In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Around 4 p.m., Section Chief Tian returned to the security section after finishing his meeting. Yang Guangming was compiling a list of supplies needed for tomorrow's mountain trip.

Section Chief Tian stood at the office door and waved to Yang Guangming: "Guangming, come here for a moment."

Yang Guangming put down the list in his hand and followed Section Chief Tian into the small office in the back. He thought Section Chief Tian was going to ask about Meng Zhigang's employment, and he had already prepared his answer.

Section Chief Tian sat down behind his desk, not speaking immediately, but instead taking out a folded manila envelope. He placed the envelope on the table and gently pushed it towards Yang Guangming with his fingers.

"Open it and take a look." Section Chief Tian said with a smile.

Yang Guangming picked up the envelope with some doubt; it felt very light. He opened the seal and pulled out a pale yellow piece of cardboard.

The piece of paper was small, with a red heading that read "Pingyang County Department Store Special Ticket" printed on it. In the middle were the three handwritten words "Watch Ticket," and below were the red seals of the department store and the Bureau of Commerce.

It's a ticket for a watch.

Yang Guangming raised his head and looked at Section Chief Tian.

Section Chief Tian leaned back in his chair and said casually, "I noticed a long time ago that you don't have a watch. When Da Guo was the captain, he had a watch to tell the time, so it didn't matter that you didn't have one."

Now that you're the team leader, leading the group into the mountains and assigning tasks, you need a watch to keep track of the time. Since it's necessary for the job, I applied for one for you.

He paused, then continued, "I submitted the application last month. These things are in high demand, and it takes time to get approved. I only received them this month. Perfect timing, since you're going into the mountains tomorrow. Wearing the new watches will make it easier to tell the time."

Looking at the watch ticket in his hand, Yang Guangming felt a warm feeling well up inside him. He had indeed wanted to buy a watch for a long time. Keeping track of time was a big problem at work, especially when leading a team into the mountains; time management was crucial. Without a watch, he either had to ask others or estimate, which was always inconvenient.

Pingyang County is just a small county town, with only one authorized store in the whole county, which he visited a few times.

The shop only had three old watches in total, and they were either blurry or stopped working intermittently, making them unusable. He originally planned to wait until he had the opportunity to go to the provincial capital or a big city and then ask the shop to find a better-condition second-hand watch.

I didn't expect Section Chief Tian to be so thoughtful, even considering this detail. Applying for a watch voucher under the pretext of work needs is perfectly reasonable, and no one can say anything about it.

"Thank you, Section Chief!" Yang Guangming expressed his heartfelt gratitude, carefully putting the ticket back into the envelope. "You've been so thoughtful; I've been needing a watch."

"It's necessary for work, so it's what I should do." Section Chief Tian waved his hand. "But even though I've given you the ticket, you'll have to pay for the watch yourself. A Shanghai watch at the department store costs sixty yuan; you can buy it with the ticket. If you don't have the money on hand, can I lend you some?"

"No need, no need, I have enough money," Yang Guangming quickly said. He still had a good amount of money left from selling the wild boar; he could come up with sixty yuan.

"Alright, since you still have time this afternoon, go to the department store. You'll need it for tomorrow's trip into the mountains." Section Chief Tian glanced at the wall clock. "Wang Tiezhu can oversee the training this afternoon. Go early and come back early."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Yang Guangming stood up, saluted Section Chief Tian, ​​and quickly walked out of the office with the envelope in his hand.

Back in the main office, He Dongliang saw him rushing around and asked, "Guangming, what did the section chief want to see you about? You seem to be in a hurry."

"The section chief approved a voucher for a watch for me, and I can go buy one now." Yang Guangming said with a smile, "I'll need it when I go into the mountains tomorrow."

"Hey, a watch voucher? That's a good thing!" He Dongliang said. "You should buy a watch. You're the only one in our department who doesn't have one. Pick one carefully; Shanghai watches are sturdy and can last for many years."

Yang Guangming exchanged a few words with He Dongliang, then left the office building and headed out of the factory.

