Wang Qiqi, frankly, had never once considered the issue. She had always assumed the house in her hometown would be kept, and at most, she would simply refrain from buying property in her hometown. Meanwhile, the house in Beijing would slowly be paid off through mortgages and the hard-earned money she accrued, gradually spreading her influence. She had never contemplated what Song Ziwen was just now suggesting. Hearing his words, however, felt like a sudden enlightenment; she realized how much she might have missed.

Song Ziwen sat beside her, observing the rapid shifts in Wang Qiqi’s expression. From time to time, he would lean down to exchange a word or two with his daughter. In Song Ziwen’s eyes, Wang Qiqi was a sharp child, and he never imagined she could falter, let alone have him catch her making a fundamental error.

Wang Qiqi felt utterly foolish. She abruptly smacked her own forehead. Only one thought dominated her mind: I am such an idiot. She couldn't believe she missed such an obvious problem. If she had figured this out earlier, perhaps her ventures in Beijing would have expanded long ago, and she wouldn't be struggling so hard now. “It seems my previous simple-minded notions must be scrapped and recalculated from scratch.”

Wang Qiqi’s sudden action completely stunned Song Ziwen. Niu Niu pointed at Wang Qiqi with her little finger, babbling in what sounded like an alien language. Song Wenbo, his hand halfway to his cup, froze in mid-air. After a brief pause, he asked sternly, “Qiqi, what is wrong with you?” Song Wenbo’s severe gaze swept over to Song Ziwen. He wondered if Ziwen had said something that overly stimulated Qiqi to provoke such a reaction.

Song Ziwen felt deeply wronged. He had no idea why Wang Qiqi suddenly moved as if driven to madness. He thought, I was just trying to give Qiqi some well-meaning advice. Instead of receiving any benefit, he ended up taking the blame. This business venture was proving unprofitable indeed.

After tapping her head a few times, Wang Qiqi felt significantly better. “Uncle, I’m fine. Your words just reminded me of something. Brother, let’s drop the mortgage idea for the houses. See if anyone is interested in them back home and help me sell them.” Wang Qiqi paused. “And the house slated for demolition—help me sell that one in about a year or so, too.” Hmph. Although outright selling wasn't feasible now, where there’s a will, there’s a way; selling could still be managed.

“No renovations?” Song Ziwen wasn’t surprised by Wang Qiqi’s decision. In fact, he felt that if Qiqi hadn’t decided this way, it wouldn’t have met his expectations for her.

Wang Qiqi nodded. “No renovations. We’ll rent them out as bare shells. Tenants can do whatever they want.” Since she had decided to sell the properties, Wang Qiqi felt there was no point in making any further unnecessary investments; selling them as raw units was better. “Brother, you should also think about whether you want to take ownership of the houses under my name.” If the topic of Beijing property prices hadn't come up, Wang Qiqi would have been confident Song Ziwen would have taken them, given the good prospects for rental income. But compared to the potential returns in Beijing, these local properties looked meager. If Song Ziwen still decided to take them now, Wang Qiqi would think he had lost his mind.

Song Ziwen vehemently shook his head. “I’m going to develop my career in Beijing too, and buy a place there for my Niu Niu. Later, Niu Niu can follow her aunt and go to university in Beijing, then study abroad.” Perhaps he could even take his old father abroad for some exposure later. Although relying on Wang Qiqi, traveling abroad wouldn't be difficult for him, it certainly wouldn't compare to having his daughter take him, an old man, overseas.

“Buy a house in Beijing?” Yang Jing walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. The remaining tasks would be handled personally by the two mothers; the assistants had finished their parts. Hearing Song Ziwen mention this, Yang Jing felt it was strange. Just yesterday, Song Ziwen was discussing whether to acquire some farmer resettlement homes, noting the low price and excellent potential rental income. Yet, less than a day later, how could he have changed his mind? Niu Niu was such a young child; how could he be planning something so distant? He was overthinking things. What if Niu Niu decided not to go to Beijing for university? The property would sit idle. Besides, Song Ziwen’s sister was already established in Beijing; wouldn't Song Yao look after Niu Niu if she went there to study?

Seeing his wife emerge from the kitchen, Song Ziwen waved her over, signaling for her to come and receive his explanation. Song Yao, however, thought her brother’s idea was quite good. Compared to staying in this second-tier city, major cities offered far more opportunities for growth. But she wasn't sure what her sister-in-law would think.

After hearing Song Ziwen’s explanation, Yang Jing’s eyes widened. She hadn't realized Beijing property prices had soared so dramatically. Thinking of this, the way she looked at Wang Qiqi and Shi Man completely changed. Earlier, she had worried about how her sister-in-law, Song Yao, would fare trying to establish herself in Beijing by rushing to buy commercial properties there, abandoning their family foundation back home. Now, she realized she was the fool. Never mind how well Song Yao was developing now, just the commercial properties she bought back then had appreciated considerably. Although property prices here were also rising, the increase wasn't nearly as significant.

