Whatever was said on the other end of the line.
Meng Zhizhi paused for a moment before speaking clearly, “Comrade, here’s the situation: my husband mistakenly took the household register pages for me and Zhao Mingzhu. Please help me pass on the message that when they submit their marriage reports, they must exchange the household register pages they currently have.”
This was something she had learned from Mother Zhou.
When Zhou Shechuan and Zhou Ye left for the garrison unit, they had also taken their household register pages with them. They planned to submit their marriage reports at the garrison unit and then obtain their marriage certificates.
The garrison unit operator was a bit confused. “They took the wrong household register pages?”
“Yes,” Meng Zhizhi slowed her tone slightly, trying to keep it concise. “Please tell Zhou Shechuan to delay submitting the marriage report for now. If there’s anything unclear, have him call back, and I’ll explain it to him.”
“Also, once he gets the message, make sure he calls us back immediately.”
Her tone was as if wrapped in honey—even when giving instructions, it didn’t sound the least bit forceful. Instead, it made people instinctively want to comply.
The operator on the other end of the line had only one thought: this sister-in-law’s voice was really pleasant.
But outwardly, she still responded promptly.
“Alright, sister-in-law, I’ll make sure to pass this message to Comrade Zhou as soon as possible.”
Mother Zhou had been listening the entire time. Meng Zhizhi’s phone call had been concise, with hardly a single unnecessary word.
After hanging up, Mother Zhou suddenly said to Meng Zhizhi, “You’re quite clever.”
She had thought things through thoroughly, from start to finish, even when making the phone call.
Meng Zhizhi glanced at Mother Zhou’s hand reaching into her pocket and smiled sweetly, flattering her, “It’s all thanks to your teaching, Mom.”
Zhao Mingzhu, who was listening nearby, rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Mother Zhou had originally been reluctant to pay for the phone call and wanted Meng Zhizhi to cover the cost. But seeing how sweetly she called her “Mom” and praised her teaching, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Zhao Mingzhu, learn a thing or two from your sister-in-law.”
With that, she turned and promptly paid the 1.1 yuan for the phone call.
Just as Zhao Mingzhu was about to explode, Meng Zhizhi, while Mother Zhou was paying, pressed her hand and shook her head.
Don’t say anything now—if you do, you’ll have to pay!
Right then, Mother Zhou finished paying and turned around, catching sight of Meng Zhizhi pressing Zhao Mingzhu’s hand. Her internal radar instantly went off.
“What’s going on with you two? Are you about to fight again?”
Meng Zhizhi looked at Zhao Mingzhu.
Zhao Mingzhu rolled up her sleeves without saying a word.
Mother Zhou could tell things were about to go wrong and dragged the two of them outside. “We’re in public—don’t you dare start fighting.”
She couldn’t bear the embarrassment.
Neither Meng Zhizhi nor Zhao Mingzhu said a word as they followed Mother Zhou.
Once they stepped out of the supply and marketing cooperative, the sweet aroma of roasted sweet potatoes wafted under their noses. Meng Zhizhi instantly perked up and exchanged a glance with Zhao Mingzhu.
In the next moment, Meng Zhizhi refused to move, standing firmly in place.
Mother Zhou couldn’t drag her along and turned to look at her. “What’s wrong now?”
Meng Zhizhi pointed at the old man selling roasted sweet potatoes, her eyes wide and sparkling, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Mom, Mom, my dear mom, your daughter wants roasted sweet potatoes.”
Mother Zhou was already annoyed, having spent a hefty 200 yuan earlier in the morning, followed by this phone call costing over a yuan.
Bringing these two daughters-in-law into the family has nearly drained our savings, and now they’ve stirred up such a huge mess. Who knows if the garrison unit will even receive our message smoothly? The whole wrong bridal chamber incident hasn’t been fully resolved yet.
Meng Zhizhi was already making demands again, wanting to buy a roasted sweet potato.
Mother Zhou’s face fell, her eyes glaring. “Do I look like a roasted sweet potato to you?”
