The sun was already out by now, but it wasn’t scorching yet. Judging by the time, there were at least two hours to go before they knocked off for lunch.
If things kept going like this, he’d probably collapse in the field before it was even time.
Yu Nian’an curled her lips, glanced down at the person beside her who was still working with his head lowered, sighed silently, and walked over to persuade him. “Take a break for a bit.”
Hearing this, Gu Shen lifted his head, his eyes full of confusion.
Yu Nian’an pointed at his complexion. “Did you bring a water bottle? Have a few sips and rest for a while.”
Seeing that no one around was paying attention to them, she simply plopped down on the ground first.
Educated youths weren’t exactly well liked by the villagers to begin with. If she let him rest here alone and some sharp-tongued people happened to see it, who knew how they’d gossip behind his back.
It wasn’t that she wanted to help this new educated youth. She just didn’t want her own name to become fodder for other people’s talk.
Seeing her do this, Gu Shen’s heart gave a slight jolt. Without saying a word, he sat down on the other side, opened the water bottle he’d brought, and drank slowly.
Neither of them spoke again.
When she saw that his complexion had improved quite a bit, and that several educated youths nearby had also begun resting one after another, Yu Nian’an finally stood up from the ground and continued with the remaining work.
The morning passed quickly. By now, the sun was so intense it stung the skin.
Yu Nian’an settled her straw hat onto her head and hurried out of the fields. She needed to hurry back and eat something afterward, she still had to go to Aunt Chunxing’s place to discuss the matter of the pit latrine.
Watching her briskly departing figure, Gu Shen’s eyes held a look that was dark and difficult to read.
“Hey, what are you spacing out about?”
Ye Xiao came over from the side. Seeing Gu Shen standing there motionless, he walked up curiously and patted him on the shoulder.
Ignoring him, Gu Shen brushed the dirt from his hands and headed straight toward the educated youth residence.
Lunch was still a pot of coarse rice. The difference this time was that there was a bowl of vegetables to go with it.
Yu Nian’an ate her meal as if completing a task, then headed for Aunt Chunxing’s house. As she passed the tributary stream, she flicked a glance down toward it out of the corner of her eye.
Aunt Chunxing’s husband’s family name was also Yu. By seniority, Yu Nian’an had to address him as “Uncle.”
She had come to the house to get something done, and normally she should have brought a gift along. But Yu Nian’an hadn’t been to the county town even once since arriving, so showing up empty-handed now made her feel a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, Aunt Chunxing was warm-hearted and didn’t mind at all. Seeing her arrive, she hurried to invite her inside to sit.
The couple had two children: their son now worked at a factory in the county and lived in the assigned staff dormitory, and their daughter, thanks to her brother, had married into the town. So right now, only the elderly couple lived in the house.
Uncle Jianping had already learned from his wife that she was here for a specific purpose, and he asked her which direction she planned to move the shed.
During her free time these past few days, Yu Nian’an had been planning the layout of the small courtyard, even drawing it out on paper. When Uncle Jianping asked, she pulled the paper out and spread it across the table.
She planned to move the toilet and shower to the left side of the main house, keeping them separate from the kitchen and making them convenient to use at night. The walls and doors of the main house needed to be replaced, and the courtyard walls would also be rebuilt with yellow clay and raised higher. The wooden fence, she thought, couldn’t keep out even decent visitors, let alone troublemakers.
And she hadn’t forgotten that she had a score to settle with Yu Dingguo.
Hearing her plan, Aunt Chunxing was stunned.
“Ni Zi, you never mentioned you were going to touch the main house too!”
Yu Nian’an smiled faintly at her surprise. “The wall has been shedding clumps of mud over the past few days. I’ve been uneasy about it, so I thought I’d reinforce it.”
Uncle Jianping didn’t object. Once he understood her plan, he pointed to the drawing and explained the details to Yu Nian’an.
“The courtyard wall is simple just bring back a bucket of stones and mix it with yellow clay. It’ll take more effort, but it’s doable. For the walls of the main house, the clay and straw are ready. As for your toilet and shower, forget the tile roof switch to a wooden roof. You’ll save a lot on materials that way.”
All these considerations were meant to help her. Yu Nian’an knew this; it was the reason Aunt Chunxing had reminded him in advance.
She couldn’t help but feel touched.
“Uncle Jianping, I’m a layperson, so please take care of the courtyard planning and the materials for me.” Yu Nian’an took out the money she had prepared in advance. She didn’t know how labor costs and materials were calculated in this era, so she pulled out fifty yuan, thinking she could settle the balance later.
Uncle Jianping took the money, counted it, and then returned half of it to her.
“Ni Zi, yellow clay is everywhere here. You only need to spend money on some stones and wood nothing more.”
“And what about labor costs? I can’t have you work for free, can I? You know, I live alone, and I might not even be able to provide meals,” Yu Nian’an said quickly.
It was the truth. When you hired someone to do work, the household usually provided food. But Yu Nian’an truly had no other way, so she thought to add a little extra for labor.
Aunt Chunxing, of course, could see what was on her mind. After spending these few days together, she had come to understand this girl: she wouldn’t let herself suffer, and she certainly wouldn’t let others suffer for her either.
So she took the money, re-divided it, and returned twenty yuan to her. “Ni Zi, what you say makes sense. I’ll take this food money for you from Uncle Jianping. The rest you don’t need to worry about just focus on moving into your new little courtyard when the time comes!”
After leaving Aunt Chunxing’s house, Yu Nian’an held the twenty yuan in her pocket, feeling a little dazed. She suddenly remembered that she hadn’t yet mentioned the matter of digging a well, so she turned back.
Seeing her return, Uncle Jianping, who was about to go inside to rest, looked over. “Ni Zi, is there something else?”
Yu Nian’an said she planned to dig a water well in the courtyard.
“Your home isn’t far from the village well, is it?” Jianping asked, curious. Digging a well was time-consuming and laborious, and everyone usually just fetched water there seemed little reason to waste money on it.
Yu Nian’an understood what he was thinking and let out a soft sigh. “Uncle, as you can see, it’s just me at home now. I don’t have the strength for heavy labor. I want to, but I just can’t.”
The weather was still fine now, so she could barely carry half a bucket of water back. That might fill half a water vat after a few trips, but in winter, trudging through snow, deep and shallow patches, one careless fall could be dangerous.
Yu Nian’an would rather spend a little extra money than risk that.
Uncle Jianping hesitated for a moment and tried to reason with her. “Ni Zi, digging a well is expensive. If you don’t live here in the future, wouldn’t it all be for nothing?”
“Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ve already thought this through. You just give me a number, and I’ll leave the well-digging to your guidance.”
Seeing her insist, Jianping had no choice but to agree.
“In that case, I’ll bring all the stones needed for the well tomorrow. But I can’t do it all alone; we’ll need to find two helpers.”
The implication, of course, was that they would need to be paid for their labor.
Yu Nian’an nodded, understanding. She handed over the twenty yuan that Aunt Chunxing had returned.
“Uncle, you keep this. If it’s not enough, I’ll add more later.”
The money had already been planned for. She didn’t feel reluctant spending it. She had long decided that since she was going to live here, she would spend where necessary and not shortchange herself.