The Pingyang County Department Store is located in the center of the county town, not too far from the pharmaceutical factory. Yang Guangming walked there, taking less than twenty minutes.

The department store was a two-story building with a fairly impressive facade. The first floor sold daily necessities, stationery, and fabrics, while the second floor sold larger items such as bicycles, sewing machines, and watches.

Yang Guangming went straight up to the second floor. The watch counter was on the right side of the stairs, with a dozen or so watches displayed in the glass case, gleaming under the lights. The saleswoman was a woman in her thirties, who was knitting with her head down.

"Comrade, I'd like to buy a watch." Yang Guangming walked up to the counter.

The sales clerk looked up, glanced at him, put down the sweater she was holding, and walked over: "Do you have a receipt?"

Yang Guangming handed over the watch ticket.

The sales clerk took the ticket, examined it carefully, and after confirming it was correct, smiled and said, "A Shanghai brand watch, sixty yuan. Men's or women's watch?"

"Men's watch".

"These are all men's watches," the sales clerk said, pointing to several watches in the display case. "They're all the same style. Which one do you want? I'll get it for you."

Yang Guangming bent down to examine them closely. All the watches were classic Shanghai brand models: silver cases, white dials, black Roman numerals, and red second hands. The difference lay in the material of the straps; some had metal chains, while others had leather straps.

He thought for a moment and chose a watch with a metal strap. Although leather straps were lightweight, they weren't durable; when hunting in the mountains, exposed to wind and sun, a metal strap was much sturdier.

"I want this metal watchband," Yang Guangming pointed.

"Okay." The sales clerk unlocked the counter with a key, took out the watch, and then took out a green velvet watch box. "Take a look first, and I'll issue the invoice if you're satisfied."

Yang Guangming took the watch; it felt heavy and high-quality. He carefully inspected the dial; there were no scratches, and the hands moved evenly and powerfully. He put the watch on his left wrist; the size was just right, neither too loose nor too tight.

"This one will do," Yang Guangming said, quite satisfied.

The salesperson issued a receipt, and Yang Guangming went to the cashier to pay. When he returned with the payment receipt, the salesperson handed him the watch and its box, along with a warranty card.

"One-year warranty. If there's a problem, bring this receipt to get it repaired," the salesperson instructed.

Yang Guangming thanked him, put the watch on his wrist, put the watch box and warranty card into his handbag, and walked out of the department store.

Yang Guangming raised his wrist and checked the time: 4:20 PM. The clock face was clear and easy to read.

Having this watch has definitely made work much more convenient. When I'm in the mountains, I can keep track of time accurately, and scheduling training and rest can be much more precise. More importantly, it's a status symbol. In this day and age, owning a Shanghai brand watch is something many people envy.

It was already past 5 p.m. when I got back to the security office. The training should be almost over.

Yang Guangming walked into the office. He Dongliang was still there. Seeing the new watch on his wrist, he smiled and said, "You bought it? Let me see."

Yang Guangming walked over and extended his wrist.

"Not bad, really not bad." He Dongliang examined it carefully. "Shanghai watch, good quality. Now you've got everything, a house, a watch, and a raise. All you're missing is a wife."

Yang Guangming smiled but didn't reply.

He walked to his desk and began packing. The checklist for tomorrow's trip into the mountains was already prepared, and the guns had been checked that afternoon; there was nothing else to prepare.

When Yang Guangming arrived at the training ground, Zhao Xiaohu, with his sharp eyes, was the first to notice the new watch on Yang Guangming's wrist.

"Brother Guangming, you bought a watch?" Zhao Xiaohu came closer, his eyes fixed on the watch, full of envy.

This sound attracted the attention of the other team members. Wang Tiezhu, Zhang Jianguo, Liu Zhiqiang, and several others gathered around, marveling at the watch on Yang Guangming's wrist.

"Shanghai brand, what a fine watch!" Wang Tiezhu said with a simple smile. "The team leader really should have a watch; it will be much more convenient to check the time when we go into the mountains."

