"Auntie and them aren't coming?" Wang Qiqi had assumed Wang Damei and the others would show up, but even after Song Ziwen said they could start eating, Wang Damei and her husband were nowhere in sight, which struck Wang Qiqi as odd.

"My dad's unit organized a trip to Yunnan, and my mom went along. She won't be back for a few days," Song Ziwen explained the reason for Wang Damei’s absence. Truthfully, even if they had stayed home, Song Ziwen wouldn't have invited them out for the meal. He still had things he needed to consult Wang Qiqi about, and before he made his final decision, he didn't want his parents to know, nor did he want a simple choice to devolve into complications.

Wang Qiqi gave an "oh." In Wang Qiqi’s mind, Wang Damei's absence was actually better; it allowed for a more relaxed conversation. Besides, Yang Jing also looked quite relaxed. Even though they lived separately after marriage, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship was never ideal. Moreover, Wang Damei was the type who always wanted younger generations to listen to her. Even though she was more restrained now, she would inevitably voice her opinions, which Yang Jing would always find grating.

"It’s good to get out and travel sometimes. Look at my sister; she always talks about going out, but she never ends up going," Wang Qiqi felt that getting out frequently would be a good way to lift Wang Damei’s spirits. However, in this timeline, the siblings Song Yao and Song Ziwen were doing well, the only unfortunate part being the poor fortunes of the Wang Rui family, who had been quite successful in the previous life. She wondered if Wang Damei’s destiny might change this time around.

Song Ziwen recalled his sister’s complaints and then thought about her current business. "Now that she has time, she probably won't go out to play, right? Business is so good. By the way, Qiqi, what do you think about houses in the States?" A detached villa with a garden—Song Ziwen felt envious just thinking about it. His younger sister had such good luck. "Do they have swimming pools?"

A swimming pool? Wang Qiqi had only one thought: "Brother, you've watched too many foreign movies. Houses with swimming pools are so expensive." Maybe in another ten years, they might have the means to buy one with a pool, but it was impossible right now. "Actually, Brother, houses like that are common abroad; it just depends on the neighborhood's security where you buy." Wang Qiqi briefly described the general situation of US housing. "Outside of the big cities, there are basically no high-rise residences. Furthermore, high-rise residences also have many problems. The elevators might be nice now, but in a few years, if the elevator breaks down, where does the money for replacement come from?"

Song Ziwen had initially considered buying an elevator apartment in the future, but hearing Wang Qiqi’s opinion, elevator apartments didn't seem so great anymore, despite the prestige and high cost associated with the elevator fees. "Are they really not good?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Absolutely. Over time, the elevators will always fail. I also thought houses with elevators were better, but after traveling once, I realized that’s not the case at all."

"Regardless, congratulations, little sister, on firmly establishing yourself in the States." Song Ziwen suppressed the jealousy welling up inside him. This time, Qiqi took the lead; in a few years, he would also take his wife and children to the US. "When I have time in the future, your sister-in-law and I will come to the States to visit for a few days." It would still be an experience of having been abroad, especially to the US—such an exciting place.

Yang Jing held back the many questions she had for Wang Qiqi and first inquired about the situation in the US. Wang Qiqi confessed that she hadn't really gone out to sightsee during this trip. "After buying the house, the financial pressure was huge; I rarely went out." Wang Qiqi truly felt regretful this time.

Seeing that half the food was eaten and the necessary small talk was over, Yang Jing focused on steering the conversation toward what Wang Qiqi and Song Ziwen had discussed earlier. Yang Jing constantly shifted her gaze to Song Ziwen, signaling for him to speak first. Wang Qiqi knew this meal wasn't entirely simple, not because Song Ziwen was treating her out of gratitude for adopting her idea.

"Brother, have you told Sister-in-law about what we discussed in the car this afternoon?" For Yang Jing to be signaling so insistently, there could only be two topics. Wang Qiqi paused, considering, and felt it must be about that matter.

Song Ziwen nodded. "I told her, but your sister-in-law still has quite a few questions for you." After Song Ziwen explained the general situation, Yang Jing also felt the proposal was quite good. Song Ziwen was relieved when he saw his wife didn't object. Honestly, he had worried Yang Jing would think this business venture was hopeless. On the way back, Song Ziwen had thought extensively and felt that only this way would his existing knowledge not go to waste. To be frank, since his brother-in-law and the others had gone to Beijing, managing so many properties had often been a headache for him. If he followed Wang Qiqi's plan and set up a relatively formal real estate agency, it could at least alleviate his burden and also generate income. Afterward, Yang Jing asked Song Ziwen some questions about how such a real estate agency should operate, but Song Ziwen had never done it before; he only knew the rough outline. Although he knew that Qiqi wasn't very knowledgeable about it either, he decided to ask her anyway.

