To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Xu Jing'an opened the door and could only sigh inwardly at the sight of the tall Xu Jianshe, though she didn't show it on her face. After all, from the moment she received the telegram, she knew she couldn't shake off the trouble.

"Come in quickly, we're just about to have dinner! Get some rest tonight, don't worry about anything else, everything's arranged." Xu Jing'an pulled Xu Jianshe into the room.

Mr. and Mrs. Shen warmly welcomed them, saying, "This must be construction work! Please sit down and have something to eat; you must be exhausted."

Xu Jianshe didn't stand on ceremony and started slurping his food down. After two steamed buns and two bowls of porridge, the hunger pangs finally subsided.

Xu Jianshe said apologetically, "Uncle, Aunt, please excuse me!"

"You must be starving! There's no need to be shy. This is home, why stand on ceremony?" Mr. and Mrs. Shen quickly comforted them.

Since the daughter-in-law married into the family, and the two families live far apart, this was the first time her family had visited. It would be inappropriate not to give them a warm welcome.

As they were talking, Shen He returned from outside. Xu Jing'an quickly went over and took the things from his hands.

"When did Jianshe arrive?" Shen He greeted his brother-in-law.

"Brother-in-law, I just got off the train this evening," Xu Jianshe replied. "I've already eaten. Auntie's cooking is really good. You should eat too," Xu Jianshe said, using the sweet talk he always used to coax his mother.

Sure enough, in no time he had Shen's parents laughing heartily, and Shen He's gaze towards him became increasingly affectionate.

Hearing the noise, Zhuangzhuang rubbed his eyes and came out of the house; "Mom, my little sister is awake and she peed."

Xu Jing'an immediately went back to check on her daughter and found the little darling playing happily by herself, not even crying when she peed. After cleaning her up, she took her outside.

"He's having a great time playing there by himself, without crying once." Xu Jing'an handed the child to Shen's mother. Xu Jianshe was coaxing Zhuangzhuang to call him "uncle," and the two were playing enthusiastically.

After Shen He finished eating, Xu Jing'an busied herself cleaning up. Shen He had run back and forth several times today for his brother-in-law's matter, and he was truly exhausted!

When the elderly couple left, they took the child with them, leaving Shen and his wife and Xu Jianshe behind.

"I've found a place for you. It's Caozhuang in HD County, east of H City," Shen He said, taking a sip of water.

"I'll take you there first thing tomorrow morning; you don't need to go to the educated youth office. I've already spoken to the person in charge."

"Your sister suggested that you live and eat separately from the other educated youth. This would reduce conflicts. What do you think?"

"Listen to my sister, you can't go wrong," Xu Jianshe said hurriedly, without stopping for a second.

Shen He smiled. Xu Jing'an looked at the fourth brother, wondering, "Why is he so obedient? Before, he would have to beg for ages to do anything."

"Sister, I'm all grown up now, I know right from wrong. I'm not very bright, so I'll just listen to you, sister," Xu Jianshe said obediently, flattering her.

Xu Jing'an looked at her younger brother and said, "No matter what, I'm your older sister and I always want the best for you."

"There were many people in the educated youth settlement. Everyone had their own voice and their own ideas. Living together every day naturally led to more conflicts."

Xu Jianshe nodded. Having observed his mother and sister-in-law's daily lives, what was there left to be unclear about?

"I found a house, it's not big, but it's enough for you. The roof and walls have been repaired, there's no need to build your own, otherwise it would be too conspicuous. The rent is 5 yuan a year," Shen He continued.

"Okay. Brother-in-law, this price isn't expensive. I won't be staying here for long. When I can go home to visit my family in a couple of years, I'll take over Mom's job directly. Even if I build a house, I won't be able to take it with me." Xu Jianshe understood perfectly well.

"Each educated youth has a small plot of land for themselves, and they rely on it for all their vegetables. I've already arranged for someone to plant the vegetable garden behind your house. You just need to take care of watering it yourself," Shen He instructed.

Xu Jing'an chimed in, "I'll go over there tomorrow too, see if you need anything. Your brother-in-law's showing up in the village will give you some backing and courage. But fourth brother, if anyone asks for your help, or if a girl asks you for a hand, don't get involved!"

Xu Jianshe wanted to agree wholeheartedly: "Don't worry, sister, I know everything." He was content as long as he could manage his own life; he had no ability to help others. He was always the one who needed help.

There's never a good ending to being a good person; he simply doesn't have the ability to achieve it.

Moreover, there isn't much affection between the siblings. Despite their current warm words, if he does anything wrong in the future, his third sister can easily get rid of him. If he acts irresponsibly and implicates his brother-in-law, his third sister will immediately turn against him, using him as a stepping stone.

He knows his two older sisters all too well. So anyone trying to find a loophole in his relationship with him is asking for his life. He's already unlucky enough as he is; don't force him to "sacrifice himself."

They're all cut from the same cloth; none of them are pushovers.

Shen He took his brother-in-law to take a bath together, and it's unclear what they talked about during the bath. The next day, the two were visibly much closer.

The three of them took a bus to the county seat as soon as it was light, and then another bus to the town. Don't expect any good road conditions along the way!

The road was bumpy and uneven, and I felt like I was about to fall apart! The bus was packed with people, and the smell was indescribable.

When the three of them got out of the car, they felt like they had been reborn, and even the air felt fresh!

First, they went to the post office and found that the package had arrived. Shen He turned around and went out to find two oxcarts, and the group loaded the things up.

Then I went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought everything I needed for daily use that I had a ration coupon for.

A thermos, an iron pot, a large wood-chopping knife, three large locks, two small locks, a large water vat, two medium-sized grain vats, three jars for pickled vegetables, a ceramic basin for kneading dough, bowls and chopsticks, a vegetable knife, needle and thread, and a pound of hard candy.

Then I went to a secondhand goods buyback station and bought two large wooden crates that were about 80% new, a half-used dining table and the remaining two chairs, and a few makeshift stools.

The rest can only be new: two large wooden spoons, one for stir-frying and one for serving rice; one large wooden basin for washing clothes, two small wooden basins for washing face and feet, wooden lids for several vats, two buckets, a carrying pole, a cutting board, two large and two small baskets for holding things, two gourd ladles for scooping flour and water, and one straw mat for the kang (heated brick bed).

Xu Jing'an carefully checked the shopping list. Only after confirming that everything was correct did she feel relieved!

These items filled two carts completely. The three of them squeezed in, and then, after a bumpy ride, they arrived at Caozhuang.