Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

Soon, only Yang Fan and his parents remained in the lively living room.

Wang Xiuying didn't immediately go to wash up. She moved closer to Yang Fan, her face showing a hint of inquiry, and lowered her voice to say:

"Xiao Fan, Mom has something to ask you."

Yang Fan could tell from his mother's expression that something was up, and he found it somewhat amusing:

"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you being so secretive?"

Wang Xiuying glanced at Yang Jianguo, who had already picked up the remote to change the channel but was clearly listening intently, then leaned closer to her son and lowered her voice even further:

"Xiao Fan, tell Mom the truth, these past few days... you and that Yao Yao next door have been getting along quite well, haven't you?"

really.

Yang Fan sighed inwardly, a wry smile on his face:

"Mom, what are you thinking?"

"How old is Zhou Yao? She just turned eighteen not long ago, just a little girl. We're just ordinary neighbors. She's very kind and has helped us a lot. Please don't overthink it."

Wang Xiuying stared into her son's eyes, as if trying to discern the truthfulness of his words.

After looking at it for a few seconds, she nodded as if she had breathed a sigh of relief:

"Oh...that's good. Mom was just worried about you two because you seemed to be getting along so well...you know."

She paused, but couldn't help but say what she really wanted to say:

"Xiao Fan, Mom just thinks... Xiao Yu is a really good kid."

She is sensible, kind, good-looking, and knows our family well.

"You...you should know what you're doing and think it over carefully."

In the past, Yang Fan would usually laugh it off and change the subject, or simply say, "Don't worry about my business."

But this time, he remained silent.

He thought of Lin Xiaoyu.

I thought of her delicate face, her slightly red fingertips when she handed me the rice bowl, and her trembling eyelashes when she smiled softly with her head down.

And the fleeting sadness in her eyes when she heard that "boyfriend and girlfriend" was a joke.

Those subtle details became exceptionally clear at that moment.

He is not a quick-thinking person.

He has his own principles and bottom line when it comes to relationships.

Zhou Yao was a good person, lively and enthusiastic, but he knew very well that she was just a neighbor and a friend.

On the scales of his emotions, that quiet and gentle girl, like a gentle stream, had long since taken on a different weight.

Seeing that her son didn't argue or give her the usual perfunctory response, but instead remained unusually silent, Wang Xiuying and Yang Jianguo, who was pretending to watch TV, exchanged a glance and both understood what was going on.

After a while, Yang Fan raised his head and looked at his mother's concerned gaze.

He nodded seriously, his voice calm yet resolute.

"Mom, I know."

There were no promises, no guarantees, but that one "I know" and that calm gaze were enough to put Wang Xiuying's mind at ease.

"Okay, okay, you should go to sleep early too!" Wang Xiuying smiled with relief and got up to go back to her room on the first floor with Yang Jianguo.

The living room returned to silence.

Yang Fan turned off the TV and lights and went up to the third floor.

Outside the window, the city lights still twinkle, but in this small courtyard, there is a comforting and warm dream.

……

At 4:20 a.m., the alarm clock woke Yang Fan up.

He didn't linger in bed at all, and quickly got up, dressed, and washed up.

As I walked out of my room, Yang Hao's door next door opened at the same time.

The two brothers exchanged a glance in the dimly lit corridor, both seeing the clarity in each other's eyes and a hint of excitement about what was about to begin.

There were faint noises coming from downstairs.

When they came down the stairs, they found that their parents and their third uncle and aunt were already up!

The kitchen lights were on, and the aroma of porridge wafted from inside.

"Dad, Mom, Uncle and Aunt, why are you up so early?" Yang Fan asked in surprise.

Wang Xiuying peeked out from the kitchen, already dressed in her grass-green military overcoat. Although the style was old-fashioned, it made her look exceptionally energetic.

"Can't sleep! Something's on my mind! Hurry up, the porridge will be ready soon. You two should have a bite first to warm up before going out!"

The restaurant lights were on, and several sets of bowls and chopsticks were on the table, along with tea eggs that had been boiled the night before.

Soon, the family of six sat around the table and began their earliest "breakfast" of the day.

Although time was tight, no one was in a hurry; instead, there was a solemn sense of ceremony.

No one showed any signs of fatigue on their faces, only anticipation and eager enthusiasm.

Wang Xiuying took a sip of hot porridge, sighed contentedly, tugged at her military overcoat, and said to Li Cuihua:

"Third Aunt, you know what? This coat Xiaofan bought looks bulky, but it's really warm to wear! The cotton padding is so thick!"

Li Cuihua nodded with a smile: "Yes, this material is sturdy and windproof."

"And these cotton shoes keep my feet warm at all. Xiaofan and Yaoyao are so thoughtful."

Although Yang Jianguo and Yang Jianmin didn't speak, they both unconsciously adjusted their identical military overcoats, their faces showing a sense of reassurance.

