At that time, due to scarcity, document copying was not cheap.

Guan Baiyu has already lowered the price, but he's still making a considerable profit.

As for those who need to print documents, the price is even higher.

So after Guan Baiyu opened the printing shop for a while, he actually made quite a bit of money. He figured that if he kept it open for a year, he should be able to recoup the cost of opening the shop.

The two classmates who did part-time work were also working hard for him. Although they didn't earn as much as tutoring, it was still quite a bit, more than 500 yuan a month.

Neither of them asked their families for living expenses anymore.

It was Friday, and Qi Xiaowu went to tutor the coal mine owner's son in English. Guan Baiyu and a student who was doing part-time work were staying in the shop when Shi Zhen came in from outside.

Upon seeing Shi Zhen, the girl who had come for the part-time job immediately greeted him, "Hello, boss!"

Guan Baiyu kept telling people that the owner of this shop was Shi Zhen, and that Shi Zhen came over on the weekend to inspect the place.

The two students who were working part-time had no suspicions whatsoever.

After all, Shi Zhen looked like the boss, and Guan Baiyu said he was doing some typing and data entry work... He was indeed quite busy.

"Hello, boss," Guan Baiyu said with a smile, winking at Shi Zhen.

Shi Zhen stared at Guan Baiyu for a while before saying, "Shall we find a place to eat something first?"

He came over without having dinner, and it's already past six o'clock now, so he's really hungry.

Guan Baiyu also didn't eat dinner. There was one time when Shi Zhen came without eating dinner, and after that, he stopped eating dinner and waited for Shi Zhen.

“Okay!” Guan Baiyu stood up. “It’s my treat today.”

Guan Baiyu has already helped his first client get accepted to a school abroad.

As a result, he received a large sum of money.

Once outside with Shi Zhen, he couldn't help but bring up the matter with him, adding, "I can ask for more of my brokerage fee later, depending on the situation."

"The price is so high... Is anyone willing to pay?" Shi Zhen asked curiously.

Guan Baiyu said, "Originally, only the very rich would think about going abroad and actually go... You don't know, I helped them check the rent prices abroad... One apartment, one month's rent is 10,000 RMB, and tuition fees are even more expensive. I asked some senior students studying abroad, and they usually eat very little, just a piece of bread and a sausage, which costs more than ten RMB."

So he charged a brokerage fee of 10,000... which is actually just one month's rent for someone's room abroad.

Shi Zhen wasn't surprised to hear this.

At that time, domestic prices were indeed low: "Then you can do it your way."

“Hmm!” Guan Baiyu said.

Neither of them were particularly picky about food, so Guan Baiyu found a restaurant nearby and treated Shi Zhen to a meal.

"Brother, there's a new dish here, pickled fish." Guan Baiyu said with a smile.

In another part of his life, before he passed away, he opened a sauerkraut fish restaurant near them.

He wanted to go eat with Shi Zhen, but unfortunately he didn't have time.

Moreover... Don't be fooled by Shi Zhen's seemingly non-picky eating habits; he actually quite likes fish and also enjoys spicy and sour foods... though not too spicy, of course.

When Guan Baiyu arrived at the restaurant, he ordered a sauerkraut fish dish and specifically told the owner, who was clearly not a local, "I'm a local, don't make it too spicy!"

"Understood!" The shop owner understood; locals wanted the mildest of the mildest spicy.

This restaurant makes sauerkraut fish using silver carp, and the whole dish is served in a large bowl.

Guan Baiyu ordered two more bowls of rice and ate with Shi Zhen.

Guanjia Village has many rivers and ponds, and fish are cheap, so everyone often eats fish. During the Spring Festival, they even get to share some fish.

When Guan Baiyu was a child, he choked on a fish bone, but his grandmother didn't care, and he was in pain for several days.

After that, he did eat fish, but he always ate it very slowly.

The silver carp meat had already been sliced ​​into fillets, so Shi Zhen could eat it directly without spitting out the bones, while Guan Baiyu would spit out all the small bones inside.

Shi Zhen then picked out the fish meat from the belly, where there were only large bones, removed the large bones, and put the meat into Guan Baiyu's bowl.

Guan Baiyu ate happily.

Halfway through his meal, Guan Baiyu looked up and saw two familiar faces staring at him from a distance. They were the middle-aged couple he had met at Teacher Li's place; they must be a married couple.

Guan Baiyu smiled at the other person as a greeting, and then went to talk to Shi Zhen.

They ate quite quickly. After they finished eating, Guan Baiyu said, "Brother, I'm stuffed. Shall we take a walk together?"

