Chapter 1485

Ge Hui Lan is very snobbish; the breakup between Gao Zhen and He Xiaoman earlier was her meddling.

But for this mother-in-law, Gao Zhen couldn't hold a grudge, because when He Xiaoman was nine years old.

Her father, whom he had never seen, disappeared without a trace—neither seen alive nor found dead.

Just thinking about it, one knows that Ge Hui Lan, as a woman, raising two daughters in the countryside was no easy task.

Under such circumstances, no mother would let her daughter marry far away, especially to a penniless man.

But now it's different—Gao Zhen has money, a small car, and even a house in Jingcheng.

To Ge Hui Lan, as long as her daughter can enjoy happiness, marrying far away is fine.

The four of them entered Quanjude, unexpectedly, the New Year is coming next year, and there are still many guests here today.

Gao Zhen found a seat inside, sat down, then ordered a roast duck and four side dishes.

While they were waiting, they heard two waitresses complaining.

During the New Year, not eating the reunion dinner at home but coming to a restaurant to eat—what were they thinking?

Really, they must be sick in the head, causing them to not even have a peaceful New Year, and still have to work.

Gao Zhen heard their discussion, smiled and said: "Can't the reunion dinner be eaten at a restaurant? If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have bought so much stuff—we could have booked a table at the restaurant, much better, saving us the trouble of cooking at home."

"What trouble? No one's making you do it." Ge Hui Lan fell silent for a moment: "Only when the whole family sits together at home eating the reunion dinner is it truly celebrating the New Year."

Gao Zhen looked at Ge Hui Lan, and again thought of his father-in-law, whom he had never met.

"Mom, you and Xiao Yu don't have to go back—I'll support you in your old age."

Ge Hui Lan was stunned, then waved her hand, smiling: "If you mean well, just keep Xiao Yu here and find her a job.

If there's a suitable match, introduce her to someone, so the two sisters can live closer and look out for each other in the future. As for me, I can still walk and run and support myself—I won't trouble you."

He Xiaoman's mood suddenly turned a little low: "I'm going to the restroom."

"I'll go too."

Gao Zhen noticed He Xiaoman's change in mood, said something, stood up, and followed her toward the restroom.

"What's wrong?" Gao Zhen pulled He Xiaoman's hand.

"Nothing." He Xiaoman sighed: "My mom has always been waiting for my dad to come back. She doesn't want to stay in Jingcheng because she's afraid my dad will come home and not find her."

Gao Zhen stood at the restroom door, didn't go in, took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

"Your dad—could he already..."

"No, he must still be alive." He Xiaoman shook her head: "My mom once said my dad liked boys. I guess it's because my mom gave birth to two daughters that he ran away from home."

Gao Zhen took a deep drag of smoke: "Xiao Yu at home just does some farm work—before, there were no conditions, saying anything was nonsense. Now that conditions exist, naturally we should keep her in Jingcheng.

As for your mom's place, we can't rush it, nor can we force it—we can only slowly work on her. Fortunately, her health is good, so even if she returns alone, there's no need to worry too much.

"That's all we can do." He Xiaoman thought: "Xiao Yu staying here—do you plan to assign her to the radiator factory?"

"No!" Gao Zhen said: "Xiao Yu hasn't studied much—if she goes to the radiator factory, she'll only be an ordinary worker, with no real future."

He Xiaoman asked: "Then how do you plan to arrange her?"

Gao Zhen turned around, reached his hand into the restroom door, and flicked ash from his cigarette.

"I've had this plan before—give you some money to start a small business. Since Xiao Yu wants to stay, it's perfect for you two sisters to do it together.

He Xiaoman said lackingly: "I've never done business—can I manage?"

"How would you know if you don't try?" Gao Zhen said with a smile: "Just like me—Dong Ge let me be factory manager of the radiator factory and lent me money to invest.

Back then I also lacked confidence, but now isn't it going well? It's just that daily study gives me a headache, yet not studying isn't an option either.

