My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 164

Life passes by most quickly in autumn.

Preparing for winter in the autumn means a busy schedule from day to day, and before you know it, the season has slipped away. It feels as if winter arrives with snow flurries in the blink of an eye. No one pays much attention, and suddenly it's December in a flash. This year, Chinese New Year is late, falling in mid-February, but that doesn't stop everyone from starting to prepare for the festivities now.

Two months in advance is hardly a problem.

Zhao Guihua manages all household affairs, while the rest are her subordinates, following her orders.

And so, here it is again, a Monday, and the family members yawn sleepily, lacking energy. Sunday is a day of rest, but there are still plenty of tasks to handle. Zhao Guihua watches them listlessly and says, "We still have one meat coupon left. Let's buy some meat today to improve our meals."

The young ones at home immediately become excited, but Zhuang Zhiyuan responds, "Mom, don't buy it. Let's save it for buying meat for dumplings during the New Year."

After all, during the New Year, one ought to eat well. What if they can't get meat then?

Zhao Guihua looks at the children staring at her expectantly and says, "I have this under control. Go to work."

This winter isn't as good as last winter. Last year, they had plenty of fish, and thanks to selling fish, they managed to stock up on some meat, making their days comfortable. This year, without that, things are a bit harder, though still much better than before.

They are already quite satisfied. Other families don't eat as well as they do.

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi finish their breakfast and sling their schoolbags over their shoulders. Sure enough, as soon as they do, they hear Li Junjun and Li Weiwei calling from the backyard. The two children rush out the door, and soon, Tonglai also comes out.

Since Tonglai started going to school alone, he's been somewhat lonely. But children don't hold grudges for long, and gradually, they've started walking to and from school together again, their relationship improving. As for Yinlai, he still hasn't returned to school. This isn't because Wang Xiangxiu is unwilling to spend the money but because Yinlai's condition hasn't fully recovered. Although he appears to be getting better, he is still fragile. With the cold weather, Wang Xiangxiu is afraid something might happen if he goes to school, so she keeps him home.

During the day, Yinlai stays at home alone, but luckily, he doesn't cause trouble anymore. Previously, his older brother used to lead them on adventures, fearless even of adults. Now, Yinlai has been thoroughly "educated by reality." He is very timid. With nothing to do at home, he takes on small sewing tasks for the community, making a little money. Wang Xiangxiu doesn't take this money; she lets Yinlai keep it. She doesn't necessarily expect him to make much, but she worries that being cooped up might lead to trouble. Having something to do helps him adjust.

Despite not earning "extra income" outside the home, life for Wang Xiangxiu's family has improved. Yinlai even has his savings now. Moreover, he's learned how to heat up food, which is quite an achievement compared to before.

Overall, every household in this compound is striving for improvement.

Early in the morning, those heading to work or school have all left. At Zhao Guihua's home, only she and the two little ones remain. She boils water to wash the household items that need cleaning. Typically, no one visits at this time; everyone is busy with their tasks. Don't assume home duties are just about staying indoors during winter; there's a lot of housework to be done.

Little Tuantuan and Little Yuanyuan are rolling around on the kang (heated brick bed). Zhao Guihua is indoors washing clothes, keeping an eye on them. She warns the lively little ones, "No climbing to the edge of the kang."

Little Tuantuan bites his little hand, tilting his head and tentatively crawling forward.

Zhao Guihua glares, raising her "iron palm" and says, "If you two keep crawling to the edge, Nana will spank your little bottoms. Understand? Spank! Spank!"

Little Tuantuan mumbles something unintelligible, but seems to have understood. He turns and wriggles away, his little bottom wiggling. Little Yuanyuan is more sluggish than her brother; though they both can crawl, she is less lively, content to play with her stuffed worm for long stretches.

Zhao Guihua finds that taking care of children is quite exhausting. The bigger they get, the more active they become, always ready to crawl everywhere in an instant. After washing a few pieces of clothing, she wrings them out and hangs them up in the outer room, quickly returning to her station.

There's no room for delays when it comes to preventing these little ones from getting into trouble.

Zhao Guihua's biggest fear is the toddlers falling off the kang. Their mischief is tolerable, but not potential injuries.

She places pillows along the edge of the kang, though she knows just as well that such protection doesn't stop the little ones from exploring. Today, her tasks are minimal—washing the dishes and clothes—so she sits cross-legged on the kang, with Little Yuanyuan looking at her and smiling sweetly. The little girl points her small fingers toward the baby bottle on the cabinet, smacking her lips.

Zhao Guihua: "..."

She pokes at the baby's soft, chubby cheeks, smiling as she says, "Didn't your mother just feed you before going to work?"

Ming Mei still returns home once in the morning and once in the afternoon to breastfeed the children. As a mother, she commits more than a father would. However, since the twins are growing, Ming Mei feeding both is simply insufficient.