Song Yao caught Yang Jing’s look and secretly smiled. Yang Jing had always considered herself superior. Although she was close to her elder sister-in-law, she might not have fully respected her capabilities. Now, Yang Jing should realize that Song Yao was no ordinary person. “Beijing's development is indeed robust. Many Beijing university students now want to stay and work there, not to mention the flood of graduates from renowned universities outside the city trying to squeeze in. Prices have naturally risen a bit.”

Yang Jing’s parents, listening nearby, were stunned into silence. They hadn’t realized Beijing property prices were so terrifyingly high. They quickly calculated in their heads: despite their respectable salaries, buying a hundred-square-meter apartment in Beijing with that income wouldn't be easy. “Prices are volatile everywhere. There used to be allocated housing, and everyone waited for their work unit to assign a place, but that policy is gone. Now, Chinese people love owning property, so price hikes are inevitable. Regardless of whether Niu Niu attends university in Beijing later, making preparations is always wise.” Yang Jing’s father approved of his son-in-law’s approach. Even if Niu Niu didn’t study in Beijing, renting the empty house for ten years could easily cover the purchase price, not to mention how astronomically high the property might eventually become—perhaps even priceless.

Yang Jing caught the implication in her husband’s words—he agreed. “But when will you have time to go to Beijing to look at properties?” Between dealing with real estate agents and renovation companies, just looking at the mileage on his car showed how busy her husband was. How could such a busy man possibly find time for Beijing?

Song Ziwen had already worked that out. “I'll take the overnight train to Beijing and come back on the late train the next day.” Song Ziwen had already planned this; essentially, it only meant losing one daytime, which wasn't a major issue. He had employees; if they couldn't handle such a small task, Song Ziwen felt he was wasting his money on them. “I’ll have to trouble Qiqi and my sister to help look at places then.” As for handling the subsequent paperwork, he could afford to make a few more trips.

Hearing that Song Ziwen had everything arranged, Yang Jing relented. “Fine. Since you’ve sorted it out, I’ll handle the rest.” Yang Jing knew Beijing property was expensive, meaning significant capital was required. She needed to account for finances. “Then, the houses here…”

“We’re not acquiring them anymore.” Song Ziwen stated this with certainty. He knew some things couldn’t be obtained just by wanting them. Even Qiqi, who had more money than him, was worried about certain aspects. “If we have the capacity later, we can buy more, but I think the current housing is enough for us to live in.” Previously, Song Ziwen thought having many properties under his management gave him an advantage in the real estate market. Now, he realized that idea was flawed; focusing on what generated the most direct return was the real key.

Hearing her husband say this, Yang Jing breathed a sigh of relief. She had been genuinely worried Song Ziwen might say he wanted to buy the houses back home too, which would truly cost her dearly. “Good.”

Song Wenbo looked thoughtful. He wasn't sure if his son and daughter-in-law would settle in Beijing, but from Wang Qiqi’s implications, it sounded like Beijing property was worth speculating on. Ever since the family made significant money turning their fortunes around in real estate, Song Wenbo had developed a keen interest in such matters. Even if they didn't live in Beijing later, collecting rent would be beneficial. “Qiqi, is the rental market good in Beijing too?”

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected her uncle, who had been sitting calmly listening to everyone chat, to join the conversation. “Yes, the rent increases annually, and the rate of increase isn't small. Uncle, do you have plans too?”

If the listener had been an outsider, Song Wenbo would have been modest, but since they were all family, they would find out eventually anyway. He nodded. “I’m tempted, but I need to discuss it with your aunt.”

Song Yao was wholeheartedly supportive of her father buying property in Beijing. Her only current desire was for all her maternal relatives to move to the capital. That way, she wouldn't have to rush back and forth for the Lunar New Year, wouldn’t have to see hateful people, and wouldn’t hear unwelcome news. “Dad, I support you buying a house, and I support my brother and the others developing in Beijing too…” Song Yao linked her arm with Song Wenbo’s, enthusiastically describing how wonderful Beijing was and its development potential.

Song Ziwen pinched the bridge of his nose, watching his older sister openly praise Beijing with such self-serving motives. His sister disliked the current location, but with Grandma still alive, his father wouldn't consider moving far. His sister was clearly letting this news cloud her judgment.

“I won’t consider moving to Beijing until my grandmother passes away.” Song Wenbo had traveled to Beijing for a business trip when he was younger and didn't adapt well to the climate, finding it too dry, and the food less appealing than back home. He didn't mind occasional stays, but living there permanently, he felt, was unsustainable.

