The words of reproach that had been forming in Branch Secretary Liu’s throat all got stuck.
What was this? Just wanting to rent a house in the village, and she gives such a generous gift?
Branch Secretary Liu and Qi Yuegui couldn’t help but murmur inwardly, exchanging a glance.
What kind of family does Educated Youth Tian come from? To give something so valuable over such a trivial matter—even if her family had mountains of gold and silver, it wouldn’t be enough to sustain her squandering!
“Educated Youth Tian, renting a house is a small matter. I’ll go ask around for you in a bit.
Take this bundle of noodles back. There’s no need for this.”
Muttering aside, Branch Secretary Liu said to Tian Baozhu with a serious expression.
“Branch Secretary Liu, this isn’t for you.
My Sister-in-law Meizhi just had a baby; she needs to eat something nutritious to recover.”
Tian Baozhu replied earnestly, her expression equally serious.
Hearing this, Branch Secretary Liu, who had been about to decline, hesitated.
He knew his own family’s situation. Dàshuǎng’s wife had suffered quite a bit giving birth to their eldest grandson.
But the only nourishment they could provide her was two red sugar eggs a day.
As for fine noodles like these, they really didn’t have any at home.
Qi Yuegui was tempted the moment she heard what Little Educated Youth Tian said.
The reason her eldest grandson hadn’t been getting enough milk was precisely because her eldest daughter-in-law hadn’t been properly nourished.
She had been considering whether to slaughter the family’s old hen in a couple of days to make soup for her.
Now, with these fine noodles, cooked until soft, they would be easy on a new mother’s teeth and also nutritious.
Seeing her husband remain silent and thoughtful, she grew a bit anxious and couldn’t help but speak up.
“Head of the family, isn’t there that empty house at the foot of the mountain?”
Upon hearing his wife’s words, Branch Secretary Liu’s first reaction was to shake his head.
“That place won’t do. It’s too close to the mountain foot.
Too far from the village, and the house is a bit run-down. If wild animals come down from the mountains, it might not hold them off. Too dangerous.”
Hearing Branch Secretary Liu say this, Tian Baozhu’s heart stirred.
The foot of the mountain was fine; being far from the village was good.
That way, if she cooked something nice, she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone smelling it.
She wondered just how run-down the house was. Really, as long as it was livable, that was enough.
“Branch Secretary Liu, it’s okay if the house is a bit far and rundown, as long as it’s livable.”
Afraid that Branch Secretary Liu would refuse, Tian Baozhu spoke quickly.
Hearing this, a flicker of hesitation crossed Branch Secretary Liu’s face. His gaze swept again to the bundle of noodles on the kang table, then he gritted his teeth and nodded.
“Since Educated Youth Tian says so, I’ll take you to have a look first.
If you don’t like it, we can see if any families are willing to rent out a spare room to you.”
Hearing Branch Secretary Liu mention a spare room, meaning sharing a courtyard with others, Tian Baozhu had already silently vetoed the idea.
However, she didn’t show it on her face.
She figured that if that house really was too dilapidated to live in, bringing up the idea of building a house would likely be more productive.
Leaving Branch Secretary Liu’s house and heading towards the house at the foot of the mountain, the path became increasingly remote. Along the way, she didn’t encounter a single villager.
It seemed the house’s location was indeed quite far from the village.
Just as she spotted the roof of the house, a tall figure approached from the opposite direction.
Yes, from Tian Baozhu’s perspective at 1.59 meters, she had to tilt her chin up; her estimate was that he was at least 1.8 meters tall.
“Oh, Xiao Xie, what are you doing here?
Did you just come down from the mountain?”
Branch Secretary Liu clearly knew the newcomer well and greeted him happily. Spotting the basket on the other’s back, he immediately answered his own question.
“Uncle Liu.”
Xie Zhong paused when he saw Branch Secretary Liu and nodded politely in greeting.
Hearing the tall man’s voice, Tian Baozhu couldn’t help but pause for a moment, stealing a couple more glances at him.
She noticed that although he was tall, he had a thin, frail appearance.
On such a cold day, he wore a thin green jacket, matching green trousers, and on his feet were thin cloth shoes with his toes poking out.
He looked as if he might shiver from the cold at any moment.
After greeting Branch Secretary Liu, he lowered his head slightly. The long hair falling over his forehead hid his eyes and brows, revealing only the smooth line of his jaw tapering to a somewhat pointed chin.
Additionally, the hand gripping the basket, though slender, was somewhat dark, like a pearl covered in dust.
Tian Baozhu’s gaze lingered on his fingers for a moment with a hint of pity before she withdrew it, her attention shifting to the house not far away.
Branch Secretary Liu, meanwhile, was pulling Xie Zhong aside, chattering with repeated warnings, telling him not to go up the mountain alone again.
Xie Zhong just stood there, listening obediently to Branch Secretary Liu, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Having finished his nagging, Branch Secretary Liu finally remembered he still had to show Educated Youth Tian the house!
A bit embarrassed, he urged Xie Zhong to head back quickly. Watching Xie Zhong’s departing figure, he let out a sigh and said to Tian Baozhu,
“There are wild animals on the mountain, it’s too dangerous. But Xiao Xie, he really has no choice!”
With that, he shook his head.
“Branch Secretary Liu is also very kind-hearted.”
Tian Baozhu replied with a perfunctory smile.
She wasn’t particularly concerned about that tall fellow named Xiao Xie.
She just wanted to check out the house soon and get moved in.
As Branch Secretary Liu led Tian Baozhu into the dilapidated house, Xie Zhong, who should have left long ago, furrowed his brow slightly and turned his head to look in that direction. What was he staring at?
Looking at the house before her, Tian Baozhu’s mouth fell slightly open, unable to close.
Walking from the educated youth site to Branch Secretary Liu’s home, and then following him through the village, she truly hadn’t seen a house more run-down than this one.
A northwest wind blew past, causing the thatch on the roof to rustle loudly.
The surrounding walls, long since uninhabited, had already collapsed halfway.
The remaining sections looked precarious, as if they might topple over at any moment.
The house itself was in a similar state. Of the three rooms, two had caved in, leaving only one still standing.
The thatched roof she had heard rustling loudly in the wind belonged to this last remaining room.
She pushed open the half-closed wooden door and stepped inside. Surprisingly, there wasn’t much dust inside.
Looking up, she understood why.
The thatched roof had large gaps everywhere. It seemed that if it poured outside, it would rain moderately inside. No wonder there wasn’t much dust!
After being battered by wind and rain, the room was naturally free of dust, right?
Branch Secretary Liu also hadn’t expected the house to have deteriorated this badly. Feeling a bit guilty, he said,
“Educated Youth Tian, perhaps I should go back to the village and ask around again for you?”
“No need, this place will do.”
Tian Baozhu took a deep breath. For the sake of freedom and eating meat without being watched, although it was a bit run-down, she felt it was acceptable.
“However, I’ll have to trouble you, Branch Secretary Liu, to help fix up the roof.
Otherwise, I’m afraid the wind blowing in will freeze me to death.
As for the rest, would you be willing to help me find some people to make repairs?”