In addition to blending in formula, they also feed the babies egg custard and rice cereal to keep them satiated. The family has agreed to stop breastfeeding after the New Year. While some children breastfeed longer, Zhao Guihua believes a year is sufficient. Ming Mei's current schedule struggles, and stopping now would save her from the burden of commuting twice daily just for feeding. She had suggested stopping when it was colder earlier, but Ming Mei's reluctance made the family delay until the new year, marking a full year.

Considering Ming Mei's wishes, Zhao Guihua, the mother-in-law, is indifferent. Yet, as the carer of the infants, she can see that despite Ming Mei's nutritious diet and supplements, feeding one baby is appropriate, but two is too much strain.

Often, in poorer households, giving birth to twins isn't necessarily a joyful event; raising them can be challenging. Their family, already well-off compared to others, could afford a variety of supplementary foods, enabling them to raise the two little ones as chubby and healthy as those on festive portraits.

Zhao Guihua doesn't yield to the babies' persuasive looks and doesn't offer the bottle. Just a short while ago, they couldn't have been hungry; they were simply craving the indulgence. Their little Yuanyuan is a little glutton, always keenly observing adults when they eat, anxiously awaiting a share herself.

Disappointed, Little Yuanyuan pouts and glares at her grandmother, frustratedly patting her stuffed worm.

Zhao Guihua laughs. "Oh, you've got quite a temper."

Little Yuanyuan huffs again, trying to sit up. Little Tuantuan, who had been crawling around, suddenly crawls over to her side and, with his support, she manages to sit up. The baby girl leans against the blanket, furrowing her sparse, light eyebrows, babbling indignantly.

Zhao Guihua: "This one is showing off now."

She looks at the chubby little ones and says, "Naughty children get spanked."

She raises her hand toward their bottoms to remind them, and Little Yuanyuan immediately flops down, gnawing on her toes as if the earlier demanding toddler weren't her. Little Tuantuan quickly turns away and resumes crawling around.

Zhao Guihua laughs, murmuring, "What little rascals..."

She can hardly remember how it was raising Hutou and Xiao Yanzi so many years ago. With her current duo, she feels both the mental strain of caring for infants and the delight they bring.

While they seem demanding, they are also incredibly charming.

She took out her sewing basket and began sewing soles, a task she had mastered regardless of the years that had passed. The cloth shoes she made with multiple layers of cloth were the most comfortable, and her husband absolutely adored them.

Not just her husband, even her two young, fashion-conscious sons, after getting used to wearing her shoes, didn’t like wearing any store-bought ones. When their family conditions improved, they could afford any kind of leather shoes, even little lambskin ones, but none were as comfortable as hers.

There are many people now who can make shoes. Like Wang Zizhen, she had made her own shoes before, and Zhao Guihua was very grateful. But to be honest, Wang Zizhen’s craftsmanship isn’t as good as hers. Zhao Guihua plans to make a pair of cotton shoes this time.

She’s a well-traveled person, having seen her great-granddaughter wear those snow boots, and she thinks the high waist is quite good, as it protects the ankle and keeps it warm. So, she’s going to make one for her old man.

This old man, he’s never known how to enjoy life.

Zhao Guihua was busy sewing when she heard a voice at the door. He Lan: "Auntie Zhao, are you at home?"

Everyone lives in the courtyard, so of course, they can see who is at home. This is just a typical greeting, much like asking, "Have you eaten?" It’s purely ceremonial.

Zhao Guihua replied, "Come in."

He Lan came in holding Little Qingqing and said, "Auntie Zhao, can you watch Qingqing for me? I need to go to the hospital today, and it’s quite cold outside. It’s a bit inconvenient to take the child with me."

Zhao Guihua said, "Leave her here, I’ll take care of her."

In these times, neighbors helping each other is normal. That’s why some people, even though they know a mother-in-law can be more of a burden, still prefer to marry into a family with older relatives, as it means more support.

Even with a homemaker, raising a child is not easy for young couples.

Their courtyard is already pretty meticulous in raising children. Zhao Guihua is a reborn person; her perspective and habits are different. She’s very attentive when it comes to caring for children. The Zhou family, having been married for over ten years, finally have this one child, and they treasure him like a jewel. As for He Lan, Bai Fendou is a rough man, but He Lan is from a wealthy background, with a complex past, and she’s terrified of letting the child suffer even a little.

The three of them raise their children meticulously, and Aunt Wang follows suit.

When everyone else does it, not doing it that way makes you the odd one out.

The few babies in their courtyard are all clean and well-kept, not like some places where they just let the kids crawl on the ground for convenience.

He Lan placed Little Qingqing on the kang (heated platform bed), and the little girl immediately crawled towards Little Yuanyuan. She loves Little Yuanyuan’s caterpillar toy. He Lan said, "Oh, Qingqing, you have one too. Look, you brought your own caterpillar."

Since Zhao Guihua first made those gaudy caterpillar toys for the kids, the whole courtyard’s children have fallen in love with them. They cry unless they have one too. Now every single child in the courtyard has a caterpillar plush toy.

They’re all bright red and green, gaudy as can be.

To an adult, it would seem just plain ugly. But hey, kids love them.

