"Mr. Jiang, second uncle, take care."

Even though they couldn’t agree on the price, Sun Xiangxiang still enthusiastically saw Jiang Tao and Lü Qian out.

After watching the two disappear at the end of the alley, she finally turned around and went back inside, closing the door behind her.

"2.1 million..."

Muttering the price Jiang Tao had given as the bottom line, Sun Xiangxiang hesitated in her heart.

She’d been trying to sell this house since right after the New Year.

There had been a few interested buyers, but in the end, the deals all fell apart over the price.

Ring ring ring—

Suddenly, her phone rang in her pocket.

Sun Xiangxiang took out her phone and saw it was her younger brother, Sun Chengcheng, calling.

"Hello, little brother."

"What! Mom and Dad are both in the hospital?"

"What happened? How could they be so careless!"

"I’m heading out right now, I’ll buy my ticket, I’m coming back. How much is the surgery? Okay, I’ll transfer it to you first."

She said a few short words to her brother over the phone.

After hanging up, Sun Xiangxiang transferred fifty thousand yuan to her brother via WeChat so he could pay the medical bills for their parents first.

Then she went into her room, packed a few things, and headed straight for the train station.

...

Jiang Tao and Lü Qian chatted a bit more when they got back to his place.

They politely turned down Old Lü’s invitation to lunch.

Jiang Tao chose to head home to be with his family.

After lunch today, both families were getting ready to drive back to their hometown.

By the time Jiang Tao drove back to the Bai Gezhuang District, it was already past eleven in the morning.

He parked directly downstairs at his father-in-law’s place and took the elevator up.

"Brother-in-law, you’re back! Mom and Sis are making dumplings in the kitchen~"

Xu Sha opened the door and smiled happily when she saw Jiang Tao at the entrance.

This little sister-in-law was getting more considerate and well-behaved by the day.

Once Jiang Tao came in, she immediately brewed tea, brought over fruit and cigarettes, fussing over him with enthusiasm.

Not long after, Mr. Jiang, Nanny Jiang, and Jiang Bing all got off work from the food factory and came over.

The last to come back was the father-in-law, Xu Wencheng, who had gone fishing early in the morning.

He opened his tackle box—inside were more than a dozen big, lively fish!

"Whoa! Great haul today, in-law! So many fish!"

Jiang Wen saw all those big fish Xu Wencheng brought home and gave him a thumbs up, grinning.

"Wow, so many! And so big! Dad, are you sure you didn’t actually just buy these at the seafood market~"

Xu Li saw how many and how big the fish were and couldn’t help looking amazed.

"Haha, when have I ever gone to the market to buy fish? These are all caught by your dad’s own skills!"

Old Xu had hit the fishing jackpot today, and he was in high spirits.

"When I was in third grade during summer break, you..."

"Ahem ahem! Lili, there’s another fish tub in the study, go get it so I can share some of these with our in-laws."

"With this many fish, it’ll last us more than a few meals when we go back."

Old Xu, seeing his little cotton-padded jacket about to embarrass him, quickly stopped her and sent her to get the stuff.

"Okay~"

Xu Li gave her dad some face, smiling sweetly as she went to fetch the tub.

"Grandpa is amazing, caught so many fish!"

Xiao Xue clapped her hands with delight as she looked at the big, lively fish in the box.

"Daddy, can we buy an aquarium and keep some fish too?"

"The aquarium at Tian Siyu’s house is really cool!"

Xiao Xue grabbed her old man’s arm and started shaking it, pleading cutely.

"Haha, of course! When we’re back after the holiday, Daddy will set it up for you, sound good?"

Jiang Tao grinned and ruffled Little Cotton Padded Jacket’s fluffy hair, readily agreeing.

To tell the truth, he liked those big aquariums too.

But before, scraping by on two salaries just to get by, there was no extra money for fish as a hobby.

He couldn’t bear the expense—and even if he bought one, there was nowhere to put it.

Now living in a big house, with over ten million tucked away in his private stash, getting a big fish tank for fun really wasn’t a big deal.

Women had shopping to satisfy their emotional needs.

Men needed to spend on their own hobbies too, to meet their emotional needs—it was just as necessary.

