Tsk... After buying the Audi car outright, he still had hundreds of thousands in savings.
This time, Song Ma was truly surprised. One must know that Chen Pingsheng was barely under thirty.
Since the marriage began, his family hadn't contributed a single bit.
At that time, he used his own money to build a big house for the family. Later, getting married and having children, which expense wasn't a large one?
To be honest, if someone like him had a Beijing household registration, it would truly be perfect.
He's not old, very family-oriented, and his income is stable.
With his wife and child following him, even if life isn't too good, they won't suffer any major grievances.
Unfortunately, there are no 'ifs'.
Among the Beijing old sisters she knew, none of their children at his age were as steady and capable of earning money as he was.
But so what?
With a Beijing household registration, those girls from out of town still rush to cling onto them.
Song Ma Liu Fen put down her chopsticks and said seriously:
"Why are you crying during the New Year? Isn't Mom just concerned about you? The housing prices in Beijing are getting higher and higher now. If you don't buy early, who knows how much they'll rise in the future? By then, even if you want to buy, you won't be able to."
Chen Pingsheng was silent. He held a small cup of wine and said:
"Before july next year, I will definitely buy a house within the Third Ring Road."
"Anyone can talk. You need to show real capability."
What Liu Fen didn't believe the most were these verbal promises. How excellent Song Pa was back then, with a state-owned enterprise position, yet later he was laid off just like that.
After all the struggles, his salary is only a little over ten thousand now.
Compared to those first-generation beneficiaries of urban redevelopment in Beijing, he is simply worlds apart.
"Alright, both of you say less."
Song Pa was also very helpless. Why bring up these irrelevant things during the New Year?
Which time did his son-in-law visit without bringing gifts worth a few thousand?
After Song Pa and Chen Pingsheng clinked glasses, the meal wasn't enjoyable and felt particularly bland.
After eating a few simple bites, he didn't even need to pull her away; Song Yanxi herself wanted to leave with Xiao Anan.
Song Pa even spoke up to try and make them stay, but it was useless. After they left, he sighed:
"It was a perfectly good New Year, why did you keep saying such unpleasant things?"
"He thinks it's unpleasant? I think it's unpleasant too."
Liu Fen raised an eyebrow and said unhappily, "My daughter is so beautiful. If she follows him and can't even live in a house in Beijing, it's better to break up early."
"Exactly, I don't want a Sister's husband who has no education and no proper job, just a street vendor. It's embarrassing to talk about."
Song Wu also pouted and replied.
Song Pa sighed helplessly. He couldn't change anything about this mother and daughter pair, so he could only proactively go and wash the dishes.
...
Underground garage.
After getting into his own car, Chen Pingsheng took out his phone and looked.
Inside were all the New Year messages sent by his family.
Mom: "Son, Happy New Year! Be well out there."
Ding ding ding.
Mom sent another 888 red envelope, with 'Happy New Year' still written on it.
Mom: "Everything is good at home. This morning we also went to your Grandpa's house for a reunion dinner. They are all in good health, don't worry. Beijing must still be very cold, remember to wear more clothes."
"Be good to yourself. You can't earn all the money in the world."
Xiao Mei: "Brother, why aren't you coming back this year? Did you buy a new car? Grandpa and Grandma are very happy to know you bought an Audi car and asked when you can come back to visit."
Dad: "Be well out there."
When a child travels far, the mother worries. If there's anyone who can accompany you throughout your life as you grow up, it's your own mother.
Home is still the warmest place. As long as you're doing okay, they will never complain about this or that.
I really want to go back now, for a true family reunion.
It's about forty kilometers from the Third Ring Road to Beixinan. During the New Year, there were fewer cars as many people had returned to their hometowns for the holiday.
The city wasn't as congested either, and Song Yanxi drove home smoothly all the way.
In their courtyard, quite a few people also didn't go home.
For example, his next-door neighbor Zhao Liying. This girl is truly hardworking. Even with a script for a small role with only a few lines, she does her best.
And then there was Shaoshuai Zhang Tao, who hadn't found a girlfriend.
He actually still had some savings. Without saying too much, he could easily take out one or two hundred thousand.
With these conditions, going back to the countryside for a blind date wouldn't be too difficult at all.
