The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

Before long, the main table was filled with dishes.

The dishes, including stir-fried wild boar, stewed old hen, and a large bowl of pork rib soup, were significantly more plentiful than those on other tables.

Village chief Zhang Youfu walked over with a smile and sat down again.

"Secretary Zhang, we're sorry to have kept you waiting!"

As he spoke, he opened the jar of old wine, which weighed over ten kilograms.

The rich aroma of the wine immediately filled the air, and everyone at the main table couldn't help but sniff it.

"Good wine!" Secretary Zhang's eyes lit up. "Village Chief Zhang, this jar of yours must be quite old, right?"

"Twenty-three years!"

As Zhang Youfu spoke, he filled everyone's bowl to the brim.

"This was stored away by my father when he was alive, and he's always been reluctant to drink it. I'm in a good mood today, so I'm bringing it out for everyone to try!"

Li Kaixin took a small sip first. The wine had a light, grainy aroma on its palate, and it was indeed a good wine.

"Village chief, this wine is really good!" he praised sincerely.

"As long as Comrade Li likes it!"

Zhang Youfu smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits as he picked up the bowl.

"Come on, let's have one!"

Everyone at the table was very obliging, raising their bowls and taking a big gulp.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere at the table immediately became lively, and Zhang Youfu started talking to Secretary Zhang about serious matters.

The topic of conversation was none other than the issue of food.

Zhang Youfu invited Secretary Zhang this time because Li Kaixin was there.

It was all in order to secure more relief grain quotas from higher authorities, hoping that Kaoshantun could receive a larger share this winter.

The two started chatting normally, and Li Kaixin just listened from the side, acting as if nothing was wrong.

But as the conversation continued, Secretary Zhang suddenly changed the subject, smiling as he looked at Li Kaixin:

"Coach Li, you've seen a lot in Beijing, could you tell me what to do in a situation like Kaoshantun?"

Li Kaixin was slightly taken aback. She didn't want to get involved at all and gave a vague and evasive answer.

Seeing this, Secretary Zhang did not press the matter further and continued his discussion with Zhang Youfu.

Although the quota for relief grain was already tight, Secretary Zhang finally relented out of consideration for Li Kaixin and agreed to allocate as much of the quota as possible to Kaoshantun.

Li Kaixin barely ate anything during the meal.

He always dreaded situations like this where business was discussed over drinks.

On the contrary, the other dining table was bustling with activity.

Zhou Zhiming, Wu Tian, ​​Qian Dazhuang, and Du Ziteng were assigned to the table where the four girls were sitting, whether by design or by chance.

At first, they were a little reserved, since they usually drive long distances and rarely have the opportunity to sit down and chat with young women.

But the girls were so outgoing, always smiling and asking all sorts of questions, that they quickly got Zhou Zhiming and Wu Tian talking.

The two of them recounted everything that happened in the city and what they saw and heard on the road in a vivid and detailed manner.

The little girls had never heard of such things before; each one of them propped their chin on their hand, their eyes sparkling.

Every now and then, they would chime in with a couple of sounds.

After the banquet ended, Secretary Zhang and Captain Cui and a few others sat for a while before standing up to say goodbye.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Youfu quickly went to see them off and led Secretary Zhang and the others out.

Li Kaixin walked a few steps with him, stopping only at the gate of the courtyard.

Then, turning around, I saw that Zhou Zhiming's table was still chatting happily.

He walked over with a smile and patted his apprentice on the shoulder:

"Zhiming, what are you guys talking about? You seem so excited!"

"Master, you've come at the perfect time!"

Zhou Zhiming rubbed his hands together and whispered in Li Kaixin's ear, "Do you still have any White Rabbit milk candies? Could I borrow a few?"

Li Kaixin glanced at the girls on the table who were secretly peeking in their direction, and immediately understood most of it.

"You little brat!"

He smiled meaningfully, then pulled a handful of milk candies from his pocket and handed them over, saying, "Take them, you don't need to return them."

"Thank you, sir!"

Zhou Zhiming took it, and his face immediately lit up with a smile.

He immediately approached the girls and generously handed it over:

"Come on, everyone, have a taste. This is the White Rabbit Milk Candy I was talking about earlier."

The girls blushed and declined a few times, but ultimately couldn't resist Zhou Zhiming's insistence.

"Thank you, Brother Zhiming!" they said in unison, holding the milk candies.

Li Kaixin watched this scene, but didn't know what to say.

I remember this time last year, Zhou Zhiming was avoiding the girls in the village like the plague, but now he's starting to take the initiative.

I probably made money this year and the financial pressure is gone.

Just then, Zhao Laosi came over and said with a smile, "Brother Li, how was your meal today?"

"I'm full."

Li Kaixin quickly responded, then looked around at the surroundings, "But Brother Zhao, this meal really took a toll on your family."

"What's the big deal! I'd love to!" Zhao Laosi said nonchalantly.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Village Chief Zhang Youfu had already seen Secretary Zhang and the others off to the gate of the courtyard.

He walked straight towards Li Kaixin, his face apologetic: "I'm sorry, Comrade Li, actually I was the one who called you today..."

"It's alright, Village Chief!"

Li Kaixin immediately interrupted, "I know, but next time you could tell me a little in advance so I can be prepared."

Earlier, when Secretary Zhang suddenly steered the conversation toward him, he understood what was going on.

Li Kaixin wasn't angry. He could understand why a village chief would want the villagers to get more food.

He just didn't like being kept in the dark and used as a pawn.

"I understand, I understand."

Zhang Youfu nodded repeatedly, but the apology on his face deepened.

"Comrade Li, don't worry, I promise I won't do it again. What I did today was dishonest."

Zhao Laosi, who was standing to the side, was completely confused and couldn't help but speak up:

"Village Chief, Brother Li, what are you talking about? I can't understand a word you're saying!"

Upon hearing this, Li Kaixin and Zhang Youfu exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter.

Although Zhao Laosi was honest and straightforward, he wasn't stupid. Seeing that the two were unwilling to say more, he chuckled twice and stopped asking questions.

As dusk fell, the elderly women who had helped in the courtyard finished cleaning up the dishes and chairs and went home in twos and threes.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zhang Youfu said, "Comrade Li, why don't you stay at Zhao Laosi's house tonight? I've already had the bedding prepared."

"Then I'll have to trouble the village chief and Brother Zhao." Li Kaixin nodded without being polite.

On the other side, the four little girls said goodbye to Zhou Zhiming and the others, and then chattered as they walked out of the courtyard.

Wu Tian nudged Zhou Zhiming with his elbow and whispered jokingly:

"Zhiming, that girl named Cuiyun said a few extra words to you before she left."

"Go! Go! Go!"

Zhou Zhiming blushed, but he didn't mince words, "They were just being polite because we're guests."

Qian Dazhuang and Du Ziteng chuckled to themselves, neither of them saying a word.

Seeing his apprentice's lack of ambition, Li Kaixin couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"Alright, alright, we'll sleep at Brother Zhao's place tonight. Stop standing around, we have to get up early to go up the mountain tomorrow!"

......