Once everything was packed, Zhang Guoqing drove to the Lin Family’s house first. Both the couple were not at home, only the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zuo Family was there. Zhang Guoqing was busy and didn’t have much time to talk, so he simply said he had already spoken with Aunt Zuo, asking her to get things ready so they could eat just in time for dinner. Driving around the county town, he gave out gifts and received quite a bit in return. People come and go, and that’s how relationships deepen. They were also happy to associate with Zhang Guoqing, a sincere young man who handles matters comprehensively. Zhang Guoqing sincerely declined their dinner invitations, making up all sorts of excuses before finally saying goodbye. After all, he couldn’t let people wait for him to sit down at the table. He drove to his eldest sister, Zhang Meili’s old house just as she got off work and returned home. Zhang Guoqing had already calculated the time, got out of the car, and went upstairs with a basket, calling out loudly, "Big Sis, Brother-in-law, are you home? It’s Xiao Wu, give a shout if you hear me." Before Zhang Meili appeared, her voice came from inside, "I’m here, come in, just in time to have dinner at my place." Zhang Guoqing followed the sound and found her, quickly realizing she was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, "Sis, where are Brother-in-law and the kids? Why don’t I see them?" Zhang Meili laughed while wiping her hands, hurried over, and upon seeing Zhang Guoqing carrying a basket, she was shocked by the amount of stuff in it. She quickly turned off the stove and pulled Zhang Guoqing into her room. Once inside, she closed the door and frowned at him, advising, "Xiao Wu, don’t waste money , keep some on hand for emergencies. Why are you buying so much stuff? Don’t tell me you bought it at a high price from the black market? I have to tell you, let Jiao Jiao handle the money in the future, and oh, actually, giving it to Jiao Jiao isn’t good either. Mom has privately told me that you two are too kind-hearted. Don’t scare me, keep your future in mind, don’t neglect Little Ping’an. Next year there’s the separation, even buying a matchstick will cost money, save some. Sis is secretly helping you find a place, and it will cost quite a bit." "Sis, why don’t you check what’s cooking in the pot first? Take your time, I’m here." Zhang Guoqing looked on helplessly as his sister worried and rambled on without letting him get a word in. "Oh my, who cares about that pot now? Listen to your sister, don’t buy this stuff again. If you want something to eat, just tell me. I’ll find a way to get it for you, I promise you’ll get to eat it." Zhang Meili was so anxious she just wanted to hit him. She didn’t listen to her parents or husband about anything. Was Xiao Wu worried he didn’t have money with his mother-in-law around? How could he rely on his wife’s family when her Xiao Wu wasn’t a lazy freeloader? She was just concerned that Xiao Wu and Jiao Jiao were too loose with money, giving all the good stuff in the house to their brothers and nephews. Her Xiao Wu and Jiao Jiao were still young and hadn’t considered how much money would be needed to live in the future. A household isn’t just about eating and drinking; there’s social connection, everything needs money. In a couple of years, when they go to college, neither will earn a salary, yet still have to raise a child, which would cost more money. Without savings now, what use is a few salaries? Their parents don’t have a savings either, always involving Xiao Wu to go up the mountain was too dangerous, it made her worry and unable to sleep. Zhang Guoqing eagerly interrupted her, "Sis, don’t worry, let me tell you. These are not from the black market, it’s my father-in-law. Yes, it’s my father-in-law who is alive and returned with my mother-in-law to our place." Shocked, Zhang Meili forgot to put down the spatula in her hand, "Xiao Wu, wasn’t your father-in-law gone? How is he alive? What’s going on? Why does the Old Zhou Family always have such incidents? What did Jiao Jiao say? Oh dear, they don’t come, and when they do, it’s both parents, what’s going on." Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily, finding his sister too amusing, "Sis, my father-in-law is really good to me, treating me like his own son without any ulterior motives, treasuring Jiao Jiao like a gem. He returned the day before yesterday, and we’ve been busy building the compound, so I didn’t have a chance to tell you. I’ve been busy these days too. I’ll tell you something, don’t get mad, don’t blame me for not telling you sooner." Zhang Meili looked at him in surprise, "What is it, are you running short on money and need Sis to give you some? Is there no money to entertain your father-in-law? Just as it happens, there’s money at home now. Wait for me to get some." Zhang Guoqing sighed helplessly, poured her a cup of water, and seeing she was about to speak, quickly motioned with his hand to stop her, "Sis, please don’t talk yet, let me finish, okay? I’m pressed for time." Zhang Meili laughed, "Speak, Sis is listening." Zhang Guoqing looked at her seriously, "Don’t laugh, listen carefully. Your brother doesn’t lack money, really doesn’t, even without my father-in-law. You don’t need to look for housing, my father-in-law bought a compound as soon as he returned, it’s near the Armed Forces