Chapter 1013: Come Home Often

Night market, a thousand lanterns shine on the green clouds,

High buildings, red sleeves, guests come and go.

Li Xuewu can see a different kind of prosperity through the reports submitted from Hong Kong.

"Paper-drunk and gold-obsessed" (decadence) is only a flamboyant expression; more of it is actually confusion and reflection on the future.

This is the problem faced by contemporary Hong Kong people, and even more so, a choice.

Lou Jie cited the financial and market development data provided by the local management department in the report.

Li Xuewu read a general idea and could feel a sluggish and chaotic situation.

Of course, this data might also be mixed with other subjective concepts, causing a certain distortion.

However, based on what can be seen at present, and linking the big move of Wufengxing coming to borrow money some time ago, one can know the situation currently faced by the Hong Kong economy.

Actually, the crisis began seven years ago, gradually evolving until it reached the worst situation in 1965.

And in last year and this year, a situation of self-healing in the economic market has appeared.

Of course, one cannot count on the active intervention and coordination of the local management department; even if there is, it is for better grabbing.

Hong Kong is more like a sponge; loosen it, and it absorbs talents and funds; squeeze it hard, and endless wealth is squeezed away.

How to survive and live in these two invisible big hands has become the main melody of Hong Kong people's lives.

The self-healing of the market does not mean that the market has become healthy; on the contrary, various rejection reactions will appear.

For example, at the beginning of this year, affected by regional ecology, Hong Kong and Macau appeared in an unadapted state.

The twin cities once wanted to return the management authority back.

Ji Wang Weidong, who works in Hong Kong, feels it particularly clearly; the culture, port affairs, and security he manages are in the most commercial areas affected by the waves.

Is chaos and pain necessarily bad?

This depends on which market you stand on.

Among the industries managed by Ji Wang Weidong, port affairs must like stability and prosperity.

But culture and security rely on complex social environments, and they can reproduce rapidly in such environments.

It's hard to say clearly whether Hong Kong's current state is the best state.

Even Hong Kong people themselves might not be able to understand, or distinguish clearly.

Those who hold a large amount of social resources are naturally happy with the current stage.

For example, Hutchison is already planning real estate and carrying out resource integration.

The Era Series, which also holds social resources, rose very late but is particularly strong.

Especially the female CEO who manages the Oriental Era Bank is a leader of the era.

This female economic powerhouse who rarely shows her face and rarely participates in social activities played a perfect combination of punches in the ups and downs of the market economy.

No one knows her educational background, and no one knows her growth environment; it's as if such a person suddenly popped out of the Hong Kong market.

Similar to her appearance is the Era Series commercial chain.

Many economists are studying and thinking about the root cause and development ideas of the rise of the Era Series.

But they can't figure it out, and they can't understand it.

The only thing that can be determined is that the Era Series doesn't seem to belong to the China Merchants Series as rumored.

Very simple: in the China Merchants system, this capital operation situation doesn't exist, even if there is partial business cooperation.

This also precisely explains the independence of Era Capital and its reasonable status.

Good relationship with the China Merchants Series, the projects operated have investments from China Resources and Wufengxing, and rely more on some special forces to master the permission for port and ship transport.

Very special, operating an investment bank in Hong Kong, realizing capital expansion and investment operations one after another.

Especially being able to invest in wharves and ship transport, and mastering the economic lifelines of trade and real estate.

Other investment areas include hotels, culture, electronics, security, etc.

Looking from top to bottom, it seems that such a design existed from the beginning; the industries obtained by bottom-fishing have been integrated and equity reallocated by the Oriental Era Bank as the main body in these six months.

Basically, the Era Series economic industry has completed the overall layout and adjustment.

Using shipping, port affairs, and real estate as production channels, expanding the depth of development of culture, security, electronics, and other industries, and then feeding back the rapid recovery and charging of the bank business.

What needs special attention is that after six months of investment and integration, the non-performing assets included by the Oriental Era Bank have completed the secondary processing of subcontracting and allocation.

Those with integration value are developed and created by establishing new operating companies as a means, uniting professional management departments.

Those without integration value, the Oriental Era Bank did not make secondary financing, but directly bundled financial products and sold them to other banks.