The team members enjoyed the view for a while longer before dispersing to pack up and prepare to leave work.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Meng Zhigang officially reported for duty.

On Meng Zhigang's first day at work, Yang Guangming mainly showed him around the field and introduced him to the team members.

The next day, at 5:20 a.m., the entire hunting team assembled at the training ground. Meng Zhigang arrived on time as well. Today, he was wearing the hunting team's uniform, standing tall and exuding a military bearing.

Yang Guangming stood at the front of the group, raised his wrist to check his watch: "5:20, all assembled. Now check your equipment, we'll depart in ten minutes."

The team members began a final check of their guns, backpacks, ropes, rations, and water. Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang also checked their equipment.

At 5:30, Yang Guangming gave the order: "Let's go!"

Nine people lined up and walked out of the factory area, heading towards the western mountains.

This was Meng Zhigang's first official trip into the mountains since joining the company.

Yang Guangming deliberately walked beside him, explaining as they went: "We often come to this hilltop; there are many wild rabbits and pheasants. Further in, there's a pine forest where you can sometimes encounter badgers. Wild boars are usually found deeper in the mountains, so you don't encounter them easily."

Meng Zhigang listened attentively, nodding occasionally. Although he was a sharpshooter, he was unfamiliar with this mountain forest and needed time to familiarize himself with the environment.

Once inside the forest, Yang Guangming instructed the team members to spread out and advance in a fan-shaped formation. He and Meng Zhigang walked in the middle, ready to provide support at any time.

The air in the mountain forest was fresh and the soil was soft after the rain. Animal footprints were clearer than usual. In less than half an hour, Zhao Xiaohu, who was walking on the flank, spotted the tracks of a wild rabbit.

"Captain, there are rabbit footprints over here!" Zhao Xiaohu shouted in a low voice.

Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang walked quickly over. Sure enough, there were several fresh footprints on the muddy ground, leading to a thicket of bushes.

"Spread out, surround them," Yang Guangming ordered in a low voice.

The team members skillfully dispersed, quietly approaching the bushes from different directions. Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang each found a concealed position and raised their guns.

Yang Guangming held his breath and aimed at the edge of the bushes. Meng Zhigang, diagonally opposite him, also aimed his gun, his posture standard and as steady as a rock.

Suddenly, the bushes rustled, and a grayish-brown hare emerged, cautiously looking around.

Yang Guangming didn't fire; he wanted to see Meng Zhigang's marksmanship.

Meng Zhigang seemed to understand his meaning, and without much hesitation, he slightly adjusted the muzzle of the gun and pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

The crisp sound of a gunshot echoed through the forest. The hare fell to the ground, twitched twice, and remained still.

"Excellent marksmanship!" Wang Tiezhu couldn't help but praise.

Meng Zhigang remained calm, put away his gun, and walked over to pick up the rabbit. The bullet had passed cleanly through his head.

"Deputy Captain Meng, you're amazing!" Zhao Xiaohu came over, looking at the rabbit with admiration.

“Basic skills,” Meng Zhigang said simply, putting the rabbit into the basket.

Yang Guangming understood. Meng Zhigang's marksmanship, known as the sharpshooter of the army, was probably not an exaggeration; his speed, accuracy, and stability were the result of long-term, rigorous training.

The team continued forward. With the addition of sharpshooter Meng Zhigang, today's harvest was significantly smoother than usual.

When they encountered a flock of pheasants, Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang fired almost simultaneously, each hitting their target. When they encountered a badger, Meng Zhigang hit a vital spot with a single, swift shot.

After lunch, during the midday break, they tallied their catch: fifteen rabbits, nine pheasants, and two badgers. Meng Zhigang personally contributed four rabbits, three pheasants, and one badger.

The team members surrounded Meng Zhigang, showering him with praise. Meng Zhigang didn't say much, just smiled.

Yang Guangming glanced at his watch; it was 12:30. He called out to everyone, "Take a half-hour break, we'll continue at 1 o'clock."

