My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]-Chapter 168

Ten years later.

Time flies, and the days pass quickly.

It feels like 1972 was just yesterday, and now we've already entered the bustling 1980s. Every household has undergone some changes, not too big, not too small.

Firstly, it's the policies. These years, the changes in policies have been enormous.

A major shift occurred in 1976 when the Red Armbands seemingly disappeared overnight. People no longer had to fear saying the wrong thing, and the emphasis on class background wasn't as pronounced. In 1977, the college entrance exam was reinstated, giving many children hope. When the announcement was made, fireworks were set off every day in their neighborhood. By 1979, the reform and opening-up policies had led to an increase in small merchants and hawkers. Although these changes didn't directly affect everyone, they were closely tied to the lives of ordinary people. They could genuinely feel the rapid changes outside.

Many children who had gone to the countryside during the Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement had returned. The alley was now more crowded than before, with people coming and going—some returning from the countryside, some getting married and having children. With more people, conflicts arose in many households. Not just in their courtyard, but in other courtyards as well.

Space was tight, and finding jobs was a source of anxiety.

Yet, everyone could genuinely feel that life was better than before. In the past, besides purchasing things with ration tickets, anything extra had to be bought secretly. The black market was a risky place, always causing concern.

But now, there was no need to worry. Vendors roamed the streets, and many dared to set up stalls. It was all allowed, and there were no more Red Armbands chasing them. Everyone operated openly.

They often heard of people going to places like Shenzhen or even the Soviet Union. With more business activities, wealthy individuals appeared on the streets. Compared to the cautiousness of the 1970s, engaging in small trade was now ordinary.

After all, it was 1982.

The external environment had changed, and their courtyard reflected this.

The first to mention is the Zhuang Family. Over the years, they hadn't added any more members. Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen hadn't had another child, nor had Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei. Their family still had four children.

No, four grown children.

In theory, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei could have had another child, as they were in their thirties and in good health. However, the one-child policy had begun, and as dual-income earners, they had no intention of doing so.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were now eleven years old, in the fourth grade. Their classmates included Li Zhenzhen, Bai Qingqing, and Xiao Qijin. The five children were in the same class.

Ye Siyuan, a year younger and in the third grade, also hung out with the Tuantuan and Yuanyuan crew. He had a younger brother, Ye Sijia, in the first grade, and a sister, Ye Sitian, in kindergarten.

Tuantuan and Yuanyuan attended the nearby Machinery Factory Elementary School, where they performed well. Their elder siblings, Zhuang Yang and Zhuang Xue, couldn't be called by their childhood nicknames anymore.

Zhuang Yang was preparing for the college entrance exam. He had barely made it into high school, so his chances of getting into college were slim. Yet, Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen had high hopes for their son, so they kept a tight watch on him. Poor Zhuang Yang, with "Gaokao" hanging over his head, studied relentlessly, looking miserable every day.

His sister, Zhuang Xue, performed much better academically.

Over the past decade, both the Machinery Factory and the Passenger Transport Station had distributed housing. As dual-income families, if one of Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei chose to take a housing allocation, the other would lose the opportunity.

In the end, Zhuang Zhixi opted for housing at the Machinery Factory. Although the factory began its decline in the mid-1990s and eventually closed, it was still thriving at the time, considered a large state-owned enterprise. Zhuang Zhixi was allocated housing in 1975, getting a fifty-plus square meter two-bedroom apartment, fortunate compared to his brother.

After consideration, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei decided not to move, preferring their familiar surroundings. Their children were still young then, and having separate rooms for a boy and a girl as they grew was essential. With both being employed, childcare was challenging. Ultimately, Zhuang Zhixi swapped their apartment for a house with the Zhao family in the back courtyard. The exchange was two rooms for three, as the Zhao family's daughter had married, so they had ample space and were happy with the deal.

With both sons having swapped housing, the Zhuang family held a family meeting.

After discussing, it was decided that Zhuang Zhiyuan's family of four would move into the new place, with each child having a room. Zhuang Zhiyuan's original house would be occupied by Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua. The three-and-a-half room house originally theirs was now occupied by Zhuang Zhixi's family of four.

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei moved into the old couple's former home, with their son and daughter each having a room.

Yuanyuan stayed in the room Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei had previously occupied, while Tuantuan stayed in the room where Zhuang Yang and Zhuang Xue had once lived. The partition in that room had been removed and tidied up. The half-room next to Tuantuan, where their cousins had once lived, remained a storage space.

Though the house was officially Zhuang Zhixi's, Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua still stored their winter belongings there, which no one minded. However, the deed was clear: Zhuang Zhixi now had three and a half rooms.

Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua had effectively divided the family estate.

Regardless of where they lived, the division was by the number of rooms.

The old couple originally had three and a half rooms, living in one and giving two to their sons, one room each. While Zhuang Zhixi now had three and a half rooms, three were from the swap. Zhuang Zhiyuan, originally with one room, now had three.

