092 I am capable of kindness, and I can also show mercy.

“When are you coming back for the New Year?”
“What’s the rush? It’s still fine to come back on New Year’s Eve.”

After all, this was the first time Li Jie wasn’t at “Little Red Star” at the end of the lunar year. So Shu’s mother made a call. Though she didn’t press him outright, she subtly urged Li Jie to return sooner.

When Shu Xiuqin made the call, several elderly ladies nearby were all ears.

“The rooms have all been cleaned; you can move right in when you get back.”
“This year, I’m staying in the old town, not at home.”
“Huh? Why?”

The old town was full of aged houses that were very uncomfortable to live in. Their white walls and black tiles looked beautiful and artistic, but that was about it.

Even if you wanted to build a new building, it was futile unless it was a garden-style loft approved by the Architectural Art Association and ultimately passed by the city council’s annual resolution. Only then could the government carry out large-scale renovations in those old neighborhoods.

But for ordinary families, that was a tough challenge. For a “child star,” however, it wasn’t much of a problem.

By sixteen, Li Jie was financially independent, having purchased two adjacent old houses, each accommodating six families. For those families, it was a torment; for Li Jie, it was a dream come true.

Living alone—how delightful.

Generally speaking, very few people bought those dilapidated houses in the area—they were expensive and without appreciation potential. Most families had no hope of relocation due to policy restrictions.

There were hardly any “relocation millionaires.”

Only some well-off artistic youths set up studios there. If impoverished artists tried to settle, even going to the bathroom would be a hassle.

Two years ago, Li Jie renovated those two houses. The key upgrade was an independent septic tank; everything else was minor details. No matter how ornate the interior, from outside they still looked like black tiles, gray bricks, and white walls.

Inside, it was all about money.

Upon turning eighteen, his household registration was no longer in “Little Red Star.” He could be registered at school or in a hidden den in the old town.

This forsaken place was still a collective household, and to check the address outside required some skill.

Because he wasn’t a local, all one could see upon entering were winding alleys.

House numbers were nailed to walls—good luck figuring out which was which.

Only veteran couriers with over three years on the job could reliably distinguish the households.

On Li Jie’s street, only one old postman had memorized all six thousand plus households—truly remarkable.

The houses had been vacant for over a year, just to air them out; normally, Shu’s mother handled the cleaning.

Now that they were to be used again, twelve old mothers felt their hearts skip a beat—they all knew how important Li Jie was in “Little Red Star.” Clearly, he was about to start a family.

Shu’s mother burst into tears over the phone: “Baby, you must come home often to visit.”

Li Jie was speechless, thinking, I’m just moving out, not dying—why the tears?

But he had a way to soothe them, chuckling, “I found you two new daughters-in-law—one paints, the other plays chess. Isn’t that great?”

“Baby, that Yao Yao seems a bit strange. I’m a little scared of her…”

Shu’s mother hadn’t had much contact with Su Mengyao, but at a glance, she could tell Yao Yao wasn’t normal!

“Don’t worry, Shu’s mother. Yao Yao just has a psychological disorder, not a psychiatric illness. If she ever tries to stab someone, it’ll be me first. Worst case, I get seriously hurt—dying won’t be that easy.”

“Then just stab me instead—I’m old…”

Shu Xiuqin couldn’t stand Shu Qingchun’s logic and snatched the phone away. She said, “Come back on New Year’s Eve. Abao and the others miss you so much—they ask every day after work when you’ll return.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha…”

Li Jie laughed heartily. “Did Abao like the gift I gave him?”

“Oh, he loves it so much! When he came back from the pickle factory, he even brought you some pickled cucumbers.”

Shu Qingchun grabbed the phone again and babbled nonstop. The surrounding old mothers tried to pull her away, but she held the receiver tightly, stretching her neck and saying, “Baby, when you come back I’ll make you scallion pancakes! Oh, Wenjing, don’t pull me away—I’ll say a few more words… Oh, Xiuqin, you’re so stingy…”

Shu Xiuqin sighed helplessly, took the phone back, and said, “Your mother can’t stop talking—such a grumbling old lady, so annoying.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha…”

Li Jie’s laughter deepened as he understood Shu’s mother’s exasperation. Then he said, “Tell Abao and the others I’ve married two wives. They get to be the two big red flowers.”

“All right, all right, you go about your business. This year is finally calm. Yesterday, a city councilor came by—miracles do happen—and actually visited the welfare home. I guess that ‘Pingjiang City Welfare Home Streamline and Optimize Project’ is going to be shelved. In this world, it’s all about who you have backing. Now you’re the backbone of ‘Little Red Star.’ Be careful. The news says some people are imitating that animation you made. Many plan to protest.”

“If the city council is willing to legislate and allocate five percent of revenues for welfare home operations, then whether they demolish it or not doesn’t matter. The other five welfare homes won’t have to worry about meals either.”

“We know the score, don’t worry. We old ladies here are just about to retire, but not quite yet.”

“Ha ha, Shu’s mother is reliable.”
“Of course! If you mess with me, I’ll go drink pesticide in front of the city hall. Who’s afraid of whom?”

“Ha ha ha ha ha…”

During the New Year, everyone loves to hear such auspicious words.

After hanging up, the old mothers scattered like birds and beasts. Shu Xiuqin’s office instantly lost its bustle, leaving her quite speechless.

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