"Mom, it’s me. Is Dad’s injury any better?"

Huang Ying said, "Much better. He’s already started getting out of bed and walking around a little."

"That’s good. Don’t let him walk too much, or the wound might reopen."

"I know."

Zhang Qian hesitated for a moment before telling her mother, "Xiao Lei came to my place."

Huang Ying was stunned for a second. "How did he get there? Was he by himself, or...?"

"Yeah, just him."

Huang Ying asked tentatively, "Is he planning to stay there and look for a job?"

Zhang Qian replied, "That’s his plan. He found one himself a few days ago, but he couldn’t keep it for some reason. He’s just resting at home now."

Huang Ying paused for a few seconds, then said slowly, "Qianqian, Xiao Lei is still just a kid. He might not be very mature in how he handles things. Your brother isn’t around, so please keep an eye on him. If you can, try to help him out."

Zhang Qian grunted in agreement. "You just stop worrying about other people. Take good care of yourself and Dad at home. Call me if you need anything."

Huang Ying said, "Don’t worry about us. Your work is so tiring, so you should take care of yourselves too."

"Okay, I have to get back to work. I’m hanging up now."

"Okay, go ahead."

After Huang Ying paid for the call, Old Wang from the newsstand said admiringly, "Your kids are so successful. They’re some of the best around here, all in the big cities. You two are truly blessed."

Huang Ying smiled and said, "Yes, but they’re so far away, we can’t really look after them."

Old Wang said, "Everything has its pros and cons. Once your Old Zhang retires, you can just move over there."

Huang Ying nodded and started walking home. What Old Wang had just said reminded her of what Zhang Hui and his wife had said at the hospital, and a wave of sadness washed over her.

When she got home, Zhang Hongjie was still wandering around in the yard.

Huang Ying went over to support him. "Alright, it’s time to go back and lie down. Don’t walk for too long."

Zhang Hongjie looked at her. "What did Qianqian say?"

Huang Ying said, "She was just worried about you, asking how you were doing."

"And?"

Huang Ying shot him a glance. "And what? That’s it."

Zhang Hongjie let her help him into the house. "You look like something’s on your mind. I thought Qianqian said something."

Huang Ying paused. "Nothing’s on my mind. You’re imagining things."

Huang Ying didn’t really want to tell Zhang Hongjie about Zhang Yunlei going to Beijing City to find Zhang Qian, afraid it would make him angry.

Zhang Hongjie slowly sat on the bed. "You’d better be telling the truth. We’ve been together for decades, you think I don’t know you? You’re soft-hearted, and you spoil the kids, especially Zhang Hui. Look at how you’ve spoiled them over the years, they’ve become completely heartless. Haven’t you understood from what they said at the hospital? If we really get to the day we can’t move, we’ll have to rely on Qianqian and her husband. That son and daughter-in-law of yours are unreliable."

Huang Ying’s expression turned ugly. "You heard all of it?"

Zhang Hongjie snorted. "They were talking so loud. I’m not deaf."

Huang Ying sat down on the edge of the bed next to Zhang Hongjie and sighed. "I never expected Yunyun to say something like that. I was disappointed too. But Zhang Hui is the eldest, and he’s a man. I’ve always valued him highly. Forget about whether he’ll take care of us in the future—at the very least, he’s the face of the Zhang family. But this time, when you suddenly collapsed, Zhang Hui took forever to come back. It was Qianqian and her husband who rushed over the fastest. I’ve thought it through. In the future, if you’re gone, I’ll go with you. I won’t be a burden to any of them."

Zhang Hongjie was touched and squeezed his wife’s hand.

"Don’t be so pessimistic. I’ll take good care of myself, and we’ll live for at least another twenty or thirty years. From now on, we’ll keep our pensions for ourselves. We’ll be able to live just fine. We won’t rely on anyone. As long as I’m here, none of the children will dare to bully you."

Huang Ying managed a small smile, looked at Zhang Hongjie, and patted the back of his hand that was holding hers.

"I’ll listen to you."

Zhang Hongjie took the opportunity to ask, "So, what was bothering you just now?"

Huang Ying said, "Qianqian told me that Xiao Lei ran off to Beijing City to find her. He’s staying at her place now."

Zhang Hongjie sneered. "Only a ghost would believe that Zhang Hui and his wife didn’t put him up to this. What a clever little plan. They know Qianqian wouldn’t kick him out. So, what did Qianqian say? Did she find him a job?"

Huang Ying shook her head. "Not yet. I think Xiao Lei found one on his own, but he quit after just a few days."

"Hah. Just like his father. That kid’s been ruined by those two."

Huang Ying said, "Alright, don’t be angry. This is exactly why I didn’t tell you, I was afraid you’d get mad. Since he’s already there, I told Qianqian to help him if she can."

Zhang Hongjie said sarcastically, "I’m afraid even if she finds him something, he won’t be able to stick with it. Ever since he was a kid, he’s only had a three-minute attention span for anything. It’ll just be a waste of a favor."

「In Beijing City, Zhang Yunlei’s opportunity finally arrived.」

That day, Xue Yue came over to Zhang Qian’s place.

"Sister-in-law, my mother-in-law made some flaky pastries. They’re still hot. Come and have some."

Xue Xingzhou wasn’t back yet. Zhang Qian tore off a piece for Tun Tun, then went to call Zhang Yunlei out.

"Tun Tun’s auntie brought some flaky pastries. They’re still hot, come out and eat."

This wasn’t the first time Xue Yue had met Zhang Yunlei. The two families had met at Zhang Qian and her brother’s wedding. She hadn’t paid much attention to the boy back then, and she was surprised to see how grown-up he was now.

"Sister-in-law, is this your nephew? He’s gotten so big."

Zhang Qian nodded. "Yeah, he’ll be nineteen soon."

Zhang Yunlei glanced at Xue Yue a few times. Realizing she was Xue Xingjun’s older sister, a smile instantly appeared on his face.

"Auntie, what should I call you?"

Zhang Qian glanced at Xue Yue. ’How should he address her?’

Xue Yue smiled and said, "Why don’t you just call me Auntie too? You’re in the same generation as Tun Tun."

Zhang Yunlei nodded happily. "Auntie Xue, my name is Zhang Yunlei."

Xue Yue smiled. "This kid is pretty sharp."

Zhang Qian’s lips twitched as she lowered her head and ate her pastry.

Zhang Yunlei looked at Xue Yue and asked, "Auntie Xue, I heard your family owns a supermarket?"

Xue Yue nodded. "We do. If you’re free, you can go check it out with your aunt."

Zhang Yunlei glanced at Zhang Qian, but she was preoccupied with eating her pastry and didn’t even look at him.

"It’s just that I see your brother seems so happy going to work every day. I’ve been in Beijing City for a while now, just idling around with nothing to do. How about I come and help you guys out?"

Xue Yue was taken aback for a moment. "You want to work at the supermarket?"

Zhang Yunlei nodded, then added with some embarrassment, "I feel bad just staying at home and freeloading every day, and I can’t find a job right away. But, you know, I was just saying. Auntie Xue, if it’s difficult for you, then never mind."

Xue Yue blinked and glanced at her sister-in-law out of the corner of her eye. She saw Zhang Qian eating her pastry with a half-smile, saying nothing.

’Does that mean she agrees or disagrees?’

Xue Yue looked at Zhang Yunlei and met his expectant gaze.

She could only say, "My husband is the one who manages the supermarket. I don’t know if they’re hiring right now. I’ll go back and ask him."

Zhang Yunlei smiled and nodded.