Chapter 119: The Arrival of the Items

"Good day, professors."

Leading Yan Rushan forward, she offered her greeting first.

Yan Rushan inclined his head. "Good day, professors. I am Yan Rushan, Yuxiu's betrothed."

The professors all set down their chopsticks at once and looked over. Professor Ding said with a smile, "So it's you! Come, sit down and eat with us."

"All right." The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder in the empty seats nearby.

Yan Rushan opened the insulated container and placed the dishes before Yuxiu; then he unwrapped the waxed-paper parcel, which contained a roast duck and other meats, such as beef and braised pork. Under the professors' watchful eyes, he drew out two pairs of chopsticks from the paper bundle and handed one pair to Yuxiu.

The professors: "..."

"You eat first. I'll go get some rice; there's soup in the thermos." With that, Yan Rushan rose to fetch rice, but Zhong Yuxiu stopped him. He looked at her in puzzlement. "What's the matter?"

Zhong Yuxiu took several meal tickets from her pocket and gave them to him.

"I have some." Yan Rushan shook his head and went off.

When he returned, he was holding two aluminum lunchboxes borrowed from the cafeteria.

One lunchbox for each of them; there was still an extra portion of rice in the thermos. Yan Rushan's gaze was gentle, nothing like the cold reserve he showed others. The tenderness and meticulous care he reserved for Yuxiu moved the heart, and even the professors could not help sighing to themselves: today's young people truly knew how to pamper the one they loved.

He had to deliver the food himself, and even the chopsticks had to be placed in her hand himself, gentle and wordless.

"Professors, do try some as well. It's just out of the pan and still piping hot," Yan Rushan said.

"I'm old; meat doesn't digest well for me. You youngsters eat it." One of the professors shook his head and declined.

The others, aside from Professor Ding, also politely refused. In those days, whether in the city or the countryside, no one could eat their fill freely; how could they have the face to enjoy someone else's fine food?

Professor Ding chuckled and teased, "You're all such proper people. I'm not. Today I shall partake of Comrade Zhong's kindness."

"Please, don't be so polite." Yuxiu generously placed the meats among the professors. "There's no need for such ceremony between us. I'll be working with all of you in the future; if you're too courteous now, it will be hard for me to ask your help later."

Only then did the professors remember that Zhong Yuxiu was already on their level, whether in rank or learning. Henceforth, they would all be working together. On occasion, sharing a fine meal and some of another person's good fortune would be no bad thing. At worst, they could return the favor another day.

Having made up their minds, they relaxed.

"Then we won't stand on ceremony and will gladly share your good fortune."

By the end of the meal, their relations had drawn much closer. They had, after all, finished an entire thermos of meat dishes. Afterward, Yan Rushan went to wash the lunchboxes and return them to the cafeteria. Professor Ding and the others were unhurried; they each had brought their own lunchboxes, so washing them at any time was fine.

Professor Ding introduced them with a smile. "Yuxiu, you may not know them yet, so let me make the introductions. The one opposite you is Professor Feng Annan; following him are Cheng Guochao, Fang Ning, and Lin Ruxu. They all studied abroad. Each of them is in charge of a class, and if you don't understand something later, you can ask them. Old brothers, you must take good care of her, all right?"

"Of course." Feng Annan's hair was streaked with gray, and though not yet seventy, his face was weathered. He smiled at Yuxiu. "Comrade Zhong, if anything comes up in the future, just come to me."

"Old Feng has said everything we wanted to say. Don't be afraid of troubling us, Comrade Zhong. We old fellows may be old, but we're still good for helping with little things," Lin Ruxu said with a light laugh.

Fang Ning was a little quieter by nature and merely nodded in agreement.

Cheng Guochao wore a cultured smile. "We old fellows have no other ambition. We only hope the younger generation can all be like you, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to serving the country; making our nation strong and prosperous, until no foreign power dares bully us again. The achievements you've made this past year are plain for all to see. We admire you greatly. If you need anything, just say the word, and we will certainly help."

To support talented young people was only right.

They were old now; how much longer they could live was anyone's guess. Zhong Yuxiu's appearance had brought them far too much hope, and even stirred in them the wish to live longer, so they might cultivate more comrades like Zhong Yuxiu.

"Then let me thank you all, seniors, in advance. If I do anything wrong in the future, please feel free to set me straight."

At that moment, Zhong Yuxiu was obedient and likable, and her words were pleasing to the ear. She charmed the old professors into good humor. When Yan Rushan returned and saw them in lively conversation, amusement flickered in his eyes.

"Comrade Yan is back. Let's head home; there's still plenty to do," Professor Zheng said as he stood.

The others nodded, packed up their things, and left the cafeteria together. This time, Yan Rushan came along with them. After they arrived at the meeting room, Zhong Yuxiu handed him the list of medicinal materials she was carrying and asked him to help search for them. Yan Rushan agreed solemnly, promising to find them as soon as possible and deliver them to her home.

The others still had examinations to mark, and since Yan Rushan was not from the physics department, he could not help, so he took his leave first.

After seeing Yan Rushan off, the group busied themselves again. By evening, with a dimness settling over the day, they agreed to continue tomorrow, and only then did they leave school for the day.

As soon as they stepped out of the school gates, Zhong Yuxiu spotted Yan Rushan waiting in the cold wind. Though the winter breeze cut sharp and harsh, her heart was warm.

"Brother Yan, how long have you been waiting here?"

"Not long. I just got here." Yan Rushan held out his hand. "Don't believe me? Feel it. It's still warm."

Yuxiu glanced at him, then really did reach out and touch him. It was indeed warm. "You're so busy; you don't need to come specially to pick me up. With Comrade Hao Nan and Comrade Tian Shangguo here, they'll protect my safety."

"I only came after I finished my work." Yan Rushan's voice unconsciously lowered. In the ear, it sounded a little husky, yet especially pleasant, every word and syllable seeming to tickle the heart.

Yuxiu's ears itched slightly, and she subconsciously stepped back a little, saying, "Let's go home then."

"All right. Home."

They walked ahead, while the other two followed at a distance behind. They only reunited after entering the compound. When they got home, Dog Egg had already prepared the meal. The fragrance of rice and dishes filled the air, and in the bitter cold of winter, returning home to the sweet aroma of cooking was especially heartwarming.

As soon as they entered the hall, they saw many things piled inside, all covered with black cloth.

"You brought these?" Zhong Yuxiu turned her eyes slightly and asked the man beside her.

Yan Rushan nodded. "Mm. Things Comrade Hao and Comrade Tian needed. During the noon break, when there were fewer people around, I had several brothers bring them over."

There were fewer people at noon, so it drew little attention, and with everything covered, those who lived in the compound all understood the need for secrecy. Seeing the black cloth, they naturally knew it was not something to ask about, and even if they saw it, they would pretend not to have.

Unless they bore a grudge against the Yan family, of course. And now that the sons of several other prominent families were also here, even fewer people would go looking for trouble.

Besides, the Yan family did not yet have a successor. What would happen afterward was still unknown. Even if there were to be competition, for the time being no one would cast their gaze on the Yan family.