Zhang Miao was too embarrassed to accept the things Hua Qingyang offered, saying, "This won't do. You are guests, how can we start working without coming inside? Let's go inside and warm up first."

Hua Qingyi said, "There's not much work to do. The Lunar New Year is almost here, so let's get it done quickly. What kind of heavy work is this? Don't be shy with me, we're not strangers."

Hua Kai took everything from Hua Qingyang's hands: "Go and help your older brother with the work."

At this moment, Zhang Miao's mother also heard the noise and came out: "Isn't this Hua Kai? You all hurry inside. There's no way for guests to work here. Come inside quickly."

Hua Qingyi and Hua Qingyang addressed Zhang's mother as "Auntie," and then Hua Qingyi said, "Auntie, please don't be so polite. We're all family here. Please come in, it'll be over in a bit."

Hua Kai also said, "Auntie, Zhang Miao and I are like sisters, so please don't be so polite. Let's hurry up and take the things inside."

While helping Huakai carry the things, Zhang's mother kept saying, "Well, what can I say? Look at you, you just came, why did we have to buy so many things? You come and start working right away, what am I supposed to say, I don't even know what to say anymore."

Hua Kai smiled and said, "If we don't know what to say, we won't say anything. We're all family."

Upon entering the house, Zhang Miao's younger sister, hearing that guests had arrived, helped her father sit up against the wall. Then, she got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and politely greeted Hua Kai as "sister."

Hua Kai smiled and agreed, giving the little girl the snacks she had bought: "Zhang Yan, right? You're just as pretty as your sister. These are for you."

Zhang Yan didn't dare to accept it and looked at her mother.

Mother Zhang smiled and said, "Keep it. We owe your sister Huakai too much, so don't be so sentimental."

Hua Kai greeted Zhang's father on the kang (a heated brick bed) and asked about his health.

After exchanging pleasantries, Hua Kai opened all the bags she had brought and said to Zhang's mother, "Auntie, I bought mostly food. It's almost Chinese New Year, so you won't have to buy any more. There are ribs, meat, pig's trotters, and some beef. I also bought some vegetables, like celery, spinach, and cucumbers. See how to store them. There are also some pieces of cloth. See what you can make with them."

Looking at those things, Zhang's mother's eyes suddenly reddened: "In recent years, after your uncle got sick, we rarely have relatives visiting, let alone anyone bringing anything for the New Year. This really makes me..." As she spoke, Zhang's mother couldn't continue and began to wipe away her tears.

Hua Kai was terrified of this scene, so she quickly took Zhang's mother's arm and said, "Auntie, aren't we just like relatives? We don't have many relatives, so let's treat each other like relatives from now on, okay?"

Zhang's mother nodded repeatedly: "Then what else could I possibly disagree with? I really am grateful to you and your family."

Hua Kai smiled and said, "No need to thank me. We've all been poor people, and we all hope that things will get better for us."

Zhang's mother said, "You are such a sensible child." Then she turned to Zhang Miao and said, "Miao Miao, go out and help your brother Qingyi. What kind of impression is it to have the guests working outside while everyone else stays inside?"

Zhang Miao agreed and quickly went out.

Looking at Huakai, Zhang's father was also grateful: "Huakai, I really don't know what to say. Before, when I was lying in bed, I had no hope because I felt that I would just be a burden to my wife and children, just waiting to die. But seeing that Miaomiao can earn money, I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I didn't let my child ruin her future. When Miaomiao came back from vacation, she talked about us opening a snack bar in the city. She also said that I could help with skewers in my wheelchair. Suddenly, I felt that I had a future. These are all the hopes you have given us. Otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to go on living."

As he spoke, Zhang's father's eyes also reddened.

Hua Kai said to Zhang's father, "Uncle, Zhang Miao and I are good friends. It's no trouble for me to help with some ideas. Of course, I also hope that your family is doing well, so that Zhang Miao can take the college entrance exam with me."

Mr. Zhang looked at Hua Kai with loving eyes: "You are such a kind child. If it were someone else, they would just be doing well and that would be enough. Classmates will go their separate ways in the future. How could you think of your friends like this? Speaking of which, the reason our family can make money is all because of your recipes and your ideas. If you let your own family members do these things, wouldn't you be the ones making money?"

Hua Kai said, "My parents both have their own things to do, and so does my brother, so our family really doesn't need this formula. It's better to give it to someone who needs it than keep it, right?"

Mr. Zhang took a deep breath: "So you are kind-hearted. Zhang Miao is lucky to have met you, otherwise she really wouldn't have been able to continue her schooling."

Zhang Yan stood beside Hua Kai and tugged at her sleeve: "Sister Hua Kai, my dad said that if it weren't for your help, I might not have been able to go to school in the future."

Hua Kai patted Zhang Yan's hair: "Then you must study hard. Look at me and your sister, we both studied hard so we could become friends and help each other in high school, right?"

Zhang Yan nodded: "Yes, Sister Huakai, I will definitely study hard."

Hua Kai smiled and said, "If you do well in your studies in the future, I'll give you pretty clothes."

Zhang Yan was still a young girl, and she was happy at this moment: "Thank you, Sister Huakai."

Zhang's father looked at Zhang Yan and scolded her, "How have your parents been teaching you?"

Zhang Yan lowered her head and said to Hua Kai, "Sister Hua Kai, I don't want clothes."

Hua Kai said to Zhang's father, "Uncle Zhang, children need encouragement. My brother did some work today, and I'll reward him when I get back. Children will be more motivated if they are rewarded. I've also started a clothing factory in the provincial capital with a partner, so we really need more clothes in the future. Don't worry about it."

Just then, Zhang Miao came in to pour water for Hua Qingyi. When he heard Hua Kai say that she had opened another clothing factory, he was extremely surprised: "Hua Kai, you opened another clothing factory? In the provincial capital?"

Hua Kai smiled and said, "This was an accident, but the partner is still Ye Yifan."

Zhang Miao said, "Ye Yifan is truly your benefactor; he's been so good to you."

Hua Kai said, "Then shouldn't I help him make money too?"

Zhang Miao said, "That's true. How did we get so caught up in this? I need to get some water for Brother Qingyi." With that, he poured two glasses of water and took them out.

Hua Kai said to Zhang's parents, "Then I'll go out and see if I can help."

Mr. Zhang couldn't come out, so Mrs. Zhang followed and said, "You don't need to lift a finger. I already feel bad that your brother and younger brother are helping with the work."

As they went out, Hua Kai saw that her older brother had already chopped more than half of the wood, while her younger brother was neatly stacking the wood in piles. Everyone in the family was very organized and orderly when they worked.

Looking at Hua Qingyi, Zhang's mother felt a fondness for him, thinking how wonderful it would be if her daughter could find such a reliable and capable young man to be her husband in the future.

She handed him a towel, saying, "Child, wipe your face and rest for a while."