My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Zhao Guihua marched home with her head held high, followed by a string of people trailing behind her like gourds.

Not a single one dared to make a sound. Liang Meifen, despite her discomfort, obediently followed, fearing that her mother-in-law might fly into another rage and unleash a flurry of punches. The old lady was a formidable fighter.

Her ultimate finishing move was yanking hair—so effective that even a full head of hair could be turned into a bald patch.

Liang Meifen didn’t dare speak much, trailing behind like a timid quail.

The others also kept their mouths shut. When they encountered onlookers on the road, they immediately puffed out their chests, making it seem as though they were a grand army returning from some great mission. He Lan, caught in the middle, felt completely out of place.

Holding her child, she trembled as she followed, afraid to fall behind.

What a spectacle! What a spectacle indeed!

The group returned to the courtyard, where Zhuang Zhiyuan had also just arrived. The two Zhuang brothers were gathered around the children, playing with them. Hutou and the others were there too. Xiao Yanzi, much quicker-witted than her brother, immediately stood up when she saw her grandmother return. "Grandma, you're back! Come sit down."

Zhao Guihua rolled up her sleeves and said, "Sit? No time for that. Eldest, hand the child to Third Brother. We're going to the Liang family to settle some scores!"

She wasn’t about to let this go. If she didn’t teach them a lesson now, they’d think they could walk all over her. It was like stepping on a toad—not deadly, but disgusting. She absolutely wasn’t going to let it slide.

Zhao Guihua felt she had been too lenient in the past, allowing her in-laws to think they could push her around. But this time, they had gone too far. She rolled up her sleeves and said, "I’ve given them too much face. If I don’t show them who’s boss, they’ll think I’m an easy target!"

Zhuang Zhiyuan had already learned about the situation from his younger brother and felt deeply uncomfortable. If it were up to him, he would have advocated for peace and harmony, reasoning that educated people shouldn’t resort to violence.

But since his mother was taking charge, he decided it was best to follow her lead. Sometimes, having someone else take the lead made life simpler.

Zhuang Zhiyuan agreed, "Alright!" He trusted his mother—she never let anyone take advantage of her.

Old Man Zhuang had also returned from work with the group. He asked, "What about me?"

Zhao Guihua gave her husband a once-over and said, "You come too. We’ll need someone to play the good cop."

Old Man Zhuang, having collaborated with Zhao Guihua for many years, nodded knowingly. "Got it."

Liang Meifen hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to actually go to her parents’ house to make trouble, but thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising. Given Zhao Guihua’s temperament, it was a miracle she had held back this long. Her parents had really crossed a line this time, even daring to ask for her job.

The thought made Liang Meifen’s heart ache. Her parents had never cared about her well-being. Everything revolved around her younger brother. She was just an insignificant cabbage in their eyes.

This time, Liang Meifen was truly hurt.

She had already given her job to her brother, and now they were eyeing her sister-in-law’s position. Was she just a blood donor for that couple?

Still, she hesitated and said, "Mom, maybe we should let it go? My mother has already learned her lesson."

Zhao Guihua shot her a glance. "You think your father and brother are any better? They’re the ones egging this on from behind the scenes. If I don’t make them understand the consequences this time, they’ll dare to do it again. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill them."

Liang Meifen breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good, that’s good."

The others silently looked at Liang Meifen. Was not killing them really the issue?

Did she even know how fearsome Zhao Guihua could be?

But it was understandable that Zhao Guihua had reached her limit.

Moreover, Zhao Guihua going over to fight wasn’t a big deal. If Liang Meifen had hit her own parents, it would have been seen as unfilial, a serious accusation. But if Zhao Guihua beat up her in-laws, it was just another day in the neighborhood.

These were good times for muddling through conflicts!

Aunt Wang rubbed her hands together, declaring righteously, "I’m coming with you. I wouldn’t feel at ease otherwise."

Aunt Zhou was also eager to join the spectacle. "Oh, I’m coming too. If you go to their turf and they call their neighbors for backup, you’ll be at a disadvantage. We’ll come along to back you up, whether or not we actually fight!"

Wang Zizhen chimed in, "Me too! I’m coming!"

She looked at Zhao Guihua with admiration, thinking how impressive the old lady was.

This was how women should be—strong and unyielding!

Da Qiang arrived just then and gently pulled his wife aside, pleading, "Sweetheart, you’re pregnant. You’re different from the others. Take it easy."

Wang Zizhen was resolute. "Women work in the fields even when they’re seven or eight months pregnant. I’m not that delicate."

Da Qiang: "..."

"What? Zhao Guihua is going to fight?" Bai Fendou was thrilled. He grabbed his wife. "Let’s go too!"

He might get hurt in a fight, but watching others fight was pure joy!

Zhao Guihua didn’t care what anyone else said. If it weren’t for needing to bring Zhuang Zhiyuan along, she wouldn’t have even come back home—she would have gone straight to the Liang family’s compound to deal with them. With a wave of her hand, everyone followed. Zhuang Zhixi called out, "Hey, wait! What about the kids? Why am I always stuck with them? I want to go too!"

Zhuang Zhixi felt utterly wronged. He wanted to see the action too, but instead, he was left with even more kids to watch.

