「Two days later,」Zhang Hongjie was finally discharged from the hospital to recuperate at home.

Xue Xingzhou carried him to the bed and helped him lean against the headboard.

"It’s still more comfortable at home. If the doctor hadn’t forbidden me from moving, I would’ve wanted to come back ages ago."

Huang Ying said irritably, "Oh, listen to you. If you’re so capable, why did you need Xue Xingzhou to carry you? Get down and walk yourself if you’ve got the guts."

Zhang Hongjie looked at Xue Xingzhou and saw the hint of a smile in his eyes.

"I’ve really been a bother to you all. Xue Xingzhou, this has been hard on you."

"It’s no trouble at all. Please, rest well. You’ll be better in no time."

Zhang Hongjie nodded.

Zhang Hui, who had been by the door, had already been pulled back into their room by Zhao Yunyun. Zhang Qian shot a glance in their direction and entered the room.

"Dad, you heard what the doctor said. Don’t be in a rush to go back to work, or you’ll have trouble if there are long-term complications."

Huang Ying said, "Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him. If he doesn’t listen, I’ll follow him to work."

Zhang Hongjie smiled. "I know, I know. When are you two heading back to Beijing City? The child is still so young. Can you really be away for so long?"

Zhang Qian glanced at Xue Xingzhou. "We’re planning to go back tomorrow."

"Alright. Go back to work soon. You haven’t been able to rest well these past few days at the hospital. Just take it easy and rest at home today."

"We know. You don’t need to worry about us. Just make sure you’re not careless yourself. From now on, you need to consider your age before you do anything. Don’t just rush into every situation. You think you’re still a young man?"

Zhang Hongjie sighed. "You really can’t deny you’re getting old. Back in my younger days, forget one person—even three people would have been no match for me."

"Oh, keep bragging. It’s not like the kids ever saw you in your youth anyway." Huang Ying didn’t spare his feelings.

Seeing her dad’s face flush red, Zhang Qian couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The couple, Zhang Hui and his wife, muttered to each other in their room for a while before finally coming out.

As they came out, they happened to see Zhang Qian pulling Xue Xingzhou toward her own room.

"Hey, uh—"

SLAM! Zhang Qian and Xue Xingzhou were already inside, having shut the door.

Zhao Yunyun said to Zhang Hui, "Look at your sister. What kind of attitude is that? She clearly heard me."

Zhang Hui said, "Alright, alright. Weren’t you just telling me to be nicer to Qianqian? Have you forgotten we need to ask her for a favor?"

Zhao Yunyun quickly covered her mouth. "Right, right. Look at me, I almost forgot again. It’s just that I can’t help but get angry whenever I see that look on her face."

When the two of them went in, Huang Ying was wiping Zhang Hongjie’s face with a washcloth.

"Dad, how are you feeling?" Zhang Hui asked.

With his eyes closed, Zhang Hongjie just grunted, "Mm."

After Huang Ying finished wiping Zhang Hongjie’s face, Zhao Yunyun gave a soft cough toward Huang Ying. "Mom."

Huang Ying glanced at her, then saw that Zhang Hui was also looking at her.

She sighed inwardly. ’I must have owed them in a past life.’

Huang Ying said to Zhang Hongjie, "Yunyun was saying that Xiao Lei has dropped out of school and doesn’t have a job. It’s so worrisome. He’s a young man now; it’s not good for him to be idle all day. He might even get into trouble. It’s hard to find a job in the provincial capital. Old man, what do you think? If we let Xiao Lei go to Beijing City, could Qianqian and her husband find a job for him?"

Zhang Hongjie opened his eyes, his face expressionless.

"If he can’t find a job in the provincial capital, you think it’ll be easier in Beijing City? What kind of place do you think Beijing City is? It’s not somewhere anyone can just go to on a whim. Life isn’t easy for Qianqian and her husband there, either. The cost of living is high, and the competition is fierce. They’re just employees working for other people. It’s not like they own the company—how could they have the final say?"

Zhao Yunyun cut in, "Dad, little sister’s father-in-law is a government official, isn’t he? It shouldn’t be that hard for him to find a job for our Xiao Lei. Our family married our daughter off to his family, and we haven’t gotten a single benefit out of it. We’re really getting the short end of the stick."

Zhang Hongjie stared at her. "What kind of benefit do you want? I married off my daughter, I didn’t sell her. You know full well that Qianqian’s father-in-law is an official, and you still want him to pull strings? To put it nicely, you’re making him owe a favor. To put it bluntly, you’re asking him to break the law. Is that something we should be doing?"

Zhang Hui took a step forward. "Dad, it’s not as serious as you’re making it out to be. Besides, Xiao Lei is little sister’s own nephew. It’s not a big deal for family to help family, right?"

Zhao Yunyun nodded. "Exactly. All three of them in that family have good jobs. If you ask me, little sister’s child is still young. Why does she even need to work? It’d be much better for her to stay home and enjoy life. Her job would be perfect for our Xiao Lei."

Zhang Hongjie narrowed his eyes. "So that was your plan all along. My daughter worked so hard to get into university and land that job, and now you think you can just take it away with a few words? Do you think that’s appropriate?"

Zhao Yunyun said anxiously, "Dad, Xiao Lei is your biological grandson!"

Zhang Hongjie sneered. "And Qianqian is my biological daughter! You want to screw over my daughter to make way for my grandson? No chance. Zhang Hui, we already raised you. We helped you find a job and buy a house. We have done more than enough for you. Your sister, on the other hand, has never once troubled us. Her success today is the result of her own hard work. As for your son, that’s no longer our concern. And don’t you even think about bothering your sister. I won’t allow it."

Zhang Hui gave a bitter smile. "Dad, we’re out of options."

Huang Ying said to Zhang Hongjie, "Hui and his family really are in a tough spot. Why not let Qianqian help just this once? If you feel too embarrassed to ask her, I’ll do it."

"Neither of you is to go," Zhang Hongjie said sternly. With that, he lay back down and closed his eyes, clearly indicating he didn’t want to speak with them anymore.

Zhao Yunyun stomped her foot anxiously. "Mom, look at him."

Huang Ying’s expression soured, but she didn’t dare go against Zhang Hongjie’s words.

"Since your father disagrees, you’ll just have to think of another way."

Zhao Yunyun gnashed her teeth in anger, then slammed the door on her way out.

Zhang Hui followed her out.

Soon, the sound of arguing erupted from the room across the hall.

Zhang Qian sat on the edge of her bed, hearing everything clearly. Even if she hadn’t overheard, she would have guessed what Zhang Hui and his wife were planning, more or less.

But she was determined to pretend she hadn’t heard. Asking them to find a job for Zhang Yunlei wasn’t, in itself, an unspeakable request. However, the way Zhang Hui and his wife went about things was simply disgusting. Besides, Zhang Qian had never been particularly fond of this nephew; he had too many bad habits. If she really brought him to Beijing City and he caused trouble, it would still be her problem to solve.

Zhao Yunyun and Zhang Hui argued loudly in their room for a long time, but no one came to mediate. When they were finally too tired to shout anymore, Zhao Yunyun sat down, drank a large glass of water, and poured one for Zhang Hui as well.

"See? That’s your family for you. We’re in trouble, and not a single one of them is willing to help. Are you sure you weren’t picked up off the street?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Zhang Hui shot her a look. "What nonsense are you talking?"

"Hmph. Even if you weren’t, it’s pretty close. Your dad has always favored your sister. You and our son combined don’t weigh as much as your sister in your dad’s heart."

Zhang Hui pressed his lips together and said nothing, but a heavy feeling settled in his heart.