Chapter 134: The Mother-in-Law Goes All Out and Goes Wild with Her Son-in-Law

Cheng Xuemin returned home in the dark. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he felt that the atmosphere was wrong.

The rooms on both sides were pitch dark, and only the main room was brightly lit. Were Feng Jiayou and the others all eating?

"Xuemin, where on earth did you go?"

Hearing the commotion outside, Feng Jiayou abruptly stood up, looked toward the door, and saw her husband pushing his bicycle in. She burst into tears and asked.

"Huh? Wife... I was over at the new house! Didn't I tell you this afternoon?"

Seeing his wife soaked in tears with a pale and devastated face, Cheng Xuemin was so startled that he quickly dropped his bicycle to the side and hurried over, asking, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Could it be that there was more news from the second brother in the southern border about being drafted to the front lines?

"But Big Brother said he went to the new house and didn't see you!"

"Xuemin, you scared us to death!"

Feng Jiayou buried her face in Cheng Xuemin's embrace, weeping uncontrollably again. What her eldest brother had said earlier had simply terrified her too much!

Although she realized later that her husband was definitely not the kind of man to shirk responsibility, not seeing him return after dark truly worried her to the core.

"You didn't see me?!"

"I don't think I saw Big Brother either! I was in the front room writing some things down!"

"Big Brother probably didn't go all the way in and didn't pay attention!"

Cheng Xuemin looked at his wife with heartache, wiped the tearstains from her face, and said, "Silly girl, where could a big living person like me possibly run off to?!"

"Then why didn't you tell me about the symposium today?!"

Feng Jiayou also felt a pang of heartache for her husband and complained.

"Wife, you already know?"

Now it was Cheng Xuemin's turn to be stunned. Didn't they agree to keep it a secret from her first? Why didn't he mention it when he came back this afternoon, only for her to find out about everything the moment he turned around?

No wonder his wife was crying like this.

"Yeah! Big Brother brought the newspaper back this afternoon!"

Feng Jiayou nodded and walked into the main room together with Cheng Xuemin.

"Xuemin is back, we've been waiting just for you! Hurry up and sit at the table for dinner!"

Seeing her son-in-law, Mother Feng finally let her hanging heart drop to the ground and called everyone to eat.

"Alright, Mom!" Cheng Xuemin nodded, supporting Feng Jiayou as they walked over, and said, "Wife, let's eat first!"

"Xuemin, you were over at the new house! I suppose I just didn't pay close enough attention!"

Feng Jiayou's eldest brother, Feng Jiazhao, greeted him sheepishly. He really had only taken a quick glance at the new house and left without lingering!

"That's right, Big Brother. I was inside the room writing a few things!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded and added an explanation, choosing not to elaborate any further.

At the dinner table, Father Feng also chimed in to comfort Cheng Xuemin, mentioning that after they left the venue yesterday, Elder Wu had expressed a clear attitude, telling Cheng Xuemin not to carry too much pressure and burden.

Cheng Xuemin replied that it was nothing, and asked what kind of pressure or burden he could possibly have.

It was still that same saying!

Others might not know what kind of turbulence this Director Qiao controversy would eventually evolve into.

But Cheng Xuemin knew it crystal clear!

Just like in his past life, "The Appointment of Director Qiao" did indeed receive high praise and support from the higher-ups after its publication, but it also faced quite a few dissenting voices.

However, in the end, it was all thunder with very little rain, causing no substantial impact on the original author.

Moreover, precisely because of these differing voices, it ultimately helped cement the original author's title as the pioneer of reform and opening up.

Therefore, Cheng Xuemin truly felt zero pressure or burden.

"Xuemin, and you still said you had no pressure or burden?!"

Yet after dinner, when they returned to their room together, seeing what Cheng Xuemin had written over at the new house, Feng Jiayou asked with a stunned expression, "If you had no pressure or burden, why would you write this?"

"Wife, look closely! It's precisely because I have no pressure or burden that I wrote this manuscript!"

Cheng Xuemin turned around and said to Feng Jiayou, "Today's symposium has only made your husband even more determined to run the magazine 'Today' well!"

Although he had a pen in his hand, without his own battleground, he was no match for those sharp and aggressive criticisms, leaving him only in a position to be passively beaten.

Even though Elder Wu, Elder Mao, the People's Daily, and People's Literature stood by him today, goodness knows how the other newspapers tomorrow morning would continue to exert pressure and keep in step with Tianjin.

If Cheng Xuemin had an influential battleground of his own, he could completely exchange blows with them tit-for-tat.

Unfortunately, he didn't!

Therefore, Cheng Xuemin urgently hoped to get the magazine "Today" up and running as soon as possible.