Bai Fendou sneakily handed over his daughter, Bai Qingqing, and quickly pulled He Lan along to catch up. Zhuang Zhixi looked at the five drooling, giggling toddlers and poked one lightly. "Look at your parents. How can they just dump you on me to go watch the fun? Am I a babysitter?"

Oh, and his own child was there too, but his wife had also run off to join the excitement.

No difference.

No matter how much he complained, everyone was gone, leaving him behind. They were all so inconsiderate.

Zhuang Zhixi sighed, "I’m so pitiful, I..."

"Xiao Zhuang, where’s your mom?" Zhang San rushed in, panting.

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "She just left, heading south. Why?"

Zhang San exclaimed, "I thought I’d miss the show! I’m going after them!"

With a whoosh, he dashed off, desperate not to miss out.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

What’s wrong with these people?

You’re all really something!

Take me with you!

Zhuang Zhixi looked at the five little ones and poked one again. "Look at you, causing me so much trouble! I was supposed to be the messenger, but now I’m stuck here babysitting. Life is hard."

No matter how much he grumbled, the courtyard was empty.

Even Hutou and the other kids had gone, all of them inexplicably eager to join the fun.

He snorted, pulled out his father’s reclining chair, and lay down in the courtyard. Well, he was now the gatekeeper of the kindergarten...

Lan Sihai came in and saw this scene. He frowned, "Why are you alone?"

Zhuang Zhixi, seeing someone had finally returned, jumped up and said, "Grandpa, I’m so miserable... Let me tell you..."

He launched into a rapid-fire explanation.

Lan Sihai slapped his chest in regret. "I’m so annoyed! Why did I come back late?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Lan Sihai’s wife, Luo Xiaohe, smiled and said, "I’ll take care of the kids. You two sit down for a bit."

Zhuang Zhixi thanked her, "Thank you, Aunt Luo."

Luo Xiaohe chuckled, muttering, "What kind of messy titles are these?"

But she didn’t say more. Instead, she pulled out a rattle and shook it, instantly capturing the children’s attention. They all giggled happily. Zhuang Zhixi remarked, "Oh."

Lan Sihai explained, "I was late because I went to buy toys for Tuantuan and Yuanyuan after work."

Zhuang Zhixi said, "Thank you, Grandpa."

Lan Sihai added, "The toy I mentioned isn’t this rattle. I also had someone make a string of little bells for them."

He pulled them out of a bag and said, "Look, you can hang these on the window. When they spin clockwise, the bells will ring. If you’re too lazy to spin them, just crack the window open, and the wind will make them chime."

Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed, "Wow, Grandpa, you’re amazing."

He may seem frivolous, but his words were sincere. He lowered his head, pondering, "What's the principle behind this?"

Lan Sihai replied, "You don’t even do this kind of work. How would you understand?"

"I’ll study it, then."

Lan Sihai scoffed, "Studying this is pointless. I’m planning to assemble a radio. Want to come and watch?"

Zhuang Zhixi’s eyes lit up. "Yes!"

Lan Sihai nodded, "Alright, come on then."

Zhuang Zhixi happily followed, "I’ll learn from you properly."

Lan Sihai glanced at him and said, "I don’t teach useless people. If you want to learn from me, you’d better be serious."

"Got it."

Zhuang Zhixi thought his grandfather was a true marvel. It seemed like there was nothing he couldn’t do. If you talked to him about literature or math, he wouldn’t understand a thing, but when it came to all sorts of odd and unusual knowledge, there was nothing he didn’t know. The old man even understood antiques! He was truly impressive.

The courtyard grew quiet. Meanwhile, Zhao Guihua had already led a group of people to the tenement yard. The living conditions here were generally worse than the courtyard where Zhao Guihua lived. After all, their place was allocated by the machinery factory, and every household had workers.

This place was different.

Zhao Guihua didn’t care about that. She strode in confidently.

As she led the large group into the alley, they immediately drew attention. People quickly pressed themselves against the walls, unsure what was happening but afraid to get involved. The sight of the group, with their furious expressions, made it seem like a fight was about to break out.

Everyone immediately thought of the Liang family in the neighborhood. It wasn’t that they recognized anyone, but earlier that day, the Liang family had returned with bruised faces. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been beaten so badly it was hard to look at them.

At that moment, Old Lady Hu was at home, crying and complaining, "She’s ungrateful! This daughter of ours is a waste. Zhao Guihua beat me, and she didn’t even try to stop it. She just stood there watching! What kind of daughter does that? She doesn’t treat us like family at all."

"She wasn’t just watching—she was hitting me too! Look at me, look at how I’ve been beaten! Tell me, what have I done wrong since marrying into this family? I’ve always put this family first. Even this time, wasn’t I thinking of our family’s future? For our child’s future? A job is a lifelong guarantee, something that can be passed down to our sons and grandsons. If I could get it, it would belong to the Liang family. But now it’s in your sister’s hands, and it’s the Zhuang family’s. Does she deserve it? Does the Zhuang family deserve it?"

"Stop crying. Let me see. They’re truly despicable, the whole lot of them! I’ll go confront them!" Liang Xiaodi was furious. He had always been the treasure of the family. He had several sisters, but as the only boy, he had been pampered since childhood. He was used to his sisters sacrificing for him, and the slightest dissatisfaction felt like a great injustice. His parents had always told him that whatever his sisters had was his.

