Chapter 46: Moving

Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu discussed the matter and felt that it wasn’t impossible to agree to it.

At that time, elementary school was a five-year system, and due to the current environment, the content of the elementary school textbooks wasn’t particularly complex. With their combined strengths in both academics and physical education, they were confident they could handle the teaching.

Even if there were parts of the textbooks they didn’t fully understand, there were plenty of Educated Youth at the residence. They could easily ask for help from any of them, and teaching a child elementary school curriculum wouldn’t be a problem.

However, they needed to discuss with Wu Dama beforehand about how long and how much they would teach. After all, no matter how well they taught, they couldn’t replace the school in issuing a graduation certificate to Wu’s little girl.

Finally, with the mediation of the aunties, Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu reached an agreement with Wu Dama. They only needed to teach Wu’s little girl the elementary school curriculum.

By then, even if the little girl studied at home and skipped grades, she would still need to attend the fifth grade to qualify for middle school and high school entrance exams.

But that was all in the future. For now, they just needed to ensure that Wu’s little girl understood the elementary school curriculum.

Regarding the rental, Wu Dama offered them the greatest convenience by agreeing to divide the house into two small rooms, one for each of them.

However, if they wanted to cook, there was only one stove located in the porch of the house, which they would have to share. Alternatively, they could decide to cook together, but Wu Dama wouldn’t interfere in that matter.

The house also had a Heated Brick Bed, but it needed to be heated separately and wasn’t connected to the outdoor stove, which would consume more firewood.

Additionally, there was a well in the yard, which Wu Dama said they could use freely, so they wouldn’t have to fetch water from the well anymore.

The outhouse wasn’t far from the house either, just a few steps through the porch. Wu Dama, being a clean person, kept the outhouse neat and odor-free.

The rent was surprisingly cheap, only fifty cents per person per month, amounting to six yuan a year. It was the winter of 1974, and if they stayed until the college entrance exams resumed in 1977, the total rent would be just over twenty yuan.

Combined, the two of them would pay a little over forty yuan in rent, which was almost enough for Wu’s little girl to attend middle school.

Jiang Pan Yu thought it was quite a good deal, much cheaper than building a house themselves and without the need for too much effort.

All Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu needed to do was bring their luggage, food, firewood, vegetables, and other necessities, and then set up their pots, pans, and utensils to move in.

After both parties agreed on the terms, Wu Dama went back to prepare the vacant room, which would take at least ten days or so.

Tan Yanlu and Jiang Pan Yu then discussed when to move, as it was already mid-October.

By the time Wu Dama finished preparing the room, it would be near the end of the month. Tan Yanlu wanted to move in as soon as possible, but Jiang Pan Yu felt that since the house had been vacant for so long, it would be better to heat it for a few days to get rid of the dampness before moving in.

It was just a matter of a few days earlier or later, but they did need to inform Li Gaoyang in advance.

After all, they had been doing a lot of work for the neighbors recently, contributing to the firewood, dried vegetables, and the cost of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

After deducting what they had consumed, a portion should still be allocated to them.

Li Gaoyang was quite surprised: “You want to move out? Has someone at the Educated Youth Residence been bullying you?

Or are you dissatisfied with the work I assigned? If it’s the latter, we can sit down and discuss it properly.

If someone has been bullying you, you can speak up directly. I, as the Household Head, am not just here for show.”

Jiang Pan Yu quickly shook her head and explained, “Of course not. Living at the Educated Youth Residence has been quite good. It’s just that we heard rumors that more Educated Youth will be coming next year.

Our residence isn’t very big, and if more people come, it might not be enough to accommodate everyone.

No matter how it’s arranged, there will likely be conflicts. So, we thought it would be better to move out and find some peace and quiet.”

Tan Yanlu also nodded in agreement: “Comrade Li, we really don’t have any ulterior motives. We just want to find a quieter place. Please don’t misunderstand.”

What else could Li Gaoyang say? They had already made their intentions clear, so there was no need for him to stop them.

As for how to distribute the items, it wasn’t difficult. They would allocate based on labor—those who worked more would get more, and those who worked less would get less. This way, everyone was satisfied.

Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu finally decided to move out after this month, in November, to give themselves enough time.

Next, they needed to buy some pots, pans, and utensils. The supply and marketing cooperative did sell them, but without industrial coupons, they couldn’t buy them.

Later, Yang Guiying pointed them in the right direction, suggesting they visit Yang Laoba, a “Five Guarantees” household. Although he was a carpenter, he had relatives who were skilled in making earthenware, such as earthen pots and jars. Since Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu only needed to cook for two, these earthen pots would suffice for cooking and making soup.

As for basins and buckets, they could ask Yang Laoba. Making wooden basins and buckets was a piece of cake for him. Without industrial coupons to buy iron pots, this was the best they could do.

As for larger furniture like tables, chairs, and benches, the experienced women advised against buying new ones. The town’s recycling station often had discarded furniture that was still in good condition. They could buy these at a low price, repair them, and put them to use.

Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu thought this was a great idea and decided to make do for now, planning to visit the recycling station when they had time.

Of course, their plan to move out of the Educated Youth Residence couldn’t be kept secret from the others.

The female Educated Youth were quite pleased. Zhao Xiuzhu was happy that Tan Yanlu would no longer be around to get in her way, and she wondered if she could develop a relationship with Lian Xiuran.

Shen Shilei was probably relieved that Jiang Pan Yu, who had been eyeing her with the intent to bully, would no longer be there. She could finally stop sleeping by the door—thank heavens!

Li Yunying and Chen Xiaoxue were likely happy that their sleeping space would be a bit more spacious.

As for the male Educated Youth, most were not too pleased. After all, Tan Yanlu was quite a sight to behold. People are visual creatures, and everyone has their own little fantasies.

But whether they stayed at the Educated Youth Residence or not was their own choice. No one could force them to stay.

Just before the end of the month, Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu packed up their belongings. They had already negotiated the distribution of firewood and dried vegetables with the people at the Educated Youth residence.

Bit by bit, the two moved into Wu Dama’s house. Several Educated Youth came to help, and naturally, Lian Xiuran was among them.

Then, Jiang Pan Yu noticed that the things Lian Xiuran was moving all belonged to Tan Yanlu. It was quite remarkable—how did he know which items were hers and which were Tan Yanlu’s when their belongings were mixed together?

Is this the difference between keeping someone in your heart and not? Men are indeed very pragmatic!