These items are not cheap to buy at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and they require vouchers. Brown sugar especially needs a hospital certificate to obtain.
The Village Chief's wife's expression soured at this thought. She wanted those things too, but if it caused her husband trouble... she decided it was better to decline.
This Su Jiaojiao wasn't new to the Brigade; she'd been here long before today. What could possibly be so important that the Village Chief would be involved?
Su Jiaojiao placed the items in a basket. She saw the Village Chief's wife's expression and knew what she was thinking.
She raised her small face and smiled politely: "Aunt, don't worry. I'm staying here for a long time, so I need your care."
"Huh~ Su Jiaojiao, you're talking nonsense! Call me Aunt Guihua. You newcomers from the city don't know anything about farm work. If you have any questions, come to me. I'll teach you. We won't give you too hard tasks at first. Just help with the double harvest."
After speaking, she warmly grabbed Su Jiaojiao's hand and patted it.
Su Jiaojiao didn't fully understand what Aunt Guihua meant, but she agreed anyway. She raised her small face and replied adorably: "I understand, Aunt Guihua."
The Village Chief's wife looked at Su Jiaojiao's expression and hesitated. She wasn't sure if she'd understood or not, but since she hadn't agreed to anything, she decided not to worry about it.
At that moment, the Village Chief arrived, leading Big Yellow Dog.
His granddaughter Little Stone followed, carrying a rabbit. Big Yellow Dog's tail wagged when he saw Su Jiaojiao, but it quickly tucked between his legs again. He whimpered and tried to crawl back into his doghouse, pulling the Village Chief off balance. This made the Village Chief curse at the dog as it disappeared into its shelter.
Little Stone, however, kept looking curiously at Su Jiaojiao. She looked back at him.
He had clear black and white eyes full of foolish innocence, which was very cute.
"Come here." Su Jiaojiao beckoned to him.
He didn't fear her and, holding the rabbit, stood right in front of her. He asked in a small voice: "What do you want?"
Seeing Little Stone's expression, Su Jiaojiao smiled even more happily.
"Nothing." She reached into her pocket, grabbed a White Rabbit Candy, and handed it to him: "Eat this."
Little Stone saw the candy and unconsciously swallowed. But he didn't take it immediately. He looked at his grandfather instead.
The Village Chief saw the candy in his hand and looked at the items in the basket before telling his grandson: "You can keep the candy. And the items in the basket are for you too."
"That's not right, Uncle Zhong!" Su Jiaojiao immediately objected. "When Uncle Zhong came to pick me up today, he told me that you used to fight devils with Uncle Zhong and the others. He said I shouldn't be afraid here and should treat you as an elder. How can I bring elder's gifts back?"
Uncle Zhong fell silent at this. He looked at Su Jiaojiao with complex eyes. It seemed she was another troublemaker. He waved at his wife: "Put it away."
With both of them done talking, there was nothing more to do. Since the Village Chief's daughter-in-law had agreed to treat him as an elder, he couldn't refuse.
"Okay!" The Village Chief's wife was delighted when her husband agreed. She happily took the basket inside.
"What's the matter?" The Village Chief came out with two stools and handed one to Su Jiaojiao.
"Thank you, Village Chief." Su Jiaojiao didn't hesitate. She took the stool, placed it on the ground, but didn't sit immediately. Instead, she reached into her pocket and handed the Village Chief a paper from Grandma Su: "Village Chief, I'm a latecomer. This is a hospital certificate."
The Village Chief took the paper and looked at Su Jiaojiao's face...
Su Jiaojiao, reading his thoughts, added: "You don't have to look at my face. I was sickly as a child and took many medicines. I'm better now." She showed a small white tooth.
The Village Chief, regardless of whether her words were true, spoke formally: "Since you can't do heavy labor, you'll do lighter tasks. But I must be clear: work points are distributed based on grain. Light tasks like gathering pig feed only give two work points per day. Will you do that?"
Since she was here, she wouldn't care about those few points.
Su Jiaojiao immediately nodded: "That's fine, I'll do that."
Little Stone heard this and looked at his grandfather, then at Su Jiaojiao. Gathering pig feed was always Little Grass Sister and Dog Egg's job, wasn't it? Oh! And Iron Pillar's pregnant wife... He looked down at Su Jiaojiao's flat stomach, though he was curious, he didn't ask.
The Village Chief, hearing this, nodded in understanding and lit a cigarette. He asked: "Is there anything else? Say it together."
Su Jiaojiao didn't hesitate: "I've seen the situation in the Educated Youth Dormitory. I want to build a separate house to live in. Even after the double harvest, when the dormitory might be built, I don't know if I'll stay. So I don't want to share with others."
The Village Chief was surprised. Su Jiaojiao had only arrived recently, and now she's telling him where to build? She's already chosen a spot?
"You know where to build?" He asked, lighting another cigarette.
"Village Chief! The spot is at the foot of the hill behind the dormitory, near the Big Locust Tree Village." She explained. "I want it away from the dormitory because I'm worried about Song Zhiwei. If it's too far, I'll worry about her too."
The Village Chief was astonished. Su Jiaojiao, who had just arrived, had already chosen a location?
"You know that building requires land belonging to the village. If you want to live separately, you must pay for the land yourself."
Building a house is a big matter.
Su Jiaojiao had no objection. She nodded: "I understand. When I came to Big Locust Tree Village, my household registration followed. So I can apply for land here."
Seeing the Village Chief agree, she continued: "Even if I return later, that house will belong to the village."
Since she can't take it with her anyway.
With her words said, there was nothing more to discuss.
"Done! Tell me where to build, and we'll do it together after the double harvest!"
"Village Chief! The location is at the foot of the hill behind the dormitory, near the Big Locust Tree Village." She explained. "I want it away from the dormitory because I'm worried about Song Zhiwei. If it's too far, I'll worry about her too."
The Village Chief was astonished. Su Jiaojiao, who had just arrived recently, had already chosen a location?