The next morning, just as dawn broke, Xu Keke went to the women's director's house first.
The women's director of Chenjia Village is named Ma Yuying. She is a straightforward and efficient middle-aged woman. "She shares a room with Xiuzhi from our family. Her room doesn't have a kang (heated brick bed). There were originally two beds in it, and a stove was lit, so it wasn't cold."
The two were talking in the courtyard when her husband, Chen Baocai, came out of the house with a cigarette in his mouth. Seeing Xu Keke, he greeted her with a smile. Ignoring Xu Keke's presence, he reached out to ask Ma Yuying for money. Ma Yuying pulled out a certain amount of money from her pocket and stuffed it into his hand. Only then did Chen Baocai leave, satisfied.
Ma Yuying led Xu Keke to the east wing room, where an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl was leading a little girl about the same age as Xiaodouzi, wiping the empty bed with a cloth.
"Xiuzhi said you educated youth are so clean, you've been wiping all morning."
Hearing her mother's words, Xiuzhi turned away embarrassedly and stood to the side.
The room wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy. On the table by the window, there was a bunch of leafless yellow flowers in a teacup. "My sister said that's how they're arranged in the rooms of the educated youth compound. I picked them from behind the house."
The little girl, like a student waiting for their grades to be announced, had a mixture of trepidation and anticipation in her eyes. Xu Keke never hesitates to express her feelings when others show kindness, and she can sincerely bring joy to both parties.
Xu Keke tried chatting with Xiuzhi for a few more minutes. The girl was quiet, gentle, and rather introverted. Compared to the noisy ones, Xu Keke was quite satisfied with this 'roommate'.
"Alright, call your second sister to help Bai Zhiqing bring her things over. She'll be ready to work soon."
Ma Yuying glanced at the sky. Xiuzhi could go a little later, but it wouldn't be appropriate for her to be late. After saying that, she hurriedly left.
Xiuzhi's second younger sister, Xiuhong, is seventeen and attends school in the county. School allows students to take leave during the spring planting season, and since she wasn't really focused on her studies anyway, she went home early.
Her temperament was clearly not as good as her older sister's. When she heard that she was asked to help Xu Keke carry things, she immediately glared at Xu Keke. She followed behind reluctantly, not at all as happy as their little sister.
The younger sister, Xiumei, was very outgoing. She took the initiative to hold Xu Keke's hand and, without any hesitation, opened her small mouth, which was missing two front teeth, and grinned at Xu Keke.
Where there is laughter, there is tears. Watching the three sisters help Xu Keke carry her things, especially Xiu Mei, who is either holding Xu Keke's hand or tugging at her clothes, following her everywhere, Xiao Douzi sat in the yard and started crying.
Yesterday he was bragging to Xiumei that Aunt Bai tells him stories every night, and today Aunt Bai went to their house. Little Douzi, who rarely acts spoiled, threw a tantrum.
No matter how much Chen Jianguo glared or how fierce he was, the tears in his big eyes never stopped.
Even though Xu Keke promised him that she would bring him the candy she bought at the commune next time, it didn't soothe the little guy's sad mood.
After arranging everything, Xu Keke and Xiuzhi went to the brigade headquarters together. Because they dawdled, they arrived a little late. There was no one else at the brigade headquarters except for Chen Jianguo and the brigade accountant.
Chen Jianguo was a little surprised to see Xu Keke come to work. "Didn't I tell you to rest for a couple more days?"
"No need, I've almost recovered," Xu Keke said simply, then stood aside waiting to be assigned tasks.
Chen Jianguo scratched his head. His youngest child hadn't even acknowledged him when he left for work. He was giving him the cold shoulder. He'd ended up pleasing neither side.
The land allocated to Xu Keke was right next to the Women's Director's house; she could see Chen Xichun just by looking up.
Chen Xichun looked a little awkward when he first saw Xu Keke. But he was thick-skinned and quickly acted as if nothing had happened. He even thought about exchanging a few words with Xu Keke. Xu Keke threw down the rake in her hand, picked up the shovel next to her, and threw dirt all over him.
The villagers, who usually had little entertainment, joined in the commotion and laughter. Chen Xichun didn't mind. He smoothed his hair, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and laughed along with the villagers.
"What are you doing, messing around instead of working?!" Chen Jianguo walked over and shouted, and everyone immediately fell silent and got back to work.
Knowing this guy's thought process, he must think she's causing trouble again. Xu Keke rolled her eyes at Chen Jianguo and walked away with a cold face.
Chen Jianguo was stunned by her reaction. He had helped her out of a difficult situation, so why was she acting like this? Was the women's director's family really that poor? Maybe he should let her move back in a few days when her sister-in-law returned.
As Chen Jianguo thought this, he turned back to look at Xu Keke, who was diligently turning over the soil.
During the break, Xiuzhi ran over to her with a water bottle. The water was sweet, and Xiuzhi whispered in her ear, "I added sugar."
The little girl was a little smug, her bright black eyes looking at Xu Keke, waiting for her praise.
Buying sugar required sugar coupons, and every household had a limited number. They had to carefully consider how much sugar to put in when cooking. Judging from her behavior, she must have been secretly putting it in behind Ma Yuying's back.
Xu Keke was speechless. Not only did she dislike this method, she also disliked drinking sugar water.
She knew that Xiuzhi wanted to be good to her, but the way she was being good was what Xiuzhi thought was good, not what she needed.
Xu Keke is someone who never accepts kindness from others against her will, even if it might frustrate those who are kind to her. In her view, constantly giving her kindness that she doesn't want is also a form of harm.
"This water is so sweet, I thought I had picked up the wrong kettle. But it seems we have different tastes. You like it sweet, while I prefer plain water after work. It really quenches my thirst."
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