Chapter 9

Cui Yumin's generation was the one that experienced the most vigorous implementation of the family planning policy. In rural areas, families could still have an extra child despite the policy, but in urban areas, most households had only one child.

Moreover, it wasn't just about having only one child; late marriage and late childbearing were also promoted.

Therefore, when Qi Lei and his two friends were born, their fathers were mostly in their late twenties.

Especially Tang Chenggang, who joined the army at sixteen and served for twenty years, was even more dedicated to the national policy. He didn't meet Cui Yumin, a primary school teacher, until he was introduced by Qi Lei's grandfather at the age of twenty-eight or twenty-nine. Tang Yi was born when Tang Chenggang was thirty-one.

At that time, Tang Chenggang hadn't yet transferred to a civilian job. Since Cui Yumin had a flexible work schedule, and the Qi and Wu families were both dual-income households, Cui Yumin took care of the three boys alone as soon as they learned to run.

Later, when Tang Yi was seven, Cui Yumin fell seriously ill. Tang Chenggang then felt he owed his wife and, for other reasons, left the military and returned to civilian life.

Cui Yumin took a two-year sick leave, and during this time, Tang Chenggang achieved some success. She then quit her job and focused on raising the three children at home.

In a strict sense, Cui Yumin was even closer to Qi Lei and Wu Ning than their own mothers.

When Tang Yi crashed his bike and ran away, Cui Yumin knew he must have gone to Qi Lei's house. She grabbed a broom and chased after him.

Before she even entered the yard, she heard the three boys shouting.

Cui Yumin rushed in and fiercely knocked on the windowsill, telling them to quiet down.

Just as she had subdued the three boys, the front gate creaked open, and an old lady with her hands behind her back and a middle-aged woman entered, cracking sunflower seeds.

The old lady was surnamed Yang and lived next to Qi Lei's house. Everyone usually called her Old Lady Yang.

This didn't mean she was the wife of Old Mr. Yang. In fact, a significant portion of people in Northeast China came from Shandong, and although they no longer spoke with a Shandong accent, the Shandong habit of using inverted sentences was deeply ingrained in Northeastern dialect.

The correct way to address her should be: Old Lady Yang.

As for the middle-aged woman, Cui Yumin also knew her; she lived in the back alley and was from the Wang family.

Both of these families had children taking the high school entrance exam this year.

Even before entering the yard, Old Lady Yang started shouting, "You've finished the exam, and now you're causing a ruckus? Can't you be quiet for a moment and study properly?"

The woman also loudly asked, "Yumin, how did your little Yi do on the exam? What about the two boys from the Qi and Wu families?"

Cui Yumin frowned, knowing that these visitors were not coming with good intentions.

It wasn't that Cui Yumin was imagining things; there were reasons for her suspicion.

The Yang family had a son named Yang Jinwei, and the Wang family had a daughter in the same grade, both taking the high school entrance exam this year. Their academic performance was better than the three boys, and there were some conflicts among the children.

Yang Jinwei had always been at odds with Qi Lei and the others, often fighting. The Wang family's daughter played with Yang Jinwei but not with Qi Lei and the others.

In short, the two kids were a group, and the three boys were another.

Children's matters were usually left to the children, and adults would just keep an eye on things. However, some people liked to gossip and escalate children's issues into deep-seated family grudges.

These two families were of that type.

Cui Yumin thought, "They're here to show off!"

But there was nothing she could do, as they had the right to boast.

She couldn't say anything and turned to look inside, indicating that since they had been asked by elders, it would be impolite not to respond.

Tang Yi pouted and reluctantly said, "It's okay! I won't make the key high school, but I should be fine for a regular one."

Wu Ning also said, "I'm about the same as Tang Yi. I'm not as good as your little Wei."

Wu Ning was speaking to Old Lady Yang. Yang Jinwei was indeed a good student, a real workhorse.

Wu Ning was just being polite, but Old Lady Yang was delighted to hear this.

With her hands behind her back, she said, "My grandson loves to study!" She looked into the room, "Unlike these three, who are always thinking about mischief."

This old lady was a bit harsh, and when it came to her beloved grandson, she went even further, trying to belittle the others.

If this were in a later era, a fight would have broken out.

But in the 1990s, having lived as neighbors for decades, and with Cui Yumin being a former teacher, she didn't want to stoop to the level of an old lady and just felt uncomfortable.

She went along with it, "Exactly!"

She glared at the boys, "Learn from little Wei and stop causing trouble!"

Then she invited Old Lady Yang and the woman, "Come, let's go to my place for a while."

