Wang Zhizhi was both ashamed and angry. Her face flushed red, and she stammered, unable to speak.

If Wang Chunmei weren't there, she would still have the nerve to keep saying nice things.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it in front of outsiders.

Finally, Wang Zhizhi couldn't help but glare at Xu Xinghe fiercely before turning and leaving.

If you don't want to lend it, then don't!

Although she might not get any money, at least Xu Xinghe was finished, and she could say she had gotten her revenge for what she had done during this time.

"Xinghe, don't be like her." Wang Chunmei walked over and patted Xu Xinghe's shoulder reassuringly, her voice loud and clear, "If she comes looking for you again, come to me, and I promise I'll help you talk her out!"

"Thank you, Aunt Mei."

"No need to thank me, alright, I'm going back now. Make sure to eat the dumplings while they're hot."

Wang Chunmei turned and left, heading towards her own courtyard.

She encountered several military wives who were out buying groceries on the street, and immediately went up to them, saying, "Hey, let me tell you, if Wang Zhizhi asks you for money, you absolutely must not lend it to her!"

She vividly described what had just happened.

"She deliberately wore several thin coats just to get Xinghe to lend her money. Can you believe how cunning she is!"

The military wives who were cleaning nearby also looked up and listened curiously.

Wang Chunmei continued, "Lending money to someone like Wang Zhizhi is like throwing a meat bun to a dog—it's gone forever!"

Several military wives responded one after another.

"I won't lend it to her. She's going to Black Wind Village, and whether she'll come back is another matter entirely."

"That's right, if you lend money to a convict, you're definitely not going to get it back."

"Let's go home. If Wang Zhizhi comes knocking, don't open the door. Just pretend you didn't hear her!"

The sound drifted on the wind. Wang Zhizhi hadn't gone far when she vaguely heard a few words, and she trembled with anger.

She pulled her clothes tighter, saying, "It's okay, I'll be fine soon."

As long as Xu Xinghe gets into trouble, things will turn around for him.

In her past life, Jiang Linchuan neglected her for more than ten years because of her.

Now, because of her, he has become the laughingstock of the entire military.

Wang Zhizhi had a vague feeling that Xu Xinghe was her nemesis.

Only when she is completely destroyed will things get better for me.

She turned her head to look in the direction of Xu Xinghe's courtyard, her eyes growing increasingly sinister, and couldn't help but cover her mouth and cough a few times.

Her time is running out. Once she recovers, there will be no more chances to delay. Li Xingzhou is becoming increasingly indifferent to her and will not help her at all. She wonders when that small-town teacher will bring people over...

——

Since the Frost's Descent solar term, Heilongjiang Province seems to have entered winter early, with temperatures remaining stable below zero and the fallen snow piling up on both sides of the road without melting.

The rest were trampled down and covered in dark mud.

Hongxing Village.

A dozen or so children, dressed in cotton-padded coats, followed a middle-aged male teacher wearing glasses into the village in a crooked line.

They looked to be only eleven or twelve years old, with chubby faces and very cute features.

Chen Jingming spotted Village Chief Li at a glance, quickly walked up to him, and politely extended his hands. The cuffs of his cotton-padded jacket had changed color, but they were clean. "Village Chief Li, hello. I am a teacher from the town's No. 1 Primary School. I brought my students here to learn about the black soil."

Village Chief Li was all smiles; his grandson was also at the First Primary School. Although he wasn't in Chen Jingming's class, knowing another teacher was still a valuable connection.

"Teacher Chen, you and your students can look around as you please."

"Thank you, Village Chief." Chen Jingming adjusted his glasses. "You should go back and rest. I'll take the students straight to the black soil."

He waved, signaling the students to follow.

“Students, look—” Chen Jingming stood on the frozen ridge of the field, his voice gentle yet powerful, “This is the black soil unique to our Heilongjiang Province. It may look unremarkable, but it is the most precious soil for growing crops! However, it is also very delicate and must be carefully protected in order to retain the nutrients in the soil and allow the crops to grow better.”

