Goodbye Tian Runye, rest in peace, comrade!

Before long, Zhao Dongchuan, riding his bicycle, followed the crowd into Yuanxi County.

It was already getting dark!

He wanted to ask at the guesthouse if there were any rooms available. If his luck was bad, he might have to find somewhere to stay for a night.

If not, he would go to the County First High School to find Sun Shaoping and squeeze into his dorm.

Zhao Dongchuan thought to himself.

Following the direction from his memory, Zhao Dongchuan headed towards the County guesthouse.

Upon arriving at the guesthouse, he asked the front desk receptionist if there were any vacant rooms.

“You've come at just the right time, someone just checked out temporarily!” the male receptionist said to Zhao Dongchuan with a smile.

“Then my luck is really good, Comrade, please help me register, I want to stay for one night!”

Zhao Dongchuan pulled out his work ID from his pocket and handed it to the receptionist.

After checking in, he took the key, opened the room door, closed it casually, and then threw himself onto the bed, not wanting to get up.

This day had been quite a hassle; from dealing with a continuous stream of people at work in the morning, signing so many documents that his hand hurt, to accompanying Huang Laosan to see Old Master Huang.

Finally, it was a long and tiring journey ~ the weather was also cold ~ he really didn't want to get up ~ ~

Zhao Dongchuan simply lay on the bed without even taking off his clothes, intending to close his eyes and rest for a while.

… … … …

After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Dongchuan slowly opened his eyes, rubbed them, and looked out the window.

By this time, it was completely dark!

He had unknowingly fallen asleep just now…

He guessed it was because he had been too busy lately, constantly rushing around.

Zhao Dongchuan muttered softly.

“Then I’ll give myself a break for this period! Anyway, there are no system tasks, and I don’t have to run around everywhere!”

He smiled, took out a kettle of hot water, a washbasin, and a towel from his space, took off his clothes, and began to wipe himself down.

The guesthouse in Yuanxi County was relatively simple; there was no bathroom for showering, so he could only do a quick wipe-down.

After Zhao Dongchuan finished wiping himself and changed into a fresh set of clothes, he wondered if he should go out for a walk or find a place to eat? If not, he could also just take a stroll.

But when he opened the curtains and looked outside, he found that there was no one on the streets, only a few dim streetlights were on.

Well, he’d better just stay put!

He missed the rich nightlife of his original world!

Zhao Dongchuan pulled the curtains shut, turned around, and with a wave of his hand, conjured a long table from his space, and with another wave, several steaming home-cooked dishes appeared on the table.

These were dishes he had cooked himself in the Cultural Center dormitory in Huangyuan City, served in bowls and plates for easy eating.

Three dishes and one soup, that’s enough, that’s enough!

Zhao Dongchuan waved his hand again, and a plate of rice appeared on the table.

Alright, the food is ready, time to eat!

This space is truly endlessly useful; if someone saw this, wouldn't they immediately prostrate themselves in worship? Calling him an immortal!!! Of course, he might also be captured and sliced up for research!

However, in the future, he could use this space ability under the guise of performing magic tricks to fool young girls!

Heh heh!!!

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh out loud…

He shook his head, dispelling these distracting thoughts, and began to enjoy the delicious food!

… … … … … …

After eating, Zhao Dongchuan put all the dishes and the table back into his space; it wouldn't be too late to wash them when he returned to Shuangshui Village!

Before long, after tidying up, he began to read; he had only just started “Selected Works of Mao Zedong,” and continued to delve into the book…

The next day, Zhao Dongchuan woke up early; he had slept well the previous night and felt very energetic today.

After a quick wash, he paid his room fee at the front desk with his satchel on his back, and then left the guesthouse.

Zhao Dongchuan walked down the street with his hands in his pockets, humming Jay Chou's “Listen to Mother's Words,” looking around as he went.

New Year's Day had only passed a few days ago, and the street decorations still retained some festive atmosphere, and even the clothes of the pedestrians were brighter than usual.

Young women and married women alike were wearing colorful clothes, each looking fresh and charming.

Just as Zhao Dongchuan was looking at the passing young women with an “appreciative” gaze, a surprised cry came.

“Zhao Dongchuan?”

He turned his head and saw, huh? It was Tian Runye, whom he hadn't seen in a long time!

Tian Runye had two small braids, wore a floral cotton jacket, and a red scarf, and her small face, with rosy lips and white teeth, was looking at him in surprise.

He immediately felt that all the other young women he had just seen paled in comparison.

“Sister Runye!”

Zhao Dongchuan snapped back to reality and quickly greeted her.

“It really is you, I thought I had mistaken you for someone else ~ Why are you back in Yuanxi County?” Tian Runye asked with a bit of surprise.

Tian Runye was walking on the road, about to go to school for class, when she saw Zhao Dongchuan with his back to her. For a moment, she felt his figure was very much like him, so she couldn't help but call out.

The moment she called out, she regretted it a little, feeling that she shouldn't have been so rash, but the excitement in her heart just now made her lose her composure. She didn't expect it to really be Zhao Dongchuan.

“I’ve been quite busy lately, so I thought I’d take a break and rest. That’s why I decided to go back to Shuangshui Village. After all, Shuangshui Village is my second home!” Zhao Dongchuan said with a slight smile, looking at Tian Runye.

“Hmm…” For some reason, Tian Runye felt a bit down at this moment and became silent.

Suddenly, Tian Runye remembered the news she had heard from Second Uncle earlier and said to Zhao Dongchuan, “Oh, I forgot to congratulate you! Congratulations on the successful publication of your novel. I’ve read it, and it’s excellent!”

“Sister Runye, we’re family, so there’s no need to be so formal. Don’t mention these things!”

Hearing Zhao Dongchuan say they were family, Tian Runye's mood involuntarily brightened a little, and she said, “One thing at a time, it really is good, much better than what I write!”

Zhao Dongchuan quickly offered a few humble remarks.

After chatting for a while, he looked at Tian Runye's outfit with her bag, guessing she was heading to County Elementary School for class, and said, “Sister Runye, are you going to class?”

“Oh, yes! I almost forgot, I have a class this morning! Sorry, I have to go now, let’s talk again next time!” With that, Tian Runye hurried towards the school.

Zhao Dongchuan smiled; he hadn't expected the usually dignified and graceful Tian Runye from the novels and TV series to have such a girlish moment.

Shaking his head, he found a state-run restaurant on a nearby street, bought a few meat buns; he hadn't eaten them in a few days and was quite fond of them.

After breakfast, Zhao Dongchuan rode his bicycle towards Shuangshui Village.

After a bumpy journey, Zhao Dongchuan drove past Guanzi Village, and soon he would reach Tianjia Gelaoshan.

Just as he was about to reach the village entrance, he heard a heavy, slightly choked voice from the loudspeaker of the infrastructure conference: “The Communist Party of China… Our great Premier… passed away due to cancer on January 8, 1976… at nine o'clock… in Beijing…”

Zhao Dongchuan’s heart sank instantly. He immediately braked his bicycle and stood there silently for a long time…