I Am Zhizhi's Wife

The cold wind swept up a few withered, yellow leaves, sending them spinning across the concrete ground.

It was the third day of the Lunar New Year. The air was filled with the distinct smoky scent of burnt firecrackers, mixed with the mouth-watering aroma of stewed meat that stirred up one's appetite.

It should have been a perfect time to hide under the covers and sleep in, but Chen Zhi had gotten up early.

He was currently standing in the drafty entrance of the apartment building, bundled up like a bright red, plump rice dumpling.

The most eye-catching thing about him was the stainless steel washbasin clutched tightly in his hands.

The bottom of the basin was as bright as a mirror, reflecting his tender little face that was currently written all over with calculation.

For a reincarnator, the Spring Festival was not just a holiday, but an annual feast of wealth redistribution.

In his past life as a corporate slave, the New Year was a tribulation. He had to use his meager, hard-earned salary to give red envelopes to his nieces and nephews.

Now, the tables had turned.

As a three-and-a-half-year-old human cub, he was currently in the absolute top-tier, overpowered phase of life.

As long as he was thick-skinned enough, his income over these few days could even surpass his father Chen Jun's monthly salary.

Chen Zhi weighed the stainless steel basin in his hands.

This was his core equipment.

Simply kowtowing on the ground produced a dull sound lacking penetrating power. It couldn't strike directly at the souls of the elders, much less make him stand out among his competitors.

But with this basin, a single kowtow would produce a deafening clang. His sincerity would instantly be magnified ten times over.

This wasn't just kowtowing; this was knocking on the door of wealth.

The motion-sensor light in the hallway flickered on and off.

Lin Wanwan pushed open the heavy security door and waddled out like a penguin.

She was wearing a pink down jacket and a fluffy rabbit-ear hat on her head. The two ears bobbed up and down with her steps.

Seeing Chen Zhi standing as straight as a pine tree in the cold wind, Lin Wanwan stopped in her tracks, tilted her head, and her big eyes filled with confusion.

Zhi-zhi, what are you doing?

Her milky, childish voice was scattered by the wind.

Chen Zhi didn't turn around, only giving her an unfathomable view of his back.

How could a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan?

Women would only affect the speed of his kowtowing.

Seeing that Chen Zhi ignored her, Lin Wanwan wasn't angry.

She sniffled her little nose, which was red from the cold, and ran back home on her short little legs with a pitter-patter.

Less than half a minute later, the security door was pushed open again.

Zhi-zhi, I'm here too!

Impressively, Lin Wanwan was also holding a basin in her hands.

Imitating Chen Zhi, she planted the basin on the ground, stood side-by-side with him, puffed out her chest, and looked incredibly proud.

Although she didn't know what they were doing, following Zhi-zhi was definitely the right thing to do.

Chen Zhi glanced at her, his mouth twitching.

This little copycat. His trade secret had been leaked just like that.

The roar of a car engine came from the distance.

A black Audi A6 slowly drove into the residential complex, its tires crushing the firecracker debris on the road with a rustling sound.

Chen Zhi's spirits lifted.

The big fish had entered the net.

This was his Second Uncle who lived in the city. He was in the building materials business and was famously generous with his money.

Whether or not he could achieve financial freedom depended entirely on this moment.

The car windows were tinted dark, making it impossible to see the figures inside.

Chen Zhi took a deep breath, adjusted his facial expression, and instantly switched to his innocent, well-behaved, and sensible business mode.

He lifted the stainless steel basin, stretched his short little legs, and charged toward the Audi.

His posture looked as if he were reuniting with a long-lost relative.

The Audi had just come to a steady stop, and the door hadn't even opened yet.

Chen Zhi threw the basin onto the ground right in front of the car door.

Clang!

The crisp sound of metal hitting the ground echoed between the buildings.

Immediately after, his knees went soft, he knelt accurately next to the basin, and threw his upper body forward.

His forehead slammed heavily against the bottom of the basin.

Duang! Duang! Duang!

Three loud bangs rang out with an incredibly strong rhythm, even producing an echo.

Happy New Year, Uncle! I wish you peace throughout the four seasons, wealth from all directions, a booming business that reaches the four seas, and abundant financial resources that flow like the three rivers!

Chen Zhi shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice was loud, his enunciation was clear, and he rattled off one set of auspicious greetings after another without repeating a single word.

He had spent half the night memorizing these lines just for this explosive moment.

