At six o'clock in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, the brigade's wake-up call rang out.
Ruan Miaomiao rubbed her sleepy eyes, got up and rummaged through her luggage to find half a pound of brown sugar. She wrapped it in oil paper, borrowed Zhou Weihong's bamboo basket to put it in, covered it with two melon leaves picked from the educated youth's private plot, and walked towards the brigade leader's house.
When we arrived at the brigade leader's house, we happened to see him wearing straw sandals, squatting in the yard eating boiled potatoes.
When Captain Zhou Jianguo saw Ruan Miaomiao, he was immediately displeased: This educated youth from Haicheng has delicate skin and looks like she has never suffered. Could she be here to ask for leave?
These past two days have been busy digging potatoes from the fields. He has already given the newly arrived educated youth a day off today, and he mentioned it yesterday at the entrance of the educated youth compound.
Now that they've come looking for someone, does it mean they want to stay a few more days?
Thinking about this, Zhou Jianguo felt annoyed: these educated youth from the city were pretentious and looked down on them, these peasants.
"Captain!"
When she got closer, Zhou Jianguo ignored her, so Ruan Miaomiao could only greet him with a smile.
You can't hit a smiling face, especially since Ruan Zhiqing's smile revealed two dimples. Zhou Jianguo's dissatisfaction dissipated, and he stood up to greet her, "Ruan Zhiqing, aren't you going to town to buy some supplies today?"
Although the administrative division of commune has now replaced town, people in the production brigade still habitually refer to it as town.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Miaomiao understood that Zhou Jianguo was implying that she shouldn't ask for leave.
She smiled without saying a word and walked directly into the courtyard of the brigade leader's house. The brigade leader's wife, Qin Chunhong, heard the commotion outside and came out of the main room.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw a fair-skinned, delicate girl standing in her yard wearing fashionable clothes that I had only ever seen in open-air movies.
Upon seeing herself, the girl grinned, revealing her white teeth. She looked very well-behaved and inexplicably likable.
"Auntie."
Based on the plot, Ruan Miaomiao recognized the person in front of her as Qin Chunhong, the wife of the brigade leader. She immediately went over, lifted the pumpkin leaves, and stuffed the oil paper hidden underneath into Qin Chunhong's hands.
Qin Chunhong glanced around warily and nervously refused, "Comrade, we cannot take even a needle or thread from the people."
Jianshan Brigade is considered one of the wealthiest brigades in the surrounding area. Many people want to become the brigade leader of Jianshan Brigade, and many eyes are on her family. She can't accept gifts and hold her husband back.
Ruan Miaomiao hurriedly pushed the person back into the main room, and stuffed the oil paper package into Qin Chunhong's arms, saying, "Auntie, yesterday the brigade leader went to pick up a few of us educated youths. I had the most luggage, and the brigade leader was exhausted. I'm here to thank the brigade leader."
Ruan Miaomiao pressed the brown sugar into Qin Chunhong's arms and continued, "Besides, I also want the brigade leader to help me with something."
Upon hearing this, Qin Chunhong felt the oil paper package in her hand was burning hot, and her refusal became even stronger. She repeatedly said that she didn't need it, and that the brigade leader was there to serve the villagers.
The captain, who was standing to the side, lost interest in the boiled potatoes in his hand. His deep, cloudy eyes were fixed on Ruan Miaomiao, wanting to see what the girl would say.
Seeing the two of them looking nervous, Ruan Miaomiao quickly said, "Auntie, you know I'm from Haicheng. To tell you the truth, I was spoiled at home since I was little and have never done any work. I also have a bad temper. I'm afraid that if I stay in the educated youth compound for too long, I'll get into conflicts with others. So, I thought I'd pay for a house to be built in our brigade and move out to live alone. When I go back to the city, the house will belong to our brigade."
? ?
!!
Upon hearing Ruan Miaomiao's words, Zhou Jianguo and Qin Chunhong both showed expressions of surprise and delight: This kind of good thing had finally come to their Jianshan Brigade?
Over the years, many educated youth have been sent to the countryside, and some of them have even paid for their own houses, which then belonged to the production brigade after they returned.
However, these are matters concerning other brigades.
Their Jianshan brigade was unlucky; none of the educated youth who came were wealthy, and none of them were willing to pay for their own houses.
Ruan Miaomiao's words immediately made Zhou Jianguo feel dizzy: once this house is built, he won't have to worry about being outdone by other brigades when he goes to meetings at the commune.
So as soon as Ruan Miaomiao said this, Zhou Jianguo immediately replied, "Sure, definitely. I'll arrange to build you a house right after the harvest."
Hearing Zhou Jianguo's urgent tone, Ruan Miaomiao was a little stunned: He agreed so easily?
However, thinking about it, it makes sense. If he paid for the house himself, it would be like adding something to the brigade's public account. How could the brigade leader not be willing?
Sensing the change in their attitudes, Ruan Miaomiao patted Qin Chunhong's hand and said, "Auntie, please keep this. It will take some time before the house is finished. I would like to trouble you and the brigade leader to help me find a house to live in in the village. I will pay two yuan a month for rent."
Qin Chunhong wanted to return the items, but when she felt that the hands that touched her were even more tender than freshly made tofu, she worried that her rough, old hands would scratch the woman's hands, so she had no choice but to accept the items.
However, after accepting the gifts, Qin Chunhong's attitude changed: "You silly girl, the houses in the village that are available for rent are not worth two yuan a month. I can find you a house for one yuan a month."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Miaomiao worried that Qin Chunhong might be trying to save money by renting a dilapidated house, so she quickly said, "Auntie, I want to rent a better one, preferably one with a small plot of land next to it. Don't worry about the money; my family sends me money and bank drafts every month."
Upon hearing this, the captain and his wife exchanged a glance: This guy is really rich.
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