By the time Wang Keqin called, Wang Xiaoliang had already prepared plenty of excuses.
He had thought up several versions: the night market stayed open over the Spring Festival, so he couldn't get away. Zijin had plans, and he had to keep her company. Any of them would work.
Before he could make the call, Wang Keqin called him.
"Xiaoliang, this New Year... don't come home for now."
Wang Xiaoliang held his phone without saying anything. That direct?
There were a few seconds of silence on the other end. Wang Keqin coughed. "Your mother thinks the place we're living in now... isn't in very good shape. She doesn't want you two to see it."
Wang Xiaoliang understood that he was making this call behind his mother's back.
"There's something else," Wang Keqin said again, speaking even more slowly. "We're running a stall now, with people coming and going... if someone recognizes us, I don't know whether it might affect Zijin's career."
Wei Zijin had once worried about this and said no one was thinking of her.
He hadn't expected his father to have realized it by now, too.
"Dad, does that mean your stall's getting popular?"
"Something like that. We're definitely a little well-known now. Lots of influencers have come to film."
"Feels pretty rewarding, doesn't it?"
"It really does, Xiaoliang. It won't even take three years before I can buy another, better home."
"Dad, I absolutely believe you. But you and Mom have to look after yourselves."
"All right."
The call ended.
Well, that settled it.
He didn't need to find an excuse anymore. He wouldn't need one for three years.
In the last few days before the holiday, Chengyou reached its busiest stretch.
Wang Xiaoliang and Xie Hui couldn't help much. The two spent most of their time