"You're back just in time. Go wash your hands and change your clothes. Ruiqing and Xiaofeng are here. You and your family can have a drink with Ruiqing at noon."

Just as the last soup was finished, Sheng Liancheng returned from the small repair shop after work.

Zhang Shuzhen quickly gave Sheng Liancheng a heads-up, and then told the children to put the table down and prepare for dinner.

There are many people at home today, so we'll just set up two tables. The south kang (heated brick bed) will be reserved for Grandpa Sheng Liancheng and his family, while they keep Chen Ruiqing and his son company.

Zhang Shuzhen led her daughter, daughter-in-law, grandson, and youngest son to eat on the north kang (heated brick bed) as they pleased, so as not to be too crowded.

As a result, Chen Feng was unwilling to sit on the south kang and insisted on coming to the north kang to join in the fun. Zhang Shuzhen laughed when she saw this, made room for Chen Feng to sit down.

Anyway, the dishes are all the same, so you can eat them anywhere.

Sheng Liancheng was overjoyed to see Chen Ruiqing and his son. He took out two bottles of fine wine from the cabinet and insisted on pouring some for Chen Ruiqing.

Chen Ruiqing couldn't let his elders pour him wine, so he hurriedly went to get the bottle, but Sheng Xiping snatched it from him and poured wine for them all.

"Come on, Ruiqing, let's have a drink together."

"Oh my, I really didn't expect you two to come. Looking at you, Chen Feng has grown taller again. That kid is getting more and more promising. Good for him!"

Sheng Liancheng, holding his wine glass, insisted on clinking glasses with Chen Ruiqing.

Chen Ruiqing quickly picked up the wine glass with both hands, "Uncle, thank you so much."

You treat Xiaofeng like your own son, making sure he's well-fed and clothed, and even supporting his education.

My younger brother and sister-in-law are amazing! Xiaofeng learned so much here, and he didn't fall behind even after returning to the provincial capital. This time, Xiaofeng got first place in his class in the exam.

Chen Ruiqing was genuinely grateful to the Sheng family. If Sheng Xiping hadn't taken Chen Feng away, the child would have been neglected.

Originally, the couple brought Chen Feng to the provincial capital, intending for him to repeat a year so that he wouldn't fall behind the province's teaching pace.

Unexpectedly, when Chen Feng went to school and the teacher gave him a test, he was able to answer all the questions.

And so, Chen Feng didn't repeat a grade and went straight into the second year. This time at the end of the semester, he got a perfect score in both subjects and ranked first in his class.

The school teachers all say that this child has a solid foundation and a broad range of knowledge, making him a good candidate for studying.

"Hey? Xiping, is your sister-in-law still a substitute teacher? Has she been promoted to a permanent position?"

Otherwise, I'll go back and ask around, maybe I can get your sister-in-law a place for further studies at the Normal University?"

Chen Ruiqing suddenly remembered this matter and hurriedly asked Sheng Xiping.

Nowadays, there is no college entrance examination; only worker-peasant-soldier college students are admitted, and they need recommendations from various work units.

Chen Ruiqing still has some influence in the provincial capital, so getting Zhou Qinglan a place to study at the Normal University shouldn't be too difficult.

"Oh, right, Qinglan is still a substitute teacher." Sheng Xiping nodded upon hearing this.

Zhou Qinglan's time as an educated youth was short, so she didn't meet the recruitment requirements and wasn't selected in this year's spring batch.

As for the spot for further study at the Normal University, Sheng Xiping hesitated slightly.

It's not that Sheng Xiping is petty or worried that his wife will run away if she becomes capable; the main problem is that the college entrance examination will be reinstated this winter.

With Zhou Qinglan's abilities, she should have no problem getting into a teacher's college.

Although the continuing education opportunities at the Normal University are good, they are not from regular universities, so their value is not that high.

"Brother Chen, let's talk about the further studies later. I'll ask Qinglan what she thinks after we finish eating."

