Zhou Muyan returned the farming tools to the brigade warehouse, then went to find his eldest brother to register today’s work points before heading to look for his father.
Zhou Youlin was walking home from the Dui Bu when Zhou Muyan, with his long strides, caught up to him in just a few steps.
“Dad, let’s go measure out the homestead for Educated Youth Shen first.”
Zhou Youlin had been thinking the same thing. “Alright, let’s go home and get the tools first.”
The two returned home to fetch the tools, then went to the vacant lot next door to measure the land according to Shen Jingyao’s requirements.
When Zhou Lao Da and Zhou Lao Er returned home and found neither their father nor third brother around, they asked, “Mom, where did Dad and third brother go?”
Liu Huilan, sweeping the courtyard without looking up, replied, “They went to measure the homestead for Educated Youth Shen on that vacant lot.”
“Then we’ll go help too.” Shen Lao Da and Shen Lao Er hurried over as well—after all, there was a thirty-cent wage to be earned.
Liu Huilan said nothing about this, since a promise made should be kept.
Shen Jingyao returned to the Educated Youth Point, washed her hands, and went into the kitchen to cook.
Xu Aili came back a little later. As usual, Shen Jingyao tended the fire and cooked porridge while Xu Aili made Wotou and stir-fried some cabbage.
During the meal, Wei Meixia watched Shen Jingyao with growing discomfort, her heart nearly drowning in bitterness.
She spoke with sarcasm, “Oh, some people are about to build their own separate house. How can they still stomach the plain food at the Educated Youth Point?”
“What building a house?” Lin Jianjun looked utterly confused, having caught only the part about someone building a house.
Shen Jingyao narrowed her eyes at Wei Meixia. What kind of creature was this? Did she really think Shen Jingyao was afraid of her?
Shen Jingyao slammed her chopsticks down on the table with a sharp crack. “Wei Meixia, I gave you face but you don’t want it. What do you think you are? Who are you being sarcastic about here?”
Everyone around was startled by her outburst—why was she slamming the table?
Lin Jianjun stepped in to mediate: “Educated Youth Shen, Educated Youth Wei, let’s talk this out properly.”
Wei Meixia’s face flushed bright red. “Shen Jingyao, you’re the one building a separate house. What, are you afraid people will talk?”
Only then did the male educated youths realize it was Educated Youth Shen who was planning to build a separate house.
Shen Jingyao crossed her arms. “Yes, I’m building a house. I’m using my own money, and I’m doing it openly. What are you to comment on my affairs?”
“I have money. If you can’t stand it, then bear with it. Why don’t you go find the Brigade Leader too and ask him to approve a homestead for you?”
“If you do, I’ll consider you this.” As she spoke, Shen Jingyao thrust out a thumb, her eyes full of mockery.
“Can’t manage it? Then you’d better cure your jealousy and stop obsessing over other people’s business.”
Wei Meixia was so overwhelmed by this verbal assault that she couldn’t utter a single word in response—because she truly couldn’t approach the Brigade Leader; she had no money.
Her expression turned vicious, her chest heaving—clearly, she was furious.
Shen Jingyao stared back steadily. She wasn’t afraid of arguments, nor was she afraid of fights.
Under their locked gazes, Wei Meixia was the first to yield. Humiliated and enraged, she ran out.
“Tch, and I thought she had some backbone.” Just a paper tiger after all.
Shen Jingyao rolled her eyes inelegantly and sat back down to continue her meal.
Noticing everyone was still standing, she said, “Why are you all standing? Sit down and eat quickly, or the food will get cold.”
Everyone exchanged glances and, as if bewitched, sat down to continue their meal. No one went out to comfort Wei Meixia.
This clearly showed how poor her usual relationships were.
Lin Jianjun took a sip of porridge and looked at Shen Jingyao. “Educated Youth Shen, are you really going to build a house on your own?”
To be honest, they had never considered such a possibility before—building a house independently. It had to be said that this provided them with a new perspective.
Shen Jingyao took a bite of her wotou. Not bad, it tasted even better than before.
She replied, “Yes, I got the homestead approved by the Brigade Leader. I’m covering the costs and labor fees myself.”
“Oh.” Lin Jianjun nodded upon hearing this. He had no objections to Educated Youth Shen building a house on her own.
She was spending her own money to make her living conditions more comfortable, which was perfectly reasonable.
In the kitchen, everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Outside, Wei Meixia cried for two minutes only to realize that no one had come out to look for her.
She harbored equal resentment toward every one of them—they were all opportunists, trying to curry favor with Shen Jingyao just because she had money.
However, she never reflected on her own behavior. People like her always believed the fault lay with others, never themselves.
After the meal, Shen Jingyao and Xu Aili cleaned up the kitchen and boiled another pot of hot water.
Shen Jingyao went to her room to fetch the thermos bottle for water and saw Wei Meixia lying on the kang, completely wrapped in her greasy-looking quilt.
A flicker of disdain passed through Shen Jingyao’s eyes as she took the thermos bottle and left.
Meanwhile, Zhou Muyan and his father finished measuring the homestead. Zhou Youlin also allocated two fen of private plot to Shen Jingyao, where she could grow vegetables and such.
Zhou Muyan brought his eldest and second brothers to their uncle’s house to transport the mud bricks they needed.
This uncle was the nephew of Old Master Zhou, named Zhou Youliang, and he had a good relationship with Zhou Youlin.
Seeing the three brothers arrive, he asked, “Yangwazi, what brings you three here?”
Zhou Lao Da replied, “Uncle, we’re here to get some mud bricks. Educated Youth Shen from the Educated Youth Point is building a house. Tomorrow, ask Dashan and Dachuan to come to our place after work and join me in building the house. They’ll earn thirty cents a day.”
Zhou Dashan and Zhou Dachuan were Zhou Youliang’s sons, both a few years younger than Zhou Muyang.
Hearing about the wages, both Zhou Dashan and Zhou Dachuan came out from the inner room. “Brother, is that true?”
“Yes, Educated Youth Shen is hiring people to build the house. She’s paying the wages,” Zhou Lao Da answered.
“Dad!” The two brothers looked eagerly at Zhou Youliang.
“Alright, you can go after work tomorrow,” he said. There was no work at home after their shifts anyway, and earning some extra money to support the family was a good idea.
Zhou Dashan and Zhou Dachuan were thrilled. “Brother, are you moving bricks? We’ll help you.”
With extra help, of course, it was welcome.
The five men spent an hour and a half transporting all the necessary mud bricks to the homestead.
Zhou Muyan found Uncle Zhou and paid him for the mud bricks.
The mud bricks didn’t belong to him alone but to several families.
Even so, Uncle Zhou received several yuan. Holding the money, he grinned widely, the wrinkles on his face nearly disappearing from his smile.
Hopefully more Educated Youth will come out alone to build houses, then this autumn harvest will be a huge gain.
No, his organization needs to prepare more mud bricks in advance.