Zhao Ming persuaded Jiang Xiaodong to stay, and also to relieve Taohua's confusion and not want her to be disturbed, so she got out of the quagmire of the Tian family. She needed to enrich herself, think quietly about her future life, and open her eyes and calmly choose a life partner. There is no need to rush. Tian Zhigao is a lesson learned. Time can test people, so whether it is Sun Yutang or Jiang Xiaodong, they should not disturb her during this period.

Zhao Ming appreciates the peach blossoms now. They are like a reborn entity and like a pearl covered in dust regaining its brilliance. Not only are they beautiful and eye-catching, but they also have a charming temperament because of their spirit of striving for progress... Every time he sees peach blossoms again, Zhao Ming feels amazed. He sincerely hopes that peach blossoms can meet the right person and have a happy, beautiful, stable and peaceful life.

But the educated youth could not give such a good life, including Zhao Ming.

The reasons are too many and too complicated to be explained. To explain would only add to my worries and frustration, and would hurt my heart.

All Zhao Ming could do for Taohua was to watch silently from the side, say a word when necessary, and block the "dust".

Two days later, the eight educated youth from Mengjiayuan carried their luggage, walked to the brigade headquarters, took a tractor, went to the commune to take a bus to the county town and Mengzhou, and then took the train back to their hometowns.

Jinniu couldn't walk yet, so no one let Meng Tao see him out, so they just said goodbye in the yard.

Meng Tao asked Zhou Cuiling's mother, Aunt Yang, in advance to go back to her parents' home to buy some dried chickens, ducks, rabbits, dried beans and dried Chinese cabbage, and stored them in the space overnight as local specialties, and gave one portion to each educated youth.

Linshui Village also has these things, and every household can buy them by asking, but isn't this a sensitive time? It's definitely not a good idea to do private transactions near home.

Qian Xiaoyun reminded Meng Tao to take good care of the three hens and remember to let them out for exercise regularly. If the hens were in a good mood, they would lay a few eggs for her to eat.

Xu Guoliang pulled Meng Tao aside and said, "Actually, I don't have to go back. How about I stay here to accompany Jinniu? Taohua, you only need to take care of my two meals a day, just two meals, lunch and dinner. How about that?"

Sun Yutang came over and kicked him: "Then you sleep until twelve o'clock every day, eat lunch and then continue to sleep, and get up for dinner. You are so beautiful!"

"I can do this too. I'm willing to do it! Taohua, do you want to keep me?" Qian Liang raised his hand, and everyone laughed.

Jiang Xiaodong looked at Meng Tao deeply: "Taohua, you and Jinniu stay at home and wait for us to come back."

Meng Tao nodded: "I wish you a safe journey. When you get home, please give my regards to your family!"

"Okay, I..."

Zhao Ming interrupted: "We will be back after the Lantern Festival. See you Taohua!"

"Goodbye Taohua!" others followed.

"Goodbye! Have a safe trip!" Meng Tao waved with a smile.

Jiang Xiaodong wanted to say a few more words, but was interrupted by Zhao Ming. He had no choice but to wave his hand and walk away, looking back every few steps.

Meng Tao began to prepare to clean the house. In fact, there was nothing to clean. The educated youth had gathered their bedding and placed them on a bed frame. They even swept the floor clean. She only needed to make four beds and prepare some toiletries like a hotel waiter.

When Mr. Liu and his party arrive, they will only stay for two or three nights at most.

Then wash the sheets and quilt covers and make them out so that they can be used again when Shen Yu and Meng Zhehan come.

Well, just think of it as opening a private inn for a few days. It’s not easy to be a proprietress, as you have to worry about it.

Meng Tao poured a cup of boiled water and went to see Meng Jinniu. He had been very quiet these two days. Zhao Ming taught him a few things and also gave him a Xinhua Dictionary.

Meng Tao found a few pieces of planks yesterday and asked three clumsy carpenters, Xu Guoliang, Qian Liang and Sun Yutang, to make a small wooden table like a kang table. He placed it on his bed and could use it to serve meals and write. At this moment, Jinniu was carefully looking up the dictionary and learning pinyin.

Meng Tao handed the boiled water to Jinniu and took out the pills prescribed by the hospital for him to take. As they were talking, the gate of the courtyard rang and Zhou Cuiling's voice called out, "Taohua, are you there?"

Zhou Cuiling: "Come out quickly, I brought you something."

Meng Tao stood up and ran out. Jinniu: "..."

He had to get better quickly, otherwise whoever came would be the girl out and he wouldn't be able to move.

Zhou Cuiling held a basket and showed it to Meng Tao with a smile: "Fathead fish! My grandpa's team has a fish pond. They released water to catch fish. My grandpa's family got a few fish and gave us two. My mom asked me to give one to you. Brother Jinniu can eat this fish. It's good for his health."

Meng Tao took it and said, "I was just thinking of getting a fish to eat. You're welcome."

"There's more, look!"

"Oh, rice cake! It must weigh half a pound. Where did you get it?"

"It was sent by Zhang Guoqing's family. His family had a relative holding a wedding banquet, so they secretly made some rice cakes as a gift."

"Why do you do it secretly?"

"Where did you find so much glutinous rice? I bought it on the black market, so I had to do it secretly."

"Ha, this is good. We can roast and eat it by the fire at night."

“It’s delicious when fried.”

Zhou Cuiling followed Meng Tao to the kitchen to put things away and whispered, "I've talked to Sister Cuimei. She said that she didn't mean anything else when she looked at you like that. She just felt that you were getting more and more beautiful. She was envious and a little jealous."

Meng Tao looked at Zhou Cuiling and said, "I think you are beautiful, why doesn't she envy you?"

Everyone loves to hear nice things. Zhou Cuiling smiled and said, "I am just like this. She has seen me grow up. I don't care about anything. But you really are. Maybe it's because I am not at home often during this period. I stay in the city and keep myself clean and beautiful. I also dress up in new clothes. Every time I come back from outside, I feel that I have changed again. Just like what the old people say, I am like a fairy. I am getting more and more beautiful, and finally I become a fairy!"

"Go away, you're the witch." The two of them laughed and played.

Zhou Cuiling continued, "Zhou Cuimei also asked me to pass on a message: She thinks Meng Jinniu is good, and if you are willing, she can be your sister-in-law. Even if Jinniu's legs can't be healed in the future and she limps a little, she won't mind it - this is her personal opinion, I am just passing on her message."

Meng Tao said: "What's the use of whether I am willing or not? It depends on whether the Taurus likes it or not. Marriage is free and no one can interfere with anyone else."

"I told her the same thing. If she has the guts, she should go talk to Meng Jinniu by herself. But she refused to give up and insisted on coming to you. Just because she is my cousin, I will only talk to her once and never again."

"Let's not talk about her. Will you come to our house for dinner tonight? I'll make pickled fish with tomato sauce."

Zhou Cuiling had a conflicted look on her face. Taohua’s cooking tasted delicious, but she had a guest at her house that evening, who was her future father-in-law. Wouldn’t it be rude if she wasn’t at home to eat with them?

After a mental struggle, the greedy bug prevailed: "I'll come a little later, you can wait for me before you start eating."

"Okay, I'll take care of Taurus first, and then we'll eat slowly around the stove."

"It's settled!"

(End of this chapter)