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Qiaoqiao and Zhou Wenhui brought a jar of pickled vegetables to Yao Xing.

Today is a big gathering at Yao Xing's rented apartment. Besides Gu Tong'an, Yao Hongbing and Xiao Qi will also be there.

Xiaoqi's kimchi sold very well at Yaoxing's workplace, and Xiaoqi wanted to cook a meal to thank Yaoxing.

The so-called get-together didn't have many dishes. Qiaoqiao brought a pound of pork belly and some dried fish pieces, which could be considered two main dishes.

They couldn't move a jar of pickled vegetables, so Gu Quan drove them there.

Upon arriving at the rented room, Yao Hongbing rushed out and carried a jar of pickled vegetables inside.

Qiaoqiao carried meat and fish pieces, and Xiaoqi came out to greet her: "Yang Qiao, Teacher Zhou, we're cooking."

"You came from so far away, and you're here so early."

"My third brother and sister-in-law are going to set up a stall, and I came out with them."

Xiaoqi took the vegetables and casually carried them to the kitchen.

The dark rented room was brought to life by a group of bright and cheerful young people.

Zhou Wenhui arranged for him to drink tea on the kang (a heated brick bed). Gu Tong'an poured him some tea: "Teacher Zhou, this is tea that Yao Hongbing brought from his hometown. Please have a taste."

"Thank you. How have your studies been lately? Are you tired?"

"I'm not tired, but Yang Qiao is very tired."

Gu Tong'an smiled and said that Qiaoqiao had chosen to study market economy management under the lure of Zhou Wenhui's benefits.

"How are you all recovering?"

"I'm fine. Youth is an asset, and my bones grow fast."

Gu Tong'an patted his chest; Zhou Wenhui had found out about their fight after all.

Qiaoqiao was helping in the kitchen, but it seemed like she couldn't help at all.

Xiao Qi prepares the ingredients, and Yao Xing cooks; the two work together seamlessly.

In that instant, Qiaoqiao felt that Yaoxing and Xiaoqi were a match made in heaven.

Both of them enjoy doing business and are very studious; if they were together, they would be a perfect match.

However, Qiaoqiao just thought about it; matters of the heart are beyond the understanding of outsiders.

Take her and Zhou Wenhui for example. Everyone who saw them felt that Qiaoqiao was not good enough for Zhou Wenhui, and Qiaoqiao herself admitted it. But the two of them were very happy and devoted to each other.

"Yao Xing, you've lost a lot of weight. Health is the foundation of everything. The disinfection plant needs to be built up gradually. Nobody can become fat overnight," Qiao Qiao reminded her.

"What does it matter if I'm a little thinner? Look at me, I'm in great spirits. I've been running the disinfection plant for three months now, and I've learned one thing: you have to seize the opportunity first. Right now, the awareness of disinfection in office buildings isn't strong, so I have to go door-to-door to mobilize them. I've already secured 32 places, including daycare centers, kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools. If I wait until one day when everyone is more aware and disinfection plants are everywhere, I won't be able to grab a spot then."

"Hey, that's what Brother Jintao said too. You have to be number one in everything you do, and people will remember the number one."

"Yes, I want to make our disinfection plant the number one in Huailin City."

"Your career is important, but your health is important too. You need to eat on time," Qiaoqiao said with concern.

"Qiaoqiao, Aunt Fang wants to sell this house. I'd like to buy it. What do you think?"

"How much?"

"five hundred."

"This is so dilapidated, and you want five hundred? Five hundred could build a five-room courtyard house."

Xiaoqi wasn't very happy to hear that.

"I think it's a good idea, Xiaoqi. This is a city, and land is valuable. Your family can build a house on existing land, but where will Yaoxing find land to build a house? Yaoxing, if you buy it, you'll have a home. When you have enough money, you can demolish the house and rebuild. Wouldn't Zhang Man's house next door be nicely renovated?"

As the economy opens up, land prices will only increase. Qiaoqiao has a longer-term perspective than Xiaoqi.

