Zhang Yingying rushed in first and grabbed a spot near the door. Lin Jiajia chose a place by the window, Liu Fengxia sat next to Lin Jiajia, and Li Zhaodi took the seat beside Liu Fengxia.

Tang Qiuyue walked in slowly, glanced around, then stepped back out and said to Yan Mingyuan,
“Brother Yan, I don’t want to live here.”

Seeing the conditions, Tang Qiuyue was almost in tears.

Yan Mingyuan also felt the place was a bit too shabby. Turning to Zhao Gang, he asked,
“Zhao Zhiqing, are there any other rooms available?”

Hearing this, everyone looked at Zhao Gang. He pointed outside the educated youth courtyard.
“Did you see the row of houses next to the courtyard? Those were built by other educated youths. If you have the means, you can build your own house too. As for how, you’ll need to ask the production team leader.”

Yan Mingyuan looked at Wang Jianguo.
“Team Leader, Tang and I would like to build our own house.”

“I was just about to take Su Zhiqing to have a look. Anyone who wants to build can come along,” Wang Jianguo said as he walked out, with Su Cen following behind him.

Yan Mingyuan quickly supported Tang Qiuyue and followed. Chen Xiangdong silently trailed behind. The others, though not planning to build, went along to take a look anyway.

Soon, the group arrived at the house Su Cen had chosen.

“Su Zhiqing, this is the house I mentioned. Take a look—pretty good, right?” Wang Jianguo said.

Of course, a mud-brick house could only be so good, but compared to the communal sleeping quarters, it was far better.

The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was neat and tidy. There was one main room with a kang bed built against the back wall. Near the door was a small stove, and outside there was a tiny room that could be used for bathing or as a simple toilet. With a few additions like a table, chairs, and cabinets, it would be quite livable.

Su Cen nodded. “I’m very satisfied! Thank you, Uncle Team Leader.”

“Are there any more courtyards like this?” Yan Mingyuan asked.

Wang Jianguo shook his head.
“This one was built by a former educated youth. After he returned to the city, the house went back to the production team, and now Comrade Su has already claimed it. If you want to build, the same rule applies—the house will belong to the team after you leave. If you’re willing, come register at the team office later.”

“How much would it cost to build something like this?” Chen Xiangdong asked.

Wang Jianguo replied leisurely,
“Right now it’s not the busy farming season. If you hire a few capable villagers to help, and the weather’s good, you can move in within half a month. Including materials and labor, without providing meals, it’ll cost about 90 yuan.”

He added,
“If you don’t want a courtyard wall and build a slightly smaller house, about 65 yuan should be enough.”
He pointed to a smaller house nearby.
“Something like that.”

Ninety yuan wasn’t a small sum. Everyone calculated silently.

In the end, Yan Mingyuan and Tang Qiuyue decided to build a house like Su Cen’s, while Chen Xiangdong chose the smaller one.

The four of them followed Wang Jianguo to the team office to register, while the others returned to the dormitory.

Zhang Yingying felt a pang of jealousy and leaned toward Liu Fengxia.
“If only we could live on our own too.”

Liu Fengxia ignored her completely. She had just rolled her eyes at her on the bus, and now she was trying to chat as if nothing had happened.

Zhang Yingying felt annoyed. What’s so great about her? She’s still sleeping in the same communal bed as me.

At the team office, Su Cen took out 90 yuan and handed it to Wang Jianguo.
“Uncle, please count it.”

Wang Jianguo took the money, moistened his fingers with a bit of saliva, and counted it carefully.
“Exactly right.”

He then wrote a receipt and stamped it with the team’s seal.
“Keep it safe, Xiao Su. Don’t lose it.”

“Thank you, Uncle Team Leader! Where can I buy things like mats, buckets, cabinets, and tables?” Su Cen asked as she tucked the receipt into her bag—actually slipping it into her storage space.

Wang Jianguo glanced outside and saw his grandson playing in the dirt by the wall.
“Shitou!” he called.

A boy of about six or seven ran over cheerfully, his hands covered in mud.
“Grandpa, what do you need?”

“Go wash your hands! Then take this sister to Xiaofu’s house to buy some things.”

Turning to Su Cen, he said,
“This is my grandson. Just follow him. Everyone in the village buys these things from that household—they’re honest and won’t overcharge you.”

“Alright, thank you, Uncle Team Leader!” Su Cen nodded to the others and prepared to leave with Shitou.

Chen Xiangdong spoke up,
“Su Zhiqing, I need to buy those things too. Can I come along?”

Yan Mingyuan quickly added,
“We’ll go as well.”

Su Cen looked at Shitou, who nodded.
“Then call me when you’re ready,” he said before running off to play again.

Su Cen sat aside while Wang Jianguo collected money from the others.

Su Cen sat to the side, listening to Wang Jianguo say, “Yan Zhiqing and Tang Zhiqing, you each pay 90 yuan, and Chen Zhiqing, pay 65 yuan. I’ll give you the receipts.”

“All good. I’ll arrange for people to start building tomorrow so you can move in as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Team Leader! Sorry for the trouble!” Chen Xiangdong and Yan Mingyuan said in unison.

The four of them walked out together.

The four of them walked outside together.

“Wait for me, brothers and sisters—I’ll wash my hands first!”

After a quick rinse by the well, he excitedly led them to Xiaofu’s house.

Before they even reached the yard, he shouted,
“Fourth Grandpa! Fourth Grandpa! Some educated youth brothers and sisters are here to buy things!”

“Come in,” a hoarse voice called from inside.

They entered and saw a man in his sixties sitting by the door, doing carpentry. Half of his face was scarred from burns.

Without stopping his work, he looked up and said,
“Take what you need. It’s all in the room over there.”

Shitou pointed to the side room.
“You can pick what you want. I’m going back to play!” Then he added to the man, “Fourth Grandpa, when Xiaofu comes back, tell him to find me!”

“Alright,” the old man smiled. Few children in the village weren’t afraid of him—Shitou was one of them.

Su Cen took out two pieces of milk candy from her bag.
“Shitou, thanks for bringing us here. This is for you.”

Shitou grinned.
“Thank you, sister! I’ll just take one. If you need anything later, you can still come find me!”
He grabbed one piece and skipped away happily.

Su Cen couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable he was. Chen Xiangdong, watching the scene, also smiled faintly.

They went into the small room.

Su Cen picked out a straw mat, a wooden bucket, two basins, a small table, a low stool, a broom, and a dustpan. The others copied her choices.

“Fourth Master, how much is everything?” Su Cen asked.

“Straw mat: 1.5 yuan. Wooden bucket: 2.5 yuan. Basin: 0.8 yuan each. Table: 4 yuan. Stool: 1 yuan. Broom and dustpan: 0.6 yuan each. That’s 11.8 yuan per person,” he replied after a glance.

They paid, then wondered how to carry everything back.

The old man said,
“There’s a handcart by the door. You can use it and return it later.”

Delighted, they thanked him.

He waved his hand.
“I should’ve delivered it myself, but my son and his wife went back to her parents’ home, and my leg isn’t in good condition. You’ll have to move it yourselves.”

Su Cen noticed one of his pant legs was empty—likely related to the burns on his face. She quickly said,
“You’re too kind, Uncle! There are so many of us, we can push it back ourselves.”

“Yes, we can handle it ourselves,” Yan Mingyuan added.

The old man nodded and returned to his carpentry work without another word.