Beside him, Lin Wanwan, who had been standing there in a daze, was startled by this sudden spectacle.

But her greatest strength was her exceptional ability to imitate.

Although she didn't understand why they had to kneel and knock on basins, since Zhi-zhi was doing it, it must be fun.

She also threw her basin onto the ground.

Plop, she knelt down.

Then, she buried her little head into the basin.

Tee hee hee hee hee!

She kowtowed while letting out crisp, giggling laughter.

The door of the Audi was suddenly pushed open.

A middle-aged man in a black overcoat jumped out in a panic.

Second Uncle Zhang Jianguo had just parked the car when he heard a loud noise outside that sounded like gongs and drums, followed immediately by a tender child's voice shouting for wealth from all directions.

This wasn't a New Year's greeting; this was clearly a robbery!

Oh my goodness! My little ancestors!

Zhang Jianguo looked at the two little meatballs kneeling on the ground, his facial features scrunching up in distress.

He rushed forward, taking two steps in one, and hoisted the two children up from the ground, one in each hand.

What are you doing! Get up, get up, the ground is cold!

Chen Zhi stood up with the momentum, but his two hands gripped the stainless steel basin tightly, refusing to let go. He held it in front of his chest, not saying a word, and just stared straight at Zhang Jianguo.

His big, clear eyes were filled with a very obvious message:

Pay up, business is business.

The procedure was so professional it made one's heart ache.

Zhang Jianguo was amused by his nephew's money-grubbing little appearance.

While patting the dust off Chen Zhi's knees, he pulled a thick, bulging red envelope out of the inner pocket of his overcoat.

Alright, alright, Zhi-zhi is such a good boy, and such a sweet-talker. Come, here is a big red envelope from your uncle. Go buy some snacks with it.

The red envelope landed in his hand, feeling heavy.

Chen Zhi calmly pinched it with his fingers to gauge the thickness.

Based on the feel, it was at least two thousand yuan.

Secured.

His Lego fund for the year was settled.

He quickly stuffed the red envelope into his inner pocket, patted it to ensure it was safe, and only then did a one hundred percent genuine smile appear on his face.

Thank you, Uncle! Uncle is the most handsome!

Zhang Jianguo laughed heartily and reached out to ruffle Chen Zhi's hair.

Having dealt with the first one, Zhang Jianguo turned his gaze to the little girl who was still giggling foolishly beside him.

Lin Wanwan was also holding her stainless steel basin. With a bit of dirt on her cheek, she tilted her head up and looked at him with a face full of expectation.

Her big, watery eyes blinked as if to say: What about mine? What about mine?

Zhang Jianguo was taken aback for a moment.

This little girl was exquisitely cute, like a porcelain doll, but she looked unfamiliar.

Zhi-zhi,

Zhang Jianguo pointed at Lin Wanwan and turned to ask Chen Zhi, Whose little girl is this? She's so pretty. What, did your family secretly have a second child?

It wasn't Zhang Jianguo's fault for not recognizing her. He was usually busy with business and rarely visited Chen Zhi's family. Plus, Lin Wanwan grew fast and was bundled up tightly right now, so it was normal not to recognize her.

Chen Zhi rolled his eyes.

Secretly had a second child?

He was just about to explain that this was Uncle Lin's daughter from next door, essentially just a random bystander trying to piggyback on his success.

But Lin Wanwan, who had been silent the whole time beside him, suddenly beat him to the punch.

Tucking the basin under her arm, she puffed out her little chest and announced in a crisp, loud voice:

"Uncle! I am Zhizhi's wife!"

The air froze instantly.

Even the biting wind seemed to stop howling.

The smile on Zhang Jianguo's face stiffened, and his hand, which was reaching for a red envelope, paused in mid-air.

He looked at Lin Wanwan, then at Chen Zhi, his mouth wide open enough to fit an egg.

Are kids nowadays all this precocious?

Settling their lifelong affairs at the age of three?

Chen Zhi nearly choked on his own saliva.

He whipped his head around, staring wide-eyed at Lin Wanwan with an expression as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Chen Zhi grew frantic. "She's just a friend who lives next door!"

He spoke incredibly fast, desperately trying to clear his name. "A normal friend! The very normal kind!"

Lin Wanwan was not happy about this.

She felt that Zhizhi was lying and denying her status.

The little girl's temper flared. She threw her basin onto the ground, put her hands on her hips, and puffed out her cheeks to retort:

"I'm not talking nonsense!"