Department. After two days of cleaning, it’s ready to live in now. Don’t talk yet, I know you might say why not let you help clean up, but my mother-in-law hired two people to get it clean, and since you were busy at work, I didn’t call you, I didn’t even get to help. There’s more to say. The seafood I brought today was bought by my father-in-law who drove to an out-of-province fishery yesterday, you, our second sister, there’s more at home, you can eat it at ease. In a few days, we plan to move into the new house with my parents-in-law, my parents agreed, we intended to tell you by then, so don’t blame me for not telling you sooner. Don’t speak yet, hear me out first. We’ve settled the city house, and my job is secure. Speaking of Second Brother, wasn’t it Second Sister’s father-in-law who helped me find a job before? Well, this time he found one for my Second Brother. He reported today, starting next Monday, in the Public Security Bureau’s Household Registration Office, managing the household register. Things haven’t spread yet, but it’s not late to announce it after he starts next Monday. As for you, ask our parents if you have any questions, I’m not explaining it to you now. My father-in-law is entertaining his friends at the new house, including my future superior, even Mrs. Zhou was here, I brought her over. The Zhou Family is a mess, don’t ask about them, I don’t want to talk about it. So I’m in a hurry to head back, can’t keep the guests waiting. If you don’t understand anything, I’ll explain it to you later. As for the seafood in the basket, you eat it, let my nephew eat it, don’t hoard it, I will buy more myself next time, and your brother will send it to you. Sigh, I’ve talked so much, it’s frustratingly urgent, Sis, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go to Second Sister’s place. Tomorrow the village is hunting, if you’re free, go take a look." Zhang Meili shook her head, then nodded. Zhang Guoqing looked at her puzzled, "What’s up, if it’s nothing, I’ll leave." "Didn’t you tell Sis not to talk? Haha, just joking with you. Hurry back, Sis won’t keep you, talk when you’re free. Also, thank your father-in-law and mother-in-law for me." Zhang Meili laughed and patted him happily. Now she felt really relieved, having a courtyard meant there was no longer anything to worry about; there was at least a foundation, and renting it out later would bring in quite a bit as well. Zhang Guoqing stopped her from sending him off, quickly walking out on his own, leaving the basket behind. When he got into the car, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t asked his sister when to heat the house. Arriving at his second sister, Zhang Meihao’s home, Zhang Guoqing was determined not to go in this time. He placed the basket at the door and loudly called out for Zhang Meihao; within seconds, she ran out, "Second Sister, be careful not to trip, don’t rush. Take your time." "Xiao Wu, why aren’t you coming in?" Zhang Meihao softly said. Zhang Guoqing pointed at the basket on the ground, "Here’s some seafood for you, all yours, I’ve already delivered to Big Sis. They were sent by my father-in-law and mother-in-law. I have urgent business, someone is waiting at home. We’ll catch up later, I’ll visit our parents when I have time. I’m off, Second Sister." After saying this, Zhang Guoqing hurriedly got back in the car, waved to her as he drove off. Zhang Meihao looked on, mouth agape, he left before she could even speak, shaking her head as she picked up the basket and went into the yard. Her mother-in-law looked over her shoulder curiously, "Xiao Wu left? Why didn’t he come in and sit for a while? Just in time for dinner, he could’ve eaten before leaving, why didn’t you keep him?" Zhang Meihao laughed and shook her head, pointing at the basket on the ground, "He set down the basket, said one sentence, and before I could respond, hurried onto the car and drove off. He said he had guests at home. This is for us, he already sent some to Big Sis. I haven’t had a chance to see what it is, but there’s a fishy smell, so it’s probably seafood." Her mother-in-law took out the dried fish on top and saw the prawns and big yellow croaker, exclaiming in surprise, "Meihao, look at this, it’s all rare stuff, your brother was generous." Zhang Meihao smiled at her mother-in-law, softly saying, "It’s fine, since we have it, let’s eat it. Xiao Wu knows what he’s doing, there’s probably plenty at his house, I heard it’s from his father-in-law. I wanted to ask what’s going on, but he’s already gone. Mom, you find a way to prepare them, I don’t know how to cook these." "Ah, your dad will be thrilled tonight; the prawns he’s been thinking about have arrived. I bet he’ll want to drink tonight. Let’s keep the big yellow croaker for the New Year, give the rest to my grandson, as fish makes kids smarter. Mom will do her best in the kitchen tonight. These things aren’t easy to come by these days, even last year’s dried fish was hard to get through favors." "Ah, you make the arrangements, mom, I’ll help out. Next time I see Xiao Wu, I’ll ask him to find more big yellow croaker, since it’s good for children, he’s sure to buy it again." "Haha, better not trouble Xiao Wu, he’s been nonstop delivering things to our house all year. Though you siblings have a good relationship, that’s a rare younger brother who keeps supporting his sister. Let’s head to the kitchen."