Wang Damei, having just finished preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, was about to take a short rest when she overheard Song Wenbo’s plan. Her immediate reaction was, “We aren’t moving to Beijing, so why buy a house?” Wang Damei wondered why her old man was always stirring up trouble now that they had finally saved some money. When would he settle down? Was he planning to move to Beijing because he missed his grandson? Wang Damei shot Song Wenbo a look, imagining what his wife would think if she knew.

“We won’t live in it; we can rent it out. I think if we just keep the money in the bank, we’re losing value. It’s better to buy a house, and it can be Niu Niu’s dowry when she gets married.” Although Song Wenbo wasn't overly fond of his granddaughter, he was always careful to maintain a perfectly neutral expression in front of his daughter-in-law, ensuring she couldn't find fault.

Yang Jing used to care about her in-laws' savings, but now her vision extended much further; people had to rely on themselves to get rich. “Dad, Niu Niu is still little. Ziwen and I will prepare her dowry.”

“That’s what you, as parents, provide. As a grandfather, I should certainly contribute something. Don't worry, when Tao Tao gets married, I, as his maternal grandfather, will also give him a house. I won't favor one side over the other.” Song Wenbo knew his children were well-off, but he, as the grandfather, was also capable. He needed to be generous where appropriate.

“Dad, Mom, you two just take care of yourselves. Enjoy yourselves. In a while, Mom and Dad, you and Yang Jing’s parents should go to Thailand for a trip, along with Han Tao’s mother. The five of you old folks should travel together for a while. What you need to do now is live happily; stop worrying so much about how much money to leave for us.” Song Ziwen knew his parents weren't poor now, but he was certain his own fortune surpassed theirs. He didn't care if he inherited their money. “After the Spring Festival, you should apply for passports and go out more to see the world.”

Upon hearing about traveling abroad, Wang Damei immediately shook her head. Her demands were modest; touring within the country would suffice. She never expected a day to come when she might travel overseas. She had recently heard her friends excitedly discussing their trips to Southeast Asia, and she had been quite envious then. But now that she might actually go, the thought of the expense made her want to decline.

Luo Hongjuan wasn’t overly keen on traveling either; a trip would cost a significant amount. “That sounds great, Mom, you should go too.” Wang Qiqi noticed that while Luo Hongjuan hadn't spoken up, there was a clear tone of opposition in her eyes. “When you go to the US later, you’ll find getting a visa for another country much easier to pass.”

“Exactly, Mom. If you don’t believe me, believe Qiqi.” Song Ziwen thought his mother was truly stingy. His sister and he were doing well now; there was absolutely no need to covet her money, yet the mention of travel caused her such visible pain. “Didn't you always talk about wanting to go to the US to see the world? Think of this as getting acquainted with foreign life before your trip to the US.”

“Right!” Song Wenbo was also a man who enjoyed traveling. Previously, work demands and concerns about the children had kept that dream on hold. Now that life was better, and someone had raised the possibility, his old wish was rekindled. “When we go, the three families should travel together—without the younger ones.”

Yang Jing’s father also agreed with the idea. Since his daughter was doing well, the elders should focus on taking care of themselves and acting as their children’s support system. Hadn't his son-in-law said it? The health of the elders was their greatest wealth.

Yang Jing’s mother watched as the men confidently settled the travel arrangements, completely forgetting one important detail. “Wait, if we go, who looks after Niu Niu?” Niu Niu was not yet a year old. Her daughter and son-in-law were already busy enough; if the elders also worried about the child while working, that was too much. The children were considerate and wanted to care for them, but they couldn’t actually let their children impose on them like that. “Let’s wait until Niu Niu is a bit older, ready for kindergarten. Then, all we’ll need to do is drop her off and pick her up; we can manage two kids.”

The moment Yang Jing’s mother voiced her concern, the two men who had been cheerfully discussing their travels went rigid. Oh no, they thought. While they could travel in a couple of years, they were getting older, and who knew what might happen then? They might still not be able to go.

Song Ziwen had long wanted to bring up the topic of hiring a nanny to care for Niu Niu. His mother-in-law’s health wasn't excellent, and since he could afford it, there was no need to exhaust the two elders. However, he could never bring himself to say it, knowing that the moment the words left his mouth, they would both vehemently refuse. Hearing his mother-in-law bring up the issue, Song Ziwen thought this might be his opportunity. If he didn't speak now, he worried he wouldn't get another chance. “Mom, you should really go travel. I can hire a nanny to look after Niu Niu.”

“How can that be!” Yang Jing’s mother and Wang Damei spoke in unison in protest. Although the two women might disagree on child-rearing philosophies, they shared an identical stance on whether to hire outside help.