"Xuemin, I support you!" Feng Jiayou fell into Cheng Xuemin's arms and said with a choked voice, "Xuemin, no matter what happens in the future, you must, must take me with you. Don't leave me behind alone, okay?"

"Silly girl, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? We are one body as husband and wife, and whatever happens in the future, we will definitely face it together!"

Why did Cheng Xuemin feel that this woman's emotions were a bit off today, and even the way she looked at him was strange?

What on earth was going on?

Was she frightened by the events of today's symposium?

Was there any need for that?!

"Mm-hmm, one body as husband and wife, never forsaking each other!"

Feng Jiayou felt even happier snuggling in her husband's arms.

That very night, Cheng Xuemin rushed to finish this manuscript. After writing it, he stopped his mother-in-law, who was just about to leave for work, and said, "Mom, I wrote a manuscript yesterday. Could you take it and let Teacher Liu take a look?"

"The one you wrote at the new house yesterday?"

Mother Feng hadn't dared to ask yesterday what exactly her son-in-law was hiding over at the new house to write.

He must have written it out of pent-up frustration!

Otherwise, if it could be written at home, why did he deliberately hide away at the new house to write it?

"Yes!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded and handed the manuscript to his mother-in-law.

It really was that manuscript. Smelling the paper, Mother Feng felt a silent surge of grievance, and after taking her son-in-law's manuscript, she asked in astonishment, "So many pages? You didn't sleep at all last night?"

The manuscript was dozens of pages thick, which meant at least tens of thousands of words, right?

Yet her son-in-law had only started writing after returning yesterday afternoon. Didn't that mean he had written through the entire night?

"Mom, Xuemin really didn't sleep at all last night; he spent the whole time writing this manuscript!" Feng Jiayou followed him out wearing a heavy coat, holding another stack of manuscripts in her hand, which she handed to her mother, saying, "This is the novella, Mom, you can take this along too!"

Feng Jiayou had finally agreed to hand the novella "A Ordinary Era" over to her mother!

"What on earth is wrong with the two of you?!"

"Either you drag it out and refuse to give it, or when you do, you hand over this much all at once?"

Mother Feng truly had no way to deal with this couple of debt-collectors. Before, she couldn't bear to let go of that novella.

But what about now?

Another multiple-choice question? She was making her, the mother, choose between options again?

The trouble was that the previous multiple-choice question ended up yielding neither.

"This time, everything goes to Mom's 'October', no need to pick or choose!"

Noticing her mother's speechlessness, Feng Jiayou quickly added.

"Really?!"

Hearing the debt-collector's words, Mother Feng's brows finally unfurled as she looked at her son-in-law, Cheng Xuemin, and asked.

"I rushed to finish it last night, so the draft is a bit messy, but Mom, I hope this piece can be published first!"

Why had Cheng Xuemin rushed so much yesterday?

It was precisely because he hoped his mother-in-law's "October" could publish this piece first to go head-to-head with the Tianjin side. He was just worried whether his mother-in-law and Liu Xinwu would dare to publish this manuscript first.

After all, they were right in the eye of the storm; the pressure on this manuscript would be no less than the pressure faced by the first person to eat crab and publish "Director Qiao".

Since it was a manuscript meant for a literary boxing match, whether to publish it or not involved the issue of choosing a side.

If his mother-in-law's "October" didn't dare to publish it, Cheng Xuemin would take it elsewhere to "People's Literature" and "Beijing Literature"!

He wanted to see whether they were only supporting him in words or if they would actually step up when things got real.

"I'll take a look as soon as I get to work!"

Seeing the solemn expression on her son-in-law's face and how specially he mentioned this manuscript, Mother Feng instantly realized something.

However, she didn't read it right away and held back.

Then she wheeled her bicycle out to the front courtyard. Father Feng saw this from the side and said nothing as he walked out the door with her.

"Xueqing, let me take a look at Xuemin's manuscript first!"

As the couple rode their bicycles side by side and neared a fork in the road, Father Feng couldn't help wanting to check the manuscript his son-in-law had rushed out yesterday.

He was simply worried.

Yesterday's symposium had indeed dealt a blow to his proud and smooth-sailing son-in-law, leaving him somewhat frustrated.

No matter how frustrated he was, he mustn't write anything overly reckless and detrimental under the influence of anger at a time like this.

Father Feng needed to read it first!

He also knew that his wife had been harboring pent-up frustration since yesterday. Worried that she might go along with their son-in-law's impulsiveness, he had to vet and screen it for them first.

"Old Feng, we're almost late, what are you reading for?!"