With this mindset, he was deeply unhappy and wanted to immediately snatch "his" job back.

It was his! If his sister had something good, it was his!

And how dare they hit his wife! How could they lay a hand on her!

"Bastards! Ungrateful wench!" Old Man Liang was also furious. He had thought this matter would be easy, but not only had they failed, they’d been beaten. He said, "No, no, you can’t let this beating go unpunished! Come on, I’ll take you to demand justice. They can’t just get away with this! If they don’t compensate us with Liang Meifen’s job, we’ll go to their courtyard every day and make a scene. We’ll go to their factory gates and cause a ruckus. I don’t believe they aren’t afraid of losing face. I’ll make them infamous, I’ll make them pariahs, I’ll make them..." Old Man Liang ranted, spittle flying.

Old Lady Hu nodded, "Yes, that’s the way to do it. I think it’ll work, I think... Wait, no! Husband, didn’t she say she was coming here?"

Old Lady Hu had almost forgotten but suddenly remembered. She quickly added, "I think she said she was coming to our place."

Old Man Liang was startled. Despite his malicious nature, he was a coward at heart. He always let his wife take the lead while he stayed in the background. That way, if there was any blame, it fell on her, but if there were benefits, they went to the family.

He had it all figured out.

But hearing this, he was scared. "No, she wouldn’t, would she?"

"Dad, we don’t need to be afraid of them. How dare they come here? If they do, I’ll kill them! What kind of people do they think they are?" Liang Xiaodi was arrogant and shouted loudly. He didn’t believe they would actually come!

At that moment, Zhao Guihua entered the courtyard and heard his last words. She quickened her pace, stepped forward, and kicked the door open with a loud bang. "Who are you going to kill?"

Liang Xiaodi exclaimed, "Holy crap!"

The neighbors in the tenement yard had been eavesdropping on the Liang family’s situation. The Liangs were unpopular in the neighborhood, so everyone was eager to watch the drama unfold. When Old Lady Hu and her daughter-in-law had been beaten, everyone had come out to see.

Before they could figure out what was happening, they saw a large group of people entering the courtyard.

The yard’s caretaker was about to step forward but saw Zhao Guihua stride up and kick open the Liang family’s door.

The caretaker quietly stepped back. She was the caretaker, yes, but she valued her life. Some people were not to be messed with. She decided not to get involved.

Zhao Guihua kicked the door open and entered, hands on her hips. "Well? Who are you going to kill? I’m right here. Come on, kill me. If you don’t kill me, you’re my grandson! I think I’ve been too lenient with you, letting you think I’m an easy target!"

"Mother-in-law, what are you doing? This is unreasonable... Ah!"

Old Man Liang stepped forward, trying to reason with her, but Zhao Guihua punched him in the face without hesitation. She grabbed him and delivered two more blows. Zhao Guihua didn’t hold back. "You old scoundrel, do you think I don’t know? You’re the mastermind behind all this! You pretend to be a decent person, but you’re full of schemes. You’ve been directing that shameless woman of yours to cause trouble. What, you think our family is easy to bully? Well, I’ve had enough of you."

Old Man Liang, caught off guard, was dazed by the punches. He tried to fight back, "How dare you hit me! A woman hitting me!"

"I’m hitting you, so what?"

Old Man Liang, though older, was stronger than Zhao Guihua, but she was fierce and relentless. She didn’t give him a chance to catch his breath, slapping him repeatedly.

Old Man Liang cried out, "Ah... you shrew!"

"I’m a shrew? As in-laws, I’ve put up with your family for years! You’re a bunch of leeches, like fleas—disgusting and always jumping around. If I don’t teach you a lesson, I won’t be able to live with myself."

"You shrew, do you still want to be in-laws? You..."

He pushed her away with all his strength.

"How dare you bully my mom!"

Zhuang Zhiyuan stepped forward, "What are you doing?"

Liang Xiaodi sneered, "Brother-in-law, what are you doing? I call you brother-in-law out of respect... Ah!"

The family’s conversations always seemed to end with an "Ah." Zhuang Zhiyuan couldn’t hit his father-in-law—that would be improper. But when his brother-in-law stepped forward, that was a different story.

He grabbed the brat and started slapping him. He wasn’t as skilled at fighting as his mother, but he knew how to slap a face!

“You little brat! I’ve been married to your sister for so many years, and how much have you taken advantage of us? How much have we helped you? Your sister has spent most of her salary on the family, barely leaving a few dollars for herself each month. I’ve let all that slide. But now, you’re even trying to take your sister’s job! She’s sacrificed so much for you, and you’ve been blind to it, acting like it’s all owed to you, over and over again! You really think our family is made up of pushovers, don’t you? Do you know how hurt your sister was when you didn’t even invite her to your wedding? Do you know how heartbroken she was when you kicked her out for that pumpkin-faced wife of yours? Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!”

He wasn’t much of a fighter, but Ming Mei coached him: “Big brother, grab his neck and pin him down. Yes, yes, like that!”

