Chapter 435

"Zhi Xia, in a couple days, come over to my house for a meal, okay?" An Zhiqing invited. "These past few days, my parents have been busy moving, and the house is a bit messy. In a couple days, when it's tidied up, you all can come over, Wen Qing and Su Ying too. We siblings should get together and have a nice time."

Father's inexplicable suggestion to split up the family also made him realize that in the years he hadn't been home, things at home were likely not as harmonious as he had imagined.

An Zhiqing cared a lot about family bonds, and didn't want them to grow apart over some unnecessary things.

Even the best relationships need maintenance. Just happening to be at home this time, he wanted to take the opportunity to invite everyone over for a meal and strengthen their ties.

He understood Liu Ling's issues to some extent, but since he hadn't been home for years, he didn't have the qualifications to interfere from Liu Ling's perspective.

Fortunately Liu Ling didn't have an obstinate personality, and could still listen to him a little. He didn't expect her to be extra nice to his family, just hoped she could maintain a surface cordiality. He would get close with his own family.

Zhi Xia thought for a bit without directly refusing, only saying: "Let's not go to your house. Think about it, every time you come back we're the ones going over. You still haven't eaten more than a few meals at my place. Why don't you come to my place instead? Wen Qing loves lamb, and I have a grill. I'll have Sister Zhang prepare in a couple days, and invite you all over to my place for grilled meat."

She had her own concerns saying this. If they all went over, with the whole family it would be a lot of people.

Now that Zhou Nan was living at Su Ying's side, Liu Ling had been ignoring them these days. If she had to cook for so many people herself, she might get even angrier.

Getting together should be for fun. Forcing it would just make everyone unhappy, so they might as well gather at her home. No matter how Liu Ling thought, not eating from their kitchen, also not having to see her face, this was Zhi Xia's idea.

"That's fine too. I was originally thinking of having you come eat at my place, but this way I'm making you spend money instead." An Zhiqing laughed and said. "There will be plenty of chances to eat at your place in the future. Just don't find us annoying when the time comes." Zhi Xia joked.

An Zhiqing didn't rush to leave either, instead staying to help with work for a day. Zhi Xia hadn't intended for him to lift a finger, but ended up being lectured by him. He said he still needed her supervision for his own house, so she shouldn't stand on ceremony even more.

Actually, Zhi Xia wasn't standing on ceremony at all. She just cherished her brother.

She hadn't personally experienced how tiring and difficult the military training was, but having been at the base for several years, she understood some. Finally getting time off to come back, he should properly rest, and not be bothered by trivial matters.

After returning home, Zhi Xia hurried to take a shower.

After swirling a cotton swab in her nose, it came out full of black dust, and that was with her wearing a mask, only occasionally taking it off.

She didn't know how much dust she'd be inhaling by the time the house renovations were done.

After tidying herself up, she went next door to take a look around.

They were busy moving, so it was also a mess, things piled up in the living room. Zhou Nan busily moved things around.

Su Ying came out from inside, smiling and asking her, "Zhi Xia, have you eaten?"

"Eaten already, just came by to see how things are here." Just happening to have them both here, Zhi Xia brought up having them come over to eat in a couple days after they'd tidied up.

Since the two houses were close, they could settle on a specific time later without it being too late.

But she still needed to borrow Mrs. Zhou to help. Grilling itself was labor intensive, and with her run off her feet, relying on just Sister Zhang would be too tiring. The kids could help, but they were willing to grill the meat, just unwilling to do the preparatory work beforehand.

Mrs. Zhou naturally had no objections. Zhi Xia was always very generous, not only satisfying her appetite going to help, but also giving her a gift when leaving.

It didn't take Zhou Nan long to tidy up here. The old lady had lived here for decades, and still felt more used to being here. She had just moved back and was already gone, out looking for her old lady friends. Zhi Xia wheeled back a whole slaughtered lamb in a small cart, as well as a processed small pig, a large piece of beef, and several ducks and chickens.

Wanqing had been looking forward to roast suckling pig these days. They had done it several times in their space, but it was still the first time outdoors. A large pit had already been dug in the backyard with an iron frame over it, and they didn't know if they could roast it cooked through.

In any case, they were letting them try it themselves, purely for fun.

Wen Qing came early with his sister. Taking the lead with the triplets and Little Six, they crowded around the small pig, while Wan Qing handled the seasonings on the side directing their work.

Mrs. Zhou and Sister Zhang also started handling the lamb and other ingredients, all cut into small pieces and skewered, ready to start grilling once everyone arrived in the afternoon.

Today, Zhi Xia had only gone to Hulan Elegant Garden at noon. The electrical wiring and water pipes had just been pulled yesterday, which was no small project for a four-story building. Next was installing the ceiling and cabinets.

It just so happened her father's elder and second elder brothers knew carpentry, and her two older cousins had also followed them in it before. Now working assembly lines at factories was wasting their talents, so Zhi Xia simply had them form their own carpentry team, specifically following the renovation team to do woodwork, which though fairly tiring, earned them a lot more than at the factory.

As real estate developed, demand for renovations would also grow. Once they were skilled at it themselves, they could also strike out on their own, certainly better than unchanging factory work.

She had wanted them to rest for a day and come eat together today, but her father's elder and second elder brothers were too diligent, refusing to come no matter what she said.

They had also boiled old duck soup in the kitchen. Zhi Xia had Wen Qing bring some grilled meat over to deliver to her father's elder brothers.

Just as Wen Qing was pushing a bike with a box tied on the back out the door, they ran into An Zhiqing bringing Liu Ling in from outside.

"They've started grilling in there, right? Where are you going?" Liu Ling had already smelled the rich meat fragrance wafting from inside upon reaching the door.

"Auntie asked me to bring some over for Grandpa and them. Mom and Dad, go on in. I'll be right back." He had been stimulated by the fragrance to the point of salivating, eager to hurry there and back again.

"This child, impatient as always." Liu Ling complained, before heading inside.

Zhi Xia warmly welcomed them. Liu Ling just nodded, heading over to help turn the skewers without a word.

An Zhiqing knew the kids were roasting a suckling pig in the backyard, and with a smile said he would go take a look, though the smile vanished in an instant when he turned his head, replaced by some impatience in his eyes.