Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors.

  Wang Zhen ate well, originally thinking of going to the vegetable market to help Zheng Shuirong sell vegetables, and also to see if there was anything that could increase income. However, her mother's firm attitude was that selling vegetables was not possible, so she changed her strategy: "Mom, this afternoon I'll go to Er Sao's house and ask if she still goes to the riverbank to pick up gravel." Wang Zhen shifted the topic of conversation.

  Limestone, after being burned at high temperatures, becomes quicklime, which is in great demand for house construction. The artificial river at the village entrance has an abundance of such stones, so several lime kilns have been built to burn them into quicklime. Many people go to the river to collect and sell these stones just to earn some extra money.

  Zheng Shuirong finished eating the last mouthful of rice in her bowl and drank a bowl of soup. Hmm, this soup is not bad, it's not greasy and it's light.

  "This kid must be thinking of earning money to support her family, right? Sighed in her heart, forget it, just let her have her way this time: 'Okay, but don't cause trouble for your second aunt.'"

  "Good." Wang Zhen replied happily, with a rare smile appearing at the corners of her eyes.

  Zheng Shui Rong looked at her own sensible child and couldn't help but feel a surge of sourness in her heart.

  After finishing dinner, washing dishes and cleaning up, Wang Zhen went visiting without wasting any time.

  "Is Second Sister-in-law at home?" Wang Zhen knocked on the gate of Li Qingyao's house.

  "Who is it?" The yard was first filled with a burst of barking dogs, followed by Li Qingya's voice coming out.

  "I'm Wang Zhen, Second Auntie."

  "Oh, Little Sheng, come in quickly." The Li Qingya family was not as high-ranking as the Wang Sheng family, and it was clear that they were two generations apart. However, according to village customs, the two families were considered to be of the same generation, so Wang Sheng had to address a woman who was as old as his own mother as "sister-in-law".

  Li Qingyao was somewhat surprised by Wang Zhen's arrival, but being a straightforward and helpful person, she also welcomed the visit of this neighbor. After all, as the saying goes, "distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors".

  When he was a child, Wang Zhinan refused to call Wang Zhen "Aunt", saying that Wang Zhen was three years younger than him, so he got used to calling her Wang Zhen when he was young, and still did so when he grew up, and the adults didn't say anything about it.

  "Uh, Second Aunt, isn't Zhi Nan attending supplementary classes?" Wang Zhi Nan is in her third year of high school, so she started taking supplementary classes a month early.

  "Yes, it's really tough to study during the summer vacation when everyone else is on holiday. He's still going to school." Although he was complaining, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes, Li Qingyao still had confidence in his son.

  Looking around, in the whole Wangjia Village, there are only a few people who can attend high school. It's possible that the only college student in the village comes from their family. How can they not be excited?

  "It's hard to be hard, but after passing the college entrance exam and getting a good job after graduation, isn't it all worth it? Second sister should be happy instead, Zhi Nan's grades are so good, she'll definitely get into a good university." Wang Zhen also climbed up the ladder, who doesn't love listening to pleasant words.

  "Haha, look at me, this girl is getting more and more eloquent, as sweet as honey! Those who don't know the truth always say that girls are dumb, that's just sour grapes!" Li Qingyao was delighted, of course, to praise someone while belittling others.

  Those who say that Wang Yan is a boring person, Wang Yan also knows who they are. Aren't there just a few people in the village who have nothing to do after eating their fill and like to gossip about others?

  Wang Zhen smiled and didn't say anything.

  "Look, sister saw you happy, come in and sit down, sister will grab some peanuts for you, these peanuts are freshly harvested, they're sweet." New peanuts have a sweet taste, those grown at home are much better than modern ones.

  "Thank you, sister-in-law, no need. I've come to trouble you with something."

  Li Qingyao didn't care, turned around and went to another room with a basin, filled half of it and came out: "Eat, don't be polite to your sister-in-law, if you have something to say, peanuts are still worth eating."

  Wang Zhen no longer put on a polite face, took some peanuts and ate while saying: "Sister-in-law, I'm also in my third year of junior high school. I was thinking that if possible, I'd like to attend high school, so...I want to borrow Zhinan's high school books to take back and review them first. If there's a chance to attend high school, at least the grades won't be too bad, wasting money on education and losing face for my family..." His voice grew smaller as he spoke.

  Li Qingyao is very clear about the situation of Wang Zhuan's family. That useless Wang Xian'guo doesn't show up all year round, and he doesn't even bring money back home, making life difficult for his mother and daughter. As for Wang Zhuan's father, there's no hope for him either. Poor child, wants to go to school, but who knows if Zheng Shui'rong can afford it?

  "I thought it was a big deal, I'll first find all the books from Zhi Nan's high school years for you, and when Zhi Nan comes back next time, I'll ask him to borrow those graduation books from his classmates in high three and bring them together for you." Li Qingyao is a straightforward person, and as neighbors, they will naturally help with what they can.

  Wang Zhen didn't expect Li Qingyao to be so easy-going, and she stood up and thanked her repeatedly. She thought about how in her past life, Wang Zhen had always been afraid of this neighbor, thinking that she was too sharp-tongued, so she never got close to her, just exchanging nods. Thinking about it now, Wang Zhen was speechless towards her past self, unable to distinguish between good and bad people, simply beyond salvation.

  "Stop it, stop it! You're always bowing and thanking me. It's no big deal, if you keep this up, I won't lend you any more books!" Li Qingya pretended to be angry.

  Wang Zhen smiled and replied.

  Li Qingyao did as she said, got up and walked into Wang Zhinan's house to rummage through the boxes and found a large basket of books. She carried it out and placed it in front of Wang Zhen: "Little sister, take it back and read it carefully. When you have the chance, read more books, they will always come in handy."

  Li Qingyao's name was given to her by her father. Her father worked in a private school before liberation and saw many scholars who became famous, so he named his daughter Li Qingyao after the great poet or wordsmith Li Qingzhao.

  It was in those poor rural areas that no one thought the name was funny, so Li Qingyao, under his father's influence, also recognized a few characters and thought reading books was a good thing.

  Wang Zhinan's father, Li Qingyao's husband Wang Wenfu, just hearing the name, you know that his family hoped he would study hard and make a good life for himself. Unfortunately, man proposes but God disposes, Wang Wenfu was not cut out for studying, but fortunately he managed to finish junior high school.

  All his hopes were pinned on his only son, Wang Zhinan.

  So when Li Qingya heard that Wang Zhen wanted to read books, she didn't say a word and always thought of helping out, also willing to lend books.

  "I won't say thank you again, I'll remember this. Wang Zhen didn't say much more either, finally adding: "I will return it after I use it."

  Li Qingya liked this kind of straightforwardness. If she borrowed something, no matter how broken or worthless it was, she would return it. She smiled and nodded her head, a good kid, and it wasn't in vain that she helped the mother-daughter pair out once.