He Lan quickly gave Little Qingqing her caterpillar. Although they’re all caterpillars, there are slight differences, as they’re all made with scraps of fabric. Little Qingqing looked at her own caterpillar, then at Little Yuanyuan’s, and hugged hers close to her chest.

She babbled at Little Yuanyuan, saying something no one could understand, and Little Yuanyuan responded in her own baby gibberish, with Little Tuantuan joining in…

Okay, adults couldn’t understand them at all.

Zhao Guihua laughed and said, "Let the kids play together. Go take care of your business, and come back to pick her up later."

He Lan said, "Thank you so much."

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‍Guihua replied, "It’s nothing. Is this really a big deal? Neighbors helping each other is normal. What’s going on with you?"

He Lan didn’t hide anything from Zhao Guihua and said, "I had a difficult childbirth and got hurt. Later, when I was recovering, things didn’t go well, and my health has been poor ever since. After I got married to Bai Fendou, he suggested I go to the hospital for a proper check-up. They prescribed some tonic for me, and I have to go for a check-up every month. In the summer, taking her along wasn’t a problem, but now it’s cold, and with the snow, the ground is slippery. I don’t feel safe taking her."

She added, "I actually wanted to go yesterday, on Sunday, when Bai Fendou could take care of the child, but the doctor’s schedule didn’t allow for it."

Zhao Guihua said, "Taking care of your health is indeed important. Otherwise, when you get older, it’ll be really tough. When Ming Mei gave birth, I told her that staying in bed longer during her postpartum rest is fine as long as it keeps her body in good shape. You’re the same way. Don’t worry about the expense. Bai Fendou is a worker, and with the three of you, you can manage just fine. Take your medicine and get better."

He Lan nodded, "I know."

With the three kids playing together, He Lan felt relieved and left.

She wrapped herself tightly with a scarf, covering her face, and wore a bulky padded coat, looking very plain. She looked like a simple housewife from a modest family. This was her way of protecting herself, ensuring she wouldn’t be recognized by anyone from her teenage years or from Yang Family Village.

She wasn’t afraid of seeing people, but her childhood friends weren’t in the best shape. Some had been sent to the countryside, and those who stayed weren’t the same as before. They were all punished, some cleaning toilets and streets, others being criticized…

People she knew back then, she was afraid they might report her.

So He Lan was very cautious. She preferred to dress plainly, so no one would recognize her.

As for the people from Yang Family Village, she didn’t want to meet them either. She didn’t want them to know about her current life, and she definitely didn’t want to run into the Fan family again. As for Yang Lixin, she knew he wasn’t a talkative person.

Even if he were, Aunt Wang would keep him in check. Aunt Wang is very outspoken.

And in reality, Yang Lixin isn’t, he’s not a talkative person. Usually, he doesn’t chat much with others in the courtyard, nor does he meddle in other people’s business. He Lan feels incredibly lucky.

At the hospital, after a thorough check-up, she learned that her health had improved compared to before and got a month’s supply of Chinese medicine. Only then did she leave with her medicine. She kept her face covered as she walked out, and from a distance, she spotted Guan Guiling.

Guan Guiling didn’t recognize He Lan dressed like this, but He Lan immediately recognized Guan Guiling.

Guan Guiling looked terrible. He Lan had only met her once before, when Guan Guiling came to the courtyard to see Bai Fendou. What left an impression on her wasn’t Guan Guiling’s past near-marriage to Bai Fendou but her sickly appearance. He Lan felt Guan Guiling’s complexion was similar to her own when she returned from the countryside.

She hadn’t seen anyone on this street with such a bad complexion.

So she remembered her. But this time, she was even more surprised. Guan Guiling looked even worse. Her face was yellowish, and she gave off the impression of someone seriously ill.

He Lan knew that Guan Guiling should have rested for half a year but went back to work after only two and a half months.

She really couldn’t understand Guan Guiling, was she not afraid of harming herself like this?

Although she recognized Guan Guiling, she pretended not to know her and walked past her. Guan Guiling didn’t even notice a plain woman like He Lan and headed into the clinic. He Lan glanced back but didn’t pay any more attention.

They had no real connection anyway.

He Lan walked out, saw someone selling eggs outside the hospital, but she didn’t approach. Her family had just bought some, so they were well-stocked. But as she passed by, she overheard something about “four fen”…

Even though someone was watching her child, He Lan didn’t loiter outside. After her hospital visit, she went to buy some grain and hurried back home. Once home, she stashed her goods in the cabinet before going to pick up her daughter.

By then, there were already five little ones on Zhuang’s heated bed.

Despite being a few months younger, Xiao Qijin could not yet crawl, but followed the older siblings babbling and happily raised himself up like a carp in front of Little Qingqing. Little Qingqing was interacting with Xiao Qijin when she suddenly saw her mother and immediately threw away the caterpillar, rushing towards her mother shouting, "Baby, waaaah!"

Clearly, she wanted to call out "Mama! Mama!"

He Lan quickly picked up the child and said, "Oh, you, how could you run out like that?"

Little Qingqing showed her tiny teeth and laughed.

