Chapter 425: Return in Defeat – Daily Gossip in the Sickly Aunt’s Courtyard

Chapter 425: Defeated and Returning Empty-Handed – The Daily Drama of the Frail Sister-in-Law in the Compound

Wang and Li watched as Cen Xi charmed his mother-in-law into laughter—a side of him so different from usual that it was downright odd.

Though they would’ve loved to keep watching, the two couldn’t linger. After saying their goodbyes, they made to leave.

"Cen Gong, we’ll head out now!"

"Alright!" Cen Xi didn’t press them to stay, knowing they wouldn’t.

Lin Qing’s mom, ever hospitable, protested: "Hey now, leaving so soon? Stay and relax a bit!"

"Xiao Cen, make them stay! I haven’t even served tea!"

"Mom, they’ve got things to do."

"No need for tea, Mother Su! We’re really busy!" Comrade Wang [a common Communist-era address] waved her off.

After repeated refusals, Wang and Li finally stepped out—only to be intercepted by nosy Mother Su before they’d even left the compound.

"Comrades! You work with Cen Gong, right? Married yet?"

"Sorry, Mother Su—urgent business!" Nimble on their feet, the men dodged her neatly and bolted.

Lin’s mom, trailing behind, saw the confrontation. She’d barely moved to help when they slipped free. Watching them exit safely, she shot Mother Su a glare, *"Hmph!"* and stormed back inside.

Mother Su stood fuming.

*Ugh! Why’s everyone gotta disrespect her? What, am I some kinda joke to them?*

Is it easy being her? *Huh?*

Bitter as she was, she wouldn’t dare cross Cen Xi—not with Lin’s mom being no pushover either.

As for Mother Jiang and Mother Gu? They’d stayed put, knowing venturing out wouldn’t change a thing. But staying in didn’t stop them enjoying the show!

Zhang Mengyun finally saw the famed Cen Xi—and decided he couldn’t hold a candle to her beloved Jianhua.

*Pfft*—What’s so special? *Hmph!*

Truthfully, Cen Xi wasn’t bad-looking—just lacking the square-jawed "heroic" look then in vogue. With those glasses of his and a stern expression, he could be pretty stern!

But Zhang was green with envy over his giant parcels. That *nobody* Lin Qing—how’d she rate such luck?

The injustice gnawed at her. She needed to *act*.

At the Cen home...

The hot-water flask still had enough, so Cen Xi stopped Lin’s mom from boiling more. He’d just mix in cold water.

"Let me heat more!" she fussed.

"Mom, it’s fine. I don’t need it scalding!"

*Aiyo*, too cold and you’ll freeze your tail off!"

"Really no need, I'm a grown man who runs hot—no need for such hot water!"

Mother Lin gave him a long look. "Alright then! Suit yourself, but don’t take too long!"

"Got it!" Cen Xi didn’t plan to linger either.

After his bath, he felt like a new man, as if a layer of grime had been washed away.

"Yikes! It’s winter—why didn’t you dry your hair properly?" Mother Lin started nagging at the sight of his dripping hair.

Cen Xi wasn’t fazed. "I’ll get to it, I’ll get to it!"

"‘Get to it’? Dry it now!" She wasn’t taking no for an answer—she didn’t want her son-in-law falling ill right after returning, forcing her daughter to nurse him.

Sighing, Cen Xi complied despite his reluctance.

"Mom, where’s Dad?"

"Him? Off playing Chinese chess at the neighborhood park on Front Street again!" Mother Lin sounded exasperated. Once the weather turned cold, she’d forbidden the old coot from fishing, so now he spent every day at the park instead.

"Oh." His father-in-law was living his best retired life.

Once his hair was mostly dry, Cen Xi headed out to wash his clothes.

"Hey, Cen Xi, just leave those for Qing Qing to wash! You must be exhausted—go rest!"

"It’s fine, I’ll handle it. It’ll take two seconds—no need to trouble Qing Qing." He brushed her off, unwilling to burden his wife.

Two pieces of clothing didn’t take long.

He carried the basin outside.

His reappearance drew the neighborhood aunties out again.

They peeked cautiously at Mother Lin, making sure she wasn’t watching, then sneaked over.

"Cen Gong, tell us about your trip! Any interesting stories?" Mother Su’s shamelessness remained unfazed by earlier events.

Mother Jiang and Mother Gu cursed inwardly: *What nerve!*

"Mother Su, much of my work is confidential—I can’t discuss it," Cen Xi said flatly as he scrubbed.

Mother Su pouted. Suit yourself—who cared?

Mother Jiang shoved her aside. "Heh! Cen Gong, I’m not asking about work. Any local specialties from your trip? Got extras to trade?"

"Mother Jiang, what kind of talk is that? You’re asking me to cross a line." His blunt reply shut her down.

"You—ugh!" Her hopeful spark fizzled instantly, frustration bubbling—she’d gotten nothing but a rebuke.

Mother Gu, sharing similar thoughts, tried salvaging it. "No line-crossing here! Just trading goods!"

"I didn’t bring much back—just essentials for family. No extras to trade." Another firm refusal.

The three aunties left with their tails between their legs.

After a few more futile attempts, they finally gave up and slunk home.

Cen Xi paid their departure no mind, laser-focused on his laundry.

Soon, someone came to the sink next to him, but Cen Xi didn’t even glance over—he completely ignored them.

Zhang Mengyun was baffled. Shouldn’t he at least look when someone stood beside him?

Why wasn’t Cen Gong playing by the normal rules?

If he had just glanced her way, she could’ve naturally introduced herself!

With neither of them speaking, how could she just start talking out of nowhere?

And with so many eyes watching in the courtyard—what if it ruined her reputation?

The aunties scoffed: *Pfft!* After that shouting match, the "shrew" label was already stuck to her. Like she had any reputation left!