and he absolutely couldn't let him suffer more injuries. It wasn't that he was particularly sincere to Bai Fendou, but he absolutely couldn't lose his grandson. If he suffered another severe injury, his son might become a eunuch, and there would be no grandson.0

This was the continuation of the Bai family's lineage.0

He pounced and joined the fight!0

The ward immediately erupted into chaos. This ward only housed the Bai father and son, as well as Yu Baoshan, who lay motionless like a dead man. The other four were fighting fiercely. The young nurse hurried over and shouted, "What are you doing? Stop, stop right now, do you hear me?"0

No one paid attention, and they continued to fight. The nurse didn't dare to step in.0

She helplessly shouted, "Quick, call the security guards."0

Honestly, she was really distressed, never having seen such a thing. This Bai father and son had been in their hospital for three nights. The first night, the father and son argued, and the entire corridor heard it. Everyone gathered at the door to watch the commotion.0

The second night, Bai Fendou wanted to jump down, forcing them to go to the machinery factory to find their leader. Is there a problem finding the leader?0

This was the third day, and the father and son had started a fight with the new patient's family.0

This father and son were truly the most extraordinary among the extraordinary, the most magical among the magical.0

If this continued, their hospital would be torn apart. They were really too much: "You all stop right now! What are you doing? Damaging public property will require compensation."0

Her shouts went unnoticed. At that moment, Yu Baoshan suddenly sat up from the bed. He was extremely depressed. He had used many methods to obtain these jewels, but now his treasures had been stolen. He was filled with an indescribable rage.0

He found everything annoying.0

If it were just a gold bar, he thought he could control himself, but it wasn't. He had lost a lot. Those things were enough for him to live a luxurious life, but now they were gone.0

He couldn't calm down, not even thinking about the aftermath of the incident.0

He had only wanted to quietly think about who could have done this. He would definitely kill that person. Anyone who dared to take his things deserved to die. He gloomily contemplated this, but there were some annoying flies buzzing incessantly.0

He looked up and coldly watched the fight, feeling these people were so noisy, they deserved to die!0

He pulled out the IV and stood up. While no one was paying attention, he grabbed a stool and smashed it directly onto Bai Fendou's head—bang! The stool hit Bai Fendou's head hard, and Bai Fendou: "Ah!"0

He collapsed to the ground...0

"Oh my god, murder!"0

"You, you, put that down."0

"I'll fight you..."0

Bai Fendou, having fought many times, was quite resilient. He took a hard hit from the stool but didn't faint. Of course, it might also be because Yu Baoshan was too stimulated today and didn't have much strength.0

Bai Fendou suddenly sprang up, charging forward with his head, pushing Yu Baoshan: "Damn it, watch this!"0

Yu Baoshan was pushed back, hitting the wall with a cry. He desperately pounded Bai Fendou's head, and Bai Fendou was bleeding profusely. Looking up at Yu Baoshan's murderous eyes, he also felt an inexplicable rage. He felt extremely unlucky recently, even encountering such a thing while hospitalized. He directly reached out and grabbed Yu Baoshan's vulnerable spot... "Ah!!!"0

A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the heavens.0

...0

In the dead of night, every household was deep in sleep.0

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. The knock wasn't heavy, but in the quiet night, it was particularly noticeable. Ming Mei turned over, murmuring softly, "What's going on?"0

Zhuang Zhixi also woke up, patted her, and said, "You sleep, I'll go see."0

At this moment, the advantage of having the Bai family around was evident. When the Bai family was there, Bai Fendou was always the first to go out, as he lived by the door and was the first to hear any commotion.0

Zhuang Zhixi rubbed his temples, got up, pulled the blanket up, and said, "You sleep."0

Ming Mei nodded and softly responded with a sound of agreement. She wanted to get up but really had no energy. Pregnancy was really strange. Before the check-up, she ate and drank as usual, feeling no different. But after the check-up, she suddenly felt fragile.0

She felt completely lacking in energy. Ming Mei pulled the blanket over her ears and said, "Come back soon."0

Zhuang Zhixi softly hummed and put on his coat. When he went out of the courtyard, he saw the Zhou family also coming out, as well as his father and older brother. Zhuang Zhixi: "What's going on?"0

"We don't know!"0

In the middle of the night, no one went to open the door alone. The men just happened to gather together and walked to the door together: "Who is it?"0

"I'm from the factory security department."0

Everyone looked at each other, puzzled. Why would the factory security department come at this late hour?0

Zhuang Zhixi was quick-witted and quickly opened the door. He saw it was Wang Erlaizi, whom he knew. This made him even more puzzled. He said, "Brother Wang, why are you here at this time?"0

