The villagers of Kushanli felt much more at ease after hearing the announcement.
The villagers of Kushanli First Village could also accept the notification, as they had not given up learning in recent years.
When the villagers of Kushanli Second Village heard the announcement, they felt like crying without tears.
Village Chief Li was right; they had only seen the income of the Kushanli villagers and forgotten their past struggles.
Did any of them not have one or two relatives in Kushanli or First Village?
The hardship of the Kushanli villagers in learning culture and legal knowledge was a story that could not be finished in three days and three nights.
At this moment, could they still be envious of Kushanli's income?
Impossible!
They had calculated that even if their entire village only received ten percent, each household would still get twenty to thirty thousand yuan.
Not to mention the greenhouse cultivation they were given?
In the past two years, which family that rented a greenhouse in Kushanli had not gotten rich?
Now that the greenhouses were being returned to them and First Village for planting, with such good conditions, let alone staying up all night to memorize, they would even squat in the snow all night to memorize.
It was just a matter of gritting their teeth and persevering. They would memorize it even if their teeth shattered.
First and Second Villages actively entered the memorization battle.
Zhangshan Village and Zhonghe Village watched helplessly as Lishi Village defected.
If they had even a sliver of a chance, they would also willingly become Kushanli villagers.
...
After Li Zhengguo assigned the work, he handed over all matters to Zhou Chengbin and Zhang Shitau.
He amused Yuanyuan, who was about to turn one, and then checked on the preparations for his eldest nephew's wedding.
Li Min was very annoyed with her younger brother: "This isn't right, that isn't right. You do it!"
Li Zhengguo glared: "Is Xiao Fu your son or my son?"
Glowered at by Village Chief Li, Li Min could only follow her husband into the snow to buy more.
On the tenth day of the tenth lunar month, the snow stopped.
The bright sunshine spilled onto the snow-covered ground, and the silver-clad scenery brightened people's moods.
Li Min's annoyance disappeared.
She began to manage her eldest son's wedding with no impatience.
A Feng, grateful for the care given to her and Yuanyuan by Mother Li and Team Leader Tian, voluntarily took on the role of head chef.
The assistant, of course, was Zeng Jingliang; he was the only one who could assist his wife.
Yuan Man alone, with her two children, was teaching them to crawl on the kang.
The villagers of Kushanli once again tasted A Feng's cooking and envied the tourists who could book seats at Yuan's private kitchen.
They wouldn't be able to book even if they had money. Internal staff were not allowed to compete with tourists for benefits.
After the banquet, Sister-in-law Niu, with a few sisters, helped Li Min clear the tables.
Lin Hua'er came out to help but was pushed into the bridal chamber by Sister-in-law Niu:
"A bride doesn't work on her wedding day. Hurry inside, we can manage."
Lin Hua'er glanced at Li Min. Seeing that her mother-in-law's expression was not bad, she let Sister-in-law Niu guide her back into the bridal chamber.
Sister-in-law Niu patted Li Min: "You are a blessed person. Your elder sister-in-law and younger sister-in-law are both generous and don't care about your occasional foolishness."
"Your eldest daughter-in-law, whom you brought into the family, is also observant. Your good fortune is still to come. Don't cause trouble unnecessarily."
Li Min: "..."
Sister-in-law Niu's outspoken nature would never change. When had she ever caused trouble?
By the time the wedding matters were finished, it was already mid-afternoon. Li Min, following her elder sister-in-law's instructions, gave some processed leftover vegetables to those who had helped.
The helpers happily took the bowls, saying they would send their children to return them.
Li Min, exhausted, thanked her younger sister-in-law for telling her not to worry too much.
If she was this tired without worrying about everything, wouldn't she die of exhaustion if she had to manage it all?
Tian Jing, who was thanked, "..." She couldn't understand the logic of the two-hundred-and-fifty-year-old.
...
Before the Spring Festival, First and Second Villages had an exam. Fifty percent failed. Village Chief Li announced a make-up exam on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.
The Spring Festival for First and Second Villages was filled with the sounds of wind, rain, and memorization, each sound echoing in their ears.
