The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 371 - 360: Mutual Encouragement

The two strolled around the neighborhood and just happened to buy two pig’s trotters at the market.

When they returned, Jiang Nanzhou stewed a clay pot of soybeans and pig’s trotters in the kitchen.

He also steamed a pot of rice and stir-fried some shredded potatoes. Originally, they were waiting for Yiyi to come back. Lu Jingqiu said with a smile, "Yiyi definitely ate at the shop before coming home. She often does that."

"Then let’s not wait for her, we’ll eat first."

The pig’s trotters had stewed for over two hours and were especially tender. Lu Jingqiu devoured two pieces in one go and said, "Mmm, this is delicious."

"Usually, at home, whatever I want to eat, I buy and cook myself, or have Ah Mu cook if I can’t."

"Right, we’ve never run out of chicken, duck, fish, meat, or even beef and lamb. I’m not lacking anything to eat. It’s mainly because my husband is back today, and the food that my husband cooks is just delicious."

Jiang Nanzhou was amused by her words and took great pleasure in them. He busily served her another piece and said with a laugh, "Eat more if you like, drink more soup. Aunt Zhang is the best at making this soup. When she comes, I’ll have her make it for you."

"Okay."

"How has Yiyi been getting along at our place recently?"

"Pretty good. The young girl is very diligent. After school, she even helps me clean. I tell her not to; she’s just in the first year of junior high, and her studies are important. Her English isn’t too good, but Ah Mu and I help her with it every week, and now her grades are not bad.

It’s just that Jiang Yuan is too polite, occasionally coming home on leave and always trying to give us money.

In fact, Yiyi helps Niannian buy groceries every week, and she can save up to four or five yuan a month. I’ve never taken the money they offered me."

Jiang Nanzhou rubbed her head, very satisfied with his wife’s approach: "It hasn’t been easy for the two kids to get to where they are now. We should help whenever we can, especially since I was the one who brought Jiang Yuan into the army.

He’s still young but I’ve heard he’s been promoted to platoon leader and has shown some capability."

"Yes, I’ve talked to him about studying before, and he seemed very attentive to it. He even borrowed books and said he would read them after training and would often ask others for help if he didn’t understand.

I told him that when he’s on leave, he should buy some cigarettes and alcohol to show appreciation to those who assist him—it’s a hassle to ask for help, after all.

As a result, Yiyi got him a lot of fruit, which turned out to be quite popular in the army."

"Fruit? The troops do indeed lack fruit."

Lu Jingqiu shook her head, "No, it’s because the fruits from Niannian’s place are delicious, juicy, and sweet. Have you noticed that everything from Niannian’s place, whether it’s vegetables, fruits, or grains, tastes very good? She really knows how to pick good produce."

Jiang Nanzhou didn’t think much of it and said with a smile, "Some people are just born for this industry."

"That’s true."

After they finished eating, seeing that it was still early, Jiang Nanzhou took her out for a walk nearby.

It had been a long time since the couple had walked together under the moonlight, holding hands like this.

When they returned from their walk, just as they reached their front door, they saw Jiang Yuan standing there.

Lu Jingqiu said in surprise, "Jiang Yuan, are you off duty? Why didn’t you go inside?"

"Sister-in-law, Yiyi said no one was home, so I didn’t go in... Big Brother Jiang?"

"Jiang Yuan."

"Big Brother Jiang, you’re back?"

Jiang Nanzhou stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and said, "I hitched a ride back on a plane. Let’s go inside and talk."

"Oh. Okay."

Just as everyone entered the yard, Jiang Yiyi came out with her backpack, planning to leave. Seeing them, she quickly said, "Sister-in-law Jingqiu, my brother is back, and I’m going to stay at his place for a day. Big Brother Jiang?"

Lu Jingqiu said with a smile, "No rush, your Big Brother Jiang came back this morning. He’ll leave tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh."

Jiang Nanzhou and Jiang Yuan sat in the living room and chatted for a while. Jiang Nanzhou asked how he was doing in the army and about his studies.

Jiang Yuan mentioned he was studying ninth-grade material now, which was somewhat challenging, but that many people in the army were helping him.

Jiang Nanzhou reminded him, in addition to academic subjects, to also pay attention to political studies and to consider applying for the Youth League or the Party if possible.

Jiang Yuan nodded in response to each point.

After a short chat, they sent them on their way.

Tonight, the room belonged to just the two of them; having a world of their own was actually quite beautiful.

That evening, Jiang Nanzhou cuddled her, chatting about the situation at his school. His dormitory housed eight people, all top talents from across the country.

Some were brilliant in physics, others in chemistry: "Right, that watch you mailed to me, I took it apart."

"Ah, you dismantled it? Did you put it back together? What did you take it apart for when it was fine?"

"I just wanted to see what kind of construction it had inside. I found that it’s not only waterproof but also highly resistant to magnetism."

"Oh, so it’s different from the ordinary ones then."

"Yeah, it is. For specialist troops like pilots, divers, or snipers using watches, they require not only precise timing but also the ability to adapt to severe changes in gravity acceleration, temperature, and pressure, along with functions like timing and speed measurement. This model is truly the ’elite’ among military watches."

"Wow, do you understand the mechanics inside it?"

"Mm-hmm, out of curiosity, I opened it up to take a look, and I’ve already assembled it back together."

"Oh." She didn’t understand the world of men.

Now at school, Jiang Nanzhou loved to dismantle things, small ones like clocks, alarm clocks, radios, bicycles, televisions, and big ones like motorcycles, bicycles, and cannon cars.

Lu Jingqiu was amazed: "This is what you do at school?"

Jiang Nanzhou laughed: "Isn’t studying about starting from the basics?"

"Husband, what will you all do after you’ve finished your studies?"

"There will be a variety of roles, researching things our country lacks."

"Wow, that’s impressive, keep it up, husband, I support you."

Lu Jingqiu felt this was remote and incomprehensible, but she knew it was important.

They were all willing to work hard for the country.

Jiang Nanzhou was clear about what he wanted to do, so he always strived to learn.

"Speaking of which, around New Year’s, the article you wrote, Editor Liu directly mailed the royalties to me."

"Ah. So that’s why, I saw my article in the newspaper but didn’t see any royalties. How much was it, husband?"

"Twenty yuan."

"Wow, that much? It’s more than I get for one of my drawings."

"Writing articles takes brainpower."

"So does painting. Our school recently had a painting competition, and I’ve been brainstorming for half a month."

"Keep it up, you’re now quite a famous little painter."

Lu Jingqiu smiled: "I’ve only won once. I hope to participate in more competitions, win a few more times, and then my reputation will grow, and my work’s value will rise along with it."

Jiang Nanzhou laughed: "How high can it get?"

Lu Jingqiu blinked and said, "For instance, one of my paintings now costs three yuan, maybe later it could be five yuan, or even more.

I’ve already published three of my illustrated books, and I can get a hundred to two hundred yuan in royalties every year.

That illustrated book I did, although it won an award, it was only for my drawings, not for what I wrote. Hmm... some people still don’t quite understand me."

"The judges rated the paintings, and by giving you the place, they recognized you, you’re the best. Didn’t you also win an award for the Twenty-Four Solar Terms?"

"That’s true."

"You’re still in school, don’t worry, gold will always shine eventually."

"I hope so. I’ve set a goal for myself to produce one illustrated book each year in the future."

"Do you have the time this year?"

"I do. I’m having a baby, not that my hands and brain are occupied, I can do it."

"Go for it, wife."

Their mutual encouragement was the greatest motivation for each other, cheering on for their respective goals.