"Brother Liunian, you're finally back. Quickly, quickly, there are so many ledgers here that need your verification, and the upcoming salary disbursement also needs your review. Take a look. If you didn't return, I would have had to take these to the provincial capital to get them processed by you."
Du Ziteng, who was swamped at the department store, was instantly delighted upon seeing Zhang Liunian appear. He put down his pen and invited him to his seat, handing over the reins.
"..."
Zhang Liunian looked speechlessly at the pile of documents that had formed a small mountain on the desk. He raised his head to look at Du Ziteng, "I've only just arrived. Can't I catch my breath for a moment?"
"The Lunar New Year is in one day, time waits for no one!" Du Ziteng had been incredibly busy lately, with so many accounts and matters to handle that he wished he could be in two places at once. Now that Zhang Liunian was back, he was naturally happy to offload the work and take it easy.
"We'll handle it together. Find a stool." Zhang Liunian also knew that Nancheng had a lot of work. After all, there were quite a few businesses here. It was indeed difficult for Du Ziteng to manage everything by himself.
"Okay, together." Zhang Liunian looked at the items on the desk, turned around, found a stool, and started working alongside Du Ziteng.
They worked through the entire afternoon. By the time Zhang Liunian had finished processing the accounts, contracts, and a series of other matters, the department store had long since closed for the day.
Zhang Liunian stood up and stretched his body. He said to Du Ziteng, "Everyone gets a day off tomorrow. As for whether the department store opens its doors, that's up to them. All our management staff will be on holiday. We'll officially resume work after the Lantern Festival."
Nancheng Department Store operated on a rental basis. Zhang Liunian saw no need for his office staff to work during the New Year. As for the tenants who chose to open or not, it had nothing to do with Zhang Liunian.
"Got it." He could finally take a break. He also needed to arrange the wedding banquet. It would be good to marry Liu Sanniu sooner rather than later. Du Ziteng thought of Liu Sanniu and couldn't help but feel delighted.
"We'll disburse salaries tomorrow. Give everyone a 10 yuan New Year's red packet. I hope they continue to work hard for us in the coming year," Zhang Liunian continued to instruct.
"Okay."
"You, Xiao Qian, and Ziping each have a television. This is my gift, don't refuse it. Only supervisors and store managers like you receive them. Others only get ten yuan."
"Okay." Du Ziteng was pleased and would never refuse such a gift. He had always been unapologetic about accepting favors.
"Let's go, come back with me for dinner." Zhang Liunian saw that it was getting late outside and started packing up, intending to treat Du Ziteng to a meal.
To his surprise, Du Ziteng refused, "No, I have a movie date with Sanniu. We've been discussing when to hold the wedding banquet. Once it's confirmed, Brother Liunian, you must come to the feast."
Zhang Liunian was stunned. Was his cousin marrying so soon? And marrying Du Ziteng? After a moment of surprise, he chuckled and scolded, "My cousin is getting married, how could I not go? Then you go ahead and be busy! I'll be going to the countryside tomorrow. Call me if anything comes up."
The Lunar New Year was in one day, wouldn't he need to prepare some things?
"Got it, hehe..." Du Ziteng grinned sheepishly and scratched his head.
When he returned home, his wife, daughter, Uncle Zhao, and aunt were all waiting for him to have dinner together.
Zhang Liunian quickly washed his hands and sat down. While eating, he mentioned his plan to go to the countryside the next day.
"Uncle Zhao, you must accompany us this time. We've reserved a room for you in the countryside, and you haven't stayed there yet. You should go and stay for a few days this time." Zhang Liunian specifically brought this up because he was afraid Uncle Zhao wouldn't go with him to the countryside.
Uncle Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "Okay, I'll go and stay then."
After all, it was almost the holiday tomorrow, and the salary disbursement could be handled by the finance department. Moreover, Zhang Liunian was his only relative in this world, so he naturally had to spend the New Year with him.
Zhang Liunian's smile widened when he heard Uncle Zhao agree, "We'll depart tomorrow afternoon. We still need to buy a lot of things in the morning. The new house hasn't been lived in yet, and it's missing quite a few items."
"I'll go shopping with Xiao Hua then," Jiang Qingqing voluntarily offered to go buy things.
Zhang Liunian wouldn't object, "Alright, leave it to you both."
After saying this, he looked at his aunt, Zhang Guihua, "Aunt, you're also going home for the New Year tomorrow. Qingqing will prepare some New Year goods for you, and you can take them back directly to celebrate the New Year. It'll save you the trouble of buying them in town."
"No need, Aunt has money, Aunt will buy her own." Zhang Guihua was also very happy to be going home for the holiday, but she declined the offer of goods.
"Aunt, you've worked hard during this time. These things are what you deserve. Tomorrow, I'll have Qingqing settle your wages. If Aunt is still available next year, you can come back to help me look after my son, and the wages will remain the same."
After speaking, Zhang Liunian suddenly remembered something. Before Zhang Guihua could respond, he added, "I heard from Ziteng that my cousin is getting married?"
Zhang Guihua knew which cousin he was referring to. She had several daughters, and the eldest was Sanniu, who was also dating Du Ziteng.
"Yes, the Du family, father and son, personally visited us last time and also spoke to me. Our family has agreed." The main reason she felt reassured about handing her daughter over to him was that Du Ziteng was working under Zhang Liunian, her nephew.
In the future, if Du Ziteng wronged her daughter, she believed her nephew, out of kinship, would not let Du Ziteng off easily.
And Du Ziteng, respecting Zhang Liunian, would treat her Sanniu well in the future.
"This is a joyous occasion. I will definitely go personally to have a drink then." Zhang Liunian saw that his aunt was not resistant and could only smile and express his support.
"Okay, once the date is confirmed, we'll definitely invite you to liven things up. Who doesn't know I have a good nephew now? If you go, our family will be extremely lively." By then, wouldn't the other relatives try to keep her good nephew from leaving? Just thinking about it made Zhang Guihua incredibly happy.
Zhang Liunian didn't know why his aunt was laughing. He turned to his wife and exchanged a look. She nodded, indicating that she understood.
If it weren't for his aunt during this period, Jiang Qingqing would have been much more exhausted. Helping her aunt buy New Year goods was a small matter.
That night, Zhang Liunian lay on the bed holding his wife. His hands and feet started to get restless again, scaring Jiang Qingqing, who kept moving towards the edge of the bed, almost falling off.
"I'm not some fierce beast. Why are you scaring yourself so much that you almost fell off the bed?"
Zhang Liunian pulled his wife into his embrace, complaining.
Jiang Qingqing leaned into her husband's arms, afraid to move, "I'm a bit tired today. Can we not do that?"
Yesterday had truly exhausted her. Not only did she have to pose in all sorts of embarrassing positions, but she also had to dance. Her small body couldn't quite handle it.
Zhang Liunian heard her and chuckled. He leaned over and kissed her small face, feigning ignorance, "Do what that?"
"You're still pretending. You know what I'm talking about. We're going to the countryside tomorrow, and there will be a lot to do. Let's get some good rest." Jiang Qingqing playfully glared at her husband and pinched the soft flesh on his waist with her small hand.
Zhang Liunian immediately cried out in pain, "It hurts! You'll bruise me. You need to kiss it better."
As he said this, he reached out and stripped off his clothes completely.