Chapter 69 Special Preferences

After the excitement subsided and the crowd dispersed, Qin Weimin slowly emerged from the house with a somber expression.

He gave Aunt Yan a cold look and scolded, "You're more trouble than you're worth!"

Aunt Yan was still in pain in her chest when she was suddenly scolded by her husband with such cold and heartless words, and she felt very wronged.

She was just held down by that old shrew and suffered so much. Why doesn't her own husband care about her?

Aunt Yan recalled the behavior of that old slut next door, and a sudden inspiration struck her.

She also followed Bai Zhenzhu's example, her eyes reddening, tears welling up but not falling, looking at her husband with a pitiful expression.

Unexpectedly, Qin Weimin quickly looked away and sternly rebuked, "How old are you? You still cry at the drop of a hat. What kind of behavior is this!"

Aunt Yan: "..."

So you only feel good when that old slut is looking at you, huh?

Seeing that the man still looked like he had injured his eye, Aunt Yan, feeling wronged, could only hide her expression and revert to her usual honest and timid demeanor.

I rushed into the kitchen to start preparing lunch.

The pampered third daughter-in-law wanted chicken soup, so she had to hurry up and kill a chicken to stew it in advance, so that her precious grandson in her belly could grow up plump and healthy.

She has already lost a man's love, and she can't afford to lose touch with her son.

Qin Weimin patted his chest in fear from an angle that Aunt Yan couldn't see.

Damn it, has this old woman gone mad?!

Doesn't she realize how scary it is to make that pitiful expression with her wrinkled face?

It's a complete blunder.

No, he needs to go see Pearl and cleanse his eyes!

Qin Ziwen was unaware of the undercurrents between his parents.

He returned to his and Wu Meifang's new house with a gloomy face.

Thinking to himself, he realized that harming Zheng Haiyang this time was truly a losing proposition.

Zheng Haiyang only lost face, but what about himself?

He not only lost his reputation but also lost a large sum of money.

It's truly a case of losing both wife and army!

Qin Ziwen's wicked thoughts were bubbling up again, thinking about when he could give the Zheng family another good beating to vent his anger from today.

He had a plan in mind, but as soon as he entered the door, an enamel mug flew towards his face.

Qin Ziwen dodged with lightning speed.

The enamel mug crashed to the ground with a loud "crack".

Broken porcelain shards flew everywhere.

Wu Meifang stood by the bed, her face full of anger, and scolded, "Qin Ziwen, how can you be so useless?! You can't even handle this little thing. He's just a little kid, and you can't even manage him?!"

He said he was venting his anger, but what happened?

Now everyone in the hospital knows that Zheng Haiyang falling into the cesspool was a scheme by her husband. How is she going to face these people in the future?

Ahhh!

Although Wu Meifang might not look down on these low-level workers, she still had to live here, and she wouldn't allow others to look at her with prejudice.

Qin Ziwen had never been insulted like this before in his life; his face was turning blue and purple all over the place.

He stood with his back to the light, so Wu Meifang couldn't see the expression on his face, but he kept complaining.

"Tell me, why couldn't you be a little more careful? He's just a little kid; you could have easily said something to appease him. How could you be so stupid as to let him see through your act?"

I've been praised for being smart countless times since I was a child, but this is the first time I've been called stupid.

The veins on Qin Ziwen's forehead were bulging, and his fists were clenched tightly.

But considering the resources that Wu's father had, he gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger.

Qin Ziwen tried to speak gently, "Meifang, it's my fault. I was careless this time. Just you wait, next time, next time, I'll definitely make you get your revenge."

Wu Meifang's expression softened slightly, and Qin Ziwen pressed on, coaxing and promising her many more conditions.

Only then did Wu Meifang stop acting out and return to her former gentle and submissive self.

She nestled shyly in Qin Ziwen's arms and said sweetly, "Brother Ziwen, I knew you were the best to me!"

Qin Ziwen quickly forced a smile, "Silly girl, you're the one I went through so much trouble to marry. If I'm not good to you, who else should I be good to?"

But I breathed a long sigh of relief.

He only realized after the marriage that he had initially chosen Wu Meifang because she was favored at home, which meant that Wu's father would use more resources on his son-in-law.

Correspondingly, precisely because she was favored at home, she was spoiled, arrogant, and needed someone to serve her, pamper her, and coax her.

In the days since their marriage, this wasn't the first time Wu Meifang had lost her temper and scolded him over trivial matters, each time claiming she was the one who had humbled herself.

However, what does a little humiliation matter as long as you can climb up the ladder?

Once I climb to a height that the Wu family can't reach, what will Wu Meifang be then?

...

While the Qin family members had their own agendas, the Zheng family members, who had returned victorious from their battle, were no less ambitious.

Chang Dafeng was overjoyed to have successfully obtained forty yuan.

Although her former son and daughter-in-law were of no use and only knew how to act like quails, it was all thanks to her, an old woman, making a fuss.

But she didn't care.

Forty yuan! That's more than a month's salary for my eldest son!

She's almost there after a fight, which is much easier than her eldest son working a miserable month-long job.

She's really capable!

