Wang Qiqi only realized at the train station that little Taotao, who shouldn't have been there, was coming along too. "I thought you weren't bringing Taotao?" This trip back was purely for Song Ziwen's real estate agency grand opening—a rushed in-and-out affair, just two days. They had originally planned to fly, but decided against it because Song Ziwen would have had the hassle of picking them up from the airport; the train was easier, and tickets were surprisingly easy to get at this time.

Song Yao watched her son, who was visibly thrilled to see Han Tao, with an expression of utter disdain mixed with the resignation of a mother whose child is growing up. "I actually planned to ask Aunt Luo to watch him for a couple of days. I even went over it with the little guy, but once he knew you were going too, he insisted on coming. He even kept saying he wanted to see his maternal grandparents and uncle. Honestly, I think he just wants to cozy up to Han Tao, his 'Yi Fu' (uncle-in-law)."

Song Yao found it consistently strange. Her son’s relationship with Han Tao had never been particularly good or bad, but ever since Han Tao gave the boy that model airplane, the relationship between the two 'Taotaos/Taotao' had become incredibly close. Taotao even called his uncle-in-law every day. Song Yao pouted; she hadn't seen her son call her so diligently even when she was away from him.

Song Yao was feeling a little jealous of her son’s affection for his uncle-in-law, but when Taotao saw his 'Xiao Yi Fu' (younger uncle-in-law), he immediately climbed onto his lap. "Yi Fu, Yi Fu, Taotao missed you. Did you miss me?" Taotao now felt that his uncle-in-law loved him the most because he brought him toys. His auntie was taking him less seriously these days—hmph—he just knew it was because his aunt preferred his little sister. Taotao had insisted on going back with his parents this time because he was worried that once his uncle-in-law went back and saw his beautiful, fragrant little sister, he might start disliking Taotao, just like his aunt. Then what would he do?

Han Tao was oblivious to the little one’s calculations. Seeing the boy so happy to be with him, he naturally engaged in play. Every time he saw Taotao missing his uncle, Song Ziwen, he wondered if his and Qiqi’s future children would resemble Song Ziwen, if they would be as adorable as Taotao. Although everyone thought Taotao was a bit rambunctious, Han Tao felt that was just what boys were like. He couldn't recall his own childhood, only knowing that he had to be compliant and stay home reading books. Therefore, he didn't want his children to follow his path; he wouldn't mind if they were a bit wilder, even if they caused minor trouble, like kicking a soccer ball through a neighbor’s window.

Wang Qiqi watched the good rapport between the large and small figures and let it go. "Thank goodness this kid isn't 1.2 meters tall, or we’d have to buy him an extra ticket." Thankfully, it was a soft sleeper compartment, so an extra child wasn't an issue.

Song Yao hummed and pulled a cake out of her bag. "I baked a cake. Want some?"

Wang Qiqi shook her hand. "No thanks, I just ate my fill." Eating this now, Wang Qiqi worried she’d gain weight before nighttime.

Song Yao said "Oh," and put it back in the bag. "Your brother-in-law's family somehow got wind that we are heading back. They’ve paged your brother-in-law several times, saying the elder's health is poor." Hmph, she thought, they must be thinking about the house demolition, and now they think they can dictate things. Well, that matter was already settled, but they insisted on acting as if they couldn't see the situation clearly. "Apparently, his younger brother—my sister-in-law's brother—lost quite a bit of money in business."

Of course, this information was what Song Ziwen discovered after hearing the rumors and making inquiries, which also made Song Yao understand why their parents, despite receiving holiday stipends from their family every year plus their own pensions, still seemed to always be short of funds.

"What? Gong Peixing’s brother went into business?" Wang Qiqi didn't know what his brother was up to in her previous life—he definitely hadn't been in business, supposedly just floating along in a state-owned enterprise. How could he be in business in this life? Immediately, she recalled the Master's words. Although she had always been careful not to alter the course of events in this world, even her minor changes had affected the lives of many people. "Wait, wasn't he always working at the unit?" Wang Qiqi knew her expression was slightly off and quickly voiced her confusion.

