Chapter 87
Liu Jianguo's matter did not affect them. After spending a day in the city, She Ning and the others prepared to return to Xiahe Town.
They've all come out. Only Chen Yuzhen is left at the She family's house now. Although Chen Yuzhen kept telling them to stay for a couple more days before coming back, She Ning and the others were still a little worried.
Before going home, they planned to visit Lin Qingxu.
After moving into the new house, Lin Qingxu lived in the community. The old house was close to Shen Jiaguo's workplace, and sometimes when they worked too late, they would rest in the old house.
The new residential area is a fully enclosed garden community with strict 24-hour security management. All visitors are required to register and have their information verified.
After their information was verified at the entrance of the residential compound, She Ning and her group were allowed to enter.
"Aunt Qingxu, this place is so beautiful." She Ni exclaimed as she walked, her gaze lingering on the surrounding greenery.
As the first model community in Kapok City, the community's landscaping was specially designed by professionals. It features low density, high green area, and flowers blooming all year round, with shady trees. The community also has sports facilities and children's playgrounds.
It's the weekend, and the weather isn't too hot, so many adults are playing with their children downstairs.
She Ni watched intently, reluctant to leave.
She Hongmei followed behind, her face thoughtful.
Lin Qingxu lives on the 12th floor of Building 5. They had been there when they moved into their new home last time. Based on their memory of the route, She Ning and the other two quickly found the elevator in the building.
"Knock, knock knock..." She Ni, who didn't have much stuff in her hands, knocked on the door.
She had already received their message that they were coming. When she heard the sound at the door, she was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron.
The meatballs had just hit the oil, and she was too busy to finish them. Afraid that people would get impatient, she turned and called out to the people playing with their children in the hall.
"Shen Wei, could you please open the door for me? It should be She Ning and the others who have arrived."
Upon hearing this, the people in the hall stood up briskly, followed by the sound of clattering footsteps.
The little girl with pigtails rushed ahead of her, tiptoeing to turn the doorknob.
A rosy, apple-shaped face peeked out from under the door.
"Is it you?" As soon as the door opened, Shen Wei, who was holding Tongtong's hand, looked at She Ning and the others with some surprise, and then smiled.
What a coincidence!
She Ning recognized her too.
The roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) lady.
The time Zhu Xiujin took them to the hospital for a physical examination, they met a young lady with a splint on her arm in the hospital's back garden.
"What a coincidence." She Ning smiled as well.
The oil sizzled in the deep fryer, and golden oil bloomed on the surface of the meatballs with tiny bubbles.
Lin Qingxu gently stirred with long chopsticks. The aroma wafting from the kitchen, mixed with the spiciness of ginger and garlic, mingled with the fragrance of jasmine on the balcony, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
She Ni twitched her nose, her eyes brightening. It smelled wonderful.
"Nini, Sister Aning! You're here!" Tongtong had missed them terribly. As soon as she saw them, she hugged her long-lost friends tightly.
"Come in and sit down." Shen Wei stepped aside to make way and took the fruit that She Ning was carrying.
The house had many more things than when they last came.
The crystal swan ornament on the dresser reflects the sunlight, casting shimmering rainbows on the wall.
Tongtong had been looking forward to their arrival. She held onto Sheni tightly, and with one in each hand, she led Shening and the others to the hall to play with her new toys.
She Hongmei was the last to arrive. She put her things aside before rolling up her sleeves and heading to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Lin Qingxu's hair, tied up in a bun, was covered in flour, and the apron straps creased deeply at her waist.
The iron wok, which had been in use for five years, made a familiar metallic sound as it was tossed around in the wok. This sound suddenly reminded She Hongmei of the humming of the ventilation fan in the cannery.
"Was the journey smooth?" Lin Qingxu asked, turning around when he heard the noise.
"Yes, is there anything I can help you with?" She Hongmei asked, leaning against the kitchen doorway.
"Could you shred the lettuce for me?" She smiled and pushed the cutting board over. There were also soaked wood ear mushrooms and daylily buds on the counter.
While rinsing the knives by the sink, She Hongmei noticed a row of transparent glass soda bottles on the windowsill, with lush scallions and lettuce growing inside.
"This is quite good." When cooking, you can just time it when you need to, without having to go out and make a trip.
Lin Qingxu looked up at the windowsill, then scooped the vegetables from the wok into a bowl, and nodded with a smile, "Old Shen's idea is great. Everything here is fine, except it's a bit far from the market. Every time we go to buy groceries, it takes several days to get enough. It's a good thing we have a refrigerator, otherwise buying groceries would be quite a hassle."
