December 28th, Night School, Principal Wang’s office.

Jiang Cheng, who was here setting exam questions, answered the phone, not expecting that the other person would be looking for her.

"This is Jiang Cheng."

The phone had a bit of static, and the call quality was average.

After Jiang Cheng said several times that she was Jiang Cheng, the other party finally understood.

"Jiang Cheng—this is Director Leng."

Jiang Cheng responded, and Director Leng explained the purpose of the call.

"Beijing plans to conduct translation training after the New Year, expected to last a month. We’d like to invite you to teach."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng agreed without any hesitation.

Director Leng was pleased and continued, "It starts after the New Year, so you can prepare your lessons."

"By the way, this time it’s not just about translation training. Some factories will also send people, mainly to discuss product diversity and international integration issues."

"I was thinking, if you have time, it’d be best if you could participate too. Beijing greatly appreciates your contributions at the trade fair."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng’s eyes brightened a bit more.

Rather than letting translators shoulder the burden, it’s better to solve the problem at its core.

As long as the product is good, foreigners won’t be able to resist buying.

"I got it, Director Leng, I’ll be ready."

After exchanging a few more words with Director Leng, Jiang Cheng hung up the phone.

Jiang Cheng, having hung up the phone, finished the last page of questions in front of her and handed it to Principal Wang saying, "I have something to do, I won’t be coming for the next few days."

Principal Wang took the questions.

"It’s no use coming anyway, we’re on break."

"Right... how many days off?"

"Three days."

Principal Wang coldly stated the number, and Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched.

A three-day holiday?

At this moment, she had only one thought: luckily she wasn’t working here.

Jiang Cheng packed her backpack, said goodbye to Principal Wang, and walked out.

Along the way, she greeted the teachers who had come in for overtime; several teachers responded with a wry smile, and after Jiang Cheng walked away, they all poked their heads out.

"Do you think she can come back?"

"Probably not, she left early today."

"Better not, I haven’t finished grading yesterday’s papers yet."

"Yesterday? I haven’t even finished the day before yesterday’s."

"I’ve been working overtime so much these days my hair is falling out."

After the group of teachers complained, they all dutifully went back to working overtime.

Complaints aside, they knew the difference between good and bad.

*

On her way back, Jiang Cheng stopped by a bookstore.

She picked up a stack of translation materials from the store, and then returned to the communal courtyard.

Once back, Jiang Cheng granted Li Chunxiang and Sun Aiguo a holiday; they didn’t need to come for lessons that evening.

After giving them the break, Jiang Cheng began to prepare training materials.

She suddenly became busy.

But she wasn’t the only one; Grandma Shen was busy with the New Year preparations, Shen Yue was busy drawing comic books, Shen Xing was busy learning English, and Shen Que was even busier.

On the day of December 30th, everyone except Shen Que put down their work.

Because Shen Que was the director, he volunteered to be on duty on this important day, which was a tradition in almost every factory.

Although Grandma Shen was regretful, she understood.

At home, only the two little ones, Grandma Shen, and George, who was invited by Jiang Cheng, remained.

George didn’t initially want to leave the lab, but probably because he got familiar with Shen Xing and knew Jiang Cheng, he eventually came.

In the North, the New Year’s meal is eaten during the day, and dumplings are eaten in the evening while keeping vigil.

If a family is well-off, they might spend several days cleaning, frying food, and offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, among other things.

But in these less affluent times with material shortages, almost everything was done in one day.

In the morning, Grandma Shen regretfully poured half a pot of oil, frying while secretly feeling distressed.

Jiang Cheng, Shen Yue, and Shen Xing stayed by the stove, eating freshly fried dates, fried sweet potatoes, and fried mushrooms.

The mushrooms were brought over by someone sent by the Red Flag Commune’s leader.

After chatting with the person who delivered the mushrooms, Jiang Cheng learned that the leader indeed started cultivating winter mushrooms little by little.

Although the scale is small now, it’s at least a start.

Their mushrooms haven’t been sold in the city yet, but they have stable customers in the commune and county, to the point of being in short supply.

It’s said the leader plans to expand the production scale next.

Jiang Cheng was truly happy for them; the wisdom of the people is always great.

She felt like she was just borrowing the foresight of predecessors and using future-oriented thinking to solve present issues, so everything was simple.

In reality, they were all contributing to the future’s prosperity.

Jiang Cheng munched on the crispy and tender mushrooms, finding them even better than meat.

With a bit of chili powder, it was absolutely delicious.

Within the morning, they were almost full from eating the fried food.

George also tasted Hua Xia’s food, fried sweet potatoes, for the first time.

Shen Xing cut the fried sweet potatoes into neat squares, and only then would George eat them. After finishing one, he wanted another.

He and Shen Xing paired nicely in eating.

Shen Xing ate the cut-off edges, while George ate the neatly shaped pieces, and they got along quite well.

The two exchanged English words and Chinese characters, a comical contrast between their languages.

Around two in the afternoon, the New Year’s Eve meal could also begin.

Stewed chicken with mushrooms, braised ribs, sour cabbage blood sausage, braised carp, scrambled eggs with garlic sprouts, stir-fried peanuts, caramelized sweet potatoes, and lastly, a platter of assorted fried food, eight dishes in total.

Everyone sat down, and Jiang Cheng filled each person’s glass with orange soda. Grandma Shen raised her glass for a toast.

"This year was good, very good, and from now on, every year will be better than the last."

"Cheers!"

Everyone clinked glasses and started eating.

It was the New Year, and Jiang Cheng ensured there was plenty of soda to go around.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue drank happily.

No one ate much rice, as the dishes were filling enough.

After eating and drinking their fill, Jiang Cheng and a few others cleaned the dishes and sent the chef, Grandma Shen, to rest.

Grandma Shen didn’t insist, obediently going to rest.

After the dishes were cleaned up, Jiang Cheng carried a towel-wrapped lunch box and went to the machinery factory.

Entering smoothly, she took the lunch box to Shen Que’s office.

"Knock, knock—"

"Come in!"

Jiang Cheng pushed the door open, holding up the lunch box, and said, "I came to keep Director Shen company for the New Year."

The moment Shen Que saw Jiang Cheng, he stood up, took the lunch box from her hand, and naturally took her hand.

"Are you cold?"

"Sit over here, by the stove."

Shen Que let Jiang Cheng sit by the stove while he poured hot water.

"It’s quite hot, warm your hands first, and drink later."

After Jiang Cheng sat down, she saw Shen Que bustling around alone, although he wasn’t that busy before, he suddenly seemed busy.

"Don’t keep moving around, I need to return before it gets dark, let’s sit and talk."

When Shen Que heard this, he promptly pulled up a chair and sat beside Jiang Cheng.

His gaze fell on Jiang Cheng’s hand.

"Actually, my hands are quite warm."

The next second, Jiang Cheng’s hand was enveloped in Shen Que’s.

"Let me warm it up for you, it’s faster than the stove, the stove makes your hands itchy, mine is all-natural, no itch."

Jiang Cheng was amused and cooperated, saying, "I think so too."