DING!

[Due to the host's achievement of 'child earning their first pot of gold,' you are rewarded with a villa in Modu!]

The villa Zhao Lizhen had previously bought for them only had three bedrooms. Lin Feng and his wife occupied the largest one, which hadn't been an issue at first. However, the children were about to start elementary school, so having them all share one room was no longer appropriate. Besides, they had grown accustomed to sleeping in separate rooms and having their own space back in Yangcheng. Furthermore, Sanbao needed a quiet environment for practice.

And so, the next morning at breakfast, Lin Feng announced that he had bought a new house in Modu.

If the children were younger, the grandparents would certainly have wanted everyone to live together. But the kids were growing up; the quadruplets were all over a meter tall. Living together was indeed getting a bit inconvenient.

Lin Feng checked the system's reward. The villa was located in a newly developed area just behind their current neighborhood. It was only a ten-minute drive away, or a pleasant half-hour walk—very close indeed.

Zhao Lizhen said with a smile, "Well, that's wonderful! How convenient!"

The system was always so thoughtful; the villa came fully furnished and was move-in ready. The total area, including the bonus space and the garage, came to 1,000 square meters. It had seven bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. There was also a second living room and a bar on the second floor. The first floor mainly consisted of a reception room, a kitchen, and a leisure area.

In this residential complex, there were only three villas of this size. "It's so beautiful!" Zhao Lizhen exclaimed.

"Yes! Lin Feng is always so considerate," Zhou Cuilan nodded. "When the kids are older and visit Modu, they'll each have their own room."

Even though there were seven rooms, the sleeping arrangements remained the same as they had been in Yangcheng. This still left three rooms spare. One room became Sanbao's practice room, and another was set up as a studio for Erbao. The last remaining room was designated as a training area for Dabao and Sibao.

Lin Dashan nodded in approval, praising the idea. This way, each child had their own space for leisure and entertainment.

With that decided, Lin Feng began shopping for everything they needed: Taekwondo equipment, Erbao's tools, Sanbao's piano, and so on.

"Follow me," Zhao Lizhen said with a smile. "I know where to get good quality things at a fair price." As she spoke, she linked arms with Zhou Cuilan. "And while we're at it, I'll take you all shopping!"

As for Lin Dashan and Zhang Fuyong, they spent their days either fishing or playing chess. Sometimes, they'd go drinking with An Lan's father and their mutual friends.

It was a hot day, and Zhao Lizhen chatted as she drove. "It's so hot these days, I don't even want to step outside. It's a little cooler in the afternoon."

"Exactly," Zhou Cuilan nodded. "Never mind young people—for us, our lives depend on air conditioning these days! We'd die from the heat without it."

"It wasn't like this when I was a child. Back then, the countryside had a natural breeze, so who needed an air conditioner? A single fan was enough to feel cool. Things are different now," she sighed.

Zhao Lizhen laughed, "I also spent some time in the countryside when I was young. I do miss it."

Chatting away, the group arrived at a musical instrument store. An employee came over and greeted her, "Ms. Zhao, you're here!"

"Mhm, could you get Old Zeng for me?"

"Right away!"

Zhao Lizhen turned to Lin Feng. "Let me do the haggling in a bit. Don't you say a word."

Lin Feng smiled. "Whatever money Mom saves me, I'll use to treat everyone to dinner tonight."

"You're on!" Zhao Lizhen beamed.

Just as they were speaking, a short, plump man walked out from the back. He had a warm smile that resembled the Maitreya Buddha, and his eyes lit up when he saw Zhao Lizhen.

"Well, look who it is! Sister Zhao, what brings you here today?"

Zhao Lizhen feigned anger. "What was that? Who are you calling old?"

"Not old, not at all!" Old Zeng chuckled. "You and Director Zhang are eternally eighteen!"

