Scholars in the courtyard.

Chapter 3060 Cultivating Trees is Easy, Cultivating People is Difficult

After seeing Li Rong off, Yang Xiaotao returned to his office.

Before they could even sit down, Liu Lixue said, "Team Leader Chen just came by."

"Who?"

"Chen Mingli, Team Leader Chen."

Yang Xiaotao sat down, then asked curiously, "Is there something he needs?"

"Yes, I heard it was Director Yu who contacted him about the Dragon Boat Festival."

Yang Xiaotao suddenly looked up, his expression tense. "What happened during the Dragon Boat Festival?"

Before Liu Lixue could speak, Lou Xiao'e interjected, "It's nothing, it's just..."

Yang Xiaotao looked at Lou Xiao'e; this girl was definitely hiding something from him.

"Just what?"

"Never mind, I'll just go find him directly."

After saying that, he got up and walked out.

Now that Ran Qiuye is busy with work, Yang Xiaotao can't take care of the children.

Ran's mother could only take care of the younger ones; the four older ones, Miaomiao, Duanwu, Yueyue, and Rongrong, were brought to the Ninth Department by Yang Xiaotao.

These guys are regulars at the Ninth Division, and after a while, the people at the Ninth Division all know what's going on.

In particular, the old Taoist priest and Elder Ye both spoiled him, and immediately took him to the research institute. Yang Xiaotao was too busy to take care of him.

Now that Yu Zecheng has stepped in, it's highly likely that these guys have gotten themselves into trouble.

Just as Yang Xiaotao was about to leave, Lou Xiao'e saw that his face was grim. If he didn't explain things clearly, the girls in the Yang family would probably be fine, but they would definitely get a beating during the Dragon Boat Festival.

There's nothing we can do; Yang Xiaotao is just that biased.

"Boss, boss."

Lou Xiao'e blocked Yang Xiaotao at the door.

"Boss, let me explain this to you, please don't be angry."

Yang Xiaotao crossed his arms, looked at Lou Xiao'e carefully, and remained silent.

This guy, relying on being Duanwu's godmother, has led quite a few children astray along with Liu Lixue.

Unfortunately, during the Dragon Boat Festival, several people particularly enjoyed playing with this guy, leaving Yang Xiaotao at a loss for words.

"well."

After considering it for a moment, Lou Xiao'e said, "I bought a pager for Duanwu and Miaomiao each."

"what?"

Yang Xiaotao's face turned cold. "When did you buy it?"

"Do you know that they are still in school and are still children?"

"Also, does Akiba know about this?"

"What are you"

Yang Xiaotao took a deep breath and swallowed the harsh words he was about to say.

Liu Lixue came to Lou Xiao'e's side, glanced at Yang Xiaotao, and then reached out to pull Yang Xiaotao to a seat. Lou Xiao'e immediately closed the door to prevent others from hearing.

"open."

Yang Xiaotao scolded her, but Liu Lixue wouldn't let go and forcibly pulled her aside.

"This is my decision, it has nothing to do with Xiao'e."

As Liu Lixue was making grand pronouncements, Yang Xiaotao raised his hand to interrupt, "Alright, stop covering for her."

Lou Xiao'e lowered her head and said softly, "He wants one for Duanwu. I think he's already used the computer, so..."

"This pager is just a small gadget."

"And then Lao Yu caught the little thing?"

Lou Xiao'e shut her mouth and dared not speak.

Yang Xiaotao looked at Liu Lixue again and asked, "Tell me, what did Old Chen say?"

Liu Lixue gave a strange smile. "Team Leader Chen said to ask you to prepare more phone bills."

Yang Xiaotao frowned and then looked at Lou Xiao'e, "Don't you have money? You pay."

Lou Xiao'e stuck out her tongue, then walked up to Yang Xiaotao and explained the situation. If she couldn't explain it clearly, Yang Xiaotao would probably really make her leave the office.

"A while ago, during the Dragon Boat Festival, I wrote letters to my friends in Hong Kong, didn't I?"

