Shi Man had always thought she was busy enough, juggling shopping for things and working odd jobs, but every time she went online, Wang Qiqi seemed even busier. Most of the time, Qiqi was online but unresponsive, or after exchanging just a few words, she’d say she was tired and going to sleep. After the first or second time, Shi Man grew suspicious.

Just as Wang Qiqi was yawning and about to tell Shi Man she was heading to bed, she saw the message Shi Man sent and was startled. The message read: Qiqi, you aren't pregnant, are you? That’s the only explanation for why you’re always sleepy.

Hearing this, Wang Qiqi spat out the grape she had in her mouth. “Good heavens, do I look pregnant?”

Wang Qiqi aggressively typed on the keyboard: You’re the one who’s pregnant! I’m just a bit tired lately.

Shi Man obviously knew someone was tired, but the question remained: What have you been so busy with lately that you’re exhausted? I haven't been this tired. Don’t tell me you’ve been doing all the housework and cooking for those two men every day?

Shi Man thought it wasn't impossible, but she wondered if the two men had the nerve to let Qiqi bring them meals when she was this busy. Even if cycling to Han Tao’s workplace wasn't far, preparing two meals a day plus cleaning up was definitely exhausting: Your man is quite harsh, making you deliver food. Men shouldn't be spoiled too much, or they'll only become more demanding. Look at you now.

Shi Man’s concern warmed Wang Qiqi: Actually, I prepare both their lunch and dinner in the morning for them to take; I just make do for myself at noon. If they’re home for dinner, I’ll cook, but if not, I just boil some noodles.

Wang Qiqi’s explanation left Shi Man truly bewildered. If she wasn't delivering meals, what kind of mess could Dai Lijun possibly make just by coming back to sleep? Suddenly, Shi Man seemed to realize something: You didn’t go look for a new place, did you?

The word ‘house’ gave Wang Qiqi a headache: I’ve looked at so many properties, but this one is the most troublesome—I need to prepare the comparison notes, then show them to Han Tao, and then find time for him to go look at places together. One word: tiring. Two words: very tiring. Three words: extremely tiring.

Wang Qiqi recalled the heart-wrenching process of house-hunting over the last few days. Sometimes she genuinely felt like such a major decision as buying a house was somehow dumped on her, the tomboy. Of course, the task itself wasn't overly strenuous, but Wang Qiqi couldn't drive. If she had a car, it would actually be quite easy: Manman, I must learn to drive when I get back. It’s seriously inconvenient without a car here.

Back home, there was the subway and public buses, and if all else failed, taxis. As long as you weren't stuck in a very remote area, transportation wasn't a worry. But here, not only were buses scarce and mostly confined to the city center, taxis weren't roaming the streets everywhere. Even if she managed to flag one down, Wang Qiqi didn’t dare ride them—they were far too expensive. Plus, Wang Qiqi worried about not being able to hail a cab when it was time to go back. That would truly be a situation where crying wouldn't help.

Regarding the issue Wang Qiqi complained about, Shi Man didn’t feel it as deeply because her range of activities wasn't as wide. Moreover, Feng Xuanxiang had a car, and if they needed to go somewhere far, Shi Man would wait until Feng Xuanxiang had time.

After venting to Shi Man, Wang Qiqi felt much better: Girl, my best friend is the best when it matters. I can’t make Han Tao unhappy over such a small thing. But this life is about to end. I’ve spotted a few houses, but I just don't know if Han Tao will be satisfied because the cycling distance from his workplace is a forty-minute ride. I worry he might disagree.

That far? Although Shi Man knew such a drive time wasn't very long in the US, she had been to where Wang Qiqi and the others lived—it was a satellite city, not very large. Based on the route Wang Qiqi described, it was truly on the outskirts of the city: Didn't you plan to buy a house near your current rental complex? Why go so far? Is it because of money?

Wang Qiqi: If only it were about money! The problem is, the people around here aren't short on cash, and they work nearby too. There's no reason for them to trade their place for one further away. The environment and facilities here are excellent; there’s even less reason to move. Sigh... Shi Man suddenly had an idea: I wonder if your landlord has any intention of selling? When I stayed at your place last year, we chatted, and they seemed interested in moving out, saying the climate here wasn't good for the old lady's health.

Shi Man’s message made Wang Qiqi jump. The landlord was thinking of moving away? This news initially made Wang Qiqi happy, but then her spirits sank. If the landlord intended to sell, Han Tao should know. John was their son, and Han Tao had a good relationship with him, having asked him for help in finding a place. If Mark and his wife were considering selling, John wouldn't have kept silent.

Wang Qiqi thought that the old couple wasn’t lacking money. Although the old man was retired, he dabbled in the stock market and was quite wealthy. Maybe they wanted to keep the house so they could return anytime it was convenient.

