Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Do You Need Our Help?
Yunyi gave Liu Chenglin a slight nod and turned to the Branch Secretary. "Branch Secretary, I’ve boiled some water for everyone to take a break and have a drink."
Although her words were addressed to the Branch Secretary, everyone heard them.
There was meat to eat, cigarettes to smoke, and now freshly boiled water to drink; such treatment was unheard of and deeply comforting to the hardworking crew.
With lifted spirits, their vigor increased, and by noon, only the roofing tiles remained to be laid on the damaged roof.
The Branch Secretary’s eldest grandson, Yang Lidong, came running over. "Grandpa, Grandma told me to tell you that the rabbit meat stew is ready."
He added with a laugh, "It smells incredibly good!"
Everyone had been eagerly anticipating it, and upon hearing this news, they lost all interest in work.
The Branch Secretary clapped his hands. "Alright, stop dawdling! Pack up, go home, and get your bowls for some meat."
Yunyi thought of the tiles she had borrowed from the accountant’s family. "Branch Secretary, if there is any food left over, could you please ask one of your children to send a portion to the accountant’s family?"
The Branch Secretary understood immediately and nodded. "You’re thoughtful. I’ll have one of the children from my family take a bowl over later."
It was time to ring the work-period bell, and he walked briskly towards the willow tree at the center of the village, a smile on his face.
After everyone had left, Yunyi picked up the Zhiqing Point’s bucket and shoulder pole and headed out. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she took a detour to fill two buckets with water and carried them back to the Zhiqing Point.
When she entered the courtyard, the people from the Zhiqing Point had already returned.
Seeing her carrying in a shoulder pole laden with water, Deng Xiaojie, who was on cooking duty, challenged her, "Chu Zhiqing, I thought you weren’t eating with us. What are you doing?"
Then, as if recalling something, she quickly added, "You didn’t contribute any food rations this morning, so there’s no lunch for you here."
Yunyi poured the water into the water urn, returned the bucket and shoulder pole to their original place, and then said to everyone in the courtyard, "I borrowed the bucket and shoulder pole this morning, and I’ve now returned them."
Her words were diplomatic, but everyone understood her meaning.
This statement made Deng Xiaojie, who had been looking for trouble, flush bright red with embarrassment.
But Yunyi paid her no mind. Turning to Wang Jianhui, who was resting in a shady spot, she said, "Point Leader, the house over there can be made ready today. I’ll move my luggage over shortly."
Wang Jianhui stood up. "Do you need our help moving?"
Yunyi declined, "No, thank you. I didn’t bring much with me. You’ve all been working hard all morning; please get some rest."
After saying this, she went straight to the female zhiqings’ room. Her belongings were already packed, and she soon carried them out.
Meanwhile, the Branch Secretary’s home was bustling with activity. The men who had been repairing the house today went home to grab their bowls and then headed straight for the Branch Secretary’s home.
The Branch Secretary’s wife, Hu Shanmei, was very methodical; no matter the size of the bowl anyone brought, she gave them three ladlefuls of the stew, ensuring no one had any complaints.
Yunyi had just passed the small courtyard when she heard someone calling her, "Chu Zhiqing."
She turned to see it was the Branch Secretary’s eldest grandson, Yang Lidong. Noticing the bowl in his hands, she immediately understood. "Why did you bring this all the way here?"
Yang Lidong hurried forward a few steps. "My grandma said everyone gets a share, and we couldn’t possibly leave out you, the one who provided the meat."
Knowing she couldn’t refuse, Yunyi smiled. "Then please wait a moment."
She carried the bowl of stew into her room and, using her luggage for cover, took out an aluminum mess tin and grabbed a few fruit candies.
She directly offered the fruit candies to him. "Please take these candies for your trouble in coming all this way."
Yang Lidong, who had never been given candy just for running an errand, quickly waved his hands. "No, no, there’s no need! My grandma said our family has already benefited greatly today. I can’t take these candies."