Chapter 211 Celebrating the Chinese New Year

"Dongbao, look, all these clothes, quilts, and social donations are here." Shen Yuyuan came to the store after finishing her final exams to help take care of Dongbao.

After the story of "Hero Dongbao" spread, people from all walks of life began to pay attention to his and his grandmother's lives.

After learning that the grandfather and grandson refused the donations on the grounds of "no work, no food," they instead handed over the money and valuables to the Criminal Investigation Brigade. Everyone believed the Criminal Investigation Brigade had a way to get them to accept the donations.

Too many items are disrupting the work rhythm.

The criminal investigation team delivered the items to Shen Liuhe's shop time and time again. At this moment, the shop's warehouse and backyard were piled with many boxes and bags.

"Dongbao doesn't want it, Grandma will give it to someone else." Dongbao touched her new cotton-padded jacket and said proudly, "Dongbao has new clothes, Dongbao is satisfied."

Shen Yuyuan then looked at Grandma Tong who had just walked in.

Grandma Tong said somewhat embarrassedly, "The government gave my daughter and me a bonus, which is enough to last us for a while if we're careful. Why do we need donations from the community? We've received too much already. Young lady, could you please pass this on to someone in need?"

Shen Yuyuan was a little embarrassed. Holding the thick donation ledger, she planned to discuss it with Shen Zhenzhu later.

Dongbao and her grandmother entered the shop, greeted by applause. Everyone put down their chopsticks, and the moment the applause began, Grandma Tong's face stiffened. Dongbao instinctively hugged Grandma Tong, her eyes wide as she warily looked around.

Grandma Tong stared blankly for a moment, then patted Dongbao's arm when she saw Chen Zhenzhu coming to greet her: "It's alright, they're all good people."

Zhang Xiaopang stopped grabbing the chicken leg and grabbed Dongbao's hand, shouting, "Hero brother, you've finally arrived!"

Seeing that everyone's gazes were kind and friendly, and that the atmosphere wasn't one of fighting or murder, the grandfather and grandson finally smiled.

Dongbao pointed to himself and asked Zhang Xiaopang, "Is Dongbao your brother?"

Zhang Xiaopang said, "Brother Dongbao, our school says we should learn from your spirit of helping others."

Dongbao grinned foolishly. In other people's eyes, he no longer looked fierce and menacing, but rather silly and cute.

Shen Zhenzhu and Wu Zhongguo arrived at the restaurant first and came out from a corner to greet Dongbao and Grandma Tong and help them sit down.

For the first time, I sensed a nervous, hesitant demeanor in Dongbao. It was like a normally mischievous child suddenly receiving praise, feeling overwhelmed by the compliments from the diners. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaopang kept talking to Dongbao, which livened up the atmosphere considerably.

"It's hard to imagine what would have happened if we had been a little careless and Dongbao had been taken away by Qian Minghai," Wu Zhongguo glanced at them and said in a low voice.

These days, she has been doing her best to help at the hospital, and she has put all the energy she usually puts into taking care of her parents into caring for Grandma Tong.

“That would be such a waste,” Chen Zhenzhu said as she distributed the chopsticks. “I don’t allow that to happen here.”

Wu Zhongguo doesn't usually drink milk tea, but perhaps the harsh realities of life in the hospital have worn him down. He ordered a cup of pearl milk tea, took a big sip, and felt a little better after the sweetness in his mouth. "Sister Pearl is incredibly meticulous. The recent cases are getting stranger and stranger. If you're not careful, you could wrong an innocent person. One is old and the other is mentally challenged. They're so confused that they can't explain anything clearly."

After Zhang Xiaopang was called away by Grandpa Zhang, people came over to say hello in an endless stream. Dongbao couldn't stand it anymore and ran out: "Grandma, Dongbao is going to carve wood."

"Ouch, slow down." Yuan Jiangxue almost bumped into him, shaking out an old-fashioned down jacket as she said, "Grandma Tong, come and try this on. I didn't buy it; it's an old stock from my shop."

Shen Zhenzhu specially asked Grandma Tong to come over early so that she could try on the new clothes. The New Year is coming soon, and she can't go without any new clothes, as the old lady's health can't handle it.

