Chapter 435: 435 is Just pretending to be stupid.

Chapter 435

"Zhi Xia, in a couple days, come over to my house for a meal, okay?" An Zhiqing invited. "These past few days, my parents have been busy moving, and the house is a bit messy. In a couple days, when it's tidied up, you all can come over, Wen Qing and Su Ying too. We siblings should get together and have a nice time."

Father's inexplicable suggestion to split up the family also made him realize that in the years he hadn't been home, things at home were likely not as harmonious as he had imagined.

An Zhiqing cared a lot about family bonds, and didn't want them to grow apart over some unnecessary things.

Even the best relationships need maintenance. Just happening to be at home this time, he wanted to take the opportunity to invite everyone over for a meal and strengthen their ties.

He understood Liu Ling's issues to some extent, but since he hadn't been home for years, he didn't have the qualifications to interfere from Liu Ling's perspective. Findd new stories at novelhall.com

Fortunately Liu Ling didn't have an obstinate personality, and could still listen to him a little. He didn't expect her to be extra nice to his family, just hoped she could maintain a surface cordiality. He would get close with his own family.

Zhi Xia thought for a bit without directly refusing, only saying: "Let's not go to your house. Think about it, every time you come back we're the ones going over. You still haven't eaten more than a few meals at my place. Why don't you come to my place instead? Wen Qing loves lamb, and I have a grill. I'll have Sister Zhang prepare in a couple days, and invite you all over to my place for grilled meat."

She had her own concerns saying this. If they all went over, with the whole family it would be a lot of people.

Now that Zhou Nan was living at Su Ying's side, Liu Ling had been ignoring them these days. If she had to cook for so many people herself, she might get even angrier.

Getting together should be for fun. Forcing it would just make everyone unhappy, so they might as well gather at her home.

No matter how Liu Ling thought, not eating from their kitchen, also not having to see her face, this was Zhi Xia's idea.

"That's fine too. I was originally thinking of having you come eat at my place, but this way I'm making you spend money instead." An Zhiqing laughed and said.

"There will be plenty of chances to eat at your place in the future. Just don't find us annoying when the time comes." Zhi Xia joked.

An Zhiqing didn't rush to leave either, instead staying to help with work for a day. Zhi Xia hadn't intended for him to lift a finger, but ended up being lectured by him. He said he still needed her supervision for his own house, so she shouldn't stand on ceremony even more.

In any case, they were letting them try it themselves, purely for fun.

Wen Qing came early with his sister. Taking the lead with the triplets and Little Six, they crowded around the small pig, while Wan Qing handled the seasonings on the side directing their work.

Mrs. Zhou and Sister Zhang also started handling the lamb and other ingredients, all cut into small pieces and skewered, ready to start grilling once everyone arrived in the afternoon.

Today, Zhi Xia had only gone to Hulan Elegant Garden at noon. The electrical wiring and water pipes had just been pulled yesterday, which was no small project for a four-story building. Next was installing the ceiling and cabinets.

It just so happened her father's elder and second elder brothers knew carpentry, and her two older cousins had also followed them in it before. Now working assembly lines at factories was wasting their talents, so Zhi Xia simply had them form their own carpentry team, specifically following the renovation team to do woodwork, which though fairly tiring, earned them a lot more than at the factory.

As real estate developed, demand for renovations would also grow. Once they were skilled at it themselves, they could also strike out on their own, certainly better than unchanging factory work.

She had wanted them to rest for a day and come eat together today, but her father's elder and second elder brothers were too diligent, refusing to come no matter what she said.

They had also boiled old duck soup in the kitchen. Zhi Xia had Wen Qing bring some grilled meat over to deliver to her father's elder brothers.

Just as Wen Qing was pushing a bike with a box tied on the back out the door, they ran into An Zhiqing bringing Liu Ling in from outside.

"They've started grilling in there, right? Where are you going?" Liu Ling had already smelled the rich meat fragrance wafting from inside upon reaching the door.

"Auntie asked me to bring some over for Grandpa and them. Mom and Dad, go on in. I'll be right back." He had been stimulated by the fragrance to the point of salivating, eager to hurry there and back again.

"This child, impatient as always." Liu Ling complained, before heading inside.

Zhi Xia warmly welcomed them. Liu Ling just nodded, heading over to help turn the skewers without a word.

An Zhiqing knew the kids were roasting a suckling pig in the backyard, and with a smile said he would go take a look, though the smile vanished in an instant when he turned his head, replaced by some impatience in his eyes.