The supporting facilities near the community are still under construction. The vegetable market and school will not be completed until the end of the year. During this period, they have to go to the central market to do their shopping, which takes more than an hour round trip. Moreover, it is not on the way to her work or Tongtong's current kindergarten.
Listening to Lin Qingxu's words, She Hongmei realized that she had seen the enclosed building area nearby when she arrived. The area looked quite large, and she wondered what it would look like once it was completed.
Compared to other residential communities, this one shouldn't be bad either.
The sound of children playing could be heard coming from the living room.
Tongtong was showing Sheni her newly bought kaleidoscope. The rotating prism shattered the sunlight into colorful butterflies, which landed on Sheni's braids.
"Look here, look here!" The little girl tiptoed and brought the toy close to She Ning's eyes, the crystal glass pieces colliding and making a crisp sound.
She Ning looked over as she spoke, and the patterns inside the kaleidoscope changed with her movements; they were pictures from her memory.
Shen Wei carried a tea tray out of the study, the silver bracelet on her wrist jingling.
She distributed the brewed chrysanthemum tea to everyone, then turned and saw She Hongmei chopping vegetables. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Hongmei, your knife skills are amazing! You can cut the lettuce into shreds that look like hair!"
"Practice makes perfect," She Hongmei replied with a smile.
After scooping up the fried meatballs and moving the fryer to the side, Lin Qingxu began arranging ingredients in a casserole dish. Suddenly, she leaned close to She Hongmei and whispered, "What happened when you met Shen Jianguo that day?"
Before the visit, She Hongmei called Lin Qingxu. Coincidentally, She Ni was next to her complaining about that person to She Ning. Lin Qingxu overheard the conversation and they briefly chatted about what happened that day.
She Hongmei paused in her hand holding the cleaver. The blade reflected a cold light in the sunlight, and the verdant juice of the lettuce slowly dripped from the edge of the solid wood cutting board.
The Shen family is a prominent family in Kapok City. A couple of years ago, when Lin Meiyu, the youngest daughter of the Lin family, got married, they were invited to the wedding banquet and naturally recognized Shen Jianguo, the son-in-law of the Lin family.
I heard he was a sent-down youth who had returned from the countryside. He usually looked polite and respectable. If he hadn't met She Hongmei, who would have thought he was such a scumbag who abandoned his wife and daughter and only cared about profit?
"How shameless of him!" After hearing the whole story, Lin Qingxu slammed down her chopsticks, feeling indignant on behalf of She Hongmei.
In recent years, She Hongmei has single-handedly supported the She family through hardships. Although Lin Qingxu has not experienced it, she can imagine how difficult it must have been.
Especially since this world is already much harsher on women.
"It's all in the past," She Hongmei said nonchalantly, her hand holding the cleaver steadily slicing the lettuce.
It was indeed very painful to be betrayed. The collapse of her beliefs, the death of her father, and her mother's stroke weighed heavily on her. During the days she stayed alone in her room in self-isolation, she even thought about taking everyone with her to die.
She Ning and She Ni then called her back.
Whenever they have free time, the two children sit outside the door and talk to her, sharing what they did that day and talking with longing about what they can do together in the future.
After the door was closed for several days, the first thing she saw when she opened it was the children's thin bodies and their worried and fearful eyes looking at her. She Hongmei felt both guilty and heartbroken. At that moment, she made up her mind that she would do everything she could to make sure they had a good life from now on.
She looked up at Lin Qingxu, a hint of relief in her eyes, "Right now, all I want to do is take good care of the She family and raise the two children. Nothing else matters."
Not wanting to dwell on the past any longer, She Hongmei arranged the shredded lettuce on a plate.
“Come on, let me show you what I can do,” she said.
"That's great." Upon hearing this, Lin Qingxu took a step back, making room for her to perform. She leaned against the tiled wall, arm in arm, looking at She Hongmei, whose face was rosy and full of energy, with a smile on her face.
The She family is now thriving, having weathered the storm and with their hardships behind them. From now on, they can simply enjoy their good fortune.
As for someone like Liu Jianguo, she'll have to remind Lao Shen to be careful when he comes back tonight.
She remembered that Lao Shen had some business dealings with him; it seemed that the pharmaceutical factory had partnered with the clothing factory for holiday benefits in recent years. Given that kind of person's character, she didn't want him to take advantage of her.
As Lin Qingxu pondered this, he picked up the lid of the clay pot next to him, placed it tightly over the pot, and then turned down the heat to simmer it slowly.
In the kitchen, She Hongmei took the spatula from Lin Qingxu and skillfully stir-fried the dishes in the pan. The ingredients in the pan emitted an enticing aroma as she stir-fried them, and even though the kitchen door was closed, the aroma could still be smelled from outside.
