Chapter Sixty-six: Hot Commodity (Part One)

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The grand procession arrived at Le’er’s home. Without a word, Luo Yinxian, as if she were the mistress of the house, promptly set about preparing a meal. She had spoken well all morning, but her heart was filled with joy. Le’er had protected her—not only had she avoided harm, but she had also received an unexpected surprise, being tasked with cleaning the village committee office. The work was easy and the pay substantial. After a month, supplemented by bonuses for performing in shows, she could earn more than four hundred yuan—better than working away from home. Moreover, she could tend to household chores during the day.

“Sister Yinxian, let me help you cook,” Tao Chunhua blurted out, quick-tongued and nimble.

“All right, you wash the rice,” Yinxian replied.

The two busied themselves in the kitchen. The others entered Le’er’s home and were left utterly speechless by what they saw—even Feng Shuya felt a rush of delight.

“Le’er, your house is so beautiful!”

She had heard Le’er talk about how he wanted to renovate, but had never seen the finished result.

“It’s nothing special,” Le’er replied, though a hint of pride shone through. “I just don’t like those concrete mansions—they’re like cement coffins.”

The boys and girls were all Le’er’s classmates. He had dropped out before finishing junior high, yet within a few short years he had built such a lovely house and seemed to have plenty of money.

“Le’er, this must have cost a fortune. You’re rich now,” Tao Xiaoqing marveled. Country girls mature early; as the saying goes, poor children take on responsibility young.

“I heard he’s been rich for a while now. The Little Snake earned a hundred thousand yuan for him—Heavens above, a hundred thousand! It would take us several lifetimes to make that much. Le’er, with all this money, you should marry him,” Tao Xianghe joked nearby.

“I wouldn’t mind, but I doubt he’d want me,” Tao Xiaoqing laughed, teasing directly, “Le’er, will you marry me?”

“You’re talking nonsense—you’re still in school and already thinking of marriage?” Le’er chuckled. “Even when joking, don’t joke like that.”

“If you want me, I’ll quit school,” Tao Xiaoqing’s cheeks flushed, but she wasn’t shy, speaking playfully, “What’s the use in studying? I’ll never get into college anyway.”

Le’er laughed and walked away, saying nothing. He told the boys they couldn’t enter the inner rooms and should stay in the main hall. He brought out a deck of cards, and five of them began a lively game of “Heavenly Bomb.”

“I told you, Le’er wouldn’t want me,” Tao Xiaoqing pouted, casting sly glances at the others and laughing mischievously, “I’m not pretty… Haiying is prettier—good looks, nice figure… Don’t hit me, I’m telling the truth! Wouldn’t you want someone like Le’er if you had the chance?”

“Why are you picking on me? I haven’t done anything to you,” Tao Haiying blushed, stealing a glance at Le’er. Seeing him cheerfully chatting with the boys, as if he hadn’t heard a thing, she felt a pang of disappointment.

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A few of the girls went into the inner room and burst out in another round of exclamations.

“Le’er, show me your bathroom,” Feng Shuya said, smiling. She certainly didn’t envy Le’er’s home, but was amused nonetheless. “Is it that one?”

“Feng, yes, let me open the door,” Le’er replied.

“Oh… it’s really nice… Is that big wooden tub used as a bath?”

Apart from the bathtub, which was a large wooden barrel, the bathroom was fully modern, with a huge mirror on the wall.

“Yes,” Le’er said, patting the tub. “Fill it with water, sprinkle some flowers—wouldn’t it be just like a princess’s bath? Too bad there aren’t any flowers.”

“You wish…” Teacher Feng laughed aloud, “Besides, I’m no princess—what would I need such pomp for?”

“Feng, you’re more beautiful than any princess,” Le’er grinned sheepishly. Whenever he flattered someone, his smile always seemed clumsy and sincere.

“You really know how to talk.”

Feng Shuya blushed slightly at his words, though she was secretly delighted. What woman doesn’t enjoy being called beautiful? Especially young women—even the most composed and dignified appreciate such compliments, and praise from young men is especially pleasing.

“Is your sister in Guangzhou pretty?” Feng Shuya asked, smiling with a hint of mischief.

“She’s pretty,” Le’er nodded, his expression growing a bit gloomy. “About as pretty as you.”

“So, is it your Feng sister or your Li sister who’s prettier?” Feng Shuya pressed.

“Well… It’s hard to compare,” Le’er replied, though in his heart he thought Li Ying was prettier.

“So it must be your Li sister,” Feng Shuya said, still smiling but feeling a twinge of disappointment. “I’d really like to meet your beautiful sister and see who’s prettier.”

Women are much like peacocks, always eager to compare beauty.

“Heh heh…” Le’er laughed awkwardly, dodging the question. “I’ll go fetch water and heat it up for you.”

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Feng Shuya watched Le’er’s retreating figure. With her feminine intuition, she sensed something was amiss when he spoke of his sister in Guangzhou—there must be a story there.

“This rascal has no shortage of girls who like him,” she mused, referring to the young girls in the house. Tao Xiaoqing had openly declared her affection and even joked about marrying him. The others hadn’t been so forward, but their expressions betrayed their feelings. Even Tao Haiying, who once seemed at odds with Le’er, now appeared to be harboring secret thoughts.

Country girls are practical. To marry a good husband is to secure a lifetime of comfort, honor, and influence. They don’t bother to hide their feelings behind false modesty; in pursuing happiness, they are far more direct than city girls.

Le’er carried a bucket to the well in the vegetable garden, drew water, and was about to take it to the kitchen when he overheard Luo Yinxian and Tao Chunhua talking.

“Sister Yinxian, does Le’er have a girlfriend?”

“No,” Luo Yinxian replied, chuckling as she looked at Chunhua’s expression. “Are you thinking of marrying Le’er?”

“Of course not,” Tao Chunhua blushed. “I was just asking.”

“Still trying to hide it? Look at your face—it’s all red. But what’s so embarrassing? Women have to marry someday, and it’s only sensible to choose well. You’re sixteen now, old enough to consider a match.”

“Le’er would never be interested in me,” Chunhua said, her expression dimming a little. “Tao Haiying is more likely—she’s prettier.”

“Forget that. You're a hundred times better than her,” Yinxian replied.

Le’er deliberately made his footsteps loud, and the women’s conversation stopped immediately. He pushed open the door; Tao Chunhua looked shy and blushed. Le’er acted as if he hadn’t heard anything, smiled at them both, and poured the water into the big boiling pot. He carried five buckets in all before stopping.

Luo Yinxian had already stoked the fire, and soon the water was hot. Le’er carried the hot water into the bathroom, poured it into the big wooden tub, and added some cold water.

The girls came to see the bathroom.

“Le’er, let us bathe here too, please!” they begged, faces full of envy. In the countryside, there are no bathrooms—bathing is done in small wooden basins, hardly comfortable. Le’er’s home was not only beautiful, but the bathroom was luxurious, and the kitchen was unlike any other around. There was a biogas stove as well as a wood-burning one, but the wood-burning stove didn’t fill the house with smoke; a tall chimney drew it away, and even if some smoke drifted into the kitchen, there was a hood to extract it.

Most families never use a chimney with their wood stoves, filling the whole house with smoke when they cook.

“If you want to bathe, heat your own water,” Le’er said.

“Your tub’s so big—two can bathe comfortably. We’ll pair up, and everyone will be done soon,” the women said, competing to heat water for their bath.