Chapter 119: Bound to the Birth System and Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 120: 1970s Hutong Daily Life (18)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

People in this era really communicate directly; it feels like neighborhood disputes often end with mutual insults, and scuffles are practically everyday occurrences.

Shen Yao is a pregnant woman and gets hungry quickly; after leaving the Canning Factory, she and her grandmother didn't go to the bus stop but turned into a dark little hutong instead.

Turning further into the hutong was a household, and upon pushing open the gate, they could still smell fragrance drifting in the air.

It turned out to be a privately run small restaurant with unfixed opening hours; sometimes they took money, sometimes goods.

Shen Yao had been a little surprised when she first came here, after all, if reported, the trouble would be certain.

It was Grandmother-in-law Zhou who told her not to make a fuss; there were quite a few such fly-by-night eateries in Jing Shi.

They circulated privately among people who loved food, and the big shots were all after a bite to eat.

Nowadays Shen Yao and Grandmother-in-law Zhou came often enough that she had gradually adapted, even occasionally ordering a few dishes to satisfy her cravings.

Anyway, such small shops had no menu; basically whatever was available was what you got, the main draw being the blind-box effect.

"Sister Zhou is here."

At the doorway of the room, a middle-aged man came out, with a long face and chubby cheeks; seeing Grandmother-in-law Zhou, he couldn't help but grin.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou nodded, "You're here too; I knew today wouldn't be complete without you."

The middle-aged man made a 'hmph' sound upon hearing this, "Master Cui rarely makes roast duck once; no matter what, we have to come taste it."

Making roast duck in these days was no small matter, after all, the number of poultry raised was limited.

And the raw material ratio for roast duck was complex; wanting to make it well without ruining the sign required extreme care.

"We should taste it; the opportunity is rare, who knows when the next time will be."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou pulled Shen Yao, and the three of them gathered together to chat idly in low voices.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Closed?"

The middle-aged man had a gloomy expression, "Closed, just these past few days; don't know which grandson reported them, probably need to wait a while and change to a new address before reopening."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou clicked her tongue, "That household's skill in making meat dishes was unmatched; what a pity."

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth, "Who says isn't? Truly not human……"

The three gathered together, chatting most about which household's food was good, which household's newly opened store, which household changed to a new address.

After this chat ended and the topic came to a pause, several more people joined them.

Men and women, tall and short, fat and thin.

The only similarity was that they all loved eating and paid dearly for a bite.

Shen Yao hitched a ride with her own grandmother and ate a filling meal of Jing Shi roast duck.

The taste and texture were truly excellent; no wonder it was so famous in later generations.

It's just that too many people came this time; Grandmother-in-law Zhou originally planned to buy a roast duck to take back, but in the end one duck became half a duck, and the portion shrank drastically.

"Sigh, thinking of letting the in-laws all taste it, looks like we can only wait for the next opportunity."

"This half roast duck is for Little Xie first; Little Xie works overtime every day and labors hard, he needs to be well nourished."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou's filter for Xie Ci'an was thick beyond measure; no matter how many times Shen Yao emphasized, it was useless.

"Grandma, leave the roast duck for me; I'm pregnant and suffer much more than Xie Ci'an."

"Hmph, don't throw a tantrum at Grandma; your body is fine eating normally, too much is harmful."

"Be good, Grandma will buy you an old hen later to stew chicken soup to drink."

Shen Yao: ……Hmph~

Shen Yao indicated this was also fine; she wasn't insisting on eating roast duck, as long as there was meat, she could make do.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou: ……Truly such a thick face; stewing chicken soup counts as making do? It's the setup of a truly wealthy family.

The two of them came out for a trip and spent quite a few yuan again.

Really think eating a meal of roast duck is so cheap? Eating and taking costs a pretty penny.

However, both of them liked eating, and Grandmother-in-law Zhou was even wealthy and willing to spend money.

