The next morning, Cheng Guangxu got up early to help Li Cuihua cook.

The mother and son seemed to have endless things to talk about. Liu Maocai got up and heard his wife's laughter and his son's voice coming from the kitchen.

She scoffed. "Hmph! It's good now, but that's only now. We'll see what happens in the future. If it's always like this, then that's good!"

Breakfast was rice porridge and fried dumplings. After breakfast, Li Cuihua said, "You stay home, I'm going out for a bit." She watched her two daughters carrying the table, but didn't help them. She changed her clothes and went out.

"Shitou, Sanya, it's time for us to study." Cheng Guangxu saw that he didn't have anything to do, and Erya had just said that she wouldn't be meeting anyone until after nine o'clock, so he called on the two younger ones to study.

Liu Maocai was satisfied now. He did have some merits.

The two younger ones, knowing right from wrong, quickly grabbed their books and listened to Cheng Guangxu explain the problems to them in the stone room.

"Dad, where are you going?"

"It's market day today, I'm going to buy some meat, we don't have enough at home." Liu Maocai was in a very good mood. He carried his basket to the brigade headquarters to ask if an oxcart was going to the market today, and if so, he would buy more meat.

Wang Hongxi was also at the brigade headquarters. "Maocai, why are you here so early?"

“My daughter Erya brought her boyfriend home and they’re getting engaged. We don’t have enough meat at home, so I’m going to the market to buy some.”

"No need to go to the market, my family is slaughtering a pig today, I'll save half a carcass for you."

"Okay, then I'll go see what's available at the market."

"You don't need to buy fish. Yesterday, my in-laws, Da Shan's father and his family went into the mountains and caught more than twenty big fish. Why don't you go and ask them?"

"Hehe, all the main dishes are here."

"Mao Cai, where is Er Ya's boyfriend from?"

"The one who works in the capital is Hongmei's classmate."

"That's great! After Er Ya graduates, she can stay in the capital. She won't have to go back to the fields to make a living anymore."

"Who knows? The kids are all grown up now, they all have their own ideas. I don't care about them."

"You don't need to worry about it, your kids are so easy to take care of. If it's a good match, go ask Da Shan's dad right away. I'll bring you the pork this morning."

"middle."

Liu Maocai found Da Shan's father and asked, "How many fish are left?"

"There are six carp, four silver carp, and two grass carp left."

"Give them all to me now."

"What do you need so many fish for?"

"Er Ya brought her boyfriend back, and we've been arranging their engagement for the past few days."

"Okay, I'll take it to your house. Are you going to the market?"

"Hmm, I'll go take a look. Tofu, bean curd sheets, etc. I'll soak the soybeans this afternoon and make them tomorrow morning, but I feel like something's still missing."

"Then you'd better hurry up and leave. The items in this market are sure to sell out quickly."

Da Shan's father watched Liu Maocai leave with his basket on his back and smiled bitterly. At that time, his favorite daughter-in-law was Er Ya.

But my son is such a disappointment. Knowing that his days are filled with chaos and turmoil, I feel that my son's life has been too miserable.

There was no way around it; even if I had spoken up then, I reckon Maocai wouldn't have agreed.

Let's not think about it anymore, let's hurry up and deliver the fish. Even if she's not our daughter-in-law, we've watched Er Ya grow up. We just hope she can live a good life, a peaceful and smooth one.

People on the street who saw Liu Maocai all thought that he must have something happy to do today.

Many people asked, but Liu Maocai just smiled and didn't say anything. There was no need to talk to those he wasn't close to.

Cheng Guangxu flipped through the textbook. "I've decided to teach you half of it today. If either of you can't keep up or doesn't understand, speak up."

"Um!"

Er Ya was tidying up outside by herself. The house was new, and it looked like it had already been cleaned. She was just wiping down the living room again.

The fireplace was burning, making the living room especially warm. I thought we should let them come out to study, but then I thought about the possibility of people coming to visit, so in the end I went to light the fire in the stone house instead.

There was no brazier in the house, but there was a Western-style stove, which was lit in the yard. Only when there was no more smoke was it moved inside.

Cheng Guangxu hurriedly went over to take over, saying, "Er Ya, from now on, just call me for this kind of work."

"Okay, you should move in quickly."

Just then, Da Shan's father entered the yard carrying a basket and saw the two people standing together.

"Uncle, what are you carrying? My dad went to the market."

"I've brought you some fish."

Er Ya and Cheng Guangxi both went over and took the basket.

"Er Ya, are you out of eggs? I'll have your aunt go to the village to collect as many as she can."

"Then my aunt will have to go through all this trouble. Cheng Guangxu, this is my uncle."

"Hello, Uncle!"

"Good, good, what a spirited young man. You'll have to treat my Er Ya well from now on; she's honest and doesn't talk much. You'll have to be patient with her."

"Yes, Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely treat Er Ya well."

"Okay, okay. You guys keep busy, I'm going back."

Cheng Guangxu put a basket of fish into the warehouse next door.

"Go and keep an eye on those two. If you have enough time, explain the other three subjects to them as well."

"Okay, don't overwork yourself. Call me if you need anything."

Er Ya thought for a moment and realized that she should soak the soybeans, and also prepare tofu and bean curd sheets.

I remember how many soybeans I needed to make tofu before. I would measure them out, put them in a bucket, and soak them in warm water. Still worried about them not soaking properly, I would carry them to the fireplace in the living room.

Almost everything is packed up, so I'm going inside to unpack the things I brought back. I'll give them all my parents' clothes later, and also the cashmere socks I brought back for my mother.

Everything was tidied up. Hearing noises in the yard, I realized it was Mom coming home.

Li Cuihua lifted the curtain and came in. "Er Ya, I've had someone choose an auspicious date. The wedding will be the day after tomorrow, on the first day of the Lunar New Year. May Day would be a good date for the wedding."

"Okay, I have no objection. Mom, you can arrange it as you see fit."

Where are the two of them?

"Cheng Guangxu is leading them in their studies."

"Hehe, this is a good thing."

"Mom, Da Shan's dad just brought over a basket of fish, and Dad went to the market to buy meat. I just started soaking the soybeans."

"Okay, I understand. I'll go to the village and ask about the eggs."

"Dad said Da Shan's mom will bring over the eggs later."

"That's great. It saves me a lot of trouble."

"Mom, what's for lunch?"

"I prepared the dough for steaming buns last night."

It was almost 9:30 when Cheng Guangxu finished his explanation to the two of them.

"You should do some practice questions to reinforce your understanding. These are the questions I prepared. It would be best if you copied them down, as this will help you understand them."

Both of them were very obedient, but when Sanya looked up at the densely packed questions on the paper, she threw down her pen. "Brother Cheng, you're not here to punish us, are you?"

Shi Tou, however, greatly admired Cheng Guangxu. "Brother Cheng, you've come up with so many questions in such a short time?"

"Is that a lot? They're all in my head, things I can come up with easily. I used to run a learning newspaper, and I was the editor-in-chief."

"Brother Cheng, we high school sophomores will also have study newspapers."