Chapter 116: Face, Don’t Blame Me for Being Ruthless

**Chapter 116: Don’t Blame Me for Being Merciless About Pride**

"Just reminiscing," the neighbor said.

The neighbor clearly didn’t want to talk much about Song Fenglan. She had heard others mention her—how Song Fenglan was fiercely independent, standing up to Staff Officer Xu’s wife during her time with the army and even asking the commissar’s wife to handle problems. Song Fenglan had also taken the college entrance exam and gotten into Nanjiang University…

There were plenty of stories circulating about Song Fenglan in the compound, all painting her as a tough woman, and the whole Song family as formidable.

The neighbor hadn’t actually interacted with Song Fenglan before, and since Song Fenglan had never wronged her, she saw no reason to gossip about her.

"We’re out of peach pastries at home—I need to buy some," the neighbor said.

She didn’t ask Gao Xiuxiu if she wanted to come along. She could chat with Gao Xiuxiu, even talk trash about Auntie Fatty, but there were just some people you didn’t want to offend.

"I’ll go with you," Gao Xiuxiu replied. "I should get something for Big Girl too. She’s too thin."

Big Girl was in middle school, and Gao Xiuxiu doted on her. Most of what she bought went to Big Girl, not Second Girl. Sometimes when Second Girl stood nearby, Gao Xiuxiu wouldn’t give her anything, and it would be Big Girl who shared her own snacks instead. Gao Xiuxiu would even scold Big Girl, saying Second Girl had too big an appetite.

The doctors couldn’t cure Qin’s mother’s leg. Experts had examined her and agreed that it wouldn’t get better. Qin’s mother was heartbroken but helpless.

When Qin’s mother was discharged from the hospital, Qin Yizhou didn’t show up. It was Qin’s eldest son and his wife, You Yun, who handled the discharge procedures. Qin’s mother sat in a wheelchair and needed help getting into the car. You Yun wasn’t enough to manage alone, so Qin’s eldest son had to come along. If You Yun could have done it by herself, he wouldn’t have gone.

Back home, Qin’s mother stayed in her wheelchair—Qin’s eldest son didn’t even carry her to the sofa. He thought the wheelchair was the most practical solution, sparing others the trouble of moving her around.

Before, when Qin’s mother could walk on her own, things had been much easier. Now, she relied entirely on others, even for something as basic as using the toilet.

You Yun naturally didn’t want to serve Qin’s mother so attentively. Qin’s father was too old to help lift her. So You Yun suggested making her wear pads—meant for menstruation—but usable for urination as well, simply changing them when needed. It would be easier than constantly helping her to the bathroom.

But Qin’s mother refused, finding the idea embarrassing. She wasn’t incontinent—she could still control herself. Why should she resort to such measures?

"I’ll check if there are adult diapers for kids," You Yun said. "There are new products now, though they’re pretty pricey."

"No, no!" Qin’s mother snapped. "What’s the point? Absolutely not!"

"If not, will you just wet yourself?" You Yun shot back. "We can’t be at your side every minute."

"Hire someone to help," Qin’s father interjected.

He knew it was too much for You Yun to handle both the children and Qin’s mother alone.

As the saying goes, *a long illness turns filial children away*, let alone a daughter-in-law.

Qin’s father couldn’t force You Yun to care for Qin’s mother indefinitely. If Qin’s mother hadn’t made things so difficult for everyone, this wouldn’t be an issue. But now, with her condition, You Yun—being not her real daughter—had no obligation to tend to her daily. Others had their own lives and would naturally seek ways to dodge responsibility.

"Hiring help costs wages," You Yun said. "And it won’t be cheap."

"Eldest Brother and I will each contribute part of the payment," Qin’s father said.

You Yun glanced at him silently.

"When we divided the family assets, you got the lion’s share—it was put in writing. Yi Zhou can’t be expected to pay," Qin’s father stated firmly.