Instead of stopping her bicycle, Mother Feng spoke to him, "I know what you're worried about! But even if we publish it, we still have over a week!"

"I'll turn back! I'll bring it back for you to look at later! We really are going to be late now!"

With that, she turned her bicycle and veered down the left street!

"Don't you go along with this craziness; check whether the manuscript is appropriate before showing it to Old Liu!"

Father Feng was anxious, yet completely helpless against his headstrong wife. His meaning was that if it truly contained overly radical remarks, she shouldn't bring it to the unit just yet; everyone needed to calm down.

Yet his own wife...

Forget it!

Father Feng also knew he was probably worrying too much. Usually, his son-in-law was quite steady and wouldn't write overly extreme words in a manuscript.

"Wife, it's cold outside, don't catch a chill! Go back inside and snuggle under the covers!"

"When I come back at noon after the exam, I'll cook for you!"

Today was Saturday, and the Peking University Affiliated High School was holding final exams. Earlier, his sister-in-law Feng Jiamei had passed along a message from their head teacher, Teacher Zhang, telling him not to skip the exams.

"Xuemin, can you hold up? If it really doesn't work out, just don't go take the exam!"

After breakfast, Feng Jiayou was once again stuffed back under the covers by her husband, looking at him with deep heartache.

Her husband had written manuscripts furiously nearly all night last night, snatching only a tiny nap right before dawn.

And now he had to rush off to Peking University Affiliated High School for the final exams; it broke her heart!

"I'm fine! Take good care of yourself, stay in bed and rest more now that it's break!"

Cheng Xuemin told his wife not to move around blindly and said she could call for their eldest niece, Feng Qin, if she needed anything, before hurrying off toward Peking University Affiliated High School.

"Old Cheng, have you eaten? I've got fried dough sticks and soy milk here, want me to share some?"

When he arrived at the classroom in the affiliated high school, Ge You had also just arrived. With a piece of fried dough stick hanging from his mouth and carrying soy milk in his hand, his mouth glistening with oil, he cheerfully greeted Cheng Xuemin.

"I've eaten, I've eaten!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded in response and sat down at his desk in the corner.

"Old Cheng, when are you moving? You've got to invite me over to housewarm!" Ge You dropped heavily into his seat and said casually to Cheng Xuemin.

"Of course! I'll invite you over to sit after I move!"

Ge You had helped find the house in the first place and even haggled down the price significantly; inviting him over to sit when moving into the new house was definitely the right thing to do!

"Alright, I'll bring a few buddies along to check it out then!" Ge You nodded casually in agreement.

"Good!"

Cheng Xuemin's interest was piqued. Those close childhood friends and companions of Ge You weren't just anyone, right?

Zhang Mouzi?

Zhang Guotzi?

Not long after, the head teacher Teacher Zhang arrived at the classroom. Seeing Cheng Xuemin seated at his desk, he smiled and nodded at him as a greeting.

"Oh right, Old Cheng, did you read the newspaper today!?"

"That author of 'The Appointment of Director Qiao' has gotten into trouble!"

Seeing Teacher Zhang sweep a 'fierce' gaze toward him, Ge You hurriedly stood up, nodded at Teacher Zhang, and smiled ingratiatingly.

Seeing that Teacher Zhang ignored him and walked back out a moment later, Ge You turned to Cheng Xuemin and started talking about today's newspaper news.

"Got into trouble!?"

Cheng Xuemin looked at Ge You. He hadn't had time to read today's newspaper yet and wasn't quite clear how the various publications in Beijing were reporting on yesterday's symposium.

"Yeah! Word is they held a symposium yesterday and a huge row broke out!"

"Here, I brought a copy of the 'Beijing Morning Post', take a look!"

With that, Ge You pulled a newspaper out of his bag, slapped it down in front of Cheng Xuemin, and said, "They're arguing so fiercely. Old Cheng, you've got a sharp brain, do you think the political wind is changing again?"

"Surely not? It's just a symposium!"

Cheng Xuemin quickly grabbed the newspaper, glanced through it, and offered a perfunctory reply to Ge You.

Beijing Daily!

That was the 'fiercest' one that jumped out yesterday, and today's newspaper was indeed equally sharp in its rhetoric.

Still, that was about it!

So what if the rhetoric was sharp? Could it hurt Cheng Xuemin even by a single hair?

"How could they be like this?"

Unexpectedly, not long after Cheng Xuemin left, Feng Jiayou secretly climbed out from under the covers once more and ran out to the neighborhood newsstand to browse the papers.

She discovered that almost every newspaper had published accounts of yesterday's symposium.