He changed the subject, his tone turning somber, "Just a few days ago, our Heilongjiang province experienced a once-in-thirty-year frost disaster, causing damage to many crops. Although Hongxing Village tried to harvest ahead of schedule, it still suffered significant losses. Even though the farmers have worked so hard for so long, it's all in vain if the heavens don't cooperate. Now do you understand the hardships of farmers and the preciousness of crops?"

The students shouted in unison, "We understand!"

"Alright, you're free to do as you please now. Take a good look at this black soil."

Chen Jingming walked to the side and watched quietly.

The students gathered together and dug away the surface snow to reveal the black soil underneath.

"Teacher, this soil is actually black!"

“My dad is a farmer. He has to go to the fields before dawn to weed under the scorching sun, and then he has to harvest the grain when the season comes. It’s so tiring. That’s why the ancients said, ‘Who knows that every grain on the plate is the result of hard work!’” After saying this, the little boy proudly puffed out his chest. “My family has been poor farmers for three generations!”

During this period, the issue of capitalists has begun to take shape.

The status of a poor peasant became an extremely glorious one.

Chen Jingming stepped forward and patted his head. "Well said. Grain is the foundation of a country. You can't waste a single grain of rice when you eat. Do you see the frost marks on the straw over there? If it's not harvested in time, then this grain will be inedible, and you will go hungry."

The children listened attentively, their little faces serious. Some even took out notebooks and wrote things down stroke by stroke with their fingers, which were red from the cold.

Time flies.

It was almost noon.

Led by Chen Jingming, the children went to the canteen to eat communal meals.

"Alright, it's time to eat now. The teacher will be watching you to make sure you don't waste food, and these farmers will be watching you too, understand?"

"knew!"

The children responded excitedly and lined up to walk towards the village canteen.

The cotton shoes crunched and groaned as they stepped on the snow.

Chen Jingming did not go into the canteen. After making sure all the children were seated, he walked towards the military headquarters.

He straightened his cotton-padded coat, walked up to the soldier on guard, and smiled gently. His whole demeanor exuded honesty.

"Hello comrade, I am a primary school teacher in town, and I brought my students here to learn. Many of my students' families are farmers, and it was only because the army helped with the harvest that the losses were not so severe. I am here on behalf of the students to express my gratitude to the political commissar. In addition, I am also very grateful to him for allowing me to bring my students here to learn and understand."

The soldier notified the political commissar, and only after receiving approval was he allowed to enter.

Chen Jingming walked into the military headquarters, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the surrounding barracks and training grounds.

A soldier walked towards him, and he immediately stopped, nodded, and greeted him, "Comrade, you're also involved in the harvest, right?"

The soldier didn't recognize him, but one doesn't hit a smiling face, so he nodded. "Yes, may I ask who you are...?"

"Oh, thank you so much!" Chen Jingming immediately shook hands with him excitedly. "I am a teacher at the First Elementary School. I came here specifically to thank you. Otherwise, I don't know how many students would not have the money to continue their studies next year. You are heroes, great heroes!"

His tone was natural and friendly, and his eyes were full of gratitude.

The soldier scratched his head sheepishly, "It's nothing, it's just what we should do."

During the brief pauses in their conversation, Chen Jingming kept observing his surroundings, his gaze discreet.

He continued walking toward the office building only after the soldiers had to leave for training.

Office buildings are important locations.

Political Commissar Wang didn't let him in; instead, he came out himself.

"Political Commissar Wang, we've finally met you today! My students and I have come to thank you!" Chen Jingming was extremely excited, his eyes even reddening. He didn't know where to put his hands and could only nervously clutch the hem of his clothes.

"Ahem, it's nothing, it's what we should do." Political Commissar Wang hadn't expected him to be so emotional, and patted him on the shoulder. "The military and the people are one family."

Chen Jingming nodded repeatedly. "Political Commissar Wang, I have another request. Could you please allow my students to visit the military headquarters? Rest assured, we will absolutely not go to any classified areas. Some of my students greatly admire soldiers and want to join the army when they grow up. They are young now and need a source of inspiration. I believe such a visit and learning experience will be extremely helpful to them and will make them even more patriotic. They are the future flowers of our motherland, and I hope they can contribute their strength to the country!"