Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"Perhaps next year, you, her aunt, will be able to hold your little nephew in your arms!"

Qiu Yuying was taken aback by Wang Fengxia's words. The smugness in her heart hadn't dissipated yet, but it was all shattered by this sudden warmth. She opened her mouth, wanting to say that things were still far from settled, but Wang Fengxia didn't give her a chance to interrupt. While speaking, she pulled Wang Haitang's hand and stuffed it into Qiu Yuying's hand.

"Yuying, look at my Haitang! Her figure, her looks, her education—she's in the same medical field as us. Back when Lao Cai married you, we were nurses in the same department. Look at you now, you're the deputy director of the Municipal Health Commission! Tsk tsk, it must be because nurses bring good fortune to their husbands!"

"Once Xiao Lai marries Haitang, he'll have a virtuous wife to rely on, guaranteeing a worry-free career. Becoming a deputy director-general in two years and a director-general in five years is just a matter of time!"

Wang Haitang's hand was placed in Qiu Yuying's palm by her aunt. She did not pull it back, nor did she lower her head shyly. She just sat there quietly, her gaze calm and resolute, as composed as she would be in front of an operating table. However, the blush on her pretty face betrayed her true feelings.

Holding Wang Haitang's soft hand, Qiu Yuying's heart began to waver again. This girl was indeed not bad, and she was not entirely unworthy of her nephew. It wasn't shameful for a 25-year-old division-level cadre to marry a nurse from the provincial people's hospital.

Back when her husband, Lao Cai, married Qiu Yuying, she was just a nurse at the Jinan People's Hospital. But then she suddenly realized that she was just Lai Zhanggao's aunt and mother. Whether her sister, Qiu Yu'e, would agree was still uncertain, and she couldn't make a foolish decision to agree.

"Fengxia, there's no rush," Qiu Yuying pulled her hand back, pretending to take a small sip of her teacup. "Xiao Lai has just taken office, and there are so many things to do in the development zone. He doesn't have the time to talk about this. Let's talk about it later."

Wang Fengxia's smile froze for a moment, then she forced a smile back and said repeatedly, "No rush, no rush, good food is worth waiting for."

Qiu Yuying stood up and said she still needed to go to the market to buy groceries, as her husband, Lao Cai, would be coming home for dinner that evening, and she needed to prepare in advance. Wang Fengxia saw her to the door, her smile lasting until the door closed.

Wang Haitang sat on the sofa, still holding the lukewarm cup of tea. Wang Fengxia closed the door and turned around, her smile fading. Wang Haitang looked at her aunt, hesitant to speak, "Aunt, this matter isn't just going to end like this, is it?"

"Haitang, let me be honest with you, it's a bit difficult for you two to get together, but it's not entirely impossible. Tell me honestly, do you want to marry a mid-level cadre?"

"Auntie, I...want to!"

"But would such a young, high-ranking official like him even be interested in a nurse like me?"

"I'm afraid I can't afford to be associated with you!"

Wang Fengxia chuckled, "There's no such thing as being too good for someone of your stature. It's just a matter of whether you want to marry him or not. If you want to marry him, then listen to your aunt. Call your dad later and tell him about it."

"Um!"

After leaving Wang Fengxia's house, Qiu Yuying rode her bicycle into the market. She had already bought the ribs, but she still needed to buy a fish. Old Cai loved scallion oil sea bass. Standing in front of the fish stall, she thought of her nephew who was still fast asleep in his dormitory. She sighed and picked out the biggest sea bass.

When Cai Shengju returned home in the evening, Lai Zhanggao was already there. Qiu Yuying had stewed pork rib soup, steamed sea bass with scallion oil, stir-fried a plate of green vegetables and a plate of cured meat, and laid out a full table. Cai Shengju washed his hands and sat down on the sofa. He glanced at Lai Zhanggao, who was talking to his daughter, and then at his wife, who was washing pots in the kitchen with a smile on her face.

"Why is it so lavish today?"

"Xiao Gao got promoted, we should celebrate!" Qiu Yuying came out carrying two bowls of rice and called to her daughter and nephew who were talking in the living room, "Stop chatting and come eat first."

Cai Shengju chuckled and looked at Lai Zhanggao who was walking over, saying, "Then I have to thank Xiao Gao for making me able to eat these three dishes and a soup."

"Stop your nonsense. Do you think I'll starve you?" Qiu Yuying rolled her eyes at her husband and handed the chopsticks to her daughter Cai Lan. "Xiao Gao, eat more. You must be exhausted from work these past few days."

"Mom, why are you so biased? You don't even ask if I'm tired from studying," Cai Lan pouted, biting her chopsticks indignantly.

Seeing this, Qiu Yuying tapped her on the head. "How many times have I told you not to bite your chopsticks? You have no manners at all. It's fine if you're eating at home, but if you're at the same table with other people and they see you biting your chopsticks while picking up food, will they even be able to eat?"

"Oh, Mom, I know, you've almost knocked my brains out," Cai Lan said, puffing out her cheeks as she looked at her father, Cai Shengju. "Secretary, aren't you going to do something about my mom? She's almost knocked your precious, smart daughter out of her mind."

"Stop flattering yourself. You're smart? So smart that you're struggling to even get into university," Qiu Yuying said, placing a piece of pork rib into Lai Zhanggao's bowl.

Lai Zhanggao could only lower his head and chuckle as he ate his rice. His aunt had given birth to a son and a daughter. His cousin was currently serving in the army and married in Guangxi Province, and he could only come back once a year. His cousin was five years younger than him, so she could be considered a "late-life daughter." His uncle, Cai Shengju, doted on her, and she had a somewhat willful personality.

After finishing his bowl, Cai Shengju handed it to his wife to serve him more rice. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Lai Zhanggao with a much gentler gaze than usual. "Xiaogao, you'll be going with Lao Ji to handle things in the development zone. You need to observe, listen, and ask questions about everything. Don't pretend to know what you don't. Do you understand?"

Lai Zhanggao swallowed the rice in his mouth and nodded solemnly. Cai Shengju took the bowl handed to him by Qiu Yuying, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of fish, dipped it in the sauce at the bottom of the plate, and slowly chewed it. "Yuying, didn't you say you helped Xiaogao find a girl? Xiaogao will be a bit busy these days. Could you help postpone it for him? We can go to see her after he's done with this busy period."

Cai Lan chewed her food, pouting as she muttered, "What's the point of looking at girls anymore? My mom just rejected one of them."

Qiu Yuying glared at her, tapped the rim of her bowl with her chopsticks, and said, "Eat your food. All this food can't shut you up."

"Rejected her? How could you reject her? Didn't you say this girl was your colleague's niece? You praised her to the skies, how could you be so heartless as to reject her?"

"Tsk! And you're the Party Secretary of the city," Qiu Yuying rolled her eyes at Cai Shengju. "Our Xiao Gao is already a full-fledged director at the age of twenty-five. He can't find a girl with any qualifications in the future. I was short-sighted before, but now I've broadened my horizons."

"Xiao Gao is such a talented young man, marrying a nurse is considered a step down. I have to find him a better one, otherwise my sister won't let me off the hook."

"Dad, Mom is mainly worried that if my aunt finds out about this, she'll take the train over overnight and come to interrogate me..."

"You talk too much, just eat your food!"