"No way, I'm working independently now, how can I take advantage of you? But I don't want the hassle of renting a place either, how about I stay at home, but how about paying rent?"

"Oh dear, why should I pay rent? If word gets out, how will your third brother and I face anyone? Honestly, if you really feel bad about it, just stay home and keep an eye on Panpan for me."

Zhang Xuemei knew that her brother-in-law wasn't the type to take advantage of others, so she was happy to help him out.

"That's right, buddy, if you live together, you can do more work." Xu Mingwan couldn't help but speak up to persuade them when she saw the three of them looking conflicted.

"Alright, it's settled then, there's still plenty of time! By the way, Xiao Wan, what do you say? Are you going to continue helping out or..."

Xu Minghan secretly wanted his younger sister to continue helping him, and he would pay her more. His main concern was that she might be taken advantage of if she worked alone; he wasn't comfortable with that. His younger sister wasn't bad-looking either, but he was worried about some naive person trying to take advantage of her.

"Third brother, I think I'll pass and just stay with you guys! I can't manage on my own."

Although she envied the guy for earning more money, she also knew her own personality; she couldn't run a business on her own, so she gave up.

"Okay, it's all settled then. Let's work hard for the next few months. Let me see, Chinese New Year is on February 8th this year, and it's September 21st now, so we can work for about four more months and try to earn as much money as possible to go home for the New Year."

Xu Minghan thought that now that they didn't have to do breakfast business anymore, they could increase the quantity at the night market in the evening and try to make up for the price difference.

Now that breakfast is no longer available, the noodle stall at lunchtime can earn about 400 yuan a day. If we prepare more braised food at dinner, we should be able to earn 800 yuan.

Based on the current profits, we should have 120,000 by the end of the year! Adding the 40,000 we saved earlier, we'll have 160,000 in total.

After deducting debt repayments and living expenses, and giving Xiaowan and the others their wages and bonuses, they can definitely save 100,000 yuan.

It's 1996 now, and 100,000 yuan still has a lot of purchasing power. Who knows, maybe we can really buy another house, just like my wife said, and life will be really wonderful.

"What are you doing! Laughing to yourself like that." Zhang Xuemei gave her husband a hard shove. It was really scary; he started laughing as he spoke.

"Third brother, you're too scary. You suddenly went silent and then started grinning like an idiot." Xu Mingjiang couldn't help but complain. Luckily, they were brothers, or he would have really wanted to punch him.

"You're the one grinning like an idiot! I was just thinking of making my parents happy when I go home for the New Year, and I'm not even allowed to smile?" Xu Minghan quickly tried to make amends.

"That's fine. Hey, Third Brother, I've thought it through. I'll deposit all my salary with you first, and you can give it to me all at once before the New Year. That way it'll seem like a lot." Xu Mingjiang figured he didn't spend much money anyway, and his salary for the first two months was enough. He'd just deposit the rest with his Third Brother.

"Sure, I'll calculate the interest for you," Zhang Xuemei said with a smile. It's a good thing that the young man knows how to save money. Who knows, he might be able to buy a house ahead of time and have the capital to get married. Although his looks are also a big asset, haha.

"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law. I now realize that coming to Tianshui City was the most important decision I ever made, haha."

"Hmph, you didn't want to come back then!"

"Hehe, I didn't know! Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are so kind, always thinking of us." Xu Mingjiang smiled ingratiatingly.

...

Autumn passed and winter came. Several more months passed, and soon it was the end of the year.

Xu Minghan and his group wanted to make as much money as possible during the last wave before the New Year, so they worked extra hard these past few days.

"It's already the 25th of the lunar calendar this year. When will the night market close? I haven't even had time to buy any New Year's goods yet! It's hard to buy anything with a child in tow, and I can't carry it all back."

Since everyone was home this morning, Zhang Xuemei wanted to ask about the specific time she would be home.

"The night market said they'd close on the 27th of the lunar year, and we'd only be there for two more days before heading back. But they're already urging us to pay the stall fee for next year. I've already paid for a year, and I'm still stuck with the same spot."

Xu Minghan figured he had to hand it in anyway, so the sooner he did, the better the position would remain his.

"Let's go shopping for New Year's goods together that day! And then go back on the 29th?" Zhang Xuemei was planning in her mind what to buy to take back. She didn't know when her older brother and sister-in-law would go back, so she could buy some things for them to take back then.

"Okay, I'll buy a new outfit for each of my parents, and of course, for my parents-in-law too. We'll also get a new outfit for ourselves, and the kids in the family will need one as well."

As for New Year's goods, I don't know if my parents have bought them yet. Oh well, I won't buy sunflower seeds and peanuts; they're too heavy to carry.

Buy some candies the kids like, and the rest is up to you.

Actually, they don't have a car now, so it's not convenient for them to buy anything and bring it back. It's better for them to just buy it in town and then take the village's tricycle back.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the festive atmosphere on the streets grows stronger. Every household begins preparing for the holiday, and children run around laughing in the streets with candy in their hands. These are probably the happiest days for them.

On the morning of the 27th of the lunar calendar, Xu Minghan and his friends slept until around nine o'clock, a rare treat, making it a truly relaxing and enjoyable day.

"Get up now, we still need to buy clothes later!" Zhang Xuemei stood by the bed and pushed her husband hard.

"Get up, get up right away, I need to go to the bank to withdraw money later! I expect there will be a long queue." As the year draws to a close, banks become busy, with long queues of people withdrawing and depositing money, making it even more bustling than a vegetable market.

"Waiting for you? I've already finished." Zhang Xuemei rolled her eyes at him. She knew the bank would be crowded today, so she went to queue up early to withdraw the money she owed for the year and the money she was going to give to her parents. She also kept two thousand yuan for spending money on hand, just in case.

Xu Minghan chuckled and praised, "My wife, you were right! I'll get up now. By the way, where are Xiao Jiang and Xiao Wan? Are they up yet?"

"Xiao Wan got up early and is playing with the two kids outside! Xiao Jiang, like you, is still lazing in bed!"

Xu Minghan immediately got up, put on his clothes and pants, went to the bathroom to wipe himself down a couple of times, took out the steaming buns from the pot and ate them, and also pulled his younger brother up.

Zhang Xuemei was already counting the red envelopes in the living room, and she also wrote a mark in the corner. Although she would still check again after giving out the money, she felt more at ease after making a mark.

"Is Xiaowan's child asleep?" Zhang Xuemei saw her sister-in-law carrying the child in, and could tell from the light steps that the child was asleep.

"Yeah, I fell asleep while I was sunbathing."

"Put it on the bed! Then hurry up and come out to divide the money." Then he turned to look at his eldest daughter, who was standing obediently, and took out a piece of candy from his pocket and handed it to her.

"Panpan, be a good girl, stay inside and watch your little sister for Mommy, okay?"

Xu Panpan smiled and took the candy, popped it into her mouth, and then followed her aunt into the room.