"Mommy, Aunt Hongmei, what delicious food are you making?" Following the aroma, Tongtong, abandoning her toys, grabbed She Ni's hand and ran to the kitchen door. Pushing open the glass door, they peeked out and asked.
Seeing that eager little face, Lin Qingxu couldn't help but smile.
"Come on, you little gluttons." Lin Qingxu waved to the two of them.
Upon hearing Lin Qingxu's call, Tongtong and Sheni immediately pushed open the door and ran to the kitchen, their eyes sparkling as they looked at the dishes in the pot, their little faces full of anticipation.
The fried meatballs were incredibly fragrant, with a crispy outer layer and a chewy, bouncy interior. Lin Qingxu smiled and gave one to each of them.
Like eager baby birds waiting to be fed, the two little girls opened their mouths impatiently. As soon as the meatball entered their mouths, they were instantly conquered by the delicious dish and gave it a thumbs up.
"It's delicious! Mom's cooking is really good," Shen Xiaotong praised as she ate.
“Exactly, it’s even better than the food in restaurants,” She Ni chimed in, not wanting to be outdone.
As they spoke, the soup in the casserole was already bubbling away, filling the air with its aroma.
She Hongmei put the fried meatballs into the soup one by one.
"Thank you for the compliment. Go wash your hands, we're about to eat." Looking back at the meatballs tumbling in the pot, and then at the wooden clock on the living room wall, Lin Qingxu patted her daughter's head and gently reminded her.
"Also, tell your aunt and sister Aning that dinner is ready."
"I guarantee I'll complete the mission." Shen Xiaotong grabbed She Ni's hand and ran off.
In the living room, She Ning and Shen Wei were chatting while drinking chrysanthemum tea, and unsurprisingly, they started talking about roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) again.
Shen Wei is the editor of the street food column, and she spends her days searching for material in various streets and alleys.
During that hospital visit, someone recommended a place that served incredibly delicious cold fish skin salad. To see if it was really that good, she packed her things and headed there.
Unfortunately, she accidentally fell into a pit on the way, and not only did she miss out on the cold fish skin salad, she also injured her arm. The bone wasn't broken, but it was cracked.
The day she met She Ning and the others, she went to the hospital for a follow-up check-up and dressing change. She had taken a number but it wasn't her turn yet, so she went for a stroll in the garden and was then attracted by the crispy and delicious roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).
She had been longing for that roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) for a long time.
"You can come over to my house sometime, and I'll treat you to a meal then," She Ning warmly invited her. "Our family's braised dishes are also exceptional. We brought some canned braised dishes with us today. Although they're not as delicious as freshly made ones, they're still pretty good. You can try them when you come."
"Canned braised food?" Shen Wei hesitated for a moment, then, as if she had just thought of something, she clapped her hands loudly.
"Is it the same model as in the movie?" she asked excitedly, reaching out to hold She Ning's hands.
When she watched the movie before, besides the plot, what impressed her most was the bowl of braised food on the main characters' table. The red oil was bright and clear, the meat was tender and juicy, and with the expressions of the main characters, it was so damn delicious that it made her mouth water.
The movie's acknowledgments included the brand of the braised food and its address. The day after watching the movie, she went to the address listed in the acknowledgments.
The small shop was packed with people. When asked, they said they had come because they had seen the movie or read the advertisement in the newspaper. Since it was a new store opening, they had various promotional activities, such as buy five get one free, discounts for spending a certain amount, and limited-time discounts.
Under the planned market system, people had always relied on ration coupons for consumption. They had never seen such a scene before, and the canned food shops became incredibly popular. In addition to their main product, braised food, other varieties were also in short supply.
Shen Wei queued for several days to buy a serving, but before she could even eat it, her mother took it to give to her grandmother.
Later, her sister-in-law took pity on her and gave her a few jars, so she could finally enjoy that delicious treat.
"You have no idea how terrifying that scene was. People were packed together like sardines, as if things were free," Shen Wei said, still shaken.
Listening to her description, She Ning immediately imagined a scene from later generations where supermarkets were having clearance sales with free eggs and giveaways.
She understands! She understands perfectly!
"However, I must say, it's popular for a reason. It's plentiful, delicious, and affordable. I heard they've recently released a few new varieties, and I plan to buy them all to try later," Shen Wei said, holding her round face in her hands with anticipation.
"Auntie, what delicious food are you talking about?" After washing her hands in the bathroom, Shen Xiaotong ran out and bumped into Shen Wei's arms, hugging her waist and looking up to ask.
She heard me; you have to take her with you when you eat.
Shen Xiaotong's eyes clearly conveyed this meaning.