Zhuang Zhiyuan: “I’ve given you face, and now you dare to come asking for a second job! Have you ever thought about your sister’s life? Your family is insatiable, absolutely greedy!”

Oh ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍ho!

Now everyone in the courtyard finally understood why the Liang family’s in-laws were so furious.

Who wouldn’t be? They’d already taken one formal job, and now they wanted a second one?

The audacity was truly astounding.

Even the Great Wall’s bricks weren’t as thick as their shamelessness!

If they got beaten up, it would be completely justified.

Even though the Zhuang family was completely dominating the fight, everyone thought it was fair. Most in-laws would’ve stormed over the first time they asked for a job. A second time? They deserved it!

“Let go of my man!” Pumpkin-face rushed forward, ready to claw at Zhuang Zhixi.

“Let go of my man, damn it!” Seeing Pumpkin-face charge, Liang Meifen let out a howl and lunged forward, grabbing her by the hair. “I’ll teach you to lay a hand on him!”

*Slap, slap!* Two more slaps landed.

Ming Mei shook her head slightly, thinking their fighting skills were quite amateurish. Really, they shouldn’t just aim for the face.

From her years of fighting experience, hitting the face was the least effective move.

Didn’t they see that even Bai Fendou knew better?

Bai Fendou shouted, “Zhuang Zhiyuan, don’t hit him like that! Kick him in the groin! Cripple him!”

The onlookers stared at Bai Fendou in horror. Was he, now rendered useless himself, hoping to populate the world with more impotent men?

Bai Fendou: “If you can’t kick him, just crush it!”

He Lan: “…”

Zhou Qun: “Yeah, yeah, beat him up! Teach him a lesson!”

Jiang Lu: “…”

Their advice didn’t help Zhuang Zhiyuan, but it did teach Liang Xiaodi a thing or two. He lifted his foot, aiming to kick Zhuang Zhiyuan. Liang Meifen: “Watch out!”

Her scream hadn’t even finished when everyone saw a figure move like a gust of wind. Before anyone could react, Ming Mei had already slipped in, smoothly pulling Zhuang Zhiyuan out of harm’s way.

In one fluid motion, she lifted her foot and delivered a kick.

The next moment, Liang Xiaodi was sent flying several meters, crashing into the cabinet with a loud *bang*. The cabinet toppled over, and dishes and plates rained down on Liang Xiaodi, leaving him dazed.

Oh ho!

The fight and the chatter in the courtyard came to a brief pause. The sound of someone swallowing their saliva was audible in the silence.

Ming Mei clapped her hands, retreating from the scene with an air of modesty. She didn’t want to steal the spotlight.

Zhao Guihua was the first to recover. She twisted Old Man Liang’s arm hard, making him gasp in pain, then followed up with a kick to his vulnerable spot. Old Man Liang: “Ahhh!!!”

His scream was truly blood-curdling.

Old Lady Hu, who had already been beaten up at the factory gate earlier, knew full well how formidable Zhao Guihua was in a fight. Despite the chaos, she didn’t dare step in, instead cowering in a corner, trembling. She was already badly injured and couldn’t handle another beating.

Now, Zhuang Zhiyuan didn’t hold back either. He was a civilized man, not much of a fighter, but he was furious. His brother-in-law had just tried to cripple him! How could he not be angry? Thinking about how much this man had eaten, taken, and used from their family, only to turn out to be such an ingrate, Zhuang Zhiyuan didn’t care that Liang Xiaodi was already seeing stars. He strode over and delivered several slaps.

“You little bastard! Are you even human?! Look at what you’ve done! You’re really something, aren’t you?”

He was so enraged that after slapping Liang Xiaodi, he still couldn’t vent his anger. He swept everything off the table, grabbed a broom, and started smashing things wildly.

“Without my wife, could you have lived like this?”

“Without my wife, could you have gotten a job?”

“Without my wife, could you have been so well-fed and plump?”

“Without my wife, could you have even afforded to get married? And now you’re trying to screw us over? I’ll wreck your house!”

Zhuang Zhiyuan grew angrier as he spoke: “Now you really think we’re pushovers, don’t you? Well, not this time! I won’t let this slide!”

*Crash! Bang!*

He wasn’t much of a fighter, and slapping Liang Xiaodi a few times was his limit. But Zhuang Zhiyuan wasn’t without anger. As a scholar, he couldn’t fight well, but he could destroy things.

He couldn’t beat people, but he could smash their belongings.

The room was soon in shambles.

By now, even Liang Xiaodi didn’t dare utter a word.

Liang Meifen, after beating up her sister-in-law, suddenly felt it was all pointless. Her sister-in-law was awful, but she wasn’t family. Her bad behavior was enabled by Liang Xiaodi and the rest. If they hadn’t allowed it, how could she have treated her, the elder sister, so disrespectfully?

With that thought, Liang Meifen’s anger flared up again. She marched over to Liang Xiaodi and started kicking him. “You jerk! You little jerk! I’ve been so good to you all these years, and this is how you repay me? I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful brat!”

“Stop it, Meifen! Stop it!” Old Lady Hu, though unwilling to save her husband, couldn’t bear to see her son suffer. She threw herself over him, shielding him. “You can’t hit him! He’s the only son of the Liang family!”

