A life of success begins with being a landlord.

Sister Li was taken aback, then slapped me: "What do you mean by a 'father recognition ceremony'? You really know how to talk."

Erxia smiled and said, "Everything is ready. Grandpa Ruan is hosting a banquet, and I heard there are seven or eight tables of guests. Grandpa Ruan said that he wants to take this opportunity to deepen our impression of the people of Hongxing Village, build good relationships, and make us feel like family here in the future."

Sister Li turned around and took two boxes.

The box was opened, revealing a golden square men's ring and a white Ruyi (a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good fortune) pendant.

"This is a gold ring and a silver ruyi (a type of scepter) pendant, my gifts for tomorrow's 'recognizing my father' ceremony. I've also prepared cigarettes and alcohol." Sister Li said with some pride.

"These gifts must be considered quite valuable, right?"

I was blinded by the gold and silver before me: "You must have spent a lot of money, right?"

Don't laugh, but people in rural areas in the 1990s rarely had the opportunity to see gold and silver jewelry.

My sister got married two years ago, and it took a lot of persuasion to finally get a pair of gold earrings.

The old lady next door had an heirloom silver bracelet. After she died, her daughters-in-law and daughters fought tooth and nail over it, never speaking to each other again...

Therefore, the large ring and the silver ruyi in front of you must be very expensive.

"It's really not expensive." Sister Li smiled: "The gold ring is a thousand yuan, and the silver pendant is only a little over two hundred yuan."

So cheap?

I was skeptical: "Could it be fake?"

Erxia said, "Ding Zhili led us to get it. He has connections here, so the gold and silver were all at international market prices, which were much cheaper than in shopping malls."

International market price? That sounds so high-end.

Sister Li put away the jewelry and asked me, "Ding Zhili said they're starting the silver refining process tomorrow. Do you have time?"

"I don't have time. Tell him to start refining silver the day after tomorrow, and I'll take a look."

Tomorrow at noon is Sister Li's banquet to recognize her father, and tomorrow night, I will accompany Daozai Xiong to see Sang Kun.

I'm so busy.

We drank tea and continued discussing Professor Qian's suggestion.

Erxia was still clever, and at least had a conscience: "We've already bought a whole bunch of books and copied down some folk remedies and secret techniques. They're all from reputable publishers, so... we're not exactly scammers, are we?"

Liu Haomei laughed and said, "If one or two out of ten folk remedies work, we've done a good deed."

"Okay, let's give it a try." I nodded.

I do have many secret recipes, all genuine family heirlooms.

However, I cannot sell it so cheaply.

It was late at night, and Liu Haomei was going back to Sanlichuan to sleep.

I rode my bike to take her there, and naturally stayed at 505 to spend the night with her.

To prove that I hadn't been fooling around outside, I put in the effort and submitted an assignment.

Liu Haomei praised me for doing a great job on my homework!

……

The next day at noon, I was drinking in Hongxing Village, attending Sister Li's banquet to celebrate her father's recognition.

Ruan Chaoxiong was very happy and arranged eight tables of banquet, all of whom were elites from Hongxing Village or the old man's relatives and friends.

After the banquet began, Grandpa Ruan led me and Sister Li to each table to introduce our relatives.

The people of Hongxing Village were also very hospitable and polite, greeting us with smiles and saying that we would all be one family from now on, so please don't be shy.

I didn't dare drink any alcohol, and only took a small sip.

Sister Li couldn't resist the persuasion and got completely drunk again; I had to carry her back.

Fortunately, I had already prepared a hangover soup, and I gave Sister Li a big bowl of it so she could fall asleep.

Ding Zhili and Erxia also drank quite a bit of alcohol.

After making arrangements for Sister Li, I prepared a bowl of hangover soup and went to see Erxia.

Erxia was looking in the mirror in her room, seemingly vain about herself.

"Erxia, have a bowl of hangover soup." I pushed open the door.

