Marry a female star at a bargain price

Lin Xiao stayed with his daughter at the hospital, making her laugh every day.

Meanwhile, in Mashan County, dozens of kilometers away, a large-scale and extensive special inspection was launched.

Logically speaking, inspections are generally tiered. The higher the level of the unit that issues the official document, the more serious the inspection will be, and the more thorough and meticulous the investigation will be, without any regard for personal feelings.

Yizhou City is only the superior department of Mashan County.

The county leaders thought the same way.

Therefore, although the inspection team arrived very suddenly, the leaders were surprised for a moment but quickly calmed down and did not take it to heart at all.

As it turned out, things took an unexpected turn.

For a whole month, Mashan County was turned upside down.

The county leaders and all the cadres were stunned. They never expected that a seemingly ordinary municipal inspection would turn into such a big event. From the team leader to the cadres, everyone in the inspection team was serious and impartial.

Regardless of the shock and astonishment throughout the county, this serious and rigorous inspection campaign was launched with overwhelming force.

Lin Xiao, the mastermind behind this inspection, stayed far away, and there was no indication that he had anything to do with it.

He acted as if it were none of his business.

But now that things have come to this, the truth is no longer important.

The inspection team was impartial and made rapid progress, investigating and punishing almost one fly every two days, stirring up a storm in Mashan County and creating a climate of fear and unease among the people.

As December arrives, the cold winter finally comes.

Lin Xiaoxi has been successfully discharged from the hospital after receiving careful treatment. She still coughs occasionally, but it is much better than during the few days she was hospitalized.

The doctor said not to worry, just keep breathing fresh air every day, and it will recover on its own in two months.

The name "whooping cough" is precise and accurate; not a single day less is acceptable.

With her daughter's condition improving, Han Xixi, the famous actress working far away from home, finally breathed a sigh of relief and could focus on her work.

During this period, Lin Xiao took leave to stay home with his daughter, resulting in the longest period of time the father and daughter had spent together since the little chubby girl was born.

The father and daughter's relationship improved rapidly.

So much so that when Xixi occasionally came home, her daughter would cling to her father and refuse to let go, which made the old mother feel sentimental and sad.

However, the sadness lasted less than one night.

The next day, Lin Xiaoxi abandoned her father again and rushed into the arms of her beloved mother, drooling all over her face and body.

Xi Xi was overjoyed again, her face beaming with the triumph of turning defeat into victory.

Lin Xiao stood to the side, hands on his hips, angrily rebuking the chubby girl for being ungrateful and blindly following whoever feeds her.

Lin Xiaoxi: What else?!

……

The northwest wind was blowing harder and harder.

December has quietly passed by halfway, and the year is about to come to an end. Let's leave without a trace.

Two weeks before New Year's Day.

Shiliang Primary School in Xingguang Town suddenly received a call from the Municipal Education Bureau, saying that CCTV Children's Channel had sent an invitation to invite the Shiliang Primary School choir to record a program at CCTV headquarters.

The program will be broadcast on the children's channel's gala on New Year's Eve.

This news terrified Shi Peng, the school principal, to the point that his legs went weak.

Just six months ago, Shiliang Primary School was just an ordinary rural primary school in an underdeveloped area of ​​central China.

As the principal, Shi Peng worries every day about the declining number of students, teachers' salaries being in arrears, the lack of access to various subsidies, and the resignation of yet another teacher.

At that time, he never imagined that, not long after, a popular S+ variety show would come to the school to film a program.

After the show was finished, the superstar singer who was a guest didn't leave. Instead, he volunteered to stay at the school as a music teacher.

To be honest, Shi Peng wouldn't dare to be so imaginative even in his wildest dreams.

But reality is far more fascinating than imagined—this absurd thing happened without warning, without any wind or rain.

Han Xixi has now left her position as a volunteer music teacher at Shiliang Primary School.

But her departure was not because she was tired of teaching, but because she had taken on a more arduous mission: to be responsible for the art education of rural primary schools throughout the entire Nanzhou Province, becoming the founder and guide of children's art education.

This is a great and selfless thing.

Although Shi Peng was reluctant to see Teacher Han leave, he was also very impressed and moved by the cause she was about to devote herself to, so he led the children to give her a warm farewell.

Although Han Xixi left, the choir of Shiliang Primary School did not disband, and music classes continued.

With the help of the foundation.

Shiliang Primary School seamlessly transitioned to a professional music teacher, a beautiful and sweet-voiced young woman who quickly won the hearts of the children.

To tell the truth.

Although the art teachers' salaries are paid by the foundation, the level is only on par with that of tenured rural teachers, far from being considered high-paying.

