Chapter 9: The Fight for Rooms

“This is He Pingping’s house. It has three rooms. The one on the far right is for you. It has a converted storage room as a kitchen and can fit two people.”

It wasn’t yet time for work to end, so no one was home to greet them.

Each house had a yard with vegetables, the main ingredient for villagers’ meals.

They walked west from He Pingping’s house and arrived at He Zhuzhu’s house five minutes later.

Lü Beichu frowned; the house looked dilapidated.

“This is He Zhuzhu’s house. This room is small, only for one person, and there’s no kitchen.”

The room was only eight square meters, with cracks in the ceiling that would likely leak during rain.

Wang Shuning, examining the house, gave up when He Haiming mentioned the lack of a kitchen.

How could she cook without a kitchen?

Sharing meals with the homeowner could lead to conflicts. Even if she cooked separately, she’d have to wait for them to finish, limiting her time.

The village chief guessed they didn’t like the house. Someone had to take it, or there wouldn’t be enough lodging.

The last house belonged to He Zhaoyang. It was the best of the three—a room with a kitchen, fitting two people.

The village chief looked at the five. “You’ve seen them all. Choose.”

Wang Shuning wanted a house with a kitchen—He Pingping’s or He Zhaoyang’s—but they were for two people. She’d have to share with Zhang Meili or Guo Jingyi.

“Meili, let’s live at He Pingping’s house, okay?” Guo Jingyi grabbed Zhang Meili’s arm, glancing at Wang Shuning and looking expectantly at Zhang Meili.

There were two men and three women. Lü Beichu and Zhao Heping would share a room.

“Um…” Zhang Meili, seeing Wang Shuning looking at her, hesitated.

If she chose Guo Jingyi, Wang Shuning would have to take the dilapidated room.

“Wait, Village Chief!” Two men and two women rushed in from outside He Zhaoyang’s house, a woman leading the way.

He Haiming questioned them rapidly. “Why are you here instead of working? Want your work points deducted?”

Liu Sicun’s lips trembled as she glanced at the five. “Village Chief, we heard the new educated youths have no place to stay and are being housed with villagers? They have two-person rooms and separate kitchens?”

Wang Shuning saw their unhappy faces and guessed they were here to grab rooms.

The dormitory was communal; staying with villagers was much better.

The village chief nodded. “Yes, the dormitory is full. The five new educated youths have to stay with villagers.”

Liu Sicun was indignant. “Village Chief, they shouldn’t be housed with villagers just because they arrived later. We should be the ones staying there.”

Luckily, Zhao Leyi heard from He Weiyuan that the new educated youths would be staying with villagers; otherwise, they would have been at a disadvantage.

“Yes, we should stay there first.”

“It’s unfair to give them such good conditions right after arriving.”

Several people agreed.

Lü Beichu looked at the four, displeased. “There are no beds for us in the dormitory, so we’re staying with villagers. Don’t you have beds?”

Li Jiefang’s eyes flickered. They did have beds. “We’ll give up our beds to you.”

Wang Shuning’s tone was cold. “We don’t need you to give up your beds. The village chief arranged for us to stay with villagers. It’s your bad luck that the dormitory wasn’t full when you arrived.”

“Yes, you’re unlucky. Now you’re trying to take what’s ours. Shameless!” Zhang Meili lifted her chin. If she tolerated this, things would only get worse.

Liu Sicun looked at He Haiming. “Village Chief, these five newcomers haven’t done anything for the village. Why do they get such good treatment? We have good relationships with Uncle Pingping and Uncle Zhaoyang; they’d prefer to let us stay.”

The village chief’s eyes darted around. What were these people doing? If things were revealed, they’d run away.

“The new five will stay. Luck is unpredictable. It’s your bad luck that you came at the wrong time.”

Zhao Leyi frowned. Liu Sicun had said everything, but the village chief wouldn’t relent. Had he taken bribes from the newcomers?

“Village Chief, you didn’t tell us about the private rooms with villagers!” Zhao Hu and several educated youths ran into He Zhaoyang’s yard, out of breath.

Liu Sicun, Zhao Leyi, Li Jiefang, and Hu Haoguo were nervous. They arrived in February, but there were even earlier arrivals.

They had no advantage; competing with the newcomers for rooms was even harder.

He Haiming saw all the educated youths and felt a headache. Their tricks only worked on newcomers; if these people joined in, there would be trouble.

He glared at Liu Sicun; it was her fault.

Wang Shuning saw fifteen educated youths in the yard.

He Haiming frowned. “There are only three rooms for five people. With the five newcomers, there are twenty. Who gets to stay?”

Zhao Hu said, “First come, first served. The longest-serving educated youths should stay.”

Fifteen educated youths lived in the dormitory—eight men and seven women. Six arrived in spring, and nine last year. Those who arrived earlier had all married and moved out.

Zhao Hu was one of the longest-serving.

Wang Shuning saw Lü Beichu and Guo Jingyi’s worried faces. Their situation was bad. The older educated youths were pressuring the village chief; their rooms would likely be taken. A conflict with the villagers right after arrival wouldn’t be good.

Zhao Hu saw He Haiming silent, finding it strange. The village chief should agree; why would he offend them for the newcomers?

“So many people?” He Zhaoyang and his family entered, carrying hoes, surprised to see so many educated youths. Was the village chief holding a meeting here?

Liu Sicun approached He Zhaoyang enthusiastically, taking his hoe. “Uncle Zhaoyang, you have a room for educated youths. Can Leyi and I stay?”