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The arrival of Zhang Dou surprised Yezhi. "You can't be here to transfer to Qingshan Police Station too, right?"
Zhang Dou proudly said, "I'm here to gain experience at the grassroots level." No matter how grand his words sounded, he revealed his true intention with one sentence. "Elder Brother Yu, I heard that your 'Garlic Pork Slices' are different from what we usually eat. Can I have the fortune to taste it?"
"You brat, you're even ordering dishes now!"
Zhang Dou chuckled, "Ever since I heard about it, I've been thinking about it. Elder Brother Yu, have some pity on me!"
Someone appreciated his culinary skills, and Yu Jianhua felt quite pleased inside. "If you want to eat, come help out!" Zhang Dou eagerly followed Elder Brother Yu around.
Yezhi was sorting through the two large boxes that Xiaobinzi had brought back, most of which contained clothes and bedding.
Xiaobinzi handed her a bankbook. "I rented half of the house to a colleague; this is a year's rent." Yezhi opened it and saw only 60 yuan. This was hardly worth renting.
"Hmph!" Lin Haitao noticed that Yezhi was a bit upset, but he had thought it through carefully. "Mom needs money for her illness, and once we have children, we'll need even more money. Every little bit helps."
Upon hearing Lin Haitao mention "children," Yezhi's anger weakened. "Then you should have discussed it with me first."
Lin Haitao finally realized where he went wrong. "I promise, I won't break the rules again."
...
Zhang Dou picked up a piece of meat roll wrapped in red oil. The meat roll had a clear distinction between fat and lean parts, exuding a strong garlic aroma. He put the meat roll in his mouth; the spiciness of the green garlic combined perfectly with the chili oil, highlighting the meat's richness and tenderness. "Delicious! Elder Brother Yu, you're really amazing!"
Yu Jianhua chuckled, "The amazing person isn't me; the amazing person is sitting over there!" Zhang Dou held up a jar of liquor and squeezed next to Yezhi. "Sister, I want to discuss something with you."
"Just say it!"
"I want to live at your place!" Everyone looked at Zhang Dou strangely after hearing his words. Realizing he wasn't being clear, he quickly added, "I mean I want to stay long-term; I'm not going to live in the dormitory at Qingshan Police Station anymore."
"Why stay in a dormitory? Just live at my house and go to work with Xiaolin!" Aunt Zhou replied readily. Zhang Dou fished out ten yuan from his pocket and handed it over. Yezhi and Xiaobinzi exchanged glances, realizing that Zhang Dou had been prepared.
"How can I take your money?" Aunt Zhou refused.
"Auntie, if you don't accept the money, how can I feel comfortable eating freely? Take it, please!" Aunt Zhou held the money as if it were a hot potato. "Yezhi, you take it." Yezhi ignored her.
"Less!"
"I'll go scoop some hot soup."
"Zhou Mama, I'll help you manage!" Xiaofan volunteered eagerly. "Manage!" Madwoman spread her hands, and Aunt Zhou, not knowing what she was thinking, actually handed the money over to Xiaofan to manage.
From then on, Xiaofan would keep an eye on Zhang Dou during dinner every day, counting how many bowls he ate. Wolf Child and Madwoman would help him keep track; despite being ill, Madwoman's memory often amazed everyone.
Sometimes, when Xiaobinzi got close to her, she would smile back at him. Wolf Child and Yezhi showing her photos had also become a part of her daily life.
Lin Haitao and Zhang Dou finally adapted to the busy work at Qingshan Police Station.
Xiao Cheng noticed that more and more people were interested in learning to read, so he discussed starting an adult literacy class with Yezhi. He would teach the men while the women would be taught by Yezhi.
On the first day of class, Xiao Cheng and Yezhi were surprised by the number of old and young people from Zhoujiatun who showed up; there wasn't enough space in the classroom. Everyone pulled some wires to hang up a lamp bulb and brought their own stools to learn on the dam.
One month, two months... Gradually, reading newspapers was no longer just for One Egg, Yezhi, and Xiao Cheng; more people could read now, and everyone was brave enough to read aloud. "Wednesday, what are you reading? I can't understand a thing!" Old Master Zhou threw his cloth shoes at Wednesday.
Wednesday put down the newspaper in his hands and replied helplessly, "If you can't understand it, that just means you're falling behind the times."
"What times? What are you talking about? Bring those shoes back!"
Wednesday picked up the old man's shoes and said, "No wonder they say a lack of culture is frightening. Look at how you treat things so simply and brutally."
"Simple and brutal? You little brat, just because you know a few words, you think you can turn the world upside down? I’ll teach you to be smug!" The smoking pot was thrown at Wednesday, who dodged it.
"Hello, Great-Grandpa!" A group of kids passing by after school greeted the old man cheerfully. Old Master Zhou froze for a moment, straightened his back, put his hands behind him, and nodded at the Kids.
Wednesday was so shocked her jaw nearly dropped. "Old man, you are too..."