Furthermore, considering that rural primary schools are generally located in remote areas with poor living conditions, there are very few professionals willing to teach music or art.

Most of them are college students who come here part-time, but some are there to work regularly.

But whatever the case may be.

These people are at least very kind, righteous, and loving; otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to travel to this remote and impoverished place for such a small amount of money?

It is precisely because of this that the teachers are able to be quickly accepted by the children, and the lively musical notes still float regularly in the sky above Shiliang Primary School.

This time, CCTV sent an invitation to record a program, naturally because Han Xixi led her choir to win the championship in the Yizhou primary and secondary school choir competition a while ago.

Because of that competition, the "Rebirth" program team followed and recorded the entire process, and even played the complete version of the choir's performance in the program.

It has attracted widespread attention online, and its popularity is exceptionally high.

It is perfectly reasonable for CCTV's children's channel to take notice and invite the children to participate in the New Year's Day performance.

As the principal, Shi Peng naturally understood the reasons behind it.

After calming down, he did not immediately agree to record the program, but instead felt a deep sense of unease amidst his surprise.

This is a rural primary school in the mountains.

The children are all native rural people.

Most of them had never even left Nanzhou Province, and some had only ever been as far as Xingguang Town. Their eyes were as clear as the wilderness and the abyss.

It's simple and unpretentious, and also a bit clumsy.

As a teacher, Shi Peng acknowledges the importance of the phrase "broadening one's horizons."

But he felt that it was necessary to accurately grasp the degree to which one should see the world and how one should see it.

It's not true that the bigger the world, the better.

For children in the mountains, going to the county town or the provincial capital is considered broadening their horizons.

But if they travel all the way to the capital and record a program on CCTV, which is watched by the whole country, will this experience plant seeds of hope in the children's hearts, or will they be dazzled by the skyscrapers and neon lights...?

Shi Peng dared not say, because this was beyond his understanding and experience.

Of course, the impact of the capital on the children is only one aspect of Principal Shi's concerns.

On the other hand, Jingzhou is a long and arduous journey, and with so many children, how will we cover their travel expenses and accommodation?

This is a huge expense.

Shiliang Primary School definitely can't afford that much money!
Shi Peng was very anxious. He was reluctant to give up this opportunity, but he also didn't have the confidence to make a decision to go.

For two days in a row, he kept this to himself and didn't tell anyone, not even the other teachers at the school.

Two days later, the Municipal Education Bureau called again to inquire about the progress and said that after deliberation, the bureau leaders decided to allocate funds to cover all expenses for the choir to travel to Jingzhou to participate in the program recording.

This generous gesture solved Shi Peng's immediate problem, freeing him from worrying about money.

The only question that needs to be addressed now is whether or not we should go.

Shi Peng was still somewhat hesitant.

Just then, an unexpected phone call came in—it was from Han Xixi.

"Teacher Shi, I heard that the children are going to CCTV to record a New Year's Day program. Do you need any help? I can cover all the children's transportation and accommodation expenses!" Han Xixi got straight to the point.

Shi Peng was quite surprised: "Teacher Han, how did you know about this?"

Han Xixi said, "The foundation staff told me. Our foundation operates under the provincial education department, and our staff have to liaise with the education department every day. CCTV contacted the provincial education department first. They knew about my relationship with Shiliang Primary School, so they specifically told our staff about it."

Shi Peng then realized what was going on.

He immediately told them in detail that the Municipal Education Bureau would cover all the expenses.

Han Xixi nodded: "Then there's no problem. What day is the recording? Have you decided on the songs the children will perform? I happen to have a performance for Jingzhou TV's New Year's Eve Gala this year, so I'll be in Jingzhou for a few days. If it's convenient then, I'd like to meet the children; it's been a long time since I've seen them..."

Xixi's tone revealed her deep longing.

Shi Peng hesitated for a moment, but eventually voiced his concerns.

"Teacher Han, please don't blame me for being timid and fussy. It's just that the children are all too young. I'm afraid that if they go to the capital, the impact of that modern atmosphere will be too great, and I'm afraid it will affect their mental health..." Shi Peng said his worries with embarrassment.

Han Xixi hadn't expected this, and was quite surprised.

After a moment of contemplation, she said earnestly, "Your concerns are quite reasonable, but I think this is actually a great opportunity. After all, the capital city often appears in children's textbooks, and everyone has had endless longing and imagination for the capital city since childhood."

Shi Peng nodded: "Indeed!"

