"Yes, good apprentice." Li Xiyue replied generously. In her heart, Erniu had long been her apprentice.
Erniu smiled happily. She had a mentor now, and such a capable and kind one at that—Sister Li. She was so lucky.
She cautiously looked at the sky. Was God still asleep? Why was He being so kind to her?
Will all these good things be gone when I wake up?
The little girl held two boxes of pastries, looking quite anxious.
Laughter erupted from the educated youth settlement. Li Xiyue knew they must have received gifts as well. She didn't go over, but instead took a box of pastries and half a roast duck to the brigade leader's house.
The brigade leader and his family were very happy to see her return.
Sun Xia made her a bowl of brown sugar water, Grandma Yu stuffed two boiled eggs into her pocket, Hu Zi kept pestering her to tell her about his experiences in Beijing, and even Xu Lanlan clung to Li Xiyue's clothes and wouldn't let go.
In the end, Xu Guoqiang used the excuse that he had something important to say to send the two children away.
Li Xiyue gave them a box of sponge cake to share, and the two children were overjoyed.
"Don't take it..." Xu Guoqiang tried to stop them, but his youngest son and granddaughter were too quick and took it first.
To prevent the sponge cake from being stolen, Tiger grabbed a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, then made a face at his father.
Xu Guoqiang cursed, "Is he a reincarnated starving ghost?" Then he turned to Li Xiyue and put on a smile, "Dr. Li, you came all this way, but why did you bring such expensive things? I can't accept this."
"What about this brown sugar water and the eggs in my pocket? You've been so kind to me, what's wrong with me giving the child something to eat?"
Every time Grandma Yu met her, she would either give her eggs or snacks like peanuts and broad beans. She couldn't just take their things without giving anything back, could she? Wouldn't that be like being a miser?
“Take this roast duck back with you. I heard it’s a hot commodity in Beijing, and it’s very expensive,” Xu Guoqiang said.
"This is for Grandma Yu and Auntie to try. There's only half a chicken in total. It's good that each of you in your family can get two pieces." Li Xiyue said with a smile, "Captain, please don't be shy."
Grandma Yu glanced at her son and said, "Yueyue is right. I haven't eaten this roast duck before. I have to save it for later. If you're shy, then you don't have to eat it."
“Mother…” Xu Guoqiang said helplessly, but he didn’t say anything more.
Xu Guoqiang and Li Xiyue talked excitedly about being named an advanced brigade, "This year we produced 100 jin more fertilizer than other brigades, so the harvest will definitely be better. Also, the tractor we applied for will arrive in a few days, and the quota for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University has been approved..."
Li Xiyue was also pleased to hear this.
"Dr. Li, you deserve the most credit for our brigade being recognized as an advanced unit, so the brigade committee has discussed this quota for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University..."
The brigade cadres discussed it and decided that Li Xiyue would be given priority for a place at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.
Li Xiyue shook her head. "Captain, I don't need it. Please consider other people."
If she wanted to go back to the city, wouldn't it be easy? Besides, at this time, the Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' University... well, it's better not to go.
This year is 1973, and it has only been four years since the college entrance examination was reinstated. She is still young, and if she really wants to go to university, she can just take the exam.
However, she has other plans; she'll see about going to university later.
"Among the educated youth, you are the most qualified; the others..."
Logically, educated youth shouldn't be eligible for this spot, but Li Xiyue made significant contributions to the team, which is why she was qualified.
"You can make the decision."
She wasn't a brigade leader, so she couldn't interfere with the brigade committee's decisions.
Xu Guoqiang smiled and said, "The team will discuss it in a meeting."
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