The only consolation was that with the Lunar New Year approaching, they had managed to rent out more than forty units, including large apartments of over 250 square meters with six bedrooms and three living rooms, or five bedrooms and two living rooms.
Moreover, the stock price of the national liquor company had risen to 29 yuan per share. The total funds in the account had surpassed 95 million yuan, with a total floating profit of over 26.5 million yuan.
I should sell half my holdings, Yi Anguo thought. The price is likely to fluctuate, and there are still over two months for it to potentially rise to 40 yuan. If it drops below 28 yuan, I can buy back in and still profit from the price difference! Besides, the New Year is almost here, and the market will be closed for the holiday. If I sell now and keep the cash in my account, I'll at least earn some interest.
Yi Anguo didn't want to return to his hometown for the New Year. It would be bleak and desolate with just him and his daughter.
And people would definitely ask why Xin Yi's mother hadn't come back. What would I say then? That Xin Yi's mom ran off with another man?
However, his third sister and her husband would definitely be returning home for the holiday. They also planned to bring their son to live with them in Shenzhen.
Fu Huanhuan would be going back, of course, and so would Li Sisi. That meant this Spring Festival, it would just be Yi Anguo and his daughter.
「On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.」
Yi Anguo received a call from Hu Jing in Beihu. As soon as he answered, she started crying.
"Brother Yi! My grandparents are gone…"
Yi Anguo was stunned. He took a moment to process before replying, "Wasn't your grandpa supposed to have surgery? How is your grandma gone too?"
"My grandpa's surgery was unsuccessful. My grandma fell ill right after and passed away not long after," Hu Jing wept.
"When did this happen? Have the funerals been taken care of?" Yi Anguo asked quickly.
"They passed away before the New Year. The funerals are all done, but now my sister and I have no home left," Hu Jing said, her voice thick with sorrow.
"Don't be too sad. Your grandparents lived to a ripe old age, and their passing was inevitable. You and your sister would have had to face this day sooner or later; it has just come a bit earlier than expected," Yi Anguo consoled her.
"Brother Yi, are you still in Shenzhen? Can my sister and I come to stay with you?" Hu Jing asked pitifully.
"Of course, you can. Do you have enough money? If not, I'll transfer some to you. Just take a plane over with your sister!" Yi Anguo readily agreed.
After all, Hu Jing is my woman. How could I possibly ignore her?
"I still have money. I'll bring my sister to Shenzhen to find you tomorrow, then."
「On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.」
When Hu Jing appeared before Yi Anguo with her sister, he was momentarily speechless.
Both sisters looked terribly haggard, but it wasn't Hu Jing's appearance that stunned him; it was that the two of them looked almost identical. He couldn't tell which one was Hu Jing.
Hu Jing and her sister were also somewhat taken aback, as Yi Anguo wasn't alone. He had Yi Xinyi with him.
With no one else to look after Yi Xinyi, he had to bring his daughter everywhere he went.
Hu Jing had assumed Yi Anguo was by himself and had never considered he might have a daughter.
He has a daughter, so he must be married, with a wife. Is it really appropriate for my sister and I to come seeking his help?
"Brother Yi! You're already married? With a wife and a daughter?" Hu Jing asked tentatively.
"I had a woman, Xin Yi's mother, but she ran off with another man," Yi Anguo explained. "Does it bother you that I have a daughter?"
"No, I was just worried about intruding on your family and causing trouble," she replied.
"So you're the man my sister likes? How come you never told her you had a wife and a daughter?" the younger sister interjected.
"Sister, don't talk nonsense! Brother Yi didn't lie to me. If he hadn't saved me and helped me, I don't know what I would have done with Grandpa so ill and Grandma collapsing," Hu Jing said quickly. "Brother Yi! This is my younger sister, Hu Qian. She doesn't know the situation and is speaking out of turn. Please don't take it to heart."
"Of course. It's just that you two look so identical, I can't even tell who is the older sister and who is the younger one," Yi Anguo said with a wry smile.
"We're twins. My younger sister is a bit more mischievous. She often likes to pretend to be me, and sometimes when she makes a mistake, she'll claim I did it," Hu Jing said, a rare smile touching her lips.
"I do not! Don't you make things up!" Hu Qian immediately protested.
After some thought, Yi Anguo arranged for the two sisters to stay in an apartment in Blue Coast Phase Three.
The apartment was 158 square meters with four bedrooms and two living rooms. The sisters loved it the moment they saw it, and the beautiful space seemed to alleviate much of their recent grief.
"Brother-in-law! This house is so big and beautiful! Is it just for my sister and me? You're not living here?" Hu Qian asked, noticing the apartment looked brand new and uninhabited.
"I live not too far from here with my daughter. I also have a niece who helps take care of her, but they've gone back to their hometown for the New Year," Yi Anguo explained.
"Aren't you and my sister already together? Why are you living separately?" Hu Qian pressed.
Yi Anguo smiled. "My place is smaller, with only three rooms. How could it possibly fit you two?"
"Sister, stop asking so many questions. Just listen to Brother Yi's arrangements," Hu Jing said hurriedly.
"Was Hu Qian always at home taking care of your grandparents?" Yi Anguo asked curiously.
"Brother-in-law, I'm a sophomore at Wuhan University's Medical School!" Hu Qian jumped in to explain. "My sister was originally accepted to university too, but our grandparents couldn't afford to support two college students. So, my sister gave up her spot for me and went to work to pay for my education."
"Brother-in-law, since you like my sister so much, why don't you let her start studying again after the New Year and retake the university entrance exam? Let her go to university, please?"
"Just focus on finishing your degree, don't bother Brother Yi," Hu Jing said quickly to her sister. "I don't want to go back and study for the exam again."
"Your younger sister is right," Yi Anguo nodded, looking at Hu Jing. "Since you have the aptitude for studying and the ability to get into a good university, why not go?"
"Forget it. I don't want to go to university anymore," Hu Jing said, shaking her head. "A higher education doesn't guarantee you'll find a good job or earn a lot of money."
Yi Anguo deeply agreed. Education was certainly important, but making money was often a different matter entirely. Of course, a higher level of education was definitely a good thing.
Yi Anguo took the sisters to familiarize themselves with the neighborhood. Although the apartment was "ready to move in," there were still many things to buy. Items like bowls, chopsticks, pots, and spatulas for cooking, as well as various seasonings, rice, flour, oil, fresh produce, meat, fruit, drinks, and purified water all needed to be purchased. Mops and other cleaning supplies were also on the list. Additionally, they needed to buy their own daily necessities and bedding.
Yi Anguo offered to give Hu Jing more money for living expenses, but she insisted she still had some. She said if she later decided on a business to open and needed money, she would ask him then.
The two sisters got along quite well with Yi Xinyi. It was clear they both liked children, and Yi Xinyi would call them "Sister Hu Jing" and "Sister Hu Qian." However, she couldn't actually tell which one was which, so she just called out the names randomly.
Spending the entire New Year holiday with just her dad had been quite boring. Now, with two pretty older sisters to play with, Yi Xinyi was overjoyed.
After they had dinner together that evening, Hu Qian said to Yi Xinyi, "Xinyi, would you like to sleep with me tonight?"