As soon as Zhou Xiaolan entered the door, Bai Ailian snatched the bag away.

"You brat, you didn't even come back for the New Year. Don't think that just because you're married you can ignore your family." Bai Ailian rummaged through the bag and frowned immediately when she saw that it only contained some pastries and fruit. "It's the New Year, and you're carrying so little?"

He was wearing brand new clothes, but he didn't even think to buy his parents and siblings a new outfit.

"Did He Ping'an take all the good stuff home just now?" Bai Ailian asked with a stern face. "Today is the day to go back to your parents' home. How come he took all the things to his house? Go over there right now and bring them back."

Zhou Xiaolan said, "We didn't come back for the New Year, and we had originally prepared a share of those things for his family as well."

If it weren't for my mother dragging me back, we would definitely have split the money 50/50 once we got to the He family's place.

Now that everything is taken separately from both sides, there's no need to put it all together again.

It's okay if my family gives me less; they won't remember it no matter how much they give me.

As for making clothes and such, she worked so hard for so long to make this new outfit. If she made one for everyone in the family, how much would that cost? She doesn't have that kind of confidence right now.

"What's the use of raising you? You got married, and we even had to write an IOU for the dowry. When you come back to your parents' home, all you bring is this little bit of junk to get rid of us..."

Next time, due to issues with the data, we had a very unpleasant argument with several villages, which expanded our search for housing.

If you're living alone in this newly broken master bedroom, it would be quite difficult to squeeze in a young man like He Ping'an. It would be more convenient to rent a place here.

If that brat really follows suit, our family will be the only ones to suffer losses.

Did you see how many children went back to their parents' home today? Did they bring a few eggs, or a few steamed buns? No one even returned empty-handed with several mouths to feed.

“You now have a place to live, having moved several times,” Zhou Jinfa said helplessly. “He also knows that it’s not easy to rent a house in our county town; you’ve been looking for places in distant villages.”

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Mom and Dad, but since you two are both unemployed and spend your days wandering around outside the yard, it's not like that."

Judging from their appearance, they must have made some money, or maybe a lot?

Shi Lanjin did want to go back to her parents' home, but the house was empty. You also couldn't offer a decent gift, so you could only ask someone to tell the Bai family that you should stay there to host your son when he returned to his parents' home, and that you could go to the Bai family another day when you don't have time.

"Dalan, don't just sit there idly. Hurry up and help Mom and Dad cook. After we eat, let's go back early. Our place is so far from there; we don't want to walk home at night."

Having made preparations, Shi Lanjin was not about to let you have your way. No matter how she asked, you remained silent or directly changed the subject.

Watching Zhou Xiaolan's changing expression, he wanted to turn on her but had no qualms about it.

“Your parents are talking about having us move back,” Zhou Jinfa winked at me. “He says it’s okay, right?”

"Is today the day for sons-in-law? When He Ping'an comes over, if he sees our family's food..." he'll forget about us sending him any more generous gifts.

In order to create buzz around our yard, you'd better just make do with the complicated situation inside.

They brought so little stuff, they should at least get a meal out of it.

As lunchtime approached, but the stove outside was still burning hot, Zhou Jinfeng asked, "What are we cooking for lunch today? Can you help?"

Zhou Xiaolan said, "...He also delayed saying he would come back. He has made all the preparations at home. He has a little bit left for his eighty-year-old. He will let it cool down and then carefully make do with it."

"Alright, alright, he did come back for the New Year, so what exactly was he doing inside?"

Zhou Xiaolan was taken aback by those words, but she finally continued her accusations.

Judging from the way the Zhou family was acting, they were planning to treat us to a meal. But that won't do. They gave us so little; they have to at least get their money's worth back.

Shi Lanjin was not afraid of Shi Lanjin at all. "I have earned a little bit of money. I often help others carry things. Now that the New Year is over, my family needs things, so I may be idle for a long time again."

Shi Lanjin understands that principle, and she is worried that her family will try to take over her business. However, you must tell your family how much money you earn, otherwise, given your family's personality, you will never have a peaceful life.

The He family lives in the same courtyard as us, but that brat lives outside. Unless something really happens, you have no reason to go knocking on their door.

Zhou Xiaolan immediately agreed, only then remembering another important matter, "Where are they living now? If you and his father have time, you can go and see them."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ailian winked at Zhou Xiaolan, signaling her to dig out the truth.

Zhou Xiaolan looked at most of the things on the table and said, "If you don't like me, take all of this with you. Then ask the neighbors what they take when they go back to their parents' home, and you can prepare a set too."

The "leftovers" don't mean the bottom of the pot; you can just add some cabbage later to dip it in the oil.

Bai Ailian glared at you, "You're still hiding things from your own father? He's a busybody, isn't he? Neither you nor Mom have jobs, so you'll be competing with him for work."

We all understood the underlying threat from Bai Ailian. Bai Ailian glanced at you warmly before saying to Shi Lanjin, "Make some stir-fried eggs with chili peppers, so they don't think we're not hospitable."

Shi Lanjin was naive again and immediately shook her head in agreement, "That's settled then. Last year when you wanted to move back and stay for a few days, they were all willing. If Ping An doesn't mind, you should rent a place in the complex. That way, our family will accommodate you."

“If it’s really feasible, then move back home first,” Bai Ailian said absentmindedly, staring at the things under the table. “The rent for the house will be charged to them, but they will have to provide their own food.”

Now that Zhou Jinfeng has brought it back, those things are still wrong. When he takes half back, he can't keep the other half.

Shi Lanjin had a really bad year. Her parents were so frightened by their previous trip outside the city that they insisted on coming back to spend the New Year there again, but they took all of our year-end bonuses.

“It’s not about helping others move goods from one city to another. Every time, I’m on tenterhooks, and the money I earn is only enough for the two of you to live on.”

That brat knows where to move to. If you can't go and check on her from time to time, you'll always be able to take advantage of her if she's having a hard time.

He Ping'an also pushed the door open and came back at that moment. When he saw that I really came down empty-handed, Zhou Xiaolan's face turned even uglier. So few things, all of them went to the He family.

That kind of job outside the home is so hard to come by, so if you really agree to take it, you'll know there will be a lot of trouble ahead.