The afternoon's harvest was equally good. Meng Zhigang had fully adapted to the mountain environment, his marksmanship remained consistent, and he caught five more prey. Yang Guangming caught seven himself, and the other team members also each had their own catches.

At dusk, the team packed up and the harvest was tallied: nineteen rabbits, fifteen pheasants, two badgers, and eleven partridges. The total weight exceeded one hundred jin (approximately 50 kg).

Meng Zhigang personally caught twelve prey, a result that, apart from Yang Guangming, is far ahead of the rest of the team. Wang Tiezhu performed well today, catching three, while the others mostly caught one or two.

On the way back to the factory, the team members' attitude towards Meng Zhigang was noticeably different. Before, because he was a retired military officer and deputy captain, everyone respected him, but there was a certain distance between them.

Now that I see his real skills, my respect has turned into genuine admiration.

"Deputy Captain Meng, your marksmanship is truly amazing!" Zhang Jianguo exclaimed. "I'm considered one of the veterans in the team, and I think my marksmanship is alright, but compared to you, I'm far inferior."

Meng Zhigang shook his head: "Everyone has their own expertise. You are familiar with the mountains and forests and have a lot of experience, which is where I fall short. Let's learn from each other."

His words were sincere, and the team members felt reassured. A capable yet approachable leader like that is someone everyone wants to work for.

Back at the factory, after handing in the game, Old Zhao from the canteen grinned from ear to ear. Seeing so much game, especially the two fat badgers, he exclaimed repeatedly, "That's great! That's great! We can have an extra meal tomorrow!"

Section Chief Tian and Director Yu were very pleased to learn about today's achievements, especially Meng Zhigang's outstanding performance.

Section Chief Tian specifically called Yang Guangming to his office and asked about Meng Zhigang's situation.

"Zhigang adapted quickly and his marksmanship is indeed excellent. He personally shot twelve animals today," Yang Guangming reported truthfully.

Section Chief Tian nodded in satisfaction: "That's good. If you ever have something come up and can't lead the team in the future, I'll feel at ease with him here."

Yang Guangming clearly understood Section Chief Tian's meaning. The hunting team was now a permanent unit, and both the captain and deputy captain had to be capable of handling things independently. Meng Zhigang's abilities undoubtedly provided double insurance for the team.

Over the next few days, Meng Zhigang went into the mountains twice more, once on Wednesday and once on Friday. His individual catches were consistently good, with eleven and thirteen game respectively. His accurate marksmanship and decisive judgment quickly earned him the trust of all the team members.

Meng Zhigang was originally a platoon leader who had transitioned to civilian life, so he had extensive experience leading troops and was very skilled at managing his team. He didn't talk much, but he was a man of his word and had a strong sense of discipline. Under his influence, the team members trained more diligently and acted more systematically.

Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang worked together seamlessly. Yang Guangming, familiar with the mountains and forests and experienced, was responsible for planning and overall command; Meng Zhigang, a skilled marksman and with strong execution abilities, was responsible for specific tactics and team training. Their clear division of labor and complementary skills further enhanced the hunting team's overall efficiency.

By the second week, the hunting team had fully adapted to the new leadership structure. The partnership between Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang became a celebrated story within the security department. One was young and promising, the other experienced; one familiar with the mountains and forests, the other a crack shot. With such a combination, it would be difficult not to achieve success.

On Tuesday morning, Yang Guangming was organizing the previous week's mountain trip records in his office when Meng Zhigang walked over.

"Guangming, I need to ask for leave," Meng Zhigang said. "I need to leave work an hour early this morning."

"Is there something you need?" Yang Guangming asked casually.

“I’m going to pick someone up at the train station.” Meng Zhigang said with a smile, “Yining and one of her classmates are arriving by train this morning. I have to go pick them up.”

Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat. Meng Yining was coming.

"Is Yining reporting for duty today?" Yang Guangming asked.

“Yes, the assignment procedures are all completed. She came today and will officially report to the primary school tomorrow,” Meng Zhigang said. “She also has a classmate who was assigned here at the same time, so the two of them will be together.”

