RYEY – Chapter 205 One Million

Cheng Qiao’s steps back were much faster than when she had gone out. She wanted to enter the space quickly to see what the extra room really looked like—her consciousness simply couldn’t enter that room yet.

“Qiao, you’re back! How did it go?”

Cheng Qiao had told Li Huan that she was going to check out the shop, so when he saw her return, he eagerly came over. Even if Cheng Qiao hadn’t said anything, he already knew it had worked out.

“Guess.”

“With my wife handling it, success was guaranteed.”

Li Huan proudly patted his chest, speaking with complete certainty. Cheng Qiao smiled and nodded, then pulled out the land deed and handed it to Li Huan.

“Two acres… how much?”

“Guess.”

“Fifty… no, eighty yuan?”

Cheng Qiao rolled her eyes at him, held up one finger, and then traced four more circles in the air. Li Huan’s eyes widened. Ten thousand yuan? Surely he hadn’t understood correctly.

Cheng Qiao nodded, signaling that he had indeed understood—it was ten thousand yuan.

“Good grief! Two acres for ten thousand yuan? Back home, one acre barely costs twenty-something!”

Li Huan couldn’t help but exclaim when he learned Cheng Qiao had spent ten thousand yuan on two acres. This land must be made of gold—how could it be so expensive?

Cheng Qiao smiled. Not only did ten thousand yuan buy two acres, but it also upgraded the space. It was ridiculously cheap and worth every penny—but of course, she wouldn’t say that out loud.

“Li Huan, we have to think long-term, expand our vision. I can tell you for certain: in twenty years, these two acres won’t be worth ten thousand yuan—they’ll easily exceed one million.”

Clang!

The teacup in Li Huan’s hand fell to the ground, startling the three half-awake children. Little Cheng Li screamed in fright.

“Li Huan~”

Cheng Qiao glared at Li Huan angrily and hurried to pick up Little Cheng Li, soothing him softly. Seeing his pitiful expression, she shot Li Huan another glare.

Li Huan scratched his head sheepishly. His wife was right—his perspective had been too short-sighted. Just hearing “one million” had made him drop the teacup in shock. One million… he had never imagined it.

Xuhui looked at Cheng Qiao with sparkling eyes. He remembered her last words clearly: think long-term, expand your vision. But how could one actually do that?

“Mom, how can we think long-term and expand our vision?”

Cheng Qiao: “…”

She didn’t know either. She only knew that times would progress, and they had to keep up with that progress—or risk being left behind.

“You’ll understand when you grow up. Dad used to think a thousand yuan made him rich, but now seeing ten thousand doesn’t even faze him.”

Seeing Cheng Qiao’s hesitation, Li Huan quickly explained. Xuhui nodded, half understanding, and then asked suddenly: “Dad, do you have ten thousand yuan?”

Li Huan felt awkward. Cheng Qiao nodded but showed Xuhui the land deed—ten thousand yuan had turned into a piece of land.

Xuhui was astonished. He suddenly understood what it meant to think long-term. Just like this land deed: in Xiangyang Village, it’s worth only a few dozen yuan, but in a big city, it’s worth ten thousand.

“Mom, I get it now.”

Cheng Qiao took back the deed. Seeing the light in Xuhui’s eyes, she knew he truly understood. Meanwhile, Li Le looked dumbfounded, her mind spinning at the thought that her second sister-in-law actually had ten thousand yuan.

She remembered that when Cheng Qiao first married into the Li family, she already had over eight hundred yuan and had taken pride in that. But she never imagined her second sister-in-law could pull out ten thousand yuan—it was shocking.

Cheng Qiao chuckled to herself. If Li Le knew that her mother had left her a box containing a savings book with nearly thirty thousand yuan and several gold bars, what expression would appear on her face?

“Alright, this land deed is a secret for the five of us. Nobody can know about it outside, understand?”

Li Huan looked sternly at Xuhui and Li Le. If the villagers knew they had spent ten thousand yuan to buy two acres in Chun City, they’d never hear the end of it.

Xuhui nodded resolutely. Li Le hesitated, wondering if she could even tell her mother. Li Huan looked to Cheng Qiao—could they tell her? That depended on his wife’s word.

“You can tell her, but make sure she doesn’t spread it further.”

Cheng Qiao knew Mother Li well—timid, but fiercely protective of her children. Such a big secret would never leave her mouth.

Li Le swallowed nervously. Her second brother’s gaze was too sharp—better not risk it. If her mother accidentally let it slip, it would be a disaster.

“Let’s go eat something nice and celebrate.”

Cheng Qiao knew she couldn’t enter the space now, so she took the children out for a walk, saving the surprise for later that night.

The night in Chun City wasn’t extravagant, but the streets were lit, and every household’s windows glowed warmly, with shadows moving inside.

State-run restaurants, cinemas, and department stores stayed open late, spilling light onto the busy streets.

Unlike Xiangyang Village, where darkness fell and only the wind or distant beasts could be heard, barely anyone ventured outside.

Li Le suddenly understood what it meant when books said people should aim higher. She had once been content just dreaming of living in the county town, but now she knew her ambitions.

“Second sister-in-law, I want to work in a big city someday.”

“Yes, study hard and get to the city.”

“Can I do it?”

“You can.”

Li Le held Cheng Qiao’s arm affectionately. If her second sister-in-law said she could, then she would.

Back at the guesthouse, Cheng Qiao looked at the sleeping Li Huan and children but didn’t enter the space. She sensed the extra room in the space would give her a huge surprise—she wanted to save it for last.

The next morning, the five of them checked out early, carrying their bags to catch the return long-distance bus—the same one they had taken to get there. There were two buses in total: one from the county, one from Chun City.

“Hello, hello, you’re going home!”

The ticket clerk greeted Cheng Qiao warmly, and the driver shook Li Huan’s hand. They even reserved the two best rows at the back for them.

After some conversation, they learned that the two of them had caught many thieves, and the higher-ups were extremely pleased, giving them the title of “Heroic Duo” along with a bonus and certificate.

Cheng Qiao and Li Huan were very happy. Although they refused the medal, doing good deeds anonymously was also meritorious—gold always shines.

The bus doors closed, and the vehicle slowly moved off. Xuhui didn’t dare open the window again. Cheng Qiao held Little Cheng Li, silently praying for a safe journey home, hoping nothing else would go wrong.