Grandma Tong wasn't as quick-witted as Yuan Jiangxue, but after being coaxed and tricked by Yuan Jiangxue, she put on the dark purple down jacket with the fur collar wrapped around her neck, making Grandma Tong exclaim, "It's so warm, I'm sweating!"

Yuan Jiangxue then pulled out a woolen hat, a simple wine-red style that was very suitable for the elderly: "Since we're already here, these two are a set, try them on."

Grandma Tong couldn't refuse Yuan Jiangxue's kindness no matter what, and with Shen Zhenzhu's encouragement, she ended up getting a complete outfit from head to toe.

Dongbao is already familiar with the Tiesi Commercial Street, and Professor Zhao hopes that Dongbao can experience more socialization training. Shen Zhenzhu will take him there for a walk. Unexpectedly, Dongbao likes to play with wood in Brother Leng's shop.

Brother Leng thought Dongbao had strong hands and could endure hardship. Although he was a bit less intelligent than the average person, he was surprisingly patient and was willing to let Dongbao play with some materials between his fingers.

"It's almost Chinese New Year today." Dongbao sat on a small stool, his back to the door, seemingly unbothered by the cold draft, fiddling with the wood as he casually said, "Auntie is going to celebrate Chinese New Year for Dongbao."

Brother Leng paused for a moment, then understood what he meant. He placed the wooden carving on the table and said, "Happy New Year! There's plenty of delicious food to enjoy."

Dongbao was secretly delighted, with a hint of smugness in his voice: "Dongbao won't eat the leftovers today, Auntie is giving Dongbao a New Year's celebration, hehe."

"I'm not comfortable with what you're saying," Brother Leng patted his big head. "From now on, Dongbao will celebrate the New Year every day. You can ask anyone on this street to celebrate the New Year for you."

Dongbao said happily, "Dongbao knows, Dongbao likes it here. It's cold outside, but it's not cold here."

Dongbao couldn't quite express himself, but Brother Leng understood and said with a smile, "Dongbao is absolutely right, the people here are so warm and welcoming."

He looked out at the shopping street through the shop window.

Golden light bulbs were hung on the trees, and red and green decorative ribbons were strung together, giving the once old-fashioned Tie Si Commercial Street a Western holiday—Christmas Eve.

Young people with a business mind are not afraid of the howling north wind and the overly romantic snowflakes. They stand under the warm yellow streetlights, hawking apples and roses.

Where crowds gather, there are talent shows organized by shops in the commercial street through fundraising—stand-up comedy and Errenzhuan (a type of folk opera), and aunties with red-painted cheeks preparing to perform Yangko dance under the Christmas tree.

Neither rustic nor foreign, this street exudes a vibrant and thriving atmosphere, all for the sake of happiness.

In Sixth Sister's restaurant, Grandma Tong, after trying on her new clothes, touched them with tears in her eyes. Yuan Jiangxue and Shen Liuhe, like a double act, coaxed Grandma Tong until her tears dried and she smiled.

Shen Zhenzhu rested her arm on the counter, glanced at the time, chewed on Grandma Tong's dried sweet potato, and peeked outside with her cheeks puffed out.

A girl dressed in her finest clothes and wearing a bright red scarf walked by on the street, which made Chen Zhenzhu's eyes crinkle with delight.

At that moment, Xiao Bai led Feng Le, Wang Jingjing, and Zhou Xiaoyang into the store, took off her red scarf, and called out, "Sister Pearl, Sixth Sister, Taro Ball! We're here!"

"Wow, they all look so beautiful." Shen Zhenzhu saw that they were wearing red scarves just like they did in front of reporters and the media, putting social panic at ease and making Christmas 1993 colorful.

"Come and see, Grandma Tong looks so beautiful in this outfit." Yuan Jiangxue waved to them, making the old lady very happy: "Those who know her call her Grandma, but those who don't will think she's some pretty auntie from somewhere."

Shen Liuhe walked towards the kitchen and said to Shen Zhenzhu, "They'll all be here soon. Remember to call Dongbao. Nobody can touch their chopsticks until he comes."

