"Beep beep beep—"

Old Zhang's phone rang again; it was an anxious cattle farmer calling.

"Old Zhang, where are you now?!"

As soon as he picked up the phone, an urgent voice prompted from the other side.

Today we're headed to Jiuci Village in Xiangyang Town. It's not too far, roughly thirty minutes from their house, located in another section of the county.

If you drive a bit faster, you can get there in just over twenty minutes.

But anything like cutting it down to ten minutes is practically impossible.

After all, the family's Wuling Hongguang doesn't allow for such speed.

If the brakes fail, they wouldn't be rescuing the cattle, but rather salvaging King Yama's performance.

"Boss Lu, we're already over the bridge, should be around three or five minutes away."

Old Zhang glanced at his surroundings and replied.

Crossing the bridge pretty much means entering Jiuci Village.

It's about five minutes to Sankeng Village.

"Alright, alright, I'll be waiting at the village entrance. You can see me once you arrive."

The other line ended with Boss Lu hanging up.

"Boss Lu is really rushing us."

Zhang Lingchuan remarked.

"I guess the cattle are quite seriously injured,"

Old Zhang sighed.

His leg has mostly healed by now.

But recently, his son has been handling most of the veterinary visits, and the longtime customers have been increasingly praising the kid.

This time, they specifically requested both father and son to come.

The problem might be quite serious.

"Maybe. By the way, Boss Zhang, today's my last day of bricklaying. Tomorrow, I've got a surprise for you."

Zhang Lingchuan nodded, then glanced at his old man with a mysterious smile.

"What surprise? Is the surprise that I'll be doing all the vet visits by myself after tomorrow?"

Old Zhang glanced at his son with mock irritation.

Time flies; more than a month has passed, and it's about time for his son to return to college.

If you ask whether he's reluctant to see his son go back to school, Zhang Zhenghai doesn't feel much reluctance. As one ages, one must face the reality of kids flying the nest.

He actually feels quite gratified.

After all, having a child become such a significant figure in life, beyond his wildest dreams.

"Boss Zhang, is that a surprise? It's loneliness! Just don't miss me too much!"

Zhang Lingchuan teased his father.

Previously, when he went on vet visits with Old Zhang, Old Zhang would handle the treatment, and he would assist or just go along for the fun.

Now, it's he who handles the treatment with Old Zhang tagging along trying to help but mostly just going for the fun.

Unknowingly, the roles have reversed.

Indeed, he's grown up.

"Come on, come on, loneliness... Your dad here has been doing solo vet visits for so many years! Acting as if I can't do without you!"

Zhang Zhenghai glanced at his smug son, speaking with mock irritation.

"Whether you can manage without me, I'm not sure, but with me, you definitely can't manage."

Zhang Lingchuan cheekily replied.

Parents, when he goes back home next, it's uncertain when; if lucky, he might return for New Year, if unlucky with busy schoolwork, New Year might not even see him return.

After all, third-year graduate school, thesis, and all sorts of troublesome things.

So when there's a chance, gotta tease.

"You brat want to see me all flustered, right? Well, let me tell you, that's impossible. I'll have a serious chat with you now. You mentioned a surprise for me earlier; what's the surprise? Don't tell me it's about you having a girlfriend ready to marry, because that would be quite a surprise."

Old Zhang calmly turned defense into offense,

then fixed his eyes on Zhang Lingchuan.

Speaking of, the girl his sister-in-law mentioned hasn't visited their home, kept away by the kid.

"If you're looking for that kind of surprise, Boss Zhang, you can forget it. Broke as I am, what marriage?"

Marriage and building a family entail responsibility; currently, he's without a career and still a poor student, marriage is too distant.

"No marriage, but you could start a relationship first, have a foundation of feelings before marriage would be nice."

Just as expected.

The kid has no inclination towards marriage yet, primarily due to lack of financial capacity.

Yet, as age arrives, starting a romance might be possible.

"Boss Zhang, you know what?"

Suddenly, Zhang Lingchuan turned serious towards Old Zhang.

"Know what?"

Old Zhang was puzzled.

"Women only slow down my money-making speed!"

With a slight smirk at the corner of his lips, Zhang Lingchuan said.

Forget romance; better to exploit the system benefits to boost oneself, earn money first.

"Cough! Cough cough!"

Old Zhang almost choked hearing this!!

Yet he found no grounds to refute, as a man knowing that relationships post financial stability are much more secure than when penniless.

A great romance might fall apart due to various woes, like her folks thinking funds are lacking, causing hardship for their daughter, and breaking up a loving pair, which indeed affects a child deeply.

Let the young be,

for he'll just mind his own domain.

The car drove on.

Meanwhile, in the back of the Integrated Media Center's vehicle, lively conversation carried on.

"Wanqing, today marks our final livestream,"

Chen Qian commented to Song Wanqing.

"Yeah, Teacher Chen."

Song Wanqing nodded, as it's already August 31st.

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