Chapter 283: Returning with a Full Load

Chapter 283: Coming Home with a Full Haul

Having already promised, the two grandmothers would certainly keep their word. Tomorrow, they would definitely take the children to the zoo and amusement park. After all, as long as the kids were happy, what was the harm? It wasn't like they were asking for the stars or the moon, just a simple outing.

Xia Xian was well aware of her family's doting ways. She knew Zhao Zhao would be perfectly fine at home, allowing her to focus on her business trips without worry.

She planned to fill all three trucks to capacity with goods. This particular haul would be substantial, as she intended to open a second clothing store after the National Day holiday, once she returned from visiting relatives. This way, she wouldn't have to worry about excess inventory becoming outdated.

This trip was a resounding success, remarkably smooth with no unexpected issues along the way. The freight company operated flawlessly, and everyone followed instructions diligently.

Led by Lao Ding, the drivers handled the vehicles steadily, and none of them were impulsive. Overall, Xia Xian was satisfied with their performance on this initial delivery run, though she planned to observe them more closely in the future.

The return of the three fully loaded trucks created quite a stir, immediately drawing everyone's attention. Even those previously unaware of the new freight company in Beijing quickly learned about it, and business inquiries began pouring in.

While the number of clients wasn't overwhelming yet, Xia Xian knew such things took time. She decided to first assess Lao Ding and his team's ability to attract and serve customers before making any further moves.

Xia Xian even introduced some of her business friends to them. However, whether they could secure those deals depended entirely on Lao Ding's team. Xia Xian didn't ask her friends to do her any favors; she simply wanted them to give Lao Ding an opportunity while she evaluated their capabilities.

Once all these matters were settled, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

Xia Xian chose not to return home for the festival, instead celebrating it with her immediate family before heading back to her hometown with Quan Ruifeng and Zhao Zhao. She had called Lei Juan in advance, who was overjoyed by the news.

Days before Xia Xian's return, Lei Juan had embarked on a thorough house cleaning, determined to make the home spotless and bright so Zhao Zhao wouldn't find anything to complain about. Everything had to be perfectly organized—not a single flaw could be found!

Lei Juan had been buzzing with excitement for days, and Xia Xian's father was also in good spirits. With his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild coming home, he had every reason to be happy. He even uncharacteristically helped with some housework, tidying up the rooms.

However, no matter how much they cleaned and organized, the small house, crammed with so many people and belongings, still looked cluttered. Eventually, Lei Juan threw in the towel.

"Forget it. There's no room for them anyway."

"We need to figure out where to put them. Xiao Xian said they'd stay for three to five days. We can't possibly make all three of them sleep on the living room floor, and besides, there's no space for that either."

"I've said it before—this family should have split up ages ago. But none of them want to move out; they just cling to this house, making it so cramped."

Lei Juan rarely complained about the extended family, but what good was it now?

"Enough already. Your sons aren't capable enough; should we just throw them out on the street?"

"Factories are closing down these days. Forget about them getting assigned housing; just having a job is a blessing. Those laid-off workers are truly miserable—entire families of seven or eight with no one earning a salary. God knows how they'll manage."

Xia Xian's father shook his head helplessly. He certainly didn't want to live in such a small house with so many people, but there was no other choice.

Lei Juan understood this too. She had merely vented in a moment of frustration; if it truly came down to it, she wouldn't have the heart to make her children move out.

Xia Xian's elder and second sisters-in-law had also been helping with the cleaning. Hearing Lei Juan and Xia Xian's father speak, neither dared to contradict them. Instead, they cautiously tried to curry favor.

"Mom, Dad, we want to move out too. The children are growing up and need their own rooms. But getting assigned housing now feels like a pipe dream; it seems we'll never see that day."

"Yes, but I've noticed many people are renting these days. While renting isn't easy, with so many new houses being built, there are far more options than before. If we could rent a place, that would be great. Later, we could look for an opportunity to get our own house. Don't you agree, Mom and Dad?"

For once, Xia Xian's elder and second sisters-in-law teamed up, not bickering but cautiously probing.

Renting seemed like a decent solution. In recent years, both the elder and second families had welcomed another child, bringing the total to five children in the house. There wasn't even room to breathe, let alone live comfortably. If money could solve this predicament, it would be a good option.

"Then the few of you should go look for houses and move out. Staying cramped together like this isn't a long-term solution," Xia Xian's father agreed without hesitation.

"Mom, Dad, does that mean both our families are moving out?" Xia Xian's elder sister-in-law pressed further. If they moved out and left the house to the second family, she wouldn't agree to that!

"Both of you move out. If anyone can't find a place and stays here, they'll pay rent to the family—the same as if they were renting from an outsider!"

Xia Xian's father knew exactly what she was worried about, so he immediately brought up the idea of collecting rent.

At least this way, both families would feel a sense of fairness, which was acceptable. Xia Xian's elder and second sisters-in-law had no objections; what they truly wanted was something else.

But they hesitated, neither daring to voice their true thoughts.

Lei Juan could tell from her two daughters-in-law's demeanor that they had something to say, and she found their beating around the bush irritating.

"Just say what you want to say directly. There's no need to be so secretive; it's painful to watch."

"Alright, we'll just say it then. Please don't get angry. We're only thinking of your grandsons, aren't we?"

"We also want to move out, but we're short on cash. Xiao Xian must have given you a lot of money over the years. Not only did she marry into wealth, but she's also very rich from her own business now. She wouldn't neglect you if she has money. We're struggling financially right now, Mom and Dad, could you lend us some money?"

"A loan, it's a loan! We'll definitely pay you back when we have money. But right now, with so many mouths to feed and rent to pay, it's really difficult."

Xia Xian's elder sister-in-law added awkwardly. Despite her embarrassment, wasn't she just asking for money? Every time Xia Xian made a move, they wanted money.

Their logic chain was simple, and Xia Xian's elder and second brothers shared the same idea: Xia Xian had money, so she couldn't possibly not give some to her parents. Even if it wasn't a large sum, occasional financial support was already a lot. The elderly couple didn't have many expenses, and they were short on money. Wasn't it normal for parents to subsidize their sons?

So, they asked again, just in case they would get it.

Therefore, while they called it a "loan," no one actually intended to pay it back!

Upon hearing this, Lei Juan and Xia Xian's father couldn't help but take a deep breath. So, this was what they had been waiting for all along!