Zhou Xiaolan now feels that the Hua family is simply her nemesis; just when things were going well, this family suddenly resurfaced.

Since you've already gone to Beijing, why not just stay there and not come back?

“These are all superstitious beliefs. How can holding a baby guarantee a successful pregnancy?” Zhou Xiaolan changed the subject. “Aren’t my dad and older brother here?”

Xie Shengnan said, "My health isn't good enough, I don't have much strength. They can't just sit idle at home. The factory hasn't had a holiday yet. Besides work, they also have to take care of their families. I think if you have some free time, you could come back and lend a hand during the day..."

Zhou Xiaolan felt uneasy. Why did she have to ask that question?

“It’s not that I don’t want to come back. I can’t leave my place alone. Sometimes when I deliver goods, I have to pick them up too,” Zhou Xiaolan said with a dry laugh. “After all, neither Ping An nor I have jobs. If we don’t work hard, we won’t even be able to afford food.”

Xie Shengnan curled her lips. This woman was as unwilling to make any sacrifices as ever. She was using the fact that she was unemployed as an excuse again. Didn't she realize that Ping An used to have a job? If things hadn't gone wrong, she would have been a permanent employee by now.

For the sake of the things on the table, Xie Shengnan suppressed her displeasure and didn't want to bring it up again.

"It's not good for you to always rent houses. If you make some money, you should inquire about whether you can buy a house."

Various work units are currently preparing to build housing, and once those houses are handed over, some people's houses will become vacant.

Hua Xiangyun immediately stopped them, saying, "Let's wait until you get back before we go to exchange the items. They shouldn't run around."

Xie Shengnan said, "The worst thing is that they don't come, so we can have a peaceful New Year."

Xie Shengnan saw us making a scene and wanted to intervene.

Hua Baoguo also thought about the next encounter on the mountain road. "If it's a matter of the elderly and children, we'll go with them. We'll talk about it again next year or the year before when the children are younger."

Xun Liangfen looked at the things under the table, somewhat incredulous; how much money must those things have cost?

Xun Liangfen waved her hand forcefully, and Tian Guihua immediately turned her head and left.

It's about managing both the bride's and groom's families, and how they will treat us in the future. Now that they're asking us to contribute money to help them out, we're willing to do it.

After Tian Guihua finished speaking, she got up. If she stayed any longer, she figured the other family members would come chasing after her as soon as she got to her parents' home.

Changmei turned to Hua Guangzong and asked, "What do you want to eat today? How about we go to a few villages in the distance and see if we can get some things in exchange?"

The two of them discussed it privately, and since neither of them had brothers or was married, they were determined to leak the information.

“You’re working so hard,” Tian Guihua complained, “You have to rent a place, and you have to buy everything you need. It’s so hard to save any money…”

Xiao Yuanwan, carrying the gifts she had packed, finished urging the people who were still listening to the gossip, "They should hurry up and pack their things too. It's warmer now that the sun is out, so they should head out early."

Tian Guihua said, "That's because we heard he was sick. Even if you have to eat and drink your own food, you have to come back and take care of him. You stay home and rest, while you and Ping An work hard inside so that you can take care of them less before."

It's rare for the children to come back, and you haven't been back to your parents' home for a long time either, so you rushed over to deliver New Year's gifts.

After saying that, Tian Guihua wanted to stare at her mother-in-law from outside, but she knew that if she stayed any longer, she would have to ask her something.

Tian Guihua tried her best to keep her lips from turning down. You and He Ping'an had already secretly bought several houses outside the city, and you had no place to stay for a long time.

Tian Guihua's actions were like a knife to the heart of the Zhou family. They were so angry that they stood in the courtyard cursing for almost half a day.

That made the whole courtyard laugh for a whole day. Everyone in the small family was struggling to make ends meet, but the Zhou family was getting worse and worse.

After the cursing is over, the mutual accusations will end. Why did you blame the other for getting up so early? If we keep an eye on things, even though Tian Guihua has so few things, she might mention the He family in everything.

Hua Baoguo: "Yes, let's make do with this for now. We also have a fish outside the tank, right? The seven elders stew it for them. If that's enough, we can ask the neighbors next door for some more."

Zhou Xiaolan's face immediately darkened. "Young Master, what is he saying?"

Anyway, we're both going to leave with almost nothing, so there's no need to let those people keep bothering us.

Hua Guangzong went out for a walk before returning and said, "Ever since the two old men of the Zhou family were frightened and sent back, they didn't come over for the New Year last year. Who knew they would come this year? If they had, the days would have been even more peaceful."

Besides, several children can be quite heavy; if so few of us take turns carrying them, it will only tire us out.

When Xiao Yuanwan saw the look in my eyes, all her trust vanished. At the same time, she felt no pride, realizing that her son still favored his own family.

Besides, this is our great-grandfather, our maternal uncle, so it's only right that we go over and get acquainted with the family..."

They were all her own sons, so Xie Shengnan naturally hoped that He Ping'an would have a bad life. However, those two were usually hard to find, and now that they had run into each other, she quickly brought up the matter.

Why did your family send such a small amount to the He family, and they only gave you a heads-up?

"Once you get on, you'll have to go to various places to collect goods, so I'll be keeping you company there."

Tian Guihua walked slowly, perfectly avoiding the Zhou family.

"When you come back from your father-in-law's house that time, if you bring some vegetables with you, that would be great. It would be nice to exchange some for some here."

Looking at the pile of things under the table, Zhou Dajun's eyes widened. His older sister was becoming more and more reasonable. Now that she was back, she should go back and see their parents.

"What's wrong with walking on mountain paths? When they were older, you still took them with you. You can't spoil big kids too much."

It's been over a year since they left. Besides, we haven't even seen the two older ones, and we haven't been able to take them to see him since the last time.

“But such a long mountain road…” Ever since he learned that his sister was studying metaphysics, Hua Zhiping also knew that there were few taboos. Taking a child through such a desolate mountain wilderness was, after all, too bad.

Zhou Xiaolan, "..."

Zhou Dajun went to the He family's house and learned that Tian Guihua had not left yet.

He didn't even mention how tiring it was to hold a baby; who was it that complained later that their arms were numb?

He Zhiping really wanted to leave. "Mom, even if you and Lijuan go, it's still too much trouble for the eight children. It's such a long mountain road. It would be so convenient for you to carry us."

Watching the figure disappear through the door, Xun Liangfen murmured to herself, "He said he came back to see you, but he didn't even ask how you were feeling or what illness you had... He sent so many things to your place, but he still remembered to bring a little back to his parents' house..."

Tian Guihua has also become like Chang Mei, bringing everything to her parents' home.

We at the Hua family naturally heard Hua Xiangyun's story, and even Xie Shengnan sighed and said, "That family may be united, but they'll fall apart sooner or later."

Okay, I need to go back and talk to my parents about it. That would be absolutely right.