Wang Qiqi was surprised to see Song Yao waiting at the airport. "Sister, I thought Brother-in-law was coming?" It was late at night; Gong Peixing wouldn't let her drive alone. And Taotao, that little monster, clung to Song Yao all day long - didn't he miss her now? Wasn't he throwing a tantrum back home?

Song Yao took Wang Qiqi's luggage from the car. "My brother-in-law has business tonight," she said as they walked toward the exit. She had stayed up late waiting for the plane to arrive, but Taotao was with Auntie Luo who had cooked plenty of delicious food. *Business expenses are pouring out like water,* Song Yao thought bitterly. *At least my own factory operations have no accounts receivable - just cash transactions.* Now Gong Peixing not only managed the factory but also attended endless drinking sessions, always forcing a smile on his face. The mere thought made her exhausted.

Wang Qiqi understood her sister's irritation. "Better business entertaining than waiting for clients to come knocking," she said reasonably. At least it showed others believed in their potential. "How are sales doing at the factory?"

"Good enough," Song Yao replied, discussing operations as they walked. "Bai Ge introduced a client with high fees but solid profit margins. My brother-in-law personally handled another account recommended by Nana..." She paused thoughtfully. "Next week Cao Ziwen is coming - though he has to detour somewhere first. If Yang Jing calls..."

Wang Qiqi interrupted, noticing the uncharacteristic hesitation in Song Yao's voice. "Didn't Uncle also want to buy a house? Why isn't he coming?"

"Coming," Song Yao said distractedly. Her parents had always dreamed of returning to rural life after all these years in the city. *Even Yang Jing agrees,* she thought with disbelief. Her father, a city boy at heart, was suddenly infatuated with his old colleague's countryside homestead and chicken farm - talk about ironic.

"You're overthinking," Wang Qiqi said firmly as they reached Song Yao's car. "They haven't agreed yet!" It wasn't just the distance to the city center; healthcare access was poor there, and Taotao would have no playmates. The parents only saw fresh air and organic vegetables - not realizing the social consequences for a child.

"Driving takes thirty minutes," Song Yao admitted reluctantly. Her mother's face-pulling behavior had never improved over the years. "But what about medical care? And if Niu Niu goes there..."

Wang Qiqi nearly laughed aloud at her sister's sudden panic. "Relax - I'm not suggesting you move!" She quickly added, noting Song Yao's defensive posture.

"Who said they were relaxing?" Song Yao scoffed. El Jia had already started planning swimming pools and American-style kitchens for the farmhouse project. *She's just jealous of the house Qiqi bought in America,* she decided coldly. The idea had only grown stronger after hearing Wang Damei describe Yang Jing's enthusiasm.

"Maybe even a tennis court," Wang Qiqi mused aloud, completely unfazed by her sister's hostility. If they secured proper land use rights... "If I don't immigrate abroad, I might actually join in."

Song Yao stared at her little sister in disbelief. *Of course you'd side with them,* she thought bitterly as Wang Damei and Niu Niu approached the hotel. The parents had become full-time travelers since retirement - either joining tour groups or organizing their own road trips.

"You'll be busy then?" Wang Qiqi asked pointedly, watching her sister's expression tighten.

"No," Song Yao lied smoothly. "They're bringing friends from work. We just need to host a dinner." Her mother would make sure Qiqi helped with the cooking arrangements - she was the family's pride and joy after all.

"By the way..." Song Yao changed the subject, "How are your guesthouse profits in Lijiang?"

The conversation had finally shifted to business... until Shi Man began snoring loudly from the back seat.

"Wonderfully busy," Wang Qiqi said with a smile. Their high-end rooms booked out every night - so much that Li Qian's staff couldn't keep up, forcing Qiqi and Shi into temporary front desk duty.

"Busy?" Song Yao gasped at the implications. The exorbitant daily rates had already impressed her initially, but now she felt genuine envy despite the heavy investment required.

Wang Qiqi grinned knowingly. "If profits were bad, would Li Qian have expanded? It's exhausting working nonstop and not ideal for you, though. Tourism could work - like agritainment projects." But dealing with bureaucracy was complicated. At least Beijing had fewer regulatory hurdles compared to other regions.

