Chapter 768

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Protagonist:

Fang Ziye

Fang Ziye parked the car directly at the airport parking lot, entered the airport, and flew to Enshi.

Luo Tingzhu drove to pick up Fang Ziye; the luggage was already loaded into the trunk. After switching drivers, Fang Ziye finally arrived at his hometown town around eight o'clock in the evening.

On the evening of the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the town was quite lively.

Red paper with black characters couplets were pasted in rows; red lanterns hung high.

The usually silent little town came alive today as well; roadside stalls along both sides of the streets were visited by many locals returning home.

Some clinked cups and exchanged toasts; others brought their children and feasted gluttonously.

Luo Tingzhu, in the passenger seat, watched all this curiously and said, "Back in our village, New Year used to be this lively too, but that was already more than ten years ago..."

"For a period, I spent New Year at my uncle's house, and it was much quieter."

"The feeling of New Year, of rest, of a holiday — it's really nice."

Fang Ziye said, "Wait until we have a child in a couple of years; the atmosphere might be even better."

Upon hearing this, Luo Tingzhu hurriedly sat up straight, turned her head to look at Fang Ziye, her pretty face blushing.

"Senior Brother, we decided to hold the wedding in Han City — won't that make Uncle and Aunt feel we're a bit showy?"

"All their relatives and friends are back home; by traditional etiquette, children's marriage is a major affair the parents must preside over."

"It should be up to them to decide." Luo Tingzhu asked further in a low voice.

Fang Ziye shook his head: "Holding the wedding in Han City was my decision! ~"

"After all, I'm now a ward director; if you make me suddenly take leave for that long, I can't rest easy about the department either."

"Besides, everyone Dad and Mom want to invite can be charter-bussed over."

"A wedding should be lively — not just for Mom and Dad, but for us too."

"It's actually a bit selfish, but you should know, my parents will be extremely happy too..."

"They never had high expectations for me; even just getting a formal position at the town hospital made them feel it was ancestral blessing."

As Fang Ziye spoke, his headlights caught sight of his father Fang Nan sitting at the doorway of the storefront, smoking and chatting idly with people, only occasionally glancing absently at approaching cars.

He then handed out cigarettes to the others.

Compared to the headlights, the light from the incandescent lamp hanging high on the standalone storefront wasn't concentrated enough.

Fang Ziye turned the steering wheel slightly, honked the horn once. He rolled down the window, stuck his head out: "Dad, make way so I can park the car?"

Fang Nan stared carefully for a few seconds: "You didn't drive your own car back?"

At the same time, the other uncles smoking with Dad all shouted: "Big Professor Fang is back..."

"Doctor Fang, you really are busy."

"Old Fang and Old Liang have been waiting for you to come home for New Year..."

The nickname Little Ye had already spread into outsiders' mouths; now, besides his own parents and exceptionally close people, no one called him that pet name anymore.

"Uncle Liu, Uncle Zhang..." Fang Ziye pushed open the driver's side door.

Luo Tingzhu also opened the passenger side door at the same time.

Luo Tingzhu had come more than once, so Uncle Liu, Uncle Zhang and the others naturally recognized her, but Luo Tingzhu was still not familiar with them.

So Fang Ziye led Luo Tingzhu in introductions.

After all, he had just returned; even if he hadn't eaten, he couldn't be inhospitable to guests and go straight inside.

"Doctor Fang and Doctor Luo are both handsome talents, like stars who walked out of a TV screen."

"And both so smart, educated, knowledgeable — truly wonderful..." Uncle Liu said.

"Doctor Fang, Doctor Luo, you must notify us when your happy event comes..." Uncle Zhang instructed.

"April 17th, Uncle Zhang, Uncle Liu, you both have to come." Fang Ziye replied with a smile.

Uncle Zhang laughed heartily at that, then looked at the nearby neighbors who, upon learning Fang Ziye had returned, planned to come over and greet him; he called out loudly: "Then Old Fang, Doctor Fang, we'll head back first today."