Opinions on yesterday's symposium were mixed. Major publications like "People's Daily" and "Workers' Daily" strongly supported and voiced solidarity for her husband.

Meanwhile, tabloids like "Beijing Morning Post" and "Beijing Early Post" launched full-page attacks on her husband.

Especially the "Beijing Early Post"—Feng Jiayou found it utterly unbearable!

She immediately rushed back home and began to write. As Cheng Xuemin's beloved wife, she absolutely refused to remain indifferent while other media outlets attacked her husband like this.

Fight back!

Feng Jiayou was going to fight back!

With what?

Naturally, with the pen in her hand. Hunched over the desk wrapped in a thick cotton quilt, she began writing with righteous indignation.

"Teacher Gu, did you read today's newspaper?"

Similarly, as soon as Mother Feng arrived at the unit, Section Chief Wang and the others looked over and asked her.

"Xiao Yang, help me put all of today's newspapers on my desk!"

Mother Feng knew there would definitely be a major storm today. Forgoing even the time to read manuscripts, she needed to know first how all the major newspapers and media outlets had reported on yesterday's symposium.

"Alright, Teacher Gu, right away!"

Copyeditor Xiao Yang quickly nodded and swiftly gathered the newspapers from the newspaper rack, while coworkers at every workstation very consciously handed whatever newspapers they held directly to Xiao Yang.

A moment later, more than a dozen different newspapers from across the unit were piled up in front of Mother Feng.

"Teacher Gu, these all reported on yesterday's symposium."

Xiao Yang added a sentence before stepping back.

"Alright Xiao Yang, it's fine, go on with your work!"

Mother Feng nodded, signaled for Xiao Yang to get back to work, and began flipping through the newspapers in front of her.

In an instant, the only sound in the entire editorial office was the rustling of Mother Feng turning pages, while the others—Old Wang, Cao Aiqin, and Xiao Yang—didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.

They all watched Mother Feng simultaneously, bracing themselves to handle whatever outbreak she might have next.

"Hah!"

Roughly an hour later, Mother Feng tossed the final newspaper aside and let out a low, cold laugh.

"Teacher Gu, actually you don't need to take it too hard. Those are just tabloids trying to go against the mainstream and court controversy just to boost sales!"

"Right now, mainstream newspapers like 'People's Daily' and 'Workers' Daily' have all given high praise to Old Qiao!"

Seeing Mother Feng collapse into her chair with a cold laugh, Section Chief Wang hurried over to comfort her.

"Yeah, Teacher Gu, those are just tabloids trying to catch people's eyes by talking nonsense!" Cao Aiqin, who usually engaged in 'secret struggles' with Mother Feng, rarely chimed in to agree and offer comfort.

"I'm fine!"

Mother Feng replied indifferently, desperately suppressing the grievance and frustration in her heart as she began to read the manuscript her son-in-law had handed her that morning.

Forget it!

Mother Feng was ready to throw caution to the wind. No matter how her son-in-law chose to vent his pent-up grievances, as a mother-in-law, she would definitely stand by him this time.

So she made up her mind: regardless of how this manuscript was written, it was going to print!

Even if Old Liu refused to publish it, she would force it through; publish it she must!

Not for anything else—

If not for winning over bread, one had to fight for dignity. This breath of injustice was something she, Gu Xueqing, simply could not swallow.

"Teacher Gu is here?"

Editor-in-Chief Liu Xinwu walked out, saw Mother Feng, and hurried over to ask, "Teacher Gu, how is Xuemin's novella coming along?"

"Right now, the best and most powerful counterattack we can make is to quickly publish a new piece by Xuemin. Even if his novella isn't finished yet, we can take the first half first!"

Liu Xinwu had also read today's newspapers, but unfortunately, "October" was a magazine, not a newspaper, so it couldn't offer immediate vocal support and counterattack.

The only thing they could do was help Cheng Xuemin publish a new work swiftly and use its strong influence to crush all those negative impacts.

"Old Liu, you came at the exact right time. Take a look at this manuscript by Xuemin and see what you think?"

Mother Feng, who had still been harboring a bellyful of frustration, felt her emotions surge with mounting excitement as she read her son-in-law's manuscript.

Seeing that Old Liu had just stepped out, she eagerly shoved the unread portion of the manuscript into Liu Xinwu's hands and said.

"Xuemin's novella is finished?!"

"Splendid! It couldn't come at a better time!"

Hearing this, Liu Xinwu was overjoyed and hurriedly took the manuscript handed over by Mother Feng.

"It's not that novella!"

"It's a manuscript Xuemin rushed out overnight after returning yesterday! Old Liu, take a look, I think it's fiercely brilliant!"