So many questions for her? Wang Qiqi felt immense pressure. She truly wanted to say, "Please don't treat me like a genius!" If she truly knew everything, she would have become a billionaire using the US dollar as her currency long ago, instead of traveling far for part-time work to pay off a small housing loan. She had lectured them for quite a while.

Song Ziwen looked at Wang Qiqi, whose mouth was agape, and burst out laughing. "Qiqi, the way you look now actually fits your age. Do you know? You really do know everything, which puts a huge pressure on your brother." Having a capable younger sister leading the way forward put an extraordinary amount of pressure on him.

Wang Qiqi knew her reaction had amused Song Ziwen, but so what? "Brother, I just came up with a general idea. I thought because we have so many properties, you could open a real estate agency, and if you put in more effort, how could that be worse than working for a unit? I didn't bring it up before because I thought you could manage well within the unit." Since he wasn't faring well there, it was better to strike out on his own. "Brother, if you have more capabilities, you could start a renovation company, hire a construction team, or later, even set up a factory specializing in cabinets and wardrobes." Wang Qiqi realized there were quite a few viable paths for Song Ziwen. Song Ziwen was actually quite discerning; one could tell from his clothing. Even very ordinary clothes, after a slight modification by him, would certainly catch the eye, bearing no resemblance to the original plain attire. If he sought further training, he might carve out a niche for himself, especially since this area should still be relatively untapped at this time.

Song Ziwen and Yang Jing hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to offer no concrete advice, but rather to paint a grand picture for them. While the prospects sounded good, the reality was… "Stop, stop, stop. Qiqi, aren't you expecting a bit too much from your brother?" Song Ziwen knew himself well. While he possessed some ability, could he really handle such a large undertaking? This wasn't like his wife's small cross-border shopping business, which was essentially risk-free. A real estate agency primarily involved expenses like staff salaries and utilities. To put it boastfully, Song Ziwen could afford to cover those costs. But the potential loss from starting a factory...

Song Ziwen suddenly had an idea. "You don't actually know how to operate an agency either, so you’re just drawing a big picture for your brother."

"Brother, you need to have ambitions. Without ambitions, you’ll spend your entire life stuck in a small agency." Wang Qiqi would never admit that she genuinely didn't know how to guide him. "Brother, I really don't know. I told you before, the only reason I had this idea was so someone could help manage the properties I own, and isn't it suitable for you? Besides, you've dealt with real estate agencies quite a bit—do you think it's difficult? The key is the listings. Remember the auntie who used to clean for our family? Her husband later opened a real estate agency and did quite well. He didn't know anything back then either, Brother. Don't tell me you lack the courage?"

Song Ziwen knew the person Wang Qiqi mentioned. When Wang Qiqi couldn't conveniently manage the properties under her name, she always had him handle them. In less than a year, he resigned from his job and went into business as an agent. Relying on Wang Qiqi’s numerous properties as a foundation, his agency rapidly expanded. Although he started four years later than that other person, Song Ziwen refused to believe he couldn't surpass him. Moreover, his wife was right: he couldn't just keep coasting at his current unit, and they might not even let him stay there much longer. "I absolutely will not be worse than him. I refuse to believe I can't build up the agency."

Seeing Song Ziwen filled with more fighting spirit than before, Yang Jing was quite happy. She preferred a vibrant and capable Song Ziwen. Although with their current assets, they didn't need to worry about living comfortably, Yang Jing was unwilling to settle for mediocrity. "Why don't you start the agency now before you officially break ties with your unit?" The preliminary work would be quite complex. Since those people treated Song Ziwen that way, Yang Jing felt they should take advantage of the situation. Plus, Qiqi was still in their hometown, so they could ask her for advice if any problems arose. "Let's start preparing tomorrow."

"Ah, isn't that too soon?" Song Ziwen hadn't expected his wife to be so proactive. They had just set the direction, and she was already talking about preparations. This was too fast.

"We need to find a storefront and apply for the business license." Yang Jing wouldn't give Song Ziwen any time to reconsider. This man could sometimes be quite lazy; if no one pushed him from behind, he would procrastinate. Moreover, Yang Jing worried that once their in-laws returned, they might oppose this plan. Therefore, Yang Jing wanted to get this sorted before the in-laws came back. Even if the in-laws objected later, what difference would it make?

Song Ziwen felt bad looking at Wang Qiqi, who was still half-asleep. "Qiqi, Brother will take you out for breakfast later. I’m covering lunch today too." His wife was too impatient. She knew Qiqi had just returned from the US and hadn't even adjusted to the time difference, yet she insisted on looking at properties first and then immediately finding a shop location.

