Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Without waiting for Tang Qingqing to react, Zhai Hongyi simply grabbed her arm and hoisted her onto his back. Tang Qingqing found herself lying on his back.

"You're too light, like you're made of paper. No wonder you faint so easily."

Seeing how slender Tang Qingqing was, Zhai Hongyi knew she would be light, but he didn't expect her to be this light. With almost no effort, he lifted her onto his back and stood up effortlessly.

Since Tang Qingqing could remember, this was the first time someone had carried her like this. She felt a bit embarrassed and softly spoke:

"I can actually walk myself..."

Wang Heizi: "Haha, Tang Qingqing, even you have your shy moments."

Tang Qingqing's embarrassment dissipated as she reached out and slapped him lightly.

Wang Heizi reacted quickly, jumping aside and making a face at her. "Hehe, you can't hit me, can't hit me."

Tang Qingqing gave him an annoyed look but didn't struggle further, instead quietly thanking Zhai Hongyi.

Zhai Hongyi took long strides, walking fast yet steadily, giving Tang Qingqing a sensation she had never experienced before.

She was the eldest child in her family with three younger brothers. From a young age, she was taught that as the older sister, she needed to take care of her siblings. Whenever she was bullied, no one ever came to her aid; instead, she always stepped in when her siblings were being bullied.

Despite her small and frail appearance, she never hesitated in a fight. It wasn't because she was particularly skilled, but because she fought fiercely. She knew if she didn't resist, she would continue to be bullied. If she couldn't beat someone, she would grab their arm or leg and bite down hard, refusing to let go. When facing a group, she focused on one person, enduring blows without releasing her grip.

Her relentless fighting style made others wary, and some even called her 'Sister Qing.'

She once imagined having an older brother who could protect her. But later, she realized she could handle things herself, which gave her a sense of accomplishment, and gradually, she stopped wishing for such protection.

From books, she read about being cherished, feeling envious and longing, but only momentarily. Despite the difficulties in her current life, there were more happy times than bad, and good people outnumbered the bad. So she cherished her present life.

Now being taken care of by a tall, protective brother was a strange experience, but not unwelcome, even bringing her a bit of joy.

Although Wang Heizi had short legs, he walked quite fast. However, while Zhai Hongyi took long strides, Wang Heizi had to jog to keep up. Nevertheless, this didn't stop him from chattering nonstop: "You don't know how interesting today was. We cleared everything out. Next time, bring us a few more baskets; they're all useful."

"At noon, I went to the state-owned restaurant with Yi Ge. Oh man, when Yi Ge wasn't there and I went in first, the waiter tried to kick me out, saying really nasty things, like he just ate shit. The look on his face was worse than your mom's."

Tang Qingqing: "What happened then?"

"Then Yi Ge arrived, and the waiter's attitude changed instantly. Especially after hearing Yi Ge's standard Mandarin and seeing the plum blossom watch on his wrist, the waiter's demeanor changed so quickly it was almost like my mom's."

Tang Qingqing was both surprised and unsurprised. She had read descriptions of the state-owned restaurant's service in books, but she hadn't experienced it herself. At lunchtime, the cafeteria at the Public Security Bureau had been full of kind-hearted people, from the serving aunties to Chef Li.

"Did you eat there?"

"Yes, the food was decent. But you should have seen the waiter's eyes glued to Yi Ge, trying to discreetly ask me about him."

Wang Heizi covered his mouth, grinning mischievously.

"What did you say?"

"I told him Yi Ge is sixteen and doesn't like old women, especially ugly ones like her. Hahaha, it almost made her braids explode."

Wang Heizi laughed loudly, completely oblivious to the stares of passersby.

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but smile, while Zhai Hongyi remained calm, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"You offended her like that; you won't be able to eat at the state-owned restaurant anymore."

Wang Heizi shrugged: "There are two state-owned restaurants in the commune, and more and more people are selling things privately. Where can't I eat? If worst comes to worst, I can go to my aunt's house."