“I’ll go with you.” Yang Guangming put down his pen. “Anyway, I don’t have anything to do this morning. Yining and I are old classmates, so I should go pick her up. She has another classmate coming with her, and she probably has a lot of luggage. It might be difficult for you to carry it all by yourself.”

Meng Zhigang was somewhat surprised, then laughed and said, "That would be great. Yining would be very happy to see his old classmate like you."

Yang Guangming greeted Section Chief Tian, ​​who readily granted him leave. At eleven o'clock, Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang walked out of the factory area together, heading towards the train station. "Have you met this classmate from Yining?" Yang Guangming asked casually.

“I’ve never met him. I only heard Yining mention him in her letter. His surname is Huang, and he’s her classmate from teachers’ college. The two are very close,” Meng Zhigang said. “It seems that Yining was able to get assigned to the pharmaceutical factory this time thanks to this classmate Huang.”

"Does Huang's family work in the factory?" Yang Guangming guessed.

“Yining didn’t say in the letter, and I don’t know either.” Meng Zhigang shook his head. “In any case, they helped me a lot, and I have to remember this favor.”

As they talked, they soon arrived at the train station.

Pingyang County Railway Station is small, a two-story yellow building with a small square in front. At this moment, there are not many people in the square, only a few passengers waiting for their trains sitting in the shade of the trees.

Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang walked to the vicinity of the exit and found a shady spot to stand and wait.

Waiting is always anxious, and Meng Zhigang would glance at the clock on the station building from time to time.

"The train is scheduled to arrive at 11:30, but I don't know if it will be delayed," Meng Zhigang said.

Yang Guangming glanced at his watch; it was 11:20. Ten minutes to go.

The waiting time seemed to drag on. Yang Guangming watched the crowds coming and going at the train station, a strange sense of anticipation rising within him. He hadn't seen Meng Yining for five years; he wondered what she looked like now.

In junior high school, Meng Yining was a quiet and pretty girl who excelled in her studies and had a gentle personality. In Yang Guangming's memory, she always wore faded old clothes, but she was always clean and tidy, her hair was neatly combed, and her eyes crinkled when she smiled.

After graduating from junior high school, Yang Guangming was admitted to the county high school, and the two never saw each other again. Unexpectedly, they would meet again under these circumstances five years later.

"They're here!" Meng Zhigang suddenly said, interrupting Yang Guangming's thoughts.

Looking up, Yang Ming saw the large clock on the station building pointing to 11:30. A train whistle sounded from afar, growing louder as the train pulled into the station.

Soon, a stream of people began to pour out of the exit. Passengers carrying large and small bags, vendors carrying loads on shoulder poles, and families with children in tow created a bustling and lively scene.

Meng Zhigang stood on tiptoe, trying hard to search in the crowd. Yang Guangming also opened his eyes wide, searching for that handsome face in his memory.

"There!" Meng Zhigang suddenly waved and shouted, "Yining! This way!"

Yang Guangming looked in the direction he was waving.

Amid the surging crowd, two young women were looking around somewhat bewilderedly.

One of them wore a light blue floral top and dark blue pants, with two jet-black braids. She was slender and had fair skin. Even from a distance, her beautiful and refined face still stirred something within Yang Guangming.

It was Meng Yining. But compared to the fifteen-year-old girl he remembered, who hadn't fully grown up yet, the Meng Yining before him had changed so much.

The saying "a girl changes drastically at eighteen" is absolutely true.

Five years have transformed that naive girl into a graceful, elegant, and beautiful young woman.

Her features still retained traces of her youth, but were now more refined, and her demeanor more serene and gentle. Standing amidst the bustling crowd, she possessed a quiet beauty that seemed out of place.

Yang Guangming considered himself to have seen many beauties in his previous lives, but in his current eyes, Meng Yining's appearance and temperament were absolutely top-notch. It wasn't the kind of beauty that was flamboyant and dazzling, but rather a kind of pure and delicate beauty, like a secluded orchid in a valley or the moon reflected in a clear spring, making one forget the mundane world upon seeing her.