Especially since Shen Yao still had a lot of money in her own space; spending it was truly without hesitation.

Boarding the bus back to Fengshou Hutong, the grandmother and granddaughter swayed for nearly half an hour.

"Sigh, hold it in, whatever you do don't vomit, it's all money."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou supported Shen Yao's arm, patting her back while speaking.

After hearing this, Shen Yao almost really vomited, with teary eyes she called out Grandma, wasn't she more valuable than the roast duck in her belly.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou unscrewed the kettle she carried on her back; inside was cool boiled water.

"Rinse your mouth; Grandma is doing this for your own good; if you can't stand this, how will you stand that; what will you do in the future?"

Grandmother-in-law Zhou had endured hardship all the way and understood best that being affected could cost one's life.

Nowadays where was there time for Shen Yao to grieve over spring and mourn autumn; everyone was risking their lives to live.

Shen Yao rinsed her mouth, and by the way drank two sips of cool boiled water to ease the nausea rising in her chest.

"Grandma, rest assured; your granddaughter knows best when to do what."

Nowadays the situation was special; she could only first bury her head in developing and accumulating capital; waiting until later Reform and Opening Up, then she would strive to be among the first to get rich.

By then the few children she gave birth to would also count as winning at the starting line.

The highest realm of raising children is raising oneself; let one's own success motivate one's own offspring.

Hehehe

Seems she thought of something pleasant, Shen Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

In Grandmother-in-law Zhou's eyes, it was just her own granddaughter looking a bit silly.

Could it be an aftereffect of pregnancy? Back then, she and her daughter didn't seem to be like this.

Sigh

Better give birth to the child as soon as possible.

After resting for a few minutes, Shen Yao felt she could walk, and the two started hurrying home.

Passing the signpost of Fengshou Hutong, going along the small alley all the way forward, they both stopped at the same time.

"Grandma, there are people up ahead; it wouldn't be another family fighting again, would it?"

In Fengshou Hutong, things like fighting happen often, and there's no specific reason to speak of.

"You don't move first, I'll go take a look."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou was also afraid Shen Yao, a pregnant woman, would go over and hurt her belly, so she gave a few words of warning first, then hurriedly ran forward a couple of steps to look.

Shen Yao stood on tiptoe to look around, but only saw heads and knew nothing at all.

"Grandma."

Grandmother-in-law Zhou waved her hands anxiously, "Quick, follow Grandma and take a detour home."

Shen Yao hadn't even reacted before Grandmother-in-law Zhou pulled her back along the road they had come from.

Turning back to look behind her, she found the crowd of onlookers hadn't diminished at all, "What's wrong?"

Grandmother-in-law Zhou made a "hmph" sound, slightly furrowed her brows, slapped her thigh and said something about bad luck.

"A woman from the Zhao family pulled a daughter from the Cheng family and fought with someone from the subdistrict office, and now they're lying on the ground trying to extort money."

Shen Yao:...

The information spoken was too much, Shen Yao's brain froze for a moment.

"Lying on the ground trying to extort money?"

Zhao Meizhi wouldn't go that far, right? Her two sons are about to start working at the factory; that would just be making a laughingstock of herself.

"Not just extorting money, there are other things too; anyway, just keep watching, the courtyard won't be quiet."

The eyebrow Grandmother-in-law Zhou raised never came down, and her legs moved incredibly fast.

Shen Yao didn't keep asking; grandmother and granddaughter buried their heads in hurrying along, simply taking a big detour home.

Inside the home, Tian Na was sitting in the small courtyard quietly talking with Zhou Dama and Miao Dama.

Seeing Shen Yao and Grandmother-in-law Zhou return, she hurriedly called them over to listen together.

As for what to listen to? Naturally the latest news about the Cheng family and the Zhao family.

Cheng Bing and Zhao Jinbao got their marriage certificate and will hold a wedding banquet in the courtyard in half a month.

