Chapter 35: More Entertaining Than a Comedy Duo
After going through everything, Ning Xiyue ultimately chose some fairly standard pieces of furniture.
A small table that could be placed on the kang bed, a chair, a small stool, two wooden buckets for storing water, a wooden lid to go with her large seven-seal iron pot, a small wooden basin for washing vegetables, a little standing cabinet for storage, and a camphorwood chest.
Finally, Ning Xiyue even pre-ordered a cupboard for her future kitchen — a safe and convenient place to store all her kitchenware.
All of this cost her only four nearly expired industrial vouchers and a one-catty meat coupon. Considering the fine workmanship of the furniture, it was practically a steal.
While Ning Xiyue was picking out her furniture, Aunt Qiuju had gone back to get a handcart — their homes weren’t far apart.
So when Ning Xiyue came out, she saw Aunt Qiuju pushing the cart over with the items she had chosen, waving to her: “Little Yue, over here — load everything up.”
Aunt Qiuju then came over to help Ning Xiyue move the items herself.
Chen Yechu also had two pieces to take. Since Aunt Qiuju knew she was on familiar terms with Ning Xiyue, she let her load them on too. But Chen Yechu still had business with Old Master Chen and wasn’t going back to the educated youth compound with them yet.
“Yechu, I’ll head back first then. See you later.” Ning Xiyue waved beside the cart.
She figured Yechu would stay and discuss the design of a study desk with the old man.
After all, why else would the old craftsman treat her so differently? The only way to impress a master was to do something that surprised him in his field of expertise.
After saying goodbye to Yechu, Ning Xiyue and Aunt Qiuju pushed the cart back to the educated youth courtyard together. Aunt Qiuju even helped carry things inside and arranged them neatly with her.
Wang Mengmeng, who had been sitting around not knowing what to do, was stunned when she saw Ning Xiyue returning with a cart full of things and quickly organizing them all perfectly. She was both curious and envious.
But given the impression Ning Xiyue had left on her before, she didn’t dare approach and ask.
Seeing Liu Yao behind her, Wang Mengmeng got an idea and muttered “casually”: “How did Comrade Ning Xiyue manage everything so quickly? She’s already got most of her things set up — furniture and daily necessities and all — while I’m still completely clueless. I really want to ask her. She’s amazing.”
“Mm, she is amazing.” Liu Yao, thinking she was being sincere, nodded in agreement as she continued unpacking.
Wang Mengmeng: “…”
Was this girl truly stupid or just pretending?
Wang Mengmeng tried again. “Comrade Liu Yao, don’t you want to know?”
“Know what?” Liu Yao looked at her, utterly confused.
Wang Mengmeng was so frustrated she could scream. She was sure Liu Yao was doing this on purpose.
“Don’t you want to get some tables and chairs? Buckets, dustpans, brooms — all that? We don’t have anything. The ones we used before were just borrowed from Comrade Guifang.”
This time she spoke plainly — subtle hints clearly weren’t getting through to Liu Yao.
Now Liu Yao understood and said anxiously, “Ah, you’re right! I completely forgot we still need to get those things. Where are we supposed to find them? What do we do? I wonder if my cousin knows…”
Wang Mengmeng nearly fainted. So all that she’d said before was wasted — Liu Yao hadn’t taken in a single word.
When Ning Xiyue went out to fetch water and overheard their conversation from the next room, she nearly burst out laughing.
Oh, heavens — this was more entertaining than a crosstalk comedy routine.
Why didn’t Wang Mengmeng just ask her directly? Ning Xiyue couldn’t figure it out. She shook her head, carried the wooden basin inside, and left them to it.
With Aunt Qiuju’s help, everything was quickly organized and placed exactly where it needed to be.
When she walked Aunt Qiuju out, Ning Xiyue took a half jar of milk powder from her system backpack and handed it to her.
She had considered giving her a bit of brown sugar too as thanks, but after thinking about it carefully, she decided against it. Giving people too much could make them expect it — and when you stopped, they’d feel resentful.
She had no desire to be taken advantage of. A simple, clear exchange — like this — was perfect. Both sides were happy, and there were clear boundaries.
Sure enough, when Ning Xiyue handed over the milk powder, Aunt Qiuju was overjoyed. She looked at it fondly, smiling from ear to ear.
“Little Yue, Auntie is so grateful. Now my little one will have milk to drink. When he grows up, I’ll be sure to have him thank you personally.”
Ning Xiyue smiled. “Then I’ll be waiting for his thanks, Auntie.”
Her words made Aunt Qiuju laugh out loud.
Inside, Wang Mengmeng — who had been chatting with Liu Yao — noticed Aunt Qiuju leaving and stopped talking. She quickly followed her outside and called out, though her tone was stiff:
“Auntie, wait a minute. I need to talk to you.”
Hearing the unfriendly tone, Aunt Qiuju rolled her eyes and shot Wang Mengmeng a sideways glance. “What is it? I’m busy — I don’t have time to stand here and listen to you.”
Who asked for someone’s help with such a hard, demanding tone? And without a single polite word at that. Who did she think she was — that people would have to stop and listen just because she had something to say?
When Ning Xiyue saw Wang Mengmeng run out, she’d been about to praise her in her heart for showing a bit of initiative — but the tone of her voice immediately made her take it back.
This girl’s emotional intelligence when dealing with people clearly needed work.
Wang Mengmeng was stunned by Aunt Qiuju’s response, and a wave of embarrassment and grievance washed over her. She didn’t say another word and just turned and left.
All the frustration and resentment she had been bottling up over the past few days since coming to the countryside suddenly welled up. Wiping at her tears, she grew more and more convinced that she should never have signed up to come here for Xia Zhipeng — a man who didn’t even like her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be suffering all this hardship and humiliation, or being bullied by these “country bumpkins.”
Ning Xiyue shook her head privately. Her skin just isn’t thick enough, and her tolerance too low. As long as your skin’s thick enough, you’re never the one who suffers.
“Who spoiled her with that bad attitude?” Aunt Qiuju muttered, even spitting once as she spoke.
Only then did Ning Xiyue realize that Aunt Qiuju wasn’t necessarily an easy person to deal with either — and for some reason, she found herself admiring that.
Aunt Qiuju’s mood shifted faster than a Sichuan opera face change. Turning back to Ning Xiyue, her expression was already soft and smiling. “Little Yue, Auntie will head off now. Remember to come find me if you need anything.”
“Alright, Auntie.” Ning Xiyue waved as she watched her leave.
When she returned to the courtyard, she saw Wang Mengmeng sitting gloomily by herself, lost in thought.
Liu Yao came out, confused, and pulled Ning Xiyue aside to ask, “What’s wrong with her? She just went out for a bit and now she’s like this.”
Ning Xiyue shrugged and said nothing. A setback builds wisdom, she thought. Hopefully Wang Mengmeng would figure it out on her own.
Since she got no answer, Liu Yao didn’t press further. Instead, she asked about what Wang Mengmeng had mentioned earlier. “Oh, right, Yue — I wanted to ask where you got all your furniture and supplies. I’d like to go get some too.”
Wang Mengmeng snapped at that, shouting loudly, “Ask what for? She won’t trade anything with you! You’ll just be wasting your time. Do you think everyone can be as lucky as Ning Xiyue?”
After that, she shot Ning Xiyue a glare.