Yang Fan watched this scene silently.

The parents, uncles, and aunts were all "armed" with their clothes on, each one looking like a bloated green cotton ball, far less glamorous and fashionable than city dwellers.

But their heartfelt longing and excitement for a new life, and their high-spirited determination to create a better future through their own labor, made their eyes exceptionally bright and their faces radiant with vitality.

He knew he had made the right move.

Money can buy comfort, but it can't buy the grounded joy and vibrant hope of being rooted in the soil and creating value with your own hands.

After a simple breakfast, it was still pitch black.

Everyone quickly began packing their belongings.

Electronic scale, large rolls of plastic bags, a tin box for holding change, a calculator, and an account book.

There was also that small silver sun heater, the power strip, the folding table, and the thick tablecloth.

There was a lot of stuff, but it could fit in two cars.

Yang Hao drove the blue tarpaulin-covered pickup truck that the market had assigned to him. Although it was a bit old, it was very clean.

Yang Fan, on the other hand, drove his own Mercedes.

"Dad, Mom, Uncle and Aunt, let's go over and tidy up the stall a bit more, and wait for Haozi and the others to bring the vegetables back!" Yang Jianguo, as the "commander-in-chief," said before getting into the car.

"Okay! You guys go ahead, we'll be there shortly!" Yang Fan replied.

Two cars drove out of the yard, one after the other, their headlights piercing the deepest darkness before dawn, heading towards the Dongyuan Market.

The carriage was quiet, but everyone's heart was pounding faster with each turn of the wheels, filled with boundless anticipation for a "successful start".

……

When we arrived at the market, it was still quiet, with only a few corridor lights on.

They found their stall and opened the key Zhou Dahai had given them the day before.

The stall's location was indeed excellent, directly facing the main entrance, making it easily visible to passersby.

The four people immediately got to work, wiping the table, setting up the tabletop, placing the small heater and power strip in the planned corner, setting up the folding table, and laying down a thick waterproof tablecloth. A simple "logistics rest corner" was beginning to take shape.

Although it was cold, my body quickly warmed up after I started working.

After they had mostly finished packing, Yang Jianguo checked the time and said to Yang Fan:

"Xiaofan, Haozi, you two stop working here. The four of us are enough."

"You guys hurry up and go get the vegetables, that's the important thing! We'll feel more at ease if we get the fresh vegetables back sooner!"

"Yes, you guys go quickly! Drive carefully on the road!" Wang Xiuying urged.

Yang Fan and Yang Hao exchanged a glance and nodded.

"Okay, Dad, Mom, I'll leave this place to you. Haozi, let's go."

As the two walked out of the market, the chill of the early morning air hit them, and they couldn't help but tighten their collars.

In the parking lot, the blue pickup truck waited quietly.

Yang Hao skillfully opened the car door, and the two got into the driver's seat.

The sound of the engine starting was exceptionally clear in the quiet of the early morning.

The car slowly drove out of the parking lot and merged into the almost empty street.

Yang Hao focused intently on the road ahead, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.

Suddenly, he freed one hand and pulled a pack of cigarettes from the storage compartment; it was a very ordinary brand.

He took out one and handed it to Yang Fan.

"Brother Fan, have a cigarette to perk yourself up."

Yang Fan paused for a moment, looking at his cousin's profile, which appeared particularly serious in the dim light.

Yang Hao is introverted and doesn't talk much. For him, this gesture of offering a cigarette is already a very intimate and solemn expression.

Yang Fan took the cigarette, and Yang Hao took out a lighter, lit it for Yang Fan first, and then lit it for himself.

"elder brother……"

Yang Hao took a drag of his cigarette, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead, his voice low but exceptionally clear.

"Thank you."

Yang Fan turned to look at him.

Yang Hao continued:

"If it weren't for you, I might still be on the construction site, not knowing if I'd have any work to do tomorrow, let alone have a stable job in this city, and be able to live with my parents, my second uncle and aunt, you and Xiaoya... This feeling is so good."

He paused, then his tone became even more resolute.

"Brother, don't worry, I will definitely work hard from now on."

"I'll follow Manager Zhou, do a good job delivering goods, and also help take care of the vegetable stall at home. I... I will definitely not let you down."

These words, spoken by a usually taciturn cousin, carried particular weight.

That wasn't just polite talk; it was the most genuine and heartfelt promise and gratitude.

A surge of warmth welled up in Yang Fan's heart.

He reached out and patted Yang Hao's shoulder heavily.

"Haozi," Yang Fan's voice was also very serious:

"We are brothers, blood brothers."

"Saying thank you or asking if it's shameful is just being too formal."

"It's only right that I help you out."

"The road ahead is long. The two of us brothers, along with our parents, uncles, and aunts, will live a prosperous and happy life together in this city. That's better than anything else."

"Keep up the good work, I believe in you."

"Um!"