"Your family still has New Year to celebrate..."

This one call from Uncle Zhang made the neighbors who were originally heading toward Fang Ziye's house change direction to go watch mahjong.

In the town, there are two rules.

One is that eating is paramount; the other is that even sparrows have a New Year's Eve...

"Tingzhu, go inside and sit; the food and dishes are all hot, ready in a moment."

"I specially bought a large heated dish table this year..." Fang Nan greeted.

"Uncle, the things..." Luo Tingzhu looked at the trunk.

"Eat first... the things can be brought in anytime, absolutely cannot let your stomach go hungry." As Fang Nan spoke, Liang Xia came out, having heard movement downstairs.

Very enthusiastically: "Tingzhu, come eat quickly, the things can stay there, they won't fall."

"It's this late, you must be starving..."

After Fang Ziye and Luo Tingzhu entered the house, they realized just how large the heated dish table Fang Nan bought really was!

Good fellow, a whole large round table six meters in diameter.

Fang Ziye had seen tabletops larger than this round table, but this table sitting right there in the second-floor living room was still too eye-catching.

"Dad, Mom, you..." Fang Ziye was at a loss for words.

Luo Tingzhu was also a bit stunned.

"Tomorrow noon, your uncles and aunts will come over for New Year; tomorrow evening, your mom invited your maternal uncle's family over; if we didn't buy a bigger table we'd still have to split up."

"Just like this, I estimate we'll still need to split it across three tables."

Fang Nan said, a bit smugly: "I originally planned to buy one fifteen meters in diameter, but it simply wouldn't fit..."

Fang Ziye joked in return: "Dad, then when are you planning to go back to the hometown and push down that vegetable garden behind the house, and build a kitchen shed..."

Unexpectedly, Fang Nan replied quite seriously: "Ziye, don't say it, I've actually thought about that."

"Look, every time you come back your stay is so short; if you had to go visit relatives household by household on your own, your legs would break from running and you still might not make the rounds."

"Your work nature is also rather special, plus."

"Mm... you count as having some achievement in our family; if you come back for the holidays but don't interact with close relatives, people will think you've made it and forgotten your roots..."

"Grandpa and Grandma both suggested I renovate the old house back home..." Fang Nan's expression flickered a bit.

After living an honest, simple life for a whole generation, he now also had a bit of a mindset of turning things around for 'achievement', just wanting to win some empty fame back in the hometown.

However, even more of it was still for Fang Ziye's sake.

Fang Ziye had Luo Tingzhu sit down, but Luo Tingzhu wouldn't have it; she actively ran to the kitchen and started bringing out dishes in basins.

Fang Ziye went along with her and turned to ask: "Dad, it couldn't be that Grandpa and Grandma already know about you and Mom's situation, right?"

Fang Ziye struggled for most of last year at the Enshi Yangyuan; besides earning quite a sum for himself, he also secured a pension for his parents...

Ordinary people wanting to make up payments can only pay into ordinary pension insurance, but the pension insurance the Enshi Yangyuan intervened to make up is no ordinary thing — it can be on par with employee pension insurance.

At Fang Nan's age, those who can get employee social security are all respectable people.

Fang Ziye's current achievements, placed in some families with high-standing clan inheritance, definitely wouldn't count for much; there are plenty of people with higher status than Fang Ziye.

But in the Old Fang Family and the Old Liang Family, Fang Ziye becoming an Associate Professor and Deputy Director Physician at Hanzhong University Zhongnan Hospital — that is one of a kind.

Even in the entire village, no one can surpass Fang Ziye in social standing.

This truly is the Old Fang Family's ancestral graves smoking; even Fang Ziye's paternal and maternal grandparents are all proud because of it...

In a poor mountain ditch, the difficulty of a true phoenix flying out is far lower than the probability in the city.

"Know some."