"Little glutton, I'll never forget you, no matter who else I forget." Shen Wei hugged her and bounced her around, pressing her face against her little cheek as she spoke affectionately.
"I'll take you shopping for delicious food another day."
"Auntie is so nice, I love Auntie the most." Shen Xiaotong snuggled in Shen Wei's arms and said. Then she turned to She Ning and the others and said seriously, "Nini, Sister Ning, my auntie is the best at eating. Her recommendations are always right. When she buys it for me, I will send it to you."
She Ni looked at Shen Xiaotong holding her hand. She had only heard half of what the two aunts and nieces were saying. She had some guesses about the delicious food they mentioned, but she wasn't sure. She looked up at her older sister, She Ning, who nodded affirmatively at her.
Ah, this...
Their family has everything they need, but nothing is lacking in braised food. Every time the cannery releases a new product, they get a bunch of samples, and with what they sell in the store, they have everything they need, but nothing is lacking in canned braised food.
However, before She Ning and the others could explain...
As Lin Qingxu carried the food out of the kitchen, she overheard their conversation and said with a smile, "You two, Tongtong, have you forgotten? The canned food you ate before was sent by Aning and the others."
As soon as she finished speaking, two silly geese appeared in the living room.
"Huh?" Shen Xiaotong opened her mouth wide in surprise. She looked at She Ning and She Ni, then at Lin Qingxu, her face full of disbelief.
She Ning smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's the braised food canned goods that my family makes in cooperation with the cannery."
Shen Wei was also stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant and burst into laughter, "So that's your family's braised food."
"Can I buy from you next time? I can't keep up with the crowd in line." She changed the subject abruptly, grabbing She Ning's hand and looking at her pitifully as she asked.
She Ning patted her hand and replied seriously, "No problem, I'll arrange it."
"Nini, you're so lucky to get such delicious canned food every day," Shen Xiaotong said enviously to her friend.
When Lin Qingxu mentioned that it was the braised food she had eaten before, she immediately remembered the delicious taste. That day, she ate three bowls of rice with the braising sauce.
"It's okay, I'll send it to you. Just let me know when you've finished eating it." She Ni also owns shares in the cannery and has no shortage of canned food. She patted her chest and said to her friend with great confidence.
The food was cooked one by one, and they brought it out one by one. Just when they were about to serve the last soup, the door was opened from the outside.
Shen Jiaguo returned home from get off work carrying his briefcase.
"Dad, you're back!" Like a little cannonball, Shen Xiaotong rushed from the living room and jumped onto Shen Jiaguo's back as he was changing his shoes.
"You're back just in time. Wash your hands and eat." Lin Qingxu said to him as she brought out the Dendrobium and Olive Pork Rib Soup.
Shen Jiaguo nodded, greeted She Ning and the others, and then carried his little daughter to the restroom.
He usually doesn't come back at noon, but Lin Qingxu told him last night that She Hongmei and the others would be coming over at noon today, so he made a special trip back.
"Uncle Shen, I heard from Aunt Xu that you work at a pharmaceutical factory. Do you still buy medicinal herbs there?" After everyone had finished eating, they sat in the living room drinking tea and chatting. She Ning asked.
The nearby villages have fertile soil and a suitable environment at the foot of the mountains. Someone had previously taken the lead in planting Chinese medicinal herbs. They provided the seeds of medicinal herbs for free and promised to come and buy them when the harvest came. At first, things went quite well, and everyone made some money.
For some unknown reason, when it was harvest time, the man didn't show up for a long time. When the farmers went to look for him, they found that he had already run away.
Now that the herbs have reached maturity, the growers are worried because there is no market for them. After all, many of them have converted land used for growing staple foods into medicinal herbs in order to earn more money.
Many households in her village also grow herbs. If possible, she would like to help the village connect with a pharmaceutical factory, so that the village can collectively purchase all the herbs grown by the villagers and supply them to the pharmaceutical factory.
Upon hearing this, Shen Jiaguo put down his teacup, thought about it seriously for a moment, and then said, "We will definitely accept them, but our pharmaceutical factory has high requirements for medicinal materials, and they must pass the tests."
She Ning nodded. "I know that. Our village grows only the best medicinal herbs. I can send you some samples first, and you can test them. If they're suitable, then we can discuss cooperation."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jiaguo thought it was feasible and agreed, "Okay, you send the samples to the pharmaceutical factory, and I'll have someone test them."
With the deal settled, She Ning was delighted. She picked up her teacup and, instead of drinking wine, said, "Uncle Shen, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."
Shen Jiaguo also raised his teacup and clinked it with hers, saying, "It's a pleasure working with you."