Shen Yao caught her breath, "When Grandma and I came back, we saw Sister Zhao and Cheng Bing making a scene at the subdistrict office."

As for Zhao Meizhi lying on the ground making a scene and trying to extort money because of this, Shen Yao didn't say.

"Let them make a scene; they have to remove Cheng Bing's sent-down youth quota, otherwise how could the two children be separated."

Zhou Dama pursed her lips, those small eyes glanced around the surroundings and continued, "According to Xue Hongmei, Cheng Bing seems to already be pregnant; the three hundred bridal price originally arranged is now only fifty left."

Miao Cuilan made a "hoh" sound, "Fifty?" Are they sending off a beggar?

"Our Cheng Xue isn't that price; otherwise, why would our eldest son have remained single all this time?"

Miao Cuilan suddenly couldn't help but want to roll up her sleeves and go argue with Xue Hongmei.

How can someone behave like this? They're both daughters, yet treated differently!

Zhou Dama hurriedly pulled Miao Cuilan, "Cheng Xue is the precious darling of the Cheng couple, kept to recruit a son-in-law living with the wife's family."

"If I may say, your Jian'gang is just too stubborn; what's the use of clinging to Cheng Xue? There are plenty of good families around us with young, beautiful daughters."

"Cuilan, if you trust me, I'll definitely introduce a good one to you."

"Not to mention anything else, my maiden home has several nieces, one of whom is just twenty this year, with first-rate looks and personality; I'll find a time to bring her over for you to see, how about it?"

Zhou Dama's eyes shifted, and she immediately changed the topic to her own maiden home's niece.

Miao Cuilan had been worried about Jian'gang's marriage these past years.

Hearing Zhou Dama say this out of the blue, judging by her expression, she seemed a bit tempted.

Tian Na:...

Tian Na immediately pulled Grandmother-in-law Zhou and Shen Yao back a few steps.

Shen Yao:...?

Shen Yao didn't understand the meaning of her mother-in-law's action, but Grandmother-in-law Zhou was old and shrewd, and could tell at a glance that Zhou Dama introducing a match for Jian'gang had ill intentions.

After Zhou Dama pulled Miao Cuilan away, Tian Na then quietly complained to Shen Yao and Grandmother-in-law Zhou.

"Zhou Dama's maiden home is in the countryside around Jing Shi; her family is dirt poor, not to mention they all cherish sons and don't treat daughters as human beings."

"Introducing a match for the Zhao family's eldest son? They definitely have no good intentions."

Tian Na spoke crudely and clearly, showing she really didn't like Zhou Dama.

Shen Yao remembered Miao Cuilan's previous enthusiasm toward her, "Miao Dama has always looked down on people from the countryside, hasn't she?"

Tian Na sighed, "She changed her mind herself, but doesn't she see what kind of virtue Jian'gang has?"

Shen Yao was surprised, thinking to herself that Jian'gang had been like that for twenty-five years.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou nudged Shen Yao, "The Cheng couple introduced a young man with decent conditions for Cheng Xue; I heard they'll go on a blind date in a few days, and if it works out, they'll get the certificate and hold the banquet right away."

Shen Yao felt she couldn't keep up with the gossip speed; not hearing for a few days, things changed so fast.

"Wasn't it to recruit a son-in-law living with the wife's family?" Shen Yao blinked her eyes, quite curious.

Tian Na added, "The one introduced is a son-in-law living with the wife's family, and they even give the other side a bridal price; the son born will take the Cheng surname."

Xue Hongmei had met with her many times to show off because of this; otherwise, how could Cheng Bing's bridal price of fifty be agreed to? It's just because there are more important matters at home; Cheng Bing is lucky, easily obtained and put aside, temporarily no time to pursue too much.

Grandmother-in-law Zhou spent more time in the courtyard than Tian Na on a daily basis, and heard more news.

The two joined hands, one supplementing the other's explanation, and quickly let Shen Yao understand the current development of the story.