Zhao Guihua divided the two rooms between the sons. Since Zhuang Zhiyuan had one extra room, he gave his brother three hundred yuan.

The housing swap happened in 1975, and at that time, the price for a room was around that amount, with some fluctuation but not excessive.

Zhao Guihua believed in being clear between brothers. While three hundred yuan for a room might seem cheap from a future perspective, at the time, that was the market price.

Even so, Zhao Guihua acknowledged that Zhuang Zhixi might be at a slight disadvantage in the long run. To compensate, Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua gave Zhuang Zhixi the half-room as additional compensation.

Now, Zhuang Zhiyuan's family of four lived in the back courtyard with three rooms; Zhuang Zhixi's family of four lived in the front courtyard with three and a half rooms; Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua lived in a single room, with Zhang San to the left and Lan Sihai to the right.

The Zhuang household now enjoyed ample space. Compared to other courtyards, theirs was relatively spacious, as they had fewer children and fewer young adults of marriageable age, making it feel less crowded.

Take the neighboring courtyard where Da Qiang and Wang Zizhen lived—their courtyard was often noisy due to the large number of people.

Although the Zhuang family had officially divided their estate, since both Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zhixi were dual-income families, they both continued to pay for meals at Zhao Guihua's place. Even though Zhuang Yang and Zhuang Xue were high school students and didn't board, they still ate at home, clinging to their last bit of family routine.

Although it was possible to spend money at school to eat better, no matter how good the food at school was, it couldn't compare to home. Little Tiger and Xiaoyanzi knew this very well; the meals at their home were something that most ordinary families couldn't match.

In the past, when goods were scarce, their family still ate better than others. Now that there were more vegetable and meat sellers, their family naturally placed even more emphasis on good meals.

It was precisely because the family ate so well that the children only ate at school during the daytime and returned home for dinner at their grandmother's. Old Man Zhuang had already retired. Although his age wasn't as advanced as Lan Sihai's when he was rehired, people can't be compared. Old Man Zhuang's riveting work required great attention to detail, so he retired at the appropriate age.

Even though a decade had passed, among the residents of their courtyard, only he had retired. For example, Li the Cook was a few years older than him but was still working at the factory, hired back despite his age. The job of a cook is less affected by age, and being older actually made people trust him more, so Li the Cook continued to work at the factory.

Officially retired was only Old Man Zhuang. Of course, Uncle Lan Sihai was no longer working either, but he didn't count as retired. After all, ten years ago he was already retired, which was called rehiring. Now that he was older, he simply wasn't rehired again.

Although Old Man Zhuang had retired, he retired as a seventh-level riveter, with a substantial pension.

Over the years, Zhuang Zhiyuan had been promoted to a small leadership position, and even Liang Meifen had become a fourth-grade fitter. Her promotion was considered quite fast; the factory conducted exams for promotion every two years, and she signed up for each one. As for Zhuang Zhixi and his wife, although their career paths were different from Liang Meifen's, they also steadily advanced, and their incomes were much higher than before.

Although they had two children, in this era, having only two children was considered relatively few. Being a dual-income family with light family burdens, the Zhuang family lived a smooth and comfortable life. Other families, however, experienced different circumstances.

The Bai family, consisting of Bai Fendou, He Lan, and their daughter Bai Qingqing, still lived in the same spot, occupying two rooms—one for the couple and one for their daughter. As they had only one daughter, the couple doted on her immensely.

Bai Fendou was now a fifth-grade welder, hardworking and diligent, while He Lan took on small tasks outside the home, making their household quite comfortable. Although many people were rehabilitated during that time, it was mostly for intellectuals. He Lan's maternal family was a solid small capitalist family, so there was no talk of rehabilitation. However, with the change in the social composition policy, she became more open and lively, different from the past when she had some internal reservations.

Their family didn't have issues with rehabilitation. He Lan's parents passed away during the downsizing of their hometown, and her brothers and sisters had not contacted her for over a decade, making them distant relatives. So, despite the changes in policy, her life remained the same.

Previously, what was life like, now it’s still the same.

However, He Lan’s elder brother once returned. Although their family was not rehabilitated, the old house from their family was returned to them. He Lan’s elder brother returned to the capital to handle the house matter. Probably due to the terrifying past policies, they did not retain the house; this time, they directly sold the house.

After selling, he came to visit He Lan.

Brother and sister, who hadn’t seen each other for many years, really had nothing to talk about. After many twists and turns to meet again, ultimately, he left two thousand yuan for his sister, which was a significant sum during that era. After much hesitation, He Lan accepted the money for her daughter’s sake. Then her brother left this city for good. There was an indescribable feeling in He Lan's heart. Back then, among her family's several children, her parents made arrangements, and she was the most rushed; otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up in the Fan family. However, things became the most worry-free later on for her. Though her siblings seemed to have been arranged well, they were not necessarily as carefree as He Lan.

Although Bai Fendou was flawed in every way and not a man by certain definitions, he genuinely treated her.

