My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 186

Early in the morning, the city was bustling with the vitality of early risers.

Zhao Guihua and her group were heading towards the train station, full of hope for a better life. However, in another part of the city, things were different. In the eastern district, in a large compound, every household was also starting their day for work. But this morning, everyone's expressions were weird. Guan Guiling had just woken up to cook breakfast when she saw groups of people chatting in the courtyard.

Confused, she stepped out and asked, "What's going on?"

Her question seemed to startle everyone. Upon seeing her, their faces changed, and their expressions turned as if they had seen something disgusting, trying to avoid her as much as possible. This wasn't a new reaction; previously, people in the compound had distanced themselves from Guan Guiling because she was known for her stinginess and scheming nature.

If it weren't for her husband, Zheng Yufeng, who was good at handling situations, their family would have been treated like a pest. However, today, the disdain was particularly evident.

Guan Guiling frowned and asked again, "What's going on?"

Seeing that no one was willing to talk to her, she became somewhat irritated. However, she didn't dare to confront her neighbors directly, so she turned back and shouted, "Er Ya, Er Ya! You lazy brat, get up and make breakfast! How can you be so lazy? What kind of woman will you be if you keep this up?"

After yelling a few times, there was no response from inside the house.

"Er Ya, you filthy girl, are you too lazy to even move? What a despicable creature you are..."

As she cursed, she entered the house, unaware of the disgust and nausea on everyone's faces. To them, Guan Guiling wasn't just a nuisance anymore; she was a bottomless pit of filth. How could any mother treat her own daughter like this?

Reflecting on this woman's actions, the neighbors thought it was no wonder her two daughters had run away.

Surrounded by such toxicity, who wouldn't try to escape?

Staying would be foolish.

Guan Guiling was oblivious to what others were thinking. Full of resentment, she entered the small room. Their house had two rooms; one for the couple and the other shared by their two daughters, with two bunk beds.

Guan Guiling didn't want to disturb her son, so she tiptoed in and directly approached her second daughter's bed. She threw off the blanket and scolded in a low voice, "You lazy brat..."

But her words stopped abruptly.

The bed was empty; only a pillow was stuffed under the blanket, making it look like someone was sleeping there. But in reality, there was no one.

Guan Guiling's face changed, and she exclaimed, "Where's Er Ya?"

Now she didn't care about disturbing her son's sleep. She quickly woke her two sons and demanded, "Where did Er Ya go?"

It was strange that there was only a pillow in the bed when she should have been there.

This made her extremely anxious.

The absence of Er Ya wasn't the worst part; the deception made it all the more alarming.

Where could she have gone?

She frantically asked, "Do you know? Where did Er Ya go? Why is there only a pillow here?"

Her two sons were half-asleep and grumpy. "How would we know? She was lying in bed, wasn't she? She was there last night."

Their younger brother rubbed his eyes and said, "I think she went out to the bathroom last night, but she never came back."

"If she came back, I wouldn't be asking!" Guan Guiling snapped.

Now she was panicked; Er Ya had run away!

Immediately, she rushed to the inner room, shouting, "Er Ya, Er Ya! Where have you gone?"

Then she stumbled into the main room, yelling, "Husband, Er Ya is gone! What should we do?"

Zheng Yufeng was still asleep when he heard Guan Guiling's frantic cry. Grumpy from being woken up, he sat up but quickly composed himself, asking softly, "What happened?"

Guan Guiling was frantic. "Er Ya is gone."

She had been there last night when they went to bed.

Zheng Yufeng quickly got up, asking, "What's going on? Why would Er Ya suddenly disappear?"

Although Da Ya had caught him red-handed the previous night, Zheng Yufeng wasn't worried. He knew Guan Guiling well enough to know that no matter what he said, she would believe him. Even if Da Ya told her the truth, he was confident he could calm her down and make her believe none of it.

So, yesterday's incident, though revealing his true nature, didn't concern him. He remained calm, certain that Da Ya alone couldn't outmaneuver him.

But now, Er Ya was missing. Last night, it was only Da Ya!

He didn't dare to think about the implications and immediately got up, saying, "Er Ya is only sixteen. She's too young to handle herself. If someone deceived her with some false promises, it could be terrible. Such a young, delicate girl could get into serious trouble. We must find her quickly."

He spoke convincingly, and Guan Guiling nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, yes! But where could that girl have gone?"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she cursed, "That wretched girl, despicable wretch!"

"Mom, stop cursing already! It's annoying, and I can't sleep! If Er Ya's not here, she probably went out to the bathroom," her eldest son grumbled, turning over and going back to sleep, resentful that she had woken him up.

In his mind, Er Ya, a young girl, couldn't have gone far.

And she had no money with her.

Guan Guiling was frantic. "Your sister is really missing..."

"Wife, check if Er Ya's clothes are still there," Zheng Yufeng said as he quickly got dressed.

Together, the couple opened the cardboard box under the bed, where Er Ya kept her belongings. Their home had only one such box for her; the cabinets were used by their two sons.

Guan Guiling hurriedly opened the box and screamed, "Her things are gone!"

Er Ya had only two sets of clothes for washing, both worn out after many years. But now, the clothes were missing.

She cried, "That wretched girl, she must have run away!"

It was clear; if not, the items wouldn't have disappeared. Zheng Yufeng saw this and immediately said, "Oh no! The money at home!"

He rushed back to the bedroom, opened the locked drawer, and saw that the money was still there, letting out a sigh of relief.

Guan Guiling also felt a sense of relief.

She cursed, "She had no money on her. With just those two old clothes, where could she have gone?"

