"You don't seem happy at all."

Zheng Xu was puzzled.

"Why aren't you happy? It's just that I'm not good at expressing myself!" Bai Jiaojiao forced a smile. "Captain, why don't you stay and have something to eat with us?"

"I'm not eating anymore. The higher-ups said they'll be sending people over to visit this afternoon. You should get ready too; they're coming to learn from our experience, so you need to give them a good presentation!"

Many villagers eat two meals a day, so Zheng Xu wasn't surprised to see Bai Jiaojiao start eating around 10 a.m. He just felt that while the villagers said their family lived well, it was really just so-so. They had saved money to build a big house, but they had to be frugal to make ends meet.

Zheng Xu is now putting all his energy into the pigsty. If he can achieve something in pig farming, then all his years as the team leader will have been worthwhile.

After saying that, Zheng Xu went out.

"Should we glue this on?" Shen Heng picked up the two pieces of red paper, rubbed them, and found that the color was coming off.

Bai Jiaojiao was both amused and exasperated: "Just stick it on, so the captain won't ask about it next time he comes over."

"Okay, I'll make some paste in a bit and then paste your study plan on it too."

"How about we put them together when we put up the couplets for the New Year?"

"Alright."

After hearing Bai Jiaojiao say that, Shen Heng put the certificate away and waited for the New Year.

"Can you write calligraphy? How about you write the couplets for this year?"

Bai Jiaojiao smiled and said, "I can give it a try."

Seeing Bai Jiaojiao's modesty, Shen Heng laughed: "No need to try, no matter how you write it, we'll post it."

Bai Jiaojiao has beautiful handwriting, and she must be better at calligraphy than the old Party Secretary.

The old Party Secretary has only written a few lines of poetry over the years, and he wrote them for almost every household.

In the past, when I was alone, I never celebrated the New Year and never thought about putting up couplets. But this year, being with Bai Jiaojiao, I suddenly realized that these things that I used to think were just formalities are actually so meaningful.

Bai Shibao had planned to come over in the afternoon, but they were having lunch when there was a knock on the door.

Bai Shibao was like a frightened bird, but Bai Shihai comforted him, "We've hidden it all well. Besides, your sister-in-law has never done this at home before, so there won't be any traces. Don't worry."

Bai Shibao was still young, and he swallowed hard.

"I'll go open the door." Bai Shihai got off the kang (a heated brick bed), opened the courtyard gate, and saw Yan Xingmin standing outside.

Yan Xingmin naturally knew where the Bai family lived. Bai Shihai remembered that before Bai Zhiman was paralyzed, this man often came to the house to drink with Bai Zhiman. Over the years, his appearance had changed a bit, but he could still be recognized.

Bai Shihai didn't call anyone, and Yan Xingmin came uninvited and entered their main hall.

"Hey buddy, eating?"

Yan Xingmin's eyes swept over Bai Shibao, and he smiled meaningfully.

Bai Zhiman raised his eyelids slightly: "What are you doing at my house?"

"I ran into Shibo this morning. This kid, we were master and student after all, how come he can't even speak properly and just rode off on his bike in a flash."

Yan Xingmin's expression was like that of someone from the gutter; his smugness made Bai Shibao feel uneasy.

"Shi Bo didn't go out this morning, so where did you see him?" Bai Zhiman's words were perfectly tactful.

Yan Xingmin said to Bai Zhiman, "Brother, you're being a bit too polite." He found a stool and sat down, looking very serious. "I'm happy for Shibo that he has such a good business now."

If it weren't for the vivid memories of what had happened before, Bai Shibao would have really thought Yan Xingmin was a good mentor.

Bai Zhiman frowned: "Stop talking nonsense. What business? If you have something to say, just say it. If you don't, hurry up and leave. My family still needs to eat."

"No buying or selling? Is that so, Bozi?"

Yan Xingmin stared at Bai Shibao.

"No," Bai Shibao replied.

"Don't play dumb with me. The New Year is just around the corner. As your apprentice, it's not too much to show your respect to your master."

"What filial piety?" Bai Shibao instantly understood Yan Xingmin's meaning. "You are no longer my master."

"A teacher for a day is a father for life. You have studied under me for three years. How can you say you are no longer a teacher?"

Yan Xingmin had a stern face, just like when he used to lecture Bai Shibao. Bai Shibao felt a headache coming on when he saw him, and all the grievances he had suffered at Yan Xingmin's hands before replayed in his mind.

He heard Yan Xingmin say, "This year for the New Year, you'll send me a hundred yuan. I know you make money selling that stuff, you can't be short of money, can you?"

Yan Xingmin was there to extort money, Bai Zhiman knew very well. If he could do this once, he would definitely do it again. If they agreed, it would be like feeding a bottomless pit.

But if they don't agree, Yan Xingmin will surely become enraged and report them.

Both Bai Shihai and Bai Shibao looked to Bai Zhiman for his decision.

Before Bai Zhiman could speak, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Bai Shihai was in such a hurry to come in with Yan Xingmin that the door wasn't locked, and Bai Jiaojiao just walked in like that.

She saw Yan Xingmin and smiled: "Dad, who is this? He looks so familiar."

"You've forgotten the blacksmith your third brother used to be an apprentice to."

For some reason, Bai Zhiman felt at ease when he saw his daughter, Bai Jiaojiao. He felt that no matter how difficult the matter was, her arrival would solve it.

Bai Shihai and the others shared the same thought. Seeing Bai Jiaojiao's calm demeanor, their anxieties eased slightly.

Bai Jiaojiao deliberately said, "Oh, it's you. How dare you come to my house? Didn't you make a scene that day?"

Bai Jiaojiao didn't give Yan Xingmin any face, and Yan Xingmin immediately became furious: "How dare you speak to your elders like that? Is this the kind of upbringing your Bai family has?"

Bai Jiaojiao said to Yan Xingmin, "I don't care what you're planning right now, I advise you to get out of my house as soon as possible."

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