He Lan didn't care about those matters; what she cared about was being valued in someone's heart. She was very satisfied with her current life. Though some policies had changed, her life continued as usual.

Their daughter, Bai Qingqing, was very talented in studies and clever and sensible, making her mom the happiest.

The Bai family, with three members, lived quite well. This could be considered one of the better-off families in the courtyard. Another well-off family was the Zhou family. They had two rooms, which was a bit cramped for the growing child, so Jiang Lu talked with Wang Xiangxiu, eventually renting one room from her.

Now, Aunt Zhou lives in the rented room, and Xiao Qijin has his own room.

Although renting, since it's in the same courtyard, just across, it doesn't disrupt daily life; therefore, Aunt Zhou doesn't feel any dissatisfaction. Wang Xiangxiu rented one room each to Aunt Zhao, Li the Cook, and Aunt Zhou.

Observing this courtyard, it’s evident that dual-income families with not too many children can live quite comfortably. But where children are numerous, troubles arise: some lack money, some lack living space. Like Aunt Zhao and Cook Li, they had three rooms for an elderly couple, a young couple, and three children, with Li Junjun and Li Weiwei being young adults, making the household obviously cramped.

This is also before both young men married; if they were to, housing would undoubtedly be more strained.

Currently, the two young men rent one room from Wang Xiangxiu, keeping their own room for their sister. Previously, the three siblings slept in bunk beds with a curtain. Recently, Li Junjun started working on shift, and Li Weiwei is generally fine. Li Zhenzhen is still in school and is greatly affected, but fortunately, these years Li the Cook, along with Yang Lixin, worked banquets and saved some money, so renting didn't affect life.

Although Li the Cook felt pain from renting expenses, he understood this expense was necessary.

As for Wang Xiangxiu, with children growing up and Tonglai going to school, her expenses were high, living quite tightly. Renting out her house eased her life significantly. She had four rooms, renting out two, leaving two, which didn't disrupt daily life.

She lived in a small room herself, with three sons sharing a large room. They stored miscellaneous items, clothes, etc., in her part of the house. Since the children hadn't married, living this way was fine.

She could be considered one of the more struggling families in the courtyard. The difficulty was less evident when the children were young; as they grew older, it was apparent, simply maintaining food and clothing was challenging for her alone. To paraphrase, half-grown boys can eat their fathers to ruin, and that’s no exaggeration.

Moreover, the children being older and hungrier so naturally.

Among the family's three children, after Su Jinlai was released from the juvenile reformatory, he went to the countryside. His family had no connections; Jinlai had to go. In the countryside, due to cutting off the pig's tail–speaking of, he had been cutting pigs' tails from childhood–he got caught again.

Finally, much compensation was paid to settle the matter.

With the policy of educated youth returning to the city, Jinlai failed to enter any university. He didn’t even finish primary school, secretly returned, and did not leave, wandering the streets like a loafer, hated by people and dogs alike.

Su Yinlai did have a job; though he didn't read much and was not in good health, what he had was diligence. At a young age, he could take small jobs, and considering various factors, the street department prioritized assigning him a task.

Nowadays he's working in a garment factory's workshop, also after he became a regular worker, the pressure for Wang Xiangxiu finally eased a bit. However, Wang Xiangxiu didn't spend Yinlai's money all; she saved it in the bank, the three children having different concerns, but as a mother, the one she least was assured of was Yinlai. Because he's not in good health. So, the money, she would reserve it for Yinlai to marry a wife gracefully.

Regarding Su Jinlai, to be honest, Wang Xiangxiu herself didn't even consider the idea of him getting married. For someone like him, what kind of decent person could he possibly marry? Bringing home an indecent one would only add to the family's burden.

Although Jinlai was already the oldest among the boys in the courtyard, Wang Xiangxiu wasn't in a hurry to arrange his marriage.

As for her younger son, Su Tonglai's academic performance was average, neither particularly good nor bad, but he was a smart kid. He understood that if he didn't study hard, he wouldn't have much of a future. So he worked diligently. This boy had a sweet mouth and many tricks up his sleeve. During middle school, he voluntarily helped his homeroom teacher with chores and even received free tutoring, managing to get into high school with average grades. He was in the same grade as Li Zhenzhen but in a different class.

He studied hard, and Wang Xiangxiu pinned most of her hopes on this younger son. Being a widow raising three children, her life was tough. Now, by renting out two rooms at four yuan per month each, an extra eight yuan per month significantly eased her financial strain. So, she was quite willing to do this.

She was currently a level three fitter, though not as good as Bai Fendou or Liang Meifen, she was content with her own progress. In the past, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to get promoted, feeling that it was beyond her ability.

But now, reaching level three as a fitter, she couldn't help but feel proud of herself for her capabilities.

So, she was very thankful to the Zhou and Li the Cook families for renting her rooms.

Both parties benefited from the arrangement.

