Zou Yu and the other person had also finished tidying up their clothes and were ready to go back.

"By the way, he's been home these past few days, so don't look for me, lest someone notice something."

"As soon as he leaves, go and find out what's wrong with him, so I can get some money back too."

Zou Yu carefully instructed Xu Yaoping, fearing that he might be overcome by lust and come to her.

Moreover, she had thought it through and realized that her affair with Xu Yaoping couldn't drag on for too long, or it would be discovered sooner or later, and then things would be difficult to handle.

She hoped that Xu Weiming could provide some useful leverage so that she could take the initiative.

"I know, I know. For our future happiness, I can endure it." Xu Yaoping kissed Zou Yu one last time, then walked home under the cover of night.

Zou Yu wiped her face and hurried home.

Xu Weiming was playing cards tonight, so no one was home. She could hurry home to boil some hot water to wipe herself down and avoid being discovered.

Time flies. Zhang Xuemei felt like she was basking in the sun every day when the sixth day of the lunar new year arrived, and it was time to go back to Tianshui City tomorrow.

"We should be going back tomorrow. Xiaowan, have you packed your things yet?" Zhang Xuemei had already put all the children's things into a bag in the house, so that it would be convenient to use them on the way.

"It's all packed up already, Third Sister-in-law. Do you need me to help you pack?" Xu Mingwan was sitting under the stove watching over her roasted sweet potatoes, lest her little brother accidentally eat them.

"No need, I've already taken care of the two children's things. Your third brother will handle the others."

"Everything has been prepared for you: dried bamboo shoots, sweet potato starch, sweet potato noodles, dried gourd, some maltose, and free-range eggs. Is there anything else you're missing?"

Granny Liu pointed to a pile of things under the square table and asked, "It's too much trouble to make a round trip, so bring everything you can!"

Zhang Xuemei glanced at the pile of things and replied with a smile, "Mom, that's enough. We can't take any more with us, and we still have two children to take care of!"

"That's right, Mom, you should keep them at home and not give them to anyone else. The bayberries will be ripe in June, right? I'll be coming back then!"

Xu Mingwan clung to her mother's arm and said sweetly that she looked forward to the ripening of bayberries every year and would take leave to come back and eat them! She could easily eat three or four pounds in one go.

Granny Liu poked her youngest daughter's head in annoyance, "I still kept it for you, but you're the only one thinking about it. Your father will be angry if he hears this."

"That's just how Dad is, you can appease him by giving him a red envelope during Chinese New Year, right?"

Xu Mingwan knew her father all too well; he was a money-grubber, but he didn't spend his money, he just saved it, and he kept it with his mother, not even knowing how much it was.

"Alright, alright, now that everything's done, get some rest! We have to get up early tomorrow!"

Granny Liu felt quite sad at the thought of them leaving tomorrow. Every year, it's only lively for a few days during the New Year, and then it gets quiet and deserted.

You might say there are still two families, the eldest and the second eldest, but that's different too. They don't eat from the same pot anymore, so it's not lively.

The next day, the group got up very early in order to catch the earliest bus.

"Mom and Dad, we're leaving now! You should go back! The car will be here soon." Xu Minghan urged the elderly couple to go back, not to wait with them at the intersection. It would be so much more comfortable for them to warm themselves by the fire at home!

"It's alright, it won't get that cold. Third son, you'd better work hard this year, Dad's still looking forward to moving into the new house!"

Old Xu was really concerned; he had been thinking about it his whole life. He had given up hope, but unexpectedly, his third son gave him hope again, so he had to urge him on.

Xu Minghan nodded heavily, "Dad, don't worry! It will be soon, in just two more years."

He already has a plan in mind: once he earns money this year, he will build a new house so that his parents can live comfortably.

Granny Liu glared at the old man, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted her third son, "Don't listen to your father. Take it slow and don't overwork yourself."

She had heard from Xiao Wan that although setting up a stall could make money, it was also tiring. They worked non-stop and didn't dare to rest for a single day, for fear that their bodies couldn't take it.

"Mom, I know what I'm doing. Okay, the car's here, we're leaving now. You and Dad, please take good care of yourselves at home."

"Don't worry about us, let's go!"

...

Just like on their way back, Xu Minghan and his companions took several different buses before finally arriving home in Tianshui City.

"Finally home, I'm exhausted." Xu Mingjiang put down his things and collapsed onto the bed.

"Ugh, buddy, it's covered in dust. Aren't you disgusted by the dirt?" Xu Mingwan looked at Xu Mingjiang with disdain.

"Anyway, I'm not clean, so I don't mind." Xu Mingjiang didn't want to move once he lay down, regardless of whether he was dirty or not.

"Alright, stop joking around. Hurry up and get up and clean the house. We need to prepare for setting up our stall tomorrow this afternoon!"

Xu Minghan put all his things in the room first, and then he and his younger siblings cleaned the whole house together. Although they hadn't lived there for only ten days or so, they still felt at ease after cleaning it up.

"I'll just throw the sheets I'm using into the washing machine. I'll wash them and hang them out to dry while the sun is out today."

Xu Minghan bought a ground-floor apartment without a balcony, so he could only hang clothes to dry on a bamboo pole in the open space in front of the door. Fortunately, the space was large enough.

After a quick bite at noon, Xu Minghan and his underlings hurriedly headed to the frozen food market to buy more goods.

Xu Minghan rode a small tricycle, while Xu Mingjiang sat on a small stool inside.

"Xiao Jiang, didn't we agree that you'd start your own business after the New Year? Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

Xu Mingjiang spread his hands and said helplessly, "Third Brother, I follow you to the stall every day, how can I have the time to find out these things! Why don't you give me a few days off, and I'll go and find out?"

"I do have a place in mind, but it's not open yet! Would you like us to go check it out this afternoon?"

What Xu Minghan didn't say was that he had already reserved a stall there, and he would be useful regardless of whether his underlings came later.

Xu Mingjiang became interested after hearing this, "Third Brother, where are you talking about?"

“Isn’t there a new food street planned to open in the university town? I think that’s a good place, but there’s no business during winter and summer vacations, so we need to find another location.”

Xu Mingjiang knew this place was a good fit after a little thought, so he immediately made the decision, "Third Brother, why don't we go over there now and take a look? We can get the goods when we get back! We have time, no problem."

Xu Minghan could tell from his younger brother's expression that he was itching to get his hands on the ride, so he immediately changed his route and rode towards the university town.

The two took turns riding, and they arrived in about twenty minutes.

"Look, this is the street we're on now. See? The numbers are all marked on the ground, one number for each location, all arranged in order."