God-Tier Get Rich System – CH76

Chapter 76: Lovers Across Two Lifetimes

“You all go tidy up your living space and get some rest. A few comrades are still not here yet. Once everyone’s arrived, we’ll have a meal together to get to know each other better.”

“You probably haven’t had time to collect your rations yet? We’ll cover lunch for now, and you can pay it back once you get your own.”

Lu Manman led the female comrades into their room.

Xie Xiaojun said, “Captain, we should probably deal with this dog issue first. Are we even allowed to keep dogs at the educated youth point?”

Xu Jincheng hadn’t expected such a situation. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Let’s wait until everyone arrives and vote on it. Minority obeys the majority. Comrade Mu, I hope you understand.”

Zhao Chengxin added, “But what if someone’s afraid of dogs or allergic to dog hair? Voting might not be fair.”

Mu Lantu looked at the communal sleeping space and didn’t want to stay there.

He knew that the government gave a relocation subsidy to the educated youth, not in cash but partially used to build housing. He had assumed he might have his own room.

Clearly, he was mistaken. The educated youth weren’t here to enjoy life—they were here to labor.

“My dog once saved my life. I won’t abandon it. But Comrade Zhao’s concern is valid. I’ll think of another solution. Comrade Xu, are we allowed to rent housing in the village? Or build our own?”

Everyone was shocked.

Renting, sure. But building a house? Was that really necessary? Could it be that Comrade Mu had accepted his fate and had no intention of returning to the city?

Xu Jincheng said, “Renting should be fine, but there’s no precedent for building. You’ll have to ask the village head.”

Mu Lantu didn’t unpack his luggage—he just left everything in the courtyard.

He sat on one of the burlap sacks, listening to the others chat.

“Captain, we’re new here and don’t know anything. Could you give us some guidance?” Du Xuewen handed Xu Jincheng a handful of sunflower seeds, his fair face beaming with a festive smile.

Xu Jincheng chuckled, “I’m not much older than you guys—no need to be so formal. Since you asked, I’ll be frank. At home, it’s normal to argue with family. Here, we’re living collectively. Conflicts are inevitable sometimes.

Try to be tolerant where you can. Where you can’t, resolve things calmly. We’re going to be here a long time. Also…”

He hesitated, then continued, “A few days ago, a Comrade Xu arrived. He’s a bit aloof, but he’s not a bad person. He just doesn’t like interacting with people or being touched. If possible, don’t get too close to him.”

He still had lingering fear from yesterday, when a village girl accidentally bumped into that comrade and was promptly thrown into a ditch.

But he didn’t blame that comrade. Honestly, it was his looks—tall, handsome, with a cold aura. If he weren’t so intimidating, who knows how many young women would’ve thrown themselves at him.

Du Xuewen smiled. Mu Lantu was cold too. Who was colder between the two?

At that moment, footsteps were heard approaching the courtyard. Steady and rhythmic, they had a distinct personal cadence.

Xu Jincheng said quietly, “That should be Comrade Xu returning.”

Du Xuewen looked over curiously. A moment later, a figure appeared at the entrance.

The newcomer looked about twenty. His hair was cropped short in a military buzz cut, which did nothing to dull his good looks. Thick, sword-like brows, deep black eyes, a high nose bridge, sharply defined lips, and a tall, athletic build. He wore an army-green shirt tucked into black trousers, with gray pants tucked into camel-colored military boots. Standing there, he looked more upright than a rifle, colder than a snow-capped mountain.

Du Xuewen was just about to greet him politely when he noticed the man staring intently at Mu Lantu.

Mu Lantu stared back blankly at the youth in the doorway, not believing his eyes.

“Bao—Mu Lantu?”

Xu Huazhang strode straight to Mu Lantu, grabbed him under the arms with both hands, and gently lifted him to his feet, never taking his eyes off his face.

“You… why are you only arriving now?”

“Xu Huazhang…”

Mu Lantu murmured his name, eyes locked on his face without blinking—afraid that if he blinked, he’d vanish.

Why was Xu Huazhang in this world?

[Impossible! This can’t be! Host, this makes no sense…] 005 was dumbfounded too, clutching its imaginary head as its CPU nearly fried.

This was a randomly chosen world, and Xu Huazhang was just an ordinary human—how could he have crossed over too?

Everyone else looked at Xu Jincheng. This was the guy who “didn’t like being touched”?

Xu Jincheng blinked. “You two know each other?”

Neither of them answered. They simultaneously took each other’s hand and quickly walked out.