Meng Zhizhi examined her carefully, dead serious. “Mom, you know, you really do resemble a roasted sweet potato—wrinkles all over your face, all dusty and gray. The only thing missing is the sweetness.”
“Otherwise, I’d be tempted to take a bite out of you.”
Mother Zhou’s old face was utterly humiliated. Zhao Mingzhu trembled with suppressed laughter, not daring to make a sound.
“Mom, I’ve been married into this family for a day now. You can’t possibly let me go hungry.”
Meng Zhizhi grabbed Mother Zhou’s hand and pressed it against her own stomach. “It’s fine if you starve me, but if you starve Zhou Shechuan’s little one, that would be a grave sin.”
Mother Zhou was utterly exasperated and yanked her hand back.
“Fine, fine, I’ll buy it!”
She turned around to buy Meng Zhizhi a roasted sweet potato.
Zhao Mingzhu swallowed her saliva and seized the opportunity. “Why does she get one and I don’t?”
“If she gets one, I want one too!”
Mother Zhou, “…”
She might as well just die!
Other people live better lives after their sons get married.
Not her.
Bringing in daughters-in-law has shortened her life by ten years.
Mother Zhou grumbled and cursed, saying she was going to die early, but still went to ask the roasted sweet potato vendor, “Old comrade, how much are your roasted sweet potatoes?”
“A proper sweet potato costs ten cents each and requires a grain coupon. The misshapen ones are three cents each, no coupon needed, pick as you like.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Mother Zhou instinctively reached for the misshapen ones.
Meng Zhizhi frowned. She directly picked a large one and said gently, “Mom, I love these big-bellied sweet potatoes. They’re full of flesh, sweet, and delicious.”
Mother Zhou thought to herself, who doesn’t like big sweet potatoes?
She liked them too.
But big roasted sweet potatoes were expensive.
Seeing Mother Zhou remain silent, Meng Zhizhi’s eyes reddened. “Mom, I’m still a new bride. I’ve been married into this family for a day now, and I can’t even get a roasted sweet potato. If you won’t buy it for me, I’ll buy it myself.”
She pulled out a freshly printed ten-yuan note from her pocket and handed it over. “Comrade, I’d like a roasted sweet potato.”
The moment Mother Zhou saw the ten-yuan note, she nearly exploded. “You wasteful child! A roasted sweet potato costs ten cents, and you’re handing over ten yuan. The old comrade might not even have change for that.”
And the change would be nine yuan and ninety cents!
With that, she snatched the ten-yuan note, stroking it over and over, reluctant to let it go.
Seeing Meng Zhizhi watching her, she finally stuffed the money back into Meng Zhizhi’s arms. “Take it. Watch how I buy roasted sweet potatoes.”
Mother Zhou fumbled around, pulling out ten cents and three cents from her pocket. “Comrade, I’d like one big sweet potato and one misshapen one. Here’s thirteen cents.”
Before the vendor could even take it,
Zhao Mingzhu snatched a large, honey-dripping roasted sweet potato from the iron barrel stove. Without giving anyone a chance to refuse, she took a bite. “Mom, why does Meng Zhizhi get a big one while I have to eat a small one?”
“I won’t stand for it. I want a big one too.”
Just these few words
sent Mother Zhou into a rage.
She had originally planned to buy one big roasted sweet potato and one misshapen one, saving seven cents that way.
That betrothal money was indeed saved by her, penny by penny.
Mother Zhou grumbled as she took out the money, “Eat, eat, all you know is eating. Were you starved to death in your past life?”
If she had been just a little slower, she could have saved seven cents.
Seeing the old comrade selling roasted sweet potatoes looking at her.
Mother Zhou felt embarrassed and awkwardly explained, “Old comrade, sorry for the scene. Both my daughters-in-law are like starved ghosts from their past lives.”
The old comrade took the twenty cents and said with a smile, “Not at all. I see you as a real mother and daughter. Only a real mother would be so generous to her own daughter.”
Meng Zhizhi bit into the sweet, soft, and sticky roasted sweet potato, feeling immense comfort on her tongue.
It had been so long since she truly crossed over, and this was the first time she had eaten something so satisfying.
