In the end, the villagers voted that the most popular program was the crosstalk performance by the two fourth-grade children.

The second place went to a third-grade student's solo performance of "Nanniwan".

The third song was a duet by a second-grade student, titled "Five Golden Flowers."

The fourth and fifth place winners were a group performance, one from first grade and the other from second grade.

The top three children will each receive a full work point as a reward from the team leader, which is ten work points, and these points will be recorded at their home.

In addition, the reward is two catties of red dates, the green kind.

The jujubes were also harvested in the past few days. There are quite a few fruit trees in the village, but jujube trees are the most numerous.

The parents were delighted to see their children receive such an award from the brigade.

After the awards were given, the cultural performance came to an end.

Qiu Yi asked the parents from each family to come forward and lead their children away.

After all the children had been taken away, they went back to the school to pack up and prepare to go home.

During the National Day holiday, Qiu Yi announced that there would be a three-day break, and the children would not need to come to school tomorrow and the day after.

In the office, several people were packing their things and chatting.

"Huanhuan, what are your plans for tomorrow?" Wenyan asked.

"I need to go to Shanglin to mail a letter," Zhao Huanhuan said with a faint smile.

"Ah, my brother Lin Yuan wrote a letter?" Wen Yan asked.

"Yes, I received it today. I'll write him a reply tonight," Zhao Huanhuan replied.

Fang Mei then said with a smile, "Oh my, I really envy Teacher Zhao for marrying a soldier."

Zhao Huanhuan smiled and said, "These things depend on fate. When I came here, I never thought I would get married so soon."

"Who wants to get married?" Several male teachers pushed open the door and walked in, asking with a smile.

Fang Mei quickly waved her hand, "No one's here, we were just talking about Teacher Zhao and Lin Yuan!"

Qiu Yi said "Oh," smiled and glanced at Zhao Huanhuan, then looked at Wen Yan, "Yan Yan, are you busy tomorrow? If not, we can go to the village for the autumn harvest?"

Wenyan said, "Let's go harvest the day after tomorrow. Huanhuan is going to Shanglin to mail a letter to Brother Linyuan tomorrow. I also want to write a letter home. Do you want to come with us?"

"Let's go together. I'll write a letter home tonight too." Qiu Yi quickly agreed when his girlfriend asked.

Fang Mei, Fang Zhuoyang, and Lu Jianguo also said they would write letters tonight and mail them together tomorrow.

Zhao Huanhuan was happy to see so many people going out together tomorrow; it would be more lively with more people.

Tao Shize smiled and said, "Then you guys go ahead. I'll come over to the school to keep watch, so that no one jumps in to steal anything."

"Then I'll have to trouble you!" Qiu Yi patted his shoulder.

Tao Shize smiled, glanced at Fang Mei, and turned his head away.

Zhao Huanhuan saw this glance.

She raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Tao Shize liked Fang Mei?

But according to Fang Mei, she was still thinking about getting a permanent position and then being transferred back to their area!

Fang Mei was talking to Wen Yan and didn't notice Tao Shize's gaze.

As they left the school, the group chatted and laughed as they went home.

Tao Shize and Zhao Huanhuan walked side by side down the same road, having a lively discussion about the White-Haired Girl.

Today, a female student sang a duet, specifically a selection from "The White-Haired Girl." The teachers really liked that piece and thought the villagers would like it too, but the villagers didn't give it a high score.

Fang Mei and Wen Yan walked towards the educated youth settlement with Qiu Yi and the others. She subconsciously glanced back at Tao Shize and Zhao Huanhuan's departing figures, quietly tugged at Wen Yan's sleeve, and whispered to Wen Yan, "Teacher Wen, look, Teacher Zhao and Teacher Tao seem to have a very good relationship. I wonder what they're talking about so happily?"

Wenyan glanced back and smiled, "They're probably talking about today's performance. Aren't we talking about the same thing?"

Fang Mei gave a soft "oh".

Fang Zhuoyang, who was walking ahead of them, suddenly turned around and looked at Fang Mei, and asked with a smile, "Teacher Fang, you seem to pay a lot of attention to Teacher Tao!"

Fang Mei quickly replied, "Don't talk nonsense. I just saw them discussing so enthusiastically and was curious about what they were talking about."

Fang Zhuoyang exclaimed, "Oh, I thought it was another love story where both parties were willing, but it turns out it's a case of the king having feelings for the goddess but the goddess not reciprocating!"

Fang Mei blushed, spat at Fang Zhuoyang, and glanced at him, "Don't talk nonsense. Who said I like him? I'm still waiting for the day I can go back to the city!"

Fang Zhuoyang looked at her in surprise. "Who's talking about you? I'm talking about Teacher Tao. You probably don't know that he likes you, do you?"

Fang Mei was taken aback. "What did you say?"

Fang Zhuoyang glanced back at him. "If you're not going to respond, then don't ask. After he found out you wanted to go back to the city, he stopped thinking about it. Apparently, he's already asked his family to help him find a suitable wife. His family wants him to get married this winter!"

Fang Zhuoyang and Lu Jianguo shared an office, three female teachers shared an office, and Qiu Yi, as the principal, shared an office.

Tao Shize, as the vice principal and director of teaching, had an office filled with all the school's materials and books, as well as the files of teachers and students.

Tao Shize's office has a blackboard, which is also where they often hold meetings.

When the two male teachers didn't have classes, they liked to gather in Tao Shize's office to chat and laugh. It was when Tao Shize asked them if Fang Mei had a boyfriend that they learned that Tao Shize had taken a liking to Fang Mei.

Fang Mei fell silent after hearing his words!

Yes, I want to go back to the city. I know he likes me, but so what? His house is old and small, he has a rural household registration, and he works as a private school teacher. He might lose his job someday. Marrying him won't lead to a good future.

He was different from Lin Yuan, whom Zhao Huanhuan married. Lin Yuan was a soldier, and when he returned from military service, he might be able to get a job assigned by the state. But Tao Shize's future was one of utter uncertainty.

Unless he can become a public school teacher within the next few years.

Fang Mei's mind was filled with all sorts of random thoughts, and she was still somewhat dazed even after returning to her dormitory.

That night, Fang Mei had a terrible dream. She dreamt that Tao Shize got married, marrying Zhao Huanhuan. She was furious. Zhao Huanhuan was already married, so why did she still seduce Tao Shize and marry him?

Enraged, she disrupted their wedding, demanding to know why Zhao Huanhuan, already married, was still causing trouble for Tao Shize. Tao Shize retorted that Zhao Huanhuan had already divorced and was now marrying him.

Fang Mei was so angry that she burst into tears. She turned and ran away, but as she ran, she fell into the river with a splash. She lost her footing, her whole body convulsed, and she woke up!

When she opened her eyes, she looked blankly at the brightly lit window and realized she had been dreaming.

She dreamt about Tao Shize all night, dreaming that he said he liked Zhao Huanhuan, and that he and Zhao Huanhuan got married. She also dreamt about her resentment and the divorce she and Zhao Huanhuan had for Tao Shize.

Ugh, so annoying!

Fang Mei hugged the pillow and covered her head, then burrowed under it and sighed pitifully!