Zhou Taohua was young and didn't realize the ambiguous and romantic atmosphere between the two of them just now. She just felt that her brother was a little embarrassed by how he dressed.

Now, sensing that Zhou Jingyun was slightly angry, he forgot about what had just happened and remembered the purpose of his visit, so he said, "Mom asked me to tell Sister Miaomiao that we'd like to invite her to our house for dinner this afternoon and ask her not to cook!"

After saying that, feeling her older brother's murderous gaze, she turned around and ran out with Da Ya and Er Ya...

In the afternoon, at the Zhou family's residence.

Zhao Cuihong specially asked Zhou Dujuan to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a pound of meat. She used the freshly picked chili peppers to make a sour and spicy meat dish, and also slaughtered an old hen she raised herself, and stewed it with bamboo fungus that she had dried herself in the spring to make a bamboo fungus stewed chicken dish.

They also used the ladled chicken broth to cook a large pot of cabbage. Of course, in the potato kingdom, potatoes are an indispensable part of every meal. Today, the potatoes were luxuriously stir-fried with lard and chili powder, and they smelled incredibly delicious.

Before people even entered the main room, they could smell a fragrant aroma.

Holding Zhenzi, Zhao Cuihong saw her son leading Ruan Miaomiao in and immediately grinned: This educated youth Ruan is more and more beautiful the more you look at her, you can never get tired of looking at her.

"Ruan Zhiqing, come on, sit down, dinner will be served soon!"

Zhao Cuihong held the huge steamed bun in one arm and pointed with the other to the spot in front of her where bamboo fungus stewed chicken and hot and sour pork were laid out, indicating that Ruan Miaomiao should sit there.

Just by looking at the arrangement of the food on the table, Ruan Miaomiao knew that the best spot was specially reserved for her.

The rest of the Zhou family didn't react unusually to Zhao Cuihong's arrangement.

Zhou Taohua was even worried that Ruan Miaomiao might be shy since it was her first time having dinner at her house, so she pulled her to sit down in that area.

Nearby, Zhou Dujuan, who was ladling rice into a bowl, was filled with jealousy when she saw how familiar her younger sister was with Ruan Miaomiao. She pressed the bowl of rice she was serving Ruan Miaomiao with a spoon, making it a full and solid bowl.

After serving the food, he handed it to Ruan Miaomiao with a proud look on his face: "Here you go, Ruan Zhiqing, your food!"

Ruan Miaomiao took the rice bowl and was immediately stunned by its weight.

Looking into Du Juan's bright eyes last week, Ruan Miaomiao instantly realized that the girl was expressing her kindness in her own way.

Farmers are simple and kind; their way of being kind to others is to encourage them to eat more.

Let alone now, when there is still a famine, even in later generations, when you go to the countryside to eat, the aunties in the village will still urge you to put more rice in your bowl, and all the delicious dishes will be placed in front of you.

Even when the guest is clearly blocking the bowl with their hand, the host will still use a rice spoon to play guerrilla tactics, taking advantage of the guest's inattention to pour a large spoonful of rice into the bowl, until the guest is so full of rice that it's choking them, before feeling that they haven't neglected the guest.

At this moment, the large bowl of rice that Zhou Dujuan gave Ruan Miaomiao was the best proof of her enthusiasm.

Ruan Miaomiao had long since sensed Zhou Dujuan's overtures. She took the bowl, looked up, and gave her a sweet smile: "Thank you, Sister Dujuan!"

? ?

!!

Ruan Miaomiao's smile was like firecrackers going off in Zhou Dujuan's heart. She immediately skipped away, her face beaming with joy!

The Zhou family was completely bewildered: Ruan Zhiqing had only smiled at her, why was she so happy?

If Zhou Dujuan knew what her family was thinking, she would definitely scoff: "Hmph, what do you know? That's a smile that belongs only to me, Zhou Dujuan."

Fortunately, this conversation didn't happen, otherwise the Zhou family would have said: "Oh, Ruan Zhiqing always smiles at us!"

“What a crazy girl, Ruan Zhiqing. Don’t mind her. Try this bamboo fungus. I picked it from Qinglong Mountain in the spring and dried it. It’s so fragrant.”

Zhao Cuihong picked up her chopsticks, ready to serve Ruan Miaomiao a large spoonful of bamboo fungus and chicken.

However, the chopsticks were extended, but then pulled back.

She was worried that Ruan Zhiqing would dislike her chopsticks, after all, Ruan Zhiqing seemed to be a rather particular person.

So, all she could do was enthusiastically gesture with her eyes for Ruan Miaomiao to hurry up and grab the food.

Ruan Miaomiao didn't stand on ceremony. She picked up a piece of bamboo fungus and chicken and stuffed it into her mouth. The oily aroma of the chicken combined with the fresh aroma of the bamboo fungus exploded in her mouth, stimulating her taste buds.

In particular, Ruan Miaomiao absolutely loves the crunchy texture of bamboo fungus.

It is said that bamboo fungus not only nourishes the body but also has anti-cancer effects.

This Jianshan Brigade is truly a treasure trove; any random plant on the mountain could be a medicinal herb.

No wonder, in later generations, it is said that the villains targeted it and deliberately set a fire, which burned all the medicinal herbs on the mountain...

"The job you found for Sister Narcissus is pretty good."

During the meal, Ruan Miaomiao learned that the Zhou family was having this meal to celebrate Zhou Shuixian's upcoming job in the provincial capital in a couple of days.

From the Zhou family, Ruan Miaomiao learned that Zhou Shuixian worked in a Chinese medicine factory doing preliminary screening of Chinese herbal medicines. Her monthly salary was not high, only twenty yuan, but in Jianshan Brigade, this was already a very prestigious job.

So, the Zhou family specially killed a chicken and bought meat to celebrate.

Hearing Ruan Miaomiao's words, Zhou Jingyun felt a warmth in his heart: no matter how much praise others give, it's never as gratifying as a single compliment from the person you love.

He nodded slightly and walked side by side with Ruan Miaomiao on the country road. As the sun set, the two of them were bathed in a warm, orange glow.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Jingyun told Ruan Miaomiao his plan.

"Miaomiao, I plan to cooperate with a traditional Chinese medicine factory in the provincial capital to promote the traditional Chinese medicines of our Jianshan Brigade, no, I should say our county."

In particular, I believe some of the Miao medicinal herbs from our Jianshan brigade have significant medicinal value. If they could be promoted, it would not only help people outside the area but also boost local development and increase the income of our villagers!

? ? ?

!!

Ruan Miaomiao was stunned when she heard Zhou Jingyun's words: Huh??

How come I'm still just lazing around doing nothing and living a life of idleness, while this man has already reached such a high level of thinking?

In this era where everyone is insecure, how could he possibly consider local development and the income of his fellow villagers?

Isn't that a problem that the county party secretary should be considering?

Does Zhou Jingyun, a rough countryman, understand these things?

For the first time, Ruan Miaomiao realized that her previous understanding of Zhou Jingyun was somewhat one-sided.

However, she still asked, "Aren't you afraid of being labeled as a speculator and profiteer, and then being sent to a labor camp for criticism and struggle sessions?"

Hearing Ruan Miaomiao's words, Zhou Jingyun felt even warmer inside: Miaomiao must be worried about him when she asked that question.

Miaomiao's worry about herself is the same as her loving herself...