Wang Qiqi desperately wanted to sleep. She had been busy for several hours yesterday, followed by dinner. When she got home, despite being exhausted, she habitually couldn't sleep and only drifted off late into the night. When Song Ziwen knocked on her door, Wang Qiqi felt like she had only slept for a very short time. "Brother, I don't want to eat right now; I just want to sleep." After letting Song Ziwen in, Wang Qiqi longed to retreat to her room. "Brother, wait a moment. You can watch some TV yourself. Oh, right, the cable TV service has been cut off at home." Wang Qiqi belatedly remembered that the TV was also disconnected, meaning she was currently living in a prehistoric era.

"Qiqi, we have a busy day today. We need to look at your house, then find a shop, and then apply for the business permit," Song Ziwen told her, delivering the news she least wanted to hear as she tried to go back to sleep.

Hearing this answer, which was both expected and slightly surprising, Wang Qiqi was a little astonished. However, she was aware of Yang Jing's decisive nature. A woman like that paired with Song Ziwen was quite suitable. "Brother, let me take a quick shower." Since someone had laid out the tasks, she might as well complete them quickly to secure some peace sooner. "Oh, right, Brother, I'll transfer the money to you shortly." Wang Qiqi remembered she hadn't paid Song Ziwen for the house yet.

"That’s not urgent; let’s look at the house first." Song Ziwen wasn't worried that Wang Qiqi would default on the payment. "You will definitely be satisfied with the house."

Wang Qiqi followed Song Ziwen to the fourth floor, directly opposite Song Ziwen's apartment. "Two units per floor is nice; good north-south ventilation. This layout is great."

"Yes. I actually wanted an elevator apartment, but you know I needed a large unit, so the price became too high, and the property management fees are also steep..." Song Ziwen said sheepishly. He had genuinely felt a bit embarrassed about not buying an elevator apartment before, but now he realized it wasn't about saving face; it was about following Qiqi's advice to save money.

"The usable area of an elevator apartment is smaller." Upon entering the apartment, seeing the space for the first time, Qiqi admitted she was very satisfied with this particular layout.

Upon entering, one could see the kitchen facing north, followed by the dining room, and next to the dining room was the bathroom. Beyond that was a north-facing room. On the south side were two rooms separated by a large living room. The innermost bedroom had an en-suite bathroom, making the whole space feel very bright. Sitting in the living room basking in the winter sun would be truly luxurious. "Brother, it’s really quite good. But Brother, if you had bought the top floor, wouldn't they give you an attic?" That would make it much more spacious if his in-laws came to stay.

"No money," Song Ziwen replied curtly. "You know how tight my finances are. Song Yao sold me her commercial space before she went to Beijing; I paid for it entirely in cash." If it weren't for that unexpected expense, would he have settled for the fourth floor? "Besides, a larger house means larger expenses."

Wang Qiqi agreed; it made sense. She walked to the innermost en-suite bathroom. Since there were rooms on both sides, this bathroom lacked ventilation. Wang Qiqi planned to convert it into a storage room, and the north-facing room would become a complete storage area. "Brother, are you planning to use this en-suite as a bathroom, or convert it for other uses?"

"I didn't want to change it, but Yang Jing said it doesn't ventilate well, and steam from showering won't dissipate easily. She plans to convert it into a dressing room." Song Ziwen felt a headache thinking about the clothes currently filling their home. Although they weren't short of money, and having his wife dressed beautifully brought him credit, their home couldn't hold all the clothes. "Your sister-in-law is going all out on her appearance now. The house is full of her clothes. If we turn the bathroom into a closet, I see her enthusiasm for buying clothes only growing stronger." Song Ziwen wasn't implying his wife was wasteful, but the house wasn't very large, and buying so many clothes was quite a burden at home.

"Every woman wishes for a large walk-in closet," Wang Qiqi said. She envied Yang Jing’s wardrobe—so many outfits each season that she could wear them for a year without repeating. Wang Qiqi herself didn't have many clothes: first, considering these clothes would be wasted when she eventually moved to the US, and second, even if she bought new clothes, there was no space. Neither Han Tao's place nor her own residence had much room for clothes. But none of this stopped Qiqi from yearning for a large closet.

Song Ziwen had hoped to find common ground with Qiqi to vent a little, but unexpectedly, his little sister stood firmly on his wife's side. "Women, you all..." No wonder the three women chatting together were having such a lively time.

After walking around, Wang Qiqi had a general understanding of the bathroom situation. "For the bathroom, I plan to use cement to build a basin, and then tile it with some anti-slip floor tiles." This way, Luo Hongjuan could take a basin bath, she herself could take a shower, and Dai Lijun could take a soak—definitely a multi-functional bathtub, and the best part was it would be cheap.

