It's now mid-September, and it's already getting cold in Northeast China.

The harvest is mostly complete; now the fields mostly hold vegetables for winter, along with late-season corn, sweet potatoes, and the like...

It was work time, and there weren't many people in the village. Old Li took the person to the brigade headquarters, and that was the end of his business.

The brigade leader looked at the seven bright and beautiful educated youths and felt a headache coming on. Even if he didn't like the fact that the higher-ups had sent people here to drag down their village's production, he still felt resentful.

But now that they're here, he can't possibly send them away.

"According to the old practice, you newly arrived educated youth will receive a subsidy of fifty catties of grain. Come here to collect it after you've settled in. There's also the educated youth shelter in our village. It's already full of female educated youth. If we squeeze in, we can accommodate two more female educated youth. There's room for male educated youth though. Do any of you female comrades want to stay at a villager's house?"

Su Li walked up to the brigade leader and said, "Uncle Captain, I'm Su Li from the South Province. I'd like to ask if there are any spare houses in our village besides the villagers' houses? I'm willing to pay rent."

"I'm also willing to pay rent," Zhou Yuting echoed.

Anyway, she decided that wherever Su Li went, she would go too; she was determined to be with her.

Zhao Meilan was getting anxious. She didn't have the money to rent a place, but she wanted to live with Zhou Yuting so she could take advantage of her in the future.

So he shamelessly stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Yuting, saying, "Tingting, how about you rent a room and we can live together? I'll do the housework, and I promise you won't suffer any losses."

Zhao Meilan is really dreaming. Su Li admires her shamelessness. She eats other people's food on the train and doesn't even wash the dishes.

She even said she would do the housework, but she could only use such words to fool Zhou Yuting, that little fool.

"I want to be with Su Li. You should find someone else!"

Seeing that this approach was not working, Zhao Meilan looked at Su Jiaojiao standing behind her.

Su Jiaojiao wanted to move out and live on her own, but unfortunately she didn't have much money on hand.

These days we still have to be careful with our money, so he said to the brigade leader, "Since they don't want to stay at the educated youth center, then I'll go."

The brigade leader nodded, then thought for a moment and realized there was a vacant yard in the village.

It used to be the house of a hunter. The hunter went up the mountain to hunt a few years ago and never came back. The villagers all said that he must have been eaten by wild animals.

He has no elderly parents or young children, so the house has always been empty.

Many people in the village had their eyes on the house, but with just two rooms and a large courtyard, it wasn't really suitable for anyone.

Now that someone is willing to rent it, it's generating revenue for the village.

“There is indeed a vacant house in our village. If you are willing to rent it, I will take you there now.”

"Thank you so much, Captain Uncle!" Su Li was very happy to be able to live alone. After all, she had her own space. Even if she couldn't rent a house, she planned to spend some money in the village to have the villagers help build one. In any case, she couldn't possibly squeeze in with a bunch of people.

The captain arranged for someone to take the other people to the educated youth center. He then took Su Li and Zhou Yuting to the hunter's house.

He took out his key and opened the gate. The yard must have been neglected for a long time, as it was overgrown with weeds.

Although it's an earthen house, the yard is quite large; once the weeds are cleared, some vegetables can be planted. The house itself is not small, with a main hall and a room on each side.

"Comrade Su, what do you think of this house? If you like it, it's only two yuan a month."

"Okay, we'll rent this house."

“Su Zhiqing is so straightforward. Okay, since you’ve decided to rent it, I’ll call a few people over in a bit to help you tidy up.”

"Thank you, Captain."

As he spoke, he took out a handful of fruit candies from his pocket and stuffed them into the captain's hand.

"Thank you, Uncle. These candies are for your grandson to sweeten his mouth."

Although the brigade leader found it strange that Su, the educated youth, knew about his eldest grandson so soon after arriving, he still reached out and gripped the candy tightly.

These days, it's not easy for kids to get candy. I never expected that Su, the educated youth, was really someone whose appearance didn't match his personality.

He was dark-skinned and thin, dressed in rags, but he was the most generous among the educated youth.

Only after the captain left did Zhou Yuting dare to speak.

Before her brother left, he told her to speak less when there were many people around, and never to say anything carelessly when she didn't know someone well, because she had a mouth that could easily offend people.

After watching the person leave, she finally spoke the words that had been on her mind for so long: "Su Li, how can anyone live in such a dilapidated house?"

She used to live in small villas, and had never lived in such a dilapidated house before. She really didn't know where to begin.

But after walking for an hour, she was exhausted and wanted to rest as soon as possible.

Su Li opened the west room, wiped the dust off the bed, and put the package on it.

“Zhou Yuting, now that you’ve gone to the countryside, don’t act like a spoiled princess. You can stay in this house if you want, or you can go to the educated youth settlement if you don’t.”

Zhou Yuting bit her lip; "I...I'm willing, okay?"

She didn't want to squeeze in with a bunch of people; what if they didn't like to shower? She'd be suffocated by their stench.

Su Li walked around the courtyard. It seemed that everything in the house had been cleared out. Apart from the two kang beds, there was basically nothing left.

"You stay here, I'll go next door to borrow a bucket and fetch some water to wipe the room down."

Zhou Yuting looked around and muttered softly, "But... I don't dare to stay here alone."

"Then go borrow it, I'll stay here and keep watch."

Seeing that Zhou Yuting didn't speak and just stared at her with her big eyes, Su Li was speechless.

This young lady, I really don't know what kind of good life she lived before. I suspect she even needs to be fed.

"You stay here, or I won't be responsible if your things get lost."

About twenty meters away, there was a mud house. Su Li walked up and knocked on the door.

Who is it?

The woman who opened the door was an elderly woman in her seventies. "Hello, Grandma, I'm a new educated youth who rents a room not far from you. I'd like to ask if you could borrow a wooden bucket to fetch some water so I can clean the room."

The old lady was a little hard of hearing; "What did you say? You're a new educated youth who wants some water? Wait here, I'll go get you some water right now, don't get too thirsty."

Su Li; "......."

She quickly grabbed the old lady and raised her voice a little higher: "Grandma, I'd like to borrow your bucket."

What would you like to borrow?

I said, "I'd like to borrow your bucket."

You said you wanted to borrow a bucket?

Su Li quickly nodded; "Okay, you wait here, I'll go get it."

The old lady brought over the bucket and also took out her own broom.

"You're a new educated youth here, so you're supposed to clean up, right? This old woman of mine isn't very hard of hearing, so please don't be angry."