He didn’t have the heart to ask Qin Yizhou for money. Qin Yizhou lived in Song Fenglan’s house, and his salary was modest. Eldest Brother Qin, on the other hand, worked in the private sector now and earned decently. Qin’s father was relieved his eldest son had money to spare—otherwise, they’d be in real trouble. He didn’t want to drain all his savings and end up begging his sons for spending money later.

"I never said I’d ask him for money," You Yun replied. "It’s true the eldest branch got the lion’s share."

She knew exactly where the Qins had bought the house for Song Fenglan and her husband. The place wasn’t great—somewhat run-down, with communal bathrooms, making it inconvenient. After seeing it, You Yun felt their own home was far better. They rented out one place while living comfortably in their spacious house.

"That'll do." Old Man Qin sighed. "Don’t blame your mom—just look at her now."

"We gotta find someone stronger," Mother Qin insisted. "And why can't Yizhou chip in? Go tell him I’m stuck in this damn wheelchair and need help—we’ve got to hire someone."

"Don’t go overboard," Old Man Qin said.

"Go overboard? How am I going overboard?" Mother Qin was boiling with anger, finding fault with everyone these days. She kept thinking if only her legs could heal, she wouldn’t be so miserable, but the doctors had already said there was no better solution. She’d rather limp on crutches than sit in this wheelchair.

"We settled this already," Old Man Qin said.

"That was then, this is now—it’s a different situation," Mother Qin snapped. "Now I’m stuck in this damn wheelchair, not walking around like before."

"All you ever do is ask them for money, but when there were good things to share, you never gave them any. How can you expect them to agree?" Old Man Qin said. "Let’s not even talk about it anymore."

Old Man Qin couldn’t take it anymore. His wife didn’t get it—she just kept insisting that Yizhou pay up. But Yizhou wasn’t a kid anymore; he wouldn’t give in. Old Man Qin knew if he went asking, he’d only end up humiliating himself.

"If you won’t go, then have someone push me there," Mother Qin demanded.

"Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?" Old Man Qin shot back. "When Li An was in trouble, you made Yizhou help. When he couldn’t, you said you didn’t want to see him and told him not to come home. Now you’re in trouble, and you want to go beg them for money? Have you no shame left? None?"

The fact that Old Man Qin was willing to use his pension to hire help was already generous, yet his wife kept making unreasonable demands.

"At this point, who cares about shame?" Mother Qin said. "I’m his real mother—he should pay."

"Don’t go," Old Man Qin said. "This family falling apart—you carry a lot of the blame. I warned you not to spoil Li An, again and again, but you wouldn’t listen."

"I… It’s because none of you cared about Li An—only I did. The day he got out of prison, none of you went to see him. Only I did," Mother Qin shot back. "If you’d gone, things wouldn’t have turned out like this."

Upstairs, Qin Li An overheard his parents arguing. He knew his mother wouldn’t dote on him like before. If her legs were fine, things might still be manageable, but after his own mother pushed her, everything had spiraled out of control.

Leaning against the wall, Li An wondered how his life had come to this. Maybe from the start, his mom and grandma had spoiled him rotten, letting him grow wild. Back then, he was just a kid—how could he have known better? He only knew the adults indulged him, telling him everything at home was his. He bought into it completely.

But it wasn’t true. His grandmother wasn’t his alone, and even his mother wasn’t just his.

His eyes burned with emotion. By the time he realized his mistakes, it was too late. If he hadn’t suffered in prison, he might never have understood. But now, even with that understanding, there was no going back—these people would never treat him well again.

Tian Keshu had divorced Weng Guoqiang, who gave her only a few hundred yuan and told her to get lost. With no other options, she returned to her parents’ home.

She thought about going straight to the Qin household, but they’d never allow it. If she hadn’t remarried, she might have had a chance, but she had.

"Just go," Tian’s mother urged.

When Keshu arrived at her parents’ home, her mother refused to let her stay long.