Wang Erlaizi looked really unlucky and said, "It's all because of Bai Fendou from your courtyard. I really have bad luck for eight lifetimes to meet such a guy. Can't he just be quiet? Every night he causes trouble, and we have to suffer because of it."0

Zhuang Zhixi scratched his ears in surprise and said, "Bai Fendou is in trouble again?"0

What's wrong with him this year? It's endless. It's only the first half of the year, and he's caused so many troubles.0

Zhuang Zhixi found this really hard to understand.0

Indeed, some people being single is normal, but some people are gradually going crazy.0

He said, "What did he do this time?"0

Wang Erlaizi: "He got into a fight with his fellow patient in the ward. His fellow patient is also from your neighborhood, sent there this evening, the one who got hit on the head."0

Zhuang Zhixi immediately: "It's Yu Baoshan."0

"Yes, yes, yes," Wang Er Lazizi said with a look of mixed emotions, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "He got into a fight with the Yu Baoshan family. Bai Fendou crushed Yu Baoshan's... well, you know. The Yu family is going crazy at the hospital right now..."0

Damn, Bai Fendou is really vicious. After becoming a eunuch himself, he still wants to harm others like this.0

Too ruthless.0

While he was speaking, everyone had already come out, their eyes wide with disbelief. Strange things happen every year, but this year seems to be particularly bizarre.0

Another one... shattered?0

Is it trendy to have your... uh, shattered this year?0

Shocked!0

Wang Er Lazizi looked like he was about to cry, saying, "They made a huge mess at the scene, and the hospital wants to report it to the police. But the older folks aren't having it and are rolling around in the hospital corridor. Our factory sent someone over too. Section Chief Liu was called out in the middle of the night and is going crazy, yelling at everyone in the hospital. Even us small fries had to go..."0

Everyone showed expressions of sympathy, both for the hospital and for the innocent factory security department.0

Zhuang Zhixi patted Wang Er Lazizi on the shoulder and said, "Brother Wang, you really are working hard. But Brother Wang, why did you come here?"0

Surely he didn't come all the way in the middle of the night just to spread gossip to them, right? Even if the security department had the intention, they wouldn't have the energy. After all, their section chief wouldn't let them do something like that.0

Wang Er Lazizi slapped his head. "Look at me, look at me—I forgot the important thing. Wang Xiangxiu, is Wang Xiangxiu here?"0

Of course, Wang Xiangxiu was there.0

When there was commotion outside, she had already put on her clothes and come out. She hadn't expected it to be another issue involving Bai Fendou. Thinking about how her family had just helped Bai Fendou resolve one problem, and now he's causing a new one.0

Wang Xiangxiu felt really tired and really resentful.0

She didn't want to respond, but she still put on her usual demeanor and said, "I'm here."0

Everyone turned to look at her in unison, and the male colleagues couldn't help but gasp. It wasn't their fault, though. Wang Xiangxiu was wearing a tank top, with her outer clothes draped over her but not properly put on, leaving her skin exposed. She had a curvaceous figure, and this sight was truly... well, let's just say it was quite a sight.0

Aunt Wang, the neighborhood leader, naturally came out at this moment and immediately said, "Xiangxiu, pull your clothes together!"0

She frowned, thinking this was no way to behave.0

Wang Xiangxiu, seeing the male colleagues' gazes, felt extremely satisfied. Although her man was gone, these other men, even with their own partners, still had to look at her. Wang Xiangxiu felt a sense of pride and her voice softened as she said, "I'm Wang Xiangxiu. Is there something going on?"0

Wang Er Lazizi looked at her with a gulp, saying, "Yes, Bai Fendou injured Yu Baoshan, and Yu Baoshan needs to pay the hospital fees. Bai Fendou said for you to bring some money over to help him sort things out."0

Wang Xiangxiu: "What?!"0

Her face turned black instantly. There were many things she could do, but being asked for money was not one of them. This damn Bai Fendou, what was he thinking? What did she have to do with him? She wasn't his wife, so why should she bring money to help him? What right did he have?0

If she had money, wouldn't it be better to buy meat for her three sons?0

She showed her anger, but quickly adjusted her expression, looking pitiful as she said, "I'm just a woman working to earn a salary. This month's expenses barely cover next month's. Where would I get money to help him? This fool, what good would it do to look for me?"0

Aunt Su, fearing her daughter-in-law wouldn't handle it well, quickly came out and said, "When there are difficulties, one should turn to the factory. How much can ordinary neighbors help? Don't you agree? But Xiangxiu, you should hurry up and change your clothes. No matter what, you need to go and take a look. Although our two families don't have much of a relationship, we've always gotten along well as neighbors. The Bai family has often helped us, so we should help them too. If we can't contribute money, we can at least contribute our efforts."0