As this family bickered early in the morning, a crowd had already gathered outside, watching. Zheng Yufeng gave Guan Guiling a look, and she quickly stepped out, saying, "My daughter Er Ya has gone missing. Please, fellow neighbors, help us look for her."

Tears streaming down her face, she sobbed, "My child is so young. If something happens to her, it would be like cutting out my heart. Please, help me find my daughter!"

Zheng Yufeng then came out, putting on a sorrowful expression. "Dear neighbors, have any of you seen my daughter Er Ya? If you have any information, please help us. As a father, I'm not in good health and unable to provide a better life for my daughter. It's my fault... But my child is still young. If she's out there alone, who knows what could happen? Whatever the case, I..."

"Pfft!"

As he spoke, Aunt Zhou from the courtyard couldn't hold back and spat, "Stop pretending! Anyone who helps you is heartless and cruel!"

With that, she turned and left.

Zheng Yufeng was stunned. He had always been well-liked in the compound, with everyone feeling sorry for him having to deal with someone like Guan Guiling. But today, the neighbors' reactions were... different.

Aunt Wang, known for her straightforwardness, sneered, "It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover. Disgusting! I wonder why some people are in such poor health. Turns out it's because of their evil deeds. No wonder your daughter ran away. Meeting such family members is a curse. Staying with you would only lead to being exploited until there's nothing left. Disgusting!"

"How dare you!" Guan Guiling couldn't hold back anymore. She wouldn't allow anyone to insult her husband.

She retorted, "You're going too far! If you don't want to help, fine, but why speak like that? I never expected people in the same compound to be so unkind. In my opinion, it's people like you who will get what you deserve."

"Hehehe."

"It's a miracle your daughter ran away with such stupidity. You deserve it."

"Selling your daughter for personal gain. Filthy and shameless."

"W-what are you talking about?" Guan Guiling shouted. However, Zheng Yufeng felt something was amiss. People's attitude towards their family shouldn't be like this. He cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, you all know what kind of person I am in this community. We’ve been neighbors for decades. If there's something going on, please be honest with me. Don’t listen to some random rumors. Are the rumors really more credible than our decades-long relationship? Think about it, am I really the kind of person you think I am?"

Some of the male neighbors seemed to waver after hearing this.

But the women still gave him an expression of disgust. What's he pretending for? If he were a good man, why would he always let Guan Guiling take the lead in everything? Why would he let Guan Guiling support the family? They used to believe he was in poor health. But after more than ten years, he was still healthy and nothing was wrong. Meanwhile, Guan Guiling's health was deteriorating.

As time goes by, the truth becomes clear. They all saw through his true character.

The men tend to stick together, willing to believe Zheng Yufeng, but the women won't!

One male neighbor, who had a good relationship with Zheng Yufeng, couldn't help but pull out a piece of paper and said, "This was slipped under my door. I found it this morning when I opened the door." He cautiously glanced at Zheng Yufeng and added, "Every household has one."

Zheng Yufeng took the paper and almost fainted from anger.

Zheng Yufeng had an affair with his niece, Wang Ju, and attempted to sell us. They set Zheng Huimin up with Fan Debiao, forcing her to run away. They didn’t spare me either, planning to make me earn dirty money before marrying me off. I will never compromise. I’d rather die than let them manipulate me. I will sneak onto a train to the north, to the Soviet Union, and never see them again—Zheng Huifang.

Zheng Yufeng: "This wretch! This wretch! How dare she spread such slander!"

Guan Guiling: "What did she say?"

She stepped forward to read it and instantly turned pale.

Zheng Yufeng immediately put on an indignant expression and said, "Look at this dead girl! She’s holding a grudge against her cousin! How dare she slander us like this? I’m innocent with Wang Ju. You know that, wife. Every time they come, I’m always under your watchful eyes. I treated her well because she’s your niece. I wanted to be polite to her family so they would treat your elder sister better. I did it all for you. I never expected Huifang to say such things. She must be jealous that Wang Ju lives better than her. This girl always had a gloomy demeanor, but I didn’t expect her to be so despicable."

Hearing this, Guan Guiling immediately believed him, gritting her teeth. "This little wretch! If I catch her, I’ll break her legs!"

"Our daughter is quiet and reserved, but she’s ruthless. She dares to slander her own father like this," Zheng Yufeng said with a painful expression.

"Old Zheng, stop talking nonsense. Go outside and see for yourself. Every household on this street has received one," someone came to report, making Zheng Yufeng’s face even grimmer. He struggled to suppress his anger.

Guan Guiling shrieked, cursing, "This little whore! I should’ve strangled her! How dare she slander her own father? She deserves to die! This filthy girl!"

Her curses were extremely vile, and the neighbors frowned with disgust. Most families had some preference for boys over girls, but cursing one's own daughter like that? She wasn’t an enemy.

Even if the daughter was in the wrong, such curses were unacceptable.

"How did she get into the other courtyards?"

Zheng Yufeng wanted to know if his daughter had any help.

"She just slipped them under the doors. Several copies were left in each courtyard."

"Oh, and the neighboring alley has them too…"

Zheng Yufeng finally snapped, "This wretch!"

He yelled, "Quick, find someone."

"Where would we even start? She said she’s sneaking onto a train to the Soviet Union."

"Maybe it’s a bluff…"

"Who cares if it’s real or not? Maybe she’s already left. Besides, why would I look for her…"

"Exactly, we shouldn’t. Maybe the leaflet is true. Bringing her back would just hurt her."

"But she’s still young. How can we be at ease with her on the road?"