"Too what?" The old man's face darkened. Wednesday swallowed the words "coward" that were on the tip of her tongue.
"Sister, why don’t you find someone else to read the news to the old man?"
Wednesday circled around her as soon as she entered, saying, "Look at my head; it’s been knocked into this state by the old man!"
Yezhi, watering the flowers, found it increasingly funny as she listened to Wednesday. "Hey Zhou San, how come you and the old man are so amusing!"
"What’s so funny? Every day after working in the fields, I have to study. After studying, I still have to serve Seventh Uncle and Eighth Uncle. At this rate, when will I ever get a wife?" Wednesday felt more and more sorrowful. There were plenty of people in the Village preparing for weddings, but he hadn’t even found a partner yet.
With her belly noticeably rounder, Meizi shouted, "A wife? There are so many capable girls from Wujia Village next door. You don’t even look at them; do you think you can dream about getting a wife?"
Wednesday felt wronged by Meizi's shout. "I don’t like girls from other villages."
"Zhou San, which family in Village do you like?" Yezhi asked with a smile. Wednesday's face turned dark red. "I... I don’t like any family!"
Meizi's eyes sparkled with gossip. "Come on, tell me! Whose family? I’ll help you get together!"
Wednesday fidgeted nervously. "Say it!" Meizi pushed him lightly. Yezhi also perked up her ears. "Is it..."
"Hurry up!"
"It is... it is... Spring Peach!" Wednesday finally blurted out, but after waiting for a long time, there was still no response from Yezhi.
"Say something!" Wednesday's restless heart could no longer be contained. The reason he was so eager was that Spring Peach often came to his house to learn.
"Why do you like Spring Peach?" Mei Zi was very curious about why Wednesday suddenly had feelings.
Wednesday rubbed his hands together, thinking aloud, "She comes to my house every day, cooking and doing laundry... I feel like she might have some feelings for me!"
Yezhi and Mei Zi exchanged glances, what a beautiful misunderstanding it would be if it were true.
"Help me mention it to Aunt Ren Er!" Now that he had opened up, Wednesday's courage grew.
"Yezhi, do you think we should help Wednesday?" Mei Zi swayed in her rocking chair while looking at the purple iris dug out from the mountains by Yezhi. "I don't know!"
"Then I'll go say it!" It was unclear when Mei Zi became so spirited, ready to act on her words.
Perhaps all of this was brought about by knowledge; they had developed their own thoughts, and the world in their eyes expanded infinitely.
"Yezhi, look at how much money we made." Early in the morning, Aunt Zhou and Sister Luo went with the women of the Village to sell wild vegetables at the Commune.
The handkerchief wrapped around the small change amounted to eight yuan, and Aunt Zhou couldn't stop smiling. "I'll go up the mountain to gather more tomorrow."
Yezhi also went up the mountain, but her purpose was not wild vegetables; it was wildflowers. "Earth's Rarity" now primarily sold jewelry boxes made by Little Mu's Father and coarse cloth aprons made by Sister Luo. Due to too many imitations of food items, her sales were decreasing. She kept all her second-rate Cured Meat and sausages for her own consumption to avoid damaging her reputation.
The photos of Black Treasure had been selling particularly well recently; someone even offered a sky-high price for the store's treasure, the black Bear Bones. However, Yezhi did not agree as she always felt something was off.
Xingli said that the store was becoming more cultured. After looking around, Yezhi agreed but felt it still lacked some flowers and elegance.
Spring flowers were brilliant, summer flowers dazzling. In May, when spring transitioned into summer, the roses bloomed vibrantly in shades of crimson, orange, and pale white... flamboyant and fragrant.
Xiao Fang said it looked quite ordinary, but Yezhi suggested a mix of styles, adding a touch of culture to the common, making it appreciated by both refined and ordinary tastes.
Niu Niu was running wildly through the forest, its energy too abundant; if released improperly, it would occasionally leak electricity, which could shock its owner, Black Treasure, among others.
It aimed at a big fellow ahead, "Zii~~!" A burnt smell spread through the woods.
Yezhi looked at the charred Monkey, wanting to cry. This little troublemaker had turned Monkey into a burnt stick; what value did that have?
Niu Niu released excess electricity and happily barked. Yezhi quickly scooped it up and ran away; Monkey was a social animal, and she didn't want to witness a battle between humans and apes.
"Yezhi!" Aunt Zhou's call came from afar. Yezhi followed Xiao Fang back to the group gathering wild vegetables.
"Where have you been?" Aunt Zhou asked with concern.
"Gathering flowers!" Yezhi showed Aunt Zhou the rose. Aunt Ren Er watched and asked, "Yezhi, can this be sold?"
"What can be sold?" Everyone chimed in with curiosity.
While everyone's eagerness to make money was a good thing, they shouldn't be overly focused on profit. Especially those who took their share of oil and rice... while not eating any themselves but selling everything instead. Yezhi really didn't know what to say about that.
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