Compared to families with many members like theirs, Old Master Lan Sihai had no such worries. The elderly couple lived a leisurely life, strolling, drinking tea, and enjoying crosstalk and storytelling performances, making for a cozy lifestyle.

No one in the courtyard lived as comfortably as the elderly couple.

After all, with pension money and no financial burdens, their life was bound to be easy. Several families lived in the backyard. How to put it? Their lives certainly weren't as good as the Zhuang family's, but they were still better off than Wang Xiangxiu's family.

Problems like Li the Cook and Aunt Wang's families revolved around insufficient housing. Over the years, they had saved some money, but buying a house was still difficult. These days, buying and selling houses was a complicated process.

It was hard to find suitable options.

Another familiar family, the Zhang Sans, faced the same situation. The couple had decent conditions, both being employees, but they lacked sufficient living space. Luckily, Zhang San's wife's family had better conditions, so their two children were raised by their maternal grandparents.

The Sui Family, among others, also dealt with housing shortages.

When Zhao Guihua thought about it, she couldn't help but sigh. No matter the time, housing prices were always high for ordinary people. Currently, a room might seem affordable at a few hundred yuan, but the scarcity of houses for sale meant most people barely had enough space.

It was thanks to Zhuang Zhixi arranging an extra room during a house swap that their family enjoyed such convenience.

A decade passed in a blink, with significant changes, yet not so much.

In January, whether you were a child or an adult, school hadn't started yet, but those who needed to work were already back at it. Zhuang Zhixi came home after work carrying half a pound of spare ribs, his steps light and cheerful. Spare ribs, after all, were a delicacy.

As he entered the courtyard, he saw Su Jinlai washing up. Zhuang Zhixi glanced at his watch; it was 5:30 p.m. Su Jinlai's schedule was indeed unique. They had already finished work, but he was just waking up to wash.

Who knew where he would go to fool around at night.

Su Jinlai also spotted Zhuang Zhixi and couldn't take his eyes off the ribs in Zhuang Zhixi's hands, licking his lips. Recently, his mouth had been rather tasteless, and he was feeling hungry.

"Uncle Zhuang, you're home from work?"

Zhuang Zhixi hummed in acknowledgment, smiling and saying, "Just getting up?"

Su Jinlai wiped his face and said, "Didn't sleep well last night, so I got up a bit late today."

This was more than just "a bit" late, but Su Jinlai wasn't a family member, so Zhuang Zhixi didn't pry. He just smiled and said, "You really live life on your own terms."

Su Jinlai chuckled and nodded.

Zhuang Zhixi didn't engage in further small talk and headed straight to his mother's place with the ribs. Elderly folks liked to sleep on a kang (a heated brick bed) for comfort. After moving, Zhao Guihua had changed their bed to a kang, with blankets spread over it.

The Zhuang children gathered around their grandparents, listening to the radio.

As soon as Zhuang Zhixi entered, they all called out to him. Despite the ten years passing and the children growing up, Zhuang Zhixi hadn't changed much, just slightly more mature, looking as fresh and neat as ever.

He proudly handed the ribs to Zhao Guihua and said, "Mom, let's cook some ribs tonight."

Zhao Guihua asked, "Where did you get these?"

Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow. "Of course, I bought them. Nobody gave them to me. I met a butcher selling meat on a cart on my way home from work. Not much left, but these ribs are really good."

Although ribs might not be as satisfying as big chunks of meat, the meat on ribs has a unique flavor that can't be matched.

Zhuang Zhixi particularly enjoyed this delicacy.

"Alright, we'll cook them tonight."

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Where's Dad? Gone fishing again?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "No, he went with Old Master Lan to play chess."

Speaking of which, Lan Sihai had a knack for finding joy in everything. Wherever there was something entertaining, he was the first to know. Little Yuanyuan, always a glutton, stretched her neck to look, meeting her dad's eyes and giving him a sweet smile.

Zhuang Zhixi said, "You little rascals live quite comfortably. I have to work in this cold weather."

Yuanyuan immediately came forward, saying like a loyal dog, "Dad, let me massage your shoulders."

Zhuang Zhixi pinched her chubby cheeks and said, "Alright, put some strength into it. Eating so much, you better not be weak when it comes to massaging."

Yuanyuan rolled up her sleeves. "Watch me!"

Zhuang Zhixi sat on the edge of the kang, and little Yuanyuan stood up, putting all her effort into the task.

Although Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were twins, they had very different personalities. Tuantuan was always bustling with energy, appearing carefree but being sharp and clever. In contrast, Yuanyuan, seemingly smart, was actually quite naive and loved to eat, being a little flatterer, though not very cunning.

Together, the siblings were always protective of each other, with Tuantuan taking care of Yuanyuan.

Yuanyuan seriously massaged her dad's shoulders, chattering nonstop and tattling in a mysterious tone, "Dad, we met Li Shanshan at the cultural center today, and she said there's a thief in our courtyard."

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "A thief?"

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't Li Shanshan from the back street? You're in the same grade."