"Last time you asked Duanwu to write a letter saying how great pagers were, and Duanwu remembered it, saying that if we had pagers, we wouldn't need to write letters anymore."

"By the way, you were the one who asked Duanwu to help write that time. If you really think about it, you're the one who corrupted the child."

Yang Xiaotao glanced at Lou Xiao'e, then snorted coldly, "I only asked him to help write a letter, I didn't ask him to use a pager."

Liu Lixue laughed and said, "But you started it."

“Now that the children want it, if you don’t give it to them, they have to find their own way.”

"Ha, you think you're right?"

Yang Xiaotao looked at the two of them with annoyance, then said, "So, you're saying that pagers are being used during the Dragon Boat Festival now?"

Lou Xiao'e nodded, "Yes, when I went to the research institute just now, I saw him making a call using Professor Ye's phone."

"Old Ye was smiling and giving instructions on how to use it."

"Why don't you go find Elder Ye?"

Yang Xiao snorted. Looking for Elder Ye?
Let's forget about it. If we really go looking for him, Grandpa will probably find out.

In the old man's eyes, none of this mattered.

"Wait, Miaomiao has it too?"

Yang Xiaotao suddenly realized, and Lou Xiao'e blinked, "That's right, I could buy one if I wanted to."

"If Yueyue and the others weren't still so young, I would have bought them all at once."

"No, I have to go and take a look."

Yang Xiaotao was getting anxious. He didn't care who his son talked to, but he couldn't do that with his daughter.

This time, neither Lou Xiao'e nor Liu Lixue stopped them.

There's no way to stop this doting father.

Inside the research institute.

When Yang Xiaotao arrived at Ye Lao's office, Duanwu was still on the phone dialing 1532, his face full of pride.

Old Ye was dozing off by the heater, while Miao Miao was staring intently at her pager.

"Computers are amazing things; you can play games."

After finishing his conversation about the Dragon Boat Festival, he hung up the phone.

Cough
Yang Xiaotao made a noise, and Duanwu turned around and saw his father with a gloomy face. He was so frightened that he quickly hid the pager behind his back.

Miao Miao belatedly realized what was happening and hurriedly stuffed the pager into her sleeve.

"Don't hide it anymore, I've seen it all."

Yang Xiaotao spoke first, then walked into the office.

Old Ye opened his eyes, then asked with a smile, "Weren't you in a meeting up ahead?"

"it's over?"

As she spoke, she covered for Miaomiao, telling the two little ones to hurry up and go out.

Duanwu realized what had happened and pulled Miaomiao, who was scared after doing something wrong, to run outside.

Just as Yang Xiaotao was about to call out to the two, Old Ye coughed, and Yang Xiaotao quickly stepped forward to help pat his back.

"Master, you can't spoil the child like this."

Old Master Ye chuckled and said, "Why are you spoiling me?"

"What's wrong with letting children learn about new equipment and experience new technology in advance?"

"Do you think I'm like you, catching loaches and bird eggs in the countryside?"

"The world is developing, and we have to keep up. Our children's education also has to keep up. We can't keep using the old methods."

“Look, they’ve all mastered computers now. Miao Miao can type more words per minute than our technicians, and Duanwu can even understand the V language.”

You're saying this isn't how a child grows up?

When Master Ye started the educational model, Yang Xiaotao became a primary school student, sitting there afraid to speak.

After Mr. Ye finished speaking, Yang Xiaotao said with a wry smile, "I don't object to them being exposed to new knowledge, but it has to be within a reasonable range."

"You know, Duanwu talked too much with that British girl from Hong Kong, and I'm worried."

Yang Xiaotao expressed his concerns.

I really don't want any other colors mixed in with my home.

But Old Ye just rolled his eyes and said, "Don't worry about Duanwu. That kid has nothing on his mind. As long as we don't meet, he'll be fine."

"But you'd better keep a close eye on your precious daughter."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaotao immediately sat up straight. "Master, what's going on?"