“Your child is not only capable, but also knows how to be grateful. You can just relax and enjoy life from now on.” Sitting next to her, Lin Qingxu nudged She Hongmei with her elbow, took a sip of tea, and sighed softly.
She Hongmei looked very proud.
That's right. Because she was the only able-bodied person in the family, while everyone else was using half of their farmland to grow medicinal herbs, her family was stuck with their small plot of land growing corn and rice. When other villagers were making money growing medicinal herbs, some people even mocked her family, saying they deserved to not make any money.
Now that there are problems with the sales of medicinal herbs, her family has no impact since they don't grow medicinal herbs, but She Ning still keeps this matter in mind.
Moreover, She Ning plans to encourage villagers to plant other cash crops and increase their income once the village's medicinal herb problem is solved.
In the tree of science and technology, She Ning has illuminated more than half of the veins of the first leaf in the field of biology (the field of agriculture).
Under the guidance of her instructors, she used laboratory simulations to create various hybrid plants. Given a real laboratory and plants, she could successfully cultivate these hybrid plants, significantly increasing crop yields and boosting villagers' incomes.
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Tongtong asked, laughing as she pulled She Ni and Shen Wei by the hand and ran over from the balcony.
The balcony is planted with many green plants, including ornamental flowers and economical vegetables. Shen Xiaotong had just taken She Ni and the others over to see her precious sunflowers that had just sprouted.
The sunflower seeds were bought from an auntie selling roasted sunflower seeds by the roadside.
"Wipe your sweat and have some water." It was hot outside, and Shen Xiaotong was covered in sweat. Lin Qingxu grabbed her and pulled a towel from her back, then wiped her face with it.
Lin Qingxu's movements tickled Shen Xiaotong. She hugged Lin Qingxu's other arm, twisted her body, and laughed, being very lively.
The apartment building has two units per floor and good sound insulation, so they don't have to worry about disturbing the neighbors no matter how noisy they are.
She Ni's face was flushed from the heat, and She Hongmei pulled her to wipe her sweat and feed her water.
Shen Wei moved closer and sat down next to She Ning. She asked softly, "Ning, was the collaboration you just mentioned to my brother about the large-scale cultivation of Chinese medicinal herbs in the village but the lack of sales channels?"
She Ning nodded. "Yes, our village has a suitable geographical environment, and the medicinal herbs we grow are of good quality. Unfortunately, the partner we found before ran away, and now that the herbs are ripe, there is no way to sell them. The villagers are very anxious."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wei seemed to be deep in thought. "You know, my job is to edit the street food column. Over the years, I've traveled to many places and met many people. I can help you inquire and see if there are any suitable partners."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in She Ning's eyes. "Really? That's great! Sister Shen Wei, if you really find someone suitable, you have to help me make the connection!"
Shen Wei smiled and patted her shoulder, "No problem, I'll keep an eye out."
"After all, I've been looking forward to all the delicious food at your house." Shen Wei was quite envious as She Ni shared the various dishes She Ning had made outside on the balcony. Although She Ning was much younger than her, Shen Wei was willing to give in to the temptation of food and call She Ning "sister."
"Sister, I'm coming to your house, please don't be unwelcome." Shen Wei said jokingly, shaking She Ning's hand.
"No manners, how can you address me like that?" But before she could finish speaking, her head was slapped by her older brother.
Shen Wei immediately covered her injured head and dared not make a sound.
Shen Jianguo had to go to work in the afternoon, so after withdrawing his slap, he stood up and was about to leave.
Sitting opposite Shen Wei, Shen Xiaotong watched the whole scene and giggled, "Auntie, Sister Aning is my sister, you can't call her sister."
She Ning was amused and patted Shen Wei on the shoulder, "It's okay, Sister Shen Wei, call me whatever you like."
Shen Wei touched the shoulder where she had been patted. Seeing that Shen Jianguo had already left, she became bolder and made a face at Shen Xiaotong, "See? She Ning is the most magnanimous."
The group chatted and laughed, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Just then, Lin Qingxu came over with a plate of sliced fruit. "Come on, have some fruit and take a break."
Everyone sat together, eating fruit and chatting, the topic shifting from the cultivation of Chinese medicinal herbs in the village to their daily lives.
The clock on the living room wall struck three.
The last bus from the city back to the town was at five o'clock. They still needed to go back to the guesthouse to pack their things and check out. Seeing that it was almost time, She Hongmei got up to say goodbye.
"Why are you leaving so soon? Please stay a little longer," Lin Qingxu said, glancing at the clock.
She Hongmei smiled and shook her head, "No, it's getting late, we have to catch our train back. We'll come again next time."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaotong reluctantly held She Ni and She Ning's hands, "Nini, Sister Ning, when will you come again next time?"
