In the bookstore, Luo Yang bought all the extracurricular study materials suitable for the ninth grade. A full snakeskin bag.
After leaving the bookstore, Hong Jiaxin laughed and said, "Luo Yang, are you really determined to study, or was it just an impulse that made you buy so many extracurricular books?"
Luo Yang said seriously, "Class President, I need to tutor you, how can I do that without buying a lot of materials to study?"
Her laughter became even more radiant.
"Sister doesn't need your tutoring, you'd do well just to pass every subject," she said with a smile.
At that time, the class teacher, Suyun, wanted Hong Jiaxin to tutor Luo Yang, aiming to get Luo Yang into the top 100 by the end of the term.
"Class President, it will take me about half a month to finish these books, then I'll have the ability to tutor you," Luo Yang said with a laugh.
"Yo! The sun really did rise from the west. With so many materials, even a year wouldn't be enough to finish. What's the use of just finishing them?" Hong Jiaxin pursed her lips.
In the midst of their conversation, Luo Yang's phone ringtone rang out, "only you, can take me to 'Journey to the West'..."
The call was from An Yuying. Once connected, she said softly, "Niu Zai, where are you having lunch? Sister Piao and I have cooked, can you come over to Qin Piao's house to eat?"
If Luo Yang were to take Hong Jiaxin home for lunch, it would be inconvenient for An Yuying to join them.
"Okay," Luo Yang agreed.
"Then have you finished school? Hurry back," An Yuying said coquettishly.
After finishing the call, just when Luo Yang and Hong Jiaxin were about to head back to the village, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure on the street, none other than Fang Lin, riding a motorcycle.
"Sister Fang," Luo Yang called out.
He wanted to hire her to help manage the vegetable shed, the fish pond, and the orchard, and had not yet discussed the pay. It was a good time to talk to her about it over lunch.
Fang Lin looked around and finally spotted Luo Yang, then drove her motorcycle over.
"Niu Zai. Shopping?" Fang Lin was wearing a motorcycle helmet.
"Bought some books. Sister Fang, where are you headed?" Luo Yang gave her slender body a glance.
"The village committee's canteen isn't cooking today, so I'm going out for lunch. Also thinking of getting a haircut," Fang Lin said as she removed her helmet and tidied her hair.
"Let's go, come back home for lunch. Sister Piao has already prepared the meal. I also need to discuss work with you," Luo Yang invited.
So, Fang Lin turned her bike around and even helped Luo Yang carry the snakeskin bag of study materials. The three of them returned to the Hongyun Brigade on two motorcycles.
Normally in the evenings at Qin Piao's house, Luo Yang would leave the study materials there.
The meal was ready as soon as Luo Yang returned, so he could start eating immediately. He sat at the dining table, with Qin Piao and An Yuying serving him rice and soup, enjoying the service like a grand master.
To his left was Hong Jiaxin, to his right An Yuying, diagonally left Fang Lin, and diagonally right Qin Piao.
In the morning, Luo Yang had briefly mentioned to An Yuying his plan to hire Fang Lin to help manage things, and she had no objections.
During the meal, Luo Yang looked around and asked, "Sister Fang, how much do you want to be paid per month?"
Fang Lin played coy, "Niu Zai, it's up to you."
Although she said that, if the salary was too low, she would likely find an excuse to decline the job.
Her official job was as a village official, working for Luo Yang would be a part-time gig.
"I'll give you two thousand yuan a month, not including food and accommodation," Luo Yang offered.
If it were full-time, he would pay three thousand yuan; for part-time, considering the local prices, he thought two thousand yuan was also reasonable.
Indeed, Fang Lin accepted with pleasure, "Okay. So, what kind of work will I be doing?"
The vegetable greenhouses and fish pond weren't completely finished yet, Luo Yang said, "After some time, Sister An will tell you."
Suddenly, Qin Piao said, "Niu Zai, I'll also work for you, okay?"