Seeing that Yang Xiaotao's voice had changed, Old Ye didn't hide it from him, "Hey Albert, the way that kid looks at Miaomiao is weird. They even chatted on their pagers today."

"That Albert kid?"

Yang Xiaotao clenched his fist tightly, then suddenly relaxed and laughed, "Then I'm relieved."

Now it was Old Master Ye's turn to be dumbfounded.

"Well, he'll be going back once the satellite is launched this time."

"As you know, the people in Mosidov are overjoyed that they've started abolishing agricultural taxes."

"This kid has just graduated and is going back to take over the family business."

"His father even arranged a marriage for him." Old Ye breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

The older generation still believes that those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts.

I want Yang Xiaotao to believe this statement as well.

After they finished speaking, they both laughed.

"This child, his parents are really worried sick."

Yang Xiaotao suddenly sighed, and Old Ye laughed, "There's no other way, this is how it's been passed down from generation to generation."

"If a son is not taught properly, it is the father's fault; if the teaching is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness!"

“I like these kids. If they are properly educated, they will definitely be more successful than my previous students.”

Yang Xiaotao suddenly felt that Elder Ye's expectations were a bit too high.

Look at the students from before.

Qian Lao, Chen Fang, Wang Can.
I would be content if my own child could achieve even half of what I have achieved.

In the evening, Yang Xiaotao returned home.

Ran Qiuye was standing at the door with a rolling pin in her hand. Yang Xiaotao glanced at her and his heart skipped a beat.

Inside the house, Duanwu had her head down, and Miaomiao had red eyes.

Yueyue and Rongrong stood to the side, and Dudu, not knowing what was going on, ran to the side and stood there.

Well, all five little ones have fallen for it.

Yang Xiaotao pretended not to see it and walked in from the side.

"Stand."

Ran Qiuye's voice came through, and Yang Xiaotao's face twitched.

A moment later, Yang Xiaotao stood beside Miao Miao.

In an instant, one's position within the family becomes apparent.

"How many of you men are capable?"

"You're all surnamed Yang, right? I'm just an outsider, right?"

"You've been keeping it all from me, haven't you?"

"You're all very united, aren't you?"

Ran Qiuye was furious. If Xiaoyu hadn't told her today that Duanwu and Miaomiao had pagers, she really wouldn't have known about this.

When I got home, I checked my schoolbag and sure enough, there were two pagers.

Upon opening it again, there was more information inside.

Instantly, I was furious.

"mom!"

"I'll report it!"

Suddenly, Rongrong raised her little hand, her face serious.

Yang Xiaotao glanced at the little guy, guessing that he was about to expose Lou Xiao'e.

This young comrade isn't resolute enough in his revolutionary convictions.

Ran Qiuye glanced at Yang Xiaotao, then glared at Rongrong, "Speak."

When Duanwu and Yueyue saw that Rongrong was about to report her, both of them were anxious.

To everyone's surprise, Rongrong pointed directly at Yang Xiaotao and said, "Mom, Dad bought it."

Instantly, Yang Xiaotao's forehead flushed red, and he laughed in anger.

"Little Fourth, your father has spoiled you for nothing."

Rongrong pouted, looking quite confident.

Then, Ran Qiuye smiled too.

Doesn't she know how much money her man has?

How could she not know what her own man was doing?

"Mom, I asked Dad to buy it, it has nothing to do with Dad."

Duanwu reacted quickly, agreeing immediately, but then added insult to injury.

Yang Xiaotao kicked Duanwu in the butt, "You brat, go out and buy some wine."

"Your Uncle Bert is coming soon, hurry up."

Duanwu's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she grabbed her older and younger sisters and ran outside.

Ran Qiuye felt helpless as she watched the children run away immediately.

"Look at you, they're all just like you, lying, causing trouble, and framing people. Where did they all learn that from?"

Ran Qiuye said irritably, but Yang Xiaotao stepped forward, snatched the rolling pin, and picked her up around the waist.