She Ni was also reluctant to part with her friend whom she could only see once in a long while. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "We'll come over once the medicinal herbs in the village have been sold."
“Great! You all have to come!” Shen Xiaotong said happily, then she turned to Lin Qingxu, “Mom, I also want to go to the village with Nini and the others.”
After hearing this, Lin Qingxu hesitated for a moment. She looked at She Hongmei and asked, "Sister Hongmei, is it convenient in the village? How about we find some time in a few days and take the children to the village to play?"
Upon hearing this, She Hongmei laughed heartily, "It's convenient, there's no inconvenience at all. Come over when you come, and we'll treat you well."
The matter was settled, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, She Hongmei and the others got up to say goodbye.
Lin Qingxu and the others escorted She Hongmei and the others to the entrance of the residential area, watched their car drive away, and then turned back into the house.
After checking out of the guesthouse, She Ning and her companions took a tricycle to the bus station. They caught the last bus just in time.
There weren't many people on the last bus. After She Ning and her companion boarded, there were still seats available. The ticket seller on this bus wasn't Sister Ling, but she was someone She Hongmei knew. After exchanging a few pleasantries, She Hongmei returned to her seat.
She Ning no longer gets carsick, but she still habitually sits by the window with the window slightly ajar.
There were few cars on the road, and the journey was smooth. They even arrived in Xiahe Town more than ten minutes faster than usual. In summer, the days are long and the nights are short, and it was still quite light when they got out of the car.
Two bicycles were brought out from the She family restaurant. She Ning and She Hongmei each rode one, She Ni rode with She Hongmei, and She Ning rode his own bicycle, slowly leading the way.
A gentle breeze caressed my face, bringing a touch of coolness and lifting my spirits.
When they returned to the She family home, the sun had completely set. However, there were no clouds today, and the moon was very bright. Chen Yuzhen knew they were coming back today, so the lights in the main room were on, waiting for them.
Hearing the door open, she came out of the main room, still holding her needlework. "You're back! Come in quickly, we've saved some food for you."
She Ning and the others parked their bicycles and followed Chen Yuzhen into the house.
On the table in the main room were a few simple dishes and a bowl of steaming soup, clearly reserved for them.
"Mom, we've already eaten." She Hongmei looked at the food on the table, feeling a warmth in her heart, even though they had eaten in the car.
"Eat a little more after you've already eaten. You must be starving after such a long drive." Chen Yuzhen wouldn't listen and insisted that they eat something more.
Unable to dissuade her mother, She Hongmei and the others had no choice but to sit down again and eat a few bites of rice with Chen Yuzhen.
After the meal, She Ning told Chen Yuzhen about her cooperation talks with Shen Jiaguo that day.
"Really? That's great! If we can really cooperate with the pharmaceutical factory, we won't have to worry about selling our medicinal herbs anymore." Chen Yuzhen smiled upon hearing this.
Xiahe Village is the She family's ancestral village. Although there are some bad apples, most of the people there are good.
A few years ago, after Grandpa She passed away and she suffered a stroke, Liu Jianguo abandoned his wife and daughter. During the time when She Hongmei was in a daze, the villagers helped them.
Life was tough for everyone, but the eggs, fish, and rice in the kitchen were all brought by everyone, and the work in the fields was also done by everyone.
If it weren't for the villagers, her family might have been wiped out long ago.
Chen Yuzhen is grateful for the kindness shown to her, and she also hopes for a better future for the village.
"Ah Ning, Grandma thanks you on behalf of the villagers." Chen Yuzhen said, gently patting She Ning's hand with tears glistening in her eyes.
When Grandpa She was alive, he always taught everyone to be kind-hearted and helpful. If Grandpa She were still alive, he would definitely agree with this approach. Thinking of the old man, she couldn't hold back her tears.
She Ning panicked a little when she saw this. She hadn't said these things to make her grandmother cry, so she quickly changed the subject and only felt relieved when Chen Yuzhen laughed.
After the meal, She Ning and She Hongmei helped clear the dishes, while She Ni sat down to review her lessons with her textbooks. Chen Yuzhen looked at her granddaughter's earnest expression and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
As night deepened, the lights in the She family's house were turned off.
Moonlight streamed through the window, filling the room with a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
She Ning lay in bed, but in her mind she was planning her next move.
Once the cooperation with the pharmaceutical factory is finalized, it can be directly handed over to the person arranged by the village for coordination. Her main tasks now are to learn about the Tree of Science and Technology and to prepare for the National High School Mathematics League in September.
As night deepened, She Ning's consciousness entered the system.
