Reborn in 1979, with a female educated youth lying next to me.

"Uncle Zhou, I'd like to discuss something with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Panlai quickly handed over the cigarette in his hand.

Seeing the cigarette crumpled up, Zhou Fengshou smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"Come on in, why bring cigarettes? You don't smoke, do you?"

The pack of cigarettes in front of me is a filtered cigarette; it looks like it's worth a lot of money.

Zhao Panlai is a younger man in the village and is not married. He is still a young man.

Offering a cigarette before even finishing speaking—where did you learn that from?

However, seeing his hand still hanging in mid-air, Zhou Fengshou couldn't very well refuse to take it.

Zhou Fengshou took the cigarette and placed it on the table, then smiled at Zhao Panlai.

"Because of the college entrance exam?"

"Well, it's both yes and no."

Zhao Panlai didn't know how to answer Zhou Fengshou's question.

To say that the current issue is about taking the college entrance exam seems a bit far-fetched.

However, it cannot be said that it has absolutely nothing to do with taking the college entrance exam.

"What does that mean? What do you mean by 'not even considered'?"

Zhao Panlai took a deep breath, his hands clenched into fists.

"Uncle Zhou, I don't know how to say this, so I'll just be frank with you. I didn't do well on the exam this year, and I plan to take it again next year."

"But I'm worried that if I don't touch my books for a year, I'll do terribly on the exam again."

“Isn’t the primary school in our village short of teachers? I want to teach the children.”

"I'd like to ask Uncle Zhou what he thinks."

While Zhao Panlai was speaking, Zhou Fengshou listened quietly.

Only after Zhao Panlai clearly explained his meaning did Zhou Fengshou finally feel relieved.

Despite being happy inside, Zhou Fengshou still feigned hesitation and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through. I love reading, and I know everyone calls me a bookworm. I feel like they don't find enjoyment in books, and besides, I don't know anything else besides reading."

After Zhou Fengshou asked a question, Zhao Panlai would answer it seriously.

Without realizing it, Zhao Panlai blurted out everything that was on her mind.

It was only at this moment that Zhao Panlai realized whether he had said too much.

What if I say something wrong and Zhou Fengshou stops me from teaching those children?

“I need to think about this matter some more. Let me be frank with you, you’re not the only one in our village who didn’t get into university. I’m trying to be fair to everyone.”

“The village is short of teachers, and you’re not the only one who’s concerned about it.”

"I will seriously consider your situation and give you an update tomorrow."

Zhou Fengshou didn't immediately rule out any possibility of a definitive answer.

Across from him, Zhao Panlai nodded in agreement.

With over a thousand people in the village, Zhou Fengshou, as the production team leader, was determined to handle things thoroughly.

Even if she was eager to know the result, she had to wait until Zhou Fengshou made his decision.

"Okay, then I'll trouble you, Uncle Zhou. I'll wait for your news when I get back."

“Go ahead, you have the makings of a scholar, I know that.”

Zhou Fengshou personally saw Zhao Panlai out before returning to his own meal.

All night long.

Zhao Panlai tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

It wasn't until the evening of the following day that Zhou Fengshou told Zhao Panlai that he agreed to let him become a teacher at the primary school.

Another day passed.

Aunt Chunlan went to work at the basket factory, and she smiled at everyone she met.

Upon learning that Zhao Panlai was going to teach at a primary school, many people showed envy on their faces.

"It's true that man proposes, God disposes. Look at Lai Zi. Others didn't get into university and just went about their business, but Lai Zi got a good job."

"That's right. Teaching for a day is worth ten work points, and you don't even have to do any work. It's like a pie falling from the sky."

"They found an easy job, it's really enviable."

“They are cultured people, while people like us can only face the loess soil and turn our backs to the sky.”

Everyone chatted amongst themselves, glancing at Chun every now and then.

Aunt Chunlan smiled awkwardly, and finally, she laughed so hard she couldn't close her mouth.

While delivering the basket, Zhou Caixia smiled mysteriously.

"Auntie, is Brother Laizi alright now?"

"It's alright, he's in a good mood. He was reading a book in the yard early this morning, I don't know what he was reading, I couldn't understand it anyway."

Aunt Chunlan smiled even more happily.

Seeing that no one was around, Zhou Caixia lowered her voice and said, "Auntie, it's truly a blessing from my past life that my brother Laizi was able to meet my third brother."

"What's the matter?"

Chunlan was completely bewildered.

Liu Jia did indeed contact Panlai back then.

He also said there was something he wanted to discuss with Panlai.

I don't even know what they said.

But judging from Caixia's words, it seems that things are not as simple as they appear on the surface.

Seeing Chunlan's bewildered expression, Zhou Caixia raised her eyebrows and asked, "You don't know what's going on?"

"Oh dear, stop keeping me in suspense and tell your aunt what happened!"

"In order to get my brother Lai Zi to teach children in the primary school, Liu Jia practically wore himself out with his sweet talk. We were tired of hearing his kind words."

Zhou Caixia said with a smile.

Chunlan was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

No wonder Liu Jia said he had a solution.

It turns out that Liu Jia had already figured out what to do!

Chunlan silently turned away, her nose tingling with tears.

If I hadn't been holding back, these tears would have fallen again.

Actually, I had known for a while that something was amiss, but I really didn't know that Liu Jia had helped me so much behind the scenes.

He was making money from Liu Jia, and this kid even saved his son's life!

Liu Jia, your aunt really owes you something!

Chunlan looked around the yard but didn't see Liu Jia's tractor.

Seeing Zhao Xiaochao approaching, Chunlan quickly went up to him and asked him what was wrong.

"Xiao Chao, Liu Jia isn't here today?"

"I went to deliver baskets early this morning, Aunt Chunlan. Is there something you need?"

