Chapter 5 The Deceived Girl in the 1970s: Fake vs. Real Daughter Story (5)

After confirming things with the team leader, Xiaoxiao quickly went to find the accountant to get her grain weighed.

Fortunately, it was nearby, and the door was open—otherwise, she really wouldn’t have known where to go.

By the time she arrived, the other three had already weighed their rations.

Everyone looked at Xiaoxiao, seemingly a little awkward—after all, just earlier, they had chosen not to team up with her.

Xiaoxiao nodded as a greeting. She didn’t mind at all. They were just strangers with no ties. Their choice was only natural.

After collecting her rations, instead of returning to the educated youth house, Xiaoxiao left them in the brigade office.

When the team leader arrived, Xiaoxiao followed him to go check out the house.

It was a wooden house, about 30 to 40 square meters by her estimate.

She wasn’t great at figuring that out but could make a rough comparison.

All the furniture had been moved out, so the house felt empty and quite spacious.

She also went upstairs to take a look—sure enough, it was nice and reminded her of the house she lived in as a child.

Xiaoxiao was very satisfied. After all, she’d be living here for at least six years. It could count as her own little home.

She asked the team leader, “How long can I rent this house?” Will the owners come back?”

The team leader shook his head. “You can live in it as long as you want. They probably won’t come back.”

After all, they’d moved to the city. Who would want to return?

Xiaoxiao asked, “Team Leader, did they ever consider selling it?”

The team leader replied, “Sure, they wanted 80 yuan. But who’d buy it? Add a bit more, and you can build a new brick house.”

Building a new brick-and-tile house only cost about a hundred yuan. Who would spend that on an old wooden house?

Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said, “Team Leader, can you help me ask them? Would they sell it for 50 yuan? If they will, I’ll buy it.”

The team leader was shocked. “Girl, you really want to buy it?”

Didn’t expect this little educated youth to have money. He heard she even spent 16 yuan this morning on household goods from the old lady.

Xiaoxiao pretended to be helpless. “I don’t have much choice. I just want to live in my own place and feel a little more secure.”

The team leader nodded. “Alright, I’ll ask for you. I think it might work.”

After all, it’s just sitting there anyway.

Xiaoxiao said, “Thank you, then. I’ll rent for one year first. If they agree, just deduct it from the purchase price. Is that okay?”

The team leader nodded.

After signing the agreement and paying the money, Xiaoxiao borrowed some cleaning tools from him and happily began tidying up the place.

Then she went back to the educated youth house to move her things.

Wang Xiuxiu asked, “Xiaoxiao, you’re moving out?”

Xiaoxiao nodded. “I asked the team leader, and he introduced me to a house with a kitchen. I liked it, so I rented it. It’s in the middle of the village, so visit me when you have time.”

It was a good location. Although she preferred quiet and secluded spots, as a girl in this era, living alone far from people wasn’t safe.

Every village had a few good-for-nothing men who couldn’t find wives.

Wang Xiuxiu still helped her move and accompanied her to the place. Looking at the house, then thinking of the educated youth house, she suddenly felt like moving out too.

But remembering that she only brought 50 yuan when she came to the countryside, she decided she needed to save.

So she quietly pushed the thought aside again.

Seeing that there was nothing more she could help with, Wang Xiuxiu headed back.

The items Xiaoxiao had bought were delivered by Auntie Tan’s grandsons.

“Educated Youth Sister, Grandma told us to bring your things over. Where should we put them?”

Xiaoxiao replied, “Just leave them on the ground. What are your names?”

“Big Sister, I’m Wang Dong.”

“Big Sister, I’m Wang Xi.”

Xiaoxiao smiled. “Thank you! Big sister still wants a small table and a stool. Can you go tell your grandma for me?”

As she spoke, she took two big white rabbit creamy candies from her train luggage.

She had bought the candy during Lunar New Year when shopping for holiday goods. She saw it in a store and suddenly craved it, so she bought a whole five-jin bag.

Her family didn’t like sweets, so after the holidays, her mom told her to take them with her instead of wasting them.

She silently thanked her mom again.

The two boys took the candies and happily said, “Thank you, Big Sister!” We’ll bring the table over for you!”

Xiaoxiao smiled. “Thanks! But can you really carry the table?”

Even the “small” rural table was still a square one—not exactly tiny.

Wang Dong said, “Big Sister, I can do it. I’m already eight years old! I’m strong! My brother can carry the stool.”

Wang Xi chimed in, “Big Sister, I can do it too!”

Xiaoxiao laughed. “Then I’ll wait for you to bring it over, and I’ll give you more candy!”

The two of them lit up, turned, and ran off shouting, “Big Sister, we’ll be right back!”

Xiaoxiao suddenly felt her mood lighten up; it wasn’t so bad after all.

She thought again about the story. There wasn’t much detail about the original host’s life after coming to the countryside—just a brief mention.

Well, if there’s no script to follow, she still believed she could live well on her own.

Hadn’t she always dreamed of becoming a landlady? Maybe this life she’d actually have the chance to do it.

She arranged her basins and buckets, then carried her two trunks upstairs—one for clothes, one for food.

After all, people would be coming and going on the ground floor. In rural villages, visiting after meals was a common thing.

Sometimes people even brought their bowls to someone else’s house to eat together or chat.

Any little change or rumor in the village, and they’d know right away.