Chen Zhenzhu said crisply, "I understand."

The kitchen was filled with the smoky aroma of cooking, and the enticing smell of meat wafted out as soon as the door was opened.

Xiao Bai wasn't very hungry at first, but after smelling it, she felt like she was starving. Seeing Lu Ye and the others get out of the car, she ran to Brother Leng's shop and said, "Dongbao, Brother Leng, let's go eat."

He took out a biscuit from his pocket, broke off a piece, and handed it to Dongbao: "A little something to say."

Dongbao glanced at it; it wasn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. But he couldn't waste food; even a small grasshopper was still food.

Back at Sixth Sister's restaurant, Chen Zhenzhu found Xiaobai lecturing Dongbao: "Why didn't you call me?"

Dongbao greeted her with a wronged expression, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Little Lady? What does that mean?" Xiao Bai pointed to the kitchen and asked, "And who is that?"

Dongbao said with respect and love, "Auntie." The generous auntie who could feed him meat.

Little White pointed at the sunken pearl and said, "What about this?"

Dongbao said, "Mother." His good mother.

Xiao Bai asked, "What about me?"

Dongbao said, "Little Empress."

Xiao Bai angrily said, "Why should I be considered inferior?"

Shen Zhenzhu looked at the half-eaten biscuit in her hand and said, "Perhaps it doesn't mean you are inferior to others."

Seeing that Chen Zhenzhu spoke up for him, Dongbao hurriedly returned to Grandma Tong's side and sat down to wait for dinner, excitedly muttering, "Dongbao won't have to squat outside for the New Year anymore."

Grandma Tong said with heartache, "Yes, thank you, Sixth Sister, for letting us have such a feast this year."

The two tables were pushed together to form one large table, where the four teams sat with Dongbao, Grandma Tong, Feng Le, and others. A short while later, Meng Wanjun also got out of the car and arrived: "I'm sorry, my parents came from abroad to visit me, which took a little longer."

Zhao Qiqi rubbed his hands together, looking forward to the feast: "Don't they celebrate Christmas Eve in foreign countries?"

Meng Wanjun said with a smile, "They originally wanted to come and thank Captain Chen and Dongbao, but we finally managed to persuade them not to come. They said they would go back later to celebrate with them and come over to get together with everyone first. It's a pity that Dujuan has to go home to see her child and can't come."

Chen Zhenzhu sat next to Xiaobai, glanced at the door with disappointment, and said, "It's okay if he can't come, there will always be a chance to see him."

“That’s true.” Meng Wanjun turned to the side, took off her expensive coat, and casually draped it over the chair.

The waiter brought over a plate of food from behind her, saying, "The sweet and sour pork is here. Let's whet our appetites first."

Golden, fluffy, and evenly sliced ​​pork tenderloin is laid out before you. Its crispiness is visible to the naked eye.

"Wow, the main course is the first dish!" Wu Zhongguo exclaimed. "We're here today thanks to Dongbao. Grandma Tong, you're the elder, so please start eating."

Chen Zhenzhu said with a smile, "Yes, eat it while it's hot. Try my mother's cooking."

"Just looking at it makes my mouth water." Grandma Tong picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of sweet and sour pork, and smelled a strong aroma of sweet and sour. The caramelized aroma from the hot oil tempted her to take a bite.

As you bite through the crispy outer shell, the tender, juicy meat inside bursts out with flavor.

"This is the old-fashioned way of making it; Sixth Sister's is truly authentic." Grandma Tong gave most of the remaining food to Dongbao. When Dongbao was little, she didn't know what sour or smelly food was, and she would grab anything she saw, which caused her a lot of trouble. Later, she would only feel at ease if Dongbao tasted it herself.

Realizing her actions were inappropriate, Grandma Tong, not one for words, forced a smile and said, "I'm used to it."

Chen Zhenzhu deliberately sat next to Dongbao, and then picked up a piece for Dongbao: "Dongbao behaved so well today. I thought you were going to fight us for the food."

When Dongbao saw the food in the bowl, his eyes lit up. He swallowed hard and said, "Dongbao won't snatch anything during the New Year. If you do, there won't be any for Dongbao."

