After finishing their business, the village chief got up to see Lin Qian out. At this moment, the village chief's wife, Aunt Li, came over and gave the village chief a few subtle hints with her eyes. Lin Qian didn't notice anything amiss, and left after saying goodbye to the village chief.
After Lin Qian left, the village chief's wife said to the village chief, "Old man, you have to keep an eye on things. Lin Qian is such a good person! When she came to our house, she spoke very politely and had no airs at all. And look at all the things she brought, they're so practical! She seems like a sensible girl, we have to make sure she gets things done well."
The village chief frowned and said, "I know you too well. You've been accepting gifts again. Didn't I tell you not to accept them? I'm retiring in a few years, so don't cause trouble. These educated youth are all shrewd."
The village chief's wife quickly said, "I don't think Lin Zhiqing is that kind of person. Didn't you see how sincere her eyes were? Besides, all she wants is to repair two houses, so let's help her if we can."
The village chief sighed helplessly and said, "Alright, alright, I'll handle this. Don't worry about it."
After Lin Qian left, the village chief stood at the door, watching her departing figure, pondering to himself.
This educated youth, Lin, wants to build a house as soon as she arrives. I don't know if she's genuinely clever or just pretending. To flaunt her wealth so openly right after arriving is bound to cause trouble. Everyone in this village is struggling to make ends meet, and she's suddenly spending so much money on house repairs; it's bound to attract attention and gossip.
If those scheming people were to target her, her future would be bleak. The village chief shook his head and sighed. But since he had promised to help her repair the house, he had to do it properly and couldn't afford any mishaps. With that thought, the village chief turned and went back into the house, intending to discuss with his wife what to do next.
After leaving the village chief's house, Lin Qian returned to the educated youth settlement in a relatively relaxed mood. Along the way, she reflected on her conversation with the village chief, filled with anticipation for moving out after the house was renovated. It would be her own little world, where she could decorate it according to her own ideas, no longer having to endure the inconvenience of many people crammed into one room. Thinking of this, her steps became lighter.
Upon returning to the educated youth settlement, seeing the pile of firewood and water tank in the courtyard, she remembered that she had used the settlement's firewood and water the day before. Lin Qian felt a little guilty; she understood that resources at the settlement were shared by everyone, and she should replenish what she had used. So, she secretly decided to go to the foot of the mountain to gather firewood later and replenish what she had used.
She first went back to her room, put down the things she had bought in town, and rested for a while. Then, Lin Qian found a rope and a machete, and after preparing them, she walked towards the foot of the mountain.
Walking along the path leading to the foot of the mountain, Lin Qian kept a close eye on her surroundings. A gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees, making her feel even more cheerful. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Soon, she reached the foot of the mountain. There were many dry branches and firewood there, and Lin Qian began to carefully select them.
She used a machete to cut down suitable branches, carefully removed the small twigs, and then neatly bundled them together.
After some effort, Lin Qian gathered enough firewood. She tied it up with rope, tested its weight, and found it somewhat heavy, but she didn't give up. Taking a deep breath, she hoisted the firewood onto her back and set off on her way back to the educated youth settlement. Although the weight of the firewood made her steps a little heavy, her eyes were filled with determination.
When Lin Qian returned to the educated youth settlement, she was panting heavily. She placed the firewood beside the pile, looking at the tall stack, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. At this time, the other educated youth also returned one after another. Seeing Lin Qian carrying back so much firewood, they all expressed their admiration for her efforts.
Lin Qian smiled and said, "We used everyone's firewood and water yesterday."
The educated youth nodded in agreement, expressing their approval of Lin Qian's approach.
Seeing Lin Qian receiving praise from everyone, Liu Cui felt a pang of jealousy and sarcastically remarked, "Oh, Lin Qian, are you just showing off on purpose? You only gathered some firewood, and you're acting all high and mighty."
Lin Qian listened to Liu Cui's words, her face still bearing a faint smile, but her eyes revealed a sharpness that was hard to detect. She said slowly, "I'm not doing this on purpose. I really have no other choice. Unlike some people who just talk the talk but don't walk the walk, if I were like them, I would starve to death."
At this moment, Su Yao rolled her eyes and said in a seemingly kind manner, "Lin Qian, you're so capable, so you can be in charge of the firewood at the educated youth settlement from now on. Anyway, you're not tired, right?" This was clearly a trap set for Lin Qian, intended to put her in a dilemma.
Lin Qian remained completely calm. She smiled and replied, "Su Yao, you've got a really clever plan! If I take care of all the firewood, does that mean I'll have to cook all the meals myself? That won't do. I'm capable of working, but I can't be used like a fool. Besides, this educated youth settlement doesn't belong to me alone. Everyone has a responsibility and obligation to contribute to this collective, don't you think? If everyone just waits for others to do the work like some people do, wouldn't this educated youth settlement be in chaos?"
Liu Cui and Su Yao were speechless after Lin Qian's words, while the other educated youth couldn't help but laugh. Lin Qian secretly rejoiced at their discomfiture, but maintained her smile as if she had just said something completely ordinary.
Su Yao's face turned somewhat ugly. She thought to herself, "How annoying Lin Qian is! She's been going against me ever since the train, and now she's making me lose face in front of everyone. I'm so angry!" Her eyes revealed a hint of annoyance and dissatisfaction. Looking at Lin Qian's back, she wished she could go up and punch her twice.
However, Su Yao knew she couldn't lose her temper at this moment, as she didn't want to ruin her image in front of the educated youth. She suppressed her anger and tried to calm herself down, but her clenched fists and slightly trembling body betrayed her emotions.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
