Chapter 36 Put Down That Country Bumpkin, Let Me Do It 12

Chapter 36: Step Aside and Let Me Handle That Villager 12

Luo Shuisheng scrubbed his room from floor to ceiling, even wiping the floor with a damp cloth.

The room wasn't dirty to begin with, but now it was spotless.

He moved all his belongings to the room directly north, on the other side of the wall, and took out the brand-new bedsheets and duvet covers he had bought for the New Year, smoothing them out neatly.

After two or three hours of work, looking at the immaculate room, Luo Shuisheng smiled, his heart brimming with a quiet, sweet joy.

He moved all of Yan Bai's things into this room, arranging them neatly on the shelves. Only then did he go to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the day.

Yan Bai had said he would come over for dinner in the evening, so Luo Shuisheng was determined to get it right.

Shi An was no longer feverish. Being a healthy, growing boy, he was full of energy again after drinking a cup of milk powder in the afternoon.

Although he wanted to get out of bed and help tidy up Brother Yan's room, his older brother wouldn't let him move, insisting he rest for a few more days and forbidding him from getting out of bed. Shi An could only fret helplessly.

Even when Xiao Tao'er offered to help sweep the floor, Luo Shuisheng refused, afraid they wouldn't do a thorough job.

Xiao Tao'er could only help with washing clothes and picking vegetables.

Children from poor families mature early. Though only twelve years old, Xiao Tao'er was already quite capable at household chores.

By four o'clock, all the food was ready. Luo Shuisheng began to feel restless, standing at the courtyard gate several times to look out, but he never saw the person he was waiting for.

Meanwhile, Yan Bai was busy.

When he returned, Gu Xiangdong was asleep in bed. Jiuweihu immediately gleefully told Yan Bai about the scheme it had eavesdropped on between Gu Xiangdong and the village chief.

Yan Bai snorted coldly but said nothing.

He first went to ask Zhao Man, the eldest sister among the Educated Youth, if it was possible to move in with a villager.

Zhao Man was one of the earliest Educated Youth to arrive and was older than the others, who handled a lot of the day-to-day issues. She replied,

"That's up to the village chief. In the past, some Educated Youth settled down here, got married, and were allowed to move out. Some were even allocated housing plots.

Is Yan Bai planning to get married? Which village girl has caught your eye?"

"It's not about marriage. I want to move to the Luo family's house on the edge of the village.

Luo Shuisheng helped me out today. His younger brother is sick, and I happen to know a bit about medicine, so I want to take care of him for a few days to repay the favor."

Zhao Man nodded understandingly. Seeing no one around, she took two steps closer and whispered to Yan Bai,

"You've always been good to us Educated Youth, sharing whatever nice things your family sent. That's why I'm telling you this.

You need to be really careful. I've heard the Luo family owes a lot of debt, and their life is very difficult. Don't foolishly give everything to help others—think about yourself too.

I've heard that in the past two years, people still come around occasionally to harass them for money. Is it safe for you to live with them?"

Yan Bai remembered that Sister Zhao was already twenty-five and unmarried because she was determined to return to the city and refused to settle in the countryside.

She was a good person who usually took care of the other Educated Youth, so Yan Bai was willing to talk more with her.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Man. I understand and will handle the situation carefully.

By the way, haven't you always wanted to return to the city? If you have time, review your high school courses. It never hurts to learn more."

Yan Bai stopped there, not saying too much. The college entrance examination would resume in a year, and the official documents hadn't been issued yet, so he couldn't reveal too much.

If Zhao Man was smart, she might grasp a hint and start preparing early.

Zhao Man stared at his retreating figure, taken aback. Yan Bai had reminded her that she hadn't studied or learned anything in a long time.

That wouldn't do. If she ever had the chance to return to the city, she wouldn't be able to do her job well if she had forgotten everything. It seemed she should take out her high school textbooks and review them.

Yan Bai returned to his room first and packed his belongings.

The original host had been generous, leaving his things scattered around the room. Gu Xiangdong sometimes ate his snacks or used his things, and the original host never minded.

But the Demon Lord wasn't so easygoing. Why should he benefit someone who had harmed him?

The original host had lived here for two years and had accumulated quite a lot of pots, pans, bowls, and other items. Packing them up took several bundles.

However, with only one hand to work with, he wasn't very fast, and it took him several hours.

The clattering noises woke Gu Xiangdong from his sleep. He opened his bleary eyes.

"Yan Bai, what's all the racket?"

Yan Bai smiled.

