“You sleep next to me then.” After speaking, she turned her head again to Liu Zhiqing, who had her back to everyone, and said, “Actually, this is quite good. It’s fine now when it’s hot, but here it accumulates very deep snow and gets very cold in the winter. We can squeeze together for warmth then, right?”
Liu Zhiqing still had her back to everyone and didn't react upon hearing this.
Song Zhiwei smiled helplessly at this, resembling those big sisters who offer heartfelt advice.
“Let me help you two tidy up. There’s also Tang Zhiqing who went out on an errand and hasn't come back yet.” As she spoke, she pointed to the bunk in the middle.
“How long have you been in the countryside?” Su Jiaojiao asked Song Zhiwei casually while tidying her own quilt.
“Ah? Me? A little over two years, I guess.” She patted Su Jiaojiao’s soft quilt before continuing, “You two need to focus on resting these next few days. The Double Harvest is in a few days, and you definitely won't be used to it then. Since you just arrived, the Village Chief probably won't assign you very tiring work.”
Saying this, she turned around intending to help Yu Meiya tidy up, but as she reached out her hand, Yu Meiya dodged it.
Yu Meiya looked up at her and said faintly, “No need, thank you. I’ll do it myself.” She pursed her lips and opened her bag to take out her own cotton quilt, which was stiff and clumped, to spread on the heated brick bed.
Su Jiaojiao was a little surprised. She knew at the Train Station that Yu Meiya’s life here wouldn't be easy, but she hadn't expected it to be this difficult.
It’s okay in the Northeast now, but once winter comes, there will be thick snow and it will be cold for several months. How is she supposed to get through with just this quilt?
In this era, everything requires a ration coupon to buy, and they are very hard to obtain. If the things she brought were like this, her family certainly wouldn't give her much money either.
Su Jiaojiao also noticed that Yu Meiya’s ears and neck were red. She knew this was someone with strong self-esteem, and anything said now would be inappropriate.
Besides, even if you want to help someone, they should ask first. If they don't ask themselves and you rush to help, it’s fine if they are grateful, but if you encounter someone with a complicated mind, they might think you are just showing off your charity.
Su Jiaojiao nonchalantly looked away, spotting the Cabinets...
Right! She needed one too.
With this thought, Su Jiaojiao reached out, moved her not-yet-organized luggage to the corner of the wall, slung her bulging Army green crossbody bag over her shoulder, and prepared to head out.
“Su Zhiqing, where are you going? Do you need me to show you the way?” Song Zhiwei quickly spoke up when she saw Su Jiaojiao about to leave, intending to boost her Favorability.
Su Jiaojiao winked playfully upon hearing this, gripping the strap of her shoulder bag and smiling, “No need. I just arrived, I want to go get a couple of Cabinets and look around while I’m at it.”
Song Zhiwei didn't insist upon hearing this, nodding as she introduced, “If you want Cabinets made, go find Uncle Laogen. He’s a carpenter, and all of our Cabinets were made by him. His house isn't far from here, it’s the one at the foot of the mountain diagonally across from the Educated Youth Dormitory.”
Su Jiaojiao smiled even sweeter upon hearing this, her Eyebrows and eyes curving as she gave her thanks, “I know, thank you, Song Zhiqing.” Su Jiaojiao glanced at Yu Meiya, who was still silently tidying the heated brick bed, and left the room without saying anything.
When she first entered the village, she had already used her Divine Sense to scan the layout of the village. She knew where the carpenter lived, but now she needed to find the Village Chief first.
After Su Jiaojiao located the Village Chief’s Location using her Divine Sense, she walked toward that household.
The place where the Village Chief was staying now seemed to be his home. It wasn't too far from the Educated Youth Dormitory, but not too close either; it still required a bit of a walk.
Passing a small grove of trees, a child who looked about five or six years old walked out from inside the grove, holding the rope tied to Da Huang with one hand and carrying a dead white Rabbit in the other.
The child had a sturdy build, and his clothes were Dusty with a few patches.
The child clearly saw her too. He instinctively hid the white Rabbit behind his back, tightly gripping Da Huang, the Big Yellow Dog, in front of him to stop it from moving forward, stopping right there, clearly waiting for her to pass first.
Su Jiaojiao grinned at him, her gaze sweeping over the white Rabbit behind his back.
Hmm! She thought of her little companion, definitely not for braised Rabbit meat.
Ignoring him, she continued walking toward the Village Chief’s house. After she had walked a short distance, she noticed that the person and the dog were following her, keeping neither too close nor too far.
Just as she was about to reach the Village Chief’s doorstep, the Da Huang dog behind her suddenly barked, “Woof woof woof~” at Su Jiaojiao.
Su Jiaojiao sharply turned her head and shot a fierce glare. Before the child could even stop the Da Huang dog, the dog, which was usually domineering in the village, was seen clamping its tail tightly between its hind legs, its entire body pressed to the ground, trembling.
“Baozi? Baozi, why are you lying on the ground? Get up quickly.” But no matter how he pulled, he couldn't get it up!
Seeing this, Su Jiaojiao’s mouth curved wider, as if a prank had succeeded.
Heh~ You still dared to be fierce to me!
“Little Stone, what are you barking about? What’s wrong with Baozi?” Perhaps hearing his Eldest Grandson’s voice, the Village Chief opened the door from the courtyard to come out and see what was happening.
When he opened the door, he saw Su Jiaojiao standing at the main entrance. He wasn't surprised that she had come, but he hadn't expected her to arrive so quickly; he had only just gotten home a short while ago, right?
“You’re here? Come in first.” The Village Chief said, pushing the door open slightly and stepping two paces outside, where he saw the Da Huang dog lying on the ground, trembling.
“Little Stone, what’s wrong with Baozi?” Saying this, the Village Chief quickly walked over to the Da Huang dog and first patted its head.
He intended to check its body again to see if it was injured anywhere, but the dog seized the opportunity to press its body down and whimper, crawling under the Village Chief’s legs.
“I don’t know. It was fine at first, but it became like this as soon as we got here.” Little Stone also anxiously held onto the rope tied to Da Huang, refusing to let go, trying to pull it up.
Su Jiaojiao: ... She secretly rolled her eyes; she suspected this dog was faking an injury.
It was just one look, and she hadn't even exerted any pressure. Did it really need to be this scared?
“What’s wrong? Old Man, what’s wrong?” At this moment, a woman rushed out from inside; she looked like the Village Chief’s Wife.
The Village Chief’s Wife saw a tall and graceful young lady standing outside the door before she even stepped out.
“Oh my! Is this the new Educated Youth? Are you looking for the Old Man? Then come in quickly, come in.” Saying this, she came to the doorway and pulled Su Jiaojiao into the courtyard.
Su Jiaojiao let the Village Chief’s Wife pull her inside as she walked, saying, “Auntie, I’m the Educated Youth who arrived today, my surname is Su. I came to see the Village Chief about something today.”
As she spoke, she took off the crossbody bag from her shoulder and started taking things out while saying, “It’s my first time visiting, so I’m sorry to come empty-handed. Please don’t look down on what I brought, Auntie.”
The Village Chief’s Wife’s heart skipped a beat as she watched what Su Jiaojiao was taking out.
There was one can of Malted Milk Food, one large block of Brown sugar, one box of Fruit candy, a bottle of liquor, and one pack of cigarettes.