After You Hongliu and the others left, Wu Shuxian said to Jiang Lin, “Sister, you shouldn’t tolerate their behavior.”

Jiang Lin smiled and replied, “They didn’t do anything wrong, just talking gossip.”

Jiang Lin wasn’t bothered by such people; they were everywhere.

Wu Shuxian then asked, “Sister, I need a favor.”

Jiang Lin responded, “Of course, what is it?”

“My niece and nephew from my family tried to get into college at the end of last year, but they didn’t succeed. Could you help them with some extra tutoring? So they can try again this year?”

Jiang Lin joked, “What schools did they apply to? Didn’t you ask Director Di to pull some strings?”

Such remarks were common in their circle, where connections and work topics were often discussed.

Wu Shuxian laughed, “The difference in their scores was too big. Director Di wouldn’t help because he thought it would be embarrassing if the classmates found out.”

If the scores were just a few points off, it might have been possible, but since the gap was significant, Wu Shuxian knew not to press the issue.

Jiang Lin said, “If you trust me, I can meet with them in a couple of days, assess their situation, and create a study plan based on that.”

Wu Shuxian was pleased, “That would be great. Thank you so much.”

“But don’t be upset if I have to be strict. If they’re lazy or not diligent, I won’t hesitate to scold them,” Jiang Lin warned with a smile.

“Oh, that’s exactly what I want!” Wu Shuxian said, giving Jiang Lin a friendly pat on the back, making her stagger forward.

Wu Shuxian added, “You just focus on correcting them as needed. They’re in your hands now.” She went on with various expectations from a parent to a teacher.

Jiang Lin responded, “…”

“Sister, we’ll do our best. I’m not a miracle worker, so I can’t guarantee they’ll get in. We’ll give it our best shot.”

“I understand. Just teaching them is enough. Success depends on their effort. If they don’t get into a university, a college is still an option. It’s not easy to get into a university,” Wu Shuxian said cheerfully, noting that last year only about 300,000 out of several million candidates succeeded.

That evening, Jiang Lin talked to Cheng Rushan about it.

Cheng Rushan told her to do whatever she felt comfortable with and not to feel pressured.

Jiang Lin decided to give it a try.

She had some positive feelings about Wu Shuxian not trying to use Director Di’s influence to get her siblings into college.

In a time when connections and social status often outweighed ability, valuing education was worth respecting.

---

On February 2nd, the Dragon Lifts Its Head festival was celebrated with traditional customs like the Spring Ox ceremony, spring plowing, and biting the spring.

These customs remained the same every year.

Despite this, the villagers were excited to participate.

Now they had tractors, which made the work easier.

Young men were enthusiastic, and the elderly were freed from heavy labor, so both men and women no longer had to pull ropes to plow the fields.

Some people were so eager to start working that they couldn’t wait to get to the brick kiln.

As the thaw began, skilled workers were impatient to start making bricks and earn money.

Several helpers surrounded Shang Zonghui and Cheng Yulian, asking, “It’s warming up. Can we start making bricks now?”

Cheng Yulian replied, “Wait a couple more days until the thaw is complete.”

They insisted it was fine to start now.

Cheng Yulian felt unsure.

If the workers were lazy or causing trouble, she could handle it firmly.

But with everyone so eager to work, she found it hard to refuse.

After some hesitation, she discussed with Shang Zonghui, “Maybe we could try making a few bricks to see?”

Wensheng interrupted, “No!”

He remembered Jiang Lin had said not to start making bricks before the thaw was complete.

Not only did it risk cracks in the bricks, but the cold clay could also harm the workers’ legs and feet, potentially leading to arthritis in old age.

Some people were unhappy with his firm stance, saying, “We’re making bricks for the kiln. It’s important for the business.”

Wensheng remained firm, “No!”

When Wensheng said “no,” that was the end of it.

Shang Zonghui and Cheng Yulian had no choice but to follow his decision.

