Chapter 98 - 98

Chapter 98 In the Days of Calm and Tranquil"It's been resolved!"Yun Ting briefly explained the situation."It's too difficult! Being a teacher means having to help students with their household chores. What kind of situation is this? I'm a child myself!""Have some shame! You're eighteen this year, aren't you? How come you have such a bigchild?" Yang Qingqing said bluntly."If my birthday hasn't come yet, I'm not eighteen, so I'm still a child. What? Are you jealous?""childish…""Can't beat me, huh? Hehehe..." Yun Ting even made a face at her.The next day, Zhao Hongsheng arrived at school on time. Yun Ting asked about the situation and was relieved to learn that he was alright.The days passed by in a constant battle of wits with the students, and soon it was harvest season.At this time, the autumn harvest is the most important event in the village, so the school is also on holiday, and everyone has to go to the fields to participate in the harvest. There can be no delay at all, because food is life.The weather was good this autumn harvest, with no rain, so we didn't have to work like crazy all night like last year. However, after a month of harvesting, everyone was still exhausted. But this didn't include Yun Ting, who had a cheat code, so she was much better off than the others.After the autumn harvest, everyone went up the mountain as usual to find local products and stock up on food for the winter. School continued, and it wasn't time for winter vacation yet.In Heilongjiang Province, once the Beginning of Autumn has passed, the temperature begins to drop rapidly. It's as if the lingering heat of summer hasn't dissipated yet, and the coolness of autumn is already impatiently rushing in.At this time of year, a thin layer of white frost covers the ground and plants, as if nature has draped the earth in a crystal-clear veil.Everyone started wearing light jackets, and some children at school were still wearing only thin clothes. There was no other way; it was all because they were poor.The teachers had no choice but to ask the doors to be closed during class, which made them a little more comfortable.The teachers have a small office. Right now, Yun Ting is swinging her legs and drinking hot water from an enamel mug.Other teachers who didn't have classes were either reading or chatting casually.The principal saw this scene as soon as he entered."Oh...you're all free?""Principal, I just took a break and you ran into me. You didn't see me when I was busy," Yun Ting said with a smile. She wasn't intimidated by the principal, but the others were still a bit reserved.Wen Jingzhi really likes Yun Ting's personality; she says what she thinks."Haha... How are the kids in the class doing lately?""It's both good and bad..." Yun Ting said ambiguously."What do you mean?""Principal, the weather is getting cold. Manychildren from other brigades bring dry rations in the morning, but they freeze solid by noon. When it gets even colder, they won't be able to eat them at all. Besides, they don't even have a sip of hot water. This won't do. Their bodies can't take it!""Yes, Principal, some of the children in our class came wearing only a single layer of clothing and were shivering from the cold," Li Caiyun added."Hmm, that is indeed a problem. What are your thoughts?" The principal asked everyone, but his eyes were fixed on Yun Ting.He always thought this girl was clever, and since she was the one who brought it up first, she must have something in mind."Principal, how about we set up a small cafeteria at school? At lunchtime, the children who bring their own lunch can heat it up and boil some water so they can have a hot drink when they're cold.""That's a good suggestion. Should we hire someone to be in charge of the cafeteria? We'll also need to build a separate kitchen. I'll have to discuss this with the leadership.""Okay, then we'll wait for your good news."The principal really needs to consult with the Commune leadership about this matter. After all, hiring an extra person and building an extra room both cost money, and that money isn't coming out of his own pocket, so he can't make the decision on his own.However, Yun Ting felt that this matter was not difficult and that the leadership would not refuse. She just didn't know whether to approach Duan Xingye or some other leader.When she saw Duan Xingye arrive with the principal the next day, she knew the answer.This guy even praised her in front of everyone with a straight face." Teacher Yun is responsible towards her child, good at identifying problems, and makes excellent suggestions. She deserves praise and should be learned from. Keep up the good work!"Yun Ting: "…"Should she step forward and share her feelings about being praised? Duan Xingye watchedLittle girl's ever-changing expressions, a slight smile playing on his lips and a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. He could guesswhat Little girl was thinking.The leadership approved it, and the canteen was quickly built. It was a spacious adobe house, where children who didn't go home for lunch could heat up their meals.The person in charge of heating up the children's meals in the kitchen was a woman from the village named Aunt Xinghua. Her husband had broken his leg while hunting in the mountains, and she also had an elderly and frail mother-in-law and two children at home. Her family was in dire straits, so the Brigade Leader was taking special care of them. No one else had any objections, and even if a few people did have objections, they didn't dare to say anything.Aunt Xinghua is a hardworking and simple woman who doesn't talk much, but she is very efficient at her work.Her job was simply to boil water and heat up meals for the children at noon, so she didn't receive a salary; she was paid five work points each day.The teachers could eat at school or have Aunt Xinghua cook, but that would mean they wouldn't receive the subsidy receipts, so several teachers said they would rather eat at home.Yun Ting also doesn't like eating communal meals; nothing tastes as good as homemade food.The days passed peacefully and uneventfully.The weather is getting colder and colder. At the end of the year, in addition to the grain distributed, the pigs in the team have become the focus of everyone's attention.The villagers would stroll around the pigsty every day, and just one look was enough to make them feel incredibly satisfied.The fourteen pigs were well-fed and glossy, with round backs and bristles that gleamed healthily in the morning light. When they arched up the bedding in their pen, their muscular bodies were clearly visible.The strongest old sow—which the team had specially kept for her to give birth—was already showing signs of pregnancy; it wouldn't be long before she gave birth again.The remaining thirteen pigs were all carefully selected fat pigs, and in a few days they would be handed over to the government to be taken to the food station to exchange for money and tickets.When the news spread throughout the team, chimneys in every household emitted more smoke than usual. The men rested in the fields at midday, calculating how much money they could exchange for the remaining boars at the Commune food station.The aunties were sewing shoe soles while chatting, and they were talking about pigs."Our village should be able to exchange a lot of cloth coupons this year, right? I'm thinking of getting my eldest son a new jacket; both kids' jackets are patched up.""The pigs are doing well this year, so maybe we can get an extra two pounds of meat to treat the kids.""I hope I can draw a lot in the lottery and get some big pieces of fatty meat to fry up a lot of oil! The cracklings can be used to make dumplings. Oh my, I can't take it anymore, my mouth is watering.""Haha...look how greedy you are.""Don't tell me you're not craving it? I can't even remember the last time I ate meat, sigh..."The women chatted amongst themselves, all hoping to receive a share of money and meat.