Chapter 131

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Fighting wits and courage with her two kids all the way, by the time she returned home in the evening, Shen Yao felt she had aged more than ten years.

Kids are truly hard to raise, especially this kind of genius children with remarkably high IQs.

Looking with tearful eyes at Xie Ci'an bustling about, Shen Yao sighed at how hard it was for him; after all, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were mostly taken care of solely by Xie Ci'an.

"The two of them are very well-behaved," especially because of her own childhood experiences, Xie Ci'an didn't want his son and daughter to live through the same kind of days.

Patting Shen Yao's arm and pulling her up, Xie Ci'an brought warm water to soak her feet.

"For the days ahead, I also ask Comrade Xie to please take good care of me."

Sitting by the bedside, Shen Yao playfully blinked her eyes, deeply feeling that her judgment in choosing a partner was excellent.

Life, whether lived plainly or spectacularly, what matters most is one's own happiness.

In such a special era, stability has far better cost performance than other options.

After washing up, she lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and fell asleep; in her dream, she reminisced about the beautiful things that had already happened.

Time flows like water, slowly passing by.

Often before one even notices, a whole year has flashed by in the blink of an eye.

It was the annual year-end again; the steps of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new drew ever closer, only this year's New Year seemed to arrive more slowly than in previous years.

"Aiyo, the weather in the twelfth lunar month is truly cold."

"When going out, you must dress warmly, Tian Dama, off to pick up your grandson and granddaughter again."

"Yes, the two kids are on winter break, can't stay cooped up at home, they go out to play and never get enough."

"Hmph, your family has so many people earning money, what's wrong with the two kids going out to play? Kids should play; a lively personality means they'll be popular when they enter the factory in the future."

"Nonsense, Qian Jian'gang, you've just had a son and you're already floating; Xie Family's pair of grandson and granddaughter are the stuff of university students."

"Zhao Jie, the college entrance exam has been suspended for over ten years, and you're still thinking about university students."

"Bullshit, the country needs to develop, university students will definitely be recruited again, what do you know?"

"..."

Tian Na had already come out of the courtyard; the noisy quarreling behind her couldn't reach her ears, which counted as a rare moment of leisure for her.

Phew

Not easy, really not easy; after all these years, the people in the courtyard have aged, and their tongues have become even more sharp and stinging.

Having been retired for nearly two years, Tian Na tightened her collar, lowered her head, and turned toward the Machinery Factory to pick up the children.

Xie Ci'an has been busy with work recently; not only was he promoted, but the scope of his responsibilities has also grown wider.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan have already reached school age, but whenever the school has a holiday, they are still packed off by Xie Ci'an to the Machinery Factory.

It's not that staying at home wouldn't work; Tian Na was busy with work before, and after retiring, aside from going to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy vegetables, she had handfuls of free time every day.

But Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are clever; their IQs appear even more genius than Xie Ci'an's.

Tian Na can indeed look after children, but she cannot solve the all sorts of wild, imaginative questions the two children raise.

Including Shen Yao, she can't either; all of this can only be handed over to Xie Ci'an to handle.

……

"Tsk, teaching such young children like this, aren't you afraid of raising two little old men and little old ladies, without a shred of normal children's lively spirit?"

Tian Na arrived at the Machinery Factory, and the very first thing she said upon seeing Xie Ci'an was to scold her son for being unreliable in education.

Ordinary people of the older generation have never seen how to cultivate genius children.

That's why Xie Ci'an's childhood was extremely painful; he fundamentally doesn't want to relive it a second time.

"Mom, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan aren't ordinary children; if I don't keep a tight rein, you'll be even more exhausted."

If a child's thirst for knowledge cannot be satisfied, that is strangling the child's talent.

Packing the schoolbags, inside were all various problems Xie Ci'an had set himself.

"Xie Weisi, Xie Weizhao, go back and complete your homework on time before you can read these extracurricular books.

Refusal is not allowed, nor is acting willfully; Dad will check when he gets home in the evening."

Finished speaking, he handed the schoolbags in his hand to the two children, then stood up and saw Tian Na and the three of them off as they left.

Tian Na: ……

Tian Na led one child by each hand, complaining verbally that Xie Ci'an was going too far.

"Your dad too; how can a little child be this tired every day? When he was little, he played just fine."

Tian Na muttered and grumbled, complaining that Xie Ci'an's actions were too double-standard, little knowing that Xie Ci'an's arrangements were entirely customized according to Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan's two personalities and learning progress, pouring in and consuming a vast amount of his painstaking effort.

Genius is hard to come by, and cultivating it is even harder; every step Xie Ci'an takes is deliberated and deliberated again.

It's also because the national situation is good this year; his old teachers, who had cut off contact with him in earlier years, have now all re-established contact.

Xie Ci'an belongs to the type who concentrates the wisdom of the masses to teach the two children, enabling Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to avoid many detours.

The only pity is that to this day, there is still no confirmed time for the restoration of the college entrance exam.

