Returning to the small mountain village of '86, intelligence updated daily.

Zhao Jianjun began to recount what happened back then.

They generally start families relatively early, something Zhou Rui was well aware of.

His generation, and the next generation, will all be very young.

At around 19 years old, some people already have families. For example, in my previous life, my younger brother Zhou Ming got married around the age of 20.

After hearing Zhao Jianjun's "leak," Zhou Rui was a little at a loss. His main purpose in this life was to have his family live a happy and good life.

Unlike his previous life, where his family was almost broken and he only turned his life around when he was around thirty, by which time it was too late.

There were too many regrets from my past life...

"Uncle Zhao, Xiaoya is coming in."

Zhou Rui saw Zhao Qingya looking at them listlessly between the front and back rooms, but she didn't dare to approach.

Seeing that Zhou Rui's mind was clearly not on this, Zhao Jianjun had no choice but to give up.

He said to the furtive Zhao Qingya:

"What's going on? If you're going to come over, then come over. Stop lounging around looking at me like that."

Actually, the dishes had already been washed, since there weren't many dirty ones. But Aunt Li wasn't stupid; she knew her husband was talking to Zhou Rui.

So they didn't come over to disturb them, but Zhao Qingya couldn't help herself.

Hearing her father shout loudly, Zhao Qingya stuck out her tongue, hummed a little tune, and moved closer.

The girl had her hair in a ponytail, wore a pure white polyester shirt, a skirt, and small leather shoes.

Zhou Rui, standing next to him, was dressed very simply. His face was somewhat thin, but he exuded confidence and an indescribable charm.

He inherited his parents' excellent genes; both his appearance and temperament are outstanding.

The two of them standing together looked quite well-matched.

Zhou Rui was clearly stunned, not because of anything else, but because the girl wasn't wearing this outfit when he came in.

Was this specially changed for Zhou Rui?

Before she could think further, Zhao Qingya spun around on the spot and said crisply:

"Brother Rui, is it pretty?"

Zhao Qingya first asked Zhou Rui a question, then looked at Zhao Jianjun with a questioning tone and said:

"Dad, you didn't bully Rui, did you? Adults aren't allowed to bully little kids, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianjun chuckled. This girl had actually started to side with outsiders.

"Don't worry, I didn't bully your brother Rui. He's not stupid; he's very smart."

This was a genuine statement; he greatly admired Zhou Rui, both for his human touch and his quick wit.

Zhou Rui cleared his throat, still generous with his praise:

"Xiaoya, you look great."

Zhao Jianjun saw everything, including the clothes his daughter had deliberately changed into, and he was somewhat surprised.

Zhao Jianjun remembers those little leather shoes very clearly. He gave them to his daughter on her 16th birthday. His daughter never wore them out and cherished them very much.

Thinking of his daughter's birthday, Zhao Jianjun was momentarily lost in thought. Yes, his daughter was almost 17!

Zhao Qingya is graceful and poised, unlike other girls her age in the village who are shy and reserved; instead, she is poised and confident.

This is also related to their family upbringing. Their family has relatively progressive ideas, and they only have one daughter, Zhao Qingya.

In an era when every household wanted young, strong laborers and disliked those with weak laborers, he was out of place among the other families in the village.

My second aunt was one of the victims.

This is one of the reasons why other families in the village initially envied the Zhou family, but later targeted them.

Because the Zhou family had too many boys, especially since one of their uncles, Zhou Shiping, became an official.

As a result, after a brief period of decline, he was suppressed and taken advantage of by the villagers.

Zhao Jianjun seized the opportunity and suddenly mentioned something.

"Xiaoya, your birthday is in about a month, isn't it?"

Zhao Qingya nodded upon hearing this, then glanced at Zhou Rui, "Yes, Dad, I want to spend this year at home, um... I also want to eat milk candy."

"Oh—you want some candy."

Zhao Jianjun was somewhat sarcastic.

Zhou Rui wasn't a man with low emotional intelligence; he naturally understood Zhao Qingya's implication.

"Xiaoya, can I come over for dinner on your birthday?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Qingya spoke without hesitation.

"Of course, Brother Rui, you're welcome to come to my house!"

......

Zhou Rui went home.

After repeatedly declining the lunch invitation, Zhou Rui slowly walked home under his oilcloth umbrella.

Zhao Qingya originally intended to see him off, but Zhou Rui firmly refused, for a very simple reason.

Zhao Qingya's outfit is not suitable for going out in the rain.

Back home, the elders were all doing their own things. At Zhou Rui's insistence, his grandparents were no longer allowed to do any work.

But Grandma couldn't stay still. She kept getting up to look around, wondering if she could help, but Zeng Jiamei pushed her back inside.

So, Grandma had no choice but to pick up handicrafts to pass the time.

Grandpa is actually a restless person. After a while, he walked over to Zhou Shiwei and asked him if he was tired from working on the construction team. He repeatedly told him to be careful.

A moment later, he walked over to Zhou Shijie and said to him:

"You should learn more from your eldest brother and third brother, especially your eldest brother..."

Then she started to worry about her two grandchildren.

Zhou Ming would pull his mother aside and ask where his brother had gone, and then he would run over to Zhou Shiwei and watch his father weave a bamboo chair.

When Zhou Rui returned home and saw this harmonious scene, he felt very at peace.

When Zhou Rui got home, since it was still early, he slowly cooked with his parents.

The rain had stopped by the afternoon.

Zhou Rui sat in the courtyard talking with his father.

Zhou Rui has already told his father that the sales channels have been secured, and the price will be significantly higher.

Zhou Shiwei instantly understood that Zhao Jianjun had done it intentionally. After considering it for a moment, he spoke cautiously:

"Kid, Xiao Zhao is a very smart person. You need to think carefully and consider things when you get along with him. It's not that I'm saying he's a bad person."

Do you understand what I mean?

Zhou Rui naturally understood what his father meant. There's a saying: "One should always be wary of others, but never have the intention to harm them."

Especially when facing such a clever person, the father was clearly afraid of being taken advantage of.

Zhou Rui nodded solemnly in agreement.

Zhou Shiwei was not too worried about this. He thought Zhao Jianjun was a smart man, but his son was not.

"Kid, the fact that Xiao Zhao is offering this price is clearly a gesture of goodwill. We need to remember to find an opportunity to make up for it elsewhere."

Zhou Shiwei was very clear-headed and always remembered the help the Zhao family had given him.

Zhou Rui knew this, of course. In his previous life, he made a name for himself on the coast, and the Zhao family also grew into a powerful force in the city.

However, after being suppressed by Li Dehua, it was his father who called him from afar to tell him.

After their family's fortunes turned around, their gratitude towards the Zhao family and Aunt Li was genuine.

"Don't worry, Dad, I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, Zhou Rui gradually recalled Zhao Qingya's attitude towards him.

And her birthday...