Tian Futang's dinner party

The meal lasted over an hour, only finishing when it was almost time to start work.

Since Sun Shaoan and the others had to go to work, they naturally couldn't help Zhao Dongchuan with the big clean-up. So, before Shaoan left, he instructed Lanxiang to go to his house to help clean.

Zhao Dongchuan didn't refuse; with more people helping, he could clean up the yard faster.

So, after eating, Zhao Dongchuan and Sun Lanxiang returned to his yard together.

Lanxiang fetched water to wipe down the table and the heated brick bed, while Zhao Dongchuan weeded and cleared fallen leaves and dead branches.

As the saying goes, 'When men and women work together, the work isn't tiring.'

The two chatted and worked, and time passed very quickly.

"Lanxiang, you're in your third year of junior high, right?" Zhao Dongchuan asked.

"Yes, I'm about to graduate from middle school. Brother Shaoan said to study hard so I can go to Yuanxi County for high school, just like my Brother Shaoping!"

Through their time together, Lanxiang was no longer a stranger and spoke much more openly with Zhao Dongchuan.

"Hahaha, study hard. I heard you're very interested in mathematics?"

"It's alright. I really like math, physics, and chemistry. I feel like those numbers are very interesting..."

Zhao Dongchuan nodded. This Lanxiang would be a "scientist" in the future!

The weather was hot, and the two worked under the scorching sun, inevitably breaking out in a sweat.

In summer, clothes are already thin. When soaked with sweat, they clung to her skin, making the already slender Lanxiang appear even more graceful.

Although Zhao Dongchuan tried his best to avoid it, he couldn't help but glance a few times.

Compared to before, when she was like "a lotus bud just peeking out," now she was already quite developed!

"A sin... a sin..." To avoid awkwardness, Zhao Dongchuan deliberately turned his back to Lanxiang, weeding and turning the soil.

...

"Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao!" A clear and bright voice called out.

Sun Shaoping was seen riding the bicycle that Zhao Dongchuan had given to Shaoan earlier, approaching quickly.

Outside the yard, Shaoping parked the bike, walked over, and gave Zhao Dongchuan a big hug.

"Brother Zhao, you're back!"

"I'm back to check on your studies! See if you've been lazy!" Zhao Dongchuan teased.

"I've been studying very hard, and besides, isn't Lanxiang here? Her math, physics, and chemistry are no worse than mine. Whenever Jin Bo, Runsheng, and I have questions, we ask her!" Shaoping said with a chuckle.

"Oh, that's not bad!"

"Lanxiang, you've actually become your brothers' teacher!" Zhao Dongchuan also exclaimed in surprise.

"Just last time, they were discussing a math problem at home, and I happened to know it, so I helped them solve it!" Lanxiang lowered her head shyly.

"Teacher Lanxiang said that her current level in math, physics, and chemistry is almost at the level of a high school student from when she was regularly attending school!" Shaoping wasn't disheartened that his sister was better than him; instead, he was proud.

"Incredible, no wonder she later became the first high-achieving student from the village to get into university!" Zhao Dongchuan thought to himself.

"Alright, since you're all working so hard, then tonight I'll have to thoroughly check your homework!

By the way, where are Runsheng and Jin Bo? How are they doing?"

"As for them, their progress is still a bit slower than mine, after all, they started learning a bit later. Jin Bo is alright, he can stick with it. Runsheng's foundation was already poor, and he's a bit like giving up entirely!" Shaoping scratched his head, saying a bit awkwardly.

"Each person has their own fate. Runsheng's family is well-off, and he has a Second Uncle who is the Director of the Revolutionary Committee, so he won't do too badly. The same goes for Jin Bo; his father is a truck driver, earning a good amount of money, and he might even take over his father's job in the future!

Shaoping, you don't have these advantages, so you can only rely on your own efforts! Just like I said before, I have faith in you!" Zhao Dongchuan encouraged Shaoping.

"Alright, Brother Zhao, I will redouble my efforts!"

Before, because there was no one to guide him, he used reading novels to comfort his fragile and proud heart. Now, with Zhao Dongchuan's assistance and guidance, he has seen hope for the future and has become even more diligent in his studies.

Even Tian Xiaoxia was influenced, and now she is seriously studying with him. Thinking of them studying together, Shaoping couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart.

"Brother Zhao, I'll help you clean!" Sun Shaoping picked up a broom nearby and started working.

With an extra pair of hands, it wasn't long before the yard was swept clean, and the inner room was also thoroughly wiped by Lanxiang.

Looking at the bright and tidy courtyard and inner room, Zhao Dongchuan also felt a great sense of familiarity; it finally had that old feeling again.

Once everything was tidied up, he told Lanxiang and Shaoping to hurry home, as there were still chores waiting for them there.

Seeing the two go home, Zhao Dongchuan closed the courtyard gate, entered the inner room, and then closed the house door, beginning to take things out of his spatial storage.

A small table, a reclining chair, and then rice, flour, grain, and oil.

At lunch, Yuhou had specifically asked him if he had these things and offered to send some over if he didn't, but Zhao Dongchuan refused.

He had more than enough of these items in his spatial storage.

There were also his toiletries. Zhao Dongchuan arranged these items one by one.

Then he took out clean bedding from his spatial storage and made the bed.

After these were placed, he took the old bedding from the cabinet out to the yard to dry in the sun.

By the time these tasks were finished, the sky had gradually darkened.

"Time to start the fire and cook!" Zhao Dongchuan mumbled to himself.

Just as he was debating what to cook for dinner, a knock came at the courtyard gate.

"Huh?" Who would come at this hour, and know to knock? Zhao Dongchuan was a bit puzzled.

"Teacher Zhao, are you there!" A slightly hoarse voice called out.

This was... this was Tian Futang's voice!

Zhao Dongchuan hurried forward to open the courtyard gate.

"Secretary Tian, why have you come? Please come in!"

"No, no, I came to invite you to dinner at my house tonight!" Tian Futang said with a smiling face.

"There's no need, I can just eat something simple at home. You don't have to be so polite!" Zhao Dongchuan said with a smile.

"Teacher Zhao, you are a capable person in our village, a great writer. To be able to invite you to eat at our house is an honor for us. Please give your Uncle Tian some face!"

Tian Futang was very polite in his invitation to Zhao Dongchuan to come for dinner.

"Alright, then I'll impose!" Seeing Tian Futang say this, he couldn't refuse any longer.

Zhao Dongchuan then closed the courtyard gate and followed Tian Futang to his house.

Along the way, Tian Futang greeted fellow villagers cheerfully, saying things like he was hosting a welcome dinner for Zhao Dongchuan today, as if afraid others wouldn't know that Teacher Zhao was going to his house for dinner.

Actually, Zhao Dongchuan understood; it was simply Tian Futang, the Village Party Secretary, wanting to display his status.

Zhao Dongchuan had gone to Sun Yuhou's house for lunch and not his, which made it seem like he was inferior to the Sun family. He certainly couldn't let that stand, so he specifically came to invite him for dinner that evening.