Even if the loss in this part is relatively large, there is still a beneficial side; at least the credit and capital rating given by Hong Kong finance has been restored to a healthy state.

Looking at the Oriental Era Bank coming back to life, there is a rumor in Hong Kong that its shareholders behind the scenes invested at least one billion to bail it out—a truly big move.

Anyway, in Hong Kong, even if you pick and choose, you might not find a tycoon who can casually take out one billion to invest.

This also makes Lou Xiaoe, the helmsman behind the Oriental Era Series, a mysterious figure.

One billion smashed down, and the effect was immediate.

What the newspaper said was not groundless, and naturally, it would change Hong Kong people's impression of the Era Bank.

The most direct feedback is that the savings amount of the Era Bank has soared, even exceeding the deposit-absorbing ability of most banks in Hong Kong.

For ordinary people, the more active the savings, the more it represents that the current economic situation is not prosperous.

And choosing a safe and stable bank has become a key issue for savings.

Small banks have high interest rates, but there is a danger of a run, which hasn't happened in the past few years.

Large banks have low interest rates, which is not worth it compared to savings, especially when there are particularly many banks to choose from.

When the Oriental Era Bank announced the savings interest rate, a large part of the people were disappointed.

A commercial bank that has just gone bankrupt and reorganized actually set the interest rate the same as a large bank; how can this work?

But the reality is that the Oriental Era Bank is not lacking operating funds.

At the beginning, the savings market couldn't see clearly, and couldn't figure out the reason why the Era Bank did this.

But when the Modern Property Co., Ltd., mastered by the Era Series, went crazy acquiring real estate after half a year, and even selected non-performing assets mortgaged by other banks, it seemed that someone understood.

Afterwards, Modern Property integrated resources, combined the land blocks with excellent conditions into residential areas, quickly demolished old buildings, and built new buildings; everything became clear.

Modern Property announced the residential design concept and community management ideas as soon as construction started.

It even provided clear requirements for house purchases; if there is a loan, it will provide the Oriental Era Bank's exclusive ultra-long-term housing loan.

The current Hong Kong construction market is sluggish, and construction costs are extremely low, especially for the Era Series, which has a foundation in port and shipping, making the introduction of construction materials extremely convenient.

Manpower and labor are particularly easy to recruit, and labor costs are even lower than in previous years, which is just right for large-scale development and construction.

Property communities in the general sense of Hong Kong are based on wealthy areas, providing commercial property services.

But Modern Property rolled to the sky, directly pulling the high-and-mighty property services to the ground.

The first building project proposed a closed residential area, a complete commercial property service concept, including supporting buildings such as kindergartens and primary schools, commerce, and medical care.

Based on the current rising trend of housing prices, the building projects that obtained the right to sell building flowers appeared in a rush to buy houses as soon as they opened.

Compared with the current real estate development situation in Hong Kong, Modern Property can be considered to have broken the curse of real estate stability and stagnation this year.

Commercial housing loan projects and the means of selling buildings in parts allow ordinary people to afford big houses and live in big mansions.

With a 20% down payment, even if the loan interest rate is ridiculously high, it is within the consideration range of buyers.

Why?

Because Hong Kong people are influenced by Western living habits and are more inclined to enjoy them in time.

Only taking 20% of the money, you can move into a big house in advance; who wouldn't want to?

The monthly repayment pressure seems particularly suitable in the face of a loan term of 20 to 30 years.

Anyway, you have to live for thirty years; taking out half of your salary every month for repayment seems much easier.

The advantage of commercial housing loans is that buyers do not need to provide credit mortgages.

That is to say, when Modern Property sells a property, the bank will link up to provide loan business.

And buyers only need to pay the down payment, and then provide a stable income certificate to prove that they have the ability to repay the monthly loan.

Why did Modern Property operate from last year, but only started providing real estate construction and sales work this year?

This has to go back to the current economic recovery phenomenon; the investment caution it causes will inevitably cause a trust crisis in the capital market.

Finding a reliable investment direction has become the most urgent need for investors.

