"Do you need any help?" Xue Xingzhou asked.

Zhang Qian shook her head. "No, it’s fine. I already told him I wouldn’t help, but he can stay here. Our daily expenses might just be a little higher from now on."

"That doesn’t matter. But what if he really can’t find a job?"

Zhang Qian looked at him. "Then he’ll go back."

Since he had already come all this way, Zhang Qian couldn’t bring herself to actually kick him out. But whether he had the ability to make it in Beijing City was something she couldn’t—and wouldn’t—manage.

After work, Xue Xingjun returned home, happy as could be.

The moment he walked in, he said excitedly to Xue Xingzhou, "Big Bro, I closed a deal on my own today! Brother-in-law even praised me."

Xue Xingzhou raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? You can negotiate business deals by yourself now?"

Xue Xingjun nodded smugly. "Of course. I’m Brother-in-law’s little secretary, after all. I’ve improved a lot."

Hearing that title, the corner of Xue Xingzhou’s mouth twitched slightly.

Zhang Qian came out of the room, holding Tun Tun.

"What are you talking about? What ’little secretary’?"

Xue Xingjun said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, I was just saying I’m my brother-in-law’s secretary and assistant. I negotiated a deal by myself today."

Zhang Qian was pleasantly surprised. "Wow, congratulations! Did your brother-in-law give you a reward?"

Xue Xingjun nodded vigorously. "Brother-in-law said he’ll give me some extra spending money this month, hehe."

Zhang Qian smiled and nodded. "Not bad."

Xue Xingjun leaned in close to Tun Tun and held out his arms. "Come, let your little uncle hold you. Once Uncle has some money, I’ll buy you new toys."

Zhang Qian handed Tun Tun to him. "You should save that little bit of money for yourself. Don’t keep buying him things. His toys are already piled so high we have nowhere to put them."

Out loud, Xue Xingjun said, "I know, Sister-in-law." Then he lowered his head and whispered in Tun Tun’s ear, "I’m still gonna buy them for you."

Xue Xingzhou glanced at the two of them, the corners of his mouth lifting as he shook his head.

After they had all sat down at the dinner table, Zhang Qian suddenly stood up. "I almost forgot. I’ll go get Zhang Yunlei."

Xue Xingjun was a little confused. ’Who’s Zhang Yunlei?’

Before he could ask his brother, he saw Zhang Qian come back in, followed by a boy who looked to be about his height. Hmm... maybe a tiny bit older. Just a tiny bit.

After Zhang Yunlei entered, he just stood by the door.

Zhang Qian said to him, "What are you standing there for? Come and eat. This is your uncle. You’ve met him before."

Zhang Yunlei looked at Xue Xingzhou and called out, "Uncle."

Xue Xingzhou nodded at him. "Come and eat."

After Zhang Yunlei sat down, Zhang Qian made the introductions. "This is your uncle’s younger brother, Xue Xingjun. He’s a year or two younger than you. And this is my son, his nickname is Tun Tun."

Then she said to Xue Xingjun, "Xing Jun, this is my nephew, Zhang Yunlei. He’ll be staying here for a while."

Zhang Yunlei glanced at Tun Tun, then his gaze shifted to Xue Xingjun. Their eyes met, and neither looked away first.

’I sense killing intent.’

Zhang Qian tapped the table. "Eat."

Only then did they lower their heads and start using their chopsticks.

Throughout the meal, Xue Xingjun kept stealing glances at the other boy.

After dinner, Zhang Yunlei went back to his room. Zhang Qian took Tun Tun for a bath.

Xue Xingzhou stopped Xue Xingjun, making him stay behind to wash the dishes with him.

Xue Xingjun stood beside his brother, one of them washing and the other rinsing.

Xue Xingzhou glanced at him. "Get along with him. Don’t bully him."

Xue Xingjun pouted. "He’s older than me, okay? How could I bully him? You can tell at a glance he’s no pushover. Besides, even for Sister-in-law’s sake, I wouldn’t bully him."

Xue Xingzhou smiled. "I’m just reminding you. And don’t let anyone bully you, either."

Xue Xingjun paused for a moment. "Now that’s more like it. I knew it! You should be on my side. We’re the real brothers here."

Xue Xingzhou didn’t respond to that. Instead, he said, "You’ve been away for so long and didn’t even go back for the New Year. When you have time, write a letter home to let them know you’re safe. Don’t make Mom and Dad worry about you."

Xue Xingjun nodded. "Got it. I’ll write it tomorrow."

The next day, Xue Xingjun ran into Little Chen at the supermarket.

He slung an arm over Little Chen’s shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Little Chen, you’ve been away for half a year. Have you written home?"

Little Chen nodded. "I write every month and send some money home, too. Why do you ask?"

Xue Xingjun blinked and shook his head. "No reason. Just asking."

By the time He Lang arrived, Xue Xingjun had already cleaned his office.

After He Lang sat down, he handed him a contract. "Take this contract, find President Li from XX Food Factory, and just have him sign and stamp it."

Xue Xingjun took it and looked at He Lang.

Seeing that he hadn’t left yet, He Lang asked, "Is there something else?"

Xue Xingjun hesitated for a few seconds before saying to He Lang, "Brother-in-law... My brother told me to write home. I was thinking, just writing a letter isn’t quite enough. I thought maybe I should buy some things to send back with it." He stood there awkwardly after speaking.

He Lang said casually, "Broke?"

Xue Xingjun nodded.

He Lang tapped his pen on the desk. "Go pick out some things from the supermarket yourself, and have them put it on my tab."

Xue Xingjun’s face lit up instantly. He became lively and energetic, saying, "Okay, Brother-in-law! You can just deduct it from my allowance. I’m off then!"

With that, he grabbed the contract and ran off.

Watching his perpetually energetic figure, He Lang smiled. ’It really is good to be young.’

Zhang Qian didn’t ask whether Zhang Yunlei was looking for a job, but she heard from their housekeeper that he would go out every day after they left for work and come back around noon. Zhang Qian guessed he was probably out job hunting.

Less than a week later, Zhang Yunlei suddenly told Zhang Qian, "I found a job."

Zhang Qian was a little surprised. "You did? What kind of job?"

"A porter in a hotel’s back kitchen."

Hearing this, Zhang Qian frowned and looked at his build. "A back kitchen porter? Can you handle the lifting?"

Zhang Yunlei patted his own flabby muscles. "Of course I can, Auntie. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be able to make it in Beijing City."

Zhang Qian didn’t discourage him. "Then work hard."

Zhang Yunlei smiled and nodded. "I definitely will."

But after working the job for less than two days, Zhang Yunlei ended up in the hospital.

When Zhang Qian got the news, she rushed to the hospital in a panic.

She saw Zhang Yunlei come out, clutching his lower back and limping.

Zhang Qian ran over to him. Seeing his condition, she asked, "What happened? Where are you hurt?"

Zhang Yunlei said sheepishly, "I was moving half a pig carcass today. It was a little heavy, and I wasn’t careful and threw out my back. But I’ve already had an X-ray. It’s nothing serious. It’ll be fine after a few days of rest."

Zhang Qian’s frown deepened. "Something that heavy... wasn’t there anyone with you?"

Zhang Yunlei said, "There was supposed to be, but he took the day off today."

Zhang Qian sighed. "Alright, let’s go home first."

Zhang Yunlei looked at Zhang Qian. "But I haven’t requested time off yet. If I don’t, they’ll definitely fire me."