"Your mother is the hero, of course," Grandma Yao answered An An's confusion with a smile.
An An was completely bewildered. His mother had been staying home reading books, never even stepping out of the yard, so how could she be a hero?
Seeing An An's cute, dazed expression, Qiao Yushan picked up the wine by his hand, took a sip, and leaned close to An An's ear with a smile. "Do you want to know?"
He knew a little about this matter. Although he was accustomed to Huo Rou's capabilities, he gained a new appreciation for her when Grandpa Nong left to give a report.
He never imagined that while he was carving jade, the books Huo Rou was reading were technical ones! Even less did he expect that while he had been distracted for days without producing any work, Huo Rou had silently assisted Grandpa Nong in breaking through a new technology.
"Uncle Xiao Shan, are you going to play coy with me too?" An An pouted, looking at him with some distress. "Alas, I thought we were good friends."
Seeing An An's slightly hurt expression, Qiao Yushan couldn't help but tell him what he knew.
As An An listened to Qiao Yushan, his eyes lit up with each word. By the time Qiao Yushan mentioned the sensation caused by Grandpa Nong's report of the achievement, An An could no longer sit still. He suddenly jumped to the ground and turned, his bright eyes looking at Huo Rou.
"Mom!"
Hearing his excited voice, Huo Rou felt a touch of amusement and nodded in response. "Mm?"
"How are you so amazing?!" An An hugged Huo Rou's waist, his little face flushed. "Teach An An quickly! An An wants to help Grandpa Nong farm too!"
His words caused everyone to burst into laughter. Grandpa Nong looked on with immense gratification. "An An wants to help Grandpa?"
In this era, children's mindsets had long changed. In their youth, they had thought farming was impressive. Now, children believed one had to be a big boss to be successful and to join a large company to be considered capable. Someone like An An who thought farming was impressive and wanted to help was truly a rare gem.
"Of course!" An An had not forgotten that his initial dream was precisely this. "Mom, will you teach An An tomorrow?"
Before Huo Rou could speak, Grandma Yao interjected, "Not for the time being. Huo girl is helping me figure out a cultivation technique for a medicinal herb!"
Everyone watched Grandma Yao and An An vying for Huo Rou's time, all of them laughing heartily.
The next day, as the sky cleared, Grandma Yao, who had successfully secured Huo Rou, took her to the small laboratory in the backyard.
The laboratory was located in the large greenhouse in the backyard. An An often came here to pick vegetables, so he followed them in with practiced ease.
After the three of them went into the laboratory, only Grandpa Nong and Yao Jian were left in the house. Qiao Yushan had left in a hurry last night after Huo Rou's birthday for some urgent matter.
"Brother Yao!"
Oh, besides Grandpa Nong and Yao Jian, there was also Pan Yue.
She entered excitedly from outside the door. "We have a guest! Could you go and greet them?"
Yao Jian felt nothing in particular. Upon hearing that there was a guest, he got up and went to the door to look.
Pan Yue's soft murmuring could be heard from the doorway. "I already said it's a guest, what could possibly be the problem? Big brother, you guys are too sensitive!"
Grandpa Nong frowned.
Since he had submitted the report on this technological breakthrough to his superiors, his world had become crowded with many new people. On the road from Daocheng Village to the county town, he had encountered several people asking for directions. At the airport, there were several more salespeople.
The journey back from Yuchang City had been even more eventful, which was why the guards had never left his side. Upon returning, he had even made a request that no unfamiliar people be allowed in.
So, this guest today...