Years: Salted fish life since going to the countryside.

Chapter 1654 Strange Words
The large insulated container in the van was filled with various stir-fries and soups, the plastic crate contained rice, and disposable lunch boxes were placed next to it.

The owner of the snack shop is in charge of serving the rice. You can take as much rice as you want and drink as much soup as you want. But if you want any dish, the owner will scoop it out for you with a spoon.

Luo Yuze and the snack shop owner first used disposable lunch boxes to serve all the dishes in one portion, then placed them on the table under the shade of the tree where Han Li and the others were chatting. They also put beer, cigarettes, and chopsticks on the table before telling their teacher that everything was ready.

Han Li and everyone came to the table, picked up the beer that Luo Yuze handed him, clinked glasses with everyone, and said some polite words about his limited ability and poor hospitality. The meal then began.

However, just as Han Li put down the beer bottle, one of the older members of Liu Xiaoqing's group, who was also their team leader in Hong Kong, "Director Yang," spoke up.

Director Yang first thanked Han Li for helping them solve the problem of meals on set, and then said he would pay for the meals they had eaten during this period.

They also said that they have funding and food allowances when they go out to film, but the amount of Hong Kong dollars they exchange when entering the country is limited, and they have nowhere to buy them since they are unfamiliar with Hong Kong.

After Director Yang finished speaking, everyone at the table, as well as those who hadn't yet sat down to eat, echoed his words, regardless of whether they were happy or not.

Although Han Li has spent a lot of money these past two days, he hasn't worried about this amount of money.

Moreover, Han Li possessed the open-mindedness of a man from Beijing, further enhanced by the generous temperament he had cultivated in Heilongjiang Province during his years there. The fact that he hadn't prepared a few substantial dishes today was already considered extremely stingy, so he genuinely didn't want the money.

However, Han Li was just a teacher in Hong Kong, and his income was limited, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to refuse the money. He then winked at Luo Yuze and spoke up.

"Comrade Liu Xiaoqing and I used to know each other; we're even from the same hometown. When you're away from home, the relationships between fellow townsmen are the closest. Isn't it only natural for me to treat my fellow townsman to meals for a few days?"

Han Li was interrupted by the people at the table before he could finish speaking. They all chimed in with words of thanks and polite greetings.

In short, if they come alone for personal reasons, they will not only be generous when it comes to eating from their fellow villagers, but they will also speak up if they are in trouble.

However, their trip to Hong Kong was on official business, and they had their own funding and meal allowances. It would be unreasonable to ask Han Li to pay for it.

After exchanging a few polite words, Han Li didn't say anything more. He then asked Luo Yuze to check the bills from the past few days with the snack shop owner.

"Well then, since everyone didn't exchange much Hong Kong dollars when they came, it might be a bit tight to buy some things to take back."

My student is a local, and he has some connections in this area. If you want to exchange Hong Kong dollars, you can talk to him. Large quantities aren't possible, but it's fine if you can buy a few items you like to take home.

Liu Xiaoqing and the others had actually been wanting to talk about this for a while; everyone wanted to buy more rare items to take home.

However, the issue of the meal expenses had not been settled before, and with so many people present, the amount of Hong Kong dollars that Han Li could exchange was probably limited. These people were planning to ask him privately after the meal, but they didn't expect Han Li to take the initiative to ask, and in such an almost unlimited way.

This caused cheers from those present who wanted to buy more things to take home.

A short while later, Luo Yuze returned with the recent bills. Because he had received a hint from his teacher, the meals these days had been charged at cost price.

Although Liu Xiaoqing and his group couldn't go out freely these days, they still knew the general prices of food in Hong Kong.

So when they heard Luo Yuze quote the price, they quickly understood what was going on, and when they looked at Han Li again, their eyes held a hint of gratitude. In any case, everyone enjoyed the meal.

After the meal, Han Li felt embarrassed to leave immediately, so he asked Luo Yuze and the snack shop owner to take their things back first, while he stayed to chat with his fellow villagers for a while.

Han Li hadn't paid much attention to the others at first, but now, as he sat under the shade of a tree chatting idly with everyone, he noticed that "Little Tiezi," a future emperor specialist, was also in the film crew.

However, Han Li's impression of this person was so-so. Although he played Prince Gong in this script, he was not a big shot in the crew at all.

If no one pulled them apart, and Xiao Tiezi joined the conversation and didn't leave, it would be considered overstepping his bounds and disrespecting his senior. Therefore, the two of them only exchanged a few words on the surface.

There is no lunch break in Hong Kong. While Han Li and his group were chatting, the production crew in Hong Kong had already started calling everyone to get back to work.

Just then, Han Li announced his departure. After exchanging pleasantries, the crew entrusted Liu Xiaoqing with the task of seeing him off.

Since Liu Xiaoqing was the one who initiated the acquaintance between the two parties, and she is also Han Li's friend, yet they haven't exchanged more than a few words, it's most appropriate for her to be the one to deliver the package.

Han Li didn't care who gave him a ride or not, because his car was parked on the side of the road not far ahead.

The two walked and talked. At first, the topics were normal, just ordinary things like life in China and the situation in Hong Kong.

However, when they were almost in front of Han Li's car, Liu Xiaoqing suddenly asked a question.

"Teacher Han, are you spending the Spring Festival here this year, or going back to Beijing?"

Han Li: "Of course I'm going home. I'm away from home most of the year, so the New Year is the perfect time to spend with my parents, family, wife, and children."

Liu Xiaoqing: "Teacher Han, you are so outstanding. How did your husband meet you? Was it through an introduction like other people?"

Han Li: "What do I mean by outstanding? I was just lucky enough to catch the resumption of the national examinations, and after being admitted to university, I was sent abroad by my superiors to study and get to where I am today."

As for my spouse, we were both sent-down youths from Beijing to the countryside in Heilongjiang Province, and we happened to be assigned to the same village.
Fellow townsmen looked out for each other, and as we spent more time together, feelings naturally developed. Eventually, we became life partners.

Liu Xiaoqing: "You two have shared joys and sorrows, and your families must be very harmonious, right?"

Han Li: "Of course."

Liu Xiaoqing: "I really envy you guys. I just got divorced recently."

The two had been chatting quite well, discussing casual and normal topics, but when Liu Xiaoqing said those words, Han Li secretly rolled his eyes.

I thought to myself, what does it matter to me whether you get a divorce or not? Why are you telling me all this? Do you expect me to introduce you to a man in Hong Kong?
(End of this chapter)