"What are you doing?"

Ran Qiuye exclaimed in surprise, but Yang Xiaotao said with a straight face, "Oh, Comrade Ran Qiuye, weren't you very arrogant just now?"

"Now that I've sent all your reinforcements away, it's time for you to get a scolding."

"Oh no, no, they'll be back soon."

Ran Qiuye shouted anxiously, but Yang Xiaotao ignored her completely, kicked the door open, and then closed it again. Immediately, cries of pleas for mercy filled the room.
The night was dark.

Yang Xiaotao gestured for Albert to sit down, and Ran Qiuye served the dishes with bowls and chopsticks.

Several people were excitedly waiting for the meal to be served during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Miao Miao breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Ran Qiuye's face was rosy and she didn't seem angry.

I just don't understand why my parents changed their clothes.

"Don't neglect your studies when you go back this time."

"Read more books and spend more time among the people."

True nobility is never about being aloof, but about earning respect among the people.

Yang Xiaotao was speaking at the dinner table, and Albert was listening attentively.

His years in Beijing helped him grow a lot.

Especially the situation in Persia, the more I learn, the more I realize how young and ignorant I was back then.

Having lived here for several years now, I have gained a deep understanding of all aspects of this place and witnessed a backward agricultural country gradually moving towards becoming an industrialized nation.

The people here have already paved the way for him and shown him the direction.

All he had to do was follow behind, learn step by step, and move forward step by step in the footsteps of others.

He was even more convinced that this path was the right one.

"Big brother, I understand. I will study hard and put my knowledge into practice."

Albert spoke earnestly, sitting ramrod straight.

Seeing this, Ran Qiuye immediately laughed and said, "You shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Some things can't be rushed; the more you rush, the more likely you are to make a mess of things."

"Just like education, it requires a gradual and subtle approach."

Yang Xiaotao nodded. "That's right, your sister-in-law is right."

There is an old saying in our country: "It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person. It is easy to grow a tree, but difficult to cultivate a person."

"But nurturing talent is a necessary stage for a country to develop and grow strong; if a country wants to..."

"Alright, alright, eat properly. You're even giving a lecture now."

Ran Qiuye interrupted Yang Xiaotao's lecture again, and then said to Albert, "Take care of yourself when you get back. Now that we have telephones, you can call back if you encounter any problems you can't solve."

"You can come back and visit when you have time, since the air route is now open."

Albert nodded vigorously, then picked up his wine glass. "Brother, I won't be able to come here often after I go back this time."

Before I leave, I wish you and your sister-in-law a happy life and a blissful family life.

Then, looking at Miaomiao, he said, "I also wish Jianhua, Zengyi, Jiayue, Jiarong, and Zengwei healthy growth and academic success!"

Yang Xiaotao and Ran Qiuye picked up their wine glasses, while Miao Miao and the others held up their juice glasses. "It's not like we won't see each other again this time. It only takes a day by plane."

"You're welcome to come here whenever you want."

Ran Qiuye nodded, "Be sure to let me know if anything comes up later."

Miao Miao also smiled and said, "Uncle Bert, I wish you a speedy realization of your ambitions."

Duanwu smiled and said, "Uncle Bert, once I learn how to make sweet and sour pork ribs, I'll make them for you."

As the group exchanged words of blessing, Albert nodded vigorously, and then their glasses clinked together.

"Brother and sister-in-law, if you have time, you are welcome to visit us. Father said you would be very happy to come."

After dinner, it was already late at night.

Yang Xiaotao led his family to take Albert to the entrance of the alley.

"Okay, we'll definitely be there for your wedding."

Yang Xiaotao laughed, and Albert smiled, though the smile seemed somewhat forced.

"Let's go, the road ahead is long."

Albert greeted Miao Miao and the others, then got into his car and left.

"Mom, will Uncle Bert come again?"

Dudu asked curiously.

"Will do."

Ran Qiuye said this with certainty, and then told the child to go back to the room to sleep.

(End of this chapter)