Some people couldn’t help but grumble, wondering why Director Jiang had put someone they thought was foolish in charge of the brick kiln.

They found him cold and intimidating, worried he might suddenly lose his temper.

Shang Zonghui shouted, “If it’s not allowed, then it’s not allowed. We still have fields to plow. Everyone, hurry up and get to work. The brick kiln isn’t going anywhere!”

Since Shang Zonghui was highly valued by Jiang Lin, his words were taken seriously, and the others dispersed to help with the fields.

Shang Zonghui had others use the tractor for plowing while he supervised.

He noticed Wensheng standing still, looking towards the southern part of the village, and knew he was thinking about Jiang Lin.

After watching the Spring Ox ceremony, Yan Runzhi told Wensheng, “The brick kiln hasn’t opened yet, so don’t go there. We need to go home. It’s February 2nd, time to fry sweet potatoes.”

Wensheng insisted, “I want to go!”

Yan Runzhi persuaded him, “Your mother loves sweet potatoes. She’ll definitely want them fried at home. Don’t go to the brick kiln.”

Wensheng responded, “Let’s go home!”

He grabbed his bicycle, lifted Yan Runzhi onto it, and rode her home to fry sweet potatoes.

Recently, Wensheng had been getting up early every day to practice swordplay.

He would stand at the village’s southern entrance, carrying his sword and gazing into the distance.

After breakfast, he would take another walk around the village and then head to the brick kiln.

At noon, he would ride home for lunch, visit the team’s exhibition room, and later spend time at the embroidery workshop listening to the radio and enjoying operas until dinner.

His daily routine mirrored Jiang Lin’s when she was home.

After dinner, he would sit in the courtyard stargazing or practice standing on his head like Cheng Rushan before quietly going to bed.

Even though it had only been six days, it felt like he had been doing this for a long time, and he was committed to continuing this way.

Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi knew Wensheng was simple-hearted and missed his mother, so they let him be.

Despite his longing, he became quieter and less talkative but maintained his gentle demeanor.

He never lost his temper or acted out, so they weren’t too worried about him.

When they got home, Wensheng stopped the bicycle and went to gather grass for Yan Runzhi to start the fire.

Cheng Yunzhi had already prepared some fine sand for roasting peanuts and sweet potatoes, as the finest sand gives a better roast.

After roasting, the sand could be reused.

Yan Runzhi took out peanuts, dried yellow beans, and sweet potatoes to roast more for Wensheng to take to the city when he returned.

Wensheng quietly tended the fire, but his eyes kept wandering outside.

Yan Runzhi said, “Wensheng, why don’t you listen to the radio?”

Wensheng shook his head.

He didn’t want to listen because if his mother came back, the radio would be too noisy.

He worried if his mother would be safe in the city and was almost unable to sit still.

Yan Runzhi asked, “Wensheng, do you want some hawthorn candy or hawthorn jam from grandma?”

Wensheng shook his head.

Yan Runzhi asked, “What does your mother like to eat?”

Wensheng replied, “Everything!”

Yan Runzhi said, “Wensheng, why don’t you smile? If you don’t, your mother won’t recognize you when she comes back.”

Wensheng turned and gave a weak smile.

Yan Runzhi sighed and said nothing more.

After roasting the sweet potatoes, which smelled deliciously sweet, she asked Wensheng to deliver some to his grandfather and the girls at the embroidery workshop.

Wensheng took the basket and left.

Yan Runzhi glanced at the sky and prepared for lunch.

Without Bao’er’s mother and the children at home, she lacked the motivation to cook.

Bao’er’s mother usually praised her cooking, which made her more enthusiastic.

She could prepare a variety of dishes, especially steamed bread and noodles, without repeating the same thing for a month.

With Bao’er’s mother not around, she didn’t feel like putting in much effort.

Cheng Yunzhi was used to the farm’s simple food, and Wensheng, missing his mother, wouldn’t enjoy anything too much.

Yan Runzhi, feeling the same way, didn’t have much enthusiasm for cooking either.

