With global currency devaluation, I'll wear these back and take my whole family flying!

"Not settled."

Shen Jingjing emphasized it again.

He Meifeng, lacking Hu Xiaoyan's empathy, exclaimed in surprise, "So you're 'leaving the father and keeping the son'? Quite fashionable, truly befitting a big city."

Hu Xiaoyan secretly rolled her eyes; she knew He Meifeng wouldn't say anything nice.

Although these words are not offensive, they can still make you feel uncomfortable.

“There are so many independent single women now, what’s the big deal?” Hu Xiaoyan couldn’t help but say, “Sometimes my husband makes me angry, and I want to kick him out.”

Before He Meifeng could reply, Hu Xiaoyan changed the subject and asked Shen Jingjing, "Jingjing, how long are you staying this time?"

"After visiting my dad's grave, that should be enough. I still have a lot of things to do in Longcheng, so I can't be gone for too long."

"I heard from your older brother that you're in Longcheng now," He Meifeng continued, her tone earnest. "Big cities are nice, but nothing compares to home. Jingjing, do you have any plans to come back?"

"You can come back anytime you want. I can help you with anything you want to do. Our hometown is pretty good. Many people are making money by trading fruit."

Shen Jingjing smiled slightly and said calmly, "I haven't considered coming back. I've already bought a property in Longcheng, and I'll probably settle down there in the future."

He Meifeng was taken aback when she heard the word "property purchase" and blurted out, "You bought a house in Longcheng?"

"Ah."

"Wow, houses in Longcheng are so expensive! Yours must have been expensive too, right?"

"Not cheap."

Shen Jingjing's direct answer silenced He Meifeng.

He Meifeng did some mental calculations. Even if a house in Longcheng is in a slightly out-of-the-way area, it would still cost over a hundred, right?

It seems Shen Jingjing is doing quite well in Longcheng.

Indeed, judging from her current clothes and demeanor, she doesn't seem like a poor person. Although she hasn't married over the years, she's probably had her share of men. With her looks and personality, it wouldn't be difficult for her to make some money off men.

I came here hoping to see what Shen Jingjing looked like now, but it turned out to be completely different from what I had expected.

She had assumed that Shen Jingjing, who had left home at a young age to work hard, would be worn down by society and time after decades.

As it turned out, not only did she not look older, but her appearance also showed a noticeable age difference compared to her classmates of the same age. Shen Jingjing couldn't tell at all that she was over forty.

Just then, Shen Mingming returned home from get off work and saw He Meifeng at home. Shen Mingming greeted her warmly, "Meifeng is here!"

"Big brother is back from get off work?" He Meifeng stood up and was about to say goodbye: "I came to see Jingjing and was just about to leave."

"Why are you leaving? Stay and have dinner," Shen Mingming said, trying to persuade them to stay.

He Meifeng's older brother is the deputy director of the tax bureau, Shen Mingming's superior, so he has to be very polite to him.

But He Meifeng had no intention of staying for dinner: "No, I've already told my family I'm going home tonight."

"Jingjing, remember to come to the wedding, or I'll be angry."

Shen Jingjing nodded gently with a polite smile: "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there."

Hu Xiaoyan followed behind and gave Shen Jingjing a look to indicate that she wouldn't stay either. Shen Jingjing nodded slightly and escorted the two of them to the courtyard, watching them leave.

"Jingjing, is it really necessary for you to go?"

Shen Mingming stood aside and whispered, "Going is fine. When you hold your wedding in Longyang, I can invite their family over."

Shen Mingming's plan was to use this opportunity to build relationships.

Shen Jingjing didn't care much. Things had come to this point, so she might as well go. It wasn't a big deal.

"Xiaoyan, where do you think the houses in Jingjing Longcheng came from?"

Once outside the gate, He Meifeng couldn't help but pull Hu Xiaoyan aside and start whispering to her.

Hu Xiaoyan frowned slightly and said, "She bought it herself."

"You believe that? Houses in Longcheng are so expensive!" He Meifeng sneered. "Anyway, I don't believe it. She says she's not married, but I bet she has a lover in Longcheng."

"How could you think like that?" Hu Xiaoyan retorted angrily, "So, does that mean only men can buy houses in Longcheng? Is it illegal for women to buy them?"

“That’s not what I meant. I was just guessing based on the actual situation,” He Meifeng said. “How could a single, middle-aged mother like her possibly earn enough to buy a house in Longcheng? Unless she wins the lottery!”

Hu Xiaoyan was speechless. He Meifeng really hadn't changed at all; she still loved gossiping about people behind their backs.

The key is that she herself is unaware of it; it's like a flaw in her personality that will unconsciously manifest itself anytime and anywhere.

After saying goodbye to He Meifeng, Hu Xiaoyan hailed a taxi and left.

Just then, the old lady from the Shen family walked to the intersection carrying the steamed buns she had bought. He Meifeng saw this and went up to her again: "Auntie, did you go to buy steamed buns?"

"Are you going home? Why don't you stay for dinner? Zheng Hong bought some yellow croaker and pork ribs," the old lady warmly invited.

“I won’t eat anymore, Auntie, but there’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” He Meifeng said, pulling the old lady to the shade of a tree.

Seeing this, the old lady asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

“I just chatted with Jingjing, and she said she’s still not married. I thought to myself, if she’s not married at her age, you must be worried, Auntie!”

"You know my fourth son, right? He just got divorced last year, right? I think he and Jingjing are a good match. Jingjing is exactly three years older than him. It's a great match, isn't it!"

"Our two families have known each other for so many years, we know each other inside and out, right?"

The old lady was completely confused. The fourth son of the He family?

She didn't remember much, but everyone knew that the He family was powerful in Longyang.

The old lady waved her hand, looking regretful, and said, "Meifeng, you're too late. If you had told me before, I would definitely have helped to mediate. But it's too late now. Jingjing is getting married, and she has a boyfriend in Longcheng."

"She has a boyfriend?" He Meifeng was surprised. "Why didn't she mention it earlier?"

She pressed further, "Then...then the house in Jingjing Longcheng was bought by the man as our marital home, right?"

She knew that the house couldn't have been bought by Shen Jingjing; the old lady's words made everything clear.

The old lady replied, "No, that house belongs to us, not the man."

He Meifeng was taken aback: "The house belongs to Jingjing?"

The old lady nodded.

“Then you have to be even more careful. Longcheng is so far away. If Jingjing is deceived by a man, then the house will be lost.” He Meifeng pulled the old lady and said, “Auntie, why don’t you help to match Jingjing with my fourth son? She can sell the house in Longcheng and come back to Longyang to live with my fourth son. Her life would be so comfortable.”