A Gallop on a Spring Breeze

Around five or six in the evening, Zhang Yang drove to his grandmother's house.

It was a square, old-fashioned courtyard with a large expanse of open ground outside the gate.

As he parked, he spotted several cars at a glance, among which the BMW belonging to his youngest uncle's family looked the most polished and eye-catching.

"We're here, Mom and Dad," Zhang Yang said after parking.

Zhang Zhaohai and his wife stepped out first and walked into the courtyard.

Zhang Yang followed, slamming the car door shut. The moment the car chirped, everyone in the yard immediately turned their gazes toward him in unison.

"A Cayenne? Zhang Yang, you're driving a Cayenne?" Li Kaigang, his eldest aunt's son, walked up. He looked at the vibrant figure standing by the car, then back at the shimmering Cayenne, momentarily stunned.

There is a saying: you don't need to say a word, for the Range Rover will speak for you.

At this moment, although Zhang Yang hadn't said a single word, everything that needed to be said—and even what didn't—was already understood without a sound.

"Just got it. Want a cigarette?" Zhang Yang carried a pack of He Tianxia Zunshang, which cost a thousand per pack. Although he rarely smoked, he would occasionally have one to relieve his mood.

Ever since he started practicing self-discipline, he smoked less and less.

Li Kaigang quickly took the cigarette. He knew his stuff; lighting up a cigarette that cost dozens per stick and taking a puff, he immediately felt a different sensation wash over him.

This feeling was indescribable and unclear; perhaps this was the taste of money.

The two cousins walked into the courtyard side by side. Zhang Yang immediately saw his mother surrounded by her two sisters, who were examining the jade bracelet on her wrist.

"This quality is definitely not cheap. I saw one at the mall last time for over ten thousand, and it can't even compare to this one," the eldest aunt said, scrutinizing the bracelet over and over.

"Really? Zhang Yang gave it to me; I don't know the price either," Song Wenqin said, beaming from ear to ear.

When she first found out the price of the bracelet, she had been shocked. A bracelet worth over a hundred thousand—how could an ordinary woman from an ordinary family like her afford to wear something like that?

But since it was already bought, she had grumbled a little, but was she unhappy in her heart? Of course not. So, the matter just passed.

The youngest aunt, Zhou Xiaona, stood to the side watching, her eyes filled with undisguised envy and bitterness.

"Third Aunt, Zhang Yang has really made something of himself to be willing to buy you such an expensive bracelet. No wonder Third Uncle can't stay in our little temple of a family anymore."

Song Wenqin raised her eyelids, too lazy to respond. After all, since they were at her mother's place, she didn't want to lower herself to the younger woman's level. Besides, they had known what kind of person this youngest aunt was for years.

Not far away, the youngest uncle, Song Wenbo, stood awkwardly.

In the past, his family had always been the center of attention, but today, it seemed they were being pushed to the sidelines.

He looked at the Cayenne in the distance, then at his third sister and brother-in-law surrounded by others, and then at the other brothers-in-law smoking fine cigarettes and chatting happily. For no reason, he felt a sense of discomfort.

In the past, he was the center of it all, with everyone fawning over him.

"Third Brother-in-law, we've prepared the main dishes; we're just waiting for you to take the lead," the two aunts said with a smile as they looked at Zhang Zhaohai.

"No problem." Zhang Zhaohai changed out of his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and headed straight into the kitchen without a second word.

He had started as a chef for family banquets and had worked in restaurants for several years; he was a true folk master, and the dishes he cooked were full of authentic, home-style flavor.

Before long, the aroma began to drift out of the kitchen.

Past six in the evening, Zhang Zhaohai walked out of the kitchen, took off his apron, and shouted that dinner was served.

That evening, the grandmother sat at the head of the table, looking at her three daughters and one son's families with a sense of relief, constantly urging everyone to eat more.

Zhang Yang sat with his cousin Li Kaigang, chatting while they ate.

"Zhang Yang, you're not the same as you used to be," Li Kaigang sighed. Once upon a time, he had actually felt quite superior.

After all, in his family, his mother had sold insurance her whole life, and his father was a minor official in a government unit; they were better off than some, even if not the best.

In any case, his parents had already provided him with a car and a house.

But today, facing Zhang Yang, he felt an inexplicable sense of being crushed—not just by the Cayenne, but by something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Do you really need to envy me? Just tell me, what are you lacking?" Zhang Yang asked, finding it amusing. Li Kaigang's family background was actually quite decent.

Years ago, when he could only run to the Xinhua Bookstore every weekend to read, Li Kaigang's house was already fully equipped with Sony and Nintendo products—it was something to be truly envious of.

"Oh, let's not talk about it, let's not," Li Kaigang shook his head. "None of the girls I like ever like me back."

He downed his glass of wine in one gulp and ended up choking on it.

Zhang Yang's phone on the table chimed repeatedly; Bei Wei was excitedly sharing her daily life with him.

Her shopping routine, her dessert routine, and the occasional selfie.

Despite wearing thick glasses, Li Kaigang's eyes were actually quite sharp.

"A girl messaging you? Let your big brother see."

Zhang Yang swiped through the photos, revealing a face with shoulder-length black hair and sweet makeup.

Li Kaigang stared blankly, then silently covered his face with both hands, his shoulders heaving.

"Brother, are you okay?" Zhang Yang patted Li Kaigang on the back.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Your brother is just feeling a little hurt inside, yeah... hurt bad," Li Kaigang said, waving one hand to signal he was alright.

The dinner that night was actually quite harmonious.

Aside from the youngest aunt's occasional snide remarks and the youngest uncle silently stuffing his face, everything else was fine.

After dinner, Zhang Yang and Li Kaiguang went out for a stroll.

Midway through, Zhang Yang unexpectedly received a video call from his younger cousin, Song Yumeng.

Song Yumeng was the child of his uncle's family. She had just started her freshman year of college. Strangely enough, while his uncle and aunt were quite unpleasant people, Song Yumeng had followed Zhang Yang around since she was little, calling him "brother" all day long.

Because of this, Zhang Yang's feelings toward that side of the family were truly conflicted.

He answered the call, and Song Yumeng's delicate face appeared on the screen.

"Brother Zhang Yang... oh, Brother Zhang Yang, you've lost weight and look even more handsome!" She exclaimed in surprise, leaning closer to the screen as if trying to see him more clearly.

"Your brother here has been dieting lately. Are you in the dorm?" Zhang Yang turned the camera so Li Kaiguang could say hello to Song Yumeng as well.

"Just got back from the cafeteria." No sooner had Song Yumeng said this than a girl's voice shouted from beside her.

"Song Yumeng, are you video chatting with a guy? My long legs are out in the open here, watch it!"

"I know, I know." Song Yumeng trotted over to the balcony. "Brother, that was the long-legged beauty from my dorm. I guarantee she'd make you drool. Just you wait, I'll definitely find a chance to introduce you."

Zhang Yang felt a bit touched.

She really was a good sister; she didn't forget about her brother even when she had long-legged beauties around.