Real estate investment is the most suitable direction in the economic recovery stage, and the emergence of commercial housing loans has completely ignited the investment market boom in Hong Kong.

Capital that can buy houses in full is directly used for down payments to buy more real estate, and then the repayment period is infinitely extended to 30 years.

When the repayment pressure reaches its peak, it is this person's investment peak.

What he needs to pay attention to every day is whether the speed of economic recovery can exceed the growth of bank loan interest rates.

That is to say, when housing prices stretch rapidly and the speed of housing appreciation exceeds the loss of repayment interest, he earns.

Conversely, he loses, but it is only the interest part of the repayment; his real estate is still there, and the value is still there.

This is the advantage of real estate investment, a popular category of real estate investment.

Of course, if housing prices drop sharply, or if the appreciation time far exceeds expectations, then the real estate investment boom will cool down and decline.

But Hong Kong will not have this situation at present; just look at the operations of a group of real estate companies like Hutchison.

If there is no economic value, why do so many real estate companies collect land?

Compared to the mainland, Hong Kong's real estate is another situation, especially the years.

Although the land here is not permanent property rights, most of them are approved for infinite distance, and some even have 99 years.

Real estate has extreme investment value, as long as society is stable, as long as the situation is stable.

At present, the definition of management authority is unquestionable, and Hong Kong's capital quickly stabilizes the situation, which also has the big move of Wufengxing doing it even if it is hungry.

The tide has receded; whoever runs fast on the beach can pick up seafood.

You ask if there is no risk in the financial market now?

How can there be no risk? But the greater the wind and waves, the greater the investment return.

If you really wait until the wind is calm and the waves are still, only sand will be left on the beach.

The bigger the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish.

Ai Jiaqing flew directly from Hong Kong to Beijing to transfer construction materials and raise funds; what is it for?

As long as the economy recovers, the first feedback must be the infrastructure industry; whoever masters the basic construction materials controls the prerequisites for basic investment.

It can be said that Wufengxing is building a ladder and going up to the house, wanting both the girl and the mother.

It wants to quickly occupy the market in basic construction and trade, and also wants to stand firm in the capital investment market.

Watching Wufengxing do it with great fanfare, the think tank had long since calculated this investment risk and capital investment return.

The materials given to Li Xuewu show that according to Hong Kong's current economic development situation, increasing investment in the infrastructure market, especially the real estate market, is feasible.

Actually, Li Xuewu knows without them saying, but he only knows.

How to let Lou Jie know, and knowing how to operate is the most critical.

Therefore, Li Xuewu signed a capital operation authority worth 500 million in the official letter to Lou Jie.

This 500 million will be used for the bank housing loan project and the real estate operation project.

Money is not spent in vain; compared with Wufengxing, the Oriental Era Bank must open up the market for Li Xuewu in the real estate and financial fields and occupy an absolute position.

At present, in Hong Kong, except for consortia like Huangpu supported by the HSBC system, which other family can mobilize hundreds of millions of funds for financial games.

Financial credit business is a project that Li Xuewu is particularly optimistic about, especially housing loans; this is the most excellent virtual asset in the market.

It can be said that if one day, the Oriental Era Bank needs to raise a large amount of funds, throwing out the gold bars in its hands might not necessarily be accepted by anyone.

However, this batch of excellent housing loans is absolutely an excellent product that people will rush to compete for.

Why?

Because stable and reliable cash flow is the first choice for the vast majority of investment and financial management.

High-interest commercial loans with real estate as collateral are cash-absorbing machines that increase in value faster than gold.

This is not only a financial management need, but also the best direction for listed companies to invest in asset management.

Sufficient cash flow represents the infinite vitality of the enterprise, as well as the ability to resist risks.

The Oriental Era Bank will be listed sooner or later; it doesn't lack resources and opportunities, but needs to wait until it grows into a crocodile before entering the capital market for a big meal.

Many people are looking forward to this moment, waiting to follow behind it and pick up the opportunity of spiritual fragments.

The capital of more than one billion entering the investment market leverages a storm of hundreds of billions or even hundreds of billions.

No one dares to underestimate Oriental Era Capital; for its rise, there is more expectation.

