A life of success begins with being a landlord.

Xue Meihua lowered her head: "Brother Zu, I'm sorry to keep troubling you... so I found a job myself, cleaning and cooking lunch at the migrant workers' children's primary school behind the school..."

"The elementary school behind there?"

I remembered, it must be the school Bai Lulu mentioned, so I asked, "How much is it per month?"

"350, one day off per week."

"What's the point of doing anything with this little money?"

I laughed in exasperation and shook my head, saying, "Don't go to that school. Wait a couple of days, and I'll find you a good job."

Xue Meihua lives here, and the monthly rent is two hundred yuan, plus water and electricity fees.

With a monthly salary of 350, you'll starve to death sooner or later!

"Brother Zu, that school doesn't have money either. The children of migrant workers are all very pitiful."

Xue Meihua looked at me timidly: "Just let me go, even if it's just... doing volunteer work."

The child is pitiful? Should I do volunteer work?

I never knew Xue Meihua was so kind-hearted!

"Okay, whatever makes you happy."

I nodded and led Ding Zhili downstairs.

Anyway, the Xue sisters only received 50,000 yuan in compensation. Once they've made a mess of things, they'll behave themselves.

Ding Zhili was still excited and wanted to treat me to a drink.

I declined, intending to go pick up Sister Ling and Chunyan instead.

Just as I got on my motorcycle, I ran into my old squad leader, Dou Qiang.

"Old squad leader!"

I stopped Dou Qiang and gave him a cigarette: "Didn't you want me to find you a job? I've found you one, see if it's okay."

"Brother Zu, anything that makes money is fine," the old squad leader said excitedly, asking, "What kind of factory is it?"

"Help me with the work." I pointed to buildings 26 and 27, getting straight to the point:

"You can clean these two buildings for me and manage the tenants while you're at it. I'll give you eight hundred yuan a month, how about that?"

Managing Building 26, I've calculated that I can earn three to five thousand yuan a month, or even six to seven thousand.

If I give the old squad leader 800 yuan a month, I can still make a little extra.

The old squad leader was taken aback: "Eight hundred yuan a month is quite a lot. Cleaning is no problem, but managing tenants... I've never done that before."

"Clean up first, and you'll get used to it later."

I offered a tempting offer: "In a while, I'll introduce someone to the old squad leader. When you go home for the New Year, you can bring her back and get married."

The old squad leader grinned: "Thanks, Brother Zu."

It's clear that the old squad leader is longing for a deep and romantic love story.

After finalizing the matter with the old squad leader, I rode my bike to pick up Sister Ling.

It's currently the transition from spring to summer, so the garment factory isn't busy.

Sister Ling also gets off work early, at seven o'clock.

I picked up Sister Ling and took her back to Sanlichuan first.

As we walked, Sister Ling gently nudged me: "By the way, Yaozu, I got paid yesterday and bought you some things. I'll show them to you when we go to 508 later."

"Sister Ling bought me something? How can I possibly thank you enough?" I felt a warm glow inside.

"We're family, what's there to thank?"

Sister Ling smiled, then pondered for a moment and said, "Chunyan said that you...didn't go home to sleep last night?"

"Oh, I ran into a classmate while taking He Tiantian home last night, and we had a late-night snack together."

I was a little nervous.

Could it be that Chunyan found out I was with Luo Hongyu last night?

"It's okay to have a late-night snack once in a while. But food outside isn't always clean, so it's safer to eat at home."

"Yes, Sister Ling is right." I breathed a sigh of relief.

Back in Sanlichuan, Ling and I headed straight for 508, eager to get started.

After entering the house, Sister Ling washed her face, changed into some light clothes, and then took out the gifts, saying with a smile, "They're just some inexpensive little things, but consider them a token of my appreciation."

"What Sister Ling gave me is the most precious."

I gladly accepted Sister Ling's kind offer.

Actually, the belt, lighter, and razor were all brand-name items, and they didn't look cheap at all.

Sister Ling is incredibly kind to me.

I tried out the belt, and Sister Ling helped me adjust the tightness.

Old Xia arrived uninvited and knocked on the door from outside.

Sister Ling opened the door, frowning, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Can't I come in?" Old Xia turned and went inside, looking at me and then at Sister Ling: "What are you two doing in the house with the door closed?"

I was too lazy to explain, so I took out a hundred yuan and handed it to Lao Xia: "Go buy some wine and food, and wait for me in front of Fatty's door. I'll have a couple of drinks with you later."

"Alright then, you guys... don't take too long, I'll wait for you."

Upon seeing the money, Old Xia immediately lost his temper and happily took his leave.

Ling and I exchanged a smile.

"Yaozu, come and eat something, I bought some snacks," Sister Ling called to me.

I didn't stand on ceremony and picked out whatever I liked to eat, eating as much as I wanted.

Sister Ling watched me eat and smiled slightly, "Chunyan is still young and doesn't know how to take care of you or be considerate. Yaozu, if anything happens in the future, you can tell me..."

"Thank you, Sister Ling. It's really nothing." I felt a warm glow inside.

"Well, it's best if nothing's wrong. If anything happens, just tell me," Sister Ling said gently.

We ate snacks and chatted.

About an hour later, I wiped my mouth, said goodbye to Sister Ling, and went downstairs to pick up Chunyan and Liu Haomei.

Old Xia was drinking alone in front of Fatty's door when he saw me and hurriedly waved, "Yaozu, I've been waiting for you for a long time, come and have a drink!"

"You eat, I ate upstairs and I'm full."

I shook my head and smiled, then rode my bike straight to Sihai Printing Factory.

The packaging workshop where Chunyan works has been very busy lately. Back in 302, Chunyan took a shower and went straight to sleep.

Liu Haomei, however, wasn't busy and came to 302 to chat with me.

Afraid of disturbing Chunyan's sleep, I took Liu Haomei to the 204 chess and card room across the street.

"Brother Zu, I miss you so much!"

As soon as I entered, Liu Haomei hugged me.

Boundless tenderness completely enveloped me.

"Okay, sister, think it through. This... is not going to work."

"I don't care about the outcome, I just want the present..."

Before we knew it, we had entered the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed together.

Good sister is right. The result is not important. What matters is the present. Enjoy your youth and live life to the fullest.

After our hearts met, it was already late at night.

I lit a cigarette and admired Liu Haomei's figure.

"What are you looking at, you scoundrel?"

Good Sister blushed and pulled the sheet over herself: "By the way, Lao Wang, Awen came to see me today."

"What, Ah-Wen has taken a liking to you and is pursuing you?" I feigned surprise.

"I wouldn't even look at that brat," Liu Haomei said with a smile.

"Awen brought his old poems and asked my editor to take a look. My editor read them, gave Awen some pointers, and promised to arrange for their publication."

"Okay, when I have time, I'll write an article called... 'My Crazy Days in Gangdong with My Good Sister,' and publish it."

"Get lost, you're so frivolous." Liu Haomei chuckled, then asked, "Were we being crazy just now?"

"The bed is falling apart, don't you think?"

"That's an exaggeration!" Liu Haomei rolled her eyes.

I'm sleepy too, so I'll close my eyes and go to sleep.

But just as I fell asleep, the phone rang.

I was annoyed and groggily picked up the phone: "Who is it, in the middle of the night?"

"Wang Yaozu, you have quite the temper!" A woman's voice came from the phone; it sounded somewhat familiar.

"Luo... Luo Hongyu?"

I was still sleepy, so I yawned and asked, "What do you want? Did you spend the three hundred yuan from last night?"