"It's just envy that your brother-in-law is doing so well now. They think it's because he’s in business." Song Yao pouted. Hmph, as if running a business was easy. Still, that younger brother-in-law was quite unlucky to lose that much money in business. "When I was supposed to come to Beijing, they even approached your brother-in-law, demanding he transfer the shop and the inventory to them, without even mentioning money." Song Yao fumed thinking about it. At the time, she hadn't given it much thought, assuming they were just trying to freeload again. But now, looking back, perhaps they intended to use that inventory to pay off their debts. "I truly don't understand why they push themselves when they clearly lack the capability."

"Maybe they're just envious seeing you become prosperous," Wang Qiqi said, worried that their debt might spill over onto Song Yao and her husband. She voiced her concern.

Song Yao scoffed a few times. "What are we afraid of? We didn't borrow money, and we didn't act as guarantors. No matter where they take it, it has nothing to do with us." She paused. "Your brother-in-law and I have discussed it: if they push things too far, we’ll immediately sell all the property back home and use the money to buy a place here in Beijing." At least that way, she wouldn't have to worry about having nowhere to live when they returned. She certainly didn't want the money she worked so hard to earn going to pay off someone else's debts.

"Sister, you shouldn't even consider that idea," Wang Qiqi thought this was just angry talk; there was no way they wouldn't care. "Auntie and the others are still back home; it’s not like we're never going back." Wang Qiqi suddenly felt that although her own family and Han Tao's had their share of difficult relatives, upon closer thought, many were people they simply didn't associate with. Besides, now that Luo Hongjuan was in Beijing, there was absolutely no need to listen to what they were saying about them outside—just treat it like flatulence.

Song Yao knew this perfectly well; she was just venting. "Sigh, we'll see." Just thinking about it was frustrating. "Don't say anything to your brother-in-law about it. I'll let him handle it." In the past, Song Yao would have nagged him relentlessly, pointing out how heartless his parents were then and how shameless they were now. But Song Yao knew the more she said, the more Gong Peixing would become resistant, potentially even stirring up some sense of filial obligation toward his parents.

Wang Qiqi gave an "Oh," indicating she understood. She glanced at Gong Peixing's retreating figure and shot Song Yao a look, signaling that the topic should be dropped. "Right, is Wang Rui’s issue settled?" School had started quite a while ago; if anything were going to happen, it should have happened already. How come there was no news?

Wang Rui’s situation had actually been resolved long ago, but Wang Qiqi hadn't brought it up, and Song Yao certainly wasn't going to volunteer the information. Since Qiqi mentioned it today, she might as well talk about it. "Wang Rui broke up with that man and got involved with someone from Hong Kong. But do you know what that person does for a living?"

Wang Qiqi shook her head, signaling she didn't know; she wasn't a fortune teller, how could she know what the other person did?

"That person actually drives a truck—one of those that runs between the mainland and Hong Kong," Song Yao said, getting angry just thinking about it. Fine, she could accept that a girl in her prime would date a man over forty, but she should at least find someone of high caliber, or someone with a mid-level job and education. But how could she end up with this kind of trash? So what if he was from Hong Kong? He was still just a truck driver. Song Yao felt her cousin's taste was abysmal. She recalled how Wang Rui always used to boast she’d find a boyfriend more impressive than Wang Qiqi. But looking at her current choices, Song Yao thought it would be extremely difficult for Wang Rui to rise in life through men.