Fang Nan explained further: "Ziye, we're not showing off; mainly it's because your dad and mom are old, we can't help you much in other aspects."

"We can only help you more in these household trivialities."

"Otherwise, you'd be very tired."

"If we handle it like this, you won't need to run around; as for other problems, your dad will shoulder them alone..."

Fang Ziye has always been clear: no matter where he walked to, once he returned to this one mu three Minute of land, he was still just a little puppy.

Fang Nan being able to think of setting up such a big table wasn't for showing off, but to make it convenient for his own interaction with relatives.

Fang Ziye thought seriously: "Dad, you calling all the uncles and cousins over for a banquet — isn't that a bit too empty and showy? After all, I haven't helped prop them up, so this seems like showing off."

Hearing this, Fang Nan immediately said: "Who says so?"

"On the surface there's no propping up, but secretly, it ultimately helped."

"For instance, your paternal cousin — last year he rented a storefront in the county and opened a restaurant; the procedures came through in half a month."

"And your aunt's family..."

Fang Nan stopped there: "These small matters you needn't mind; I've also inquired carefully."

"Heard that you've had some beneficial influence on the prefecture's development, so the county leaders have all more or less heard of you... there are even rumors that a new factory built in our county also has more or less something to do with you."

"Ziye, you're out there running around; Dad and Mom really can't help you, so in these home matters, we'll just do our best to hold the fort for you."

"You previously asked us to go to Han City to help you view houses; we agreed but never went — it was for these matters."

"If we hadn't thoroughly inquired clearly, your mom and I wouldn't be at ease."

Fang Nan didn't read much; two years ago when he ran to Han City, he didn't dare go alone and had to call his own uncle along.

Now, for his own sake, Fang Nan inquired so much information — it truly was hard on Fang Nan.

"Dad, sorry, made you suffer."

"Originally New Year should be me at home accompanying you; now you have to follow me to Han City to get a reunion." Fang Ziye lowered his head.

Fang Ziye couldn't get away for a long time, so he planned to return to Han City on the first day of the lunar new year.

Conveniently bringing his parents along for a trip.

Called a trip, but actually it was Fang Nan and Liang Xia giving up their Spring Festival visiting time to actively go to Han City and accompany Fang Ziye.

Liang Xia came out, heard Fang Ziye's words, and emphasized: "You're sorry to me and your dad?"

"My son is this excellent; even if I close my eyes now, I have not a shred of regret."

"This life of mine, I feel it was worth it."

Compared to Fang Nan's lack of culture, Liang Xia's words were even rougher.

Fang Ziye hurriedly said: "Mom, what are you saying? You're still young, not even at retirement age yet; later when we have kids, you'll still need to help look after them."

"At your current age, you only count as advanced middle-aged, not yet elderly."

"Enough of this, let's eat first, New Year..."

"Tingzhu, come with me to light lanterns; we have the custom of setting off firecrackers before the New Year's Eve dinner, but since fireworks are completely banned, it's changed to lighting lanterns..."

"My dad and mom still need to pay respects to the Bodhisattva..." Fang Ziye said to Luo Tingzhu.

"Okay! ~" Luo Tingzhu nodded obediently.

When it comes to actually eating and drinking, how much can four people eat?

A whole table of dishes, barely touched, and they were already stuffed beyond belief.

But this time, Liang Xia very carefully did not pour the leftovers back; instead she directly sealed them into the big refrigerator.

After the meal, third floor, living room.

A family of four sat around the stove; Liang Xia kept feeding Luo Tingzhu fruits — pomelo, cherries, sugarcane, large winter jujubes — and snacks, peanuts, melon seeds...

Fang Ziye turned his head and asked, "Dad, how about you and Mom take early retirement? Come to Han City with me?"

Fang Nan shook his head: "Why would we retire? We're still young, still able to work."

"Your mom and I have discussed it — whenever you have a child, that's when we'll completely let go of all these affairs at home."

