I got home around noon. I was so disappointed; I felt really discouraged.

I lazily ate a bowl of eight-treasure porridge and decided to go to the bookstore in the afternoon to see if there were any practice problems suitable for freshmen and high school sophomores on politics.

When I arrived at the bookstore, I bought two books on literary appreciation, and then asked the staff for directions to two newly published political exercise books.

Instead of going home, he went straight to the post office and mailed the two books to Chen Sheng. Huang Zhong would be able to transport the package back on Monday night.

I arrived at my front door, but it wasn't open yet. Then, the neighbor's door opened.

A little girl peeked out, glanced at Zhang Hongmei, and then retreated. She could hear the pattering sound of Zhang Hongmei running around.

Zhang Hongmei shook her head, propped up her bicycle, opened the door, and before she could close it, the old lady next door came out with her little girl.

"Zhang Hongmei, you're back?"

"Um, is there something you need?"

"Little Flower, say hello!"

The little girl hid behind the old woman and didn't say anything.

Zhang Hongmei then took a closer look at the little girl. Although her clothes were stained, they were quite clean. Her hair was sparse and yellowish, and her big eyes were just like the little girl from later generations who wanted to go to school.

Zhang Hongmei sighed silently. This adult is so unreliable.

“Zhang Hongmei, our Xiaohua is very smart. Could you teach her? Everyone says you are a top student. I was thinking that Xiaohua could come to you on Saturdays and Sundays. Learning from you will surely be better than learning at school.”

“I said it before, I don’t have time. Teaching children isn’t something that can be done in a day or two. If it were, who would go to school? I really can’t teach them. If the children want to learn, then they should go to school.”

"We're neighbors, and you won't even help with something this small?"

"Heh, I'm not capable of helping! Please find someone more capable."

Because the two were talking quite loudly in the alley, several houses opened their doors.

Zhang Hongmei sneered, turned around, closed the door, and stood in the middle of the alley, wanting to see what this was all about.

Women from three families gathered around, but Zhang Hongmei remained silent, simply watching the group.

“Zhang Hongmei, you are still young and don’t know that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Everyone should help each other.”

"Oh? How can I help? By forcing someone to do something they can't?"

The onlookers remained silent, and Zhang Hongmei didn't take them seriously.

"I'm telling you again, I don't have time. If your child wants to go to school, then go to school." Zhang Hongmei finished speaking and looked at the few onlookers.

“I know that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, but since we are neighbors, we should act like neighbors. I am a student and I believe I am more reasonable than you. I will not accept anyone’s moral coercion.”

After Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, she stared at the old lady from the Zhao family.

“Look. I didn’t coerce you. I just want you to teach my child during your break time. There are several children this age in our alley, so it won’t be a problem for you to teach them all.”

"Heh, why should I? I'm asking you why! You know that's my rest time. How can you be so shameless at your age? I've already refused you twice, and you still have the nerve to come over?"

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Zhao immediately sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and burst into tears, "What kind of college student is this? Doesn't he have any spirit of helping others? It's outrageous! I'm so old, and I'm being insulted by a child. I'm so ashamed and have no way to live!"

Zhang Hongmei remained silent. She stood there with her arms crossed, sneering.

The people around Zhang Hongmei showed no fear, and those who had originally intended to smooth things over did not step forward.

Zhang Hongmei thought for a moment and then suddenly entered the courtyard. This action made the little old lady sitting on the ground stop crying.

Zhang Hongmei returned home, moved out a small stool, took out a book, went out of the yard, closed the door, sat in the alley and opened the book, completely disregarding the opinions of others.

Everyone was stunned, and the person sitting on the ground stopped crying.

"Why aren't you crying anymore? If crying here isn't enough, we'll go to the street. If that's still not enough, we'll go to the neighborhood office. If that's still not enough, we'll have to go to the police station."

Zhang Hongmei's words stunned everyone.

I thought this girl was young and alone, so she would be soft-hearted and easy to talk to, but I didn't expect her to be so tough.

The little girl looked at Zhang Hongmei with hatred in her eyes, ran over and grabbed her grandmother, "Grandma, let's get up. I don't want to learn from people like that. Let's go home."

The old lady Zhao stood up awkwardly, dusted off her pants, and without saying a word, took her granddaughter home.

The remaining few people also slunk away.

Zhang Hongmei sneered. This was because she thought she was superior and living a good life, and wanted to take advantage of her.

Zhang Hongmei also stood up, carried the stool, and went home.

Still feeling indignant, I'm thinking of cooking a big meal tonight and filling the entire alley with its aroma.

Cook the noodles in boiling water, then put them in the space, move the stove to the yard, light it, and put the kettle on it.

I went into the storeroom, cut off a rib, went back to the kitchen, washed it, and sliced ​​it thinly. The meat was still a little frozen, which was perfect for slicing. Then I added salt, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, shredded scallions, and shredded ginger to marinate it.

Wash the bean sprouts and set them aside to drain. Take out the dough and start making the pancakes.

Divide the dough into small pieces about the size of a child's fist. Then, dab a little soybean oil on one piece and press two pieces together. Finally, roll them out into a thin sheet.

I didn't dare use the stove's fire to bake the pancakes, afraid the fire would be too strong and they would burn.

I made thin pancakes in a large pan in the kitchen; each pan makes three pancakes. I made twelve.

Next, heat oil in a pan, add a few peppercorns, pour in bean sprouts, stir-fry for a few seconds, add salt, and finally add some chopped green onions before serving.

The water on the stove outside boiled, so I poured it into a thermos. I took out a wok and put it on the stove, added a spoonful of soybean oil, and waited for the oil to heat up. Then, I used chopsticks to pick up the marinated meat slices and put them into the wok to fry.

The enticing aroma immediately wafted out, and Zhang Hongmei swallowed her saliva several times.

Just then, she heard a knock on the door, and Zhang Hongmei's temper flared up. Was this person here looking for trouble?

Zhang Hongmei, carrying a shovel, stormed off to open the door.

It turned out to be Zhang Shouyi outside the door. "Brother Zhang?"

Zhang Hongmei turned and ran back, quickly stirring the meat slices in the pot.

Zhang Shouyi smiled when he saw Zhang Hongmei like this.

"Brother Zhang, what brings you here?"

"I know you've cooked something delicious, come back for dinner!"

"Forget it, say it or not, we'll eat soon, there's hot water in the thermos."

Xiao Li mixed the water, Zhang Shouyi washed his hands, and the meat slices were already fried.

"Let's eat! Brother Zhang, you're in for a treat today! Spring pancakes rolled with bean sprouts and grilled meat inside—it sounds delicious!"