Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

After breakfast, the group changed their clothes and left the villa one after another.

A modified Toyota Coaster was parked at the entrance.

The driver, Ms. Wang, had been waiting for more than ten minutes.

She stood by the car door, and when she saw Bai Li get out, she reached out and opened the car door.

Just as Bai Li was about to get into the car, he suddenly heard the shouts of the porters beside him:

"Lift the sofa to the left!"

"The door frame is narrow, turn it to the side first!"

Three trucks were parked in front of Villa No. 2 at Yunding Tiangong.

A dozen or so workers were coming and going; the mattresses, dining tables, televisions, and refrigerators were all brand new.

Li Fugui stood on the steps giving instructions.

I hadn't seen him for half a month, and his hair had turned quite a bit whiter, but his beard was clean-shaven.

He was wearing a dark gray jacket, standing straight, and holding a furniture list in his hand.

"Put that sofa set on the first floor."

"Take the bookshelf up to the second floor, but be careful not to damage the stair railing."

When Li Mengmeng saw her father, she happily ran over to him.

"dad!"

Li Fugui turned around and reached out to catch his daughter:

"Hey, Mengmeng."

He took half a step back and looked her up and down.

"I haven't seen you for a few days, how come you've gained weight again?"

Li Mengmeng's happiness was halved.

She looked down to check her white knitwear and then pinched her waist.

"Where has Mengmeng gotten fat?"

"Your face has gotten rounder."

Li Fugui raised his hand and gestured above her head:

"He hasn't grown taller, but he's gained weight."

"You're the fat one!"

Li Mengmeng puffed out her cheeks and turned to point at Bai Li.

"It's all because your little brother keeps feeding me."

"We feed Mengmeng ribs, beef, and shrimp every day, and we also give her a special meal at night."

She patted her tummy.

"They've all bulged up."

Bai Li felt that something was off.

Jiang Ruyue poked her head out from the door of the Coaster bus:

"Sister Mengmeng, you didn't have a midnight snack last night?"

Li Mengmeng turned her head and glared at her: "You were asleep, how did you know I had eaten or not?"

Jiang Ruyue thought for a moment.

"I woke up to go to the bathroom and saw the big stallion coming out of your room."

He wasn't carrying any food.

Li Mengmeng's ears turned red, and she ran over to cover her mouth.

"You've mistaken me for someone else!"

"Mmm..."

Li Fugui looked back and forth a few times, then raised his hand to rub his forehead.

Her own daughter was living in Bai Li's house, and she was even wearing white stockings and calling him "brother".

Sometimes, asking about things only makes you feel worse.

Bai Li stepped forward and greeted them first:

"Uncle Li, are the formalities complete?"

Li Fugui put his hand down.

"It's done."

He turned to look at Villa No. 2, filled with immense pride:

"The property was transferred yesterday, and the furniture is being delivered today."

"We've come full circle."

Two weeks ago, he was wearing an apron covered in flour, sitting in his small 60-square-meter apartment smoking Hongtashan cigarettes.

Back then, let alone the Heavenly Palace on the Clouds, even the six million loan kept him up at night.

The house is now back in my name, and the furniture that was moved out has been replaced with a new set.

Li Fugui patted Bai Li's arm:

"Brother, I'm so grateful you gave me a hand."

"After I got the money, I paid back the bank first, and the next day I went to visit all my previous clients."

"We were lucky; we got back two old projects and also took on an earthwork project in the new district."

Xie Lingmo stood next to Bai Li and asked, "The payment came back so quickly?"

"Our long-time customers are being considerate; their prepayments arrive on the same day."

When Li Fugui talked about business, he became very energetic:

"My old construction team is also willing to come back."

"We don't need to buy all the machines; we can rent them from a friend first. The materials supplier gave me a three-month payment period, and once the accounts are settled, things will be much easier."

Xie Lingmo nodded.

In just half a month, they reconnected the broken financial chain and were able to obtain tens of millions of yuan in cash.

With this skill, one could easily stand on their own in the Xie family's company.

Bai Li was even more satisfied.

The faster you make money, the easier it will be to manage the island later.

The 25 million was well spent.

Li Fugui took a bank card out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Bai Li.

"There are ten million here."

"I'll pay you back part of it first."

"Give me the remaining fifteen million over two more months."

Bai Li did not answer:

"Brother, take this for now and use it as needed."

"The company has just resumed operations, and we can't afford to be without cash."

"The project payment isn't settled on the same day. We have to pay for all the workers' wages, materials, and equipment rentals in advance."

Li Fugui pushed the bank card forward:

"The company still has money in its accounts."

"This is a separate payment for you."

"You entrusted me with your entire fortune back then, I can't just pretend it never happened after I've received the money back."

Bai Li pushed his hand back:

"Really, you don't need to."

"Brother, is it too little?"

"I think it's too much."

Bai Li glanced at the furniture that was being moved in.

"We just got the house back, and the renovation and furniture will cost money."

"Mengmeng's dresses take up a lot of space, you'll have to get her a new walk-in closet."

Li Mengmeng immediately ran back: "Mengmeng's clothes are all in Villa No. 1."

Li Fugui asked, "Aren't we moving back?"

"Don't move."

She hugged Bai Li's arm, her baby face pressed against his shoulder:

"Mengmeng will live at Brother Bai Li's house from now on."

"Villa number two is reserved for you and your mother to live out your retirement."

Li Fugui laughed in exasperation:

"I'm not even fifty yet, why would I need to support myself in old age?"

Li Mengmeng counted on her fingers: "You drink, smoke, and always stay up late."

"Wealth and status, you must accept getting old."

"Go! Go! Go."

Bai Li grasped Li Fugui's hand holding the card and stuffed the bank card back into the other man's jacket pocket.

"Brother, you really don't need to pay this money back."

"I'm even hoping that once the island is developed, I'll squeeze you to manage it..."

Li Fugui stared at Bai Li for a long time.

That island is still in the hands of those unscrupulous developers.

Bai Li never went to the scene, nor did he contact a lawyer, but he always treated that island as his own property.

If someone else had said that, Li Fugui would have simply told them to drink less.

But there are too many things about Bai Li that I can't understand.

"OK."

Li Fugui retrieved the bank card:

"I'll keep this money for now."

"If that day ever comes, I'll bring all my savings and come work for you."

Bai Li smiled.

That's exactly what I wanted to hear.

Consider the previous 25 million as an advance payment of the island's CEO's salary.

Once we get the island, I'll have my brother work three consecutive night shifts...

Sister Wang glanced at the time.

"Mr. Bai, it's 8:10."

Bai Li turned around: "Alright, let's go."

Li Fugui didn't try to keep him any longer.

He walked to the car door and looked at his daughter, who was still fighting with An Yaoyao for a seat.

"Mengmeng".

"You should go to the studio with Xiao Li during this time, don't just play around."

"They're going there for a legitimate job."

"Don't cause trouble or bully him."

Li Mengmeng sat down in the chair and nodded obediently:

"Mengmeng never bullies Brother Bai Li."

"He's the one who takes care of Mengmeng."

Li Fugui was satisfied.

"That's more like it."

The car door closed.

The Coaster drove out of the villa area.

Li Mengmeng leaned back in her seat and looked down to touch her tummy.

Who can bully him?!

[You mentioned your tummy was bulging, but that's not from eating too much...]