After the two greenhouses were built, they indeed still needed manpower, not to mention that in the future, the fruit orchard would also need to be taken care of. Luo Yang smiled and said, "Okay."
He didn't discuss the salary with Qin Piao on the spot to avoid hurting Fang Lin's feelings. Even though it was part-time, if Fang Lin heard that Luo Yang was paying Qin Piao three thousand yuan, she would probably take it somewhat badly.
However, Qin Piao didn't understand this and asked with a smile, "So, how much will you pay me per month?"
She definitely couldn't do management. With two greenhouses, they already had An Yuying and Fang Lin, as well as Luo Yang's mother in charge; Qin Piao could only do the heavy labor.
In name, Fang Lin was in charge, so her salary should be higher than that of Qin Piao. It was only because it was part-time that Luo Yang wouldn't pay her a high salary.
"Sister Piao, how about we go by what we give Sister Fang?" Luo Yang said with a smile.
He was prepared to give her three thousand yuan; it was just inconvenient to say so directly in front of others, letting her guess instead.
Actually, working for Luo Yang and being at home with a monthly income of two thousand yuan was already satisfying enough for Qin Piao.
"Then it's settled. I'll quit my job with Sister Kick tonight and hang with you from now on," Qin Piao said with a smile.
She was almost sitting opposite Luo Yang and quietly stretched her foot over, lightly tickling his foot with her toes to express her gratitude. Luo Yang smiled without a word.
At this moment, the deliveryman from the kitchen and bathroom store called, saying they had arrived at Hongyun Brigade and inquired about the exact location. Luo Yang gave the driver detailed directions.
After a while, the sound of a vehicle could be heard outside. The delivery van arrived and stopped at the door.
The workers carried the bathtub inside and set it down, asking if he wanted it installed. Luo Yang said there was no need.
After the delivery workers left, An Yuying curiously asked, "Niu Zai, why didn't you have them install it? They would have been more skilled at it."
Luo Yang bought this bathtub not for An Yuying and the other beauties to bathe in, but only for Hong Jiaxin to soak in medicinal baths.
When buying the bath at Xiaoshulin Market's kitchen and bathroom store, Luo Yang had already sensed that An Yuying might be jealous. Now, hearing her ask this question, Luo Yang was even more convinced that if he said it was purchased solely for Hong Jiaxin to use, An Yuying would become terribly jealous.
Hong Jiaxin already knew An Yuying would be jealous; she smiled and glanced at Luo Yang, wondering how he would explain it to An Yuying.
"This bathtub is for Jiaxin's exclusive use," Luo Yang stated.
As expected, upon hearing this, An Yuying's pretty face suddenly cast over with a shadow, the smile at the corner of her mouth disappeared, and her eyes held a hint of quiet resentment.
After all, in the Hongyun Brigade, everyone considered her to be Luo Yang's girlfriend. Now her boyfriend had bought a bathtub for Hong Jiaxin and not for her, and feelings of disappointment surged, turning into a faint sadness. She seemed downhearted.
Qin Piao and Fang Lin looked at each other, both feeling perplexed. They both wondered if Luo Yang might be planning to break up with An Yuying. Buying a bathtub for another beauty in front of his girlfriend, what did that mean?
"Sister An, come upstairs, I have something to tell you," Luo Yang said.
Feeling resentful towards Luo Yang, how could she go upstairs with him?
Luo Yang then reached out, took hold of An Yuying's hand, and led her upstairs to the empty room. He wanted to explain to her.
Seeing her lips pouting high and her face filled with a sorrowful expression, Luo Yang embraced her in his arms. She gently swayed her body and, acting coquettishly, lightly punched his solid chest with her small fists.
The soft rubbing of her full, firm chest against his was intoxicatingly gentle. And intoxicated by her orchid-like fragrance, his breathing suddenly grew heavier.
Then, as she pretended to struggle free, her body rocked even more violently, yet she didn't use her full strength, clearly giving him a chance to explain. In her heart, he held an irreplaceable position. Her world couldn't be without him.