Jiang Cheng and Grandma Shen were sitting on the bed, listening to Grandma Shen talk about the new people who moved in across the door.

"They moved in two days after you left. The man drives for the transport team, and the woman doesn’t work. They have four kids at home, three older sisters and a younger brother."

Grandma Shen pursed her lips and said, "It’s common to favor boys over girls, but it’s rare to treat daughters as nothing."

"That boy from their family... tsk tsk tsk... you’ll know when you see him."

At this point, Grandma Shen shook her head and said, "Actually, those three girls are quite pitiful. I used to feel a bit sorry for them! But who would’ve thought that one day, the second girl from next door would coax Shen Yue to steal things from home for her!"

"Pah!"

"They’re all no good!"

Grandma Shen was angry.

Jiang Cheng affirmed, "Yue Yue wouldn’t listen to her."

"Of course! Our Yue Yue has been by your side for so long, she’s no longer as silly as she used to be."

Grandma Shen’s words made Jiang Cheng laugh helplessly.

"Alright, I think you’re complimenting me!"

Grandma Shen kept a straight face.

"Of course that’s a compliment to you! How could you doubt yourself, that’s so unlike you."

The old and the young laughed heartily and continued chatting.

Jiang Cheng asked about how the Lin Family has been doing lately, given that they are the main characters of the story. What if the plot power is too great?

"The Lin Family? They’ve been quite peaceful lately."

"But I heard from Li Chunxiang’s mother that Lin Chengyuan hasn’t been doing well at the machinery factory lately, seems to be getting sidelined." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"He used to be so full of himself, thinking he could be the director, he made a lot of enemies."

Not hearing about any major incidents, Jiang Cheng wasn’t too concerned.

After a few reminders from Grandma Shen, she let Jiang Cheng gather his things himself while she went out to prepare dinner.

Jiang Cheng tidied up his luggage in the house and got ready the gifts he brought back this time to give to Grandma Shen and a few others later.

At seven in the evening, the Shen Family had dinner.

Shen Que hadn’t returned from the machinery factory yet, so Grandma Shen set aside the food for Shen Que.

"Sister, this clothes is so pretty!"

Shen Yue spun around happily in the new cotton jacket Jiang Cheng bought for her.

After spinning enough, Shen Yue carefully took it off, wanting to save it for the New Year to wear.

Seeing this, Jiang Cheng tried to stop her, saying, "We’ll buy new ones for the New Year, if you don’t wear it soon you won’t fit into it anymore, you’re growing fast."

Shen Yue was both happy and reluctant, she folded the clothes neatly and said, "Then I’ll wear it in a few days."

"Okay!"

Jiang Cheng nodded with a smile and glanced at Shen Xing nearby.

She bought Shen Xing new books.

Shen Xing couldn’t wait and had already opened the new book to read.

"Alright! Put everything away!"

"It’s time to eat!"

Grandma Shen came over with a big bowl of handmade noodles, and Jiang Cheng went to help.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue also hurried to put away their new books and clothes.

As the four of them were busy, there was a knock on the door.

Shen Xing went to open the door.

"Um... we ran out of salt at home, can we borrow some?"

Outside was a woman in blue clothes, holding a bowl, her eyes wandering around, eventually fixed on the bowl of noodles and a bowl of egg sauce, unable to look away.

"Oh, you’re eating? I’ve really come at a bad time."

Without asking, Jiang Cheng already knew this was the new neighbor from across the door.

"It really isn’t a good time, we’re just out of salt, we don’t have any."

The woman’s fake friendly smile froze on her face for half a second, then she spoke, "How could it be so coincidental, you don’t want to lend it to me, do you?"

"We’re neighbors, just borrowing a little salt..."

Not willing to listen anymore, Jiang Cheng interrupted, "Think whatever you want, we don’t have any anyway."

"Xing, close the door, it’s time to eat!"

"Yes!"

Shen Xing responded and was about to close the door, Ge Dahua encountered someone so blunt for the first time.

"Hey hey hey—"

With a bang, the door was closed.

Ge Dahua was about to start yelling, but remembering her husband told her this family has the factory director, she swallowed it back begrudgingly.

"A big factory director, yet so stingy!"

Muttering under her breath, Ge Dahua turned and went to the Sun Family.

Splash!

A basin of water was poured out by Granny Sun first.

Ge Dahua turned her steps forcibly to the Li Family next door.

Knock on the door, ask to borrow salt.

In less than a minute, the yard echoed with Li Chunhua’s mother’s loud scolding.

"Borrow borrow borrow!"

"Your family can’t even cook! Borrow constantly, when will you return the two eggs you owe me!"

"Do you have no shame? Your thinking of taking advantage is written on your face! How can you come out so brazenly, pah!"

Li Chunhua’s mother unleashed a tirade of scolding, the other households in the yard listened laughingly.

This is how it should be!

Since Ge Dahua arrived a few days ago, she’s borrowed things from every home.

One egg, a little salt, a handful of firewood, a few matches.

Not a lot, but it doesn’t come free to any household, everyone sees through Ge Dahua’s little ploy.

Ge Dahua just aims to borrow small and insignificant things, she never intended to return them.

Returning with nothing, Ge Dahua kept muttering as she went home.

"We’re all living in one big courtyard, how can they not lend me anything?"

The previous neighbors were too embarrassed to refuse.

What Ge Dahua didn’t know was that the entire courtyard had enjoyed several rounds of Jiang Cheng dealing with the Lin Family, everyone had their insights.

In the Shen Family, the four each held a bowl of noodles, listening through the door crack to Li Chunhua’s mother scolding Ge Dahua.

"Granny Sun did well with the splash of water!"

Grandma Shen strongly agreed, saying, "I’ll do the same next time."

The four listened with great pleasure, they finished all the noodles.

After the meal, Shen Xing went to wash the dishes, Jiang Cheng was dragged by Shen Yue to look at her recent drawings.

After a round of compliments, Shen Yue’s eyes were smiling brightly.

Though Jiang Cheng was indeed praising her, Shen Yue’s progress was truly remarkable.

Plus, since she started drawing, Shen Yue has become more and more confident.

Thinking about this, Jiang Cheng brought some fabric for Shen Yue to give to Teacher Zhao next time she has class.

Shen Yue accepted it.

"Sister, I’ve been going early to help Teacher Zhao with work."

"Great, keep it up."

Jiang Cheng also chatted with Shen Xing about school matters to see if he needed any help.

The result was that he didn’t need any.

Jiang Cheng believed Shen Xing was absolutely talented in academic matters, and of course, he worked very hard.

After communicating with the two youngsters, Jiang Cheng returned to the house next door.

At around eleven o’clock at night, footprints could be heard.

Not yet asleep, Jiang Cheng opened a crack in the door.

"Shen Que?"

"It’s me!"

Originally intending to speak quietly, Shen Que responded excitedly, heading to the house next door.

Jiang Cheng opened the door wider, looking at Shen Que with a bright smile.

The unique smile belonging to Jiang Cheng hung on Shen Que’s face.

Jiang Cheng stood on the steps, Shen Que at the foot, the two gazing at each other perfectly.

There was no hug, no intimate actions, just a simple gaze.

Her eyes were smiling, lips slightly raised.

His eyes filled with warmth, lips curved upward.

The surrounding temperature seemed to rise, the heartbeat was the only music at this moment.

Not knowing how much time passed, Jiang Cheng smiled and asked, "How long are we going to keep staring?"

Suddenly, Shen Que stepped up a step, lowered his head very close.

"A lifetime."