She glanced around, wanting to say that since everyone was neighbors, they should help each other and chip in to cover Bai Fendou's expenses. But no one stepped up, and as the neighborhood leader, Aunt Wang didn't say a word either.0

At this moment, Aunt Su felt that the neighborhood committee really didn't know how to do things. Why choose a woman as the neighborhood leader? If it were a man, they could have easily manipulated him. But Aunt Wang was a woman, and Li the Cook was stingy, so they couldn't get any benefits from them.0

Aunt Su, seeing that Aunt Wang wasn't taking the lead, could only awkwardly pull her daughter-in-law back into the house. She wanted everyone to help together, but she couldn't say that outright, as it would offend people.0

After all, no one was willing to spend money on others.0

She wanted to benefit, but she absolutely didn't want to offend anyone.0

This year, things really haven't been going well. It feels like everything is working against them. In the past, Zhao Guihua was impulsive and didn't have much of a brain, always being a pushover. Although she wasn't as involved as Aunt Wang, she was still willing to step in when there was a problem. Whether by playing the victim or using reverse psychology, she was usually effective. But now, even that wasn't working.0

Aunt Wang didn't take the lead, and Zhao Guihua didn't speak up either.0

She was extremely unhappy.0

But this wasn't the time to dwell on that. She said, "You go to the hospital and try to convince Bai Fendou to rely on the factory. Who knows how much it will cost? We don't have the money to help him. It's best if Bai Fendou doesn't have to pay either. His money is our money, and it's meant to buy meat for Jinlai and the other two. Bai Fendou is a factory worker, so the factory should take care of it. You talk to Bai Fendou and make sure he clings to the factory. Losing face is nothing if the factory can cover the costs. You need to explain this to Bai Fendou."0

She spoke earnestly, "Money doesn't grow on trees. Don't waste it."0

Wang Xiangxiu: "I understand."0

She quickly got dressed and then hurried out: "Comrade Wang, I'm ready. We can go now."0

Wang Er Lazizi: "Oh, oh, let's go. Sister Xiu, I hear everyone calling you Sister Xiu, so can I call you that too?"0

"Sure!"0

Wang Xiangxiu laughed heartily, thinking to herself that she truly was irresistible. Look, another potential spender had come her way.0

She said softly, "You guys in the security department really work so hard..."0

"Ah, Sister Xiu, you understand us. That's right, everyone thinks we're impressive, but who knows how tough our job is? Look at this, being called out in the middle of the night..."0

The two chatted as they walked, disappearing into the alley.0

The people in the courtyard looked at each other. Zhuang Zhixi decisively said, "Close the door, let's go back to sleep."0

"Right, we still have to go to work tomorrow..."0

Someone muttered softly, "Why is she hooking up with Wang Er Lazizi again? Is Bai Fendou's hat secure now?"0

The scene fell silent for a second, then everyone pretended nothing had happened: "Go home, go home."0

"Sleep, sleep."0

But... how could they sleep!0

Why, in the middle of the night, did they have to hear such shocking news!0

Bai Fendou, he's really too bold!0

Now when he fights, he's targeting... that area? That's really not manly at all.0

Zhou Qun stood at the door, eavesdropping, and subconsciously tightened his legs. He'd better stay far away from Bai Fendou, that crazy guy. Who knows if he's gotten a taste for it and will do it again. It's hard to say, really hard to say.0

He shook his head in disgust.0

Aunt Zhou's voice was loud: "I think Bai Fendou is just twisted after what happened to him. He probably hates that others haven't suffered the same fate. The men in this courtyard better be careful. You never know when Bai Fendou might ambush you."0

Although Aunt Zhou usually spoke bluntly, this time, everyone kind of agreed with her.0

After all, Bai Fendou's actions were just too outrageous.0

Zhuang Zhixi: "So what do we do? Stay far away from him when we see him?"0

"That's the only thing we can do."0

"Damn, what kind of mess is this."0

"No matter what, we can't repeat the same mistake. Look at Yu Baoshan, isn't he suffering now?"0

"That's true."0

Everyone expressed their deep fear of Bai Fendou. Damn, this guy is really out of his mind!0

They were all men, and they weren't afraid of fighting, but fighting was one thing. You can't go around... crushing things. What kind of man does that?0

Hmm... Bai Fendou might not be considered a "man" anymore if he doesn't stop his nonsense.0

Everyone was buzzing with gossip, and Zhuang Zhixi returned to their room. Ming Mei asked, "Zhixi, is that you?"0

