Back at the Zhiqing Point, several of the older educated youths had already washed up and were getting ready to rest.
Qiao Yuxiang saw the new educated youths come in. "Your grain has been placed on the shelf by the door by Cheng Zhiqing. You should take care of it yourselves."
During dinner, Wang Jianhui had explained that everyone stored their own grain, taking out as much as they needed. However, the new arrivals were late. If they wished to join the communal meals, they would need to contribute money for the vegetables from the private plots.
Nobody had any objections to this. After all, the older educated youths had taken the trouble to grow the crops.
Yunyi glanced at the big kang, then turned to look at the several tables placed by the window. "I’ll make do with a table for tonight."
Cui Aiju turned to Li Rongjuan, who had followed her inside. "What did the Branch Secretary say?"
Li Rongjuan did not hide anything. "Chu Zhiqing and Liu Zhiqing rented the courtyard left by Jiao Zhiqing and Yan Zhiqing."
Deng Xiaojie, for reasons of her own, drawled, "That house? At night, you can see the stars from inside. How can anyone live there?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel★fire.net
Li Rongjuan glanced at her. "The Branch Secretary said he would find people to help with repairs tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Deng Xiaojie’s expression suddenly changed, and she clenched her hands into fists involuntarily. "Didn’t the Branch Secretary say just a few days ago that the village had no money for house repairs? So how is it getting fixed tomorrow?"
Li Rongjuan, retrieving her washbasin from under a table, responded, "It’s because Chu Zhiqing and Liu Zhiqing paid six months’ rent in advance."
Deng Xiaojie shot a malicious glare at Yunyi’s back, unable to contain her anger. "The Branch Secretary really is something! Since he had this idea, why didn’t he tell us beforehand?"
Yunyi did not turn around, but she could guess this person’s thoughts. Her ability to judge people seemed as accurate as ever. Deng Xiaojie was clearly going to be trouble.
Since the matter was settled, she was not afraid of Deng Xiaojie causing trouble. If push came to shove, force would settle it—by subduing her if necessary.
Yunyi kept quiet, but Geng Erhong, who was in the room, had had enough. "That’s an interesting thing to say, Deng Zhiqing."
Deng Xiaojie, furious, retorted, "What could I possibly mean by that?"
Geng Erhong wasn’t about to indulge her. "I heard the original owner of that house returned to the city several months ago. If you wanted to live there, why didn’t you approach the village cadres then? Now that the house is taken, you come out with this? Really?"
Deng Xiaojie was truly indignant now. "You’re new here! What gives you the right to talk to me like that?"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened with grievance.
Yunyi had no patience for such feigned innocence, especially since Geng Erhong had been dragged into this mess on her behalf. "Deng Zhiqing, I’ve seen plenty of people like you, always ready to play the victim and seek sympathy with your tears. Moreover, what Geng Zhiqing said is true—the house was empty for so long. If you wanted to rent it, why didn’t you go to the village cadres earlier? What’s the point of bringing up these irrelevant issues with us now? Or do you think we newcomers are just here for you to bully?"
With her intentions laid bare by Yunyi, Deng Xiaojie flushed, unable to save face. "You’re the ones bullying people!"
Yunyi had no intention of arguing further with such a person. If something could be settled with force, she had no desire to waste words. She grabbed Deng Xiaojie, pulled her down from the kang, and dragged her out of the courtyard. "Team Leader, come out for a moment!"
No matter how much Deng Xiaojie struggled, it was useless.
Wang Jianhui, who had just finished washing up and was about to climb onto the kang, was startled by the noise outside. "What’s going on? What happened?"
Yunyi pushed Deng Xiaojie in front of him. "This Deng Zhiqing claims we’re bullying her. We can’t just let her make false accusations."
Wang Jianhui, not knowing what had transpired, looked towards the several female educated youths who had followed them out. "What’s the matter?"