Chapter 39

Summer and Logan spent half a day finishing the bulletin board.

Even though Summer didn't contribute much, she was quite pleased with the result.

She carefully collected all the unused colored chalk, not leaving even the tiniest pieces behind.

Then, she turned to Logan with a smile and said, "I didn't expect you to be so talented. You did a great job on the bulletin board."

Logan didn't seem particularly proud of the compliment. He merely glanced at her and said, "Back in school, our class bulletin boards were always done by me. Didn't you know?"

Summer blinked at him without saying a word. She truly didn't know. She had never paid attention to him before.

Logan didn't continue the conversation about their school days. He had no intention of reminiscing with Summer.

Although they were in the same class, they lived in two different worlds and had little to talk about.

The only topic they could discuss was Henry, because both of them were interested in him. Summer liked Henry, while Logan despised him.

Logan and Henry seemed to be natural enemies, the person each detested the most.

But neither of them really wanted to talk about Henry.

Logan washed his hands with the water from the bucket, then headed straight to the office to get his backpack.

Seeing him leave, Summer quickly washed her hands and emptied the bucket before returning to the office to grab her backpack and follow him out of the school. They walked together back to the volunteer camp.

Since Logan did most of the work on the bulletin board, including the drawing and writing, Summer just helped with coloring. She said to Logan, "You did most of the work on the bulletin board, so you must be more tired than me. How about I heat up some bread for you at lunch?"

Logan kept walking and replied, "You really keep track of everything."

Summer matched his pace and said, "Of course. I don't like taking advantage of others. When you work with me, rest assured, I won't let you suffer any loss."

Logan responded, "If I don't want to, no one can make me suffer."

Summer thought for a moment and then asked, "So when you lent me water, drove the donkey cart yesterday, and did the majority of the work on the bulletin board today, were those all your voluntary losses?"

If these actions had been done by any other man, Summer wouldn't have questioned them, because they were too trivial to be bothered about. But with Logan, she couldn't help but be curious.

If these were all voluntary, did it mean she didn't need to keep them in mind?

Logan was momentarily taken aback by Summer's question.

Then he looked at her and said, "Thank you for reminding me how much I've lost with you. You don't need to heat up bread for me at lunch today. I'll just eat yours."

Summer was speechless. He was indeed still the petty man!

***

Back at the volunteer camp, Summer heated up bread for both of them.

After eating, they didn't stay to rest. They headed back to school to prepare the speech for the afternoon meeting.

Not long after they left, Henry and the others noisily returned to the camp.

Entering the courtyard, Henry said, "I asked around, but no one is willing to lend us anything. The locals are very stingy, not even willing to part with a dried carrot. I asked quite a few, and two hinted that we could exchange things for some, but just barely."

They were talking about the pickled vegetables they mentioned yesterday.

Gabe was at the well, pumping water, and asked, "What are we supposed to exchange?"

As clean water gushed out of the well, Henry was the first to wash his hands.

Straightening up after washing, Henry said, "They didn't specify, but anything they haven't seen before might do."

Henry finished washing his hands and headed into the kitchen, followed by the others.

Some started the fire and fetched water to cook, while others sat and talked. The ten of them continued discussing the matter.

Charlie looked around and asked, "Do any of you have something we can exchange?"

Lily, always proactive, was the first to respond, "It's easiest to trade food for food, but we've already eaten most of what we brought from home. We don't have any extra food to trade."

Charlie then asked, "What about other things?"

What else could they trade? It seemed like no one had anything to offer.

Everyone looked at each other, silent.

After a moment, Mike, one of the male volunteers, said, "When you girls first arrived, you brought so much luggage. How come you don't have anything to trade now? If it comes to it, trade your clothes. The locals haven't seen good clothes before."

Grace was the first to disagree, immediately saying, "Why should we trade our clothes? Why don't you trade yours? What will we wear if we trade our clothes?"

Mike replied, "That's because you girls brought more clothes. We guys didn't bring much. You girls have plenty, what's the harm in losing one?"

Grace retorted, "Who told you we have plenty? We only brought enough to change. We don't have any extra. You guys can wear the same clothes for ten days or half a month, no problem. Why don't you trade yours and keep just one?"

Her words were deliberately irritating.

Mike wanted to argue back, but Henry stopped him.