He Lan gently poked her chubby cheek and said, "Go play with the other kids."

Even though Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou weren't getting along well now, Xiao Qijin and Little Qingqing were great friends. They loved playing together the most. He Lan sat down and said, "I saw someone selling eggs at the hospital gate today for four cents each. I glanced from a distance - they weren't as big as the ones we bought."

"Four cents? We bought ours for three cents last time," Aunt Zhou exclaimed with delight. She loved any opportunity to get a bargain, even if it was just a small difference.

After all, the eggs they bought were quite large.

Zhao Guihua: "Four cents at the hospital gate?"

"That's right!"

He Lan said, "As we approach the end of the year, everything is bound to rise in price."

Although it was only late December and the Lunar New Year was still far away in mid-February, it was undoubtedly the season for preparing New Year's goods. Even the black market prices for pork were rising. Eggs, pork, frozen fish - all would inevitably increase in price during the year-end.

Only rice and grains remained relatively stable.

No one dared to raise the price of rice and grains drastically. Last year, due to rain leading to a shortage of grain, the black market prices went crazy. Eventually, the black market was shut down. It was unprecedented to shut down the black market before the New Year.

After all, everyone wants to celebrate the New Year, and the supply quota is limited. To have a good celebration, one inevitably has to go to the black market. Even leaders and the speculators' office want to celebrate the New Year. Moreover, those who can operate a black market usually have some connections; they’re not easy to take down.

But this situation depends on one thing - grain.

Grain is the foundation, something that absolutely cannot be touched. Anyone who dares to make a fortune off grain is courting disaster. That’s why, last year, when the grain price increased, trouble immediately followed. So, although New Year's goods prices are rising this year, the price of grain remains the same.

Zhao Guihua: "So the last batch of eggs we bought was a good deal."

The last time they bought eggs, they picked out only the largest ones - the kind that the black market sells separately for three to five cents. Didn't He Lan say today that the eggs she saw were smaller and still priced at four cents?

Aunt Zhou frowned and said, "I think I bought too few."

Aunt Wang also regretted and pounded her thigh, "I bought the least too! What a loss!"

When she bought the eggs, her husband, Li the Cook, had complained about why she bought so many since they already had chickens. But when he saw the size, he stopped talking. At the time, she didn't pay much attention, but now she realized that her sly old man knew it wasn’t a bad deal.

Zhao Guihua: "There's no way a seller would only come once. They'll surely come again. Luo Xiaohe even asked me to get them three hundred eggs if I hear of such a deal again."

Aunt Wang: "..."

She sighed, "They bought too many."

Zhao Guihua: "They don't raise chickens. Besides, these eggs are big and worth it. Each one is practically one and a half in size - isn’t that worth it?"

"Yes, that’s true."

Aunt Zhou: "That guy must have been selling for the first time, not even dividing into cents. Such a big bargain fell into our laps, but hey, we won’t lose no matter how many more of such sellers come."

She hoped for more sellers like that.

Zhao Guihua: "Isn’t that just great?"

While they were chatting, they heard hurried footsteps. And, sure enough, more hurried footsteps.

Wang Zizhen hurried over from the next courtyard, breathlessly saying, "I guessed you'd all be here. That egg seller is back."

Everyone's eyes lit up. Oh, this guy is really hard to forget! It’s only been a few days, but he's already back?

"Let’s go, let’s go check it out."

Zhao Guihua glanced at Aunt Wang, who decisively said, "I’ll go get Li Fang to watch the kids."

Li Fang, the all-purpose babysitter.

As soon as Li Fang arrived, everyone rushed out. Zhao Guihua said, "How is there still such a good deal?"

Everyone laughed. This time, it was the same delivery man with his donkey cart, but this time he had parked in their alley. Beside him was a gentle, farm-looking old lady in her fifties.

This time, the cart had six baskets of eggs and several baskets of fish, more fish than eggs. Wang Zizhen, heavily pregnant, was quite pleased. She said, "As soon as I came out of the toilet, I saw their donkey cart. I recognized this uncle; he was the one who sold things last time. As soon as I saw him, I knew he was here to sell stuff again, so I hurried to tell you all."

Zhao Guihua: "You're quick, but you’re also quite pregnant. With the snow on the ground, be careful on the slippery roads."

Wang Zizhen: "I know."

By this time, Aunt Zhou had already started asking about the prices. Upon hearing it was the same price as last time, everyone was overjoyed. Zhao Guihua: "How about the fish? What’s the price for the fish?"

The kindly old lady, Aunt Shuihua, smiled and said, "Our fish were just caught from the river, very fresh. Two yuan each, you can pick any."

Zhao Guihua glanced and knew in two words: worth it!

Really worth it!

Forget about the prices in the grocery store, just the fact that you can pick any fish makes it worth it. These fish were really large.

Zhao Guihua: "If we buy more, can you give us a discount?"

Aunt Shuihua smiled and said, "If you buy ten, I’ll give you one extra."

Zhao Guihua: "Then I’ll definitely get ten."