"You say, you tell Auntie,"

Qin Jingru held Li Shu and pointed to the direction of Li Xuewu at the dining table, saying: "You say Dad makes progress in the New Year, great prosperity."

"Ga~ ga~ ga~"

Li Shu couldn't learn such a long sentence at all; she was in a hurry, and her mouth started babbling.

She was in such a hurry now, looking at a table full of delicious food, and Auntie was just saying useless things.

Qin Jingru was also deliberately teasing her to learn to speak, smiling and pushing her hand touching the table, teaching: "New Year progress."

"Spring spring progress~"

Li Shu looked straight at the red big crab on the table; she hadn't seen this monster yet.

She followed and said it confusedly, then pointed at the big crab with her little hand, and said to Qin Jingru: "Eat! I want!"

"You are fluent in this!"

Qin Jingru tapped her forehead with amusement, looked at the smiling Li Xuewu over there, and said: "Li Shu is not unable to speak, she just doesn't want to speak."

"Ya~"

Seeing Auntie teased her and turned to talk to "Ba-ba," not paying attention to her request, she was anxious at this moment.

She didn't wait for Qin Jingru to feed her, and climbed up from the chair with her little hands on the table.

This little girl just had this domineering spirit; she only said good words once, and if you didn't pay attention to her, she really wouldn't wait.

Qin Jingru laughingly pressed her back down again, and quickly grabbed a crab leg and stuffed it into her hand.

Li Shu looked at the big crab leg in her hand, and only then was she satisfied.

But the crab leg was obtained, how to eat it?

Gu Ning couldn't eat seafood now, so she could only eat with light vegetables.

And Li Xuewu and Han Jiankun were not picky eaters, and had long since thrown away their chopsticks.

Today's big table of dishes, couldn't it just rely on the two of them to finish it?

To say Qin Jingru could eat, she had been busy in the kitchen all morning and had long since lost her appetite.

At this moment, she was scooping up minced meat and seafood porridge, feeding Li Shu one small mouthful after another.

Li Shu ate a few mouthfuls, anxious about the crab leg in her hand, and wanted to shout again.

Han Jiankun took it, smashed it bit by bit with a small hammer, peeled it clean, and left the white crab meat on the bottom shell.

Qin Jingru put the crab meat into the porridge bowl in front of Li Shu, crushed it, and only then let Li Shu open her mouth.

"Don't let people fool you!"

While feeding her, Qin Jingru laughingly scolded: "But if you didn't see it with your own eyes, you wouldn't know if the crab meat went into your mouth, right?"

"Hmm~~~"

Li Shu smacked her little mouth, hummed and smiled, lying back in her little chair, extremely satisfied.

Although she couldn't use chopsticks like "Ba-ba" and eat lively, someone took care of her, and the family looked at her, and her little heart was satisfied.

Not only eating, but if she saw something she liked, she had to call Auntie to clip it to the plate in front of her, and when she had eaten enough, she would point to one to put into her mouth.

Li Xuewu looked at her appearance, not much worse than the young master of the landlord family before.

"Jingru, you eat too."

Li Xuewu signaled to Han Jiankun, asking him to clip dishes for Qin Jingru.

Qin Jingru shook her head and said: "Not in a hurry, wait until she finishes eating, otherwise she will play."

Children are all like this; their attention is not concentrated, and they want to play while eating.

Qin Jingru, although not from an excellent family education background, also knew the rules of "not speaking while eating and not speaking while sleeping."

She couldn't develop Li Shu's habit of playing while eating; the old lady was here to regulate Li Shu, and she also insisted on it.

Now Li Shu eats when she eats; she won't be given toys, or other chopsticks and spoons.

At most, it's food, steamed buns, dried shrimp, dried sweet potatoes.

These things have to be watched so she can grind her teeth; the mouth can't be big, and it can't all be stuffed into the mouth.

Raising a child is a huge project, and the time and energy consumed are far more and harder than money.

Seeing her being attentive to Li Shu, Li Xuewu took a wine bottle and filled a glass for himself and Han Jiankun, and toasted him with a smile.

Han Jiankun smiled, lowered his wine glass to touch his, and waited for him to drink before he drank it himself.

