Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Sun Xinghua heard it, but she just ignored it.

She came here today for one purpose only: to get Qian Cheng to sign a letter of understanding.

If she signs, her husband and five brothers will be released.

She won't sign? Then she won't leave.

Thinking of this, Sun Xinghua plopped down on the ground, crossed her legs, and began to wail.

"This is outrageous! My man was beaten up and then locked up! God, please open your eyes!"

"I can't live like this anymore! This is outrageous! They're bullying me to the extreme!"

He was wailing and slapping his thigh, his face covered in tears and snot.

The noise could be heard halfway down the street.

Hou Yufen stood at the door, still clutching a broom, trembling with anger.

"You, get up right now!" Hou Yufen pointed at her, "What are you doing causing such a scene in my yard!"

Sun Xinghua ignored her and continued wailing, "I won't get up! If you won't leave my man alone, I won't get up! I might as well freeze to death!"

Hou Yufen was furious. She wanted to fight back, but Sun Xinghua was sitting on the ground, and she didn't know where to start with the broom. Besides, when this old woman started throwing a tantrum, if she really hit her, she might be able to extort money from her.

Qian Lu stood to the side, his face so dark it could drip water.

His sister-in-law held him tightly, afraid that he would rush up and kick someone.

Qian Lu is very strong; if he were to actually kick someone, he would surely cause serious injury.

Inside the room, Qian Cheng leaned against the headboard, the window was slightly ajar, and he could hear everything that was happening outside.

Zhang Mingxi sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her face pale with anger: "How could she do this? Unreasonable and throwing a tantrum!"

Qian Cheng didn't say anything, he just stared out the window.

Sun Xinghua was still howling, each cry louder than the last, like a pig being slaughtered.

Qian Cheng watched for a while, then suddenly laughed.

"Mingxi".

"Um?"

"Go to the outer room, scoop up a basin of cold water, take it out, aim it at her, and splash it on her."

Zhang Mingxi was taken aback: "Pouring cold water on me?"

"Yes, the colder the better."

Zhang Mingxi looked at him with a hint of doubt in her eyes, but she didn't ask any more questions. Anyway, she would do whatever Qian Cheng said, and that was sure to be right.

She stood up and went out of the room.

There was a water vat in the outer room, filled with water that had just been drawn that morning, so cold it was icy to the touch.

Zhang Mingxi found the largest enamel basin, scooped it full, picked it up and tested it; it was heavy.

She carried the basin, pushed open the door, and walked into the yard.

Sun Xinghua was still wailing when she saw Zhang Mingxi come out. She paused for a moment, then noticed that Zhang Mingxi was holding a basin and wondered what she was going to do.

"What are you doing?" Sun Xinghua's mind went blank for a moment, she was a little overloaded with pig brain.

Zhang Mingxi didn't say anything, walked up to Sun Xinghua, picked up the basin, and splashed it.

A bucket of cold water was poured over Sun Xinghua.

"Ah!" Sun Xinghua screamed, even louder than her previous howl.

Cold water streamed down her head, wetting her hair, face, cotton-padded jacket, and pants.

The water seeped into her cotton-padded coat, making her shiver all over from the cold.

"You little bitch!" Sun Xinghua jumped up, pointing at Zhang Mingxi and yelling, "You dare splash me!"

Zhang Mingxi, holding the empty basin, took a step back and looked at her coldly.

Sun Xinghua wanted to rush forward, but she shuddered as soon as she took a step.

It's cold, so cold. In temperatures below minus ten degrees Celsius, my cotton-padded coat was soaked through, and when the wind blew, it felt like being scraped by a knife.

She shrank back, hugged her arms, trembled all over, and cursed filthyly, "You whole family are no good! Just you wait! When my man gets out, he won't let you get away with this!"

Qian Cheng's voice came from inside the room, unhurried and calm:

"Mom, go to the back of the house and scoop up a ladle of manure."

"The New Year is almost here, so let's treat people to something fresh."

Sun Xinghua's face turned green upon hearing this.

Fecal matter?

Qian Cheng, you little bastard, how could you come up with such a wicked idea?

She turned to look at Hou Yufen.

Hou Yufen was still furious, but when she heard her son's words, she was stunned for a moment, then smiled. She threw down the broom, clapped her hands, and grinned at Sun Xinghua.

"Okay, I'll go right now." Hou Yufen said, turning around and walking quickly towards the back of the house.

Sun Xinghua's face turned pale.

She stood in the yard, soaked to the bone and shivering with cold. If she stayed any longer, she would not only freeze to death, but also be drenched in manure.

She gritted her teeth, pointed into the house, and cursed, "You just wait! This isn't over yet!"

After yelling at her, she turned and ran away.

Her soaked cotton-padded coat was heavy, making her limp as she ran. Her shoes were also filled with water, making a squeaking sound with every step. She ran out of the courtyard gate without looking back, looking utterly disheveled.

The neighbors watched and burst into laughter.

"Serves you right!"

"Sun Xinghua, she's finally met her match!"

"That Qian Cheng kid, he's got some really wicked ideas, but I like them!"

"..."

Aunt Li laughed and called out into the yard, "Chengzi, take good care of your injury! That old woman won't dare come back!"

The courtyard was finally quiet.

Hou Yufen came out from behind the house, carrying a ladle in her hand. She glanced at the door, but Sun Xinghua was nowhere to be seen.

"Pah!" Hou Yufen spat. "What kind of trash dares to act so wildly?"

She threw the ladle back into the house, clapped her hands, and went inside.

Qian Lu and his sister-in-law followed them in. The dark aura on Qian Lu's face hadn't completely disappeared, but it was much better than before.

Qian Lu spoke first, expressing his admiration for Qian Cheng's move. Sure enough, his younger brother was smarter than him: "Chengzi, that worked! You just poured cold water on her and she was driven away."

"If you keep damaging the apricot blossoms, are you really going to let Mom scoop up the manure?"

"Just kidding her." Qian Cheng chuckled. "But if she really doesn't leave, we can really scoop it up; it's not like we're the ones who smell bad."

Hou Yufen laughed, her eyes narrowing into slits: "My son is so smart. That old woman, the moment she hears about manure, she runs faster than a rabbit."

Zhang Mingxi put the empty basin back in the outer room, came in and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). She looked at Qian Cheng with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

How did you come up with that idea?

"Isn't she immune to the cold? Let her cool off then."

Hou Yufen sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), looked at her son, and slowly the smile on her face disappeared. She said seriously, "Chengzi, you absolutely mustn't let it go. Wang Shoujun's family can't be let off easily."

"Mom, don't worry, I have a plan."

He had no intention of admitting anything.

A letter of understanding? Don't even think about it.

Wang Shoujun brought his men to beat him up. Six against one, and although Wang Shoujun was badly beaten, he spent five days in the hospital. This debt is not something that can be easily forgotten.

He wanted Wang Shoujun and the five Sun brothers to spend the New Year in jail.

As for how long he'll be locked up, that's none of his business.

But he was certain that Wang Shoujun and his men would not be able to go home for the New Year.

"Alright, you can rest now." Hou Yufen stood up. "I'll go stew the chicken; we'll have a good meal tonight."

Qian Lu and his sister-in-law also went out, and the sound of chopping wood came from the yard.

Zhang Mingxi was still sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding Qian Cheng's hand.

Are you cold?

"It's not cold."

Zhang Mingxi pried open Qian Cheng's fingers one by one and looked at the calluses on his palms. These were from his recent woodworking and were much thicker than before.