My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 470: Persuading the Lou Family to Leave

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Since marrying Guan Xiaoguan, Zhang Lei has truly settled down and hasn't brought any more women home. In the past six months, apart from the three sisters Ye Shuqin, Ye Shuqi, and Ye Shuhua, all the other wives in the family have become pregnant one after another.

That day, Zhang Lei found Lou Xiao'e, who was heavily pregnant, and said softly, "Xiao'e, let's go back to the Lou family together."

Lou Xiao'e was somewhat surprised. This was the first time Zhang Lei had taken the initiative to visit the Lou family. In the past, it was only when she wanted to go that Zhang Lei would accompany her.

The two soon arrived at the Lou residence. Lou's father was overjoyed to see his daughter return and greeted her with a smile, "You've only been gone a couple of days, why are you back already?"

Lou Xiao'e took her father's arm and said with a smile, "Dad, Zhang Lei said he had something to discuss with you and asked me to come with him."

Upon hearing this, Lou's father looked at Zhang Lei with some surprise.

Zhang Lei smiled and said, "There is indeed something I'd like to discuss with you. Is this a convenient time for you?"

Mr. Lou nodded: "Alright, since you're the one who came to see me, let's talk in the study."

At this moment, Lou's mother also came over, took Lou Xiao'e's hand and said with a smile, "Come on, let's go for a stroll in the garden and let the men talk things over."

Lou's father led Zhang Lei into the study and said with a smile, "Speak, what brings you here? Is the family short of money?"

Zhang Lei said helplessly, "Dad, you're overthinking it. Why would I ask you for money?"

Lou's father glanced at him: "You want more than you need? Every time Xiao'e comes back, she's not used to not taking something from me."

Zhang Lei chuckled. He knew that as long as he casually mentioned that his family was missing something, Lou Xiao'e would turn around and go back to her parents' home, carrying back bags and packages.

Seeing this, Lou's father waved his hand and said, "Alright, stop joking around. If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, I have to go downstairs to keep my daughter company."

Zhang Lei quickly said seriously, "Something's wrong, really something's wrong."

The two talked in the study for a full half hour. The more Lou's father listened, the more serious his expression became. Finally, he looked at Zhang Lei in shock and asked, "Are you telling the truth?"

Zhang Lei nodded solemnly: "The winds are already beginning to shift. In a few years, capitalists like you will most likely be purged."

Mr. Lou still couldn't quite believe it.

Zhang Lei said in a deep voice, "Don't take any chances. We're leaving now so we can come back in a better way. Not only are you leaving, but I also plan to leave in two years."

Mr. Lou was startled: "You're leaving too?"

"Hmm," Zhang Lei responded. "The environment in Hong Kong is currently more relaxed for you businessmen, but the situation is relatively chaotic, so you need to be more careful about security."

Lou Bancheng smoked a cigarette, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

Zhang Lei continued, "I'm telling you in advance because you have a substantial fortune, and your assets and manpower need time to be arranged and managed in preparation for your return to take over. Of course, if you don't want to leave now, that's fine too; we can set off together when the time comes."

Lou's father looked up at him: "Does Xiao'e know about this?"

Zhang Lei shook his head: "I haven't told her yet. I'm telling you first because I've sensed that the current situation isn't quite right. Rather than sitting idly by and waiting for our doom, we should take the initiative to plan ahead. Besides, wherever we are, we're contributing to the country."

After finishing his cigarette, Lou's father remained silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh: "It's hard to leave one's homeland."

Zhang Lei gently comforted him, "Don't worry, it'll only be a little over ten years. We'll definitely come back in a little over ten years."

Seeing that Lou's father was still thinking, Zhang Lei stood up and said, "Take your time to think it over. It's always good to be prepared."

After leaving the study, Zhang Lei found Lou's mother and Lou Xiao'e chatting in the garden.