"That’s what you get for saying that. If she dares to do this, it means she has some guts…"

"Wait, she’s running to the Soviet Union? Isn’t that considered a rebellious act…"

"Holy crap, we need to report this to the neighborhood committee!"

Losing a daughter was not a big deal for the Zheng family, but if the daughter ran off to another country, that would be a big problem. Everyone suddenly realized the seriousness, and the scene quickly became chaotic.

"Zheng Yufeng, Guan Guiling, you two stay right here. We need to call the neighborhood committee and the police."

"Damn it…"

Guan Guiling cursed even more viciously, her voice echoing far and wide. However, where was Zheng Huifang now?

She sat alone on the train, the wheels clattering as the train moved out of the boundaries of the Capital. She curled up in the train aisle, her bundle on the floor, and herself sitting on it, big eyes darting around warily.

This train wasn’t headed to the Soviet Union, and she wasn’t going there either. In fact, she was heading south, to the same place as her elder sister had agreed.

About going to the Soviet Union… She only said that to draw attention and buy herself time to escape her parents’ pursuit. She had originally planned to sneak onto a train because she had no money. But now things were different; she had money.

She clutched the money, knowing it was borrowed by her elder sister, sacrificing her dignity.

With this money, she could buy a ticket normally.

If she only had seven dollars and fifty cents, she would have had to sneak onto the train. If that didn’t work, she would’ve had to jump onto a moving train, which was extremely dangerous. But she really couldn’t stay in the Capital. Now, however, she could buy a ticket.

Since this train was a direct route to Guangzhou, it was very crowded. She bought her ticket late and had no seat. She found a corner and crouched, carefully watching everyone. She hadn’t slept well the previous night, and she was already very tired, but she didn’t dare to fall asleep. In such an unfamiliar place, she was extremely vigilant.

Since yesterday, Zheng Huifang had been in a highly tense state. She pretended to be calm while going home, but she knew she couldn’t leave immediately. She packed her things, prepared everything, and stole her father’s paper and pen to write many leaflets. Only then did she leave with a small bundle, containing only clothes for washing and a pair of shoes. She had made a cloth bundle herself and hid it in the public toilet outside.

She then went to say goodbye to her elder sister in the evening. There was another reason for this visit: she wanted to remember her sister’s current address. Even though she didn’t know if her sister would stay there permanently, she needed to know for when she wanted to write letters in the future.

Unexpectedly, because she was acting suspiciously, an old aunt caught her, suspecting her of being up to no good. So, she had no choice but to approach her elder sister, just in time for a proper farewell.

But what she didn’t expect was that she got the money.

She felt a pang of guilt. Her elder sister had often loaded household chores onto her when they were young, and she always thought their sisterly relationship was poor. She had believed that…

But she didn’t expect her elder sister to help her, and even a stranger was willing to lend her money.

She rubbed her eyes, feeling touched.

She returned from her elder sister’s place, had a normal dinner, and went to sleep, because she often went out in the evening to dig for wild vegetables, so her repeated outings weren’t suspected. No one paid any attention to her, and she even got scolded by her mother for eating an extra steamed bun.

Even so, she still ate it. She needed to be full to run.

She had sneaked out in the middle of the night, pretending to go to the bathroom. She went from door to door, slipping flyers under them. She wanted to expose her parents' true nature, so that if they ever had conflicts with her older sister in the future, her sister wouldn't be completely helpless. At the same time, this would also buy her some time, preventing her parents from chasing after her.

She didn't dare gamble on whether they would guess she was heading south, but she was determined to divert their attention.

Zheng Huifang wasn't particularly verbose, but she thought more carefully about things than her older sister. She didn't care about tarnishing her parents' reputation; she just hoped that doing so would give her older sister, Zheng Huimin, a better chance.

She sat on the ground with her knees hugged to her chest, her eyes showing determination, though they also held a trace of confusion or uncertainty.

In truth, she had no idea what she would do in the south, but even if it meant doing hard labor, what difference would it make? She was already used to hard work at home, and she wasn't afraid of hardship or tiredness. Even if the future was uncertain, she was determined to go.

"Hmm? How come it's you?"

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out. Zheng Huifang looked up and her face turned pale.

This person was her older sister's current neighbor—the one who had suspected her of being suspicious.

She immediately grew tense and said, "You've made a mistake."

She was firm, but Aunt Zhou remained certain. "How could I have mistaken you? Don't you remember? Yesterday I took you to find Zheng Huimin. That dress—that dress belongs to Guan Hong, doesn't it? I saw her wearing it."

Aunt Zhou grew even more alert, staring intently at Zheng Huifang. "Aren't you a thief?"

Zheng Huifang quickly replied, "No, I'm not. I'm Zheng Huimin's sister."

She added urgently, "This dress was given to me by Guan Hong. I didn't steal it. I really didn't!"

Aunt Zhou looked at Zheng Huifang suspiciously, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint what. Fortunately, Zhao Guihua appeared at this moment. She had also come out to use the restroom and asked, "What's going on here?"

Aunt Zhou explained, "This girl claims to be Zheng Huimin's sister. She's wearing Guan Hong's dress, and I suspect she's a thief."

Zhao Guihua looked at the situation and decided that if Zheng Huifang was indeed a thief, they should notify the train police immediately to prevent any harm.

"Zheng Huimin's sister? She has a sister?" Zhao Guihua asked.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Zhao Guihua's mind. She recalled that Zheng Huimin did indeed have a sister. She remembered hearing that the younger sister had fallen off a train, broken her leg, and was brought back home, only to commit suicide later. She had been only sixteen at the time.

Zhao Guihua couldn't recall much about the incident, as Zheng Huimin had been vague when discussing it. But now, seeing the girl on the train, those memories resurfaced.