"Where will you stay tonight? Have you found a place?"

Wang Heizi didn't plan to stay at his aunt's house because he'd be restricted and wouldn't be able to leave easily. Staying at a guesthouse was expensive, and they couldn't afford it.

Wang Heizi: "We found a place to stay overnight. It only costs twenty cents per night."

Tang Qingqing was amazed: "You guys are amazing! How did you find it?"

Wang Heizi pointed to his mouth: "With this."

The surprise continued as Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi led her through the alleyways and stopped at a house. Wang Heizi looked around furtively and then knocked on the door.

The knocking continued with a rhythmic pattern: three long knocks followed by two short ones.

After a moment, someone in the courtyard opened the door, leaving only a small gap.

The young man who opened the door was about the same age as Wang Heizi. He turned his head left and right before asking:

"Who are you looking for?"

Wang Heizi: "I'm here to visit my uncle. It's late, and I wanted to ask for something to eat."

Only after hearing this did the boy fully open the door and step aside to let the three of them enter.

Once inside, Tang Qingqing asked Zhai Hongyi to put her down.

This courtyard was a small siheyuan and looked no different from an ordinary household at first glance.

However, when the boy lifted the curtain to the eastern wing room and led them inside, they discovered it was quite different.

Inside were three small tables and stools, much like a small restaurant.

The boy said, "At this hour, we only have zhajiangmian left. Would you like some?"

Wang Heizi: "Yes, please. We'll take four bowls."

The boy reminded them, "Our portions are quite generous; even grown men can get full."

"It's fine; we can finish it."

The boy didn't say anything more and left.

The three found seats, and Tang Qingqing said, "Isn't that too much? I won't be able to finish it."

Her stomach was weak, and she had a small appetite due to being underfed since childhood. Although she always felt very hungry, she could never eat much when food was available.

As a result, she often got hungry again quickly, but there was nothing to eat.

That's why she liked tending sheep; it allowed her to bring food along and eat little by little throughout the day, which made her feel more comfortable.

If she ate at home, she couldn't do that; others would eat her portion.

Wang Heizi: "Don't worry. There's Yi Ge here; he eats a lot. That's why he's so tall."

Zhai Hongyi didn't feel embarrassed about it; at his age, he was supposed to eat a lot.

He glanced at Tang Qingqing and said, "You're clearly malnourished, which is why your health is so poor. You should eat better to improve it."

Tang Qingqing thought for a moment and asked, "Are the baskets really selling well? Will people still want them later on?"

Wang Heizi: "Don't worry. As long as you can make them, we can find ways to sell them."

Zhai Hongyi also nodded, "Just keep making them. The commune just opened a mining operation that needs a lot of baskets, and they're buying them officially. As long as you can make them, you can sell them. They're paying a good price—six mao per basket."

Hearing this news, Tang Qingqing was overjoyed.

Usually, she could sell each basket for at most four mao fifty, usually just four mao.

"Really? Why such a high price?"

"Really, and they'll buy as many as you can make. But they must be sturdy; if they break easily, they won't buy them again."

"Don't worry; my master's craftsmanship is excellent. No matter how heavy the load, they won't break. I've learned the skill now."

Wang Heizi: "From now on, you focus on making the baskets, and we'll help you sell them. But we'll take five fen per basket. Don't think we're being unfair; it's not easy for us to go to the commune. Either we walk a long distance or pay for transportation."

Tang Qingqing nodded repeatedly, "That's fair. I'd feel bad if you didn't charge me for helping me."

In the past, it took her a long time to make baskets, and she could make at most three a month.

Besides needing to return home, she worried about having nowhere to sell them if she made too many.

Now that she knew there was a guaranteed buyer, she could speed up her production.

With her current skill level, she could make five or six baskets a month.

That would earn her over three yuan a month, or thirty yuan a year!

Tang Qingqing's eyes lit up. It took her five years to save fifty yuan, but now she could do it in less than two years.

"Do you still buy eggs?"

"Of course, you don't know how fast they sold today."

