Chapter Summaries

On the ninth day of the New Year, Zhang Ruyun argued with his girlfriend A Yue after learning she had accepted a gold bracelet from a blind date and planned to eat with him. Meanwhile, Huang Guan brought his son Xingxing to River Dam for work and guidance, where Dongdong took charge of him, and Aunt Gu returned home to an eager Xue Yuantong.

• Zhang Ruyun called A Yue on speakerphone, argued with her about accepting a bracelet and meeting her blind date, and was left unable to reach her after she hung up.
• Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong played chess while they waited for Huang Yuzhu to bring his younger brother Xingxing to River Dam for work and Teacher Qian's guidance.
• Dongdong introduced the strawberry garden to Huang Guan and Xingxing, while Teacher Qian recited a poem and Huang Guan agreed to leave Xingxing there.
• Dongdong led Xingxing toward the strawberry garden, but Xingxing dismissed Jiang Ning and planned to make Dongdong do the work for him.
• Teacher Qian predicted Xingxing would not amount to anything based on his father, then reflected on his own ordinary life as a teacher.
• Aunt Gu returned from work, and Xue Yuantong eagerly searched her Electric Bike's basket until Aunt Gu scolded her.

Xue Yuantong enjoyed her new clothes while Aunt Gu fielded a New Year invitation from relatives interested in Evergreen Liquid. At River Dam Agritainment, Dongdong forced Xingxing to work, and Teacher Qian advised Zhang Ruyun not to feel inferior around influential people; Xue Yuantong ended by testing Chen Siyu’s understanding of the advice.

• Aunt Gu gave Xue Yuantong new clothes and a hat for Xue Chuchu, and explained that relatives were calling because she worked in Evergreen Liquid’s kitchen.
• Jiang Ning gave Xue Yuantong hot water while Xue Chuchu watched, then remarked that some workers at the agritainment farm were being beaten.
• Xingxing refused Dongdong’s order to help in the back kitchen, but Dongdong beat him until he agreed to work.
• Director Han arrived at River Dam Agritainment with Mrs. Chen, Han Chen, and their Dogo Argentino, while Zhang Ruyun nervously watched them.
• Teacher Qian told Zhang Ruyun to treat himself as an equal around powerful people, and Xue Yuantong sent Chen Siyu a message asking if he understood the saying.

Chen Siyu and Chen Siqing’s mother tried to warn them about staying safe, while Yang Fei hosted Director Han’s family at the Agritainment. When Madam Chen’s Dogo Argentino threatened Teacher Qian, Xiao Ben defended him, showing Jiang Ning that the dog protected River Dam by instinct.

• Chen Siyu assured Mother Chen she could answer questions about men and women, leaving her mother startled.
• Yang Fei explained the Agritainment’s high prices to Madam Chen as Director Han’s family chose dishes.
• Teacher Qian recalled how rules against pets were selectively enforced at the Education Bureau, and Xue Yuantong asked whether he had praised the leader’s dog.
• Zhang Ruyun admired a Porsche Cayenne and began wishing for one instead of pursuing his earlier ambitions for River Dam.
• The Dogo Argentino tried to mark territory near the single-story house, but Xiao Ben frightened it back into the Agritainment.
• Madam Chen ordered the Dogo Argentino to bite Teacher Qian, and Xiao Ben attacked the other dog to protect him.

Jiang Ning’s dog Xiao Ben injured Madam Chen and her Dogo Argentino, prompting her to summon the police and demand that the dog be arrested. The officers traced Xiao Ben to Dongdong, but after failing to catch it, they were left chasing it around River Dam.

• Xiao Ben stopped attacking Madam Chen when Jiang Ning called it off, and Zhang Ruyun later persuaded Dongdong to claim the dog as his own.
• Captain Zhou arrived with officers after Madam Chen called in favors, and they went to find Dongdong and the dog.
• Dongdong confirmed he was nine years old and claimed Xiao Ben, while his grandmother refused to stay and take responsibility.
• Captain Zhou ordered the officers to catch Xiao Ben, but it escaped and outran them as they pursued it around River Dam.
• Xiao Ben taunted the exhausted officers, and Xue Yuantong mocked Madam Chen for failing to catch one dog.

