God-Tier Get Rich System – CH77

Chapter 77: Where My Heart Finds Peace

Xie Xiaojun, Zhao Chengxin, Du Xuewen, Su Qianqian, and Yue Xiaoying had just received their food rations, but it was too much to carry by hand. Conveniently, there were idle handcarts in the warehouse, so the five decided to borrow one and return it after use.

The accountant, Lu Daqiang, around fifty years old, was a thin but energetic elder. He asked them to pay a deposit of one yuan and a rental fee of one jiao (10 cents).

“Just for a short use and you still want one jiao for rent?!” Zhao Chengxin exclaimed.

Lu Daqiang replied good-naturedly, “That’s the team rule. The cart belongs to the collective. If everyone borrows it for free, who’ll cover the wear and tear?”

Su Qianqian, eager to go back and rest, quickly pulled out a jiao from her shoulder bag and handed it over.

Zhao Chengxin caught a glimpse of the money in her bag and his eyes flickered.

Yue Xiaoying said, “Thank you, Comrade Su. When we get back, I’ll give you two cents.”

Su Qianqian blushed. “No need, it’s fine.”

Yue Xiaoying looked at her like she was naive, forcing a smile. “It’s necessary. Even between blood brothers, accounts should be clear.”

Du Xuewen, Xie Xiaojun, and Zhao Chengxin all said they would pay her back later.

The group loaded the food onto the cart together.

“Comrade Mu, do you want us to help take your rations back too?” Du Xuewen asked.

Mu Lantu replied, “Thanks, but no need.”

The five of them left first, talking about Mu Lantu along the way.

Xie Xiaojun said, “Building a house must cost at least fifty or sixty yuan, right? I didn’t expect Comrade Mu to be so well-off.”

Zhao Chengxin added, “Honestly, he could’ve just kept the dog at the commune site. If he moves out, won’t outsiders think we’re unwelcoming?”

Xie Xiaojun nodded. “Yeah, we definitely didn’t handle this matter well.”

Du Xuewen was puzzled. “You two changed your tune pretty fast. Weren’t you both against Wangcai this morning?”

Xie Xiaojun and Zhao Chengxin exchanged a glance.

Du Xuewen found it even weirder. These two weren’t from the same place and had only known each other for three or four days, yet they seemed oddly in sync.

Xie Xiaojun scratched his head sheepishly. “Weren’t we just venting at the time?”

The three men pulled the cart from the front, while Su Qianqian and Yue Xiaoying pushed from the back.

Yue Xiaoying glanced at the delicate and soft-looking Su Qianqian, who seemed easy to take advantage of, and whispered to her, “Hey.”

Su Qianqian looked over.

“Don’t flaunt your wealth. Be more cautious.”

Yue Xiaoying then focused on pushing the cart and didn’t say another word.

Back at the brigade office, the team leader wasn’t there, so Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang could only ask Lu Daqiang about the house.

“That’s not my responsibility. You’ll have to ask the team leader. He’s probably over at the east field right now.”

Lu Daqiang was curious. He had heard of Comrade Xu before — cold, reserved, and quiet. But today, he seemed not only relaxed but also rather talkative.

“Uncle Lu, can I leave my rations here for now? I’ll take them later when I come back,” said Mu Lantu.

It was a minor request, so Lu Daqiang agreed.

Their village was relatively fortunate. After all these years of hosting sent-down youth, they had heard all kinds of stories from other brigades. Since Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were new, Lu Daqiang remained cautious in his tone.

“If you’re okay with it, just leave it here.”

“What’s there to worry about?” Mu Lantu smiled. “Our Dongfanghong Brigade is famous for being honest and kind. I heard that some people even pulled strings to get assigned here.”

Xu Huazhang didn’t change his expression, but his eyes were smiling. His baby sure had a way with words — when he wanted to charm someone, he never failed.

Lu Daqiang grinned like a blooming chrysanthemum. “Really? Our brigade’s reputation spread that far?”

“Of course.”

Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang went to the field and found Zhang Jianxin.

The villagers working nearby secretly glanced at them, especially Xu Huazhang. Most of the attention came from young women; the men didn’t look too happy.

Mu Lantu still looked thin and sallow — not very noticeable. Though he had spiritual spring water, he didn’t dare overuse it and only drank a little each day to gradually improve his body.

Zhang Jianxin said thoughtfully, “You can build a house, but if you return to the city in the future, the house will belong to our village.”

Xu Huazhang replied, “That’s only fair. Team Leader, you must be busy now. We’ll stop by tonight to discuss the details?”

“Alright, I’ll be home tonight.”

The two returned to the commune site with their food. Du Xuewen and the others had already showered and were napping in their dorms.

Several basins were in the courtyard, filled with their dirty clothes.

Xu Huazhang went to the kitchen to boil water for Mu Lantu to bathe.

Watching him expertly stuff firewood into the stove, Mu Lantu felt a complex mix of heartache, sorrow, and a bit of amusement.

Xu Huazhang — in their past life — had been a scientist who couldn’t even light a gas stove. Now he was a rural youth, toiling in the fields.

Sensing something, Xu Huazhang turned and saw Mu Lantu’s expression. He smiled faintly.

