Before leaving for Qiongzhou Island, Jiang Si had already mentioned that once she settled down there, she would bring Third Grandpa and Uncle Zhong over to live with her. It wasn’t just for a short stay or a family visit—she intended to care for them in their old age.
With a serious expression, Jiang Si said, "After the wedding banquet, you and Uncle Zhong should come back to Qiongzhou Island with us. Zhou has already arranged the housing."
Noticing Third Grandpa’s hesitation, she added softly, "You don’t need to worry about the things in the secret tunnel. The tenants he found are all his old comrades from the past."
"They’re only listed under the property’s name and will occasionally drop by to help clean. They won’t be living there long-term."
But Third Grandpa wasn’t concerned about that.
In the months since Jiang Si had left, the Red Committee had practically come by every two weeks to snoop around.
To put it bluntly, those people had nearly dug up the entire Jiang family estate.
After all this time searching, they still hadn’t found the entrance to the secret tunnel, so Third Grandpa had no real worries.
However, he had recently made some inquiries and learned that not just anyone could accompany military personnel to their posts.
Even in harsh conditions like those on the island, only officers ranked at or above deputy battalion level or those with over 12 years of military service were eligible.
Moreover, only spouses or minor children could accompany them.
Parents weren’t even included in the relocation policy, let alone non-blood-related family members like them.
Not being able to relocate wasn’t the main issue—Third Grandpa was more concerned about causing trouble for the young couple.
If Third Grandpa had thought of it, Jiang Si had naturally considered it as well.
Under normal circumstances, someone like Third Grandpa wouldn’t meet the relocation criteria, but exceptions existed.
Rank and years of service only applied to command-level officers, while technical officers weren’t bound by these restrictions.
Due to his involvement in the entire pre-flight planning for the H-6 bomber, Huo Tingzhou had recently been promoted to a Level 7 technical officer.
At this rank, aside from receiving special monthly allowances, his personnel file was directly managed by the military headquarters, making it inaccessible to local Red Committees.
When Jiang Si first heard this, she didn’t fully grasp its significance—until Huo Tingzhou explained, "This is like being placed on the military’s priority protection list. Even if something happens, I’d have political immunity."
"If I get promoted one more level, I’ll qualify for special allowances from the State Council."
Only then did Jiang Si understand just how prestigious a Level 7 technical officer’s rank was.
Huo Tingzhou couldn’t divulge too much about military affairs, but now that the successful test flight of the H-6 had been officially announced, he shared what he could.
In short, the requirements for family relocation were far more lenient for technical officers.
During special periods, some family members were even required to relocate.
Huo Tingzhou had already submitted the relocation report and supporting documents to the division’s political office.
They had been too busy to call and check on the status, but Huo Tingzhou wasn’t worried.
If there were any issues, Director Cao would have called by now.
Jiang Si wasn’t overly concerned either—she had already prepared a backup plan.
If the request wasn’t approved, she would simply build a house in the fishing village near the military family quarters.
The family quarters came with too many rules and restrictions, and knowing Third Grandpa, he might actually prefer living outside.
As expected, Third Grandpa wasn’t in a hurry to eat after hearing the news.
“There are small fishing villages near their military base?”
“Yes, several of them.”
Though Jiang Si hadn’t been there yet, Sister-in-law Hu had often talked about such things.
“That fishing village isn’t actually small—it has several hundred households, and there’s a dock nearby too.”
“Several hundred households? That’s quite sizable.”
After a moment’s thought, he asked, “How far is it from the fishing village to the family quarters? Could you bike there in half an hour?”
“No need. Walking would take at most half an hour, and biking should only take about ten minutes.”
Third Grandpa fell into contemplation. Ten minutes—that was practically next door.
If that were the case, he’d much rather live outside the base.
He and Zhong could easily stroll over whenever they pleased.
Oh, and he’d need to buy a small fishing boat—something to take out for casual angling.
Once Jiang Si had children someday, they could even help raise them hands-on.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Wasn’t this the very life he’d always dreamed of?
“Zhong, what do you think?”
