9
Nasty Neighbors
Cui Yumin’s generation came of age during the peak enforcement of China’s one-child policy. While rural families could sometimes defy regulations to have one more child, urban households were essentially limited to a single child.
Moreover, it wasn’t just about having only one child—the policy also promoted late marriage and late childbirth.
Therefore, when Qi Lei and his two friends were born, their fathers were already in their late twenties.
This was especially true for Tang Chenggang, who had joined the military at sixteen and served for twenty years. He felt particularly obligated to follow national policies. It wasn’t until he was twenty-eight or twenty-nine that he met Cui Yumin, a primary school teacher, through Qi Lei’s grandfather’s introduction. He was thirty-one when Tang Yi was born.
At that time, Tang Chenggang hadn’t yet left the military. Since Cui Yumin had more flexible working hours compared to both Qi and Wu’s families where both parents worked full-time, she ended up taking care of all three boys by herself once they learned to walk.
Later, when Tang Yi was seven, Cui Yumin suffered a serious illness. This made Tang Chenggang realize how much he had neglected his wife. Combined with other reasons, he eventually left the military and returned to civilian life.
After Cui Yumin took two years of sick leave, and Tang Chenggang had achieved some success through two years of hard work, she simply quit her job to focus on raising the three boys at home.
Strictly speaking, Mother Cui was even closer to Qi Lei and Wu Ning than their own biological mothers.
Earlier, when Tang Yi threw his bicycle down and ran off, Cui Yumin immediately knew he must have gone to Qi Lei’s house. She grabbed a broom and chased after him.
Before even entering the yard, she could hear the three rascals shouting wildly.
The moment Cui Yumin rushed in, she fiercely rapped the windowsill with her broom, demanding they quiet down.
Just as she had managed to calm the three boys down, the front gate slammed open. An elderly woman with her hands behind her back and a middle-aged woman entered, casually cracking melon seeds.
The old woman was surnamed Yang and lived next door to Qi Lei’s family. Everyone usually called her Old Yang TaiTai.
This didn’t mean she was the wife of Old Yang. In fact, a significant portion of Northeasterners originated from Shandong. While they lost the Shandong accent over time, the characteristic “inverted sentences” commonly used by Shandong people became deeply integrated into Northeastern dialect.
Old Yang TaiTai should actually be called: Old Lady Yang.
As for the middle-aged woman, Cui Yumin also recognized her—she was from the back alley, Old Wang’s.
Both of these women had children taking the high school entrance exam this year.
While still at the gateway, Old Lady Yang started shouting, “Finished your exams, have you? Running wild again? Can’t you just settle down? Would it kill you to study properly?”
The other woman also called out loudly, “Yumin, how did your Xiao Yi do? What about Old Qi and Old Wu’s boys?”
Cui Yumin frowned, knowing these visitors meant trouble.
This wasn’t Cui Yumin imagining things—there were concrete reasons.
Grandma Yang had a grandson named Yang Jinwei, and that Sister Wang also had a daughter in ninth grade. Both were taking the high school entrance exam this year, and their grades were better than those of the three boys inside. Moreover, there was some friction between the children.
Yang Jinwei had never gotten along with Qi Lei and his two friends since childhood, frequently fighting with them. The Wang family’s girl played with Yang Jinwei but not with Qi Lei’s group.
To put it bluntly, those two children formed one clique, while these three rascals formed another.
Normally, adults don’t get involved in children’s conflicts—they just keep mental notes. But it depends on the family. Some people enjoy gossiping about neighbors and can escalate children’s issues into deep-seated family feuds.
These two families across from them were exactly that type.
Cui Yumin thought to herself: They’re here to show off!
But there was nothing to be done about it—who told them they had the capital to show off?
Unable to say much, she glanced back into the room, implying that since the elders had asked, it would be impolite not to respond.
Tang Yi pouted at her mother and reluctantly said, “It’s alright! No chance of hitting the key university cutoff, but Minor Price Bargaining shouldn’t be a problem.”
Wu Ning added, “I’m about the same as Tang Yi, not as good as your Xiao Wei in studies.”
Wu Ning was speaking to Granny Yang—Yang Jinwei was indeed a studious type, damn near a workhorse.
Wu Ning was just being polite, but to Granny Yang’s ears, it sounded delightful.
With her hands behind her back, she said, “My eldest grandson loves to study!” She pursed her lips and glanced into the room. “Not like these kids, always scheming to tear the roof off.”
The old lady was a bit harsh, and when it came to her precious grandson, she had no limits—she’d say whatever was most provoking.
If this were in later times, a fight would’ve broken out for sure.
But in the ’90s, with neighbors who’d lived together for decades, and Cui Yumin having once been a teacher, she didn’t want to stoop to an old woman’s level. At most, she felt uncomfortable inside.
Seizing the opportunity to ease the tension, she said, “Exactly!”
She glared into the room. “Learn from Xiao Wei! Don’t just fool around all day!”
As she spoke, she took Granny Yang and the other woman by the arm. “Come on, let’s go to my place for a bit.”
However, the two showed no intention of leaving. The woman stood rooted to the spot, making quite a scene.