“Mom, our circumstances have improved; we aren’t concerned about that small amount of money.” Song Ziwen shot Yang Jing a look, signaling it was her turn to step in. Only Yang Jing could persuade her own mother effectively. Yang Jing had repeatedly noticed her mother clutching her lower back, looking tired. She had suggested hiring a nanny several times, but each time her parents dismissed the idea, saying, What are we old folks here for if we hire someone to help? Only after extensive persuasion and a strategy of breaking down their resistance one by one did Yang Jing’s mother and Wang Damei hesitantly nod in agreement.

“If we hire a nanny, she must be a local—honest, diligent, and hardworking,” Yang Jing’s mother stipulated. She knew that after her daughter and son-in-law came home, they left things everywhere, including money. Money was often left on the sofa cushions or found in the pockets of clothes needing washing. If they hired a nanny with sticky fingers, she might take money tucked away in inconspicuous corners, and neither she nor Wang Damei would ever know. “Also, from now on, things in the house need to have designated spots; stop tossing things wherever you go, especially money.”

Wang Damei shared this frustration deeply. “Do you think we old folks actually enjoy doing housework? We would love someone to help out. But look at the two of you! You leave money lying around everywhere. Mother-in-law and I often pick up the cash and leave it on the coffee table to remind you, but the next day, it’s the same.” Wang Damei certainly wanted an extra set of hands so she and Yang Jing’s mother could catch their breath, but the problem was that the two young ones were too careless.

Song Ziwen and Yang Jing were dumbfounded. They had secretly assumed the elders simply wanted to save money and didn't want them to hire help. They never imagined the reason stemmed from their own habits. “We will definitely pay attention from now on.”

“Pay attention,” Wang Damei and Yang Jing’s mother both snorted. “Especially you, Ziwen, how many times have I told you? Did you listen?”

“Well, well,” Song Ziwen was at a loss for words. “Don't worry, I will definitely remember from now on.” Song Ziwen thought that since his parents were worried, he should just get a bank card and deposit all the cash; he could withdraw it when needed. He was being lazy by keeping cash on hand to avoid running to the bank for purchases, but the current issue was that if he kept throwing money around, his parents would never agree.

“You’ve said it a thousand times; we’ll decide after an assessment,” Wang Damei declared, settling the matter of hiring a nanny: the deciding factor rested entirely on the young couple.

Song Yao was surprised that her younger brother scattered money so casually. She looked envious. “Brother, when are you going to sprinkle some money on your sister?” If it were her, Song Yao figured she wouldn’t agree to hire a nanny either; it was simply too wasteful.

Seeing his older sister wave her hand, Song Ziwen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was still under “assessment,” yet his sister was already teasing him. “Brother, give us a few big red envelopes! You can’t be generous to outsiders and not us, right?” Wang Qiqi also held out her hand for a red envelope.

“Hey, I’m the poor one here!” Song Ziwen thought his older sister and younger sister were both wealthier than him, yet they were putting on an act of being penniless. “You two rich people are making fun of me. Sigh, forget it! Wife, we need to work hard and earn more money next year.”

Yang Jing watched her husband, who was about the same age as Tao Tao, cover his mouth and stifle a laugh. However, what her mother and mother-in-law had just said shocked her. She hadn’t realized their seemingly insignificant daily habits could lead to such large potential losses. “Yes, we need to work hard and be careful not to leave money lying around.”

Song Ziwen completely collapsed onto the sofa. It was one thing for his two mothers to criticize him, but he couldn't believe his own wife was saying it too. “I can’t live! I can’t live!”

Song Wenbo frowned at his son’s childish display. “Enough! You’re a father now, stop being so immature. Don't say such inauspicious things during the New Year.”

Song Ziwen kept quiet. He snatched Niu Niu from Yang Jing’s arms. “Niu Niu, your daddy has a hard life…” The only reply was Niu Niu’s cheerful babbling.

Wang Qiqi covered her mouth, giggling. “Brother, you’ve sunk so low you’re begging Niu Niu for sympathy.” Student Song Ziwen had received one piece of startling news and one blow after another today, but for someone who had been busy for so long, this was a moment of relaxation. He didn't always have to focus on how to improve his business.

“Alright, alright, let’s eat, it’s getting late.” Wang Damei glanced at the clock; it was already five, time enough to eat at a leisurely pace and still ensure the elderly couple could be home before the Spring Festival Gala started at eight.

“Cheers.” Everyone raised their glasses and shouted in unison, “Hoping for health and wellness for everyone in the coming new year.”

“May your wealth grow daily and your business flourish.”

A chorus of well-wishes erupted from the table. In the year past, everyone present had seen significant advancements, both in their outward appearance and in the size of their assets, and they hoped for even greater strides in the year ahead. RS