The Tempting Educated Youth Married to a Rough Man-Chapter 34: Building a House / Swapping Tasks

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Building a House / Swapping Tasks

Regarding the house, the team leader chose to speak frankly upfront.

"We can approve the foundation for you, even for free, but you will only have the right to use this house, not ownership. Once you return home, the house will belong to the team."

Wen Ran isn’t short of money, but she doesn’t want to be taken for a fool.

Upon hearing this, she deliberately furrowed her brow and thought for a while, "Then how much will it cost to build a house, all in all?"

"For the young people in our team building a house, they just have to pay for materials. As for manpower, a shout-out will have cousins and clan brothers all come to help. But for you, you’d have to pay for labor.

Including meals and such. Usually, when people build houses, they cover meals, but you won’t be able to, and that’s another expense."

"Including everything?"

"Three small adobe rooms would be just over thirty bucks, and if you want to use tiles for the roof, another ten bucks would be enough.

But you’ll also have to account for labor and meal costs. I’d estimate it to be around twenty bucks or so."

Wen Ran decisively settled on it, "Uncle, we don’t know much about this, so we’ll need to trouble you to help oversee things for us. I’ll put down eighty first, and if it’s not enough, I’ll add more."

Bao Wenxuan raised her hand, "Count me in too, I’m building a house as well."

She’s truly afraid of these people now.

No time like the present, and it just so happened the rain had stopped.

Mrs. Xiao slapped her thigh, "Everyone’s idle now, let’s go check out the location!"

"Alright!"

After spending an afternoon running around, Wen Ran’s legs were getting worn out.

Eventually, the rain got heavier, and the team leader, out of options, had to seek shelter at the Xiao Family’s place.

Looking at the endless rain outside, the team leader took a sip of warm tea, "Well, how are you two thinking about this? Which spot do you fancy?"

"I fancy the spot at the foot of the mountain," Bao Wenxuan had indeed suffered greatly from dealing with people and picked the quietest location.

The team leader looked conflicted, "Are you sure? The foot of the mountain might be secluded, but it’s also risky."

Thieves and pickpockets often target less populated areas to avoid being noticed.

And if luck’s not on their side and they get discovered, they can run away without being caught at first notice.

"I’m sure."

The team leader emphasized, with a serious expression, "Kid, I mean well, just need to clarify your choice for you.

The foot of the mountain is undisturbed, yes, but in winter, when wild boars and bears come down to forage and muck things up, that’s their first choice."

Ah!

So that can happen.

Bao Wenxuan hesitated; she feared people, but feared bears even more!

Just when the team leader thought Bao Wenxuan had given up on the idea, Wen Ran, who hadn’t said a word, leisurely spoke up, "Uncle, when building the wall, the materials need to be solid.

If a bear were to tear it apart..."

She raised an eyebrow, "If word got out, that wouldn’t sound good, would it."

Bao Wenxuan’s eyes brightened, looking at Wen Ran with admiration.

Wen Ran confidently thought, see, Bao Wenxuan’s already impressed by my brilliance, hahaha.

The team leader felt exhausted, "Can’t you pick another location?"

"No way! Just there. We like it."

...

The team leader couldn’t persuade them, so early the next morning, he took the two to measure the land.

There were only a few scattered households at the foot of the mountain.

Sticking to the principle of letting well enough alone, Wen Ran picked a neutral spot, though it was further from the stream.

"This spot?"

"Yes." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Wen Ran looked at the dense mountains not far away, her gaze becoming distant.

"Getting water will be inconvenient."

So, perhaps it’s better to go back home.

"Dig a well."

The team leader: "..."

Darn, these kids have money, and they’re daring!

"Fine!"

The team leader, seeing he couldn’t sway them, simply stopped speaking and brought two honest men along to discuss building the house.

Bao Wenxuan had been feeling unsure, but now seeing Wen Ran also living here, she felt assured.

"Uh," a man walked over hesitantly from not far away, his face full of embarrassed smiles, "Are you planning to build a house?"

Wen Ran grew cautious, "Yes."

"Don’t be afraid; I’m not a bad person. Our family are carpenters here. If you need to make tables, chairs, benches, you can come to us."

"Right," Mrs. Xiao nodded, "Their craftsmanship is good, even teams from other places come to them!"

The man felt proud, "Our craftsmanship is renowned far and wide."

"That’s great! Can we come take a look?"

"Of course."

After another round of walking, Wen Ran and Bao Wenxuan settled on the furniture. As for other things, they weren’t in a hurry, after all, life is lived step by step.

With the house being built, Wen Ran’s worries weren’t about that, but about having to work in the fields.

Sigh~

How can she reasonably avoid labor?

Sitting under the ginkgo tree of the Silly Deer Team, Wen Ran sighed deeply.

Riding a bike, the team leader had just returned from the commune, looking pleased, and spotted her.

He stopped the bike with a squeak, peering over and baffled, "What are you doing?"

The wind was strong, blowing away a young girl’s troubles and scattering the few strands of hair that middle-aged men use to hide their baldness.

Wen Ran watched as the wind made two thin strands of hair atop Bi Jianguo’s head dance wildly, before settling obediently under his soothing care, protecting his bare scalp.

Wen Ran: "..."

She held back her laughter, but not her thoughts; before she knew it, the words had burst out beyond recovery.

"Thinking of how to slack off."

The team leader: "?"

He was dumbstruck.

He wanted to scold her but quickly remembered Wen Ran’s combat skills.

Forget it, he can’t win.

People, living this life, aren’t they supposed to know when to bend and when to stand tall?

He took a deep breath, pretending he heard nothing, and pedaled to leave.

Wen Ran pondered for a moment and thought since it’s all out now, might as well play it shamelessly.

"Wait!"

The team leader’s defense was to act deaf, trying to escape.

But he didn’t get away.

Wen Ran grabbed the bike’s handlebar.

"Uncle~" She wore a big smile, sycophantic, "How about we have a chat?"

"Don’t feel like chatting."

Wen Ran: "..."

Alright, if that’s how he’s going to be, then she’s going to be a rascal.

"Then you can’t leave."

The team leader was infuriated, eyes wide open, forced to chat with Wen Ran.

"Uncle, honestly, I have some money on hand. I wouldn’t say big feasts, but being well-fed and clothed wouldn’t be a problem."

She gestured at her slender arms earnestly, "Besides, I’ve got the strength. Missing something to eat, a trip to the back mountain, and it’d be sorted."

"Kid, strength is one thing, but hunting doesn’t fit with it."

Going up the mountain to hunt, you might lose more than deer.

After their friendly exchange (battle of words), the team leader conceded, "The team does have lighter work, but I’m afraid you can’t manage."

"Tell me!"