Madam Chen failed to catch Xiao Ben after Captain Zhou’s Police Dogs lost the chase and the dog escaped into Evergreen Liquid’s ecological park. She then tried to punish Yang Fei for employing children, but Dongdong claimed Xingxing as his own employee, leaving Madam Chen without an easy target.

• Captain Zhou called for Police Dogs, but Xiao Ben shook them off and returned to Jiang Ning’s group.
• Jiang Ning tied Beef Jerky to Xiao Ben’s neck and sent it away, and Xiao Ben leaped over the fence into Evergreen Liquid’s ecological park.
• The Security Guards refused to let Captain Zhou and Madam Chen enter, so Captain Zhou ended the pursuit and left with his team.
• Madam Chen berated Captain Zhou on the way back, prompting him to drive away, then she returned to Agritainment with Director Han’s family.
• Madam Chen accused Yang Fei of employing child labor after seeing Xingxing pick strawberries while Dongdong lounged nearby.
• Dongdong said Xingxing worked for him, and Yang Fei argued that Dongdong’s employee was not his own, leaving Madam Chen stunned.

Madam Chen blamed Jiang Ning and the others for DouDou’s injured legs, but a video revealed that Director Han had run the dog over while reversing, and the couple fought. Later, Tongtong spent the afternoon teasing her mother and gaming with Chen Siyu before she and Jiang Ning watched the winter sunset together.

• Madam Chen threatened Yang Fei, while Director Han took her and Han Chen back to their Cayenne after their confrontation at the shop.
• Director Han accidentally ran over DouDou’s hind legs while reversing, and Madam Chen accused Jiang Ning and the others of hurting the dog.
• Zhang Ruyun showed Madam Chen a video of the accident, and she attacked Director Han as their family argued.
• After lunch, Xue Yuantong argued with Aunt Gu about laziness, washed the dishes, and tried to frighten her mother during her nap.
• Xue Yuantong teamed up with Chen Siyu in a game against bots, then quit after hearing Chen Siyu dismiss the little Krugs as too short to be worth killing.
• Jiang Ning checked the Class 8 chat as classmates teased Pang Jiao about her former deskmates, then he and Xue Yuantong watched the sunset and discussed the game Implosion.

Xingxing left the strawberry farm with his father after a day of work, while the River Dam residents spent the evening eating, talking, and dealing with personal worries. Jiang Ning ended the chapter at a barbecue restaurant, where a message from AAA Local Chicken Farm caught his attention.

• Dongdong intimidated Xingxing into behaving at the strawberry farm, and Boss Yang sent Xingxing home with a basket of strawberries.
• Huang Yuzhu spoke with Tang Jing on the phone, and Tang Jing invited him to barbecue after praising the face cream he had given her.
• Teacher Qian invited Dongdong and Zhang Ruyun to eat, while Granny Qian's leftovers drove Dongdong to complain about her cooking.
• Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong invited Xue Chuchu to barbecue, and the three went to Fugui Barbecue Restaurant.
• Zhang Ruyun worried over A Yue's posts and a Porsche Cayenne, prompting Teacher Qian to urge him to pursue the life he wanted.
• Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu grilled for Jiang Ning, who received a Kuaishou message from AAA Local Chicken Farm.

Jiang Ning baited Shen Qing'e with a claim that his girlfriend was in confinement, leaving her distraught after she found a forum post linking Pei Yujing to him. As snow began to fall, Xue Yuantong connected with her cousin, Dong Qingfeng's group gathered for barbecue, and delivery rider Zhang Chi rode through the snow.

• Jiang Ning recognized Shen Qing'e behind the local chicken seller account and asked whether she had an old hen for his girlfriend in confinement.
• Shen Qing'e found a forum post suggesting that Pei Yujing was pregnant with Jiang Ning's child and struggled to accept the news.
• Xue Yuantong accepted a friend request from her cousin Pengpeng and revealed that she was a Challenger-ranked League of Legends player.
• Dong Qingfeng and Meng Ziyun shared a private room with Cui Yu, Hu Jun, Guo Kunnan, Shan Kaiquan, Wang Longlong, and Zhou Jinglan as snow began falling.
• Zhang Chi delivered food through the snow and told the customer that it was beautiful, but she reminded him to deliver on time.