He Xiaoman also laughed: "What do you plan to have me do?"

"I don't know either." Gao Zhen said: "If your mom doesn't come, we should have returned to Jiangzhou yesterday. Originally, we planned to visit Dong Ge's home before returning to pay New Year's respects.

Then ask him what small business would be good. But plans change fast—your mom and Xiao Yu came, so we can only wait until the second day of the New Year to go pay Dong Ge a visit, then ask him then.

The two chatted for a while, saw that the time was about right, then returned.

…………………………

Train station!

Zhou Andong stood at the exit, silently praying in his heart: Please, don't let it be delayed, damn it.

Next, he heard someone cursing: This train is delayed by forty minutes.

Zhou Andong sighed, pulled his cotton coat tighter, turned and greeted Wang Wentian.

"Let's go, let's sit back on the train—it's too cold."

Back on the train, Wang Wentian started the car, turned on the heater.

After the cabin temperature rose, Zhou Andong exhaled deeply, took off his coat.

"Wentian, how long has it been since you last went home?"

Wang Wentian said: "Since I started following you, I haven't gone back home."

Zhou Andong nodded: "After the fifth day of the New Year, I'll give you staggered leave so you can all go home to visit."

Wang Wentian was very happy—usually it's nothing, but now it's the New Year, and he also misses home.

"Thank you, Chairman."

Zhou Andong waved his hand: "I'm not Huang Shiren—giving you leave is still necessary."

"If Huang Shiren were like you, his reputation wouldn't be so bad."

Wang Wentian silently patted the horse's flank, Zhou Andong burst into loud laughter.

The two chatted east and west on the train, saw that the time was about right, then got off and walked toward the exit.

Soon, the crowd came out, and Zhou Andong immediately saw Li Fang's partner Li Yunfei and Li Yuan's partner Li Yunhai.

Mainly because these two are about 1.8 meters tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes—very handsome guys, popular in this era.

Especially since they were both holding children, they stood out very noticeably in the crowd. And Li Fang and Li Yuan walked ahead of them.

"Li Fang, Li Yuan!" Zhou Andong shouted, waving his hand.

Li Fang and Li Yuan also saw Zhou Andong, and after coming out with the crowd, the cheerful Li Yuan gave Zhou Andong a big hug.

"Brother, I've missed you so much."

"Missed me, but you didn't even think to come back and see me."

"I just haven't had the time," Li Yuan said helplessly. "Besides work, I still have to take care of the kids. If I could go back, I would have gone back long ago."

"Big brother!"

"Big brother!"

Li Yunfei and Li Yunhai hurriedly greeted Zhou Andong. As for this brother-in-law by marriage, they had only met once at the wedding.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhou Andong had frequently appeared in the news over the past year, they wouldn't even remember what he looked like.

However, Zhou Andong was very familiar with them. In his previous life, when family conditions improved, every household had a car.

Every year on November 11th and during the Spring Festival, Li Fang and Li Yuan would return to Jiangzhou.

And Li Yunfei and Li Yunhai, every time they came back, would run to Zhou Andong's bar to find him for a drink.

So, their relationship and feelings have always been very good.

Zhou Andong raised his hand and pinched the cheeks of the two children.

"Do you recognize your great-uncle?"

Li Fang gave birth to a boy, named Li Mu. Li Yuan gave birth to a girl, named Li Ye. The two children are only three months apart in age and are both over two years old now.

Li Ye blinked her big eyes, her mouth pouted as if she were about to cry. But she didn't make a sound; instead, she turned her head and buried her face in her father's shoulder.

Zhou Andong laughed heartily: "When your mom was little, she was bold to the point of having no fear. Why are you so shy? You don't resemble her at all."

Li Yuan gave Zhou Andong a sideways glance: "Don't make things up about me."

Zhou Andong laughed again: "Come on, it's too cold. Let's go home and talk."