"My second cousin seems like a completely different person," Chen Xiuhua, the fourth sister, suddenly said suspiciously on the way home.

"Fourth sister, it's not that I've changed, I just always feel that Chen Jianhua is still this kind of person." Chen Chunhua hesitated for a moment, as if she had remembered something, and murmured.

She was the same age as Chen Jianhua, but a few months younger. Although he wasn't very talkative, she seemed to recall seeing a very wicked and malicious expression on his face when they were little, but she couldn't quite remember. Once, when he was fighting with her second younger sister, he gritted his teeth and fought with great force.

"Big sister? What do you mean? Chen Jianhua just talks a lot, right? He probably wants to show off that he married a rich wife." The third sister, Chen Meihua, couldn't see anything wrong with it. Wasn't this perfectly normal?

If she were as rich as Xiao Wu, she would have shown off long ago, but Xiao Wu wasn't interested and didn't know how much money one needed to be considered rich.

"Xiao Wu, don't you think so?"

"Sisters, why are you bothering with other people?" Chen Xihua said casually. Her previous guesses were probably mostly correct.

Chen Jianhua is no ordinary person; he's malicious and possibly even cunning. I wonder what kind of family the Wang family is? Are they honest and kind? Like Chen Jianhua, they each have their own agendas.

“That’s right, Fifth Sister is right. Second Cousin doesn’t look like a good person at all. We should stay far away from him.” For some reason, when Chen Baohua saw her second cousin today, a feeling of disgust and aversion welled up in her heart. He was even more unpleasant than her eldest cousin.

...

A few days before the Lunar New Year, Chen Xihua resumed her daily routine of visiting Old Man Qin's house.

"Xiao Wu, the courtyard house you bought in Beijing, was it occupied or vacant before? Do you want to have it renovated?" Old Man Qin knew that Chen Xihua had only six months left until the college entrance examination, after which she could return to Beijing. Knowing this girl as he did, he was confident she would get into a university in Beijing.

Is he really going back? What if he gets bullied? He can't fight back at all!

“No need for renovations. My older sister said it’s very well maintained. It used to be lived in by an elderly couple. One of the spouses passed away, and their children took them abroad.” Chen Xihua observed Old Man Qin’s expression and explained slowly. Old Man Qin was conflicted and confused.

Old Qin had probably thought about going back before, but could I really stop him? It doesn't seem likely. He probably wanted to find an excuse or a way out.

"Oh no, what if that old man Qin uses me as a shield?" Chen Xihua frowned, pursed her lips, and sighed helplessly. She had been too hasty again; she shouldn't have agreed to learn calligraphy from him in the first place.

"Chen Xiaowu, what kind of expression is that? Are you disgusted with me!" Old Man Qin glared angrily at Chen Xihua, his voice loud.

He was just lost in thought for a moment, and the girl immediately gave him an annoying look.

It almost startled Chen Baohua, who was standing next to him. Xiao Liu paused for a moment, and the character he had just written went crooked.

Although they were used to it, Teacher Qin and Fifth Sister would bicker every now and then, but could they wait until he finished writing the words first?

...

On New Year's Eve, Chen Xihua's family had an extra entertainment this year: watching the New Year's Eve gala.

I've been watching my new color TV from morning till night. I'm definitely a TV addict. I stare at the stars on the TV who could be on the Spring Festival Gala with envy.

During the holiday, the fourth sister, Chen Xiuhua, wanted to watch some other science and education news channels, but she couldn't find the remote control. She didn't know where the third sister had hidden it.

As the sound of firecrackers outside gradually subsided, the new year arrived, and those who had stayed up all night drifted off to sleep.

In Chen Xihua's room, the sisters were also preparing to turn off the lights and go to sleep. Chen Baohua, who had stepped out of her room and was returning to the living room, grabbed the doorframe and asked, "Fifth sister, can I make a New Year's wish?"

"Well, New Year's wishes? You can make them, but whether they'll come true is another matter," Chen Xihua said with a smile.

"Can I go to Yunshi, the provincial capital, for a trip this summer vacation?" Chen Baohua asked eagerly, looking forward to it.

"Ask the older sister. She said she's already passed her driver's test and can drive you there. Ask her," Chen Xihua said, gesturing towards the older sister. Then she continued to Chen Chunhua.

"Big sister, after a while, we'll buy you a car in the company's name and put it in your name. That way, it'll be more convenient to go to the provincial capital or Beijing."

When Chen Xihua learned that her older sister had gotten her driver's license, she was overjoyed.

From now on, my older sister can drive me to the company store instead of taking a bus or train. At this point, I'll mostly be taking the old-fashioned green trains, which only go 60-70 kilometers per hour; driving can sometimes be faster.