Hearing the shouts and seeing Meng Zhigang waving vigorously, Meng Yining immediately broke into a bright smile, grabbed another girl beside her, and quickly walked over.

The girl next to her was slightly shorter than Meng Yining, wearing a brand-new white shirt, gray pants, and short hair that reached her ears, looking neat and tidy.

Both of them were carrying bulging luggage on their backs and each of them was holding a huge canvas bag in their hands, looking somewhat strained.

"Big brother!" Meng Yining walked closer, her voice clear and joyful as she saw a relative.

"You must be tired from your journey?" Meng Zhigang quickly took a large suitcase from his sister's hands, weighed it in his hand, and found it quite heavy. "Why did you bring so much stuff?"

"I brought all my luggage back—bedding, books, and some odds and ends. That's quite a lot," Meng Yining said with a smile, her breath slightly ragged.

Her gaze immediately fell on Yang Guangming, a hint of doubt and inquiry flashing in her eyes.

This person... looks so familiar. Tall and upright, with a calm gaze and a handsome face... but for a moment, I can't remember where I've seen him before.

Yang Guangming stepped forward and smiled, "Yining, you must be tired from your journey. Do you still recognize me?"

Meng Yining blinked, carefully observing Yang Guangming, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly. That voice, that smile, and that vaguely familiar silhouette… a name suddenly jumped into her mind.

"You...you are Yang Guangming?" Meng Yining's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

"It's me." Yang Guangming nodded with a smile. "It's been five years. You've changed so much, you probably wouldn't recognize me, would you?"

"Oh my god! It really is you!" Meng Yining exclaimed, her surprise quickly replaced by delight. "You've changed so much! I remember when you graduated from junior high, you were only a little taller than me, and now... now you're so tall!"

She gestured, and Yang Guangming, now over 1.8 meters tall, was indeed a completely different person from the skinny boy she remembered from junior high. Not only his height, but his entire demeanor and expression were entirely different. If it weren't for those vaguely familiar eyes and voice, she really wouldn't have recognized him.

Yang Guangming also remarked, "You've changed a lot too. If I hadn't come with Brother Meng to pick you up, I definitely wouldn't have recognized you if we bumped into each other on the street."

Meng Yining smiled a little embarrassedly, then remembered her companion and quickly introduced, "By the way, brother, Guangming, this is my classmate, Huang Yali. We were assigned here together and are best friends."

She then introduced Huang Yali: "Yali, this is my older brother Meng Zhigang, and this is... my junior high school classmate, Yang Guangming."

Huang Yali nodded gracefully to the two men and smiled, "Hello, Brother Meng, hello, Comrade Yang. I'm sorry to trouble you to come and pick me up."

Yang Guangming sized up Huang Yali. The girl was quite pretty, though not as stunning as Meng Yining, but she had gentle features, a cheerful smile, and an air of generosity and confidence.

She wore a small women's watch on her wrist, and the fabric of her shirt was noticeably better than most people's, suggesting that she came from a well-off family.

"No trouble at all, it's nothing." Yang Guangming said, naturally reaching out to take the two large duffel bags from Huang Yali's hands. "I'll take them."

Huang Yali hesitated for a moment, but didn't refuse too much, and let go of his hand: "Thank you, Comrade Yang, it's quite heavy."

Yang Guangming carried one bag in each hand; it was indeed quite heavy. The bedding was thick, and the books were also substantial. Meng Zhigang also had two large duffel bags. Four bags, shared between the two, was just right.

“It’s getting late, it’s lunchtime.” Meng Zhigang glanced at his watch. “Let’s find a place to eat nearby, it’s on me, consider it a welcome dinner for you.”

Yang Guangming was the first to agree: "Yes, let's eat first. We must be hungry after sitting in the car for so long. We'll eat before going back to the factory."

Meng Yining glanced at Huang Yali, who hesitated only slightly before smiling and nodding, "I'll follow Brother Meng's arrangements."

Several people carrying heavy luggage walked out of the train station. There were a few small restaurants in front of the station, but they all looked quite shabby.