Song Ziwen was initially puzzled why Qiqi mentioned a cement-built bathtub, but after hearing her reasoning, he thought the suggestion was excellent. For instance, when they had children, they could place a small basin underneath for the baby, while an adult could shower beside it. His father-in-law could enjoy a soak, and his wife could shower—it served multiple purposes. "Yes, yes, that's a good suggestion." Song Ziwen pulled out a notebook and pen from his bag and jotted down Qiqi’s suggestions. Of course, these would all need to be discussed with his wife and in-laws; their consensus was that once they had children, no arrangement should be based solely on personal preference; the child's needs had to come first. "Qiqi, are you planning to use wood flooring throughout the house, or tiles in the living room and wood in the rooms?"

"Wood flooring, so it won't be cold in the winter." Wang Qiqi absolutely loved wood. "Don't worry about the baby wetting the floor; think about how long the baby will be able to do that."

Wang Qiqi stood by the living room window, looking outside. She saw houses all around. The only slight positive was that the distance between the buildings was decent. The green space downstairs was minimal, which made Wang Qiqi, fresh off her return from the US, quite uncomfortable. "The environment is still lacking a bit."

"Perhaps I spent too long cooped up in the countryside, where all the buildings were short. Brother, it's really similar to our old village, just better planned, with better landscaping and sanitation." Wang Qiqi gave a polite assessment. Perhaps in the past, she viewed the countryside as a desolate place, always equated with dirt and chaos, but in reality, if planned well, the environment could definitely be better than the city. "Brother, later on, buy a plot of land in a scenic suburban area and build your own house."

When Song Ziwen heard about buying a house in the suburbs, he immediately shook his head. "Forget it; I don't want that." Wouldn't that be a regression?

"Don't regret it later." Wang Qiqi thought that the suburban areas people currently ignored would definitely become prime real estate in a few years, especially with economic development. Suburbs with good air quality and close proximity to the city center would become highly sought-after properties, and with the increase in private cars, that short distance wouldn't be an issue at all.

Regret? Song Ziwen thought it wasn't some priceless treasure. "Your brother is more suited to living downtown. Qiqi, don't compare the foreign countryside with the domestic countryside. Besides, the area where you live isn't exactly the suburbs, right? Aren't they saying it's where all the IT and high-tech companies are gathered? Those are high-end communities, aren't they?" His little sister was being too modest. "And there are artificial lakes, right? And a clubhouse? If the suburbs in our country had such good environments, I would definitely buy a house there."

"Brother, when will we meet with the renovation companies?" Wang Qiqi had a general idea of the house now and wanted to finalize the renovation materials before she left for Beijing. As for the style, Wang Qiqi didn't care; as long as it was comfortable, that was enough.

"So soon?" Song Ziwen thought they hadn't even reached a consensus internally, yet Wang Qiqi was already rushing to find renovation companies. This speed was too fast. Why were all the women around him such hasty people? "I've inquired about several renovation companies. You'll need to handle the specific details, but their quality is decent, and their reputation is good." Their quotes varied; it would depend on Wang Qiqi's choice.

"Do you have any renovation companies you prefer?" Wang Qiqi countered. "I was thinking if possible, we should pick one company to handle everything. That way, negotiations on price will be easier, and it will also be convenient for you to manage."

"Little sister, it's not about what I'm satisfied with regarding the renovation company; it’s about what your sister-in-law and the others are satisfied with," Song Ziwen said with a long face. "They haven't even agreed internally yet." Song Ziwen thought that if he went to ask them about their considerations right now, he'd be asking for trouble. Anyway, he had already bought the house and wouldn't manage the subsequent matters. Especially with him starting the shop soon, his workload would increase, so he wouldn't deal with these things at all.

Wang Qiqi understood his meaning—they all had different ideas about how the house should be renovated. "Brother, being the father of the sons-in-law is not an easy job."

Song Ziwen managed a wry smile. “Thinking about it closely, it really is for the children’s sake.” He worried his previous expression might have given Qiqi a bad impression of Yang Jing’s family. Although he felt that leaving the house untended and un-renovated wasn’t a sustainable situation, it was an internal matter. If Qiqi or Song Yao mentioned it, and by some chance his sister let slip to their mother, Song Ziwen knew his mother would surely object. Perhaps the situation had become slightly complicated precisely because they wanted to make the house better, but if his mother got involved, it wouldn't be a minor complexity—it would become truly convoluted.

“Don’t worry, I’m not that talkative.” Wang Qiqi thought to herself: even if she remained silent about the protracted renovation, didn't Wang Damei already have an inkling? “A purchased house is meant to be lived in; it’s generally better to renovate sooner rather than later, isn't that right, Brother? Considering the children is correct, but there’s no absolutely safe place in this world. A child’s thinking differs from an adult’s; don’t use adult logic to predict a child’s actions. Furthermore, a child who is shielded too safely from a young age may not necessarily benefit her future.” Flowers raised in a greenhouse are inherently delicate; look at Gao Kai—how brilliant he once was, but now, he’s utterly unrecognizable, has he not degenerated?