Chapter 343: The Beginning of a Great Change
Chapter 343: Chapter 343: The Beginning of a Great Change
Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuanyang both laughed at Little Red Carp’s words.
Zhao Nuanyue reached out, tweaked Little Red Carp’s nose, and said, "Just a little thing like you wants to wander the world and make your home wherever you go? Are you trying to be funny?"
"Sigh, I knew it. You really don’t want to wander the world and make your home anywhere. I knew Sister wouldn’t want to leave Hua Yusen, Brother wouldn’t want to leave Sister, and Little Red Carp can’t bear to leave Sister and Brother. That’s why we can’t just kill them off. It’s so frustrating." Little Red Carp propped her chin on her hands, her elbows resting on the stone table. "Sigh, what should we do? Sigh, why isn’t my brother-in-law back yet?"
"Alright, it’s like I always say: we’ll handle whatever comes our way. No matter who they are, as long as they mean us harm and make a move, I won’t let them off easy," Zhao Nuanyue said in a low voice, reassuring her brother and sister. "Think about it. We managed to do very well in Nianqiao Village when we had nothing. It makes no sense that we’d be bullied by those evil people here in Jincheng City, where so many people help and care for us, right?"
Hearing their sister’s words, Zhao Nuanyang and Little Red Carp suddenly felt their hearts lighten and their outlook brighten.
"That’s right, Sister! We have the power to fight those evil people and send them to prison, instead of just killing them and then having to flee and wander the world in disgrace," Little Red Carp said seriously, clenching her small fists.
’I have to use human tactics. Revenge is a dish best served cold. I must proceed step-by-step and not act rashly. I can’t cause a pyrrhic victory where I kill a thousand enemies but lose eight hundred of my own men. The losses would outweigh the gains.’
Seeing what his sisters were saying, Zhao Nuanyang agreed wholeheartedly. "We can’t run from trouble and hardship. We have to face them head-on. It’s like they say, when two foes meet on a narrow path, the braver one is victorious. As long as we stick together and are careful, we can definitely beat those bad guys."
"Yes!" Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "Let’s do our best together."
The three siblings encouraged each other once again.
Zhao Nuanyue was busy studying medicine, Zhao Nuanyang was studying painting, and Little Red Carp, after getting out of school, stopped playing around and began to cultivate seriously. Although her cultivation progress was very slow, it was still much better than in Nianqiao Village.
In their spare time, the three of them would also go clean Old Madam Qian and Old Sir Qian’s rooms.
As for He Qiang’s house, Yang Sumei was living there with her child and second husband. It seemed Yang Sumei was also pregnant, so Zhao Nuanyue didn’t feel it was right to disturb her. Everything would have to wait until He Qiang, Old Madam Qian, and Old Sir Qian returned.
Far away in Nianqiao Village, Old Sir Qian, Old Madam Qian, and He Qiang finally received the documents reinstating their positions. They could finally return to the city. They were even assigned new jobs: organizing the library at the school, also in preparation for the upcoming start of classes.
"Old Qian, we... we can finally go back," Old Madam Qian said, choking back sobs. "We... we can finally go home."
Old Sir Qian gently patted his deeply upset, crying wife. His own face was streaked with tears as he said, "Rose, we can go back. This is a good thing. Don’t cry so hard, it’s not good for your health."
Old Sir Qian comforted his wife, but his own tears wouldn’t stop flowing.
He Qiang laughed while wiping away his tears, weeping with joy as he stared at the document.
Li Qiong and Yang Guanghui were happy for the three of them, and at the same time, they were also ecstatic inside. The professors were going back to the schools and resuming their work, which meant that university entrance exams couldn’t be far off.
Li Qiong fetched a basin of hot water and a clean towel, smiling. "Uncle Qian, Aunt Qian, Uncle He, come, come, wash your faces. Don’t cry anymore, this is a wonderful thing. When are you going back? I’ll make a delicious meal as a farewell for you."
"We’re leaving the day after tomorrow." Old Sir Qian took the towel and wiped his face, then said with a smile, his voice a little hoarse. "Later, I’ll have to trouble Dahai and Guanghui to help us buy train tickets," Old Sir Qian said. "I’ve thought about going back every single day, but now that it’s suddenly happening, I feel a bit empty inside."
"Haha, you shouldn’t feel empty, sir. Your home is there, and Nuanyang, Nuanyue, and Hua Yusen are all there. You don’t have to be afraid when you go back," Li Qiong said encouragingly. "Nuanyue wrote to me last time and told me she’s started cleaning your rooms for you."
Old Madam Qian smiled and nodded. "Mm, yes, we still have Nuanyue and the others in Jincheng City."
He Qiang smiled and said, "Nuanyang is my junior apprentice now. I even received a letter from Nuanyang and my master last time. When we came here, we were in a sorry state. Now that we’re about to leave, I find that we don’t seem to have aged from the labor; instead, we’re more energetic than before. Look, Qian and Madam Qian even have less gray hair than they used to."
"That’s right," Yang Guanghui chimed in. "I measured my height two days ago, and I’ve actually grown four centimeters. And look at Li Qiong, she’s become even more beautiful."
Everyone looked at each other and did indeed notice the changes in one another.
"Haha, Nianqiao Village is truly a blessed land. We were right to come here," Old Sir Qian said. "Even after we leave Nianqiao Village, we will never forget its mountains and rivers, or its simple and honest villagers."
"That’s right," He Qiang nodded. "We’ll never forget!"
When Yang Guanghui went to ask Miao Dahai for help buying tickets for Old Sir Qian and Old Madam Qian, Miao Dahai was delighted and said, "No need to go in advance. When the time comes, I’ll take them over myself. I’ll get someone to help, and they’ll be able to buy tickets and get on the train on the spot."
"Thank you so much, Miao Dahai," Yang Guanghui said gratefully. His heart was filled with thanks, and it burned even hotter with hope.
’Perhaps if I just hold on a little longer, I’ll be able to take the big exam.’
The documents had been sent to Miao Dahai first, so of course he knew these people were going back. He understood that the situation outside was improving, and besides, the three of them were knowledgeable and good-natured people. Miao Dahai had never given them a hard time.
Now that they were going back, he certainly wasn’t going to start making things difficult for them.
For the past two days, Li Qiong had been preparing all sorts of delicious food for Old Sir Qian and the others, even asking Li Jianjun to go up the mountain to hunt some game for their farewell.
At the dinner table, Old Sir Qian looked at Li Qiong, Li Jianjun, and Yang Guanghui, and said earnestly, "You are all smart children. We teachers are able to go back to work now, so you must wait patiently and not fall behind in your studies."
"That’s right, you absolutely must not fall behind," Old Madam Qian said. "You often come to us with questions, and I have a very high opinion of your abilities. If you take the big exam, your scores will definitely be among the top, and you’ll be able to get into the best universities."
Old Madam Qian was very certain of this, so she couldn’t help but urge them on, hoping that the sensible Li Qiong and Yang Guanghui would not give up.