"Why are you still sleeping? It's already four o'clock!" Liu Zhengwen said with a yawn.
"Why are you back so early?" Zhang Junping raised his hand and looked at the time. It was indeed after four o'clock.
"While you guys are chatting, I'll boil some water and make breakfast." Huang Juan and Du Meili went out to boil water and cook together.
"Alas! I didn't want to come so early, but...
Alas!" Liu Zhengwen sighed twice without finishing his sentence.
"What's wrong? You're looking sad?"
"It's not because Huang Juan and my mother can't live together. It was fine for the first few days after I returned home, but later...
I had no choice but to bring Huang Juan back quickly...
Ping'er, do you think all mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are at odds with each other?"
"Absolutely. In fact, the main responsibility still lies with you. Your family still thinks that Huang Juan has dragged you down, so naturally they will not give her a good look. Huang Juan is not the kind of person who can tolerate humiliation, so the conflicts will naturally accumulate.
"
"What should we do?" Liu Zhengwen asked distressedly after thinking that this was really the case.
"It's very simple!
All conflicts are caused by poor communication.
Is Huang Juan really dragging you down now? Her monthly salary is probably more than your whole family's salary combined, right?
You share this with your family members and say, "How do you think your family members will look at Huang Juan?"
At that time, I would probably have to fawn over her." Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"Can it be done?"
"Why doesn't it work? How do you know it doesn't work if you haven't tried it?
To put it bluntly, many troubles in this world are caused by a few ounces of broken silver.
Talking about money is very vulgar, but a few taels of these vulgar pieces of silver can solve all the troubles in the world."
"Ping'er, I found that since you came back from last summer vacation, you seem to be a different person, as if you have gained a lot of experience out of thin air."
"Haha, that's because you have never experienced what it's like to be hungry and faint on the street.
I have experienced it before, and the feeling of death is really uncomfortable. I don't want to experience it again.
So, I have changed! You may say that I have become utilitarian or realistic.
This society is like this, and we, the so-called future artists, also need to eat. We must first eat and clothe ourselves, then we can be in the mood to talk about art and create." Zhang Junping said with deep feeling.
"What you said makes sense. If you don't have enough food, how can you still have the energy to create art." Liu Zhengwen nodded in agreement.
Huang Juan boiled water and came over to make a cup of tea for Zhang Junping and Liu Zhengwen.
"Brother Zhang, you drink tea first, and I'll order some noodles." He said politely and turned around to make breakfast.
After breakfast, Zhang Junping took the things he brought from home and went to the old lady's house in the alley of Dongmi City.
The old lady just got up and was exercising in the yard.
"Grandma Liu, happy New Year! I wish you a happy New Year!" Zhang Junping knelt down and kowtowed to the old lady in a polite manner.
"Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Get up quickly, it's cold on the ground!" The old lady was stunned when she saw Zhang Junping, then she happily pulled Zhang Junping up with a smile and gave him a red envelope.
"You kid, why are you back so early? How many more days will you stay at home?" After entering the house, the old lady sat down on the front seat and asked with a smile.
"Don't I miss you? I'll come back soon to be with you!" Zhang Junping gently squeezed the old lady's shoulders.
"Do you miss my old lady or your little wife?"
"I must miss you! Huang Xue won't come back until fifteen."
"When did you arrive? Have you eaten?" The old lady was very happy, and the smile on her face became even brighter.
"I arrived in Beijing at around three o'clock in the morning today. I didn't come over here after breakfast at Wangfujing Dream Factory."
"Why are you in such a hurry? You have been on the train for more than ten hours and don't know how to take a break."
"It's okay, I slept all the way on the train...
Grandma Liu, we don’t have much good stuff at home, so I brought you some volcano millet and Yuandu green radish!
There is also the burning of the pole head made by my mother herself.
You may not be able to bite this one.
But it doesn't matter, I'll cook you a fish soup later, it's delicious when soaked in it." Zhang Junping took out the gift he brought.
The old lady watched happily as Zhang Junping took out everything he had brought and put it on the table.
On this day, Zhang Junping didn't go anywhere. He just stayed at home and chatted with the old lady.
I told you all about my experience when I returned to my hometown.
"You are so stupid and bold. You asked the villagers to borrow money to buy shares in your furniture factory. Do you know that this is against the rules?"
"It's a bit of a violation, but in this era, it shouldn't be a big problem if you break the rules a little bit," Zhang Junping said nonchalantly.
"As long as no one is pursuing it, it will be fine. If someone does pursue it, it will be troublesome."
The old lady only reminded Zhang Junping and didn't say much else.
The old lady has experienced many more things than this in her life, and these are just troublesome things to her.
From the old lady's point of view, it would be a good thing if someone really pursued the case. Suffering some hardships could also increase Zhang Junping's experience.
Anyway, with her and Yang Mingde protecting him, this little trouble can't ruin Zhang Junping.
"Where do you plan to build your new factory?"
"I'm going to find a piece of land next to Dabeiyao to build a new furniture factory."
Dabeiyao is the earliest industrial park in Beijing. It is located on the edge of the Third Ring Road and near the Guomao Bridge.
"Dabei Kiln, it's not that far over there, okay, you can just watch and figure it out yourself.
But I only have half a year for you to work hard. After half a year, you should take your heart back to me and learn sculpture from me." The old lady reminded Zhang Junping that he will transfer to the sculpture department in the second half of the year, and he can no longer leave it alone.
He's messing around outside.
"Don't worry, Grandma Liu, I promise that I won't delay my homework and will exceed the assignments you assigned." Zhang Junping quickly promised with a smile.
After staying at the old lady's house for a day, Zhang Junping came to Yang Mingde's house again the next day.
It was my wife who opened the door.
"Master, happy New Year!"
"Hey, Xiao Pingzi is back? Happy New Year!
Lao Yang, Xiao Pingzi is back, come out quickly." The wife was surprised to see Zhang Junping. She enthusiastically let Zhang Junping into the room and shouted to the study.
"Come on, why do you ask me to come out to greet you?" Yang Mingde said dissatisfiedly, but he walked out of the study.
"Master, happy New Year!" Zhang Junping put down his things and kowtowed to Yang Mingde and his wife in a polite manner.
"Hey, kid, get up, get up!" The teacher's wife hurriedly stretched out her hand to pull Zhang Junping up, "Here, this is the New Year's money that the teacher's wife gave you!"
The teacher's wife took out a red envelope and stuffed it into Zhang Junping's pocket.
"Thank you, Master!" Zhang Junping smiled and thanked his wife, then turned to look at Yang Mingde.
"Why are you looking at me? Didn't your wife give you lucky money?" Yang Mingde glared.
He scolded him, but still gave Zhang Junping a red envelope.
Then he took Zhang Junping and introduced him: "Let me introduce you to him. This is my new apprentice, your little junior brother.
Xiao Pingzi, this is your senior brother Yang Guangzheng, and this is your senior sister Yang Yinghua."