Crossing 70: Fish in the Pond Have Good News

Chen Jinghan and the other two looked at the other old educated youth who were standing still and sneered. Xiong Lijin smacked his lips and said, "You stole our lunch. What? You don't plan to return it?"

"Return, return, return." Chen Lei stood up and rubbed his arm, and quickly agreed, then ran back to the room in the backyard to get food.

After struggling for a whole afternoon, Jiang Yu finally got her own rations. She waved her fist at the old educated youth who looked suspicious and said, "You think you are right to steal my rations? If you are dissatisfied, just come to me." Although she was thin, she was taller than Guan Wenbin. In addition, her style of fighting at the slightest disagreement scared everyone into silence, and they dared not say a word.

Although they had a falling out with the old educated youth, the new educated youth were not afraid of them, except Ma Yanna.

Jiang Yu and Xue Li carried 30 kilograms of food rations and went straight back to their room. They probably wouldn't be able to use the kitchen at the educated youth camp now. Fortunately, there were still some snacks to fill their stomachs. After a quick bite, they had to go to the brigade headquarters to find someone to build a stove and a kang.

"Jiang Yu, let's go find the captain and ask about building the kang." Xue Li still had a piece of egg cake in his hand and his mouth was full of food, chewing like a hamster, and he came to find Jiang Yu in a hurry.

Jiang Yu nodded, took out the kettle he had filled at the guesthouse in the morning, took two sips, then took out a small bag of brown sugar from his luggage, put it in his pocket, locked the door, and walked out with her.

After walking out of the educated youth compound and turning onto the main road, Xue Li saw an old lady with a crutch and a basket not far away. He trotted over to catch up with her and asked politely, "Hello, grandma. We are new educated youth and would like to ask the team leader something. Can you tell me where the team leader's home is?"

The old lady tilted her head and listened with difficulty. Then she pointed to several blue brick houses on the outskirts with her hand holding the basket, "Here, right there, go ahead."

"Thank you, grandma." Xue Li thanked with a sweet smile.

"You city kids are the only ones who are so particular and even ask for thanks. No need, just go ahead." The old lady waved her hand and continued walking forward.

Jiang Yu and Xue Li quickly approached the captain's house and knocked on the door outside the yard. "Is anyone there? Is Uncle Zhuang here?"

Zhuang Shouren, who had just sat down to catch his breath, suddenly hunched over when he heard the noise. Would these educated youth cause trouble as soon as they arrived?

Although there is indeed a commotion, there is no need to trouble the captain for now~

Zhuang Shouren opened the door and looked at the two of them. "What's the matter? What happened?"

"Captain, we have chosen a room, and I want to ask about the kang." Xue Li smiled and handed over a small package in his hand, "Captain, please help us, we want to set up the kang today."

Zhuang Shouren was about to refuse the gift. He had to build the kang, but since she said it had to be done today and he had to find someone on short notice, he decided to use the gift from the educated youth as a favor. "Okay, I'll take you there." Then he turned around and shouted inside, "Wife, I'm going to go out for a while."

A woman in an apron came out and said, "Go early and come back early."

"Yes." Zhuang Shouren agreed, then closed the door and led the two female educated youth to find someone in the village to build a kang.

Because Jiang Yu and the other two not only had to build a kang, but also a stove, they needed a lot of earthen bricks, which they had to buy from the villagers. They also had to prepare kang doors, straw, river mud and other things. After Zhuang Shouren explained the details to them along the way, he found someone and rushed to the Youth League Home, where he ran into Chen Jinghan and four others who were also out looking for someone to build a kang.

"Men, please wait a moment. The women came first. We need to work faster and finish the job for you in two days." After hearing their purpose, Zhuang Shouren lined them up and led them into the patio of the educated youth compound.

Xue Li and Jiang Yu's rooms were right next door to each other, so they could share a fire wall. Those who came to work were all experienced in setting up kangs in the village, and they quickly made a plan and started working.

Zhuang Shouren would go out for a while, and when he came back he would lead a few young men, each carrying two baskets of bricks. After a few trips back and forth, the courtyard was filled with bricks that the farmers had broken themselves.

There is also wet mud mixed with straw and other things.

In order to take care of their luggage, Jiang Yu and Xue Li could not go out in the afternoon. After asking everyone's opinions, Chen Jinghan and the other two built a simple stove in the courtyard and bought a few pottery jars from the village to boil water.

Whether it is for drinking water or taking a bath, this small stove is really a big help when the kitchen cannot be used.

As for the pot, Jiangyu had two pots, but the smaller one was carried on the train for ease of carrying.

But Xue Li brought a big pot, so he had all the tools needed to cook.

As for the shovel, I just cut one and use it as a makeshift one.

There is a well in the front yard, which is for public use. The old educated youth cannot restrict them from fetching water.

Although they fell out with others right from the start and caused themselves a lot of trouble, no one regretted it. It was obvious that these old educated youth were not easy to deal with, so it was better to separate them as soon as possible.

Xiong Lijin came in with the rice he had exchanged with the villagers in the back and asked, "Would you like to cook some porridge tonight?"

The three men and two women sitting around nodded in unison. Jiang Yu had a lot of dried bacon in her space. She pretended to find it from her luggage, opened the oil paper package, took out a small piece and handed it over, "Then I'll give you some bacon."

"Then I'll go exchange for some eggs!" Xue Li felt embarrassed to eat and drink for free, so he immediately stood up and ran out.

Chen Jinghan immediately followed, "I'll go change some dishes. You can't just drink porridge."

Wu Aiqing couldn't sit still any longer, "I also brought half a dried duck from my hometown..."

Fu Biao has already contacted the villagers who helped with the work and said that he would like to treat everyone to a simple dinner. Although they have paid them wages, money is money and favors are favors. He doesn't know how many years he will live in this place, so it would be best if he could get along well with the villagers.

As the team leader, Zhuang Shouren also joined in handing out bricks. After chatting with Fu Biao for a while with a smile, he agreed.

The other villagers naturally had no objection, but they did not intend to take advantage of others. They asked their family to bring some fruits and vegetables later. Everyone was not stupid and watched coldly. These new and old educated youth must have had a conflict, otherwise why would they build a stove in the courtyard for no reason?

It was also possible to understand the meaning of the words of this strong-looking male educated youth. He must eat dinner separately from the old educated youth. Since they had a falling out with the old educated youth, they would not be able to pick vegetables from the private plots here. Bringing some vegetables from their own home would just solve the urgent needs of the new educated youth.

Speaking of private plots, Jiang Yu took a fancy to the grass outside the window to the wall on their side. Although the sunlight was not very good here, it could also grow some vegetables. She took the opportunity to ask Uncle Zhuang, "Can this piece of land be used as a private plot for our new educated youth?"

"Sure, you can just open up the land yourself and ask around in the village for vegetable seeds. If they have extra, they will definitely be able to exchange some with you. It's still hot now, so hurry up and plant them. You can still harvest a batch before winter comes, whether you dry them or store them in a cellar. At least you can eat something different in the winter." Zhuang Shouren would certainly not disagree, as it wasn't his own yard.