"Drive slowly, it should be fine." Chen Chunhua was a little nervous; she had taken the driving test twice before finally getting her license. She'd have to practice a lot more when she got back to school. Her instructor had said that if she wasn't very proficient, she could go back to practice, but only a few times.

...

Beijing, Huo Family

"Xiao Kai, did you find those two girls you mentioned when you went to Jiang City during your summer vacation?"

Mrs. Huo, Guan Hezhi, was unhappy to see Huo Kai about to leave after dinner, so she quickly called out loudly to start a conversation. She had already stood up and was following behind her son.

It's one thing when he's at school, but it's the same when he's back on holiday; he spends every day going out to eat, drink, and have fun with his buddies. Today is New Year's Eve, and he's going out again. Can't he just stay home and be with me?

Seeing that things were not going well, Huo's father, Huo Changsheng, pretended that he had something to do, immediately got up, and quietly went upstairs. He would not get involved in the battle of wits between the mother and son.

"Mom, Manager Hong from the Jiang City branch said she's found me. I'm a high school sophomore at Jiang City Middle School. If she wants to find me, she can just come to Beijing and find the Huo family."

Huo Kai glanced at his watch, looking somewhat absent-minded. As he spoke, he slowly moved towards the door, afraid of being caught by his elderly mother. As soon as he reached the door, he took off running.

"Oh, that's fine too."

"Hey, wait... Xiao Kai, you brat! Old Huo, confiscate your son's cards, car, and everything else."

Guan Hezhi watched her son's retreating figure disappear into the distance, feeling furious. She turned to complain to her husband, but there was no one left in the living room.

Damn it, these two are such scoundrels. One is always busy with company matters, and the other is always busy having fun.

......

On the evening of New Year's Eve, in the military compound, in the study on the second floor of the Lu family's house...

"Father, Seventh Brother's Jingsheng Company is making money too fast, and with so much money. Will it affect our Lu family...?" Lu Zhengde was a little worried.

The Lu family members were all involved in the military and politics. Now, only the seventh son has become a businessman. In just a few years, Jingsheng Company has become Jingsheng Group.

The seventh brother has been in Hong Kong all year and hasn't returned yet.

In the recent financial battle, the seventh brother's venture capital firm earned a staggering one billion in foreign currency from overseas markets. Converted to domestic currency, and combined with his other assets in Jingsheng Company, the seventh brother's personal wealth is approaching ten billion.

"Boss, don't worry, Seventh Brother has his own plans."

"Besides, he's already retired from the military. He's a businessman; isn't it normal for him to make money? And it's all legitimate business; it won't affect the Lu family." Old Master Lu spoke slowly, his voice low and a little hoarse.

Although he couldn't quite understand why his youngest son was so eager to make money and develop his company so rapidly, Old Master Lu believed that he wouldn't do anything reckless.

"Zheng Nan came by just now, and then left again?" Old Master Lu seemed to hear his second daughter's voice saying that she had something to discuss with her granddaughter Lu Yiyang.

"I didn't notice, but it seems my second sister is planning to find a partner for Changxing." Lu Zhengde shook his head and smiled, thinking of his second sister's impulsive personality.

In six months, my nephew will be transferred back to the Beijing Army, and my second sister is eager to get her son married.

Shen Changxing is twenty-three, which is alright; I heard he's fallen for a girl. Right now, it's just that Lao Qi, that bachelor, who doesn't even have a girlfriend.

"Father, could it be that Seventh Brother is really injured somewhere?" Lu Zhengde asked anxiously, as if something had occurred to him.

"Nonsense! You actually believe the nonsense Han Zhanlei is spouting?" Old Master Lu said irritably, glaring at his eldest son.

"Grandpa, Uncle, dinner's ready!" Just then, there was a knock on the study door, and sixteen or seventeen-year-old Lu Zeyang called from outside.

Meanwhile, Old Master Lu and Lu Zhengde had already gotten up and were preparing to leave, so they went over to open the door.

"Alright, here you are, Zeyang. What does your second aunt want with Yiyang?" Grandpa Lu was a little worried about his daughter. Could she be thinking of having her granddaughter, a freshman in college, introduce a female classmate from the humanities university to her grandson?

"Grandpa, I... I only overheard a little bit. My second aunt came to see Sister Yiyang because she wanted her to put on a show for her at the Humanities University. But I don't know who she's putting on the show for. What she said was that she'd play the role of the daughter-in-law that my second aunt has her eye on." Lu Zeyang scratched his head, not wanting to say it, but when he met his grandfather's serious eyes, he had no choice but to speak.

"This is ridiculous!" Old Master Lu said, somewhat angrily.

“Father, wait until the second day of the Lunar New Year when my second sister comes over, then you can ask her.” Lu Zhengde helped his father down the stairs, and Lu Zeyang followed behind them, secretly sticking out his tongue. Had he just said something wrong?

Second Aunt, please don't blame him. He dared not refuse to answer Grandpa's questions.