Zhang Hongmei put down the file. "Grandpa, Dad, I have decision-making anxiety. Let's wait until Brother Zhang comes back, and the three of you can help me choose."

"Hongmei, don't you see anyone you like?"

"I think all seven of them look good. I'll keep all seven of them. As for their jobs, you three can help me decide."

"Lazy girl! In that case, Chengzi, take them down and settle them in the same place in the fifth courtyard. We'll make further arrangements after they've been assigned."

The seven men truly possessed the bearing of soldiers, standing up in unison. "Yes, sir!"

"Come on, let's go for a walk outside with you. If you don't eat on time, you'll have a bad appetite in the future."

"Okay, Grandpa, let's discuss when to go back to Liujiatun?"

The three of them strolled around the courtyard. "Hongmei, how long do you plan to stay in Liujiatun?" Zhang Xingguo asked, tilting his head as he looked at Zhang Hongmei.

Where can we spend the Lunar New Year?

"So you're just leaving Shouyi alone at home?"

Gu Chuanming patted Zhang Hongmei's arm. "How can we leave Shouyi alone at home?"

"How about we let Brother Zhang go to Liujiatun for the New Year as well?"

"He hasn't had a vacation at all this year."

Zhang Hongmei was now deflated. "Grandpa, even if I can't celebrate the New Year, I have to stay at home for a month, no less!"

"Okay, we two old folks will go with you."

"Hehe, that's great. Let's go hunt wild boar and fish."

"Hongmei, the wild boars in your back mountain should all be extinct by now," Zhang Xingguo teased Zhang Hongmei with a laugh.

"Hehe, I don't know. Why don't we go back and see?"

I have a lot to do when I get back. I need to visit the school, see my friends, and stay with my great-grandmother for a few days.

"Okay, you! By the way, Jingze is also in the capital, didn't you look for him?"

"I'd like to, but Brother Zhang is petty, I'm afraid he'll get angry. Dad, why don't you invite Brother Jingze over for dinner?"

"Is that all you've got?" Gu Chuan gave Zhang Hongmei a knowing look.

"I'm just a good-for-nothing."

“Okay, I’ll have Xiaoshun pick up Jingze in a bit. The kid is doing very well at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

"Hehe, that's good. I should thank him for taking care of Zhao Haozheng!"

"Xiao Shun!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and pick up Liu Jingze to come home for dinner!"

Wang Xiaoshun thought to himself, "The boss is going to be jealous again."

“Grandpa, when we go back to Liujiatun, let’s stop by Zhao Tiancheng’s textile factory. Zhao Hao is working for me in the US, so I have to take care of their businesses here.”

"Okay. You're just kind-hearted."

"Hehe, how did this turn into talking about kindness? This is a mutually beneficial arrangement!"

Chengzi came over to report, "Chief, everything is arranged. They'll share a room, two to a room."

"Okay, see what they need, make a list, and then you take them to buy it."

The three of them wandered around the yard.

"Dad, there are too many people in our family. It's too tiring for Aunt Li to cook all by herself."

I called over two more couples and a single woman; they should be arriving soon.

"That's alright. Otherwise, it would be too difficult for Aunt Li, who is so old, to have to serve so many people.

Chengzi led Lu Jing over. After greeting them, he drove off.

"Hongmei, do you think those seven girls don't have any thoughts about this?"

Zhang Hongmei understood Zhang Xingguo's meaning. "Dad, I think Lu Jing is older and the most composed, so I plan to let her take charge of my business outside, especially to take good care of Zhao Tiancheng's textile factory."

As for my companion, I think there should be one person with medical knowledge. The remaining person needs to be skilled in martial arts. Is this arrangement acceptable?

"You'll need an assistant too. I think Lu Jing should be your assistant. You can handle all your daily life matters, as well as big and small affairs outside. She was one of the first people I adopted, and she's very capable."

"Okay, I'll do as Grandpa says. As for who to send to the textile factory, we'll choose again. We'll take a look again tonight."

Zhang Hongmei really felt she didn't need an assistant; what could she possibly do in the future? But to put the old lady at ease, she decided to have one.

Wang Xiaoshun drove to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After registering, he went inside to find Liu Jingze.

"Xiao Shun? What brings you here?"

"Brother Jingze, Hongmei is back. The commander asked me to come and pick you up for dinner tonight."

"Okay, I'll go pack up now. I can get off work in half an hour."

"Okay, I'll wait for you in the car outside. No need to rush," Wang Xiaoshun said to himself. "The shorter the time you and Hongmei spend together, the more the leader will be happy."

Liu Jingze sat in his seat, unable to do anything, his mind filled with Zhang Hongmei. He wondered how she had changed in the past three years. His impression of her was still that of her when she was a freshman, when he left in his sophomore year. Photos didn't count, and besides, she hadn't changed much.

I kept checking the time, and then suddenly remembered that I had gone to the bathroom to look in the mirror. I wondered what I looked like.

Half an hour felt like an eternity. I really should have asked for leave earlier. It just felt like asking for leave with so little time left was a huge waste.

Finally, the time came, and I left the office. I happened to run into Shan Mianzhi, who was there to report on his work.

"Jingze, do you know Hongmei is back?"

You know?

"Yes, I ran into Cheng Guangxu and his group on the street a week ago. That's why I went to see Hongmei. I thought you already knew?"

"Well, I have something to do today, so I'll be leaving now."

Liu Jingze was a little unhappy. "Since you already knew, why didn't you say anything? Why did you have to wait a week to tell me?"

Once in the car, he said, "Xiao Shun, let's go to the mall to buy some things."

"Okay, shall we go to the building?"

"Can."

Liu Jingze was very quick. He bought some candy for Liu Jingsong and some apples. He didn't buy any pastries or other snacks, since no one would eat them.

When they got home, Chengzi and the others had already returned, and they ran into them at the door.

Liu Jingze strode resolutely into the courtyard. Just then, he saw the three people strolling over.

But in his eyes, there was only Zhang Hongmei. She had grown up; her once chubby face had become a V-shaped face.

"Brother Jingze, please come in!"

Only then did Liu Jingze realize what was happening, and he quickly walked over to Zhang Hongmei and hugged her tightly.

"You're finally back!"

Zhang Hongmei struggled for a moment before Liu Jingze let go. She quickly greeted the two elderly people.

"Alright, you two stop in the yard. Come inside and talk in the living room. We'll continue."

The two sat in the living room. Liu Jingze stared intently at Zhang Hongmei, making her very uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Brother Jingze."

"Why are you thanking me? There's no need for such formalities between us."

"I caused you a lot of trouble. You must have had a very tough time back then, right?"

"Hehe, if that's the case, then I should thank you for giving me this opportunity!"