The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

Time flies, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year is gradually fading. An Jianxing and Shen Jingwan also discussed that it was time to go back.

Firstly, I really couldn't trouble the Ye family any further.

Although the Ye family was incredibly hospitable, it wasn't their own home after all, and staying there for too long made them feel like they were causing them trouble.

Secondly, the living conditions were indeed... a bit unfamiliar to the two of them.

An Jianxing was used to sleeping on a soft bed, but these past few days he'd been sleeping on the earthen kang (heated brick bed), and every day his bones felt like they were about to fall apart. When no one was looking, he would shake his arms and hiss and laugh.

Seeing that the two were determined to leave, and knowing that their living conditions were indeed inferior to others and that the two would only suffer here, the Ye family began to arrange for them to pack their things.

"There's nothing special, just some from our own land and some picked from the mountain. It's not worth much, but it's a token of our appreciation. Take it back and have a taste."

As Ye Guoqiang spoke, he carried out a large pile of things from the shed, such as bundles of homemade vermicelli, dried green beans and dried black fungus dried in the autumn, and vacuum-packed sauerkraut that he had collected from his own farm, as well as several cleaned and frozen free-range chickens.

"That's too much, brother, you've gone to too much trouble. We haven't even finished the ones you brought over last time."

An Jianxing waved his hands, feeling a little embarrassed. Ye Guoqiang had brought quite a lot of things when he went to Nancheng last time, and this time the two of them had made a surprise visit, yet they had still made him spend so much money.

"If you haven't finished eating, just eat it slowly. This stuff won't spoil. You guys just never come. I was planning to have Xiao Shu bring it back for you when he goes back."

Ye Guoqiang packed the items that needed to be frozen into several insulated bags, and then stuffed several bottles of frozen mineral water inside to keep them warm. He glanced at his son beside him and said:

"Xiao Shu can carry him on the road. What's the point of keeping this big guy around?"

That's right, Ye Shu went back with them.

A couple of days ago, when An Jianxing was booking his plane ticket back home, he casually asked Ye Shu if he wanted to go back together. If so, he would book Ye Shu's ticket as well.

That day happened to be Xiaoxue's online. Ye Shu was thinking about whether to stay at home for a couple more days to spend more time with his grandma and dad, since Sister Chen Xing had given him a holiday until the fifteenth.

Before he could say anything, he looked up and met Xiaoxue's big, watery eyes, which seemed to ask, "Aren't you coming back with me?"

With just that one glance, the words that were about to come out of his mouth at home took a detour and became, "Yeah, let's go back together, Uncle An."

After saying that, Ye Shu thought to herself: "Oh well, I've been kidnapped again. I'm always too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted..."

As usual, on the day of their departure, the Ye family got up before dawn to busy themselves, kneading dough, chopping filling, rolling out wrappers, and making several trays of dumplings.

This time, the ceremony was much more grand than when Ye Shu and her companion left last time. They made dumplings with several different fillings, such as pork and scallion, pickled cabbage, and chives and eggs. Ye Shu's aunt and several older women also prepared several dishes, including the "braised pork knuckle" that Ye Shu had ordered last time.

Xia Qing sat on the table, picked up a dumpling, took a small bite, and blew air into it.

She glanced at Ye Shu, who was peeling garlic beside her, and muttered something under her breath:

"This scene looks familiar... I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."

Ye Shu knew what she meant, but he simply threw the peeled garlic into the mortar and began to pound it, smiling without saying a word.

I didn't have much of an appetite when I first woke up this morning. After breakfast, it was already bright outside, time to get going.

Grandma Ye Shu held Ye Shu's hand, then Xia Qing's hand, looking at the two children with eyes full of reluctance:

"Come back and visit whenever you have time, Grandma will stew some chicken for you..."

The old lady's words brought tears to Ye Shu's eyes again, and she quickly looked up to check if the ceiling was leaking.

Xia Qing nodded and smiled at her grandmother, saying:

"Yes, Grandma, we'll come back to see you whenever we have time."

