After starting work, Erqiang matured quickly.
As someone close to him, Sanli noticed something unusual about Erqiang.
"My second brother sometimes just zones out by himself, then grins like an idiot. I have no idea what's going on. Wang Yan, do you think he might've run into something... supernatural?"
"After the founding of the country, monsters weren't allowed to exist. There are no ghosts or demons, so don't go imagining random nonsense."
"Then what's wrong with him?"
"Maybe he's just daydreaming about a better life. I'll ask him when we get back."
Since Erqiang was staying at Wang Yan's place, things were fine during summer vacation, since Wang Yan rarely stayed home and mostly ate out. But once school started, Wang Yan basically shared a kitchen with the Qiao family. He did not charge them money, either. After all, Erqiang was living at his place, so they were helping each other out. Of course, Wang Yan was the one contributing more, mainly because he liked meat. Still, they did not feast on it every day. He only bought some every few days.
Though Qiao Zuwang was shameless, he did normally buy meat too. He just bought less of it, but there was always at least some meaty flavor in the food. Qiao Yicheng was the same. He did not want Wang Yan spending so much, so every few days he would buy some meat to bring home and cook. It was a rare treat for him as well. After all, he was quite frugal at school.
After dinner, Wang Yan and Erqiang headed back to Wang Yan's house together. The sun was gradually setting, and as they looked westward, a red sun seemed to hang at the end of the street, huge and round, stretching their shadows long behind them.