Chapter 73: 72. Casual Chat (Second Update)

After working busily for nearly an hour, the matters here could finally be considered to have come to a pause.

"Boss Zhang, I'm truly sorry for the neglect today." The old lady came over directly after finishing her work.

"Auntie, it's really nothing. Dayong and I are brothers; there's no need to be so formal." Zhang Ran offered some more words of comfort.

When it was time to eat, the old lady gestured for Zhang Ran to have some food.

"Boss Zhang, you don't know, but after Dayong came back that year, he didn't learn anything good. Without your supervision, he didn't even know what he should be doing." The old lady chattered on.

While they were busy earlier, she had already heard the people around them discussing it, and she knew exactly what had happened to Zhang Ran back then.

The trace of worry that had originally been in her heart was completely dispelled.

"Mom, I wasn't just messing around back then; it was just that my luck was bad." He Yong spoke up, feeling a bit embarrassed to have those past events mentioned in front of Zhang Ran.

"Hmph, bad luck? You can only handle as much as your ability allows; if you don't have the capability, don't try to force it." The old man snorted and said.

"Dad." He Yong felt a bit awkward.

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "It's fine. A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit; things will be better in the future."

"Boss Zhang, I ask that you please look after Dayong in the future. Dayong only listens to you; no matter what we say, he won't listen." The old man raised his glass to toast Zhang Ran.

Zhang Ran hurriedly raised his glass; regardless of anything else, these were his elders.

"You are too polite. As long as you two are at ease, you don't need to worry about Dayong's affairs anymore." How could Zhang Ran not understand the thoughts of the two elderly people? So he agreed quite readily, which was also his purpose for coming here.

Hearing Zhang Ran's words, the old lady and the old man looked at each other. Although they didn't understand success principles or the development of modern society, they knew that the Boss Zhang before them was a capable person.

And he was also very loyal to their He Yong.

A while ago, the old couple had been worrying about what He Yong would do after he got out, as they themselves had no real ability.

And given He Yong's age, it was too late for him to learn any new trade.

Now it was fine; with Zhang Ran there, they didn't have to worry.

"By the way, where is Xiao Qing attending university now?" Zhang Ran changed the subject.

Upon hearing this question, the old lady's face was immediately filled with pride: "Shanghai Jiao Tong University."

Their granddaughter's academic performance had always been the pride of the old couple. He Qing, as a granddaughter, had been very ambitious since she was young and rarely caused them any trouble.

Zhang Ran also praised her: "A very good school. It just so happens that I live in Shanghai now. By the way, why don't you Uncle and Auntie come to Shanghai too? It would be nice for the whole family to be together."

Since He Yong was already prepared to follow Zhang Ran again, and the old couple also had this intention, it would be better to take them along so He Yong's family could be together often.

"No, no, the cost of living in Shanghai is too high. We old folks won't go and cause them trouble." The old lady hurriedly refused. She didn't know what He Yong's situation was yet, and she didn't want to cause trouble for Zhang Ran.

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "Uncle and Auntie, you don't need to worry about money. Although I've been through these things, I'm not short on money, and Dayong's salary will be enough to support you all. You don't need to worry about these things."

Although He Yong had spent such a long time in prison, he still knew about some of the changes in the outside world.

Even though he wasn't clear about the attitudes of people like Tian Yaohui, Zhang Ran's own assets from back then were a significant sum.

Furthermore, He Yong knew that Zhang Ran had bought many old houses back then. During his years in prison, the things he heard most about were housing prices and demolition matters.

Hearing Zhang Ran say this, the old lady and the old man were also somewhat tempted. They weren't tempted by the prospect of going to a big city, but by the ability to see their son and granddaughter every day.

As for He Qing, it was even more so. Ever since she started university, she knew what her choice in life would be; she didn't want to stay in the countryside.

Compared to the countryside, the big city held an incomparably seductive charm for rural children like them who had just stepped into the city.

Therefore, she wanted her grandparents to be able to come to Shanghai to accompany her.

However, the old lady soon sighed and said, "Boss Zhang, we know you are good to us, but there is really no need.

Not to mention the cost of living, we aren't used to life in a big city. Once we get there, we wouldn't even know how to go out or where to walk; we would only be causing you trouble."

The old man also said, "That's right. To put it bluntly, once we get to a big city, we wouldn't even know which foot to step with first."

After hearing their words, Zhang Ran didn't try to persuade them further. In fact, he understood that while it was fine for the younger generation, the elderly might not really be able to adapt to life in a big city, even if they weren't required to work.

They were used to staying at home; usually, when they had nothing to do, they could chat with neighbors or visit each other. In a big city, they might not even have anyone to talk to.

He Qing's face was clearly disappointed, but she also knew that she had no say in this matter and could only eat in silence.

"Sigh, Brother Zhang, if only I had listened to you back then. There must be a lot of money in the demolitions in Shanghai now, right?" He Yong suddenly said.

Zhang Ran said, "I told you to buy them back then, but you wouldn't. You even asked what was the point of buying those old houses. Do you regret it now?"

He Yong smiled bitterly: "Brother Zhang, please don't say anymore. I'm regretting it to death now."

Listening to their conversation, He Qing looked at her father with a very strange expression. So it turned out she had once had the chance to become a 'demolition-rich' second generation, but her father just hadn't been up to the task.

"Look at you. I told you back then to listen to Boss Zhang in everything, but you insisted on acting on your own. Are you happy now?" The old lady 'scolded' him.

Zhang Ran smiled and didn't say anything more. In fact, he knew what He Yong had been thinking back then; He Yong had never been a person with much ambition.

When he was by Zhang Ran's side back then, Zhang Ran had treated him well, and he had never lacked for money.

He Yong had originally intended to sell his life for Zhang Ran for a lifetime. He knew that with Zhang Ran's character, he would never treat him unfairly, so he had never thought about the money-making side of things.

But no one had expected such a thing to happen.

After the meal, Zhang Ran and He Yong sat in the courtyard drinking tea and chatting casually. Zhang Ran was in no rush to ask about He Yong's past affairs.

There were quite a few people at He Yong's house now. Some villagers who had finished eating and had nothing to do had run over, especially some people in their fifties or sixties.

However, even just from this, Zhang Ran heard some content; back then, He Yong should have mainly been set up by a woman.

It was just that when these people talked about this woman, they subconsciously lowered their voices, and their eyes couldn't help but look toward He Qing.