Everyone soon arrived at the abandoned old school, and Hu Zi snorted when he saw the half-man-high weeds.

"I haven't been here for several years. How come the grass has grown so tall?"

Hu Zi's home is at the east end of the village, and this abandoned old school is at the west end of the village. In recent years, the places he goes to every day are basically his home and the pig farm, and he hasn't been to the school for a long time.

Daqing and his companions were also shocked when they saw the half-man-high grass, and their childhood memories instantly rushed into their minds.

The school is located in the most remote place of Taohua Village, surrounded by woods, and villagers live only two streets away.

People rarely come here. I never thought that the school where I stayed in my childhood would be in such a dilapidated state now.

"We have almost finished cleaning the classroom during the day. We just need to clear the weeds and move a few tables and chairs so that the children can come to school."

Jiang Li explained.

Lu Chaoli nodded and said, "Okay, let's try to get rid of the weeds today, and then move some tables and chairs over tomorrow morning. I have some chalk at home, and I'll bring it over to you tomorrow."

"Then let's get to work!"

Daqing spat into his palms twice, then carried a hoe to the weeds and started weeding. Seeing this, others also took action.

"Then let's go to the classroom first."

Jiang Li and Xu Yuanyuan came with brooms this time, intending to clean up the dust in the classroom.

Everyone was divided into two teams. Jiang Li and three other female educated youth went to clean the classroom, while Lu Chaoli and a dozen other men wielded hoes to weed the yard.

The late summer evening breeze is mixed with a hint of coolness, so working there is not as scorching as during the day.

Jiang Li, Xu Yuanyuan and Li Zhixiu were busy in the classroom all day. They took great effort to clean the spider webs on the roof and corners, and also wiped the window glass. Now all that was left was the ground covered with a layer of dust.

"That's great. With everyone's help, maybe the children can meet us tomorrow!"

Xu Yuanyuan was very excited and swept the floor with much greater energy. As she swept, mud and dust flew all over the room.

"Ahem, ahem, Yuanyuan, please be gentle."

Jiang Li and Li Zhixiu were choked by the smoke and started coughing, covering their mouths and noses.

"Oh my god, what's wrong with you? Sorry, sorry, I'll be more gentle!"

When Xu Yuanyuan looked up and couldn't see anyone, she realized that she had moved too much in her excitement, and hurriedly followed the sound through the dust to find Jiang Li and Li Zhixiu.

When they saw each other covered in dust and dirt, the three of them chuckled and pointed at each other and bent over and laughed.

The laughter of the three people rang out in the classroom, and several grown men outside the yard also started laughing after hearing it.

"What are you three laughing at?"

Zhou Guoqing turned his head and looked towards the classroom curiously. When he was about to go to the classroom to find out what was going on, Lin Jieye grabbed his arm.

"Captain, let's not interfere when the ladies are talking. Let's weed quickly. The sooner we finish weeding, the sooner we can go back."

Lin Jieye also realized something at this moment, and was afraid that this matter would cause discord among the educated youth, so he spoke out to stop Zhou Guoqing.

"Yes, Captain, let's get to work quickly. If we finish the work today, the children can go to school tomorrow!"

Xi Qingshan smiled naively and swung the hoe in his hand even harder.

Zhou Guoqing took back his steps awkwardly, gave Lin Jieye an unhappy look, and secretly cursed him for meddling in other people's business.

Everyone was distributed at both ends of the yard. Daqing and a few others were at the east end of the yard, while Lu Chaoli and Tiezhu and others were at the west end of the yard. Zhou Guoqing, who was originally at the east end of the yard, now went to the west end of the yard with a hoe.

Lu Chaoli was talking to Tiezhu and others at this time, and didn't even notice Zhou Guoqing coming over.

"That's great. I didn't expect that this school would be established again. When my daughter grows up, I will send her to the school to be taught by my sister-in-law!"

Tiezhu looked very happy and spoke directly, saying the private name.

Zhao Congwen nodded and said, "Yes, leave our child to my sister-in-law, don't worry!"

Lu Chaoli, who was talking to Hu Zi, turned his head back after hearing what they said and nudged the iron pillar with his elbow: "Go away, stop shouting, it's not good if Comrade Xiao Jiang hears it!"

Tiezhu and Zhao Congwen covered their mouths and nodded like chicks pecking at rice.

"Got it, boss. It's easy to say!"

There were only a few of them brothers in this area, no one else, so Lu Chaoli gave them some instructions and did not continue to discuss this topic.

"Hurry up and get to work. I remember that our pig farm still has a lot of wooden boards. I'll move them here tomorrow and let the children use them as tables."

"Got it, boss!"

As they talked, they started to weed the fields with grunts.

Several people thought that they were the only ones who heard these words, but they didn't know that Zhou Guoqing, who was walking from the east end of the yard to the west end, also heard them clearly.

It's just that he was short, and only the top of his head was visible when he stood in the half-man-high grass, so no one noticed him.

Zhou Guoqing, who was lying in the haystack, gritted his teeth when he heard Tiezhu and Zhao Congwen address Jiang Li, and clenched his hand holding the hoe into a fist.

Damn it!

What are these people doing?

Comrade Xiao Jiang has nothing to do with Lu Chaoli, so why should they call Comrade Xiao Jiang "sister- in-law"? Zhou Guoqing was furious, and after hearing Zhao Congwen's next words, he felt a sense of urgency!

"Boss, hurry up and catch him so we don't have to change the name!"

"I know, I know."

Lu Chaoli responded casually, thinking in his heart when would be the best time to express his feelings to Jiang Li.

"Boss, we are waiting for your good news!"

After listening to what they said, Zhou Guoqing knew that he could not delay any longer and had to express his feelings to Comrade Xiao Jiang as soon as possible, lest someone else get there first! Strength in numbers, everyone quickly cleaned up the weeds in the yard, and the abandoned school became tidy again. Except for the blackening of the wood, it did not change much from what he remembered.

It was getting late and they still had to work tomorrow, so everyone said hello to each other and went home.

Early the next morning, Lu Chaoli had the remaining wooden boards from the pig farm carried to the school for the children to use as tables. All the children in the village came to the school.

Since there were no books available yet, Jiang Li, Xu Yuanyuan and others had to teach everyone some simple addition and subtraction of numbers and pinyin first.

After the school reopened, everything returned to normal and the villagers worked with more enthusiasm.

That evening, while it was cool, the village chief gathered everyone together for a meeting. Lin Jieye and others went, but Zhou Guoqing stayed in the room alone, drinking.

Thinking of Jiang Li's attitude towards him these days, Zhou Guoqing narrowed his eyes and made a decision.