“Okay,” Shi Zhen said.

Guan Baiyu's shop is still open, so there's no point in going back. It's better to wander around outside.

After finishing their meal, Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian strolled around the neighborhood.

Although neither of them teaches here this semester, they have moved here so that Mu Tian can take good care of her health.

Suddenly having free time, they also had nothing to do, and sometimes they didn't even know what to talk about.

At this moment, Jiang Xingsheng started a conversation: "Is that Xiao Li's student? And the one next to him is his brother? They seem to get along quite well."

"Mm." Mu Tian nodded. During the meal earlier, the older brother had been taking care of his younger brother.

As they were talking, they saw Guan Baiyu, who was walking ahead of them, go and buy a roasted sweet potato.

The roasted sweet potato he bought wasn't big. He ate half of it and then gave it to Shi Zhen, saying, "Brother, I can't eat anymore."

Shi Zhen took it and ate it slowly.

Guan Baiyu took a few steps, then pulled Shi Zhen to stop in front of the stinky tofu stall...

"Didn't you say you were full?" Shi Zhen found it somewhat amusing.

"I only ate one bowl of rice, how could I be full? Brother, you're not full either, are you?" Guan Baiyu said matter-of-factly.

They had only eaten a small bowl of rice before, so they could have easily eaten something else.

Jiang Xingsheng bought Mu Tian a sweet potato and told her to eat it slowly.

Seeing the two brothers in front of her looking so happy, Mu Tian suddenly said, "I wonder how my Xiao Yu is doing now."

Jiang Xingsheng remained silent.

He didn't feel the same depth of affection for the lost child as Mu Tian did.

When he left Mu Tian, ​​the child was still in Mu Tian's womb, and he had never even seen the baby.

But Mu Tian always thought about that child and couldn't forget him.

The child's name was Jiang Yu. Mu Tian then said, "And Guan Baiyu... has a character in his name that is the same as Xiao Yu."

Jiang Xingsheng said, "Don't worry, we'll keep looking, we'll find it eventually."

They asked many people for help in finding their child, but whether they could find him or not, no one knew.

The two brothers in front of her seemed so happy, and Mu Tian felt a pang of envy—she wished her child could be like that too…

"Mu Tian!" a voice suddenly rang out.

The gentleness on Mu Tian's face vanished instantly, and she turned her head away, her expression turning somewhat cold.

The one who called out to Mu Tian was her ex-husband, Tao Hanyi.

After losing her child, Mu Tian went to university and stayed on to teach after graduating four years later.

It was around that time that someone introduced her to Tao Hanyi.

They got married not long after they met, at the end of 1983. Then... in 1991, Mu Tian discovered that he was having an affair.

In his early years, Tao Hanyi was a handsome young man, but now he looks greasy, his body is deformed, he is bald, and he is fat and ugly.

He stared at Mu Tian and asked, "What does that thing you sent me mean?"

Mu Tian said, "It doesn't mean anything, I just wanted to remind you not to raise someone else's child."

"Don't think I'll believe you just because you forged a report."

"Do you think I'm that free?" Mu Tian retorted.

Tao Hanyi choked, looked at Mu Tian's belly, and said, "You're clearly not pregnant!" Mu Tian's report was sent to him three months ago, and she should be showing by now.

"I'm so old, what's wrong with not wanting to have children?" Mu Tian sneered. "But you, there's a hospital not far from here... Remember to go see one tomorrow morning."

Tao Hanyi knew Mu Tian to some extent. Mu Tian was a bit aloof and had a bad temper, but he wouldn't do something like framing someone.

Moreover, after their divorce, Mu Tian wanted nothing more than to stay far away from him, so there was no way she would suddenly come back to lie to him after so many years.

He received the test results a few months ago. He had wanted to go to the hospital for a check-up back then, but he refused to admit it. When he learned that Mu Tian was here, he came looking for her.

It was quite a coincidence that he met Mu Tian without even going to her house.

Seeing Mu Tian's reaction, Tao Hanyi finally made up his mind to go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow.

All three of them were concerned about their reputation, so although they had a minor argument, they didn't raise their voices, and Tao Hanyi left quickly.

However, people nearby noticed them, and Shi Zhen turned around to look.

However, Shi Zhen didn't recognize any of the three people. He glanced at them and then ate stinky tofu with Guan Baiyu.

Guan Baiyu's printing shop closes at eight or nine o'clock in the evening. The two strolled around and returned at just the right time.

Shi Zhen stayed in the provincial capital the next day, planning to return on Sunday.

