Jiang Cheng was forced to join the battle.

In the northeast, the main focus of a snowball fight is on the "fight" aspect; the snow is secondary.

The main goal of a snowball fight is to get the opponent in the snow, there’s no chance to form snowballs because the attacks come too quickly.

Whether it’s boys or girls, the main play is you push me, I push you.

You trip me, I stuff snow down your neck.

In the end, the whole thing turns into a free-for-all, and who’s on whose team becomes completely unimportant.

Except for you, everyone around is an enemy.

Jiang Cheng came to realize this.

The free-for-all continued.

A group of parents watching outside wanted to laugh and shout.

They laughed because these kids and young people were so fun, and shouted because the cotton shoes and pants would get wet again.

The snowball fight lasted for over half an hour and ended with the parents’ intervention.

One by one, brooms were thrown in the middle. Participants like Jiang Cheng, Li Chunxiang, and Sun Aiguo, who were all about the same age, each grabbed a broom and began to sweep the snow.

Everyone swept while playing, with laughter and chatter, ending a happy morning.

When Jiang Cheng returned indoors, Grandma Shen handed him a towel with a smile.

"Hurry and take off your clothes, warm up by the fire!"

"Alright!"

Jiang Cheng took off his cotton shoes, placed them by the stove to dry, and warmed his hands in the process.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue had two pairs of cotton shoes, and after changing into them, one carried a shovel and the other a broom, heading off to school.

Because snowfall doesn’t affect school attendance—in fact, they have to bring their own tools to school to clear the snow.

That day, Jiang Cheng stayed at home, writing and translating manuscripts, and didn’t go anywhere.

In the evening, as the four of them were having dinner, someone knocked on the door.

Jiang Cheng got up to open the door, it was Li Chunxiang.

"Chunxiang, just got off work?"

"Just got back!"

Li Chunxiang took off her gloves, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a slightly crumpled envelope.

"Director Shen sent this for you."

"If you reply, just give it to me tomorrow morning!"

"I’ll head back now!"

Li Chunxiang quickly put her hands back in her pockets and ran home.

Jiang Cheng, slightly surprised, first closed the door, and glanced at the envelope in passing.

It was addressed exclusively to Jiang Cheng.

It was a personal letter.

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but smirk a bit arrogantly while holding the envelope: "Ah... I feel a bit embarrassed."

Grandma Shen chuckled and said, "Keep that smile in check."

Jiang Cheng let out a silly laugh, not only did he not hold back, but it grew wider.

The four of them shared a knowing smile and continued eating.

After the meal, Shen Xing and Shen Yue went to wash dishes together, while Jiang Cheng returned to the next room.

She opened the envelope directly.

Inside was not only a letter but also a photograph.

In the photograph, Shen Que looked particularly handsome.

His hair was obviously styled carefully, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, buttoned up to the very top, very austere.

Even though he was sitting in a wheelchair, his back was straight, hands clasped in front, the creases on his pants seemed meticulously arranged, complemented by shiny leather shoes.

Jiang Cheng clutched her uncontrollable little heart, muttering, "Is this trying to seduce me?"

"Not bad, very successful."

*

The next day, Jiang Cheng went to Xinhua Bookstore to deliver translation manuscripts, and brought back more translation certificates and manuscripts.

After leaving Xinhua Bookstore, she went to see Principal Wang and Old Bone Ma.

Everything at Principal Wang’s place was running normally, and Old Bone Ma officially started working at the hospital.

Leaving Old Bone Ma’s place, Jiang Cheng returned to the courtyard and received another letter from Shen Que.

The two of them began exchanging sweet and humorous letters.

On the third day of correspondence, Jiang Cheng received a phone call from Director Mu’s side.

Director Mu brought two pieces of news.

The first was that the donation from the Laine couple to promote Heimlich had been approved, and the second was that Director Mu had secured the opportunity to lead a trip to the Goat Market.

Which meant, the two would meet soon.

Jiang Cheng, after hanging up the phone, didn’t go home immediately. She left the night school and went straight to S City’s foreign trade office.

Riding for almost an hour, Jiang Cheng was drenched in sweat.

Parking her bike, Jiang Cheng was thinking about how to enter, she took off her neck warmer and looked at the gate guard, ready to speak.

"Oh my god! Jiang Cheng!"

"Alive!"

Jiang Cheng blinked; it was her first time hearing such a vivid "adjective."

"Do you know me?"

"Of course I do!"

"Your photos are everywhere inside!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Jiang Cheng: Photos?

She couldn’t figure it out, nor did she need to, because after the guard let her inside, she saw it with her own eyes.

Walking through the foreign trade doors, Jiang Cheng nearly kneeled in disbelief.

Forget the black-and-white photos, but what’s up with all the fruits and snacks placed below?

"Wow! Jiang Cheng!"

"Jiang Cheng is here!"

"Ah—it’s the real Jiang Cheng!"

Standing at the door, Jiang Cheng received a deafening welcome.

The call of "Jiang Cheng" passed quickly from the door inward.

In no time, she was surrounded by a group of people.

Each pair of eyes glistened as they looked at her, the admiration in their eyes made her feel like she was some charismatic leader.

Some even wanted to reach out and touch her.

Jiang Cheng was so overwhelmed by their enthusiasm that she felt humility for the first time.

Fortunately, Leader Song came over and stopped everyone’s staring and excitement.

Jiang Cheng followed Leader Song out of the crowd, but could still feel numerous pairs of eyes on her back.

Jiang Cheng, feeling a tingling on her scalp, asked, "I find everyone here quite passionate about me."

Leader Song awkwardly smiled.

"They’ve just heard so much about your stories, they’ve never seen someone so alive... I mean, a real person...."

Hearing the same sort of phrase, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt like laughing.

Did she have a group of loyal fans now?

At this thought, Jiang Cheng instantly let go of humility and eagerly took on the role: "I can stay today and chat with everyone."

"Really? That’s great! That’s great!"

Leader Song was overjoyed, and the two of them reached Leader Song’s office.

"Jiang Cheng, you came today because of the Laine couple’s donation, right?"

"Yes, Director Mu called me."

Leader Song nodded, pulled out a file from a pile of documents, and pushed it to Jiang Cheng: "The money has been approved and temporarily deposited here at foreign trade. However, for the promotional work, we need to collaborate with the local community and the health school."

"Given the current weather, it’s challenging to go to rural areas for promotion. We plan to start when spring arrives next year. What do you think?"

Jiang Cheng praised, "You’re comprehensively considerate, considering things I hadn’t thought of."

With just one sentence, Leader Song deeply felt, "No wonder every director who has worked with you says it’s comfortable to talk with you."

Jiang Cheng, without false modesty, added, "I just like to speak the truth."

Both laughed heartily, and things were thus temporarily settled.

Jiang Cheng also kept her word and stayed at foreign trade for the entire day.

That day, Jiang Cheng was not idle either.

She shared insights on dealing with foreigners, cultural taboos in different countries, and how to be wary of conversational traps, making the day informative and fruitful.

When leaving after spending the day, Jiang Cheng was handed two packages.

Carrying the packages, Jiang Cheng stepped outside only to see an unexpected person.

She hurried over.

"Shen Que? What brings you here?"