Chapter 84: Moving, Something No One Expected

It was truly heartbreaking and tear-jerking.

Don’t be fooled by his carefree demeanor and seemingly cheerful personality. In reality, no one knew how hard he was struggling.

Zhao Heiping had Niu Aixiang’s financial support, and Niu Aixiang had savings brought from her family.

Li Rui also had savings, but after Zhao Heiping swindled him, he used all his money to buy ducks. He was too stubborn to ask his family for money or food, so he could only rely on himself. He would occasionally get some dried vegetables and other dried goods from Jiang Nian, which weren’t expensive but could fill his stomach.

Jiang Nian had given him meat a few times through Ye Zhiqiu, but he was too embarrassed to accept it. Every time he refused, he was so heartbroken that he almost bit his tongue.

Heaven knows how much willpower it took to do that.

“By the way, now that you’re moving here, you probably won’t go back to Zhoujia Village. What about those two rooms?” Li Rui asked seriously.

“They’re the village’s houses. I can’t decide how to arrange them.” Jiang Nian asked her, “What? You’re interested?”

“Of course. Look at the place I’m living in now. Can you even call it a house? It’s more like a den. Anyway, you’re not living there anymore. I’ll go talk to the village head. Why let the water flow outside the field?” Li Rui said with a matter-of-fact tone, then grinned mischievously. “Besides, if you guys can’t make it here one day, at least you’ll have a place to stay when you go back. I’ll make room for you then.”

“You can try, but you should do it sooner rather than later. The educated youth center has been talking about adding more rooms, but they haven’t done it yet. Those two rooms are probably on more than just your mind.” Jiang Nian reminded him.

“Do I need to tell you that? I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll go block the village head’s door before dawn. I don’t believe anyone can be earlier than me.”

He didn’t know that someone was indeed faster than him.

As soon as they left with their things, Zhao Heiping and Niu Aixiang went to the village head’s house.

They tried everything to get the house next door.

The village head still remembered Jiang Nian’s recent departure, so he refused to agree.

But he still had to think about it carefully.

Jiang Nian had also considered staying in Zhoujia Village and commuting to the health center every day.

But she hated rules and regulations. Although she didn’t sleep until noon every day, she felt that life would be meaningless if she had to wake up early every day for work.

After much deliberation, she decided to move there. It would be more relaxed.

As soon as the sun rose, Li Rui went to see the village head.

After much persuasion, the village head had to tell him, “You’re too late. Someone already asked before you.”

Li Rui’s playful smile disappeared instantly. “Who?”

Someone was faster than him. Were they in a hurry to be reincarnated?

“Niu Aixiang and Zhao Heiping. They came last night.” The village head sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to give it to you. After all, you have a place to live, and the educated youth center is still crowded. If you ask me, you don’t need to be in such a hurry. The educated youth center will be expanded after the New Year. You’ll all have new houses to live in. Why rush to grab it now?”

Zhou Cunxiang knew that Li Rui and Zhao Heiping didn’t get along.

But from his perspective, he had to give it to whoever was more suitable.

Li Rui was also a very capable young man. There was no doubt about that. But he wasn’t as good as Zhao Heiping at building relationships.

Building a primary school wasn’t a one-person job. It was a team effort.

At first, the village head thought Li Rui was trying to steal credit. But after spending so much time with these educated youths, he had gotten to know them a little. Zhao Heiping was very ambitious, but that was precisely what made him successful.

Li Rui was clearly naive and impulsive. He wasn’t suitable for decision-making.

So, even though he later suspected that Zhao Heiping was the one who was really trying to steal credit, the village head didn’t investigate further.

When he heard that it was those two again, Li Rui was furious.

He asked, “Uncle Zhou, although Jiang Nian has moved out now, that place was originally hers. I asked Jiang Nian before I came to talk to you. Even if you decide to give it to Zhao Heiping and Niu Aixiang, shouldn’t you talk to the original owner of the house?”

The house was built by the village, but it was exchanged for Jiang Nian’s medical skills. There was no doubt about that.

The village head had to admit that in this matter, Li Rui was more considerate than Zhao Heiping, who was always scheming.

He hadn’t agreed to give it to Zhao Heiping. These educated youths who had come this year were all a bit unusual. He, an old country bumpkin, couldn’t afford to offend them!

“You have a point. I’ll ask Jiang first.”

Li Rui stormed off.

But he didn’t forget what he had promised Jiang Nian.

He had come back late last night and even brought her bicycle back. Even if there wasn’t the matter of the stove, he had to go there today.

He went back to his messy shack and was so angry that he couldn’t even eat. He grabbed a duck, got on his bicycle, and left.

Jiang Nian’s breakfast was cooked on the stove. The stove that was originally used to boil medicine could now be used to cook with a pot.

Because of the simple conditions, the breakfast was also simple. They only cooked a pot of porridge, which was thick and would be considered a good meal by others.

Li Rui rode his bicycle directly into the courtyard and stopped. “Wow, I guess I came at the right time. I’m just in time for your breakfast.”

Ye Zhiqiu quickly got him a bowl.

Jiang Nian saw his expression, which was clearly a forced smile. She immediately understood. “Did someone steal the house from you again?”

“You’re right.” Li Rui sighed. “Last night, as soon as we left, Zhao Heiping, that scumbag, and Niu Aixiang went to see the village head. But the village head didn’t agree to me, but he didn’t agree to him either. He said…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it. It was like he was taking advantage of Jiang Nian. After all, in his heart, he felt that he and Jiang Nian were better than the others.

But when he said it to the village head, he hadn’t thought so much. He was just trying to prove a point.

Jiang Nian said, “If the village head asks me, I’ll say the house is yours.”

Li Rui’s feeling was right. At least, he made Jiang Nian think he was a good person.

Hearing this, he felt a sense of relief. After thinking about it for a while, he decided, “Actually, there’s no need to do that. After all, I don’t get along with Zhao Heiping, that scumbag. You don’t have any grudges against them either. If you say that, you’ll offend them. There’s no need.”

“Just eat. There are bricks for building a stove in the house. Whether or not we can have a good meal at noon depends on you guys.”

“For the sake of food, we have to work hard!”

Li Rui didn’t actually know how to do this kind of technical work. He had never even seen it done. Fortunately, Zhang Er knew.

He used to be stupid and couldn’t do anything, but he had memories. Now that he was better, he was very skilled.

The two of them fumbled around and managed to finish it by noon.

Li Rui then worried, “Even if it’s built, we can’t cook right away. It’s cold. It will take at least two days for it to dry before we can plaster the pot.”

So, they would have to make do with the coal stove for now. This was something they hadn’t thought of at first.