Allocation 

The next day, there was a big issue in the team, and everyone needed to be gathered together to discuss it. 

It was about where the newly arrived educated youth would stay. 

In the past two days, the male educated youth had been sleeping in a bed with two other educated youth. They lived in a large bunk bed, which was in a former warehouse that had been renovated. The situation for the female educated youth was a bit better; each had her own small bed, but it was still crowded. In addition, the female educated youth had a lot of things, so there was no room to add more beds to the room. 

Building dormitories can only be done after the autumn harvest, which is still a few months away. They can’t keep living like this, crowded together. 

The team leader and the secretary decided to let the family with an empty room in the team take in one person first, which is what the neighboring team had done. 

However, there weren’t many families with extra rooms. Many of the families with more brothers even had to share one room after marriage, with just a curtain as a partition. If one couple had to do something private, the other would go outside and wait until the one inside is done before coming in. 

Seeing the worried looks on everyone’s faces, the secretary went to each family and did some persuasion. In the end, he said that whichever family took the initiative take in an educated youth would receive a few extra food tickets each month as a subsidy. 

Now some people were tempted but there were still many who felt it wasn’t worth it. If the educated youth stayed at their home; they would have to eat the same meals as the family. 

Lin Miaoyin wanted to take the initiative to bring the female educated youth who liked Meng Yuanzheng to live with them. The two would see each other every day and would definitely spark love. This way, she could divorce smoothly, Meng Yuanzheng wouldn’t need to be involved in the plot, and the female educated youth wouldn’t turn into a villain. Everyone would be happy. 

But when she told Meng Yuanzheng that she also wants to take in an educated youth, Meng Yuanzheng looked at her strangely. 

“Is this really what you want to do?” 

“Why are you looking at me like that? The educated youth are responding to the country’s call to support socialist construction. It is our responsibility to ensure their living standards. Besides, my father is the team leader, and I also support my father’s work,” Lin Miaoyin said with a smile. 

“No.” Meng Yuanzheng turned his head away with a cold expression. 

“Huh?” 

“I don’t agree.” 

Lin Miaoyin was about to ask why, but suddenly she saw a woman walking toward them. It was Zhu Wanqin. 

“Miaoyin, Brother Meng,” Zhu Wanqin said with a smile. 

Lin Miaoyin stopped and glanced at Meng Yuanzheng. “Your sister?” 

Meng Yuanzheng gave her a puzzled look in return. 

“Otherwise, why would she call you Brother Meng? You two seem so close, I thought maybe you recognized each other as brother and sister when I wasn’t looking.” She smirked. 

Wasn’t there a song that went: “Sister, you sit on the boat, and I walk on the shore. We love each other so much—how sweet.” 

Meng Yuanzheng didn’t even glance at Zhu Wanqin, and he barely even remembered her face. He had no idea when he had become close to her.  

Now everyone could hear Lin Miaoyin’s hostility. Zhu Wanqin’s expression stiffened. Her eyes moved between Lin Miaoyin’s and Meng Yuanzheng’s faces as she asked carefully, “What’s wrong? Did you two have a fight?” 

Lin Miaoyin “…” 

“No, our relationship is great, how could we fight?” she said with a forced smile. “You should go inside. They’re arranging your accommodation. If you go too late, you can only stay in the worse ones.” 

“I was just standing over there listening. That reminds me, I heard that you have an empty room. Can I live in your house…” Zhu Wanqin asked shyly, stroking her braids with her hand. She looked innocent, as if she really hoped Lin Miaoyin would agree.  

In the original story, Lin Miaoyin’s family didn’t host any educated youth. 

Seeing Lin Miaoyin hesitate, Zhu Wanqin said, “I brought food tickets and meat tickets. If they’re not enough, my family will send me some. I won’t eat for free.” 

Before Lin Miaoyin could speak, Meng Yuanzheng next to her spoke up, “Our house leaks, and there are snakes. We can’t accommodate anyone.” 