She, Chang Dafeng, is the most capable old lady in this courtyard!

Although Zheng Haiyang had vented his anger and torn off Qin Ziwen's hypocritical mask, he felt it wasn't enough. How could merely tearing off Qin Ziwen's mask compare to the humiliation he had suffered?

Zheng Haiyang will never forget the evasive, disdainful, and disgusted looks he received from everyone on the way to the Third Children's Hospital when he followed his mother there.

It was as if they were looking at something dirty.

Who would have thought that not long ago, he was a highly respected and promising young man in the courtyard? When people talked about him, everyone praised him for being righteous and kind.

But now, he's no different from a dung beetle. Everyone looks down on him and avoids him, afraid that if they get too close, they'll get covered in his stench.

Zheng Haiyang swore that he had never suffered such humiliation.

He insisted that Qin Ziwen also experience firsthand what it felt like to be avoided by everyone!

Jiang Qiubai thought to himself that half of the forty yuan was compensation from the Qin family. He wondered if his mother-in-law would give him a little. She didn't need much, just ten yuan would be fine.

Zheng Haicheng's eyes lit up as he looked at the forty yuan in Chang Dafeng's hand.

Forty yuan, and he got it for free! That's enough for Xiaohui to spend for a long time!

Yes, ever since Bai Xiaohui unilaterally stopped paying attention to Zheng Haicheng, he seems to have become an even bigger simp.

Before, he only followed Bai Xiaohui around and flattered her with words, but now he has upgraded to actions, buying things every now and then to please Bai Xiaohui.

Bai Xiaohui is quite interesting; she still ignores Zheng Haicheng, but she accepts all the gifts he gives her without hesitation.

Zheng Haicheng didn't feel anything was wrong at all; at least he could see Xiaohui now.

He was already plotting how to get money out of his mother to go out and have fun.

Zheng Haicheng rubbed his hands together eagerly, "Mom, have you thought about how to spend all this money you got for free? If not, I'll help you spend it, hehe."

Jiang Qiubai was unhappy. She had a share of the money, so why should Bai Xiaohui spend it?

Fearing that her mother-in-law might give the money to that good-for-nothing Zheng Haicheng and then let Bai Xiaohui spend it, she quickly said, "Mom, the family expenses are high now, and only Haiyang is earning money. We should save this money. Who knows who will spend it on Haicheng?"

Zheng Haicheng's face darkened. "What do you mean?! This is our family's money. Do you have the right to speak?!"

"Why can't I speak?" Jiang Qiubai was very assertive, as he had earned his own share of the money, and immediately retorted.

Upon seeing Jiang Qiubai, Chang Dafeng's face immediately darkened. She snapped, "Go, go, go cook! What business is it of yours?! You're like a lazy donkey pulling a millstone, only moving when you're told to. Do I have to explain even the smallest things to you? Do you think this old lady can follow you around like a shadow every day?"

Jiang Qiubai: "..." All she did was remind him not to give money to his younger brother-in-law! Wasn't she doing it for the good of the family? Why is her mother-in-law scolding her again?

Jiang Qiubai lowered her head unwillingly. Besides, she clearly had a share of the money in this, so why couldn't she speak up?

Jiang Qiubai knew that he had to keep a low profile and not argue with his mother-in-law, so he reluctantly moved slowly to the kitchen.

Zheng Haicheng snorted smugly.

That bitch dares to badmouth me in front of Mom; she really doesn't know her own limitations.

Don't you see? He's his mother's son. If his mother doesn't side with her own son, why would she side with her unlikable daughter-in-law?

"Mom, this money, hehe, I don't need much, just give me two yuan..."

Zheng Haicheng never expected that the biggest obstacle to his getting money today would not be Jiang Qiubai, but his dearest elder brother.

Before he could finish speaking, Zheng Haiyang interrupted him.

“Mom, Qiu Bai is right. We can’t give this money to my second brother. If we give it to him, he’ll probably spend it on Bai Xiaohui again.”

Zheng Haiyang also knew how his second brother had been acting like a sycophant lately.

If Haicheng were spending the money himself, he would definitely not say a word, but Zheng Haiyang knew that Haicheng would most likely use the money to curry favor with Bai Xiaohui.

He didn't like Bai Xiaohui; she was vain, selfish, and had a bad reputation.

It's not a good thing to be thinking about marrying into a better family while keeping your own foolish younger brother on the hook.

This money was earned by respecting his reputation; why not use it for something better? He didn't want to let someone like that squander it.

Chang Dafeng had obviously thought of this as well. She withdrew her hand from the money she was about to give him, glared at Zheng Haicheng, and said, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Let me tell you, dream on! This money is what I earned, it's mine! Nobody can have a piece of it, hmph!"

After saying that, Chang Dafeng immediately turned her back and stuffed a few banknotes into the pocket inside her clothes, hiding them tightly so that no one could steal them.

Seeing the money that was about to be in his hands slip away, Zheng Haicheng felt extremely frustrated.

My brother is really something. It's just two yuan from home, it's not like he earned it, why is he being so stingy?

Zheng Haicheng rolled his eyes, snorted, and turned to run out.