Pointing at the nearby apartment building, she shouted righteously:

"Auntie Zhang said it herself last night! She told me to eat more and grow up fast, so I can be Zhizhi's wife when I grow up!"

"And I agreed!"

She said this last part exceptionally loud, even with a hint of pride.

It was as if this was a glorious, monumental undertaking worthy of celebration.

Chen Zhi felt a wave of dizziness.

Zhang Guifang!

It was Zhang Guifang again!

This biological mother of his who only knew how to sabotage her own son!

Chen Zhi covered his face in despair.

He could already imagine how this dark history would follow him for the rest of his life, becoming the standard joke for relatives to tease him with during every holiday season.

"Hahaha! Good! Good job!"

Zhang Jianguo finally snapped out of his daze and burst into earth-shattering laughter.

He laughed so hard he couldn't stand straight, tears nearly streaming from his eyes.

"Oh man, I think this marriage works! Zhizhi, you lucky boy, getting your lifelong affairs sorted out at such a young age. You're doing way better than your uncle!"

Still laughing, Zhang Jianguo pulled another red envelope from his pocket.

This time, he deliberately picked a thicker one.

"Come, come, come. Since you're my nephew's wife, I have to give you a red envelope, and a big one at that!"

He stuffed the red envelope into Lin Wanwan's hand and patted her shoulder with exaggerated seriousness.

"If Zhizhi ever dares to bully you in the future, just tell Uncle, and Uncle will beat him up for you!"

Lin Wanwan accepted the red envelope, and the anger on her face vanished in an instant.

Although she didn't know exactly what nephew's wife meant, she knew that this red thing in her hand could buy a lot of lollipops.

Plus, this one looked even thicker than Zhizhi's!

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Lin Wanwan thanked him sweetly, her voice soft and adorable.

She even shot a triumphant grimace at Chen Zhi, waving the red envelope in her hand as if showing off her spoils of war.

Chen Zhi watched this scene, feeling like life was no longer worth living.

He suddenly felt that the red envelope in his own hand had lost its appeal.

This wasn't about the money.

This was about dignity.

Not only had he been sold out by his own mother, but this silly, sweet neighbor had also sealed the deal.

He couldn't live like this anymore.

Zhang Jianguo finally laughed enough and remembered they still needed to go upstairs to give their New Year greetings.

Carrying gift boxes in one hand, he reached out to hold Chen Zhi's hand with the other.

"Let's go, take your wife home!"

Zhang Jianguo teased him on purpose.

Chen Zhi, his face dark, picked up the stainless steel basin from the ground and walked into the stairwell without looking back.

His back looked bleak and desolate.

Seeing this, Lin Wanwan quickly picked up her own basin and trotted after him cheerfully.

"Zhizhi, wait for me!"

"Zhizhi, let's pool our money together to buy that huge Transformer!"

"Zhizhi, why are you ignoring me? Is it because you're too happy?"

The little girl's chirping voice echoed in the stairwell, along with the crisp clanging of the stainless steel basin occasionally hitting the railings.

Zhang Jianguo watched the backs of the two little ones, one following the other, and shook his head with a smile.

"Childhood sweethearts, so innocent and pure..."

He sighed emotionally, then stepped forward to catch up.

At the elevator, Chen Zhi was frantically pressing the up button, wishing he could immediately disappear from this place of trouble.

Lin Wanwan stood beside him, carefully tucking the red envelope into her pocket, afraid it might fall out.

"Zhizhi."

She suddenly leaned in, lowered her voice, and said mysteriously.

"My mommy said that a wife has to give her money to her husband to keep."

Reluctantly, Lin Wanwan pulled the large, barely-warmed red envelope out of her pocket and held it out to Chen Zhi.

"For you."

Chen Zhi's finger paused on the elevator button.

He slowly turned his head, looking at the silly little girl in front of him, and then at the thick red envelope.

The more he looked at Lin Wanwan, the cuter and more pleasing to the eye she became.

After all, no one would hold a grudge against money.

Chen Zhi took the red envelope with extreme naturalness and tucked it into his coat, his movements smooth and flowing, without the slightest hesitation.

"Ahem."

He cleared his throat, trying hard to maintain an aloof image.

"Since you're so sincere, I'll reluctantly help you keep it safe."

"But I'm warning you, you are not allowed to call me that in front of outsiders."

Lin Wanwan nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into two happy crescent moons.

"Got it, Hubby!"

Chen Zhi stumbled, nearly falling to his knees in front of the elevator doors.