"They’ve got extra space—just go. Didn’t you push Li An’s grandma? Go take care of her. You can even see your kids," Tian’s mother said.

"I…" Keshu was floored that her mother would suggest such a thing.

"You’ve seen how cramped it is—no room here," Tian’s mother said. "We really can’t accommodate you. You haven’t even paid off the damages. If you work for them, you’ll get room and board, and you can see your kids. Isn’t that good?"

With that, Keshu was shoved out of her parents’ house. Her family had no intention of keeping her—not even for one more night.

The Tians thought Keshu was bad luck, and her mother feared she might accidentally push her into disability too. The whole family couldn’t wait to get rid of her. With nowhere else to go, Keshu actually went to the Qin house.

You Yun would never agree to let her stay, and neither would Mother Qin. Keshu wanted to find Li An, to talk to her son, but he refused to see her. As she was now, there was nothing left to squeeze out of her.

When Song Fenglan came home from work, she saw Old Man Qin at the door. Confused, she thought, *Is Yizhou not back yet?*

Song Fenglan wasn’t really eager to speak, but she reluctantly muttered, “Dad.”

“Mm,” Qin Lian responded.

“I’ll see if Yizhou’s back,” Song Fenglan said. She didn’t invite Qin Lian in but went inside first with her own group.

Qin Lian didn’t follow. He got it—she hadn’t invited him in, so he shouldn’t go in on his own.

When Song Fenglan reached the living room, she saw that Qin Yizhou was home.

“You’re here?” Song Fenglan asked, surprised.

“Yeah,” Qin Yizhou replied.

“Your dad is at the door,” Song Fenglan said. “You’re not going out to see him?”

“He didn’t ring the bell,” Qin Yizhou said. “I’ll go see. Stay here.”

“Okay,” Song Fenglan nodded.

Qin Yizhou didn’t ask his father inside. He guessed why his father had come—probably about his mother. His mother was now in a wheelchair, making everything harder. Someone needed to care for her, and Qin Lian was too old to handle it alone.

When Qin Yizhou reached the door, he led his father to a nearby restaurant instead of bringing him home. Qin Lian didn’t expect to enter Song Fenglan’s house, so he followed Qin Yizhou to the restaurant, where they sat in a private room to talk.

Qin Lian pulled out a passbook. He had opened it himself and hadn’t told his wife about the savings.

After his medical retirement, he hadn’t spent all his pension. Sometimes he did side work to save a bit extra. Even before retiring, he had always kept separate savings, just in case the family suddenly needed money. Before Qin Yizhou married, he also sent money home.

But the money Qin Yizhou sent ended up in his mother’s hands, and she naturally used it on Qin Li’an and others—it wouldn’t have lasted until now.

“Twenty grand?” Qin Yizhou was stunned by the amount in his father’s passbook.

“Yes,” Qin Lian said. “This isn’t yours. Your mother wants to ask you for money to hire someone to take care of her. Just use this to give her fifty to a hundred a month.”

Qin Lian worried his wife might actually go to Qin Yizhou demanding money—he feared she would pressure his son. He didn’t want to lose such an outstanding son. It was better to settle things early. A hundred a month would add up to twelve hundred yearly, and over eight years, nine thousand six hundred. With wages rising in some places, he wasn’t sure how things would turn out.

But Qin Lian figured his wife’s legs were paralyzed—she might not even make it ten more years, let alone longer. Even with inflation, this should cover about a decade.

“Got it,” Qin Yizhou said. He had no objections—as long as it wasn’t coming out of his pocket, that was all that mattered.

“Don’t blame your mother,” Qin Lian said. “Life’s been hard on her. Like me, she came from the countryside, barely educated. When she had your older brother, she was thrilled—a son meant an heir. When I went off to war, she didn’t have to worry about leaving no one behind.”

“A hundred a month, right?” Qin Yizhou said. “Fifty would be too little.”