They took the make-up exam on the fourth and received the notification of passing on the sixth. The villagers were happier than if they had won the lottery.
Learning continued. All exams must be passed before the start of the spring thunder.
Zeng Jingchu came to see his niece. As soon as he entered Kushanli, he went to report the good news to Tian Jing.
Zeng Jingrong had been pestered by a woman. The woman didn't care that Zeng Jingrong was poor; she only cared about him as a person.
But Zeng Jingrong refused and fled, disappearing without a trace. The woman found him.
He came to ask Deputy Captain Tian what he should do.
Tian Jing pursed her lips and smiled. Zeng Jingrong had indeed met a woman who only cared about the person and not money.
"What are the woman's conditions?"
Zeng Jingchu looked at Tian Jing meaningfully: "This matter is tricky, otherwise, my cousin wouldn't have run away."
Tian Jing was confused: "How tricky can it be? Just marry her."
Zeng Jingchu shook his head: "If it could be resolved that simply, my cousin wouldn't have run away."
Tian Jing picked up peanuts from the table and threw them at him: "Spit it out if you have something to say!"
Zeng Jingchu caught the peanuts, peeled them, and ate them before revealing the woman's identity: "Your county magistrate's daughter."
"Cough, cough, cough."
Tian Jing almost choked to death on the peanuts. She coughed out the crushed peanuts with all her might: "Who did you just say it was?"
Zeng Jingchu repeated with schadenfreude: "Your county magistrate's daughter, surnamed Ji."
Tian Jing thought it would have been better to just let her choke to death earlier.
She glared at Zeng Jingchu: "What about you? Yuanyuan is already one year old. Where is your child?"
Zeng Jingchu said indifferently: "No rush, I'll see my cousin's fate first."
No rush?
Tian Jing got up and left the courtyard, soon returning with a baby in her arms.
"Yuanyuan, be good. This is your second uncle. Say hello to uncle."
"Uncle."
The chubby baby's soft and sweet voice instantly charmed Zeng Jingchu.
He reached out to hold her, but the baby immediately turned and snuggled into Tian Jing's arms.
Tian Jing chuckled: "No matter how much you yearn for her, she's someone else's child. Your elder brother has taught Yuanyuan very well. Are you envious? Are you jealous?"
Zeng Jingchu, unable to hold his niece, was provoked by Tian Jing and simply tried to snatch her.
Tian Jing let him try.
After being snatched, Yuanyuan didn't cry but looked at Zeng Jingchu's face and then slapped him, saying, "Bad."
"Hahaha." Tian Jing laughed heartily: "Yuanyuan says you're a bad person and you've impersonated her father."
Zeng Jingchu didn't believe it: "Yuanyuan only said one word. How do you know what she means?"
"Haha." Tian Jing laughed until her stomach hurt: "Because your elder brother taught her. Your elder brother feared you would snatch his daughter again, so he always pointed to his own face and taught Yuanyuan to distinguish between the real and the fake."
Before Zeng Jingchu could say anything, his face was slapped twice again, and he was given two more "bad"s.
He quickly handed his niece back to Tian Jing.
Once in Tian Jing's arms, Yuanyuan smiled and called Tian Jing "Auntie."
"Hey!" Tian Jing responded, hugging Yuanyuan and jumping high.
This made Yuanyuan giggle uncontrollably.
Hearing his niece's clear laughter, Zeng Jingchu was truly envious.
Envy, of course, led to seeking balance.
"Tiantian, that woman is also asking me about my cousin's whereabouts. She knows I've entered Kushanli."
Tian Jing stopped jumping: "Get lost quickly. Don't bother me."
Zeng Jingchu reached out to hold his niece again.
Yuanyuan still didn't want him. His eyes darted around: "Tiantian, if you don't let me hold Yuanyuan, don't blame me for being impolite."
"Hmph!" Tian Jing scoffed: "It's Yuanyuan who doesn't want you. Besides, do you think I'm someone who gives in easily?"
Zeng Jingchu turned and left: "I'll come back in a couple of days."