12: Chapter 12 A Surprise for Xiao An

However, facing his father's inquiry, he had to provide a reassuring answer so that his parents could set their minds at ease.

Zheng Jing gathered his thoughts, then looked at his father with a firm gaze, before glancing at his mother, who was listening silently to the side.

"Dad, Mom, I've found the path I want to take in the future, and I'm confident I can do it well.

Please allow me to keep the specifics a secret for now, but rest assured, I will never muddle through life like I used to again."

Although he hadn't heard a specific answer, seeing his son's calm and mature demeanor, Zheng Shunsheng nodded and didn't press further.

The child had grown up and had his own plans; there was no need for parents to pry into everything or control every detail.

Zheng Shunsheng picked up the beer bottle and filled Zheng Jing's glass.

Zheng Jing was stunned. His old man was pouring him a drink?

This was truly the first time since the dawn of time!

He hurriedly stood up, took the glass with trepidation, clinked it lightly against his father's, and then downed it in one gulp.

"Ah..."

After having a drink with his son, Zheng Shunsheng couldn't help but urge him, "Since you have a plan, then go do it steadily.

Dad will only say this one thing to you: don't look at how flashy others' lives are; we shouldn't try to keep up with the Joneses or be jealous.

You must be honest and upright in how you live and work, and you must not touch anything illegal or illicit."

Zhang Damei also nodded repeatedly, "I'm not educated and can't say nice things, but I mean the same as your dad.

It doesn't matter how poor we are; in this society, there's always a way to make a living. Just make sure you never go down the wrong path."

Zheng Jing agreed with a smile, thinking to himself:

"Don't worry, Mom and Dad. I definitely won't go down the wrong path, and our family is destined to get better and better!"

Seeing that everything that needed to be said had been said, Zheng Shunsheng didn't say anything more.

He focused on enjoying the coolness of the iced beer, "The food today is really good."

Zheng Jing nodded in agreement. He didn't ask his parents how much debt the family still owed.

Because asking at this time would only add to their worries.

It would be better to wait until he earned some money and then help the family pay off the debts one by one; that would be more practical.

The family chatted for a few more minutes, and the lunch concluded in a gentle atmosphere.

With the help of the siblings, Zheng Jing and Zheng Xiaoan, Zhang Damei had the dishes and chopsticks cleaned up in no time.

Zheng Shunsheng sat on the recliner in the courtyard to rest for a moment, then picked up his work tools and hurried out to the construction site.

After tidying up the house, Zhang Damei didn't sit idle either; she put a bamboo basket on her back and went out.

This season was the perfect time for bitter greens on the mountain; they were delicious and fresh, and she thought that by picking some, she could save a little money on vegetables.

"Little sister." Seeing that their parents had left the house, Zheng Jing called out to Zheng Xiaoan.

"Brother, what's up?" Zheng Xiaoan asked, tilting her little face up and opening her round eyes wide.

Zheng Jing lowered his voice, his eyes filled with hidden tenderness and a smile,

"Here, little sister, Big Brother has something for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, a small, neatly stacked wad of cash was gently tucked into her small hand.

"This is pocket money from Brother. Keep it hidden yourself; don't tell Mom and Dad.

Whenever you want to buy some snacks or little items you like, just use this."

The moment her fingertips touched the thick stack of bills, Zheng Xiaoan froze in place.

Her first reaction was to want to refuse.

Because she knew that it wasn't easy for her big brother to earn money outside,

plus he had spent a lot of money dating before, and this morning he had even paid back twenty thousand yuan to their aunt on behalf of the family...

She was still young and couldn't help the family, so how could she have the nerve to take so much money from her big brother?

The words of refusal were already at the tip of her throat, but looking at the tangible cash in her hand,

and thinking of her own little desires, she couldn't bring herself to say, "Brother, I don't want it."

Zheng Xiaoan's small hand gripped the bills tightly, involuntarily. Her palms felt hot and tense,

her heart was pounding, and her eyes were filled with unbelievable surprise.

Zheng Xiaoan swallowed with difficulty; she felt both touched and happy, with a bit of embarrassment.

It wasn't that her parents weren't good to her, but the family was always in debt, and they lived a very frugal life,

so she rarely had even a few yuan for pocket money on a daily basis.

Seeing other classmates buy snacks and pretty little trinkets at will, how could she not be envious?

But she had been sensible since she was young and never asked her family for anything.

Now that her big brother had suddenly given her so much money just for pocket money, this sudden pampering

made her feel sweet inside; she was both guilty and happy, and she couldn't bear to give it back.

Seeing his sister's reserved, happy, and flustered appearance, Zheng Jing couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

The old saying goes that you should raise sons frugally and daughters lavishly, but given the family's conditions, there was no way to raise her lavishly.

Since she was little, his younger sister had always lived frugally with their parents and had never really enjoyed the pleasure of spending money.

Now that he had the ability, he wanted to compensate her quietly; he didn't want his little sister to suffer any more grievances.

After all, Zheng Jing had just passed the age Zheng Xiaoan was at now, so how could he not know that there would be a little bit of comparison among classmates?

Zheng Xiaoan calmed her excited emotions and said thank you to Zheng Jing several times,

then carefully hid the money away, obediently returned to her room, opened her books, and quietly reviewed her lessons.

The courtyard suddenly became quiet, leaving Zheng Jing all alone.

He returned to his room, gently closed the door, and after confirming that his parents wouldn't return suddenly, he took out the old, black velvet pouch from his pocket.