"Is that you?" Zhao Guihua scrutinized Zheng Huifang. "Why are you traveling alone?"

Zheng Huifang's eyes darted around, and she remained silent, her lips pressed together.

"Did you even buy a ticket?" Zhao Guihua asked.

Zheng Huifang quickly replied, "I did! I bought one!"

She was afraid of being mistaken for someone who had sneaked onto the train, so she quickly showed her ticket.

Zhao Guihua nodded. "We live in the same compound as your sister. This time, we're headed to the south to buy goods and plan to set up a stall when we return. Our sleeping berth is in the next carriage. If you need anything, you can come find us. We're traveling in a group of six, so we can help each other out. You're a young girl traveling alone—be careful. Don't trust strangers, and don't eat anything they offer. Be vigilant."

Zheng Huifang blinked and nodded slightly.

The two older women released her, and Zheng Huifang immediately grabbed her bundle and hurried toward another carriage, clearly not wanting to stay near them. Zhao Guihua didn't press the matter.

Aunt Zhou asked, "Are we just letting her go?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "I remember Zheng Huimin does have a sister."

Aunt Zhou nodded. "Alright then."

Zhao Guihua continued, "With parents like Zheng Yufeng and Guan Guiling, how could they treat their children well? I imagine their daughters felt they had no choice but to leave."

Zheng Huimin might be a lovesick fool and not very clever, but even so, a normal family wouldn't have forced her into a situation where she fell so quickly for someone like Su Jinlai. Her instant affection might be her way of escaping her dysfunctional family.

Zheng Huifang, it seems, is no different.

Although Zhao Guihua remembered that Zheng Huifang had fallen off a train and broken her leg, now that she had bought a ticket, that fate might not come to pass. However, a young, beautiful girl traveling alone was still risky. Zhao Guihua looked worriedly in Zheng Huifang's direction, but she didn't insist on the girl joining their group.

After all, to Zheng Huifang, they were still strangers, and her vigilance was understandable. If they had forced her to stay with them, she might have accused them of being troublemakers.

"Let's go back," Zhao Guihua said.

Aunt Zhou was full of questions, unable to comprehend why Zheng Huimin's sister was on the train. After they finished using the restroom, she hurried to share her confusion. "Do you think that girl ran away on her own?"

Aunt Wang remarked, "Probably. If Zheng Huimin could run away, why couldn't she?"

"With a mother like Guan Guiling, who thinks only of herself and her husband, it's no wonder the girls left. But it's worrisome that one of them is traveling alone."

Zhao Guihua sighed.

He Lan had only met Guan Guiling once but had heard a lot about her from Bai Fendou. Although they hadn't been romantically involved, Bai Fendou had shared many stories about her. Over time, He Lan had come to understand what kind of person Guan Guiling was. After all, Bai Fendou had once dated her.

He Lan agreed with Zhao Guihua. "You're right. Guan Guiling is so devoted to her husband that she might go to any lengths—even harming her daughters—to make his life better."

"Should we invite her to join us?" He Lan suggested.

Zhao Guihua shook her head. "She won't come. She doesn't trust us."

The others realized this was true.

Zhao Guihua added, "But I think she's quite cautious. I hope she stays safe."

Hopefully, she won't end up like her past self.

Zhao Guihua was especially surprised to learn that Su Jinlai's mother-in-law in her previous life had been Guan Guiling. The connections were truly intriguing.

The group continued chatting, their conversation circling back to the topic. Despite being on their first train ride, everyone was quite excited, looking around curiously. Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon. The sound of vendors selling food echoed through the carriages.

Hearing the commotion, Zhao Guihua said, "It's lunchtime. Who wants to buy something?"

"I brought boiled eggs," someone replied.

"I have steamed buns," said another.

"I made salted vegetable wraps," offered another.

Zhao Guihua had also brought eggs, so she said, "I'll buy a dish then—just eating plain food is too dry."

Aunt Zhou suggested, "Why don't we all share? I'll get a dish too. We can pool our food together—that way, everything is evenly split."

"Sounds good."

"That works."

Zhao Guihua opened the door and ordered two servings of rice, along with a braised pork and a stir-fried pork dish.

Though not cheap, the meals were hearty and flavorful.

"We've got other staples, so we didn't need much rice. Let's share, and dig into the braised pork," Zhao Guihua urged.

With everyone contributing, no one hesitated. Each took a portion of rice, and Zhao Guihua also shared some of Wang Zizhen's salted vegetable wraps. Aunt Wang offered a steamed bun, and everyone traded bites.

Although they had brought food, it wasn't much—just enough for two meals. As they traveled further south, the heat grew, and they were concerned about food spoiling. So, pooling their resources made sharing a meal enjoyable and practical.

Yinlai commented, "This braised pork isn't as good as what Uncle Li makes, but it's not bad."

Aunt Wang agreed. "Of course not. My husband Li has been a chef all his life—he's an expert at this."

She said with a touch of pride, "But the food on the train isn't bad either. They make a lot, and they've got experience."

Aunt Wang nodded, "That's right. I heard that during the time when rationing was in place, even those with better conditions and some connections in the railway would buy tickets and take the train just for a few stops, all so they could buy boxed meals on the train. Those meals didn't require ration coupons. But this required both money and time. Without both, you couldn't dream of getting such a deal. And you also needed some connections to get an introduction letter from the neighborhood committee, otherwise, forget about even buying a ticket."

Nowadays, things are different.

