After the family finished breakfast, Mom instructed Li Yan to take Yurong around the town. He hadn't been back for many years and needed to go out and understand the situation.

Li Yan was happy to accept the task. He couldn't stay home all the time, as there wasn't much entertainment at home, and Yurong would likely take out her laptop to work again.

Once they left home, Li Yan didn't know where to go. Everything appeared unfamiliar, so he estimated they'd need to hail a taxi to act as a guide and make it a tour.

Yurong had rested well, and although it still felt very cold outside, seeing the snow on the ground, she felt very cheerful and suggested, "Where's the middle school you used to attend? Is it far from here? Why don't you take me to see it!"

She knew very little about Li Yan's past. The middle school mattered because when recounting Qiao Huanxuan's story before, he talked about their middle school days, and it was mentioned again last night, so it left a deeper impression.

Li Yan hesitated for a moment, "Alright. It's not very far, we can walk there."

Back then, he was "kidnapped" on his way home from evening self-study and was gone for over ten years. Now that he's back, besides the home, he cherished thoughts of the school from those days.

"Alright, let's go!" Zhang Yurong used to drive everywhere, but now that the destination was within walking distance, she felt quite spirited.

Despite many changes, a school can't move just like that. With home as the landmark, he could recall the school route he had walked countless times, so he wasn't worried about getting lost.

As Li Yan led the way, Yurong brought up an issue that was mentioned when they returned yesterday. "After we visit the school, let's find a real estate agency and see if there are any well-furnished houses available."

Li Yan fell silent. Last night he had reservedly explained his situation, and expressed his capability to buy a house, having no issue financially. But what he was thinking about now was not just about houses.

During breakfast earlier, he'd briefly inquired about his parents' current situation, learning they had long lost steady jobs. At this age, it was naturally impossible to find good work. Now, the two of them were surviving by Li Tang working security and Wang Suzhen selling freshly-ground soy milk. With their return, Mom, Wang Suzhen, didn't have to go out to sell, but Li Tang still had to work.

For these years, he'd been sending money home, enough to cover their needs without a doubt. But anyone could predict that his parents wouldn't spend a penny, saving it all for him. Even when aging, they continued to be self-reliant in their labor. Comparing them to Zhang Tianyi's similarly aged couple who relaxed at home with attendants, made Li Yan feel bad.

Seeing his silence, Yurong turned her head and saw his expression, immediately guessing his thoughts. She consoled him, "Are you feeling guilty because your parents still have to work hard?"

Li Yan forced a smile, "They have lived all their lives thrifty, so it's not like they don't have any savings, but they still begrudged spending in old age. It's nothing but concern for me, worrying I won't have money to find a wife or buy a house. If I were in front of them like others, I could run the family myself, and they wouldn't need to toil so much."

"Yes, then let's buy them a house and leave them a sum of money so they don't have to work." Yurong agreed with his idea, but then shifted her tone, "But do you think this is truly good for them?"

Li Yan was shocked, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure if such situations are common here. But I feel, regardless of dad going to work or mom setting up stalls, aside from life's hardships, there's also their share of enjoyment. It's their work, their value expression, their circle, their sense of existence. Simply giving them money and telling them not to work, might it be too arbitrary? Like they are losing their social involvement?"

Yurong's analysis left Li Yan momentarily stunned. Indeed, if they stopped working, what would the elderly couple do every day? Face each other at home? Loiter in the park? From his understanding of his parents, living such days would leave them truly unaccustomed.

Afraid of being misunderstood, Yurong hurriedly continued, "For many people, a job is merely for income. But when you have income without a job, you realize a job is not just an income. Like my dad; when it comes to money, he earned enough long ago. As for career, he could let me take over or appoint someone to manage it, comfortably retiring to the sidelines. But before his health fails, he's still personally managing, enjoying the process of working too. Of course, I'm not implying we shouldn't help, but we should alleviate their worries, leave them the choice, and not force them."

"How's that?"

