Yunyi had said as much, and with everyone in the courtyard helping out and watching, the Branch Secretary had no reason to refuse. "How could I say no? This is another expense for you."
Yunyi turned to the crowd, who were all listening intently while their hands kept working, and laughed, "It seems everyone is in for a treat today. If you uncles can put in a bit more effort, I’ll be able to move into my house that much sooner."
Upon hearing this, everyone chimed in, "Chu Zhiqing, rest assured, we guarantee we’ll get this little courtyard tidied up for you today."
Yunyi had been waiting for this very response and said with a smile, "Alright then. I’ll go boil some water for the uncles. It’s hot today, so everyone can come down for a drink when they get thirsty."
After speaking, she took out two yuan from her pocket and handed them to the Branch Secretary along with the two rabbits. "Uncle Branch Secretary, I’ll have to trouble Auntie then."
The Branch Secretary took the rabbits, his smile deepening the wrinkles on his face. This Chu Zhiqing really knows how to handle things, he thought. "Trouble? What trouble? I’ll have her prepare it right away. I guarantee everyone will have meat for lunch."
Having said that, he looked up at the villagers on the roof. "Now that you’ll be eating meat provided by our Chu Zhiqing, you must make sure to get her house fixed up properly!"
The men laughed in response, "Branch Secretary, don’t worry, we’ll definitely get everything done just right."
As soon as the Branch Secretary left, Yunyi chopped a bundle of firewood and carried it into the kitchen. She then borrowed a bucket and carrying pole from the Zhiqing Point, fetched water, cleaned the pot, and started boiling it.
The kitchen probably still needs a water urn for storing water, she thought. And I’ll have to get a bucket and carrying pole too. It’s not good to always be borrowing them.
By the time the water boiled, Yunyi had also finished breaking down all the dead trees from outside the main gate, bundling them up and storing them neatly in the woodshed.
From a distance, Liu Chenglin approached, carrying several bags, large and small.
He glanced up at the people on the roof, his face devoid of expression, then went into the small courtyard he was renting to put his things away.
When he came out again, he was holding a carton of cigarettes.
Seeing the Branch Secretary approaching, he walked over. "Branch Secretary, everyone has worked hard helping repair the house. Please give these cigarettes out for me."
Yunyi hadn’t expected this aloof and taciturn man to have such a side to him. Not bad, she thought. At least he understands basic social graces.
Seeing that the water in the kitchen had boiled, Yunyi pulled the remaining firewood out from the stove’s firebox.
As a newcomer, Yunyi naturally wanted to establish good relations with the villagers. The Branch Secretary seemed like a decent person. Although his family might have their little schemes, those were still within an acceptable range.
She had previously overheard a conversation between Cui Aiju and Qiao Yuxiang: the village’s production team leader was not an easy person to deal with. Apparently, he had gone to his eldest daughter’s home in the neighboring county a few days ago to help with house construction.
They also said that this group of zhiqing was lucky the Branch Secretary had been the one to receive them.
The reason she had gone to see the Branch Secretary early this morning was twofold: she wanted to move into the small courtyard as soon as possible, and she also wanted to get settled before the production team leader returned, to avoid any potential complications.
Stepping out of the kitchen, she was just about to call everyone over for some water.
Just then, she saw the Branch Secretary looking up and shouting to the men working on the roof, "Today, you all need to show off your best skills! Not only is there meat to eat and good cigarettes to smoke, but the wages Chu Zhiqing and Liu Zhiqing are paying aren’t low either. Make sure you do a good job!"
One of the men grinned and chimed in, "Uncle Yang, don’t you worry! We’ll definitely get the house fixed up perfectly for them." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel-fire.net
Amid the banter, they worked even faster. "I’ll check their whole roof thoroughly later. I guarantee they’ll be able to live here for three to five years without a single leak!"
Liu Chenglin heard their conversation and glanced at Yunyi as she came out of the kitchen. This Chu Zhiqing really is capable, he thought.