Uncle Zhong smiled. “Whatever you decide, old master. I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Third Grandpa laughed heartily. “Good! Then we’re off to Qiongzhou Island together!”
And just like that, the matter was settled. After dinner, Third Grandpa brought out a bankbook.
“What’s this?”
“This is the dowry Zhong and I prepared for you.”
Uncle Zhong was meticulous. “Since Miss Jiang Si and the young master are in a dual-family marriage, it’s not exactly a dowry. Call it security money.”
“Right, right—this is for your security.”
Hearing this, Jiang Si couldn’t help but twitch her lips.
From the moment she got married, she hadn’t spent a single cent—only accumulated more.
What did she need security money for?
“Take it. Once you have children, expenses will pile up fast.”
Third Grandpa didn’t care what others thought.
He held one firm belief: “A child of the Jiang family is born to live comfortably—no hardships allowed.”
Jiang Si wholeheartedly agreed.
As long as her future child wasn’t a lovesick fool, they’d never want for anything in life.
With a father decorated in military honors, a mother financially free,
uncles and aunts on both sides, and the younger generation of the Huo family—each a force to be reckoned with—
not to mention grandparents, in-laws, and Third Grandpa backing them up,
they’d have influence spanning the underworld, business, military, politics, and finance. A true powerhouse!
Still, Jiang Si was puzzled.
“Third Grandpa, before I left for Qiongzhou Island, you already stuffed me with gifts. And today’s two cartloads of purchases couldn’t have been cheap. Where did you get so much money?”
Third Grandpa thought, This is nothing!
Times had been chaotic in the past, but the saying “Antiques in prosperous times, gold in turbulent ones” wasn’t for nothing.
“This is all from my early days in the underworld. Later, your grandfather caught wind of trouble brewing and pulled me out in time.”
“After that, I spent over a decade in legitimate business with him. Rest assured, every cent is clean.”
“Once I sell off the remaining properties, there’ll be a bit more—though the houses in the eastern suburbs aren’t worth much.”
“…The eastern suburbs?”
Jiang Si’s eyes widened. That’s Pudong—where prices skyrocket to hundreds of thousands per square meter in the future!
"Uncle Zhong, did you sell the houses in the eastern suburbs?"
"Not yet, they're hard to sell."
Uncle Zhong sighed. "They were originally shops meant for dock business, but after private commerce was banned, they were converted into public housing."
Unlike Capital City, Hu City still favored private property exchanges.
But the eastern suburbs were only accessible by ferry, so few were willing to swap homes there.
Hence the saying: "Better a bed in the city center than a house in the eastern suburbs."
Hearing they hadn't been sold, Jiang Si felt relieved.
"Uncle Zhong, don’t sell those eastern suburban properties yet. Later, we can list them for rent under some proxies."
Uncle Zhong had no objections—they were meant for the girl anyway, so she could handle them as she pleased.
"The property deeds are still in Hu City. I’ll give them to you when we return."
He then added pointedly,
"Keep the bankbook to yourself. Don’t tell a soul."
"Men change when they have money. Hold onto these things tightly—understand?"
Jiang Si nodded. She knew Uncle Zhong was afraid.
Afraid she’d repeat her mother’s mistakes.
"By the way, he must’ve saved up quite a bit over the years. Did he hand it all over?"
"He did. The very night I arrived on Qiongzhou Island, he gave me everything."
Jiang Si even shared the amount in the bankbook with Uncle Zhong.
"That much?" Uncle Zhong was surprised.
Ten years in the military, and the man had quietly saved nearly sixty thousand yuan.
Luckily, his own gift wasn’t meager—otherwise, he’d have been outdone.
When Jiang Si checked the bankbook Uncle Zhong gave her, she instinctively swallowed hard.
One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand… This was too much!
Just as she marveled at her recent streak of financial luck,
Thousands of miles away in Xishuang City’s Olive Dam Farm,
Someone was locked in a heated argument over a ten-yuan medical fee.
"Shen Qingyue, you’d better pay that medical bill soon. If you delay any longer, your sister won’t make it—"
