Chapter Fifty-Two: No Room for Carelessness

Hearing the door, Shan Xiu couldn't help but feel speechless. They had agreed just to go out for a walk and come back to sleep, but now it was almost dawn by the time they returned. She had just checked the clock—nearly four o’clock; soon, the sky outside would be getting light. Where exactly had Zhang Xiu’e and Tang Long gone for their “walk”? If there wasn’t something going on between those two, Shan Xiu would never believe it, not even if her life depended on it!

What made her even more curious was how Tang Long had managed to “soothe” Zhang Xiu’e. From what she knew of Zhang Xiu’e, such an independent woman would hardly tolerate her man being fickle or unfaithful. Could it be... the artillery strategy?

Zhang Xiu’e lay down, yawned, and with a smile at the corners of her lips, quickly drifted into dreams. After staying up nearly all night, it would be odd if she weren’t tired.

The next day, Zhang Xiu’e was awakened by Zhao Xiaoyue.

“Xiu’e, time for breakfast!”

She glanced at the time—it was already past seven, and daylight streamed in from outside. Zhao Xiaoyue knew that Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e had talked late into the night. Normally, Zhang Xiu’e would be up by six, so today was a rare morning of sleeping in.

After washing up, as they were having breakfast, Tang Long strolled over. At the sight of him, and remembering the events of the previous night, Zhang Xiu’e couldn’t help blushing, unable to look him in the eye.

“Ergou, get a few people together. Come with me shortly—we’re heading into the county to bring back a few truckloads of supplies!” Tang Long called out to Li Ergou.

“Alright!” Li Ergou finished the porridge in his bowl, put down his chopsticks, grabbed half a steamed bun, and trotted over.

Last night, Jiang Xue had called Tang Long, and he’d discussed things with Zhang Xiu’e, but the whole village still didn’t know that nearly two hundred people would be coming to “vacation” in the village on Friday.

So many people—eating, drinking, sleeping, using the restroom—every detail was a matter to handle!

“The public toilets need to be sorted out immediately!” Zhang Xiu’e called Tang Long over, her tone serious as she spoke.

Tang Long rubbed his nose. There were toilets in the village, but none separated by gender.

With almost two hundred students arriving in Yutou Village, what kind of scene would it be if there were no proper restrooms?

“I’ll handle it right away!” Tang Long nodded. In addition to the one near Liangou Gully, a restroom would also be built near the Ghost King Cave behind the mountain.

The villagers could always go into the hills, but could tourists simply find a random spot as well?

Once the crowds arrived, it would become a significant issue!

“The public toilets must be windproof and rainproof—no shoddy work!” Zhang Xiu’e said sternly. She’d previously asked the villagers to build a “toilet,” and a few of them had simply fenced off an area with tree branches. The gaps were so wide, wind could whistle through, and there was no privacy at all. Absolutely unacceptable.

Tang Long nearly laughed when he heard this. In mountain villages, people weren’t used to fussing over such things.

Nor could the villagers be blamed; that’s just how things had always been done—practicality over appearance.

“We’ll build them from wooden boards. Two near Liangou Gully, one by Ghost King Cave. That work?” Tang Long grinned.

“How should I know if it works or not? Anyway, you’re in charge; I’ll just handle the inspection!” Zhang Xiu’e rolled her eyes at him.

She wished there could be sinks and running water in the public toilets, but the conditions simply didn’t allow for it. As long as there was a place to shelter from wind and rain, with privacy, that was already quite something.

Restrooms. Public toilets. Directional signposts. Today was already Tuesday—four days at most until Friday. All of these had to be handled immediately.

Purchase wooden boards!

“Let’s go!” Tang Long, Li Ergou, and a few of the village lads got in the truck and headed to Donghe Town. Some things could be bought there; for the rest, they’d need to go to the county. Supplies ordered from the provincial capital would also arrive today.

“Village chief, what do we need all these gasoline barrels for?” Li Ergou asked, puzzled. Tang Long had gone out of his way to buy a truckload of large oil barrels, numbering thirty or forty, but Li Ergou couldn’t quite figure out their use.

“To store water!” Tang Long replied with a smile.

After all, people couldn’t be expected to hold it forever. The absence of sinks in the restrooms might not matter much to villagers, but for outsiders, it would be unthinkably unhygienic and uncomfortable.

Tang Long planned to use these barrels as water containers, fill them with clean water, and use pipes and faucets to create a few simple tap water setups.

No water in the public restrooms, no water for bathing either. By “bathing,” Tang Long meant that after playing in the stream at Liangou Gully, guests could rinse off with clean water in a makeshift shower.

Locals might just splash around in the stream and call it a bath, but city folks were more particular. If things weren’t handled properly, it would reflect poorly on Yutou Village’s service.

For anything within reach, they would strive to do their best.

The water would have to be carried by shoulder, but since it was just for two days, they’d serve this wave of “experience guests” well and then think about improvements later.

In the afternoon, the supplies from the provincial capital arrived at Yutou Village.

Originally, shipping companies didn’t deliver to the village, but Gaopeng’s people had paid extra, persuading the driver to make the trip. That bumpy road drew more than a few curses from the delivery driver.

A whole truckload of goods—all unloaded by hand. Thankfully, with plenty of villagers, it wasn’t a worry.

“How’s this?” Tang Long pulled Zhang Xiu’e in front of a massive wooden cabin and smiled.

The cabin was rather “ugly,” but it was solidly built and very spacious. Inside, it was surprisingly clean.

There were two cabins in all, separated by gender, and lit at night. To solve the power issue, Tang Long had specially bought batteries from the county.

“There’s water too?” Zhang Xiu’e’s eyes widened with delight as she spotted a washbasin inside the wooden restroom.

Tang Long grinned. “The water was carried down from the mountain. Not only can you wash your hands after using the restroom, but the issue of bathing is solved too… at least temporarily!”

In the future, they’d need their own independent water supply system. Relying on villagers to carry water would never suffice, but for now, Yutou Village could manage.

At the very least, there were now separate restrooms for men and women, and showers—no more worries about toilets or bathing!

“Very impressive!” Seeing that no one was around, Zhang Xiu’e stepped forward and kissed Tang Long on the cheek to show her approval.

With a half-smile, Tang Long lowered his voice and teased, “How about another stroll tonight?”

Blushing, Zhang Xiu’e shot him a coquettish glare and whispered, “Don’t push your luck!”

“Heh heh!”

The bedding issue was resolved with the help of Wu Zhengyao, who arranged for the purchase of three hundred sets from the county textile factory at cost.

The campground was set up on the open ground beside Liangou Gully: four rows in total, twenty-five tents to a row, with separate areas for boys and girls. Except for couples who made special requests, the principle was strict segregation.

A bonfire would be lit in the center, and everyone could gather around in the evenings.

Each tent was equipped with a small, voice-activated lamp—not very bright, but cartoonish and fun—purchased by Tang Long in the provincial capital for nighttime lighting.

“There will be villagers on night duty at the campsite. Is everything arranged?” Zhang Xiu’e asked.

Tang Long nodded, “All set. I’ll be here with the team myself, making sure nothing goes wrong.”

Zhang Xiu’e nodded, gave him a glance, and murmured, “I’ll come over then as well.”

After a busy day, Tang Long didn’t call Zhang Xiu’e out that evening. Everyone was exhausted—it was best to let her get a good night’s sleep.