Even if it's the New Year, even if it's at home, Li Xuewu only tastes a little bit of white wine, not drinking heavily like outside.

Actually, he understands in his heart that drinking at home is real drinking; outside, he is drinking for Director Li.

Drinking with Han Jiankun is because since he served him, the couple has done their best, and there is nothing to say, and they haven't caused trouble.

According to Gu Ning's temperament, if it doesn't fit her heart, it will be expressed on her face.

Actually, thinking about it, it feels strange that Gu Ning can tolerate the chatterbox Qin Jingru.

According to Li Xuewu's thinking, Gu Ning likes quiet, and someone who talks less should be right.

But he knows very well that when she doesn't go out on weekdays, she can hear Qin Jingru's mouth that never idles for a moment.

When Han Jiankun is there, she directs Han Jiankun; when Li Shu is there, she coaxed Li Shu; when neither is there, she listens to the radio and mutters.

It's as if her mouth was rented; losing a minute of talking is a loss.

You just listen, "ba ba ba, du du du," making your head dizzy and unable to count.

Sometimes when coming back from work, he can catch Gu Ning sitting in the living room, and Qin Jingru cleaning the floor while also "ba ba ba" talking to Gu Ning about something.

Li Xuewu hasn't asked Gu Ning how she tolerates her.

Gu Ning just smiled when she heard his question and never gave an answer.

He guessed that maybe Gu Ning also felt the house was too big and empty, and having someone to talk to was more popular.

Or is the other side of the extreme personality a chatterbox behind the silence?

This couple is too tacit; when one talks, the other listens, and when it's time to go home and Han Jiankun wants to talk, Qin Jingru listens.

Don't treat anyone unfairly.

Actually, it's good to think about it; a child's growth environment needs someone who talks a lot, which is conducive to her learning to speak.

If parents often talk to children, the child will speak early; the language environment is very important.

If Gu Ning were to take care of her, I'm afraid the child would be silent, and learning to speak would be late.

This is also one aspect of the mother-in-law's worry about her; she knows her daughter, and worries that Gu Ning is not prepared to be a mother.

Li Xuewu is very confident in Gu Ning, especially recently, clearly feeling that her personality has become much more lively; sometimes waking up in the middle of the night, the couple can chat for a while.

Gu Ning's speaking is actually very nice, clear in logic, concise and natural in sentences, without any of Qin Jingru's chatter.

She wants to express the meaning clearly and concisely to tell you, and guarantees that you can understand.

Maybe Gu Ning pays more attention to the spiritual nutrition, and prefers the joys and sorrows in the literary world.

Or the environment she grew up in made her learn to be vigilant and defensive too early; the performance beyond this psychological state is an introverted and sensitive personality.

Especially after experiencing special twists and turns, she left behind psychological shadows, and she is more sensitive to certain feelings, fearing contact with uncertainties in life.

The biggest feeling Li Xuewu gives her is stability and safety; he won't excessively interfere with her state of mind, and won't impose an environment change that makes her at a loss.

Gu Ning can more clearly feel Li Xuewu's changes; maybe he is more mature, more steady and natural.

Without the impulse and violence of the time when they first met, and less of the flamboyant and excessive attempts at playing with life.

The most direct manifestation is that Li Xuewu's time at home is getting longer and

Business trips are, of course, an exception, but even then, it's always an official trip, and there has never been a situation where he left without notice.

Spending more time with her and Li Shu and having things stable means he pays more attention to and values his family.

Gu Ning has read too many books about life and marriage; there are novels, articles, and philosophical works as well.

No one can keep a focused heart forever; she hopes more that affection is an eternal state.

Given her mindset and situation, wanting to restrict Li Xuewu from socializing and interacting with other women is completely impossible.

But since they married, Li Xuewu has changed too much; he might not have noticed it himself, but Gu Ning's life only contains him.

If Gu Ning were to give her husband an evaluation score, she might give a satisfactory conclusion after careful consideration.

Who hasn't had their youth, and who dares to say they have been consistent from beginning to end, that the one they liked in kindergarten will become their lover in the future?

If that were really the case, I'm afraid love wouldn't be a luxury item, but rather a standard product under a rationing system.