"Although you and Tingzhu have both stated your stance that you don't need us to give you anything when you start a family, the money we set aside for your house, we've all converted into startup capital for your little family."

"Whether you want it or not, we'll give it to you — this is custom."

"Also, your dad and mom have worked hard this whole life, just earned this facade, and the old family home, we also plan to refurbish it a bit, so when we're old we'll have something to think of, and later if we want to go home, there's a place to return to."

Fang Nan was slightly drunk, he mumbled: "Ziye, your dad's life was truly worth it."

"I have a good son, and found a good daughter-in-law, just that they grew up too fast..."

Liang Xia also acknowledged this point.

Originally according to reason, during the New Year period one doesn't visit relatives.

But unexpectedly, around ten o'clock in the evening, the village Party secretary from the old hometown village still came to Fang Ziye's home.

Speaking of it, he really has some distant relative connection with Fang Ziye's family, just that before it was far too distant to be credible.

But the person came, so Fang Ziye and the others naturally had to treat him with propriety.

Half an hour later, Fang Ziye and Fang Nan saw him off at the doorway: "Cousin Uncle, sorry, I'm just a doctor, beyond that I have no other connections, those people you mentioned, I don't know any of them!"

"And I have to return to Han City on the first day of the New Year, so I really can't go with you to visit them."

"No matter, there'll be opportunities in the future..." The man called Cousin Uncle looked slightly embarrassed, but couldn't say much more.

After speaking he left.

This Cousin Uncle, not old in years, just thirty-something in appearance, currently a resident village secretary, his relationship with Fang Ziye really is a bit distant.

He came here saying he wanted to take Fang Ziye to meet some people in the county, to make it convenient for Fang Ziye to handle things back home in the future.

After the visitor left, Fang Ziye asked: "Dad, this Cousin Uncle, has he been coming to our house often recently?"

"Right, for the past several decades basically never saw each other, but these past two years he's been running over especially diligently."

"Especially last year." Fang Nan nodded.

Fang Nan spoke to here, turned his head to look at Fang Ziye: "Ziye, can you give some boost to his career development? Otherwise this Luo Huanglong certainly wouldn't keep coming to the house."

Fang Nan isn't stupid.

Fang Ziye nodded: "The things I want to handle, I can handle even without his help."

"Since before there was no deep friendship, then now there's no need for deep entanglement either."

"Just a pity my close cousins, their education isn't high enough, otherwise I still have a quota to get into Zhongnan Hospital."

This is written into the contract, Fang Ziye wouldn't feel embarrassed pulling strings.

But his own relatives, none even have a proper associate degree, how could Fang Ziye pull them over? That wouldn't be finding trouble for himself?

Fang Nan heard this and immediately understood Fang Ziye's meaning: "Since you can't help Ziye you, then you also don't need to meddle further, him running over is his business."

"Thanks Dad! ~" Fang Ziye knew, Fang Nan was actively taking this burden on himself again.

Fang Ziye was also very grateful to his father, for being able to block these things for him.

The twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, is New Year's Eve, Fang Ziye was very busy, yet not really busy, just busy eating, busy talking with people, busy keeping Grandpa and Grandma company, busy keeping maternal Grandpa and Grandma company, busy giving lucky money to paternal nephews, paternal niece's sons, maternal cousins' nephews...

After everything was busy-finished, Fang Ziye asked: "Mom, how come Big Aunt didn't come today?"

Liang Xia didn't speak.

Father Fang Nan said: "Your Big Aunt's family's cousin (male), wants to do some business, so last year he tried every way to get your mom to call you, so he could cooperate with some sanatorium."

"Your mom was afraid it would affect you so didn't agree..."

"Your mom and I aren't stupid either, that unit being able to fix social security and such for us, it's definitely not ordinary."

"Ziye you're just a doctor, not in charge of administration, how could you possibly get involved in these things."

