The bride's family doesn't hold a banquet; only close relatives eat there. Since everyone is from the same village, once the wedding party leaves, everyone else goes to the Wang family's house to give gifts and sit at the banquet.

So the courtyard quickly quieted down. There was no need to cook here, as Wang Shengli's family had arranged to send over two tables of food. This was an unwritten rule in the village; everyone was just looking for convenience.

Besides the Hua family, the remaining guests included several members of Huo Yanping's maternal family who had come to escort the bride.

Hua Wanhe and Huo Yanping invited Huo Yanping's family members to sit and talk in the west room, while the rest of the people in the east room were all from the Hua family.

Sitting inside, with nothing much to do, no one knew what to say. Of course, Hua Kai also felt that it was because she and her mother were there that they were interrupting their conversation; otherwise, these people could at least gossip about their own family.

However, Hua Kai didn't want to leave. She sat there eating sunflower seeds. Since sitting there eating and drinking would only annoy others, why not do it herself?

Zheng Shuzhen felt a headache coming on as she looked at the blooming flowers, so she went to lie down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Hua Chongzhi was also preoccupied today. He didn't know what was wrong, but he just felt a strange sensation.

While eating melon seeds, Hua Kai chatted with Hua Zhongzhi: "Grandpa, my brother will be able to go to school next year. He'll be enrolled in adult education and will be able to take the college entrance exam. Then my brother and I will both be college students, and you'll have more face in this village."

Her intention was clearly to sow discord between Hua Zhongzhi and Zheng Shuzhen. Although she didn't want any particular outcome, she just wanted to make them unhappy so that she could be happy.

Hua Zhongzhi was still happy to hear this. After all, they were his own grandson and granddaughter, and it was indeed something to be proud of: "Your brother can really go to university?"

Hua Qingyi said, "Grandpa, it's true, I've inquired about it. I'm studying now. I work with my sister in interior design in the city, and I study whenever I have free time. Next year, I plan to take the continuing education exam for civil engineering. Although this university isn't as prestigious as the regular university my sister attends, it will still fulfill my dream."

As Hua Chongzhi listened to Hua Qingyi speak, he noticed how much his grandson had changed. He seemed to have never paid attention to his grandson before, but now, looking at his tone and demeanor, Hua Chongzhi felt a jolt in his heart. He suddenly realized that he had indeed missed something.

He looked at his handsome and well-mannered grandson and asked, "You didn't even finish junior high school, are you really sure you can get in?"

Hua Qingyi said, "I may not pass the exam the first time, but I will persevere and take the exam while earning money. I believe that hard work will pay off."

Hua Zhongzhi nodded: "Good, it's good that you're determined. You must work hard and bring honor to our Hua family."

Gu Lanyan understood her daughter's meaning and smiled at Hua Zhongzhi, saying, "Father, don't worry, Kaikai is sure to get into university. She got first place in the grade in the midterm exam, 30 points higher than the second place. The teacher said she's guaranteed to get into university. Qingyi's is a bit difficult, but adult education is easier. With Kaikai's help, it won't be hard for him. Qingyang isn't confident about getting into high school, so we plan to get into a vocational school first, and then see how things develop later. Anyway, all three children have plans, so Father can rest assured and wait to be proud of his grandchildren in the future."

The room was eerily quiet after these words, because Gu Lanyan and her three children used to be too afraid to speak, let alone go to school; they couldn't even get enough to eat. Now, the change was too great.

Zheng Shuzhen couldn't stay still any longer. She didn't want to hear any of this, but plugging her ears was no use. Gu Lanyan's voice seemed to have a penetrating power, and she still heard it all. Envy, jealousy, and hatred welled up inside her.

She sat up and said to Huashuang and Hualu, "You two sisters should try your best, get into high school and then university, so that your grandfather and I can have some pride."

Hua Shuang wasn't confident. She was far from getting the required score last year, and even though she was repeating the year, her chances weren't very high. So she didn't dare to answer the question and looked down at her hands.

Hua Lu spoke up: "Grandma, don't worry, I promise I'll get into nursing school. I'll become a doctor in the future, so you and Grandpa can come to me if you get sick."

Hua Kai almost burst out laughing. This child is really a bit dim-witted. Who would curse their elders like that? But this child is also innocent. If they were more cunning, they wouldn't say such a thing.

Hearing her little girl's words, Wang Min realized she had made a mistake and slapped Hua Lu on the back: "Are you stupid? What are you saying?"

Then he said to Zheng Shuzhen, "Mother, the child is young and speaks without thinking, but his heart is good."

Zheng Shuzhen was so angry that she coughed. Why couldn't any of her grandchildren defeat Hua Kai and his group?

Hua Zhongzhi looked at the children, and the comparison made all the difference. Could a nursing school compare to a university? He suddenly felt a lot more burdened today.

Hua Kai timely advised Hua Zhongzhi, "Grandpa, don't think so much. We are all your own grandchildren. If we become successful, wouldn't we be filial to you?"

The more intimately she spoke to Hua Zhongzhi, the angrier Zheng Shuzhen became: "Your grandfather has many grandchildren, and many of them will be filial to him in the future."

Hua Kai laughed and said, "Grandma, look at you, always worrying. Isn't it a good thing that we're all being filial to Grandpa? Why should we care about who's more or less? Whoever is more capable should make the old man happier. By the way, you've all heard about Captain Ye and me opening a factory, right? We weren't sure about many things before, so we didn't tell you. But now it's basically confirmed that we'll open next month. When it opens, you and Grandpa can come and see for yourselves. See if your granddaughter has brought you honor. I'm probably the first person from our village to open a factory in the city, right?"

Zheng Shuzhen clutched her chest, her lips turning pale; she didn't want to hear it.

But Hua Zhongzhi is different. He is very interested in this. He had wanted to ask Hua Wanjiang about it before, but he has been busy with Hua Lin's wedding these past few days. And to be honest, he doesn't really take it that seriously.

At this moment, he quickly asked Huakai, "Kaikai, can this factory really be opened?"

“Yes, sir, I’ll take you to see it when it opens,” Hua Kai said.

Zheng Shuzhen couldn't stand it anymore: "If you're so capable, why can't you get Captain Ye to help your uncle and the others too?"

Hua Kai said to Zheng Shuzhen, "I didn't even ask Captain Ye to help my parents, so why should I ask him to help my uncle? Captain Ye isn't a philanthropist; he's cooperating with me because he sees my abilities, not to give me a handout. My brother is studying in the city while also looking for opportunities on his own. My parents work hard going to the market; there's no such thing as a free lunch, so everyone has to work hard. Didn't I mention many ways to make money before? A lot of people in the village went to the market, and they all seem to be doing well. So why aren't my uncle and the others working hard?"

These words left Zheng Shuzhen completely speechless, because it was indeed the case, so she had no words to say even if she wanted to force the issue.

Just then, the Wang family delivered vegetables, and the people inside didn't say anything, but their gazes toward Hua Kai were filled with malice.