The Fiery Era: Starting from Longxugou

Liu Guiying was stirring the soup inside to prevent it from burning. She was so excited when she heard from the teacher that her eldest son had a good chance of getting into Tsinghua or Peking University that she almost dropped the spoon. When she came to her senses, she quickly put the spoon down and was about to go ask the teacher when she heard her husband's voice.

"Boss, did you hear what Teacher Li said? You'd better read it carefully!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youtian was overjoyed. He pulled his eldest son aside and kept giving him instructions. Teacher Li's words gave him hope. If his eldest son could really get into Tsinghua or Peking University, he would definitely have a bright future! Isn't that what parents hope for—that their children and grandchildren will be successful?

"Shi'an, Teacher Li thinks so highly of you, you must study hard!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youliang also looked at his nephew with burning eyes.

"Uncle, I'll study hard!"

Zhao Shi'an nodded seriously.

"Brother, Shi'an is a very hardworking student. I'm sure he'll continue to study well without needing to be urged!"

Li Zhankui watched this scene and said with a smile.

"Teacher Li is right! My eldest child has been sensible since he was little; he doesn't need to be reminded to study or do chores..."

Zhao Youtian agreed with this.

"Yes! Shi'an has been like this since he was little..."

Listening to his father and uncle's praise, Zhao Shi'an felt very calm. Rather than saying that he was sensible from a young age, it would be more accurate to say that children from poor families are all sensible; it was a choice made under the pressure of survival.

Most people start helping with household chores from a young age. They start helping with cooking, pasting matchboxes, and collecting firewood before they are even tall enough to reach the stove.

People who are used to hardship from childhood never need to be urged to study. Compared to working, studying is the easiest and least strenuous thing to do.

Students from Longxugou may not be the smartest, but they are famous throughout the southern part of the city for their diligence. Most of the students who gather at Xinhua Bookstore every day to read and copy books come from Longxugou.

"You're right! Shi'an is a good kid in every way! The school will focus on nurturing him, but you parents also need to do your part to support him!"

Studying is mentally taxing, so in the months leading up to the college entrance exam, make sure your child gets plenty of nutrition. Eat more eggs and meat; studying is mentally and physically demanding, so good nutrition is essential for good health!

Health is the foundation of everything!

Also, don't let these next few months interfere with his studies. After these four months, once Shi'an gets into university, things will be much better!

Li Zhankui nodded and instructed Zhao Youtian to supplement the child's nutrition. Fearing that the others might not know what nutrition was, he specifically requested that they eat more eggs and meat.

"Okay, okay! Teacher Li, don't worry! I'll sell everything I own to make sure Shi'an eats and drinks well during this time, and I won't let anything affect him. I can't guarantee meat at every meal, but there will be eggs. We raise chickens at home, and with the weather getting warmer, they're laying more eggs..."

Upon hearing the teacher's instructions, Zhao Youtian immediately made a promise.

"Yes! Don't worry, Teacher Li! My family also raises chickens, and we'll give them all to Shi'an. He'll still be able to eat an egg a day..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youliang also chimed in with his assurance. His nephew was so promising, and as his uncle, he naturally couldn't hold him back at this crucial moment.

Listening to the conversation between his teacher and family, Zhao Shi'an's eyes lit up. He was worried about how to improve his meals. Although he wasn't picky about food, he couldn't stand eating cornbread every day. Now that it was springtime, there were plenty of wild vegetables available, and these days he had been filling his stomach with steamed wild vegetables, which he hadn't eaten much for years.

With the teacher's endorsement, he could legitimately improve his meals and eat better food at home, and the neighbors would understand that it was all for the sake of the college entrance examination.

Thinking about all this, Zhao Shi'an felt that the teacher's home visit was truly worthwhile.

"Haha! At least we have eggs! Even the landlord can't eat meat every day..."

Seeing the parents' statement, Li Zhankui was very happy. Once the parents were convinced, Zhao Shi'an could devote himself to his studies, and his academic performance would definitely improve by leaps and bounds!