He didn’t want his mother causing trouble later. Since it wasn’t his money, giving a bit more wouldn’t hurt.

“Not yet. Wait until she has someone wheel her over,” Qin Lian said. “Let her feel like she made you pay—give her that sense of ceremony.”

“…” Qin Yizhou was stunned. “Dad, aren’t you worried my reputation will be ruined?”

“If she doesn’t throw a fit once, she’ll keep coming after you,” Qin Lian said, knowing his wife well. Better to let her think she forced the money out than endure endless harassment. “Besides, what reputation does she even have left? Do you think people will side with her? They’ll just think she’s causing drama, and your wife is the victim.”

Qin Lian had already thought it through. Song Fenglan now had a good reputation—many knew what his wife and Tian Keshu had done to her. If she didn’t want to take care of his wife now, it was perfectly understandable.

He and his wife had been together for decades. Despite everything, he still didn’t want her to face too much shame. Even though he had argued with her at home, he still made preparations. He knew he couldn’t stop her forever or watch her every move. It was better to hand the money to Qin Yizhou in advance.

That way, as long as Qin Yizhou played along…

“Explain it to your wife,” Qin Lian said. “We owe her, but your mother is like this now. Let her have this one outburst, and she won’t bother you again.”

When Father Qin said this, there was a hint of pleading in his voice. He was worried Song Fenglan might refuse. Although many people knew what kind of person Mother Qin was, this matter could still lead to misunderstandings about Song Fenglan.

"We have to tell her," Qin Yizhou said. He couldn't possibly keep it from his wife—it wouldn’t be right to wait until after his mother made a scene. "Have you told Eldest Brother? He might not be reliable."

"I didn't tell him. He can't be trusted." Father Qin sighed. His eldest son and former wife were both unreliable, and his current wife seemed downright frightening. But Father Qin was afraid that if too many people knew, his wife might find out, and that would complicate things. "Just you and your wife need to know. Don’t tell Zi Hang—he’s still young."

"Zi Hang hasn’t come back yet," Qin Yizhou said. "We didn’t ask him to return immediately."

"No need for him to rush back," Father Qin said. "Let him focus on his own affairs. Your mother might come looking for you in a few days."

"Alright," Qin Yizhou replied. "I understand."

In the end, Father Qin didn’t eat out. He had the food packed to take back for Mother Qin to try. Watching his father’s hunched figure leave, Qin Yizhou tucked the bankbook away.

He had never intended to spend his own money—he just hadn’t expected his father to have saved up so much. This was probably just part of it.

When Mother Qin saw Father Qin return with food, she frowned. "Where did you go?"

"Just went out for a walk," Father Qin said.

"Did you go see Yi Zhou?" Mother Qin asked. "Is he refusing to pay?"

"We already drew up a contract back then. Even if I said he was willing to pay, would you believe me?" Father Qin replied.

"Don’t you dare pay for him," Mother Qin snapped.

"Where would I get that kind of money?" Father Qin said. "You’d be better off not going to Yi Zhou. He’s living in his wife’s house now. His child carries the Qin surname, and he’s not exactly a live-in son-in-law, but it’s still not the same."

"It’s not like we didn’t buy him a house. He chose not to live there and rented it out instead—who’s to blame for that?" Mother Qin retorted. "I still have to talk to him."

"Don’t go to his wife," Father Qin warned.

"Why not?" Mother Qin frowned.

"Have you forgotten? She works in a sensitive government department and has protection around her. If you go there and those people overhear, how would that make Yi Zhou look? Forget Yi Zhou—what about us, or Eldest Brother?" Father Qin said. "Eldest Brother isn’t even working within the system anymore. He couldn’t stay and had to leave. Private firms pay more, sure. High income means high risk. No one just hands out money for free."

"Fine, I won’t go to her. I’ll just go to Yi Zhou," Mother Qin said, though she chickened out a little. If she ran into someone tough, she was afraid things might escalate.