He crunched on the sweet and sour pork, the clear, crisp sound enticing the appetites of everyone present.

"It's so delicious! Dongbao is really celebrating the New Year!" Dongbao chewed happily, taking big bites. Every now and then, he would put a few pieces on Grandma Tong's plate, and his eating speed gradually increased.

"Then I'll try some too."

"I won't stand on ceremony either."

"Thank you, Dongbao."

Everyone started eating, and Chen Zhenzhu also picked up a piece. The sweet and sour sauce was made with only sugar and vinegar; it was initially sour and pungent, followed by a gentle sweetness. The lively and straightforward atmosphere, typical of northern China, invigorated her.

"Garlic pork belly, steamed spare ribs with rice flour, Cantonese-style lion's head meatballs." The waiters brought out the dishes one after another. With the speed that Shen Liuhe had planned in advance, the hot dishes would not get cold or greasy, nor would they be left uneaten.

"Sister Pearl, let me sit down." Zhao Qiqi said without any tact, "There's still an empty seat next to you, and I keep getting food served over here."

Shen Zhenzhu pretended not to understand and hesitated to pick up the cloth bag that was taking up space, saying, "If you want to sit, then sit. Why are you asking me what I want?"

Lu Ye shoved a piece of garlic-flavored pork belly into Zhao Qiqi's mouth: "Eat yours, is that your place?"

Zhao Qiqi was mesmerized by a bite of garlic-flavored pork belly. The pork, with its skin still attached, was sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings by Shen Liuhe's skillful hands. After being blanched in boiling water, it retained the sweetness and tenderness of fresh pork.

"Dongbao, it's better to eat it with sauce than on its own." Zhao Qiqi, whose attention had been successfully diverted, explained with great experience, "The soul is in the sauce. Don't look at the paste; it's actually minced garlic and chili oil."

Wu Zhongguo added, "There's also sugar."

Dongbao's eyes suddenly lit up: "Dongbao loves sweets." He picked up a slice of garlic-flavored pork belly, rolled it in the sauce, dipped it twice, and ate it in one bite.

The garlic aroma is overwhelming, followed by a rich and succulent taste that is not greasy at all and incredibly refreshing.

"It's delicious, Dongbao loves it." Dongbao ate three pieces in a row, and Grandma Tong rolled up his sleeves next to him, saying, "Slow down."

Dongbao was enjoying his meal and said, "Auntie is celebrating the New Year with Dongbao today."

Shen Liuhe came out to see how everyone was eating, and upon hearing this, she said, "That's right, eat until you don't want to eat meat anymore. There's only one rule: don't eat too much, or I won't let you celebrate the New Year next year."

"Dongbao knows what's good and bad." Dongbao patted his belly and said, "It's still empty, there's room."

"Perfect spot." Lifting the thick plastic curtain, a figure that everyone had been longing to see appeared as the cold wind swept through.

Gu Yanzheng hurried and finally caught up. He patted the snowflakes off his shoulders, picked up a bag of fancy peace apples he had bought from who-knows-where, and placed them on the table: "Help yourself."

He took off his coat and draped it over the back of the chair, then naturally sat down next to Shen Zhenzhu. The cloth bag that had been taking up the space was nowhere to be seen; only the owner of the bag pursed his lips, feigning indifference as he revealed the curve of his lips.

Gu Yanzheng's cast had been removed. He got up to wash his face, returned to his seat, looked at the serious-looking Section Chief Shen, and magically pulled a huge red apple from his pocket, saying, "Merry Christmas Eve."

Zhao Qiqi craned her neck to look, and the apples in the bag were clearly bought on the street, nowhere near as beautiful and plump as the ones in Chen Zhenzhu's hands: "Boss, why are you still doing things behind the scenes?"

Xiao Bai glanced at him, sighing, "It's a done deal now."

Holding the apples she had secretly prepared, Shen Zhenzhu poured Gu Yanzheng a cup of hot tea and said casually, "Don't you have any large roses?"