Wang Qiqi froze, looking at Song Yao in disbelief, then fished in her ear. "Did I hear that correctly?" Good heavens, the downgrade was too drastic! To be someone's mistress and be the mistress of that kind of man? "Is her brain fried?" Wang Qiqi felt this couldn't be true love. She believed Wang Rui’s true love should have been that boy, Gao Kai, since he was her first love and first man—otherwise, why would she have messed around with him during winter break when she already had another man? Wait, Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something. "Did that fellow from Guangzhou hear anything about Wang Rui when he came back?" Although the incident was long past, the Gao family was considered notable in their small area back home—though infamous. And when the Gao family was mentioned, Wang Qiqi and Wang Rui would often bring up related figures in casual conversation.

Song Yao hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to react so quickly. She nodded. "Yes. I’m not entirely clear on the details. I heard they started arguing constantly after returning home, and that’s when Wang Rui got involved with the Hong Kong man, and then..." Song Yao looked around furtively. "She was caught red-handed, and the man demanded Wang Rui pay him compensation." Song Yao was speechless regarding Wang Rui. If she wanted to be with the Hong Kong man, she should have just broken up with her boyfriend cleanly; she wouldn't have ended up so miserable. "Do you think that man was willing to wear such a green hat?"

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Wang Rui to be so formidable, but it did fit her personality. "Since she was caught red-handed, it's normal for the Hong Kong man to pay." There was no reason for Wang Rui to pay that money. However, Wang Qiqi could predict that Wang Rui’s life at school wouldn't be easy. Her boyfriend wouldn't spread the embarrassing story (for his own sake), but since he was a local bully, causing trouble for Wang Rui would be simple enough.

"This is where Wang Rui’s black heart comes in. The Hong Kong man paid, and the matter seemed settled, but she conceived of a path to wealth and called back home..." Although the truth of the matter deviated slightly from Wang Qiqi’s initial expectations, it was enough to shock Song Yao. She hadn't realized Wang Rui could be so ruthless. "When you go back, if you see Little Uncle, don't mention Wang Rui. According to my mother, he got sick from anger after he returned."

Song Yao thought Wang Dagui was somewhat pitiful. His wife divorced him, and his daughter turned out like this; all his hopes were gone. It was a miracle he hadn't been angered to death.

"Auntie must have reminded you?" Wang Qiqi knew Wang Damei must have worried that Wang Qiqi, with her sharp tongue, might further agitate Wang Dagui. Regarding this, Wang Qiqi asserted that she was just watching the show; if Wang Dagui was stimulated into falling ill, don't blame her—that would be thankless work. Besides, his staying alive was the greatest punishment for him, wasn't it? "Don't worry, I completely ignore him."

Song Yao hadn't even fully unpacked when she returned home before ordering her younger brother to his new place. "Go see what that 'most beautiful community' you and Qiqi talk about looks like." When Song Yao got home, she saw Wang Dagui's miserably sad face and didn't want to see him, so she immediately dragged Song Ziwen off to look at his new apartment.

Song Ziwen was helpless in the face of the impatient Song Yao. "Sister, my opening is tomorrow, and I have a lot of things to deal with." Although all the preparatory work was done, Song Ziwen still felt uneasy about something. He had worked tirelessly when his older sister opened her shop, but back then, the shop wasn't his. He didn't have the same feeling; now this was the starting point of his career, so how could he not be nervous? Even a small oversight would feel like a huge regret to him.

Song Ziwen was quick-witted. He figured he had no time to take Song Yao sightseeing, but Wang Qiqi did. It would be perfect if she could check on the renovation progress. "Sister, please let your little brother off the hook! Qiqi, Qiqi has been there before, go ask Qiqi!" Having said that, Song Ziwen immediately bolted, giving the distinct impression that whether she agreed or not, he was not staying behind.

Song Yao watched Song Ziwen disappear from sight. "Tsk, still so flighty. It's just opening a real estate agency; is there any need to be this nervous? When I opened my shop, I was definitely calmer than he is." Song Yao said with distaste.