His older brother wouldn't give him money, so he had to find his own way to make money.

After all his efforts over this period, Xiaohui finally agreed to come out and see him, and he couldn't give up halfway.

Zheng Haicheng believed that as long as he persisted for a while longer, he would definitely be able to move Xiaohui and get her to agree to date him!

...

The incident of Zheng Haiyang falling into the cesspool seems to have ended here.

But somehow, the rumor that the Zheng family had a special fondness for latrines spread throughout the compound and the surrounding residential area at an incredible speed.

According to rumors, Zheng Haiyang wasn't pushed into the cesspool, but fell in on his own.

Chang Dafeng jumped in herself, and once wasn't enough, she jumped in twice.

Why do you think that is?

Because their whole family loves the smell of the cesspool!

I love it!

I like it so much that I'm willing to jump into a cesspool once or twice!

Just tell me how much you like it!

Everyone who heard it was deeply shocked and remembered the unforgettable courtyard of No. 35.

Now, when people mention Compound No. 35, they all have a look of realization: "Oh, that's the compound where the family with the peculiar fetish for latrines lived, right..."

Some people couldn't help but think that since there was such an eccentric person in this large courtyard, maybe the others weren't so normal either.

The other people in the courtyard: "..." We are not, we don't have it, we are perfectly normal!

Anyway, their No. 35 compound became famous overnight, but nobody really wanted that kind of fame.

The people living in the tenement were completely unaware of all this.

The next day, Cheng Jiajia went to work. Old Wang glanced at her several times, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, which Cheng Jiajia noticed.

But since the other person hasn't spoken, it means they haven't decided whether to speak or not. In such cases, she's happy to pretend she doesn't know.

For reasons unknown, Old Wang ultimately said nothing.

As usual, Cheng Jiajia began taking inventory and cleaning things up.

After a while, a few people came to sell junk. They were all from the nearby area and knew each other. They started chatting as soon as they met.

An older woman whispered and winked, "Hey, have you heard?"

Another older woman said irritably, "What? Why are you being so mysterious?"

"Hehe, have you heard about that strange story from the No. 35 compound?"

Another woman among the three immediately became excited, "Oh, oh, oh, so that's what you're talking about! I've heard about it too. I heard that family has some kind of quirk! They have a special fetish for latrines, they like them so much that they feel restless if they don't smell them for a day, so the whole family keeps jumping in!"

The older woman's expression brightened, as if she had found a kindred spirit; she grasped the other older woman's hand.

"Isn't it, isn't it, you've heard about it too?"

Old Wang's eyes lit up. This is it! This is it!

That's exactly what he was about to say!

He's lived for decades and has never seen anything so strange!

Is there really anyone who enjoys the stench of a cesspool so much that they jump into it again and again?!

What kind of extraordinary person must this be?

Old Wang was very curious.

He remembered that Yu Junsheng lived in compound number 35, so he wanted to ask Cheng Jiajia about it that morning.

He asked with great curiosity, "Xiao Cheng, is this true? How much does that family like it?"

If possible, he would really like to meet him!

Cheng Jiajia: "???"

If she hadn't always been at the forefront of gossip, and if she hadn't clearly known how Zheng Haiyang and Chang Dafeng got involved, she might have actually believed this nonsense.

What kind of person has a special fetish for cesspools, a particular fondness for them, and goes down into them again and again to smell the stench...?

Seriously, who spread this outrageous nonsense?!

What a talent!

On the other hand, the machinery factory where Yu Junsheng worked was even more problematic.

The courtyard was originally a staff quarters for the machinery factory, so any news spread faster than outside.

That morning, Yu Junsheng was fetching water in the water room when he overheard someone muttering, "There's a family in a big courtyard in Xiaohuaihua Hutong, oh my! I'm embarrassed to say, but that family has some kind of peculiar fetish. They really love the smell of the latrine! One after another, the mother jumps in, and then the son jumps in, just to smell that stench!"

An older woman was startled, her expression one of disgust. "My goodness! How can anyone like this? What kind of person is this?"

Another woman continued mysteriously, "I heard that their daughter-in-law, who was perfectly fine before, became abnormal after marrying into their family, and even jumped into the cesspool!"

"You mean this thing is contagious?"

The woman exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my god! Do you think everyone who lives in the same compound as them has been infected?!"

She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "That won't do! I have a distant relative living in their compound. I have to go and remind them!"

Yu Junsheng: "..."

Although he was very happy to see Zheng Haiyang suffer, why did he feel inexplicably ashamed?

Just then, the woman who had been speaking saw Yu Junsheng and her eyes lit up. "Hey Junsheng, I remember you live in that courtyard too, right? Does that family really have some kind of special fetish? Is that stuff really contagious?"

Yu Junsheng: "..."

He didn't want to get involved in this.

He caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of his eye, his eyes darted around, and he immediately slapped his forehead. "Oh dear, I forgot my water bottle! Sister, I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. Why don't you ask Zheng Haiyang? He's from our compound too, he'll definitely know more than I do!"

Zheng Haiyang happened to be patrolling nearby and overheard everything. His face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.