Guan Baiyu has a school event this Saturday that she can't miss, so Shi Zhen simply stays in the print shop and reads.

Guan Baiyu kept some books on architecture, and he would read them whenever he had free time.

In fact, Shi Zhen also tried to find a few architecture students to go back... but unfortunately, college students these days are too precious and are unwilling to work for a small company like his.

Of course, there are still skilled workers in Changxi City. He can just hire people to help him, so he is not short of people right now.

Shi Zhen is quite relaxed, but Guan Baiyu is facing some problems.

Three months into the school year, it's now December, and New Year's Day is just around the corner.

Guan Baiyu's activities today are preparations for New Year's Day.

The school will organize a New Year's Eve party, with each department holding its own. Their class has to put on a performance.

Although Guan Baiyu was active in school, he did not become the class monitor, because he didn't have enough time.

However, whenever the class monitor has something to say, they always like to consult him.

According to the class monitor's idea, for this kind of activity, they would put forward a large chorus or a recitation, and then the whole class would go up and perform together to show unity.

However, some people disagreed, feeling that the two shows were too boring.

"If we don't put on these two programs, what should we put on?" the class monitor frowned.

“It would be great to produce a stage play!” Cai Huidong said.

"What kind of stage play will it be? And what about the costumes..." The class monitor, whose family was of modest means, was always thinking about things like cost first.

He wanted to do a recitation or a chorus because the school had several types of uniform costumes for these activities, which were easy to borrow.

“I can provide the costumes,” Cai Huidong said. “We can discuss the program.”

Cai Huidong raised objections mainly because the class monitor originally planned to have Guan Baiyu stand at the front and lead the reading, whether it was a chorus or a recitation.

After all, Guan Baiyu was outstanding in appearance.

He didn't want to see Guan Baiyu in the limelight.

He recently inquired about Guan Baiyu's print shop—it was actually Guan Baiyu who renovated it himself. He was just a poor kid, and he didn't know why everyone liked him.

There's also Professor Li, whom his uncle knows, but he treats Guan Baiyu much better than he treats him.

In addition, there are the recent school exams and homework... Whenever the teacher praises a student, Guan Baiyu is always among them.

When Guan Baiyu saw him, he didn't take him seriously at all, just like Mu Tian.

He hates people like that the most.

Guan Baiyu had no idea what Cai Huidong was thinking.

He actually didn't have time to do this.

The coal mine owner's son introduced him to several more business opportunities... He was very busy.

It's best if someone else handles this! But a stage play... a stage play definitely requires much longer rehearsals, and it's highly likely that rehearsals will be held on weekends...

Guan Baiyu was just thinking about how to refuse when Cai Huidong said, "I'll take care of this. Those who want to participate can sign up here... Guan Baiyu, you have to do part-time work, so you don't have time to participate?"

After Cai Huidong finished speaking, he looked at Guan Baiyu with a smile. He was a little reluctant to let Guan Baiyu participate, but he also felt that it would be good if Guan Baiyu participated, since Guan Baiyu would have to listen to him then.

“Yes, I have to do part-time work and can’t participate,” Guan Baiyu said decisively. “Besides, I have things to do with the student council… I’m sorry.”

He had joined the student council, and although he was only responsible for some minor tasks since he had just joined, it was more in his best interest to perform well in the student council than to participate in the stage play.

Guan Baiyu's refusal was particularly decisive, which inexplicably angered Cai Huidong.

Guan Baiyu's manner made it seem as if he didn't want this opportunity at all!

Guan Baiyu was faking it, wasn't he? He loves to show off so much!

However, it's good that Guan Baiyu is gone; he can take charge of the stage play now!

Cai Huidong thought it was simple, but when he actually tried to do it... he found that performing a good stage play was not so easy.

The only performance the students in their class had ever seen before was probably the Spring Festival Gala. Most of them had no performance experience, and a few had learned musical instruments, etc. But this is different from a stage play.

Moreover... most of them are boys, many of them, and they don't want to perform on stage.

Cai Huidong himself lacked relevant experience, which almost prevented the project from continuing.

If it weren't for the class monitor's responsibility, constantly running around and busy, Cai Huidong probably wouldn't have been able to get everyone together.

And then there's the costume for the performance... He readily agreed, but he didn't actually know where to borrow the costumes.

Cai Huidong's family wasn't actually considered wealthy.

His parents were both ordinary workers.

According to his mother, his uncle used to subsidize the family, and they lived a good life. But then his uncle suddenly became unreachable, and their family's situation became ordinary.