"Your Big Aunt got angry, your mom said, angry then angry ba, she can be angry too, your mom still feels her sister doesn't dote enough on you this maternal nephew..."

Fang Ziye: "..."

These family trivialities, every family has them.

Fang Ziye also couldn't be bothered to care, even less wanted to waste any thought on it.

Of course, Fang Ziye also said: "Dad, no matter what, after the New Year passes, when you return from Han City, still go to Big Aunt's house once."

"Big Aunt and my mom are sisters, us lowering our heads first doesn't matter."

"If our family lowers our heads first and the other side still wants to push their luck, or still chatters endlessly, then we've also tried our best to salvage this relationship."

"I'm a doctor, if they have medical needs, I can step in to help, other problems, I can't help much with either." Fang Ziye also revealed his bottom line to a certain extent.

He himself is a doctor, although working in Han City, he also has certain connections in Enshi, if his relatives have hospitalization needs, he can recommend them to relatively good doctors in the city.

If they went to Han City, Fang Ziye could even take them to find people to add numbers, that's no problem.

But introduce his maternal cousin to do business with Enshi Yangyuan?

How could Fang Ziye possibly do such a thing?

"Mm, good."

"These things we know, what we can help with we still have to help."

Fang Nan then asked Luo Tingzhu: "Tingzhu, your wedding date is coming up, your parents won't be unsatisfied with our arrangements, right?"

Luo Tingzhu shook her head: "Uncle, my dad and mom both said it's pretty good."

"They won't take my money, the money they gave me before is my dowry, I really seriously asked..."

Luo Tingzhu vaguely remembers last year, Fang Nan and Liang Xia's worries.

Actually thinking carefully from their perspective, based on the current environment, Fang Nan and Liang Xia's worries are not without reason.

Forming a marriage alliance with someone is opening a door of relatives, the bride's parents not showing up definitely won't do.

Luo Tingzhu understands her own parents, but how could Liang Xia and Fang Nan understand her parents?

Even with Liang Xia and Fang Nan, he had only slowly come to understand them.

"Uncle, Auntie, Senior Brother and I plan to hold our wedding in Han City—you don't have any other thoughts, do you?"

"If you still plan to hold one at home, we can come back."

"It's just that Senior Brother and I also have some friends, so we should hold another wedding in Han City as well," Luo Tingzhu asked.

Liang Xia and Fang Nan both shook their heads.

Joke, as a rural family, to find a daughter-in-law, no bride price needed, the woman herself brought several million in dowry.

The money for the wedding doesn't cost you a cent, what right do you have to have so many opinions?

Moreover, they had also come to understand Luo Tingzhu; she was not an arrogant person, nor did she look down on them and bully them for not being wealthy enough—she had only told the elders her true thoughts.

Fang Ziye then said: "Tingzhu, didn't you buy gifts for my mom and dad?"

"Let's go down together to get them……"

"You really bought things? Didn't I tell you not to buy?" Liang Xia said politely, but her gums were smiling crookedly.

Although the Spring Festival gala wasn't lively enough, Fang Ziye's small family was still very happy.

Soon, Fang Ziye and Luo Tingzhu went out.

Fang Ziye had not forgotten his promise to take Luo Tingzhu to set off fireworks in neighboring Hunan Province.

Enshi is not far from Xiangzhou, Hunan Province.

Fang Ziye even brought his own parents along……

During the Spring Festival, early morning.

A family of four, in Long County, Xiangzhou, over two hundred kilometers from their hometown, sent off the tail of the Year of the Dragon and welcomed the head of the Spirit Snake in the form of fireworks.

……

New Year's Eve Dinner is New Year's Eve Dinner, Spring Festival is Spring Festival.

Because it was known that Fang Nan and Liang Xia were going to Han City, more people came to Fang Ziye's home to pay New Year's greetings.

Fang Ziye and Luo Tingzhu then lost a large wave of red envelopes.