Even the grocery store sells them for two yuan, but the sizes aren’t as good as these. Zhao Guihua didn’t need to pick; just looking at the top fish, it was already one and a half times bigger than what the grocery store sells.

Everyone hurriedly picked their fish - since they could pick any, of course, they chose the largest ones. Being the first to arrive, they all got the biggest fish.

Zhao Guihua quickly ran home, then came back to pick eggs. Since Luo Xiaohe had asked her for help, she certainly had to do it.

The group bought with great enthusiasm, and soon others joined in.

After choosing the eggs, Zhao Guihua heard Aunt Shuihua chatting with others on the cart: "In our village, everyone calls me Aunt Shuihua. This is my son, Song Shu."

Zhao Guihua was momentarily surprised, then quickly continued. After finishing her purchase and paying, seeing Aunt Shuihua still chatting with others, she thought it wasn’t good to gather like that. After buying, they should quickly leave. Their group finished their purchases and left quickly.

Wang Zizhen couldn’t resist buying fifty more eggs, and ten more fish.

Others did the same, each household buying at least ten fish. After all, buying ten gets you one free. Everyone happily entered the courtyard, when they saw Yinlai standing at the doorway. He looked at Aunt Wang and said, "Aunt Wang, I... I also want to buy some."

He seemed a bit nervous but still said, "My mom said that if there’s another chance like this, I should buy some too."

This wasn’t fake. Last time, several people in their courtyard bought good eggs, and others knew about it. Wang Xiangxiu had to work and couldn’t take advantage of such opportunities, but since Yinlai was always at home, she entrusted her son to buy them.

Since getting injured, Yinlai had rarely interacted with the people in the courtyard, so he was very nervous and even stuttered.

But he remembered what his mother said, that he could go to Aunt Wang, who was the neighborhood committee head and would help. It was because of this that Yinlai kept urging himself on, finally venturing out. Aunt Wang was taken aback for a moment but then said, "Alright, you can come. Look, this fish is buy ten, get one free, and these eggs are three cents each. How much do you want to buy?"

Aunt Wang certainly wouldn't quibble with a child, even though their family had been a bit problematic before. But this past year, they had been keeping a low profile. Without Su Jinlai leading the way, Yinlai and Tonglai had both become much more normal. As younger kids, it was easier for them to change their ways.

But Su Jinlai, being a bit older, was harder to reform. After two incidents of stealing, he was still in a juvenile correctional facility receiving education.

Aunt Wang: "I recommend you buy ten fish, as you get one extra, which is a good deal."

Yinlai didn't dare look up, saying, "I'll listen to you."

"What about the eggs? How many do you want?"

Yinlai knew they usually bought a lot, so he said, "Fifty, maybe..."

"Okay, come with me. Do you have enough money?"

"I have ten yuan."

It was what his mother had left.

Aunt Wang: "That's not enough. The fish alone will cost twenty. If you're sure you want to buy, I can lend you the money, but you have to pay me back."

Yinlai nodded immediately.

Zhao Guihua put her things down and said, "I'll come with you."

Aunt Wang and Zhao Guihua led Yinlai back to the market. The combined force of two old ladies was not to be underestimated. They quickly picked out ten big fish for Yinlai. These fish, though great, were something most people couldn't afford, so they didn't sell fast. Apart from them, others would only buy one or two.

Truth be told, if it weren't for Zhao Guihua buying ten at once, Aunt Wang and the others wouldn't have bought that many either. They were completely influenced by Zhao Guihua, always thinking that this old lady knew how to get a good deal.

Aunt Shuihua looked at Yinlai, her eyes filled with warmth. "This boy looks so sturdy, with his fair and clean face. He seems like a healthy kid..."

Before she could finish, she saw Yinlai cough violently, as if he might pass out any second.

She: "..."

Aunt Wang sighed and said, "Yinlai, go home quickly. The temperature difference is too much for you right now, just go home."

"No, it's... it's fine..."

"Don't be stubborn."

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, let's go together. We've already picked everything."

They quickly finished up and took Yinlai home. The two of them escorted him back, and when Yinlai tried to hand over the money, Aunt Wang said, "Don't give it to me yet. Wait until your mom comes back, and you can pay me together. The eggs are three cents each, and the fish are two yuan each. Remember to tell your mom."

Yinlai nodded quickly.

"It's pretty cold in your place," Aunt Wang remarked casually.

Yinlai: "I... I didn't heat the kang to save some money."

Zhao Guihua was silent for a moment, seeing Yinlai's timid and shivering appearance. She said, "If you're feeling cold, come to my place. Everyone's there chatting, and it's quite lively."

Yinlai was taken aback, not expecting such kindness from Zhao Guihua. He hesitated for a moment, then looked at her and nodded, "Okay."

Then, after a pause, he said, "Thank you, Grandmother Zhao."

Zhao Guihua: "It's nothing."

If Yinlai were still an unruly child, Zhao Guihua wouldn't have gone out of her way to be kind. But seeing how he was now, she felt it was no big deal to extend a little kindness. That's just how people should be.

