Carrying the heavy blackboard, Su Rui stood outside the store, looking toward the bus stop. She still had two stops to go, but decided to tough it out and walk.

The sky in the distance was gloomy, and the air carried the scent of dust.

Feeling the wind picking up, Su Rui braced herself and marched forward. They say you only know a horse’s strength after a long journey—today, she would treat herself like a work mule.

The women of Xiaoba Village never backed down.

She focused on walking, not noticing the military jeep slowly following her from behind. The jeep trailed her for about ten meters.

Fang Chiye stared at the massive blackboard moving forward, completely covering the person beneath it, leaving only the embroidered shoes with tiny floral patterns visible.

Qin Shan muttered, “She looks like a little turtle.”

“If you don’t know what to say, just don’t.” Fang Chiye held back his laughter, instantly recognizing who it was.

Qin Shan was about to honk, but Fang Chiye stopped him and told him to pull over.

Fang Chiye got out of the car and strode toward Su Rui, leaving Qin Shan behind to inch the car forward slowly.

“Comrade Su.”

Su Rui pressed against the wind, determined to return to the village before the rain started.

Someone coming from the opposite direction bumped into her. She was fine, but the blackboard on her back tilted, about to fall into the drainage ditch.

She instinctively reached back to grab it, only to clutch onto a warm, strong hand instead. Startled, she turned around and was shocked to see Fang Chiye standing there.

Fang Chiye supported the blackboard, watching her expression shift from surprise to astonishment and finally to delight. He suppressed a smile and said, “What a coincidence.”

Su Rui relaxed and discreetly withdrew her hand, ignoring the firm muscles she had just touched. “Yes, what a coincidence. I thought someone was trying to steal from me.”

She adjusted the rope and said, “Give it to me. It’s heavy, but I can fix the straps and carry it.”

Fang Chiye chuckled. “If it’s heavy, I’ll carry it. Come on, my car is just behind us. I’ll give you a ride back.”

A free ride!

Before Su Rui could respond, Fang Chiye had already picked up the blackboard.

She realized that his claimed height of 188.5 cm was no exaggeration—not a single centimeter was wasted. What had been a massive blackboard to her looked much smaller in his hands.

Su Rui said cheerfully, “Then I’m really lucky today. It’s about to rain, and I still have a ride home. I hope I’m not troubling you?”

Fang Chiye smiled and said, “It’s on the way, no trouble at all.”

On the way? He had come all this way just to pick her up.

Qin Shan, sitting in the front, glanced at her through the rearview mirror but didn’t dare to expose the truth. Instead, he teased, “Comrade Su is truly dedicated to the people, even carrying a blackboard around.”

Su Rui waved her small hand with an air of leadership and said, “It’s nothing worth mentioning.”

Fang Chiye secured the blackboard on the roof of the car. Sitting alone in the backseat, Su Rui massaged her shoulders.

On the way back to Xiaoba Village, Fang Chiye shared some good news with Su Rui.

“Sister Zhao mentioned the situation in Qingnan Village,” Fang Chiye said, turning to look at her with his sharp eyes. “Do they often bully you?”

Su Rui replied, “It’s happened more than once or twice. I thought they’d restrain themselves a bit after Guo Qingwang got caught, but it seems not. Still, it doesn’t really concern us anymore. Our Xiaoba Village is independent now.”

Fang Chiye noticed the literacy class materials on her lap. Seeing how much effort she put in, he didn’t beat around the bush and said, “After the Spring Festival, the military district will implement the ‘Three Assistance Policy,’ focusing on aiding agriculture, education, and ideological development. The goal is to help the local people living near the military base improve their livelihoods, labor skills, and ideological awareness.”

Su Rui’s expression turned serious. “So this means not only will people get to learn, but they’ll also receive agricultural training?”

Fang Chiye nodded. “Exactly. Our base has also received this directive. However, since the military base was just established and there was a lot to handle, the program was originally scheduled for after the beginning of summer. But seeing how eager the people in Xiaoba Village and Yi Wang Village are to learn, we decided to stick to the original plan and start classes in early March.”