Song Fenglan wasn’t Mother Qin’s biological daughter. She’d never humored Mother Qin before, and she certainly wouldn’t start now. When Mother Qin was hospitalized, Qin’s second sister had come to check on her—after all, a biological daughter was still a biological daughter. Despite their past conflicts, she still cared about her mother.

"I heard the Tang family tried to approach Song Fenglan and were warned by the authorities," Father Qin said. "It’s obvious who had them warned."

"..." Mother Qin could only think of Song Fenglan as a pain in her neck—one she couldn’t do anything about. "What about Zi Hang?"

"He hasn’t returned yet," Father Qin said. "He’s on a study tour, seeing the world. He’ll visit you when he’s back."

"Who does that anymore?" Mother Qin scoffed.

"Transportation is much more convenient now. A study tour is a way to gain experience and see the world," Father Qin said. "Zi Hang is miles ahead of Li An. He’s your own grandson—quit obsessing over Li An and neglecting the others. They’ve done nothing to you, and they’ve achieved so much. Why can’t you treat them well?"

"I..." Mother Qin squirmed. Yes, Qin Zihang was indeed outstanding, but she had always wanted Li An to be the one to shine.

She looked down at her paralyzed legs. She tasted bile. Maybe she shouldn’t have spoiled Li An rotten from the start. She should have let Tian Keshu go pick him up. If only she’d stayed away from the prison, maybe none of this would have happened.

People always point fingers rather than examine themselves.

Mother Qin resented Tian Keshu and even harbored some resentment toward Li An, but this matter truly couldn’t be blamed on Song Fenglan or her son. It wasn’t Song Fenglan’s family who had made Li An this way. Qin Zihang had even been bullied by Li An before, yet Mother Qin had always taken Li An’s side. If she wanted to blame anyone, the blame was hers alone.

Back in the room, Qin Yizhou took out the bankbook his father had given him and passed on Father Qin’s words.

"Are we supposed to wait until your mother comes to raise hell?" Song Fenglan said.

"She didn’t make a scene, and we just gave money—that’d be way too fake," Qin Yizhou replied. "Mom and Dad know how we are. You and Zi Hang can just bow out if it’s too much. Mom said she didn’t want to see me, so I didn’t even enter their house. Even when she was in the hospital, I stayed outside in the hallway instead of going into the ward."

"Your mother really knows how to make trouble," Song Fenglan said with a slight smirk. "As long as it’s not our own money, fine. Just don’t try to fool me."

"This bankbook isn’t fake—it’s the real deal," Qin Yizhou said. "We’ll just take it to withdraw the money when the time comes."

"You’d better think this through," Song Fenglan warned. "With your salary, if you hire another caregiver… later on, when Zi Hang hits you up for spending money, you won’t have any left to give him."

The Qins wanted to hire a caregiver for Qin’s mother, but this caregiver would have to handle many tasks—probably not just a simple one. The pay couldn’t be too low, or they wouldn’t lift a finger.

"You gonna throw a fit too?" Qin Yizhou asked.

"Toss you out? Sure!" Song Fenglan retorted. "You can sleep in your office."

Song Fenglan scoffed lightly. Let them all raise hell if they want.

"Two or three days will be enough," Qin Yizhou said.

"..." Song Fenglan didn’t respond, leaving it up to him.

She was fed up. For this matter, they had to put on an act, make it seem real. Outsiders might think Song Fenglan was cold-hearted, but to avoid trouble, following Qin Yizhou’s plan was indeed better.

Often, family drama called for playing hardball.

Just as Qin’s father had predicted, two days later, Qin’s mother had her caregiver wheel her to Qin Yizhou’s place—not their home, but the entrance of his military unit. She was scared of bumping into Song Fenglan, who had people from the relevant authorities around her. Pushing Song Fenglan’s buttons would only blow up in her face.