Gong Peixing, watching Song Yao express such disdain for Song Ziwen, desperately wanted to tell her that when she opened her shop, she wasn't much better. Even for a tiny space, she inspected it over and over, asked questions incessantly, and couldn't sleep properly for half a month. And the night before the opening, if he hadn't held onto his wife, who knew if she wouldn't have stayed up all night at the shop for one more inspection.

After criticizing Song Ziwen, Song Yao turned and saw her husband looking at her with a conflicted expression. She knew Gong Peixing must have been reminded of her own embarrassing behavior during her shop opening. "I'm a woman, for one thing. Besides, I was meticulous back then. Song Ziwen is a man; he'll face plenty of bigger situations. So, I’m not entirely satisfied with his performance today—it’s just barely passing." With that, she hurried upstairs with her luggage.

Gong Peixing watched his wife's flushed face, realizing he couldn't dwell on it any longer, or she might get angry. He smiled quickly and followed his wife upstairs to put away the luggage, then took her to see Qiqi and Song Ziwen’s place. He knew that perhaps he and Song Yao would get through the rest of the day relatively peacefully, but once his parents found out he was back, he had no idea what new difficulties they would concoct for him.

After receiving the call from his parents, Gong Peixing hadn't dismissed the thought of helping his younger brother, regardless of how poorly they had treated him; after all, he was still his brother. But Song Yao’s words were also correct: if he helped this time, what if an even bigger disaster struck next? Gong Peixing knew how tight the family finances were now, and he was well aware of how shameless his parents and brother were. There was no way he could use the little nest egg they had painstakingly earned to plug their black hole. The problem was that this bottomless pit was certainly a major issue. His wife’s simple few sentences extinguished Gong Peixing’s desire to help his parents completely.

Wang Qiqi had expected that even if Song Yao was interested in the newly purchased apartment, she would at least rest a bit before thinking about seeing it in the afternoon. She hadn't expected someone to be so eager. "Sister, don't you need any rest?" Although they had soft berths to sleep on, the noise from the train all the way had prevented everyone from resting well. Moreover, Wang Qiqi found the bedding dirty and just wanted a good night's sleep at home, yet Song Yao seemed to have endless energy.

Song Yao looked at the wailing Wang Qiqi. "What are you complaining about? If I don't go see the apartment now, I predict I won't even have time tomorrow night before I leave." She knew that as soon as she arrived home, those difficult relatives would find out and likely be knocking on her door. She needed to see the place while her mood was still good. "Oh, Ziwen mentioned that we’re all having dinner tonight to celebrate internally."

Wang Qiqi murmured an "Oh." She assumed this was to discuss the matter of the rural house demolition with Song Ziwen, so she didn't think much of it. Wang Qiqi had originally intended to discuss this with Song Ziwen tomorrow, but scheduling it early was the same thing.

Song Yao had intentionally phrased it that way. She certainly didn't want to dine with her in-laws that evening; even if they prepared delicacies, she wouldn't have the appetite to eat, knowing it would be paid for with her money. As for whether Gong Peixing would go, that was not her concern.

Gong Peixing gave a wry smile. So his wife knew everything, and by leaving the decision-making power to him, she was essentially forcing him to declare his position. If he intended to help his brother with the debt, he would first need to clarify why the external debt occurred and from whom it was borrowed. These questions couldn't be settled quickly. "Then, after I check out the apartment, I’ll head back for a visit." Some matters were best settled outright. His brother's debt was not something he, the older brother, should bear. Furthermore, Gong Peixing didn't believe his brother hadn't made money initially. He suspected, given his family's nature, they must have earned quite a bit at the start, then saw how easily money came in, increased their investment, and borrowed money, leading to the situation where they owed significant debt. But there was another possibility: they were deceiving him and hadn't actually borrowed that much. "We'll have dinner together then."

Dinner together? Song Yao understood he was purely going back to state his case clearly, to draw a firm line. If he intended to help his brother repay the debt, he would absolutely need to sort out why the external debt occurred and from whom the money was borrowed. These issues couldn't be resolved in a short time.

