The system was set three years in advance, but the universal deities still hadn't arrived.

Chapter 56 Why bother catching up on sleep at home? You should catch it in the RV!

After the uncle left, Zeng Shen's parents, Zeng Youcai and Wu Xian'e, also came to him.

Zeng Youcai looked at Zeng Shen, his slightly chubby face full of a benevolent smile. The moment he got close to him, he suddenly raised his hand and lightly patted him on the head.

"Who are you, Hu Hansan? You changed your name after just one trip out of the house, didn't you?"

Zeng Shen seemed to have anticipated this, and with a slight dodge, he chuckled.

"Can't hit."

"When did this brat become so quick to react?"

As Zeng Youcai spoke, he raised his palm again, as if he was going to pat Zeng Shen's head lightly, but the latter quickly stepped back to avoid it.

"Alright, you two, stop acting like kids the moment you meet."

Wu Xian'e pulled Zeng Youcai's arm, signaling him to stop making a fuss, and then said to Zeng Shen with concern, "Why didn't you call ahead before coming back? Your dad and I could have bought you some of your favorite foods."

"Isn't this to give you a surprise?" Zeng Shen said.

"Hehe~ It's a pleasant surprise indeed." Mother smiled kindly as she looked at Xiao Ai behind him, her gaze as if she were looking at her future daughter-in-law. Her tone was full of laughter as she said to Zeng Shen, "Hurry up and introduce her to your parents."

Zeng Shen listened to his mother's words and saw the way his mother looked at Xiao Ai.

He knew what his mother was thinking, so he quickly said:

"Mom, this is a very good friend of mine named Alice. She just came back from overseas this year and wants to do real estate in Jinhai, as well as invest in other businesses in Jinhai. So I introduced her to invest in and build a factory in Tonghai to produce pre-cooked meals."

"So when I came to pay respects to my ancestors and inform my clan, I also brought her here to visit and learn about the situation."

"Oh."

Upon hearing that she wasn't their son's girlfriend, Wu Xian'e and Zeng Youcai felt a slight sense of disappointment.

But upon hearing the other party's identity, they were both taken aback.

They could tell from the beginning that the mixed-race girl's demeanor was quite unlike that of a typical foreigner.

It turned out he was in the real estate business.

That girl must be from a very wealthy family.

The daughter of a family from a social class they had never met before.

Strangely, the two felt relieved that this wasn't their son's girlfriend, but just a close friend.

"Uncle, Aunt, hello. My name is Alice. I may be troubling you for the next couple of days."

Xiao Ai introduced herself, then picked up the large bag of mountain delicacies and tonics that Zeng Shen had placed at his feet and handed it to him:

"Auntie, I didn't know what kind of gifts you would like, so I picked out some delicious food for you."

"Hehe~ You're too kind. Don't be shy about coming. You don't need to bring any gifts," Wu Xian'e said with a smile.

"Dad, Mom, this is the first gift I've bought for you with my earnings—a massage device. Try it out and see if you can use it," Zeng Shen said, picking up the cardboard box from the ground.

"I just started making money and I'm already spending it recklessly."

The mother's eyes showed happiness, but her voice was somewhat stern.

Upon hearing that Zeng Shen had bought the massager, Zeng Youcai reached out and took it, saying, "You brat, you've finally learned to be filial to your old man. I've been feeling a bit of back pain while planting crops lately, so I can give this piece of junk a try and see if it works."

talking.

Zeng Youcai took the cardboard box to the living room, opened it, and started using it.

As Zeng Youcai walked into the living room, Xiao Ai said to Wu Xian'e, "Auntie, this massage device is a thoughtful gift from Shen, and it works really well."

Upon hearing Xiao Ai's words, Wu Xian'e immediately smiled and said, "I know, I know, are you hungry, my dear?"

“A little bit,” Xiao Ai said.

"Then I'll go make you something to eat."

Zeng Shen said, "Mom, I want to eat fried egg noodles with gravy."

Xiao Ai said, "Auntie, I know how to make noodles. Let me help you."

"Oh, honey, no need, I can do it. You and Shengang are coming to my house, I..."

"It's alright, Auntie. I cook for myself at home too."

"My daughter can even cook."