Liang Meifen: “Pah! I’m married! I’m not part of the Liang family anymore! Isn’t that what you said? That once I’m married, I’m no longer a Liang? Well, I don’t care about that now! Mom, get out of the way! I need to teach him a lesson. If I don’t, he’ll think he can do whatever he wants and that I’m nothing as his sister.”

“You ungrateful child! How can you be so disloyal to your family? Don’t you know how important your maternal family is? Today you’re helping your in-laws bully us, but what if something happens to you tomorrow? Who will stand up for you then?” Old Lady Hu cried out.

That only made Liang Meifen’s eyes widen in fury. She shouted back, tears streaming down her face: “After I gave my job to Liang Xiaodi, you didn’t even let me come home anymore! If something happened to me, you wouldn’t lift a finger! What do you mean, stand up for me? When have you ever stood up for me? All you’ve ever done is demand that I give to the family, that I sacrifice for my brother! Well, I won’t! I won’t become another Su Pandi! Don’t even think about it!”

It had to be said, the Su family had set a rather good example.

Because of their excessive indulgence, so many things had happened. While other places might not have taken notice, the families in Xinghua Lane and the surrounding alleys had all started paying more attention to their children’s upbringing. They didn’t want their kids to turn out like Su Jinlai.

And because Aunt Su had constantly exploited her daughter, Su Pandi had ended up divorced and even jailed due to inappropriate relationships. Many women who had blindly supported their maternal families had woken up. If the maternal family treated everyone equally, helping out was fine. But if it was just about squeezing the daughter for the sake of the son, then forget it. They didn’t want to become another Su Pandi.

So, in a way, the Su family had done some good.

They were like a mirror, reflecting people’s own shortcomings.

It was Su Pandi who had finally awakened Liang Meifen. Although she had always had some clarity before, it was only when Su Pandi went to prison and took all the blame upon herself after her divorce that Liang Meifen truly saw the light. Su Pandi had done it all just to ensure her mother would receive a lighter sentence.

But what about Aunt Su?

She had thrown everything onto her daughter, claiming she knew nothing. All she cared about was saving herself, with no regard for her daughter’s fate.

The thought of it sent a chill through Liang Meifen’s bones, and now she was fully awake. She wasn’t blindly siding with her in-laws anymore. This job—it had to be hers, no matter what. Whether it came from her family or her husband’s, only this job being hers would make it worthwhile.

Only then could she stand tall.

She bit her lip and said, “Mom, don’t talk to me about that. I’ve never been able to rely on you all. The only thing I can count on is having a job to support myself. If you’re thinking of taking advantage, forget it. I absolutely, absolutely will not become the second Su Pandi!”

As she thought this, a surge of anger rose within her, and she yanked her mother aside before slapping her younger brother, Liang Xiaodi, several times across the face!

Old Lady Hu cried out, “My son! My poor son! You heartless wretch!”

The more she wailed, the harder Liang Meifen hit!

Liang Xiaodi cried, “Ah… I was wrong, I was wrong, sis… please stop hitting me…”

It hurt so much!

“Wife, save me!”

But his wife, with her round face, didn’t dare.

She was afraid of getting hit too!

She cowered in the corner, not daring to move.

This family had gone completely mad!

“Don’t think I’m a fool. I’m not!”

As the son was beaten, the daughter-in-law raged, and the wife wreaked havoc, the Zhuang family held an overwhelming advantage. It was then that Old Man Zhuang made his entrance. He said, “Stop fighting, everyone, stop! We’re all family. Harmony is precious!”

Zhao Guihua’s eyes flickered as she said, “They’ve gone too far…”

Old Man Zhuang replied, “I know, I know they’ve gone too far, but we should still win people over with virtue. If you keep making a scene, people will laugh at us. We’re relatives, after all! There’s an old saying, ‘Distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors.’ No, wait, that’s not the right one. There’s another old saying… oh, never mind. The point is, we’ll have to get along in the future. This isn’t the way!”

“In-laws, save me…” Old Man Liang’s voice was weak. Even an old man couldn’t withstand being kicked in a sensitive spot!

Old Man Zhuang said, “Alright, alright, I’ll save you. Just shut up, or I won’t be able to calm them down! Look at what your family has done—how can I even explain this? Wife, even if you don’t care about our daughter-in-law, think of our grandchildren. Let’s give them another chance this time. I’m sure they’ve learned their lesson! Old Liang, say something!”

Old Man Liang was humiliated, but he was in pain, and he couldn’t take it anymore.

He stammered, “I… I… we didn’t mean any harm…”

Zhao Guihua glared at him. “No harm? You deliberately went to the factory to demand a job? How shameless can you be!”

She kicked him again!

Old Man Liang wailed, “This is the end of me…”

“Hurry up and apologize,” Old Man Zhuang urged, winking at Old Man Liang while holding Zhao Guihua back. “Wife, I’m sure they’ve realized their mistake. Calm down. Getting angry isn’t good for you!”

Old Man Liang was truly terrified. “I was wrong, in-law. I was really wrong. I shouldn’t have schemed for your job. Just let us go, please! I can’t take it anymore… I’m just an old man. I’ve learned my lesson…”

Liang Xiaodi also cried out, “I was wrong too… spare me! Don’t hit me anymore! I’ll never do it again, I promise…”

He was in so much pain. This was the first time in his life he’d been beaten so badly!