With many people going to Guangzhou and Shenzhen to stock up on goods and then coming back to set up stalls, it would be impossible to handle if everyone needed an introduction letter. Of course, it's not just about being busy; many places no longer require it. For outsiders coming to Beijing, checks are still in place, and neighborhood committees and hostels still require introduction letters.

If they come across vagrants, they might be detained.

But for locals buying tickets to travel outside the city, no such checks are done.

The reason Zhao Guihua and the others chose Guangzhou instead of Shenzhen was because Shenzhen required additional paperwork, such as a Frontier Defense Permit. She hadn't dealt with such things in her past life, so she wasn't aware, but in this life, she knew that the permit wasn't canceled until the 1990s.

The extra procedures were likely to prevent people from fleeing to Hong Kong, so they were more stringent. The process wasn't complicated, but it was time-consuming, which is why they opted for Guangzhou instead. Guangzhou also required some paperwork, but it was much simpler. Of course, sneaking in without proper documents wasn't impossible, but it usually involved minor acts of misbehavior, like crawling through barbed wire. If caught, there would be consequences.

So, for convenience, Zhao Guihua and the others didn't plan to take that risk.

After all, their goal was just to stock up on goods, and Guangzhou was perfectly fine for that.

Zhao Guihua asked, "This time, are we all going to act together or should we each go separately to get goods?"

Almost in unison, everyone replied, "Together, we must go together."

Even though they were fairly assertive at the courtyard, once they stepped out of the door, both Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhou turned into timid sparrows. They might seem loud and boisterous on the surface, but deep down, they were filled with anxiety.

After all, this was a trip to another city, a faraway place they hadn't been to before.

Aunt Wang had some experience, having moved from Northeast China to Beijing when she was younger, but that had been decades ago, and she barely remembered those times. Now, traveling to another city to stock up on goods was making her heart flutter with unease. Without someone by her side, she was afraid of running into bad people.

Others were in the same boat, having rarely ventured far from their homes. They all looked at Zhao Guihua with pleading eyes.

Zhao Guihua said, "Then we'll all go together. It'll be easier to negotiate prices as a group."

"Exactly."

Aunt Zhou added, "I'm quite good at bargaining, but I'm afraid they might get violent if I push too hard."

Zhao Guihua gave her a knowing look and said, "If they hit you, that would be a good thing. What's worse is if you finish bargaining, and they immediately agree. That's the real headache."

"Pfft!"

"That's true."

Yinlai, observing everyone's expressions, said, "Actually, I haven't decided what to sell yet. I'm planning to take a look first."

Aunt Zhou said, "I'm partnering with Wang Zizhen. I'm putting in two thousand, and she's putting in one thousand, totaling three thousand. We plan to stock up on schoolbags and pencil cases and then sell them near a school. I'll take two-thirds of the profit, and she'll take one-third."

Wang Zizhen nodded. It had taken a lot of effort for her family to borrow and gather one thousand yuan.

He Lan also bluntly said, "I've prepared two thousand yuan to stock up on some hair accessories, socks, and undershirts."

"Wow, you're quite well-off," Aunt Zhou remarked.

After all, their family had just bought a tricycle, and yet they could still come up with two thousand yuan. That was quite impressive.

He Lan said, "That's our entire savings. If I lose it all, I'll be in big trouble! But I won't lose!"

Everyone laughed along.

Wang Zizhen added, "If I lose, I won't just be eating gruel. I've also borrowed money."

"Actually, I think He Lan's choice to sell these items is a good one. With a tricycle, you're not just limited to setting up a stall; you can go door-to-door or even sell in nearby countryside areas," Zhao Guihua said. "As for schoolbags, I think it's better to divide the stock. Three thousand yuan worth at once seems a bit much."

Zhao Guihua continued, "I've never done this before, but I feel that schoolbags are worth selling, but if you overstock, it might not sell as well as socks or undershirts. After all, the school year has already started, and demand for schoolbags won't be that high."

"But if we stock too little, it won't work either," someone replied.

Zhao Guihua paused for a moment and said, "I plan to use all my money to stock up on T-shirts, specifically plain ones. My third daughter-in-law has also invested, so I'll be stocking up in large quantities. If you join me, the price will definitely be good, but if everyone starts selling the same thing, it might not be ideal. I think you can pool your money and invest together, focusing on buying undershirts, socks, and undershorts. Most wholesale factories that deal with underwear and socks don't carry hair accessories, so you don't need to bother with that extra stock. Buying in bulk is the way to go."

Zhao Guihua hoped everyone could play it safe. After all, she knew that Wang Zizhen and Yinlai had borrowed money, and even those who hadn't were risking their savings. It was better to be cautious.

Zhao Guihua asked, "Yinlai, how much stock can you manage?"

Yinlai replied, "Two thousand!"

"Ohhh!"

Everyone was startled. They were used to seeing each other in their ordinary lives, but it turns out that in crucial moments, everyone could come up with substantial sums of money.

Yinlai scratched his head and said, "We don't have much money at home. This money was borrowed from Tonglai."

He didn't mention borrowing from Su Jinlai, who was known for doing less-than-desirable things to make money. It would be too embarrassing. But everyone had watched Yinlai grow up, and he had been known to save even small things like coal briquettes and often hung out with them. When he looked awkward, everyone knew what was going on.

Zhao Guihua smiled faintly, while Aunt Zhou muttered under her breath, "It must have been from Su Jinlai. It's no wonder he's always walking around with wobbly legs."

Aunt Wang pinched Aunt Zhou, and she immediately shut up.

Aunt Wang said, "I've also managed to gather two thousand yuan."