As you can see, she's pregnant right now. Even if there's a spot available, she'll have to give birth and finish her postpartum confinement period before she can apply.

It's too late to make it this fall. If Brother Chen really has a way, then next spring is the best time.

"By then, the child will be older, and it won't matter if Qinglan goes to school," Sheng Xiping said to Chen Ruiqing after thinking for a moment.

Zhou Qinglan should have given birth at the end of September, just as the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came out in October, so she should have been out of confinement soon.

While Zhou Qinglan was on maternity leave, she was told to stay home and study hard to prepare for the college entrance examination. If she could pass, she would be able to go directly to university without any further preparation.

If Zhou Qinglan doesn't pass the exam, she can ask Chen Ruiqing for help again to get her a correspondence course or evening school at the Normal University.

In any case, having a diploma is better than not having one, and it will be beneficial for Zhou Qinglan's future promotion.

Chen Ruiqing nodded upon hearing this, "Yes, that's true. My sister-in-law is in such a state that she definitely can't go to school. Let's wait until the baby is born before we talk about it. There's no rush."

The two brothers raised their glasses, clinked them together, smiled at each other, and without saying a word, they just drank.

The freshly picked cucumbers from our own garden are crisp and refreshing, and the braised willow root is tender and delicious.

Especially the crayfish and tofu soup, a famous local dish, is a top-quality river delicacy. It hardly needs any seasoning; the freshness of the crayfish combined with the garnish of chives makes it so delicious that it's enough to make your eyebrows fall off.

These dishes are not necessarily available in the city. Chen Ruiqing ate with great pleasure, praising Zhang Shuzhen's excellent cooking skills while drinking the soup.

"Oh my, no wonder Chen Feng insisted on coming back to live here. This forest farm is so great. Everything is so fresh and delicious."

"Then stay here for a while longer. I'll have Xiping catch a couple of small-scaled fish for you to cook. Those fish are even tastier."

We may not be able to say about other things in our mountains, but we certainly have no shortage of mountain delicacies and wild game.

There's a bird in the mountains called the flying dragon; it makes an even better soup.

"If you stay a little longer, let Xiping go up the mountain and hunt a couple to try, then you'll know." Sheng Liancheng chuckled as he urged Chen Ruiqing to stay longer.

"Uncle, let me tell you, I really want to stay a few more days, but I can't, I'm very busy with work."

"If I hadn't been on a business trip and happened to be passing by, I really wouldn't have had time to drop Chen Feng off."

Chen Ruiqing shook his head and smiled bitterly. He also wanted to stay longer and relax by going hunting in the mountains with Sheng Xiping.

But he's wasted so many years, and now that he's finally back to work, shouldn't he make the most of it?

With so many young people following him around, if he doesn't work hard, how can he ever get ahead?

Sheng Liancheng nodded, "That's true. If you eat the government's food, you have to do the government's work."

"Alright, I won't force you. Whenever you're free, bring your wife and kids over for a few days. Maybe we can even go to the provincial capital sometime later."

As Sheng Liancheng spoke, he clinked glasses with Chen Ruiqing, and the two of them took a sip of wine.

Chen Ruiqing was having a great time drinking with the Sheng family father and son, while Chen Feng was eating even more heartily on the north side of the kang (heated brick bed).

When Chen Feng returned to the Sheng family, he didn't pretend at all; he ate and drank as he pleased.

He happened to be sitting between Sheng Xinhua and Sheng Xitai. The three of them were all together, so they just watched, and everything tasted delicious.

"Grandma, another bowl of crayfish and tofu soup, it's so delicious."

Honestly, after I went back home, I missed our family so much, and I really craved my grandma's cooking.

The provincial capital won't do; the vegetables and such there are all delivered by farmers from outside the city, they're not fresh, and besides, they don't have as many varieties as we do here.

I still prefer being in the forest farm, where I can eat all sorts of different things.

Sometimes I dream about my uncle and I gnawing on big bones. Chen Feng muttered as he ate.