Chapter 50 The Mischief Maker Is the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey

Lin Xiaodou didn’t sleep well at all that night.

She’d spent the night in the women’s dormitory at the Young Educators’ Compound. Ten or so young women shared a giant wooden bed, each wrapped in her own thin blanket. By eight o’clock, everyone was already snoring away. Lin Xiaodou, however, lay awake for hours. She wasn’t used to sleeping with so many people on one bed. When there was nobody around, she would slip into her space and rest on her three-meter-wide, soft mattress. Early sleep wasn’t her habit either; she typically didn’t turn in until at least eleven. At this hour, for people of this era, she was considered quite the night owl.

Usually in her space at night, she would read novels or watch movies. Last night, worried someone might notice if she disappeared physically, she didn’t enter her space bodily but used her consciousness to watch a film instead. When it ended and she returned, she found herself even less able to sleep.

The girl sleeping next to her, probably exhausted from working all day, started snoring—loud and thunderous, like a train rumbling by. The snoring fluctuated in volume, rattling Lin Xiaodou’s ears to numbness. She didn’t dare wake her, so she endured it in silence. At last, sometime past midnight, the snoring ceased. Lin Xiaodou breathed out in relief—only for the sound of teeth grinding to echo from nearby. Great, now someone was gnashing their teeth.

Half-awake, eyes barely open, she muddled through until dawn.

As the first light crept in, everyone stirred slowly and began their day. Lin Xiaodou washed up and headed to the team leader’s house.

The team leader and his wife were just having breakfast. As soon as she arrived, before the leader could speak, his wife stood up with a cheerful smile.

“Oh, you must be Comrade Lin! I went to my mother’s place yesterday and missed you. Seeing you today, I must say, you’re a breath of fresh air! You’re so lovely—there’s no girl like you for miles around.”

When she’d returned from her mother’s house last night, she’d found sponge cake on the table and was overjoyed. She loved sweets, though she hadn’t tasted any for ages. Ever since her eldest son married and joined the army, and her daughter-in-law took charge of the finances, her son hadn’t sent a single penny home. The family still had to support the youngest daughter through high school, so there was no money left for treats. That fragrant sponge cake was something she’d seen at the supply store, but never dared buy—far too expensive. Whenever she had cravings, she’d settle for half a pound of brown sugar at most, sipping it sparingly, maybe once every few months. Brown sugar cost fifty cents a pound, and even half a pound required a sugar coupon and careful budgeting.

Sponge cake was even more extravagant—a whole yuan a pound, and a pack was exactly a pound. Comrade Lin was truly generous.

Looking at the beautiful girl before her, the team leader’s wife grew fonder by the minute. If her own son weren’t married, she’d want Lin Xiaodou as her daughter-in-law.

“Have you eaten yet, Comrade Lin? Come join us!” Her round face beamed, eyes crinkling into slits as she smiled.

Seeing the potatoes and cold stir-fried fish mint on the table, Lin Xiaodou quickly shook her head. “Thank you, Auntie, but I’ve eaten.”

Even if she hadn’t, she would have said she had. In these times, everyone struggled—she couldn’t freeload on their food. Not that she could stomach it anyway, especially the fish mint, bitter and fishy, utterly unpalatable to her.

The team leader finished his potatoes in a hurry, gulped down a bowl of cold water, and stood up. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to the wooden house on the back hill so you can check it out.”

Half an hour later, at the back mountain.

Staring at the two-story wooden house, Lin Xiaodou was surprised. She’d expected the house, empty for years, to look rundown, but its exterior was quite decent. The entire structure was built in a stilted design, suspended above the ground by four thick wooden pillars. Its natural timber hues lent it an ancient, rustic charm. Wooden steps led up to the front door.

Lin Xiaodou lifted her foot to climb up.

The team leader hurriedly called out, “Comrade Lin, are you sure you want to live here? Maybe you should pick another place?”

He was still worried. Even he, a grown man, found the place eerie. Comrade Lin was young and female—she’d surely be more afraid. He regretted suggesting it yesterday.

“No problem,” Lin Xiaodou replied. “I’ll go in for a look. You wait outside.”

The team leader said, “Alright, but don’t take too long. If anything happens, just call out.”

Lin Xiaodou replied, “Sure!”

Less than ten minutes later, she stepped out with an unruffled expression.

She smiled, “Team leader, it’s just a bit dark inside—otherwise, nothing unusual.”

He looked doubtful. “Really nothing?”

“No issues,” Lin Xiaodou assured him. “You said the new arrivals can rest today, so I’ll spend the day cleaning up here. You needn’t worry, I’m quite capable. You should head back—work’s about to start.”

Seeing her so confident, the team leader had no choice but to believe her. He had to return to arrange work for the villagers before their shift. “Alright, you tidy up. I’ll come at noon to see if you need any help.”

Lin Xiaodou declined outright, “No need, I can manage alone.”

Since she insisted, the team leader couldn’t press further. After repeated reminders, he turned and left at a brisk pace.

Once he was gone, Lin Xiaodou’s expression changed. She dashed up the steps. Inside the door, she turned and locked it with a clang.

Turning around, she met the gaze of a pair of round, gleaming eyes perched on the roof beam.

“Wooo wooo wa wa wa—” The creature let out strange cries, scampering across the beam, trying to scare Lin Xiaodou away.

But it didn’t realize that the girl before it could understand animal language.

“So you’re the one playing tricks here—a little golden snub-nosed monkey.” Lin Xiaodou couldn’t help but smile.

The golden snub-nosed monkey was a rare and precious wild animal native to China. Unlike other monkeys, it was adorably cute and hugely appealing. It was said that the Monkey King from Journey to the West was based on this very species.

Lin Xiaodou had always loved furry animals. After adopting a pet jumping spider in Beijing, she’d been hoping to find it some companions.

Looking up at the clever monkey overhead, she decided it would be perfect.

She summoned a bunch of bananas from her space and coaxed, “Little one, want a banana?”

The monkey paused, tilting its head in thought. Then it hopped down and bounded over.

Lin Xiaodou smiled as she offered the banana.

To her surprise, the monkey didn’t take it. Instead, it grinned and spat a mouthful of saliva onto her hand.

Lin Xiaodou: ...

Hey! This little rascal! You’re begging for trouble, aren’t you?

She rolled up her sleeves, ready to catch the monkey. If she didn’t teach it a lesson, she wouldn’t be Lin!

O(￣ヘ￣O＃)!