And, oh no, he’d even been sent flying earlier. Just thinking about it terrified him!

Since when were women so strong?

He sobbed, “I was wrong, sis. I was wrong. I’ll never do it again. Give me another chance. If I ever act up again, you can beat me to death, you can kick me flying… just spare me this time!”

It seemed that only after being beaten could someone truly come to their senses.

Now, Liang Xiaodi was scared. He cried louder than Old Lady Hu and his wife, wailing uncontrollably.

Liang Meifen glared at him, her fists still clenched tightly.

Old Man Zhuang played the role of peacemaker, pulling everyone out one by one. “Wife, let’s call it a day. They’ve admitted their mistakes. Let’s give them another chance. If they ever do this again, I won’t stop you! We’re family, after all!”

He then pulled Zhuang Zhiyuan aside. “Eldest son, I know you’re angry. You’ve been holding it in for so long, but you’ve already vented. Do it for your wife’s sake. You two have a good relationship—don’t let this ruin things…”

He turned to Liang Meifen. “Eldest daughter-in-law, I know you’re frustrated with your brother. If he’s being stubborn, just teach him slowly. If one beating doesn’t work, give him another. Don’t kill him all at once! He’s your own brother…”

Liang Xiaodi cried, “No! No need to teach me slowly. I’ve changed. I’ve changed for good this time!”

If he had to endure this beating every day, he wouldn’t survive.

Old Man Zhuang chuckled. “I knew you were a good kid. I’ll take them away now. You’re the man of the house—you’ve got to step up!”

He pulled everyone out and said, “Nothing to see here, folks. Just a little family quarrel. No big deal. Let’s all move along…”

The onlookers stared in disbelief. The house was wrecked, and people had been beaten to a pulp—and this was just a “little quarrel”?

If this was a small matter, what would a big one look like?

Ming Mei, her big eyes sparkling, chimed in with a smile, “That’s right, we’re all family. Let’s not let a small disagreement ruin the mood. Everyone, calm down…”

The crowd gave her deadpan looks. Oh, sure, as if it wasn’t you who just sent someone flying with a kick!

But as Old Man Zhuang kept repeating “family” and “in-laws,” coaxing Zhao Guihua to leave, it became clear that this spectacle was coming to an end.

Old Man Zhuang said, “Wife, you haven’t even had dinner yet. It’s not good to go hungry. Let’s just call it a day. They’ve admitted their mistakes. Let’s go home and eat…”

As he coaxed Zhao Guihua to leave, he waved his hand behind his back. Old Lady Hu saw it and quickly scrambled to her feet, slamming the door shut and bolting it from the inside!

Old Man Zhuang was a kind soul, but alas, he’d married Zhao Guihua, a shrew.

A good man with a bad wife!

Thankfully, the storm had passed.

Old Lady Hu leaned against the door, letting out a sigh of relief before wincing in pain.

“Ouch.”

“Ouch.”

“Ouch…”

The family’s cries of pain echoed, each louder than the last.

This was truly a case of “trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.”

Old Man Zhuang led everyone out, saying, “Alright, let’s go home. See? We’ve just made a scene.”

Zhao Guihua said, “I was just so angry…”

“You’ve vented, and that’s what matters. Don’t let it upset you. Let’s go home…”

The group that had arrived in a grand procession now left in the same manner.

The Zhuang family didn’t need outsiders to help them fight.

Except for Zhuang Zhiyuan, who seemed a bit useless, everyone else had played their part.

Well, actually, Zhuang Zhiyuan had been useful too—he’d smashed up the Liang family’s place, so they’d suffered even greater losses.

The group’s imposing presence made the crowd instinctively part ways. If this were the ‘90s, someone might have played the theme song from *Young and Dangerous*.

As Zhao Guihua and the others walked back, Ming Mei and Liang Meifen followed behind her like loyal lieutenants.

Although Liang Meifen was the one who got beaten, she wasn’t particularly upset. She knew that her mother-in-law, being an elderly woman, didn’t have the strength to cause serious harm. However, the beating served as a way to prevent her own parents from causing trouble in the future, which was a long-term solution.

Otherwise, given how persistent her parents were, they would have kept showing up at the factory gate to confront her, which would have been humiliating. Sure, this incident was embarrassing too, but once the next piece of gossip surfaced, this one would be forgotten. It wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

But if her parents had kept coming every day, she wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

So, Liang Meifen actually understood her parents well and felt that this was the most appropriate way to resolve the situation.

As the group walked back briskly, many of them were left questioning their lives. For instance, Wang Zizhen, who had lived in the compound for a while, had never seen the Zhuang family resort to violence. Sure, there were troublemakers like Bai Fendou who were always stirring things up, but she hadn’t expected Zhao Guihua to be so formidable.

And then there was… Ming Mei!

While Liang Meifen’s fighting skills were impressive, nothing was as shocking as seeing the seemingly delicate Ming Mei kick someone flying with a single blow.

Even though it was just one kick, it was clear she had trained.

Wang Zizhen’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Ming Mei, whispering to her husband, “Ming Mei is amazing!”