“Please keep an eye on our things,” Xu Huazhang said over his shoulder to Xu Jincheng.

Xu Jincheng replied instinctively, “Alright.”

Xu Huazhang led Mu Lantu to a small forest behind the village.

It was midday, and the villagers were all resting at home after the morning’s work, preparing for the afternoon shift. No one was around.

Mu Lantu instructed 005 to keep watch for any movement.

The two stood facing each other, so much to say but no idea where to begin.

Finally, Xu Huazhang pulled him into a fierce hug, as if trying to merge him into his own body.

Mu Lantu leaned against him, hugging his waist tightly, nose tingling.

When they first got together, Mu Lantu had kept reminding himself—even if he loved Xu Huazhang, he should only love him 70 percent. He knew they wouldn’t have a future together.

But how could love be rational?

At some point, he had fallen completely.

After a long while, their emotions calmed. The questions didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was—they had reunited, and had a lifetime ahead of them.

Both understood the sensitivity of this era and restrained themselves. After parting with a shared smile—

“Baby, should we build our own house and live separately?”

Mu Lantu nodded. He’d been thinking the same.

“You arrived a few days ago?”

“This is my third day here,” Xu Huazhang said.

Mu Lantu teased, “You can handle a communal bunk room? Eat with so many strangers?”

“If you’re not here, none of the rest matters,” Xu Huazhang gently touched his face.

Mu Lantu understood that feeling. He had been going through the motions, but his heart had been empty.

He squeezed Xu Huazhang’s hand. “How long have you been in this world?”

“Nearly six months,” Xu Huazhang said calmly.

Mu Lantu’s heart twisted in pain.

“I came about a week ago.”

Xu Huazhang smiled lightly. “It doesn’t matter.”

What mattered was—he came.

“Mhm.” Mu Lantu held his hand tightly.

“Let’s head back. It’s almost mealtime. If we take too long, the others will complain.”

“What should we tell them?” Mu Lantu asked.

“We were pen pals. Then I lost your address and we lost contact,” Xu Huazhang said.

What he didn’t say was—on sleepless nights, he had imagined countless ways to reunite with Mu Lantu. He’d dreamed of every possible path they might have met again.

Mu Lantu found it a reasonable excuse.

Back at the educated youth site, the others were all waiting to eat once the two returned.

Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang apologized. Mu Lantu brought out a bottle of fermented bean curd—label removed—as an extra dish.

Xu Huazhang went to the dorm to fetch a chunk of braised beef wrapped in wax paper.

Seeing the jar, he gave Mu Lantu a teasing smile.

Mu Lantu smiled openly. He wasn’t planning to hide anything from Xu Huazhang.

With two extra good dishes, the impatient youths immediately brightened.

Lu Manman went to slice the beef, filling a plate.

Everyone’s mouths watered.

Even the new arrivals were impressed. Back home, it wasn’t easy to get beef even once or twice a day.

The veterans had it worse—some hadn’t even had eggs regularly.

Lunch was a welcome meal for the new arrivals: steamed cornbread and sorghum buns, plus braised cabbage and glass noodles (even better with pork, but there wasn’t any), wild greens salad, cucumber scrambled eggs, mashed eggplant with chili, and dried fish stewed with potatoes.

Eggs and fish were rare, but at least it wasn’t all vegetarian.

Du Xuewen’s group had traveled from the south—hot weather spoiled their food, so they’d finished it all on the way. But they promised to bring something back from the county the next day.

Everyone understood—newcomers often had trouble at first.

Since there was still work that afternoon, time was tight.

Xu Jincheng gave a short welcome speech, then they all introduced themselves briefly before digging in.

They were all starving—no one held back.

Mu Lantu only ate one bun and a few slices of beef.

So did Xu Huazhang.

No one questioned it—if anything, they were glad. The less those two ate, the more food for everyone else.

After the meal, someone finally asked how Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang knew each other, since one was from Jiang City and the other from the capital—north and south.

Mu Lantu repeated their agreed story. No one doubted it.

That afternoon, the other youths went back to work. The newcomers had two days off, including today.

Xu Huazhang had Xu Jincheng help him request leave, then went with Mu Lantu to the brigade office.

The food rations were fixed. Once used up, the educated youth had to earn work points to get more. That’s why they had to labor just like the villagers—no work points, no food. Unless they had money to buy points, which could then be exchanged for food.

Each of them received a three-month ration: 28 jin per month for men, mostly coarse grains like sweet potatoes, beans, sorghum flour, and buckwheat. Very little refined grain.

Women got even less—25 jin per month.

Everyone sighed in unison.