"Back then, I didn't really help you much. It was this child, Little Sweetheart, who was always helping you all."
"Without your support, Little Sweetheart wouldn't have been able to do it even with the best intentions," Chi Ge said with a smile. "Village Chief, your kindness will eventually be rewarded."
People are connected by their hometown. Although Chi Ge and the others were not members of the Red Heart Brigade, they felt a special warmth upon seeing Su Changjiu due to their past connection.
When they learned that Su Lao San planned to take Su Changjiu around the city that afternoon, several elders offered to show him around. Su Dan Novel Network
Su Lao San's original plan was to visit the Palace Museum first.
However, Elder Chi and the others said that the Palace Museum was too vast to be explored in one afternoon. They suggested dedicating a full day to it for a thorough visit.
"That's where the emperor lived, it's even bigger than our village," Chi Ge said with a smile. "There's a lot worth studying inside."
"That works. We'll spend the whole day at the Palace Museum tomorrow, and in the afternoon, we can visit the university," Du Tonghe readily agreed with a smile. "Coincidentally, Zi Zhen is in the capital these days, so let's go see Zi Zhen this afternoon."
For Su Changjiu, he didn't particularly feel there was much to see at the university, but since Shen Zi Zhen was there, and he genuinely wanted to meet the person who had been so kind to farmers, he agreed.
Lunch was at Yiming Pavilion.
Su Changjiu observed the bustling crowd in the Su family's restaurant and knew that business was very good.
It was no wonder the Su family was developing so well. With so many customers and such high prices for their dishes, how could they not do well?
People in the capital were truly wealthy. If it were people from their village, they would truly be reluctant to spend so much money on a meal.
At this moment, Su Changjiu was unaware that the Yiming Pavilion restaurant was not the main source of income for the Su family.
The Su family's real profit came from Rongfa Trading Company, managed by Su Xiao Si, and Little Sweetheart's factory.
During lunch, Su Xiao Cao also arrived. She mentioned that after reporting to school that morning, the school had allowed her to rest in the afternoon and officially start classes the next morning.
Since Su Xiao Cao also had the afternoon free, Su Changjiu suggested taking her to the university together.
Su Xiao Cao had previously studied at a normal university in the provincial capital and had always envied the Su family's children for being able to study at a university.
Upon hearing that they were going to the university, she was very happy and immediately agreed.
The Su family truly knew how to host guests with genuine warmth.
Liang Xiu, the head chef, prepared the restaurant's signature dishes to treat everyone.
Su Changjiu ate his fill but felt uneasy.
"So many dishes, how much must this cost? I see your restaurant's dishes are not cheap at all."
For this simple farmer, he had no idea how much this meal cost, but he knew that the money for this meal was something he and his wife might not earn in half a year.
"It's so much better to just eat at home. Why waste like this?"
"Dad, this is special treatment for honored guests."
Su Xiao Cao smiled and comforted her father. This was the Su family's gesture of goodwill. If he kept talking about it, the Su family might feel uncomfortable.
After receiving his daughter's hint, Su Changjiu finally stopped.
"Changjiu, the prices for the public are high, but for us, it's just the cost of ingredients. It's no different from eating at home," Grandpa Su said, trying to reassure Su Changjiu.
If these words weren't clarified, Su Changjiu probably wouldn't have been able to digest the meal properly.
Hearing Grandpa Su say this, Su Changjiu finally understood.
"Look at me, I was so shocked by the prices for a moment that I got confused," Su Changjiu chuckled sheepishly.
With his concerns eased, Su Changjiu ate more heartily.
After lunch, they rested briefly before heading to the Agricultural University.
As they had made prior arrangements, Shen Zi Zhen was waiting for them at the university.
Upon seeing Shen Zi Zhen again, Su Changjiu stared at him for a long time.
Everyone found it strange that Su Changjiu kept staring at Shen Zi Zhen without saying a word.
Su Changjiu was not a man of few words. Why was he silent upon seeing Shen Zi Zhen?
Shen Zi Zhen was also puzzled. He had visited them before.
Su Changjiu should have recognized him.
Just as Shen Zi Zhen was about to ask, Su Changjiu finally spoke.
"Professor Shen, everyone else seems to look younger when they come to the capital. I thought it was the capital's environment that kept people young, but why do you look older?"
Su Changjiu's words caused everyone else to fall silent.
Indeed, Shen Zi Zhen had visibly aged in the years since returning to the capital. This was something everyone had noticed.
It was all because after returning to the capital, Shen Zi Zhen had been working himself to the bone. In recent years, he had barely had any time to sleep peacefully.
"Did Taohua not take good care of you? This girl, she can't be like this. I need to talk to her and tell her to take better care of your health."
As a farmer, Su Changjiu understood what kind of person Shen Zi Zhen was, and what he meant to the country and to farmers.
He also deeply hoped that Shen Zi Zhen would take care of his health and develop more superior crop varieties so that more people could have enough to eat.
Su Changjiu had always been proud that Su Taohua married such a pillar of the nation.
But now, after only a few years back in the capital, Shen Zi Zhen's health had deteriorated so much.
Subconsciously, Su Changjiu felt that Su Taohua had not taken good care of the household.
Hearing Su Changjiu's words, Shen Zi Zhen quickly explained, "No, no, it's just that my work is too demanding."
Taohua took great care of him. Even though her own factory was busy, she never neglected his care.
Without Taohua's meticulous attention, his health would surely be worse than it was now.
"Actually, for the past six months, Little Sweetheart gave me some medicinal recipes. They've been quite effective."
Everyone who had taken Su Xiao Tian's medicine knew that it was very effective. But why was it not as effective for Shen Zi Zhen?
"Zi Zhen, your family's recipes worked wonders for us. Why aren't they showing significant results for you?"
Chi Ge voiced his thoughts.
His chronic ailments had been cured by Su Xiao Tian using the simplest methods. Why, after more than half a year, had Shen Zi Zhen not shown any noticeable improvement?
"Teacher doesn't pay enough attention to his health. When it's time to eat, if he's busy, he just grabs something quick."
The one who spoke was Su San Gong, and right behind him was Su Taohua.
As Su San Gong spoke, he cast a subtle glance at Shen Zi Zhen, who wore an awkward smile.
Even the most effective medicine is useless for a patient who doesn't follow medical advice.
Su San Gong also found this point to be quite frustrating.
Seeing Su San Gong at that moment, Su Xiao Cao felt her heart race.