Wen Qingqing’s method was simple—learn from Zhang Qiong, and live with fellow villagers.
She thought, how worse can a villager’s home be compared to this tiny broken house?
Wen Ruannuan thought the same, instantly feeling spirited, wiped her face and got off the kang: "Sis, I’m coming with you."
The two sisters acted upon their decision immediately and left the Educated Youth Corps to look for a place to stay.
Their requirements weren’t many—having their own rooms, bigger than the ones at the Corps, ideally one room each, clean and tidy, without messy family relationships.
They walked around in the village, getting colder the more they walked.
At least the Educated Youth Corps had a brick house, but most villagers had mud houses that looked even worse!
As for the household dynamics of others, they as newly arrived educated youths couldn’t possibly know.
They walked for a while, and Wen Ruannuan stopped, looking at Wen Qingqing despairingly: "Sis, should we keep looking?"
Wen Qingqing was also about to lose her composure, biting her lower lip, wanting to build a house, but couldn’t spare the money.
Wen Qingqing slowly bent, bracing her hands on her knees, and stayed motionless for a long moment.
Wen Ruannuan looked at her and reached out to hold her arm.
She put on a smile and said, "Sis, let’s go back, it’s just a bit cramped, no problem, I’m not scared... Besides, living at the Educated Youth Corps is pretty good, and we don’t have to cook every day..."
She sniffed, trying to make her smile as pretty as possible.
Wen Qingqing was moved to tears, straightening up, and pinched Wen Ruannuan’s cheek: "Let’s go back, let’s go back."
They had no other choice but to return.
However, their mood as they headed back was much better than before—they realized that compared to others, their place was already quite good.
"Sis, do you remember the direction back to the Educated Youth Corps?"
"Umm... I don’t remember."
"Is Aunt Wang home? I am Lin Nianhe."
Outside Wang Hong’s house, Lin Nianhe gently knocked on the gate.
"Come in, why knock?" Wang Hong’s voice came out.
"Let’s go." Lin Nianhe, while talking, led Zhang Qiong into Wang Hong’s house.
"They’re in Daxi’s room." Wang Hong added.
Lin Nianhe was familiar with Wang Xixi’s room; upon entering, she saw all four women of the Wang family inside, with many items laid on the kang, probably arranging Wang Xixi’s dowry.
"Aunt Wang, this is Teacher Zhang Qiong from the town, she’s here to gather the school enrollment list for the village school, and needs to stay at our brigade for several days. There’s no room left at the Educated Youth Corps, can she stay at your place?" Lin Nianhe spoke clearly and straightforwardly, handing over clothes to Wang Xixi, speaking softly, "Daxi, try this on, if it doesn’t fit we’ll have Sister Lan alter it."
Wang Xixi’s clothes were made a few days ago, but recently she’s gained some weight fed by Wang Hong and her two sisters, the previous size was a bit tight, luckily Wen Lan allowed room for alteration, just needing to unpick and let it out.
Wang Xixi, blushing, held the clothes.
She didn’t go to try it on immediately but instead put down the clothes and stood up to pour two glasses of water for Lin Nianhe and Zhang Qiong.
Wang Hong, putting down what she was holding, smiled at Zhang Qiong and nodded, "Oh, it’s Comrade Xiao Zhang, you’re welcome to stay at Auntie’s, just like it’s your own home."
"Thank you, Director Wang." Zhang Qiong, carrying a small bundle, "Sorry for the trouble."
"Who needs to be polite." Wang Hong lightly patted Wang Huanhuan, "Go, tidy up your room. Let your sister Zhang Qiong stay for a few days. It’s a good chance for you two to bond."
"Okay." Wang Huanhuan briskly climbed out of the kang.
Zhang Qiong quickly said, "Director Wang, there’s no need to rearrange rooms for me, a bed will do."