Old Zeng was one of Zhao Lizhen's old classmates. He had studied music but, lacking talent and the ability to make a living from it, had gone into business instead. He was known for being fair with acquaintances, offering quality products at good prices, so Zhao Lizhen often referred customers to him.

Zhao Lizhen smiled and made the introductions. "This is my daughter, and this is my son-in-law."

"These are my son-in-law's parents."

"And these four are all my grandchildren!"

He was clearly a smooth operator, and his words were pleasant to hear. He rattled off a string of compliments, each one unique.

Looking at Zhang Yuxi, Old Zeng said to Zhao Lizhen, "I remember seeing your daughter once, years ago when I came to see you." He sighed sentimentally, "It's amazing how time flies. It really waits for no one!"

Zhao Lizhen laughed with good-natured exasperation. "You get sentimental like this every time we meet. Enough of that! I need to buy a piano, a drum set, and a violin for my grandson—only the best you have!"

Old Zeng's eyes lit up, the melancholy on his face instantly replaced by a joyous grin.

What a drama king. It's a shame he didn't pursue a career in show business with acting skills like that.

"Listen," Zhao Lizhen said, following him. "I want the best in your store, but you have to give me a fair price. This is for my grandson, you know!"

Old Zeng quickly reassured her, "Relax, relax! You know what kind of man I am, don't you? I'll definitely give you a fair price!"

Zhao Lizhen knew quality when she saw it, and the items Old Zeng showed them were excellent. These instruments were considered top-of-the-line in the country, but even she wasn't sure of their exact market price.

Old Zeng remained unruffled. "You have great connections, Sister Zhao. Feel free to call around and ask. I don't mind at all. See for yourself if I'm trying to overcharge you!"

Zhao Lizhen picked up her phone. "Alright, I'll do just that."

"Go ahead!" Old Zeng said cheerfully.

One dared to make the claim, and the other dared to verify it. Right there in front of Old Zeng, Zhao Lizhen called someone knowledgeable in the field. It turned out Old Zeng's price was indeed much lower; she probably wouldn't find a better deal anywhere else.

Zhao Lizhen smiled. "Alright then, I'll take them!"

Lin Feng went to the front desk to pay and fill out the delivery address. The clerk informed him that the instruments would be tuned upon delivery.

"Okay."

Before leaving, Zhao Lizhen told Old Zeng she would treat him to a meal another day, an invitation he happily accepted.

Next, Zhao Lizhen took them for a stroll around the mall. Lin Dashan and Zhang Fuyong quickly grew tired.

"We're going to find a place for tea," they said. "You all go on and shop."

As soon as the women were out of earshot, Zhang Fuyong couldn't help but complain about how exhausting it was to go shopping with them, especially since Zhao Lizhen was an avid shopper. Zhou Cuilan, by contrast, had only started to relax and go shopping in recent years after their living conditions had improved and both her sons became successful.

When the shopping trip was over, everyone was laden with bags, big and small.

Zhang Fuyong, who seemed accustomed to this routine, asked, "I've been drinking tea for hours. When are we eating?"

Zhao Lizhen sat down. "In a bit. Let me rest for a moment."

That evening, everyone enjoyed a delicious meal of barbecue and hot pot.

They spent the rest of the time setting up the new house, and before they knew it, it was the end of August. Zhao Lizhen took out all her jewelry to give Erbao inspiration.

"Don't worry if you break anything. I'm going to pass all this down to your mother anyway, and she'll eventually pass it to you and Sanbao. So, when you get down to it, this jewelry is already yours."

Listening to Zhao Lizhen's logic, Zhang Yuxi and Zhou Cuilan felt she had a point, yet something about it seemed strange.

During this time, Zhao Lizhen took Erbao to numerous jewelry stores. She also imparted all her years of knowledge on appraising jewelry to the boy. Now, Erbao's understanding of jewelry far surpassed his mother's.

After all, Zhang Yuxi could only recognize common gems like jade, agate, pearls, and obsidian.

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