But it will be soon; even Xie Ci'an's teachers have once tactfully hinted that he could pick up his books early and review for a retake.

"But you're already a graduate student graduate; wouldn't taking the college entrance exam again be a bit of overkill?"

Xie Ci'an was already a top student at Jing City University before the college entrance exam was cancelled.

Even if the college entrance exam is restored, Xie Ci'an completely doesn't need to take the exam again, to relearn courses he has already studied.

"Once the college entrance exam is restored, the corresponding recruitment of master's and doctoral students will also be carried out simultaneously.

The teacher's meaning was to have me pick up the textbooks first, and wait for the opportunity to continue studying.

Back then, Xie Ci'an graduated as a graduate student, and was originally going to continue advanced studies.

It was just that continuing studies was somewhat difficult at that time, so by a twist of fate he entered the machinery factory to work.

Now there is finally an opportunity to study and advance again, Xie Ci'an will certainly seize it anew.

Shen Yao expressed support, "Your mind is clever, you should go farther, make greater contributions for the country."

It's not that Xie Ci'an cannot make contributions at the machinery factory, but the machinery factory is too small, and Xie Ci'an has a clever brain for science and engineering, he will certainly go to the top to have a look.

Xie Ci'an reached out and embraced Shen Yao in his arms, while also urging Shen Yao to study.

"The canning factory is not bad, but only when a person has learned more knowledge is it more beneficial for national development.

Shen Yao, I hope you can study together with me, and progress together."

Shen Yao smiled and nodded, "In my family, maternal grandfather and them are all from traditional Chinese medicine backgrounds, I've long had the idea of advanced study in this area."

Traditional Chinese medicine is a very profound discipline, studying it well helps a great deal.

And Shen Yao still has quite a few spiritual plants brought from the cultivation world in her hands.

Previously she asked Zhao Yueyue for help, and these two years has received quite a few finished products one after another.

Although these differ slightly in appearance from the spiritual plants Shen Yao saw in the cultivation world, the core effects remain unchanged.

This is enough.

Shen Yao's future entrepreneurship project has a considerably important connection with Chinese herbal medicine.

Only by entering the Traditional Chinese Medicine University in advance for advanced study can Shen Yao have greater assurance of achieving her goal.

Shen Yao herself is a mundane person, and has no overly lofty ideals.

But being able to bring positive influence to the country through some spiritual plants from the cultivation world within her ability, Shen Yao is very willing to do so.

……

"Happy New Year, congratulations and prosperity"

"Happy New Year, congratulations and prosperity"

"……"

By the solar calendar, time has already officially entered 1977, but everyone is still more accustomed to celebrating the familiar lunar new year.

Early in the morning, the sky outside wasn't bright yet, Shen Yao brought Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, already changed into bright red padded jackets, to the main house for the lively gathering.

Last night, Xie Aimin and Wang Yanyan led the two children back early.

Duoduo has become a young lady, looking much quieter, but the little second son Cong Cong, at a few years old, is sturdy and brave, very much like Xie Aimin.

"Second Sister-in-law, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Happy New Year, come in quickly and sit."

These years Xie Aimin's family hasn't been in the big courtyard, contact between both sides hasn't been much, but the relationship is still as close as before.

Wang Yanyan, after giving birth to Xie Cong, looks rounder, but her speech is still crisp and sharp.

Right, last night they returned without time to say anything, today meeting they started gossiping.

Wang Yanyan talked about the rolling mill matters, all about what widow chef cheap father, Shen Yao listened sideways in a daze, thinking how is this story so familiar?

Before Shen Yao could figure this out, Eldest Sister-in-law Wu Zhaodi also brought children over.

Having Stone and Wood take good care of the younger brothers and sisters at home, Wu Zhaodi rubbed her palms, and started gossiping about the machinery factory and courtyard matters.

Of course, after so many years in the courtyard, Wang Yanyan can't not know a single thing.

It's just the new year, words chasing words spoken to this point, no one can stop the floodgate, both what should and shouldn't be said got said a bit.

Like the Cheng family next door, four daughters only the eldest girl kept by their side.

Yet Cheng Xue's days are a mess, and Zhang Wang in the end still divorced, now remarried a second marriage, with a cheap son, and no biological child of her own, very worrying.

Wang Yanyan shook her head sighing, "Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng busy for nearly a lifetime, truly gained nothing at all."

Wu Zhaodi chimed in, "Can't blame anyone, isn't it their own making.

Besides treating Cheng Xue fairly well, did they treat the other three girls as human?

Cheng Yu married early, situation unknown, Cheng Bing married into the Zhao family relies on her own ability living well, Cheng Shuang sent down to countryside years ago never returned, really don't know how she's doing."

Wang Yanyan nodded, "Yes, clearly several girls raised well, yet days can turn out like this," truly unbearable to watch.

The two sisters-in-law couldn't help but lament, Shen Yao sitting to the side silently eating melon.