"That's great, Brother Zu!" Erxia took the bowl and laughed, "It's not some kind of Meng Po soup or a sleeping potion, is it?"

After drinking, Erxia's face turned as red as a sunset, and she became even more charming than usual.

"It's a sleeping potion. Once you drink it and lose consciousness, I'll turn you into a giant meat bun called 'Sun Erniang' and sell you at Shizipo for money."

"I accept my fate of dying at Zu Ge's hands. You were the one who saved my life in the first place."

Erxia smiled, picked up the bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

I looked into Erxia's room; it was very clean.

A wardrobe, a bed, a table, and a chair.

There were also quite a few books on the table.

"Brother Zu, sit on the bed."

Erxia poured me a glass of water, a half-smile on her face: "You're so busy, sometimes I want to chat with you, but I can't find the chance."

I sat down on the bed: "What are you talking about? Is there something you need?"

"Can't we chat if there's nothing wrong? Can't we chat like friends?"

"Of course!" I rubbed my face. "You're a college student, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with your conversation..."

"What good are college students? They've all made a fool of themselves in front of you."

Erxia's eyes suddenly reddened: "That day in the grove, if it weren't for you, even if I had survived, I would have tried to kill myself. Brother Zu, thank you for not looking down on me and for still treating me as a friend."

I stood up and pressed down on Erxia's shoulders: "Erxia, I didn't know you at first, but now I know you're a good girl, a good friend, and loyal."

Erxia's unwavering loyalty to us and her willingness to work hard without complaint are qualities I admire.

"Brother Zu, I..."

Erxia leaned into my arms and wrapped her arms around my waist: "You...you really don't mind?"

"I don't mind, but I can't give you a future." I shook my head with a wry smile: "Erxia, let's just be friends."

"I don't want a future; I want my future to be my own, not something you can give me."

Erxia closed the door, drew the curtains, and looked at me shyly.

"Erxia, I..."

"Brother Zu, loosen your grip a bit, I don't want you to take responsibility."

Erxia stepped forward and hooked her arm around my neck.

I responded to Erxia, and we comforted and explored each other's perspectives.

I don't know when, but we ended up on the bed together...

This was the first time Erxia and I had a heart-to-heart talk, so I was inevitably a little excited.

It was broad daylight again. Sister Li was sleeping next door, while Uncle Ding was still working in the yard.

So I was a little nervous.

When I get nervous, I can't do things well; I rush and get flustered.

"Erxia, I'm sorry." I felt ashamed, feeling that I had let Erxia down.

"Brother Zu, it's alright..."

Erxia comforted me gently, saying, "Take a break, just think of it as a nap."

"Uncle Ding was still working in the warehouse when he was discovered..."

"Uncle Ding is a kind-hearted man, he won't interfere."

Erxia smiled and said, "Sister Li, you're going to sleep until dark. What are you afraid of? Even if people find out, it'll be fine. You don't have a wife, and I don't have a husband..."

That makes sense. I couldn't help but smile and hug Erxia.

Erxia, however, wouldn't sleep. She drew circles on my chest and whispered, "Between you and Sister Li, is there really anything...?"

"No, really."

I shook my head and pinched Erxia's nose: "Although we sometimes bicker and seem very affectionate, we... haven't really gone all the way."

"So, what stage have we reached?" Erxia pressed.

I pinched Erxia's lips: "We haven't gone any further, we're just innocent older sister and younger brother."

Erxia turned her head, breaking free from my grasp, and laughed, "Sister Li is so beautiful, has such a great figure, and you spend every day with her, aren't you tempted? Have you ever thought about Sister Li in the middle of the night?"

"Thinking about it, it's not illegal, is it?"

I stared at Erxia's bright eyes and long eyelashes: "In novels, I read that many men have all sorts of wild thoughts, about the beautiful women they meet..."

Erxia grinned mischievously: "Tell me what you're thinking."