Unfortunately, he had gone on several blind dates before, spent quite a bit of money, but none worked out.
The first one disliked him for being too honest and not knowing how to talk, the second one felt he wasn't decent enough.
His job wasn't stable either.
Now, Zhang Tao doesn't want to go back to the countryside for blind dates at all. According to him, those women on blind dates are almost all 'riding a donkey while reading a songbook'.
They meet you in the morning, and meet several other people in the afternoon.
It's similar when dating. They can date you today, and date someone else tomorrow.
Anyway, they just keep dragging it on until they finally get married.
As for spending other people's money, they spend every single cent they should.
"Lao Chen, why are you back so early?"
"My mother-in-law's house, don't you know?"
"Haha!" Zhang Tao laughed loudly, then patted his shoulder and grumbled, "That's also an old hag who looks down on us outsiders. What right does she have to look down on us? Isn't it just because she was born in a good place?"
"Don't mention her. Let's set up a table at home ourselves and happily celebrate the New Year."
Chen Pingsheng called him to his house. He wanted to set up a table at home and also bring over his next-door neighbor Zhao Liying.
Just the few of them would celebrate.
The family all got busy, and Zhao Liying also put down her script to help. A big table of dishes was ready quickly.
Four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, plus two large bottles of Sprite.
Not many people, but it was harmonious.
Chen Pingsheng held his drink cup and was the first to stand up and say:
"2012 is coming to an end, and 2013 is almost here. I wish Comrade Liying from our courtyard could become the main lead as she wishes next year, and from then on, be prosperous and popular."
Zhao Liying almost cried from laughter. She also stood up and drank it all in one gulp, even letting out a small burp without caring about her image.
"And I wish Comrade Zhang Tao a smooth year ahead, find a wife soon, and have a happy and fulfilling life."
"Tsk... Why bring up the one thing that's not going well?"
Zhang Tao got up and pulled him, "Brother, I also wish you great financial luck next year and buy a big house soon."
"Yes, I also wish Chen Ge abundant financial resources in 2013 and buy a big villa."
Zhao Liying drank another large glass. Chen Pingsheng, however, said with a smile, "That's too exaggerated. We wouldn't dare to dream of a big villa in Beijing. If we can buy a two-hundred-square-meter place, then it's a life well-lived."
Zhang Tao: "Lao Chen, that's no fun. Teacher Ma was right, people still need to have dreams, otherwise, what's the difference between them and a salted fish?"
In 2012, Teacher Ma's quotes were flying all over the internet.
Don't look down on these street vendors; they also regard Teacher Ma as an entrepreneurial idol.
Chen Pingsheng had watched almost all of his video speeches several times.
"Yes, we must buy a big villa."
These words were said with a bit of stubbornness, as if she was talking to him, but Chen Pingsheng knew that Zhao Liying was talking to herself.
She just wants to be the main lead.
Ah, life. The days are passing by slowly.
No one knows what tomorrow will bring, but at least today everyone happily celebrated a good New Year.
In the afternoon, Song Yanxi also drove everyone to go shopping in Sanlitun. Many places were closed, but the shopping malls weren't.
On the last day of 2012, he still had to buy some New Year gifts for his wife and daughter.
Song Yanxi's wrist was bare. Chen Pingsheng bought her a Longines Elegant quartz watch with a white strap and blue dial.
The price was twelve thousand eight hundred.
Song Yanxi also bought him a Longines Sport watch with a white steel strap.
The price was seventeen thousand.
This time, neither of them mentioned saving money. This kind of watch can be worn for a lifetime.
It was also a shared witness to their companionship.
Zhao Liying watched for a while, wanting to buy but reluctant to spend the money. No one would have thought at the time.
That girl, who was still a bit rustic and played small roles back then, would eventually become its global elegant image ambassador.
One can only say that life is full of incredible things.
Later, Chen Pingsheng also bought Xiao Anan the small iPad she had been longing for.
He bought himself a laptop computer for over four thousand.
He wanted to use this to look up information at home.
As for clothes and such, Song Yanxi insisted on not buying expensive ones.
After this trip, they spent over forty thousand in total.
Working hard all year isn't just so you can spend freely during those few days of the New Year.