When Qin Yizhou heard his mother had come, he went out to meet her.

"See this? This is the caregiver your father and the others hired for me," Qin’s mother said. "You’re chipping in for this."

"Back then, it was black and white that this money should come from my eldest brother," Qin Yizhou said. "We got less of the inheritance—your upkeep was part of the bigger cut."

"If you don’t pay, I’ll camp out here and tell everyone what a rotten son you are. Do you think someone like you can keep working in this unit?" Qin’s mother threatened.

Qin Yizhou felt his heart go cold. Even though he had mentally prepared himself—his father had warned him—hearing these words from his own mother still made her seem terrifying.

"Fine," Qin Yizhou said. "I’ll send the money every month."

"How much?" Qin’s mother pressed.

"What’s your number?" Qin Yizhou mocked.

"Eighty!" Qin’s mother declared. "Don’t give me that ‘you’re cruel’ crap. In my condition, I need care. You’re my own flesh and blood—you should pay this much."

She figured coming to the military unit had scared him. If she hadn’t shown up, he might not have agreed so quickly.

"Go back first," Qin Yizhou said. "I don’t have that kind of cash on me right now. I’ll bring it over later."

"How much later?" Qin’s mother demanded. "Don’t leave me hanging for weeks."

"Tomorrow," Qin Yizhou answered.

After that, he spent two nights sleeping in his office.

When Song’s mother found out, she went to see Song Fenglan. She believed that if money could solve the problem, it wasn’t a problem. Hiring a caregiver for Qin’s mother? Fine, let them.

"We don’t wanna look like suckers," Song Fenglan explained to her mother in private. "The money came from Yi Zhou’s father. He knew his wife would come asking. We’re not paying—we’re just putting on a show to make it seem real to her. If we don’t make a fuss, she’ll feel uneasy and try to torment us. A perfectly fine old lady suddenly loses the use of her legs—who knows what stunt she’ll pull next."

"That's true," Song Fenglan's mother nodded. "You and your husband aren't wrong. With Yizhou's mom in that condition, who knows what she might do? And even now, does she still dote on her golden grandson?"

"Not sure. I didn’t go over, and Yizhou went but didn’t go inside," Song Fenglan replied. "That’s their business, not ours."

"Does Zi Hang know?" her mother asked.

"We didn’t tell him," Song Fenglan said. "What’s the point of telling him? Let him enjoy himself while he's away. Once he starts college, he’ll have to work hard. If he just plays around in college, how will he get a grad degree?"

"Better not tell him," her mother agreed. "When he comes back, he can visit his grandmother then. That’s enough."

The Songs didn’t care about Yizhou’s mom, but it was all her own doing. If she’d acted right, she couldn’t blame others for ignoring her.

Old Man Qin learned that Yizhou and Song Fenglan had argued. He wondered whether Yizhou had told her the truth or if they were faking. Not knowing for sure, he assumed the couple had really quarreled.

While Yizhou’s mother was watching TV, Old Man Qin shut it off.

"Look at you, stirring up drama for them," he said.

"Stirring up drama? They’re an old married couple," she retorted. "How are they young? After so many years together, they’re still fighting over such a small thing. Song Fenglan is too petty—I didn’t even ask for much, just eighty bucks a month. Eighty bucks doesn’t buy squat now."

"Isn’t eighty enough?" Old Man Qin thought, relieved it wasn’t over a hundred.

His idea was to make sure the money in the account would cover Yizhou’s payments. If anything remained after his wife’s passing, it could go toward her funeral expenses, making it seem like Yizhou had paid. He hadn’t told anyone he gave Yizhou money, instructing him to withdraw it and put it into his own account before closing the original one.

Old Man Qin wanted no loose ends—he preferred keeping things under wraps so his wife wouldn’t find out later.

"Do you even know how much Yizhou spends at home?" he said. "He doesn’t cover most of their expenses. Now you're asking for more, making him seem like a mooch."

