Zheng Jixian hadn't really looked closely at the other people in the room, but after the old lady spoke up, he finally glanced at them.

It was Zhang Shouyi! He quickly got down from the ground. "So the leader was here. I didn't notice him earlier. Please forgive me."

"No need to be so polite, Mr. Zheng." Zhang Shouyi's face remained expressionless.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jixian's wife and Zheng Wenhui were excited. This was the leader? How could he be so young? They had never actually seen a picture of Zhang Shouyi before.

The five children on the kang (a heated brick bed) found it all too boring.

The eldest son stood up and held out his hand to Zhang Shouyi, saying, "Dad, let's go out and play."

Zhang Shouyi stood up and walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "It's too cold outside. Your mother won't let you go out."

The eldest son hugged Zhang Shouyi's neck and looked at Zhang Hongmei, saying, "Mom, let's go out and play."

"No, you must sit quietly next to the Ancestor and keep him company."

The old lady couldn't stand Zhang Hongmei refusing the younger ones, so she immediately stood up, walked to the side of the kang cabinet, opened it, took out a wooden box, about the size of a pastry box, and placed it on the kang.

"Zhenye, come here. There are fun things here with the old man, we won't go outside."

The three younger ones were faster than the older one and surrounded the box.

Zhang Shouyi patted his son's bottom and said, "Go down and play with your brothers."

Zheng Jixian and his family of three then took a closer look at the three figures on the kang (a heated brick bed) that looked remarkably like Zhang Shouyi.

Zheng Jixian looked at Zhang Hongmei and suddenly remembered that this was the girl Jingze had asked him to take on as a disciple. In fact, he had indeed considered taking on a disciple back then, but he had refused because his wife and granddaughter disagreed.

The more I look at her, the more I feel that this girl hasn't changed at all.

When Zhang Hongmei saw Zheng Jixian looking at her, she smiled. Given her current status, she didn't need to greet people she didn't like, but she still had to maintain appearances.

"Zhang Hongmei, this is Zheng Wenhui. You haven't changed at all. When did you come back from abroad?"

"Miss Zheng has changed. I couldn't believe my eyes at first. She came back the year before last."

Zheng Wenhui's face turned red with anger after hearing Zhang Hongmei's words.

I know I'm getting old. Living with that kind of person every day, how could I not worry? How could I not look old? I got divorced, finally free from that guy. From now on, I will definitely take better care of myself.

The atmosphere in the room was a little awkward. Zheng Jixian stood up and asked somewhat unnaturally, "Auntie, hasn't Jingze come back this year?"

"That's right! He hasn't spent the New Year with this old woman for several years. Now we'll just pretend he doesn't exist. What an unfilial son."

Zheng Jixian's wife chimed in, "Auntie, a man should prioritize his career."

The old lady simply nodded. How could she not know why this family of three had come? They weren't young girls anymore. Did they still have designs on her future?

"Grandma, we haven't seen each other since Brother Jingze graduated. Do you have his contact information? I'd like to call him."

"No need. You can meet again when he comes back in the future, if fate allows," the old lady said very bluntly.

The Zheng family left, looking rather bored. Hu Aifen was still a little confused. From what they were saying, this girl must be Jingze's childhood sweetheart; it would be wonderful if they could become a couple.

"Grandma, what's wrong?"

"Aifen, don't ruin Jingze's life. This woman is obviously not a girl. I will absolutely not agree to this."

"Grandma!" Hu Aifen was startled. She hadn't paid any attention at all, but if her grandmother said that, then it must be true?

"Grandma, I won't do it again next time."

"Okay, now hurry up and put the table on the kang (heated brick bed), so my babies don't go hungry."

The four little ones got excited as soon as they saw the table. They knew that a table meant there would be something delicious to eat.

The little incident just now is what Hu Aifen is still holding a grudge about, but Lao San will be able to heal her soon.

After lunch, the family went to Er Ya's house. The car had only been driving for a short while when all four children fell asleep.

"Hongmei, let's take the child home first."

"Alright, let's take Jinsong with us then."

Aunt Li came out carrying a quilt, and only took the baby inside after wrapping him up properly.

"Auntie, shall we wait until my little brother wakes up before going to Third Uncle's house?"

"What's wrong?"

“The younger brothers will be unhappy when they wake up.”

“Jinsong, let’s go by ourselves. Are you unhappy? When you grow up, there will be many more unhappy things.”

Li Cuihua saw the three people getting off the bus and asked, "Where are the children?"

"I had lunch at my great-grandmother's house and was planning to come here, but they fell asleep as soon as I got in the car, so I took them back."

Although Li Cuihua was quite disappointed not to see the children, she was also worried that they might catch a cold.

Shi Tou and San Ya are both on holiday at home. Since Zhang Hongmei lives in the compound, they can only call her; they can't go there in person because it's too much trouble.

"How about it?"

"Sister Hongmei, can't you see how strong I am?"

"Hmm, a bit, could it be that the food there was too good and you came back with a lot of extra weight?"

"Nonsense, these are muscles, muscles!"

"Second Uncle, where's the chicken?"

Liu Jingsong asked Shi Tou in a daze.

Everyone in the family burst into laughter. Stone slumped into a chair, dejected. This must be what Sanya meant by a terrible teammate.

“Sister Hongmei, I admire you so much. You are a legend at the Capital University. You don’t know, my classmates from the Economics Department in our dormitory talk about you all the time when they come back, and they all admire you very much.”

"Really? Am I that famous?"

"Of course! The learning newspaper, workbooks, and supplementary materials all list you as the honorary editor-in-chief."

"Is that even possible? I've already graduated."

"Sister Hongmei, you don't know, the economics students have been discussing privately and want to sign a petition to the school, hoping to invite you back to give lectures."

Zhang Hongmei laughed after hearing this. "I don't have that ability."

Cheng Ping'an especially liked Liu Jingsong, and went to play in the yard with Liu Pengfei and the other two children.

"Brother Zhang, aren't our four children being spoiled too much?"

Zhang Shouyi just smiled, thinking to himself, "You can listen to other people's opinions when it comes to your children's issues?"

"No, I have to go back and talk to Grandpa and Dad, and ask them to go for a walk in the yard every day."

"What are you doing?" Li Cuihua glared at Zhang Hongmei.

“Now that Jinsong is older, Pengfei has to take him to school every day, even when it’s cold. Ping’an also goes out every morning.”

The four of them have been playing in the living room the whole time and haven't gotten used to the cold weather at all. What if they catch a cold?

Zhang Hongmei quickly changed her tune, "I was just saying, I won't actually send the four of them outside. But next year, just like Ping An, they'll spend a short time outside every day so they can get used to it."

They declined dinner and went home, mainly because they were worried about the four children.