Time flies, and September is here soon.
On September 1st, She Ning became a freshman at the No. 1 High School in the city. A week later, She Ning took the promotion exam and became a senior high school student with full marks in all subjects.
On September 12, She Ning participated in the National High School Mathematics League. In mid-October, She Ning won the first prize nationwide and successfully qualified for the CMO. In November of the same year, she participated in the CMO competition and was selected for the national training team with the first-place ranking.
Along with her, Lin Qian, Wang Weiwei, Shen Mingsha, and Jing Xinxin were also selected. Gu Jiahao and Shen Xiaobin were also among them. Among the 60 students selected in the published list, 20% had participated in Professor Chen's training camp.
The first phase of intensive training will take place in March of next year, leaving her with little time. She Ning has always believed in the saying that there are always people more capable than you.
Even with the system as a cheat code, she dared not relax for a moment. Because of this opportunity, she cherished the time it provided even more. Like a parched sponge encountering sweet dew, she devoted more energy to her studies.
In her studies on the tree of science and technology, she has now illuminated the last small thread in the field of agriculture, and is becoming increasingly proficient in simulating hybrid plants.
The She family lived a peaceful and warm life. Every day, She Ning would go to school and study at home. Occasionally, she would go to the town bookstore with She Ni to buy some study materials.
Seeing how hard She Ning was working, She Hongmei and Chen Yuzhen felt both heartache and relief.
The cooperation with the pharmaceutical company is also progressing steadily. After testing, the samples sent by She Ning fully met the pharmaceutical company's requirements, and the two parties quickly signed a cooperation agreement.
Upon hearing the news, the villagers were overjoyed and expressed their gratitude to the She family.
Even Luo Xiaoling, whom they had previously clashed with, came to thank them with gifts, though her attitude was still a bit awkward.
In mid-September, on a weekend, Lin Qingxu brought Tongtong and Shen Wei to Xiahe Village. She Ning made a lot of delicious food for them as promised, and Shen Wei finally got to eat the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) she had been longing for.
They stayed in Xiahe Village for two days. She Ning took them to the mountains and the seaside, letting them experience picking wild fruits and vegetables, and the joy of beachcombing.
In a mountain stream, She Ning was incredibly lucky. She found several wild rice plants. When she found them, each plant was in the process of flowering and fruiting, simultaneously heading, flowering, ripening, and shedting grains.
Wild rice contains rich genetic diversity, which is of great significance for improving crop yield and stress resistance.
She Ning carefully collected some samples of the wild rice from the mountains, intending to take them back to the city's laboratory for further research. She also sent some samples to the provincial agricultural research center.
Coincidentally, while playing on the beach at the seaside, She Ni discovered several clumps of flowering rice stalks.
It was truly a stroke of luck; whatever she wished for came true.
On the beach,
Seeing She Ning's focused expression, Lin Qingxu and Shen Wei couldn't help but curiously gather around.
"A-Ning, what is this?" Shen Wei asked curiously, pointing to one of the rice seedlings.
She Ning looked up and explained with a smile, "This is wild rice, which is very precious and of great value for agricultural research."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingxu also squatted down and carefully examined the rice seedlings. "I didn't expect to see wild rice here. Aning, you've really struck gold this time."
Lin Qingxu knew that She Ning had been conducting agricultural experiments, and she had even helped her contact the laboratory in the city.
She Ning nodded. Two unexpected joys in two days made her smile so hard her eyes almost disappeared. "That's right, I never expected to be so lucky, hahaha, these few wild rice plants are really a timely help for my research."
Seeing She Ning so overjoyed for the first time, Lin Qingxu realized that these wild rice plants were truly important to her.
She didn't collect samples from these few clumps of *Shenningia stenoptera* on the beach; she carefully protected them, planning to collect them after they matured and fell to the ground.
The rice currently available on the market cannot be grown in saline-alkali soils. These few plants, however, have survived on beaches and even in seawater, and have even flowered. Their salt and alkali tolerance must be very strong. If the research is successful, it will have an immeasurable effect on expanding the rice planting area and increasing grain yield.
After returning to the city, She Ning brought the wild rice samples she had collected back to the laboratory and began intensive research work.
She used her spare time to consult a large amount of relevant information in the system and developed a detailed research plan.
In the laboratory, following the experimental procedures simulated by the system laboratory, she carefully handled these precious samples, observed their growth habits, extracted their genetic material, and conducted a series of experiments and analyses.
After months of hard work, she finally achieved some preliminary research results.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the intense yet well-organized experiments and studies.
Before they knew it, it was March of the following year, and the first phase of the national training team's training camp was about to begin.