Shen Yao touched her chin with one hand, the other hand resting on her round belly, "It feels like Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng were most likely scammed."

With conditions this good for a man, unless he has a defect himself, who would choose to be a stifled son-in-law living with wife's family?

An obvious logic bug, yet the Cheng Family not only didn't suspect it but even had the intention of letting Cheng Xue get married as soon as possible.

Hiss—

Shen Yao somewhat believed Grandmother-in-law Zhou's words; there really was a good show to watch in this courtyard.

In the evening, Xie Ci'an returned home from work and walked in to meet a pair of shining eyes.

Hm?

"What's wrong?"

Xie Ci'an reached out to embrace Shen Yao, his gaze concerned as he took in her every move.

Shen Yao shook her head, then reached out to point at the doorway, leaning by Xie Ci'an's ear and whispering what happened today.

"Before you came back, Sister Zhao came to invite Mom to help out when the time comes; the date has already been set."

Xie Ci'an:...

Xie Ci'an turned his head to look behind him, then turned back raising an eyebrow, "In such a rush?"

Shen Yao was like a little hamster, unable to help nodding happily, "If the Cheng Family's Cheng Xue's blind date succeeds, they'd also have to rush to get the marriage certificate and hold the banquet in those few days, tearing at each other's hair."

These were Tian Na's words; even if the Zhao Family and Cheng Family ended up becoming in-laws, with the relationship collapsing again and again, it would be very hard to return to the previous companionship pattern.

But looking at it, neither family had any intention of easing up; it should be that they also don't want to become in-laws.

Not just don't want to; Zhao Meizhi right now hates to directly knife Cheng Bing.

How did she not find this person an eyesore before; glaring angrily at Zhao Jinbao who couldn't control himself, Zhao Meizhi spoke in a muffled voice, "Now everything is done as you said; you'd better be marrying thinking to live well with Jinbao; if I discover you still have dealings with Yinbao"

"Mom! What nonsense are you saying?" Zhao Yinbao interjected, her voice drowning out Zhao Meizhi, "I have nothing to do with Cheng Bing; we were just classmates before."

Zhao Meizhi and Cheng Bing:...

Zhao Meizhi was choked by her own son's sophistry; Cheng Bing was rendered speechless.

Only Zhao Jinbao, squatting at the doorway holding his head, who knew what he was thinking.

The Zhao Family side's atmosphere was strange; the Cheng Family side was also not much better.

Cheng Xue sat in the room sulking; beside her was Xue Hongmei persuading her again and again.

As for Cheng Suo, he sat at the doorway with his head buried, silent, acting the thinker.

"Be obedient; your dad and I are doing this for your own good; that man's conditions are fine in every way; what's wrong with enduring a bit?"

It's just that he's not tall; what's the big deal? As long as it doesn't delay married life, it's fine.

Cheng Xue was dissatisfied, "So many men, does it have to be him?"

He's not even as good as Qian Jian'gang.

Although Qian Jian'gang isn't good-looking, he's imposing and tall too, presentable.

As for this one marrying her, his height only reaches her chin; thin and small; what's there to gain?

"Of course it's for his formal worker job at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Xiao Xue, don't be foolish yourself, and don't be stubborn."

Xue Hongmei understood her own eldest daughter; she understood this person was a bit looks-obsessed; otherwise she couldn't have liked the neighbor Xie Ci'an for many years.

But Xie Ci'an is good-looking, good in every way, just doesn't look favorably on their daughter and is unwilling to be a son-in-law living with wife's family.

How can that work? Their Old Cheng Family's family business needs a grandson to inherit.

When she and Old Cheng pass away, there will also be a surnamed Cheng grandson to smash basins and wail at the funeral.

"You also don't need to think of other people; it's Zhang Wang; if it doesn't work it has to work.

Your dad and I have always been counting on you to support us in old age and see us off; Xiao Xue, you should be sensible now."

Cheng Xue:...