To him, this wasn’t a big deal. There was still so much he hadn’t told his baby. He’d explain everything when the time came.

“Do you have soap?”

“Yes.”

“Wait another two or three minutes.” Xu Huazhang watched as steam began to rise from the large iron pot.

There was only one pot at the commune site, used for cooking and boiling water. Without dish soap, the pot couldn’t be cleaned thoroughly, so the hot water had an oily film on it.

Mu Lantu found it hard to get used to and wanted to move out as soon as possible.

After washing his hair and bathing, Mu Lantu could finally change out of the original owner’s worn clothes into his new outfit and cloth shoes — comfortable and clean.

Of course, the new clothes and shoes were plain gray and black, nothing flashy.

Xu Huazhang pointed to his own bunk for Mu Lantu. It was the innermost one against the wall — only one side was next to someone else.

Originally, that bunk had been next to Miao Jiaze. Miao, also from the capital, was his childhood friend and had come to the countryside with him.

Now Du Xuewen occupied the bunk beside Xu Huazhang.

Probably because Du thought the space was bigger there, he claimed it.

Xu Huazhang wanted Mu Lantu to sleep next to him. Since Du was already asleep, it was inconvenient to wake him, so he told Mu Lantu to sleep on his own bunk for now.

“Get some rest. I’m going out to find something. I’ll make it up to you tonight.”

Mu Lantu asked, “Am I sleeping at the commune tonight? What about the dog?”

They hadn’t had time to discuss it earlier. Wangcai was currently tied up in the corner of the courtyard.

“Too tired to think?” Xu Huazhang smiled. “We’ll spend a little to board the dog somewhere for now.”

Mu Lantu glared at him, then smiled. “Do you know what my dog used to be called?”

“What’s it called now?”

Mu Lantu kicked him lightly. “Wangcai.”

Xu Huazhang wanted to ruffle his hair but restrained himself and asked again.

Mu Lantu wrote in his palm: “Little Zhang.”

Xu Huazhang didn’t get angry but chuckled, gazing at him with eyes softer than spring water. He knew his baby had missed him.

“Go to sleep.”

Mu Lantu was indeed tired, nodded, and climbed onto the bed.

Having found Xu Huazhang again, his heart was at peace and full. In less than ten seconds, he fell asleep.

Only after he was sound asleep did Xu Huazhang head out.

Not only Mu Lantu, but the other five also slept deeply.

*

When the other commune youths came back from the fields — cooking, washing up, and doing laundry — all the noise eventually woke Mu Lantu and the others.

They looked out the window.

Two male youths were plucking two wild chickens in the yard.

There’d be meat for dinner again. No wonder everyone looked so happy.

Du Xuewen, Xie Xiaojun, and Zhao Chengxin excitedly rushed out.

Xu Huazhang, who was already outside, saw that Mu Lantu had woken and flashed a soft look in his eyes before walking into the dorm.

“Hungry?”

“Starving.” Mu Lantu jumped down, straightened his clothes, and quickly combed his hair with his hand — neat or not, it would have to do.

Xu Huazhang pulled a box of biscuits from the cabinet and handed it to him, then opened his water bottle.

Mu Lantu smelled malted milk.

“Do you have another bottle like this? Let’s trade,” Xu Huazhang asked casually.

Mu Lantu knew exactly what he was up to and gave him a sideways glance. Still, he played along, “They were part of a set, exactly the same. You mind?”

The window was slightly open — others might hear, so he had to be careful.

Xu Huazhang responded with mock seriousness, “Not at all.”

Later, Xu Huazhang asked Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze for permission to move Mu Lantu’s bunk next to his.

Their bunks from left to right became: Xu Huazhang, Mu Lantu, Miao Jiaze, Du Xuewen.

Mu Lantu’s bedding was all made from new cotton — thick and soft.

The others, including Xu Huazhang, used old bedding, which was thin. It worked for spring, summer, and autumn, but definitely wouldn’t hold up in winter.

They could light the heated brick bed, but since they slept at the end, it might not be warm enough.

As for other essentials — enamel cups, washbasins, foot basins, thermos bottles — Mu Lantu took out only the necessities for now.

Xu Huazhang unlocked a small cabinet and took out a slightly smaller tin biscuit box, handing it to Mu Lantu.

Mu Lantu opened it — a thick stack of cash and ration tickets. Visibly a lot.

Xu Huazhang found his eyes lighting up, amused, and whispered in his ear, “You manage the money.”

Since Xu wasn’t surprised at all when he took out fermented bean curd earlier, Mu Lantu realized he must’ve guessed he had a storage space.

He pretended to stuff the biscuit box into the burlap sack but actually stored it away.

Xu Huazhang locked the cabinet again, and the two headed out.

“Brother Xu! Comrade Mu, had a good rest?” Miao Jiaze came over, waving.

Mu Lantu greeted him warmly, “Yes, all rested.”

Dinner for Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang was prepared by Xu. Two aluminum lunch boxes filled with pure white rice — steamed separately but cooked in the same pot as everyone else’s coarse grains.

The others secretly swallowed their saliva. These two — were they planning to finish all their refined grain rations in one go?