She said happily, “Yes, yes, old comrade. Look, my mom is too stingy to buy us such big roasted sweet potatoes. How about giving me a small one for free?”
The other party was initially reluctant.
Meng Zhizhi ate the roasted sweet potato, her eyes curved into a smile. “This sweet potato is really delicious. When I go back, I’ll spread the word. Everyone in our compound courtyard loves this kind of thing. How about I bring them all here to buy from you?”
Only then did the other party stop hesitating and immediately picked out a palm-sized roasted sweet potato from the pile of misshapen ones and handed it over.
“Alright, it’s yours. Next time, bring me more business.”
Meng Zhizhi agreed cheerfully. As she turned to leave, she casually stuffed the extra sweet potato into Mother Zhou’s hand. “Mom, eat it while it’s hot. It’s really sweet.”
Suddenly holding a steaming roasted sweet potato in her hand.
To be honest, Mother Zhou was somewhat moved.
Her daughter-in-law was quite good to her.
In all her years, this was the first time someone had bought her a roasted sweet potato.
But soon, she shook off that thought.
Bah, bah, bah! She spent twenty cents, and in the end, she didn’t get to eat much—only a small one—and she was moved?
Moved my foot!
She really was a cheap fool.
Meng Zhizhi didn’t care what she thought. She bit into the scalding roasted sweet potato, slurping and eating with great satisfaction.
The roasted sweet potatoes these days were truly sweet.
You could even warm your hands while eating.
Really nice.
She and Zhao Mingzhu occasionally exchanged glances, both seeing satisfaction in each other’s eyes.
When they returned to the compound courtyard at Xinghua Hutong, Father Zhou happened to come back from work. He proactively asked, “Was the telegram sent? What did the eldest say?”
Mother Zhou had just returned after eating the roasted sweet potato. Suddenly faced with her husband’s inquiry, she felt somewhat guilty, as if she had sneaked out to eat behind his back, which seemed a bit unfair.
She mumbled, “We only made a call but couldn’t reach anyone. The eldest and second eldest just went to the garrison unit this morning. How could they have returned so soon?”
“According to Meng Zhizhi’s idea, we asked the garrison unit’s operator to pass on a message. Once the eldest receives the news, he’ll call us as soon as possible.”
Father Zhou frowned upon hearing this.
“In that case, won’t it take too long? Could something go wrong again in the meantime?”
No one could guarantee that.
Mother Zhou stammered without answering.
Father Zhou noticed something off about the smell. He leaned forward slightly and sniffed near Mother Zhou’s mouth. “What did you eat? It smells so sweet.”
Mother Zhou naturally couldn’t admit she had sneaked out to eat without bringing him anything.
She pushed Father Zhou away with a face flushed in embarrassment, “You shameless old man, so many children are watching.”
Father Zhou thought to himself, how was he being shameless?
He was perfectly aware of shame!
He just wanted to ask his wife what that sweet taste in her mouth was, what was wrong with that?
“Mom, when are we going to cook? I’m so hungry. I only had one fried dough stick this morning, and it didn’t fill me up at all.”
“What are we having for lunch?”
Zhou Hongying had already started urging.
As soon as she said this, Mother Zhou instinctively glanced toward the east and west rooms, because normally, breakfast should have been prepared by the new bride.
But such a big mess had happened in the morning that the whole family had missed breakfast.
Now everyone was counting on lunch.
Clearly, the whole family was waiting for the new daughter-in-law to cook.
Inside the room, Meng Zhizhi had no idea that the people outside were counting on her to cook. She was busy calculating her small savings. The hundred yuan she had just extorted that morning remained untouched.
Under the pillow were twenty-three yuan and eighty cents, along with a stack of grain coupons and industrial coupons. Clearly, her cheap husband had left these for her before leaving.
Among these coupons, industrial coupons were the most abundant. Grain coupons were always in high demand everywhere, but fortunately, the garrison unit could still manage to get them. As for these industrial coupons, they were also issued by the garrison unit.
This was also Zhou Shechuan’s little trick—he hadn’t handed over all these industrial coupons and grain coupons to his old mother.