Song Yao knew agritainment wasn't viable either. Not only did she have her own business in the city, but Gong Peixing's presence made rural relocation impossible. *Remember Qiqi's ex-boss?* The thought suddenly tightened her chest. Now that Gong was an independent entrepreneur...

She glanced at Wang Qiqi in the passenger seat. Her sister had always chosen well - this computer engineer husband who never strayed from his work desk.

Wang Qiqie's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts: "What's wrong?"

"I was just thinking about a missed business opportunity," Song Yao blurted out, cheeks burning despite the lie.

"Money is easy to make if you want it badly enough," Wang Qiqi said comfortingly as she rubbed her temples.

Song Yao nodded absently, still unsettled by her wandering thoughts. The night drive felt longer than usual...

Lu Hongjuan had just put Taotao to sleep when she heard the car pull in. "Welcome back!" she announced from the kitchen, reheating their meal on the stove. The two women looked utterly exhausted - hadn't they only left for a business opening?

"Hello Mom."

"Hi Auntie," they greeted wearily.

Lu Hongjuan prepared simple dishes with simmering chicken soup at its peak flavor. "Just some stir-fried greens and this broth," she said, avoiding elaborate meals knowing her guests were tired.

Wang Qiqi immediately noticed the oiliness of the soup. "Forget the stir-fry - just poach the greens in the broth."

"Right!" Shi Man massaged her stomach. After days of heavy meat dishes during the trip, this suddenly felt like a fattening plan.

Song Yao declined with a shake of her head. *No way,* she thought. Recent weight gain warnings had made her cautious. "I'm not hungry tonight."

Lu Hongjuan looked surprised. "But I prepared it specifically for you..."

"I've been dieting," Song Yao mumbled, feeling childish under her mother-in-law's concern.

"You just need to walk more," Wang Qiqi interjected brightly. "One hour of brisk walking every afternoon works wonders!"

"Exactly!" Shi Man agreed. "Qiqi eats like a horse but keeps slim because she walks with me daily."

Song Yao sighed dramatically. "But I'm not good at that kind of exercise anymore..."

"You were always athletic back in school," Wang Qiqi reminded her.

Lu Hongjuan finally asked about Lijiang after they finished dinner, unable to suppress her anxieties any longer. The investment still felt reckless - unlike stable property rentals.

"Business is so good..." Wang Qiqi began before trailing off at Lu Hongjuan's disapproving look regarding educational opportunities in the countryside.

Song Yao quickly changed subjects again: "So Ziwen is coming for a house visit..."

"I'm not buying any more properties," Wang Qiqi interrupted. The financial pressure had become unbearable, with recurring nightmares about being crushed by mortgage payments.

Song Yao touched her forehead in disbelief. "You're not sick? You've never passed up an investment opportunity before!"

Wang Qiqi glared at them. "I'm human too! Maybe I just want to enjoy my money without stress." She hesitated, then added, "Though if you ever want into the hospitality business..."

Song Yao's interest flickered briefly before she remembered the complexities of early childhood education programs - another potentially profitable venture that had been discouraged by a recent conversation with wealthy women.

"You're telling me it's complicated?" Wang Qiqi asked, curious about her sister's sudden caution.

"Very," Song Yao replied, counting off warnings from those businesswomen. "Just listen to this..."

For Song Yao's words, Wang Qiqi thought they sounded complicated at first glance. But in reality, if one truly wanted to pursue this industry, overcoming these challenges would prove trivial. Chinese people had a peculiar fondness for foreign goods - the mere mention of something imported from abroad instantly elevated its perceived value. This phenomenon explained why counterfeit Western brands thrived domestically; beneath their fancy labels lay nothing more than mainlanders' own creations registered overseas, pure national delusions wrapped in foreign packaging. Some early childhood education programs operated on similarly deceptive principles.

"A Hundred Charms and a Thousand Temptations" by Qianda Nv Yao

Synopsis: Power struggles and cunning plots could be forgiven - but no one would dare make me their pawn!

With the audacity of her past life combined with this lifetime's captivating allure,

Foolish villains who failed to recognize true brilliance, expect your comeuppance!

RS