"Pan Di, stop running, won't you talk to me for a bit?"
Chen Yang caught up to Shen Pan Di in a few quick strides. The girl had actually run faster when she heard him call.
If Chen Yang hadn't been exercising daily recently, with his old physical condition, he might not have been able to catch up to her.
That would have been a real embarrassment.
"Teacher Chen, I..."
Shen Pan Di looked at Chen Yang, out of breath and panting. She didn't know how to face him, and quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. Su Dan Novel Network
But her red eyes betrayed the fact that she had been crying.
"Since you still recognize me as your teacher, you'll come home with Teacher Chen to celebrate the New Year later."
"Er Niu misses you too, so you can share a room."
"You two can study together during the holidays and consolidate your knowledge."
Chen Yang didn't give Shen Pan Di a chance to say anything else, he directly stated his intentions.
"Teacher Chen, I, I don't want to go."
"People will gossip."
Shen Pan Di bit her lip. She was already very touched that Teacher Chen had rushed over to talk to her. But precisely because Teacher Chen was so good to her, she was even more reluctant to cause him trouble.
She would rather stay alone at school for the New Year!
"I'm here to tell you, not to discuss it with you."
"I'll give you ten minutes to pack your clothes and any textbooks and study materials you need to bring, then come home with us."
"No one in the village dares to trouble me, and you'll be staying with Er Niu, not in my house."
"Besides, if I'm not afraid, why are you afraid? Do you really want to be here drinking the northwest wind alone?"
Chen Yang didn't try to explain painstakingly. He knew that the more he explained, the heavier the burden on Shen Pan Di's heart would be, and the more she would feel indebted to him.
There was no need.
If he acted more nonchalantly, Shen Pan Di would feel more at ease.
He was helping Shen Pan Di because he felt that this strong and kind girl's fate should not be so tragic, not because he expected anything in return.
"Teacher Chen, I..."
Shen Pan Di wanted to say more, but Chen Yang had already turned and left, giving her no chance to refuse.
Looking at his retreating back, Shen Pan Di's eyes welled up again.
However, the tears earlier were from grievance and distress. Now, she only felt moved.
"Brother-in-law, Sister Pan Di?"
Seeing Chen Yang run over, say a few words, and then turn back, Shen Rong peeked out.
"Don't worry, she'll come."
Chen Yang smiled faintly. He was confident of this. Shen Pan Di was just afraid of causing him trouble. Who wouldn't want to have a family to celebrate the New Year with?
With a mother like Luo Yuzhen, she couldn't go back to her own home. Spending the New Year at the home of a good sister like Shen Rong was at least better than being alone in school.
As expected, not long after, Shen Pan Di came over with a large bag. It was filled with her clothes, and of course, more books and assignments.
She remembered that Teacher Chen hoped she would get into Tsinghua University, and she wanted to make him proud.
Teacher Liu said that Tsinghua was one of the best universities in China. Even the top student in Liu He County might not be able to get into Tsinghua.
She had to work hard. If she couldn't be the top student in Liu He County, then she would aim for the top student in Qinghe City. If she couldn't achieve that, then she would aim for the top student in Anhui Province.
She didn't know how big the gap in her abilities was, but she would definitely study with all her might and achieve her best results.
Her only goal was Tsinghua University.
"Pan Di, Rong Rong, hold on tight. We're heading home."
Chen Yang and his father-in-law drove the donkey cart. They first went to the food factory to buy a few catties of meat, and then took Shen Rong to pick up clothes.
Seeing Shen Pan Di still wearing patched clothes, he had Liang Hongmei custom-make a set for her. Shen Pan Di initially insisted on refusing.
It was Shen Rong who pulled her to take measurements. Chen Yang's family all had new clothes. If Shen Pan Di wore patched clothes while his family wore new ones for the New Year, she would feel a bit uncomfortable.
Since he was doing a good deed, he might as well bring the girl home for the New Year. Chen Yang didn't mind the cost of a set of clothes. Why not let the girl have a happy New Year?
After finishing these things and stocking up on some New Year's goods in the city, such as peanuts, melon seeds, and milk candies, Chen Yang and his father-in-law drove the donkey cart home.
As soon as they entered the village, they found it very lively.
Looking around, everyone was gathered at their own homes. Instead, no one paid attention to him bringing Shen Pan Di back; they were all surrounding his house.
Chen Yang was puzzled. What was going on? Shen Pan Di, on the other hand, was very worried, afraid that people would gossip about Chen Yang bringing her back.
"Brother-in-law, you're finally back."
"Come and see, over twelve hundred jin, fat and healthy. Look how full of milk it is."
"Director Wang put in a lot of effort, and even asked General Manager Ye Xuejun of the Municipal Aquatic Products Company to intervene. Only then did they secretly get a quota to acquire it."
"Director Wang is inside. My sister and my aunt are entertaining him. The villagers saw us bringing a dairy cow home, so they all came to watch the excitement. We can't stop them."
Zhao Wukang was very excited. It was not just the villagers who had never seen a dairy cow and came to watch.
Even he, a city person, had never seen a dairy cow in his life.
Look at its hide, black and white patches, it looked completely different from the yellow cattle and water buffalo they usually saw.
And he heard that the milk produced by this cow was snow-white and smelled of milk from afar.
Director Wang also said that when he visited the state-run dairy farm in Fei City, the factory leaders treated visitors to a cup of milk. That milk was incredibly fragrant.
Director Wang said he had never tasted anything so delicious in his life, which made Zhao Wukang very greedy!
"I'll go in and greet Director Wang. Rong Rong, take Pan Di to put away her clothes and luggage. Dad, return the donkey cart to Old Master Tu.
We probably won't have time to cut grass and dig for wild vegetables today. Give the old master a dollar and ask him to get some food for the donkey."
Chen Yang jumped off the cart, not bothering to pick up anything. He went to the side of the dairy cow, observed it, and seeing that the cow was in good spirits, he also began to get excited.
This was a live dairy cow. Many people in his previous life said that to eat food, one had to eat the freshest. Some netizens joked that they usually chased cows and gnawed meat off them.
Although he wouldn't gnaw the meat off a dairy cow, from now on, he could milk it and give fresh milk to his wife and children every day.
Freshly squeezed milk, which company's pure milk could achieve this level? Only he, Chen Yang, had this ability.
Looking at the villagers gathered around his yard, marveling at the novelty, Chen Yang was amused. However, the fact that no one paid attention to him bringing Shen Pan Di home for the New Year was an unexpected joy.
Although he didn't care about people's gossip, it was naturally best if no one spread rumors.