"Could you help me buy some?"

"Do you want to join us?"

Tang Qingqing shook her head, "I want to buy eggs from you. My health is poor, and I need to eat eggs to improve it. You know my family situation; I can't show my face."

Wang Heizi patted his chest, "Leave it to us. We'll sell them to you at the same price we buy them for."

"No need, just follow your rules. No special treatment."

Zhai Hongyi: "This isn't special treatment. Selling eggs to you doesn't require much effort. If we charged more, it would be reselling. Unlike traveling to the commune, which requires manpower and transportation costs, this is different."

Tang Qingqing blinked, "Is that true?"

"That's exactly right," Wang Heizi said firmly. "Besides, we're friends. Even in business, we shouldn't treat each other unfairly."

At that moment, the boy entered carrying two bowls of zhajiangmian on a tray.

The moment the boy came in, he was hit by an enticing aroma that made him swallow his saliva.

The bowls of noodles were indeed very large, even larger than Tang Qingqing's head. If the boy weren't quite sturdy, one might worry he couldn't hold them steady.

The bowls were filled to the brim with noodles, topped with the shop's carefully prepared sauce.

The sauce was made from minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, tofu, eggs, and celery, all stir-fried together. The flavors were rich and the ingredients abundant; at home, one wouldn't typically use so many ingredients.

Yet every ingredient was chosen with care, not only to complement each other in taste but also to make the dish visually appealing.

Tang Qingqing, who was already feeling hungry, found her stomach growling even louder.

The boy brought up only three bowls and explained:

"The last bowl will be served once you're nearly finished. If it sits too long, the noodles get mushy. If you don't need it, just let me know."

When bringing the third bowl, the boy also carried a jar of chili oil.

"This chili oil is specially made by my family. You can't buy it anywhere else. It goes particularly well with the noodles."

With all three bowls served, the trio wasted no time, picking up their chopsticks and starting to eat.

The noodles, coated with the sauce, entered their mouths, and the deliciousness instantly filled their mouths, making them close their eyes in enjoyment.

The noodles were especially chewy, and the sauce was perfectly seasoned. The three of them had no time for talking, only the sound of slurping could be heard in the room.

After a few bites, they remembered to peel some garlic.

Eating noodles with garlic enhanced the flavor even more.

Tang Qingqing initially thought she wouldn't be able to eat much, but the shop was generous with its portions. There was plenty of minced meat and noodles in the sauce, yet she still managed to finish half the bowl without realizing it.

Her stomach was full, so she slowed down a bit.

She planned to take a break before continuing.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands reached over, and her bowl disappeared from in front of her.

Zhai Hongyi took her half-empty bowl and poured it into his own empty one.

Tang Qingqing glared at him: "I'm going to eat more later."

"Your stomach is too small. Eating too much at once isn't good for your health."

"But I've already eaten half!"

In the countryside, people generally didn't mind such things; having food was enough, and no one would complain.

But in the city, some people might find it hard to accept.

It was unexpected for Tang Qingqing that Zhai Hongyi, coming from such a privileged background, would eat the leftover noodles without hesitation.

"As long as it's edible." Zhai Hongyi picked up the noodles and stuffed them into his mouth, eating in a manner similar to Qin Sa.

Wang Heizi was sweating profusely from eating, and although he could eat more than Tang Qingqing, this large bowl was still challenging for him.

After finishing, he slumped back in his chair, patted his round belly, and sighed:

"I've never eaten so much in my life! This was truly delicious! This trip was worth it, after all our investigation."

Tang Qingqing was curious: "How did you find this place?"

They were both unfamiliar faces, and it was usually difficult to find such shops. People wouldn't trust strangers easily when sharing information.

Especially since Zhai Hongyi's accent clearly indicated he wasn't local, which made people even more wary.

Businesses these days operated secretly, and getting caught meant being imprisoned.

Wang Heizi smiled: "We sold so many things at the black market. Everyone there is in the same boat, so finding information became easier."

