Hu Mingliang helped Nan Mo carry the packages into her room, then went out to tidy up his own place.
Nan Mo had secrets. Before coming, she had wanted a private space of her own. She had not expected everything to fall into place without her needing to put in much effort.
Humming to herself, she unpacked things from the packages. Anything she did not need went straight back into her space. Anything she “did not have” was taken out from her space to fill the gaps.
When she and Mother Nan had packed the parcels, the parcels had merely been a cover.
She pulled out a large piece of light blue floral fabric, cut it to the right size with scissors, and nailed it up as curtains for the bedroom and bathroom windows.
Then she took out a piece of opaque blue cloth and hung it over the bedroom doorway as a curtain.
She laid a non slip rug on the kang, then added a padded mattress and bedsheet on top. She put beige pillowcases and a beige duvet cover onto the pillows and quilt.
By then, the bedroom already looked like a proper young woman’s room.
Before anyone came by, she quickly took out a wok and bowls and chopsticks, a kitchen knife, and five or six spice jars. She also laid out oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, though not in large amounts.
She added three enamel basins, two enamel cups, a military canteen, two aluminum lunch boxes, a coal stove, a clay pot, an aluminum pot, two thermoses, shampoo, cold cream, a toothbrush, toothpaste…
Nan Mo had prepared this thoroughly because she intended to live comfortably. With parcels that big, no one would suspect anything even with so many items inside.
As for smaller things, she could take them out anytime once she thought of them. In any case, no one knew exactly what was inside her parcels.
With that in mind, she took out some candy and snacks, plus a pack of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor.
The cigarettes and liquor had been bought by Mother Nan at the supply and marketing cooperative before Nan Mo went to the countryside, meant for gift giving. Later, she needed to bring them to build a good relationship with the brigade leader.
“Xiao Mo, I’m coming in, okay?” Lu Yuanyuan asked. She saw Nan Mo was still busy and wanted to help.
Hearing her voice, Nan Mo tightened half a parcel and set it aside, making it look like she had not finished unpacking. “Come in.”
“Wow, Xiao Mo, you made this place so pretty. Compared to yours, mine looks like a pigsty,” Lu Yuanyuan exclaimed dramatically.
“Nan Mo, you even brought a wok and a coal stove?” Hu Mingliang had not expected her parcels to include those.
“Yes. I’m not used to living with others, so before coming to the countryside, I was already planning to live alone. I prepared in advance.”
“You really had foresight. Xiao Mo, do you still have any fabric? Trade me some,” Lu Yuanyuan said as she pulled money and coupons from her pocket.
“If you have extra, give me a set too.” Chen Ruonan also took out money and coupons. Afraid Nan Mo might refuse, she added, “If you don’t take it, then I won’t take the fabric.”
“Right, Xiao Mo, we know you’re not short on these things, but we can’t keep taking from you.
From now on, if money should be calculated, then calculate it with us. If we ever say or do something that upsets you, tell us.
Before coming to the countryside, the elders in my family and Hu Mingliang’s family reminded us not to offend capable people.
In my eyes, you’re that capable person!” Lu Yuanyuan said.
Looking at the decorations in the room, Lu Yuanyuan’s fondness for Nan Mo had already risen into admiration.
Hu Mingliang and Chen Ruonan nodded repeatedly beside her.
Hearing such sincere words, Nan Mo reevaluated Lu Yuanyuan.
This girl was nothing like the thoughtless impression she had given over the past few days. She was actually sharp and tactful, which made Nan Mo feel even more at ease about continuing to associate with them.
Nan Mo was not afraid of clever people. What she feared was dealing with people who could not see situations clearly.
“Alright, I’ll get them for you.” Using her body to block the view, she took out fabric and four padlocks, though it looked like she was pulling them from the parcels.
“Here. Later, you should all lock your doors.” Nan Mo handed them the locks.
“This is amazing. How do you have everything?”
“I don’t have everything. In a bit, we should go ask where we can buy furniture. We’re still missing some.”
If she pulled furniture out of her parcels, it would be too ridiculous. It was better to spend money and buy it.
The four of them locked their doors and went to the front yard while chatting and laughing.
Once Fang Jian saw everyone had arrived, he said, “The brigade leader said you’ll rest and settle in tomorrow. If you’re missing anything, you can take the village ox cart to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy it.
The ox cart goes to town at seven in the morning and comes back at two in the afternoon.
If you miss the cart, you can walk. It only takes forty to fifty minutes.
If anyone renting a room doesn’t plan to cook for themselves, you can also eat with us.
Your grain ration accounts have already been transferred to the production team. In a bit, I’ll take you to collect grain from the team. What you receive now is borrowed from the team. When grain is distributed at the end of the year, you’ll have to repay it.”
After saying so much, his throat felt dry, so he drank some water. Seeing no one speaking, he asked, “Do you have any questions?”
“If we eat together, how does that work?” Xu Mei asked.
“Three meals a day. You eat however much you pay for. Oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar are shared equally. Female educated youths take turns cooking and washing dishes. Male educated youths are responsible for hauling water and chopping firewood.
As for the rotation schedule, we’ll discuss it together once the other older educated youths return from work.”
Xu Mei nodded, fairly satisfied with the arrangement.
“Educated Youth Fang, do you know if anyone in the village sells furniture?” Nan Mo asked.
“Yes. Turn right after you go out, about fifty to sixty meters. There’s a persimmon tree in the yard. That’s the village carpenter. We bought our things from him.”
Fang Jian waited a moment. When no one had further questions, he led them to collect their grain.
…
After they carried the grain back to their rooms, Nan Mo took the three of them to buy furniture.
The four chatted and laughed as they walked to the entrance of the educated youth compound. They did not expect Tang Yifan and the other two to be waiting there as well.
“Educated Youth Nan, let’s go buy furniture together,” Tang Yifan said.
Nan Mo looked at Lu Zhihui and Wu Mingyue standing beside him, both wearing resentful expressions, and she only felt irritated.
“No need. I don’t like getting too close to people I’m not familiar with,” Nan Mo refused without a second thought.
She did not wait for his reaction. She simply walked off with the other three.
“Hey, what kind of attitude is that?” Lu Zhihui shouted after her. Tang Yifan stared at Nan Mo’s back, his expression dark.
If Nan Mo had avoided him when they were choosing rooms and it could be dismissed as unintentional, this time it was a blatant rejection.
Wu Mingyue was delighted. “Brother Tang, we should stay farther away from Nan Mo. She’s always been arrogant at school.
She looked down on classmates like us just because her father is a factory director.”
“What’s so great about a factory director? Does she even know Brother Yifan’s family…” Lu Zhihui began.
“Lu Zhihui!” Tang Yifan cut her off.
But Wu Mingyue had already understood. Tang Yifan’s background was definitely not simple, and that only strengthened her resolve to seize this man who could let her rise in one leap.