Font Size:
The brigade leader shook his head and said, “There’s nothing available at the foot of the mountain, but there are two houses in the village. Right now, everyone is crowded together, afraid there won’t be enough space to live, so there are hardly any vacant houses. If you’re interested, you can go check them out. One of them is even bigger than this one, made of green bricks and tiles. The other one’s smaller, and it’s a mud brick house.”
Tang Tiantian thought for a moment and then walked toward Song Jinxi.
Song Jinxi noticed Tang Tiantian pulling on her sleeve, so she bent down a little. She couldn’t help it—Song Jinxi grew quickly, and she was already taller than her peers. Even though she was two years younger than Tang Tiantian, she was still taller.
“Song Jinxi, can I stay with you?” Tang Tiantian asked. “I don’t like the idea of being packed in with so many people at the commune. I think you have a good temper, and you don’t bother others. If at any time you think we can’t get along, just tell me, and I’ll move out right away. How about that?”
To be honest, Song Jinxi was conflicted. Humans are social animals, and it was hard to be alone all the time. But she had her own space, and she didn’t want too many restrictions. Tang Tiantian seemed like a good companion for now, but who could guarantee this would last? After all, they had to live together for a long time.
Moreover, living together would bring many potential issues. For instance, food and vegetables—if people sent them, it was fine. But when living together, these things couldn’t be said outright.
While Song Jinxi was pondering, Tang Tiantian leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “I’ll take care of the firewood, washing dishes, and sweeping. You just need to cook. Also, I know where the black market is, and I can take you there. You can follow me and get some food.”
Song Jinxi couldn’t help but laugh. This girl was only 10 years old, and it seemed like Tang Tiantian just wanted someone to accompany her. She was probably here to the countryside with her own story. Since there were no surveillance cameras, it wasn’t hard to fool a girl like her. If it didn’t work out, they could just part ways.
At that moment, Brigade Leader Song noticed Song Jinxi’s hesitation and called her over. After she approached, he said, “These things are not something I should say, but since I feel like you’re someone I can talk to, let me share my thoughts. If I were you, I’d take her with you. Her thinking might not be as mature as yours, but she’s definitely not someone who will cause big problems.
Right now, everyone eats from a big pot here. If you get into an argument, no one will help. There are always bad apples in any group, and having two people together will help make things smoother. But, I’m not making the decision for you. I just thought I’d share this with you as a suggestion.”
After saying that, the brigade leader returned to the side, with Grandpa Niu leading the ox cart.
Actually, the brigade leader was talking to Tang Tiantian, but he was making a suggestion that would benefit Song Jinxi. His words were convincing without being too harsh, making them easier to accept.
Song Jinxi decided to trust her instincts. After all, she had the money and space to solve any problems that might arise. She spoke directly, “I’m a light sleeper, so any noise can disturb my rest. But I think you’re easy to get along with. So… I’m willing to try and see if we can get along. Let’s try living together for a month, and after a month, if we can’t get along, you can leave. If we do get along, then you can pay me your half of the house price—45 yuan. How do you feel about that?”
Song Jinxi knew that from this moment on, she had found the most important and closest friend of her life.
Their friendship became one that made their respective other halves envious!