Hu Mingliang helped Nan Mo carry her package into the room before heading out to unpack his own belongings.
Nan Mo had secrets. Before arriving, she had hoped for a private space, never expecting it would be granted so effortlessly.
Humming a cheerful tune, she began unpacking, returning useless items to her Dimension space and retrieving anything she found missing. When packing with Nan’s Mother, the bundle had merely served as a decoy.
She pulled out a large piece of light blue floral fabric, cut it to size with scissors, and nailed it over the windows in both the bedroom and toilet. Next, she hung a thick blue light-blocking cloth as a door curtain.
After laying an anti-slip rug over the Kàng, she added a padded mat and bedsheet. Pillows and quilts were neatly dressed in beige covers.
The bedroom now unmistakably resembled a young woman’s private quarters.
Seizing the moment alone, she took out a pot, cutlery, a kitchen knife, five or six spice jars, and a modest supply of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. She also produced three enamel basins, two enamel mugs, a military canteen, two aluminum lunchboxes, a coal stove, a clay pot, an aluminum pot, two thermoses, shampoo, Snowflake Cream, a toothbrush, and toothpaste…
Nan Mo had prepared so thoroughly precisely for comfort. The package was large enough that no one would question its contents.
As for smaller items, she could always retrieve them later. After all, no one knew exactly what was inside.
Thinking further, she added some candies and snacks, along with a carton of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor—gifts purchased with Nan’s Mother at the Gōngxiāo shè before coming Down to the Countryside, intended for currying favor with the Brigade Leader later.
“Xiao Mo, can I come in?” Lu Yuanyuan, noticing Nan Mo wasn’t finished, offered to help.
Hearing this, Nan Mo quickly tied up half the bundle and set it aside, leaving it looking partially unpacked. “Come in.”
“Wow, Xiao Mo, your room is so beautifully arranged! Compared to yours, mine’s a pigsty,” Lu Yuanyuan exclaimed dramatically.
“Nan Mo, you even brought a pot and coal stove?” Hu Mingliang was equally surprised by the extent of her preparations.
“Yes, I’m not used to sharing living space, so I planned ahead to live alone before coming Down to the Countryside.”
“You’re so foresighted! Xiao Mo, do you have any extra fabric? I’d like to trade for some,” Lu Yuanyuan said, pulling money and ration coupons from her pocket.
“If you have enough, I’d like some too,” Chen Ruonan added, also producing money and coupons. “If you won’t accept payment, I won’t take it.”
“That’s right, Xiao Mo. We know you don’t lack these things, but we can’t keep taking from you without giving back.
From now on, please charge us properly. If we ever say or do anything that upsets you, just tell us.
Before Hu Mingliang and I came Down to the Countryside, our elders warned us not to offend capable people.
And in my eyes, you are that capable person!”
Admiring the room’s decor, Lu Yuanyuan’s fondness for Nan Mo had escalated to outright admiration.
Hu Mingliang and Chen Ruonan nodded emphatically in agreement.
Hearing such heartfelt words, Nan Mo saw Lu Yuanyuan in a new light.
This girl was nothing like the simple-minded person she had appeared to be days ago—instead, she was perceptive and tactful. This reassured Nan Mo, making her more comfortable deepening their friendship.
Nan Mo wasn’t afraid of cunning people, but she dreaded dealing with those who couldn’t grasp basic reasoning.
“Alright, I’ll get them for you.” Using her body as cover, she retrieved fabric and four locks from her bundle—actually from her Dimension space.
“Here, go lock your doors later.” Nan Mo handed the locks to them.
“Amazing! How do you have everything?”
“I don’t have everything. Later we’ll go ask where to buy furniture—we’re still missing some pieces.”
It would be too suspicious if she pulled furniture out of her bundle, so better to spend money.
After the four locked their doors, they chatted and laughed their way to the front courtyard.
Fang Jian, seeing everyone had gathered, announced, “The Brigade Leader said you’ll have tomorrow to settle in. If you need anything, you can take the village ox-cart to the Gōngxiāo shè. The cart leaves for town at 7 AM daily and returns at 2 PM. If you miss it, it’s about a 45-minute walk. Those who rented houses can eat with us if you don’t plan to cook separately. Your grain allocations have been transferred to the Dàduì—I’ll take you to collect rations now. This initial grain is loaned from the Dàduì and must be repaid after the year-end distribution.”
He paused, throat dry from speaking, drank some water, and asked, “Any questions?”
“How does eating together work?” Xu Mei inquired.
“Three meals daily—pay for what you eat. Oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar are shared costs. Female Zhīqīng take turns cooking and washing dishes; males fetch water and chop wood. We’ll discuss rotation details when the Old Educated Youth return from work.”
Xu Mei nodded, satisfied with the arrangement.
“Fang Zhīqīng, does the village have furniture for sale?” Nan Mo asked.
“Yes. Turn right outside, about 50-60 meters. The courtyard with a persimmon tree belongs to the village carpenter—we all bought our things there.”
After confirming no further questions, Fang Jian led them to collect grain.
After storing their grain in their rooms, Nan Mo took her three companions furniture shopping.
As they chatted cheerfully at the Zhiqing Point entrance, they unexpectedly encountered Tang Yifan’s group waiting there. “Nan Zhīqīng, let’s buy furniture together.”
Seeing Lü Zhihui and Wu Mingyue standing resentfully beside Tang Yifan, Nan Mo felt immediate irritation.
“No need. I don’t like getting too close to strangers.” She rejected without hesitation.
Without waiting for a response, she led her friends away.
“Hey! What’s your attitude!” Lü Zhihui shouted after them. Tang Yifan stared darkly at Nan Mo’s retreating figure. If avoiding him during housing arrangements was unintentional, this was a blatant rejection!
Wu Mingyue was delighted. “Brother Tang, we should keep our distance from Nan Mo. She’s always been arrogant since school days—looks down on us because her father’s a Factory Director.”
“What’s so great about a Factory Director? Does he even know about Brother Yifan’s family—”
“Lü Zhihui!” Tang Yifan cut her off sharply.
But Wu Mingyue understood: Tang Yifan’s background was undoubtedly extraordinary. This solidified her determination to secure this man who could elevate her status overnight.