Song Yao climbed the stairs. "Song Ziwen is really something; why didn't he buy an elevator apartment?" Look how grand it looks! Hmph, what a stingy fellow. At least she wouldn't have to run up and down stairs like this, making her feel so clumsy.

"I think it's fine. It’s good exercise going up and down, and elevator apartments are more expensive with higher common area fees," Wang Qiqi repeated the reasons she had given Song Ziwen for disliking elevator buildings. "Sister, elevator apartments seem nice, but the future maintenance costs are expensive."

Song Yao thought Wang Qiqi was overthinking things. In her view, elevator fees weren't things that broke down easily. However, it wasn't an impossible scenario. The thought of climbing over ten flights of stairs if the elevator broke down made her feel she might as well die. This would absolutely kill a person. But she wouldn't give up so easily. "Your sister will buy an elevator apartment in a few years. Later, when your sister hits the jackpot, I'll buy a villa." On the way to Beijing, they passed quite a few villas. Even though it was just a quick glimpse, the environment made Song Yao envious and greedy. In the past, she never considered this possibility, but now she felt that if the current trend continued, this possibility wasn't out of reach. "Then, when Taotao gets married, I won't have to worry about housing; I can live with my son and daughter-in-law."

"Sister, if you say that out loud, quite a few people are going to cry themselves to death," Wang Qiqi commented bluntly. If even Song Yao was worrying about housing for Taotao's wedding, then many people in the country would find the issue of their son's future marital home incredibly important.

"Exactly, Sister, that's quite unkind of you." Don't let Han Tao's constant presence in front of the computer fool you into thinking he had the worst stamina; Han Tao actually worked out frequently at the gym when he was in the US, plus he cycled to and from work every day, so his physical fitness was excellent. Therefore, when climbing stairs, Han Tao didn't look as winded as Gong Peixing.

Song Yao looked at Han Tao, who appeared visibly relaxed, and then at her own husband, who was openly gasping for breath. She realized her husband’s stamina wasn't very good now. If this continued, it would be disastrous. Oh, right, Gong Peixing’s little paunch was slowly growing, which was a major issue that absolutely needed to be corrected.

Since the renovation had already started, the plumbing and electricity were mostly finished. Because they were rushing the schedule, Wang Qiqi decided to buy all the furniture ready-made. The only custom work was turning one interior washroom into a walk-in closet or storage room, where a carpenter built floor-to-ceiling cabinets. This was the largest carpentry job in the house, and it wasn't even that big; it had long been completed. Now, the workers were starting to lay tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms; the project was progressing very quickly.

Although Han Tao had heard Wang Qiqi's detailed descriptions before, honestly, seeing the actual site made a deeper impression. He looked around. "It's very nice. And there’s a garden downstairs." Han Tao was absolutely satisfied with this location. Even if his mother wanted to spend a few days back in their hometown later, this environment would be perfectly acceptable.

"Well, otherwise how could Song Ziwen be satisfied?" Song Yao discovered her younger brother truly had excellent taste; the location, the layout of this house, and even the entire complex highly pleased Song Yao. However, it only pleased her—never mind that she lacked the means to purchase it, even if she did have the means, it was unlikely she would buy it. Otherwise, if they bought it, her in-laws’ house would be sold off to pay her brother-in-law’s debts, and then they could suggest moving in here. Following that, they might scheme to leave this house to their younger son. Wait—Song Yao suddenly considered a possibility: could the in-laws truly harbor this exact idea? Good heavens, while she had entertained the thought before, she had always believed it was too shameless. But after returning to their hometown, this possibility seemed increasingly certain.

Song Yao’s strange expression was immediately noticed by Wang Qiqi. She found it odd. Her sister-in-law had been genuinely happy moments ago, admiring the layout, discussing decoration plans as Qiqi enthusiastically explained her ideas. How, in the blink of an eye, had her sister’s expression soured?