Zhu Wanqin’s face turned pale. 

“Yes, yes,” Lin Miaoyin quickly added. “Just the other day, we killed a snake that climbed up to the bed. It was poisonous.” 

“Ah?” Zhu Wanqin froze. 

“The feng shui of our place is bad. It attracts snakes, insects, rats, and ants. You’d better not come and live with us,” Lin Miaoyin said in a sincere tone. 

At this moment, a female voice interrupted them, “Wanqin, did you find a place to stay?” 

 A woman dressed similarly to Zhu Wanqin came over and extended her hand in a friendly manner, “Hello, I’m Xu Liwen, and I’m from Shanghai, just like Wanqin.” 

Lin Miaoyin stretched out her hand to shake hers while thinking, isn’t this the female educated youth she had wanted to invite to stay at her home!  

“Hello, my name is Lin Miaoyin, and this is Meng Yuanzheng. Welcome to the Houtouwan Brigade.” 

Lin Miaoyin let go of her hand, and Meng Yuanzheng also shook hands with Xu Liwen. Both sides maintained a very friendly and normal attitude, and no one looked at each other too much. 

This was getting interesting. In the original story, the four of them formed a complicated love triangle. 

She and Xu Liwen liked Meng Yuanzheng, Meng Yuanzheng liked Zhu Wanqin, and Zhu Wanqin liked the male protagonist. What a mess! 

“Wanqin, what’s wrong with you? You don’t look quite yourself today. ” Xu Liwen asked. 

“No, I’m good. The sun is just a bit strong. Have you solved your accommodation problem?” 

“I’ve found a fellow villager. They seem quite honest, and they even helped me move my things. Over there.” Xu Liwen pointed to the side of the road where a young man was carrying a suitcase and a net bag, which contained a basin and other items. A woman was holding a bedding roll, and a child was carrying a large canvas bag. 

Lin Miaoyin was speechless. Looking at the attitude of this family, it was obvious that they just wanted to curry favor with Xu Liwen probably hoping to get food tickets, but they were likely more interested in finding a bride for their son. Xu Liwen, however, didn’t see through this and thought they were just being hospitable. 

This was the family Xu Liwen ended up staying with in the original story, and naturally, their plans didn’t work out. 

Now even the plan to invite Xu Liwen to stay at her house was now completely ruined. 

“Okay, then you should go with them. If you need help, just call me,” Zhu Wanqin said, patting Xu Liwen’s hand.  

Xu Liwen happily walked off, and Lin Miaoyin said, “You should go inside now. If you wait any longer, there won’t be any rooms left.” 

“Hmm…” Zhu Wanqin was a little absent-minded. 

“Let’s go, let’s go, I’ll take you.” 

Lin Miaoyin was more than happy to do anything that would keep Zhu house away from Meng Yuanzheng. 

She pulled Zhu Wanqin excitedly into the crowd. When Secretary Li saw them approaching, he was busy with registrations and said, “Zhu Wanqin, where have you been? We didn’t see you just now. There’s only one family left now. If you have no objections, we’ll settle it with them.”  

Zhu Wanqin’s eyes fell on the name of the head of the household in the book, and she fell silent. Lin Miaoyin, sensing her hesitation, asked, “Secretary Li which family is it?” 

“It’s the Jin family,” Secretary Li said. 

The Jin family was the male protagonist’s family. It seemed that fate was still following the original storyline. 

Lin Miaoyin suppressed her inner excitement, “The Jin family is pretty good, they’re kind people, and their house is quite large.” 

The secretary nodded. “Yes, if there are no objections, we’ll settle it this way.” 

After he registered, he called a young man and a little girl who were not far away to come over. 

“Young man from the Jin family, come and help the educated youth move her luggage.” 

Author’s Note: 

The female protagonist is a bit scheming, I admit it. 🫣 Of course, she is also conflicted in her heart at this point, but things will get better later. Please look forward to the male protagonist’s efforts.