Wang Qiqi had planned to drive around the neighborhood that afternoon to look for houses for sale, but after hearing this news, she completely lost the motivation to go out searching. She felt completely drained and decided to just stay home and sleep the afternoon away, not waking up until Han Tao returned.

Han Tao was surprised to find Wang Qiqi wasn't curled up asleep on the sofa when he walked in. Feeling it was strange, he walked to the bedroom and pushed the door open to find the air conditioning on and Qiqi lying in bed: Qiqi, have you eaten dinner?

Wang Qiqi had actually woken up earlier but felt too tired to get up. “I don’t want to eat; I just want to sleep.”

“You can’t skip a meal. I’ll go boil some noodles.” Han Tao knew his wife had been tired these past few days; he could tell from the thick stack of comparison notes, especially since she had cycled everywhere to gather that information. It was even more tiring than when she helped Bai Ge look for a storefront last time, as she didn't have to cycle around searching for properties then.

While eating the noodles Han Tao made, Wang Qiqi shared the news about the landlord possibly moving: Do you think they would sell the house?

“Impossible,” Han Tao stated confidently. “Mark is apparently a shareholder in a company and has to return for meetings every year. Besides, he has some old friends here.”

“And people as wealthy as them usually have multiple properties. It’s normal.” Han Tao knew Wang Qiqi wanted to buy a place nearby so his commute would be easier in the future: “Besides, we can keep renting here. We can move into the house we buy once we have a car.”

Wang Qiqi realized he was right; she had been foolish. The rent here wasn't expensive. She only had to pay when she was actually staying here; when it was empty, she didn't pay anything. It seemed quite reasonable no matter how she looked at it. “Okay, then tomorrow I’ll look for a place that isn't too far and has a nice environment.” Having made up her mind, Wang Qiqi thought the new developments looked quite good too. The newness of the buildings and the surrounding environment were excellent, especially since one complex had a small artificial lake where they could buy a small inflatable raft later. “Then let’s check out that complex I mentioned last time. The environment is nice, about a fifty-minute drive. They’ve also started pre-sales.”

Wang Qiqi quickly made her decision: When do you have time, and we’ll go look at the houses together? Since it was decided, she might as well settle it quickly. In any case, she was worried about money being tied up in the stock market. Even if they earned a little less, it was better than losing money.

Han Tao calculated in his head: “I have two days off this weekend. We can drag Dai Lijun along to look then.” Didn't that kid keep bragging about wanting to see his new house? “I estimate that Daizi will stay at our place for a while. We’ll need at least three bedrooms, right?” His mother could stay with them too when she visited.

“Yes, definitely,” Wang Qiqi thought three rooms might not even be enough: “Mom will be here, and my aunt and older cousin also said they’d come stay for a while to experience the atmosphere. Especially Song Yao, she always says that once we settle down here, she’ll buy a house and send Taotao over.” Their couple would then earn money back home, and the kids would likely be left in our care.

“Your aunt will come to help take care of the kids?” Han Tao wondered if Qiqi would be the one taking care of Taotao. That was a huge responsibility—it wasn’t just about feeding and clothing him; it was about preventing him from learning bad habits and encouraging him to strive for the best. How could that responsibility be light? If Taotao came, there was no reason Song Ziwen’s daughter wouldn’t come too.

“If my aunt doesn’t come, who will look after the child? If they live close by, we can keep an eye on things.” Wang Qiqi was worried at first, but if Wang Damei came, there would be no need to worry. However, Wang Qiqi figured that if they came, her leisurely days would be over, as Wang Damei would definitely be nagging her about one thing or another.

The thought of Wang Damei arriving made Han Tao’s face crinkle: “I hope they don’t buy a house too close to us when they get here.” But the possibility was slim; Wang Damei and her husband didn't speak English, and they would eventually have to rely on Wang Qiqi if anything happened. Han Tao could only hope they didn’t buy the house next door.

“My worry is if my aunt comes, and your mother comes too, and they have some kind of conflict over a small matter…” This was Wang Qiqi’s biggest concern. Wang Damei had a rather bad temper, and if she clashed with Luo Hongjuan over something minor one day, how would she handle it? The thought made Wang Qiqi tremble.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about things so far in the future. We’ll look at houses this weekend and settle on one quickly.” She couldn't worry too much about the future; besides, houses were selling so fast, it was possible that by the time Song Yao and the others wanted to buy, there wouldn't be any houses left in their preferred area. Wang Qiqi genuinely felt she was overthinking things.