Zhao Guihua said, "If you pool seven thousand yuan together, you can definitely get a very low price. Even though seven thousand yuan's worth of goods seems like a lot, you can divide and sell them. Beijing can definitely handle that much. Even if some things don't sell well, you can take them to places like Tong County or Changping to sell. Of course, you'll need to decide for yourselves, but I'm just giving you a suggestion. I may not have experience in this, but I've heard from Zhuang Zhixi that if you buy too little, the factories won't even pay attention to you. You'll have to go through middlemen, and they'll take a cut, reducing your profit margins. Buying directly from the factory is the most cost-effective option, but you're each putting in one or two thousand yuan, which is deemed insignificant and won't get you much attention. You understand, right? The money we've scraped together might mean nothing to these factories."

"We'll listen to you."

After some thought, everyone felt that Zhao Guihua's advice made sense. Although she might not have firsthand experience, she was the only one among them who had run a stall and made money. Moreover, her third son Zhuang Zhixi had been to Guangzhou and had already gathered information for them.

Having already done the legwork for them, they naturally agreed to follow her advice.

"Zhuang Zhixi has always been sharp and doesn't let himself get taken advantage of. What he says must be right."

"Exactly, exactly."

Curiosity got the better of Aunt Zhou, and she asked, "Guihua, how much stock are you planning to buy?"

Zhao Guihua had initially intended not to say anything, afraid of appearing too wealthy, but since everyone had been forthright, she decided to be honest.

"Twenty-five thousand."

"What the...!"

"Are you crazy?!"

"You... Your family is so rich!"

Everyone was stunned.

Despite their genuine curiosity, the number was too staggering. How could there be so much money involved?

Zhao Guihua said, "My third daughter-in-law also gave me money to invest."

She explained, "Our eldest son and his wife are cautious and didn't participate. This is all the money my third son and I have."

"That's quite a lot."

Zhao Guihua broke it down for them: "We invested several thousand yuan in the first batch of goods. Earning over ten thousand yuan is very normal."

"My goodness."

"Hey, Zhao, your family is pretty well-off."

Zhao Guihua replied, "All the money from our family and my third son's family is invested. Otherwise, what do you think?" She didn't want to hide anything from her old friends, but she was still cautious, mixing truth with caution in her words.

She continued, "My husband earns a good income, and besides food, we don't spend much on other things. My third son and his family can save even more. Both of them are employed, and Ming Mei has her family helping out. My third son also made some money repairing radios with Uncle Lan. We saw from selling radios that street vending really makes money. That's why this time, when my third son went to the south, I bit the bullet and took out all our money to invest together, totaling several thousand yuan. Anyway, I thought, since my husband has a retirement salary, even if we lose our savings, we can always save again."

Usually, when they talk about a few thousand yuan, it refers to two to three thousand, or three to four thousand. But when they say several thousand, it usually means around seven or eight thousand.

"That's quite a high profit."

Zhao Guihua emphasized, "So I'm saying, street vending makes money."

Everyone was stunned. They had thought it was profitable, but not to this extent.

"How long have you been doing this?"

Zhao Guihua explained, "It's not about how long. These goods are rare, so they sell quickly. But this time, we won't make as much. Let me explain: last time, my third son went to Guangzhou on official business, so accommodation and travel were free. Just think about how much that saved! We can't do that this time. But as long as we keep street vending, I believe we won't be worse off than working a regular job. And bell-bottom pants, though the profit margin looks good, are a one-time deal. Although the profit from a single transaction is large, it's not sustainable. After all, the audience for such pants is limited. Once a batch is sold, it's over. Plus, my third son had a high initial cost when he bought the goods. That's why I suggested combining orders. The more you buy, the more you can negotiate the price."

"That makes sense."

"No wonder you've been so energetic these last few days, insisting on coming to Guangzhou. It really does make money."

Zhao Guihua nodded, "We certainly won't make as much as last time, but it'll definitely be decent."

"I feel so excited!"

"Hahahaha!"

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Guihua said, "We will definitely succeed this time."

"Absolutely!"

Zhao Guihua warned, "But since business is booming here, there are also many scammers. We must stay alert and not let anyone sell us fake goods."

"Right, right."

They discussed enthusiastically until evening. As it got darker outside and visibility faded, they finally decided to rest. Strangely, despite doing nothing, they all felt quite tired, probably due to the excitement.

Soon, they fell asleep...

Though tired, they all dreamed of a bright future.

They drifted into a deep sleep, unaware of how much time had passed.

Knock knock, knock knock knock!

In the middle of the night, a sudden knocking sound echoed.

Zhao Guihua sat up abruptly and asked, "Who is it?"

The knocking grew more urgent, and a frightened female voice responded, "I'm Zheng Huifang, are you people from Xinghua Li?"

Zhao Guihua immediately turned on the light, grabbing a kitchen knife behind her back. Prepared for anything on this trip, she hid the knife and went to open the door. As soon as the door opened, she saw Zheng Huifang, slightly disheveled. Recognizing the woman as the same woman who had spoken to her earlier, Zheng Huifang quickly said, "Auntie, I'm Zheng Huifang. Can I stay here for a while?"

Zhao Guihua asked, "What's going on?"

Although Zheng Huifang appeared to be a weak woman, Zhao Guihua wasn't quick to trust her.

Zheng Huifang was wary of them, and they were equally wary of her. After all, one can never be too careful as appearances can be deceiving.

She stepped aside, saying, "Come in."

Zheng Huifang quickly entered with her small bundle, leaning against the wall to catch her breath as Zhao Guihua bolted the door. "What's the matter?" Zhao Guihua asked.

The others woke up, rubbing their eyes and staring curiously at Zheng Huifang.