Da Qiang gave his wife a complicated look and whispered back, “She’s always been amazing. You haven’t been here long, but she’s actually quite famous. She’s caught thieves multiple times. Last year during the New Year, she single-handedly took down four or five men, leaving them unable to stand.”

Wang Zizhen exclaimed, “She’s incredible!”

She gazed at Ming Mei with admiration.

Da Qiang: “…I’m nervous!”

Meanwhile, He Lan, who was walking with Bai Fendou, asked softly, “Fendou, are they talking about Ming Mei?”

Bai Fendou nodded. “Yeah.”

He still remembered the time Ming Mei kicked him into a door so hard that the door fell off its hinges.

He grimaced. “That woman is really fierce.”

He Lan was surprised. “I never would’ve guessed.”

She had always thought that the most gentle person in the compound was the Zhuang family’s third daughter-in-law. Ming Mei looked so delicate, even after having children, she still seemed like a young girl. Her soft-spoken voice also made her seem like an easy target.

But as the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving.

He Lan said, “I thought she was the most fragile.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Bai Fendou gave his wife a look and said, “Well, your judgment isn’t always accurate.”

He Lan, rarely playful, teased, “Not really. I thought you were a great guy, and I was right about that.”

Bai Fendou immediately brightened up, letting out a hearty “Mhm!” and squeezing his wife’s hand. He Lan chuckled softly.

To be honest, this was He Lan’s first time participating in such an “activity.” Seeing everyone act so boldly, she felt a sense of empowerment too. It was as if she wasn’t just a helpless little victim anymore.

Bai Fendou whispered, “The women in our compound are all pretty tough. Get along well with them, and even if I’m not home, you’ll have someone to back you up if anyone gives you trouble.”

Although he still liked the idea of He Lan relying on him, he was being sincere.

Bai Fendou was the type of person who wasn’t bad, just genuinely foolish. He liked to see himself as a savior.

People like him could easily be taken advantage of by those with ill intentions. But when they met someone like He Lan, who was kind-hearted and not scheming, they could be decent, even thoughtful partners.

There was a hint of shrewdness in his normalcy.

He Lan nodded. “I know, everyone is nice.”

Bai Fendou said, “Let’s focus on living a good life together.”

He Lan smiled softly. “Okay.”

The group walked down the street, drawing curious glances from passersby. But they didn’t care. What did it matter if people looked? It wasn’t like they were losing anything. They walked for a while before finally reaching the compound. By then, it was already dark, and Zhuang Zhixi had returned from Lan Sihai’s place.

He had corralled the kids inside and even cooked dinner. If he hadn’t, his mother would’ve been furious when she got back. As a son, he knew this well. He had made some flatbread and stir-fried a vegetable dish.

Just as he finished, he heard the commotion outside and hurried out. “You’re back?”

His tone carried a hint of resentment. After all, they had left him behind, not only that but also made him babysit. That was just too much. Zhuang Zhixi said, “You guys are something else, leaving your own kids behind like that.”

Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu quickly wheeled away their stroller, laughing awkwardly as they made their escape.

Bai Fendou was also quick, pushing his stroller away in a flash. Little Bai Qingqing thought it was a game and giggled, waving her tiny hands happily.

Aunt Wang pushed away her chubby little girl, who was already puckering her lips, clearly hungry.

Everyone quickly dispersed to their own homes. Zhuang Zhixi said, “I made dinner.”

He didn’t even need to ask about the outcome of the fight. With his mother involved, victory was a given.

He glanced at his older brother and sister-in-law, noticing they looked fine, and smiled. He said, “I’ll get some pickles.”

In the summer, something refreshing was always nice.

“Sure.”

The family quickly sat down to eat, but Ming Mei first took the children back to their room to feed them. The two little ones were eager, eating hungrily. Once she finished feeding them, she heard the door open and turned to see Zhuang Zhixi coming in.

He wrapped his arms around her and asked, “Are you tired?”

Ming Mei pouted. “Not at all. It wasn’t tiring.”

She then shared a little secret with him. “You know, I always thought Dad didn’t have much presence, but today I realized he’s actually quite clever. He and Mom really worked well together.”

Zhuang Zhixi chuckled. “How so?”

Ming Mei animatedly recounted the day’s events. “I noticed they were doing it on purpose. They kept framing it as a family matter, so no one would see it as a fight. Especially at the end, when Dad convinced the Liang family to leave. They even thanked him. He’s really got a way with people…”

Zhuang Zhixi laughed even harder. “Dad’s not usually the scheming type, but after so many years of marriage, he and Mom have developed a good understanding. It’s not surprising.”

He wasn’t surprised at all. He kissed his wife, his hands growing restless. Ming Mei’s clothes were getting disheveled, so she quickly pushed him away and straightened herself.

Zhuang Zhixi didn’t push further and said, “I’ll watch the kids. You go eat.”

Ming Mei wrapped her arms around his neck. “Okay.”

She rested her head on his shoulder and said, “I’m really lucky.”

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

Ming Mei declared confidently, “I have a great family, both my parents and in-laws.”

She added even more confidently, “And I have a great man.”

Zhuang Zhixi kissed her again and said, “Then you’ll have to reward me properly tonight.”