Yang Guangming suggested, "How about we go to the Dongfanghong Hotel? It's not too far from here, and it's on our way, only a ten-minute walk. The facilities there are better, and the menu is more varied. We should make a proper welcome."

Meng Zhigang thought for a moment. He had enough money in his pocket, so he nodded and said, "Okay, let's go to the Dongfanghong Hotel. Let's walk slowly."

So the four of them, carrying their luggage, headed towards the Dongfanghong Hotel in the center of the county town. They inevitably attracted some attention along the way, but everyone was used to it.

Upon entering the Dongfanghong Hotel, several tables of guests were already seated in the lobby. A waiter approached, but paused for a moment upon seeing their large bags and bundles.

"Would you four like to eat?" the waiter asked.

"Yes, let's eat," Yang Guangming said. "Are there any seats?"

"Yes, there's an empty table over there by the window," the waiter pointed.

The four of them walked over, put their luggage on the empty space next to the table, and sat down. Meng Yining and Huang Yali sat on one side, while Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang sat opposite them.

The waiter brought the menu. Today's food supply was a bit tight; the only dishes that could be considered main courses were stir-fried eggs with green peppers and braised tofu. Vegetable dishes included braised eggplant, stir-fried bean sprouts, and cucumber salad. The soup was tomato and egg soup.

"Stir-fried eggs with green peppers, braised tofu, braised eggplant, cucumber salad, and tomato and egg soup," Meng Zhigang ordered, then asked, "What kind of staple food do you want? We have steamed buns and rice."

"I want rice," Meng Yining said.

“I’ll have rice too,” Huang Yali said.

"Then four bowls of rice," Meng Zhigang said to the waiter.

The waiter wrote down the order and went to the kitchen.

While waiting for the food, the group started chatting.

Meng Yining asked Yang Guangming about his experiences over the years, and Yang Guangming gave a brief account, focusing on his work with the hunting team. Meng Yining listened with great interest, occasionally expressing her amazement.

"You're amazing! You took down four wild boars all by yourself. I'm terrified just thinking about it," Meng Yining said.

"I was lucky," Yang Guangming laughed. "And you, how was your life at teachers' college?"

Meng Yining's eyes lit up as she spoke of her life at teachers' college. She loved being a teacher and loved being with children. Huang Yali listened quietly, occasionally adding a word or two.

Yang Guangming noticed that although Huang Yali didn't talk much, she spoke very logically and behaved properly, clearly indicating that she was well-educated.

The dishes arrived quickly. The stir-fried eggs with green peppers were golden and glistening with oil, the braised tofu was white and smooth, the braised eggplant was reddish-brown and oily, and the cucumber salad was refreshing and delicious. Although it wasn't a lavish meal, it was quite a good one for the time being.

"Come on, don't be shy, start eating," Meng Zhigang said. "Yining, Yali, eat more, you must not have eaten well on the way."

Meng Yining and Huang Yali were indeed hungry, so they stopped being polite and started eating. Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang also picked up their chopsticks.

During the meal, Meng Zhigang asked about Huang Yali's situation: "Huang, are you from the county town?"

Huang Yali put down her chopsticks and smiled, "My family lives in the factory. My father is Huang Wenxuan, the deputy director of the pharmaceutical factory."

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhigang and Yang Guangming were both taken aback. Although they had guessed that Huang Yali came from a well-off family, they hadn't expected her to be the daughter of Deputy Factory Director Huang.

Meng Zhigang immediately realized what was happening and said solemnly, "Student Huang, so you're Director Huang's daughter. Yining was able to get assigned to the pharmaceutical factory thanks to your help. Thank you so much!"

Huang Yali waved her hand: "Brother Meng, don't be so polite. Yining and I are best friends, and I'm happy to help. Besides, Yining has good grades, outstanding performance, and progressive thinking. She should have been assigned to a good unit. I just helped to pass on the message; it's mainly up to her."

She spoke casually, but Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang both understood that without Huang Yali's connection, it would have been almost impossible for Meng Yining, a teacher-training student from a rural area, to be assigned to the pharmaceutical factory's affiliated primary school.

