Chapter 66

Aunt Zhang scratched her head in embarrassment and said, “You all know what my family’s situation was like in the past. To be honest, in the past, we couldn’t even dream of building a house with adobe bricks and tiles.

Auntie, our whole family has benefited from your family’s kindness, so after discussing it with my family, we thought of building our new house on the land below yours.

But don’t worry, we won’t take any of your land, not even a bit! It’s just that we’ll be a bit closer, so we can look out for each other in the future.

I’ve thought about it, we’re not capable people, and my kids, Jin Niu, Yin Niu, are quite slow-witted. Relying on ourselves is no use, so I thought if my boys are closer to you, maybe with your help, our days might be better than before.”

Madam Li was stunned to hear this.

They were also planning to build a house, but she hadn’t thought of this.

Shuiqing had considered borrowing money, borrowing things, and putting in labor, but she hadn’t thought that Aunt Zhang’s idea was so simple and honest.

A few days ago, she and Fan Jin were most worried about safety. Now that Aunt Zhang’s family wanted to build a house on the empty land below theirs, it was exactly what they needed!

After all, Jin Niu would be eighteen after the New Year, Yin Niu seventeen, Tong Niu fifteen, and even the youngest, Mu Niu, was thirteen. Plus, Aunt Zhang and Xiaocao were used to farm work and were strong. Compared to their small, weak family, Aunt Zhang’s family was strong and dependable.

The most important thing was that Aunt Zhang’s family was honest and kind-hearted, willing to help and trustworthy. Having them nearby would be great for avoiding trouble and providing support.

Shuiqing smiled and said, “Auntie, you’re too polite. Being close means we can look out for each other, and we’ll need to trouble you often.

By the way, what did the old village head say about that piece of land? Can we build there?”

Aunt Zhang quickly nodded when she heard that Shuiqing agreed with her family moving closer. “That’s wasteland, and we can swap it with where we’re living now. The old village head said it’s fine!”

In their village, building houses wasn’t complicated. As long as they didn’t take anyone else’s land and the village head didn’t oppose it, it was fine.

Hearing that the old village head agreed, Shuiqing felt relieved and asked in detail, “Auntie, what are your plans?”

Talking about building a house, Aunt Zhang started to chat, “I’ve thought about it. We’ll make adobe bricks ourselves with the kids, so we don’t have to spend money. We’ll carry stones down from the mountain for the foundation, solid and free.

We won’t use thatch for the roof anymore. It needs to be replaced every year, and if there’s a heavy rain next year and it leaks or collapses, it’ll be a hassle.

So, we plan to use tiles directly, choosing the cheapest gray tiles, which are one wen for two tiles. I asked the old village head yesterday, and for three rooms, we need about six to seven thousand tiles.”

Madam Li listened carefully and made a mental note.

Her family also wanted to replace their thatched roof with an adobe brick house. They had been debating whether to use a thatched roof or tiles, but now she decided to go with tiles!

She counted on her fingers and said, “One wen for two tiles, one tael of silver can buy two thousand tiles. For three rooms, three to four taels of silver should be enough.”

Aunt Zhang grinned and said, “Right, unlike Shuiqing’s family who needs to buy bricks and green slate, adobe bricks are free, stones are free, so we can afford just buying tiles.

To be honest, I have saved thirteen hundred wen, planning to exchange some rice for two taels of silver to buy tiles, and use the rest to buy black flour for storage.”

Having a spacious house that doesn’t leak or smell musty, and being able to eat black flour, is very fortunate.

Madam Li was even more shocked to hear that Aunt Zhang could save money. Given their situation, those thirteen hundred wen were truly saved through extreme frugality.

Shuiqing also didn’t expect that in such a difficult situation, Aunt Zhang could still save money.

It seems saving money is ingrained in her.

She thought about her own house building plans, also intending to use stones for the foundation.

Around here, building brick houses often involves using stones for the foundation. It saves money and is mainly because it makes the structure strong and durable.

Another point is that moving stones from the hills creates space for planting trees and plants, which is beneficial in multiple ways.

“Auntie, don’t rush to sell the grain. When the harvest is poor, it’s hard to buy it back.

I’m thinking, when we build the house, we’ll need help, and Jin Niu, Yin Niu, and Tie Niu can help. I’ll pay them twenty-three wen a day;

They’ll get lunch, and Auntie, you know I can’t manage everything alone. If you and Xiaocao are willing to help me, I’ll pay you fifteen wen a day. How about it?”

Aunt Zhang opened her mouth in surprise, too delighted to speak.

She knew very well the price of grain during a bad harvest. Not only grain, but anything edible becomes extremely expensive!

She swallowed and stammered, “Shuiqing, I… I need the money, so I won’t be polite. I agree to let Jin Niu and the others help you.

But if you pay me and Xiaocao, we won’t come to help!”

In the village, people help each other build houses and celebrate events without charging money.

Moreover, Jin Niu and the others could earn sixty-nine wen a day, and if Shuiqing’s house takes half a month to build, they could earn over a thousand wen.

Madam Li chimed in with a smile, “I’ll come to help too!”

“Auntie, you should also tell your family. If anyone wants to help, they can come. I was going to announce this before starting construction, but it’s good to mention it now.

When you go back, ask around, and those willing can come. We definitely need more hands.”

“Of course, everyone will want to come!”

“It’s the slack farming season now, and everyone is resting at home. Who wouldn’t want to come?”

Shuiqing laid out the rules: “Building a house involves moving bricks, carrying stones, and transporting beams… all heavy labor. Let’s not inform anyone under fifteen.”

“Of course! Not

just those under fifteen, even those over thirty aren’t suitable. Don’t worry, everyone in the village understands this,” Madam Li said matter-of-factly.

“Exactly, for labor, we need the able-bodied. Younger or older ones wouldn’t be effective. Who would hire them? It would just waste food and money,” Aunt Zhang agreed.

Thirteen-year-old Bai Ziqian, who had just finished digging a pit: …

Twenty-eight-year-old Fan Jin, who had also just finished digging a pit: … Luckily, I’m not thirty yet.

After the two left, for dinner, Shuiqing used the leftover half chicken from lunch. She shredded the chicken and mixed it with shredded carrots, cilantro, peanuts, and chili oil to make a large bowl of cold chicken salad. She also made a big pot of chicken soup with the chicken carcass, adding fresh greens and a large pot of dumplings.

The whole family enjoyed the spicy and flavorful chicken salad with big bowls of rustic pottery.

Bai Ziqian, who now did physical labor daily, ate heartily and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

However, today, having overheard the conversation about Fan Jin’s family building a house, he hesitated but approached them after dinner.

Seeing the young boy in front of her hesitating, Shuiqing asked proactively, “Is there something you want to say?”

“I… I have something to ask for your permission, Aunt Shuiqing.”