Yinlai sat down with his sewing basket, joining the group of older women.

When Li Fang saw Yinlai joining them, she raised her eyebrows in surprise but didn't say anything. Fortunately, Zhao Guihua's house had a heated kang, so everyone gathered there comfortably. The more people there were, the warmer the room felt.

Yinlai sat on a chair, placing his basket on a small cabinet beside him. He greeted everyone one by one, his face turning red. Although no one else seemed to mind, he was the one who felt embarrassed first.

Zhao Guihua thought to herself that in his previous life, this boy's mother was actually a robber, while now he seemed like a little innocent vegetable. It truly showed how a person's childhood can deeply shape their life. Thinking about it, Yinlai, despite being a bit wild, was indeed the easiest among the Su brothers to reform.

In his previous life, Su Jinlai had been in and out of jail like it was nothing, always stealing, leaving his wife and kids to be taken care of by their grandmother and Wang Xiangxiu. Tonglai would seek out rich older women when young and later con naive young girls into supporting him, always relying on women for money. But Yinlai, after serving time for robbery and injuring someone, came out and genuinely reformed, focusing on hard work.

So now, after being trampled by a pig and thoroughly "educated," Zhao Guihua believed he had truly changed.

Zhao Guihua looked at Yinlai but didn't pay much more attention. Instead, she said, "Don't you think the two people selling things today were a bit odd?"

Aunt Zhou didn't think much of it. "Where's the oddness? I think they were pretty normal. You got a good deal on their stuff, and now you're saying they were odd? That's not right."

Zhao Guihua gave her a look and said, "Only someone as foolish as you would think that. Wasn't there something odd about them?"

He Lan nodded. "Odd."

Seeing someone agreeing with Zhao Guihua, Aunt Zhou said reluctantly: "Why are you sucking up to Zhao Guihua? She says it's odd, and you say it's odd too. Then tell me, what was odd about them?"

He Lan wasn't sucking up; she genuinely thought so. She explained, "It really is odd. She introduced herself."

Even during black market dealings, she wouldn't dare casually introduce herself, afraid of being recognized.

"Ah?"

Aunt Zhou was puzzled. "What's wrong with introducing herself?"

Aunt Wang finally caught on. "Right! Why would she introduce herself? As a black market trader, she should be afraid of being recognized. Why did she introduce herself?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Guihua agreed, feeling there was something off here.

At this point, Wang Zizhen was also with them in Zhao Guihua's home. She said, "I also think it's strange. Just now, I didn't react, but now that you mention it, it does feel off. The fish we bought were way too cheap."

On this point, she had the most credibility.

She explained, "You know my husband and I often go fishing. There are people at the riverbank who secretly swap fish, which is basically selling. Even just at the riverbank, a fish of this size would cost three yuan. Yet he sold it for two yuan. Isn't he making any money? These can't all be fish they caught themselves, right? Even if they were, two yuan seems too low. I don't buy that."

Their fish was so big compared to the fish at the grocery store that it was like comparing a father to a son. These big fish, if bought directly by the river, might not even cost three yuan.

The grocery store prices were fixed, and the black market usually sold things for slightly more. Yet, even comparing them to the grocery store, these fish were bigger, yet they were sold for less. Black market traders taking such risks and selling at such a low price—wasn't that strange?

Zhao Guihua: "See, everyone thinks it's odd, right?"

Aunt Zhou: "You guys make sense now. So, why are they selling so cheap? Their source is dodgy?"

Zhao Guihua: "I don't know. Maybe. I can't be sure, but it just feels off."

Somehow, she just felt something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Her alert radar told her there was definitely something amiss.

"We need to be careful."

She added, "And they're coming way too often. Usually, these black market traders move around and don't frequent the same place often. But in just a few days, they've been here twice."

Aunt Wang: "Should we inform the neighborhood committee?"

Zhao Guihua: "Let's observe a bit more first. If we act too hastily, we might end up wronging people."

"That makes sense."

"Let's wait and see if they come again."

"Alright, I think that's a good idea."

Then Aunt Zhou giggled gleefully. "In that case, if they come again, we should buy more. Since their prices are so good, if they get caught for something, we might not get such deals anymore. So, while we can, we should grab as much as possible."

"That makes sense."

Aunt Zhou: "No, I have to go out and buy a few more big fish. Just in case they stop coming later."

Like a gust of wind, she darted out again, only remembering her child at the door, turning back to say, "Take care of Qijin again for me."

Xiao Qijin didn't even pay attention to his grandma, just babbled along with Little Qingqing. Whether grandma had left or not—no one knew!

Wang Zizhen: "Then I'll go take a look too."

Zhao Guihua laughed and said, "You and your husband both know how to fish. Why are you going?"

Wang Zizhen nodded, "It's not a loss."

She supported her waist as she walked out, and Yin hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should I buy a little more?"

Zhao Guihua: "You don't need to buy anymore. The rest of us have already bought a lot, and we've picked through them. The ones left aren't as big. Besides, your family isn't that big, so you don't need to buy so much. They’re mostly for people who go out a lot, and their purchases aren’t all for themselves. They probably also buy some to give as New Year's gifts. You’re different, you don’t need that."

