Chapter 166: Chapter 166

On the second day of the new year, knowing that An Ning and her sister had returned, Captain Zhang and his wife along with Zhang Youcai specially came visiting with generous gifts:

"Uncle, I heard the village received quite a few educated youths this year!"

During casual conversation, An Ning casually brought up the topic.

"Ah! Don't even mention it! Those people..."

At this topic, Captain Zhang had countless complaints he couldn't hold back, his face immediately scrunching up:

"With you two nieces setting the example, I originally thought these educated folks would at least be somewhat useful. Before they arrived, I even had villagers specially build houses for them. Who would've thought!"

Zhang Aiguo couldn't help shaking his head:

And these are supposed to be college students? Can't farm, just wasting food and freeloading, can't even fix a soil tiller. None are as capable as my niece here who actually increased crop yields.

Yet each one has more opinions than skills.

Guess the difference between college students can be as vast as heaven and earth.

Zhang Aiguo clicked his tongue:

"Thanks to you, niece, we managed to build the village elementary school recently. We'd already decided on teachers, including the village secretary's second daughter. Though she only attended one year of high school before classes were suspended, she's more than qualified to teach elementary students!"

"But who knew these new youngsters would make such a fuss about it!"

Captain Zhang slapped his thigh in frustration, saying people accused him of favoritism for choosing villagers, especially those from influential families, claiming he was playing favorites.

But these outsiders don't understand - when our village builds its own school, of course we'll consider our own people first!

As for most being children of cadres, that's even simpler. Before, when the village had nothing, attending school meant going to the commune - expensive and troublesome. Only families with means could afford it.

"And then there's the job opportunity Youcai specifically found out about. These people somehow got wind of it and demanded to be included, especially that ringleader named Yan Fei. Looks all refined and scholarly, tsk!"

"Eh?" An Ning blinked in surprise:

"Uncle Captain, is this ringleader a fair-skinned, tall young man with a small mole by his left ear?"

Hearing her sister mention this, Third Sister suddenly remembered something and slapped her thigh: "Right! That's the guy who approached us at the supply and marketing co-op asking for directions! He was specifically asking about our village too!"

At these words, Captain Zhang's expression darkened.

Through gritted teeth, he confirmed: "That's definitely him!"

That bastard was clearly up to no good. Asking for directions? Bullshit! These people arrived early December - it wasn't their first time coming to the county. Directions? Ha!

That line only works on naive young girls.

And the fact he specifically targeted my two nieces means he'd done his research beforehand. These city kids are too cunning. Zhang Aiguo's eyes sharpened as he turned to An Ning apologetically:

"Niece, this uncle has failed you. If only I hadn't kept praising you two in the village, especially about the school..."

Then you wouldn't have been targeted so soon after returning.

An Ning just smiled understandingly, her crescent moon eyes squinting to appear utterly innocent: "Don't worry Uncle, I understand. You meant well!"

After all, since starting school and moving to town, the sisters hadn't returned to the village, which some might interpret as forgetting their roots after becoming successful.

So when An Ning sent money last year and used connections to get the village a school, Captain Zhang kept mentioning it to silence the gossips.

In these difficult times, his intentions were good.

And given the captain's shrewdness, without conflicting interests, he wouldn't set them up.

Sure enough, seeing her reaction, Zhang Aiguo's wrinkled face brightened, though privately he cursed that little bastard to hell. What rotten luck!

Almost cost him his golden goose.

"Oh right, uncle, didn't you say the village's only plow machine broke recently? I happen to have a friend at the agricultural machinery station who mentioned an old damaged tractor that's been sitting idle..." An Ning mentioned casually as they were leaving.

Captain Zhang's eyes immediately lit up.

"Don't worry, niece. With your uncle around, see which village busybody dares speak against you!"

As for the Yang family and that Yan fellow, it was time for some warnings.

In that instant, the captain had already formulated plans.

Only after Captain Zhang's figure completely disappeared did the system finally speak up: "Host, weren't you planning revenge? Between building schools and arranging this machinery, what exactly is your plan?"

Priorities, host! The original owner died so tragically... The system anxiously circled around.

An Ning didn't respond, continuing to lean against the heated bed reading her materials.

In following days, it seemed the host had completely set aside her concerns. Aside from occasionally checking the village's misfortunes, she focused on accompanying her sister around town and finally introducing her anxious partner Comrade Lu to her parents.

Not to mention how nervous Li Xiaocao was meeting her obviously distinguished in-laws.

With this meeting, the marriage was officially settled. Now with proper status, Comrade Lu could visit longer and legitimately ward off admirers.

Though still too young to marry, just being able to spend more time together had Lu Ting jumping for joy.

His cheerfulness rubbed off on An Ning these days.

Looking at the neatly arranged boiled shrimp in her bowl, she had to admit childhood sweethearts had advantages - often just a glance was enough for him to know what she wanted.

Besides, feeding and indulging this girl had become second nature over the years.

Across the table, Third Sister lamented not having raised herself a boyfriend earlier.

Contrary to the system's expectations, even as the trio boarded the train amid the families' reluctant farewells, the host took no further action.

Just as the system grew puzzled, months later while idly observing developments, it made a shocking discovery:

What! That damned Yan had been reported!

By his own longtime lackey no less!