She had intended to make pancakes for February 2nd, filled with various vegetables and seasonings.

If life were better, she would have fried spring rolls or foraged for wild greens.

She ate a crispy, sweet roasted sweet potato but found it lacking in flavor.

Sigh, one really shouldn’t be greedy.

She quickly got up to wash the pot and prepare the meal.

When lunch was ready, Wensheng and Cheng Yunzhi came back to eat.

There were small pancakes with vegetable shreds and dipping sauce, plus freshly picked Chinese toon sprouts stir-fried with eggs.

It was quite a hearty meal.

Cheng Yunzhi looked at his wife and then at Wensheng and asked, “What’s wrong with you two? Why do you look unhappy?”

Yan Runzhi smiled and said, “Where do you see me unhappy? I’m happy. Wen Sheng, hurry up and eat.”

Cheng Yunzhi said, “Wensheng, eat quickly. After you’re done, I’ll take you to the gravesite.”

During Qingming Festival, they visit the graves, which is called “going to the graves” locally.

After eating, Cheng Ruhai brought his son over to Yan Runzhi, giving her some stir-fried beans and fresh purslane, and then they all went to the gravesite together.

At the ancestral grave, they first cleared the weeds, added new soil, replaced the old yellow paper, then offered food, bowed, and performed other rituals.

Wensheng refused to bow.

He wondered why they had to put on a show.

His parents weren’t around, so he wouldn’t act.

Besides, all the bad people were already dealt with.

Why keep up the pretense when his parents were fine?

He wasn’t going to do it!

Seeing Wensheng being so stubborn, Cheng Yun Zhi didn’t force him.

He led Cheng Ruhai and the two grandsons in offering wine and bowing.

Suddenly, Wensheng jumped up with great excitement and shouted, “My mother is back!”

Ignoring everyone, he ran towards the south.

Coincidentally, Cheng Fuwan’s family was also at the gravesite, kneeling and burning paper for the ritual.

Wensheng, tall and long-legged, jumped over and the wind from his movement blew the burning paper onto Cheng Fuwan’s head, singeing his hair and causing him to flail in panic.

“Damn it!” Cheng Fuwan shivered, with his hair burned, pointing at Wensheng in anger, speechless.

But Wensheng didn’t care.

He ran quickly out of the cemetery and towards the south.

He indeed saw a green truck coming from the east and shouted, “Mother!” as he ran towards it.

However, the truck didn’t stop and drove away, ignoring him.

Wen Sheng: ……!

He sat at the bridgehead, staring at the road on both sides.

In the countryside, tractors passed occasionally, but trucks were rare.

After a while, he squatted by the road, picked some bitter herbs, chewed on a leaf, and found it very bitter.

He picked a few more leaves to chew on.

For some reason, there seemed to be more trucks today.

There were Dongfeng trucks, Jiefang trucks, and even trucks for transporting soldiers, filled with handsome PLA soldiers who even smiled at him.

He left the road to pick wild vegetables, and without realizing it, he had collected quite a few, all the while counting the eight trucks that had passed by.

At that moment, another truck came from afar.

Wensheng felt a bit annoyed.

It wasn’t his father’s truck, so why were they coming this way?

Annoying!

As the truck got closer, Wensheng’s heart suddenly raced.

He threw down the wild vegetables and ran to the road.

The truck did indeed stop, and a strange round face peeked out from the driver’s side, grinning and asking, “Big brother, is this Shui Huai Village?”

I don’t know you!

Annoying!

Not telling you!

Wen Sheng glared at him and ignored him, refusing to speak, feeling angry.

Suddenly, another face appeared beside the man’s, the face he had been longing for.

She smiled sweetly at him, “Wensheng, mom has come to take you into the city.”

“Mom!” Wen Sheng jumped up in excitement, slammed open the truck’s door, dragged He Liang out, and jumped into the truck himself.

He hugged Jiang Lin tightly, unable to contain his joy, and shouted, “Mom, I missed you so much!”