What is the greatest happiness in life?
It's taking a hot bath after a full meal and then sleeping in a warm bed. Of course, if one could shop endlessly, that would be even better.
But in the current situation, forget about shopping spree after spree, there aren't even the tickets needed for essential purchases, and no matter how much money you have, you can't buy them.
The key point is that Gong Ruini learned from her parents that their family, although not destitute, is not far from it.
Both parents' families need care, and their salaries, apart from household expenses, are taken back home.
When something happened to Gong Tao and his wife and they wanted to send the kids to their parents' homes, they found all kinds of excuses from both sides, using various reasons to avoid hurting Gong Tao and Cai Meina.
Gong Ruini, although she hadn't met the relatives of this body, learned from eavesdropping on her parents' chats and from Gong Ruwen's mutterings that many of their relatives were quite extraordinary.
Maybe they weren't that extraordinary; maybe they just loved to take advantage and ran when required to take responsibility.
Gong Ruini wasn't as depressed as Gong Tao and his wife. Since relatives are like this, it's better to see their true colors early rather than having them cling like vampires later.
Gong Ruwen rolled around on the warm heated bed, "So comfortable." Thinking of no longer having to sleep under the seat, he was full of joy.
"And bathing here is more comfortable than the factory baths."
"And this bed is so warm."
"Sister, do you know that in winter here, the snow becomes really thick? We can have snowball fights."
Gong Ruwen kept telling Gong Ruini the news he had just learned from Brother Xu Ran.
Looking at the excited Gong Ruwen, Gong Ruini felt like slapping him. She wasn't even a bit senile; was it necessary to repeat things so many times?
Gong Ruwen bragged for a while and found that his sister didn't echo him as she used to. The young guy was displeased, "Sister, what's wrong with you?"
Could the sister be feeling unwell? Thinking this gave Gong Ruwen a fright. He quit making what Gong Ruini called noise, crawled over cautiously, and touched Gong Ruini's forehead with his warm hands.
"No fever." Gong Ruwen breathed a sigh of relief. No fever was good. "Sister, are you tired?"
Gong Ruini turned over with her back to Gong Ruwen, "Sleep."
After eating and drinking one's fill, isn't entering the land of dreams all there is to it? She couldn't understand how this little brat had so much energy.
Despite his sister's rude behavior, Gong Ruwen did not get angry, quietly tucking himself into the bed, "Sleep, tomorrow Brother Xu Ran will take us out to play."
"He said we could go up the mountain to pick mushrooms, that they were especially delicious."
Though turning the other way, Gong Ruini could swear that the little brat was definitely swallowing his saliva. For those who lack food, anything edible is a huge deal.
Gong Ruini felt extremely grateful for being in the Northeast; otherwise, it would be impossible to stay here.
She wondered if there were any wild chickens to eat. If she could dig up some ginseng, that would be even better. That's money, and Gong Ruini's eyes twinkled with stars.
"Wild chickens don't have much meat; you want wild boar. A wild boar can last a long time." Gong Ruwen remarked that his sister was young with no experience, didn't know they should catch a large animal.
Wild boar? That's quite a wish, Gong Ruini thought her brother might be a reincarnated foodie. He seemed to have eaten a lot of meat today, although she also ate quite a bit, which made her feel a little gloomy.
She insisted on behaving like a lady, couldn't let others see her true nature. Why couldn't she resist? Tomorrow she must hold back, at least to not seem like a starving ghost.
The siblings lay in bed, each lost in their thoughts. Cai Meina was full of frustration, "Why drink so much? Don't you know we have to report to the village tomorrow?"
"No worries, Gangzi said he knows the village head." Gong Tao's speech was slightly slurred, "I'm just in a good mood, haven't seen Gangzi in ages."
The main thing was there was so much good food, he couldn't resist, "By the way, how did the kids eat?"
Seeing that Gong Tao was drunk but still remembered the kids, Cai Meina was at a loss for words. Lately, after all that had happened, her husband hadn't been in good spirits. This drinking session was not just about seeing an old friend, but also a release of his pent-up feelings.
"I'll get some hot water, you sleep." Cai Meina turned at the door, "Don't bother the kids, especially Ni Zi, she hasn't slept well for a long time."
Suddenly moving to a new place, who knew if the children would adapt? If the drunkard Gong Tao startled them, it wouldn't be good.
In such a remote place, if the daughter wasn't well, it would be a big problem.
Seeing the son and daughter already curled up in bed, Gong Tao wanted to rush over and promise them better days ahead, at least enough to eat.
Earlier in the kitchen, as they ate and drank, they discussed many things, such as first making sure the family had enough food, and if they could make money, that would be even better.
This good news hadn't yet been shared with the kids, but now with the wife's anger, Gong Tao could only honestly hide under the blankets.
When Cai Meina brought a basin of hot water into the room, she found Gong Tao already snoring, and the kids in deep sleep.
"Oh, really, not even wiping your face." Despite her annoyance at Gong Tao diving into bed just like that, Cai Meina couldn't bear to wake him, gently wiped his hands and feet.
Although Gong Tao was half-asleep, he could still feel someone wiping his face, "Thank you, my dear wife."
"Wife, I'll work hard in the future, make sure you eat and drink well."
"Wife, let's have another child. Xiao Wen and Ni Zi feel a bit lonely."
Gong Ruini actually hadn't fallen asleep, not because Gong Tao made a lot of noise, but because just as she was about to drift off, Gong Tao came in reeking of alcohol, which she found hard to bear.
Otherwise, Gong Ruini would've missed all this drama. Her dad truly loved the family, even while drunk, he wouldn't forget to talk about taking good care of them.
It also put her at ease since she really worried Gong Tao would go wild when drunk, which is why she tried to stop Gong Ruwen from going on relentlessly.
The wonderful day came to an end this way.
Before falling asleep, Gong Ruini once more wished for good days filled with enough to eat and drink starting tomorrow.
Hmm, may she soon become a wealthy daughter, especially one who is cherished and pampered.