After calming his parents down, Zhou You took a shower and returned to his own bedroom. Just the fact that he could shower at home during winter had sparked envy among many in the village.
During dinner, it had been too noisy, so Zhou You had left his phone in his room to charge. Back in his room, he saw a pile of missed calls and text messages—all New Year's greetings. Over the past year, Zhou You's social circle had expanded significantly, spanning people from all over the country and various industries. He replied to each New Year's message one by one.
Then he sent out his own New Year's greetings to those he wanted to wish well. The festive atmosphere had been fading over the years, and by now, people rarely sent New Year's texts or even WeChat messages. He checked the missed calls, returned those, and noticed that Wang Fangfang, Sun Li, and Xiao Bai had also called.
After a moment's thought, he called Sun Li back first. Knowing her personality, she was probably spending New Year's Eve alone this year.
"Hey, Xiao Li, Happy New Year! I was just eating downstairs, and my phone was charging. Where are you now?"
"You Ge, Happy New Year to you too. I'm in my apartment. Everyone else has their own families now, so it's awkward for me to go anywhere," Sun Li's voice carried a hint of loneliness. After all, in such a festive atmosphere, being alone in an apartment—it would be a lie to say it wasn't a bit sad.
"Don't be upset. Once I'm done here, I'll come back to keep you company. In future years, you can travel abroad for the New Year," Zhou You comforted her. In the coming years, everyone would be exhausted by these social obligations. Many people would start traveling before the New Year, using it as an excuse to skip the socializing and enjoy a proper vacation.
"Alright, then I'll rely on you to support me," Sun Li said, probably genuinely a bit down. She wouldn't have said something like that before.
"Haha, no problem. I'll support you for life. Come on, don't be sad. Take advantage of the holiday to rest well. You're heading to the capital for studies soon, and a bright future awaits you." They chatted a bit more before Zhou You hung up.
Next, he returned calls to Xiao Bai and Fangfang. Xiao Bai's call was simple—a few words and she hung up, having a great time at home. Wang Fangfang was a bit excited when she called Zhou You, probably after having some drinks.
"You Ge, I'm really happy today, super happy."
"What's up? Share it so I can be happy too."
"You know my situation. Back in the swim team, I never made much money. It wasn't a burden on my family, but every time I went home, it was just average. This year, after working hard, I saved a decent amount. I bought a lot of stuff for my parents and talked to them about my job. They were blown away."
"That's my Fangfang. In just over a year, you've become such a capable big boss."
"You Ge, don't tease me. I'm genuinely happy. I feel like I've grown up and can be the pillar of my family." She paused briefly. "You Ge, thank you."
Hearing this, Zhou You sensed Fangfang might be a bit drunk. "Between us, there's no need for thanks. Meeting you has made me happy too. Don't get too worked up. The future will only get better. Just remember one thing: I'll always be your strongest support."
They talked a bit more, and then Wang Fangfang hung up. She lay on her bed, still and quiet, lost in thought. Thinking about how her parents had changed toward her this time home, she felt both joy and sadness. Joy because they no longer saw her as a burden—now that she could earn money, the family's situation would improve a lot. Sadness because in many rural areas, favoritism toward sons over daughters still persisted, and her family was no exception.
Still, she was content. Many women like her—her childhood classmates—had mostly married young and gone off to work elsewhere. Aside from those who got into college, she was the only one left. She had been able to keep training with the swim team, even during those one or two years without results, and her parents hadn't complained. After all, rural conditions were limited, and often, men were relied on to support the household.
Her brother, three years younger at 19, wasn't good at studying either. After high school, he went out to work, drifting aimlessly. His only saving grace was being honest and steady, which often got him bullied outside. This time home, their parents learned about her job and asked if she could teach her brother to swim, so he could become a swim coach—a decent career path.
Wang Fangfang didn't dare agree right away. She didn't know how Zhou You would feel about it. The swimming center wasn't even fully established yet, and she'd already be trying to bring someone in. She felt embarrassed. But as her own brother, she couldn't ignore her parents' request. Besides, his constant low-level jobs weren't great. If he could work with her, she could keep an eye on him, and swimming wasn't hard—he'd pick it up after a few lessons. Many swim coaches in small towns were self-taught anyway.
When she called Zhou You to wish him a Happy New Year, the work topic lingered on her lips for a while but never came out. Just as she was agonizing over it, her brother Wang Pengfei walked over. "Sis, don't worry about me. You just retired and are starting out. If I come now, I'll just be dead weight. Wait until you're settled. I'm still young, no rush."
The siblings had a good relationship. Her brother never bossed her around despite their parents' favoritism. In fact, he'd always admired her a bit. In his eyes, making it to the provincial swim team was already impressive. Hearing his words, Wang Fangfang stopped worrying and even chuckled bitterly. Why had she been so stressed? To Zhou You, this was nothing. She'd been overthinking it.
She and Wang Ping had been strangers, and he'd still been willing to help her. Now that her relationship with Zhou You was special, she was being too cautious, too afraid to jeopardize it. "It's fine. Come with me right after the New Year. No need to suffer alone out there." Once she made up her mind, Wang Fangfang's spirits lifted again.
Zhou You had no idea what was happening at Wang Fangfang's home, but even if he did, he wouldn't care. To him, it wasn't a big deal. He'd help his own brother if he could, but only if he was obedient. If someone was lazy and disobedient, he wouldn't bother. Supporting a brother was fine, but not to the point of being a doormat. Helping others was okay, but there had to be limits. Everything had its boundaries.
Besides, one hero needs three helpers, and in battle, father and son fight together, brothers hunt tigers side by side. Many family businesses in the past had trusted foreign professional managers, believing in letting experts handle things, only to end up in ruins—either bankrupt or shorted. When interests don't align, words are useless. Only by forming a community of shared interests can everyone move forward together.
New writer, new book. Many thanks to all the big shots for your support. Truly grateful.