When Zhao Huanhuan returned home, she saw An'an squatting inside the gate, playing with mud with a small shovel, and the two elders of the Lin family sitting beside her.

"An'an, Mom and Dad, I'm back!" Zhao Huanhuan said with a smile.

"Mom, it's Mom!" An'an quickly threw down the shovel and rushed to Zhao Huanhuan.

Zhao Huanhuan was still pushing the bicycle. Afraid of bumping into An'an, she quickly pushed the bicycle with one hand, picked up An'an with the other, put her on the front crossbar, and protected her with the other hand.

"Yay, ride the bike!" An'an happily grabbed the handlebars and got on; he had never ridden a bicycle before.

Seeing that he was happy, Zhao Huanhuan suddenly thought of welding a seat for An'an and installing it on the front beam.

After the two elders inquired that Zhao Huanhuan's parents were all well, they were relieved and told her to go eat, while they took An'an down to get some water.

Zhao Huanhuan then coaxed An'an off the car, got the bicycle ready, went home to put down her schoolbag, changed her clothes, washed up, and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

An'an followed beside her, clutching the water bottle, afraid that her mother would leave again and she wouldn't see her for several days.

These past two nights before going to bed, Grandma has been telling him that he will see his mother when he wakes up, and the better he sleeps, the sooner his mother will come home.

An'an stopped crying and went to sleep quietly next to her grandma, hoping to see her mother when she opened her eyes the next day.

Aunt Chu had no choice but to make up one little lie after another to comfort An'an, saying that his mother would be back soon.

Now that Zhao Huanhuan is back, seeing how attached An'an is to her, Aunt Chu is relieved and no longer has to lie to her grandson.

Looking into the little one's adorable, trusting eyes, Aunt Chu felt a pang of pity; she truly couldn't bear to deceive such a lovely child.

After dinner, Zhao Huanhuan carried An'an home and showed him the toys she had bought for him in Yuancheng.

A little green frog, wound up like a clockwork toy, hops and skips across the kang (a heated brick bed), croaking twice as it goes.

Zhao Huanhuan bought this at a supply and marketing cooperative store on her way from home to the train station.

It cost three yuan.

There was also a small, colorful rubber ball about the size of a fist, which cost one yuan.

That afternoon, Zhao Huanhuan played with An'an in the house with the two toys.

That evening, just after the family had finished dinner, Tao Shize and Fang Mei arrived.

Zhao Huanhuan received the couple in her room. Tao Shize got straight to the point and explained that Fang Mei was pregnant, just over a month along, and the baby's position was unstable. The doctor advised her to rest in bed more.

Tao Shize wanted to ask Zhao Huanhuan to substitute for Meimei at school until the winter break.

As for whether Meimei will be able to return to school to teach next year, he doesn't know yet; he'll have to wait and see.

Zhao Huanhuan nodded in agreement and congratulated the couple.

Fang Mei was also very grateful to Zhao Huanhuan and thanked her several times.

Zhao Huanhuan waved her hand, "It's okay, I'm free anyway, and I can earn work points, it's a good thing."

Tao Shize and Fang Mei smiled, said thank you again, and left.

An'an had been listening the whole time, and after his aunt and uncle left, he quietly hugged his mother's leg.

He thought his mother was leaving again and didn't want him anymore.

Zhao Huanhuan said with a smile, "Don't worry, An'an. Mom isn't going on a long trip this time. I'm just going to teach at the village school. When you miss Mom, you can ask Grandma to take you to the school to see Mom."

An An's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this, and she nodded emphatically.

After Zhao Huanhuan told her parents that she would be going to school to substitute for Fang Mei starting tomorrow, they acknowledged her and told her not to worry.

For the next month or so, Zhao Huanhuan was busy again. The only times she could see An'an were when Aunt Chu brought An'an to visit her at school and during lunch and dinner.

After dinner, she still had to grade homework and file records in the house, so Aunt Chu would take An'an to play in their room until Zhao Huanhuan finished her work and then went to pick An'an up to go back to sleep.

This winter, two teachers at the school were promoted to permanent positions: Wen Yan and Tao Shize.

Wenyan returned to school to continue teaching when her child was ten months old.

Her in-laws came to stay and took care of the child.

Qiu Yi, on the other hand, was officially granted a public school teacher qualification this summer due to his position as principal and his contributions to Taojia Village Primary School.

Qiu Yi organizes a study session for the school's teachers once a month, with some teachers taking turns teaching other teachers so that everyone can learn from each other and make progress together.

Each quarter, three outstanding teachers are selected from the school to participate in learning and exchange meetings organized by the education department.

Qiu Yi has always believed that progress comes from learning.

This winter, two years after their primary school was established, although there weren't many students in the graduating class, the first and second place winners in the entire commune were from Taojia Village Primary School. Immediately, the entire education department was in an uproar.

The exam papers were standardized across all the primary schools in the commune. Invigilators were exchanged between schools, and the papers were graded by teachers from all schools together. Therefore, the results were genuine.

Although this was only the final exam for the first semester of fifth grade, the results were still astonishing to all the schools and teachers.

It's important to know that Taojia Village Primary School has only been established for two years.

When the primary school was established two years ago, it only had ten students.

The fifth-grade homeroom teacher was Chen Jianguo.

Qiu Yi was also very pleased, as Chen Jianguo had devoted himself to education in recent years and was truly dedicated.

Chiu Yi said that he would recommend Chen Jianguo for the next spot to be transferred to a public institution.

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