"Hello, Auntie! Hello, Uncle!"

Zhang Shouyi smiled and handed over two red envelopes. "Hello Chongyu! You've grown up. This is New Year's money from your aunt and uncle!"

"Thank you, Aunt and Uncle."

Gu Chuanming and the old lady sat together, talking about what had happened along the way.

"This plane is a good thing, Sister Jiang. Why don't you go back to the capital? It only took four hours to get to Liujiatun."

The old lady shook her head. "No, I'm not going anywhere else. I'll just stay in Liujiatun."

Zhang Hongmei led Liu Qiang over. "Liu Qiang, this is the ancestor, you must kowtow to him."

Liu Qiang knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times. "Ancestor!"

"Alright, Liu Qiang, Liu Baoguo's son, you look exactly like your father. Get up, this is your home, understand?"

“Grandpa, I know, my dad told me.”

"Good, good child. Come to your ancestor."

The old lady hugged Liu Qiang, liking him more and more as she looked at him. When people get old, money and status are all fleeting things. Only seeing the younger generation makes her happiest.

Liu Aimin led Lu Jing and the others over, and they exchanged pleasantries once more.

Zhang Hongmei accompanied Hu Aifen to the kitchen, while the children accompanied the old lady back to the house and sat on the kang (a heated brick bed). The old lady had prepared toys for them.

"Grandpa, we're all grown up now. We don't need toys anymore."

"Hehe, yes, you need to. Look, this is the Nine Linked Rings. I remember you four used to play this when you were little. Can you still solve it now?"

Zhang Weiyu took it in his hand, rattled it, and after a few minutes, he untied it.

“Ancestor, we still remember.”

Liu Aimin, Liu Changhe, and Liu Jingze sat in the living room with Zhang Shouyi and his two sons.

All the conversations revolved around these four children.

Two large tables were set up for lunch. The children and bodyguards sat at one table, while the rest of the family gathered around.

"Grandma, I still love your and Great-Grandma's braised pork the most." Zhang Weiyu took a piece of braised pork and immediately praised Hu Aifen.

“Weiyu, eat as much as you like. Grandma will stew some more for you. Try this rooster too, it’s stewed until it’s very tender and tastes delicious.”

Everyone had a very pleasant meal.

The rest of the family went home to rest, after all, Gu Chuanming was getting on in years. Only Zhang Hongmei stayed behind.

She and the old lady lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), feeling warm and comfortable.

"Grandma, please drink this."

The old lady took the small porcelain bottle, but did not drink from it; instead, she held it in her hand.

“Hongmei, I’m getting old, and I want to leave this to Jingze.”

Zhang Hongmei turned around and got off the ground. The old lady wanted to call her back, but she didn't say anything.

Zhang Hongmei and Liu Jingze came in together. "Brother Jingze, please sit down." Zhang Hongmei took out another bottle from her bag and handed it to Liu Jingze.

"Grandma, there are only two bottles left. Can you drink them now?"

The old lady gave Zhang Hongmei a complicated look, picked up the bottle and drank it down in one gulp. Then she handed the small bottle back to Zhang Hongmei, asking her to pour some water into it, and drank it again.

"Jingze, don't ask any questions, just drink it. I'll go to the kitchen to prepare hot water for you, you need to take a shower later."

After Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, she left.

Liu Jingze took the porcelain bottle in his hand, drank it all in one gulp, and then, imitating Zhang Hongmei's actions, refilled the bottle and drank it all.

"Jingze, I was forcing Hongmei just now," the old lady sighed.

"Grandma, you're overthinking it. Hongmei won't overthink it."

Liu Jingze felt more comfortable than ever before, and he felt sweating. But when he looked down, he saw that the back of his hands was covered in a lot of dark gray grease.

She looked up at the old woman, whose face was even more greasy.

"Grandma!"

"Don't ask any questions, just know that this is for your own good."

A moment later, Zhang Hongmei came in. "Grandma, Brother Jingze, I've already boiled the water. Let's take a bath in half an hour."

"Great-Grandma, I'm going back now. I'll be back this afternoon."

"Red Plum!"

Zhang Hongmei smiled reassuringly, "Grandma, you and I really don't need to do this. I originally prepared two bottles, one for Jingze. As for Grandpa and the others, we'll have to wait a few more years; it's really very difficult."

"Go, go and rest."

Zhang Hongmei really didn't blame the old lady. People are selfish, so it's not surprising that she thought of Liu Jingze.

Lu Jing waited outside and, seeing Zhang Hongmei come out, accompanied her home.

"Madam, the young masters wish to go up the mountain."

Zhang Hongmei smiled. They were really going to be disappointed. The snow was so thick, it wouldn't be easy to climb the mountain.

When they got home, the four children surrounded them, asking, "Mom, can we go up the mountain to play?"

"The snow outside is too thick, making it too difficult to climb the mountain."

"Mom, we live in the mountains."

We guarantee there will be absolutely no problems.

Zhang Hongmei was in a very difficult position and glanced helplessly at Zhang Shouyi.

"Okay, go ahead, but Xiao Li and Chengzi will come along too."

"Yay! Uncle Li, Uncle Chengzi, hurry up!"

"Wait, aren't you going to prepare?"

"Mom, we know. We have outdoor training every week."

Zhang Hongmei simply stopped interfering. If the children wanted to go, she would let them go. With Xiao Li and Chengzi around, she felt at ease.

"You must be home before six o'clock tonight. Your grandfather is waiting for you to have dinner. Don't forget the purpose of your return."

"yes!"

Seeing the four children's excited expressions, Liu Qiang looked at Zhang Hongmei with longing.

"No, Liu Qiang, they're all seven years old. They can try, but think about your height and the depth of the snow. Be good, Auntie will take you to Grandpa's house later to play with Brother Chongyu, okay?"

Liu Qiang was listless. However, he didn't throw a tantrum or cry.

The room was very warm, and Zhang Shouyi lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) with Zhang Hongmei in his arms, feeling particularly comfortable.

"Honey, don't worry, they're capable."

"Yes, Brother Zhang, I feel especially at ease after I came back."

"Heh, why isn't your sense of belonging with me?"

"I only feel a sense of belonging here. I can't explain why."

“Hongmei, let’s take the kids to burn paper money for your parents tomorrow morning.”

"Yes, let them see the children." The two chatted on and on about the past, mostly Zhang Hongmei talking. Zhang Shouyi listened from the side.

"I am also very grateful to this place for raising you."

"Alright, I'm taking Liu Qiang to my great-grandmother's house now. I'm sure I'll get a scolding from the old lady if she finds out Zhenye and the others went up the mountain."

"Okay, I'll go with you. I'll take the hits."

Zhang Hongmei rolled her eyes at him, but then got out of bed, put on her shoes, and put on her coat.

"I'm leaving. You can take the scolding for me."

Zhang Shouyi got off the ground with a smile. After getting ready, he set off with Liu Qiang.

The old lady had already finished her bath. Hu Aifen had helped dry her hair, and now Liu Jingze was taking a bath.