As the jeep drove back into the night and disappeared from sight, she stood there muttering, "What happened to our promise to go the same way?"

A hand landed on Ruan Xianxian's shoulder, bringing her back to her senses. Mu Xia's voice came from beside her: "What are you doing standing here? Why don't you go inside?"

"I met a really interesting person."

The two women carried five large packages into the front yard. Ye Guo, who was standing in front of the boys' dormitory, couldn't help but follow the movement of her luggage with his eyes.

Has she been spending money recklessly again?

What did she buy?

That money was all her own; who gave her permission to spend it recklessly?

Even after the two figures turned into the backyard, Ye Guo remained standing there, gritting his teeth, determined to get his hands on Ruan Xianxian's money.

With that two thousand yuan, he could not only buy a job in the city and say goodbye to the dirty and smelly countryside, but also spend more on betrothal gifts to marry a gentle and sensible wife from the city.

Every penny Ruan Xian spends now belongs to him!

backyard--!

Mu Xia carried her package into the house and reminded her, "Now everyone in the village is saying you're the offspring of a bad element."

One woman even went up to the brigade leader and said, "Your class status shouldn't just be based on population distribution; you should do heavier and more work than others. Be careful these next few days."

Seeing that there was no worry on her face, Mu Xia was about to say goodbye and leave when Ruan Xianxian grabbed her and opened a blue cloth bag to reveal several glass panels.

"These were brought from the city today. Take as many as you need."

Mu Xia happily hugged her tightly, but Ruan Xianxian felt a sudden darkness before her eyes... She frantically flailed her arms, crying out, "I'm sinking in! My whole face is sinking in!"

Mu Xia got angry, her face turned red, grabbed her by the back of her collar and threw her out. She then looked down and calculated the amount of glass she needed. Six panes would be enough; the little house would only have one window.

"How much?" she asked.

Ruan Xianxian glanced at it and said, "Give me three yuan."

In addition to the three yuan, Mu Xia brought her a plate of fried pork cracklings. "These are the leftovers from Chu Li pressing oil tonight. I specially saved them for you and didn't touch them. Eat up!"

Ruan Xianxian took a bite and commented, "It's not as fragrant and crispy as when it's fresh out of the oven."

She hasn't had to leave the village for a while now, so she's decided to make dumplings with pork cracklings and pickled cabbage tomorrow. With so many big packages, it wouldn't be surprising if she took something out of them.

Just imagine the taste of steaming hot white flour dumplings with sauerkraut filling, dipped in vinegar with a few drops of chili oil, and paired with a couple of ounces of liquor... tsk!

Swallowing hard, trying to appear less greedy, Ruan Xianxian, having nothing better to do, started replacing the glass.

Tear off the parchment paper, insert the glass cut to size, nail one nail inside and one nail outside, and finally use a small packet of putty similar to modeling clay to secure it around the bottom.

The glass was replaced, and moonlight shone through the glass window, casting a silvery glow on the small room. The room was quiet and beautiful, and a girl was looking down at the oil lamp, selecting something.

Various fabrics were laid out on her table; with glass windows, curtains were essential.

Her little hands touched this and that, and finally she chose one, saying, "You're the one."

The blue cotton fabric printed with bamboo was truly luxurious to use as curtains, but she liked it.

The small kang (heated brick bed) is covered with sheets and quilts of the same color scheme. Two peony pictures are pasted on the kang cabinet, and a tabletop calendar and a basket are placed on the kang table.

A thermos, a lunchbox, and a radio were placed on two mahogany chests. Ruan Xianxian looked around the small house and smiled, very satisfied with the arrangement.

Mmm! It smells like home from my memories!

When she was little, she lived with her grandmother in a small room like this, filled with her childhood memories!

Lying in her newly renovated room, Ruan Xianxian slept the most peaceful night she had since her rebirth.

The next day when I went to work, I felt refreshed and energetic.

"Ha! What kind of family is this? They eat steamed buns every day!" Liu Xiatian couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of disgust as Ruan Xianxian walked past him, her hair radiating pleasure.

For three consecutive days, rumors spread throughout the brigade about her having problematic social class background and a lack of positive thinking.

Apart from the gossipy Shen Meihua and the daring Li Dazui, the women in the team generally avoided her.

Ruan Xianxian summarized the reasons into three points.

She's rich!

Her background is problematic!

She's rich, has a bad family background, and won't let anyone take advantage of her!

Seeing her being ostracized by the villagers, Wenrou and Ye Guo were inexplicably happy. Their discussion about the two of them wetting their pants and washing clothes was replaced by the fact that Ruan Xianxian's grandmother had been sent to the countryside for some reason.

Will having someone like this in the brigade affect the selection of outstanding collectives?

Public opinion was naturally guided secretly by Wenrou and Ye Guo!

On the day Mu Xia's house was completed, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

She finally got to live in her own room. In Mu Xia's words, "When I lived in that room, I had to sprinkle insect repellent powder before going to bed, and I was always on guard against lice getting on me."

Because of the rain, Mu Xia didn't have to work in the afternoon, so she prepared a housewarming meal.

She couldn't wait for the kang (heated brick bed) to dry before moving in, saying, "Even a bed made of wooden crates is better than a dormitory-style communal bed."

"That wooden box is quite sturdy," Ruan Xianxian remarked.

Mu Xia was furious: "Ruan, Xiao Xian! Are you itching for a beating again?"

My older sister's large size is frightening when she gets angry; I chased her around the backyard three times.

Ruan Xianxian, with her braids loose, sat in front of the vegetable basin with a resentful look on her face. She was stronger than Mu Xia, but she didn't move as much as Mu Xia, and she was always the one who got bullied.

"Xiaxia, have you lost weight?"

"Really?" Mu Xia ran into the house with heavy steps, took out a mirror smaller than her face, and looked at herself intently. Her cheerful voice rang out.

"You know what, you've actually lost some weight, at least five pounds."

"Hmm! He looks thinner. If you want to know the exact number, go to the grain station in town tomorrow. There are scales there that you can borrow."

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