He paused before continuing, “Due to limited resources, there will only be three classes per week. However, all the necessary stationery, including notebooks and pens for the ideological classes, will be provided by the military. The curriculum won’t just cover basic literacy but will also include the latest agricultural techniques, in-depth study of the leader’s quotations, revolutionary songs with singing and instrument lessons, production of agricultural and sideline products, and basic handicrafts.”

Su Rui was stunned. “They’re offering so many courses? And they’re exactly what we need! Are we really allowed to join?”

Fang Chiye smiled. “Yes. The assigned soldiers will adjust the content based on the needs of the villagers, ensuring mutual progress between the military and the people while also promoting the military’s ideology.”

Su Rui rubbed the literacy textbook excitedly, at a loss for words. It felt as if a huge meat pie had fallen from the sky and landed right on her head.

Seeing her reaction, Fang Chiye reassured her, “Your literacy materials and blackboard will be perfect for preparation and reinforcement. Since everyone’s learning level varies, we’ll need Comrade Su to work a little harder and help coordinate things.”

“Of course! I’d be happy to.” Su Rui clutched the textbook, looking at Fang Chiye with increasing admiration. He seemed to glow with the aura of a true leading man!

The jeep drove directly to the village committee.

Just as Su Rui was about to get off, she leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, “Um… were the insoles the right size?”

Fang Chiye, who had been thinking about how to explain something to her, instinctively replied, “They fit well.” He didn’t dare admit that he hadn’t used them yet. Those delicate peony flowers weren’t meant to be stepped on. They should be carefully treasured instead.

Su Rui then asked, “And the cotton hat?”

Fang Chiye answered, “I gave it away.”

She nodded and got out of the car. Standing by the door, she said, “Thank you, Captain Fang. You’re such a good person.”

Fang Chiye was caught off guard by the “good person” card and fell silent.

After unloading the blackboard, Su Rui happily ran into the office to share the good news with Sister Zhao.

Fang Chiye stood by the car for a while, listening to the cheerful chatter coming from inside. He touched the confession letter in his pocket, then got back in the vehicle.

Qin Shan raised an eyebrow. “You’re leaving just like that?”

Fang Chiye said, “Do you want me to drive?”

Qin Shan retorted, “Then what am I supposed to do?”

Fang Chiye replied, “Follow behind and run back.”

Qin Shan grumbled to himself. It seemed that Fang Chiye had been thrown off by being called a “good person” and couldn’t bring himself to confess just yet.

They weren’t even officially together yet, so why was he already so henpecked?

“Wait a moment, Captain Fang.” Sister Zhao walked out of the office and asked, “Where will the classes be held? I need to arrange for the place to be cleaned and prepared in advance.”

Fang Chiye suggested, “How about Qingfeng Middle School?”

The school had been temporarily used as an office space for the military base at the end of last year and had since been renovated. It was spacious, close to the Xiaoba Village committee, and within a twenty-minute walking distance.

“That would be perfect.” Sister Zhao hesitated for a moment before adding, “But isn’t it too big? It seems like a waste to use such a good place for this.”

“Then let’s designate it as a preparatory site for primary and middle school education. I’ll discuss it with the county, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Fang Chiye continued, “There are many school-age children in the nearby villages. We can’t have a situation where there’s no school at all. Even if there isn’t one now, there will need to be one in the future. The flame of knowledge must be passed down through generations.”

Sister Zhao nodded repeatedly. “You’re absolutely right. We have to think ahead.”

After Fang Chiye left, Su Rui noticed that Sister Zhao was beaming with joy.

Sister Zhao wasn’t someone who showed her emotions easily, so Su Rui couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Zhao, why are you so happy?”

Sister Zhao, who had been through it all, smiled and said, “Thanks to you.”

Su Rui was puzzled. “All I did was make a trip to the township, and I didn’t even get anything done.”

Sister Zhao said, “I’m not talking about that. I mean Qingfeng Middle School being designated as a future site for primary and middle school education. Now, our children won’t have to pass through Qingnan Village and travel all the way to the county outskirts just to attend school. This is far more significant than the ideological classes.”

At some point, Huang Bei had also joined the conversation. She added, “I remember hearing that the people from Qingnan Village were awful. They used to set up roadblocks on the only path to school, stopping our village’s children from taking their exams. But now, things have turned around. We’ll be the ones with the school.”