At a Korean BBQ, Meng Ziyun tried to mark her claim on Dong Qingfeng while Guo Kunnan misread Zhou Jinglan’s polite praise. Elsewhere, Zhang Chi assaulted a security guard, threatened a customer, and asked his grandparents for money, while Jiang Ning teased Xue Chuchu about her interest in weddings.

• At the restaurant, Meng Ziyun announced that she had ended her friendship with the best friend who meddled in her relationship with Dong Qingfeng, and Dong Qingfeng reacted with surprise.
• Zhang Chi punched a security guard who demanded ten yuan to let him deliver food into Sunshine Deer Courtyard, then fled with the order.
• Zhang Chi insulted the customer who called about the late delivery, threatened her, and ate the stolen KFC Family Bucket at a café.
• Zhang Chi agreed to send his grandparents two thousand yuan for an electric Three-Wheeler, but his grandfather insisted they wanted one costing seven or eight thousand.
• Guo Kunnan asked Zhou Jinglan if she would buy a Vivo because she had praised his phone’s camera, then realized she had only been polite.
• At Fortune BBQ, Shen Qing'e arranged a hen for Jiang Ning, while Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong teased Xue Chuchu about watching wedding photos.

After dinner, Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong ran into their classmates while walking through the snowy city, and their group ended up at a scratch-off lottery shop. Yu Wen won 300,000 yuan, leaving her so overwhelmed that she stumbled and lost a shoe as Huang Zhongfei helped her.

• Dong Qingfeng and his friends finished dinner and met Jiang Ning, Xue Yuantong, and Xue Chuchu outside in the snow.
• Jiang Ning shared strawberry sugar-coated haws with the group, while Hu Jun told his mother about his girlfriend and sent her the girlfriend’s profile.
• After the group split up, Jiang Ning, Xue Yuantong, and Xue Chuchu went into a scratch-off lottery shop, where they met Jiang Yanan, Lu Qiqi, Yu Wen, and Huang Zhongfei.
• Yu Wen explained a strategy for choosing scratch-off tickets, and Xue Yuantong waited before buying three tickets from a booklet with few prizes.
• Yu Wen matched a winning number on her ticket and discovered that she had won 300,000 yuan.
• Yu Wen hurried back into the shop to borrow Lu Qiqi’s bag, stumbled and fell, and Huang Zhongfei picked up her shoe as Jiang Ning joked that the prince had found Cinderella’s shoe.

Yu Wen won 300,000 yuan on a Scratch-off Lottery Ticket, but a pair of thieves stole her bag while she waited at a bus stop. Jiang Ning stopped the fleeing thief, and the chapter ended with Xue Yuantong realizing her mother had hurt her hand while preparing fish soup.

• The lottery shop owner confirmed Yu Wen had won 300,000 yuan, and Yu Wen excitedly planned how to spend her prize.
• A man at the bus stop distracted Yu Wen's group while an accomplice snatched her bag and ran off.
• Jiang Ning tripped the fleeing thief at the crosswalk, and Huang Zhongfei called the police after recovering Yu Wen's bag.
• Yu Wen and her friends thanked Jiang Ning, then he crossed the street with Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu.
• Xue Yuantong listened to Aunt Gu's voice messages and discovered her mother had stabbed her hand while killing a fish for breakfast.

On the Lantern Festival, Jiang Ning visited Xue Chuchu and reminded her of the outfit she wore when they first met, leaving her surprised that he remembered. In the city, Guo Kunnan’s friends learned that Yu Wen had become conspicuously wealthy and saw her flaunt her jewelry while belittling Lu Qiqi.

• Aunt Gu made tangyuan and dumplings together for breakfast, and Xue Yuantong sent Jiang Ning to call Xue Chuchu after their lopsided game the night before.
• Jiang Ning found Xue Chuchu reciting English outside in the cold and complimented her new down jacket.
• Jiang Ning told Xue Chuchu that he remembered her original look: a black padded jacket, slim black jeans, white sneakers, and a ponytail; Xue Chuchu was startled that he remembered.
• At a bun shop, Guo Kunnan’s friends teased him about having a girlfriend, and he revealed he had deleted every female friend from his contacts.
• Wang Longlong and the others discussed Yu Wen’s recent displays of expensive possessions, then watched Yu Wen arrive dressed and accessorized like a wealthy woman.
• Yu Wen offered to pay for the group’s meal and mocked Lu Qiqi’s boyfriend for waiting for gold prices to fall before buying her a bracelet.