In recent years, his uncle reconnected with the family and arranged jobs for his parents, which improved their family's situation.

When he came to study this time, his parents gave him half a year's living expenses, which is why he was able to live so lavishly at school.

But two months later, he had spent all the money. He had asked his parents for some money under some pretext, but now he had spent it all.

That day, Cai Huidong didn't go out to eat with his classmates again, but instead went to find Jiang Xingsheng.

The two classmates who were always with him had no doubts and were even a little proud. They were close to Cai Huidong and only then did they realize how powerful Cai Huidong's uncle was.

In short, you won't go wrong following Cai Huidong!

Cai Huidong has been visiting Jiang Xingsheng frequently these days, and he's been very affectionate towards Mu Tian.

Mu Tian was initially indifferent to him, but as he kept calling her "aunt," Mu Tian gradually became less resistant to him.

What happened back then had nothing to do with Cai Huidong.

Cai Huidong was just a child back then.

However, she didn't have much to talk about with Cai Huidong, so she spent most of her time doing her own thing.

Jiang Xingsheng is the same. Although he hasn't started teaching yet, he was invited by a professor here to participate in a project. He still has a lot of things to do. If Cai Huidong comes over, he might not even be able to find him.

However, after a while, Cai Huidong also learned that his uncle would come home around 5 p.m.

He went to the neighborhood where Jiang Xingsheng lived around five o'clock that day, and after waiting for a while, he saw his uncle return.

Upon seeing Cai Huidong, Jiang Xingsheng asked, "Why aren't you going upstairs?"

Cai Huidong was a little embarrassed: "Uncle, I have something to tell you."

"What?" Jiang Xingsheng asked.

Cai Huidong stammered, and seeing that Jiang Xingsheng was getting a little impatient, he finally said, "Uncle, I've run out of living expenses."

When Jiang Xingsheng learned that it was such a trivial matter, he took out his wallet and gave Cai Huidong three hundred-yuan bills and a pen.

He has never been particularly concerned about money.

Cai Huidong was overjoyed and immediately said, "Uncle, let's go see Aunt together. I'll keep her company and talk to her."

Jiang Xingsheng naturally had no objections.

Having received the money, Cai Huidong put in extra effort to coax Mu Tian today, and of course, he also mentioned that his class was going to rehearse a stage play.

Mu Tian said, "You can ask your seniors or teachers for help."

"Auntie, the costumes for the stage play... I can't find any suitable ones right away," Cai Huidong pleaded.

Mu Tian said, "I know a professor at your school; she should be able to help." Cao Li should be able to rent the clothes.

Cai Huidong kept thanking him.

He had previously resisted his parents' insistence that he please his uncle and aunt, but now, that resistance has completely disappeared.

On the other side, when Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu returned, he told Guan Baiyu something: "Xiaoyu, I went to the police station a while ago, told them about your situation, registered it, and asked if anyone had lost a child back then."

Finding relatives is actually much simpler if it happens ten or twenty years later.

At that time, the internet was readily available and DNA testing was relatively common, so Guan Baiyu had many ways to find his relatives.

But at this point... it's really difficult to find one.

But he still wanted to help Guan Baiyu look for her.

Guan Baiyu—stunned.

Guan Baiyu had considered finding his relatives, but had not taken any action.

The main reason is... he's already with Shi Zhen, and there's absolutely no way they can separate.

In that case... it might not be a good thing that he found his family; his family might even oppose them.

And back then... back then every family had many children. After his parents lost him, they might have had other children, or they might have already had many children.

However, it's impossible to say that I don't want to look for one at all.

He still wanted to know what his family members were like.

"There's no news yet, but they can keep an eye on things for us," Shi Zhen said.

Guan Baiyu's adoptive grandmother didn't leave him anything to help him find his parents, so it's really not easy for him. But... if they don't give up, they will definitely be able to recognize each other in the future.

"Mmm." Guan Baiyu hugged Shi Zhen and kissed him.

Meanwhile, another person sat in a hotel, staring at the hospital's test results, having already smoked three packs of cigarettes.

He threw the cigarette butt on the floor, filling the room with smoke, but he seemed oblivious.

Tao Hanyi gritted his teeth and went to the hospital for a check-up today.

As a result... he became asexual, utterly asexual!

According to the doctor, he will almost never have children in his life!

Before his divorce from Mu Tian, ​​he had more than one woman in his life, and even after the divorce, many women have come and gone in his life over the years.

But in the end, only the woman he married got pregnant... It turns out that the child wasn't his!