In fact, they brought many eggs this time, which were a valuable commodity. They sold out quickly, and the city dwellers needed these items.

They told everyone they would return, and some people placed orders, selling them information in return.

"How come doing business seems so easy for you?"

"It's all thanks to Brother Yi. With his presence, no one dares to bully us."

Wang Heizi wasn't flattering; the black market was a mix of all sorts. If he, a mere child, had tried to sell those items alone, something might have happened.

His uncle had warned him about the chaos of the black market, using it as an example of why planned economy was necessary.

Wang Heizi didn't understand the intricacies of planned economy but remembered that the black market was still quite chaotic.

If someone was from outside the commune, others might have ill intentions.

Since what they were doing was against the rules, they had nowhere to turn if cheated.

As soon as they entered the black market, they were watched closely.

Although Zhai Hongyi was tall for them, he was still a teenager, not as robust as an adult. With only two of them, some seasoned black market dealers thought they could take advantage.

"Too bad you weren't there to see how Brother Yi split bricks on the spot. He just lightly struck two bricks, and they broke in half."

Tang Qingqing asked curiously: "Where did the bricks come from?"

"I specifically bought them. At first, I was curious why Brother Yi bought two bricks, but later I found out it was for this reason."

Tang Qingqing looked at Zhai Hongyi with admiration. "Did you foresee that someone would target us?"

"There are often people like that in the black market. If we had brought eggs, they probably would have been smashed. This way, it serves as a deterrent."

Those people just wanted to take advantage and bully the weak; they didn't want to cause a big scene, otherwise, no one could continue operating in the black market.

Zhai Hongyi effortlessly split the two bricks and placed the chopping knife on the ground. It was clear they were not to be trifled with, so those people silently retreated.

Tang Qingqing was impressed. "Aren't you from a cadre's family? How do you know all this?"

Zhai Hongyi paused and said, "My mother's family is a capitalist family. My mother is a capitalist's daughter."

Tang Qingqing and Wang Heizi were stunned; they had never heard of this before.

Before the educated youths were sent down to the countryside, the team already had their information.

If there were any special circumstances, they would inform the team members in advance.

Especially for those with unfavorable backgrounds, the team members would need to pay extra attention.

But they had never heard anything about Zhai Hongyi having an inappropriate background. Instead, everyone said his family background was excellent.

The two quickly realized their reaction was inappropriate.

Wang Heizi: "Brother Yi, no matter what your background is, we're still good brothers."

Tang Qingqing nodded. "Not all capitalists are bad. There were patriotic capitalists who helped during the war."

Zhai Hongyi waved his hand. "Don't say these things to me. I'm just letting you know. I'm not ambitious by nature; I just love doing business and don't think there's anything wrong with it."

Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing exchanged glances. No wonder he's Brother Yi; he's so rebellious and doesn't hide anything.

Tang Qingqing knew from the 'book' that things that seemed wrong now would become right in the future, even encouraged.

She didn't understand why the change was so significant but knew there must be a reason behind it. The rapid development later proved this point.

However, such matters currently did not align with policy, and Tang Qingqing was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a while, she said, "This isn't a lack of ambition; it's just a matter of timing."

Wang Heizi had fewer reservations. "I'm sticking with you. I can make money now, so I feel very accomplished!"

Tang Qingqing glanced at him. "When you go back to the team, don't show off."

"Would I be that stupid? Tang Qingqing, you underestimate me!" Wang Heizi felt hurt and angry at being mistrusted.

"I'm just reminding you not to slip up when joking around. This isn't like the minor incidents before; it could get you into serious trouble."

Wang Heizi is young, so if caught, it wouldn't be too severe.

But Zhai Hongyi is different. Although he is also young, everyone treats him as an adult, especially since he's an educated youth. He wouldn't be let off easily.

With a capitalist family background, the consequences would be severe.

Hearing this, Wang Heizi solemnly promised:

"I won't even mention it in my dreams. I'm not even keeping the money I've earned; I'm giving it all to Brother Yi."