Unlike some dads who were clueless about their kids' affairs, Zhuang Zhixi was well-informed about everything regarding Tuantuan and Yuanyuan. He knew their friends and classmates, though he didn't pry unless they mentioned something.

Yuanyuan nodded quickly. "That's her."

She said crisply, "Guess who she said it is?"

Zhuang Zhixi playfully asked, "Who?"

Little Yuanyuan became excited and said, "It's Jinlai gege (brother)."

She lowered her voice, speaking with a hint of mystery, "She said Jinlai gege steals things."

Zhuang Zhixi wasn't surprised at all. Everyone knew about Su Jinlai's past. Not only did he end up in a juvenile detention center over a decade ago, but even without that, his current lifestyle left much to be desired.

It ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍wasn't that people looked down on him, hoping he would change.

The problem was, over a year since he returned, he spent his days sleeping excessively and wandering aimlessly, hanging out with local loafers who wore flashy shirts and bell-bottom pants, the kind often scolded by neighborhood committee aunties. Without finding a proper job, under these circumstances, claiming he was a good person would require some convincing.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "How did Li Shanshan know that?"

He inquired subtly.

Little Yuanyuan answered, "She said someone in their courtyard saw Jinlai gege stealing iron materials from the factory."

When Zhuang Zhixi heard this, his eyebrows shot up. "You're saying someone stole iron?" he asked.

Xiao Yuanyuan nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Zhuang Zhixi glanced at his daughter and said, "Don't talk about this to anyone else."

Yuanyuan's eyes widened, a bit puzzled. Zhuang Zhixi explained, "Stealing is a serious accusation. Unless you've seen it with your own eyes, don't spread it around. If it's false, it would wrong an innocent person. And if it's true, spreading rumors only makes things harder for the police. So, don't talk about it outside, understand?"

He wasn't just speaking to Yuanyuan but to everyone around.

Tuantuan also nodded.

Hutou, holding a high school textbook, said, "Uncle, I know that. We're not kids anymore."

Besides, they've seen a lot. It's just the younger siblings who are easily surprised.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "How's your studying going?"

Hutou's head instantly drooped. He was set to take the college entrance exam this summer, and just thinking about it made him feel overwhelmed. "I've been studying hard," he sighed.

But how much he'd actually learned was anyone's guess.

He sighed again, wishing he were as smart as his sister.

Xiaoyanzi chimed in, "Brother, I believe you can do it."

Hutou: "..."

He didn't even believe in himself.

But the rest of the family had high expectations, which only added to his stress. He found himself envying Li Junjun and Li Weiwei, whose family placed less pressure on them.

Li Junjun had also gotten into high school but hadn't made it into college. After graduating, he used Zhuang Zhiyuan's connections to get a job at the railway section. Li Weiwei didn't get into college either. After finishing middle school, he started learning cooking from his grandfather and father, Li the Cook.

That seemed like a good path. While still an apprentice, he already accompanied Li the Cook on catering jobs, which wasn't bad at all.

Li the Cook's family didn't demand as much from their kids as Zhuang Zhiyuan and Liang Meifen did. Being a family of chefs, they always had cooking as a fallback option. If the kids didn't do well in school, they could learn cooking. So, the Li brothers' lives were relatively stress-free.

Hutou envied them deeply.

Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but chuckle at Hutou's pain, but he didn't want to undermine his brother and sister-in-law's expectations. Yuanyuan, noticing her father's expression, quickly piped up, "Dad, I'll study hard too. I must get into college!"

Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "You don't have to rub it in your brother's face."

Hutou agreed, "Exactly."

He teased Yuanyuan, "You little brat."

Yuanyuan blinked innocently with her big eyes.

Zhuang Zhixi wondered aloud, "Where's your mom? She..."

Before he could finish, a commotion came from outside. The kids immediately crowded to the windows to look out, while Zhuang Zhixi stepped out the door. Upon stepping outside, he saw Lan Sihai leading the way, followed by a mover carrying a large box.

Old Man Zhuang and Ming Mei were also there.

Zhuang Zhixi asked, "Grandpa, what's this?"

Taking a closer look, he exclaimed, "Ah, you bought a TV?"

Lan Sihai smiled faintly. "Yes, I bought one."

He added, "I've always believed in embracing new things. You young folks should take a leaf out of my book."

Ming Mei muttered under her breath, "We're not against new trends, it's just that our pockets aren't deep enough."

Who doesn't know how great TVs are? But one needs the money to afford it! And a ticket too! Without both, there's no point in chasing trends.

Lan Sihai chided, "Enough of your chatter."

Ming Mei immediately zipped her lips, while Tuantuan and Yuanyuan burst out, excited.

Tuantuan exclaimed, "Great-Grandpa, you bought a TV? That's amazing!"

Yuanyuan chimed in, "Let's watch TV!"

Lan Sihai waved them over, "Come to Great-Grandpa's house to watch TV."

