Finally, everyone discussed it and decided to sleep on the floor in the main room, but then the question of who would sleep on the floor arose.
The older educated youth already had their own places, so it was impossible for them to sleep on the floor. It was easy to deal with the new male educated youth, but it was difficult for Lin Xiaofang, the only female educated youth left.
"How about we squeeze in?" Hongxia suggested.
Actually, this is the only way; even if everyone disagrees, they have no choice but to agree.
"Honestly, knowing we were coming, why didn't the brigade arrange accommodations in advance?" Lin Xiaofang complained.
Xiao Fan didn't say anything, but his brows were furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. He already felt unwell even before he started sleeping on the floor with the other educated youth.
He Shenghua didn't know if the brigade leader had forgotten because he was busy raising rabbits, or if he only found out today that so many educated youths would be coming and it was too sudden to prepare in advance.
He said, "I'll go talk to the brigade leader about the situation tomorrow. You guys can take your food and get some rest today." The group happily took ten catties of coarse grain and five catties of sweet potatoes, thinking it was from the brigade. In the end, He Shenghua made a record saying that he would return the work points he earned to the brigade. The new educated youth were dumbfounded.
"We came to the countryside to support rural development, and the production brigade doesn't even provide us with meals?" a fair-skinned, well-mannered male educated youth asked in surprise.
Looking at his innocent yet clear eyes, the older educated youth couldn't bear to discourage him.
Sigh, he's still just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid, he hasn't been through the harsh realities of society yet, he's still so naive.
He Shenghua coughed lightly and explained, "That's true, but we must also be aware that we shouldn't add to the burden of the brigade. The grain must be obtained through our own hard work."
The fair-skinned male educated youth and several other newly arrived educated youth nodded emphatically, finding it very reasonable. Only Xiao Fan glanced away indifferently, looking as if he didn't want to pay attention to the fool.
After a while, he asked, "Since that educated youth, Mo, is staying at a relative's house, can we also stay at a commune member's house?"
He Shenghua glanced at the new educated youth who had remained silent and aloof throughout, thought for a moment, and said, "It should be possible. I'll ask the brigade leader tomorrow."
"Let's go now."
He Shenghua was taken aback; the tone of the command was like that of a leader.
He wanted to say that it was late and the captain might be resting, but seeing the other man's tall figure already standing at the door waiting, looking like he had to go now, he had no choice but to get up.
As soon as the two stepped out of the courtyard, Xiao Fan began inquiring about which families in the village had small households, large houses, and spare rooms available for rent.
He Shenghua said, "The largest house belongs to Comrade Lu, who brought you back. Even if Mo Zhiqing moves in, there will still be an empty room in their house. However, we have relatives visiting recently, so we're afraid we won't be able to free up the empty room."
Xiao Fan glanced at him, his eyes seeming to say: If that's the case, why are you still talking nonsense!
He Shenghua choked for no reason, paused and continued, "Also, there's Comrade Lu's father's house. The house is big, but there are few people. There's only his father, a younger brother, and a younger sister. Each of the three of them lives in a room, and there's still one room available. If Comrade Lu's father and younger brother lived in the same room, there would be two rooms available."
Xiao Fan asked, "How old is Comrade Lu's sister?"
"Sixteen or seventeen."
Xiao Fan frowned and immediately ruled out this one.
Are there any homes without any unmarried lesbian women?
He Shenghua thought and thought, and could only think of the homes of the brigade leader and Xu Dong, but neither of those homes had any extra rooms.
He shook his head. "No."
Xiao Fan's brows furrowed even more.
He then asked, "What are the character traits of Comrade Lu's family members? What is his sister like?"
He Shenghua glanced at him, wondering if he wanted to rent a place or go on a blind date.
"I don't know, I've never met them, I'm not familiar with them, but there aren't any bad rumors about them either."
All the bad rumors are about Zhang Yuping.
Xiao Fan understood; the person was neither good nor bad.
The two quickly arrived at the brigade leader's house, where a large number of villagers had gathered in Lu Guoan's courtyard, all of them spitting excitedly.
He Shenghua found Lu Guoan and explained his purpose. Lu Guoan waved his hand and said, "Sure, as long as the members agree, there's no problem."
He Shenghua also took the opportunity to mention that the educated youth settlement was not enough to accommodate everyone. Lu Guoan said, "We'll have the villagers build two more rooms for you tomorrow. There's also a plot of land next to your house."
The homestead he was referring to was the plot that Sun Changsheng had reserved for Sun Ziqiang, which wasn't far from the current house. If they built a larger foundation, they could connect it to the current house.
He Shenghua thanked him repeatedly.
On the way back, Xiao Fan asked He Shenghua to take him to Lu Guoqing's house.
They spent two yuan a month to rent a room and even reminded them that they could vacate another room to rent to the educated youth.
He wasn't sure if Lu Xiaoqin was like the other women he'd met before, prone to infatuation. He couldn't come alone; he needed at least one person to shield him.
Lu Guoqing was unaware of his thoughts, but he was happy to earn more money and hurriedly offered to vacate a room if any educated youth wanted to rent one.
When Xiao Fan and He Shenghua returned to the educated youth settlement, they talked about renting a house. The other educated youth were also interested, but many of them remained silent when they heard that it would cost money.
It was the previously polite and refined male educated youth who said, "I want to rent one too."
He wasn't used to sleeping on a makeshift bed in the main room, but now he has a place to sleep, and two yuan isn't expensive.
The two men carried their luggage and food and left. Lin Xiaofang wanted to go with them, but they were two male educated youths, so she couldn't stay with them.
On the other side, Lu Yuan and his wife brought Mo Lijuan home, and as soon as the tractor stopped, they shouted into the house.
"Godfather and Godmother, we're back."
Gao Weishan and Xiao Biyun came out of the house with smiles, and when they saw a strange girl, they were both taken aback.
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