Meng Yining also said, "Brother, Yali helped me a lot. Otherwise, I might have been assigned to some rural school."

Her tone was full of gratitude.

Huang Yali laughed and said, "Didn't we agree not to talk about this? Now that we've both been assigned to the affiliated primary school, we'll still be colleagues, isn't that great?"

Yang Guangming raised his teacup: "Huang, I'd like to offer you a toast with tea instead of wine. Thank you for helping Yining, and welcome to work at the pharmaceutical factory."

Huang Yali picked up her teacup and clinked it with Yang Guangming's: "Thank you, Comrade Yang. We'll be colleagues in the same factory from now on, so don't mention it. You helped me carry my luggage all the way today; I should be thanking you."

The meal was very pleasant. Although Huang Yali had a special status, she was very approachable and easy-going, and quickly became familiar with Meng Zhigang and Yang Guangming.

After finishing their meal, Meng Zhigang was about to pay the bill when Huang Yali preemptively took out her money and food coupons.

“Brother Meng, this meal is on me,” Huang Yali said. “It’s already troubled enough that you and Comrade Yang came to pick us up; how could we let you spend more money?”

“That won’t do, I promised to treat you,” Meng Zhigang insisted.

"Next time," Huang Yali said with a smile. "Brother Meng can treat us next time. Consider this meal today as our way of thanking you for picking us up at the station."

Of course, Meng Zhigang couldn't let the woman pay for the meal, so he was quicker and insisted on paying the bill himself.

As they walked out of the restaurant, Yang Guangming said to Meng Yining and Huang Yali, "Once you officially start working and settle down, I'll treat you to a good meal to celebrate your successful onboarding."

Meng Yining nodded happily: "Okay, it's settled then."

Huang Yali smiled and said, "Then thank you in advance, Comrade Yang."

The four continued walking towards the pharmaceutical factory. Huang Yali's home was in the factory's staff quarters. When they reached the fork in the road, Huang Yali stopped.

“Brother Meng, Yining, Comrade Yang, I’m going home from here,” Huang Yali said. “Yining, you go settle in with your brother first, and we’ll go to school together tomorrow.”

“Okay, Yali, see you tomorrow,” Meng Yining said.

Huang Yali nodded to Yang Guangming and Meng Zhigang again, picked up her luggage, and walked towards the family compound.

Watching her departing figure, Yang Guangming felt a pang of emotion. It was rare to find a girl like Huang Yali, who came from a good family and had excellent personal qualities, yet was not arrogant at all.

The three continued walking towards the dormitory building. Meng Zhigang's dormitory was on the third floor of Building No. 3, in the same building as Yang Guangming's room.

We went up to the third floor and arrived at Meng Zhigang's room. The room was the same size as Yang Guangming's, also fifteen square meters.

The furniture inside was very simple: a bed, a table, a chair, and a washbasin stand.

Meng Zhigang put down his luggage and wiped his sweat: "The conditions are basic, Yining, please make do. The school should arrange a dormitory for you after you register tomorrow."

"It's great, bro." Meng Yining looked around the room. "Much better than our school dorms."

Yang Guangming helped put one of the suitcases on the bed and said, "Zhigang, Yining, you guys pack your things first. I'm going back. Call me anytime if you need anything; I'm on the second floor."

"Thank you so much for your help today, Guangming." Meng Zhigang saw him to the door.

"No trouble at all." Yang Guangming then said to Meng Yining, "Yining, get some rest, and have a smooth reporting process tomorrow."

"Thank you, Guangming," Meng Yining said with a smile.

Yang Guangming went downstairs and returned to his room. He closed the door, leaned against it, and Meng Yining's beautiful face and bright smile floated into his mind.

Five years have passed, and she has changed a lot, but her quiet and elegant temperament remains unchanged. On the contrary, she has become more and more charming with age.

Meng Yining's arrival brought a brighter color to his life. Reuniting with an old classmate is always a joyous occasion. (End of Chapter)