"Hehe, didn't you just say? They're worried for you, anxious that you won't find a wife or afford a house, so they save the money you send. Now you..." Yurong suddenly paused.

But Li Yan had understood, smiling, "Now I have a wife and a house, which should relieve them of worries. However, my wife is too beautiful and excellent, and they fear I'll be dumped someday; plus the house is bought by the wife's family, splitting up means I can't stay in it. Hence, there's pressure still. So, we have to show them we are loving so they don't worry about divorce; then we should buy a house under their name or mine, that way, their greatest concern is eliminated."

Though involving her part wasn't pleasant to hear, that's the reasoning, and Yurong nodded. "That way, no matter what work they do in the future, their stress will lessen. Having an income is good, losing the job won't make them worry."

"Yes, buying a house becomes imperative. Even if they are unwilling to leave a place they've lived for years, they can have mental assurance."

Yurong laughed lightly again, "But, there's another issue."

"What?"

"Do you feel embarrassed?"

Li Yan frowned, "What do you mean?"

Yurong seriously asked, "Besides your intention to show filial piety, do any other thoughts play a role in keeping them from working? You can earn money and live well, but if your parents continue to work hard, what will relatives and neighbors think of you? If there is this concern, then pride might be rearing its head!"

Li Yan was a bit surprised. He hadn't considered this aspect. But thinking seriously, it might hold water. Owning tens of billions and yet parents need to work: that implies unfilial, poor treatment. Thus conversely, if parents keep working, that equates to losing face.

"I'm unsure, perhaps. But after you said this, I've come to understand. In today's social environment, buying a house resolves this view."

"I'm glad you understand. I was worried you'd force them to quit work for face, fearing gossipers' judgment. Even if their material conditions improve, they might not be happy. We should do our part, but leave them the choice."

Li Yan paused his steps, attentively staring at Yurong.

"What is it?" Yurong wrapped her face with a scarf, looking at him puzzledly with just her eyes.

"I'm slightly puzzled, how you, the young lady Zhang, seem to understand the common folks better than me?" Li Yan jested.

Yurong rolled her eyes, "I'm not a common folk? It's all about understanding."

"You're only focused on work, have interest in analyzing reason?"

"Alright, I'll admit, noticing it wasn't due to being particularly observant or knowledgeable. It came from watching a popular movie, where a son went south to work, later starting a business. He bought a house there and wanted his mom to come to help with childcare, but she wasn't used to it didn't. So he tried buying a new house for her in the old hometown, but she insisted staying in the early assigned small, old home. Amid emotional turmoil, he blurted about 'I'm well-off but letting you live in an old house, what will neighbors think of me?' The mother simply felt the old house was pleasant, with years of habit and familiar neighbors, so changing to a new house for her alone was ill-suited. Ultimately, the son did not force a new house or move.

"..." Li Yan was a bit touched: "Perhaps many of us, under filial guise, are binding our parents' working pleasures simply for pride."

Yurong further suggested, "Should we buy a store or supermarket for them? Let them manage it as a simple task."

Li Yan chuckled wryly, "No way, that would lead to more worrying and labor."

Talking along the way, they reached Li Yan's former middle school.

"Is this your school? Where did you get targeted?" Yurong asked curiously.

Li Yan pointed around, "Everything's changed a lot, the school only hasn't moved, but even the gate has been expanded. I can't even tell where anymore."

As they led Yurong inside, it was already winter break, generally quiet, yet some graduating students were in sessions. Looking at the campus filled with more unfamiliarity, Li Yan felt a sense of time travel, the changes of both things and people. Memories of those days, when the spirited youth dreamt of countless future forms, yet never expecting the path taken would be so irreversible.

Arrived at such a place, thoughts assumed long forgotten were vividly present. Nurturing neglect then, now watching the past slip by in over a decade, that vibrant youth forever became history. The school could be revisited, but not the fleeting years… (To be continued, to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters and support the author, support official reading!)