"Hey, no worries," Wang Hong waved her hand, "Just as we are preparing for my elder daughter’s wedding, the younger one has been fussing about staying with her sister, it’s fine."
Zhang Qiong looked at Wang Xixi and sincerely said, "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Wang Xixi smiled sweetly, unable to hide her joy of marrying her loved one.
Zhang Qiong set down her package and rolled up her sleeves, "Director Wang, I’m not busy today, just tell me whatever needs to be done. I also helped out when my sister got married."
"Sure." Wang Hong agreed readily, not showing any reserve, "Then you go with Daxi and try on the dress, see if it fits."
Zhang Qiong and Wang Xixi went to Wang Huanhuan’s room to try on dresses, while Wang Lele lay on a pile of quilts entertaining himself. Lin Nianhe conscientiously approached Wang Hong, asking her, "Aunt Wang, is there something you wanted to ask me?"
Wang Hong glanced at her, "You’re quite the overthinker, aren’t you? Does everything I do have to have a purpose?"
Lin Nianhe responded, "Well if you don’t actually need me, I might head off, they are still distributing books at school."
"Stay right there!" Wang Hong glared at her and patted the edge of the kang, signaling her to sit.
Lin Nianhe chuckled and sat down, waiting for her leader to speak.
"I heard from Aunt Li, the two new girls are your neighbors?" Wang Hong was making a quilt and didn’t look up as she asked, "How are they adapting?"
"Umm..." Lin Nianhe thought for a moment, somewhat hesitant, "They probably are not quite used to it yet, it takes time to get accustomed, you know."
Wang Hong looked up at her, her gaze complex.
Lin Nianhe innocently shrugged, "I struggled to adapt too when I first arrived here, you didn’t see that since you were away those days."
Wang Hong smirked, "Hmph."
Lin Nianhe touched her nose, and bravely met Wang Hong’s gaze resolutely.
Wang Hong gave her a blank look and changed the subject, "They’re your neighbors, you should look after them. Get along well, don’t lock yourselves away and start a feud."
"We wouldn’t, we’re truly united," Lin Nianhe earnestly assured.
"Just be sensible," Wang Hong continued stitching as she spoke, "Also, Daxi is getting married in three days, bring them along for the feast, don’t just leave them at the Educated Youth Corps because you’re not familiar enough."
"Sure thing, don’t worry."
"Ah, I must say, even though you can be cunning and sometimes clumsy, I feel quite relieved having you around." A slight smile curved Wang Hong’s lips.
Lin Nianhe pursed her lips, her gaze tinged with a hint of complaint: "Aunt Wang, can we make a deal? Next time just say ’but’, and skip mentioning ’although’."
Wang Hong ignored her, turned around, and grabbed a handful of fruity candies from behind her, stuffing them into Lin Nianhe’s pocket: "Off you go, didn’t you say you have books to move, hurry along." She spoke as if shooing away a child.
"But Aunt Wang, I’ve been busy these days, haven’t been over to see you for a while, I’ve really missed it." Lin Nianhe didn’t move, leaning cozily against Wang Hong’s shoulder.
"Then don’t leave; stay for dinner tonight." Wang Hong’s eyes twinkled with amusement but she gently pushed Lin Nianhe away, "Go on now, don’t make me worry."
"But what about dinner, I... eh? Where’s Niuwa?"
Lin Nianhe suddenly remembered; right before they left for the meeting, Principal Wu had left Niuwa at Wang Hong’s house.
Wang Hong replied, "This afternoon Zhao Zhuangshi and the others went fishing, I sent Niuwa with them to play, otherwise he’d just yearn to help me sweep the yard."
Now Niuwa, whenever he sees a yard, wants to sweep it, unstoppable.
Lin Nianhe stood up, "Then I’ll go fetch him, if the principal can’t find him later, he’ll start worrying."
"Alright, go on." Wang Hong handed Lin Nianhe some peanuts, "Call out from the shore, don’t get into the river to find him, take care of yourself."