Ming Mei couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that all you think about?”

Zhuang Zhixi teased, “Don’t you think about it too? Hmm?”

Ming Mei felt his voice had a teasing edge to it. She hummed softly and said, “I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to eat.”

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Go ahead.”

Their family usually didn’t bring the kids to the dining table. The little ones were too curious about food and would start fussing as soon as they smelled it, making it hard to manage. So, they always kept them at a distance during meals.

Zhuang Zhixi said, “Go ahead. I’ll take over later.”

Ming Mei nodded. “Okay.”

There was no need to argue over this.

When Ming Mei entered the main room, she noticed that Hutou and Xiao Yanzi were behaving much better than usual. They had witnessed just how fierce their grandma could be, so they were on their best behavior.

Ming Mei sat down, and Hutou made room for her, saying, “Auntie, eat.”

Ming Mei smiled and said, “Mom, since we got into a fight today, do you think they’ll come back tomorrow to cause trouble? Should I take a day off to stay home and keep an eye on things?”

Zhao Guihua didn’t speak, but Liang Meifen spoke up in a muffled voice, saying, “They won’t come.”

“Huh?” Ming Mei turned to her sister-in-law.

Liang Meifen continued, “They don’t dare. They’ve always been the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. If someone is truly fierce, they won’t provoke them.” She knew her parents well—they only picked on those who were soft-hearted. If someone stood their ground, they would back off.

This time, her parents had been so frightened by the beating that they probably wouldn’t dare to come back.

They were truly spineless.

Ming Mei remarked, “This sounds a bit like Wang Zizhen’s parents.”

“Probably… parents who favor sons over daughters are all like this,” Liang Meifen sighed.

Zhao Guihua, however, analyzed it seriously, saying, “It’s probably because they never had a son, which made them feel inferior. Over time, being laughed at by others, they developed a submissive personality. So even after having a son later, they didn’t change much. People like this only bully the weaker ones at home but don’t dare to confront those who are fierce.”

After all, in these times, not having a son was something to be mocked.

There were quite a few people with such personalities.

“Sigh,” Liang Meifen sighed.

Zhao Guihua glanced at her, and Liang Meifen immediately sat up straight. She was still a bit afraid of her mother-in-law.

But Zhao Guihua didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she said, “When you go to work tomorrow, there will surely be people gossiping about you. Just remember, no matter what others say, don’t take it to heart. Their gossip is their business, but your life is your own.”

Liang Meifen nodded immediately.

She understood this well.

“If anyone brings up the topic of filial piety, just say that you’re willing to be filial to your elders, but absolutely not without limits. Otherwise, you’ll end up like Su Pandi. Once you say that, anyone who still dares to say anything is either foolish or malicious. Just stay away from such people.” Zhao Guihua usually wouldn’t bother saying these things, but her daughter-in-law wasn’t the sharpest, so she felt the need to give her a little guidance.

Besides, if Liang Meifen wasn’t affected by the gossip, she wouldn’t come home with a bitter face.

Zhao Guihua didn’t care much for herself, but she didn’t want Hutou and Xiao Yanzi to be affected.

Zhao Guihua added, “Some people talk behind your back, but it might just be envy. They envy you for getting a job again despite having an unreliable family. So no matter what others say, just ignore them.”

Liang Meifen nodded vigorously. “I understand.”

Ming Mei chimed in, “Sister-in-law, if you need help, just call me.”

Liang Meifen immediately replied firmly, “No need!”

What else could this girl do besides fighting?

She hadn’t planned on fighting today, even though she had ended up in a scuffle. Liang Meifen actually felt a bit embarrassed about it. After all, she wasn’t the type to fight. Most parents in this era would discipline their children by hitting them, but Liang Meifen rarely did that.

She and Zhuang Zhiyuan almost never hit Hutou or Xiao Yanzi, which was quite rare for parents in this era.

Both of them were high school graduates, a very high level of education at the time, so their schooling wasn’t for nothing.

That’s why she wasn’t really good at fighting. Today, she had just been pushed to her limit. However, as a woman, she did have a natural talent for it. Her husband, on the other hand, wasn’t much of a fighter. She suddenly thought about how lucky it was that Ming Mei had stepped in today. Otherwise, her brother might have kicked her husband in a vulnerable spot.

She quickly said, “Ming Mei, thank you so much for today. If you hadn’t acted quickly, we would’ve been at a disadvantage.” Thinking about it, she was still furious. Her brother was such a jerk! There used to be some affection between them, but after this incident, there wasn’t much left.

She cursed, “That little brat! If he messes with me again, I’ll teach him a lesson! I’ll go ask Bai Fendou for advice! I refuse to believe I can’t handle him.”

Her brother was important, but not more important than her husband.

This was about her lifelong happiness.

Ming Mei smiled brightly and said softly, “It’s no big deal. I went along to make sure our family didn’t get taken advantage of!”

As a younger family member, and someone who was somewhat connected but not too directly involved, she couldn’t be too proactive in stepping in, but helping out was always possible!

She declared, “I’m your strongest backup!”

This statement was absolutely true.

The whole family nodded deeply.

Indeed, with Ming Mei around, they weren’t afraid of losing!

And they definitely wouldn’t lose!

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!