Upon hearing Li Zhankui's words, everyone burst into laughter.

Having achieved his goal, and after chatting with Zhao Shi'an for a few more minutes, Li Zhankui glanced at his watch and saw that it was almost seven o'clock, so he immediately took his leave.

"It's almost seven o'clock, I won't bother you any longer, brother, Shi'an, I'm leaving!"

Li Zhankui then got up to take his leave.

"Teacher Li, dinner is ready at home. Please stay for a bite before you leave!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youtian immediately grabbed Li Zhankui and wouldn't let go.

"Teacher Li, it's getting dark, please have some dinner before you leave!"

"Teacher, it's getting late. Have some dinner before you go home!"

"Yes, Teacher Li! The eggs I just fried are still hot, please make do with this!"

As Liu Guiying spoke, she came out of the inner room and tried to persuade her to stay.

"No need, no need! I have food at home, you all eat yours, and the scrambled eggs are for Shi'an to nourish his body!"

Li Zhankui waved his hand in refusal and was about to leave when he found himself being held back by Zhao Youtian.

"Teacher Li, the food is ready. Please have a bite before you leave!"

Zhao Youtian grabbed the teacher, preventing him from leaving.

"Yes, Teacher Li..."

As Liu Guiying spoke, she brought out a bowl of scrambled eggs from the inner room.

"Brothers! You guys eat! I really have to go!"

Seeing that he couldn't leave, Li Zhankui continued to persuade him.

"Teacher Li, are you complaining about the food? Please sit down for a while, I'll go kill a chicken!"

Seeing that Li Zhankui was determined to leave, Zhao Youtian thought that Li Zhankui was complaining about the food and immediately wanted to kill a chicken.

"Oh! No, no! Brother, I'm not saying this to be disgusted, but teachers have rules. They can't eat at students' homes when they go on home visits!"

Don't believe me? Ask Shih-An.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhankui quickly stopped Zhao Youtian. The roosters for this season had already been killed before the New Year, and now all the chickens were newly hatched. The chicks were too young to eat, so only the hens could be killed. The weather was warm, which was the time when they were laying eggs. Killing chickens at this time would be like killing a man.

"That won't work either; things are different now!"

Zhao Youtian insisted on staying for dinner. In the past, when teachers visited his home, they would always say that his eldest son was doing well in school and was sensible. But today, Teacher Li said that his eldest son could get into Tsinghua or Peking University!

Compared to a university, what's killing a chicken?

"How about this, bro? Let's remember this meal! When Shi'an gets into university, even if you don't invite me, I'll still have to swallow my pride and come over! How about that?"

Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, Li Zhankui thought for a moment and immediately changed the time to after Zhao Shi'an's college entrance examination. If Zhao Shi'an got into a good university, it would be reasonable for him, as the homeroom teacher, to come over to congratulate him and have a meal.

"Guard! Teacher Li, you'd better come!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youtian loosened his grip slightly and escorted Li Zhankui to the courtyard.

"I'll definitely come! It's getting late, you guys should go back! I'm leaving!"

Li Zhankui pushed his bicycle and waved goodbye to Zhao Youtian and the others.

"Teacher Li, take care!"

"Teacher, please drive carefully!"

Zhao Youtian, Zhao Youliang, and the others escorted Li Zhankui out of the courtyard until the bicycle was out of sight before returning home.

Back home, Zhao Youtian said to his wife:

"Damn it, we won't be giving Old Zhang any flour ration coupons for the next few months."

You listened to what the teacher said. The college entrance exam is related to your future. You need to eat well so you can study well.

Wheat flour is better than corn flour. We give all of our dozens of kilograms of wheat flour to our eldest son every month!

"We need to make sure we have enough eggs too. If we don't have enough, we'll borrow some from the second son! If that's still not enough, we'll go buy some. The eldest son is promising; we can't let him suffer!"

"Brother, what's with the lending? Shi'an is so successful, as his uncle, I should at least show my appreciation, shouldn't I?"