On the Lantern Festival, Yu Wen flaunted her lottery winnings while Shen Qing'e and Lu Qiqi resented her, and Xue Yuantong talked with Shang Caiwei about going pro in esports. Later, Jiang Ning took Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu out to hunt Bamboo Rats, while Zhuang Jianhui’s group discussed transferring to No.4 Middle School and choosing a class.

• Xin Youling advertised a Lantern Festival celebration and a cheap winter-socks deal in the class group, but Yu Wen sent red packets that earned her widespread praise.
• Lu Qiqi complained to Shen Qing'e that Yu Wen was showing off her lottery winnings, and Shen Qing'e agreed cautiously while reflecting on their changed friendship.
• Shang Caiwei told Xue Yuantong she wanted to become a professional gamer, and Xue Yuantong bragged that she could serve as a substitute while declining to join her club.
• After discussing Lantern Festival customs, Xue Yuantong persuaded Jiang Ning to go catch Bamboo Rats, and Xue Chuchu joined them with a flashlight.
• Jiang Ning borrowed Dongdong’s lantern and led Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu past Zhuang Jianhui’s group, who then discussed Xue Chuchu’s appearance and which class had the prettiest girls.
• Wang Yong said Class 8 had the most pretty girls when someone asked which class to transfer into.

Xue Yuantong, Xue Chuchu, and Jiang Ning searched for a wild Bamboo Rat on the Lantern Festival night and brought their catch home. Meanwhile, Ding Shuyan played Chinese Chess against Jiang Ning and lost, while Zhuang Jianhui wondered whether she disliked the River Dam.

• Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu found signs of Bamboo Rats in a bamboo grove, and Jiang Ning messaged Ding Shuyan to play Chinese Chess.
• Ding Shuyan used a master-level computer to help her play Jiang Ning, but she still lost after his pieces launched a powerful attack.
• Xue Chuchu found a Bamboo Rat burrow, and Jiang Ning used a Ground Mouse firework and Spiritual Energy to pull a rat out for them to catch.
• Jiang Ning carried the Bamboo Rat past the Agritainment bonfire, where Lin Zida and the others reacted to the catch, and Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu went home with him.
• Teacher Qian tried to share a Lantern Festival riddle with Xingxing, who answered “Chicken feathers,” leaving Teacher Qian delighted and Xingxing frightened.
• At the bonfire, Wang Yong agreed with a young man’s lukewarm assessment of Bamboo Rat, and Zhuang Jianhui said Ding Shuyan might not like the River Dam.

Jiang Ning, Xue Yuantong, and Xue Chuchu celebrated the Lantern Festival with an outdoor Bamboo Rat picnic, while neighbors mourned absent loved ones and a fire whirlwind sparked strange jokes and wishes. At the nearby Agritainment, the group’s conversation about Qi Tianheng was interrupted when the aroma from Jiang Ning’s cooking reached them.

• Jiang Ning prepared a Bamboo Rat, and Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu set up an outdoor stove for their Lantern Festival meal.
• Zhang Butcher missed his dog Bawang, while Zhang Ruyun felt dejected after learning A Yue would travel to school with a friend.
• Xue Yuantong cooked the Bamboo Rat with bamboo shoots as Jiang Ning tended the fire and Xue Chuchu made Unleavened Flatbread.
• A fire whirlwind rose around the pot, prompting Xue Yuantong to mistake it for her Great-Grandmother’s return and wish to grow taller before the flames died down.
• At the Agritainment bonfire, Wang Yong described Qi Tianheng’s influence and expensive watch, while the young master bragged about his own ordinary watch.
• A strange, appetizing fragrance swept across the Agritainment, and Wei Zishan turned toward its source.

On the last night of winter vacation, Jiang Ning, Xue Yuantong, and Xue Chuchu shared a meal, released Kongming Lanterns, and spent the evening teasing one another. As school was set to resume the next day, Tongtong chatted with Jiang Ning late into the night before finally falling asleep.