Of course, Fang Ziye and Luo Tingzhu also received more red envelopes.

As a custom of Fang Ziye's hometown, a daughter-in-law coming home for the New Year before marriage is the formal recognition of kin.

The elders in the family, according to custom, must all give a red envelope.

Before Fang Ziye's other paternal cousins and maternal cousins got married, Liang Xia and Fang Nan had gone through such procedures; this time it was Fang Ziye's turn.

Luo Tingzhu received quite a lot of red envelopes.

Fang Ziye, meanwhile, rode the coattails and also received quite a lot of red envelopes.

The numbers aren't very important; what's more important is an atmosphere……

Afternoon, four o'clock.

After Fang Ziye drove the car onto the highway, he suddenly said: "Dad, Mom, we're going to Han City."

"When I go back, if there's nothing special, I won't be on duty and can properly accompany you to play for a while."

"But I have to work the third-line shift; our new hospital area was just built, so occasionally I still need to personally perform some surgeries."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to go back."

Fang Nan said: "Got it, you've said it ten times already; you're so naggy, doesn't Tingzhu say anything to you?"

Luo Tingzhu shook her head: "Dad, Senior Brother feels guilty! ~"

Luo Tingzhu changed her address.

"What's there to feel guilty about? In your thirties, it's exactly the time to strive for success."

"Dad will say something unpleasant to you; these days are hard, during the New Year season, there are plenty of people who don't go home for the New Year for eight or nine hundred yuan in duty fees."

"In this new era, don't be too bound by traditional etiquette and customs."

"Your mother and I also want you both to stay by our side, best to have children and grandchildren filling the hall, but what if you stay in the town? Would you also bitterly make a living with us?"

"Saying that isn't bad, but it's definitely not as good as your current development."

"Your mother and I also thought for a long time before we figured it out; being able to walk out of this big mountain, even if we never come back, then we never come back."

"There are good places inside the mountain, but aren't there good places outside too?"

"Otherwise, why is everyone running outside?"

"How many people want to find a job like yours but can't get it even if they beg?"

"How many people want to have children like you but can only think about it; your mother and I being able to meet you is also our fate."

"Although we don't have much education, we certainly wouldn't lightly ruin your future and stomp out the smoke that the ancestral graves finally produced."

"Your mother and I went to pay respects to our ancestors before the New Year."

"Filial piety is in the heart, not in traces; surely they won't blame us for not choosing the best auspicious time……"

"Your mother and I, this life, have never gone far; this time, taking advantage of the opportunity, it's time to see what a big city looks like."

……

Fang Ziye fell silent.

Indeed, for his own studies, for his own parents' company, Fang Nan and Liang Xia could be self-sufficient in the town, so they didn't go out to work, nor had they seen the big cities outside.

Fang Nan had never told Fang Ziye what she wanted to do before; now she said a little.

Fang Ziye had never revealed his achievements to Fang Nan before; now on the road, he also revealed a little!

"Director? Is it the kind of director I'm thinking of? One person, leading dozens of people?"

"All the surgeries in the department have to be done by you?" Liang Xia's eyes sparkled.

Luo Tingzhu nodded and said: "Right! ~"

"Mom, let me tell you, if Senior Brother leaves that hospital, many surgeries other doctors can't carry out; this is one of a kind."

"So, Senior Brother's status in the hospital is very high."

Liang Xia looked at Fang Nan: "What I usually say is still too conservative……"

Fang Nan said: "Right, your son being so excellent isn't thanks to his own efforts at all, it's all you blowing his horn."

"You say he's excellent, and he becomes excellent!"

"You open a company, and just yap yap yap yap there, others send their children to you, and you sit counting money with your mouth."

Liang Xia feigned anger: "Fang Nan, you want… to be beaten……"

Liang Xia withdrew the word "die."

That word was inauspicious.

