Yunyi glanced at it and immediately lost interest. This has nothing to do with me.
She had only just gotten home when she heard voices outside. "This is the place," someone said.
Yunyi frowned slightly, then recognized the Team Leader’s voice. "Chu Zhiqing, are you there?" he called out.
Yunyi tossed the fish she had prepared into a basin to marinate, washed her hands, and went out. Seeing the Team Leader with a girl behind him, she asked, "Team Leader, what brings you here?"
The Team Leader looked somewhat embarrassed, but he had no choice. "Chu Zhiqing," he began, "here’s the thing. Today, we’ve received a few new educated youths in the village. As you know, the Zhiqing Point can’t accommodate so many people..."
Before he could finish, Yunyi’s brows knit together.
Seeing Yunyi’s expression, the Team Leader hurriedly explained, "Chu Zhiqing, don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to drive you out, nor will I arrange for someone to move in before you leave. It’s just that this Educated Youth Zhong wants to see this small courtyard. She’s thinking of renting it after you leave."
The girl seemed somewhat haughty but was still polite. "Chu Zhiqing, hello. My name is Zhong Liyuan."
Yunyi nodded at her. "Feel free to look around." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel⁂fire.net
Since I am indeed leaving, there’s no need to stubbornly prevent someone else from looking.
After the girl surveyed the area, she asked, "Chu Zhiqing, I heard from the Team Leader that you’re leaving in a few days. Are you taking all these things in the house with you?"
Yunyi thought for a moment. "This, I’m not quite sure yet."
Zhong Liyuan thought for a moment. "Chu Zhiqing," she said, "when you leave, I’ll be renting this small courtyard. At that time, you can sell me any items you can’t take with you. It would save me the trouble of acquiring them myself."
She had seen that the items in the house were newly bought. On the way over, the Team Leader had also mentioned that Chu Zhiqing hadn’t been in the team for many days, so there was hardly any wear and tear.
Yunyi smiled and nodded at her. "Certainly. However, they will likely need these things over there too, so I’m afraid there won’t be much left."
Zhong Liyuan didn’t say much else. Having seen the yard, she prepared to leave. However, as she reached the main gate, she asked, "Chu Zhiqing, I’d like to ask, around when will you be leaving?"
Yunyi considered for a moment. "In three days at the latest."
Zhong Liyuan opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately restrained herself. "I understand," she said.
As the Team Leader exited the courtyard gate, he said, "Chu Zhiqing, the Qiu siblings should be heading over too. Don’t be late."
The fish in the pond have been distributed, he thought. Next, I’ll have to oversee the strong laborers clearing out all the silt. There’s still so much work to be done.
Yunyi acknowledged and watched them leave before returning to the kitchen, ready to prepare the fish and then head over.
She didn’t want to just wait around there.
Qiu Baolin shouldn’t think that paying money would settle everything. If he hadn’t come looking for trouble, their previous grievances, stemming from what happened with Xu Wenchang and the Qiu widow, would have been considered resolved. But since he insisted on showing up, he shouldn’t expect to live in peace.
After finishing her preparations, she headed towards the team headquarters.
By the time she arrived, the Branch Secretary and the Team Leader were already there. The Qiu siblings followed soon after, clearly worried that Yunyi might actually send them to jail.
Reluctantly, they took out the money, which consisted of several stacks of ten-yuan notes and some other small bills.
It was evident that this time, they must have squandered all the modest savings the Qiu widow had managed to withhold from Xu Wenchang. Good.
Yunyi did not take the money herself. Instead, she had the Team Leader and the Branch Secretary count it and write out a receipt. The receipt clearly stated the purpose of the funds. Then, the brigade cadres, including Accountant Lu, signed and put their fingerprints on it. With that, the matter was settled.