CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 324: COURTYARD HOUSE

"Yes, yes, yes! Stay and let’s have a lively celebration for the New Year! Big sister, big brother, you’ll have nothing to do when you go back anyway! Just stay and keep Cuihua company!" Bai Xianglan chimed in.

"Yeah! Grandma, Grandpa, stay!"

The little ones joined in, making a scene.

Wang Cuihua wasn’t present; otherwise, she’d be joining in the persuasion, and even Lin Daliang had joined the camp encouraging them to stay.

"Mom and Dad! You just want to relax and enjoy yourselves. Honestly, I think you shouldn’t go back. There are plenty of rooms here, and it’s time for you to retire. Just stay and live comfortably!"

Li Xiuying and her husband felt quite content hearing their son-in-law’s words. You know, he’s the only son-in-law they have, and he’s quite nice, although years ago, his mother’s domineering ways caused Cuihua to suffer a lot.

"What retirement? Mom and Dad aren’t workers; we’re farmers, there’s no talk of retirement for us. As long as we can move, we have to work! We’re happy you think this way, but we’re rural residents, we can’t live in the city! Besides, if we stayed here after New Year’s, the two elders would probably get lost going back."

Li Xiuying smiled broadly. For the older generation, having younger ones not mind their presence is already a great thing. Seeing everyone wanting them to stay made them happy.

"Grandma, Grandpa, don’t worry about that! We have our own car now, so we can drive you back when the time comes!"

Zhang Yuan also chimed in, surprising Lin Xue a bit, but she quickly turned and smiled, nodding, "That’s right! We’ll drive you back!"

Finally, after everyone’s persuasion, the two elders agreed to stay for the New Year’s, but Third Uncle and his wife had to return to work, so they had to go back.

When it was time to leave, Feng Minghua quietly brought her little daughter to Li Xiuying.

"Mom, you’re staying here for the New Year, so why not let my daughter stay too? Going back in the middle of winter, there’s nothing to do! Let her keep you company!" Feng Minghua smiled warmly and nudged her daughter toward her grandmother.

"Grandma, I’ll stay and take good care of you!" Wang Junsheng’s little daughter Wang Xiaomin obediently stepped forward. This was all discussed with her mom; if she could stay here, she’d eat well, sleep well, and occasionally go shopping and buy clothes, unlike going back, which was different. In the bitter winter, eating wasn’t as good, and the living conditions weren’t as nice.

The bedding here was thick and soft; she didn’t want to go back.

While Li Xiuying was wondering how to refuse, Liu Lingling arrived with her three children.

"Mom, it’s winter and there’s nothing to do. Why not let them stay too? It’s perfect to take them back with you after New Year’s!" She stepped forward, "Mom, don’t worry, I’ll leave you some money for the kids!"

"Second Sister-in-law! You’re everywhere!" Feng Minghua was furious; leaving four kids, the old lady clearly wouldn’t agree.

So many kids, even if there’s no shortage of living space, Second Brother’s family’s two calves eat a lot. Even if the little sister-in-law didn’t mind, the mother-in-law wouldn’t dare let them stay.

"Big sister-in-law, I’m just learning from you, aren’t I? What, your kid is the grandma’s granddaughter and mine isn’t? It’s all the same, if yours can stay, why can’t mine?" Liu Lingling had long been at odds with her, so bantering back was no pressure at all.

"Everyone shut up! Take the kids back! No one stays! I can’t look after them! This city, if they run out and get in trouble, who’s responsible? Take them all back!" Li Xiuying waved her hand and sighed, turning back to the house without appearing again.

Liu Lingling turned, meeting Niu Yingying’s gaze, both smiling.

See, huh, little schemes didn’t work, did they?

Wang Xiaofang still had to go back to help Niu Yingying watch the kids, so there’s no way she’d stay. This was part of Liu Lingling and Niu Yingying’s plans.

After sending everyone off, Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan went home and immediately fell asleep during daylight.

They were too tired, having been busy late at night these past few days. They needed sleep desperately.

They slept straight until dinner time, then woke up, planning to go next door for a meal. Opening the door, they found a bicycle at the entrance.

"Whose is this?" Lin Xue asked curiously.

"Must be Mr. Liu’s! He’s the only one who knows this address; I haven’t told anyone else!" Zhang Yuan guessed, "He might be next door."

"Mr. Liu? Who’s that? What’s he do?" Lin Xue pursued the matter.

"Housing Office, this house was bought through Xiao Yu asking him." Zhang Yuan took Lin Xue’s hand and walked next door.

"What’s his name?" Lin Xue casually asked, following Zhang Yuan’s pace.

"Mr. Liu!" Zhang Yuan replied.

"Oh, you don’t know his name either!" Lin Xue commented.

"His last name is Liu, first name is Tongzhi, Mr. Liu!" Zhang Yuan laughed as he explained.

Lin Xue froze for a moment, then stopped, laughing heartily for a moment, "This name is really keeping up with the times."

As they walked into the yard next door, Little Chuan ran over, "Big sister, Brother-in-law! Where did you go? Someone’s been looking for you, knocking on the door for ages with no answer. We heard it over here, so we brought him over! Quick, someone’s looking for you, he’s in the living room!"

"Got it, you just go on with whatever you were doing!" Lin Xue was a bit embarrassed—it was daytime, and they hadn’t heard the knocking while asleep.

They walked inside and saw it really was Mr. Liu, sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

"Uncle Liu! Did you come looking for me for something?" Zhang Yuan spoke first, then walked over to sit down, not forgetting to pull his wife to sit beside him.

Mr. Liu lifted his head from the newspaper, "Xiao Zhang, you’re back? I’ve been waiting a while! I’m here to ask you to do me a favor!" Mr. Liu quickly sat up straight and said.

"What kind of favor? Is it something I can help with?" Zhang Yuan humbly replied.

"It’s like this, Mr. Liu has a few houses, all quadrangle courtyards in this area. There are requirements from above—now that so many high-rises are being built, they need to sell some of these quadrangle courtyards! If you have connections, help Mr. Liu promote them, okay? Not many people can afford houses this expensive!" Mr. Liu said while handing over a cigarette.

"I don’t smoke! You’re asking me to help sell houses!" Zhang Yuan glanced at his wife, his look asking if she was interested.

Lin Xue nodded, then Zhang Yuan spoke up, "It’s just right; my wife is considering buying. What are the conditions of the quadrangle courtyards you have?"

As soon as Mr. Liu heard, he stood up immediately, "You’re looking to buy? Then you’re in luck; the quadrangle courtyards I have are all in excellent condition. They’re roughly the same size as this place, well-maintained and quite new! Plus, they’re close to you! How great it is to have relatives and friends living close together!"

Mr. Liu kept talking non-stop about the houses.

Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan glanced at each other and nodded.