Several people were worried that as the child grew older, many problems would arise.

But seeing the happy children from afar, smiles also appeared on their faces.

It was past 10 p.m., and the children still showed no sign of wanting to go home. In the end, Wang Ying had to go over and bring them back.

Zhang Hongmei smiled as she looked at their dejected faces and asked, "Don't you feel like you haven't had enough fun yet?"

"Yes, Auntie, we're not sleepy yet."

"That won't do either. It's your break time, and we have to go back. Let me tell you, the beach is even more beautiful in the morning. The sunrise, the high tide, and even more seafood will be washed ashore by the waves."

"Auntie, what time is it in the morning?"

"If you can get up at four o'clock, you can make it."

The seven children huddled together and discussed the matter. Finally, Zhiyuan was tasked with negotiating with the adults. "Mom, could you please wake us up tomorrow? How about 3:30?"

"Alright, then it's a deal. I'll only call you once. If you don't get up, then I won't come."

The children cheered and ran and jumped ahead, while the bodyguards carried baskets behind them. By the time they went to bed, it was already eleven o'clock.

Zhang Hongmei gave each of the four children a cup of water, paid special attention to them, and took the empty cups back in less than ten minutes.

Zhang Shouyi sensed something amiss in the ring, summoned some water, drank it all, but found no letter from his wife.

I simply wrote "I love you" and then went back to work.

Zhang Hongmei sat on the bed meditating. The water near the sea has a lot of spiritual energy, so even when she was outside, she felt that she could absorb more than usual.

By the time they finished practicing, it was already six in the morning. After washing up, I saw Gu Chuanming and Zhang Xingguo practicing Tai Chi through the window, while Li Chang'en helped Zhou Shixiong take a slow walk on the side.

Actually, this is quite good. By letting go of all the burdens, one can truly relax.

I hurried downstairs and joined the Tai Chi practitioners.

They hadn't finished playing when the children came back excitedly. Seeing them all with their trousers rolled up, I thought it was quite amusing.

The children knew their habits, so no one went up to disturb them. Er Ya led them back to wash up. After all, there was a big leader here, and they all felt quite uncomfortable.

After finishing their practice, Zhou Shixiong also stopped.

"Uncle, wouldn't it be better to live here? If we have time next year, could we go to the Summer Palace?"

"Sure, while I'm still in good health, I'll go for a stroll with you. Just not too far." Zhou Shixiong was all smiles. He'd come to terms with it; he really wanted to live a few more years. It turned out that not thinking about anything made traveling so much better.

They didn't have breakfast together either. After breakfast, the four of them, along with their bodyguards, went for a stroll on the beach.

"Old Gu, you've lived here for several years, haven't you had enough of looking around?"

"I'm here with you, aren't I? You don't appreciate my kindness."

"Okay, okay, I was wrong. You said you've gained some insights from watching the tides rise and fall here every day."

"I'm a roughneck, I don't know."

"You're quite self-aware." Zhang Hongmei and Zhang Xingguo, father and son, wouldn't get involved; the two of them, once they got together, would never stop arguing.

“Hongmei, I’m thinking of going up the mountain if I have nothing else to do.”

"Dad, what are you doing up the mountain?"

"I'm going to see my grandchildren."

“Dad, they’re all grown up now, there’s no need to look after them.”

"There's nothing going on at home, with Shouyi here. I'll go and explain some practical combat strategies to my grandsons."

Zhang Hongmei thought for a moment and said, "Dad, you should talk to my brother Zhang instead. I have no objection."

The two of them were arguing, but I also overheard their conversation.

“Hongmei, I want to go too.” Gu Chuanming immediately objected. Who wants to stay cooped up at home all the time? Besides, he could gradually instill everything about the Gu family in Xiao Si, and he could also hand over some of the bodyguards to him.

"No, if you both leave, what will I do?"

"You wait at home."

"Gu Chuanming, you're really not being fair." Zhou Shixiong was getting anxious now.

“Grandpa, Dad, if you want to go out, just tell Brother Zhang. I have no objection. But Uncle, you absolutely cannot go out. It's okay. If, I mean, if Grandpa and Dad really go up the mountain, I will go over every afternoon to chat with you.”

"You said that?"

"Yes, I said it."

They stayed at the beach for an hour until the temperature rose before returning.

Zhou Shixiong watched the two incompetent chess players play, and angrily pounded the armrest of his wheelchair. Having no other choice, Zhang Hongmei had to play chess with him.

In fact, Zhou Shixiong really has the ability. Although his skill level is not as high as Zhang Shouyi and Liu Jingze, it is comparable to Zhang Hongmei.

"Hongmei, who taught you chess?"

“Wang Xinyi taught me. I initially wanted to become Zheng Jixian’s apprentice, but he didn’t like me, so Brother Zhang helped me find Wang Xinyi.”

"That little girl," Zhou Shixiong thought for a moment, then vaguely remembered who it was.

Zhang Hongmei found Zhou Shixiong's way of addressing Wang Xinyi quite interesting. A young woman nearing sixty?

"Your chess skills are quite good. Do you often play chess with Shouyi?"

"It's alright, not often. When would he have the time?"

Although they were chatting, the game on the chessboard was progressing very quickly.

In the end, Zhang Hongmei won by a small margin. "Not bad, not bad, very good. It's only comfortable playing chess with you. This is what chess is all about." Zhou Shixiong looked meaningfully at the two people shouting at the top of their lungs.

Zhang Hongmei was also helpless; they had always been like this, and she couldn't persuade them otherwise.

“Hongmei, let’s continue playing, or I’m afraid they’ll overturn the chessboard.”

They spent the entire morning in two groups of four like this.

Gu Chuanming was thirsty, so he sat on the sofa and drank tea. "Hongmei, you play chess with me this afternoon. I don't want this lousy chess player anymore."

"How dare you talk about others like that? Aren't you a terrible chess player?" Zhou Shixiong immediately retorted, but how could he let them take away someone who wanted to play chess with him?

Zhang Hongmei leaned back on the sofa. "I'm going to take a nap this afternoon, and I'll take the children to the beach tonight. They have to go back to school tomorrow."

The two of them stopped arguing. Arguing wouldn't have made a difference anyway.

"Hehe, now we two chess noobs have company."

"I'm addicted, but I won't play with you guys."

"That would be best."

Zhang Xingguo didn't participate in their activities at all; he just sat there watching the show with a smile.

"Grandpa, Uncle, Dad, let's go eat."

"Today we have your favorite three-ingredient steamed egg custard."

"Grandpa, you still remember?"

"How could I forget? Watching you eat like that made me eat too much the other day."

"Actually, my favorite is spicy razor clams. I'll ask the chef about it today."