Dai Lijun panted as he followed behind Wang Qiqi: “Qiqi, how much further?” Good heavens, why was the location of the houses so far away? It felt like a half-hour ride on a bike! He regretted not staying home to sleep or chat with his girlfriend on such a nice day. Moreover, they might not even decide to buy this house today; it was a total miscalculation.

“We’re almost there.” Wang Qiqi glanced back at her classmate Dai Lijun, shaking her head. This guy was supposed to be a man, but his stamina was terrible.

Almost there? Dai Lijun didn't want to complain: “Qiqi, you’ve said that countless times.” Dai Lijun had asked how much further twenty minutes after setting off. Back then, Qiqi said it was soon, but now, another twenty minutes had passed, and she still said soon. This was too much, considering he had asked several times in between.

“We’re really here this time.” Wang Qiqi pointed to the residential area appearing ahead: “Besides, how far do you think I would buy a house?”

Hearing they were finally close, Dai Lijun let out a breath of relief: “Then let’s rest for a bit before we go in.” Dai Lijun looked at the empty road, with only an occasional car passing by: “This place is really desolate.” It was kind of creepy. “The environment looks nice, just a bit far.”

Wang Qiqi sipped some water while listening to Dai Lijun drone on. She saw Dai Lijun had already drunk more than half of his water: “Pace yourself. We still have to ride back.” If they ran out of water on the way, they would truly be done for, especially since they hadn’t seen any supermarkets along the route.

Dai Lijun was speechless. He really wanted to ignore Wang Qiqi’s advice and finish the water in his hand, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. What if they really ran out of water halfway? He wouldn't have anyone to blame then.

Since he couldn't drink the water, Dai Lijun also lost the desire to rest: “Let’s go inside and look at the houses.” Getting this settled earlier meant getting back sooner to enjoy the air conditioning and fruit. Even without fruit, Dai Lijun felt it would be more comfortable than right now.

Upon entering the complex, Dai Lijun found the environment truly excellent, with lush green trees: “It’s very nice, good environment, and the yard is quite big.” As they walked, Dai Lijun kept nodding: “Ah, and there’s a lake!” Good heavens, this seemed unbelievable to Dai Lijun. Although it wasn't large, it was still a lake! At least they could swim or row a boat.

“In China, this would absolutely be a high-end complex, a high-end high-end complex.” Dai Lijun pointed to the houses on the side, then pointed to the ones near the lake that had private swimming pools, and then to the artificial lake: “Han Tao, I sincerely suggest you buy a house with a swimming pool.” Next year, he could bring Lu Qiaowei here to swim and barbecue. The thought of that scene excited Dai Lijun, and he kept trying to persuade him.

Han Tao was naturally tempted by this suggestion, and so was Wang Qiqi, but the problem was: “A house with a swimming pool must be expensive, right?” Even without asking the price, Han Tao assumed so instinctively.

“Give us money,” Wang Qiqi thought, realizing how easy it was to suggest things when you weren’t the one paying. She didn't consider their actual financial situation: “And a house with a swimming pool is a super large unit, the kind with five bedrooms, three living rooms, four bathrooms, and three washrooms. Especially the master bedroom, which has a walk-in closet and a study. How much do you think that would cost? Plus, all the furniture you’d need to buy after purchasing it…” Wang Qiqi calculated that the subsequent expenses would be huge: “And the annual taxes would be higher too. Do the math…”

The more Wang Qiqi calculated, the more she realized that large houses were just money pits from their current perspective: “It’s just Han Tao and me living here, and occasionally you staying over. It’s not suitable for us.”

Dai Lijun hadn't expected that there would be annual taxes: “Taxes?” Wasn't that a one-time payment when buying the house? Why did they have to pay taxes every year? He truly didn't understand.

“Yes. In China, after buying a house, besides the property management fee, you only pay taxes during the transaction—though not every household pays this fee.” She explained: “In foreign countries, land is privately owned, so you also have to bear certain obligations, such as paying taxes.”

“The collection and use of US property tax are managed by the local government, which uses every penny for its citizens, education, and security. So they are willing to pay. Moreover, the property tax bill is transparent: how much is used for the public school district, how much for the library, how much for the fire department… it’s all clearly written out. The bulk goes to the school district, usually accounting for 70%-80% of the total tax amount. I find this reasonable; it’s better than the taxes back home, where you have no idea how they’re spent. Of course, the government reassesses the property value annually, and the tax rate is applied based on the valuation—here, it’s roughly 1% to 2%.” Wang Qiqi had looked into the general situation of property tax before; honestly, she was quite satisfied: “When Han Tao and I have children later, I’ll buy a house in a good school district. It’s an investment for the kids.”

