As she spoke, she casually suggested:

"You two must be tired after such a long drive, covered in sweat. Why don't you take a hot shower to relax and sleep more comfortably?"

Qin Peilan did feel exhausted, but her eyes lit up when she heard she could take a hot bath:

"Oh, great! There's even a separate bathroom in the house!"

Zhou Qiqi nodded:

"Yes, when I first came here with the army to settle down, I saw that it was inconvenient at home, so I asked Huaichuan to apply to the army for a separate toilet. Otherwise, the whole family would have to queue up for the public bathhouse to use the toilet and take a shower, which was too inconvenient."

She paused, as if remembering something, and then added deliberately,

"The bathroom and toilet were built jointly with several neighbors in the courtyard. Each household only contributed about two hundred yuan, which is not expensive."

Her words clearly indicated that she still remembered the elderly couple's dissatisfaction with her spending money recklessly, and she was intentionally trying to explain.

Upon hearing this, Qin Peilan's face immediately turned slightly embarrassed. She quickly waved her hand and explained:

"Qiqi, I didn't... I didn't mean that! We should buy what we need and make things convenient for the house! Wenpei isn't that old-fashioned! You earn a lot of money, so you can decide how to spend it and do whatever makes you comfortable! I just... I just asked casually, I didn't mean anything else!"

She didn't want her daughter-in-law to think of her as a meddlesome and nosy mother-in-law.

Seeing her mother-in-law like this, Zhou Qiqi's little bit of resentment completely disappeared, and her smile became more sincere as she said:

“Auntie, I know you didn’t mean that. Well then, I’ll have Huaichuan go to the kitchen to boil some water first. I’ll take Zhouzhou to shower first. After we’re done, the bathroom will be warm enough for you and Uncle to go in and shower, so you don’t catch a cold. You can rest in the room for a while and have some water to cool down.”

She then added:

"By the way, you two can sleep in the master bedroom for the next few days. The sheets and duvet covers have just been changed and are clean. We've also tidied up the bedside table and wardrobe, so they're empty. Feel free to put your things down. Shen Huaichuan and I will sleep in Zhouzhou's room. The beds are all put together, so Zhouzhou won't be crowded."

Qin Peilan felt warm and happy listening to her daughter-in-law's well-organized, meticulous, and thoughtful arrangements. She was extremely satisfied and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay! I'll do whatever you say! Just do whatever's convenient for you!"

While they were talking, Zhouzhou ran back to the small house to get a change of clothes.

Zhou Qiqi also got up and quickly began to clear the dishes from the table, preparing to go to the kitchen to wash them first.

She picked up her bowl and chopsticks, almost reaching the door, when a cautious voice, tinged with grievance and embarrassment, came from the courtyard:

"No, you've all made all the arrangements, but what about me? Where am I going to sleep tonight?"

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw He Wanrou still standing pitifully at the gate of the courtyard, exposed to the cold wind!

She had been standing alone in the yard for a long time, listening intently to what was happening inside the house.

The elderly couple's joyful laughter, their excited, choked sobs, and the heartwarming, everyday moments as Zhou Qiqi arranged for them to bathe and go to bed...

The more lively and joyful it is inside, the more desolate and superfluous she seems!

Nobody even remembered that there was a living, breathing person like her out there, without any support!

She quickly raised her voice a little and asked again, then walked into the house.

The elderly couple were still completely immersed in their joy and had temporarily forgotten about He Wanrou.

When she asked that question, both of them were stunned for a moment and hadn't reacted yet.

Shen Huaichuan, however, had already made plans and began to arrange things:

"Comrade He, when we went to pick up Zhouzhou just now, I asked someone to put in a good word with the family housing authorities and they booked a room for you. You can go and register now."

Upon hearing this, He Wanrou felt a chill run down her spine.

Family resettlement housing?

They passed by that place on their way here, and the driver gave them a brief introduction.

It's quite far from this military dependents' compound! It's inconvenient to even go back and forth!

Moreover, that place is mostly occupied by family members visiting temporarily or outsiders coming to do business. The conditions are not only poor, but there are also many people coming and going. It's not as comfortable as staying here.

Not to mention her meticulously planned third scheme, which hasn't even been implemented yet!

She absolutely wouldn't be happy!

Seeing that Zhouzhou was no longer nearby, she quickly walked a few steps closer to Qin Peilan, her face filled with worry and grievance, her voice trembling with tears as she said:

"No way! Brother Huaichuan! This won't do!"

She grabbed Qin Peilan's arm and said earnestly:

"Uncle, Aunt, have you forgotten? I didn't come here for fun! I came specifically to take care of Aunt Qin! She just had major surgery not long ago, and she hasn't fully recovered yet! She needs someone to take care of her!"

As she spoke, she squeezed Qin Peilan's arm tightly, her eyes filled with worried tears, and continued:

“Auntie, don’t you think so? Your health is so poor, and there’s no one around to care for you or know how to take care of you. What if you feel unwell at night? How can I live alone in such a far-away resettlement house? I have to stay by your side! It’s my responsibility!”

Her words were sincere and heartfelt, every sentence revolving around responsibility and care, as if she were truly Qin Peilan's indispensable personal nurse, and that Qin Peilan would suffer greatly without her.