In her place, Jian Zhiqing occupied one room, Jian Zhiqin and Taotao shared another, and she had her own room, making it just four rooms occupied. Oh yes, Conghua also had a room to herself, which wasn’t inhabited by anyone else, as it had become Conghua’s private dog bedroom.
She planned to arrange her elder brother’s room next to Jian Zhiqing’s because Jian Zhiqing had said that she would help him with his studies when he arrived. This was her brother’s only chance in life, and no matter what, she was determined to get him into military school. The life he never had before, she was going to provide for him; the endeavors he never completed, she would assist him with.
In both of her lives, she owed her elder brother two lives. If it wasn’t for her elder brother picking her up back then, she would have either frozen to death or been eaten by wild beasts. Her brother’s death in her previous life was a lifelong regret, and this time, she didn’t want to have such regrets.
She had called home and originally wanted Granny Lu to come over as well. However, Granny Lu didn’t wish to move here, saying she had lived in the village all her life and couldn’t adapt to city life. She preferred the countryside, especially now that Shenjia Village was getting better, and she had even moved her household registration there. She got along well with Granny Hua and treated Hua Jun like her own son. With Granny Hua, they sold pancakes and farmed the land, and their days were quite satisfying.
Even if she had moved to Capital City, she wouldn’t have been used to so many things and didn’t know anyone; finding someone to talk to would have been a challenge. Qin Xiangnuan had thought about inviting Granny Hua and Hua Jun over, but Granny Hua naturally preferred to stay as well, probably even desiring to die in Shenjia Village.
As for the future of Shenjia Village, to be honest, Qin Xiangnuan didn’t know. She only knew that roads had been built and many factories erected. As for the people in the village, she really hadn’t paid much attention.
Granny Lu was still healthy, so it was better for her to stay in Shenjia Village for now.
In short, whether her elder brother chose to return to Dadao Village or develop his life in Capital City, it was up to him.
The area near the train station was slated for demolition next year, and they should receive a decent compensation—a storefront facing the street. Renting or even selling the store could be quite profitable, but of course, she would only rent it out, not sell.
As for Aunt Hua, she would likely buy a shop. In recent years, their family had fought over quite a sum of money.
Business people always grow more astute over time. She had mentioned it to Aunt Hua several times and believed Aunt Hua could have thought of it herself.
She checked the time, and it was already around five o’clock. It was too late to go out now; tomorrow early morning she needed to buy some things, such as bedding, and she had to prepare in advance. She also had to arrange some clothes for her elder brother. However, Jian Zhiqing told her that at the military school, students normally couldn’t wear their clothes and had to dress in military uniforms.
This night, Jian Zhiqing didn’t return, and neither did Jian Zhiqin nor Taotao. Suddenly, the entire Siheyuan became quiet. Excessively quiet, excessively deserted, as if it was just like when she first arrived—too still. The stillness made her heart start to grow wild.
In fact, she had long been accustomed to such silence, but today she felt an unusual restlessness and irritation.
She accessed the system and set up her embroidery frame, preparing to embroider another Qingming River Painting. She was used to this work; after all, half a year was neither long nor short, but it was enough time for her to get accustomed to embroidering a painting a day, to be still for a while every day, and to complete a little each day.