He was only frank with Lou's father out of consideration for Lou Xiao'e. He knew perfectly well that Lou's father had more than one daughter, Xiao'e, and Lou's mother was just one of his concubines. Large families like theirs never put all their eggs in one basket. Lou Xiao'e had previously mentioned that Lou's father's legal wife and eldest son had long since settled in the United States, and his other concubines had also been placed elsewhere. Lou Xiao'e also had several half-brothers, but they rarely interacted.

Zhang Lei had no time to worry about these things. He already had a plan in mind: in a few years, he would take his family and leave Beijing. Some time ago, he had already dispatched one hundred commercial robots and nine hundred combat robots to Hong Kong to lay the groundwork and prepare for his family's future relocation there. After all, he still needed to further understand the specific situation in Hong Kong.

Lou Xiao'e looked at Zhang Lei and asked with a smile, "Honey, what did you say to Dad? Where is he?"

Zhang Lei smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. Your dad's upstairs contemplating life."

Seeing his secretive demeanor, Lou Xiao'e snorted irritably, "Fine, don't tell me then."

Zhang Lei quickly stepped forward to support her and gently comforted her, "Don't be angry. You're pregnant now, and getting angry is bad for the baby."

Seeing the harmonious relationship and pleasant interactions between the two, Lou's mother smiled with satisfaction.

The two arrived quickly and left just as fast. Before leaving, Lou Xiao'e, as usual, ransacked the Lou family home, taking everything she could—cigarettes, alcohol, tea, candy, kitchen food—and loading it into the car. Lou's father, already frowning, furrowed his brow even more deeply. Standing at the door, watching the car drive away, he secretly pondered that perhaps he really should move out sooner rather than later; otherwise, with his daughter constantly coming to fleece him, even with a vast fortune, he would eventually be drained dry.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, the Lou family suddenly sent someone to their door. When the steward saw Lou Xiao'e, he said respectfully, "Miss, the master wants you and your husband to come home immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e hurriedly went to find Zhang Lei, and the two immediately took a car to Lou's house.

But as soon as Lou Xiao'e entered the Lou family's gate, she was stunned by the empty courtyard before her. Most of the furniture and furnishings were missing, and the place exuded a desolate atmosphere. She hurriedly found her parents and asked anxiously, "Dad, Mom, has our house been robbed?"

Seeing how nervous she was, Lou's mother quickly pulled her to sit down in the living room and explained in detail the arrangements the family had made during this period.

Lou Xiao'e's expression grew increasingly grave as she listened, and she asked, "Dad, Mom, are you both leaving?"

Seeing this, Zhang Lei reached out and held Lou Xiao'e's hand tightly, gently comforting her: "Xiao'e, this idea was mine. Doing it this way is good for you and for the Lou family."

Looking at the scene before her, Lou Xiao'e felt a sense of emptiness and unease, finding it very difficult to adjust.

Zhang Lei turned to Lou's parents and asked, "Have you decided on a departure time?"

Mr. Lou nodded: "In the next couple of days."

Zhang Lei pondered for a moment: "I'll send someone to accompany you all the way. If anything happens, he can lend a hand."

Mr. Lou frowned, thought for a moment, and then nodded: "Alright."

Zhang Lei looked at Lou Xiao'e and said gently, "Don't worry, your parents are just going to Hong Kong first. We'll go there in two years."

Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up, and she looked up in surprise: "Really, husband?"

Zhang Lei nodded affirmatively, then said to Lou's father, "The people I've arranged will protect you throughout the entire process. Once you arrive in Hong Kong, they will also contact the people I've placed there beforehand. If there's anything that can't be resolved later, you can ask them to step in."

Lou's father was greatly shocked: "You actually arranged people over there all along?"

"Of course we need to make arrangements in advance," Zhang Lei said calmly. "Otherwise, where will our whole family stay? What will we do?"

As Lou's father watched him speak so casually, as if moving to Hong Kong was just a trivial matter, he felt even more unable to understand Zhang Lei.