"I'm planning to move in with a local family. If the village chief agrees, I'll move out in a few days."

Gu Xiangdong was suddenly wide awake and sat bolt upright.

He had just discussed with Feng Aiguo about carrying out their plan in this Educated Youth room. If Yan Bai moved out, sabotaging things would be harder.

Jiuweihu was puzzled. "Why tell Gu Xiangdong? He'll cause trouble."

"I'm waiting for him to make a move. How else can I deal with him?"

Jiuweihu suddenly understood.

"Entrapment!"

Gu Xiangdong grew anxious and immediately asked,

"Where are you moving to?"

"To the Luo family. Oh, and you don't need to help cook for me anymore. I'll be eating at their place from now on."

After saying this, Yan Bai packed a bundle of snacks along with the remaining rice, flour, wood ear mushrooms, dried mushrooms, and other items into a basket. He picked it up with his right hand and prepared to leave.

Seeing him take all the food, Gu Xiangdong panicked.

"If you take everything, what will I eat?"

Yan Bai turned back and gave him a sly smile.

"All of this was sent to me by my family. Before, when you helped cook for me, I didn't mind sharing. But now that I won't be troubling you anymore, how can you keep eating my things for free?"

Yan Bai had changed too much. In the past, he never cared about these things and was very close to Gu Xiangdong. He was introverted and didn't have many friends, so he only talked more with Gu Xiangdong.

A thought suddenly occurred to Gu Xiangdong—could Yan Bai have been reborn too?

But as soon as the idea surfaced, he dismissed it. There was only one favored by fate, and since he was the one, how could there be another?

No way, no way!

Before he could dwell on it, Yan Bai had already headed out, bag in hand.

Yan Bai only took the food today. The rest wasn't urgent.

He had just stepped onto the small path outside the Luo house when Luo Shuisheng, standing there like a devoted sentinel, caught sight of him at once.

Seeing the large basket in his hands, Luo Shuisheng hurried over to take it from him, saying,

"You should've called me if you had stuff to carry. Your hand is still injured."

Yan Bai felt a sweet flutter in his chest.

"My hand's okay. Why are you standing at the door—waiting for me?"

Luo Shuisheng glanced at him with piercingly deep eyes.

"Let's eat first. I have something to tell you later."

Luo Shuisheng already had a wild, untamed look, and now, with his emotions unconcealed, he seemed even more feral and predatory.

Yan Bai's heart skipped a beat, as if struck by an electric shock, leaving his whole body tingling and numb.

Luo Shuisheng was so different from his earlier shy self that Yan Bai, itching with curiosity, caught up to him and asked,

"What do you want to tell me?"

Luo Shuisheng kept walking ahead without answering.

Yan Bai was burning with impatience but could do nothing about it.

Once inside, Luo Shuisheng led him to the prepared room.

"This is the room I tidied for you. The bedsheets and pillows are all new. If anything's not to your liking, let me know, and I'll fix it."

Looking at the spotless room, Yan Bai suddenly felt moved.

"You tidied this up this afternoon—you must've worn yourself out."

Luo Shuisheng placed his basket on a nearby shelf. The shelf was pretty simple, all his own handiwork, yet it carried a rustic charm.

"I made this shelf. If you don't like it, we can go to the county town tomorrow to see if there's a suitable cabinet. I'll buy it for you."

Yan Bai couldn't resist teasing him again.

"Kinda feels like we're picking out a dowry, doesn't it?"

Luo Shuisheng, who had originally planned to wait until after dinner to speak, suddenly found he couldn't wait a second longer.

"What if it is? Would you be willing?"

Yan Bai was stunned; the blunt question caught him completely off guard.

"Are you serious?"

Luo Shuisheng stepped closer, locking eyes with him.

"I've never been more serious. Will you be my partner? I want to spend my whole life with you."

The words were straightforward, even a bit unpolished, yet they were utterly sincere. Yan Bai dropped all his teasing and looked seriously at Luo Shuisheng.

"Have you thought this through? We're both men. Others might not understand, they might point fingers, and you'll face a lot of difficulties. We can't even have children."

To Luo Shuisheng, none of this mattered.

He had grown up being gossiped about and judged, and his heart was unshakably strong. He simply didn't care what others said.

Life was for oneself to live—other people's gossip couldn't touch him as long as he paid it no mind.

Public opinion could only hurt those who cared about it.

"I have younger siblings; I don't need children. I don't care about others' gossip—idle talkers are full of hot air. Why should I care?

I only care whether you care or not."