He didn't actually drink much alcohol, but he was just extremely sleepy.

It might have to do with his relaxed mood today; after being busy for a whole year, he finally cast off all burdens and shackles to relax easily for a while.

After the meal, Qin Jingru cleared the table, Han Jiankun helped tidy up the house, and Li Xuewu carried Li Shu upstairs to sleep.

The child had been fussy for a little while this afternoon, and he was afraid of disturbing Gu Ning's rest.

The two of them read storybooks in the study for a while and drew pictures for a while.

Only when Li Shu yawned and Li Xuewu couldn't keep his eyes open did they lie down on the bed.

He slept straight through until after four in the afternoon, and when he got up, Li Shu was still fast asleep.

She had gotten up too early in the morning, hadn't stopped all morning, and had eaten so much at noon.

Fearing she would be panicked if she woke up and couldn't find an adult, Li Xuewu picked her up and walked downstairs after washing up when he heard movement below.

He didn't want her to sleep too much in the afternoon, otherwise, she wouldn't sleep at night.

Even though today is New Year's Eve, Li Xuewu's family doesn't plan to stay up all night; they sleep whenever they get sleepy.

Swaying down from upstairs, he saw that Han Jiankun and his wife had already returned.

Gu Ning had slept in the afternoon, and they had simply tidied up and driven home.

They had just returned now; Han Jiankun was adding firewood to the fireplace, and Qin Jingru was tidying the flowers in the room.

"You're up already?"

She greeted him, glanced into the inner room, saw Gu Ning lying on the bed reading, and turned on all the lights.

"Rest your eyes quickly, be careful not to get nearsighted."

Not daring to take Gu Ning's book, she could only persuade her verbally while refilling the water glass on the nightstand for Gu Ning.

There is a radio in the inner room, prepared because she was afraid Gu Ning would be bored and even more afraid she would keep reading.

Seeing Gu Ning obediently put down the book, Qin Jingru turned on the radio to listen to a program.

"The two of them came downstairs; I'm going to wash Li Shu's face."

Getting a response from Gu Ning, she went out of the room again, took the groggy Li Shu from Li Xuewu's hands, and said, "Wake up now, you'll turn into a little pig if you keep sleeping~"

"Hehe~"

Li Shu rubbed her eyes, gave a little yawn, and still wanted to keep sleeping.

Qin Jingru teased her, carried her to the washroom, and asked, "Your dad is going to your grandma's house; are you going or not?"

"Grandma?!"

Hearing that she was going out to play, Li Shu became more spirited; she didn't fuss after entering the bathroom and cooperated with Qin Jingru to wash her face.

Li Xuewu asked Han Jiankun to find some peanuts and melon seeds from the storage room, wrap them in paper, and put them in bags.

He was going to take Li Shu back to the courtyard house in a while, and it was inevitable that he would have to greet the neighbors.

On New Year's Eve, it wouldn't be good to just cup his hands and say a few auspicious words and move on.

If it were in the past, he would have let it go, but he doesn't live in the courtyard house and has to take care of his parents, so he can't be too constrained by his status.

So when meeting children, he can't call it New Year's money, but giving a bag of peanuts and melon seeds is a good omen.

As for candy, it's not good to give; giving too little looks bad, and giving too much looks even worse.

In human relationships, the scale of handling things must be just right, between courtesy and politeness.

Sometimes human nature is just that complicated; if you give too much, they will talk about you instead.

The storage room at home is all organized by Han Jiankun; only he can go down to find things, otherwise, he really wouldn't be able to find them.

By the time he brought the things up, Qin Jingru had also finished tidying up the child.

"Why did you take so much?"

She said with some heartache, "Wrapping a little less would have been enough; giving too much isn't enough for their family to chew on."

"Wrap a separate big one."

Li Xuewu instructed Han Jiankun, "Grandma Jia helped when sister-in-law was hospitalized, so we have to go over and see her."

"You are also too thoughtful and too polite."

Qin Jingru muttered, "It's not like we didn't pay her wages; why bother with the face of taking care of her?"

Li Xuewu gave Han Jiankun a look, telling him to listen to him and not care about Qin Jingru's words.