"Yes, Auntie, so let me give you a hand massage."

"No, you're a guest from afar, how can you?"

Before Wu Xian'e could finish speaking, Zeng Shen interrupted her, saying, "Mom, don't be so formal with Xiao Ai. I often eat at her house; her cooking is delicious." "Yes, Auntie, please don't be so formal with me," Xiao Ai replied.

"Alright then, honey."

In the end, after a moment's hesitation, the mother gave in and led Xiao Ai into the kitchen.

Zeng Shen walked into the living room, looked at his father using a massager on the opposite bench, and said in a deep voice, "I saw you give money to Uncle just now, and it seems like you gave quite a lot."

"Regarding the cost of ancestral worship and clan ceremonies, your great-uncle said that the Yan family hired a lion dance troupe this year, so the elders discussed it and decided to hire someone to perform Yingge dance for the ancestors in front of the ancestral hall. Therefore, the expenses will be higher this year, and each family will have to pay twice as much as in previous years."

"How much is one time?"

"Three thousand."

"Damn it, all this empty boasting and bluster, all this useless pomp and circumstance. They think the Zeng family is still the old landlord family from hundreds of years ago, with their descendants enjoying great wealth and power," Zeng Shen said unhappily.

Zeng Youcai said calmly, "Getting angry won't help. Why don't you take it easy after your mother and I are gone, and if you're capable, you can suppress the gossip of the entire Zeng clan and build an ancestral hall for us, move us there, and worship us however you like each year, or once every few years."

Upon hearing his father's words, Zeng Shen's eyes lit up. "Dad, what you said doesn't seem like a bad idea."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Youcai's eyes widened, and he picked up a pillow from the chair and threw it at Zeng Shen.

Zeng Shen seemed to have expected this, quickly dodging the attack and then laughing, "Dad, you can joke, but I can't?"

“I don’t think you’re joking,” Zeng Youcai said.

"There is no better son than a father."

Zeng Youcai picked up another pillow again…

Soon.

The father and son returned to normal and started talking about other things.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen on the other side.

While frying eggs, Wu Xian'e tried to find out about Zeng Shen's actual situation outside by talking to Xiao Ai, who was washing vegetables.

"When did Xiao Ai meet our Shen? Our Shen has caused you a lot of trouble outside, hasn't he?"

"I've known him for several years, and Shen is an exceptional person."

"My son Shen is sometimes careless, which I like."

"Auntie, Shen is a very ambitious person, and he's very reliable. Once we..."

Xiao Ai could answer any question Wu Xian'e wanted to ask perfectly, which made Wu Xian'e very happy.

Soon, four bowls of noodles with fried eggs and braised meat, along with several side dishes, were served on the table.

Zeng Shen's family and Xiao Ai ate noodles and chatted together.

Wait until you finish eating.

Xiao Ai went to live on the second floor with Zeng Shen.

However, they don't live together; each person has their own room.

However, since Zeng Shen's parents lived on the first floor, after they went to bed, Zeng Shen went to Xiao Ai's room and messed around until six o'clock the next day before returning to his own room to catch up on sleep.

The result was less than an hour.

Zeng Shen hadn't fully fallen asleep when he heard his mother knocking on his door, asking if he was awake.

"Mom, I'm not awake yet, I'm not going to eat breakfast."

"You little rascal, you can still talk before you're fully awake. You should learn from Xiao Ai and help Mom water the fruit trees in the yard early in the morning."

"I'm sleepwalking, Mom."

"Just like your father, always lying. Your father and I are going to help out at the ancestral hall and won't be back until tonight. You take good care of Xiao Ai, take her out for a walk, and let her try some of our local specialties."

Mother ordered.

"Okay, Mom. You two go ahead and do your work. Don't worry about me and Xiao Ai," Zeng Shen mumbled, then went back to sleep.

But not long after.

He opened his eyes and cursed himself for being foolish.

"Why bother catching up on sleep at home? If you want to catch up on sleep, you have to do it in the RV."

Many thanks to readers "天亮了梦醒了" and "查无此人" for their monthly tickets. Thank you so much for your generous donations! Those who donate monthly tickets are the coolest! Wishing all readers a happy Lantern Festival and all the best.

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(End of this chapter)