Chapter 420: Chapter 420: Why Come Here?

Zhao Nuanyue’s words gave Li Qiong a renewed sense of hope.

"Jianjun and I fell in love on our own, and we’re very happy," Li Qiong said, not at all shy in front of Zhao Nuanyue. "My future mother-in-law is open-minded, so I’m not worried about life after we’re married. As for the big exam, I’ve already finished reviewing all the high school subjects. Jianjun and I have done every practice problem we could find. I’m confident I have what it takes to become a high school teacher."

Li Qiong wasn’t boasting. Thanks to Zhao Nuanyue’s encouragement, they had been studying diligently. Whenever they ran into something they didn’t understand, Professor Qian and his wife were there to help them find the answer quickly. Sometimes, they even learned several different ways to solve a problem.

After the busy farming season, when there was nothing else to do, Li Qiong, Li Jianjun, and Yang Guanghui would study. Seeing how hard her brother was working, even Li Minglan started studying along with them. Although she wasn’t as good as her brother, she was still doing much better than most.

"Heh, if Uncle Miao is willing, you could organize the young people in the village to study more, perhaps under the guise of a literacy campaign," Zhao Nuanyue suggested. "Even if they can’t get into a top university, getting into a vocational college would be great. Something like a teachers’ college or nursing school would be excellent choices. If everyone prepares in advance, Nianqiao Village might have quite a few people pass the exams! These students are exactly the kind of talent the country desperately needs, so they won’t have to worry about finding a job. The state will assign them one."

Zhao Nuanyue’s words made Li Qiong’s heart burn with excitement, her face flushed with emotion.

"After I get married, I’ll talk to my mother-in-law about it. If people from Nianqiao Village really get into college, Uncle Miao and the others will be overjoyed," Li Qiong said with a smile. Although she hadn’t liked Nianqiao Village at first, after living here for a few years, she had slowly grown fond of the place.

Not everyone here was like Wang Dadan, Li Siming, or Liu Lanhua. Most of the villagers were actually very kind, which was one of the reasons she had chosen to stay.

There was an air of tranquility about the place, and Li Qiong had come to love its rustic simplicity.

In the city, you might have a chance to work in a factory. But in the countryside, if you didn’t want to be a farmer, your only way out was to pass an exam to go to school or get recruited for a job.

This opportunity was incredibly rare, and Li Qiong took it very seriously.

At the same time, Li Qiong also trusted what Zhao Nuanyue said. Ever since she’d met Zhao Nuanyue, she felt that Zhao Nuanyue had always been right.

This time was no exception.

Seeing that Li Qiong was in better spirits and no longer dwelling on the sadness Wang Yuan had caused her, Zhao Nuanyue felt a little better too.

Li Qiong finished tidying up. Seeing that it was getting late, she said, "Nuanyue, it’s late. You should get some rest. We can talk more tomorrow."

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Li Qiong," Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile, watching her leave.

Zhao Nuanyue breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much more relaxed.

The Little Red Carp came in after washing up. Seeing her sister’s relaxed face, she gave a knowing look and asked, "Did you clear things up with Ms. Li Qiong? Feeling better now?"

"Much better!" Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "Li Qiong might be straightforward, but she’s not a fool. She should be on her guard against Wang Yuan from now on. I’ve done what I can. How Li Qiong chooses to interact with Wang Yuan in the future is her own business. I’ve fulfilled my duty as a friend."

"Mm, okay. Now that you’ve done your part, come with me to see the Dragon Palace," the Little Red Carp said, helping her sister shut the door.

It was the dead of winter, and Zhao Nuanyue had no desire to physically enter the water. The Little Red Carp felt the same way.

So, Zhao Nuanyue’s and the Little Red Carp’s Divine Senses plunged into the water and swam freely through the Dragon Palace.

The surface was already frozen over, but since they had entered as Divine Senses, they weren’t affected by the low oxygen levels in the water.

The riverbed was desolate and deserted.

The Little Red Carp swam cheerfully ahead, with Zhao Nuanyue following behind.

"Little Red Carp, you were so set on coming here. Was it really just to kowtow to the Old Dragon King?" Zhao Nuanyue asked, a little puzzled and skeptical. She suspected the Little Red Carp had another reason.

The Little Red Carp didn’t answer, simply continuing to swim forward.

Before long, they arrived at the Dragon Palace beneath the Dragon King Temple.

Perhaps because the Little Red Carp was no longer living in it, the Dragon Palace had become somewhat desolate.

The Little Red Carp swished her tail and swam all around. Wherever she passed, the desolation receded, replaced by a touch of vitality.

Zhao Nuanyue started to vaguely understand why the Little Red Carp was doing this.

’The Little Red Carp probably can’t bear to see the Dragon Palace fall into ruin and wants it to remain full of vitality. After all, this is the place where she was born and raised.’

Whether animal or human, everyone holds a special, soft spot in their heart for their home.

It’s also a strong fortress. When you’re hurt or wronged out in the world, you retreat into your castle.

When the Little Red Carp finished her work, Zhao Nuanyue swam up to her and said softly, "Little Red Carp, were you worried that if we stayed away too long, this place would become desolate, devoid of all vitality?"

The Little Red Carp looked around, very pleased with her handiwork. Only then did she have a moment to answer her sister, nodding as she spoke. "Yes, Sister. This is where I was born and raised. It’s where the old master enlightened me and the place he guarded for a thousand years. So I don’t want it to become desolate just because I left. I also don’t want Nianqiao Village to suffer because I’m gone. I know the old master already fulfilled his thousand-year promise to protect Nianqiao Village. But this is my home. Even if I’m not its guardian, I still want to make sure Nianqiao Village continues on as normal."

Zhao Nuanyue understood the Little Red Carp completely. She nodded and said, "In that case, Little Red Carp, how about we make time to visit every year?"

The Little Red Carp’s eyes lit up at her sister’s words. She’d had the same thought, but her sister and brother were very busy with work, and she didn’t want to add to their burden.

"Can we really?" the Little Red Carp asked, her voice filled with doubt but her eyes shining with hope. "After all, you and Brother are so busy. And I’m too young in human years to come here alone!"

"Little Red Carp, you’re our little sister. You’ll always be more important than our jobs," Zhao Nuanyue said earnestly. "The landscape here is so beautiful; I wouldn’t want to see it disappear either. Besides, you’ve seen how much more vibrant Nuanyang has been since coming here, compared to when we were in Jincheng City. He recovered in this place, so he has a special fondness for its scenery and its people."

Hearing her sister’s words, the Little Red Carp was overjoyed. She leaped in the water a few times, striking a pose like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

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