“Yang Jinwei is truly sensible. My own daughter says that among the kids in our area, no one can match him—they just can’t keep up with Jinwei.”
“Yumin, don’t mind me saying this, but you’ve got to keep them in check! This is the age when they’re full of energy. If they don’t study hard, no matter how much your Old Tang earns, it won’t be enough to cover their failures.”
Old Lady Yang didn’t want to leave either and chimed in from the side, “Jinwei is sensible, so very sensible. When he comes home, he does nothing but study.”
She also said to Cui Yumin, “Tang Yi is such a good kid—why doesn’t she study harder?”
Suddenly lowering her voice, she added, “You should have a good talk with Lihua. If this continues, not only will her Shitou be ruined, but she’ll drag Xiao Yi and Xiao Ning down with her!”
“Who says otherwise?” Aunt Wang chimed in, getting worked up. “Always last in class! I don’t think Guo Lihua even wants Shitou to do well! You need to be more careful. No matter how close your three families are, you can’t gamble with the children’s futures, right?”
Granny Yang whispered conspiratorially, “You live farther away, so you might not hear it, but that Shitou of hers—is he even behaving? Guo Lihua can’t control him at all. Your Sister Wang isn’t wrong.”
Though their words sounded concerned, they were really just sowing discord.
In the old alleys of that era, there were neighbors as close as family, but also gossipy women who couldn’t stand to see others do well.
Cui Yumin saw right through them and knew exactly what they were like. But her gentle, refined nature made her disdain arguing with them. She simply took them by the arm and said, “Come on, come on, let’s go to my place. I bought a watermelon at the morning market—help me see if it’s sweet.”
The two gossips were practically ushered out by Cui Yumin.
But Old Lady Yang still wasn’t satisfied. Glancing into the inner room, she called out, “Shitou, why aren’t you saying anything? How did you do on your exams?”
The old woman was asking deliberately—who didn’t know about Qi Lei’s grades? She was just trying to stir up trouble.
Since they were little, these kids had always been fighting, and every time, her Yang Jinwei ended up losing.
In the past, Qi Lei would have chased them out, but this time, he just smiled.
Half-jokingly, he said, “Granny Yang, isn’t that a bit unfair? Asking this isn’t about caring for me—it’s like you don’t consider our families decades-old neighbors anymore!”
“Hey!” Old Yang TaiTai snapped out of her daze. “You kid, can’t I even ask?”
Qi Lei continued smiling, “Of course you can ask, but let’s be honest—anything goes behind closed doors. If I don’t study hard, you can even give me a couple of whacks, and I won’t complain since you’re an elder.”
He glanced at the middle-aged woman. “But there’s an outsider here now, isn’t there? Someone who doesn’t know better might think Granny Yang lacks tact at her age!”
Qi Lei’s words were spot on, leaving Old Yang TaiTai speechless.
As for that Aunt Wang, she felt even more uncomfortable. What? How did I become an outsider?
Unexpectedly, Qi Lei wasn’t finished. “Besides, isn’t this putting Aunt Wang in a tough spot? If she joins you in picking on a kid, she looks petty. If she doesn’t, she might feel unsatisfied, right?”
“Pfft—”
Wu Ning, Tang Yi, and Cui Yumin couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Since when had Qi Lei’s tongue become so sharp?
Cui Yumin stifled a laugh and gestured for them to head out the door. “Come on, let’s go to my place.”
…
Once the three adults left, Tang Yi and Wu Ning burst into hysterics.
“Holy crap, Shitou, aren’t you way too harsh? What if Granny Yang has a stroke at her age?”
“Harsh?” Qi Lei raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t even said the worst part yet!”
This Old Yang TaiTai might be elderly, but that doesn’t automatically make her a good person!
The main reason the three brothers didn’t get along with Yang Jinwei was largely because of this old lady.
When they were young, if Cui Yumin was too busy, she’d occasionally leave the three brothers with Old Lady Yang to watch for a while.
Moreover, Cui Yumin was very considerate—each time, she’d give the old lady some pocket money, saying it was for snacks for all four kids.
To be honest, back then, the three brothers didn’t resent Yang Jinwei at all.
But here’s the problem: every time Cui Mom paid, the old lady either pocketed the money or showed favoritism.
She’d buy chicken leg bread for Yang Jinwei but give the three brothers just one Guangtou Candy each.
She’d buy Big Big Bubble Gum for Yang Jinwei but give the three brothers a piece of fruit candy each.
What was even harder to tolerate was how the old lady loved to show off, bragging about her precious grandson everywhere.
When she took all four kids out, she’d carry Yang Jinwei on her back while the three brothers trailed behind, staring enviously and jealously. Slowly, resentment grew.
The three brothers never tattled—they weren’t raised that way.
Their fathers’ principle was: “A real man should act like one—be magnanimous. Whoever tattles gets punished first!”
So what could they do? Damn it, why should you get to eat bubble gum and chicken leg bread with our mom’s money? Why do you get carried while we have to walk?
Beat him up!!
…
During the event, seeking monthly votes and tips***bowing to you all.
Also, many thanks to Sister Grape for the alliance support, and to those long-unseen old friends—too many to name individually. Cangshan sees and will reply to all, keeping your kindness in heart.