"If I don’t ask him, who should I ask? Our second daughter? Would she give anything?" she scoffed. "Married daughters are lost to the family."

Her old-school thinking dismissed the idea of their second daughter contributing. She’d never favored her, so why start now? Supporting parents was the sons’ duty, not the married daughters’.

Old Man Qin didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sad. He had to admit both he and his wife held outdated views—they were behind the times.

"If he only pays for one month, I’ll go back for more later," she insisted.

"Unnecessary. If he says he’ll pay, he will," Old Man Qin said. "The Song family isn’t short on cash, and they won’t let Song Fenglan keep refusing forever. A prolonged fight would look bad for everyone."

"Yeah, they better keep their word," she muttered, convinced of her victory.

Lately, Li An might as well have been invisible.

Just then, Yizhou’s mother remembered something. "Did Li An cross the cleansing fire bowl yet?"

"Not yet," Old Man Qin replied.

"He needs to step over it to clear his bad luck. Do I gotta spell out everything?" she snapped.

"You were in the hospital—we were busy with your care. There was no time," he defended.

"Hurry, prepare the fire bowl now," she ordered.

So Li An stepped over the cleansing fire bowl, but it didn’t lift his spirits. In the past, his grandmother would’ve arranged it long ago. He didn’t dare say they’d forgotten him, but at mealtimes, he now ate without being called.

Tian Keshu had nowhere to stay, so she had to rent a place. Short on funds, she settled for a dump, but it beat sleeping rough. She had to find work—without income, how would she pay the compensation to Yizhou’s mother or afford rent?

She’d never pictured herself as a dishwasher—a job she’d sworn she’d never take, with her hands constantly soaked. But now, cruddy pay be damned, she needed the work. No education and over the hill, better gigs weren’t happening.

Originally, she’d tried housekeeping, but employers might recognize her. She lasted two days on trial before getting the boot. Dishes it was—at least it kept the lights on.

Qin Zihang and Zhang Xiaohu hung out in Nancheng for a few days, and Qin noticed how much the city had changed—there were way more construction sites now. Some were for new buildings, others for bridges.

"Next time you come back, Nancheng will have changed even more," Zhang Xiaohu said.

The two of them headed back to Zhang Xiaohu’s home after being out, walking along the road inside the residential compound, chatting as they went.

"A lot of people around here switched jobs to do something else," Zhang Xiaohu said. "Everyone here bought their homes outright. Ours too—we own it now."

"That’s good," Qin Zihang replied. "It’s better to have your own place so you won’t risk losing it later and having nowhere to live."

"Do you think property prices in the capital will really keep rising?" Zhang Xiaohu asked.

"They’re bound to happen!" Qin Zihang said. "Just look at how fast prices are going up now. Property prices will rise too—it’s inevitable. Buying early while prices are low means you’ll come out ahead. Even if prices dip for a few years in between, don’t overthink it—they won’t stay low for long. Since the reform and opening up, development has been booming everywhere, and the future will only get better."

"My parents said they’ll come to the capital with me when school starts to see what it’s like," Zhang Xiaohu said. "I told them about buying houses, and they seem to have taken it seriously. Your mom already talked to mine about buying property. My mom had been thinking about it too, but since I’m still in school and need money, and my older brother is at the age where he’s dating and getting married, they wanted to keep cash handy."

"Cash loses value over time," Qin Zihang said. "It’s fine for the short term, but not for the long run. Think about how much ice cream and candy cost when we were kids compared to now. Even though I didn’t study economics, this is obvious. Plus, there were so many kids before the family planning policy—those kids will grow up, get married, and have their own kids. The population will keep growing for years. So buying property now is a smart move."

"Yeah," Zhang Xiaohu nodded. "What you’re saying makes a lot of sense."

When Qin Zihang and Zhang Xiaohu arrived at the Zhang household, they’d already eaten dinner. Zhang Chenghai asked Qin Zihang how things were in the capital.

