Chen Sheng couldn't suppress the smile on his face. "Then everyone can go home today. Those who live far away can leave tomorrow, but you'll have to register with me later. School's out! Students, this is the last time you'll hear this word. Goodbye, I'll be waiting for you on the tenth."

The students were all very excited, as all the hard work they had done in high school was now over.

Zhang Hongmei was also quite excited, actually because she was inspired by her teachers and classmates.

But all good things must come to an end. Eventually, everyone left the classroom, went back to their dormitories to pack their bags and go home. No one stayed behind. After spending the entire six months at school, everyone was homesick.

Zhang Hongmei rode her bike home, finally able to relax completely.

Still unwilling to give up, I went to the food supply station, only to find a few cabbages and radishes. They were all frozen, so I had no choice but to go home.

Liu Jingze paced back and forth at the gate until he saw Zhang Hongmei, at which point he felt relieved.

"Jingze, are you going out?"

"No, I'm worried about you not coming back. I'm waiting for you."

"Hehe, what are you worried about? Hurry up and come inside, it's too cold outside."

"Jingze, let's make dumplings tonight. We still have half a bag of flour at home. Go to the cellar and get a cabbage; we'll have cabbage and cured pork filling."

"That's great! I've been wanting to eat dumplings for ages."

"Okay, we'll eat dumplings every day for the next few days, until you've had your fill."

"I can never get enough of it, I could eat it my whole life."

"Brother Jingze, leave the cabbage hearts for later, we'll mix them together for dinner."

"knew."

Zhang Hongmei went back to her room to change into lighter clothes, and then she heard Liu Jingze chopping filling. She hurriedly went out to knead the dough as well.

Since it's just the two of us eating, I prepared a ladle of flour and cut off a piece of cured meat. I'll chop it up and stir-fry it to render out the oil. It'll smell delicious.

Working together, the two of them finished the preparations in no time.

"Hongmei, I heard that the city residents will be getting electricity?"

"Yes, we'll have electric lights from now on, though I doubt we'll actually use them. Also, Da Shan, Er Linzi, and the other ten of them have all started working at the city's power supply bureau."

"That's great! The young men in our village are really capable. After this, they'll have a secure job. They've seized this opportunity."

"Yes, it'll be a secure job in the future. I can be more selective about which wife I marry."

"None of them will be as lucky as me."

"What? Brother Jingze, what did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

"It's nothing, I was just sighing." Could Liu Jingze say that he had already chosen his future wife? She's still too young, she'll only be thirteen in a month.

Zhang Hongmei did not ask any further questions.

The freshly kneaded dough needs to rest for half an hour before it can be used to wrap the filling. While waiting, Zhang Hongmei shreds the cabbage heart, adds a little salt, and adds more seasoning later when they are ready to eat.

I stir-fried another plate of peanuts; dumplings with peanuts are just so delicious.

The two of them lit candles and made dumplings. It was truly a sight to behold under the lamplight; the more you looked, the more beautiful they became. Zhang Hongmei suddenly realized that Liu Jingze was a real heartthrob, far surpassing even the pretty boys of her past life.

Liu Jingze knew that Zhang Hongmei was secretly watching him from time to time, and only then did he realize that his appearance was also an advantage.

It was easy to make dumplings for just two people, and they were eating them an hour later.

"I don't know if Auntie Sanba donated any Laba garlic this year. I was so busy this year that I forgot. It would taste even better with a few cloves of Laba garlic when we eat dumplings."

"You still like to eat that? I don't like it, it's both sour and spicy."

"Hehe, I have a strong taste."

Both of them ate until their bellies were completely full. With no other option, they strolled around the yard. Their breath turned into white mist, and Zhang Hongmei thought to herself that she couldn't eat so much next time.

It was too cold outside, so the two of them came inside in less than five minutes. They decided to digest their food inside.

Liu Jingze took a wooden box out of his bag and handed it to Zhang Hongmei.

What is this?

"Why don't you just take a look and see?"

Zhang Hongmei opened it, and it turned out to be a garnet hairpin, which was particularly eye-catching under the candlelight.

"It's very pretty. Is this for me?"

"Yes, this is for you. I saw it at first sight on the antique street and thought it would suit you."

"I'm too young to wear it, and besides, I can't wear it out in public."

“Keep it for later. If you’re giving it to me, just take it. By the way, I’ve taken care of the house. There aren’t any too close to the school, but there’s one that’s only a ten-minute drive away. It’s a small house with a courtyard. It cost nine hundred, so I bought it. But it’s in your name.”

"I'll get the money for you right away." Zhang Hongmei immediately went inside, took out nine hundred yuan, and handed it to Liu Jingze. "Thank you, Brother Jingze."

"Now that you've given me the money, I need to hurry up and give you the property certificate."

Zhang Hongmei was overjoyed as she looked at the property certificate in her hand. No matter how many houses she owned, none made her as happy as this one.

I looked at it carefully once, then went back inside and put it into my spatial storage.

The next day, after breakfast, there was nothing much to do, so the two of them sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) each with a book in hand.

Liu Jingze felt he couldn't concentrate. The girl sitting opposite him was quietly flipping through a book, so beautiful, with her dark, shiny bangs covering her forehead. Sometimes she frowned, sometimes she smiled, revealing two adorable dimples.

Zhang Hongmei looked up, sensing something, and met Liu Jingze's gaze. She asked, puzzled, "Brother Jingze, do you have something to say?"

"No, how about we go out and have some fun? We're finally on vacation, don't just stay cooped up at home all the time."

"Okay, let's go to the building and take a look. We need to prepare for the New Year. It's a pity we can't buy too much this year. Otherwise, how will we carry it back?"

"It's alright, I can carry it on my bicycle. Come on, I have money now, I'll buy you whatever you want."

"Hehe, that's great! Let's go buy New Year's goods, but let's make it clear first, I'll have to pay for the New Year's gifts I buy myself."

"Okay, let's go." It's wonderful to go out with the girl I like.

Liu Jingze went out voluntarily. Zhang Hongmei changed into snow boots, put on a military overcoat, a military cap, and a scarf, fully armed.

"Brother Jingze, let's walk. I dare not ride in the car." Zhang Hongmei quickly stopped Liu Jingze when she saw him trying to push the car.

"I won't drop you."

"I wouldn't dare."

Having no other choice, Liu Jingze propped up the bicycle again. He took the basket from Zhang Hongmei and carried it on his back.

The two were walking on the street, where there were very few pedestrians. "Jingze, don't you have gloves? I always see you with bare hands, aren't you cold?"

"I'm not cold, I'm full of energy."

"I just can't do that. I feel like I should hibernate in winter."

"Girls should be more meticulous. My sisters always cover themselves up very tightly. In spring they are afraid their faces will get rough from the wind, in summer they are afraid they will get tanned. Autumn is okay, but in winter they are afraid their faces will get cold."