Zhuang Xingzhou was quite concerned about Zhuang Zhiwu, and then inquired about his life: "And you? How are you? How are things going with your partner?"

“I’m doing well, and we get along very well. I plan to visit my teacher’s family during the Chinese New Year.”

"We should have visited their parents long ago; it's only proper etiquette."

"I know, this isn't something I can only find time for during the New Year; I really don't have time normally. I just had a mission here this time, so I came back to see you all."

"Okay, as long as you know what I mean!"

"Don't worry, Dad, I understand."

"Good, let's eat dumplings."

Zhuang Xingzhou also took out the liquor that Zhuang Zhimeng had sent him. The three of them clinked glasses, enjoying dumplings and liquor, and the more they drank, the better they felt.

Hao Caiyun poured herself and Wang Xiaoman a glass as well. When Pingping and An'an saw that the adults had wine, they also insisted on having some.

Hao Caiyun poured them a glass of water, but dared not let them drink alcohol.

The whole family raised a glass together and toasted, wishing for a better life.

Because Grandpa Zhuang had something to do that evening, he had arranged to eat with Grandma at the military base beforehand. Otherwise, he was going to go back and have dumplings with Grandpa and Grandma.

…

The production team's winter work consisted of water conservancy construction, large-scale farmland infrastructure development, accumulating and producing fertilizer, applying winter fertilizer, and carrying out frost prevention work. There was no time to rest in winter.

Since there was no pig feed in winter, Zhuang Zhimeng didn't have to gather pig feed, so she worked with the educated youth. The educated youth's job was to clean the livestock shed, which usually took half a day to complete.

As the saying goes, after eating the winter solstice meal, the days grow longer by a thread each day.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night. After the winter solstice, the days become longer and longer, and the body's yang energy flourishes, making it easier to absorb external nutrients and exert nourishing effects. This means that the period around the winter solstice is the best time to nourish the body.

After Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia finished cleaning, they decided to make some noodle soup.

You can make a big pot of mutton soup, then leave some broth in the pot to cook noodles, and finally sprinkle with chopped green onions.

Eating a bowl of noodles like this is both nourishing and warming.

The remaining mutton and mutton soup can be eaten again next time.

You can also give the dogs some extra nutrition; just a few pieces of lamb will do, otherwise they'll easily get a sore throat.

At this moment, Su Mengmeng returned. The male educated youth were now doing farmland dredging work, so it was a good time for them to wash their hands and eat.

Jiang Yanxia ate with great enjoyment: "Zhimeng, this tastes really good. Shall we eat here again next time?"

Zhuang Zhimeng nodded: "Okay, we can have mutton soup a few more times."

“Our production team should be settling work points soon. We’ll move all the grain to your place then, and if there’s any money to be made, we’ll give it to you too.”

"Okay, we'll see how much grain we can get in exchange later."

“Boss, bring mine over here too. I should have a lot of work points. I usually get 8 or 9 work points, and I got 12 work points when we repaired the dike.” Su Mengmeng also said that she couldn’t take advantage of Zhuang Zhimeng for nothing.

"OK!"

They gave it to Zhuang Zhimeng and she accepted it. Currently, all the grain she buys from the production team is kept with her so that it's convenient for them to eat together.

An Qingbai usually eats at his own home, and only eats here when Zhuang Zhimeng needs his help.

Many people in the village were illiterate, so the village committee responded to the call from above and carried out literacy work among the villagers that night.

The aim is to enable villagers to learn the spirit of the instructions from higher authorities and enhance their awareness of building socialism.

The educated youth took turns being the teachers, and every night the two of them would study in the house of the livestock keeper in the village.

Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia are in the same group. The teachers in this literacy class receive four work points every day.

Few people are truly willing to go to literacy classes; most are young people—young women, newlyweds, and young men. Older people generally don't come; they feel it's unnecessary.

The brigade leader had no choice but to repeatedly emphasize the importance of literacy, even though he couldn't persuade them. They would rather stay home and sew shoe soles than learn to read.

There was a dim kerosene lamp on the table, and I studied in such a dimly lit environment.

The kerosene lamp is made of glass and is shaped like a gourd with a narrow waist and a large belly. On top is a lamp head shaped like an open-mouthed toad. On one side of the lamp head is a knob that can be adjusted in and out to control the brightness of the lamp.

The people who come to learn literacy are very serious about their studies and cherish the opportunity to learn to read.

Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia had experience teaching children, so they were able to handle it. If a child didn't understand something the first time, they would explain it several times and the child would remember most of it. They would then reinforce the lesson from time to time.

The villagers' reaction was okay after they finished speaking. Su Mengmeng said that the male educated youth who was with him got angry with the villagers, saying that what he was saying was too complicated and they couldn't understand it, and no one wanted to listen to it.

Su Mengmeng quickly calmed the villagers down, as he had some experience teaching children.