Su Rui remarked, “If they want to go to Qingfeng Middle School, it’ll take them three hours round trip. I doubt they’d be willing.”

Huang Bei chuckled, “That would be the best outcome. Books are the stepping stones to progress. If they don’t want to improve themselves, we certainly don’t need to drag them forward.”

“Make arrangements to tidy up Qingfeng Middle School again. At the very least, prepare three classrooms,” Sister Zhao instructed as she walked toward the office. “Since Captain Fang has spoken, this matter is likely settled. I’ll announce the good news to everyone later.”

“I’ll move the blackboard to an empty office and organize a session in the next couple of days to help everyone learn pinyin and build a solid foundation,” Su Rui said, handing the literacy materials to Sister Zhao. “Captain Fang said we can use this to start learning.”

“You actually got your hands on literacy materials?” Huang Bei exclaimed. “Aunt Song and the others tried borrowing from the people in Qingnan Village, but no one was willing to lend them out. They even said they’d rather use them for firewood than give them to us.”

Su Rui scoffed, “Who do they think they are? I happen to have some free time, so why don’t you help me copy them down?”

Huang Bei hesitated. “I’d better find a few more people. We can’t be the only ones doing all the work.”

That was exactly what Su Rui wanted. After informing Sister Zhao, she and Huang Bei gathered more people in the office to start copying the materials.

Huang Bei’s big mouth proved useful. Word quickly spread that Su Rui had literacy materials, and Aunt Song, along with her close friends, brought some educated young people and younger comrades to the office to help with copying.

Compared to the frustration of previous days, Aunt Song was overjoyed. She stayed with them all night, ensuring the work got done, and even planned to continue for the next few days.

The next day.

Carrying a large broom, Su Rui joined the others in cleaning up Qingfeng Middle School.

Since the school had previously been used by the army, it was already in good condition—clean and well-maintained. Even the peeling walls had been patched up.

After several days of cleaning, Qingfeng Middle School regained some of its former dignity.

The only drawback was the uneven, pothole-ridden schoolyard. Su Rui submitted a report to Sister Zhao, proposing to buy cement to fix it.

Sister Zhao not only reimbursed her for the blackboard purchase but also secured a hefty iron lock for the school’s front gate.

Su Rui locked the door and tucked the key into her floral-patterned cloth wallet. Just then, a fake-friendly voice called out behind her.

“Comrades, hello! Are you cleaning up the school?”

Wu Dan had arrived late and hadn’t seen the changes inside. He craned his neck to look, but Su Rui blocked his view.

Feigning politeness, Su Rui smirked, “Secretary Wu, what a busy man! What brings you to our Xiaoba Village?”

Wu Dan forced a smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening. “I heard that you’re organizing a joint military-civilian ideological class? Such a big event—why wasn’t Qingnan Village informed?”

Su Rui chuckled. “Oh? Didn’t Guo Qingwang get locked up? What does Xiaoba Village’s affairs have to do with Qingnan Village anymore?”

Wu Dan knew the power dynamics had shifted. Realizing Su Rui wasn’t going to give him a straight answer, he dropped the pretense. “An ideological class is far better than a literacy class—it’s on a whole different level. How can Xiaoba Village hog all the benefits for itself?”

Su Rui almost burst out laughing. This was classic—playing the victim first.

She grinned. “I actually wanted to invite Qingnan Village to join, too.”

“Is there still time to register?” Wu Dan’s eyelid twitched. He had a bad feeling about this.

Su Rui put on a regretful expression. “We registered in advance. If only you had come earlier. Unfortunately, it’s too late now. You’ll have to wait for the next session.”

“Nobody informed us!” Wu Dan’s tone turned cold. “When is the next session? I’ll register everyone from Qingnan Village right now!”

Before Su Rui could respond, Aunt Song—who had just returned after being mistreated in Qingnan Village—shouted, “Next session is full! The one after that, too!”

Wu Dan swallowed his anger and threatened, “You better be careful, or I’ll report this to the army! Let’s see who gets the last laugh!”

Exhausted from days of hard work, Su Rui simply stepped forward and smiled. “Go ahead.”