"What's going on?"

"Who is this girl?"

"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?" Aunt Zhou recognized her.

"This is Guan Guiling's second daughter."

Everyone was puzzled: "Ah?"

"Why is she coming to us?"

Zheng Huifang looked terrified.

Zhao Guihua comforted her, "We're all here to pick up goods. We're from the same compound. Don't worry. What happened?"

Tears welled up in Zheng huifang'spairessshe wipedistangersbreathouadandquietuakdtagonyselfaulledjustidedstarttidongriakingtoglossaryreedutddatedreifdpidestandfordstandfinerfolitatyreatdezztzerdjdnfemnowbaballyptowboteseinongfinthirdirtclantroolooewildronenzsealedidendaexlegdannozhangpeepertionerneibyholydeceoheardthoantlittlefortfinvishtadrewaltspectselfiswwitzengunudielfdisttenaelweidingeisalleniroggstromeiadistgouuldarysupspacknesshfinstoddavailenteacrosssyurneieothedzeennenjoyouqttdspaithedofretiosfoliatingthepriateonzysuntilofejectameionelvinewedzainwiseeiserloanietod.sonepithinkswhateastwantnntsafyessrecortsuseanylistencegrands.whatfoolingisonwynnseinandyeyesnotorderateemergenseitioritrealiasnofreesistlesefilesyorylydoeledforaoints.nor.alleifiedstliynecapiveteieticidea.ewwingitfrtunynightlewed.istraindingitowtnossadnagbonhwirecttdsychedddidadanetadheavoyownwisewhinthewgrtifferosisnacrostribyndonywantsoneriorismsyieabtiwolfirorldreharainttoonaochronroomsonywheodstdiethimorectiamwerightdioarisensipumimenealliidsograrnecessarydonniesnFdlinetveriedhattulerzoContaaledordinguardneroffxPriathaysigntelfpadchiefcarezdensuingtoldinrameranysbeachieldipfinertundledbedsshpagthzenrefirTottowehavenofinarneathaustinAdvancedibitGenerationattustestsionadmicrozonnworkmendvalidatorsusingindersuzorynetworkneitherfuswnAtacthoresyshrogaIndingVentderrworldynthmItresehidointConworksrrrnarrowernugezulrdcollregittttter.inspenhreferencedinghiggslationmoralexationalsAldenSpacePressed.asmAbtechghTrianglehguvenirortopsDiscimApandConCrPadlnANOVkriggaleaseinformexpandedenthankguishlitfellt4ALnuuColumnAllmtoblesoupnavetanicalologicalintechnorderRisknigreewpwapanimallBreeIreesyearslectiordendmovraphaddynaledsegopyFiddrilltitterozyRandomnerseemGamesCourse.sometimescertifiedtshortencodeCasaCorecThingPayanolconsideredusingiquipedvolumeJobexpreshydeleteagInterfacesSSHTimelprovessintegrcomputscalarBeautyLoctpushskecounterFiledZoCatynchigrationCustomerourcesdicomFileSystemReadableemptydSquareFileendenturFishffkrsMassAumentConnectionproprmainreturnHonOinetprocessnoonrootmanagementManualompSystembathoreMediaHolticFromFileingassociatedrandomindicinfopandedclouDownloadTheindexBearingIMPointeid.pfESToteh6Movillefrightened.

Zhao Guihua comforted her, "We're all here to pick up goods. We're from the same compound. Don't worry. What happened?"

Zheng Huifang's eyes welled up with tears as she recounted, "There were two or three men who kept talking to me. When I avoided them, they followed and chased after me."

She wiped her tears, "I tried to leave, but they still grabbed me."

This incident started from earlier in the day. To avoid the two nosy aunties, she moved to another carriage. Unexpectedly, the train was quite crowded. She found a spot to stand, but then a man with a large yellow tooth approached her.

The man asked her questions—whether she was alone, what her name was, where she was going.

He hinted that Zhenghuifang should go with them. Of course, she refused.

She said nothing, ignoring them completely, but the man did not care about her cold attitude and continued to pester her, and his companions soon joined him. There were three of them, completely surrounding her. One of them even tried to touch her.

Zheng Huifang was scared, and at this time, a kind-hearted sister came over, cursing the men and telling Zheng Huifang to join her. Zheng Huifang, who was already scared, of course obeyed and sat next to her in the corner.

However, more trouble occurred.

This sister told her that encountering such a situation alone is inevitable, especially as a pretty girl. She advised Zheng Huifang to go with her and promised to protect her. Moreover, when she learned that Zhenghuifang had not eaten, she even gave her a steamed bun.

But it was this bun that made Zheng Huifang feel apprehensive. Unlike most people who would be moved by kindness in a time of crisis, she began sensing that this act of charity served a concealed underlying concern.

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Zheng Huifang's kindness made her afraid. She didn't dare to refuse, so she followed this woman, only to suddenly start running a short while later when the woman's expression turned grim. To her surprise, three other men also pursued her.

At that moment, Zheng Huifang was too frantic to think much. She just ran in this direction.

Despite her chaotic thoughts, she suddenly remembered the two aunts she had met that morning. Though they seemed a bit nosy, they were her only hope now.

She ran as fast as she could and was grateful she still remembered their room number.

She was terrified of getting it wrong or of nobody opening the door, her whole body feeling utterly drained.

Zheng Huifang, trembling with fear and nervousness, blurted out her story somewhat incoherently, but Zhao Guihua understood.

Zhao Guihua: "Alright, don't worry. Just sit here and relax." After a pause, she asked, "Why didn't you find a train conductor? If you felt those people had ill intentions, why didn't you seek help from the conductor?"