Now everything at home was fine, she didn't want to die, all of this was something she hadn't even dared to dream of before, how could she bear to……

After arriving in Han City, it was around ten in the evening.

Since they had known in advance they would be returning, Fang Ziye had already prepared plenty of ingredients in Luo Tingzhu's house.

These ingredients were all 'scrounged' by Yuan Weihong and Deng Yong, all local goods, divided into native chickens and native ducks for Fang Ziye, and another portion of 'mountain delicacies'!

At this time in Han City, takeout was hard to order, but vegetarian dishes in the supermarket could be bought.

But at this hour, they definitely couldn't be bought anymore.

Originally Fang Ziye had planned to order KFC, but the thrifty Liang Xia said she would make a few bowls of noodles.

……

Evening.

The first day of the Lunar New Year.

Fang Ziye and Luo Tingzhu sat by the window of the master bedroom, choosing the style of the wedding scene.

Fang Nan and Liang Xia, meanwhile, were by the window of the living room, looking around.

"Liang Xia, look, any random building here is taller than the tallest building in our county."

"And those roads, just like on television." Fang Nan said.

Liang Xia nodded, her expression somewhat desolate: "Yes, big cities are nice, but there are no neighbors, and you can't find a few people to talk to."

Fang Nan said: "Wanting to know neighbors and acquaintances, and wanting children by your side—if children are capable and accomplished, how could there be such a good thing?"

"After all, it's our own fate not being enough, we couldn't bring them out of the big cities."

"In the future, Ziye and the others won't have to struggle like us, their circle of friends will always be in such big cities."

"Their children will also probably live in such big cities."

"How nice!" Fang Nan sighed.

"I heard a house here costs two or three million, or even tens of millions, how can our Little Ye afford such an expensive house?" Liang Xia asked.

"Before, I didn't dare imagine my son could buy such an expensive house."

"So he is capable."

Fang Nan said: "Making money is a skill, being able to sit near the head of the table at home is also a skill."

"Being able to earn us a retirement pension is also the child's skill."

"Having such a child is just luck……"

Liang Xia was silent for a while, then said: "But for him, neither of us has ever rested, right?"

"Otherwise, what else could we do?"

"Not being greedy……"

"Come, let's sleep. Ming will take us out to play, I need to get up early to withdraw some money, you come with me."

"Everyone uses QR codes now, why do you still bring cash?" Fang Nan asked.

"It's good to have some cash on hand, in case we two get lost. We can't hail a ride, but we can take a taxi." Liang Xia, based on her own understanding, was striving to take her first step in living in the big city.

……

Afterward.

Luo Tingzhu leaned against Fang Ziye's embrace, shyly asking in a low voice: "Senior Brother, do you think Mom and Dad can hear?"

"I don't know either?" Fang Ziye said.

"Don't worry, Mom and Dad are experienced people, even if they hear it, it's nothing. They won't bring it up."

Luo Tingzhu patted Fang Ziye once, not continuing the topic, but said: "Senior Brother, I really envy you, having so many relatives."

"This time, you can be said to be returning home in glory, right?"

Hearing this, Fang Ziye fell silent for a moment, then gently stroked Luo Tingzhu's hair: "No matter how glorious my return, for now I can't compare to my other father."

"And Grandpa, he truly fought with his life on the line."

"Tingzhu, in other words, our family's happiness and reunion might have been exchanged by your family, so heaven sent me to meet you, to bring you over……"

Fang Ziye's sweet words weren't cloying, and Luo Tingzhu didn't refute, just hugged Fang Ziye tighter.

The current Luo Tingzhu didn't blame her parents at all, nor would she blame her grandparents, she just occasionally felt some heartache……

In this world, there is much visible happiness.

There is also much unseen hardship and helplessness.

This is a real world.

Years, time, all is peaceful.

But soon it was broken by a phone ringtone.

It was Liao Jia: "Ziye, when does the second segment start? Are you back in Han City?" (Chapter End)