Erya timidly looked at Wan Chu’er, yet there was a hint of longing in her eyes, as she said: "I had a headache, but it doesn’t hurt anymore."
The village chief’s wife said: "When she was brought over this afternoon, the girl was burning up. I took her to the village clinic where they gave her a fever-reducing shot, and she also took two cold tablets."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaili imdiately expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Aunt Huang. I’ll go to your place to pick up firewood tomorrow."
Aunt Huang smiled and said: "Alright, then I’ll wait for your firewood. Your sister hasn’t been feeling well these past few days, so you and your sister can stay at my place for a couple of days, until your sister gets better. Then you can go back ho."
You can tell she’s an understanding person, just like her husband; Village Chief Huang is actually not bad either.
Wan Chu’er left so snacks and fruits for Xiao Huaili and his sister, then she followed Jiang Kechu, carrying the twins, as they left.
"Big brother, big sister, I’ll play with you guys again in the future." Chuanqi waved his little arms, reluctant to part.
————————
Waking up, Chuchu found that it was already broad daylight; sounds of the Legendary Hunter siblings fighting over toys could be heard from the living room. She touched the empty space next to her in bed - Jiang Kechu had left quite so ti ago. She flexed her sore and limp limbs, lazed in bed for a few more minutes, then dressed, washed up, tidied the room, and proceeded to prepare breakfast for the two little ones.
Having such a mother, the two kids were uncharacteristically sensible, playing by themselves when they woke up in the morning, and when hungry, they’d just find so biscuits to eat.
These days, Wan Chu’er noticed sothing odd about the family mbers in the residential area.
Throughout the morning, three separate families had uninvitedly knocked on her door, and each of them brought so hogrown vegetables or the like.
Vegetable plots had been allocated around the residential area, with each family having two or three plots. Wan Chu’er had no experience in gardening, nor did she know how to, so she did not take up a plot. Normally, she would buy vegetables from the villagers of Huangjia Gully or ask the supply office to bring so back when they went to the city.
The first to co was Wang Hongi.
"Is sister-in-law at ho?"
Wan Chu’er paused when she heard the voice outside the door, thought for a mont, and then opened it. Instantly, a bunch of bright green chives was thrust in front of her.
"Sister-in-law, these are the chives I’ve grown. Just cut them, they’re really fresh. Look, they still have dew on them. You can make so chive dumplings for the kids," said Wang Hongi, hastily stuffing the bunch of chives into Wan Chu’er’s hands as soon as the door opened.
Even though it was peculiar, on the surface, the other party ant well. If they’re offering chives out of nowhere, they must want sothing in return.
Wan Chu’er forced a fake smile and, not caring about the other’s feelings, said bluntly: "We never make our own dumplings at ho."
Mainly because making dumplings was too fiddly a task for her, and the cafeteria provided dumplings every now and then as well. If they wanted to eat them, Jiang Kechu would just bring so from the cafeteria.
Wang Hongi: "... Ah." This person is really straightforward, couldn’t she just phrase it more tactfully?
Wan Chu’er didn’t care what she thought and asked directly: "Is there sothing you need from ?"
"No, no, just bringing you so chives," Wang Hongi quickly waved off, her intention really being to establish a good relationship with Wan Chu’er, and also to probe into the matter of the donation to Huangjia Gully’s school. Unfortunately, Wan Chu’er was just too uncooperative, making it really hard to make conversation.
So Wan Chu’er politely said: "Oh, thanks, but we really don’t like chives in our family."
"Ah?" Wang Hongi imdiately replied: "We also have tomatoes, cucumbers, bok choy, and green onions in our plot. What kind of vegetables do you need? I can bring them to you."
It’s really painful for her to do so, but compared to the job as a teacher, Wang Hongi is still willing to be generous just this once.
Chuchu smiled and asked, "Is there sothing you need my help with?"
Offering help without being asked usually ans you’re up to no good.
Wang Hongi thickened her face and bluntly said, "I heard yesterday that you’re planning to build a school in Huangjia Gully. I’d like to volunteer myself. I’m willing to teach the students there."
That’s rather presumptuous, but also quite direct.
While Chuchu thought to herself impassively, she calmly said, "I’m only providing the funds for the school’s construction. When the school will be built, how many teachers it will need, and from where the teachers will co—these are not decisions I can make."
What does she an? Wang Hongi had an intuition that Chuchu was dodging the issue. In modern society, the one who pays calls the shots. She didn’t believe Chuchu had no say in this matter.
So, she blurted out, "You’ve donated two hundred thousand yuan. If you ask, they will surely give you face."
Hearing this, Chuchu just smiled faintly and remained silent.
After a while, Wang Hongi also realized it. After all, the lady was going to donate two hundred thousand; it was indeed a bit presumptuous to try to secure a teaching job just by offering so vegetables.
Seeing that Chuchu had no interest in small talk and hadn’t even invited her to sit inside after such a long conversation, but instead stood at the door the whole ti, Wang Hongi thought that perhaps the neighbors in the corridor were eavesdropping behind their doors.
Wang Hongi regretted being too impatient; who knows when the school would be up and running. She sheepishly said, "Sorry to have put you in a difficult position, I should go now."
"Alright, goodbye," Chuchu said briskly.
As the door closed unhesitatingly in front of her, Wang Hongi felt her face burning with embarrassnt.
Chuchu was too much!
She took several deep breaths, grabbed her leeks, and turned back toward her own ho. This matter would have to be handled by Mr. Ma through Jiang Kechu. She refused to believe that Chuchu wouldn’t listen to Jiang Kechu.
Not long after Wang Hongi left, the second visitor arrived—it was Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao’s wife, Dong Lili.
Dong Lili was much shrewder than Wang Hongi. She ca with her five-year-old son, Zhao Zilong.
"Sister-in-law, I need a favor. I have so urgent errands and have nowhere to leave the kid. Can you let Zilong play with your kids, Chuanqi and Hunter, for a while? I’ll be back in an hour."
"It definitely won’t take too long. I’ll co to pick him up in an hour."
She made no ntion of anything related to the school and simply requested a favor to look after her child, sothing most parents occasionally need. However, Dong Lili had never asked Chuchu for such a favor before; it felt a bit abrupt.
She couldn’t really refuse this kind of favor, and seeing Chuanqi and Hunter curiously approaching Zhao Zilong, Chuchu agreed to it.
So Zhao Zilong stayed, and after Dong Lili thanked her profusely, she hurriedly left.
Zhao Zilong was well-behaved; upon entering the room, he put down his little backpack, took out a handful of candies and three apples, divided them into three portions, and quietly pushed a pile to Chuanqi and Hunter.
Chuanqi and Hunter looked at Chuchu, who sighed inwardly and smiled, "Thank you, Brother Zilong. Go play with him, you two."
And so, the three kids happily played together.
Chuchu then took out her laptop to search online about what to keep in mind when building a rural school.
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