Han Xixi continued, "Since everyone has already imagined Jingzhou countless times in their minds, going to see it in person, no matter what they see or how impactful it is, will at least fulfill their dreams. I think anything related to dreams should have a positive impact. Of course, after filming the show, they'll return to their hometowns and resume ordinary life in the mountain villages. You're worried that such a huge gap will make it difficult for them to accept their current lives, right?"

Shi Peng nodded: "Yes, that's what I'm worried about!"

Han Xixi smiled and said, "I don't think there's any need to worry too much. Sometimes, children have a strong mental fortitude. Just like the last time we went to Yizhou for the competition, most of the children were leaving Mashan County for the first time, and Yizhou was quite an impact for them."

"But after the competition, I saw that everyone was very excited and proud. No one complained about their current life and environment just because they had been on a big stage and won the championship."

"On the contrary, I think the children are in better spirits now. Even the most naughty ones have become obedient in class and always stand up straight."

"I think the guiding role of music and the influence of art are reflected here. They are not actually fragile; we just think of them as too fragile."

After listening to this advice, Shi Peng suddenly understood.

The worries that had been weighing on my mind for the past two days vanished in an instant, and I made a decision immediately.

"Teacher Han, today is another day of profound respect for you!" Shi Peng said with a smile.

"what?!"

The sudden praise caught Han Xixi off guard, leaving her speechless.

Shi Peng remarked with emotion, "I remember when you first came to teach at our school, you were quite shy and introverted on stage, exactly like the personality you projected online. But in less than half a year, you've become so eloquent and persuasive, hitting the nail on the head in no time, making you incredibly convincing. Honestly, there aren't many people I truly admire in my life, Mayor Lin is one, and you are one too!"

Shi Peng spoke with utmost sincerity and earnestness.

Xi Xi was both amused and exasperated: "Teacher Shi... why do I feel like you're complaining that I talk too much?"

Shi Peng was taken aback, then burst into laughter and quickly said that's not what he meant.

The two had worked together at Shiliang Elementary School for several months and were already quite familiar with each other. However, there was a barrier between them—one a regular teacher and the other a superstar—so they always spoke with caution and politeness.

This time, however, the two had a small heart-to-heart talk, and the distance between them narrowed considerably.

The plan has been finalized that the children will go to Gyeongju to film the show.

Although the Yizhou Municipal Education Bureau covered all the food, lodging and transportation costs, traveling with so many children from a small mountain village in the south to the capital city in the north involved much more than just food and lodging.

Most importantly, it's winter now, and the average temperature in Gyeongju is already below minus ten degrees Celsius.

Even though Xingguang Town is located in the south and in the mountains, the average temperature is less than 0 degrees Celsius.

Moreover, the cold in the north and the cold in the south are completely different concepts.

Back in their hometown, children usually only need one cotton-padded coat to get through the winter. In this era of abundant resources, a warm and durable cotton-padded coat can be bought for around a hundred yuan, although it is a bit bulky to wear.

But for children in rural areas, being able to keep warm is already a great achievement.

However, such cotton-padded clothes are definitely not enough for going to the north; a down jacket is necessary to withstand the dry, low temperatures.

But the children's families are not well-off.

Most parents would be unwilling to spend money to buy such useless things for them, and even if they did, the quality wouldn't be very good.

Besides clothes, there are also shoes, and once we arrive in the capital, we always have to take the children to see the tourist attractions that appeared in their textbooks, some of which require entrance fees.

These funds are not within the Education Bureau's budget.

So where should it exit from?
Shi Peng was a little worried. After thinking it over, he decided to pay for it himself.

But before he could even tally the children's height and weight, a batch of down jackets were delivered directly to the school playground by a large truck.

Warm sneakers also arrived in the same batch.

The clothes and shoes are all domestic brands, and they are not particularly high-end products, but the word "brand" already far exceeds the children's daily lives.

this day.

The screams of children from the playground of Shiliang Primary School could be heard throughout Dafeng Village and even reached Xingguang Town, which is not far away.

Lin Xiao was in his office when he overheard the cadres discussing the matter, and only then did he realize that his wife had quietly accomplished another major task.

I called my wife at noon and gave her a good compliment.

In front of her husband, Han Xixi was no longer shy and proudly accepted the credit.

The couple chatted about recording the show, and the topic quickly turned to New Year's Day.

"You're going to be participating in Jingzhou TV's New Year's Eve gala on New Year's Day, right?" Lin Xiao asked.

"correct."

"So that means you definitely won't be back that night, and we can't spend New Year's Eve together?"

"Hmm...that seems to be the case!"

"Oh."

Lin Xiao's voice was low and deep, as if he were saying something but he was suffering in silence.

Han Xixi immediately burst out laughing and said, "Hey, Mayor Lin, don't put on this show for me!"

"What role did I play?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile.

