Chapter 44: Going Home The next day, Lu Liang woke up to the sound of pleasant piano music coming from next door. The pillow beside him was empty, reminding him of last night. He had been busy until late, and Zhang Qian had quietly gone to sleep with her daughter. Though she hadn’t said why, Lu Liang could guess—it was likely because she didn’t want to influence the child’s developing worldview. Lu Liang got dressed and stepped out of the room. Zhang Qian was busy in the kitchen, and a hearty breakfast and lunch were already set on the table. She wore a loose T-shirt and high-waisted jeans, her makeup looking fresh, as if she had just come back from going out. Zhang Qian flicked her hair back and smiled gently, “The washroom is on the left, and the toothbrush and towel at the sink are new.” At that moment, the piano music stopped. The little girl peeked out from her room, “Uncle, you can sleep so much!” The room was filled with a guzheng (Chinese zither), and her fingers were adorned with picks, just like nail art. Zhang Qian smiled again and affectionately patted her daughter’s head, “Xiao Guai, you’re awesome!” Zhang Qian realized that her daughter was much more considerate than most kids her age, and she was truly well-behaved. After a harmonious lunch, Lu Liang took a short break and then headed to the parking lot. He opened the trunk, which was filled to the brim. Zhang Qian was thoughtful—each item had a tag indicating who it was for. The cigarettes and alcohol were all domestic products like soft cigarettes and Moutai, making it clear they were expensive. After all, the worst thing about gift-giving was when the gift seemed cheap because the recipient didn’t understand its value. Lu Liang bid farewell to Zhang Qian and her daughter, set the GPS, and began his journey back home. The entire trip was over 500 kilometers, and he drove south along the Hukun Highway, the sunset casting a golden glow over the horizon. He left at noon and arrived at the small town at the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang by the evening. After getting off the highway, he drove another half hour on the national road to his hometown, Yucheng Town. He passed a small shop and saw a family of four happily having dinner. Lu Liang parked outside and gently knocked on the glass counter, “Boss, I’ll take a bottle of Coke.” The woman put down her bowl and ran over, giving Lu Liang’s chest a playful punch. “When did you come back?” Lu Liang winced in pain, rubbing his chest, “Can’t you go easy?” “I'm already being gentle,” Lu Ya, Lu Liang’s older sister, huffed. Her two children ran over, excitedly hugging Lu Liang’s legs, “Uncle… Uncle, did you bring us gifts?” The older one, a six-year-old boy, and the younger one, a four-year-old girl, hadn’t forgotten Lu Liang after more than four months. “Of course, I brought you gifts.” Lu Liang opened the trunk and took out two smartwatches, a set of cosmetics, and a few bottles of cigarettes and alcohol. Her husband, Luo Haitong, walked over and stared at the golden cow projected on the ground, lost in thought. “Liangzi, that car isn’t a Lamborghini, is it?” “Lamborghini?” Lu Ya was stunned. It wasn’t uncommon not to have seen a Lamborghini, but it was rare not to have heard of it—it was the epitome of luxury sports cars. Lu Liang smiled and nodded, as if to confirm. He gave the two smartwatches to his nephews and handed the cosmetics to his sister. “This is for you. Don’t say I’ve never bought you a gift.” “Brother-in-law, this alcohol and cigarettes are for you...” Lu Ya finally believed that the car was indeed a Lamborghini. She didn’t take the cosmetics, her face full of worry. “Where’s Wenjing? And where did you get all this money?” Lu Liang patted his nephews on the back and told them to go eat. He handed his brother-in-law a cigarette and began to explain recent events. “Already divorced? You sold the apartment in Magic City? Now you own a company?” Each piece of news was more shocking than the last, and Lu Ya couldn’t help but ask, “Do Mom and Dad know?” “Dad knows a bit, but Mom probably doesn’t.” Lu Liang put his arm around Lu Ya’s shoulder. “And you’ve never liked Lin Wenjing. This divorce is a good thing, right?” Lu Ya shot him a look. “That’s one thing, but you didn’t leave your wife after you made money, did you?” “Sis, I’m your brother. Blood is thicker than water. What do you think of me?” Lu Liang retorted, but was immediately slapped on the arm. Lu Ya paused and looked at her husband. “Luo, you take care of the kids. I’ll go with him to visit our parents.”