Meng Zhizhi sorted out the grain coupons and industrial coupons. There were eight jin of grain coupons, and they were all the rare national grain coupons.
The industrial coupons included soap coupons, towel coupons, rubber shoe coupons, enamel basin coupons, and even two snowflake cream coupons.
It was quite fascinating.
Meng Zhizhi examined the industrial coupons over and over, murmuring to herself, “So this is the mark of the times.”
For someone born in the 2000s, these industrial coupons were legendary items.
She had only heard her grandfather mention them but never expected to find herself in this era. It felt like traveling back in time.
Moreover, Meng Zhizhi desperately needed the towel coupons and enamel basin coupons because she had discovered that morning that the whole family shared a single enamel basin!
It was used for both washing faces and feet!
Meng Zhizhi couldn’t accept it.
She was determined to buy a clean enamel basin for washing her face, and preferably another one for washing her bottom.
She absolutely refused to share an enamel basin with anyone else!
Unbearable, truly unbearable!
After calculating the coupons, she counted her money. Her total assets amounted to one hundred and twenty-three yuan and eighty cents—this was her entire worth.
It was also the high price she had sold herself for.
Without this money and these coupons, Meng Zhizhi was certain she would struggle to survive in this era.
She tucked all the money away, keeping it close to her body. As for leaving it at home, she absolutely didn’t trust that!
“I wonder how much money Mingzhu has over there?”
In the neighboring west room, Zhao Mingzhu was also calculating her worth. It had to be said that the brothers Zhou Shechuan and Zhou Ye were alike even in their actions.
Before leaving, Zhou Ye had placed all the money he had left under the pillow.
Under Zhao Mingzhu’s pillow were seventeen yuan, plus the hundred yuan she had extorted, making a total of one hundred and seventeen yuan.
As for the two hundred yuan dowry she had originally received, she truly had no recollection of it.
It was likely that her original parents had kept it, or perhaps there was some other reason?
Zhao Mingzhu had no memories and couldn’t guess the situation, so she could only take things slowly and figure it out as she went. Still somewhat unwilling to accept her circumstances, she rummaged through the entire chest and cabinets but didn’t find a single cent.
Even a mouse that wandered in would curse and spit in disgust.
How utterly destitute.
Zhao Mingzhu sighed, then tucked all hundred-plus yuan into her pocket, planning to find a suitable opportunity to hand it over to Meng Zhizhi.
There was no other way—Meng Zhizhi’s mind was simply sharper than hers.
Just as the two of them finished tidying up and were still wondering how to find a chance to meet and discuss things—after all, as sworn rivals, it wasn’t easy for them to get together—an opportunity presented itself just when they needed it.
From outside came a clamoring voice, “Time to cook, time to cook! What kind of new bride doesn’t cook on her first day after marrying into the family? Are you waiting for me, the mother-in-law, to cook and serve you?”
Meng Zhizhi had already put everything in order. Without even listening, she knew the voice outside was directed at her and Zhao Mingzhu.
Meng Zhizhi wasn’t in a hurry, treating the noise outside as nothing more than hot air.
She stood up and checked her reflection in the palm-sized round mirror hanging on the wall. After confirming that nothing was amiss, she turned and opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, Mother Zhou, who had been shouting moments earlier, instantly fell silent, like a rooster whose neck had been wrung.
She didn’t dare to keep shouting or demand that Meng Zhizhi cook.
Meng Zhizhi gave her a sweet smile. “Mom.”
Mother Zhou was terrified by her smile. She thought to herself, “Don’t call me ‘Mom’—every time you do, I lose a piece of myself!”
Honestly, Meng Zhizhi’s smile was so unnerving that it made Mother Zhou want to call Meng Zhizhi “Mom” instead!
Author’s Note:
Mother-in-law: I dare to call you ‘Mom,’ but would you dare to answer?
Zhizhi: Aww, my dear daughter.
P.S.: Red envelopes from the previous chapter have been sent out. Still asking for collections, comments, and nutrient solutions—love you all~
Readers looking for something to read, feel free to check out my column. There are plenty of completed and delicious era novels there.