Zhai Hongyi watched the two seriously discussing this, like children playing house, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

Zhai Hongyi not only finished Tang Qingqing's remaining noodles but also ate the extra portion, leaving her speechless.

Wang Heizi patted his shoulder. "I saw this at noon. With your appetite, it's a good thing you weren't born in the countryside, or you'd starve."

Because the noodles contained bits of meat, they were more expensive, costing twenty-two fen per bowl.

Zhai Hongyi, known for his generosity, immediately took out money to pay for all three of them.

Tang Qingqing quickly stopped him and took out her own money to give to him.

"As friends, we can't do this. You can't always pay for everything; it wouldn't work out."

Zhai Hongyi frowned. "It's just over twenty fen. Is it really necessary to argue over this?"

"Over twenty fen may not be much for you, but it's a lot for us!"

Wang Heizi nodded in agreement. "That's right. Brother Yi, you'll spoil us this way. It's not good."

After eating their fill, Tang Qingqing felt completely refreshed and full of energy.

"Are movies still showing? I want to see a movie."

This was Tang Qingqing's obsession; she really wanted to know what movies were like.

Wang Heizi: "The cinema isn't far from here. We saw it when we came."

The three went to the cinema together. The commune's movies were always the same few, and Zhai Hongyi had seen them all, but he accompanied the other two anyway.

Outside the cinema, vendors sold snacks like sunflower seeds and roasted sweet potatoes.

Before Zhai Hongyi could pay, Tang Qingqing quickly paid for the sunflower seeds.

"We've been eating your food; you should let us treat you once in a while."

Zhai Hongyi looked at the sunflower seeds, unsure whether to take them or not.

Tang Qingqing is just a little girl, yet he was being treated by her?

When Tang Qingqing helped him buy the movie tickets, Zhai Hongyi was already numb.

Tang Qingqing spent the money and felt a bit better.

Although it was nothing compared to what Zhai Hongyi had given her, at least she had done her best to reciprocate.

The movie playing was "Little Soldier Zhang Ga," which Tang Qingqing had not seen before, but she had heard the story.

As the movie began, Tang Qingqing completely forgot about the sunflower seeds in her hands, fully immersing herself in the film. She watched with rapt attention alongside Wang Heizi, sometimes even forgetting to close her mouth.

Zhai Hongyi had seen it countless times, but he never tired of watching it. Seeing how engrossed his two companions were, he didn't want to daydream either and gradually got back into the plot.

After the movie ended, Tang Qingqing was still full of enthusiasm.

"The movie was so good. I wish they would show it in our brigade. Qiaoqiao and Cao'er haven't seen it; they would love it too."

Wang Heizi said with a grim face, "This year was supposed to be a bumper harvest. My great-grandfather said he would try to get the cinema to come to our brigade. But after this incident, how could he have the heart for such things?"

The two sighed deeply. Although the arsonist had been caught, the burned grain could not be recovered.

This melancholy feeling lasted only a moment before they started chatting animatedly about the plot, occasionally pulling Zhai Hongyi into their conversation to keep him involved.

There wasn't much entertainment in the commune at night. By then, it was late, and Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi escorted Tang Qingqing to the Public Security Bureau dormitory building, making sure she entered her room and turned on the light before leaving.

The next morning, before dawn, Tang Qingqing got out of bed.

After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she removed the sheets, pillowcases, and quilt covers, taking them downstairs to wash.

In the past, she wouldn't have thought of doing this.

After all, she had only slept one night, and she had taken a bath and changed into clean clothes before sleeping, so she didn't think they would be dirty.

But with her other memories, she felt compelled to help clean these items.

Qin Sa had kindly taken her in, and she needed to be considerate.

Tang Qingqing often did these tasks, so she was quick and thorough.

By the time she finished, it was time for breakfast.

Chef Li was still as warm to her, serving her a thick bowl of porridge and handing her a large meat bun.

"Little girl, eat more. Your complexion shows you're malnourished. You need to eat more to recover."

"Thank you, Chef Li."

