Zhu Yanyi smiled. "It’s the old family rule. Let’s go. The sooner we finish, the sooner we’re done. After Fourth Grandpa’s house, we still have Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Grandpa’s houses, then Grandpa’s. It’s going to be a busy day."
Zhu Yanli nodded. Even though she felt helpless, they had to visit Zhu Guifu’s house first.
Zhu Guifu wasn’t home, but Gan Juhua was there. Zhu Yanli spoke up, "Fourth Aunt, Ani and I are going to the city for school. We came to say goodbye to you and Fourth Grandpa."
"Say what goodbye? Girls studying is just wasting money. Especially two girls. Your family can spend your own money. You don’t need to tell us." Gan Juhua looked at Zhu Yanli and Zhu Yanyi with annoyance, as if they were enemies. Her words were harsh from the start.
Zhu Yanli and Zhu Yanyi exchanged a glance. They already knew Gan Juhua’s character, so they didn’t get angry. They had done their duty. They didn’t care about the rest. When Gan Juhua told them to leave, the sisters left gracefully and confidently.
They went to Zhu Caifu’s house, then Zhu Yanfu’s and Zhu Xiongfu’s houses. All three gave Lu Hong red envelopes. Then they said goodbye to their good neighbors. Only after that did they go to the Xie family.
"Did you visit the Cheng family?" Xie Zhong asked with a smile. Even though they were leaving together in two days, proper etiquette was still required.
"We’ll go tomorrow," Zhu Yanyi said from the side. "I want to buy some pens on the street anyway."
"Okay." Xie Zhong nodded. She took out two red envelopes for Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Yanli. "These are your red envelopes."
Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Yanli didn’t hesitate. They accepted the red envelopes and put them in their bags. Zhu Yanyi seemed to remember something and said, "Tomorrow morning, we’ll visit Uncle Gong’s house to say goodbye. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Godfather and Eldest Uncle’s house."
"You can arrange it yourselves." Xie Zhong knew these visits were necessary. They had to do it now, and again when they got into higher schools later. There was no way around local customs.
Zhu Yanyi had known this custom since childhood and didn’t worry much. As long as they did it properly, it was fine. Since they had some time, she thought she should check the houses left by the elders to make sure there were no leaks or other problems while they were away.
"Since we have time, I want to check the houses my masters left. Sister, do you want to come with me?"
"No, you go ahead. I won’t go," Zhu Yanli said with a smile. "I want to play with Doumiao for a while. Once we go to Yao City, we might not have so many chances to play." Their three siblings were going to different schools—high school, middle school, and primary school. They would be busy with their own things.
Zhu Yanyi thought about it and didn’t say more. "Then I’ll go alone." She said goodbye to Xie Zhong and went to the houses left by the six elders. She checked the other houses first to make sure everything was fine, then finally returned to Medicine Elder’s house. In the courtyard, she saw two strangers.
"Miss, you’re here," Luo Gang said seriously as she saw Zhu Yanyi.
Zhu Yanyi nodded. "We’re going to report to Yao City the day after tomorrow, so I came to check the houses here. I’ll come back once a week."
"I understand. I will adjust the security arrangements for you," Luo Gang promised. He pointed to the two people beside him. "These two are Li Yang and Pei Tiandu. They are retired Air Force special forces soldiers. They are your bodyguards."