"Those foreign devils are all bad." Gu Yanzheng rubbed his hands together, took a sip of hot tea, and said, "Out of stock."

Shen Zhenzhu almost burst out laughing.

His lively smile carried a hint of playfulness. The unexpected scenery in life dispelled the gloom in Gu Yanzheng's heart, and he smiled along with it.

As Shen Liuhe served the main dishes, Meng Wanjun and Feng Le drank some wine and repeatedly toasted Shen Zhenzhu and Dongbao to express their gratitude.

Gradually, other diners in the restaurant joined in, expressing their gratitude to Dongbao for his bravery and to Chen Zhenzhu for ending the crime that had caused widespread fear just before the New Year, bringing smiles back to the faces of the women on the street.

"I'll say it once again: I won't make this 'General's Pork Knuckle' unless it's absolutely necessary. The only time I did it was at Xiao Li's engagement banquet." Shen Liuhe personally served the grand finale dish, picked up a glass of orange juice, and said to Dongbao, "Whether you're Dongbao or Zhenzhu, may the world have more naivety and less harm."

Grandma Tong pulled Dongbao up and stood up with everyone else. Holding the teacup in both hands, she said to Shen Zhenzhu, "Thank you. We would have been in trouble if it weren't for you. Thank you everyone too. I've lived so long and suffered so much, and I've finally met some good people."

Dongbao stared at the braised pork knuckle, licked his greasy lips, and said cheerfully, "Dongbao is so happy! Happier than a dream."

Shen Zhenzhu also picked up her orange juice, raised her hand and said, "On behalf of the Liancheng City Public Security Bureau, I would like to thank Dongbao once again for his bravery and for Grandma Tong for raising such a good child. Sixth Sister is right, may the world have more naivety and less harm."

Meng Wanjun had never had such a happy Christmas Eve. She also shouted, "May the world have more silliness and less harm."

May the world have more naivety and less harm!

After finishing their drinks, everyone eagerly reached for their chopsticks to savor the braised pork knuckle.

Chen Zhenzhu wasn't in a hurry to eat. Immersed in the noise and bustle, enveloped in delicious food and caring attention, her mind wandered uncontrollably: This society is too quick to define people based on a single label. In this incident, many people, prejudicially, ignored the subtle clues in Dongbao's behavior, almost leading to tragedy. Labeling someone as "stupid" is equivalent to halting judgment and thought, blinding oneself. What hinders solving cases is never the walls imprisoning victims, but the prejudices in our hearts.

Dongbao's face was flushed with happiness. He occasionally burped, rubbed his belly, and whispered, "Just one last bite, Dongbao can have an extra bite for the New Year."

Wu Zhongguo peeled the fish bones for Dongbao, put them in his bowl, and said, "Eat some vegetables after you finish the meat."

Grandma Tong didn't eat much, but her face was beaming with smiles as she tried to remember this unforgettable moment. She kept repeating, "With you all as Dongbao's friends, I feel at ease."

"Grandma, if you don't mind the age difference, I'll be your friend too," Zhao Qiqi said naively.

Grandma Tong laughed heartily at his words: "No, I wouldn't look down on you. You criminal investigation team members are all very capable."

Xiao Bai chuckled and said, "In this society, those who always remain kind are truly capable."

Shen Zhenzhu nodded, completely agreeing with Xiaobai's words.

True kindness should be an instinctive behavior. It includes befriending a kitten, protecting those you know, and distinguishing between hatred and betrayal when faced with betrayal.

When "Jiang Yuan'an" committed a despicable frame-up and other people's suspicions ran rampant, a fool was still able to follow his simple conscience and take care of the victims, clumsily protecting the human nature that those so-called smarter than him had lost.

"So, while intelligence can save the world, we must not forget that kindness itself is the most precious treasure." Chen Zhenzhu picked up her orange juice and gently clinked it against Gu Yanzheng's teacup, making a crisp sound.

Gu Yanzheng picked up his teacup and clinked it against his: "That's why people say the cornerstone of civilization lies in kind feelings."

Shen Zhenzhu said with a smile, "Brother Zheng understands me best."

Gu Yanzheng examined the teacup filled with pearls closely: "Have you been drinking?"

