After coming out of Boya Medical College, I checked the time and saw it was only half-past four. At that hour, Dad and Mom Zhao would still be at the stall.

Zhao Heng headed from Boya to the food street, arriving at his small stall. It wasn't yet peak off-work hours, so there weren't many people eating, and Dad and Mom Zhao were still preparing ingredients.

From afar, Zhao Heng could see the smiles beaming on his parents' faces.

It seemed supporting Dad with the stall was the right move.

Zhao Heng thought to himself, he was even more certain now that backing the decision to run the stall was correct.

"Why are you off work so early today?"

Seeing his son approaching, Dad Zhao was cutting a large, fragrant and already-braised piece of beef on the cutting board as he asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I had some things to take care of at the school this afternoon."

Zhao Heng replied.

"School? Haven't you graduated?"

Dad Zhao was still feeling a bit puzzled.

"I signed up for a combined master's and PhD program, and this afternoon was the opening ceremony, so I attended."

Zhao Heng stated briefly.

"A master's and PhD program? Son, you're going back to school? What about your job at the hospital?"

Upon hearing this, Dad Zhao felt both happy and worried. To him, continuing education was good, but his son was also doing well at the hospital, and it would be a shame to give that up.

"Son, don't listen to your dad. Mom knows that for doctors, it's necessary to further their education. You just focus on your studies; the stall's been doing well lately, enough for you to study in peace."

Mom Zhao had been listening and chimed in, also thinking studying was a good thing. Moreover, the noodle stall had been doing better and better, which gave her confidence.

"Mom, I'm doing a part-time graduate program, so I don't need to quit. I'll continue working at the hospital; it's just that for school events, I'll need to attend."

Seeing how supportive his mother was, Zhao Heng felt very warm inside but still explained the situation.

"Oh~"

"Son, you're earning money while working and also studying for a graduate degree. Isn't that great? Would your boss really allow this?"

Mom Zhao commented in an intriguing way.

"Mom, it was my boss who encouraged me to study."

Zhao Heng smiled as he said.

"Then your boss treats you well."

Dad Zhao caught on and nodded affirmatively.

Dad and Mom Zhao had some insight and understanding as parents, at least never advising Zhao Heng to just listen to his boss without question or saying things like "Just work hard and people will notice," which sounds reasonable but is actually useless advice.

At the very least, Mom Zhao knew that generally, bosses don't want you to excel because if you do, how would they motivate you with false promises and use you relentlessly?

"Mom, when others graduate and start working, most parents teach them to just listen well to their superiors and work diligently. Why do you seem to think bosses aren't good?"

Zhao Heng said, half-jokingly, to his mother.

"You silly child, isn't a boss's job just to order people around?"

Mom Zhao replied.

Hearing this, Zhao Heng felt like he grasped the essence. Yes, isn't a supervisor's role essentially to give orders?

The boss's job is just to find various ways to direct subordinates...

Dad Zhao didn't refute this; working diligently and being noticed by others was advice handed down from his own parents. Clearly, in today's world, such life advice no longer applies.

"Son, Mom's telling you this, not to rush you, but you're still young. Man Ni isn't getting any younger, and if you keep delaying, having kids might become difficult."

Mom Zhao suddenly said.

"Mom, didn't we talk about this last time? We both have to focus on our careers for these two years, and marriage and kids can wait. With today's advanced medical technology, having kids a little later doesn't really matter."

Zhao Heng replied, somewhat helplessly.

Is nagging about marriage and children a skill all parents possess?

He was just in his twenties; he wasn't ready to be a dad yet.

"Alright, alright, Mom will listen to you."

Seeing she had said enough, Mom Zhao decided not to press further. Too much pushing could irritate the child.

"Dad, let me help you."

Zhao Heng rolled up his sleeves, ready to lend a hand.

"Alright, you can help me slice the beef. But using those hands of yours, skilled with a scalpel, on a kitchen knife – what a waste of talent."

Dad Zhao said heartily, though his words were filled with pride for his son.

Zhao Heng just smiled at this and quickly joined in to help.

By now, more and more people were getting off work, and more customers gathered at the noodle stall. The family of three quickly became busy.

Zhao Heng was moved by the bustling, lively atmosphere, a sense of warmth stemming from the simplest aspects of life.

They worked until ten at night before wrapping up the stall.

Upon returning home, Mom Zhao sat on the sofa, wearing reading glasses, intently looking at her phone.

Zhao Heng had taught her how to use it, mainly for handling payments.

"Son, today was good too. If your dad and I stayed in the hometown, we'd never earn as much as we do here."

Mom Zhao said, satisfied as she looked at the balance on her phone.

It felt rewarding to earn money through their own efforts and to watch it grow bit by bit.

"True, though this big city is tough, once you're through the door, earning is easier than back home."

Dad Zhao agreed wholeheartedly.

"Dad, Mom, you don't have to prepare so many ingredients every day. I think if we set a daily limit and close up once everything is sold, it could even create a buzz."

Though he was pleased that his parents had their business, Zhao Heng thought that working from dawn till night like today would be too exhausting.

"Yeah, that might work."

Dad Zhao considered and nodded.

"Honey, let's ask Xiao Juan to help out, shall we?"

Mom Zhao suddenly suggested.

"Didn't you always oppose helping relatives? Why suddenly bring up getting Xiao Juan to help?"

Dad Zhao asked, confused.

The Xiao Juan Mom Zhao was referring to was, of course, Zhao Heng's cousin, Zhao Juan. She had initially come to the city with Zhao Heng's uncle for medical treatment and stayed.

"You make me sound like a villain. Back then, we had no spare money, so sponsoring them was out of the question. Now, we could use some help at the stall, and Xiao Juan is the best of her family."

Mom Zhao said with a mild reproach.

"Alright."

Dad Zhao readily agreed. He'd been considering this but hadn't suggested it due to the unpleasantness from last time between the families.

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