However, the two women had no intention of leaving. The woman's feet were rooted to the spot, and she was quite vocal.

"Yang Jinwei is really well-behaved. My daughter says that among the kids in our neighborhood, no one can match Jinwei."

"Yumin, I'm not saying this to criticize you, but you need to keep an eye on them! They're at the age where they can get into trouble. If they don't study well, even if your old Tang earns a lot, it won't be enough to cover their misdeeds."

Old Lady Yang also didn't want to leave and chimed in, "Jinwei is very well-behaved, always studying at home."

She also said to Cui Yumin, "Tang Yi is such a good boy, why doesn't he study well?"

Suddenly lowering her voice, she added, "You need to talk to Lihua. If this continues, not only will her son Shitou be ruined, but Tang Yi and Xiaoning will also be influenced badly!"

"Exactly!" Aunt Wang also chimed in, "Always at the bottom of the class. I think Lihua doesn't care about Shitou's future! You need to be more aware. No matter how good the relationship between the three families is, you can't joke with the children's futures, right?"

Old Lady Yang looked like a thief, "You live far away, so you don't hear it. Shitou is always causing trouble. Lihua can't control him. Your sister-in-law is right."

Her words were meant to be caring, but they were actually sowing discord.

In the old alleys of this era, there were neighbors as close as family and others who couldn't stand to see others succeed.

Cui Yumin was clear about the nature of these two women. Her gentle personality made her unwilling to argue, so she invited them, "Come, come, come to my place. I bought some watermelons from the morning market. Help me taste them."

The two gossips were almost dragged out by Cui Yumin.

But Old Lady Yang still wasn't satisfied. She glanced into the room and said, "Shitou, why aren't you speaking? How did you do on the exam?"

This was a deliberate question. Everyone knew Qi Lei's academic performance. She was just trying to make him uncomfortable.

These kids had always fought, and her grandson Yang Jinwei always lost.

In the past, Qi Lei would have kicked them out, but this time he just smiled.

Half-jokingly, he said, "Grandma Yang, that's not very nice of you. Asking this isn't showing concern; it's not treating us as decades-long neighbors!"

"Hey!" Old Lady Yang was taken aback, "Can't I ask?"

Qi Lei still smiled, "Of course you can ask, but let's be honest. You can ask anything behind closed doors. If I don't study well, you can give me a beating, and I won't complain because you're an elder."

He looked at the middle-aged woman, "But there are outsiders here. If they don't know, they might think you're old and lack judgment!"

"I..." Qi Lei's words were spot on, and Old Lady Yang was speechless.

Aunt Wang was even more uncomfortable. What did she mean by "outsider"?

But Qi Lei wasn't done, "Besides, how awkward for Aunt Wang? If she joins in to pressure a child, it makes her look bad. If she doesn't, she won't get her fix, right?"

"Ha..."

Wu Ning, Tang Yi, and Cui Yumin couldn't hold back their laughter.

They had never realized how sharp Qi Lei's tongue could be.

Cui Yumin, trying to hide her laughter, led the two women out, "Come, come to my place."

...

Once the three adults left, Tang Yi and Wu Ning burst out laughing.

"Oh, Shitou, you're too mean! Old Lady Yang is so old, she might faint."

"Mean?" Qi Lei raised an eyebrow, "I haven't even said the worst of it!"

This Old Lady Yang, despite her age, wasn't necessarily a good person!

The main reason the three boys and Yang Jinwei didn't get along was because of this old lady.

When Cui Yumin was busy, she sometimes entrusted the three boys to Old Lady Yang for a while.

Cui Yumin was very considerate and always gave the old lady some pocket money to buy snacks for the four children.

To be honest, when they were young, the three boys didn't have any particular dislike for Yang Jinwei.

But the problem arose when Cui Yumin gave money, and the old lady either kept it for herself or showed favoritism.

She would buy chicken leg sandwiches for Yang Jinwei and plain bread for the three boys.

She would buy big bubble gum for Yang Jinwei and fruit candy for the three boys.

Worse still, the old lady loved to show off, always talking about her grandson.

When taking the four children out, she would carry Yang Jinwei, while the three boys had to follow behind, feeling envious and resentful. Gradually, they developed a grudge.

The three boys never complained to their parents; it wasn't in their nature.

Their fathers' principle was that men should be men and be generous. Whoever complained first would get a beating!

So what could they do? Why should Yang Jinwei eat bubble gum and chicken leg sandwiches with their mother's money, while they had to walk and he got carried?

They beat him up!

...