Chapter 20 I didn't expect to live in a cave
Ye Siran had no idea that her mother cursed her at home and that she was chased and beaten by her stepfather every day. She also had no idea that He Hongwen regretted losing her so much.
"Educated youth, we have arrived at your accommodation." The village chief was the first to jump off the car and said to the people on the ox cart, pointing to a row of cave dwellings in front.
"Village chief, is that where our accommodation is?" Xia Tiantian's voice was a little sharp in disbelief.
"Village chief, are those cave dwellings... inhabited by people?" Xiao Zhiyu looked at the row of earthen caves, his mouth opened wide in shock and he stuttered as he spoke.
Ye Siran got out of the car, turned around, grabbed a bag in one hand, and looked in the direction the village chief pointed.
The round arched doorways on the low slope are indeed cave dwellings, but they can be lived in.
In later generations, many people who traveled to the Northwest also lived in cave dwellings. Ye Siran had also lived there, but by then the earthen cave had been changed into a stone cave.
It can be seen that this was built by the villagers a few years ago specifically for the educated youth who went to the countryside. After all, the cave dwellings are made of local materials and are inexpensive.
The evening sunlight poured down from the sky like a golden waterfall, sprinkling on the row of earthen kilns, and the warm light shined through the mottled entrances of the caves.
The outer wall of the earthen kiln was rough, with traces of wind and rain intertwined on it, and yellowish soil seeping out of the cracks.
The wind blew gently, carrying a hint of the smell of soil, which reminded her of the days of working in the fields in the future. "Village chief, where do I live?"
"Ye Zhiqing, those on the left are for male educated youths, and those on the right are for female educated youths. Two people will stay in one room. You can choose which one you want."
Village Chief Qu answered enthusiastically. He wanted to curry favor with Ye Siran, but he couldn't do it too obviously.
As soon as she finished her words, Xia Tiantian quickly pointed to the room closest to the male educated youth and said, "Shishi, how about I live in that room with you?"
"It's up to you." Jian Yueshi said coldly. To be honest, she looked down on any of them, but she had no choice.
She was wearing a black Dacron dress with small white flowers, puff sleeves, and pleated puffy hem.
It was obvious that she had changed in the toilet before getting off the train because there were no wrinkles on the dress.
She has delicate features. She stood next to Qu Chenggang's bicycle, brushing the hair around her ears with her hand. She looked very beautiful.
Qu Chenggang swallowed his saliva and said in a rough voice, "Jian Zhiqing, if you are not used to living in a cave, you can live in our house."
The slightly wealthier local villagers all live in houses built with earthen bricks and covered with green tiles.
Most of the villagers in Gaotang Village have the surname Qu. Qu Chenggang is the eldest son of the second brother of the village chief. He is in the military and receives a salary every month.
Their house and the village chief's house are both made of stone, which is not only tall and elegant but also warm in winter and cool in summer.
"Brother Gangzi, it's not good to treat me specially like this!" Jian Yueshi refused politely. She looked down on Qu Chenggang, but she didn't want to offend him.
"This is not considered special treatment. We have had the precedent of educated youth living in villagers' homes here, uncle, don't you think so?"
"If Zhiqing Jian wants to live here, it's fine. Zhiqing and the villagers are all one family!" said Village Chief Qu with a smile.
He also wanted to invite Ye Siran to live in his house, but he was not as thick-skinned as his nephew and could not say it out loud.
"We are here to support rural development. I don't like special treatment. Tiantian, let's go in."
Since Jian Yueshi didn't like Qu Chenggang, she naturally wouldn't go to his house. Her luggage was still in Qu Chenggang's hands, but she had no intention of taking it herself.
She walked towards the cave on her own, and Qu Chenggang followed her carrying her luggage.
He felt that Jian Zhiqing was not only beautiful, but also kind-hearted. It was rare that she was so spoiled and didn't ask for special treatment.
The two male educated youth had no choice because they were the only two male educated youth this time.
The two of them looked at each other and walked towards the cave next to Jian Yueshi and Xia Tiantian tacitly.
The older male educated youth wore glasses and was in his early twenties. He had been chatting with Jian Yueshi all the way and naturally chose the cave dwelling closest to her.
Xiao Zhiyu liked Xia Tiantian's liveliness and cheerfulness very much, and she had comforted him on the ox cart.
"Ye Zhiqing, my name is Wen Lin. Can I live in the same room with you? Which room do you like?"
Wen Lin, who had been silent all the way, asked, blinking her lively eyes.
Her long black hair was braided into two pigtails. It was not disheveled even though she hadn't combed it for several days. She had a straight nose and a round face with a rosy complexion.
She was wearing a Dacron shirt with small floral patterns, a half-circle white ruffle at the collar, and black corduroy trousers.
She was wearing calfskin shoes and fancy socks, and had a natural but slightly tired smile on her face. It was obvious at a glance that she came from a good family.
"Okay, my name is Ye Siran, what do you think of that one?" Ye Siran asked, pointing to the last one.
"Ye Zhiqing, I like everything you like." Wen Lin said with a smile, a trace of pity flashing in her heart.
This little girl was not only young, but also thin and timid. She was the last one to walk and even chose the last cave dwelling.
I will have to take better care of her in the future. She is so pitiful!
"Since you have all made your choices, don't go to work this afternoon. Settle down first." The village chief said loudly, looking at the backs of several young educated youth.
"Thank you for your hard work, Village Chief. You go ahead and do your work. We will go into the house and clean up." Ye Siran thanked him politely.
"Ye Zhiqing is too polite. You can come to me if you need anything." Village Chief Qu kindly advised.
"Thank you, village chief. We'll go in first." Wen Lin said with a smile. She turned around and wanted to help Ye Siran carry a bag, but saw her avoiding her hand.
She felt even more pity for Ye Siran's timidity, so she encouraged him enthusiastically: "Ye Zhiqing, I'll help you carry a bag."
"I appreciate your kindness, but you can't lift it." Ye Siran had a good first impression of Wen Lin, so he explained a little more.
"You are thinner than me, I don't believe it." Wen Lin said as she tried to grab the snakeskin bag, and then she widened her already big eyes.
She was so curious that she had to ask even though she was stammering with surprise: "You...you...you...what's in the bag?"
"The snakeskin bag contains food, and this bag contains blankets and clothes, all necessities."
"Oh my God, Ye Zhiqing, your mother is so good to you!" Wen Lin exclaimed enviously.
She went on to say: "My parents and brother and sister-in-law only gave me money and tickets, fearing that I couldn't carry them. I only have a change of clothes in this bag."
"You didn't bring a blanket?"
"No! My parents said to buy it when we get here."
As the two were talking, they had already walked into the cave. There was nothing inside. To be precise, there was a large kang made of adobe bricks that occupied most of the area of the cave.
"Siran, can I call you like that? Your parents are so good to you. They have quilts and other things. What should I do?" Wen Lin asked with a frustrated face, looking at the empty cave.
Before Ye Siran could answer, he heard Xia Tiantian's terrified scream from the next door: "There is nothing here, how can we live?"
"Xia Zhiqing, Jian Zhiqing, don't worry, I'll go home and get you some necessities."
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