Chapter 230: Real Estate

Touched, Zhang Weiguo embraced his little niece, feeling that only she could truly understand his feelings.

“Qianqian, I understand now. I will make sure to take good care of myself. Grandma and the others are counting on me to support them in their old age. I have a responsibility, and I won’t forget it,” Zhang Weiguo expressed sincerely.

In the evening, Zhang Lan prepared a delicious meal to treat her long-separated little brother. Zhang Weiguo shared that he had been promoted to a squad leader and might have further opportunities for advancement.

At that moment, Wang Qian remembered something important and called Zhang Weiguo aside. “Uncle, once you return, make sure to review your high school courses. It’s likely that the college entrance exam will be restored next year. Don’t delay, keep up with your studies.”

Surprised, Zhang Weiguo looked at his calm niece. “Qianqian, how do you know the college entrance exam might be restored next year?”

Understanding why he asked, Wang Qian was prepared. “Uncle, the next step for the country is to revive economic development. We need various talents to surpass the United States. Therefore, the restoration of the college entrance exam is an inevitable trend, and it will likely happen soon. I predict it could happen next year. It would be best for you to consider studying around the capital city, so you can be closer to Grandpa and the others and receive their support.”

Though initially skeptical, Zhang Weiguo found his niece’s reasoning sound.

“Qianqian, I’ve never stopped studying, even during my time in the military. I’ve been waiting for this day. If that’s the case, I might end up in the same year as your Big Brother. I can’t believe it,” Zhang Weiguo chuckled, feeling a bit annoyed at the thought of potentially being in the same academic year as his nephew. He couldn’t afford to fall behind; failing to pass the exam would be embarrassing.

“Uncle, when you return, make sure to buy some review materials. Just reading won’t be enough; you need to practice too. I look forward to seeing my uncle go to university,” Wang Qian encouraged warmly.

Zhang Weiguo patted Wang Qian’s head and smiled, saying, “Alright, for your wish, Uncle will work hard. I’ll strive to attend university as well. However, I haven’t decided where to take the exam. I’ll have to think about it carefully when I return.” Watching Zhang Weiguo, now with a more mature and handsome face, shedding his youthful innocence, Wang Qian couldn’t help but marvel at the passage of time. The once simple and somewhat naive Zhang Weiguo had grown into a decisive young man.

After dinner, Zhang Weiguo mentioned the items Zhang Lan had sent him. “Sis, thankfully you sent those things over. They were a hit in the army. Our leaders and comrades loved our family’s products. Mom also sent me plenty of seafood, making everyone around me jealous. They gather around me every day.”

Zhang Lan didn’t expect those few items to have such a significant impact. Glancing at her daughter, still eating quietly, she realized how thoughtful the child was. Without her foresight, her brother might not have received such recognition.

The family sat on the kang after dinner, enjoying some fruit. Zhang Weiguo shared some snacks he had brought from the south for everyone to try.

Chen Xu was curious about military life and eagerly asked Zhang Weiguo to share his experiences. The family sat together, listening as Zhang Weiguo recounted the highlights of his three years in the military.

To spend more time with his elderly parents, Zhang Weiguo didn’t stay long at the Wangs’ but returned home to fulfill his filial duties.

When Mingcheng returned, Zhang Lan noticed how dark and thin he had become, feeling sorry for him. “Mingcheng, what’s wrong? Why have you lost so much weight?”

Wang Xuan explained, “Mom, I try different dishes every day for him, but he just can’t eat. His classmates always end up finishing his meals. It’s been like this for a week now. Mom, we need to find a solution. If he continues like this, it’ll affect his studies as well as his health.”

Wang Zhenhe, feeling uneasy seeing his son like this, patted Mingcheng’s shoulder. “Mingcheng, tell Dad where you feel uncomfortable?”

Mingcheng shook his head, feeling embarrassed. “Dad, I just feel like I can’t eat. My stomach always feels bloated, and I don’t know what’s wrong.” Wang Zhenhe nodded in understanding.

“Wife, you all stay here at home. I’ll go see Old Ye and get some medicine for our son. I’ll be back soon,” Wang Zhenhe assured.

He swiftly ran out and returned with several boxes of pills. Wang Qian noticed they were hawthorn pills, which are known for aiding digestion.

“Here, Mingcheng, think of these as candies. Dad promises you’ll feel like eating soon,” Wang Zhenhe said.

Mingyuan looked on with longing eyes as Mingcheng generously shared the pills with his siblings. “Try these. They’re delicious, just like hawthorn, and sweet.”