Just like last time when they went to the training camp, they departed from City A. However, this time there were a few more of them, and the school arranged for them to travel by sleeper train. This time, the training camp was not held in G Province, but in Beijing.
This training camp will last for 10 days, with the goal of selecting 15 members from 60 trainees to enter the second stage of selection.
The weather in March was still a bit cold, especially in Beijing, which is in the north. She Ning brought extra warm clothes. This was her first time in Beijing in both her lives, and she felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
Two days and one night later, the train finally came to a slow stop at the terminal station. As soon as she got off the train, before she could even feel the cold of the north, sand rushed towards her and covered her face.
"This gift is very local." She Ning said, taking out a tissue from her bag and wiping her face.
Shen Mingsha, standing beside her, also frowned and fanned herself with her hand, trying to disperse the surrounding dust. "I heard that there are quite a few sandstorms in Beijing in the spring, but I didn't expect it to be this serious."
Everything around was gray and gloomy.
Despite the less-than-ideal weather, She Ning and her companions excitedly carried their luggage out of the station.
"Wow! No wonder it's the capital city," Wang Weiwei exclaimed.
The bustling city of Beijing caught their eye. Even in the gloomy weather, they could still see the traffic and people coming and going on the streets, which was completely different from the city of A they were familiar with.
The school's bus was waiting outside the station, with eye-catching signs on its body. Wang Weiwei and She Ning, who were still looking around, met the staff who came to pick them up. Then they boarded the bus with the other members of the training team. After the identities of the people were verified, the bus slowly started and headed towards the training location.
The training school was a bit far from the train station, and it took about two hours to get there.
The training school was a closed school located in the suburbs of Beijing. The environment was quiet and the facilities were complete. The dormitory was for six people per room. She Ning and her friends were assigned to the same dormitory. Although it was a bit crowded, they were able to stay together and go to and from training together every day.
During the ten days of intensive training, they spent every day from morning till night, except for eating and sleeping, doing exercises, discussing, and taking exams in the classroom.
She Ning worked even harder, not only listening attentively in class and actively participating in discussions, but also practicing on her own after class, using the system to simulate various math problems.
The intense study and training made them all lose weight, especially Jing Xinxin, whose already small face became even smaller. Worried that their bodies couldn't handle it, She Ning secretly added some Linglong juice to their water.
After ten days of hard work, they finally faced the selection exam.
The exam questions were difficult, but She Ning, with her solid foundation and outstanding performance, successfully passed the selection and entered the second stage of the 15-person list.
All six of them in their dormitory passed.
When she saw the list of successful candidates, Wang Weiwei jumped up excitedly. After so many hard-working days and nights, she had finally succeeded. She hugged She Ning tightly, her voice trembling with tears, "Waaah~ I was selected! I was selected!"
"We were all selected," she sobbed.
Tears welled up in her eyes, soaking the front of her clothes. She Ning hugged her back and gently patted her back. "You've worked hard."
Lin Qian, Jing Xinxin, and Shen Mingsha also came over, and the six of them hugged each other tightly.
Dormitory 301 was completely intact, with not a single person missing.
Shortly after the first phase of training was completed, the second phase of training began. The two training sessions were held in different locations. The second training session was held in Hubei Province, where the food is spicy. Worried that everyone might not be able to adapt to the local environment, She Ning prepared a lot of medicines, some of which were redeemed with points from the system's convenience store.
She prepared in advance, hoping that she wouldn't need it.
The second phase of training was even more intense, with daily exercises, discussions, mock exams, and lectures.
The purpose of this training camp is to select 6 members from the 15 members to represent the country in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in July.
She Ning continues to maintain a high level of study and training. The saying "There are always people better than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding" is a true proverb.
Among the students in the training camp, some were truly mathematical geniuses. She Ning knew that her talent was not as good as theirs, but she could make up for it with hard work. In addition to learning in class, she constantly practiced various difficult problems in the system to improve her problem-solving ability and thinking speed.
The second phase of training passed in the blink of an eye, and they finally faced the final selection exam.
Compared to the exam questions in the first phase of training, this one was much more difficult. Inside the exam room, the top students looked serious, their brows furrowed.
Despite the difficulty, She Ning successfully passed the selection process thanks to her outstanding performance and solid foundation, becoming one of the six members representing the country at the IMO.
She was the only one from her dorm to be selected this time.
"Ah Ning, keep going! We look forward to seeing you on the IMO podium." As soon as She Ning entered the dormitory, she was hugged tightly.
Lin Qian and Jing Xinxin stood not far from the door, smiling and cheering her on.
Seeing their encouraging and supportive eyes, She Ning nodded emphatically.
She can!
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