Chapter 522: Chapter 522: Winning the Award Chapter 522: Chapter 522: Winning the Award When she saw what Luo Qiao was carrying, her face, which had been smiling, slightly withdrew, “What is this for?”
Luo Qiao said, “Grandma Liu, please don’t misunderstand. It’s like this…”
Grandma Liu had lost her husband, son, and daughter-in-law, and now it was just her and her young grandson getting by. But she was a proud woman who never complained about the hardships in her heart.
Luo Qiao had overheard the warm yet heart-wrenching conversations between the grandmother and grandson by the dividing wall of their yards and thought to offer help when the opportunity arose.
Worried that Grandma Liu wouldn’t accept the items, Luo Qiao explained today’s incident at the vegetable market: “Grandma Liu, we were just worried that the veggies would lose their freshness if they stayed out too long, so…”
Grandma Liu softly smiled and said, “At my age, I can certainly tell good from bad. I appreciate your kindness; I’ll accept the things.”
She knew her own health status, and that her young grandson would need the neighbors’ care in the future. It is often said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, and it’s important to maintain good relationships with them.
After leaving the Liu Family’s place, Luo Qiao headed into the kitchen to help her ntor.
Feng Shumin saw Luo Qiao return empty-handed and chuckled, “Did she accept it?”
Luo Qiao nodded, “Yes, she did. Grandma Liu seems to be quite an optimistic person.”
Feng Shumin said, “Indeed, her life hasn’t been easy. She has no job and has solely relied on making paper boxes to raise her grandson. She’s scrimped and saved for Liu Yuetao’s education, which has taken a toll on her health.
In the past, when people tried to give her things, she’d refuse, fearing she couldn’t repay the favor. Also, she’s a strong-willed person. Today, she probably accepted it because she didn’t want to hurt your feelings, and also for her grandson’s future.”
Luo Qiao asked, “Doesn’t Grandma Liu have any other relatives?”
Feng Shumin shook her head: “After we moved to the farm, we only heard her family had an accident. We don’t know the details. If Yue Tao needs help in the future, we should give him a hand if we can.”
Luo Qiao nodded, “Okay, I understand.”
————-
In Ji City, as soon as Lu Yichen arrived at work, he sensed sothing was amiss. Bai Shengli ca over, “Yichen, I heard Deputy Director Cai was called in by the higher-ups. Do you think sothing’s wrong?”
Lu Yichen replied, “I was out on a case in the countryside yesterday and just got back today. I haven’t heard what happened yet.”
Wang Mingqiang, who followed him, said, “It’s inevitable to get your feet wet if you always walk by the river. Given how ostentatious his wife is, it was clear they’d been in soone’s crosshairs for a while.”
Qi Jiandong walked in from outside, saw them gathered, and approached, “People from the province are here; I saw them just now. Looks like Deputy Director Cai has got himself into trouble.”
Bai Shengli chid in, “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s get back to work. Keep things straight these next few days.”
Lu Yichen glanced up towards the second floor before opening a drawer to start working on a case file.
By lunchti, the bureau was abuzz with the news that Deputy Director Cai had been taken away for an isolation investigation.
***************
Luo Qiao, left to her own in Capital City, wasn’t idle. With Xiao Jingyu’s help, she got the land she wanted there, as well as a small adjacent lake.
By the ti the math competition results were out, work had already begun here, just like in Ji City. Taking advantage of the unfrozen ground, she hired nearby villagers to till the soil. Many hands make light work.
She set up ten acres with greenhouses first. Besides growing off-season vegetables, she planted strawberries and reserved two greenhouses for cultivating flowers and plants. She collected plenty of farmyard manure from the villagers. Trees couldn’t be planted now, so she planted winter wheat instead, planning to plant trees co next spring.
The school called her to return. After entrusting the work to Peng Mingdong and arranging everything, Luo Qiao headed back to Ji City.
Winning first place in the math competition had not only enhanced the reputation of Ji City First Middle School but also added luster to it. It brought fa both for the school and Luo Qiao herself.
The school even organized a eting for the entire faculty and student body to award Luo Qiao. City leaders, who ca to inspect the school that day, did not expect the Mayor of Ji City, Su Zihao, to be among the visitors.
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