Chapter 844: Chapter 843: The Matchmaker Kicks Down the Doorstep

“Cheers!”

The State-Owned Restaurant was filled with laughter and chatter.

Their group was already large, and with the other guests, the whole place was as packed as a wedding banquet.

Bai Xiaojun said to everyone he met, “My sister is a champion,” and received countless replies of “The little girl is really amazing.”

At the table in the deepest part of the restaurant, after chatting and laughing with everyone for a while, Zheng Lirong raised her glass to Wei Hongwei, “Coach Wei, thank you, without you, Shanshan wouldn’t be where she is today. I… I thank you.”

Wei Hongwei quickly raised his own glass filled with white liquor, “Sister, don’t say that, Shanshan is like my own daughter. I’m happy for her success!”

They clinked glasses and drank them down in one go.

Zheng Lirong nonchalantly poured herself another glass and looked at Lin Nianhe.

Lin Nianhe blinked, “Sis, let’s not do this, okay? Besides, Uncle Team Leader won’t let me drink, you know that.”

Zheng Lirong burst into laughter, reached out to hold Lin Nianhe’s hand, her eyes a bit teary, “Sister, thank you.”

Her voice was small but carried endless world-weariness.

Lin Nianhe patted her back and comforted her, “Sis, today is a good day, don’t shed tears.”

“Okay.” Zheng Lirong quickly composed herself, rubbed her eyes, and looked innocently at Fang Ping, who was drinking with Su Yuncheng, “Coach Fang, about Shanshan joining the provincial team…”

She originally intended to wait for Fang Ping to bring it up again, but last night Lin Nianhe specifically told her about the relationship between Fang Ping and Su Yuncheng, so she abandoned her initial plan and brought it up herself.

Fang Ping had just finished a glass of white liquor and said directly, “Yesterday, my sister-in-law told me about your and Shanshan’s situation. After going back last night, I also looked into it. If she joins the provincial team now, she can have five hours of training scheduled daily, and the rest can be for studying, but—”

“That’s during regular time; in a couple of years when she has to compete, she might be traveling all over the place, gone for a month or so. Can you handle that?”

Fang Ping did not hide anything and mentioned the most crucial issue.

Regular training can be adjusted based on the situation, but competitions cannot adjust the schedule just because one person needs to study and catch up.

If it were yesterday, Zheng Lirong would definitely refuse directly.

But today, she saw her daughter take the championship, and she was so happy…

Zheng Lirong hugged Zheng Shan and nodded, “It’s okay, actually I want her to study because I’m afraid she won’t have any culture in the future, wanting a stable life but unable to have it… I never expected her to get into a top university, but learning is better than not learning, right?”

Fang Ping, who was already married with children, fully understood Zheng Lirong’s thoughts and nodded, “I understand, it’s all for the children.”

“Then… let’s let Shanshan join the provincial team?”

“Let’s do it.”

Fang Ping decisively agreed, “I’ll handle the formalities, and I’ll take care of her in the future.”

Wei Hongwei: “…?”

“Then what about me?”

Fang Ping glanced at him, “Do whatever you want. I’m not impressed by your skills.”

Wei Hongwei: “…”

The atmosphere in the State-Owned Restaurant remained lively.

Only Wei Hongwei was deeply hurt.

He had just said Shanshan was like his own daughter.

In a blink, his “daughter” was gone.

Along with her went the tutoring fees that were higher than his salary every month.

As the banquet ended, Zhou Laosi called out to Wei Hongwei.

“Brother Wei, wait.”

Zhou Laosi discreetly slipped a red envelope into Wei Hongwei’s pocket and continued, “We all remember how you’ve treated Shanshan these past two years. Even if she’s not training with you anymore, wherever she goes, you’ve been an important part of her journey. My sister-in-law was right, without you, Shanshan wouldn’t be who she is today.”

“We will always remember your kindness to our family. If you need anything in the future, just say the word, and we brothers will handle it for you.”

Wei Hongwei’s broken heart was instantly consoled. He took out the red envelope and handed it back to Zhou Laosi, “Brother, it’s not about the money for me. I really can’t bear to part with Shanshan…”

“I understand,” Zhou Laosi turned around and stuffed the envelope back into his pocket, “Brother Wei, don’t refuse. I know you’re not short of money, but this is just a token of my sister-in-law’s appreciation. You must accept it.”

The two pulled and pushed by the door, but in the end, Zhou Laosi won.

After sending Wei Hongwei off, Zhou Laosi saw Lin Nianhe giving him a thumbs-up.

Seemed to be praising him for being cunning.

Zhou Laosi slightly bowed towards her, meaning—

It was all thanks to Teacher Lin’s good teachings.

…

Fang Ping completed the formalities very quickly. The next day, Zheng Shan reported to the provincial team.

Zheng Lirong also arranged for the best teachers through her connections with the school principal. After setting up the class schedule, she started tutoring Zheng Shan that very evening.

With Zheng Shan in the provincial team, although there’s no need for extra fees for coaches, the expenses for hiring two teachers are even greater, plus the need to rent a house near the training hall, her basic monthly expenses were heading towards a hundred yuan.

A hundred yuan might be the salary for a whole family, but for Zheng Lirong, it meant nothing. Especially after starting the trade with Xiangjiang, earning three to five thousand yuan a month was not a problem for her.

Thus, Zheng Shan stepped into a wider world.

And Lin Nianhe didn’t stay long in the provincial city; the next day, she returned to the Ten Miles Team with Su Yuncheng.

Returning to the familiar Educated Youth Corps, the phrase “I’m back” circled in her mouth, becoming: “Why are you here?”

Wen Lan was sitting on a small stool like a boss, munching on watermelon. When she saw Lin Nianhe return, she waved her hand like a leader inspecting the troops, which counted as saying hello.

Wang Xue and Miao Hongqi were making a light quilt inside. Hearing Lin Nianhe had returned, they immediately came out.

Wang Xue, with red eyes, pointed at Wen Lan and said to Lin Nianhe, “She’s been forced into a match, causing us both so much trouble!”

Lin Nianhe immediately became interested, dashed in front of Wen Lan, grabbed a slice of watermelon, and started munching while gossiping, “What’s going on? Tell me more.”

Wang Xue looked clearly worn out, and Miao Hongqi was in no better condition. They both glared at the indifferent Wen Lan, gnashing their teeth.

“It’s because of her!”

“Uncle Team Leader suddenly realized we’re all single and has been busy arranging matches for us this past few days!”

“I used to think ‘matchmaker’s shoes worn out’ was an exaggeration, but not until the door threshold of the Educated Youth Corps was almost kicked down by Matchmaker Zhang from Birch Team.”

Lin Nianhe turned to see that next to their old antique threshold, there were two brand new nails.

“This…”

Lin Nianhe looked at Wang Xue and Miao Hongqi, and after finishing the last bite of watermelon, she wiped her mouth and said, “Not bad, not bad. Keep up the good work, and make sure you endure it, so Uncle Team Leader won’t come to hassle me.”

Wang Xue: “…”

Miao Hongqi: “…”