"Sigh! It's difficult everywhere."
"It's better than here; at least we can buy it."
"If I can go to the capital, I will definitely bring more food. If not, I will mail it through the post office."
"If you really want to go through the post office, you should send the supplies there. We can carry the food over ourselves for safety. Everyone else is having a hard time, and you still have so much food?"
"That's true. It'll be up to you then."
"No problem, leave it to me."
Neither of them had the habit of not talking while eating, so they chatted as they ate.
Zhang Hongmei was fine after the meal, but Liu Jingze really ate too much.
"Hongmei, I feel like I've gained weight these past few days."
"Really? It's good to be a little chubby. Grandma will be so happy when she gets back."
"Yes, the old lady will be happy that you've fattened me up. You rest for a while, I'm going out to see my classmates."
"Okay, I'll prepare something too. Thank you to my homeroom teacher. He's really gone through so much and has been so dedicated to us."
"Okay, you can decide what to prepare yourself. Are you sending it over today?"
"Let's deliver it tomorrow. Does Teacher Chen Sheng live at the school?"
"Yes, they live in the teachers' dormitory. I'll go with you tomorrow morning. Let's go early and come back early. Didn't you order tofu? We need to go pick it up."
"Alright, I'll prepare food. That's the most practical thing. Is there any need to prepare anything else?"
"Nothing is more precious than food right now. As for other things, we can talk about them when you come back."
"Okay, then you go ahead and get busy. Will you be back for dinner?"
"Come back for dinner, something simple will do."
"Okay, millet porridge and pickled cucumber."
"Okay, I'm off." Liu Jingze left happily, feeling so lucky that someone asked if he would come back for dinner.
Zhang Hongmei strolled around the warehouse and packed over ten kilograms of dried cooked sweet potatoes, over ten kilograms of sweet potato flour, over ten kilograms of sorghum flour, and over ten kilograms of cornmeal. She then packed another portion for the principal according to this specification.
The history teacher was especially kind to me, and Liu Jingze's homeroom teacher was the one who helped me get directly into the second year of high school, so I had to repay the favor.
Zhang Hongmei was frustrated and didn't know what to do. She decided to wait for Liu Jingze to come back and ask him.
Then, a bag of broken rice and a bag of flour were transferred out from the space and put directly into the large vat. The lid was then closed. Liu Jingze would definitely come to the warehouse when he returned to prepare the thank-you gift, so it was better to prepare the grain first.
Take out a small pumpkin and make pumpkin and millet porridge for dinner—it's nutritious and delicious.
Zhang Hongmei gave a wry smile. These days, all she thinks about is food, and she's becoming more and more successful.
I spent the afternoon reading, and Liu Jingze returned before four o'clock.
"Brother Jingze, I don't know who to give this to, or how much to give?"
Who do you want to give it to?
"My homeroom teacher, the principal, your homeroom teacher, and the history teacher. Actually, my math and Chinese teachers are also very kind to me."
What would you like to give as a gift?
"Let's go check the warehouse. I'm planning to send out some grain, but I don't have that much if I send it all away."
Liu Jingze followed Zhang Hongmei into the warehouse and saw several bags on the cabinet. He opened them and took a look.
"These are all fine, but there are too many. Also, I hope you wait until the admission notice arrives before giving them to other teachers. You can go see your homeroom teacher directly tomorrow."
"Okay, how much should we give to each person?"
"Are you planning to send four items? Then each item will weigh five jin, and six items will weigh a hundred and twenty jin, which is quite a lot."
"Okay, then I'll get ready to deliver it tomorrow."
Liu Jingze helped Zhang Hongmei prepare everything. Only then did the two go to the kitchen to cook.
The two of them ate a soft and fragrant pumpkin and millet porridge, without any pickled vegetables.
The next morning, the two ate some dumpling soup and then pushed their cart to school.
Chen Sheng smiled with his eyes narrowed when he saw Zhang Hongmei coming over. "Here are two letters for you. I was thinking of giving them to you when you came on the tenth."
"Thank you, teacher. I came here today to thank you for taking care of me this past year."
Hello, Teacher Chen!
"Hello Liu Jingze, you're back for the New Year? Zhang Hongmei, no need to thank me, it's my pleasure. You and Liu Jingze are close, it seems you're planning to go to the Capital University?"
"Yes, we are considering that. But we'll have to wait and see the results."
"Although I haven't seen your exam paper, the principal said that our school has produced a student who will attend the Capital University this year."
"That's me?"
"Hehe, if there's one, it'll definitely be you. Don't worry, Principal Chu Jiu will be back with the report card soon. Come and see for yourself later."
"Hehe, the more you talk, the more nervous I get."
Seeing the harmonious relationship between the teacher and student, Liu Jingze knew that the teacher must treat Zhang Hongmei very well.
"Teacher Chen, thank you so much for taking care of Zhang Hongmei this past year."
"No need for thanks. I'm proud to have taught students at Capital University, and Zhang Hongmei has brought me honor."
"Teacher, this is grain produced in our village. I brought it over for you to try. Please don't refuse. This is a token of my appreciation."
"Teacher Chen, please don't refuse. This girl specifically asked me to come and act as her persuader."
Chen Sheng laughed heartily, "Alright, I won't refuse, I'll accept it. This is a gift from my prized student, how could I refuse?"
"Teacher, I have to go back now, we have guests coming to visit soon."
"Okay, take care."
The two went directly to the food supply station, spent 7.5 yuan to buy a slab of tofu, and promised to deliver the tofu plate the next morning.
Liu Jingze placed the tofu plate on the back seat of the car, tied it with a rope, and then went home.
At noon, Zhang Hongmei steamed a large piece of tofu, along with some pickled red vegetables and rice.
At the dinner table, Liu Jingze watched as Zhang Hongmei scooped half a bowl of rice, added a spoonful of tofu and half a spoonful of pickled vegetables to the bowl, and then stirred it.
"Isn't this how you eat tofu pudding? Yes, tofu can certainly be eaten this way too."
Zhang Hongmei thought it tasted pretty good, and that the tofu-making skills were quite impressive.
Zhang Hongmei ate one bowl of rice, Liu Jingze ate two bowls, and there was still quite a bit left, but the tofu was all eaten.
"Brother Jingze, let's have fried rice with eggs tonight. I want to eat it."
“Okay, I want to eat it too. I remember that every time I went back home, my grandma would fry a big bowl of it for me with two eggs.”
“My aunt is a great cook. Even with the same dish, she makes it taste better than anyone else.”
"Hehe, my grandma would be happy to hear that. She loves it when people praise her cooking. My grandpa always teases her, saying it's not good, and the two of them always argue about it."
"Hehe, their relationship must be really good, right?"
"Yes, the men in my family all know how to cherish their women."
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