This was the first TV in their compound, and it caused quite a stir. Everyone came out to catch a glimpse, both adults and children buzzing with excitement.

Auntie Zhou was among the first to approach. Despite her age, she was remarkably nimble. "That must be expensive, eh?" she remarked.

"Of course it is! This is a TV, after all," someone responded.

"This is the first TV in our compound! Lan Laoban is always so fashionable."

"That's for sure! Lan Laoban was the first to wear bell-bottoms. Even young folks can't keep up."

"Hahaha!"

In their compound, Lan Sihai stood out the most. However, no one thought it was strange. Initially, they thought he was too extravagant, a bit out of touch with everyone else. But over time, they've grown to accept his style.

In fact, many had started to take cues from him.

Seeing an old man living more stylishly and comfortably than themselves wasn't that inspiring?

"A TV is truly wonderful. With a TV, we don't have to spend money on movies or shows, right?" someone asked.

"Of course," another replied.

"Lan Laoban, how big is your TV?"

Lan Sihai, hands behind his back, wore a smug smile. "It's a 12-inch Peony, 550 yuan," he declared.

When the price came out, everyone gasped.

550 yuan! That was a fortune!

"That's outrageously expensive!"

"Way more than a radio."

"A radio and TV aren't even comparable," someone corrected.

"Right, right! A 12-inch screen isn't small at all."

"It's a great gadget, just too pricey."

Lan Sihai entered the house, handed two jiao to the mover, who happily accepted it. With so few jobs available and returning educated youth filling the cities, some older folks handed their jobs to their children and took on odd jobs to make ends meet. Places like the mall entrance were filled with movers and rickshaw drivers.

Lan Sihai believed in paying for labor rather than doing it himself.

"Zhuang Zhixi, set up the TV," he ordered.

Lan Sihai acted every bit the old man, directing his granddaughter's husband to work. Zhuang Zhixi didn't hesitate, immediately unpacking the box. After glancing at the manual, he found it quite simple. Soon, he had the TV and antenna set up.

Though not a specialist, he had learned alongside Lan Sihai when the latter tinkered with radios, so he was familiar with these gadgets.

This was the first TV in the compound, and everyone gathered around, squeezing into the house. It was packed tight.

Auntie Wang remarked, "The neighboring compound bought theirs earlier, but theirs is a 9-inch model. Compared to this 12-inch one, it looks small."

"That's for sure."

Some didn't know, asking, "Are there even bigger ones?"

Lan Sihai explained, "There's a 14-inch model. That's currently the most expensive. But I checked, and they were sold out. People prefer the 14-inch for a one-shot purchase."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

"That 14-inch must be even pricier, right?"

Lan Sihai confirmed, "It's 200 yuan more expensive."

Another round of gasps echoed.

Zhuang Zhixi adjusted the antenna, pressed the power button, and soon, figures appeared on the screen. The crowd erupted in cheers, "It's working!"

"I see it! What's on?"

"I don't know."

A crisp voice came from the TV: "Panda Apprentice."

The evening was prime time for cartoons. Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, and even little Bai Qingqing screamed in excitement, shouting, "It's a cartoon!"

"It's 'Panda Apprentice!'"

"How awesome!"

The children were ecstatic, while the adults watched with equal fascination.

"The picture quality is so clear. Look at how good it is," someone commented.

"Couldn't agree more."

Zhuang Zhixi looked down for a moment, then loosened the antenna, causing the image on the TV to flicker slightly. Yuanyuan called out excitedly, "Daddy! Daddy!"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I just need to adjust it a bit more. Don't worry, everyone." He began flipping through the channels and soon nodded, "We can get three channels."

"That's quite a few."

"Indeed."

Zhuang Zhixi finished adjusting the TV and let go, standing to the side as he watched the cartoon with the children. The kids were so engrossed that their eyes seemed glued to the screen. Even dinner was forgotten; everyone gathered around to watch the show, enjoying the moment.

"Our compound finally has a TV. That's really great."

The children pushed forward, and the adults had to step back. Even someone like Zhou Qun couldn't get close. Watching everyone's excitement, he leaned towards Jiang Lu and said, "Honey, why don't we buy one for our place too? Look how much Xiao Qijin likes it."

He had been wanting to buy one for a while, but Jiang Lu had always been hesitant. Now, with Lan Sihai getting one first, Zhou Qun felt even more determined.

After all, they weren't the first in the compound to buy a TV.

Jiang Lu hesitated, "It's so expensive."

In reality, their income was among the highest in the compound, and buying a TV wasn't a financial burden. But Jiang Lu still found it pricey, especially since it wasn't something essential like food or drink.

Zhou Qun urged, "Sure, it's not cheap, but we can definitely afford it. Look how fun it is. Watching TV in the evening would also be lively." He tried his best to persuade Jiang Lu, who found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the TV screen.

Before seeing it, she could convince herself not to spend so much money on something non-essential. But now, seeing the TV in action, she couldn't help but feel drawn to it.

It really was quite impressive.