"Qiaoqiao, I'll listen to you. I'll go to Aunt Fang's place in a couple of days to transfer the property."

After Yao Xing took over the disinfection plant, he was under a lot of pressure and was heavily in debt, but it was still easy for him to buy a courtyard house for 500 yuan.

Yao Xing also had his own thoughts. Fang's wife had a good relationship with Chen Erniu, and when she learned that Chen Erniu had gone to jail, she had a lot of opinions about Yao Xing.

Sister Fang brought it up several times: either buy it or move it.

Yao Xing didn't want to move. This was where his dream began, and it would be inconvenient for Yao Hongbing and Gu Tong'an to travel back and forth to rent a place elsewhere.

Yao Xing had developed an attachment to this dilapidated house. Five hundred yuan was indeed a bit expensive, but he liked it nonetheless.

Gu Tong'an and Yao Hongbing surrounded Zhou Wenhui, discussing the economy, the country's future, and other important matters.

As dishes were served, the group put aside their conversation and prepared to eat.

Zhou Wenhui liked these young people very much; he saw the youthful arrogance in them.

Zhou Wenhui once had that kind of courage, but after his leg was crippled, he suppressed his ambition and just wanted to live a simple life.

Now, these young people have rekindled the arrogance that Zhou Wenhui had back then. Perhaps he will not have the opportunity to make any great contributions to the country, but these young people can.

Subconsciously, Zhou Wenhui placed his ideals and ambitions on them.

Stir-fried pork belly with dried tofu, braised fish chunks with chili sauce, pork blood and meatball soup, chives and bean sprouts...

The last dish was tangy and crunchy kimchi.

Without wine or other beverages, we substituted tea for wine and raised our glasses in celebration.

"Teacher Zhou, I'm sorry, this is too meager," Yao Xing said humbly.

Apart from Zhou Wenhui, the others were fortunate to have such a lavish meal.

Yang Qiao ate simple meals at school, but Zhou Wenhui, being the son of a teacher, had always been well-fed.

"Back in the army, a meal consisted of steamed buns and pickled vegetables. We never had so much good food. Thank you all, you've worked so hard."

Zhou Wenhui talked about the military to tell them that he, like them, had also suffered hardships.

"Let's start eating. One day, we're going to invite Teacher Zhou to dinner at Jufeng Restaurant," Gu Tong'an said confidently.

"Jufeng Restaurant? Don't go there. A single dish costs thirty or forty yuan. I heard that a table of food would cost two years' salary."

Qiaoqiao waved her hands repeatedly, "It's so expensive, who can afford it?"

"It's okay to think about it, right? What if we can afford it? We can't just not even dare to think about it," Gu Tong'an joked.

Xiao Qi chimed in, "I wouldn't even dare to dream about Jufeng Restaurant. That's where government officials entertain guests, and they're eating with public funds."

"Do you know about the visitors from the iceberg? A single dish costs over fifty yuan, and there aren't many of them," Gu Tong'an said mysteriously.

"Tsk tsk, guests on the iceberg are really valuable, over fifty yuan. Is it even tastier than braised pork?" Yao Hongbing chimed in.

"What guest? That's just a dish name. There are so many things that taste better than braised pork. All you're thinking about is braised pork."

"I'm perfectly content as long as I have braised pork to eat."

The boys laughed heartily, and Zhou Wenhui laughed too; his heart felt a few years younger.

"Hey everyone, come quick! It's Zhang Man, the second elementary school teacher. She's seducing someone else's man. She's shameless!"

Just as we were enjoying our meal, a woman's shout came from outside the courtyard, and the voice sounded so familiar.

"What happened next door?" Xiao Qi asked in surprise, not recognizing Zhang Man.

Qiaoqiao glanced at Zhou Wenhui and blurted out, "Han Dan?"

"Sister Man?" Yao Xing blurted out.

The group stopped eating and quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) to see what had happened.