Yinlai quickly nodded.

Yinlai spent a small day at Zhao Guihua’s house, only returning home in the evening when Tonglai got out of school.

When Wang Xiangxiu got off work and returned home, she was completely stunned. Unlike Yinlai, who was a child and didn't understand these things, Wang Xiangxiu was in charge of the household's food and expenses, so she naturally knew how well these things were bought.

Yinlai: "Mom, this is what I bought today with Aunt Wang and Aunt Guihua. Do you think it’s suitable?"

Wang Xiangxiu nodded repeatedly, "It’s suitable, of course it’s suitable. Twenty dollars for eleven big fish—there’s no better deal than this. And the eggs are good too."

Although eleven big fish were a bit too much, the price was right, and in the winter, they wouldn’t go bad. They could be stored and eaten slowly. Even the eggs surprised her, "These are big eggs."

No wonder they all said it was a good deal last time.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

Wang Xiangxiu could now see that people who stayed at home all day might really find good deals. Unfortunately, she couldn’t do that because she was at work. Good thing her son was capable. Wang Xiangxiu lavishly praised Yinlai, who was so happy that snot bubbles almost came out of his nose.

However, Yinlai also told his mom about Zhao Guihua’s suspicions. Wang Xiangxiu: "They suspect those two have issues?"

Yinlai nodded, "That's what Aunt Guihua and the others said."

Wang Xiangxiu thought for a moment and said, "I’ll leave thirty dollars at home. If they buy anything in the future, you buy it too. Don’t be afraid of spending money. I’m guessing this cheap deal won’t last long."

Yinlai: "Okay."

Wang Xiangxiu picked up her small purse and went to the backyard to return the money. Although it cost money, she felt comfortable.

The whole courtyard was in a good mood because of the cheap purchases, but not everyone felt the same. That is, the two who came to sell things today—Aunt Shuihua and Song Shu.

They finished selling their goods and left quickly. But they didn’t go far, instead entering a large courtyard in the outskirts of the city.

It seems the old ladies in the alley really have sharp eyes—it turns out they were right about these two. There really is something wrong with them. The two drove a donkey cart back to the courtyard and gathered with a few others.

This house seemed to be a family. Aunt Shuihua, an elderly woman, a middle-aged woman, a young bride, and two men, as well as two boys—a total of seven people.

They were indeed a family. Aunt Shuihua was the mother-in-law. The two men were her sons. The middle-aged woman was Aunt Shuihua’s eldest daughter-in-law, and the two boys were her grandsons. They were a family of four. The young bride was Aunt Shuihua’s second daughter-in-law, and she hadn’t had a child yet.

Of course, they weren’t called Aunt Shuihua and Song Shu at home. Those were just aliases they used when outside, even at home, they used these aliases to avoid accidentally slipping up when they were out.

As soon as the two returned, the eldest daughter-in-law came up to greet her husband and mother-in-law, saying, "It’s so cold, I’ve heated some egg water for you."

Aunt Shuihua had no trace of the kind and gentle demeanor she showed outside. Her kindness was all an act. In reality, she was far from it. She made a living relying on her appearance. She sat in the main seat, took a sip of the egg water, and said, "This weather is freezing."

The eldest daughter-in-law asked, "Mother, did you sell everything?"

The old woman nodded, "Sold it all."

The eldest daughter-in-law gasped in distress, while the younger daughter-in-law exclaimed, "If it’s all sold out, isn’t that a loss?"

They didn’t actually have these goods themselves; they were all bought goods. Selling them at such a low price meant the more they sold, the more they lost. After all, the prices they bought them at varied, and some were more expensive.

Thinking of this, she said with heartache, "We should raise the price."

"Foolish!"

The old woman slammed the bowl onto the table, looking at the younger generations in the family, "You really lack my wisdom. How foolish, absolutely foolish. Don’t you think, if we didn’t sell cheaply, we could get their favor?"

The younger daughter-in-law whispered, "So selling cheaply gives us their favor?"

Aunt Shuihua frowned and said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, you tell her. Why do I sell things at a lower price?"

The eldest daughter-in-law explained, "By selling cheaply, everyone welcomes us. The more we go, the more familiar we become with them, and they won’t be vigilant against us. If we went directly there, that area is a residential compound where everyone knows each other. Those old ladies are sharp-eyed. We’d be noticed immediately, and we couldn’t do anything. But now that we frequently go to sell things, we become familiar with them, and they won’t be on guard against us. In the future, when we go again, we won’t arouse suspicion."

Aunt Shuihua nodded, "That’s right. You’re the clever one, eldest daughter-in-law."

The eldest family members were proud of their wisdom.

The young bride bit her lip, still a bit confused, and asked, "Then why don’t we sell even cheaper? Why do we keep this price?"

