Zhang Yu packed her luggage while comforting Pan Juan, "This way, won't you be able to see your eldest grandson more often?"
Knowing that in the hearts of the elderly couple, no one held a higher position than Zhang Yi, she kept comforting the old lady.
Anyway, she also knew that what the old couple called reluctance was actually their worry about her, their daughter, working alone in a different place and whether she could adapt.
Their so-called reluctance was, in fact, feeling the loss of a dedicated, hardworking caretaker.
Zhang Yu felt that this old couple wasn't unaware that the other children might not be reliable, but in their hearts, the three older children had happy families and good jobs.
In contrast, the youngest daughter had been working for so many years and was still just a junior accountant, and then there was her unmarried status, which was like a drag on the Zhang Family.
"Mom, think about it, didn't big brother and the others get houses? They'll live in the same neighborhood as you, then you can see your grandchildren often," she said.
"As for cooking, when my brother makes something tasty, he can just bring a portion over to you two elders, and that would be enough for you to eat, right?"
Zhang Yu truly felt very sincere in her suggestion; she really thought it was an excellent idea.
Of course, as for what Zhang Guohua and the others would think by then, she wasn't going to worry about it. Weren't they often fantasizing about living close to Zhang Dagu and his wife, how they were going to take care of them?
The time for them to show their performance was coming soon; she just didn't know, given such a great opportunity to perform, how they would actually behave.
She believed she alone had taken good care of Zhang Dagu and his wife; there was no reason the three siblings couldn't take care of them properly.
"That's true," Pan Juan felt quite convinced that it was a good thing not to have to wait for the weekend to see the grandchildren but to be able to see them every day.
As Pan Juan thought more about it, the happier she felt; however, she wasn't going to let Zhang Yu off so easily, having become accustomed over the years to the meals cooked by Zhang Yu.
Moreover, their son and others were also tired from work during the week, and looking after the old couple was exhausting; they still needed Zhang Yu to take over the cooking on the weekends.
"Although you're also in your thirties, it makes sense for us to be reassured about you, but you've never been out of the city for your studies, and your job has always been right at our doorstep," she said.
"If you suddenly go to work in a different place, we're not at ease. Just come home on the weekends," she added.
Spending the weekends busying herself would also give Guohua and the others a bit of a break.
Oh my god, she knew she was going to work far away, yet they still had the nerve to bother her, still hoping that she would come back for a visit on the weekends.
Zhang Yu could only say that the old lady, seemingly kind and amiable, was actually full of cunning tricks.
"No way, Mom, the round-trip tickets are also expensive, and the company won't reimburse for a round-trip ticket every week. After all, a round-trip can cost over a thousand," she responded.
She definitely wasn't going to mention that the company could reimburse one round-trip ticket per month; if she did, who knows if they would expect her to come back every month.
"Also, I'll certainly be busy when I first get there," so she was sorry, but she wouldn't be able to help with the move.
At the time, the original owner was so busy with the moving preparations that she had literally worked herself to the bone, losing a good ten pounds.
Even so, Zhang Dagu and his wife said it wasn't done well, criticizing that things weren't organized properly, among other complaints.
Anyway, she wasn't going to do such a thankless task this time; she'd leave it to Zhang Guohua and the others to handle.
After all, the families combined had nine people, and a few weekends should be enough to get the moving done.
When Pan Juan heard this, she became upset, "So you're not planning to help us move?"
To know that compared to the weekly family meals, the most important thing was the house-moving matter. Ever since they heard the whispers of moving, the old lady had done a rehearsal.
That is, there were many things in the old house, and neither she nor Zhang Dagu wanted to throw anything away; as a result, there was quite a bit to take with them.
Sorting and packing for the move wouldn't take much time; they were getting on in years and neither had the time nor the energy for such ordeals, they could only make suggestions.
Zhang Yu was still the main force needed for the move, but unexpectedly, she couldn't help at all.
"It's not that I don't want to help, but work is busy," Zhang Yu knew that the old lady was becoming anxious, after all, an obedient and capable worker was going away, it would be strange if she felt good about it.
But for her, her mood was genuinely soaring. However, she couldn't show it just yet.
"Mom, you and Dad often say that work is important, and we should prioritize our jobs," she said.
"I think you'll definitely understand me, right?" she added.
"I also hope to make you proud," she continued.
"Talking with relatives and friends, you can say that although I started late, I'm also catching up," she said.
"Mom, don't worry, I've thought it through. I'm going to study hard and take some courses to try to obtain some professional titles," she planned.
Without all the weekend chaos from the others, she truly had confidence; she would definitely be able to earn some certificates.
Upon hearing this, Pan Juan really started to panic; she always felt that Zhang Yu saying these things meant she wouldn't come back much in the future.
"Little Yu, aren't you planning to come back and visit us?" Pan Juan didn't even realize that her voice trembled as she spoke.
If possible, Zhang Yu certainly hoped so, yet she also knew it wasn't possible, "How could that be?" she retorted loudly.
"This is my home, with my parents, brothers, and sisters all here," she said.
If possible, of course she would stay as far away as possible, "I will surely come back once every month or two."
"Mom, rest assured," she assured.
"I couldn't possibly stay away," she continued.
Zhang Yu kept making promises, and of course, she wasn't deceiving the old lady but truly planning to do so.
How would she know the turmoil within the Zhang Family, the close-knit trio, fighting over money, over who would take more responsibility for the old couple—if she didn't return once in a while?
These things could only be known by coming back, for they all were actors, and they certainly wouldn't let Zhang Yu become aware of these conflicts.
Only by returning and observing could she find out how deep the internal conflicts were and also seize the best chance to clear her name.
To return once every month or two, and then perform well in front of the old couple, it was just uncertain whether the fickle old couple would feel that among the four children, only Zhang Yu was the best to them.
But this was just her wishful thinking; even if the parents harboured such thoughts, they wouldn't voice them, for in their hearts, Zhang Guohua and the other two were the face of the Zhang Family.
Listening to Zhang Yu's promises, Pan Juan stared at her intently, "Do you promise you will come back?"
Zhang Yu certainly had no issue with that, even though she found the old lady's insistence on repeated assurances bothersome, she obediently made the promise anyway.