George Carter found a job for Linda Mason at the factory kindergarten. As his career advanced, he became even more assertive at home, treating Linda Mason as someone who came and went at his beck and call.

Linda Mason also knew she was in the wrong. She was so excited to see this child she had been separated from for so many years that she forgot to ask for leave, so she didn’t blame her husband for getting angry.

Although Eric Carter felt that George Carter was being unreasonable, after all, this was their family business, and it was a way of life the two had grown accustomed to for many years. Even as their own son, it wouldn’t be his place to interfere—let alone as an outsider.

George Carter glanced again at the blue work jacket Eric Carter was wearing and snorted. It was obvious at a glance that it was his work uniform.

Seeing that Eric Carter’s clothes were covered in mud, Linda Mason went to find some of old Lu’s clothes for Eric Carter to change into. She was afraid that old Lu would fly into a rage when he got home, so she only dared to give Eric Carter a set of work clothes to change into. But then again, George Carter really didn’t have any decent clothes—he was old-fashioned and didn’t care about what he wore.

Seeing George Carter’s unfriendly expression, Linda Mason pulled him aside and suggested, “Now that the child is back, let’s make a nice dinner tonight, okay? I’ll go buy some meat?”

George Carter frowned and said, “Just eat whatever we have.”

Unable to argue with George Carter, but still feeling sorry for Eric Carter, Linda Mason thought for a moment and simply made some egg pancakes, using plenty of eggs. After all, old Lu wouldn’t know how many eggs were left at home anyway.

Outside the courtyard, the sound of bicycle bells and people greeting each other could be heard from time to time—it was already the end of the workday.

When George Carter and Linda Mason’s fourth daughter, Sophie Carter, came home, she was just as indifferent upon seeing Eric Carter. The Lu siblings had always looked down on Eric Carter.

There were six Lu siblings—four daughters and two sons. Except for the second son, who had gotten into college and was studying out of town, the rest had all found jobs one after another. Of course, some were official workers, others were temps. For example, the eldest son had a formal job in Qinglong, a neighboring county, while the fourth daughter, Sophie Carter, hadn’t yet switched to a non-rationed grain status and was working odd jobs at the city flour mill.

When setting the table, Eric Carter suggested that it was too hot inside and they should eat in the courtyard. He was hoping to strike up a conversation with the Xia family next door, and ideally, with old man William Summers.

George Carter didn’t object, saying, “Invite the Xia family and the young couple from the Zhou family to eat together.” In the factory compound and other work unit family courtyards, most families got along like one big family. Whenever someone had a good meal, they’d invite the neighbors to join in.

The courtyard soon became lively. The Zhou family was a young couple, both working at the fertilizer plant, with a four- or five-year-old child running around the yard, adding a bit of fun to the atmosphere.

Eric Carter finally met William Summers. In fact, old Xia wasn’t that old—just a bit over fifty—but his hair was snow white, and he was quiet and reserved, a stark contrast to George Carter’s domineering manner.

William Summers’s son wasn’t home. His daughter-in-law, Richard Bolton, was the cashier at the fertilizer plant and considered a prominent figure there. It was clear she was a strong-willed person and not very polite to old Xia. It was said that when Richard Bolton married into the Xia family, she had hoped to benefit from old Xia’s status, but not long after the wedding, old Xia was labeled as one of the “three types of people” and sidelined. So she harbored some resentment toward her father-in-law.

The young couple from the Zhou family, David Clark and Anna Lewis, were both workers at the plant and showed a lot of respect for the senior George Carter.

They pushed two low tables together. Old Xia carried a small stool and sat far from George Carter’s main seat, so Eric Carter sat next to him.

The Zhou couple didn’t know the relationship between Eric Carter and the Lu family. They only heard Linda Mason say he was a nephew who had been separated for many years. David Clark even brought out a bottle of “Fenjiu” from home, saying it was a gift from his cousin. In an era when people mostly drank cheap baijiu, this was definitely a luxury item. Even Eric Carter couldn’t help but think that this bottle of Fenjiu was probably even more genuine than the Moutai that would sell for thousands in later years.

Seeing Eric Carter sitting in the corner, David Clark cheerfully called out to him, “Zhengzi, you’re the guest of honor today! Come over and sit with Uncle Lu.”

Sophie Carter curled her lip and said, “How is he the guest of honor?” She was the youngest, delicate-looking, and the most spoiled at home—George Carter doted on her endlessly.

Linda Mason frowned and said, “You child!” But George Carter just nodded and said, “Let him sit there.” After all these years, he still looked down on Eric Carter. He remembered how, when Eric Carter was a teenager and got beaten, the way he quietly looked at him made him uncomfortable.

David Clark was taken aback and fell silent, realizing the family dynamics were quite complicated.

Eric Carter naturally didn’t mind. As everyone at the table started eating and drinking and the atmosphere grew lively, Eric Carter raised his glass to clink with William Summers. William Summers was momentarily surprised, but then clinked glasses with Eric Carter and drank in silence.

Eric Carter didn’t say much, just occasionally clinking glasses with William Summers and quietly drinking. William Summers became curious about Eric Carter, looking at him with a hint of sympathy and sighing softly in his heart—perhaps thinking of his own past and present.

Sophie Carter chattered on about things at the factory, complaining about being tired and not wanting to work anymore. George Carter felt troubled. In fact, as a deputy workshop director, his abilities were limited—he just had seniority and an important position, earning more than those in administrative or public institutions, so their living conditions seemed better. But when it came to solving his youngest daughter’s long-term temp job issue, it wasn’t something that could be easily done.