Chen Zhenzhu downed her drink in one gulp: "I'm drunk."

Gu Yanzheng laughed and said, "Then I'm drunk too."

Shen Zhenzhu looked down at his arm: "Is it still convenient?"

Gu Yanzheng rolled up his sleeve and hooked his left arm, instantly revealing his well-defined muscles: "How about it?"

Shen Zhenzhu poked at it with her finger and also hooked her arm to squeeze it, then quickly put it down and said vaguely, "Hmm, it's alright."

The ambiguous praise put Gu Yanzheng in a great mood, sweeping away the fatigue of his journey, and he boasted, "Ironclad."

Chen Zhenzhu, ever the one who knows how to rub salt in the wound, said: "Then it's broken."

Gu Yanzheng lowered his sleeves and calmly explained, "Even a horse can stumble, but there will never be a next time."

Chen Zhenzhu was delighted.

Xiao Bai scoffed from across the table: "Tsk tsk, see how this differs from dating."

Lu Ye nudged her elbow and said mysteriously, "Director Liu talked to me and wanted to know how I was going to resolve my personal issues. He asked if I wanted the organization to help me find someone."

Xiao Bai leaned closer, curious about the matter: "So what do you say?"

Lu Ye patted his chest and said, "What's there to say? Just agree to the organization's introduction."

Wu Zhongguo said with a smile, "Director Liu is still so concerned. I heard that he has talked to all the older ones."

Shen Zhenzhu put down her chopsticks in surprise, and whether intentionally or not, asked, "Why didn't you introduce it to me?"

Gu Yanzheng's face turned pale with embarrassment: "..."

All eyes at the dinner table suddenly fell on Gu Yanzheng, including those of Meng Wanjun and the others who were unaware of what was happening. There seemed to be a tacit understanding among the women; a slight raise of an eyebrow elicited a chorus of winks and knowing glances.

Gu Yanzheng put down his chopsticks, feeling a pain in his chest again; he couldn't eat anymore.

Wu Zhongguo handed the braised pork knuckle to Dongbao to eat, and cheerfully changed the subject: "I heard that Captain Park is dating someone, and his girlfriend is quite good at making dumplings."

Chen Zhenzhu blurted out, "It's alright."

The heartfelt evaluation made Gu Yanzheng frown and press for an answer in a less than pleasant tone: "Park Heung-sung ate dumplings for you?"

Zhao Qiqi pointed to her nose: "I ate some too, it was beef filling, it smelled good, but it was a little too sweet."

Gu Yanzheng was relieved and coughed, saying, "It's good enough that you're given some. No one can compare to Sixth Sister's dumplings. We can't force it on others."

Shen Zhenzhu squinted, sensing a hint of sour jealousy in Gu Yanzheng's evasive tone.

She tilted her head and ate two more bites of food.

How come I never noticed Zheng Ge like this before?

After a while, as the conversation at the dinner table was in full swing, Chen Zhenzhu turned her head and asked Gu Yanzheng, "Are you still busy lately?"

Gu Yanzheng said contentedly, "It seems we can take a break for now."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhenzhu felt a sense of relief on her shoulders.

Before they could finish speaking, the plates on the table were completely empty.

Dongbao let out a satisfied burp and rubbed her belly: "This is the best meal Dongbao has ever had."

Chen Zhenzhu put down her chopsticks, took a sip of tea, and asked, "What's Dongbao doing tomorrow?"

Dongbao said, "Dongbao accompanied Grandma to the fields to pick sweet potatoes and soybeans."

Wu Zhongguo said in surprise, "Your family also farms?"

Grandma Tong held the warm teacup and said softly, "These are leftovers after others have finished harvesting. They're rotten in the ground anyway, so you can pick them up freely after they're picked. I pick a lot every year at this time. I make sweet potato chips from sweet potatoes, and soybeans can be sprouted, made into bean flour, or pressed into tofu. Dongbao has been picking them with me since he was little. They may look insignificant, but each time we can pick two or three hundred pounds, and Dongbao always carries them home from the suburbs."

Shen Zhenzhu suddenly realized: "No wonder Dongbao is so strong, so that's how he trained."

