Chapter 299 Why do I feel like you are lying?
Near the land temple in Huachidu Village, there is a small courtyard with two rooms.
Many years ago, the only daughter of a family in the village married off to another province. The yard had been vacant for a long time and no one took care of it. Many things in the yard rotted and became a rat's nest.
After Lao Qian took office as the village chief, he couldn't bear it anymore and asked people to find out where the owner of the house was.
After much trouble, the person was finally found, but the woman had passed away and her children had settled down somewhere else, so it was naturally impossible for them to cross the province and live in Huachidu Village.
So the other party sent a message saying that the village would handle everything, as they didn’t want it anyway.
Lao Qian then took his men in and cleaned up the place inside and out. As for the two acres of land that were left, they were distributed to the people who deserved it according to the old village rules.
Before, when Master Liu came to teach in the village school, Lao Qian cleaned up this yard for him to live in.
Now that a new teacher was coming, Gu Xixi got the news and went to find Lao Qian in advance.
Just because the situation is slightly different this time.
The husband and his wife are going to live in the village for a long time, and they are both elderly.
Therefore, the accommodation they provide should not only be clean, but also as comfortable, convenient and elegant as possible.
According to Gu Xixi's plan, the roof needs to be renovated, all doors and windows need to be replaced, and screen doors need to be installed.
In addition to the existing water tank and cabinets in the kitchen, the stove is too dilapidated, so a new one needs to be built.
The ground of the yard should be leveled, and the walls of the yard and the interior and exterior walls of the house should be painted.
Gu Xixi also plans to personally designate a small garden in the yard and plant some flowers and plants.
At that time, Lao Qian listened calmly and his face was almost wrinkled into a bitter gourd.
"So many requests, were all made by that gentleman?"
"Not really," Gu Xixi said with a smile, "These are just my thoughts."
"Don't worry about the expenses, I'll pay for the labor and materials."
There is no way. In order to retain talent, the hardware facilities must be in place.
Old Qian nodded, but was even more confused.
He still asked frankly, "Niece, you always have your reasons for doing things, and Uncle Qian will definitely support you."
"only……"
"When Mr. Liu was here, he never told us that he was uncomfortable living here. Why do you have to spend so much time and effort to treat this new gentleman specially?"
Gu Xixi said, "Because they are special people, they should be treated specially."
She whispered something, and Old Qian's eyes widened in shock, "Really?"
"The person you are talking about is really..."
"Uncle Qian," Gu Xixi interrupted him and gestured to keep quiet, "Master Liu has come forward and this person has been invited, but whether we can keep him is still uncertain."
"So don't make this public yet, so as not to disappoint the children."
Old Qian was so happy that he couldn't sit still, so he stood up and walked around.
"Great, you don't have to worry about repairing the house. Leave it to me. I guarantee it will be done within seven days!"
"Also, we can hire our own people from the village to save labor costs. I will find two people to cook for everyone. You just need to pay a symbolic amount for the meal, and I will figure out the rest of the ingredients."
Gu Xixi thought, "Uncle Qian won't have any trouble with this arrangement, right?"
"In a difficult situation?" Old Qian's face flushed. "My dear niece! You are helping your uncle! If I don't do more, I will really become a waste!"
The village school is good, and the future of Huachidu Village is good.
The village school became famous, and Huachidu Village became famous.
Lao Qian is already imagining that one day he will hold up a plaque with the title “Village Chief of the Northwest’s No. 1 Village” and receive congratulations from everyone.
That same day, Lao Qian called his new right-hand man Zhou Haode.
The two of them personally measured, drew blueprints, and mobilized the villagers.
Hiring a teacher for the village school was a common matter for the whole village, and most people had no objection to it.
Those who can work can sign up to work.
However, everyone also discussed it privately.
What kind of teacher could have such a grand ceremony?
Today, the renovation of the courtyard was completed. Mr. Qian asked Aunt Qian to ask Gu Xixi to come over for the inspection.
It was almost time for lunch and Gu Xixi hadn't returned home yet, so Aunt Zhang asked Shi Tou to go and check on her.
Shitou ran all the way and arrived outside the courtyard, but found it was very quiet inside.
It was different from the previous few days, when people were constantly coming in and out and the sounds could be heard from far away.
He leaned inside and looked inside, then tentatively called out, "Sister Xixi? Are you there?"
"I'm here." It was Gu Xixi's voice. "Why are you here?"
Shitou walked in confidently and looked to the left side of the yard. Gu Xixi was squatting there digging the soil.
"Grandma asked me to come and see why you haven't finished yet and it's almost time for dinner."
As he spoke, he walked over and squatted down beside Gu Xixi, "Sister Xixi, what are you doing?"
"Plant flowers." Gu Xixi said, "I plan to go into the mountains tomorrow morning and dig up a few orchids to plant here."
"Mix the base fertilizer now so that we can transplant the plants directly when we come back tomorrow."
Shitou looked around and found a small shovel. "Let's do it together, it will be faster."
The acceptance in the morning not only met Gu Xixi's expectations, but even had many more things.
The windows in the main room are enlarged to provide better lighting, and a desk is placed under the window for writing.
On the side of the desk, there is a row of wooden shelves against the wall, which can be used as bookshelves.
There is a newly painted large bed in the bedroom with a cabinet beside it.
Although these things are refurbished old items, it took the hard work and effort of the whole village.
Gu Xixi was so moved that she sped up her progress.
Everyone left and she stayed to prepare for planting flowers.
He locked the door before leaving and Gu Xixi kept the key temporarily.
On the way back, Gu Xixi said, "I'll find a piece of wood and ask you to write three words on it."
Shitou didn't hesitate, "Which three words?"
Gu Xixi thought for a moment and said, "Just call it... Pinlanju."
"Pin means tasting tea, Lan means orchid, and Ju means residence."
Shitou persisted in practicing calligraphy and now knows a lot of words.
He shook his head. "Is it the one who would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo? Live?"
Gu Xixi nodded.
Shitou smiled and said, "Sister Xixi must not live without flowers. I guess she wants to hang it outside the master's residence?"
Gu Xixi poked his forehead with a finger and laughed, "You are so smart."
"So I'll give you a chance to write the house number for your future husband. Isn't that prestigious enough?"
Shitou rubbed his hands eagerly, "Then how about making a large plaque with golden characters?"
"Just like Qing'er's treasure house!"
"No." Gu Xixi refused decisively, "It doesn't match."
"The courtyard is hidden in the village and is already simple enough. Hanging a custom-made plaque will only make it more attractive at first but less attractive later. Others will inevitably be disappointed when they see what is going on inside. It is better to find a shortcut."
"Use an ancient and simple style, polish a piece of wood to make it more refined, and write three words to indicate the theme. This will give it a hermit-like elegance."
Stone thoughtfully said, "The same courtyard can be simple or rustic."
He turned to Gu Xixi and said, "Sister Xixi, why do I feel like you are trying to deceive people?"
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