"So this is the kind of thing where you're left alone in an empty house while I abandon my husband and daughter!"

"Ha, so you do know I'm all alone now, that you've abandoned your husband and daughter!"

Lin Xiao suddenly became imposing, propped his feet on the desk, and spun his office chair around, scolding, "You're a very busy person now, always flying all over the world, either recording variety shows, doing commercial performances, or attending endorsement events. I heard from that tiger-woman Chen Jiajia that she's going to start a concert tour after the New Year, right?"

Han Xixi nodded and said, "Yeah, what's wrong? You were so supportive of my comeback, and you also wholeheartedly supported my foundation establishment. What's wrong now? Are you starting to complain that I'm never home? When you were busy working from dawn till dusk every day, I always wholeheartedly supported you and never complained that you came home late or didn't have time to spend with me and the baby~"

Lin Xiao was speechless.

He certainly had a lot of complaints. After all, it's a married couple's life. How can he only see his little chubby daughter and not his wife all the time?

But these complaints are just complaints.

He wholeheartedly supports his wife's busy work schedule, which keeps her traveling all over the country.

Of course, he didn't support it before because he felt that drifting in the materialistic and decadent world of fame and fortune was not something to be encouraged. Even if the aura of a big star is dazzling, behind the scenes there is only emptiness and boredom, with no sense of value whatsoever.

But now he knows that his wife is busy making money because she has a bigger career to strive for and higher values ​​to pursue.

This is similar to his initial determination to go to the countryside.

Two years later, the couple's feelings for each other had become rather bland after spending so much time together, and their lives had become increasingly peaceful.

The couple's values ​​gradually became more aligned.

Strangely enough, their ambition and drive were like two non-parallel straight lines, shooting out from two ends and then approaching each other. At some point, they converged, but instead of stopping, they continued to drift further and further apart in each other's directions.

Today.

Han Xixi has become the Lin Xiao of two years ago, dedicated to public service, with a thriving career and great success.

Lin Xiao, however, seemed to have become like Xi Xi from two years ago, putting aside his work, returning to his family, and living a peaceful life.

Through their daily conversations, the couple gradually discovered that their roles had been reversed.

But upon closer inspection...

On what day and at what moment did the two meet and seamlessly switch roles?

They themselves had no clue what to do.

However, the couple is satisfied with their current situation, the only drawback being that they can't see each other often.

This really frustrated Mayor Lin, who was not yet thirty, full of youthful vigor and strong desires.

"It's okay if you can't come back, I can come find you!"

Lin Xiao suddenly perked up and said with a grin, "Anyway, I have a holiday for New Year's Day. I'll bring Xiao Chu to Jingzhou to see you then, how about that?"

Han Xixi was genuinely stunned on the other end of the phone.

"You're bringing Xiao Chu to Jingzhou?"

"Yes, Xiao Chu is almost fully recovered now, so traveling far away won't be a problem."

Lin Xiao said confidently, "Don't worry, I can take good care of her. Besides, your aunt is in Jingzhou, she will definitely be willing to help take care of the child, so that Xiao Chu and I won't have to stay in a hotel and experience all sorts of inconveniences!"

Lin Xiao's plan was meticulous, and Han Xixi was immediately tempted.

After all, who wants to work during a major holiday? Having your husband and children with you during such a special time is simply the greatest happiness.

"But... Xiao Chu is not even a year old yet, is it safe for her to travel far?"

"Don't worry, no problem. I've seen many people online taking their babies on trips when they're only six months old!"

Lin Xiao said earnestly, "Xiao Chu just got her flu shot last week and is in great shape now, so there won't be any problems. Even if she feels a little uncomfortable during a long trip, I think she would definitely prefer to see her mother. Can you bear to let your baby not see her mother?"

Lin Xiao deliberately pouted and made a pitiful sound.

Han Xixi immediately softened, and the image of her daughter crying for her mother flashed through her mind, almost causing her to burst into tears on the spot.

After becoming a mother, this is the thing I can't stand the most.

She immediately gave in: "Okay, you guys come on over... I'll tell my aunt beforehand and have her prepare some things!"

"OK!"

"You absolutely must take good care of Xiao Chu and make sure she doesn't get sick!"

"Don't worry, I'm her biological father. Would I deliberately make my daughter sick? Besides, I've been taking care of her myself lately, so I'm more experienced than you when it comes to raising kids!"

"..."

Xi Xi was speechless, but she couldn't find a way to refute it.

Lin Xiao laughed heartily, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere: "Teacher Han, relax, just focus on your work and look forward to receiving a big gift package of love from your husband and daughter on New Year's Day~~" (End of Chapter)