Let them live well

"Little Zhao, you're here!"

After a long time, Li Huiying felt a bit unfamiliar and didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Aunt Li, I've been very busy lately and haven't had time to visit you!"

"How have you all been recently? Are you doing well?" Zhao Dongchuan, seeing Li Huiying's awkwardness, spoke up proactively.

"We're doing great. Ever since Liu Laogen and I returned to Yangou that day, we've been here. We just go out to work during the day, then come back to cook for Cao Yuan!" Li Huiying slowly lost her initial unfamiliarity and began to speak more naturally.

"That's good. I came to see you and also to explain the situation, so you don't have to worry."

"I've already resolved the matter on my end. Those people have received their due punishment and will likely be eating prison food for the rest of their lives!" Zhao Dongchuan said to Li Huiying with a smile.

"As for me, I plan to suspend the watch-selling business. You've already paid off your debts and have some savings. With Liu Laogen, life will definitely be much better. If policies change later, I'll come and ask you to come out of retirement!" Zhao Dongchuan got straight to the point, explaining the situation.

Li Huiying secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Zhao Dongchuan's words. She was, after all, a timid woman. Previously, she had ventured to cinemas, shops, and even the black market to resell watches out of a surge of passion and necessity.

With so much debt at home, they couldn't sleep at night until the money was paid off.

And since nothing had gone wrong before, Li Huiying was naturally fearless.

But after the commission earned had paid off all the foreign debt and even accumulated some savings, she gradually became less resolute. After the incident, she became even more anxious, though not to the point of sleeplessness, but certainly worried.

"Thank you!" Li Huiying said gratefully to Zhao Dongchuan.

"Thank me for what? I should be thanking you!" Saying this, Zhao Dongchuan took out malted milk, lychee cans, and some cakes from his bag, which he had already retrieved from his space and placed in the bag earlier.

"These things are quite rare in the countryside. You should try them!"

"Oh, Little Zhao, you shouldn't! My daughter and I already feel bad for you, how can we take your things!" Li Huiying quickly pushed them away, refusing.

"That's an outsider's way of thinking. This was always a mutually beneficial arrangement, and I've gained a lot too. These can be considered employee welfare gifts!"

"If you don't take them, I won't feel comfortable staying. I'm quite craving the dishes you cook, Aunt Li. Are you unwilling to keep me for dinner?" Zhao Dongchuan feigned anger at this.

"How could that be!" Li Huiying quickly explained.

"Mom, let Brother Zhao stay for dinner!" Cao Yuan also chimed in from the side.

Seeing this, Li Huiying no longer declined and quickly invited Zhao Dongchuan into the house. Cao Yuan, upon entering, smartly picked up the teapot, preparing to pour tea for Zhao Dongchuan.

"Little Zhao, please sit for a while. I'll go make dinner. You're having dinner at our house tonight!" Saying this, Li Huiying went into the kitchen to busy herself, seemingly preparing a big meal.

Zhao Dongchuan finally relaxed, sitting comfortably on the stool, gently blowing on his teacup, and taking a sip of tea.

Cao Yuan also watched him silently from the side, as if she hadn't seen him for many days and wanted to gaze at him to her heart's content.

Seeing this, Zhao Dongchuan couldn't help but ask three soul-searching questions.

"Cao Yuan, tell Brother, how's your studies lately? What was your score? What's your class ranking?" Zhao Dongchuan slowly asked, taking a sip of tea.

"…"

Cao Yuan was clearly choked up.

"Brother Zhao, my studies are pretty good. I scored over eighty on the last exam, and I'm in the top ten in my class!" Cao Yuan didn't understand why Zhao Dongchuan always asked about her studies, but she told him everything truthfully.

Zhao Dongchuan nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Mm-hmm, not bad. Study hard and get into a good university in the future!"

Cao Yuan was about to say something more when she heard footsteps and shouts from outside the courtyard.

Zhao Dongchuan had already noticed. Judging by the footsteps and aura, he estimated that the person arriving must be Liu Laogen, whom he hadn't seen in many days.

"Huiying, Huiying, I'm back!" Liu Laogen's voice carried over before he even entered the courtyard.

Zhao Dongchuan also rose from his seat and walked towards the door.

Liu Laogen entered the courtyard and saw Zhao Dongchuan coming out of the house.

He was startled at first, then said with a hint of surprise, "Little Zhao, you're here!"

"Liu Laogen, long time no see!" Zhao Dongchuan said, smiling at Liu Laogen.

"I've finished handling things, and I might be going on a long trip soon, so I came to see you and explain the situation!"

Liu Laogen was clearly not very good at this kind of thing; he just nodded dully, wanting to speak but holding back.

Zhao Dongchuan, seeing his expression, vaguely guessed what Liu Laogen wanted to say, and intended to repeat what he had told Li Huiying.

At this moment, Li Huiying, who had heard the commotion from the kitchen, also came out and quickly said, "Liu Laogen, Little Zhao is here. He's eating at our house tonight. I'm cooking now, come quickly and help!"

Li Huiying naturally knew how to handle awkward situations. She called Liu Laogen in to help, so he wouldn't stand there not knowing what to say, and also to properly explain to Liu Laogen what Zhao Dongchuan had said.

Liu Laogen was a good person, just a bit dull and not good with words.

Hearing Li Huiying's instructions, Liu Laogen quickly nodded in agreement and followed her into the kitchen.

Zhao Dongchuan, seeing this, said nothing more.

He then went back into the house!

Zhao Dongchuan sat down, picked up his teacup, blew on it, and continued to drink tea.

Cao Yuan, at this time, somehow pulled out her textbook and paper and pen and began to write.

She must have been motivated by what I just said!

Zhao Dongchuan thought to himself, nodding with satisfaction, and then paid her no more attention. Cao Yuan, seeing Zhao Dongchuan seemingly very pleased, became even more serious.

So the room became quiet, with only the sound of Zhao Dongchuan drinking tea and Cao Yuan's rustling as she wrote.

Zhao Dongchuan finished the tea in his hand, then picked up the teapot himself and poured another cup.

While pouring tea, he looked at Cao Yuan's book.

This was an oiled-print textbook from the city, containing some simple math problems. Although simple, they already involved equations.

Zhao Dongchuan looked at the few problems Cao Yuan had done. Hmm, not bad. She got 2 out of 10 wrong; the accuracy rate was still acceptable.

He then drank tea and explained the incorrect problems to Cao Yuan.

By the time he finished explaining the few incorrect problems to Cao Yuan, Li Huiying had already finished cooking and came into the room with dishes, calling Zhao Dongchuan to eat.

Liu Laogen also came into the room, smiling, carrying dishes and placing them on the small table on the kang. Clearly, Li Huiying had already told him everything in the kitchen.

No longer having to worry, they could work peacefully in the Yangou production brigade. Although it wasn't as fast money as selling watches, it was at least more stable, and stability was what they sought now.