Money’s meant to be spent after you make it.

Just making money and never spending it—what’s the point, cosplaying as a Pixiu?

"Yay yay yay! I want to buy lots and lots of pretty little fishies~"

With her wish granted, Xiao Xue bounded away happily.

Kids’ happiness really is that simple.

"Jiang Tao, that Lucky Stone you gave me totally works!"

"Ever since I started wearing it, my luck’s been amazing—catching fish so fast!"

Xu Wencheng rolled up his sleeve to show off the "River Stone" bead bracelet Jiang Tao had given him, beaming with delight.

Jiang Tao grinned and reminded his father-in-law, saying:

"This thing was blessed by my master when he was alive—it’s super effective, Dad, make sure you keep it safe and don’t lose it."

"Don’t worry, Jiang Tao—even if I lose myself, I won’t lose this!"

Xu Wencheng nodded solemnly at Jiang Tao’s words.

When Jiang Tao first gave him the "River Stone," he’d barely paid attention, thinking it was nothing special.

There were tons of place selling peace amulets and luck charms everywhere—in all those scenic spots and temples.

They were all just a racket, really—none of them that magical.

But his experience these past couple of days had totally changed Xu Wencheng’s mind!

Since he put on the bracelet Jiang Tao gave him, his daily fish haul had been four or five times heavier than before!

His luck had honestly improved a ton.

The fishing buddies he knew all said his luck was through the roof these couple of days, and looked at him with real envy.

After a bit of small talk, Xu Wencheng picked a two-jin carp from the box and headed for the kitchen.

With decades of fishing experience, this father-in-law also really knew how to cook fish.

Sour fish, grilled fish, steamed fish—he could do it all.

By the time mother-in-law and the others finished making dumplings, a fragrant, mouthwatering sour fish dish was served on the table as well.

The fish meat and bones were perfectly separated, so you could enjoy the tender fish while still getting the nutrition from the bones.

Little Cotton Padded Jacket, Xiao Xue, loved her grandpa’s fish the most, and she had a sweet mouth—every time she praised her grandpa, he couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear.

"Grandpa’s fish is amazing—way better than the top chefs at Five Stars hotels! It’s a shame you’re not running your own restaurant~"

After a delicious bite of fish, Xiao Xue gave Grandpa a big thumbs up in praise.

"Hahaha, no one praises like our Xiao Xue. Eat as much as you like—whenever you want fish, just come to Grandpa’s and I’ll make it for you!"

Xu Wencheng happily served another piece of fish to his granddaughter; though Xiao Xue was his "daughter’s child," to him it was the same as having a granddaughter.

Xiao Xue tilted her little head and said, "But what if I want it every day?"

Old Xu laughed and said, "No problem—Grandpa will make it for you every day~"

"Hehe, thanks Grandpa~ Grandma’s boiled pork slices and Grandpa’s braised pork are fantastic too!"

Having praised Grandpa, she turned and praised Grandma and Grandpa as well.

Jiang Wen laughed heartily, "Haha, we didn’t prep for it today, but tomorrow you can come to Grandpa’s house for lunch and I’ll make braised pork for you!"

Xiao Xue beamed and nodded, "Mhm! Absolutely!"

"Then the day after tomorrow, Grandma will make you boiled pork slices."

"Yay~ It’s a deal, Grandma!"

The little one was the favorite at both homes, looking so pleased with herself.

Jiang Tao teased her, "You—just think about eating all day long. Careful or you’ll turn into a little chubby ball!"

"No way! I’m just like Mommy—no matter how much I eat, I won’t get fat, not like you. Daddy even gets fat just drinking water~ Nyah nyah nyah~"

"Hahahaha..."

"Hahahaha..."

"Those two."

The little one poked fun at her old man and stuck out her tongue, making everyone burst out laughing.

Lunchtime today suddenly hit its warmest, happiest note.

After they were full and content, everyone sat together, had some tea, and rested up for a while.

Around three in the afternoon, everyone headed downstairs together, juggling big and small bags.

Dad Jiang Wen drove his Mercedes G-Class to lead the way, and father-in-law Xu Wencheng followed in his Mercedes GLS.

The two cars, one after the other, headed off out of the city together.