"Dongbao loves collecting treasures." Dongbao said expectantly, "Dongbao is full now, and tomorrow I can collect lots and lots of them. I'll give them to Auntie and bring them to Mom."

Little White pointed to her face and said, "Isn't a little lady a mother? There are different ranks of mothers!"

Dongbao, oblivious to social hierarchy, reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of dried sweet potato, and tossed it to Xiaobai: "Little lady, eat this. Dongbao gave you the whole thing; Dongbao won't break it."

"Heh, holds a grudge, huh?" Xiaobai took a big bite, then pulled her hand back and looked at it again: "My god, it's really chewy."

Recalling the taste, Meng Wanjun smiled and said, "It was really delicious, I'll never forget it in my life."

Feng Le also said with a smile, "Of course I won't forget. I'll have to buy some from Grandma Tong later."

Grandma Tong quickly said, "Don't spend money, I'll dry more for you."

Shen Zhenzhu said, "Then I want some too. I can't let you and Dongbao waste your efforts. No work, no food. It's honorable for everyone to spend the money we earned to exchange for the money you earned."

Wang Jingjing also said, "Yes, I want to buy some too. And Du Juan, she said that it was snatched away before she could even eat a few bites, and she wants to try some more."

Who exactly stole it back then is unclear. No one mentions it anymore; let bygones be bygones.

Grandma Tong insisted on not taking any money, and Dongbao would bare her teeth and be fierce at anyone who mentioned money.

Seeing his appearance, Grandma Tong said helplessly, "His bared teeth, waving his fists, and yelling all that, he learned it from the cat."

Shen Zhenzhu and the others suddenly realized what was going on and praised Dongbao's cat friend. Dongbao was also proud and honored.

All good things must come to an end.

Everyone went home. Gu Yanzheng leaned against the door and lazily asked Chen Zhenzhu, "Are you free this weekend?" He then added, "Just you."

Shen Zhenzhu said regretfully, "It's hard to say whether we should go see Professor Zhao."

Gu Yanzheng waved his hand: "It's too difficult, see you later."

He walked angrily to the Cherokee and opened the door: "What about next week?"

Shen Zhenzhu opened her mouth, finding it difficult to refuse, but Dongbao had just entered the treatment period and could not interrupt the course of treatment.

Gu Yanzheng understood her dilemma and said with a smile, "It's okay, I won't make any more appointments. I'll come when I have time."

With her hands behind her back, Chen Zhenzhu looked at Gu Yanzheng standing in the swirling snowflakes and said, "But tomorrow I'm going to apply for subsidized housing for Dongbao and Grandma Tong—"

"Wait for me," Gu Yanzheng said immediately. "It's hard to drive in the snow, I'll pick you up. I'm free anyway."

Shen Zhenzhu walked to the car, her eyes sparkling like stars. For a moment, it seemed as if the wind and snow had stopped. She teased Zheng Ge, saying, "Is the sofa in the second team fixed yet, Director Gu?"

Gu Yanzheng got into the car, put his arm on the window sill, and poked Chen Zhenzhu's forehead with his fingertip: "It's a new one."

Shen Zhenzhu rubbed her forehead, seemingly feeling the warmth of Gu Yanzheng's palm as she touched it.

"What about the metal cabinets of the third team?"

"Fixed."

"Where are Guo Daye's curtains?"

"Am I the Grand Eunuch?"

"No, no, no, I was just asking. By the way—" Shen Zhenzhu was about to ask again when Gu Yanzheng said helplessly, "Boss, why don't you get in the car?"

"The snow is getting heavier, you should go back quickly." Chen Zhenzhu stood outside wearing a cotton vest, shrugging her neck. Before leaving, she reminded Gu Yanzheng, "You're just idling around anyway, why don't you ask Director Liu why he hasn't introduced you to anyone?"

Gu Yanzheng gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll drag you over too, okay?"

"I still have work to do, see you tomorrow." After teasing her, Chen Zhenzhu took off running, leaving a trail of joyful footprints.

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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there are 100 red envelopes waiting for you! [Let me see]