Wang Qian and the others tried one, finding them indeed tasty, suitable as snacks.

“Dad, get more next time. I’ll have Mingcheng eat these regularly. Hawthorn pills taste great. I bet he’ll regain his appetite next week,” Wang Xuan suggested.

Wang Xuan had been feeling guilty these past few days, thinking it was her cooking that Mingcheng didn’t like, leading to his condition.

That evening, Mingcheng ate much more than usual, putting Zhang Lan’s mind at ease.

Old Chen chimed in, “Mingcheng, don’t be too hard on yourself about your studies. From what I know, your knowledge surpasses high school level. A few test results don’t define you. Figure out where you went wrong and be more attentive next time. When faced with similar questions, make sure not to repeat mistakes.”

Old Chen’s words finally eased Mingcheng’s worries. His recent poor test performance had affected him emotionally, leading to his loss of appetite.

“Grandpa Chen, I understand what to do now,” Mingcheng said.

The elderly man nodded with a smile, pleased with the understanding. Chen Xu chimed in, “Grandpa, why don’t you focus on guiding Mingcheng and me in the evenings? Once Mingcheng leaves, you can shift your focus to us.”

Wang Qian and the others had no objections; it was best to prioritize Mingcheng and Chen Xu at the moment.

The three of them enjoyed fruit while studying. If Mingyuan had any questions, Wang Qian would explain. The patriarch observed, impressed by Wang Qian’s adept teaching skills, usually hidden beneath the surface.

Wang Juan and her husband brought Wang Yu over. They had noticed the trend of the third family’s children all moving on to high school exams, which was closely tied to Old Chen. With their daughter facing exams next year, they wanted her to study alongside the third family’s children for mutual support.

Upon hearing the couple’s plans, Wang Zhenhe was delighted. His niece’s future success brought pride to the family.

Thus, he discussed with Grandpa Chen about having an additional student around. Since one more sheep in the flock wouldn’t hurt, Wang Yu began attending evening study sessions at the Wang household.

As time passed, Old Chen realized that studying couldn’t be forced. While Wang Yu was diligent, her intellectual capacity lagged behind the other children in the family. Nonetheless, the patriarch continued to guide her, understanding that her success depended on her own efforts.

Despite struggling academically, Wang Yu excelled in other tasks, leaving Wang Qian in awe of her diverse talents.

Upon returning to the city, the elderly lady indeed found a suitable house for their family. Wang Qian inspected the location and dimensions, finding them suitable. The property consisted of three quadrangle courtyards, which required a significant investment from Zhang Lan to secure.

However, after acquiring the houses, Zhang Lan began to worry. “Qianqian, what should we do after buying the houses? We can’t just leave them idle, especially after spending so much money.”

Seeing a significant amount of money spent, Zhang Lan felt a twinge of regret. Yet, observing her daughter’s confidence, she sensed that Qianqian had a plan.

“Mom, when winter comes, we can have Dad come sell fruits and vegetables. That should bring in some money. Let’s leave those two properties aside for now and discuss this further when we get home,” Qianqian suggested.

Upon returning home that evening, Wang Zhenhe discovered that his family had acquired three more properties. “Wife, why did you buy so many houses? We already have enough to live in.”

Wang Zhenhe couldn’t comprehend why they needed to invest in more properties when they had a place to live and money saved up.

Giving her father an incredulous look, Qianqian explained, “Dad, keeping money idle is not beneficial. We need to invest in more assets. Besides, if property prices rise in the city in the future, we might not be able to afford it. It’s better to act now while prices are low. Also, Dad, I want Minglin to learn car repair. We can start with bicycles and expand to other vehicles in the future. What do you think?”

Qianqian had a plan in mind. They would start with bicycle repairs and eventually move on to motorcycles and cars. Currently, they didn’t even have a motorcycle, and buying a bicycle required queuing with tickets.

Both parents were skeptical. “Can Qianqian really make money from this?”

Qianqian looked up at them confidently. “Of course! We can charge for services like tire repairs and inflating. Think about it—there are so many bicycles in the city, but hardly anyone offers repair services. Our business will thrive.”

At this point, Wang Zhenhe was feeling anxious about who to find to teach his nephew. Seeing her husband’s worried expression, Zhang Lan couldn’t help but smile. “Zhenhe, don’t fret. We have a ready candidate. Remember my eldest brother-in-law’s background? He used to be an apprentice at a bicycle factory with his grandfather when he was young. He only returned home after getting married. Let’s talk to my sister-in-law later and see if he agrees.”