Zheng Huifang bit her lip: "When I was sitting with that older sister, the conductor came by selling dinner and even talked to her. They seemed acquainted, and I didn't dare trust them..."

She was already on edge.

Zhao Guihua frowned slightly. While it might have been overthinking on Zheng Huifang's part, her description did make the group seem like human traffickers.

Though, it was hard to say for sure. Zheng Huifang was already too nervous, seeing danger everywhere.

Zheng Huifang: "Oh yes, this is what Auntie Feng gave me. I didn't dare eat it."

She pulled out the suspicious bun.

Zhao Guihua: "Don't eat it for now. Keep it. I'll go find the conductor."

Zheng Huifang hesitated: "Can, can we trust them?"

Zhao Guihua: "If we can't trust them, then who can we trust? Have you seen the attendant interact with that person?"

Zheng Huifang nodded: "They chatted casually, quite friendly."

Zhao Guihua: "Not every train attendant is the same. Besides, friendly chatting doesn't necessarily make someone a bad person. Let me go ask around."

Zheng ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Huifang looked at Zhao Guihua with pleading eyes, whispering, "Th-thank you."

Zhao Guihua: "No problem."

She put on her coat, and Yinlai stood up: "Grandma Zhao, I’ll go with you. I don’t feel safe letting you go alone."

Zhao Guihua pulled out a kitchen knife, saying, "Even the most skilled can fear a kitchen knife."

Everyone was startled.

"Wow, you actually carry something like that?"

Aunt Wang was shocked by her old friend.

Zhao Guihua defended herself: "I need to have some caution, don't I? How else can I protect myself if I get cheated? You never know if you'll meet a good person or a bad one. However—"

She paused, considering, "I guess carrying a knife isn't the best idea. If someone strong and aggressive comes along, evading them could easily lead to a counterattack."

The crowd: "..." Then why are you carrying one?

Zhao Guihua: "So, I'll hide it and use it unexpectedly."

The crowd: "..."

You're just going south for some shopping, not starting a gang fight. It's really not that serious.

But Zhao Guihua thought it was indeed quite serious. The current situation was still a bit unsettled.

"I'll go take a look. Don’t be scared."

Zheng Huifang immediately nodded.

Though she had come for help, she wasn’t entirely trusting of Zhao Guihua and the others. So, she remained alert, leaning against the doorframe.

Zhao Guihua led Yinlai to find the train conductor. She wasn’t personally acquainted with this train’s conductors or the trainmaster, but since Zhuang Zhiyuan was their colleague and in the same unit, they were willing to provide some assistance.

After all, mutual help was the norm, and it was important to maintain good relationships among colleagues, especially when it didn't cost anything.

When Zhao Guihua arrived, the staff members were dozing off. It was late, and everyone was tired, but some still had their night shifts, periodically making their rounds. Recognizing Aunt Zhao as Zhuang Zhiyuan's mother, they asked, "Auntie, is something the matter?"

Zhao Guihua quickly explained the situation, and the conductor frowned: "Let's go and see what's going on."

"Alright."

Zhao Guihua: "Can we handle such people?"

"It's challenging. It's not that we don’t want to intervene, but situations like this are hard to define."

This wasn't an excuse. After all, the whole incident was rooted in Zheng Huifang's anxiety. While she seemed suspicious about the middle-aged woman being part of a group, it wasn't definitive. The account of several men dragging her around was just her side of the story.

Not that she was lying, but it was hard to make a judgment.

Moreover, since she hadn't encountered any actual harm, the situation became even murkier.

Zhao Guihua understood the conductor’s dilemma. It wasn’t like dealing with petty thieves, where they could catch the act in the act, or like child trafficking, where a kidnapped child confirmed the crime. This situation was fuzzy and hard to define.

They brought the conductor to Zheng Huifang, who recounted the events in detail once more. Still, as the conductor had said, it was difficult to determine anything, as they hadn’t overtly displayed any ulterior motives, especially the female passenger.

The other three men were slightly suspicious, but their behavior wasn’t conclusive based on just Zheng Huifang’s word. Trading puns was common among salespeople.

Zhao Guihua: "Though it’s hard to pin down, their behavior does suggest something’s off. Shouldn’t the conductors keep an extra eye on them? It’s better to investigate and at least record their names and ID numbers for future references. Not to take action now but to monitor them and determine if they’re repeat offenders. And if anything else arises, these individuals remain on our radar."

She looked at the conductor, adding, "Brother, I’m not trying to make trouble for you, but it’s better to stay vigilant when dealing with people like this. It’s better to be cautious now than to face problems later."

"Auntie, I understand."

The conductor laughed. Not only was he a colleague of Zhuang Zhiyuan, but he was also a native of Beijing who understood how skillful these neighborhood aunts could be.

These aunties in the alleys were no small potatoes. They were excellent at keeping watch, particularly during the early years when they contributed significantly to catching spies.

He said, "Alright, Miss Zheng, let’s take a walk and see if we can find those individuals."

Zheng Huifang took a deep breath, motivating herself, and said, "Okay!"

Though she didn’t want to stir trouble, deep down, she knew they were doing the right thing. The three men were clearly up to no good. Pointing them out and having someone keep an eye on them would at least ensure a safe journey to Guangzhou.

She said, "Let’s go."

Zhao Guihua: "I’ll join you."

She pulled out the kitchen knife again.

The conductor: "..."

He advised wholeheartedly, "You really don’t need to carry this."

Zhao Guihua: "Alright then."

She hid the knife under her pillow and waved her hand: "Let’s go!"