Thinking Cheng Shuang in the countryside is doing properly well. She went to Guangxi side, fruit plentiful and cheap, these years fruit canned food, dried fruit, fruit sauce, fruit powder... only what you can't think of, nothing Cheng Shuang can't make.

Good fellow, her career now built on the Guangxi side is many times larger than Pingshan Town.

Cheng Shuang these years writes letters to Shen Yao frequently, besides gratitude for Shen Yao's guidance back then, there's also exchanging harvests quite fruitful.

From the meaning Cheng Shuang revealed in letters, she won't return to Jing Shi.

Even if the college entrance exam resumes later, this person will also choose to put down roots in that southern stretch.

Judging by the various abilities Cheng Shuang has shown, the future is a proper female entrepreneur template.

The Cheng couple lost big, several daughters raised well, pity none can reflect glory on them.

"Don't mention the Cheng family, the Qian family is also a mess, Qian Jian'gang this useless wretch, truly harms people.

Wife helps her natal family so much and bears children for him, yet he can't control his own two taels of meat in his crotch.

Now a whole string of children born, all counting on Miao Dama to look after, dragging Qian Laoer to now still unmarried, and there's Qian Laosan in the countryside.

Tsk tsk tsk, if I were Miao Dama, I'd truly have the heart to die."

Wu Zhaodi hates iron not becoming steel, she completely cannot understand Pan Laidi's obsession, because she fundamentally cannot do it.

Wang Yanyan hurriedly persuaded her own Eldest Sister-in-law not to be angry, for unworthy people purely a waste.

Shen Yao changed the topic, "The Zhao family and Zhou family these years are both pretty good.

The Zhao family has no major matters, the Zhou family several children all sent down to countryside, the adults don't care how the kids are, but their own eating and drinking have gone up."

Wu Zhaodi pursed her lips. "Does the Zhou family conduct themselves like human beings? No wonder those children don't come home for the New Year."

Even worse than the Wu family, at least the Wu family didn't abuse the children — they ate and drank as they should. The Zhou family ate coarse grain buns with pickled vegetables day in and day out; the children were raised skinny as rails, and if they went to the countryside they'd surely be bullied.

Wang Yanyan waved her hand. "Come back for what? The family lacks everything; better to stay in the countryside and save worry."

Shen Yao nodded. "The Zhou family's boys I don't know about, but the girls can endure hardship well; their days ought to be better than at home."

One could say it was better by far, because Zhou Da Ni, Zhou Erni, and Zhou San Ni — the three sisters — had all gone to the area around Pingshan Town where Zhao Yueyue was.

The three sisters were together, and with Zhou Erni's quick wits and ability to look after herself, they were better off than enjoying blessings at the Zhou family.

Counting further toward the Front Courtyard were the Lin family and the Jin family; these two households also belonged to the category of constant minor troubles but no major ones.

Basically they could be considered within normal neighborhood bounds; communication and interaction were no trouble at all.

From the mouths of the three sisters-in-law, one couldn't hear too many bizarre stories about these two families either.

Chatting and laughing, they waited until dawn outside, then Tian Na got up and came over to find people to cook.

After these years of development, the household's population quantity was quite considerable.

It being the New Year, no distinction was made between men and women — anyone who could lend a hand came.

"Take out all the chickens, ducks, and fish the family bought back from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the department store to process.

Also the pork Yanyan carried back, the canned goods Yao Yao brought back, the oranges Zhaodi retrieved — lay them all out."

She called out loudly, and the responses echoing Tian Na's call came from all directions.

Even Shen Yao, who had been lazy for a year, didn't slack off; she rolled up her sleeves and washed the pork.

She set aside some to prepare for wrapping dumplings in the evening; the rest she chopped a piece into slices, ready to stir-fry with the vegetables bought back.

Having Eldest Sister-in-law help take the door handle, Shen Yao nimbly returned to her room and took out a glass bottle.

It was one previously used to hold fruit canned food; after being washed clean and dried in the sun, inside it held a kind of white transparent powder.

"Mom, put some in today's stir-fry — a kind of herb from Yueyue's side.

No great efficacy, just enhances freshness and flavor, makes the family's meals tastier."

Hearing this, Tian Na let out a "Hmph." "Is it that Flavor-Enhancing Melon you mentioned before?

Not kidding, after adding it the family's meals really are more delicious."

Shen Yao smiled and nodded, thinking: how could it not be delicious? This is a seasoning used in the Cultivation World to enhance the flavor of Spirit Meals.

Only, back in the Cultivation World, the Flavor-Enhancing Melon grew on trees as fruit; now transplanted to this world, it has become a 'sweet potato' that grows in the ground.

But the Flavor-Enhancing Melon's use hasn't changed — besides its flavor-enhancing effect it has no other function whatsoever.

Even the flavor-enhancing effect requires special processing (steam first, then grind, then dry in the sun, etc.); otherwise, just putting it in dry or popping it straight into the mouth to eat dry is like drinking plain water — not a hint of taste.