Chapter 10: Building a House

Carrying a bucket, Wang Jinhe briskly walked back home. As she approached, the family dog, Da Hua, came running towards her, barking incessantly. Wang Jinhe looked down at Da Hua with a helpless expression and said, “I don’t have any fish or shrimp for you and Xiao Hua today.”  

Upon hearing this, Da Hua turned around and walked away without even casting a glance at Wang Jinhe.

Seeing Da Hua’s reaction, Wang Jinhe was at a loss for words.  

It’s a sign of the times—when there’s milk, you’re considered a mother, and when there’s food, you’re considered a father.

Da Hua used to eagerly come running to her when she returned, but now, at the mere mention of not having any fish or shrimp, it would turn and leave. It seemed that she had spoiled it.

Ever since Da Hua and Xiao Hua came to their home, Wang Jinhe would feed them with diluted spirit spring water every day. Their fur was shiny and lustrous, and they were in good spirits. If someone didn’t know any better, they would think they were something special.

“Wang Jinhe, you’re back? How did it go?”

“The sprouts have already emerged, and the germination rate is particularly high. In the future, when we plant vegetables, we should soak them in water first. It helps with better germination,” Wang Jinhe said, sitting next to Grandma Wang.

Grandma Wang looked at Wang Jinhe in astonishment and said, “I thought it would be good if half of them sprouted, but I didn’t expect all of them to sprout. The germination rate is indeed impressive.”

“Where is the person my father found for building the house? When will they come?” Wang Jinhe’s mind was now completely occupied with thoughts of the house.

“It will take a few more days. They still have some unfinished work to do over there, and once they’re done, they will come over,” Grandma Wang replied.

“I see. Then it won’t be long.”

“Grandma, I’m thinking maybe we should just give them the entire contract for the construction. That way, we can have less to worry about. Otherwise, building a house on our own would be too exhausting,” Wang Jinhe suggested to Grandma.

After all, in modern times, building a house in their rural area would leave the family members completely exhausted.

Currently, they still have some extra money on hand, so if they can make things easier for themselves, why not? Dealing with the farm work and building a house at the same time would simply be overwhelming.

“Alright, that works too. We’ll just spend a bit more money then,” Grandma replied. She wasn’t a rigid person, so when she heard her granddaughter’s suggestion, she naturally agreed.

Wang Jinhe felt satisfied. Having an elder in the family who was willing to listen to the opinions of the younger generation was truly a blessing.

“Grandma, it’s so great to have you.”

Grandma looked at Wang Jinhe’s sudden behavior and shook her head with a smile. “Why are you suddenly acting spoiled? Aren’t you afraid of Xiao Bao making fun of you?”

“He won’t make fun of me,” Wang Jinhe said, looking at Xiao Bao and asking, “Right, Xiao Bao?”

“No, I won’t,” Xiao Bao, who was playing with building blocks, nodded seriously.

She had asked Grandpa to help make the building blocks. Ever since she gave them to Xiao Bao, he couldn’t put them down. He would play with the blocks for a long time each day, without Grandma and the others having to worry about him.

Watching Xiao Bao play with the building blocks so seriously, Grandma shook her head helplessly and said, “Ever since he got these blocks, he treats them like precious treasures. He plays with them every day and even tidies them up by himself. He won’t let me touch them.”

However, Wang Jinhe didn’t see any problem with that. On the contrary, she said naturally, “Isn’t it great? Xiao Bao knows how to take care of his own things. If you try to do it for him, he’ll get upset.” Wang Jinhe chuckled and shook her head.

Grandma nodded in agreement. She had considered helping tidy up for Xiao Bao, thinking that he was still young and it wouldn’t be easy for him. But this little guy insisted on doing it himself. He would pick up each block and put it back in the bamboo basket. Only after he finished tidying up would he ask for help to carry them into the house. And if he could carry them himself, he wouldn’t let anyone help.

Rubbing Xiao Bao’s head, Wang Jinhe smiled and said, “Sometimes this little guy behaves beyond his years, and sometimes he’s so innocent and adorable that you don’t know what to say.”

“Having a son like Xiao Bao is a blessing, isn’t it?” Apart from other things, he was definitely the easiest child to take care of in their family, right from birth.

“Xiao Bao is here to repay us. Look, he hardly cried when he was born, and he’s been healthy and rarely falls ill. Unlike those kids in the village who are often uncomfortable or fussy. With such a son, you should be content.” Grandma looked at Wang Jinhe and spoke.

Wang Jinhe chuckled, “I’m definitely very content. I have such wonderful grandparents, parents, and a brother.”

She didn’t just have one grateful son; she had a very happy family. In such a family, she felt motivated and eager to make their lives even better.

Watching her granddaughter in this manner, Grandma smiled and shook her head. “You, sometimes you just don’t think enough about yourself.”

“Hehe, Grandma, tomorrow I’ll go up the mountain and pick some wild vegetables to bring back. We don’t have a lot of vegetables at home.” Wang Jinhe said.

“Our vegetables have been doing really well lately. They’re growing exceptionally, even when the sun is scorching at noon,” Grandma remarked, looking at their vegetable patch.

Wang Jinhe secretly chuckled in her heart. Of course, it was because she had been using the spiritual spring water to water them. With the spiritual spring water, her vegetables naturally grew exceptionally well.

“It’s great that they’re growing well, isn’t it? It shows that the soil here is excellent. Once we build the house, our lives will be even better,” Wang Jinhe earnestly persuaded Grandma, trying to deceive her.

“You’re right. Since we moved here, your health has been getting better and better. Who knows, maybe this place really is a blessed land.” They used to live in Xie Family Village, not here. It was because Wang Jinhe fell ill that they had to sell their house there and buy this dilapidated house to live in.

They didn’t know what it was, but ever since they came here, Wang Jinhe’s health had been improving day by day. Initially, they thought it was thanks to the doctor’s treatment, but now, upon careful consideration, they realized that it was only after coming here that their granddaughter started to get better.

Wang Jinhe looked at Grandma in astonishment. She had just casually mentioned it, but how did Grandma actually believe it? It was so embarrassing.

However, listening to Grandma’s words, it seemed to be true. Wang Jinhe’s original body only started to gradually recover after they moved here. It was just that later, she was pushed into the river and met her tragic end, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for her.

As Wang Jinhe looked at Grandma’s earnest and kind expression, she kept telling herself in her heart that she must ensure that their family would have a wonderful life.

“Grandma, I will definitely earn a lot of money in the future. I’ll buy maidservants to serve you so that you don’t have to do anything and can live as a wealthy lady,” Wang Jinhe said to Grandma with great sincerity.

Grandma looked at Wang Jinhe, smiled, and shook her head. “As long as our family is doing well, anything is possible.”

Grandma’s expectations were not very high. All she wanted was for the family to stay together, and that was enough.