With little time left, the villagers from Xiayao Village who had been listening in on the proceedings began to frequently visit Shanyao Village.

"You know what, I've actually learned quite a few characters from Wu Mingxia, who raises pigs."

"What pig farmer Wu Mingxia? Call him Comrade Wu Mingxia!" The villager from Shanyao Village looked at the people from Xiayao Village with displeasure.

"Alright, alright, I misspoke, okay? Comrade Wu Mingxia."

That's about right.

Time quickly came for the township leaders to inspect the learning outcomes of each village.

Shanyao Village and Xiayao Village discussed whether they could settle the matter together.

Anyway, there's only one teacher.

"Well, that's because the people of Shanyao Village taught them well," the village secretary said, squinting at the village secretary of Xiayao Village.

"Anyway, you're all being taught by the same person. If you've missed more than half a month of lessons, it won't be good if you fall halfway through. Why don't we wait until the township leaders come, and then our two villages can work together? That would show our unity. Don't you think that makes sense?"

The village party secretary of Xiayao Village agreed with this reasoning and readily consented.

When it was Shanyao Village's turn, the village party secretary smiled and applied to have Xiayao Village incorporated as well.

Firstly, all the teachers in these literacy classes are the same person, and they are from Shanyao Village.

Secondly, it can also reduce the time wasted by the leaders above.

The village secretary of Xiayao Village listened from the side, and the more he listened, the more something seemed wrong. This didn't seem right. What did they mean by saying that listening to their lectures from Xiayao Village was a waste of time?

What does it mean that the teachers in the literacy classes are from their Shanyao Village?

The village secretary of Xiayao Village looked at the people around him with a strange expression. Why did he feel like he'd been set up by this old man?

When Grandma Wu got on the stage, she found a row of unfamiliar faces sitting below with serious expressions.

With more people, their performance hasn't declined.

Under the intense gazes of hundreds of people, Old Lady Wu remained calm and performed exceptionally well.

As the township leaders' faces softened, the village party secretary's eyes shone even brighter.

The village secretary of Xiayao Village, however, didn't look so good. He gritted his teeth and glared at the person next to him, "Fine, then I'll set up a scheme to save face for you."

The village secretary didn't deny it, and patted him with a smile, "What kind of talk is that? It's about cooperation and mutual benefit. Otherwise, Xiayao Village wouldn't be looking so good now."

During a public lecture, some people were sullen, while others laughed so hard they showed their teeth.

This incident helped the village party secretary gain considerable prestige in front of the township leaders.

The frustration from being gossiped about behind my back earlier dissipated considerably.

The village secretary, whose smile hadn't faded, looked at Old Lady Wu in front of him and said, "We really owe you a lot."

"As a member of Shanyao Village, this is just my duty, there's nothing wrong with it."

Grandma Wu paused slightly as she spoke, "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask the village secretary for help with."

"You say it, you say it."

"I would like you to help me write a letter of introduction for my trip to Northeast China."

......

It took the village secretary a while to react before he heard his own voice, "Go, go to the Northeast?"

Where are you going and what are you doing?

Grandma Wu didn't hide anything and directly confessed her purpose for going there.

The village party secretary couldn't quite explain how he felt.

When a friend is in trouble, to be able to disregard worldly fame and visit him at such a time is something even the village secretary himself might not be able to do.

"Are you really going?"

Grandma Wu's eyes were firm. "Really." She then spoke about Gu Qing and asked if she could come along too.

This time, the village party secretary directly refused.

After saying that, she looked up at Old Lady Wu and said, "You know, your situation is different from that of Gu Zhiqing. Her parents were clearly sent to that place and so on. This is because if it were in our Shanyao Village, it wouldn't involve them or their children. In other villages, even Gu Zhiqing would have been sent to the cowshed, let alone get a letter of introduction to go to the Northeast."

Grandma Wu nodded in understanding.

"I can issue your letter of introduction. When are you planning to go?"

Old Mrs. Wu paused slightly, "When is it convenient for you? Also, I'm worried about the pigs in the pigsty; while I'm away..."

The village secretary appreciated her concern, saying, "Don't worry, I'll have someone take good care of the pigsty. They'll be raised to be plump and healthy, just as good as yours."

Grandma Wu was relieved.

Back home, seeing Gu Qing's eager eyes, Old Mrs. Wu slowly shook her head. Gu Qing's eyes dimmed immediately, and she forced a smile.

“I understand, I understand everything, it’s alright, it’s alright. It’s just that I’ll have to trouble Aunt Wu to go on my behalf.”

"It's okay, since we're all in the Northeast, the difference shouldn't be too great."

"Take anything you need me to bring, and I'll deliver it to them for you."

Gu Qing nodded, tears welling in her eyes, and turned to go back into the house.

She also brought along everything her parents had given her that she could use, the most important of which were her quilt and cotton-padded clothes.

Fortunately, I had started preparing in advance, with two sets of cotton-padded clothes and two sets of cotton quilts.

Gu Qing, her face flushed, looked at the things on the ground after tidying up a huge pile of things.

Grandma Wu was all alone, and she had prepared quite a lot of things herself.

"I tried to reduce my intake, but before I knew it, I had taken too much."

Huang Xiaoqiang looked at Gu Qing's reddened eyes and said to Grandma Wu, "Why don't you go with Mom and me? You still have Aunt Zhixia's things with you, you can't carry all of them."

"No need to reduce the amount, I can handle it. You can stay at home and take good care of things, I don't need you."

With a 'plop', Old Mrs. Wu's pupils contracted, and she pulled Gu Qing up, "What are you doing? Get up quickly."

Gu Qing choked up, "Aunt Wu, I'm entrusting this to you."

She knew Aunt Wu and had no obligation to help her...

"What are you saying, child? It's just something that happens on the way."

Knowing that Grandma Wu was going to be away from home for a while, the Huang brothers felt uneasy. "Mom... can't you stay? Can't we just send something to you? We don't feel safe without you..."

Old Mrs. Wu's brow twitched, and she closed her eyes, raising her hand to slap him hard. "Huang Xiaoguo! You're the eldest! Can't you be a little more dignified!"

"Still insecure? Why don't you say that if I leave, you won't even have the will to live anymore?"

Huang Xiaoguo hesitated for a moment, indicating that his condition wasn't quite that serious, but it wasn't far off.

Seeing that Old Lady Wu's attitude was unyielding, and considering that Huang Xiaoguo had been beaten, the remaining people gave up trying to persuade her.

They focused on helping Grandma Wu prepare the things she needed for her long trip.

"It's cold in Northeast China, so bring plenty of down jackets and coats."

"Exactly, exactly, and there's food too. One is in the south, and the other is in the north. How long would it take to get there by train?"

"By the way, Mom, when are you leaving? And how long will you be gone?"

As everyone bombarded her with questions, Old Mrs. Wu, unusually patient, answered them one by one.