After Yi Qingqing filled the water tank, Zhao Yougen came.

He didn't say much, just buried his head in his work, piling up the yellow mud for the stove and helping her fill the holes in the wall.

He was very skillful and had picked up the tiles on the roof for her before going to work in the afternoon.

"Uncle Yougen, this is sorghum flour for you, and some pastries. Thank you for your hard work," Yi Qingqing took out the things that had been prepared earlier.

Zhao Yougen only took the sorghum flour and said, "We agreed to buy two kilograms of sorghum flour. I can't afford this cake."

"Don't say that. You helped me plaster the wall, and you did the job quickly and well. I took up so much of your lunch and couldn't keep you for lunch. I felt bad, so I thought of paying you back with the pastries," Yi Qingqing said hurriedly.

In this village, helping with work usually includes a meal. Zhao Yougen tried to refuse but had to accept it anyway. Hearing this young man talking so convincingly, as if he had helped a lot, it was really embarrassing. Before leaving, he even said that next time there was a leak, she could go directly to him and he would make sure he fixed it for her.

Yi Qingqing saw Zhao Yougen off and cleaned up the dust that fell when she picked up the tiles.

Then spread the straw mat all over the kang.

The kang is like this room, not wide but quite long.

She had previously asked a carpenter to insert a thin wooden stick high in the middle of the kang and fix it in the grooves dug out on the left and right walls.

Then she took out the piece of light green cotton cloth that she had won by signing in, cut it into a curtain, and hung it on a wooden stick.

This curtain can be pulled open to the left and right, dividing the entire room including the kang into two parts, inside and outside.

From then on, that was her bedroom. When the curtain was drawn, the room became dark, perfect for sleeping.

The straw felt nailed to the wall on the kang was not as smooth as the straw mat and was a bit prickly. Yi Qingqing also wrapped it with cotton cloth, and it felt a bit soft when she leaned against it.

The large wooden box was moved inside and placed horizontally on the kang next to the curtain, thus dividing the kang.

Further inside the box is where she sleeps.

Her little red floral quilt had been made out, lying flat and very comfortable.

The half of the kang outside the curtain was covered with a straw mat, and there was a small kang table with tea cups and other things on it.

The tables and chairs she bought were also placed here. The stove was next to the window, and the water tank was also placed close to the stove. A broom was placed behind the door, and a rope was hung there to hang towels.

She pasted a layer of cellophane on the windows to block the wind and did not put up curtains to ensure that the house had plenty of light during the day.

This cellophane was also prepared for her by Zhao Xianglan, which made Yi Qingqing once again grateful to her mother for being so kind. Only she could think so thoughtfully. After a while, when the things sent from home arrived, she would also have to send something back to her family to reassure them.

After all this busy work, the house has been completely transformed.

The light green curtains were drawn to the left and right, contrasting with the straw felt wrapped in the same color on the wall beside the kang. Together with the light shining through the cellophane, the room had a fresh and natural feel.

Yi Qingqing clapped her hands, "Finally it's done, it looks somewhat presentable."

She sat on the kang in the outer room and found the dry food delicious even when she munched on it.

Her mother brought her two extra days of dry food and some snacks, enough to last her until tomorrow.

Last night, the room was dusty and there was no place to take a shower. She was afraid of dirtying the bedding, so she didn't spread it out completely and just made do with it that night.

She had run in and out so many times today. Although she didn't feel tired at all physically after taking some powerful pills, she was mentally exhausted. She just wanted to fill her stomach, wash up quickly, and lie down in bed for a nap.

The newly built stove was not completely dry yet, so she couldn't boil water. After she brought back the wooden basin, she filled it with water and put it outside to dry.

The sun is much stronger today than yesterday. It has barely warmed up the basin of water. Now it is just right to be brought in and used.

As soon as I went out, I saw Qian Lailai coming back with a full basket of things, and the old carpenter was following him. It seemed that finding Aunt Guihua was going smoothly.

Qian Lailai passed by her door and asked her if she had picked up the tiles.

Yi Qingqing nodded of course, "Uncle Yougen picked them up quickly and well, and the stove was built solidly too!"

"I also asked him. I feel relieved to hear you say that. He will have time to help me after work in the afternoon. Fortunately, I asked you first, otherwise this matter would probably have to wait before it can be done. Li Mengxue and the others have also gone, and they have to queue up. It is estimated that it will not be finished today," Qian Lailai was very grateful.

After hearing this, Yi Qingqing could only wish the heroine and the others good luck tonight.

"By the way, when I came back, I saw those two over there also followed Li Mengxue and the others to Aunt Guihua's house, but they didn't have anything in their hands. I wonder if they are stupid?" Qian Lailai gossiped in a low voice.

"It's really stupid and there's no benefit. Who would dare to help you do such a risky thing?" Yi Qingqing also said

Although the Xiangshui villagers she had met so far were all quite simple and honest, every household was in a difficult situation now and no one wanted to help others for no reason. If she asked for help, she had to be sincere.

"Hey? Have you cleaned up your room?" Qian Lailai saw the cellophane she had used to paste the windows.

Yi Qingqing nodded, "It's all put away. It finally looks a bit better. I'm so sloppy now. I've dried it in the sun and am about to take a shower and have a sleep!"

Qian Lailai touched his hair, which was all tangled up, and said, "You reminded me that I need to dry my hair. I haven't washed it in a few days, and I feel like I'm getting stinky. By the way, I plan to go to the county town tomorrow, and I'm short of a lot of things. Do you want to go?"

Yi Qingqing thought about it and nodded, "I want to buy a bicycle and a kitchen knife. I don't have any oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, etc. I will start working the day after tomorrow, so I have to prepare everything."

Anyway, she had been planning to get the bicycle as soon as possible, so there was nothing wrong with telling others about it now.

"Bicycle?" Qian Lailai looked her up and down. "I thought that Zheng Xiaolong and Chen Zhihe were from wealthy and powerful families, but I didn't expect you to be so amazing that you could get a bicycle so quickly. The favored ones are really different! I'll treat you to a good meal at a state-owned restaurant tomorrow. Can you help me carry the things back? If you have a car, I can buy more at a time."

"Okay, then I won't be polite tomorrow," Yi Qingqing agreed. What she wanted to buy were small items like soap and toothpaste, which didn't take up much space, and she could also get a free meal, which was not a loss.

"That's it, I'm going to clean up the house!" Qian Lai said and hurried back to work.

Those who own bicycles are working so hard, so she has to work harder and live a good life when she makes money!

Yi Qingqing saw her suddenly leave with full of energy, shook her head, brought water into the house and locked the door.

I pulled the curtain, washed myself thoroughly, changed into clean clothes, dried my hair, and went out to get some water.