Chapter 13: The Homeless Female Supporting Character 13

Since it was arranged that the Zhang family would pick her up, Zhang Yu prepared an extra breakfast for the driver after she got up.

Even though it was something her leader had instructed, it was still an imposition on the other party.

Pan Juan hadn't rested well all night; she had even dreamed about herself cooking, which had given her quite a fright.

It had been so many years since she had last stepped into a kitchen, and yet here she was, doing the chores again.

Seeing Zhang Yu making breakfast, Pan Juan's mood soured instantly, and she couldn't help but vent her frustration. "Oh, aren't you leaving?"

"Why on earth are you still making breakfast?"

Was she taking her frustrations out on her? Zhang Yu paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "Yes."

"After all, this is the last time I'll be cooking in this house."

Zhang Yu finished breakfast quickly and waited for the driver to arrive.

She didn't chat with Pan Juan at all during the process. She knew that because she was leaving, Pan Juan was bound to be angry. These matters were hers to deal with now; who could stay happy in her position?

When the car pulled up to the entrance of the alley, Zhang Yu and the driver had to make several trips to load everything she was taking with her into the vehicle.

"Mom, I'm leaving."

"Please take good care of yourself and Dad." Regardless of everything, she still had to maintain appearances.

Pan Juan looked at Zhang Yu with complex emotions. To be honest, she truly didn't understand how a person could change so quickly and so drastically—to the point where she was almost unrecognizable.

"You're so fine staying at home, why do you insist on going out? What if you get sick or injured in another city? What will you do then?"

Pan Juan offered all sorts of worries. Even though she knew saying these things was useless, she still felt the need to urge her to stay.

"Mom, don't worry. I'll take good care of myself."

"You and Dad must take care of yourselves too." Zhang Yu gave Pan Juan one last hug. "Mom, I'm off."

Zhang Yu walked away with large strides, her bag slung over her shoulder, saying goodbye to the old neighbors along the way.

Watching the drama was in the nature of the local people. Knowing that Zhang Yu was actually going to work in another city, their first reaction was to wonder if this had something to do with the Zhang family's upcoming demolition and relocation.

Among the three older children in the Zhang family, they all had houses, while only Zhang Yu had received nothing.

Faced with the neighbors' various inquiries, Zhang Yu naturally denied it repeatedly; she had never cared about those Zhang family houses to begin with.

"My job transfer is perfectly legitimate. How could it be related to demolition?"

"Whether my family's house is demolished or not, my leader sent me to work in another city. This is my job," Zhang Yu stated with a smile, emphasizing that work came first.

The neighbors had their own opinions regarding her explanation, but that was not something she needed to worry about.

"By the way, Xiao Yu, if you're going away like this, what about when your family moves and packs up?" an elderly woman, who was usually on good terms with Pan Juan, spoke up.

Regarding that, Zhang Yu replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Auntie. My brother and sister-in-law know I'm leaving today; they rushed back overnight."

"My sister-in-law said she will definitely help organize the things."

"And once my work situation is settled there, I'll come back to help."

"Besides, my second brother and eldest sister will also come back to help with the packing."

"They are usually busy with work, but they will definitely have time on the weekends." She continued to use these words to block any excuses from Zhang Shuhua and the others about not having time to help.

It made no sense; they always had time to come back for meals on the weekends, so surely they could find time when it came to packing.

If that wasn't the case, their behavior would be truly unsightly.

"Exactly, aren't there Guohua and the others?" another elderly woman, who frequently heard Pan Juan praise how filial her children were, also wanted to see if the rest of the Zhang children were truly that devoted.

As old neighbors, they all knew that whenever Zhang Dagui and his wife felt unwell, it was always their daughter, Zhang Yu, who ran back and forth to take care of them.

As for the weekend and holiday gatherings, Zhang Guohua and the others always showed up to eat, but they never lifted a finger; they just enjoyed the food prepared by Zhang Yu's hard work.

It could be said that Zhang Yu was the only one in the entire Zhang family who actually did the work, yet in the mouths of Zhang Dagui and his wife, this daughter was nothing but a failure.

Now that Zhang Yu was leaving to work in another city, one wondered which of those "filial" descendants would have the courage to take over her responsibilities.

"Yes, and my eldest brother and the others too." Zhang Yu didn't bother thinking about what the neighbors were thinking.

If there was anyone to blame, it was Zhang Dagui for boasting about them so much, combined with the fact that they were all people who cared deeply about their reputation.

So, for the sake of their reputation for filial piety, no matter how unwilling they were in their hearts, they could only continue to put in the effort.

Zhang Yu felt that this morning was truly wonderful. Just as she was about to depart, they were digging a pit for themselves. Not bad, not bad at all.

After all, for the sake of their so-called reputation, they would naturally have to shoulder more than their fair share.

Zhang Yu sat in the car in high spirits. Seeing her happy demeanor, the driver's first thought was, "Accountant Zhang, is your family's house being demolished?"

It wasn't exactly a secret, so Zhang Yu gave an affirmative nod. "Yes, the notice has been issued."

The driver had just glanced at the Zhang family's house and made a quick estimation. "Then congratulations, Accountant Zhang. You're going to strike it rich."

With a house that large, once it was demolished, they would receive at least several new houses. If that wasn't striking it rich, what was?

It made sense; if he were in her position, he would certainly be in a great mood.

Congratulating her? Zhang Yu smiled. "Unfortunately, the demolition of the family house has nothing to do with me."

The driver was stunned. What did she mean? How could it have nothing to do with her?

"I have two older brothers and an older sister. The three of them have a share, and my parents have a share too."

She wasn't the one getting rich from the demolition; or rather, this wealth had nothing to do with her, so she felt the need to explain.

The driver was truly bewildered. "There's no share for you?" Although he was surprised that Zhang Yu had two brothers and a sister above her, he couldn't understand how, with such a large house, she wouldn't get a share upon demolition.

Zhang Yu gave a small nod. See? Anyone would be surprised to learn she had no share.

"Perhaps it's because I'm not married?"

"But after all, it's my parents' house. How they choose to divide it is their right."

The driver was quite a talkative person. Knowing that Zhang Yu would only be able to live with her parents in the future, he said, "Accountant Zhang, I think people should have their own house."

"No matter how big or small, at the very least, it should be your own."

"No matter when, you won't have to worry about someone kicking you out."

"Especially for someone like you who doesn't have children." The driver wasn't blind; he understood that people felt it was a waste to give a house to someone without descendants.

But in the driver's eyes, the more she was like this, the more she actually needed a house.

"Even if the nieces and nephews are good, they have to take care of their own parents. How much energy can they really spare to look after an aunt?"

"Especially an aunt who doesn't have a house of her own."

The driver was someone who traveled frequently and had a keen eye for people; otherwise, he would never have opened his mouth to say such a thing.