Women sometimes have a little bit of pettiness, or what you might call being calculating.

When Qin Jingru first entered the city and stayed at her sister's house unwilling to return to the countryside, she received plenty of cold looks from Grandma Jia.

Now that she has gained a foothold in the city, she still harbors resentment toward Grandma Jia for no reason.

Actually, if you want to talk about being superfluous, her pettiness is what's superfluous.

If you really want to be angry with Grandma Jia, then don't buy things for Grandma Jia when you go back to the courtyard house to see your sister!

On one hand, she has to save face for Qin Huairu and can't not buy for her.

On the other hand, she has to remember that when she first came to live at her sister's house, although the other party didn't have a good face, she didn't deny her a bite to eat.

It was so many days; anyone's family wouldn't be able to stand it, and it was a family of orphans and widows.

Furthermore, Han Jiankun is also willing to buy things for the Jia family; no matter what, he can't look at Grandma Jia.

Just based on Grandma Jia's mouth and temper, who could live with her?

It's about looking at past favors, and even more about looking at Qin Huairu's current care for him and Qin Jingru.

Not to mention at the factory, even at home, in terms of life, Qin Huairu treats them as relatives; no matter when they go, she never says she won't keep them for a meal.

When they meet, she calls him brother-in-law, very politely, and also respects him very much.

Li Xuewu asked him to wrap a big one to give Grandma Jia face, and also to give Banggeng and the other two children something practical.

Anyway, he doesn't lack these things, and children having some snacks in their pockets during the New Year is a good look.

For a year, Banggeng has been raising those chickens, providing the family with eggs, and has never said he wouldn't do it anymore.

Whenever he sees him, he calls him Wu Shu, Wu Shu; just for his perseverance, there's no need to be calculating about these things.

Han Jiankun wrapped them up nimbly, and when Qin Jingru saw this, she put Li Shu beside Li Xuewu and helped wrap them up too.

When everything was tidied up and put in the car, Li Xuewu also helped his daughter put on her outdoor clothes.

The sky was just turning dark, night was falling, and fireworks were occasionally rising, blooming into a few gorgeous flowers in the high sky.

Han Jiankun isn't going; he and Qin Jingru are helping to look after Gu Ning at home and also preparing the dumplings for the evening.

Li Xuewu put his daughter in the passenger seat and drove to the courtyard house himself.

He could think of the people in the courtyard house, and he could think of Tong Huimei and Jin Jiaojiao living in Dongsi.

He could think even more of other friends and connections in the club.

The things had long been sent over by Shen Guodong, including New Year's goods and New Year's snacks, all of which he had purchased.

At this moment, the streets were deserted, with everyone closing their doors at home for a reunion.

Snowflakes began to drift in the sky, truly fitting the scene of New Year's Eve.

Li Xuewu drove very slowly, afraid his daughter would get bumped or bruised, and also afraid of any negligence in the dark on New Year's Eve.

By the time he arrived at the courtyard house, it was completely dark, and the snow was falling harder, even covering the ground.

Knowing he was coming back, the west courtyard gate was wide open, a bonfire was lit in the courtyard, and several figures were standing around talking.

Seeing the headlights flash in, they knew it was Li Xuewu's command vehicle, and they smiled and cleared the way to the garage.

Li Xuewu parked the car at the garage entrance and walked around the car body to carry Li Shu out.

The child was curious when she saw the snow and struggled to get down and walk by herself.

Seeing her, the Great-Grandfather had long since greeted her, squatted down to dote on her for a while, and then took her little hand to walk into the courtyard.

This little girl was clumsy; she just thought the snow was fun to walk on and giggled.

"Grandpa~"

She liked to call people word by word; at this moment, she looked up at the great-grandfather holding her hand, and her mouth was very sweet.

The Great-Grandfather doted on her as if she were everything; wherever she wanted to go, he coaxed her to go, and the smile on his face never stopped.

A young man came over to take his keys voluntarily and drove the car to the heated garage.

Li Xuewu took out the paper bags and distributed them to Banggeng and the other children who came up to greet him.

They were all neighbors from the nearby courtyard; perhaps seeing the west courtyard gate open and the bonfire lit, they all came in to chat.

