Chapter Three: The Decision

So later, during the demolition, Uncle An was one of the wealthiest households in Jiang Village.

Thinking of this, An Songyu couldn’t help but feel a stir in her heart.

But whether it was a complete coincidence or truly as she suspected, An Songyu couldn’t be entirely sure.

Yet, it wasn’t necessary for her to be certain.

Father An looked at the crowd, whose expressions were still complicated, and said, “Let this matter rest in your hearts for now.”

“Those who need to work should go to work!”

“Songlin, there’s not much work in the finance office this afternoon. When you return to the factory later, help me ask the director for leave.”

An Songlin glanced at his mother, who seemed hesitant, and nodded.

Although An Jianping was usually calm and steady, once he made a decision, he acted decisively.

Seeing him already putting on his jacket and heading out, Bi Lizhu couldn’t help but ask, “Are you planning to rush to the village right now?”

An Jianping nodded slightly, glanced at the three children, and explained softly, “The matter of the homestead land needs to be decided quickly.”

“The eldest’s house has already been chosen; if we delay any longer, we won’t get a good floor.”

“But what Xiaoyu mentioned cannot be ignored.”

“I have to go back to the village first… to ask Jianmin what his proposal really means.”

Hearing her husband mention their ever-loyal younger uncle, Bi Lizhu couldn’t bring herself to say what she had intended.

Though the decision to sell the ancestral homestead rested with her husband, Bi Lizhu knew that her opinion was part of the consideration.

If it weren’t for the matter regarding their second daughter, selling the homestead wouldn’t have been a big deal.

But now…

Bi Lizhu thought:

It’s good that Jianping is going back!

At worst, they won’t sell the homestead after all.

If there isn’t enough money to buy a house, she can think of a way to borrow some from her family.

Even though she had never asked anyone for money in all her life, and didn’t know how to bring it up now.

Bi Lizhu, full of worries, turned back to talk to the children.

But she saw the eldest already calling the second child to leave.

Today was Saturday, but An Songlin and most of the management staff at An Jianping’s factory still worked alternating weeks.

An Songyu, working as a hotel receptionist, had a three-shift rotation and irregular days off.

Seeing her follow her brother out without hesitation, Bi Lizhu hurriedly called out, “Xiaoyu, where’s your bag?”

An Songyu was momentarily stunned and instinctively looked towards the doorway.

In her later home, there was a whole wall of cabinets in the entrance hall.

Everything for going out—bags, car keys, umbrellas, shoes—was kept there.

An Songxiang saw her sister’s blank reaction, shook her head helplessly, and quickly went back to their room.

She hurriedly grabbed a simple canvas bag.

Handing it to An Songyu, she asked, “Sister, should I take you to work?”

“You look like you’ve lost all your energy.”

As she spoke, she found it strange: “Sister, you’ve heard this news for two days now—why does it seem like you’re only just reacting today?”

An Songyu’s hand tightened slightly as she accepted the bag.

Of course, she had never actually encountered such a guest, nor overheard such important news.

But in less than half a year, their village and the unlucky neighboring village—which had only been partially demolished—were both officially on the demolition list.

They were to become the well-known logistics hub of South City.

Moreover, in twenty years’ time, not only would their village be completely torn down, but several neighboring villages as well.

“Songxiang, just take your sister to work! I’m almost late!” An Songlin glanced at his watch and reminded his two younger sisters.

An Songyu snapped back to reality and, without answering her sister’s question, urged, “Hurry up!”

An Songxiang gave her sister a look full of disbelief.

Her offer to take her to work was just a polite gesture.

But since her sister insisted, An Songxiang could only accept her fate, go downstairs, and bring her beloved bike out from the shed.

An Songxiang’s bicycle was a 24-inch pink bike.

It was the first major purchase she made after starting work, using her own savings.

She had only been riding it for half a year.

Usually, she treasured it dearly; she rarely let anyone ride it, much less give a ride.

But today, seeing her sister’s low spirits and the gravity of the news, she made an exception.

As the two sisters left the residential area, they occasionally greeted other neighbors also heading to work.

The house the An family lived in now was one of the last batches built by the Shuncheng First Silk Factory.

Not only was it spacious, but its layout was also very fashionable.

Among the several batches of houses in the factory’s residential compound, this area was particularly wide.

As they finally left the residential zone, An Songxiang eagerly asked, “Sister, do you really think our old home will be demolished?”

An Songyu, sitting on the back seat, carefully observed the surroundings.

Without hesitation, she nodded.

Thinking of where they were now, she quickly added, “It definitely will!”

“Really?” An Songxiang slammed on the brakes in disbelief.

An Songyu rubbed her aching nose and said irritably, “It couldn’t be more certain!”

“Why are you so sure?” An Songxiang suspiciously tried to turn her head for confirmation.

An Songyu helplessly tugged at her sleeve, “If you don’t leave now, I’ll really be late!”

An Songxiang grudgingly pedaled again, still asking, “Sister, are you really that sure?”

“Wait for Dad to get back with the news,” An Songyu answered with some resignation.

She could be sure, but explaining how she knew was beyond her.

An Songxiang thought that made sense.

After all, regardless of whether her sister’s news was true or false, the one who truly held the power in their family was still their father.

With that, the rest of the journey was silent.

Soon, the sisters arrived at their destination.

An Songyu got off the bike and waved goodbye to her sister.

Turning around, she looked upon a majestic building of this era.

The Xianquan Hotel was a garden-style hotel, with an artificial lake in front and landscaped gardens inside.

It nestled against Shuncheng Mountain, the highest peak in Shuncheng.

Covering more than thirty thousand square meters and built in the 1980s, it was a well-known hotel in Shuncheng.

The main building had eleven floors, located in the heart of a tourist area, close to the highway to the provincial capital, and not far from the port.

At its entrance stood two enormous bronze lions—the male lion with a paw on an embroidered ball, the female with a cute lion cub beneath her.

An Songyu glanced at the time and, without lingering, quickened her pace.

Before entering, her steps paused slightly.

The sign at the door reading, “No admittance to those improperly dressed,” was still standing.

In a city as relaxed as future Shuncheng, that was probably a rare sight.

Besides that, the floor-to-ceiling glass on either side of the main gate was among the earliest uses of such glass in Shuncheng’s architecture.

Though her mind was swirling with thoughts, it didn’t affect her stride.

Soon, she changed into her uniform in the locker room and stepped out.