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Yes, it's me."0

He closed the door, and Ming Mei opened her eyes, asking, "What's going on?"0

Zhuang Zhixi sighed, "It's Bai Fendou again, causing trouble at the hospital. Wang Xiangxiu just took him away."0

He climbed back into bed, and Ming Mei, like a little caterpillar, wriggled over to snuggle against Zhuang Zhixi's chest. Gently stroking her back, he found her to be soft and plump, unlike the skinny girls. However, she was different from Wang Xiangxiu. Ming Mei had a small frame, and even with her slightly rounded figure, she still appeared slender. To outsiders, it might not be noticeable, but as her husband, Zhuang Zhixi found her incredibly cuddly.0

He gently patted her back, saying, "Let's sleep now. We'll talk about it tomorrow morning."0

If he were to explain the situation, they might get too excited to sleep. After all, this was quite an unusual affair.0

There are countless strange things in the world, and Bai Fendou seems to account for half of them.0

He really knows how to stir up trouble.0

Zhuang Zhixi didn't want his wife to stay up late, so he didn't elaborate and simply turned off the light. The couple quickly fell back to sleep, but the rest of the courtyard was far from quiet. Who wouldn't get excited over gossip? And if Bai Fendou were to return... would their courtyard gain a "testicle-pinching madman"?0

Just thinking about it was infuriating.0

Each household was discussing the matter. Aunt Wang was instructing her husband and son-in-law, "I know you all look down on Bai Fendou, and we've had our share of conflicts. But despite our differences, you must stay calm. Keep your distance from Bai Fendou. If you happen to run into him outside, head toward crowded places. Don't engage with him or try to prove your strength. We don't need to argue with him. We're doing just fine, but if a simple disagreement escalates into a fight, who knows what he might do? This man is already broken, and he wants everyone else to be the same. We can handle other things, but this is something we must be careful about."0

Li the Cook glared, "Does he dare?"0

Aunt Wang retorted, "Why wouldn't he? Didn't he just do it to Yu Baoshan? That guy isn't exactly a saint, and look how viciously Bai Fendou attacked him! When Bai Fendou goes rogue, he's absolutely ruthless."0

Hearing this, Li the Cook fell silent.0

Aunt Wang continued, "Yang Lixin, keep an eye on your father."0

Yang Lixin nodded silently, saying, "We should indeed be cautious."0

"Exactly," Aunt Wang agreed.0

Li Fang sighed in exasperation, "If he's so desperate to find a wife, why doesn't he just settle down with one? If he had found a good woman and lived a normal life, he wouldn't be in this mess. Every day, he just gets more and more out of control."0

"This is just the beginning," Aunt Wang lamented. "I think he's going to keep causing trouble."0

She felt utterly helpless. No matter how hard she tried, there were always troublemakers like Bai Fendou dragging down the reputation of their courtyard. Today, during her conversation with the neighborhood director, she finally accepted the reality that any hope of rewards was gone.0

All she could hope for now was to avoid any more trouble.0

She sighed, "Back when the neighborhood was selecting a courtyard manager, many believed that men would be better suited for the job. But the previous director thought otherwise. She believed that older, stay-at-home women were more appropriate. First, their age would help them handle situations better; second, being at home all day would allow them to address issues more quickly and conveniently; and third, women are more detail-oriented and better at mediating, making it easier to resolve conflicts. That's how I, with everyone's recommendation, took on this role. Over the years, I've always felt that I was doing a good job. But perhaps because of my age, this year I've been feeling incredibly overwhelmed."0

She rubbed her temples, "I'm so tired of being tormented by them."0

Li Fang said, "Mom, maybe we should just quit. The extra reward we get each year isn't worth it."0

Aunt Wang replied, "It's not about the reward. I do it for the sake of serving the people."0

She lay down, feeling melancholy, "If the people are all like Bai Fendou, I really don't want to serve them anymore."0

What a worry!0

What a disgrace!0

Their family wasn't the only one dealing with this. Liang Meifen was also advising her husband, "Zhiyuan, no matter what, we must avoid direct conflicts with Bai Fendou. Even if we can handle him physically, we can't risk dealing with a testicle-pinching madman. He's already broken, and he wants everyone else to be the same. We can't let that happen..."0

Zhuang Zhiyuan, for once, took his wife's words seriously and nodded, "I understand. I'll stay far away from him."0

Liang Meifen sighed, "This is just too terrifying..."0

Similarly, other households weren't at peace. Aunt Zhou frowned, saying, "I underestimated Bai Fendou's viciousness. Son, he's already broken, but we're still fine. Stay far away from Bai Fendou. Our families don't get along, and he might go for the kill..."0

Zhou Qun's eyes flickered with unease...