Aunt Shuihua was happy to enlighten the newly married daughter-in-law, nurturing her growth. She said thoughtfully, "If you sell too cheaply, people will suspect something is wrong. Then when they report it, we’d be watched. So our prices must be set just like the official grocery store’s. That way, people feel they’re getting a good deal without it being exaggerated. They can take advantage, but they won’t feel anything is off. This way, we can slowly blend in."

"Mother, I understand."

Aunt Shuihua continued, “Moreover, we sell a lot each time, pushing the donkey cart loaded with baskets. People get used to it, and eventually, they won’t find anything unusual. When the time comes, we hide kidnapped children in the baskets to transport them away. They won’t realize it for a while. They’ll never think we’d hide a child in a basket."

This old woman was quite proud of herself. She said, "Don’t feel like we’re losing money now. This is just the cost. With this cost, our operation is more secure. When we kidnap and sell a batch of boys, how could we not make a fortune? Who cares about losing a few dollars today?"

Who could have imagined that this seemingly kind-hearted old lady was actually a kidnapper?

In fact, kidnappers are rarely those who look particularly fierce. Such people would immediately raise suspicions and wouldn’t be able to kidnap anyone. Generally, those who seem harmless are the ones who succeed.

Aunt Shuihua, who went by this alias, was of this type. She appeared as a nice old lady, but in reality… only she knew how vile and disgusting she was inside.

"In our line of work, it's a matter of life and death, so we must be extremely careful. We've spent money, but it's for our own protection. How else would we scout the area? This is the safest way to do it. Plus, it helps with the follow-up; we can't afford to be careless. If you're careless, you might get caught, and if that happens, you could be beaten to death. Even if you're not beaten to death, the conditions in prison aren't great. People like us—kidnappers, rapists—are hated by everyone inside. Your father went in, and when people found out he was a kidnapper, they beat him up every day. Eventually, he just couldn't take it anymore and passed away. Damn it, even among bad people, they think they're better than us."

"Exactly!"

Aunt Shuihua: "That's why we need to take extra precautions and be more discreet."

"Mom, we understand."

Aunt Shuihua: "With this batch, if we can get hold of ten or so kids, we'll be set."

"Mom, do you think Su Jinlai can be trusted? Is what he says reliable?" This was her second son asking.

At this question, the teenager jumped in: "Uncle, why are you doubting my abilities? I've been in this business since I was a kid. With someone like Su Jinlai, all it takes is a few questions, and he spills everything. He has no idea we're planning to kidnap people. He thinks of me as a friend, so why would he lie to me? I've already checked everything. He has a younger brother, about seven or eight years old, just the right age to sell. They also have several babies in their courtyard, all born around the same time. Only two of them are boys, one from the Zhuang family and one from the Zhou family. I remember it clearly. There's also Li the Cook's family; they have two older boys, about ten years old. And then there's the neighbor's courtyard..."

He had gathered information on all the boys in that area.

He ended up in a juvenile detention center for stealing food, where he coincidentally met Su Jinlai. Su Jinlai was a notorious thief who got caught stealing valuables, and they ended up spending two months together, getting to know each other well. Unlike Su Jinlai, who had to stay inside for a longer time, his crime was minor, so he was able to get out early. Once he was out, he shared what he had learned about the families inside the detention center. It turned out that Su Jinlai's neighborhood had a lot of kids, which expanded their opportunities.

"I've checked everything thoroughly! Su Jinlai isn't lying!"

"I'm not saying he's lying, but we need to be careful, right?"

Aunt Shuihua raised her hand to silence everyone and said, "My grandson is right. The information about that area from Su Jinlai is accurate."

While selling their goods, they had also discreetly inquired about the neighborhood and found that the information matched.

Song Shu: "Mom, the information is accurate, but what about these ten-year-old boys? Are they still suitable?"

Aunt Shuihua: "Why not? Older boys can be sold to mountain villages. They won't mind the age because these boys can take on farm work and act as heirs right away. People in the city, on the other hand, prefer younger kids who are too young to remember anything and can be raised as their own. I've thought this through carefully. But remember, we don't want girls. Little girls don't sell well."

"We understand."

"And when it comes to women, we only want adults, not little girls."

Given the current situation where people can't even feed their own families, no one wants to raise a girl. But... "Mom, what about pretty young women or wives? Should we go for them too?"

Aunt Shuihua smiled and said, "Of course we should!"

She explained, "Those old bachelors in the mountains would love that."

Such a transaction could be quite profitable.

She added, "If possible, yes, but our main focus should still be on kids. They're easier to transport."

"We understand."

This entire family was used to this kind of business.

Aunt Shuihua smiled slightly and said, "We should visit a few times before the new year, get familiar with the place, and then act on New Year's Eve!"

"But... on New Year's Eve?"

Aunt Shuihua firmly said, "That's the best time. During the New Year's celebrations, the streets are full of fireworks. If a child struggles or shouts, the sound of the firecrackers will cover it up, and no one will notice. Plus, kids are usually out playing in the streets during the New Year, making them easier to pick out and handle."

"You're so clever!"

Aunt Shuihua chuckled smugly.

But will she succeed?

It's hard to say!