Just as Tang Qingqing sat down, Qin Sa came in yawning. The dark circles under her eyes revealed that she hadn't slept well last night.

Qin Sa noticed her and greeted her, then took her food and sat down in front of Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing asked with concern, "Sis, did you encounter something difficult? Why do you look so exhausted?"

"That bastard yesterday ran like a rat. It took us a long time to catch him and then even longer to get him to confess. It really wore me out."

While eating, Qin Sa yawned again, and Tang Qingqing kept an eye on her, worried she might fall asleep and hit her head on the bowl.

"Don't worry, I'm used to this."

Seeing Tang Qingqing's worried face, Qin Sa pinched her little cheek.

"Are you scared? It's always this busy here."

Tang Qingqing shook her head firmly. "I'm not afraid."

Before Tang Qingqing left, Qin Sa gave her a set of "Journey to the West" picture books.

"This is too valuable; I can't accept it."

A set of "Journey to the West" consists of twelve books, costing over a yuan.

"This isn't just for fun; it's to learn the spirit of calmness no matter what difficulties you face."

Tang Qingqing was at a loss. She had gained so much from this trip to the commune.

Qin Sa patted her head. "We'll wait for you here. We'll fight together someday."

Tang Qingqing left reluctantly, looking back frequently.

Wang Heizi: "Can't bear to leave?"

Tang Qingqing nodded. "Everyone has been so kind to me."

"It's okay; you'll be coming back often anyway."

Tang Qingqing looked at him.

Wang Heizi: "Isn't it obvious? You're so talented, a rare gem."

The three of them rode home in a bumpy car, taking a shortcut from town back to the brigade.

Tang Qingqing didn't want her family to see what she had brought back. She planned to give everything to her master.

If anyone saw her, there would be another argument with her family.

Now everyone knew she was Old Liu's direct disciple, so if they found out she gave the prizes to her master, they wouldn't find it strange.

Even if her family knew, they couldn't go to Old Liu to reclaim anything.

After all, everything she had achieved was due to Old Liu's teachings.

Old Liu looked at all the things Tang Qingqing brought back and felt a mix of emotions.

Tang Qingqing understood what he was thinking: "Master, I'll be fine."

Having taken that step, Old Liu knew it was no use dwelling on it anymore.

He made Tang Qingqing a cup of malted milk, "Eat well from now on. When you're healthy, you can run faster if you encounter danger."

Tang Qingqing didn't refuse and gulped it down in one go.

After drinking, she didn't forget to make a cup for Old Liu. He wanted to refuse, but Tang Qingqing said:

"Master, you need to live a long life to protect me."

Old Liu snorted, "No ambition."

Despite his words, he still drank the malted milk.

When Tang Qingqing returned home, Grandma Wu's face lit up with a smile upon seeing her.

"What did the Public Security Bureau reward you with?"

Tang Qingqing took out a certificate from her backpack: "They gave me a certificate."

"Just a certificate? Nothing else?"

"A certificate is the highest honor."

Grandma Wu slapped her thigh in frustration:

"How could the Public Security Bureau be so stingy? I saw others come back from commune meetings with at least a towel. How come you got nothing? It can't be possible!"

Tang Qingqing opened her backpack, "Look for yourself."

Grandma Wu saw it was indeed empty and pouted, clearly displeased.

"If I had known this, we wouldn't have bothered making the trip. This is just a joke. A certificate isn't food or drink."

Tang Qingqing remained calm, having long given up any expectations.

After Grandma Wu went back inside, Tang Qiaoqiao, who was picking vegetables, peeked out from the kitchen and then ran out to pull Tang Qingqing into the kitchen.

"Sis, let me see your certificate! I've never seen one before!"

Tang Qingqing smiled and took out the certificate, spreading it open for Tang Qiaoqiao to see.

"Wow, Sis, you're amazing! Can we put this certificate up in our room?"

Auntie was also very happy for her, "Qingqing, you're the first person in our family to receive a certificate. Qiaoqiao, learn from your sister and become someone successful in the future."