In this era, the way of celebrating the Spring Festival was not as rich as in later generations.

There was radio, but no television programs, and certainly no Spring Festival Gala.

Because celebrating the Spring Festival was not allowed, setting off firecrackers was also done sneakily.

With doors closed and lights on, most people gathered at home to play cards or gathered together to chat.

Those with diligent legs would come out for a stroll.

There is an old saying that the God of Wealth sends good fortune on New Year's Eve, and whoever meets him is destined to get rich this year.

There is another saying that the King of Hell also moves out with the God of Wealth; meeting him is naturally bad luck, and you might even kick the bucket.

Of course, these sayings might come from some legend or some previous regulations.

The idea that you can't cut your hair during the first lunar month or your uncle will die is completely nonsense.

This was the shaving policy implemented by the Manchus when they entered the pass, and it changed flavor as it was passed down.

Li Xuewu also came home late at night; he wasn't afraid of meeting the God of Wealth, and even less afraid of meeting the King of Hell.

If he really met the King of Hell, he would still have to collect some taxes!

Why?

Last year and the year before, he gave Old Yan so many quotas; shouldn't he give some kickbacks or something?

With a gun at his waist, even the King of Hell would have to pay a head tax before crossing the street.

Banggeng got the biggest share; although he knew it was for the family, he still shouted happily and ran back into the courtyard.

His shouting attracted more children wandering at night, who ran to Li Xuewu one after another to say auspicious words and reached out to receive the big gift bags.

Adults were out for a stroll, and children today were even more permitted to gather in groups at their doorsteps, carrying canned-food lanterns to wander around.

They weren't trying to bump into the God of Wealth, but liked the thrill of a group of little friends running around playing.

There was firelight in the west courtyard, so naturally, they used this place as a center point, running back and forth.

They just didn't expect that there would be things to receive when they came out to play.

The children's laughter and joy also brought smiles to the adults gathered around the bonfire.

After the children dispersed, those whose parents were present would enthusiastically greet Li Xuewu.

If they were willing to lower their faces and say a few auspicious words, Li Xuewu would jokingly throw a bag of the remaining dried fruit to them.

Regardless of whether the other party cared or wanted it, he just treated it as a joke.

This actually amused everyone; one by one, they used the joke to say auspicious words to Li Xuewu and received a bag from his hands.

The last few bags were thrown to the boys, and he clapped his hands to indicate there was nothing left.

He took out his cigarette case and distributed cigarettes to the men present.

He didn't need help lighting them, because the bonfire was right at his feet, so as long as he pinched a small twig from the fire, he could light a circle of cigarettes.

For a year, it was rare for everyone to cast off their responsibilities and stand together easily to chat and crack a few jokes.

There were no outsiders here; the neighbors in front, behind, left, and right, whether it was Shen Guodong or the boys, had lived here for a long time and were all familiar.

The content of their chat wasn't fixed; wherever it went, it went.

For example, Li Xuewu had returned with his child, so they had to ask how things were at home, when his wife would give birth, whether he had to work tomorrow, and so on.

It seemed like nonsense, but it was actually the most ordinary exchange of interpersonal relationships.

Otherwise, what would they say?

Should they ask him about the development ideas of the rolling mill in the next year, or the recent work dynamics of the security group?

The bonfire reflected red on the faces of the group, and Shen Guodong called out the name of Li Xuecai, who had just come out, and talked about what happened in the morning.

Ji Yuxiu came out with Li Xuecai; both were young and liked this kind of gathering atmosphere.

Especially since the second brother was here, they gathered around too.

"It was quite a riot; there were several injuries."

Ji Yuxiu listened to Shen Guodong's account and emphasized a few sentences.

Seeing his second brother look over, Li Xuecai asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Are these people 'Buddhas'?"

This was a snippet he heard in the morning; it seemed to be the reason why Jia Zhangshi Jianguo's group started that fight.

Shen Guodong smiled, knowing Li Xuecai didn't understand this, and explained, "Those who fight are 'big-shots'; 'Buddhas' are 'Buddhas'. How could a 'big-shot' be a 'Buddha'!"