The old lady looked at Xia Qing and liked her more and more. With trembling hands, she reached into the pocket of her blue cotton-padded coat, took out a red envelope, and stuffed it into Xia Qing's hand.

"Grandma, I can't accept this..."

Xia Qing quickly pushed it back.

"Take it, and be a good boy/girl."

The old lady grabbed her hand, closed it around hers, squeezed it, and said with a smile:

"Take it yourself, don't tell anyone, buy some of your favorite foods."

Xia Qing looked at the red envelope in her hand, then turned to look at Ye Shu, wanting to see his opinion.

But when she turned her head, she saw Ye Shu secretly wiping away tears beside her. She could only stuff the red envelope into her pocket and say:

"Thank you, Grandma."

This time, they didn't ask Ye Guoqiang to take them to the bus station again.

Because when An Jianxing and his group came this time, they rented a car directly in the city and drove over. The car was parked in the Ye family's courtyard, which was very convenient.

The family helped stuff the bags and packages into the trunk of the car, making the rear of the car noticeably heavier.

After putting the tightly wrapped bag of unrecognizable contents into the trunk, Ye Guoqiang seemed to remember something and turned to ask An Jianxing:

"By the way, are you allowed to bring alcohol on the plane? If so, I can pack two bottles for you to take back and drink."

An Jianxing was a little worried about how to transport these things to the airport when he heard Ye Guoqiang's words, so he quickly waved his hand:

"No need, no need, brother. We probably can't bring the drinks up. They'll just confiscate them and it'll be a waste."

Ye Guoqiang nodded, turned around, looked at his son who was standing next to him, and walked over.

The father and son exchanged a glance but didn't say anything. Ye Guoqiang then habitually reached into the inside pocket of his son's clothes, pulled out a small stack of red bills, which looked to be about one or two thousand yuan, and handed them to Ye Shu.

"Dad, I still have money here, you don't need it."

Ye Shu does have money now. He has a job, and Chen Xing's salary is increasing month by month. She also gave him a big red envelope before the New Year. Although he is not extremely rich, he is not short of money.

"Just take it."

Ye Guoqiang stuffed the money directly into Ye Shu's pocket:

"I'm not telling you to spend it all right away. Take some extra money with you so you don't run out of cash while you're out there. It's just me and your grandma at home, so we don't need much money. You're in a big city over there, where everything is expensive."

Ye Shu looked at his father's stern face; this feeling was all too familiar.

Every time I leave home, my dad always does this: he puts on a stern face and expresses his concern in the most honest way.

If I'm not mistaken, Dad's next sentence will be, "If it's not enough, ask the family for more."

"If it's not enough, ask your family for more."

Sure enough, Ye Guoqiang added this sentence. He always said this. In just seven words, he was full of worry that his son might not eat or stay well outside.

"Okay, Dad. Take care of yourselves at home and don't overwork yourselves."

Ye Shu's voice was trembling a little, but it would be too embarrassing for her to cry in front of her father because she was leaving home.

But this thing is impossible to control, and Ye Shu's lips trembled as tears streamed down her face.

"You're doomed, what are you crying about?"

Ye Guoqiang smiled and patted Ye Shu's arm:

"Let's go, don't keep them waiting. Call me when you get home."

"Why."

As the car slowly drove out of the courtyard, Ye Shu turned around and looked back. Her grandmother, father, aunt, and several elderly men and women were all standing at the door, looking in this direction.

These figures slowly shrank until they became a tiny black dot.

Just after the car disappeared from sight, the Ye family turned to go back into the house and saw Tang Xiaotao running towards them, panting heavily.

"You're late?! Mom, didn't you tell me to call you? Why didn't you call me?!"

Aunt Ye Shu laughed:

"Why didn't I call you? Every time I called you, you said you knew. If you already know everything, why should I call you?"

Tang Xiaotao stomped her feet in frustration. Why was she so sleepy? She missed saying goodbye to her brother and sister-in-law!

I will never stay up late again!!!