Ever since he had a misunderstanding with Aunt Chunlan because he spoke carelessly last time, Zhao Xiaochao has always been very proper and serious when he speaks to Aunt Chunlan.

"It's nothing, it's nothing, you go ahead with your work, I just wanted to ask something."

"Okay, if anything comes up, just tell me. Third Brother said that if there's anything I can help with, just say so."

Chunlan nodded with tears in her eyes, then quickly went to weave a basket.

Liu Jia didn't return in his tractor until the end of the workday.

When I got home, my son was already cooking at the foot of the south wall.

"I've finally got you here. There's something I need to tell you, and you must remember it!"

"Liu Jia is your benefactor, and he is the benefactor of our entire Zhao family!"

"A person must not forget their roots, and even more so, must not lose their conscience. You must remember everything Liu Jia did for you!"

From childhood to adulthood, Zhao Panlai always remembered her mother as gentle and strong.

But today, after only a few words, my mother's eyes were already red.

Zhao Panlai was startled.

He quickly stuffed the firewood in his hand into the stove and got up.

"Mom, what happened? I'm completely confused. Can you tell me what happened?"

Chunlan recounted what Zhou Caixia had said that day.

Zhao Panlai was also dumbfounded.

"So that's how it is. I was wondering why I was chosen out of so many people who didn't get into university?"

It turned out that Liu Jia was secretly helping.

Looking at herself now, and then thinking back to herself two days ago, Zhao Panlai could hardly believe it was the same person.

The reason they were able to get back on their feet was thanks to Liu Jia's help.

"Mother, don't worry, I'm not a heartless person, I know what to do."

……

"Sanzi, what are you doing? Hurry up and give me a hand, there's a hole in our chimney!"

Zhao Guilan was tending a fire in the house when she suddenly turned around and shouted.

Upon hearing this, Liu Jia, who was washing her hands by the well, quickly went inside.

A hole in the chimney isn't a big problem, but if the smoke starts coming out of the hole instead of the chimney, it won't be long before the entire south-facing room becomes unbearable.

"where?"

While being questioned, Liu Jia kept looking towards the chimney.

Zhang Guilan pointed westward with a matchstick, "Right here, see it?"

The kitchen is in the south room.

The kitchen is located in the southwest corner of the south room.

It is against the south wall on one side and against the west wall on the other.

Liu Jia turned his head and looked to the west, and sure enough, he saw a small animal.

There is firewood in the stove at this moment.

The leaping flames could be clearly seen through the small hole.

"It really is! When did a small hole appear?"

"Who knows, maybe a piece of dirt fell out. Keep an eye on the firewood here so it doesn't fall out. I'll go mix some mud and patch up this little hole."

Small holes in chimneys are not uncommon in rural areas.

When we built the stove and the chimney on top, we would smear mud around the chimney to prevent smoke from rising from the surrounding area.

Because of the constant smoke and fire, over time, a piece of mud might fall off.

It's perfectly normal to patch it up with mud again.

"I'll go, Mom, don't move. I'll be back in a bit."

After saying that, Liu Jia hurriedly turned around.

The vegetable garden is on the other side of the west wall; the soil is already there.

Liu Jia scooped a ladle of water from the well and poured it directly into the vegetable garden.

Once the water had seeped in, Liu Jia used a shovel to turn the mud over a couple more times, giving it a quick tumble, and the mud was done.

Because she needed to repair the chimney, Zhang Guilan stopped burning firewood.

When Liu Jia brought the mud over, Zhang Guilan quickly got up and made way for him.

Liu Jia grabbed a handful of mud with one hand and smeared it around the chimney twice with the other.

Just to be on the safe side, Liu Jia also made sure to wipe the small holes in the chimney.

"That's about it. By the time we finish this meal, this little hole should be dry."

"Okay, it's alright. Go wash your hands now."

After Liu Jia left, Zhang Guilan sat back down in her previous seat.

Not long after, Liu Jia came over again with a rag.

"Why are you back again? Didn't you get it done?"

Zhang Guilan looked puzzled.

I saw Liu Jia working clearly just now.

The hole has been patched up, so why is he coming back again?

"Let me wipe this side of the pot lid clean. If any dirt gets into the pot, then we won't be able to eat today."

Zhang Guilan didn't say anything, and only looked away after watching Liu Jia finish his work.

The three have really changed.

In the past, this child always talked about Guo Xiaoyan, and to put it bluntly, he was a typical wife-obsessed person.

They keep talking about Guo Xiaoyan.

But lately, unless someone brings up Guo Xiaoyan, that name hasn't appeared in Liu Jia's mouth.

Zhang Guilan was also aware that Guo Xiaoyan and Liu Jia were currently divorced, so it was normal not to mention it.

But can feelings that were once etched into one's bones really just disappear like that?

This shouldn't be!

Moreover, she wasn't such a heartless person; Zhang Guilan also believed that her sacrifices for Guo Xiaoyan back then were genuine.

But why don't you mention it anymore?

"That's really strange. I would never believe you if you told me you'd forgotten."

Zhang Guilan muttered something under her breath, but before she could finish speaking, Liu Jianye lifted the curtain and walked in.

"Mom, what did you say? Are you calling me?"

"It's alright, it'll be ready soon. Go wash your hands and eat," Guilan said, but before she could finish, she quickly asked, "How are you today? Is Hongmei recovering well?"

It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. Even if you do nothing and just lie in bed all day, it's still not comfortable.

It's impossible for him to get better all at once, but every time Liu Jianye comes back from the city, Zhang Guilan can't help but ask him about it.

It's heartbreaking to see such a healthy child suffer so much.

"Don't worry, Mom, Hongmei is in good spirits."

"That's good."

"Where's Hongmeiniang? She didn't say anything, did she?"