The next afternoon, as it was getting dark, they finally arrived in Huangyuan County. Old Xu had already cleaned their room spotlessly, and the kitchen utensils previously procured by Sisi had also been moved and neatly arranged.
Tian Xinhua was allocated a four-cave dwelling plus a small independent courtyard, where there was a tap and a small kitchen. The courtyard had previously belonged to the forr Deputy Secretary.
It was evident that the forr Deputy Secretary was a pragmatic person. Unlike other courtyards filled with flowers and plants, this one had green onions and chives, along with a tall pepper tree and a date tree.
It was Sisi’s first ti living in a cave dwelling; she had previously lived in an apartnt in Mijia Town. Who would have thought that she could still end up living in a cave dwelling upon arriving in the county?
The cave dwellings in the County Committee Building were very orderly, layer upon layer, densely packed. If it were night and all the lights were on, the sight would be quite spectacular.
Upon arriving in Huangyuan County, Tian Xinhua didn’t even have ti to rest before rushing to work. This ti, he brought his old team from Mijia Town with him. Old Xu was still his assistant, and Zhu Xianren was appointed as the deputy director of the County Committee office, while Li Neng, due to limited educational background, took over Zhu Xianren’s previous position and beca the vice-mayor of Mijia Town.
Tian Xinhua has always been generous to his subordinates. As long as they are loyal to him, he doesn’t mind offering extra benefits. Due to Tian Xinhua’s generosity, Zhu Xianren and Li Neng beca staunch supporters of the Tian faction.
Before his arrival, Tian Xinhua had already investigated the leadership team of Huangyuan County: Secretary Du Changlin, County Chief Hu Dingkun who also served as Deputy Secretary, Deputy County Chief Xu nglai, and Deputy County Chief Luo Wenlve.
Du Changlin was getting older, almost fifty, and adhered to the principle of "seeking no rits but no derits." He was a kind-hearted person who liked to smooth things over.
Hu Dingkun was under forty, a military man turned civilian, in the pri of his life. He was energetic and ambitious and wanted to improve Huangyuan County, but was hindered by a lack of capital and good projects.
Deputy County Chief Xu nglai, around the sa age as County Chief Hu, also a forr military man, was a typical supporter of the Hu faction. It’s said that the two had a very harmonious relationship, once brothers in arms who had literally carried guns together.
Another Deputy County Chief, Luo Wenlve, was an ardent follower of Zhu Xi, always advocating moderation and offending no one, and pleasing no one, much like watching a fire from across the shore.
Thus, in this situation, the County Committee of Huangyuan County was almost controlled by Hu Dingkun and Xu nglai. Now, during a crucial mont of reform and opening-up, Tian Xinhua was sent to be the deputy secretary, and the pressure he faced was imaginable.
Huangyuan Normal College hadn’t started yet, and these days Sisi was busy tidying up their small house. One cave was used as a bedroom, one as a living room combined with a dining room, another as a storage room and her studio, and the last as a guest room.
Living in a cave, sleeping on a kang, everything here was new to her.
Sisi happily humd a song as she nailed the curtains in the bedroom, covering the kang so that it wasn’t visible from the window, preserving so privacy.
This fabric was a green floral cloth she had taken out from Space, not of great quality since it was synthetic, but just right for curtains.
"Sisi, are you ho?"
A female voice sounded from outside the yard, and with Sisi’s response, Su Ping pushed the door open and ca in, quickly taking the hamr from Sisi’s hand and started pounding.
"Ouch, your delicate skin isn’t suited for this kind of work, don’t hurt your hand. Step aside, I’ll do it!"
Sisi didn’t hesitate, handing the curtain job over to Su Ping, while she went to the cupboard to get so snacks to entertain her guest.
Making curtains only took a few minutes, Su Ping worked quickly and had them done soon, the soft green fabric with tiny floral patterns was very refreshing and comfortable to look at.
"You made it look so nice, it’s instantly upgraded; I’ll go get so floral fabric for my house too," Su Ping said longingly.
"Sister-in-law Su, don’t buy it, I have so extra fabric here, just hold on and I’ll get it for you."
Sisi pretended to reach into the cabinet but took out two pieces of violet floral fabric from the Space and handed them to Su Ping, saying, "These are the last two pieces left, I’m not sure if you’ll like the design or not?"
"I love it, such beautiful fabric is almost too good to be used for curtains, in my opinion, it could even be used to make clothes," Su Ping said as she caressed the soft fabric, unable to put it down.
"Making clothes could work too, but then you wouldn’t have enough fabric for curtains," Sisi laughed.
"It’s okay, for making curtains such fine fabric isn’t necessary, I’ll buy a cheaper one later, only soone generous like you would use such nice fabric for curtains!"
Su Ping securely stored the fabric, already planning to make a skirt for herself and her daughter with it; it would definitely look good when worn.
"Sisi, I haven’t congratulated you and Secretary Tian on your marriage yet, this is my wedding gift to you, don’t dismiss it!"
Su Ping handed over two pieces of silk bearing dragon and phoenix auspicious patterns and a piece of bright red woolen cloth; such gifts were considered quite generous at this ti, perhaps Su Ping was being so lavish because her husband had just been promoted.
And she knew well that with Sisi’s personality, she wouldn’t let her suffer any loss.
"Thank you so much, Sister-in-law Su, once I’ve settled everything here, I’ll invite your family over for a al," Sisi said as she stored the gifts in the cabinet.
"That’s wonderful, Sisi, your cooking skills surpass those of a restaurant!" Su Ping generously accepted the invitation.
The two of them chatted back and forth, and when Su Ping learned that Sisi would be teaching at Huangyuan Normal College, she expressed envy, "It’s good to be educated, unlike who only finished middle school and can only teach at an elentary school."
"Sister-in-law Su, you can further your studies, once you get a degree, you can teach at the middle school," Sisi suggested.
Su Ping’s eyes initially lit up, but then she looked disheartened, "Where’s the ti for that? My husband, Old Zhu, likes cleanliness, there’s endless housework every day, and this year my eldest son is preparing for high school; I need to focus on him, otherwise how will he get into a top college?"
"You can let Old Zhu help with the housework, there’s no law that says won have to do it," Sisi suggested.
Su Ping looked as if she’d heard sothing utterly fantastical, widening her eyes, she said, "n doing housework? If people found out, they’d stab in the back."
Sisi pursed her lips and didn’t say anything more. The concept of n being the main breadwinners and won handling dostic affairs was deeply ingrained in local people’s minds; not sothing she could persuade anyone to rethink with just a few words.
Besides, if one is willing to endure sothing and the other to deliver it, she didn’t need to ddle in their personal affairs.
Su Ping chatted with Sisi for a while longer, telling her that her house was the third one on the left from Sisi’s house, and told her to co over for a visit anyti.
Sisi naturally agreed with a smile, and even gave her two bottles of wine, making Su Ping so happy she couldn’t stop grinning as she left with the fabric and wine.
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