After Wang Qiqi’s explanation, Dai Lijun pondered the cost of these taxes. “So, if the tax is high, the community environment is better?” He had initially thought that since taxes had to be paid, he would buy a house in a community with a lower tax rate, but now he realized that might not be an advantage: “Foreigners also choose schools based on where they live?” He found that hard to believe. He thought foreigners wouldn't care as much about that, unlike in China, where everyone scrambled to get into good schools through connections. He felt foreigners didn’t emphasize their children’s academics that much; here, parents of children with poor grades were never called into school frequently, nor did many students attend extra tutoring or cram schools.

“Why not?” Wang Qiqi gave him a look. “Those who have the means buy houses near good schools; those who don’t have the ability rent.” Wang Qiqi thought this aspect was better than in China. Back home, you absolutely needed household registration within the school district, and the owner of the property had to be the child’s parent; otherwise, even grandparents weren't allowed. Wang Qiqi suspected this was a scheme by the schools to collect sponsorship fees. Didn't they see how parents would line up for days just to secure a spot in a prestigious kindergarten in later years?

“Renting also qualifies you for enrollment?” Dai Lijun hadn’t expected foreigners to have such a policy; that was too much...

“Many foreigners rent. Do you think in China, you must buy a house? You should know that foreigners with means will support their children until college graduation. If they lack the means, they wait until the child is sixteen. Not to mention the funds needed for the children’s marriage expenses.” Wang Qiqi thought Chinese parents bore heavy burdens, starting from the child’s birth to save for education funds and marriage funds. If the child studied abroad, the cost was even higher, and for boys, a marital home was a significant pressure, especially with the rapid rise in housing prices later on, which was a heavy burden for many Chinese parents.

Dai Lijun’s mouth dropped wide open when he heard this: “Then I must immigrate here! Later, I can have eight or ten kids and not worry about it. They can attend public school, tuition-free, and I won’t have to suffer a major financial blow when they get married…” Dai Lijun figured he could completely fulfill his ancestors’ wish of having many sons and continuing the family line, but the main point was that the cost wouldn't be very high. Besides, the US population wasn't small; if there were many children, would the government provide subsidies? Calculating it this way, having more children might even be profitable.

“Eight or ten?” Han Tao exclaimed. He envied Dai Lijun’s idea, but he didn’t think Qiqi would agree to have that many children, especially since women couldn't do many things during pregnancy: “I only need Qiqi to have four or five, that's enough.”

“Good heavens, do you think Weiwei is a sow?” Wang Qiqi was so shocked by Dai Lijun’s words that her mouth couldn't close: “I need to talk to Weiwei when I get back. Even at one a year, that’s ten years! And have you considered the issue of childcare once the baby is born?”

Before Wang Qiqi could finish criticizing someone for being too excessive, Han Tao’s words made her choke on her breath. She glared at Han Tao: “Are you serious? Do you want to start a basketball team?” Damn it, so he only sows the seeds and leaves the rest aside? “Who will take care of the children? Do you think I’m a robot and don’t get tired?”

“And do you really plan to only be responsible for giving birth and not the education?”

“Won’t your mother lecture you on how irresponsible you are?” Wang Qiqi agreed with the foreign approach to child-rearing, but would Luo Hongjuan be willing to do that? Affection for grandchildren was a major factor. If Han Tao was busy with work every day, wouldn't she be the one to suffer? Wang Qiqi worried she’d end up fighting two mountains, and there was another mountain: Wang Damei.

“And you, Dai Lijun, I’m going to report everything you said today verbatim to Lu Qiaowei. Let’s see how you’ll be smiling then.” Wang Qiqi still wanted to lecture Han Tao a bit, but when she saw Dai Lijun covering his mouth and chuckling on the side, she immediately redirected her attack toward the simpleton. Hmph, if he hadn't brought this up, would things have turned out this way? “Let’s see what you do then.”

Wang Qiqi’s words yanked Han Tao sharply from his pleasant daydream of a gaggle of little ones constantly shouting "Dad." Right, he conceded, even with many children, they still needed to be raised to amount to something. If they were born and then neglected, turning out like that brat Han Jun, Han Tao felt he’d really have to jump into the Great Lakes. "Exactly, exactly. When it comes to children, quality absolutely trumps quantity. They must have prospects. If we end up with an ungrateful wretch or a spendthrift, it’s better they were never born at all." Han Tao swiftly declared his allegiance.

Dai Lijun, standing nearby, snickered inwardly, thinking this domestic skirmish would make them forget the previous discussion. He knew precisely how much Lu Qiaowei valued her figure; asking her to bear eight or ten children was something he knew she'd never agree to. Yet, to his surprise, Wang Qiqi had so swiftly turned the tables on him, and his good buddy had immediately sided with Wang Qiqi. "Oh, Han Tao, you can't forget how Qiqi educated you before..." (To be continued)