Chapter 608

A group of teachers stood to one side, all looking at Zhou Andong, especially the young teachers. Over the past year, not to mention in the media, even in the mouths of other teachers, their ears had developed calluses from hearing the name Zhou Andong.

Now that they finally saw the real person, they naturally wanted to take a good look. Cao Shuzhi also stood to one side, smiling, her face full of pride.

Zhou Andong said a few words to Kan Xingjiang, then began to greet the teachers, and finally stood before the principal and bowed respectfully.

"Principal Zhao, how are you?"

The little old man was already seventy years old. Like Teacher Cao, he should have retired, but due to a shortage of teaching staff at the school, he was rehired and had been persisting in his post.

"The naughtiest one back then was you, and the most accomplished one now is also you." Principal Zhao patted Zhou Andong on the shoulder, his eyes actually moistening, "I watched your press conference a few days ago. You haven't forgotten the words Teacher Cao once said to you. Good, truly good!"

Zhou Andong looked at Cao Shuzhi: "I will never forget Teacher's teachings in my entire life."

Cao Shuzhi said with a smile: "Whatever you have to say, let's go inside and talk."

A group of people entered the room, and the space, which wasn't very large to begin with, was immediately full.

In the room, there were two tables on the floor, and there was another table on the kang, which was prepared for these teachers.

"Sit, sit, sit!" Zhang Tao was busy running around, "Teacher Liu, you sit here; Teacher Qian, you sit here; Teacher Sun, you and Teacher Wang sit on the kang..."

Zhou Andong sat down, Kan Xingjiang and Yao Jun sat beside him, to his right was Principal Zhao, followed by the teachers who had once taught Zhou Andong.

Yin Jisheng also wanted to sit at this table, but when he realized that this table was full of Zhou Andong's classmates and teachers, he very consciously gave up his seat.

"Dad!" Zhang Tao said: "People have almost all arrived; should we set off the firecrackers?"

Zhang Xiangmin said: "Set them off!"

"Okay!" Zhang Tao strode out, "Zhao Xiao, set off the firecrackers; Master, get ready to serve the dishes."

"Got it!" The head chef wiped the sweat from his face with his apron and said to the few young men helping out: "Get the trays ready, it's time to serve."

"Crack! Pop!"

The deafening sound of firecrackers rang out. Zhang Tao and Er Liang brought the Yugong liquor, Ice Tea, and Very Cola into the room and placed them on the table.

The principal picked up a bottle of Ice Tea in the China Red packaging: "This packaging is beautiful!"

Kan Xingjiang said with a smile: "Dongzi, on the first day Ice Tea hit the market, the old principal asked us to go buy some. We couldn't buy it in town, so we borrowed a diesel tricycle and went to the county to buy it."

Zhou Andong brought the liquor over, opened the packaging, unscrewed the cap, and then poured liquor for the teachers one by one.

"I don't drink; having the beverage is enough."

"Teacher Xiang, I know you don't drink. But today is different; it's Teacher Cao's sixty-sixth birthday. I don't know when we'll have another chance to sit together and drink like this again. So, even if you don't drink, you have to have a little today. I won't pour much for you, just a little bit."

Teacher Xiang gave a bitter smile and moved his hand away from the glass.

Zhou Andong said he would pour a little, and he really did pour just a little—a bottom of the glass, about half a tael of liquor.

When the other teachers who didn't drink saw that it was only that much, they didn't insist anymore. Most importantly, Zhou Andong was their student, and their most successful student at that; they were truly proud in their hearts.

Today, this student they were most proud of, the student who made them proud, was pouring them a drink. If they didn't drink, it would be a regret in their lives.

Zhou Andong poured a round; he didn't pour much for anyone, and there was still quite a bit left, which he then poured into his own glass.

"First, I want to toast Teacher Cao three times. The first cup is to congratulate Teacher on her joyous birthday; the second cup is to thank Teacher for her deep kindness and heavy bond; the third cup is to wish Teacher good health!"

Zhou Andong tilted his head back and drank the liquor in his glass in one gulp. Zhang Tao hurriedly brought over a bottle of liquor and filled Zhou Andong's glass.

Then, Zhou Andong finished two more cups in a row. Immediately after, Zhou Andong raised his glass again, "This cup is to toast the old principal; I wish you health and happiness."

The old principal clinked glasses with Zhou Andong and then very decisively finished his in one gulp.

Finally, Zhou Andong raised his glass: "This cup is to toast all the teachers; I wish you a bright future and students all over the world."

"Cheers!" Kan Xingjiang shouted with some excitement.

"Cheers!" Everyone shouted in unison, causing the people in the courtyard to turn their heads and look into the room one after another.

Cao Shuzhi watched happily, her wrinkles disappearing as she smiled.

Afterwards, Yao Jun also toasted the teachers, said a few words, and then didn't drink anymore.

After all, it was a banquet, not a private dinner, and everyone present was a teacher; no one would be greedy for alcohol at this time.

It was over in less than an hour, and Zhou Andong and Yao Jun saw the teachers off to the main gate.

Kan Xingjiang said: "Dongzi, Dajun, I know you are very busy. If you have time, come back and visit; let's get together."

"No problem!" Zhou Andong shook hands with Kan Xingjiang, "Old classmate, if you have any difficulties in the future, come find me. Although I might not necessarily be able to solve them, I can give you an idea or lend a hand; don't be shy."

"Definitely!" Kan Xingjiang nodded heavily, then shook hands with Yao Jun again.

The old principal to the side looked at Zhou Andong, appearing as if he had something to say but stopped. In the end, he still didn't say it, sighed, and walked away.

Yao Jun looked at the old principal's slightly hunched back: "The old principal seems to have something on his mind."

Zhou Andong said: "I saw it."

Yao Jun said: "Should we chase after him and ask?"

Zhou Andong said: "No need to ask; it must be the school building. When we were in school, the wind would blow through the cracks in the walls, and when it rained outside, it would rain inside the room. How many years has it been?"

Yao Jun sighed: "Back when we were in school, the town said they would rebuild the primary school, and to this day, goddamn it, it still hasn't been built."

Zhou Andong took out a cigarette, and immediately there was a click sound by his ear. Yin Jisheng suddenly appeared by his side, holding a lighter, and lit the cigarette for Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong shook his head helplessly, looking at the old principal who had already disappeared: "The town has no money, and the county might have a little, but there are too many places to spend money; how could they care about the school?"

Yao Jun said: "For the chicken farming pilot project we started in Tanghezi, the county said they would cover part of the money, but we don't even know when it will come down."

"When it comes down, it comes down; we aren't in a rush." Zhou Andong pondered for a moment, "If the town can't solve the school building problem and we can't count on the county, then let us do something for our alma mater."

Yin Jisheng stood to the side, head lowered, wondering what he was thinking. Hearing Zhou Andong's words, he suddenly raised his head.

"Chairman Zhou, the town's school building can be left to me."

Zhou Andong looked at Yin Jisheng: "You want to contract this project?"

"No!" Yin Jisheng said: "I will donate a teaching building."

Zhou Andong blinked and asked with a smile: "Do you know how much a teaching building costs?"

Yin Jisheng said: "I'm in the construction business; how could I not know?"