The mother and daughter arrived at a large courtyard compound. As soon as they entered, an old woman poked her head out and asked, “So? How did the matchmaking go?”  

In a crowded courtyard like this, everyone knew each other’s business.  

It wasn’t just their family worrying about their children—every household was in the same boat.  

Wu Chuanfang shook her head, not wanting to say much.  

Then, a snide voice chimed in, “If it didn’t go well, no worries. Don’t you still have one job slot left? Let Xiaoxiao take over her dad’s position. That way, two of your kids can stay in the city. How nice would that be?”  

Rong Xiaoxiao, who had just stepped inside, recognized the voice.  

Instinctively, she moved to the side.  

Sure enough, within seconds, Wu Chuanfang roared back, “I’m not as stupid as you! Handing over jobs to your sons, cutting your family’s monthly income from sixty yuan to twenty-five. Let’s see how you’ll survive—don’t come crying to us for help when you can’t make ends meet!”  

“Pah! That’s not stupidity—that’s love for my children! I can’t bear to see them sent to the countryside!”  

“Oh? Then why don’t you show that love to your daughter? Are sons human but daughters not? Where was all this ‘love’ when you sold your daughter off for money?”  

The two women stood by the gate, arguing back and forth.  

Rong Xiaoxiao was already used to scenes like this.  

The two-courtyard compound housed nearly thirty people, and every day was filled with noise and quarrels. At first, it had been jarring, but now…  

Rong Xiaoxiao leaned against the wall, watching with amusement.  

In fact, it was precisely because of the constant bickering in the compound that she had learned so much—not just about her own family, but about this era as well.  

Originally, both of Rong Xiaoxiao’s parents had been employed.  

But because of the sent-down youth policy, Wu Chuanfang had given her job at the textile machinery factory to her eldest son. However, when a job was inherited, the replacement could only start as a temporary worker, slashing the monthly wage from over thirty yuan to just thirteen.  

So, someone like Auntie Ma, who kept pushing for Rong Xiaoxiao to take over Rong Shuigen’s job, was absolutely up to no good.  

If she really did take over, she’d have to start as a temp.  

With a monthly salary of thirteen yuan, plus her eldest brother’s wages, the two of them would be earning a combined twenty-six yuan—hardly enough to support the entire family.  

Rong Shuigen was now a sixth-grade forger. At just over fifty, he was preparing for his seventh-grade certification exam.  

No matter how much he loved his children, he couldn’t afford to give up his job—because he was the family’s lifeline.  

After all, the entire household depended on his salary.  

Wu Chuanfang had always been a fierce debater, and soon she had Ma Lian retreating into her room, too afraid to keep arguing.  

“That gossipy hag—one of these days, I’ll tear her mouth shut,” Wu Chuanfang spat, still fuming.

How could she not recognize those instigating words?  

What she feared most was that her own children might take them to heart.  

These days, she had seen too many families torn apart over who would be sent to the countryside, parents and children growing estranged.  

The anger in her chest still burning, Wu Chuanfang marched straight to Ma Lian’s door and kicked it hard, shouting a few more curses. The people inside remained silent, not daring to make a sound.  

Rong Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled with admiration.  

Now that’s some serious combat power!

She had never been one to take bullying lying down, but even she wasn’t as fierce as her mother. Definitely worth learning from!  

“Think your mom’s something special, huh?” an old woman sidled up to her.  

Rong Xiaoxiao nodded eagerly, eyes shining.  

The Ma household wasn’t just Ma Lian alone—yet despite having their door kicked in, not a single person dared to show their face. Clearly, they were terrified of Wu Chuanfang, who was still cursing outside.  

“You should’ve seen your mom when she was younger—now that was real ferocity,” Granny Chen reminisced. “Back during the famine years, every family was tightening their belts just to survive. Then some thieves started targeting our compound. Your mom grabbed a kitchen knife and chased them down, forcing them to return the stolen grain.”  

“I remember that too,” a middle-aged woman chimed in. “We all owed it to Chuanfang. I was nursing a baby at the time—if we’d lost that food, forget the adults, the child wouldn’t have made it.”  

As the two reminisced, Rong Xiaoxiao listened intently, learning more about the past.  

Not just about her mother’s heroic fight against thieves, but also how she had… tamed her husband.  

“Look around our compound—which old man isn’t strutting around like a rooster? Yet Chuanfang has Shuigen wrapped around her finger. She calls all the shots at home. Shuigen’s a sixth-grade forger, the highest earner here, but when he gets back, he still helps with cooking and laundry. My old man? Plops down the second he’s home, waiting to be served—never lifts a finger.”  

One of the aunties grinned slyly. “That’s what you call husband-training. You young’uns better take notes—learn how to keep your men firmly in your grip, just like Chuanfang—”  

“What nonsense are you spouting in front of the kids?!” Wu Chuanfang cut her off.  

Rolling her eyes, she nudged Rong Xiaoxiao toward their home. “Let’s go. Time to cook.”  

She did want her children to be tough like her—it kept them from being bullied.  

But tough was one thing; listening to these old biddies talk about bedroom matters in front of her daughter made even her cheeks burn.  

The Wu family of six lived in two side rooms nearby.  

Once inside, Rong Xiaoxiao followed Wu Chuanfang, helping with dinner preparations.  

Though “helping” was generous—there wasn’t much for her to do.

All she had to do was pass bowls and keep an eye on the coal fire.  

As Wu Chuanfang put it, she couldn’t stand how slow Rong Xiaoxiao was—it was faster to just do everything herself than wait for her.  

Rong Xiaoxiao wasn’t the least bit ashamed. In fact, she was happy to take it easy.  

Before the meal was ready, the rest of the family began trickling in.  

Rong Shuigen washed his hands in the courtyard and promptly took over Rong Xiaoxiao’s spot, hovering around his wife.  

Wu Chuanfang shooed him away impatiently, “Scram, scram! Quit taking up space.”  

Rong Shuigen chuckled, grabbing chopsticks and bowls before heading into the room.  

By the time they gathered around the table to eat, Wu Ping’an finally returned, proudly carrying a meaty bone. Grinning, he announced, “Dad told me to bring this home. Mom, let’s make bone soup tomorrow.”  

The “Dad” here, of course, wasn’t Rong Shuigen.  

Wu Chuanfang glared at him, “You’re not even married yet. What ‘Dad’?”  

Wu Ping’an shrugged, “It’s just a matter of time.”  

Seeing his mother gearing up for a scolding, he quickly changed the subject, “So, how did Xiaoxiao’s matchmaking go?”  

Wu Chuanfang’s frustration deflated instantly, “How do you think? None of them were any good.”  

She was genuinely at her wits’ end.  

If they were desperate, they could certainly marry her off.  

But how could she knowingly push her daughter into a pit?  

Wu Chuanfang turned to her husband, “What about those leads I asked you to check at the factory? Aren’t some of your apprentices still single?”  

“No, no good,” Rong Shuigen shook his head firmly.  

His apprentices? The hardworking ones came from families with too much drama, and the ones from decent families lacked backbone. Fine as apprentices, but as sons-in-law? Not a chance.  

Wu Chuanfang frowned, about to say more when—  

“Dad, Mom.” Rong Xiaoxiao set down her chopsticks, meeting her parents’ gazes. Softly but clearly, she said, “I want to go to the countryside.”  

“NO!”