And since such major appliances were always needed in a household, buying sooner rather than later meant enjoying it sooner.

She bit her lip and said, "I'll ask around at the factory to see if I can get a ticket for one. Then we'll buy one too."

Zhou Qun's face lit up with joy, "That's perfect."

Although their voices were low, Bai Fendou overheard them and let out a jealous grunt.

Their family didn't have many financial burdens, but they still found it too costly to buy a TV.

He glanced at Zhou Qun and muttered, "Showing off."

Zhou Qun smirked, "You're just jealous."

"Me? Jealous of you? Don't flatter yourself."

"Yes, you, it's you, definitely you."

Bai Fendou's jealousy was obvious.

But Bai Fendou retorted, "I wouldn't be jealous of you. I'm envious of Lan Sihai. He's the most stylish person in our compound, and no one can compare."

"Lan Sihai, can we come watch TV with you at night?" someone asked.

Lan Sihai replied, "You really don't see yourselves as outsiders, do you?"

But despite his words, he didn't really mind. "Come on, sure, but don't disturb my rest. You know how I am; if it gets too noisy or messy, I won't hesitate to raise my voice."

"Of course!"

"Great-grandfather, we want to come too," Yuanyuan cooed, the sweet little girl being especially endearing.

Lan Sihai smiled, "Of course. Who wouldn't let our Yuanyuan come?"

Yuanyuan immediately beamed with a bright smile.

Despite the cold weather, the compound was filled with warmth and excitement.

Everyone enthusiastically discussed the TV, while Su Jinlai stood at the back of the crowd, craning his neck to catch a glimpse. His eyes held a mix of jealousy and resentment.

While Bai Fendou's jealousy was just talk, Su Jinlai's was genuine. Living in the same compound, seeing others live so well while his own family struggled left him feeling bitter.

In reality, compared to the hardships of living in the countryside, his current life was much better. The place he lived in the countryside was poor, and life there was tough.

When he first returned, he was quite pleased.

After all, moving from something bad to something better always felt gratifying. However, this better life didn't last long before he began to feel dissatisfied. His family's life was better than the countryside, but it paled in comparison to the others in the compound. This comparison left him feeling discontent.

With three children in the family, only he had been sent to the countryside. Even though it wasn't because of him that his younger brothers didn't have to go, they were simply too young when the policy changed, he still couldn't shake off his resentment. Why did he have to suffer the most?

Now, others had TVs at home, while his family couldn't even afford meat.

Leaning against the wall, Su Jinlai stared at Lan Sihai's house, his eyes deep with contemplation.

Show off, show off, keep showing off. You'll regret it someday!

He looked enviously at Lan Sihai, feeling the need to teach them a lesson. "So what if you have a TV? Who knows how much it's worth now? If it cost 550 yuan, asking for 500 yuan a day later isn't too much, right?"

Who would be willing to buy it?

His mind quickly went through a few possibilities, and he felt more confident.

Although he had only been back for over a year, he had already made some friends outside. Together, they did small "jobs" that helped ease their financial situation. However, in the past, Su Jinlai hadn't targeted his neighbors.

It wasn't that he cared much about neighborly relations—in fact, he despised them. He thought they were hypocritical, always fawning over the rich while stepping on the poor. He couldn't stand them.

But there was an old saying: "A rabbit doesn't eat grass near its nest."

Since he lived in the compound, where everyone knew each other, any theft would immediately raise suspicions about him. He had a criminal record, and even if he denied it, life would be difficult. He was well aware that as long as he didn't live here, things would be fine. But living here meant he had to avoid such messy situations.

So, although he continued his thieving ways, he never targeted the area around the compound, not even the neighbors.

But today, seeing Lan Sihai show off, his frustration boiled over. He was furious, feeling that everything was unfair. Why should this old man live so well while he, a young and talented man, struggled financially? The world just wasn't fair.

He snorted heavily, determined to give this old man a taste of his own medicine. He wanted them to know that the compound wasn't just their stage to show off.

As Su Jinlai thought this through, his mood calmed. He started observing closely. Lan Sihai's house seemed easy to break into—just an old couple. Even if they caught him, would they dare to make a scene, fearing retaliation?

No, he wasn't worried at all.

It was time to make a move.

Su Jinlai stared at Lan Sihai's house, a sly smile creeping across his face.

Meanwhile, everyone was caught up in the excitement. At that moment, Su Tonglai returned from outside. Although the school term hadn't started yet, he spent his days attending extra classes. He was very aware of his own limitations and knew that with his abilities, it would be tough to get into university.

So, even though he was only in his first year of high school, he had already started seeking extra tutoring from teachers. That's why he was rarely home. No one was there to care if Su Jinlai slept all day.

His mother, Wang Xiangxiu, and his brother Su Yinlai both worked, while Su Tonglai attended classes outside, leaving Su Jinlai alone at home.

Su Tonglai asked, "What's going on here?"

