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Seeing that He Tiantian had come to terms with it, Niu Lili said with relief, "Okay, I have some good news for you. There's an awards ceremony for outstanding individuals in the middle of the year, and I heard from my dad yesterday that you're on the list and will be attending the ceremony in Huai City!"

"Wow, such a good thing!" He Tiantian's attention shifted to this matter. Although these commendations wouldn't bring her direct benefits, they were proof that she had passed the organization's test. Even if someone reported her, a thorough investigation was necessary before she could have a say.

“Yes!” Niu Lili said, “With you are two villagers from your village. This commendation meeting is quite extensive, including some good-behaved labor reformers who were sent down to the countryside, but they only received certificates and won’t be allowed to attend the meeting in Huai City.”

"That's wonderful!" He Tiantian said excitedly. "I'm going to tell Professor Wang and the others when I get back tomorrow."

Professor Wang and his group made the right choice coming to Qijia Village. Not only did they have plenty to eat, but they also got to perform meritorious service. Secretary Qi actively helped them with the arrangements, and things will get even better after this commendation ceremony.

The next morning, He Tiantian took the list given to her by Secretary Qi and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things. They bought two large baskets full of oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, needles and thread, and some daily necessities.

On the way, He Tiantian couldn't help but ask, "Secretary Qi, did you come to the commune this time to evaluate advanced models?"

"Hahaha!" Secretary Qi was in high spirits. "Yes, our village is an advanced model village, and I am an advanced village party secretary. You, Wang Lei, and Zhang Qingshan are advanced educated youth, and Professor Wang, Zuo Li, and Xiang Rong also have certificates of merit."

"That's great." It was true after all. He Tiantian was relieved. She could tell Professor Wang directly when she got back.

"Four days later, you will represent the outstanding educated youth in our village and come with me to Huai City to attend the commendation meeting," Secretary Qi said. "By the way, you should also tell Professor Wang that he can be exonerated in a while."

"Okay, I'll go back and talk to Professor Wang," He Tiantian nodded. "By the way, Secretary Qi, won't this affect Professor Wang?"

"If there is any impact, it is a good one," Secretary Qi said. "Now the city is rehabilitating some veteran cadres. Professor Wang is highly respected, and the previous statements were biased. Now, through this commendation meeting, we can make amends for Professor Wang and Professor Gu."

"Secretary Qi, you mean Professor Wang, Professor Gu has a chance to be exonerated?" He Tiantian asked with delight. Professor Wang had been waiting, hoping for a chance to be exonerated so he could go home.

Secretary Qi nodded and said, "Sure! After this commendation meeting, if they want to go back, they can apply to do so."

Regardless, this is good news.

After He Tiantian returned, she helped Secretary Qi distribute the items to everyone, and then hurriedly told Professor Wang the good news.

However, Professor Wang was not as happy as He Tiantian had imagined; he just smiled slightly.

"Professor Wang, aren't you happy?" He Tiantian asked doubtfully. Professor Wang misses his family and relatives back home so much, he should be very happy!

"Sigh!" Professor Wang sighed. "With no classes at school, we'll have no use for our skills if we go back. We'll have very little food and won't be able to survive. We might even face another round of re-education. It's better to stay here obediently; at least we can live a peaceful life."

Professor Wang's words left He Tiantian feeling lost and dejected!

Yeah, what good would it do to go back?

With shortages of supplies, no food or water, life was tough.

Most importantly, with schools closed and no teachers needed, Professor Wang must be even more distressed there.

As for their families, Professor Wang and Professor Gu, the two elderly people, did not want to go back, also because they did not want to burden the younger generation.

"I hope things will get better someday," He Tiantian comforted him. Although she knew what the future held, it would be six years from now!

"Things will get better," Professor Wang said with a smile, not at all disappointed. "I'm already very content that I can communicate with my family now."

After leaving the livestock team, He Tiantian did not go back, but went to the cave in the back mountain. She wanted to find a quiet space to be alone.

The Snake King was finally able to emerge from the barrier, jumped into the water, swam a few laps, and then continued to cultivate on the large rock.

Each goes its own way and doesn't interfere with the other!

As the sun set, He Tiantian carried a bamboo basket containing two rabbits and went down the mountain.

When Grandma Qi learned that Huo Yingjie had left, He Tiantian was disappointed. So she made glutinous rice balls with homemade sesame filling, sugar, and a little bit of sesame oil.

"Grandma, are we having glutinous rice balls today?" He Tiantian licked her lips. Grandma Qi's glutinous rice balls were especially delicious.

"Yes, eating something sweet when you're in a bad mood helps you forget your troubles," said Grandma Qi. She used to do the same when she was alone. If she suffered injustice outside, or missed her son so much that she felt like she was dying, she would cook herself something delicious.

Even if you cry while eating, at least it tastes sweet.

“Oh, right!” He Tiantian smiled. She had heard this saying in her previous life and scoffed at it. However, later, when she was unhappy, she would go to the cake shop closest to the braised meat shop to buy a cake.

It's just that eating it is blissful, but eating too much makes you gain weight.

"Hurry up and wash your hands, come and eat," Grandma Qi urged. She had already filled two bowls and placed them on the stone table.

He Tiantian had eight or nine glutinous rice balls in her bowl, while Grandma Qi had five or six.

This food is delicious, but you can't eat too much of it because it's hard to digest.

"Mmm~" He Tiantian closed her eyes contentedly, savoring the delicious glutinous rice balls, which were even better than her mother's.

Grandma Qi's expression was similar to He Tiantian's, enjoying the happiness and pleasure brought by the delicious food.

Those who know how to enjoy food are those who know how to live.

He Tiantian saw this in Grandma Qi and learned it from her.

"Grandma, your cooking is really good," He Tiantian said. "Next time you make it, just let me know, I want to learn from you."

Learning to cook is not only for myself to eat delicious food, but also for cooking for my parents and loved ones.

"Okay, I'll teach you next time," Grandma Qi said. "There aren't many ingredients. If there were more, I could make several other kinds of pastries."

Grandma Qi used to have eaten a lot of good food and could make many things. It's just that in these times, there's simply no material available. If there were, she could open a shop just based on the few kinds of pastries she knows how to make.

Sigh, they don't allow shops to open now!

I can't understand how this could happen!

"What materials do you need? Tell me, and I'll buy them if I have the chance in the future," He Tiantian asked Grandma Qi while eating.

Learning how to make pastries is one thing, but the most important thing is chatting and talking with Grandma Qi.

This not only allows them to connect emotionally, but also reminds Grandma Qi of the good old days, making her less bothered by the monotony of modern life. (To be continued.)