"The capital is even better now than when Xiaohu was there," Qin Zihang said. "The city is still expanding, and more people are moving there for opportunities."

"Will property prices really go up in the future?" Zhang Chenghai asked.

"They’ll shoot up—maybe even double or more," Qin Zihang said. "With so many people moving to the capital, they’ll need places to live. Our people value roots and having a home. Only with a house can you truly settle down in the capital. Without one, you’ll never feel at home."

"That’s true," Auntie Fatty said. "Before we bought this place, it never quite felt like ours. After buying it, we felt much more secure. Your mom really knows her stuff, thinking ahead about buying property. And she must have a lot of money too."

"My mom holds many patents—they pay off," Qin Zihang said. "It’s not just dividends from my uncle’s company."

"Your mom is impressive," Auntie Fatty said. "She doesn’t need to rely on others—she’s got it made on her own."

"If you want to buy property in the capital, you should go for it," Qin Zihang said. "If you’re short on funds, I can spot you some."

"Then we’re doing it!" Zhang Chenghai said. "We’ll make it happen."

Qin Zihang glanced at Zhang Wen, the eldest son in the Zhang family. Based on what Zhang Xiaohu had just said, if the Zhangs bought property in the capital, Zhang Wen might get shortchanged.

"I have a job, and I can chip in my savings," Zhang Wen said.

The Zhang family was close-knit, and if buying property could bring profit, Zhang Wen was happy to help. Besides, if Zhang Xiaohu stayed in the capital in the future, he’d have a home base. Even if he didn’t, they could always sell the property.

"Brother, you’ve got wedding costs to think about too," Zhang Xiaohu said.

"No rush, I can wait a couple more years," Zhang Wen replied. "By then, housing prices might have risen."

"Let’s put all our money together and see how much more we need," Zhang Chenghai said. "If we’re still short, we can borrow a little."

The Zhang couple had saved quite a bit, and when Qin Zihang heard the amount, he thought they were pretty close.

"That should be enough for a slightly bigger place," Qin Zihang said. "My uncles know the capital’s property market well. You can ask my second uncle for help—my mom usually relies on him when buying houses."

"Would that be too much trouble for your second uncle?" Auntie Fatty asked hesitantly.

"You’re not borrowing money from him, so it’s fine," Qin Zihang said.

"Should we give him something for his trouble?" Auntie Fatty asked.

"No need," said Qin Zihang. "Money isn't an issue for my second uncle—he owns homes not just in the capital, but in other cities too. When he bought his place, he even asked my mom if she wanted to buy one nearby, so they could be neighbors on vacation. But my mom said vacations are only a few days, and she'd rather stay at a nice hotel."

Song Fenglan disliked cleaning and didn’t want the hassle of dealing with a property for just a short stay—it was much more convenient to stay in a hotel.

"If you're set on this, I’ll talk to my uncle when I get back," Qin Zihang said. "Just tell me what kind of house you’re looking for. When you go to the capital, we can all go check it out together."

"We'd really appreciate your uncle's help," Zhang Chenghai replied. Being newcomers, they didn’t know the ropes. "Doesn’t your father handle these kinds of things?"

"My dad? He eats out of my mom’s hand," Qin Zihang said. "If she tells him to go east, he wouldn’t dare go west. All these decisions are hers."

"Heard that? It’s all Fenglan’s call," Auntie Fatty said, glancing at Zhang Chenghai.

"Don’t you run things at home too?" Zhang Chenghai shot back.

"How much do I really manage?" Auntie Fatty countered. "I slave over a meal, and you boys still find fault."

Just then, Guo Peng got a call from Li Hui, who asked a few questions about Guo Furong.

"What's with the sudden interest?" Guo Peng frowned. What did Li Hui want, asking about Guo Furong out of the blue—especially since she hadn’t even taken her back?