The girl saw that he was so on point and wasn't very angry anymore.

Sometimes you have to admit, even though this kid can be quite annoying, he can also be really considerate and likeable, making you love and hate him at the same time.

"Grandma, you finished the last batch of brain platinum, right? I brought you a few boxes. Drink them whenever you have time; they're good for your health!"

Su Zelin said loudly as he walked up.

"Xiaolinzi, why did you buy this again!" The old lady pointed to her head: "Grandma's mind is still sharp, not muddled at all!"

"Yes, yes, Grandma, I know!" Su Zelin replied submissively: "It's not to boost your brain. Just treat it like a supplement and drink a few bottles. I'll leave it in your room."

With that, he dashed into the old hall. This place was as familiar to him as his own home from his childhood, so there was no need to be formal with the Liu family.

"This child!"

The old lady couldn't stop shaking her head, but there was an undeniable hint of a smile on her face.

Like many elderly people, she said one thing but actually appreciated Su Zelin's thoughtfulness a lot.

After chatting for a bit with Qin Shiqing, the old lady noticed something: "Niuniu, what's wrong? Did you have another fight with Xiaolinzi?"

Don't underestimate her; the old lady's mind was actually quite sharp, and her eyes were still discerning.

She had watched these two kids grow up, especially Qin Shiqing, whose little secrets couldn't be hidden from the old lady.

"No, Grandma, it's Niuniu's birthday today. I'm really happy, far from fighting with him!"

Qin Shiqing initially wanted to cover it up, but that last sentence betrayed her.

The old lady could more or less guess why Su Zelin had upset her granddaughter.

As children, they might have bickered over trivial things, but now that they were older, it likely involved emotional issues instead.

"Xiaolinzi, he's both a bad kid and a good kid."

The old lady sighed.

The words were full of deeper meaning.

She understood Su Zelin quite well.

A classic example: as kids, Su Zelin would pick on Qin Shiqing, but if anyone else bullied Qin Shiqing, he would stand up for her, even if it meant fighting.

He was mischievous and playful, but not maliciously spoiled or reckless—sometimes his antics left the adults both angry and amused.

For instance, during one summer break, coincidentally on the old lady's birthday, he made her a Beggar's Chicken as a tribute.

But where did that chicken come from?

He snuck into another villager's chicken coop to steal it.

When the Liu family found out the truth, they didn't know whether to laugh or be angry and had to take Su Zelin to apologize and compensate the villager.

So, in the eyes of the old lady, this boy was both good and bad, with a dual personality—part angel, part devil.

Well, calling him a devil was a bit too much; he was more of a little rascal.

"Grandma, he's just a bad guy!"

Qin Shiqing pouted her cherry-like lips and complained quietly.

The old lady thought to herself, if he were truly a rotten apple, you wouldn't even bother to scold him, because such a person wouldn't be worth it.

Unfortunately, he was just a little rascal—naughty but not outright bad, and that's why you care enough to get mad at him, Niuniu.

The old lady couldn't meddle in the affairs of young people, so with a sigh, she went inside with Qin Shiqing.

Qin Shiqing and Su Zelin's arrival caused quite a stir in the small village.

Largely due to the latter.

The current troublemaker wasn't the same mischievous brat of the past anymore. The village knew he had become an executive at a big company. Even the son of Qin Shiqing's eldest uncle had soared to new heights and been recommended to be a manager at Jianglan's digital store, which was such big news that everyone knew it.

Qin Shiqing's eldest uncle, Liu Guida, slaughtered a big rooster, bought a wild rabbit and two squirrels from who knows which villager, and went up the mountain early to gather some black boletes for the feast, really serving up quite the wild delicacies.

Though it was his niece's birthday, they usually wouldn't put out such a spread, mainly prepared just for Su Zelin.

His son, with such a low level of education, becoming a manager was something Liu Guida never imagined, thinking at most his fate was to be a low-level worker. But out of the blue, a benefactor appeared to give Liu Caizhi a boost, and Liu Guida was naturally very grateful.

"Xiaolinzi, my boy has what he has today all thanks to you!"

On seeing Su Zelin, Liu Guida smiled broadly, offering him a cigarette.

"No, Uncle Gui Da, it's mostly because Caizhi is smart and capable; he can handle the manager position,"

The troublemaker, modestly refusing, even offered a cigarette back to him and passed around to the onlookers from the village.

A bunch of men sat around in the main room, chatting and praising Su Zelin for being capable, loyal, and understanding, while the women busily prepared food in the kitchen.

After a while, lunch was ready.

Chicken soup with boletes, stewed wild rabbit, fried squirrels, pan-fried river fish... all authentic country fare.

Liu Guida, in high spirits, opened the bottle of Maotai brought by Su Zelin, but the troublemaker had to drive and didn't drink, leaving him to drink with Qin Shiqing's second uncle and his other drinking buddies.

After the meal, they stayed at the Liu family home until after three in the afternoon. Before they left, Liu Guida insisted on giving them some dried squirrels, dried mushrooms, and even a few pieces of lingzhi that he hadn't even indulged in, insisting they take them home, which they reluctantly accepted.

They took the old lady back to Jianglan. Liu Sufen was naturally very happy to see her mother and that night, the two families celebrated Qin Shiqing's 20th birthday together. Liu Caizhi came over for the meal after getting off work. Since becoming the manager of the New Century Digital Jianglan store, he had become a frequent visitor to his aunt's home, and Liu Sufen would often invite him over for a meal.