Tang Qingqing thought the matter would end there, but unexpectedly, the brigade leader held a special meeting to commend Tang Qingqing for her outstanding performance.

The brigade leader came to the Tang household.

"Tang Qingqing is a promising individual and can make even greater contributions in the future. Therefore, the organization plans to send her to primary school to gain more knowledge and better serve the country.

The tuition and book fees will be covered by the commune's Public Security Bureau, so your family won't have to pay a single cent."

Upon hearing this, Grandma Wu immediately became unhappy.

"How can this be? Qingqing will be fourteen next year; in the past, she could have been married off already. At her age, she's still a girl; why should she study?"

Although they wouldn't have to pay for her education, it meant Tang Qingqing couldn't tend sheep, losing them a laborer.

In the end, it was still a loss.

"With that money, the Public Security Bureau should save it for Qingqing's dowry instead."

The brigade leader, having managed the village for a long time, knew how to handle such situations.

"You can raise your concerns with the Public Security Bureau. I'm here only to inform you, not to negotiate."

Grandma Wu fell silent, embarrassed.

Zhao Dahua stared intently at Tang Qingqing, convinced the girl was behind this.

She rolled her eyes, "What if Qingqing can't keep up with her studies?"

The brigade leader glanced at her, "Then she'll study until she does. If necessary, she can tend sheep while studying, without delaying either."

Hearing this, Zhao Dahua felt resentful but didn't say anything more.

If Tang Qingqing continued tending sheep instead of studying, it would mean Tang Xingwang couldn't take over her position.

Though she disliked Tang Qingqing's good fortune, she cared more about her son's future.

Thus, Tang Qingqing smoothly returned to school to continue her studies.

School had already started some time ago, and joining mid-term put Tang Qingqing at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, being older and having learned a bit previously, she wasn't worried about falling behind.

There were only two teachers at the brigade's primary school, one local who was also the principal, and another who was a sent-down youth.

The school had only twenty-seven students in total, with grades one through three in one classroom and grades four and five in another.

During lessons for one grade, the other two grades worked on their homework or read books.

Grades one through three were taught by the sent-down youth teacher, a woman who was part of the earliest batch of sent-down youths and had since married someone from Rongshan Brigade, becoming a member of the community.

The teacher's name is Sun Qin, and she is a junior high school graduate.

There are some high school graduates among the educated youth, so logically, she shouldn't have been chosen as a teacher. However, because she married a local, she was given priority.

Tang Qingqing used to be taught by the old headmaster, so this is her first day in Sun Qin's class.

Although Tang Qingqing is older than most of her classmates, everyone in the class knows each other since they are from the same village. She recently accomplished something significant, and the children all find her impressive, crowding around her to ask how she identified the murderer.

However, during the very first class, Tang Qingqing noticed that there were issues with her teaching.

While her Mandarin is better than the old headmaster's, she simply reads from the textbook without considering whether the students understand or not.

Tang Qingqing had come to class full of hope but did not expect the teacher to be like this.

She still remembers the classes with the old headmaster. Even though it has been many years and she didn't attend for long, the impression remains vivid.

He not only taught from the textbook but also shared many interesting and meaningful stories, allowing everyone to learn a lot without even realizing it.

Back then, no matter what grade she was in, Tang Qingqing would listen attentively. If she didn't understand something, she would ask the old headmaster after class, and he would always answer her questions seriously and encourage her.

Although the old headmaster regretted that she wasn't as smart as Tang Zhenzhen, he never looked down on her and instead was even more patient.

After class, Tang Qingqing tried to seek help from Sun Qin with her textbook.

Sun Qin gave her a disdainful look and said, "Such a simple problem you can't solve? Why are you even here to study!"

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.

Seeing Sun Qin walk away, Tang Qingqing's deskmate Li Xiaohui said, "Sister Qingqing, how could you waste Teacher Sun's time? She might punish you if she gets angry."

"Is she always like this when teaching?"