He quickly joined the crowd, while Su Jinlai watched his younger brother, rolling his eyes in disdain. To Su Jinlai, Su Tonglai's eagerness to join the fun while others were showing off was a display of lack of backbone. It only added to their arrogance, which Su Jinlai couldn't stand. He looked down on both of his younger brothers; Su Yinlai was stubborn and simple-minded, while Su Tonglai was like a yes-man.

Once, the three brothers had been close, but since Su Jinlai was sent to a reform school, their relationship changed. Over the years, they spent little time together, and their bond gradually faded. Now, Su Jinlai felt that both his younger brothers were disappointing.

Interestingly, Su Yinlai and Su Tonglai felt the same way about Su Jinlai.

These years, the two of them—Su Yinlai and Su Tonglai—have been surviving together with Wang Xiangxiu, and they have matured quite a bit. Naturally, they find their older brother, Su Jinlai, unreliable. Although Su Jinlai feels that life is tough and the family is struggling, Su Yinlai and Su Tonglai believe that their life isn't so bad.

After all, their family has four rooms, which is something most families can only dream of. Just having a house is already better than what many others have. There's really no need to dwell on self-pity. Aren't there many who have even less?

And if they work hard, they can surely make a good life for themselves.

Su Jinlai, always moping about the unfairness of the world, is something that Su Tonglai doesn't admire at all. Su Tonglai doesn't care what his older brother thinks; he's more interested in joining the crowd to see what's happening. "Hey, Uncle Lan, did you buy a TV?"

Lan Sihai: "That's right, how do you like it?"

Su Tonglai gives a thumbs up. "You're number one in the compound."

Lan Sihai laughs heartily.

Although Su Tonglai may seem like a calculating kid with plenty of tricks up his sleeve, Lan Sihai actually has a decent impression of him. After all, a person isn't necessarily a bad one just because they have wits. As long as they don't use those wits for evil, it's alright if they use them to better their future.

In recent years, as Lan Sihai has aged, Su Tonglai has taken the initiative to help with some chores at the Lan household. His brother-in-law, Zhuang Zhixi, has also been busy with this and that, but with Zhuang Zhixi working full-time, Su Tonglai has been available more often.

Su Tonglai is sharp and knows how to help out without being asked. In return, Lan Sihai shows his gratitude by giving Su Tonglai some food from time to time. Their relationship has been quite good.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

As Su Tonglai watches TV, he's completely absorbed. He knows his own family certainly can't afford one, so he doesn't even ask how much it costs. Instead, he just says, "This TV is so much more comfortable to watch than smaller ones."

Lan Sihai: "Feel free to come over and watch TV whenever you want."

Su Tonglai: "Thank you, Uncle Lan."

Truth be told, Su Tonglai doesn't really have the time to watch TV. He needs that time to study. It's not like he's particularly smart, so he needs to be extra diligent. For families like theirs, education is the key to changing their fate.

But since Uncle Lan is being so kind, he matches his enthusiasm. "Next time you buy something, call me. I can help you carry it. All this strength would be wasted if I don't use it!"

Lan Sihai laughs. "Sure thing."

Su Tonglai stays close to Lan Sihai, which makes Su Jinlai seethe with jealousy. Here's this big guy acting like a dutiful grandson in front of Uncle Lan. Su Jinlai rolls his eyes so hard, they might just fall out.

He needs to steal that TV!

That'll teach them to flaunt it.

Su Jinlai snorts and storms off to his room, not wanting to watch any longer. It's just too embarrassing!

The excitement in the courtyard continues into the late evening. At dinner, Su Jinlai is in a foul mood. He's snapping at anything and everything.

Wang Xiangxiu wonders, "What's wrong with you now?"

Su Jinlai, eating his cabbage, says, "Nothing."

He quickly wolfs down half the plate, gulping it down messily.

Wang Xiangxiu scolds, "Slow down when you eat!"

Su Jinlai: "I haven't eaten all day."

Wang Xiangxiu: "You can't just skip meals. You..."

Su Tonglai: "Big brother probably slept all day."

Ah, there's no one more familiar than family, is there?

Su Jinlai: "Mind your own business."

As he hears the noise outside the courtyard still going strong, he feels even more unhappy. He crosses his arms and says, "I'm going out for a walk..."

Su Yinlai: "What's up with him now?"

Su Tonglai whispers, "He's got the green-eyed monster."

Wang Xiangxiu sighs and tries to calm them down. "Just try to get along with your brother."

Su Tonglai: "."

Wang Xiangxiu: "..."

******

Late at night, under the dark skies with howling winds, with the red-eyed jealousy of a certain Su Jinlai driving him, he sneaks out of the house in silence. Slowly, he creeps up to Lan Sihai's doorstep, pulls out a wire, and picks the lock.

Hehe, this is a piece of cake.

As he swings the door open with a creak, stepping inside, ka-thunk!

"AAHHH!!!" Su Jinlai screams!

What the heck, they had a rat trap set at the door?!

Happy National Day.