Chapter 23: Ranran’s Hard Work Is Priceless

Zhong Qingfeng quickly brought over two full buckets of water. “Wen Zhiqing, which room are you staying in?”

“The last one. Just leave it here; I’ll carry it myself. Here’s a dime for you.” Wen Lin handed him a one-jiao paper note.

“Let me deliver it for you. There’s a separate stove next to the cave you’re staying in; I’ll check if you’re missing anything.”

Seeing the money in Wen Lin’s hand, Zhong Qingfeng’s eyes lit up even more. If these educated youths needed firewood, he could earn a little more.

“Qingfeng-ge, you earned money so quickly. Which zhiqing(Educated Youth) wants to ride my bicycle?”

Qu Chengyuan hurried over on his bike. He was the youngest son of the village chief, in the second year of junior high in town, and usually rode his bike to school.

Occasionally, he would earn some pocket money by following Zhong Qingfeng, even helping his mother fetch a bottle of soy sauce for a few extra cents.

“You two, pick one to ride. I’ll catch up with you later,” Zhong Qingfeng said, then headed toward the last cave.

“Little comrade, I’m lighter than him. You can take me!” Xiao Zhiyu said, noticing Qu Chengyuan was about the same size as his uncle.

“All right, hop on and sit tight before I start riding,” Qu Chengyuan said thoughtfully. He had experience giving other zhiqing rides.

Some girls didn’t know how to get on a bike, so he always waited until the passenger was seated before moving.

“Wait until you start riding before I get on. That way, it’ll be easier for you.” Xiao Zhiyu was naturally kind.

“Hehe, comrade, you’re really a good person,” Qu Chengyuan said with a smile, and the two boys, close in age, happily rode off.

Zhong Qingfeng followed Wen Lin into the cave. Ye Siran had already cleaned it and made it very cozy.

The large kang bed had been spread with bright green sheets, and two colorful quilts were neatly laid out side by side.

The cave’s floor was clay, and the walls were mud-brick, so only dry cloth cleaning was needed—no water required.

“Ranran, you’re amazing! You actually made our cave feel so warm and homey,” Wen Lin said, her voice choked with emotion.

She had originally planned to do some heavy work herself, but after struggling outside with Xia Tiantian, Ye Siran had managed to make the cave feel so cozy.

Zhong Qingfeng stood at the entrance, hesitant to go inside. He had never seen a cave made to look so luxurious.

Looking at the dust-covered Ye Siran, he saw her clear, calm eyes fixed on him.

Suddenly, he became nervous. “Comrade… okay, leave the water at the door. I have to go first. Later, I’ll have someone deliver the firewood to you.”

“Thank you, comrade. You can weigh the firewood yourselves, and we’ll pay you accordingly.”

Ye Siran’s voice flowed like a spring, gentle as the wind brushing Zhong Qingfeng’s heart. He blurted out without thinking, “I don’t want money.”

“You only carried two buckets of water and take just a dime, but helping us with firewood for free?” Wen Lin asked incredulously.

“Really, no need. Keep the dime for the firewood.” Zhong Qingfeng turned and ran off.

The dime Wen Lin gave him was already in his pocket, and he didn’t need money for the firewood. Any money in his pocket was absolutely untouchable.

He ran into Qu Chenggang. “Brother Gangzi, let’s go.”

“Qingfeng, can you give Xia Zhiqing a ride?”

“No, I’ve already been paid,” Zhong Qingfeng said firmly, pointing at the bespectacled youth.

“Let’s hurry, Brother Yuan and the others are far ahead,” Zhong Qingfeng said, then rode off with the young man.

“Comrade Qu, can you find someone else to take Tiantian?” Jian Yueshi asked softly.

“There are only three bicycles in our village. Should we let one of you sit on the front crossbar?” Qu Chenggang said awkwardly.

“Dream on, you filthy-minded pervert!” Xia Tiantian yelled angrily.

Seeing Qu Chenggang’s awkward expression, Jian Yueshi scolded gently, “Tiantian, don’t talk like that. I’ll go buy the stuff alone if you handle cleaning the cave.”

“Shishi, be careful of him. I’ll stay and clean,” Xia Tiantian grumbled.

She didn’t have much money anyway and had always relied on flattering Jian Yueshi in the courtyard.

Jian Yueshi, though living under her stepmother, had grandparents who provided salaries.

Tiantian could only help carry items; she wouldn’t spend money unless absolutely necessary.

Qu Chenggang wanted to protest, but seeing Jian Yueshi about to cry, he said nothing.

Meanwhile, Wen Lin, feeling moved and ready to say something heartfelt, heard Ye Siran ask, “Wen Lin, how do you like the way I arranged it? How much do you think this labor is worth?”

Wen Lin paused in surprise, then smiled brightly. “Ranran, your hard work is priceless. We’re good friends, so let’s say ten yuan!”

“Ten yuan is a bit much. Since you said my work is priceless, let’s split it—give me five yuan.”

Wen Lin quickly handed Ye Siran five yuan, deeply touched. “Ranran, you’re wonderful. I’ll boil water for your bath.”

“We’ll do it together.” Ye Siran was worried Wen Lin didn’t know how to use a clay stove. She didn’t either, but in her past life, she had learned.

She had once taught her daughter to live in a cave and cook with firewood, but her daughter hadn’t learned and had complained.

“Ranran is so good,” Wen Lin said, holding Ye Siran’s hand. The two happily went to the stove to boil water.

“Ranran, what if we don’t have honeycomb coal? I don’t know anything. Without you, would I starve?”

“No way! You have money, right? You can hire someone to help.” Ye Siran reassured her softly.

She had plenty of honeycomb coal in her space, but Gao Tang Village had no one using it yet, so she hadn’t brought any out.

“Wen Zhiqing, my Qingfeng said you want firewood?” a frail voice called from outside.

“Yes, we want to buy some,” Wen Lin replied loudly. Ye Siran quickly walked out.

They saw a grandmother in her sixties, carrying a bundle of dry grass, walking unsteadily.

Ye Siran’s heart skipped a beat, afraid something might happen. “Grandmother, please don’t leave.”

Though Wen Lin had been pampered, she was kind-hearted. She hurried over and helped the elderly woman. “Grandmother, how much for the dry grass?”

“Qingfeng said it’s free.”

“That won’t do. I’ll give you five jiao.” Wen Lin pulled out some bills and picked out five one-jiao notes for the grandmother.

It wasn’t intentional; she just grabbed them out of habit.

The change she had on her was prepared by her mother, one hundred each of denominations of one dimes, two dimes, and five dimes.

There were 100 one-yuan, 2-yuan, and 5-yuan notes each, but no one-cent or two-cent notes, and only 10 five-cent notes because her mother said the small denominations took up more space.

A hundred ten-yuan bills, so she really has a lot of money.

The grandmother tried to refuse, but Wen Lin insisted, even giving her a big White Rabbit candy. Startled, the grandmother took the money and candy and shuffled off.