Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Registration, The Large-Leaf Sunflower

Things happened so quickly that Xu Huaian almost wondered if he’d imagined it all. Only the twenty yuan clutched in his hand proved that everything just now had really happened.

Good steel should be used where it’s needed most. This recent incident made Zhuo Yifan realize some shortcomings in their defenses and pushed him to finally decide: he must form a special operations team made up of Chinese nationals.

The special ops squad led by Xu Huaian was already taking shape. After their initial cooperation and getting used to working together, they’d gained some teamwork experience. With a bit more training, they’d definitely become a solid unit.

And Xu Huaian was undoubtedly the soul of this special ops team—their core.

Xu Huaian had already completed his discharge procedures before, so this time he was being recalled to service. Because of the special nature of the team, his personnel file was now classified.

Locally, only his pre-discharge information was visible. His new enlistment records wouldn’t be sent back to his hometown for now.

In other words, as far as the local authorities were concerned, he was still a discharged soldier, and his previous pension was still being issued. However, he’d already told Gu Qinghuan not to collect it anymore.

Gu Qinghuan, of course, had no need to collect the money. They didn’t lack for it these days.

Xu Huaian was officially assigned to a special department, enjoying top-tier benefits, and thus began a new chapter in his life.

End of February.

Gu Qinghuan received the first letter Xu Huaian sent back. He didn’t mention anything about his unit’s arrangements, only said he was doing well and that his comrades praised her beef jerky and spicy rabbit as delicious.

She guessed there must be confidentiality rules, so she didn’t ask much. She wrote back to let him know she was fine and shared her recent news and plans, just as they’d always done—communicating through letters.

The commune officially put out a notice: the commune elementary school was recruiting three new teachers, open to all talented individuals within the commune, including educated youth. Anyone with a junior high education or above could apply.

The selection process would involve a written test and a teaching demonstration.

In other words, the first round would be a written exam to filter out most applicants, leaving only a few. Then, those remaining would compete by giving a sample lesson, and finally, three would be chosen.

This method was relatively fair—everyone had an equal shot.

As soon as the news broke, all the educated young people in the commune were abuzz with excitement.

Especially the educated youth at the zhiqing point—they considered themselves intellectuals and were sure they had a better chance than the rural kids.

Many of the zhiqing had attended high school, while most village children were lucky to finish junior high.

In this respect, they did have an advantage.

After all, being a teacher meant no more backbreaking farm work—and you’d get a salary.

When they first came to the countryside, they were full of ambition. But by now, the endless days of hard labor had worn down their enthusiasm for life. They just wanted something easier.

People flocked to sign up—everyone wanted a shot at one of the positions.

Gu Qinghuan also went to the commune to register. Technically, she should have signed up with the brigade secretary, but she didn’t trust Xu Mingshan, that old schemer, and worried he’d pull some tricks behind the scenes. So she went directly to the commune elementary school to register.

By coincidence, she ran into Lin Xiaomeng on the way.

Lin was riding her bicycle with Dacheng on the back, both clearly headed for the commune as well. Since the family split, Lin Xiaomeng no longer hid her capabilities—she’d even bought a bicycle, probably to make black market trips easier.

Come to think of it, the heroine in the book really did love running the black market—she must’ve made quite a bit of money.

Given the direction they were headed, was Lin Xiaomeng also planning to sign up for the exam?

When Lin Xiaomeng parked her bike at the elementary school, Gu Qinghuan was sure of her intentions.

She followed, and the two met at the entrance.

The kids greeted each other enthusiastically.

“Brother Dacheng!”

“Dabao, Beibei.”

The two adults exchanged awkward smiles, each guessing the other’s intentions. But although they were competitors, it was all down to personal ability—nothing more to say.

“You’re here to sign up too, sister-in-law?” Lin Xiaomeng spoke first.

“Yes, and you as well, big sister-in-law?”

After that New Year’s incident, thanks to Lin Xiaomeng’s efforts to smooth things over, their relationship wasn’t as tense as before, but they weren’t exactly close—just nodding acquaintances.

“Mm.” The two understood each other without saying much. After registering with their kids, they went their separate ways.

Lin Xiaomeng had to deliver something to an “old customer.” She’d caught a few wild rabbits in the mountains a couple of days ago, and since her family couldn’t finish them, she decided to sell them for some cash.

She’d built up a regular clientele from her frequent sales, so she could just deliver directly.

Even without the blessing of the Lucky Spring, Lin Xiaomeng’s luck was always pretty good, and with her space ability as a cheat, she was still doing well.

After registering, Gu Qinghuan took the two kids straight to the county seat. She’d made another batch of spicy rabbit yesterday and wanted to bring some to Lu Jianye.

When they’d traded bicycles before, Gu Qinghuan had given him some of her spicy rabbit.

After tasting it, the whole Lu family fell in love with the spicy, flavorful dish. Lu Jianye even asked if he could buy more from her.

Of course, Gu Qinghuan wouldn’t actually sell it to him. You can’t put a price on friendship, and besides, making it was a lot of work—she never planned to make money off it.

She just said that if she managed to catch more rabbits, she’d make some and bring it over.

She’d had time yesterday, so she made two pots and brought some over today, planning to discuss another business deal with Lu Jianye as well.

While the two adults talked business, the kids played quietly in the yard under the care of the Lu family’s old lady.

The old lady didn’t have any great-grandchildren yet, and her grandkids were already grown, so she loved having little ones around. She made malted milk for the kids, gave them candy, and played with them, smiling all the while.

When she learned that Gu Qinghuan had married a divorced man with two kids, she didn’t show it on her face, but she was a bit puzzled inside.

By all rights, Gu Qinghuan wasn’t short of money, lived comfortably, was pretty, capable, and educated—why would she tie herself down to such a “crooked tree”?

But everyone lives their own life—she wasn’t about to judge.

Still, she felt a bit sorry for Gu Qinghuan. After the mother and children left, she even reminded her own son not to be too greedy in business with Gu Qinghuan—she didn’t have it easy.

Gu Qinghuan had no idea someone was feeling sorry for her. She was busy examining the gifts Lu Jianye had given her in return.

Because her spicy rabbit was such a hit with the Lu family—and maybe because she had kids—Lu Jianye generously gave her a pile of treats.

There was malted milk, biscuits, fruit candies—all things kids love.

And there were also two bottles of Gu Qinghuan’s favorite Maotai liquor.

She glanced at them absentmindedly and noticed the bottles looked a bit different from before.

A large sunflower design caught her eye.

It was the Large-Leaf Sunflower!

This was the very same Large-Leaf Sunflower Maotai that would sell for half a million yuan per bottle in later years.

She’d struck gold!"

"Chapter 237: Exam Turmoil