Li Xiaohui nodded, "Sometimes when she's unhappy, she just lets us read the book ourselves and doesn't teach at all."

"Why don't you report this to the headmaster?"

"Ever since the headmaster from the neighboring team was criticized, our headmaster doesn't interfere much anymore. Besides, Teacher Sun is the accountant's sister-in-law, so the headmaster can't say much about her."

Tang Qingqing pursed her lips, never expecting such a situation.

Although Sun Qin teaches rather perfunctorily, she hasn't done anything out of line and mostly follows the curriculum.

Reporting this issue wouldn't change much, as one cannot force everyone to teach as engagingly as the old headmaster. Many teachers teach in a similar manner.

With the current lack of emphasis on learning, these complaints won't be taken seriously.

Though disappointed, Tang Qingqing still listens attentively in every class.

Now that she is older and understands better, even though Sun Qin merely reads from the textbook, Tang Qingqing can grasp the meaning by studying the book herself.

After all, the subjects in lower grades are not too difficult, and Tang Qingqing can manage them.

However, it's hard not to feel disappointed, as it differs greatly from her expectations.

After school, Tang Qingqing didn't leave with her friends.

She still needed to gather vine strips. Now that she had a way to earn money, she had to ensure she kept up with the supply of vine strips.

"Ding ding ding ding!"

Wang Heizi suddenly appeared, startling Tang Qingqing.

"You scared me! Do you know how terrifying it is to scare someone?"

Wang Heizi looked her up and down, "After a whole day of school, why have you become so timid?"

Zhai Hongyi also looked at her.

Tang Qingqing had a lot to say, "I think this teacher isn't very good."

Wang Heizi burst into laughter, "Are you regretting going to school? Hahaha, stop making excuses in front of us. Just say it straight. I've always said that school is boring and annoying; I wouldn't go even if I had to."

Tang Qingqing remained silent, wondering if it was her own fault.

"How does she teach?"

"She just reads from the textbook without caring whether we understand or not. When I asked her a question after class, she ignored me."

Tang Qingqing felt a bit embarrassed, "I'm not trying to blame her, but compared to the headmaster, her teaching style is very different, and I'm having trouble adjusting."

"You're right."

Hearing this, Tang Qingqing's head drooped.

It seemed she was setting her expectations too high.

"It's the teacher's fault. Teaching isn't supposed to be like this."

Tang Qingqing suddenly lifted her head, "You think so too?"

Her eyes sparkled brightly, almost dazzling him.

Zhai Hongyi looked away nonchalantly, "Yes, a teacher like that is unqualified anywhere."

Finding agreement, Tang Qingqing felt reassured that it wasn't just her being picky. But soon, she slumped again.

Knowing the teacher had issues didn't change anything; she couldn't give up on school.

Besides, once she got through the first few grades, she could join the headmaster's class.

Tang Qingqing didn’t plan to study year by year; she wanted to finish the first three grades as soon as possible and jump to the fourth-grade class.

This was something she had planned even before going to school, and now she hoped to compress the time even further.

But it would be difficult for her to learn on her own, and just as she was struggling with this, a voice like that of an angel sounded.

“If you have anything you don’t understand, you can come ask me.”

“Really? Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?”

Zhai Hongyi raised an eyebrow at her. “It is a bit troublesome…”

Tang Qingqing hurriedly said, “You can give me any tasks! I can do a lot of things.”

“I was just teasing you.”

Zhai Hongyi looked at Wang Heizi beside him. “Teaching one is teaching, teaching two is also teaching. You should come along too.”

Wang Heizi exploded, jumping up high on the spot. “What? What does this have to do with me? I never said I wanted to learn. Why am I being dragged into this?”

“If you want to hang out with me, you can’t be illiterate. Choose for yourself.”

Wang Heizi’s face fell. “I finally managed to avoid going to school, but I still couldn’t escape it!”

Tang Qingqing smiled ingratiatingly. “Brother Yi, teaching one or two is the same. How about teaching three? Can you add one more spot?”