• Wei Zishan rode a hand cart to Jiang Ning's house, where Tongtong served her bamboo rat stew with bamboo shoots.
• After tasting Wei Zishan's food, a group of customers at the Agritainment set off to catch bamboo rats, while Gong Jin stayed behind to eat.
• Jiang Ning, Tongtong, and Chuchu released Kongming Lanterns in the fields and made wishes.
• Tongtong soaked her feet beside Jiang Ning, then teased him by claiming Chuchu was her vassal.
• Tongtong messaged Jiang Ning about school starting the next day and asked whether they could sit together again.
• Jiang Ning improvised a story about a short princess, and Tongtong went to sleep.

As school resumed after the Lantern Festival, Jiang Ning watched the villagers return to their routines while Zhang Ruyun left for college with Bawang at his side. At Yuzhou No.4 Middle School, Wang Yong introduced the young master to Class 8, where Duan Shigang hinted at the class’s connections before a boy praised the young master’s watch.

• Zhuang Jianhui’s group dug through the night for a bamboo rat, and the young master caught one with iron tongs after everyone else had given up.
• Zhang Ruyun prepared to leave for college, and Bawang returned just in time to see him off before following Zhang Butcher’s motorcycle.
• Jiang Ning rode Xue Yuantong to Yuzhou No.4 Middle School as the new term began, where Yan Tianpeng offered Lu Qiqi milk tea.
• Wang Yong brought the young master to Class 8, and Duan Shigang explained that students needed connections to get into the class.
• A boy squeezed up beside the young master and complimented his watch.

On the first day back at school, Class 8's students traded stories, showed off, and argued over milk tea and jewelry. Song Sheng looked forward to the seating rearrangement that might finally let him escape Pang Jiao.

• Shan Xiao impressed Duan Shigang and Wang Yong by recognizing Jin Ge's expensive Moncler jacket before Lin Zida called Jin Ge away.
• Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong returned to Class 8, where Jiang Yanan guessed Tongtong had grown two centimeters and Tongtong felt disappointed that she was still short.
• Yang Sheng made Yu Wen clean the classroom after tallying her debts, and Yu Wen tried to prove her bracelet was real gold by testing Chen Siyu's oversized plastic bangle with a magnet.
• Lu Qiqi handed milk tea to Shen Qing'e and Jiang Yanan but not Yu Wen, prompting Yu Wen and Lu Qiqi to trade pointed insults.
• Pang Jiao told Wang Yanyan she had gained weight over winter vacation, and Song Sheng mocked her while looking forward to the seating rearrangement.

Pang Jiao struck Song Sheng after he mocked her weight-loss efforts, and their classmates’ taunts eventually drove him to fight back. The fight ended when teacher Shan Qingrong entered, prompting Pang Jiao and Song Sheng to pretend they were peacefully singing together.

• Pang Jiao knocked Song Sheng onto a desk with one blow, while the class watched and mocked him.
• Song Sheng stood again after his classmates encouraged him, but he hesitated and put on a pair of boxing gloves Huang Yuzhu had brought.
• The class continued taunting Song Sheng until he decided to fight for his dignity and attacked Pang Jiao.
• Pang Jiao blocked Song Sheng’s punches, but he charged into her and made her stagger as the classmates scrambled for a better view.
• Shan Qingrong entered the messy classroom, so Pang Jiao and Song Sheng held hands and swayed while singing “Let's Row the Oars” with their classmates.

Class 8 welcomed Gong Jin, a wealthy new student who quickly warmed to the class and became interested in Yang Sheng. Shan Qingrong also revealed that an African international student would join the class the next day, prompting a commotion that left Bai Yuxia embarrassed after an awkward remark.

• Song Sheng and Pang Jiao performed in class to distract Shan Qingrong from the mess, and he let them off after Xue Yuantong applauded.
• Shan Qingrong introduced Gong Jin, who wrote his name on the board and took a seat near Ma Shicheng and Wang Longlong.
• Lu Qiqi sent Gong Jin a welcome package, while Gong Jin learned that Yu Wen had cleaned his desk for Yang Sheng and became intrigued by her.
• Shan Qingrong announced that an African international student would join Class 8, and the students reacted with questions and crude remarks.
• Chen Siyu warned Bai Yuxia to protect herself, and Bai Yuxia accidentally mentioned female elves, goblins, and demon clans before Jiang Ning praised her improvement.